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Tim Barnes Named Rams Starting Center

By Nic Moody

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The St Louis Rams have named their starting center.

To pretty much no surprise, the Rams have named Tim Barnes as their starting center. Barnes had had an extremely long road to get where he is today. Playing at Missouri, then going to Baltimore after he was undrafted in 2011. Many practice squad positions later, he finally made the Rams backup job in 2013, which included four starts during that season after Scott Wells went down with an injury.

The Rams held their three way battle at center for the entire training camp and preseason. Barnes was the favorite when camp started, but Barrett Jones and rookie Demetrius Rhaney immediately closed the gap with solid camp play. The Rams then started a three way rotation throughout camp and preseason games that gave each center a chance to work with first string for reps.

The competition took a surprising turn when the second round of cuts came. The Rams cut Barrett Jones, surprising a lot of fans and analysts. The Rams were high on Jones, but he simply wasn’t playing well, and it appeared he might have hit his ceiling. After a couple years of injury and lackluster performances, Jones hasn’t been able to find his former University of Alabama self.

Then it was down to two. Demetrius Rhaney was playing well for a undrafted rookie (kind of, he was a rookie last season but was placed on IR), but he still made rookie mistakes that take time to iron out, which made the veteran Barnes a once again favored pick, which he was, and is why he was chosen.

Fisher did say this about Rhaney though:

"“Demetrius had a great camp, he’s played really well at both positions, but we’re gonna go with Tim right now. I can’t say enough about how far Demetrius has come this offseason and through OTAs and camp. We know he can play as well.”"

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Tim Barnes is a slightly better pass blocker than run blocker, but neither are outstanding. he is consistent in his blocking abilities, with the occasional slip-up. Don’t expect him to power through defensive tackles or get to the second level consistently, but he can block and hold his own.

Barnes isn’t explosive, and many feel he has hit his ceiling, but if Demetrius Rhaney improves over the course of the year and next off season, expect him to make a legitimate run at the starting job next season. Maybe it’s all the dedication that Barnes had shown, or his excellent chemistry with quarterback Nick Foles, but he is your starting center Rams fans. Time to embrace it.

Next: Who Gets left off of the Rams Gameday Roster?

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