[ramsman34]

Reinforce Success: OL.

I think you are correct. In fact, the more I think about it - the more that is the play if the talent is there to acquire. On defense, one could argue we are actually net sum better than last year, sans one part that needs replacing in Suh. Weddle, Mathews and Folwer upgrades over & Joyner, Barron, and well 1/2 season Fowler. Depth is the same as of now but a bit more seasoned. On offense we lost 2 Vet cogs - one Saffold - who played at a pro bowl level. We have 2 inexperienced guys currently chalked to replace them. Could that also be another 2 position upgrade? Sure. But counting on that is a fool’s errand. I think Snead et al have identified some sure fire starters on the o line in this draft that might just be available, and more than one player. If he can make the right moves and the draft opens up to him like he is hoping, if not predicting.

[CanuckRightWinger]

Guys, we saw in the SB how when our OLine was impotent.....so too was our Offensive Output....
...ie. impotent .....3 points, 9 punts, etc etc

We also saw how Jared Goff's skillset is adversely affected when he is not afforded First Class pass protection.....ie. 0-7 with Fisher's OLine in 2016.

If a rejuvenated (by SoCal air ) Clay Mathews is gonna be a designated ER for us, then what the heck are we worried about drafting a ER early? Seems to me we have made our move on ER position via the Mathews and Fowler signings, n'est-ce pas? Investments are already on the books.

To me, all the Coachspeak about "the readiness of Noteboom & Allen to start in 2019" from McVay and Snead has been subterfuge & bovine droppings for the 31 other NFL teams. McSnead's REAL plan is to purloin a coupla stud OLinemen EARLY IN THE DRAFT to replace Sully and Saffold. Watch how it will unfold...
...OL at #31 and one of the Third Rounders, is my prediction.
As always, JMO.

[AvengerRam]

My vote, by the way, was for defensive line.

I considered OL, but I think we can get adequate depth/future starters in the mid rounds.

I also considered CB, and would potentially go that route if the right guy were to fall (i.e. Greedy Williams, who will probably go much earlier) but, again... I think depth can be acquired later.

Finally, I considered EDGE, but I'm not expecting any of the top guys to be there at #31.

I see a need at DL, and I think there will be some very good options at #31 (potentially Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Jerry Tillery) who could come in and start right away.

[Hacksaw]

C

[Rams43]

Well, if the question is restricted to literally biggest “need”?

I would have to say it’s a coin flip between DL and Edge, although I think DL will be our pick at #31 because of the depth in this particular draft.

But I have to say this. Like zn, and others, I believe that Snead will take his highest rated player if we stay at #31. And I wouldn’t totally exclude any position there other than QB.

Our improved roster now makes such a strategy feasible.

[CanuckRightWinger]

I am somewhat surprised by the level of ambivalence regarding Los Ramos 2019 OLine.
Some rhetorical/realistic questions:

Is everyone here convinced that Allen can thrive as a solid NFL OC? I am not.
Joe Noteboom looked solid on some of the plays where he subbed-in for a dinged up Whitworth.....so Full Marks on a limited exposure random sampling for the Horned Toad guy from TCU.....
BUT....
Brian Allen was slated as a 7th Rounder/PFA by most 2018 draftnik publications. The few plays these old eyes watched Allen play during the Regular Season were frankly underwhelming.....Allen, the fiesty wolverine going up against seasoned Kodiak grizzly bear NFL DLinemen is how I saw the confrontations that Allen was involved in.....IE. Allen was not overpowering at the point-of-attack.

Rumour has it that Krommer likes wrestling types....well Blythe was the Iowa HS Champ, and Allen was the Michigan HS Champ....so we have a matched set....wahoo! Did anybody here think that NFL veteran Austin Blythe looked particularly powerful at his position versus the New England Patriots the first Sunday in February?? Me neither!!

