Rams O-Line? Andrew Whitworth ‘Loves’ Steve Avila, Predicts ‘Surprise’ Success
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Despite no longer being a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Andrew Whitworth still harbors a close relationship with the organization. As a future Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman, his expertise in front-line blocking remains invaluable.
And he thinks a pleasant “surprise” might be forthcoming.
Following a tumultuous 2022 season characterized by 11 different offensive line combinations in as many weeks, Whitworth anticipates a substantial improvement in protection for the upcoming season; as he said on a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen Show,
He believes that the Rams' younger players gaining valuable experience, coupled with the potential rookie starter Steve Avila of TCU stepping in, will bode well for their overall progress.
Said Whitworth: “I think they're gonna be a lot better; I love the pick of the kid out of TCU. I think they've got some young linemen now that have played, and they'll be more experienced.
“I really look for them to be a little bit of a surprise."
Considering the relatively weaker state of the NFC this season, Whitworth believes the Rams could potentially emerge as one of the “surprise” teams as well.
In addition, Whitworth emphasizes that the critical factor will be the health of pivotal players such as Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp. Their ability to remain injury-free and the remaining veteran players will significantly influence the team's chances.
“It’s really gonna come down to, can those three guys – and the veteran guys that are left – stay healthy? Because if they lose one or two of those guys, it’s gonna get bad quickly. That’s really the truth about their team,” Whitworth said.
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