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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c3546854-771b-5cce-a89e-35eb8f42b908.html
MOBILE, ALA. • Fifteen minutes into the first Senior Bowl practice of the week, Rams general manager Les Snead stood maybe 10 feet from the North squad offensive linemen, watching intently as they went through drill work.
It is a telling indication of how important the offensive line is to the Rams in 2015. Yes, the quarterback situation is the No. 1 priority, but the Rams need blockers. And possibly more than one.
At a minimum we’re talking about a starting guard to replace Davin Joseph. At center, Scott Wells’ future in St. Louis may depend on what the new offensive coordinator thinks.
And then there’s right tackle Joseph Barksdale, a pending free agent. If he signs elsewhere, that’s another void.
So the Rams could be looking for as many as three starters on the offensive line for next season. Snead and others among the Rams’ contingent of coaches and scouts at the Senior Bowl are looking for potential answers in Mobile.
Although the practices are the most important part of the week for coaches and scouts, the game itself takes place today at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
As is usually the case, there were a couple of well-known no-shows this week in Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff and Florida State center Cameron Erving.
Scherff is considered the best offensive lineman in the draft, and many feel Erving is the top center. But there was still plenty to look at in a still-muddled offensive line picture.
“There’s a good bunch of guys here,” said Russ Lande, former NFL scout and current football analyst for multiple outlets. “It’s a great class in terms of depth. If you’re in that second to third round, and you want to find a starting tackle who can start as a rookie, I think you can find that guy.”
Near the top of the list in Mobile, with both regarded as potential first-rounders, are tackles T.J. Clemmings of Pittsburgh and La’el Collins of LSU. And keep in mind, more and more college tackles seem to be getting converted to guards in the NFL these days.
Clemmings, 6-5, 305, was a defensive lineman his first three seasons at Pitt (including a redshirt season), then switched to offense, where he started in 2013 and ’14 at right tackle.
“I just wasn’t having success on the defensive line, or playing as much as I wanted to,” Clemmings said.
Paul Chryst, Pitt’s coach at the time, broached the subject by telling Clemmings his jersey wasn’t getting dirty on defense — because he wasn’t playing.
“He said we can’t waste your talent,” recalled Clemmings, who at first glance looks like the Rams’ Barksdale. “So why don’t you try the offensive line?”
Clemmings told the coach he needed a little time to think it over. About 15 minutes later, Clemmings was back in the coach’s office. He was ready to try offensive line.
Things didn’t go smoothly at first, particularly when you consider that Clemmings went against Aaron Donald every day in practice in 2013.
Donald, of course, went on to earn a Pro Bowl berth and Defensive Rookie of the Year laurels (by the Pro Football Writers) in 2014 for the Rams.
“Aaron made you want to play better — up to the next level,” Clemmings said. “He just brought intensity out all the times. Sometimes we’d get him; sometimes we wouldn’t.”
The two have stayed in contact, and Clemmings said Donald has given him some info and tips on the Senior Bowl and the overall pre-draft process.
“That was actually very helpful,” Clemmings said. “He just talked me through the whole process and what to expect for the next couple, three months.”
Despite playing right tackle in college, Clemmings got some work at left tackle this week in Mobile. According to some accounts, he still looks a little raw as a blocker.
Although Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers is three years removed from his time at LSU, Collins remembers going against him in practice as well back in the day. Collins said he held his own in those sessions in Baton Rouge.
“Absolutely. There was always a high level of competition at LSU,” Collins said. “That’s why being here (at the Senior Bowl) kind of reminds me of home. Going against great quality players all the time.”
According to Collins, he was named La’el by his mother and grandmother, and it means “Belonging to God.”
Collins, 6-5, 321, worked at both left and right tackle during the practice week. In today’s college game, many tackles operate out of 2-point stance, and Collins looked a little uncomfortable operating out of the traditional 3-point stance.
Overall, it looked like the South squad had the better talent among offensive line prospects.
Although it’s not considered a great year in the draft for centers, Dillon Day of Mississippi State and Shaq Mason of Georgia Tech had their moments.
At guard, Alabama’s Arie Kouandjio isn’t considered as athletic as twin brother Cyrus — now with the Buffalo Bills — but is a physical blocker at 6-5, 315.
Donovan Smith of Penn State has been compared to D.J. Fluker. Although he still had a year of college eligibility remaining, Smith was allowed to compete at the Senior Bowl because he already has his college degree. He’s considered a prospect at both guard and tackle.
Jamal Douglas of Arizona State started two years at guard and one season at tackle, and is known for his quick feet and mobility.
Some consider Colorado State tackle Ty Sambrailo the most athletic offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl, but some question his physicality.
