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2009 Offensive Line Analysis - St. Louis Rams

2009 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Alex Barron
Left Guard: Jacob Bell
Center: Jason Brown
Right Guard: Richie Incognito
Right Tackle: Jason Smith

2008 Injuries:
T Orlando Pace: Weeks 7 and 12
T Alex Barron: Week 14
G Jacob Bell: Weeks 2, 3 and 17
G Richie Incognito: Week 17
C Nick Leckey: Weeks 12 to 17

2008 Statistics:

ALY (Adjusted Line Yards): It is an alternate measure for yards per carry developed by Football Outsiders that takes into account various factors including down, distance, situation and opponent.
Source: www.footballoutsiders.com

Overview:
The Rams had another very difficult season in 2008 with only two wins after winning only three games the previous year. They still managed to average a respectable 4.0 yards per carry in the running game but the passing game was a disaster all season long. Marc Bulger and Trent Green were both disappointing but they were pressured constantly and the two of them ended up being sacked 44 times.

At tackle, the Rams are starting a new era after releasing Orlando Pace in the off-season. Pace spent the last 12 seasons with the Rams and was still pretty solid last season but they are hoping that one of their young guys can step up. Alex Barron was a first round pick in 2005 and started 58 games in his first four seasons at both left and right tackle. He is quite athletic for a 6’7” and 315 lbs player and has a very large wingspan which he uses to his advantage. The downside with Barron is that he lacks focus which leads to a number of false start penalties. He is a decent pass protector but struggled in run blocking because of his lack of intensity at times. Barron has all the tools to be an excellent tackle in this league but he will need to step up his play. The Rams selected Jason Smith with the second overall pick in 2009 and, although he is expected to be a starting left tackle in the future, the Rams will probably ease him into the NFL and start him on the right side in his rookie year. He is however big and aggressive at 6’5” and 310 lbs so should be an asset for the running game from day one. Smith still has to improve his technique in pass protection in order to be effective at left tackle in the NFL because, for now, he is quite vulnerable to speedy defensive ends. Nonetheless, he has very good work ethic so he will improve very quickly and should be a solid left tackle after a year on the right side with help from a tight end. Backing up the two young guys is the 28-year old Adam Goldberg who has been a reliable player for the Rams in the 10 games that he has started over the past three years. He has the versatility to play both guards and tackle positions on the line and is a player the Rams are very pleased to have. 24-year old John Greco, who started one game last season, adds depth at both tackle and guard.

At guard, the Rams were able to sign Jacob Bell from the Tennessee Titans to a six-year deal in the 2008 off-season but a number of injuries slowed him down in his first year with the Rams.  Bell is a very smart and intense player who will never give up and, although he has worked a lot to become stronger, he will never be a top run blocker. His agility and quick feet make him a very good pass protector as we saw last year when he allowed only 2.5 sacks despite playing through injuries. On the right side will be Richie Incognito, a 6’3” and 330 lbs guard, who missed most of the 2007 season due to a knee injury, but came back strong last season. He had suffered two season-ending knee injuries in only three seasons in the NFL so it was good news to see him play 15 games last season. When healthy, Incognito is a very good run blocker because of his great strength and especially his intensity. He has been known to lose his cool and is occasionally overaggressive on plays but with more experience he should become more controlled and a better player. Mark Setterstrom who has played only three games in the past two seasons because of knee injuries, adds depth.

The center position was a mess last season with Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg but all should be under control now after the signing of the three-year starter with the Ravens, Jason Brown. Brown is pretty strong and athletic at 6’3” and 320 lbs and is capable of pulling to the outside and block in motion. Brown was a center in college but played at guard for the Ravens until last season when he moved back to center. He is an average center in pass protection but is well above average in run blocking and will be a big asset for Steven Jackson in 2009.

2009 Outlook:
This Rams offensive line has been injury-depleted for the past two seasons but should be younger and better this season. In the 10 games that Pace, Bell, Incognito and Barron played together in 2008, the Rams averaged 3.9 yards per carry and allowed only 24 sacks. The loss of Pace will hurt in pass protection but Jason Smith is comparable in run blocking and Jason Brown is a big upgrade at center. In terms of depth, the Rams are in decent shape with Goldberg but Greco is still unproven and Setterstrom remains a question mark. There were so many injuries last season that although this group of five is less talented in pass protection, they should allow fewer sacks than the 44 allowed last year if everyone stays healthy. The big improvement however will come in run blocking where we expect the Rams to be well above the league average in yards per carry and could surprise many in 2009.

See all of our 2009 Offensive Line Analysis Articles