Eagles Tremendous Bowl win exhibits Rams should get offensive line proper in 2025

When the Philadelphia Eagles gained Tremendous Bowl 59, the explanation was clear all through the sport. Defensively, the Eagles dominated on the line of scrimmage. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t snug from the primary drive. On the offensive line, the Eagles allowed a strain fee of simply 23.3 %. They proceed to be one among, if not the perfect, offensive line within the NFL.

After the Foles Tremendous Bowl I went to Philly to do a bit on how the Eagles gained with analytics. Somebody excessive up there who loves analytics laughed at me once I instructed him the angle and mentioned “We are always good because of our trenches. Everything else comes after.”

— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) February 10, 2025

Whereas the Los Angeles Rams defensive position was good in 2024, the identical couldn’t be mentioned in regards to the offensive line. From the onset of coaching camp, it was a gaggle that was surrounded by chaos and alter.

The Rams signed Jonah Jackson in free company, just for him to overlook OTAs after which instantly get harm in coaching camp. Initially, the plan was to maneuver Steve Avila to heart which is the place he performed throughout his sophomore and junior seasons at TCU. Nevertheless, simply weeks earlier than the season, the Rams opted to play Jackson at heart. It’s price noting that Jackson hadn’t performed heart since his early seasons in school. That additionally doesn’t point out that Alaric Jackson missed the primary two weeks of the season attributable to a suspension.

This was a gaggle of 5 that was by no means in a position to settle in and achieve any cohesiveness. Even after coaching camp, Steve Avila received harm together with Rob Havenstein. The Rams didn’t take a single snap with their preseason beginning 5 all on the sphere on the similar time. When the offensive line was lastly wholesome, Beaux Limmer deservedly earned a beginning spot at heart.

The Eagles offensive line solely ranked 14th in continuity rating in 2024. With that mentioned, it’s a gaggle that has grown collectively for a lot of the previous three years. With Jeff Stoutland because the offensive line coach, the Eagles have among the best offensive line growth paths within the NFL. It’s a purpose why they had been in a position to transfer on from Jason Kelce so rapidly. Cam Jurgens was a second-round choose that was in a position to slot into that spot.

That ecosystem is a well-oiled machine the place gamers can slot out and in of various positions with out a lot of a drop-off. It’s a purpose why they will take possibilities on a participant like Mekhi Becton and switch him into a high quality starter.

It’s practically not possible to duplicate what the Eagles have constructed on that facet of the ball. Nevertheless, the Rams didn’t essentially assist themselves final summer season both. The Rams can’t spend one other offseason with so many adjustments on the offensive line and the entrance workplace has to get it proper. It is a group that has to get reps collectively throughout the summer season which they didn’t get final yr.

There are loads of potential adjustments to this group with solely two assured starters in Avila and Kevin Dotson. The Rams want to have Alaric Jackson again, however as a 26-year-old free agent left deal with, he might command greater than they need to pay. Jonah Jackson isn’t assured again. It’s attainable that each side merely need to settle for that it wasn’t a match. Rob Havenstein is a constant presence, however he’s within the ultimate yr of his deal and is 33-years-old.

This isn’t to say that the Rams offensive line was dangerous after they all performed collectively. Within the video games that the Rams did have their beginning 5, the upside inside the offense was apparent. Nonetheless, the Rams entrance workplace can take a number of totally different paths with the offensive line this offseason and they’re going to possible look to improve sure spots.

Evaluating OTs when left on an island

PFF

Whichever path they select, it needs to be the best one. It’s no coincidence that all through the Sean McVay period, the offenses have been at their greatest when the offensive line has been contained in the top-10. In 2018, the Rams had the fifth-ranked pass-blocking offensive line in line with PFF. They ranked third in offense EPA per play that season. When the Rams gained the Tremendous Bowl in 2021, that they had PFF’s top-rated pass-blocking offensive line.

It goes the opposite approach as properly. The 2019 season was the primary time that McVay missed the playoffs and the offensive line ranked twenty ninth. In 2022, it ranked twenty fifth. The Rams offensive line handled loads of accidents in 2024, however they nonetheless ranked thirtieth in pass-blocking in line with PFF. It’s virtually shocking that they had been in a position to get well from a 1-4 begin.

Once more, the Rams defensive position is in a great place. That’s a gaggle that took over video games after they wanted to. They ranked tenth in quarterback strain fee final season at 35.6 %. With Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner, that could be a group that’s in a great place shifting ahead. They’ve the flexibility to persistently disrupt video games.

The offensive line is the place the Rams should get it proper. The Rams want Avila to take a step ahead in yr three and decide on the place they need to play him shifting ahead. Between shifting him round and the early-season harm, Avila took a step again. They should determine whether or not Jackson and Limmer are their beginning left deal with and heart or in the event that they need to take a danger with an unknown amount.

From there, it’s about including dependable depth. No workforce began all 5 offensive linemen in all 17 video games final yr. It’s unrealistic to remain wholesome up entrance over the course of a whole season. The Rams must improve from Joe Noteboom and discover depth alongside the inside. If there’s a case to maintain Jonah Jackson, it’s that he’s at the very least a top-backup, albeit an costly one.

The window to win one other Tremendous Bowl with Matthew Stafford is closing. For the Rams to reap the benefits of the ultimate years of Stafford, they want to have the ability to shield him. To try this, they should get it proper in an offseason that might convey loads of adjustments on the offensive line.