The dire times of the Los Angeles Rams offensive line may not be nearly as dire as first feared. While the signal for out of the woods is still on hold, the team's blocking brigade did seem to step up in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. It was a makeshift ensemble, with the team promoting Justin Dedich to start at left guard and Warren McClendon Jr. to start at right tackle in place of injured veteran Rob Havenstein.
Starting left guard Steve Avila was medically cleared to play, but he didn't. Since suffering an ankle injury, he has been trying to get back to the physical, ferocious form that the team has come to expect from him.