greg robinson.jpg

Los Angeles Rams center Tim Barnes (61), guard Rodger Saffold (76) and tackle Greg Robinson (73) in action during the second half of an NFL game against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 16, 2016, in Detroit.

(AP Photo)

When Los Angeles signed Andrew Whitworth in NFL free agency last week, the Rams got not only a new left offensive tackle, but a new right offensive tackle, too. The new right offensive tackle is Los Angeles' old left offensive tackle - Greg Robinson.

The Rams selected Robinson out of Auburn with the second choice in the 2014 NFL Draft. But having Robinson protect its quarterback's blind side, like most things in the franchise's past decade or so, hasn't worked out the way that Los Angeles hoped it would.

The Rams' offense has finished last in the NFL in yards gained in each of Robinson's three NFL seasons. In 46 NFL games, Robinson has been called for penalties 42 times, including 27 times for holding. He finished second in the NFL for offensive-holding penalties in 2016 after leading the league in 2015.

With the Rams investing the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft in California quarterback Jared Goff, one of the first players off the board when free agency started last week was Whitworth. After 11 years as a starter for the Cincinnati Bengals, including three Pro Bowl seasons and one All-Pro campaign, Whitworth left for a three-year, $33.75 million contract with the Rams that included $15 million in guaranteed money.

Whitworth is the major piece of an offensive-line overhaul that could leave only left guard Roger Saffold in place as Los Angeles tries to improve on 2016's 4-12 showing, the Rams' 13th straight non-winning season.

New Los Angeles coach Sean McVay revealed the Rams' plans during a Friday press conference.

"Right now, the plan is Andrew's going to be our left tackle, and we'll give Greg an opportunity to play on the right side," McVay said. "I think that'll be a good opportunity for Greg to go to that right side, and we'll see how (Rob) Havenstein is able to do if we allow him to play guard and tackle. You feel fortunate because you've got some depth inside with Roger Saffold and Jamon Brown, and Andrew Donnal played a lot of snaps last year. So we've got some guys on this roster that have some position flex, but being able to get an Andrew Whitworth -- he knows what it's like, he's played the game at a Pro Bowl-caliber level at that left-tackle position -- will give us the flexibility to put Greg on the right side and see how he does there."

Last season, the Rams' regular offensive-line alignment had Robinson at left tackle, Saffold at left guard, Tim Barnes at center, Cody Wichmann at right guard and Havenstein at right tackle. Barnes has been released, even though he was the only one of the players to appear in every game in 2016.

Los Angeles doesn't have a ready replacement for Barnes, but the Rams appear to want the offensive line to have Whitworth and Saffold on the left and Robinson and Havenstein on the right.

"Every day is an evaluation," McVay said, "but you've got to have a starting point. And the starting point is we're going to give Greg a chance to play at that right-tackle spot and see where we go from there."

McVay said the Rams thought Robinson would handle the switch in sides just fine.

"It's certainly a challenge," McVay said. "That's one of the things you appreciate about a swing tackle, those guys that can play both on the left and the right. ... I think it's more just getting a comfort level of working in his stance. We talked to Greg (Thursday) and told him about our plans. He's up for the challenge. So when you're doing some of your drills, just get comfortable playing with that right-handed stance as opposed to that left and I think that's something he'll immediately be able to work on. Just get comfortable with that muscle memory, and I think that's something with his athleticism, we feel confident he'll be able to make that transition."

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Whitworth said he hopes "to be a rock and a foundation for this team," and McVay said having the veteran tackle would help as the Rams remodel their offensive line.

"He's a pro's pro," McVay said. "Knows what it looks like. I think he'll be a great example for a lot of these young up-and-coming linemen that we feel really good about, and being able to bring him in for what he'll be able to offer in the meeting room and on the grass as far as just the way that he prepares week in and week out, I think will be a great example for the rest of those guys."