2017 Rams Roster Preview: C Austin Blythe, The Center Of Attention

Center hasn’t exactly been a position of strength for the Los Angeles Rams in recent history. The Rams released Demetrius Rhaney on June 20th and Tim Barnes is history. With John Sullivan likely entrenched as the starter, the teams needs to find a capable backup.

That’s where Austin Blythe hopes to factor in.

Roster Battle

It’s not the sexiest battle by any means, but Blythe and UDFA Jake Eldrenkamp are likely looking at a single spot. It’s rare when a team holds on to three centers unless they can pull double duty as a guard.

Blythe may have the slight edge as he has game experience with the Indianapolis Colts (8 games, 1 start), but both seem to be impressing so far:

Expectations

Coming out of Iowa, Blythe was considered a solid and dependable four-year starter who lacked physicality but made up with it using solid technique and gamesmanship.

Blythe was the odd man out last year after the Colts changed their GM. Regime changes, as we all know, typically make short work of the bottom half of the roster. He has experience at both center and right guard, which could factor in with the new regime’s carousel of offensive line changes.

Blythe has some in-game experience, so it seems logical that he would have the edge against Eldrenkamp, the rookie.

Chances of Making Final Roster (6/10)

Blythe has some game experience and versatility giving him the edge over Eldrenkamp, at least initially. With that said, McVay and his staff picked the UDFA for a reason, and he’s impressed, according to reports.

It’s not a sure bet, but it’s not exactly a bad one either.