Here's another hypothetical thought....WHAT HAPPENS IF 38 YEAR OLD WHITWORTH PULLS AN AQUB TALIB AND GOES DOWN FOR 10 GAMES OR MORE IN 2019 HUH????
No more Saffold to move over to be LT.
Noteboom is now our LG....so who covers for Noteboom. Demby??!!

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that McSnead are going OLine in a big way in the 2019 Draft. JMO.

[ramsman34]

I am with Canuck here. But, I think Les will trade out of the first round and land not only a starting interior OL, but also a starting DT with picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. If he stays at 31, he will go with the best player at OL, DT, Corner depending on who's available and how they compare - talent vs need. If, there is talent available early at OL and the Rams pass, then they really must believe heavily in Boom and Allen. Do remember that both players got significant practice reps all season and Boom looked very good replacing Whit second half of the last niner game. The actual drafted upgrade might be for Blythe, and as insurance for Whit - with Boom sliding to LT and this new rookie moving to LG, and Blythe back to RG.

[AvengerRam]

I am somewhat surprised by the level of ambivalence regarding Los Ramos 2019 OLine.
Some rhetorical/realistic questions:

Is everyone here convinced that Allen can thrive as a solid NFL OC? I am not.
Joe Noteboom looked solid on some of the plays where he subbed-in for a dinged up Whitworth.....so Full Marks on a limited exposure random sampling for the Horned Toad guy from TCU.....
BUT....
Brian Allen was slated as a 7th Rounder/PFA by most 2018 draftnik publications. The few plays these old eyes watched Allen play during the Regular Season were frankly underwhelming.....Allen, the fiesty wolverine going up against seasoned Kodiak grizzly bear NFL DLinemen is how I saw the confrontations that Allen was involved in.....IE. Allen was not overpowering at the point-of-attack.

Rumour has it that Krommer likes wrestling types....well Blythe was the Iowa HS Champ, and Allen was the Michigan HS Champ....so we have a matched set....wahoo! Did anybody here think that NFL veteran Austin Blythe looked particularly powerful at his position versus the New England Patriots the first Sunday in February?? Me neither!!

Here's another hypothetical thought....WHAT HAPPENS IF 38 YEAR OLD WHITWORTH PULLS AN AQUB TALIB AND GOES DOWN FOR 10 GAMES OR MORE IN 2019 HUH????
No more Saffold to move over to be LT.
Noteboom is now our LG....so who covers for Noteboom. Demby??!!

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that McSnead are going OLine in a big way in the 2019 Draft. JMO.

I understand your concerns, and agree that they are (for the most part) valid, but I'm not certain that, assuming the Rams share some of these thoughts, it will translate to taking an OL in the first round.

While I think there could be some good choices there, it would not surprise me if they wait until Round 3 and 4 to draft a couple of guys who can compete with Noteboom/Allen/Blythe, perhaps even as potential day 1 starters.

Let's not forget, at this time last year, we all presumed that Jamon Brown would be the starter. Then, Blythe (a former 7th round pick who was waived by the Colts) got his shot and took over the position to the point where Brown was deemed expendable. The same thing could happen this year.

[TorontoRamsFan]

My vote, by the way, was for defensive line.

I considered OL, but I think we can get adequate depth/future starters in the mid rounds.

I also considered CB, and would potentially go that route if the right guy were to fall (i.e. Greedy Williams, who will probably go much earlier) but, again... I think depth can be acquired later.

Finally, I considered EDGE, but I'm not expecting any of the top guys to be there at #31.

I see a need at DL, and I think there will be some very good options at #31 (potentially Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Jerry Tillery) who could come in and start right away.

Long time fan and first time poster! Love the board!

DL got my vote. Regarding the OL, I completely agree that we can acquire some good depth and potential starter(s) with our later picks. Personally, I put shoring up the run defense as our greatest priority and think that starts with addressing DL @ 31.

[Horny Mcbae]

Has to be OL right?

We go only as far as Jared can take us. We need to protect him.