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Rams notes: Saffold starts at left guard instead of Robinson
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_7d1124bb-e0f2-5b00-83ae-b68bb4cae757.html
CLEVELAND • Rodger Saffold made his preseason debut Saturday for the Rams but it came at the expense of No. 2 overall draft pick Greg Robinson.
After missing the team’s first two exhibition games with a stinger, Saffold started at left guard against Cleveland. So that meant Robinson was on the bench at the start of the contest.
The Rams came out with a starting offensive line of Jake Long at left tackle, Saffold at left guard, Scott Wells at center, Davin Joseph at right guard, and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.
Robinson’s head is spinning a bit after switching continuously between guard and tackle during training camp and the preseason. So the Rams decided to cut back on the crash course he has undergone getting ready for the NFL, and decided to back him down a little Saturday.
With the regular season fast approaching, the plan is to have Robinson focus on left guard from here on out, unless he’s needed on an emergency basis at tackle.
Meanwhile, Saffold can’t seem to get over his string of injuries. He played the first couple of series for the Rams but left the game in the first half with a right ankle injury. The team announced that he was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons, an indication that the injury wasn’t serious.
The Rams also made some changes in the lineup at linebacker Saturday because of injuries. Neither James Laurinaitis nor Jo-Lonn Dunbar started. That put the Bash Bros., Ray Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates, in the starting lineup.
BROCKERS' DEBUT
After missing the New Orleans and Green Bay games with an ankle injury, defensive tackle Michael Brockers made his preseason debut Saturday against the Browns.
Brockers suffered the injury during the team’s FanFest practice Aug. 2 at the Edward Jones Dome. Two years ago, he missed the first three games of the regular season with a high ankle sprain in the same foot, but this injury wasn’t as severe.
“I know after the high one (in 2012), I couldn’t walk for about two weeks,” Brockers said. “Now I’m back on the field after two weeks, so for the most I’m doing good.”
But Brockers didn’t make it through the first half before apparently aggravating the same ankle and leaving for the night.
SITTING IT OUT
Among Rams players sitting out Saturday’s contest were: WR Jordan Harris, CB Brandon McGee, LB Pat Schiller, DE Sammy Brown, C Demetrius Rhaney, C/G Barrett Jones, DT Matt Conrath, and DE William Hayes.
BROWNS CONNECTIONS
The Browns’ roster includes two former Rams draft picks: starting right guard John Greco was a third-round pick in 2008; backup running back Chris Ogbonnaya was a seventh-round pick in 2009.
Browns fullback Ray Agnew, who played at De Smet High and Southern Illinois University, is the son of Rams assistant director of player personnel Ray Agnew Sr. (Agnew Sr. was a starter on the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV championship team.)
Cornerback Pierre Desir, who has been slowed by a knee injury, played at Francis Howell Central High and Lindenwood University. Christian Kirksey of Hazelwood East High (and Iowa) is a backup weakside linebacker for the Browns.
The Cleveland coaching staff includes running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, who had the same job for the Rams from 1997-2005 as either running backs coach or tight ends coach.
THE SERIES
Saturday marked the third time in four years the Rams played either a preseason or regular-season game in Cleveland. The team played preseason games here previously in 2010 and 2013, and played a regular-season game here in 2011.
RAM-BLINGS
The Browns unveiled two new giant video boards Saturday, in what was their exhibition home opener. It’s part of a $120 million upgrade project over the next two years at FirstEnergy Stadium. Local taxpayers are kicking in $30 million, or one-fourth of the costs for improvements.
• The Rams have a quick turnaround this week, concluding their preseason Thursday in Miami.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_7d1124bb-e0f2-5b00-83ae-b68bb4cae757.html
CLEVELAND • Rodger Saffold made his preseason debut Saturday for the Rams but it came at the expense of No. 2 overall draft pick Greg Robinson.
After missing the team’s first two exhibition games with a stinger, Saffold started at left guard against Cleveland. So that meant Robinson was on the bench at the start of the contest.
The Rams came out with a starting offensive line of Jake Long at left tackle, Saffold at left guard, Scott Wells at center, Davin Joseph at right guard, and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.
Robinson’s head is spinning a bit after switching continuously between guard and tackle during training camp and the preseason. So the Rams decided to cut back on the crash course he has undergone getting ready for the NFL, and decided to back him down a little Saturday.
With the regular season fast approaching, the plan is to have Robinson focus on left guard from here on out, unless he’s needed on an emergency basis at tackle.
Meanwhile, Saffold can’t seem to get over his string of injuries. He played the first couple of series for the Rams but left the game in the first half with a right ankle injury. The team announced that he was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons, an indication that the injury wasn’t serious.
The Rams also made some changes in the lineup at linebacker Saturday because of injuries. Neither James Laurinaitis nor Jo-Lonn Dunbar started. That put the Bash Bros., Ray Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates, in the starting lineup.
BROCKERS' DEBUT
After missing the New Orleans and Green Bay games with an ankle injury, defensive tackle Michael Brockers made his preseason debut Saturday against the Browns.
Brockers suffered the injury during the team’s FanFest practice Aug. 2 at the Edward Jones Dome. Two years ago, he missed the first three games of the regular season with a high ankle sprain in the same foot, but this injury wasn’t as severe.
“I know after the high one (in 2012), I couldn’t walk for about two weeks,” Brockers said. “Now I’m back on the field after two weeks, so for the most I’m doing good.”
But Brockers didn’t make it through the first half before apparently aggravating the same ankle and leaving for the night.
SITTING IT OUT
Among Rams players sitting out Saturday’s contest were: WR Jordan Harris, CB Brandon McGee, LB Pat Schiller, DE Sammy Brown, C Demetrius Rhaney, C/G Barrett Jones, DT Matt Conrath, and DE William Hayes.
BROWNS CONNECTIONS
The Browns’ roster includes two former Rams draft picks: starting right guard John Greco was a third-round pick in 2008; backup running back Chris Ogbonnaya was a seventh-round pick in 2009.
Browns fullback Ray Agnew, who played at De Smet High and Southern Illinois University, is the son of Rams assistant director of player personnel Ray Agnew Sr. (Agnew Sr. was a starter on the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV championship team.)
Cornerback Pierre Desir, who has been slowed by a knee injury, played at Francis Howell Central High and Lindenwood University. Christian Kirksey of Hazelwood East High (and Iowa) is a backup weakside linebacker for the Browns.
The Cleveland coaching staff includes running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, who had the same job for the Rams from 1997-2005 as either running backs coach or tight ends coach.
THE SERIES
Saturday marked the third time in four years the Rams played either a preseason or regular-season game in Cleveland. The team played preseason games here previously in 2010 and 2013, and played a regular-season game here in 2011.
RAM-BLINGS
The Browns unveiled two new giant video boards Saturday, in what was their exhibition home opener. It’s part of a $120 million upgrade project over the next two years at FirstEnergy Stadium. Local taxpayers are kicking in $30 million, or one-fourth of the costs for improvements.
• The Rams have a quick turnaround this week, concluding their preseason Thursday in Miami.