Tag: Rob Havenstein

What will the Rams’ offensive line look like when Alaric Jackson returns?

When Alaric Jackson returns from his injury, what will the Rams’ offensive line look like?

Ahead of Sunday’s overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Rams ruled out Alaric Jackson, prompting the team to shake up the offensive line again. Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals and it remains to be seen if he’ll be available in Week 5 versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Jackson returns to the field, what could the offensive line look like?

Upon Jackson’s exit from the game against the Bengals in Week 3, Zach Thomas replaced him at left tackle. Thomas would struggle in relief of Jackson and the Rams elected to make him a healthy scratch on Sunday against the Colts.

Instead of starting Thomas, the Rams moved Joe Noteboom back to left tackle and activated Kevin Dotson for the first time this season. Dotson would make the start at right guard and he performed well in his first game since being acquired via trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

According to PFF, Dotson finished with an impressive 86.0 overall grade (89.3 run-blocking, 60.8 pass-blocking), which led all offensive linemen on the Rams in the overtime victory over the Colts. Comparatively, Noteboom concluded Sunday’s game with a below-average 44.5 overall grade and he now has a 42.1 overall grade on the season (51.0 pass-blocking grade, 24.7 run-blocking grade).

While PFF grades aren’t the end-all, be-all when dissecting players’ performances, Noteboom hasn’t been a bright spot on the offensive line. Whether it has been at left tackle or right guard, Noteboom hasn’t shown anything that suggests he should be a definitive starter.

Whenever Jackson returns, it’s clear that he’ll be the starting left tackle again with how good he looked before sustaining his injury. The other starters moving forward should be Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Dotson, and Rob Havenstein, leaving Noteboom on the bench as a backup tackle and guard.

Rams’ offensive line finished 3rd in aggregated pass protection ratings in Week 1

The Rams finished 3rd in aggregated pass protection ratings in Week 1 after keeping Matthew Stafford clean against the Seahawks.

One of the positives that came from Week 1 for the Los Angeles Rams is the fact the new-look offensive line performed admirably well. After a stellar outing to begin the season, the Rams’ offensive line finished third in aggregated pass protection ratings in Week 1 versus the Seattle Seahawks.

To come up with the aggregated ratings, PFF grades and SIS scores were weighted at 40 percent each. The final 20 percent came from ESPN’s pass-block win rate, which was the only metric that was vastly different for the Rams.

 

Injuries and inconsistency led to the Rams allowing Matthew Stafford to be sacked 29 times in only 9 starts in 2022. The offensive line surrendered 59 total sacks a season ago.

Following a dismal season in the trenches, the Rams added new faces and made alterations to the starting offensive line. The five starters in Week 1 from left to right were Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Joe Noteboom, and Rob Havenstein.

With a new starting five in place, the Rams allowed five total pressures and zero sacks in a 30-13 win over the Seahawks on the road. Sean McVay had nothing but positive things to say about how the offensive line performed in the season opener.

While it was a step in the right direction for the Rams’ offensive line, they’ll be tasked with slowing down the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Stats show Rams’ offensive line was one of NFL’s best in Week 1

The Rams’ offensive line looked great in Week 1 against the Seahawks and the stats back that up.

Many were curious to see how the new-look offensive line of the Los Angeles Rams would perform in Week 1, and they didn’t disappoint. Following Sunday’s lopsided win over the Seattle Seahawks, stats show just how dominant the offensive line of the Rams was in the season opener.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams’ pass-blocking grade of 84.8 is the second-highest of any team in the NFL through Sunday’s games in Week 1. They allowed just five pressures all game long, which is an impressive number compared to last year’s performances up front.

To begin the season, the Rams deployed a starting offensive line of Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Joe Noteboom, and Rob Havenstein. Matthew Stafford had plenty of time to survey the field in the passing game, and most importantly, the offensive line didn’t allow the veteran quarterback to be sacked.

Moving Noteboom to right guard and having Jackson take his place at left tackle was the most notable alteration the Rams made in the trenches. It certainly panned out — at least for now — as Jackson currently boasts the third-highest pass-blocking grade among offensive linemen in Week 1.

Injuries and inconsistent play plagued the offensive line of the Rams in 2022, which led to Stafford enduring multiple injuries himself. As a team, the Rams allowed 59 sacks a season ago, making it the most sacks given up in a single season during Sean McVay’s tenure with the organization.

