One of the biggest storylines heading into the Los Angeles Rams Monday Night Football game against the Miami Dolphins was the return of offensive linemen, Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila. Both had been placed on the injured reserve early in the season and their addition back on to the active roster was going to mark a new version of the Rams offense. That is to say, one made up of nearly* all of their intended starters healthy and on the field.
*Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein missed the game due to an ankle injury.
The result wasn’t the turning point most expected, including head coach Sean McVay.
Jackson, who played center, had a rough day. He allowed three pressures and had the team’s worst PFF run-blocking grade on the team. He also launched a snap about 2 feet over Matthew Stafford’s head on a third and seven from the Miami 23, which resulted in a 12-yard sack forcing the Rams to kick a field goal.
Avila fared better, allowing no pressure, but also struggled in run blocking. Joe Noteboom, who was filling in for the injured Rob Havenstein, allowed a team-high six pressures.
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“..there was a lot of things that were not in alignment with what we’re looking for.” McVay told reporters post-game. “That’s why you hear us talk about the importance of continuity. Got a lot of respect for that defense, they did a nice job, but there (were) too many things that just seemed like we were off..”
He went on to say that not everything that was off was the fault of the offensive line, but there has been something off with the line since just before the season, perhaps pointing to a flaw going back to its inception.
The Rams’ big spending spree in free agency was re-signing right guard Kevin Dotson and adding Jackson… to play left guard. The contract makes him the 3rd richest left guard in the league.
But, the Rams already had a starting left guard in Avila, who they used their first pick in the 2023 draft to select. Vis-a-vis, the Rams believed they could move Avila from guard to center. Which isn’t without its evidence. He had played the position as a junior at TCU.
And that was the plan through training camp, up until about two weeks before the season, when they moved Avila back to guard and Jackon to center.
This was never the plan.
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This begs the question, can they trust this lineup on a short week when flying across the country to play the New England Patriots to build a semblance of continuity after just a handful of practices as currently constructed? McVay remained noncommittal.
“You never know, exactly. But we always try to do what we think is best. This will be some good film to be able to look at and see, “What do we think is the best way to put guys in the right spots to give them a chance to be successful — and ultimately, our offense'”