St. Louis Rams Roster Preview: Offensive Line

Offensive Linemen on the Roster: Steven Baker, Tim Barnes, Travis Bond, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Rob Havenstein, Barrett Jones, Garrett Reynolds, Demetrius Rhaney, Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, David Wang, Brandon Washington, Cody Wichmann, Darrell Williams

The key to any successful, championship contending team is strength along both lines. A good quarterback can elevate teams to be in true contention, but without a solid offensive line in front of him that quarterback is at a severe disadvantage.

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In 2014 the St. Louis Rams did not have a good offensive line, and in turn did not have a successful season. As they enter 2015, Les Snead has made a concerted effort to overhaul his offensive line and protect his new investment in Nick Foles.

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The Rams offensive line allowed 47 sacks in 2014, 8th worst in the NFL. They also allowed 93 quarterback hits, 10th worst in the NFL. Their quarterbacks were under constant pressure and their running backs consistently ran into holes that were plugged.

Offensive Tackles

The Rams already have their left tackle in place after selecting Greg Robinson in the 2014 NFL Draft. Robinson struggled to get used to the speed of the NFL early in his rookie season, he developed into a solid left tackle by the end of the year. Allowing him his first full NFL offseason should allow him to flourish and enter the season ready to be a blind-side protector.

St. Louis Rams guard Greg Robinson (79) before the snap during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The right tackle position appeared to be set up for rookie 2nd round pick Rob Havenstein to take over. He comes from a great system at Wisconsin and has a wealth of experience. He has NFL size and brings a toughness to the Rams running game that was not there in 2014.

Havenstein appeared to be the next right tackle, until the Rams used a 5th round selection in the Supplemental Draft to take troubled former Clemson tackle Isaiah Battle.

Battle was expected by many to be one to the top tackle prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, but left school early. He claimed to help his growing family, as he is expecting a child this summer, but many believe it was due to his recent off-field issues.

Battle has tremendous size and athleticism, but is a work in progress. He shows overall stiffness, but could flourish with good leadership. Both he and Havenstein should compete for the right tackle position in 2015.

Brandon Washington also factors into the right tackle battle. He is another massive player, but has only appeared in one game in two seasons. He has knowledge of the system and could challenge the young players.

The Rams also spent two more draft picks on potential tackles in Jamon Brown and Andrew Donnal. Both are works in progress with Brown having the size and strength but lacks the ideal quickness.

Donnal has good size and quickness, but lacks the pure strength needed to be a good tackle in the NFL. Both will likely be on the roster as depth pieces, and Brown could even see a move inside to guard.

Guards

In 2014 Jeff Fisher made the decision to move Rodger Saffold to left guard. This move was to solidify the left side of the line and provide leadership next to Greg Robinson after he moved to left tackle. This move paid off as Suffolk made the transition naturally and provided good push and better pass blocking ability.

Across from Saffold is an open position. The position will likely be a battle between free agent signing Garrett Reynolds and returning players Barrett Jones and Travis Bond. Reynolds comes over from the Detroit Lions and provides another massive body with good run blocking ability. He is very tough and has drastically improved in his pass blocking ability. He appears to have the early lead before the team takes the field for training camp.

Both Bond and Jones played less than a quarter of the season in 2014, and have struggled to make the jump to the NFL game after excelling in college. Both could challenge after another full offseason in the program, especially Bond.

St. Louis Rams guard Rodger Saffold (76) blocks as quarterback Austin Davis (9) drops back to pass against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Centers

Tim Barnes has a firm hold on the center position for the Rams. He is a solid blocker with good quickness and great football IQ. He makes the line calls and is a pivotal part of the offensive line. Demetrius Rhaney and Jones could make a run at the position, but it would be a surprise to see Bond not at center.

Projected Depth Chart

LT – Greg Robinson; Brandon Washington; Andrew Donnal

LG – Rodger Saffold; Garrett Reynolds

C – Tim Barnes; Barrett Jones

RG – Garrett Reynolds; Travis Bond; Jamon Brown

RT – Rob Havenstein; Brandon Washington; Isaiah Battle

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