Rams notes: Healthy again, Saffold set to lead young O-line --PD

[RamBill]

Rams notes: Healthy again, Saffold set to lead young O-line
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_88afbf7c-1ead-5056-adb2-056bf220778b.html

Rams offensive linemen Rodger Saffold started and played in all 16 games a year ago. He did so with a shoulder he figures was “70 or 80 percent’’ by the end of the season.

“Early on, it wasn’t too bad as long I had everything taped up, but as the season went on, it became a little more chronic, so I decided to take care of it,’’ said Saffold, who had surgery to repair a torn labrum shortly after the 2014 season ended. “It’s feeling good. I’m still a little rusty, but we’re chipping away at it every day. It was hard to use my opposite hand to push off last year, but I’m getting more and more confident in my left-handed punch now.

“It definitely feels good to be healthy again.’’

The Rams’ second-round draft pick in 2010, the 6-foot-5, 332-pound Saffold is entering his sixth season; only defensive end Chris Long (2008) and linebacker James Laurinaitis (2009) have been with the Rams longer.

“It’s different, being with all these young-uns,’’ he said. “There are going to be some growing pains, I’m sure, but eventually, I think we’ll be better for it.’’

Saffold, 27, is set to start at left guard as part of the Rams’ most inexperienced starting unit. Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick a year ago, returns at left tackle, with 2015 draft picks Rob Havenstein (second round) and Jamon Brown (third round) projected to start at right tackle and right guard, respectively.

At center, Mizzou product Tim Barnes, 2013 draft pick Barrett Jones and 2014 draft pick Demetrius Rhaney have rotated throughout OTAs and training camp. Of that group, only Barnes, with four, has started an NFL game.

“We’re not there yet, but we’ll keep chipping away; the season’s still a month away,’’ Saffold said when asked about the O-line. “I’m happy with the way (the younger players) work and how they attack. There’s no question they have talent, but now it’s just a matter of fine-tuning the technique and getting them as many reps as possible.’’

Saffold, an Indiana University product from suburban Cleveland, has made starts in 60 of his 63 NFL games and has played every position except center since joining the Rams. The plan is for him to stay at left guard in 2015, but ...

“I’m one play from being asked to move if something happens, so I have to be mentally prepared,’’ he said. “And that’s fine. I’ll do whatever’s best for the team.’’

Except play center, he stressed.

“They know that I’d snap that thing all over the place,’’ he joked. “I really do not want to play center. Ever.’’

HAGEN HOLDS ON

To wrap up Saturday evening’s short workout, special teams coordinator John Fassel staged a single-elimination “grip’’ tournament.

All players practicing took part in the contest, in which two players squared off with one hand each on the football. The winner of each round was the player who held the ball the longest.

A pair of undrafted rookie free agents reached the finals with Jacob Hagen, a safety from Liberty University, beating out former University of Texas running back Malcolm Brown.

“Coach Fassel just wanted us to have a little fun competing,’’ said Hagen, who had 245 career tackles and 15 interceptions with the Flames. “As a competitor, all these guys want to win. Even something as little as this, you want to win.

“It’s about your grip and the size of our hands. I wear 2X gloves, so that probably helped. I think it helps when you’re on the bottom of the ball, you usually have more power there. I don’t know if I want to put that out there.’’

Too late.

The drill got the players fired up and Hagen was rewarded with a “pre-shower before my real shower.’’

“They gave me a little cool-off; it was a little humid anyway,’’ he kidded.

RAM-BLINGS

The Rams released rookie free agent running back Terrence Franks (Texas State) and signed defensive tackle Marcus Forston, a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder who spent time with New England in 2012 and 2013.

Signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Miami, the 25-year-old Forston spent most of those seasons on the practice squad, seeing action in one 2012 game and recording three tackles in three games the following season.

• The Rams held a quick special teams workout late Saturday afternoon. Their final three open-to-the-public practices will be held Sunday (3:30 p.m.), Monday (3:30 p.m.) and Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).

