Rams should make Jason Smith their starting LT

by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 28, 2009 11:31 AM CDT in Game Planning

The St. Louis Rams playcalling baffled fans through the first half of the season. Some of that might be explained by the Rams having to deal with a sheer lack of talent on offense, while still leaving plenty of things to point to and scratch your head about. The confusion resulting from the play calling had nothing on the absolutely mystifying decision to use a three-man rotation at offensive tackle this week, working rookie Jason Smith who was returning from an injury, into the lineup with Alex Barron and Adam Goldberg.

Fans and media took the team to task for that decision. Here's Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz summing up the feelings shared by most of us:

What the hell is this three-man rotation at OT? What is this, a preseason game against the Titans?

Right or wrong, it won't happen this week because Adam Goldberg will be pressed into service at RG for the injured Richie Incognito. But it still begs the question, why are we not using Jason Smith as our starting left tackle? Especially, if the Rams are going to run to the right side so much more frequently than to the left, it'd be better to use Alex Barron whose a better run blocker at this point than Smith...or even Goldberg since Barron seems to be having problems with penalties again.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Poll

Should the St. Louis Rams make 2009 second overall pick Jason Smith the starting LT?

Yes

364 votes

No

41 votes

405 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

It’s a lost season anyway – why not give Smith the experience? I won’t change his pay scale in the future, and it theorhetically makes him better for next season.

"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009

by Lyle on Oct 28, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

yes

I suppose it’s easy to 2nd guess a coaching staff. Especially when their new,(or suck).
The fact is we’re not the ones making the decisions and I doubt they’ll listen to us.
Barron is a waste of sperm,(my opinion),and always will be. Then again, I understand
the reasoning for giving him a shot Left Tackle, while allowing Smith to earn his keep.
I just hope I’m not saying the same thing about Chris Long in 2 years.

by ZamRam on Oct 28, 2009 11:52 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

I have always

questioned why Barron and Smith have been playing at their “un-natural” positions. As much as stink on ESPN can whiff things, he was 100% right when he aske dthe same question.

I’m all for giving anyone a second chance but I think we’ve seen enough. Move JS to left tackle, tell the big fella this is his home for 10-15 years.

Barron? Either make the cut or leave. Obviously he’s had a lot of chances. I’m sick of talking about him to be honest.

Let’s move forward on all accounts.

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Oct 28, 2009 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

You're absolutely right on Stink...

…he was an O-Lineman. At the very least he seemed to make sense regarding this issue.

I’d be fine with Smith at LT, Bell at LG (or Greco actually), Brown at C, Richie at RG when he’s back, and Goldberg at RT.

I don’t care if it’s Barron’s contract year. Let him figure that out because besides the Minnesota game, he has proven he either can’t play, or has no interest in playing for the St. Louis Rams.

His presence might be the biggest setback for Smith thus far, the whole “what about Alex?” question. Start him at RT this week, Goldie at RG, and Smith at LT. Let’s see what happens.

But no matter what, Jason Smith needs to be at LT the rest of the year if healthy.

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Oct 28, 2009 4:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I couldn't agree more

Smith should be at LT the whole game, even if he gets beaten like Dwight Freeney beat him on every play.

Not to bang my own drum, but I wrote about it too… http://www.ramsgab.com/2009/10/27/jason-smith-should-be-at-lt/

Future Redbirds! www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab! www.ramsgab.com

by jroman on Oct 28, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions

shameless plug!

sorry for the shameless plug!

Future Redbirds! www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab! www.ramsgab.com

by jroman on Oct 28, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

to be fair

Freeney didn’t beat him on every play. Really, he only “beat” him on two plays. Not bad for a rook.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 28, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Oct 28, 2009 3:56 PM CDT reply actions

He should be the LT

But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel sorry for Bulger…

I believe in 2010

by Eric Nagel on Oct 28, 2009 4:23 PM CDT reply actions

For $35M, he should be the LT...

and we should find someway to give Barron to the 49ers or Sea Squawks…

by edpjr on Oct 28, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

See My Post In Smith Vs Curry

I Want The Rams Back In LA....The More They Lose The More Of A Chance That It Will Happen....Sorry St Louis You Cant Keep A Team(Twice)...Rams Come Home....We'll Be Here For You When You Do

by JordansDad on Oct 28, 2009 4:27 PM CDT reply actions

Last year I heard all these great things

about Howie Long’s son and how great he would be. Well, I think he’s good but he has been no way the talent that high a draft choice should be. The same is holding true for Jason Smith. When a player goes that high they should produce better results. Crap, they make tons and tons of money and for what?

