The Los Angeles Rams’ plan all offseason was to start Jonah Jackson at left guard and move Steve Avila to center. The reason they signed Jackson to a three-year deal was because Avila had the position versatility to move from guard to center.
However, less than two weeks before the first game of the season, the Rams called an audible and shook up the O-line. They’ve moved Avila back to left guard and slotted Jackson in at center, a surprising decision – particularly this late in the summer.
Center is one of the most important positions on offense because of that player’s communication with the quarterback, so this move could have an impact on Matthew Stafford, too.
Unsurprisingly, he’s not worried about it. He has no concerns about Jackson’s ability to play center or Avila’s talent as a left guard.
“Yeah, I’m not too worried about it,” Stafford said on “Rams Revealed” this week. “Jonah’s a veteran player. We made a switch a couple of years ago during training camp in 2021 when I first got here. It wasn’t quite as late just because of the fact that Jonah really wasn’t practicing. Had he been practicing, I think that switch probably would’ve happened a bit earlier. But I do think we’re finding our way to get the best five out there in the best position to succeed. I have no qualms about how he’s going to play or how we’re going to play up front.”
Stafford played one year with Jackson in Detroit when Jackson was a rookie in 2020, so they do have some experience together beyond the work they got in this offseason. He also had Avila as his left guard last season; the rookie never missed a snap all year.
When healthy and available – Alaric Jackson is suspended two games and Rob Havenstein has an ankle injury – the Rams offensive line has the potential to be a top-five unit in the NFL. It may take a few weeks before we even get a chance to see all five starters together but the protection up front should be great at full strength.