Rams add size on the o-line with Noteboom

The Los Angeles Rams on Friday drafted TCU offensive tackle Joseph Noteboom with the 89th overall pick. Here is what the top Rams personnel had to say about their selection. "Played left tackle for the last two years, started 40 straight games," general manager Les Snead in a news release. "Went to the Senior Bowl, was able to play against some good rushers down there. At the end of the day, you got a chance to get a young offensive lineman, add depth, learn from the starters that we have and develop him to become a future player for us." Head coach Sean McVay likes Noteboom's diversity and ability to play along the line. "He's had a lot of experience. You talk about starting 40 straight games. He's got experience starting at right tackle, he's played left the last two seasons. I think, when you just look at the athleticism, his ability to be able to get removal in the run game, but then also be able to just cover people up in protection. Watch the way that he can change angles, he understands those types of things. I think it's a great situation for him, being able to come in and learn behind Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein - two tackles that we feel great about." Snead also commented on veterans Whitworth and Havenstein and their roles with the young rookie. "Joe is a lucky man. I don't think any offensive tackle would be in a better situation. Noteboom's athleticism caught Snead's eye at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis as well as at the Senior Bowl. "It's interesting because he went to the combine and probably, if you want to call it, won the combine. But I think what stood out first was, you saw that athleticism, obviously, at TCU, but when he got to Mobile (Ala.) and it translated down there against some of the better players, seniors in this draft. But when a guy goes to the combine and does what he did that does show you because measurements are not everything, you still have to play football. But what that helps us do is, OK coming in, like we said, learning under an Aaron Kromer, an Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein there's upside there. He can get better. There's skills in that body that can ascend. But a lot of times with these players, too, you just want to make sure that the floor is solid as well. We felt that with Joe."