THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams‘ offense flowed better — better than it did at any point last season — during Saturday’s preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, which offered the first meaningful sample size under this new, offensive-minded coaching staff. Jared Goff was more efficient, Todd Gurley was more patient, the receivers and tight ends were more, well, open.
But there was something else: The pocket looked cleaner, a product of a new offensive line that should be a lot stronger on Goff’s blind side.
Goff himself is already noticing the difference.
“No doubt,” the second-year quarterback said. “I think just as a whole, they’ve really worked together. They’re starting to jell, and I think you saw that last Saturday. The Oakland defensive line is no slouch. They’ve got some dudes over there, and they did a great job keeping them away and giving me a good pocket. It wasn’t just throw it and get hit; it was clean the whole night. It was. No one really around me.”
Behind the Rams’ offensive line last season, Goff absorbed an NFL-high 25 sacks over the final six weeks and Gurley averaged 1.59 yards before first contact for the entire season, ranked 41st among 42 running backs with enough carries to qualify.
The Rams have since replaced Greg Robinson, one of the game’s worst left tackles, with Andrew Whitworth, one of the game’s best. They kept Rodger Saffold, their best offensive lineman last season, at left guard. And they brought in veteran center John Sullivan, who spent last season as a backup under Sean McVay — now the Rams head coach — with the Redskins and seems to be fully recovered from prior back injuries. On the right side are third-year players Rob Havenstein (tackle) and Jamon Brown (guard).
Gurley needed only eight carries to reach 38 rushing yards Saturday, and Goff only took one sack, courtesy of reigning defensive player of the year Khalil Mack. Through the first two preseason games, Pro Football Focus has the Rams’ first-team offensive line allowing just three pressures on 109 pass-blocking attempts.
That is stunningly low for any team, but particularly the Rams.
“It’s been a good camp,” Gurley said. “We’ve been getting better. Each game, we’ll see how we do. We just have to go out there and just compete and communicate. Even though I might have a 1-yard run, we may have done one or two things, whether it’s me or a lineman or someone back side — 1-yard runs can always be 20-yard runs. It’s just the little things, going out there and communicating. Then the next game, having the same exact look and making sure we get it right.”