Too many left tackles

by Ryan Van Bibber on May 12, 2010 2:23 PM CDT in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo gave an interview on Jim Rome's show today passing along lots of interesting information. Coach Conners has the highlights in this fanpost. One comment in particular stood out to me, pertaining to Alex Barron.

Well, there’s a lot of layers there. We wanted to move [Jason] Smith to left tackle, and he should fare well there, and Barron wanted to play left tackle as well.

Most of us were focused on Barron's knack for penalties and his seeming unwillingness to become a player burning with desire on every snap of the game. Those are certainly issues in the Rams' decision to trade Barron, the "layers" the coach mentioned, but there's a little bit of Occam's Razor at play here.

Barron was better suited at LT. The Rams had Jason Smith, last year's second overall pick, that they want to move there. Smith is also a better fit on the left side than he is on the right, especially if the Rams do some work out of the shotgun with Sam Bradford at QB. Barron was a better left tackle than he was a right tackle. Saffold will have a rookie adjustment period, but he profiles as a better right tackle than a left tackle, though he could probably play both spots.

A case of too many left tackles or a player who just wouldn't play at full tilt, either way he's gone now.

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Anything...

That puts Jason Smith firmly on the left side is something that I have a hard time disagreeing with.

Anything that removes Alex Barron from our list of problems is something that I have a hard time disagreeing with.

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by jroman on May 12, 2010 2:48 PM CDT reply actions

+1

by RamChop on May 12, 2010 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on May 12, 2010 2:52 PM CDT reply actions

Pretty sure Smith was hired with the intention of him playing Left

I was a little surprised they kept him at Right as long as they did. I know they didn’t want to hand him anything, and I also know they expected (we all expected) that he would finish the season at Left instead of injured. I think that’s why Spags said he didn’t get as many reps on the Left as he needed: the plan was simply interupted when he was concussed.

If you guys didn’t see that Sando article while back, you should take a look. It shows how of all positions, Tackle is the one where you have to take them at the very top of the first round if you want to get a multi-year Pro Bowler. for me, it was fascinating stuff.

by CoachConnors on May 12, 2010 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

Sometimes it might be just as beneficial to let the rooks take their lumps and bruises through live playing time at the position. Last year Smith clearly showed some signs of becoming a solid tackle and he only has room for improvement this year. I think the first few games will be rough watching, but I can see them coming along fairly quick if they stay healthy, at least I hope. I can’t be happy enough about Jason Brown at center to take control of this line. I think he will provide great value in the leadership department, thus helping the rooks improve at a improved pace.

I will be glad to see these rookies start and grow with no Alex Barron mentoring these guys.

by ramsrule on May 12, 2010 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions

oh, big +1 for the Jason Brown comment

I’m completely on board with that, can’t be happy enough to have Jason Brown calling the shots in the middle of this young line.

He turned 27 just last week (happy B-day, JB) and hopefully will be there for a few years.

by CoachConnors on May 12, 2010 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Brown isn't enough

Who knows how the rt guard will be and with 2 tackles at new positions in the NFL. Remember who we finished the season. We could be looking at the same thing for the 1st month of the season. I sure hope they have a productive preseason or look out QB and SJax.

by ram87 on May 12, 2010 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I was simply stating that having Brown at Center will have a great mentor for their development.

It is going to take time for these guys regardless, but having Brown is defiantly a plus. He is the leader of our O-Line and he strikes me as a guy who will rise to the challenge. Most rookies need a learning curve and I think Brown will help reduce it for these young O-Line men we have drafted.

I’m not stating our O-Line will be awesome this year, just that I’m happy we have a guy like Brown at Center.

Time will tell how long it will take until we are comfortable with our O-Line barring injuries.

by ramsrule on May 12, 2010 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting article.

Thanks for the link, Coach. However, there is a part of me that questions whether those Pro Bowl selections are based on reputation rather than production. With the lack of commonly accepted statistical measures at the position, when players vote sometimes they just tab the guy with the marquee name. Sometimes just being a high pick and not washing out is enough to get that rep. I suspect the same would be true at guard and center if those guys were ever drafted high, too.

by parliamentlite on May 12, 2010 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

There's a reason for everything I guess

I see what you’re saying but don’t think the posit about G’s and C’s is legit. There’s a reason why the best G’s aren’t drafted 1 or 2 overall. Good tackles are harder to come by and are more important than G’s certainly (and maybe C’s but that’s debatable I guess). The skills that make a great tackle are rare.

by CoachConnors on May 12, 2010 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions