Although there had been plenty of speculation regarding some of the new pieces along the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line heading into the 2019 NFL season, it is safe to say that the protection has hardly been an issue thus far.
Center Brian Allen and guard Joseph Noteboom have put together stellar outings in their first couple of starts. This group suffered a bit of a setback when right guard Austin Blythe was carted off the field with an ankle injury in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.
Fortunately, offensive lineman Jamil Demby was able able to fill in as a viable replacement for Blythe en route to the 27-9 victory over the Saints. It seems McVay is impressed with what he has seen from the younger members of his offensive line thus far.
According to Stu Jackson of the team’s official website, McVay shared some high praise for their performance to start the year:
“Really, when you look at those three guys, very young group,” McVay said. “They did a good job as the game progressed.”
McVay was happy to see Demby’s ability to adjust to the situation against a very tough defensive line:
“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.”
He added that both Allen and Noteboom have made tremendous strides in their development in their first two games:
“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.”
McVay’s excitement is certainly understandable. The Rams boasted one of the most consistent offensive line groups over the last two seasons, however, the departure of center John Sullivan and left guard Rodger Saffold left some rather notable voids up front.
It is clear that Los Angeles had good reason to be confident about Allen and Noteboom’s ability to step up and establish themselves and bonafide starters. Furthermore, the emergence of their young depth is certainly a promising sign for this unit moving forward.
While there was plenty of initial concern regarding the state of Blythe’s injury, McVay says he is currently listed as day-to-day heading into Week 3 versus the Cleveland Browns. If he is unable to go, the Rams can take solace in the fact that Demby will be able to step up in his absence.
