Major construction under way on St. Louis Rams offensive line
The reconstruction of the offensive line, which began in April with the first of three spring minicamps, continues at Rams Park, where OTAs resumed Wednesday after a five-day break. Three of the five positions are manned by different players — free-agent pickup Jason Brown at center, Alex Barron at left tackle, and Adam Goldberg/Jason Smith at right tackle (Goldberg is working with the first team now, but the Rams fully expect Smith, their first-round draftee, to be in the opening-day lineup).
To perform effectively, the offensive line must function as a unit. The Rams’ linemen are just starting to get used to one another.
“Right now, we’re just running through things in jerseys and helmets, and we’re concentrating on getting the scheme down,” right guard Richie Incognito said. “I’m thinking some time in training camp, when we get the pads on and we get the lineup set . . . you roll into those first preseason games and things start really coming together and you start jelling. But it’s going to take some time.”
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Notes & quotes:
*RB Antonio Pittman was excused from practice so that he could attend to a family matter.
*WRs Keenan Burton (hamstring) and Derek Stanley (knee) were limited. Stanley fielded and returned punts, however, and appears to be close to full participation.
*The team got a scare when DE James Hall went down, and stayed down, while defending a field-goal try. Turns out, he was just poked in the eye and was back on the field a few minutes later.
*The Rams’ top two draftees, Smith and LB James Laurinaitis, remain with the second units.
*David Vobora and Larry Grant took first-team reps at strongside linebacker, with Chris Draft manning the middle and Will Witherspoon on the weakside.
*At this point, the No. 2 offensive line is: Mark Setterstrom at center, John Greco at right guard, Roy Schuening at left guard, Smith at right tackle and Eric Young at left tackle.
*Free-agent WR Chad Lucas has opened some eyes. Lucas, 6-1 and 201, had five catches for 82 yards in two games with Tampa Bay in 2007 (he was out of the league last year). He originally signed with the Packers in 2005 as an undrafted rookie out of Alabama State.
*Thursday’s practice is closed to the media.
All for now . . .
Can we stop pretending that it is newsworthy that Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis are with the second unit at this time?
Everyone knows they will both be starters on opening day.
maybe Keenan Burton should change his name to ‘Ding’ as in he always seems to be dinged up. All of college, last year and now spring OTAs. Not a good sign for the potential #2 WR.
Blogger #1 Touchy, touchy.
Blogger #2 Sir, it’s nice to know you’re so involved in the development of your players. How many owners take the time to give their hirelings endearing pet monikers. “Ding”, that’s good! Chip Rosenbloom your the best!! Now bring the team back to LA.
Hey blogger #3,
You’re a tool.
Go watch the lakers.
CT
WHY DIDN’T THEY GET HOOD. AS MUCH AS THIS TEAM GET HURT AT THE CB SPOT THAT WOULTN’T OF BEEN AN BAD IDEA TO PICK HIM UP. SAN FRAN PICKED UP DRE BLY IT WASN’T THE BEST MOVE BUT IT ADDED A VETERAN TO THE CB SPOT. WHY DON’T WE WANT TO SPEND MONEY? IM NOT SAYING DO IT LIKE THE YANKEES BUT DO IT LIKE THE PATRIOTS. IF I WERE THE RAMS I WOULD PICK UP BROOKS WHEN SINCE TAMPA LET HIM GO, I DON’T THINK NO ONE PICKED HIM UP YET. WE KNOWN FOR PICKING UP PLAYERS WHEN THERE ON THEY WAY OUT THE LEAGUE ANYWAY, HE’S SOMEONE THAT CAN GET THE JOB DONE STILL AND A SOLID TACKLER. AND FOR THE RECORD BULGER ISN’T BETTER THAN VICK WE NEED HIM. I DON’T THINK IT’S FAIR TO JUDGE PPL ON WHAT THEY DO OFF THE FIELD CAUSE WE ALL HAVE OUR FLAWS. PPL NEED TO STOP TRYING TO DO GOD’S WORK. HE’S A HECK OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER AND CAUSE CONFUSION FOR FOR THE DEFENSE. POCKET QB ARE FADING FAST AND WE WOULDN’T BE GIVING UP NOTHING TO GET HIM. WE WERE 2-14 LAST YR WHAT DO WE HAVE TO LOSE….
I don’t usually post on here complaining about the writers and editors of my beloved Post Dispatch, however, did anyone else notice that though the heading to this article deals with the offensive line being rebuilt, the picture assigned to the article is MLB/Sam LB David Vobora blocking number 56, some practice squad at best LB…? Odds are it was a special teams drill or a block shedding practice drill, but still… come on! Show OFFENSIVE LINEMEN WHEN DISCUSSING A REBUILT O-LINE!!!
The bad line play for the past few years is Bulger’s fault. And also poked James Hall in the eye. And caused Antonio Pittman’s family matter.
Why isn’t Greco playing more and infused into the first team O Line?
When I was watching him he did a good job at guard the last few games last year.
Greco is a big guy, seems like a solid player, limited penalties and no mental issues!
Richie Incog needs to earn his way back…..way too many penalties last year!!!
The sheriff needs to be bucked down to assist deputy……..
