Andy Dickerson enters his second season as the team's offensive line coach after originally joining the team on January 29, 2021, as the Seahawks run game coordinator. He spent the previous nine seasons with the Rams after serving in similar roles with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.
Last season, Dickerson led an offensive line that started rookies at their bookend tackles with Charles Cross at left tackle and Abraham Lucas at right tackle. Cross and Lucas became the first rookie duo to start a team's first 15 games at tackle since the 1970 merger. Dickerson's unit helped Seattle function at a high level while protecting QB Geno Smith to a Pro-Bowl season. Seattle's rushing attack finished seventh in the NFL in yards per rush (4.80), and ended the season averaging 176.0 yards per game the final three weeks (second in the NFL).
In 2021, Dickerson helped guide Seattle's running game that finished third in the NFL in rushing yards per attempt (5.02). The Seahawks ground attack finished strong as RB Rashaad Penny led the NFL with 671 yards rushing since Week 14.
The Rams continued to rank in the top-10 in fewest sacks allowed in 2020, as the offensive line allowed the sixth-fewest (25) in the NFL. The o-line also helped RB Cam Akers to a successful rookie season. Akers finished the second half of the season with 110 carries for 477 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 171-yard performance that was the second-most by a Rams running back in franchise history.
Dickerson was influential in the success of L.A.'s ever-changing offensive line in 2019, which was forced to make adjustments throughout the season due to injury. Despite losing two starters, the unit went on to not allow a sack in a franchise-best six games while also allowing the fewest sacks in the league (22).
With the assistance of Dickerson in 2018, the Rams' offensive line was amongst the best in the league and featured the same starting five for all 16 games and three postseason games during Los Angeles' run to Super Bowl LIII.
Third-year QB Jared Goff was provided the time to throw for career highs in yards (4,688), touchdowns (32) and passer rating (101.1) in L.A.'s No. 2 ranked offense. For the second consecutive season, the Rams' O-line also ranked in the top 10 for fewest sacks allowed.
In 2017, the offensive line paved the way for one of the biggest offensive turnarounds in NFL history, helping the team improve from the 32nd-ranked scoring offense in 2016 to the league's top-scoring team the following year.
During the 2017 campaign, the offensive line provided time for Goff to have a break-out campaign and allowed RB Todd Gurley II to lead the league in total touchdowns (19) and scrimmage yards (2,093) en route to earning AP Offensive Player of the Year accolades.
Dickerson helped coach an offensive line that protected QB Case Keenum, who set career-highs in attempts, completions, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2016.
For the third-consecutive year, the Rams boasted one of the NFL's top rookie runners in 2015. The Rams offensive line blocked for Offensive Rookie of the Year and rookie Pro Bowler Gurley to rush for 1,106 yards, which placed him third in the NFL in rushing yards. The Rams finished seventh in the NFL in rushing offense and allowed the fewest sacks in the league (18).
With the help of the St. Louis offensive line, RB Tre Mason finished second among all rookies and led the Rams with 765 rushing yards in 2015. As a team, St. Louis averaged 102.2 rushing yards per game, giving them at least 100 yards per game in each of Dickerson's three seasons with the Rams.
In 2013, St. Louis averaged 21.8 points per game, the club's highest point total since 2006, and the team's offensive line had a great impact on the team's play. RB Zac Stacy rushed for 973 yards, third-most by a rookie in team history. Over the last 11 games, only six NFL backs rushed for more yards than Stacy. In the passing game, the Rams allowed 36 sacks in 2014, the eighth lowest total in the NFL.
In his first season with the Rams, Dickerson helped guide an offensive line that allowed just 35 sacks after giving up 55 the previous year. St. Louis' offensive line was forced to deal with its share of adversity as nine different linemen started at least one game. The unit led the league in sacks allowed after seeing significant action from five rookies.
Dickerson spent the 2011 season with the Jets as a coaching assistant. He first broke into coaching as a member of their staff from 2006-08, with coaching assistant and defensive quality control responsibilities. He also spent two years with the Cleveland Browns, serving as assistant offensive line coach in 2010 and defensive quality control in 2009.
Before joining the Jets staff, Dickerson worked in the operations department of the New England Patriots, first as an intern in 2004 and then on a full-time basis the following year. He began his NFL career with the Washington Football Team as a training camp intern in 2003 before spending that season as a graduate assistant on the offensive staff at Tufts University.
Dickerson played collegiate football at Tufts from 1999-2002. He also performed in the shot put, discus and hammer throw on the school's track & field squad. Before that, he was a three-sport captain in football, wrestling, and track and field at Tower Hill School in his hometown of Wilmington, Del.
