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Jake
Long: C
The
Rams paid Long a lot of money to play like a Pro Bowler, but he only
did that in one aspect of his game. When the Rams re-committed to
ground-and-pound offense a month into the season, Long was in his
element. At his best he can absolutely wreck the right side of a
defensive line. He put on some dominant run-blocking performances
before tearing an ACL week 15, and afterward, the Ram running game
really missed him. Jake's real mission, though, was to be Sam
Bradford's bodyguard, and his performance there was mixed at best.
For a tackle who's made four Pro Bowls, he sure gives up a lot of
ground in pass pro, and he commits too many penalties. He was
completely embarrassed in Dallas, not just by Demarcus Ware, but by
his backup. AND by that guy's backup. Robert Mathis also made Long
look like a little, um, girl. Those were inexcusable performances for
a high-dollar lineman. Long has to be much more consistent, with fewer Adam Goldberg moments, to be considered a top tackle and/or
worthy of his big contract. The Rams also took a risk on Long being
damaged goods that seems to have backfired, since it's fair to
question whether he'll even be ready for the 2014 season.
Ultimately, so far, the Rams have put out franchise-tackle money for
a tackle who's just average, and is now injured. It's going to be
hard for Long to return to Pro Bowl form. It's going to be hard for
him to lead a line that has to play much more physical to stand up to
the bruising lines they face 6 weeks a year in the rest of the NFC
West. This year they were dominated up front in 4 of those games.
Jake Long needs to be much more than just average. If he can get off
his crutches.
Joseph
Barksdale: C
Barksdale isn't the physical presence you expect out of a right tackle. He never looks like a dominant run-blocker and he's too easy to bull-rush. Countering edge speed is a big battle for him. On the other hand, he didn't get beaten for a lot of sacks, and we saw at least a couple of playoff teams a lot worse off at RT than the Rams are. Young, cheap and improving, he hasn't been a bad find.
Rodger Saffold: C
We can marvel at Rodger's reincarnation as a butt-kicking guard late in the season or shake our heads that he basically washed out at tackle, where he was drafted to play, and continued a career-long trend of lacking durability from injury. Looks like an all-pro guard on the move, an absolutely dominant run-blocker; struggles a little more with the phone-booth stuff. His tackle skillset did seem to help him at guard, and his guard play carried over to good run-blocking when he had to kick back out to tackle at the end of the season. But he's never looked as good at tackle, where he's mediocre at best, as he did in his brief run at guard. His versatility will make him a big draw as a free agent in 2014. An expectation is that Long's injury forces the Rams to reach deep into Stan Kroenke's pockets to keep Saffold and play him at tackle, but given his spotty record at the position, a big deal seems irresponsible.
Barksdale isn't the physical presence you expect out of a right tackle. He never looks like a dominant run-blocker and he's too easy to bull-rush. Countering edge speed is a big battle for him. On the other hand, he didn't get beaten for a lot of sacks, and we saw at least a couple of playoff teams a lot worse off at RT than the Rams are. Young, cheap and improving, he hasn't been a bad find.
Rodger Saffold: C
We can marvel at Rodger's reincarnation as a butt-kicking guard late in the season or shake our heads that he basically washed out at tackle, where he was drafted to play, and continued a career-long trend of lacking durability from injury. Looks like an all-pro guard on the move, an absolutely dominant run-blocker; struggles a little more with the phone-booth stuff. His tackle skillset did seem to help him at guard, and his guard play carried over to good run-blocking when he had to kick back out to tackle at the end of the season. But he's never looked as good at tackle, where he's mediocre at best, as he did in his brief run at guard. His versatility will make him a big draw as a free agent in 2014. An expectation is that Long's injury forces the Rams to reach deep into Stan Kroenke's pockets to keep Saffold and play him at tackle, but given his spotty record at the position, a big deal seems irresponsible.
Harvey
Dahl: C-
Good power interior blocking and pass pro early in the season, but didn't handle blitzes well and was injured half the year, making this the second straight year he failed to finish. When Dahl's healthy and allowed to be a run-blocker first, he's hard to beat. I'm not sure how well that, his age and his declining ability to stay healthy will match the Rams' future needs.