PSL Holder
Vick? Really? SHouldn’t be judged for off field actions? conVICKt is a monster and he was never all that good anyway. There is no reason for Vick to ever wear a uniform in the NFL, it’s a privliage not a right to play in the NFL. Bolger will be fine as long as the line holds up. Pocket passers are not on thier way out, we may have thought that a couple of years ago but look at what’s going on now with “mobile” backs. Vince Young anyone? The NFL quarterback will always be a pocket QB, not a glorified tail back. Hey KNINE1, maybe we should sign Ronnie Brown to QB the rams. Don’t be an idiot.
KNINE, hope your entry was an attempt at humor. Vick is not even a good player, or leader for that matter. And for pocket qbs being a thing of the past, i believe the last scrambling qb to win a super bowl was Elway. With all of the spread formations a passing qb is exactly what teams want.
pocket qbs still reign in the nfl. the athletic/scrambling qb doesn’t work, and i can’t think of any who have won a super bowl lately. elway and young could scramble, but were passers first and foremost, and really good ones. ever since randall cunningham, the new age qb was supposed to take over, and while there have been good ones, they don’t win the super bowl. really, mcnabb’s the only really successful one.
great to see a new o-line out there, nowhere to go but up…go rams!!
KNINE1….The Vick suggestion is preposterous. Not that Vick shouldn’t get a another shot in the NFL if some team decides he’s worthy. The Rams new regime is not going to bring in a potential problem child. They just cleared out guys like Claude Wroten and Dominic Byrd. The don’t need the PR headache that Vick will bring with his dog mauling, X-con baggage. Also, I’d suggest you read up on how the NFL Flexible Salary Cap is structured. Then, you would understand that the Rams would be sacrificing a boatload of money if they dumped Bulger. It would seriously hinder the club’s ability to sign other talent because of the amount of cap space committed to him. Sure, it may prove to be a mistake to have signed him to a lengthy and expensive deal. But, like it or not, the deal was done so they have to retain his services for at least 1 more season. If he rebounds…great. Otherwise, they can cut him loose next year with less damage to the cap.
I’ve been a Ram fan since 1965. Bring em back to LA or at the very least get some excitement (passion, rowdy, screaming)(fans) to the sterile dome.
Just like all of those rowdy, screaming fans that filled the stadium when they were in LA? Wait, that’s why they left LA. They didn’t have any rowdy, screaming fans that “filled” the stadium. Get a life. The Rams are staying put in St. Louis.
Did incog, poke hall in the eye?
They didn’t leave cause there was no fan support. They left cause Georgia wanted them in St. Louis.
YOU GUYS GOT TO BE CRAZY TO SAY HE WAS NEVER GOOD AND HE SHOULDN’T BE IN THE NFL. AND I DO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CONTRACT WORKS THEY CAN TRADE HIM (BULGER). ELWAY WAS A GREAT QB AND YOUNG BUT DON’T KNOCK VICK. YOU CANT TELL ME WHEN HE WAS IN THE LEAGUE HE DIDN’T CAUSE PROBLEMS. HE KILLED US IN THE PLAYOFFS A FEW YEARS BACK. HE NEVER REALLY HAD NO WR AND HE TOOK THE STRUGGLING FALCONS TO CONTENDERS AND THE PLAYOFFS. THEY WHERE NOTHING BEFORE HE GOT THERE. PPL COME TO SEE HIM. YOU WANT TO MAKE JOKES ABOUT RONNIE BROWN, YEAH START HIM HE’S BETTER THAN BULGER. YOU PPL ACT LIKE YOU NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. WHEN I READ CARDSFANNKC QUOTE I CAN FEEL THE HATE JUMPING OFF THE PAGE. STICK WITH BULGER AND I PROMISE WE WONT WIN AN SUPERBOWL. WHEN HE TOOK OVER FOR WARNER I WAS BULGER BIGGEST SUPPORTER HE LET ME DOWN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. HEY CARDSFANNKC YOU PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE PPL WHO WANTED MARTZ OUT OF HERE AINT YOU. LOL. NOW YOU PAYING FOR IT. I TOLD PPL TO BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT YOU WISH FOR. HE’S THE BEST OFFENSIVE CORDINATOR IN THE LEAGUE NOT BEST COACH BUT ATLEAST WITH HIM WE WERE ATLEAST A .500 TEAM AND WE WENT TO THE PLAYOFF. NOW WE’RE A 2-14 TEAM. HE WENT TO DETROIT AND TURN THEM AROUND AND THEY GOT RID OF HIM. STUPID……
I would love to see the Rams back in L.A., but we would need to build them a damned stadium first. I hope Laurinaitis turns out good, the rams haven’t had a capable middle linebacker since Fletcher. Also, Vobora and Grant get starting reps? Really? Even when Laurinaitis starts at MLB, does that mean Draft starts at SLB? God I wish Pisa was still there.
KNINE, your right that is hate jumping off the page. The acts he did towards poor defenseless dogs in completely unacceptable. I loved Vick before his fall, he was talented and I thought he was great for the leauge. But seeing those abused dogs and how he personally murdered animals I could never root for him. Also, I loved Martz, I hated to see him leave, not as much as I hated Lovie leaving but Martz hurt too. Forgiveness? Not for that monster.
Blogger #4 - Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I’ve been watching the Lakers. I am a “tool” to get the Rams back to LA? I am so much more powerful than I ever thought! Thank you.