The team will kick off its preseason schedule Friday in Oakland against the Raiders.

• A large group of youth football players from Francis Howell Central, Dupo, Potosi and Nashville, Ill., were on hand to watch Saturday’s workout.

• Running back Tre Mason, who left practice Thursday with a sore hamstring, did not practice but did do some running on the side Saturday.

• Stephania Bell, ESPN’s injury analyst, watched part of Saturday’s workout.

 

[JUMAVA68]

It's Saffolds line to lead and he has to do just that because when things get tough they will look to the vets and that's him.Personally I think he can do it and be good at it and help make this line a good one.

 

[RamBill]

Greg Robinson: I Dreaded Playing OG Last Season
Fox 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne gives you this Rams training camp update. He talks it over with second year left tackle Greg Robinson, who was last season’s number one pick. Martin also goes one on one with this year’s top draft pick, running back Todd Gurley.

Watch Robinson/Gurley Interviews

 

[RamBill]

Greg Robinson is experienced hand on young offensive line for Rams
By R.B. FALLSTROM - AP Sports Writer

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f4a4889240744e2eb5220ec6f259f46b/FBN--Rams-Robinson

ST. LOUIS — Greg Robinson is no wide-eyed rookie anymore. The St. Louis Rams needed him to grow up fast.

The No. 2 pick of last year's draft qualifies as an experienced hand on the offensive line, given the team's massive makeover.

Robinson is the left tackle and two rookies are on track to start on the right side, second-round pick Rob Havenstein at tackle and third-rounder Jamon Brown at guard.

Plus, former backups Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney are competing at center.

The 22-year-old Robinson said he's answering any questions the rookies have, but didn't think he had that much to offer. Brown is also 22 and Havenstein is 23.

"It's just simple stuff," Robinson said. "They're smart guys and I feel like they're a little bit more advanced than I was when I came in last year."

The Rams heaped a lot on Robinson last summer, putting him out at right tackle at the start of camp. He got his first start at left tackle in November after Jake Long's season-ending knee injury after making his first NFL start at left guard in the Rams' fifth game.

Now, there's peace of mind. Just one spot to worry about.

"Last year I really dreaded playing guard," Robinson said. "I had to make the most of it because it was my opportunity to play. I'm really appreciative of the position and I really want to hold it down."

Like the other newcomers — Barnes has four starts and the rest none — Robinson is leaning on veteran left guard Rodger Saffold III. Saffold has 60 starts at three spots, most of them at left tackle.

Robinson said communication with Saffold has helped him get off the ball quicker.

"It's still not perfect, but I'm not expecting that," Robinson said. "I really would say it's slowed down a lot and I'm able to use my eyes better and just use my feet altogether, so there's not much thinking."

Getting everybody on the same page is the team's biggest concern.

"It's actually the lack of reps and the lack of experience," coach Jeff Fisher said. "Because if there's a communication issue upfront and you cut somebody loose, that's a free run on your quarterback.

"So we've got to make sure that doesn't happen."

Besides the 12 starts he got last season, Robinson arrived at camp much lighter on his feet. He played at 339 pounds as a rookie and weighed in at 313 Sunday before probably losing more in the steamiest practice conditions of the summer.

"You just look at what a year makes for these young guys," new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti said. "Greg is in great shape. He put in the time and effort in the offseason and summer time.

"You see it carry over on the field."

At Auburn, Robinson said nutrition wasn't emphasized nearly as much. Bigger perhaps was better, too, in a run-oriented offense that sprung Tre Mason for 1,816 yards and a 5.7-yard average on the team that went to the national title game.

Robinson helped lead the way for both of Mason's 100-yard seasons last year.

"College, it was like a whirlwind — everything was moving so fast and I didn't really care what I ate," Robinson said. "Now I'm able to slow and monitor what I eat."

The team nutritionist also has helped him stay on track and avoid certain general hazards associated with being large.

"You know, when you're kind of big you get those back pains up in there," Robinson said. "I want to stay away from those last year."