It is only one week, but the first impressions of the new-look offensive line are undoubtedly positive. Each starter finished with a pass-blocking grade of 73 or higher in Week 1, according to PFF. After keeping Stafford upright against the Seahawks, the Rams’ offensive line unit will be tasked with slowing down a dynamic defense in the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Rob Havenstein left practice with a stinger but is expected to be OK

Rams RT Rob Havenstein suffered a stinger in practice on Thursday and did not return, but Sean McVay expects him to be OK.

The Rams shuffled their offensive line constantly last season but the one steady presence up front was Rob Havenstein. They hope he can stay healthy again in 2023 and though he left practice early on Thursday with an injury, he’s expected to be OK.

Sean McVay told reporters after practice that Havenstein got “a little stinger in his neck” but it doesn’t sound like anything the Rams need to be overly concerned with.

“I think he’s OK. I was just talking to him before I came out here. Just a little stinger in his neck is what the early prognosis is,” McVay said.

Havenstein is locked in as the starting right tackle, which was the only O-line spot that was already settled before spring workouts even began. Logan Bruss has been backing him up but there’s a steep drop-off from Havenstein to the reserve players so the Rams need him to stay healthy all year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Rams are keeping Logan Bruss at RT, which hurts his path to playing time

The Rams drafted Logan Bruss to play guard, but they’ve realized he’s best a tackle – which hurts his chances of playing anytime soon

The Los Angeles Rams couldn’t get a good look at their top draft pick from 2022, Logan Bruss, after he suffered a torn ACL in the preseason last year. He was expected to compete for the starting spot at right guard last year, but the injury prevented him from ever taking a regular-season snap.

His chances of starting this season aren’t much better. The Rams have been playing Bruss at right tackle all offseason, beginning in OTAs and minicamp. That’s continued in training camp and Sean McVay said on Saturday that it’s unlikely to change.

The Rams are keeping Bruss at right tackle moving forward, which is disappointing news for the second-year lineman. That gives him very little chance to play this season unless starting right tackle Rob Havenstein gets hurt.

“He had played 17% of his snaps at guard at Wisconsin, but 83% of them at tackle and he looks more comfortable out there. I think that’s probably where he’ll stay for now,” McVay said. “He can always potentially bump inside, but you could see – I think it was important for him by necessity, but also coming off the injury. I think it was important to be able to stack some good days and he’s got a good look in his eye. I think he’s really comfortable outside at that tackle position. Does that mean he’ll never play guard again? We might be forced into adjusting that, but I think right now being able to keep him at tackle and continue to figure out what’s going to be that best combination.”

It sounds like the Rams realized they were playing Bruss out of position at guard. As McVay mentioned, Bruss primarily played right tackle at Wisconsin, but he also lined up at guard some games.

At 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, he’s 3 inches shorter and 21 pounds lighter than Havenstein, so he doesn’t exactly have the biggest frame or the length as a right tackle. That’s why the Rams projected him to play guard, where players get away with being a bit shorter than they do at tackle.

Havenstein is unquestionably locked in as the starter at right tackle, so Bruss isn’t going to overtake him anytime soon. It’s possible the Rams will be forced to move Bruss back inside to guard if injuries occur, but it doesn’t sound like that’s their preferred plan for the 2022 third-round pick.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Rob Havenstein shares one ‘really important’ trait that OL coach Ryan Wendell brings to Rams

Rob Havenstein spoke about the value of Ryan Wendell’s playing experience now that he’s coaching the Rams’ O-line

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t just make personnel changes this offseason. Sean McVay’s coaching staff also looks very different after letting several assistants go and bringing in replacements.

Among the new faces on the Rams’ staff is Ryan Wendell. Fans might recognize his name from his playing days, spending nine years in the NFL from 2008-2016. He even won a Super Bowl as a starter with the Patriots in 2014, playing 80 total games in his career.

His experience as a player is something that’s very evident to Rob Havenstein already, in a good way, too. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Havenstein mentioned how impressed he’s been with Wendell thus far, particularly because he knows what it’s like to be in the players’ shoes.

