Saffold is One Heck of a... GUARD

[OnceARam]

I think he'll take a H.Dahl-like contract. $16mil/4yrs ($4mil a year).

I think it's going to be a Steve Hutchinson type deal where we end up paying him $7 million a year. We can afford it given Long is paid very little for a LT and so will be whomever is starting at RT (hopefully a first round rookie).

 

[fearsomefour]

I think he'll take a H.Dahl-like contract. $16mil/4yrs ($4mil a year).

I think someone, like Oakland with need and plenty of money to spend, will over him $6-7 a year to play T.

 

[BigRamFan]

If he stays he'd be playing guard for us. Saffold wants to play OT. Now consider all the teams desperate for a good OT. I think he's going to get a big payday to play OT.

On what do you base this statement? Perhaps he would rather be a Pro Bowl guard than an average tackle. I, obviously, don't know that to be true but I do recall reading an article on him after his rookie season, sorry no link, that stated how he "wanted to be the best" at what he did. Perhaps that's as a guard.

 

[Yamahopper]

Zona is where he will call home. The brightside is Quinn just eats his lunch everyday in camp.
Hate to see him go, he is a good player.

 

[V3]

On what do you base this statement? Perhaps he would rather be a Pro Bowl guard than an average tackle. I, obviously, don't know that to be true but I do recall reading an article on him after his rookie season, sorry no link, that stated how he "wanted to be the best" at what he did. Perhaps that's as a guard.

There were multiple stories about how he wasn't pleased with the Long signing and that he's said he wants to play OT. There's a chance he's changed his mind and would be fine playing OG but I doubt it. If you want to believe he'll stay, you're free to do so. I personally think he'll be leaving to play LT for a LOT of money- more than he'd get to stay here and play OG.

 

[MerlinJones]

I think it's going to be a Steve Hutchinson type deal where we end up paying him $7 million a year. We can afford it given Long is paid very little for a LT and so will be whomever is starting at RT (hopefully a first round rookie).

While he's done a fine job at guard, there's no way I'd pay 7 million per season with Saffold's injury history.

How about Jake Matthews at RT (for now) and try Barksdale at RG.
Either that or draft a guard to go along with Matthews.

 

[jap]

Guard play involves less wide ranging movement, and that may translate into less injuries for Rodger. His hangup with LT play appeared to be based more on money than on the position itself. If he realizes his best play comes at guard where he might be a Pro Bowler, might suffer much less injuries, and may command as much money as elite LT's, he may come around to the Horns, provided they are willing to pay.

 

[F. Mulder]

I personally think he's making himself a lot of money---elsewhere. He's shown he can play both Tackle and Guard and is trying to shake off the injured label but someone is going to pay him a lot of money to be their starting Tackle and it isn't going to be the Rams IMO.

 

[BonifayRam]

You all know where I stand on this. Rams would be smart to make the necessary moves to show Rodger Saffold what this Ram Org is willing to invest in him in spite of his serious ongoing injury history. I still don't think we have seen the best Saffold game yet! Saffold has bulked up big time have you seen him next to Joe Barksdale??? I think Saffold realizes that he can be a much better pro playing the OLG or ORG post than an OT...The notion & thought that due to his ability to play good OLT or good ORT where the $$$ has a history of bigger long term contract will feed his self desires to naturally run to that massive pay check. It would be hard to fault him for that. But looking back I see a possibility for a chance here that all is not lost on Saffold departing for another team in 2014.

Saffold is a very strong massive man. He is much stronger than most even realize. Since being drafted after a history of playing the left side @ OT he has worked very hard on keeping his pounds & weight down so he could utilize the needed set up & positional speed to combat those Quick speeders @ RDE. Saffold has been in the past able to stay between 310 & 315 pounds since 2009.

This off season Saffold came into camp massively larger & stronger ...he is a naturally large man. His body is not the normal body type that most OLT's are. Nor even a ORT's for that matter. Does anyone recall the Saffold bettle-juice head jokes when 2013 training camp photos of the OL cadre hit? Saffold in his debut @ ORT was lets be kind & say not what we expected. he struggled on the speed rushers from the ORT post early & then the second knee MCL injury changed things completely.

