Countdown to Camp is a series breaking down the Rams roster by position group heading into the team's first open training camp practice. The first installment examines the offensive line.
Transitioning to a bigger, more physical offensive line in 2023, the Rams gained even more size this offseason. And, based on their projected starters, they enter training camp with the NFL's third-heaviest unit in 2024, according to offensive line/defensive line analyst Brandon Thorn, who published the Trench Warfare Newsletter.
The Rams brought back restricted free agent Alaric Jackson (signed 1-year tender), last season's starting left tackle, and also re-signed breakout right guard Kevin Dotson to a 3-year deal. They also signed former Lions guard Jonah Jackson to a 3-year deal in free agency, and his arrival led to Steve Avila sliding over from left guard to center. Rob Havenstein, a team captain and last season's starting right tackle, returns as well.
Here's how that projected starting five measures across the line:
- A. Jackson: 6-foot-7, 345 pounds
- J. Jackson: 6-4, 315
- Avila: 6-3, 338
- Dotson: 6-4, 330
- Havenstein: 6-8, 323
With four of those five starting along the offensive line last year, Los Angeles averaged the seventh-most total yards of offense (359.3). More importantly, it rebounded from 27th in rushing yards per game in 2022 to 11th in 2023, their average increasing by 22.6 yards. The improvement up front translated not only in the run game, but also the pass game – a bigger, more physical unit tied for the 6th-fewest sacks allowed last season after the 2022 edition – shuffling through 12 different combinations through the first 13 games due to injury – allowed the third-most.
Now, that unit puts Avila at center and adds Jonah Jackson.
"We've had some cross tape through the season so I was able to see the work that they do," Jackson said after signing with the Rams on March 14. "That's a powerful bunch. I came out the same year as Dotson so I had some familiarity with him through college and watching him, Steve, Alaric and Rob, that's a good group. Kind of similar to what we had in Detroit. There's some specialness there so I'm excited to be a part of it."
Jackson is the most intriguing piece to this heavier and slightly-reconfigured offensive line, and he arrived in Los Angeles with some schematic carryover from what Detroit did, namely in the run game.
"The gap scheme and the duo just in general is probably our bread and butter in Detroit and glad it's the bread and butter over here," Jackson also said on March 14. "So it's not going to be too hard of a transition and things like that are right up my alley."
An offensive line with that size and physicality not only should aid the run game and the pass game, but also the offense as a whole situationally – short-yardage and being able to control the clock late in games with a lead, as two examples.
It will be fun to see this group in action when the pads come on in training camp.