Personally, I’m becoming more and more unenthusiastic with not only the Rams team but the front office as well and I’m not alone in this. I’m hearing a lot of people here in St. Louis are getting fed up with this team and grumbling about the same thing.

"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s

by Nbr1RamFan on Oct 28, 2009 4:46 PM CDT reply actions

+10

by edpjr on Oct 28, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Glen Dorsey

hasn’t been amazing either.

He was the other option.

I believe in 2010

by Eric Nagel on Oct 28, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It seems like none of our talent can thrive

because they are always surrounded by worse talent. And by the time the next 1st rounder comes along the previous picks have already been ruined and the circle continues. Either that or we are absolutely terrible at drafting. Because how do you miss on like 7-8 1st rounders in a 10 year period. Other than Jackson and possibly Long and Smith, we have gotten little or not return from our first rounders.

Reserved-- been waiting 6 weeks to have this sig, I guess I can wait 1 more

by Carneros on Oct 29, 2009 7:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Look we all know

that they put him at RT to give barron a chance and yada yada all that hoopla. Listen, when you pick a guy #2 OVERALL in the draft, you gotta let him know “hey, this is where you’re gonna be, you’re our guy… we know you can do the job”

There are people who will say it’s not that simple… well, it really is. Would we pick a running back and split time at WR?

The whole decision with JS at RT while we try to work in a struggling Barron is beyond baffling.

Listen, maybe we could have try Long at tight end? Or perhaps Donnie Jones can also catch the football, and we can swap out him and McMichael.. gotta give Randy a shot to make it at a different position right?

It’s time to put people at the natural positions and make a decision.

Is it me or do we seem to be dilly dallying around instead of putting something in place and leaving it with confidence?

OK I may have gone overboard with this post… but… you get the point.

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Oct 28, 2009 5:49 PM CDT reply actions

I think Barron is the root problem with the whole Offensive Line.

Although Jacob Bell’s weak play is a contributing cause. I say put Smith at LT and let’s try to get our mega-bucks worth out of him. Goldberg and Setterstrom are mediocre players (which is good for the Rams) so we might as well use them too.

by edpjr on Oct 28, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Honestly Smith will not and cannot make a difference in this team at this time

The Rams have way too many problems to fix for Smith to have any kind of effect on how we are playing,and one more thing about our offensive play calling,you stated that maybe it show the Rams lack of quality players, well when you are like the Rams at the bottom of the hill you dont try to run a complicated offense you make things as simple as possible,this fucking guy thinks he is Don Shulla with the 1970 Miami Dolphins calling all this complicated shit plays to the side lines double reverses and running on 1st down every time we have the ball,its a wonder S.J can run at all seeing that every one knows he will run on first down and are stacking the box to stop him this play calling is the worst i ever see in my life just look at our points per game i think it speaks for it self

by james535 on Oct 28, 2009 8:03 PM CDT reply actions

yes Shurmer is dog crap, play calling is horrendous but i do think Smith being put where he belongs with the confidence of knowing that he will be staying there would be block #1 in our offenses growing pattern

by peteyweestro on Oct 28, 2009 8:20 PM CDT reply actions

WHO is allowing Shurmer and Flajole to continue their piss-poor coaching jobs?

Where does the buck stop??? One guess.

by edpjr on Oct 28, 2009 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Then here's a question for you, ed

How long do you give Shurmur? Regardless of failure or success in the interim, how long do you give him just to get settled?

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 28, 2009 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions

How long would Bill Belichick give him..?

by edpjr on Oct 29, 2009 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions

At least two seasons

bear in mind the personnel he’s working with. Belichick took the Pats’ HC job in 2000 and had Charlie Weis as his OC. After one season, people were crying because they went 5-11. The next season, they played a certain team in the SB and with the help of some shady intel, took the ring.
I’m not saying we’re going to win the SB and I’m not saying Spagnuolo=Belichick or that Shurmur=Weis. I’m certainly not suggesting our rosters are at all similar. I’m just saying you can’t expect Shurmur to make platinum out of poop in his first year as OC.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 29, 2009 6:19 AM CDT up reply actions