Rams credited as 3rd best run blocking offensive line

The 2020 offseason seemed to show considerable favoritism towards Sean McVay rebuilding the LA Rams offensive line, or at least to add outside help to compete to start on the inside. Even within their own division, the Seahawks added Brandon Shell and Damien Lewis, the Cardinals added Kelvin Beachum and the 49ers added Trent Williams as new starters along the offensive line. But McVay didn’t draft an offensive lineman until the seventh round and other than Tremayne Anchrum not a single lineman on the team this season wasn’t on the team last season.

So far, so good.

With Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein at left tackle, Austin Blythe at center, Austin Corbett at right guard and David Edwards coming off the bench to start at left guard, the Rams offensive line has thus far returned to the abilities and strengths that we saw from that unit in 2017 and 2018. Los Angeles ranks fourth in net yards per pass attempt, Jared Goff has been sacked four times in four games and ProFootballFocus has even credited them as the third best run blocking unit the NFL.

Running back Darrell Henderson has 43 carries for 223 yards, a 5.2 average, and Malcolm Brown has 45 for 182. The team was expecting to see more of rookie Cam Akers at this point if not for injury, but they haven’t needed those broken tackles as much as they were expecting to either as the offensive line has opened the gaps for Henderson and Brown, both inside and outside.

The Rams face the Washington Football Team this week, a football team that has allowed 519 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground through four games already.