Tim Barnes, Rodger Saffold, Greg Robinson

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)

After three seasons as the left offensive tackle for the Rams, will Greg Robinson still be there when Los Angeles opens the 2017 NFL season?

Robinson's performance since the Rams selected him out of Auburn with the second pick in the 2014 NFL Draft has made that a subject of speculation as Los Angeles transitions to a new coaching staff.

During a press conference on Friday held so new coach Sean McVay could talk about his coaching staff, McVay was asked about Los Angeles' offensive line and if Robinson would remain the Rams' left offensive tackle.

"That's something that we're constantly evaluating right now, and Greg is a big part of that evaluation process," McVay said. "Obviously, when you look at some of the things he's able to do, you see the athleticism in space when he's pulling around and using some of those perimeter schemes that they did offensively last year, he's a guy that we're excited to get around. That's why it's frustrating that we have to wait so long to get these guys in the building, see them on the grass. ...

"Greg is a guy that we're constantly evaluating, and he's a big part of what we're trying to do moving forward."

Robinson hardly played in the first four games of his rookie season, then started three games at left guard. When left offensive tackle Jake Long suffered a season-ending knee injury in the seventh game, Robinson shifted to the position that he played at Auburn, and he's been there ever since, except for two 2016 games - the 11th and 16th -- when he was benched.

Robinson continued to pile up penalties in 2016. He was flagged 15 times, including 10 for holding. 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 with 11 in 2015.

New offensive-line coach Aaron Kromer said Robinson had shown the ability to play left offensive tackle in the NFL - but not on every play.

"Why it's not consistent, I can't answer that. I don't know," Kromer said. "When I can work with a player and get my hands on him and be outside and ask him to do something and ask him to do it again and ask him to adjust something, then I know what we can do with him, how we can fit him in the offense. But until then ... I don't know what he was told. I kind of know what he was supposed to do, but I don't know what his mindset was."

Robinson wasn't the only problem for Los Angeles on offense as the Rams posted a 4-12 record in 2016.

Los Angeles had the worst offense in the NFL. The Rams averaged 262.7 yards per game - 45.4 fewer than the next-worst team. They also finished last in scoring with an average of 14 points per game.

Running back Todd Gurley averaged 3.2 yards per carry in 2016, rushing for 885 yards and six touchdowns on 278 carries in 16 games. As a rookie, he ran for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns on 229 carries, an average of 4.8 yards per rushing attempt, in 13 games in 2015.

The Rams used the first selection of the 2016 NFL Draft on California quarterback Jared Goff. Goff started seven games as a rookie, and the Rams lost all of them. Goff didn't throw enough passes to qualify for the season rankings, but his passing-efficiency rating of 63.6 was worse than any of the 30 quarterbacks who did. Goff absorbed 26 of the 49 sacks given up by the Rams in 2016.

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The idea that Robinson might be better suited for guard in the NFL became a theme in the Rams' press corps as Los Angeles struggled down the stretch with seven straight losses to close the season. So after the Rams lost their regular-season finale 44-6 to the Arizona Cardinals under interim coach John Fassel, Robinson was asked about the possibility of becoming Los Angeles' left guard.

"Honestly, I haven't even thought about it," Robinson, said. "If that's the discussion with whoever comes in, wherever I'm at, that's going to be the deal. But it's not really something that I'm just going to accept because I'm so used to playing tackle. It would be hard to adjust. But if I have to adjust, that will be something that I will do."

Robinson has a season remaining on his $21,284,098 rookie contract, which is fully guaranteed. The Rams have until May 3 to decide if they want to use their fifth-year option on the contract to retain Robinson for the 2018 season.