LOS ANGELES -- Christopher Wallace eloquently asked, "What's beef?" The Rams have nearly a ton of it.
In an era where NFL quarterbacks are making seemingly a quarter of the salary cap, keeping him upright is increasingly paramount. The Rams utilized the entire offseason to answer the Notorious B.I.G.
With a strong focus on protecting their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, the Rams' front five has emerged as one of the most promising groups for this season. The addition of Jonah Jackson, the retention of Kevin Dotson, and the transition of second-year standout Steve Avila to center have formed a formidable trio on the interior.
With these acquisitions, the Rams can implement the gap-style run scheme that coach Sean McVay initiated last season. This shift in strategy is about bolstering the team's strength and it's a chance for the Rams to redefine their identity.
"What ended up happening is the evolution (of our development)," McVay said. "These guys have the ability to be physical, but they're also athletic enough to be able to do some different things where you can stretch people horizontally, you can get vertical removal.
"There is a big emphasis on keeping the integrity of the interior parts of the pocket, and so I think you'll get some of the success that we had with Steve with Kevin Dotson."
In years prior, the offensive line, often seen as a weak link, struggled to find consistency and was a patchwork of players piece-mealed to protect Stafford. Les Snead took notice and has erected an indomitable wall of mass that can impose its will.
Los Angeles will have the third-heaviest line in the NFL. Alaric Jackson has beefed up from 270 pounds to a solid 345-pound paperweight to protect Stafford's blindside. The sheer mass of this unit signals a shift towards a more dominant, forceful playstyle. There remain questions about Jackson's ability to hold up against the league's elite pass rushers,
Avila, who stood out as a left guard in his rookie campaign, is now the best value at center and he will be paid $2.1 million this season. He has experience playing the position dating back to his tenure at TCU and, with McVay, he is in the perfect scheme fit to highlight his skills.
The Rams' success this season will depend on the performance and health of this unit. With the injection of youth and attitude coupled with McVay's penchant for offensive schemes, Los Angeles has the potential to be transformative and dominant.
With Jackson's addition and the upside of Avila and Dotson, the Rams have positioned themselves to turn their offensive line into a strength rather than a liability.
"There's a long way to go, but if they continue to work, if they continue to stay together, if we are able to stay healthy, I think good things can be in store for them," McVay said.