i agree with him that smith got screwed in training camp. why in the world would the coaching staff hold back on a guy that’s your future cornerstone left tackle? it didn’t make any sense, especially when laurinaitis was being groomed for the starting middle linebacker spot at the same time. laurinaitis is benefiting from the approach the coaching staff took with him, and smith is suffering because they didn’t do the same for him.

that being said, he’s going to be a hell of a left tackle. the rams offensive line is going to be one of the best in the league next year.

I think they took stock of their passing game and correctly determined they would need to ride the horse in the backfield to give them their best shot at winning. They then went to their best player, only offensive playmaker and maybe only leader on this team and told him, “Steven, we’re going to give you the best chance to run we possibly can by putting our two best run blockers in front of you, shoulder to shoulder, on the right side.”

By commiting to him with the best they could give him — not to mentioned bringing in Brown and Karney — they got their leader to totally buy into their system. That’s far and away the most important thing a coach must do, especially a new coach and especially in a turn around situation. Coaching psychology 101: Only after the leaders buy in do the others follow.

Screw Smith? Please. He’d doing what the team needs him to do right now, with run blocking bieng his strongest skill, and defensive ends on the right do ruish the passser too so it’s not like he isn’t getting that work in too.

Offensive linemen typically like run blocking more than pas blocking because they get to bring to wood and deliver blows. I think if you asked Smith if he felt screwed he’d tell you not at all.

He’s taking part in Jacksons career year and is an integral part of what works for this team….and the list of what works is fairly short so please do not underestimate the psychological value in knowing you are extremely important to what is working, and what won the game last weekend (being Jackson’s road graders)

If the argument is simply they’re stunting his growth by keeping him off the left side, then there is a kernal of truth there but we’re talking about a team that they probably recognized would only get a couple of wins and knew that there would be plenty of time for him to develop after highest priority was already accomplished: getting him and the rest of the team to buy into the system with a commitment they could see and feel, and utelizing Smith’s best skill in the one thing they could really count on, the running game.

There’s plenty of time for him to go to the left and I believe it’ll happen this year and no one will be talking about he got screwed when this season is over.

approach was perfect. Keep in mind that this is his first year with the group. He needed to have consistency in his message “you have to earn your way, nothing is given” That includes golden rookies. This is consistent with all his messages. That is what went a long way with the veterans. That is what helped him win the locker room. And NO rookie was implemented with the starters right away…NONE. Thats a humbling experience and that it goes a long way in developing your rooks, especially in shaping their character and how to be a professional. It all worked according to plan. Bring them along slowly and then slowly implement them into the starting group. This is why at 1-7 all the veterans are standing behind Spags. It doesn’t matter who you are, the head coach should hold everyone accountable just as equally as the next guy. Good stuff Spags. Well played.