The Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line has been a solid building block especially for the Super Bowl run last year. This year however, solid offensive line play may be a little bit harder to replicate not only because G Rodger Saffold III and C John Sullivan need to be replaced, but also because the NFL is going to be on the lookout for holding.

According to a recent ESPN article, officials have two points of emphasis for the 2019 season: offensive holding and lowering of the helmet.

Unfortunately for the Rams, almost always faultless LT Andrew Whitworth was on a list that was used to provide examples of blocks that would be considered illegal this year. Whitworth, along with Miami Dolphins OT Laremy Tunsil and the Washington OT Trent Williams were used as an examples to show blocks that would be deemed illegal this season.

The block that is most emphasized is nicknamed the “lobster block” where “offensive linemen grab defenders around the torso or shoulders to prevent them from flowing to the play from the backside.”

With an extra emphasize on holding, it’ll be interesting to see how much the game will be bogged down with more stoppages. Hopefully for the Rams, their leader Whitworth can teach the others about how to keep the lobsters on the plate and not on the field.