Good power interior blocking and pass pro early in the season, but didn't handle blitzes well and was injured half the year, making this the second straight year he failed to finish. When Dahl's healthy and allowed to be a run-blocker first, he's hard to beat. I'm not sure how well that, his age and his declining ability to stay healthy will match the Rams' future needs.
Scott
Wells: C-
Wells had some outstanding games, especially the first Seattle game, and especially as a run-blocker, but consistency once again is a big issue. Wells, for instance, is consistently injured. He hasn't finished either of his seasons as a Ram. He could get man-handled at times; getting embarrassed by Glenn Dorsey isn't exactly a resume-maker. He gives up too many sacks and is too easily stressed into making poor snaps.
Chris Williams: D+
Gets it done as a run-blocker more often than you think, but still got man-handled much too often. Misses too many assignments, poor at handling blitzes, too easy to beat with a stunt.
Shelley Smith: D+
Can maul as a run-blocker but just isn't a pass protector at all. Just doesn't have the foot quickness, and when he's in good position, he can't adjust to a defender making a better play.
Tim Barnes: D
Good enough to finish a game for you but plays nowhere near strong enough to last in the NFL. Consistently blown off the ball and really wrecked the running game toward the end of the season. Athletically limited in strength and quickness. Stood no chance against Seattle's maulers in the season finale.
Wells had some outstanding games, especially the first Seattle game, and especially as a run-blocker, but consistency once again is a big issue. Wells, for instance, is consistently injured. He hasn't finished either of his seasons as a Ram. He could get man-handled at times; getting embarrassed by Glenn Dorsey isn't exactly a resume-maker. He gives up too many sacks and is too easily stressed into making poor snaps.
Chris Williams: D+
Gets it done as a run-blocker more often than you think, but still got man-handled much too often. Misses too many assignments, poor at handling blitzes, too easy to beat with a stunt.
Shelley Smith: D+
Can maul as a run-blocker but just isn't a pass protector at all. Just doesn't have the foot quickness, and when he's in good position, he can't adjust to a defender making a better play.
Tim Barnes: D
Good enough to finish a game for you but plays nowhere near strong enough to last in the NFL. Consistently blown off the ball and really wrecked the running game toward the end of the season. Athletically limited in strength and quickness. Stood no chance against Seattle's maulers in the season finale.
Barrett
Jones: D-
This isn't a vote of non-confidence in Jones' future. This was just a lost season for the rookie 4th-round pick. The Lisfranc injury he incurred while still with the Tide got him off to a late start and he spent a lot of camp and regular season catching up to where he needed to be physically. He did see some late-season snaps. If he stays healthy from here, (which was the risk in drafting him) the real player the Rams drafted should be the one we see in 2014.
This isn't a vote of non-confidence in Jones' future. This was just a lost season for the rookie 4th-round pick. The Lisfranc injury he incurred while still with the Tide got him off to a late start and he spent a lot of camp and regular season catching up to where he needed to be physically. He did see some late-season snaps. If he stays healthy from here, (which was the risk in drafting him) the real player the Rams drafted should be the one we see in 2014.
Brandon
Washington: D
Limited snaps but didn't seem to acquit himself too badly. Definitely in the mix for a backup role in 2014.
Limited snaps but didn't seem to acquit himself too badly. Definitely in the mix for a backup role in 2014.
Mike
Person: D-
Not sure he was ever active for a game.
Not sure he was ever active for a game.
Looking
ahead: You thought the offensive line changed a lot during 2013? Just
wait for the offseason. Barksdale may be the Rams' only returning
starter opening day. Long's injury is a gigantic variable that shapes
the whole offseason. Do the Rams offer Rodger Saffold a big deal? Do
they use their first draft pick on Jake Matthews? A ton will depend
on Jake Long's knee. Suspicion here is they'll trade down and draft a
tackle and use the $8.5 million in cap space they get by cutting Dahl
and Wells to try to make Saffold a moderate deal. The odds seem
pretty good that Saffold will go elsewhere in the offseason,
necessitating a plan B, but there was similar concern with William
Hayes this time last year. My best scenario: healthy Long at LT,
Matthews at RT, Jones at center, Barksdale and Saffold as the guards.
-$-
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