Rams expect time together will be beneficial to reconfigured offensive line

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With a win under their belt and no new injuries to account for, the Los Angeles Rams can focus on getting better instead of trying to make sure things don’t get any worse.

“It’s been a while since that’s been the case,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said Wednesday. “Obviously, we got guys behind the scenes trying to get back as fast as they possibly can, but nice to go from one week to the next and not have any changes. So we can kind of try to build off of what we did.”

The Rams (1-2) see the offensive line as the position group particularly likely to benefit from the newfound continuity. They have three of their projected starters — left tackle Alaric Jackson, right guard Kevin Dotson and right tackle Rob Havenstein — back in action while rookie center Beaux Limmer and first-time starter at left guard Logan Bruss got better as the game went on against the San Francisco defensive line on Sunday.

Dotson felt like the group came together in the fourth quarter, helping the Rams overcome a 10-point deficit to win 27-24. The offense gained 126 of its 296 yards in the final 15 minutes, averaging 7.88 yards per play and getting into the red zone three times.

“I felt like it was no hesitation in our play,” Dotson said. “And it felt like we understood what had to be done to get where we wanted to go. Everybody just put their head down, trust the guy next to him, and just play.”

Working together is the only way for an offensive line to come together, Dotson said. But the Rams benefited from some previous experience among the current configuration that helped jumpstart the process.

Limmer and Truss played next to each other as reserves during training camp, and then Limmer, the sixth-round pick from Arkansas, got time as the first-team center during a joint practice with Houston.

“As far as moving everybody around, it’s kind of real comfortable in there,” Limmer said.

That week in Houston was also important in allowing Limmer to get comfortable with Stafford, who in turn has been able to use his 16 years of experience to help expedite the working relationship between quarterback and the new center.

“So far everything’s going real smooth, and he helps me out with all the protections, all the spots, everything when I need it, so it’s been great,” Limmer said.

Dotson also expressed the value in the new starting five being able to spend time together off the football field, which is equally important with how quickly the unit had been shuffled.

Steve Avila, who had been expected to start at center but was moved to left guard for the season opener in Detroit, is likely out through October because of an MCL injury. Jonah Jackson, who alternated between center and left guard for the first two weeks, is on injured reserve after aggravating a shoulder injury he sustained in camp. Havenstein missed one game because of an ankle injury, and Alaric Jackson was suspended for two games.

“I haven’t been on a team where it all happened that fast or having that many people out at one time,” Dotson said.

Even with the victory over the 49ers under their belt, there is plenty of room for the offensive line to improve. The run game has yet to top 98 yards or 3.8 yards per carry. Stafford has been sacked 10 times. Those areas will have to be addressed against the defense of the Chicago Bears (1-2) on Sunday.

Coach Sean McVay thinks time together is what can allow this iteration of the offensive line, and the Rams as a whole, to be at its best.

“I do think that the best units, whether it’s offensively or defensively, there’s continuity,” McVay said. “There’s a rapport that’s established. There’s kind of an unspoken ability to work in concert and in combination with one another, and that’s what I’m hopeful to start to see us be able to develop, whether that’s offensive line, Matthew with the receivers, backs getting comfortable with some of the different things that we’re doing, and same thing on defense.”

NOTES: The Rams do not plan on designating CB Darious Williams to return from injured reserve this week. Williams strained his hamstring in training camp.

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Dan Greenspan, The Associated Press