EARTH CITY, Mo. — While the St. Louis Rams seem to be a popular choice among the national media as a possible surprise team this season, one thing is inescapably clear: For the offense to improve enough to win as many as nine or 10 games, a young offensive line will have to come together very quickly.
Meanwhile, that line was shuffled entering Saturday night’s 24-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts when rookie third-round pick Jamon Brown was shifted from right guard to left guard. Brown had been at right guard alongside second-round right tackle Rob Havenstein since the first day of OTAs and through the Thursday practice prior to Saturday’s game.
In practice, having seen enough of Brandon Washington at left guard as the replacement for injured left guard Rodger Saffold, center Demetrius Rhaney was at left guard. Rhaney started the Aug. 23 preseason game against Tennessee at center, as he had been in a competition with Tim Barnes and Barrett Jones for the starting center job.
Against the Colts, with Brown moving to left guard, Rhaney started and played right guard. Jones started at center after Barnes opened the preseason opener against Oakland.
Saffold has not practiced or played since suffering a shoulder injury on the fourth offensive play of the game against the Raiders. While it had been suggested that it might be best for Saffold to be at right guard next to the rookie Havenstein, head coach Jeff Fisher said the switch was made because Saffold is better at right guard and while Brown was mostly a tackle in college, that was also on the left side. Brown said he hadn’t played left guard since his freshman year at Louisville and was told about the move the day before the game.
When asked about separating the rookies on the right side, Fisher said, “No, I have no problem with playing them side-by-side. Just feel for the entire offensive line and communication standpoint we’re probably better that way.”
Still, he wouldn’t commit to saying the Saturday switch was permanent, but did say, “We’re going to consider it, yeah. I think Rodger’s really comfortable on the right. It’ll be a consideration and that’s particularly why we did it. Line him (Brown) up and let him work with (left tackle) Greg (Robinson) and then put Rodger over next to Rob.”
As for Jones’ play, Fisher said, “Barrett was good. He had the one issue, he had the one hold (actually a facemask penalty). Other than that, he was sliding well and communicating well. He did some things on the second level well. I was pleased with him.”
It’s unknown when a decision will come regarding the starting center, and there were those that wondered if making the guard switch would have been better to be done sooner.
“No, just something that we decided to do,” Fisher saiid. “You can see we’re playing people at all different positions. They have to have the versatility. Look at Garrett (Reynolds). Garrett’s playing all over the line right now. I think that’s important. Barrett’s got guard snaps. Demetrius has center and guard snaps. We’re just trying to get them settled down. It just helps them once they settle into the one position because they’ve got the experience.”
Fisher also said the inexperienced Rhaney, a seventh-round pick in 2014 who missed the entire season with a knee injury, has “done well” at guard. Said Fisher, “The guard position, in his defense, is a little easier. There’s a lot of thinking that goes on with the center spot. He’s handling that very well. At the guard position, you just line up and play.”
Against the Colts, Havenstein was badly beaten by linebacker Erik Walden on a play that resulted in a sack of quarterback Nick Foles.
Fisher said of Havenstein, “I thought Rob played well. He got beat off the snap on one, gave up the one sack, but he’ll learn from that.”
The always positive Foles said of the line, “We just have to keep working. It’s a process. We just have to, and I know it sounds like a broken record, but it really is every day you just have to keep working on it and keep thinking positive, keep correcting. If you mess up again, just keep correcting because they’re coming along. They’re getting better and better and they’re doing a great job right now. They’re going to continue to improve.”
–As good as the Rams are on the defensive line, two undrafted free-agent players – end Matt Longacre and tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat — are making a push for a roster spot and at least a job on the practice squad.
Trinca-Pasat played 54 snaps (74 percent) against the Colts, while Longacre played 42 (58 percent).
When asked specifically about Trinca-Pasat, Fisher said, “Both he and Matt have been really impressive. Matt’s playing both ends. Trinca-Pasat’s playing both tackles. They just make plays. They shock and shed people and get off blocks and penetrate and put pressure on the quarterback, so it’s been great to have them here.”
Notes: Left guard Jamon Brown suffered a lateral sprain to his right ankle, and while it’s doubtful he will play in the preseason finale against Kansas City, he should be OK for the season opener. Brown was retaped on the sideline after playing 21 snaps (the rest of the starting line played 29) and wanted to go back in and play. … Running back Tre Mason left the game against Indianapolis with a mild hamstring strain and could be questionable for the season opener. Said Fisher, “He felt it, so he shut it down on the play. He’s a quick healer, so we’re optimistic.” Mason described it as “a little tweak” and added, “I’m OK. It’s not bad.”
