With two new starters along the offensive line, an ankle injury sustained by number one RG Austin Blythe was less than ideal in Sunday's against the Saints.
Thanks to the play of versatile OL Jamil Demby, who stepped for Blythe, as well as the work of C Brian Allen and Joe Noteboom, the Rams ended up having little to worry about.
"Really, when you look at those three guys, very young group," McVay said. "They did a good job as the game progressed."
Though listed as a backup left guard on the team's unofficial depth chart, Demby spent time during the preseason playing multiple positions along the offensive line, likely aiding what McVay described as a "seamless" transition.
Demby played 42 of the Rams' 70 offensive snaps once he took over for Blythe.
"There's always going to be a couple things, whether you're a guy that's played a bunch of football or not that you can correct," McVay said of Demby. "You could see the game wasn't too big for him."
Meanwhile, Allen and Noteboom played 100 percent of the Rams' offensive snaps. Allen's play caught the attention of the evaluators over at Pro Football Focus, who tabbed him with the fifth-highest overall grade and highest run-blocking grade of any Rams offensive lineman who saw action in Sunday's contest.
"Brian Allen's really demonstrated a lot of maturity for a guy that's only started his second game at center," McVay said. "Joseph Noteboom took some steps in the right direction."
Collectively, their efforts helped pave the way for Los Angeles outscoring New Orleans 21-6 in the second half, paced by producing 207 of their 380 total yards of offense during that same stretch.
Blythe is currently day-to-day with his ankle injury. If he's unable to go against the Browns, Week 2 showed the middle of the Rams' offensive line should be just fine.
"They did a good job as the game progressed," McVay said.