Once fully healed he got a chance to play Harvey Dahl's OG spot....the Rams OL run blocking that was improving once Zac was inserted all of a sudden became highly effective! All four Rams season we have never seen Saffold perform like he has performed since his insertion @ OG. Yesterday in the chat room after we were commenting on all those massive holes & blocks by the OL mainly Saffold a fellow ROD"mer asked if Saffold was just making a big show & big plays here @ the end of his Ram career due to his upcoming big payday elsewhere in the up coming UFA in March. Since we had not seen this before from him.

Its just my opinion but Rodger is just figuring it out that his stardom in the NFL will not come from playing OLT or ORT but from playing one of the two OL OG posts. Rodger & this is just me here for I do not know this young man..but from all that I have read & can find Rodger has the future possibility of an elite class act OL of the Jackie Slater mode but not @ OT but @ OG. IMO Rodger has much pride in himself due mostly to the hard work but he has also suffered many setbacks & misfortune from all those injuries.

Once again just me here but for the 6-4 1/2 330 plus pounder OL Saffold to be the best that he can be in the NFL.... & that being his #1 goal.....Saffold now knows or will soon conclude that his goal with his God given abilities & skills will only be met when he is the starting OG for an NFL team. It's been said before many times that in life's time of tribulations & in Saffold case the hurts & pains of injury after injury season after season that forced the Rams Org. to go find a new OLT.....to move him to other position from where he thought he wanted to be.....now his pride was inured then his knee re-injured and now.....WOW Its been a very very long time since I have seen a Ram OG do what Saffold has been doing as of late!:bigup:

The UFA Rodger Saffold will be a great renewed addition for this Ram OL at either of the two OG posts in 2014. Now its up to Snead & Fisher & then Saffold from that point but I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed watching this Ram OL when Saffold is playing OG.

 

[RaminExile]

Can we tag him to play guard?

 

[BonifayRam]

Can we tag him to play guard?

Here are two top Tag'd OL'ers in 2013:
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady - $9.828 million
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert - $9.828 million

It was said that in 2013 the FT for Offensive lineman: $ 9,828,000 mil to $8,709,000 mil.

Could Snead tag him? Yes they could. However a long term contract, with many injury tied escalators would have to inserted to protect the Rams. This would be the only way I see the Rams doing a deal.

 

[RaminExile]

Here are two top Tag'd OL'ers in 2013:
Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady - $9.828 million
Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert - $9.828 million

It was said that in 2013 the FT for Offensive lineman: $ 9,828,000 mil to $8,709,000 mil.

Could Snead tag him? Yes they could. However a long term contract, with many injury tied escalators would have to inserted to protect the Rams. This would be the only way I see the Rams doing a deal.

Looking at that then it doesn't look likely we can keep him because we'd have to pay him long term Offensive Tackle money - which is surely what he'd expect to get playing elsewhere as a free agent when we'd be playing him as a guard. Hmm...

 

[RhodyRams]

so far Saffold has played 291 snaps at guard this season

0 sacks
3 hits
4 hurries


[hl]PAY DA MAN !!!!![/hl]

and if you look here http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol you will see Rams are #5 in run blocking

 

[RaminExile]

I agree he deserves to get paid. He's stayed healthy a bit better as well this year which is HUGE. Maybe we can find the money from letting Wells and Dahl walk and bring in a rookie LG (if he's gonna play right) that will allow us to do a deal. I'll be interested to listen to what happens in the off season with him anyway.

 

[rams24/7]

If he were to stay at guard I'd give him something like a $1M base with $200K per game bonuses. That would equate to $4.2M. He does deserve to be paid, but the team that signs him deserves protection due to his injury history.

 

[Rambitious1]

If he stays he'd be playing guard for us. Saffold wants to play OT. Now consider all the teams desperate for a good OT. I think he's going to get a big payday to play OT.

Again, I'm not so sure.
I'm not saying he would not get anything or not get a good offer.
I just think him getting a big payday from a team would necessitate the team overlooking his health issues.
But, that has happened before so it could happen. I'm just not sure he will get such a great offer that he would just take it over what we may offer him to stay and play guard.

 

[OnceARam]

If he were to stay at guard I'd give him something like a $1M base with $200K per game bonuses. That would equate to $4.2M. He does deserve to be paid, but the team that signs him deserves protection due to his injury history.

