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You just never know with this team...

I wonder if the idea is because of his injury, Jackson can play center but not guard next Sunday?

Will0120 wrote:Is this a case where Avila hasn't lived up to the expectation at C...?

Avila was phenomenal at LG last year ... Not many players in the NFL have his skill set especially for screens and passes in the flats ... Many big plays happened last season because of his pulling-style blocks. I'm hyped about this rumor.

I think Jourdan is saying: Because of the injuries at tackle, this switch makes sense.

So the thinking is Avila is better in space than Jonah Jackson. Alaric is better in space than Noteboom so you want Avila next to Noteboom more than you want/need him next to Alaric.

I posted in another posting,

That I notice JJ taking snaps at Center during OTA's

I feel this could be a better fit for both players, Avila back at LG and JJ at C.

Avila is a much bigger man that could anchor the LG, while JJ is slightly smaller,

and he would be best suited playing in the middle,

where he can be more of an assistant in the double team.

I think it is a good move.

I know I was in the tiny minority of fans who didn't want Avila moved to center. IMO his skills are wasted at center.

Moving Jackson to center makes far more sense IMO. I think Avila moves better than Jackson on the second level. As good as Jackson is, he's beginning to look injury prone. When they signed Jackson, the Rams gave themselves an out after this year contractually.

People disagreed with me when I predicted moving Avila back to LG and starting Limmer at center. People have now seen what I've seen in Limmer's tape that he's a pretty good starting center. Avila is being wasted at center and LG is a premium OL position second only to LT.

Avila is definitely a long term OL for the Rams while the jury is still out on Jonah Jackson. The Rams might be looking at Jackson as a one year starter with Limmer taking over next year. With McAllister on the roster they will still have decent depth next year at center.

Dotson and Avila are the key players long term at OG. They can't afford another injury to Jackson at LG during the season. If he is hurt it's easier to back him up with Limmer than Bruss.

That's why I think Limmer's play and Jackson's injury history is why this position swap is necessary and will work long term. Steve should actually like the move as it will pay him a lot more as a LG than at center.

In the Ram's gap oriented blocking scheme LG is far more key than center. This is why I was concerned when they moved Steve inside. Schematically, I think it will give Stafford more protection as well as providing better run blocking.

Don't miss construe I do like Jonah Jackson, but his injury history is a concern. With Limmer behind him it makes far more sense to move Jackson inside to center. Losing Jackson due to injury at center has far less impact than if he's at LG.

The other factor is losing Thomas to the Patriots. He played well at LG and gave the Ram's confidence in their LG depth. Losing him is a key factor in this move.

Elvis wrote:I wonder if the idea is because of his injury, Jackson can play center but not guard next Sunday?

This was my comment to JE on his YouTube pod.

Isn't Avila left handed? Maybe it's part of a comfort thing for Matthew.