O-Line for 08

[editor's note, by VanRam]I've bumped this diary to get our morning started off with a little discussion of the O-line outlook for next season...and beyond. This afternoon position reviews/looks ahead kick off with running backs. It's not as simple of a picture as you might imagine for the Rams. Also, some Rams-related Super Bowl trivia coming as well. --VanRam

After the disastrous 07 season, the Rams have got to take some serious inventory when dealing with the depth and future stocking of the O-Line. In my opinion, the Rams should really stock up on both lines for this draft.  Even if we did nothing at all to retool our offensive skill positions I think we'd be very good with a solid O-Line.  Let's look at what we have:

Orlando Pace LT : Let's hope Orlando can stay healthy (a big hope) and we'd be fine at LT for 08

Todd Stussie LT/RT : Good bye.  Too old.

Mark Setterstrom LG:  I think he's a danm good player.  Keep him healthy and he'll be there for a long time.

Andy McCollum C:  Happy Retirement, Doughnut Bro.  We'll miss you.

Brett Romberg C: He'd be okay as a backup.  Nothing more.

Richie Incognito RG: After much deliberation, this year will be it for this dude.  He's got to A) Stay healthy the entire season and B) Stay away from stupid ass penalties.  If he can't do both, then farewell.  He just fits into the category of countless athletes who have all the talent in the world but they are too damn stupid to have an amazing career.  Last strike year, Richie.

Alex Barron RT: Mister Snooze.  Wake up or walk, pal.  Another player with a last strike year.

Milford Brown RG/RT/LT/RG/C: In an ideal season, Milford word be great to have as insurance for a series or game or two.  As a starter.....I don't know.  Great backup, but.....

Brandon Gorin RT: Apparently he started in a Super Bowl for New England.  What happened?  I guess he'd be okay for a backup, but, seriously, what happened between then and now?

Nick Leckey, Mark LeVoir, Rob Petitti: Thanks for trying to help out. You guys can go back to AutoZone or bouncing at nightclubs or wherever the hell you guys came from. Yes, you can keep all the jerseys and towels you want.

Bewtween injury concerns and character issues we DO NOT HAVE ONE reliable O-lineman for next year.  After reading this list I am shocked we won 3 games.  

Can this be fixed in an offseason?  Man, I don't know....  Let's look at who we'll keep (or should keep)to start:

Pace, Setterstrom, Incognito, Barron

Backups:

Brown, Romberg (?), and...wow...

So we have to fill AT LEAST one starter and 3 to 4 backup positions.  

On the free agent market Faneca is the wet dream, Lilja is the night boner, and Ruben Brown is the boob flash of interior lineman.  Anyone of these guys would be an upgrade over what we have.

So that leaves us with Tackle and Center.  Thankfully, this draft has some doozies for tackles.  I am not big on Jake Long.  I think we should go defense on our first pick. I think there will be amazing quality on our second pick for tackle.

As far as center goes, we have 4 options: A) Go with Romberg and pray. B) Slide Incognito in, pray harder and sign one of the aforementioned guards. C) Draft a the best center possible with our third pick. D) Hope Dustin Fry spent his offseason in Siberia training like Rocky.

To be honest, I don't know what the hell this organizaiton would do.  Who does?

Here's my starters and reserves to make us compete in 08:

LT Pace                 Res. LT Carl Nicks (Neb.)
LG Faneca               Res. LG Incognito
C  Steve Justice (Wake) Res. C Romberg or Fry
RG Setterstrom          Res. Brown
RT Barron               Res. Nicks or Brown

Your thoughts?