After rookie Rodger Saffold finished a media session Thursday morning at Rams Park, fellow offensive tackle Jason Smith playfully asked Saffold to stick around when it was Smith's turn to meet the press. Call it a bit of mild rookie hazing.

Smith stood on the right side answering questions. Saffold stood to the left.

Could this be they way they line up on opening day Sept. 12 against Arizona? That is, with Saffold at left tackle and Smith at right tackle?

The surprising answer Thursday from coach Steve Spagnuolo was yeah, maybe.

"I don't see why not," Spagnuolo said. "You know, Jason started out that way (at right tackle) last year. Both those guys in my mind right now are interchangeable."

As Spagnuolo put it, it's not just a matter of putting the best five offensive linemen on the field, but putting them in the right spots. If the Rams think Saffold is a better fit at left tackle and Smith is better suited for right tackle, then ...

"That's what we would do," Spagnuolo said.

So it looks like training camp and at least part of the preseason will be an evaluation of which player, Smith or Saffold, is better suited for left tackle or right tackle.

"The thing that's got to be established is what's going to be the best spot for those two guys," offensive line coach Steve Loney said.

So with that as a backdrop, there was the possibility of an awkward moment Thursday when Smith, with Saffold by his side, was asked if it mattered whether he played left tackle or right tackle. Most tackles will tell you they prefer the left side. In fact, Alex Barron let it known to Rams management during the offseason that he preferred to play left tackle — before he was traded, that is.

But Smith didn't flinch.

"You want to put the best five on the field at all times, and where you feel they can play," Smith said. "Wherever they put me is fine. Wherever they put Rodger, I'm sure it's fine. We're just going to go out and play football."

Saffold also said the right things about the possibility of playing left tackle.

"Right now, I'm just a tackle," Saffold said. "Being left or right really doesn't matter to me at this point. All I want to do is continue to try to help out the team. Wherever I'm put is where I'm going to be, and I'll be happy with that."

Left tackle traditionally has been regarded as the "money" position on the offensive line. In theory, you're facing the opposing team's best pass rusher on the left side. And you're also protecting the quarterback's blind side unless, of course, the quarterback is lefthanded.

If Saffold ends up at left tackle, the Rams will have a player who just signed a $6.3 million contract on the left side as the No. 33 overall pick in the 2010 draft, and a player who signed a contract worth nearly 10 times that amount — $62 million — on the right side in Smith, who was chosen No. 2 overall in 2009.

But even as Smith pointed out, draft position or contract value doesn't count for much once the games start.

"Sure, I was a hot pick or whatever, but between those lines, none of that matters," Smith said. "It's who's going to hit the hardest each play."

Spagnuolo discounted the potential learning curve for a rookie left tackle in Saffold as opposed to second-year man Smith.

"When you really look at it, Jason's been here a year, but only got half a year (of play)," Spagnuolo said. "So they're really almost at the same stage. Certainly Rodger's got a little ways to go because he's a rookie. ... Now at some point ... you've got to settle in on your offensive line, so we'll certainly do that."

Staying on the field has been problematical for Smith so far. He missed eight games last season, first with an early season knee injury and then with a late-season concussion. And he missed the tail end of the offseason practices after suffering a fractured toe in early June.

It's a substantial injury. Had it occurred during the season, Smith would have been sidelined for many weeks. In fact, seven weeks after the injury, Smith isn't 100 percent as 2010 training camp opens.

The Rams practiced twice Thursday, with 37 players participating in workouts for rookies and selected veterans only.

In the morning practice, Smith sat out the 11-on-11 workout.

"That was planned," Spagnuolo said. "He's kind of listed as an individual (drill) player only right now ... and we'll take it day-by-day."

The Rams held Smith out of practice Thursday afternoon. He spent much of that time riding a stationary bike near the practice field. Meanwhile, Saffold was taking rep after rep during team periods.

At left tackle.