Rodger is 25 years old. He's young enough to brush his past injuries off. This upcoming FA period is his second contract, which is his ONLY chance to make big time money.

He's going to get paid $5-7 million per season. The question is by whom?


Think if it this way; if we don't sign him how much is it going to cost us? Bradford's other knee? A second round pick? Zac Stacy's YPC?

 

[Angry Ram]

He won't be back. Indy or Atl will gobble him up.

I could see Atlanta, but Indy has Anthony Castonzo.

I'll bet ya. I say Oakland.

Oakland has Jared Veldheer.

I want him to stay here.

 

[fearsomefour]

Oakland has holes on other spots on the line and Saffold can fill other spots. I am basing my opinion on something a birdie with ties to Oakland told me. Of course if their coach gets fired or whatever things could change.

 

[Alan]

BonifayRam one of a growing group of like thinkers:
You all know where I stand on this. Rams would be smart to make the necessary moves to show Rodger Saffold what this Ram Org is willing to invest in him in spite of his serious ongoing injury history. I still don't think we have seen the best Saffold game yet! Saffold has bulked up big time have you seen him next to Joe Barksdale??? I think Saffold realizes that he can be a much better pro playing the OLG or ORG post than an OT...The notion & thought that due to his ability to play good OLT or good ORT where the $$$ has a history of bigger long term contract will feed his self desires to naturally run to that massive pay check. It would be hard to fault him for that. But looking back I see a possibility for a chance here that all is not lost on Saffold departing for another team in 2014.

Saffold is a very strong massive man. He is much stronger than most even realize. Since being drafted after a history of playing the left side @ OT he has worked very hard on keeping his pounds & weight down so he could utilize the needed set up & positional speed to combat those Quick speeders @ RDE. Saffold has been in the past able to stay between 310 & 315 pounds since 2009.

This off season Saffold came into camp massively larger & stronger ...he is a naturally large man. His body is not the normal body type that most OLT's are. Nor even a ORT's for that matter. Does anyone recall the Saffold bettle-juice head jokes when 2013 training camp photos of the OL cadre hit? Saffold in his debut @ ORT was lets be kind & say not what we expected. he struggled on the speed rushers from the ORT post early & then the second knee MCL injury changed things completely.

Once fully healed he got a chance to play Harvey Dahl's OG spot....the Rams OL run blocking that was improving once Zac was inserted all of a sudden became highly effective! All four Rams season we have never seen Saffold perform like he has performed since his insertion @ OG. Yesterday in the chat room after we were commenting on all those massive holes & blocks by the OL mainly Saffold a fellow ROD"mer asked if Saffold was just making a big show & big plays here @ the end of his Ram career due to his upcoming big payday elsewhere in the up coming UFA in March. Since we had not seen this before from him.

Its just my opinion but Rodger is just figuring it out that his stardom in the NFL will not come from playing OLT or ORT but from playing one of the two OL OG posts. Rodger & this is just me here for I do not know this young man..but from all that I have read & can find Rodger has the future possibility of an elite class act OL of the Jackie Slater mode but not @ OT but @ OG. IMO Rodger has much pride in himself due mostly to the hard work but he has also suffered many setbacks & misfortune from all those injuries.

Once again just me here but for the 6-4 1/2 330 plus pounder OL Saffold to be the best that he can be in the NFL.... & that being his #1 goal.....Saffold now knows or will soon conclude that his goal with his God given abilities & skills will only be met when he is the starting OG for an NFL team. It's been said before many times that in life's time of tribulations & in Saffold case the hurts & pains of injury after injury season after season that forced the Rams Org. to go find a new OLT.....to move him to other position from where he thought he wanted to be.....now his pride was inured then his knee re-injured and now.....WOW Its been a very very long time since I have seen a Ram OG do what Saffold has been doing as of late!:bigup:

The UFA Rodger Saffold will be a great renewed addition for this Ram OL at either of the two OG posts in 2014. Now its up to Snead & Fisher & then Saffold from that point but I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed watching this Ram OL when Saffold is playing OG.

You and I have been singing this song for some time now and I think the Rams FO has also seen the light. I personally think we have a better than even chance of signing him to a long term contract. As I've said before, it should be our top priority.