Despite losing some key pieces this offseason, the Los Angeles Rams still have one of the best rosters in the league but have a big area of concern in 2019.
The Los Angeles Rams came oh so close to being back on the top of the mountain in Super Bowl LIII but ultimately fell short to the more experienced New England Patriots. The Rams had the talent to win easily but the offense did not show up and only scored three points.
The Rams had arguably the best all-around roster in the league last year but do not have the same luxury in 2019. The team has lost some key pieces over the offseason and does not have as much talent as a year ago.
This does not mean that the Rams are in bad shape, not at all. Los Angeles arguably still has a top-five roster in the league and can undoubtedly win the Super Bowl this season.
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There is one glaring area of the roster that could make the difference this year and either hold the team back or propel them into the Super Bowl. It isn’t losing Ndamukong Suh, it isn’t the worry about Todd Gurley‘s knee (although that is a big concern as well).
The thing that fans should be worried about the most heading into the 2019 season is the offensive line. This is an offensive line that the front office has made a conscious effort to make better and took a step back this offseason.
The team lost Rodger Saffold in free agency as well as veteran center John Sullivan. All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth is getting up there in age, as is the rest of the offensive line, which is on shaky ice.
The Rams’ offensive line certainly can be successful in 2019, but there is also a significant chance that it massively underwhelms. The line is one injury away from being in serious trouble, especially if that happens to Whitworth, who might not even be as efficient because of his age.
The bad part for Los Angeles is that the team did not make any huge efforts to improve the line as well as they were strapped with money and had to spend elsewhere. It might not seem like a massive need right now, but it very well could be the difference in the Rams being a 13 win team and a 10 win team.
Jared Goff has shown a ton of progression under Sean McVay but a lot of that is due to the offensive line. The second the line becomes unproductive and Goff gets pressured is the second that the offense falls flat.
This might not be as big of a worry with a mobile quarterback or an experienced quarterback that can make the decisions under pressure quicker.
But for the Los Angeles Rams, who have a young quarterback that is still experiencing some hiccups of the learning curve, the offensive line could be a problem in 2019.