“You can tell he’s played before. And that’s something that’s really important,” Havenstein said of Wendell. “I mean, you don’t have to have to have played – obviously, there’s a lot of great coaches who haven’t played – but in terms of like relating to a new group, and especially a young group, because, I mean, he did it for nine years, right? So he understands the game, he understands the politics, he understands about being in the seat, like a player’s seat in the meeting room, and kind of how things are. So he’s very specific with his words and how he words things and what he’s telling guys, and I think it’s a good thing because it’s a good, uniform message, and especially with how young we are, everyone’s hearing the same thing.”

Wendell replaced Kevin Carberry, who spent two years with the Rams in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Saints as their assistant O-line coach this year. Los Angeles didn’t bring Carberry back, likely in part because of the struggles along the O-line in 2022.

Wendell will hopefully get the blocking back on track this year and it sounds like he’s already off to a good start.

“He’s not a screamer, he’s not a shouter,” Havenstein continued. “He’s gonna make sure you know what you’ve gotta do, and then he’s gonna put it on you to go ahead and get it done. And I think that’s the way NFL football should be. At the end of the day, it’s up to the player. The coach can’t play on Sunday. I think we’ve got a really good relationship going in here – not just myself, but everyone in the room – and gonna continue to build that here in training camp and see where he can take this thing.”

Wendell is in his first year as an offensive line coach, spending four years as an assistant O-line coach with the Bills. McVay is confident the 37-year-old can right the ship up front in L.A. and Havenstein seems to share the same feeling.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Rams’ 23 most important players for 2023 – No. 4: RT Rob Havenstein

Rob Havenstein is a player the Rams can always count on and he’ll once again be an important piece of the offense

A lot of attention gets paid to Rams veterans such as Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford, but Rob Havenstein is one of the longest-tenured players on the roster and also one of the most important.

He’s been a starter for the Rams since 2015 and has played particularly well in recent years, providing some stability as their right tackle. Even when things got really shaky up front last year, Havenstein was out there playing at a high level.

Heading into the 2023 season, Havenstein remains a critical piece of the offense as a leader and stud at right tackle.

Ranking the right tackles in the NFC West entering 2023

There are likely going to be two new starting right tackles in the division in 2023.

On the offensive line, left tackles get the most attention. However, right tackles are equally as important in the NFL now with many teams having a pair of good edge rushers and because good pass rushers often switch sides.

We looked at the right tackles in the division already. In 2023, the San Francisco 49ers will have a new starter as Mike McGlinchey signed with the Denver Broncos, and the Cardinals have a battle for the starting right tackle job.

How do the right tackles in the division stack up?

Previous NFC West rankings:

Starting quarterbacks

Backup quarterbacks

Running backs

Running back duos

Wide receivers

Wide receiver trios

Tight ends

Left tackles

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Badger Countdown: Number 79 looking for rebound year in NFL

The return of Badger football is now 79 days away as Luke Fickell and his squad launch their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at home.

The return of Badger football is now 79 days away as Luke Fickell and his squad launch their 2023 campaign Sept. 2 versus Buffalo at Camp Randall. Former Wisconsin offensive lineman Rob Havenstein wears number 79 for the Los Angeles Rams and he’s looking for a rebound year.

Havenstein spent the 2010-2014 seasons as a member of the Badgers and he was a part of Wisconsin’s three-year run of making the Rose Bowl from 2011-2013. The offensive tackle went on to be selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams (now Los Angeles).

He remains with the organization and was their starting right tackle when they won the 2022 Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. The team finished the year with a 12-5 regular season record and won their first championship since moving to LA in 2016.

Havenstein and the Rams struggled to remain healthy and effective last season, finishing the year with a disappointing 5-12 record. The squad will look to rebound in 2023.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

Is Wisconsin the O-Linemen U?

There are always conversations about which CFB program produces the best players at which positions, but Wisconsin has been elite on the OL.

There are always conversations about which college football program produces the best players at which positions, but Wisconsin has been as good as any at churning out top offensive linemen.

Over the last 30 years, Wisconsin has produced the most Round 1-3 NFL Draft selections in the Big Ten and they’re tied for first in total picks and first round selections.

With former Badger offensive tackle Joe Thomas (drafted in 2007) set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in August and center Joe Tippmann being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and Tyler Beach signing with the Texans, some of the best offensive linemen have come through Madison over the years.

Other Badger linemen in the league include Ryan Ramczyk, Rob Havenstein and Kevin Zeitler amongst others.

Although it may not be sexy, Wisconsin needs to be given the recognition it deserves for molding some of the best offensive linemen in the country.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]