LOS ANGELES — Coming out of the Rams’ bye week, head coach Sean McVay and offensive line coach Ryan Wendell had a new point of emphasis for center Beaux Limmer.
The team had given up three sacks in three consecutive games. Limmer had made a couple of mental errors at the line of scrimmage when identifying the defensive fronts and the blocking assignments for the rest of the line. So, the Rams’ coaching staff wanted the rookie to work on his pre-snap identifications and communications.
Limmer started taking extra meetings with Wendell and studying extra film. But it was a simple adjustment before the team even got into its practices that helped Limmer the most.
“It starts in the walk throughs,” Limmer said. “In walk throughs, you can talk normally in your calls, but I made a point to make sure I was yelling out the calls in walk through, making sure the coaches knew I was confident in what I was calling and everybody around me was confident, too.”
And a helpful nudge from right tackle Rob Havenstein, keeping him accountable in the huddle when he hasn’t been loud enough at the line of scrimmage, has been helpful, too.
That’s led to a different story for the Rams’ offensive line in the last two games. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team allowed just one sack. And then last week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Rams had a clean sheet, not allowing quarterback Matthew Stafford to go down behind the line of scrimmage.
McVay says he’s been pleased with Limmer’s growth in the physical aspect of the game, using his lower-body strength to gain an edge in duo action in the running game. And he’s seen increased confidence from Limmer both in setting up protection and in executing in the games.
“I think he’s getting a better ownership of how that communication is so key and critical to provide clarity for the players around him,” McVay said. “We ask a lot of that center, especially as it relates to the communication. And in a lot of instances, we have been in absence of our verbal communication. So it’s a lot of the visual communication, it’s making sure that there’s an understanding, working that rapport with not only your guards but also with Matthew.”
A sixth-round draft pick out of Arkansas, Limmer has had to adjust to NFL defenses. In college, he could just look for the spots where he expected opposing players to be. At this level, he says he has to know players’ tendencies and be able to identify the personnel packages that are in the game.
And he’s found a new trick to help with that last aspect of the game.
“Now, as Matthew’s calling the play in the huddle, I’m turning around and looking at the personnel that’s on the field,” Limmer said. “Before I even get out of the huddle, I know what my call’s going to be so that gives me a lot more confidence.”
NOTES
Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (ankle) was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, the first true full practices for him since his practice window was opened two weeks ago. Noteboom was listed as a full participant on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, but those were walk throughs, not true practices ahead of the Rams’ Thursday night game.
Receiver Jordan Whittington (shoulder) and safety Kam Curl (knee) were partial participants, while defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (stinger) was held out of practice. McVay said Gallimore’s status for Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle is in question.
The Rams will not open the practice windows for offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Jonah Jackson (shoulder) or safety John Johnson III (shoulder) this week. But Jackson and Avila were working up a sweat Wednesday on the side of the field after the Rams’ walk through, doing blocking drills with each other.
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