Latest news with #SteveAvila
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFC West LG rankings: Cardinals' Evan Brown not No. 1
We continue to rank players and positions in the NFC West. We now look at the four starting left guards. We are in the final stretch of the NFL offseason as the Arizona Cardinals open training camp on July 22. Leading up to then, as we have for several offseasons, go through the players and position groups in the NFC West and rank them. Next up, we look at the left guards for the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks and rank them. 1. Steve Avila, Los Angeles Rams The highly touted second-round pick in 2023 has been a solid guard. He was supposed to play center in 2024 but that did not go well in the offseason and the Rams moved off of him even before the season began. Is is big and strong and moves people. And he has a high ceiling as well. 2. Evan Brown, Arizona Cardinals Brown was very good in 2024 for the Cardinals in his first season at left guard. He had played a lot of center in his career and left guard as well, but he was great. He is as good as he probably will ever be at this point in his career, but he gives the Cardinals solid play without being ridiculously expensive like some of the better-known guards have gotten. 3. Grey Zabel, Seattle Seahawks He is just a first-round rookie, but there are high hopes for him in Seattle, and his upside gives him the leg up on the No. 4 left guard in the division. 4. Ben Bartch, San Francisco 49ers Bartch is the guy projected to replace Aaron Banks. But he is a question mark, as he has played only eight games and made two starts in the last two seasons for the Niners. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams' 25 most important players for 2025 – No. 10: LG Steve Avila
The Los Angeles Rams remade their offensive line in 2023 when they brought in Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, who became top-end starters at guard that year. Avila was the Rams' top draft pick two years ago and though he can play both guard and center, he's found a home at the former and excelled. Heading into the 2025 season, Avila has the type of talent and potential to make the Pro Bowl and become one of the best guards in football. He's the clear-cut starter on the left side and with the Rams lacking a backup of his ability, his health and availability are critical to the offense's success. How he got here Avila was the 36th overall pick in 2023, entering the NFL after a successful career at TCU. He was the Rams' first pick that year, someone they really liked in the draft – and they didn't hesitate to take him in the second round. 2024 stats 10 games (10 starts): 19 pressures allowed, 3 sacks allowed, 50.6 pass-blocking grade, 70.6 run-blocking grade (via PFF) Projected role Avila will be the Rams' starting left guard for the third straight year, especially with there being no question marks about who will play center like there was last season with Jonah Jackson. After moving between guard and center last offseason, Avila is certain to be stationed at left guard with Coleman Shelton at center. As long as he's healthy, he'll play every snap on the O-line. Why he's important The Rams got a taste of what life was like without Avila last season when he missed seven games due to an MCL injury. In those seven games, Stafford was sacked 15 times, including 11 times in the first four games alone without Avila. Justin Dedich struggled mightily in his last two games before Avila returned and Logan Bruss was even worse while filling in at that spot. Those seven games really showed the value of Avila, who was by no means perfect in Year 2 but probably deserves more credit than his PFF grade suggests. He's an excellent run blocker and could still improve in pass protection, but he's absolutely an above-average starting left guard. The Rams need him to stay healthy, especially with Alaric Jackson uncertain at left tackle due to his blood clots. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Look: Steve Avila, Kobie Turner visit Australia stadium where Rams will play in 2026
The Los Angeles Rams love making history with the places they travel to each year. This offseason alone, they became the first team ever to hold its draft headquarters at a fire station. Then they held their June minicamp in Hawaii, also becoming the first team to do so. Next September, they'll make history again. They're the host team for what will be the first regular-season game ever played in Australia. They still don't know their opponent yet but players and fans are excited about the idea of playing a game in such a special location. Following minicamp on Maui, Kobie Turner and Steve Avila flew to Australia to check out where the Rams will be playing next September. They visited Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium that will host the Rams' game; it holds upwards of 100,000 people, making it the 11th-biggest stadium in the world. The game isn't for another 14-plus months, but the stadium was temporarily outfitted with Rams graphics and signage, which was pretty cool to see. This is what it'll look like when Rams players run out of the tunnel to the field. Davis Allen was also there with Turner and Avila. They went through the Australian Combine, putting up some reps on the bench press. Regardless of who the NFL chooses to play the Rams in 2026, it's going to be an exciting and historic day in Australia.
