WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Since the Rams' bye week, quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked once and pressured 11 times on 58 dropbacks. Those are Stafford's fewest for both measures in a two-game span this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
The offensive line, which has been down two starters since the second game of the season, has kept Stafford's pocket very clean over the past two games. In place of injured offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila, rookie sixth-round pick Beaux Limmer has stepped up at center while undrafted rookie Justin Dedich has taken over the left guard spot more recently. Neither of them has allowed a sack in a combined 283 pass blocking snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
"(We are) just staying together for the most part, staying connected, playing as one." offensive lineman Alaric Jackson told theRams.com.
That success is a testament to the veterans' leadership, the rookies' adaptability, offensive line coach Ryan Wendell, assistant offensive line coach Zak Kromer and Mike Munchak, who has been in a consulting role with the team. Having been with the Rams since 2023, Wendell has taken ownership of the group and helped them succeed regardless of personnel or injuries. It hasn't been flawless, but the unit seems to have hit their stride post-bye week.
"(Wendell has) got a great way with the guys," said head coach Sean McVay. "To be able to communicate, to connect with them, to be able to teach and he's got an incredible humility where he's always learning. He's always asking questions, even though most of the questions he knows what the answers are. He has a very strong opinion on what (things) should look like."
McVay has been impressed with how "steady" and "even-keeled" Wendell has been in the face of adversity as well as the quick improvement of younger players like Dedich and Limmer.
Both players have been productive in pass protection and run blocking during their respective stints in the starting lineup, McVay said.
"When you look at Beaux, he's thrust into a role that's really challenging," McVay said. "We ask a lot of that center, especially as it relates to the communication and in a lot of instances we've been in absence of our verbal communication, and so it's a lot of the visual communication… (I've) been pleased with the improvement."
McVay added that Limmer has also become better physically as a blocker since being elevated into the starting lineup. He also said Dedich has "good instincts and awareness," boasting an ability to anticipate movements.
Offensive lineman Kevin Dotson said the unit's improvement out of the bye is mostly a product of continuity. That was never more obvious than last week against the Vikings. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known for bringing heavy pressure out of distinct looks, but the Rams' front had their best game of the season in arguably their toughest matchup to date. On 12 blitzes, Stafford wasn't pressured a single time.
Dotson said it was "a matter of time" before things started to click. He tries to give the younger players advice that he wished he had in his rookie year without trying to change their identity, and they've taken it in stride.
"The best person you can be is yourself," Dotson said. "So if we can keep them being themself but just to do it in a way that helps the entire o-line, that's what we can do."
One player that's really helped those younger guys develop has been offensive lineman Rob Havenstein. Dotson said that Havenstein has the authority to correct calls that the center makes if he sees something a different way, and that helps players be more knowledgeable and at ease with their assignments.
"(Havenstein is) not the center, but he has command over the o-line," Dotson said. "Whatever he says, we're gonna go with it."
Against Minnesota's unique pass rush scheme, Havenstein's presence was vital to the Rams' success. Dotson said with a short week of preparation, they were "reacting" to things the Vikings showed frequently on tape as opposed to preparing for every possibility. They achieved a level of comfort and trust in each other that was reflected in the stat sheet.
"(Beating Minnesota) shows us that we can get stuff done against complicated defenses… and just boosts our confidence," Dotson said. "Now we are going against people with pretty simple fronts, now we can say 'this is nothing compared to what we just did.'"
Dotson added that Seattle's pass rush scheme isn't complicated, but it's still not a straightforward base defense all the time.
The Seahawks blitz the passer at the eighth-lowest rate in the league, according to Next Gen Stats, so there likely won't be as much stress on the offensive line on Sunday. They can use that, along with 10 days between games, to build on their performance from last week.
"It's just like anything, the more continuity you have, (the better)," said offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. "These guys have played together for a few weeks so you expect improvement and we expect to even see more, and I know they expect to see more from themselves."
