- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Garrett Reynolds offers calming presence in replacing Rodger Saffold
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-calming-presence-in-replacing-rodger-saffold
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With Rodger Saffold lost for the season because of shoulder surgery, the St. Louis Rams will turn to the one backup on the roster with extensive NFL experience to replace him.
That would be seventh-year veteran Garrett Reynolds, a free-agent offseason addition from Detroit. After playing the first four games with the same five offensive linemen in place, Reynolds got his first extended action with the offense last week in Green Bay when he came in for Saffold.
According to coach Jeff Fisher, Reynolds fared well upon entering the game.
"When Garrett went in, it was kind of almost a settling factor in there," Fisher said. "The guys almost seemed to settle down when Garrett went in there. That's not a negative towards Rodger, but it just settled down for us, so we'll see where it goes.”
Where it goes now that Saffold is on injured reserve is that Reynolds will step into the starting lineup at one of the guard positions. He filled in for Saffold at right guard against the Green Bay Packers but he played a lot of left guard in the preseason. Some in the organization believe he's more suited to that side, though he's played both guard spots and right tackle in his career.
Either way, Reynolds instantly becomes the most experienced lineman on the roster with 57 games and 27 starts to his credit. In his time with Atlanta and Detroit, Reynolds has moved around on the line which makes him a logical fit in the sense that there's very little he hasn't seen.
"I haven't played center or left tackle but wherever they need me, that's the kind of mentality I'm going to try to keep on it and just go wherever I'm told to go, know what I'm supposed to do and play whatever role I'm needed to play," Reynolds said.
At 6-foot-7. 305 pounds, Reynolds' reputation upon arriving in St. Louis was as a power blocker in the run game with limited upside in pass protection. He worked with the starters at left guard during organized team activities as Saffold was recovering from the left shoulder surgery he had in the offseason. He says he had little trouble picking up the offense, though the terminology is different than what he's used in the past.
"There's a lot of carryover no matter where you go because football is football," Reynolds said. "Of course some things are going to be different, terminology is going to be different, the lingo, the offensive line language might be a little bit different but by OTAs, usually you have that down."
Although Reynolds is just now getting the opportunity to start, he immediately embraced a leadership role for the Rams' young line, a job that will only grow in importance now that he's in the lineup.
The Rams have rookies at right tackle and one guard spot, a second-year left tackle and a center only emerging as a starter this season -- plus a quartet of backups made exclusively of players who have never played offense in regular season NFL games. So Reynolds had better be the type of calming presence Fisher insists he is.
To that end, Reynolds poked a little fun at himself when asked what he thought Fisher meant by calling him a "settling" factor.
"Probably just because they are all faster and more athletic than me so if I can get in the way then you guys can too," Reynolds said.
Quarterback Nick Foles offered a better explanation.
“He's a guy who's been around, been in the league," Foles said. "He's a very knowledgeable, talented guy who's played a lot of football. I think he'll bring another veteran guy in there."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-calming-presence-in-replacing-rodger-saffold
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- With Rodger Saffold lost for the season because of shoulder surgery, the St. Louis Rams will turn to the one backup on the roster with extensive NFL experience to replace him.
That would be seventh-year veteran Garrett Reynolds, a free-agent offseason addition from Detroit. After playing the first four games with the same five offensive linemen in place, Reynolds got his first extended action with the offense last week in Green Bay when he came in for Saffold.
According to coach Jeff Fisher, Reynolds fared well upon entering the game.
"When Garrett went in, it was kind of almost a settling factor in there," Fisher said. "The guys almost seemed to settle down when Garrett went in there. That's not a negative towards Rodger, but it just settled down for us, so we'll see where it goes.”
Where it goes now that Saffold is on injured reserve is that Reynolds will step into the starting lineup at one of the guard positions. He filled in for Saffold at right guard against the Green Bay Packers but he played a lot of left guard in the preseason. Some in the organization believe he's more suited to that side, though he's played both guard spots and right tackle in his career.
Either way, Reynolds instantly becomes the most experienced lineman on the roster with 57 games and 27 starts to his credit. In his time with Atlanta and Detroit, Reynolds has moved around on the line which makes him a logical fit in the sense that there's very little he hasn't seen.
"I haven't played center or left tackle but wherever they need me, that's the kind of mentality I'm going to try to keep on it and just go wherever I'm told to go, know what I'm supposed to do and play whatever role I'm needed to play," Reynolds said.
At 6-foot-7. 305 pounds, Reynolds' reputation upon arriving in St. Louis was as a power blocker in the run game with limited upside in pass protection. He worked with the starters at left guard during organized team activities as Saffold was recovering from the left shoulder surgery he had in the offseason. He says he had little trouble picking up the offense, though the terminology is different than what he's used in the past.
"There's a lot of carryover no matter where you go because football is football," Reynolds said. "Of course some things are going to be different, terminology is going to be different, the lingo, the offensive line language might be a little bit different but by OTAs, usually you have that down."
Although Reynolds is just now getting the opportunity to start, he immediately embraced a leadership role for the Rams' young line, a job that will only grow in importance now that he's in the lineup.
The Rams have rookies at right tackle and one guard spot, a second-year left tackle and a center only emerging as a starter this season -- plus a quartet of backups made exclusively of players who have never played offense in regular season NFL games. So Reynolds had better be the type of calming presence Fisher insists he is.
To that end, Reynolds poked a little fun at himself when asked what he thought Fisher meant by calling him a "settling" factor.
"Probably just because they are all faster and more athletic than me so if I can get in the way then you guys can too," Reynolds said.
Quarterback Nick Foles offered a better explanation.
“He's a guy who's been around, been in the league," Foles said. "He's a very knowledgeable, talented guy who's played a lot of football. I think he'll bring another veteran guy in there."