MOBILE, ALA. • Fifteen minutes into the first Senior Bowl practice of the week, Rams general manager Les Snead stood maybe 10 feet from the North squad offensive linemen, watching intently as they went through drill work.
It is a telling indication of how important the offensive line is to the Rams in 2015. Yes, the quarterback situation is the No. 1 priority, but the Rams need blockers. And possibly more than one.
At a minimum we’re talking about a starting guard to replace Davin Joseph. At center, Scott Wells’ future in St. Louis may depend on what the new offensive coordinator thinks.
And then there’s right tackle Joseph Barksdale, a pending free agent. If he signs elsewhere, that’s another void.
So the Rams could be looking for as many as three starters on the offensive line for next season. Snead and others among the Rams’ contingent of coaches and scouts at the Senior Bowl are looking for potential answers in Mobile.
Although the practices are the most important part of the week for coaches and scouts, the game itself takes place today at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
As is usually the case, there were a couple of well-known no-shows this week in Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff and Florida State center Cameron Erving.
Scherff is considered the best offensive lineman in the draft, and many feel Erving is the top center. But there was still plenty to look at in a still-muddled offensive line picture.
“There’s a good bunch of guys here,” said Russ Lande, former NFL scout and current football analyst for multiple outlets. “It’s a great class in terms of depth. If you’re in that second to third round, and you want to find a starting tackle who can start as a rookie, I think you can find that guy.”
Near the top of the list in Mobile, with both regarded as potential first-rounders, are tackles T.J. Clemmings of Pittsburgh and La’el Collins of LSU. And keep in mind, more and more college tackles seem to be getting converted to guards in the NFL these days.
Clemmings, 6-5, 305, was a defensive lineman his first three seasons at Pitt (including a redshirt season), then switched to offense, where he started in 2013 and ’14 at right tackle.
“I just wasn’t having success on the defensive line, or playing as much as I wanted to,” Clemmings said.
Paul Chryst, Pitt’s coach at the time, broached the subject by telling Clemmings his jersey wasn’t getting dirty on defense — because he wasn’t playing.
“He said we can’t waste your talent,” recalled Clemmings, who at first glance looks like the Rams’ Barksdale. “So why don’t you try the offensive line?”
Clemmings told the coach he needed a little time to think it over. About 15 minutes later, Clemmings was back in the coach’s office. He was ready to try offensive line.
Things didn’t go smoothly at first, particularly when you consider that Clemmings went against Aaron Donald every day in practice in 2013.
Donald, of course, went on to earn a Pro Bowl berth and Defensive Rookie of the Year laurels (by the Pro Football Writers) in 2014 for the Rams.
“Aaron made you want to play better — up to the next level,” Clemmings said. “He just brought intensity out all the times. Sometimes we’d get him; sometimes we wouldn’t.”
The two have stayed in contact, and Clemmings said Donald has given him some info and tips on the Senior Bowl and the overall pre-draft process.
“That was actually very helpful,” Clemmings said. “He just talked me through the whole process and what to expect for the next couple, three months.”
Despite playing right tackle in college, Clemmings got some work at left tackle this week in Mobile. According to some accounts, he still looks a little raw as a blocker.
Although Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers is three years removed from his time at LSU, Collins remembers going against him in practice as well back in the day. Collins said he held his own in those sessions in Baton Rouge.
“Absolutely. There was always a high level of competition at LSU,” Collins said. “That’s why being here (at the Senior Bowl) kind of reminds me of home. Going against great quality players all the time.”
According to Collins, he was named La’el by his mother and grandmother, and it means “Belonging to God.”
Collins, 6-5, 321, worked at both left and right tackle during the practice week. In today’s college game, many tackles operate out of 2-point stance, and Collins looked a little uncomfortable operating out of the traditional 3-point stance.
Overall, it looked like the South squad had the better talent among offensive line prospects.
Although it’s not considered a great year in the draft for centers, Dillon Day of Mississippi State and Shaq Mason of Georgia Tech had their moments.
At guard, Alabama’s Arie Kouandjio isn’t considered as athletic as twin brother Cyrus — now with the Buffalo Bills — but is a physical blocker at 6-5, 315.
Donovan Smith of Penn State has been compared to D.J. Fluker. Although he still had a year of college eligibility remaining, Smith was allowed to compete at the Senior Bowl because he already has his college degree. He’s considered a prospect at both guard and tackle.
Jamal Douglas of Arizona State started two years at guard and one season at tackle, and is known for his quick feet and mobility.
Some consider Colorado State tackle Ty Sambrailo the most athletic offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl, but some question his physicality.
