2022 Rams Offensive Line—11 Game 11 Different Starting Lineups

 By John Turney 

This week Elias Sports Bureau stated that the Rams are the only team in the Super Bowl era to have eleven different starting offensive lines in its first eleven games.

We doubt it happened before 1966 either. 

With eleven different combinations of starting offensive linemen, it is also the most used in a single season for Los Angeles and there are seven weeks to go so there is a possibility that number could grow by a few more.

Prior to 2022, the most Rams offensive line starting combinations was ten in 2007. In 2011 there were also numerous injuries along the offensive line but even then they had eight combinations, which is a lot, but not like this season.

In 2022 the Rams have fallen to 3-8 after going 12-5 (winning the Super Bowl) in 2021. In 2007 the Rams fell from 8-8 to 3-13. Four years later the 2011 Rams were 2-14 after going 7-9 in 2010. 

Without a doubt that many injuries to the offensive line are season-wreckers. Offenses simply cannot function if they cannot protect the passer or run the ball. 

The declines in the offenses are stark. 

In 2006 the Rams offense was 10th in scoring and sixth in total offense. The next year they were 28th and 24th in the same categories. In 2010 the Rams offense was not stellar, ranking 26th in points and yards but fell to 31st and 32nd in 2011. 

In 2022 the Rams offense is among the worst in the NFL ranking 29th in points and 31st in yards falling from 7th and 9th in 2021.

There have been several seasons when the Rams had seven different lineups including 2012 and 2013, 2016, and 1991. In the former two, the Rams managed to go 14-17-1 but in the latter two, they were 7-25 combined. Somehow the 2012-13 teams kept comparatively afloat which is the exception not the rule in Rams annals. 

There have been a few seasons with six different lineups and 1981 was one of them but it seemed like more. Had to double-check check but it was just six. They suffered a lot as well, dropping from a top-three offense in 1980 to one ranked in the bottom third. 

 So, how many offensive line iterations can the Rams show? We'll find out but what we can be sure of is the Rams will struggle during the time we wait.