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Strauss: Rams critics stand tall as Robinson takes a seat
• Joe Strauss
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_1a8d5313-367f-522b-ab62-8141804ec65b.html
Of the 256 players selected in May’s NFL draft, all but Jadeveon Clowney came off the board after the Rams grabbed Auburn tackle Greg Robinson. The Rams, who last experienced a winning season before golfer Phil Mickelson won a major, since have shifted Robinson to guard, where he won’t start Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
This suggests any number of things:
• The Rams have quietly amassed untold wealth on the offensive line.
• Robinson’s pass-blocking skills remain rudimentary, inviting the dreaded description of “project.”
Media’s short-attention-span theater has moved beyond Michael Sam’s shower habits and Sam Bradford’s left knee to Robinson’s failure to provide instant gratification, deeming it an indictment of a front-office gang that can’t shoot straight.
Four months ago, analysts fell over one another praising the Rams’ well-conceived draft. One national critic extolled general manager Les Snead for “killing it.”
Now, two days before playing their first game that counts, has time already arrived to kill the Rams?
Has a franchise long thirsting for success decided to spend the last drops in its canteen on washing its hands?
Sure, it looks bad. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad.
Critics already have started comparing Robinson to Jason Smith, the Baylor tackle whom the previous Rams regime drafted second overall in 2009. Smith actually did start the opener his rookie season, then went on to become the preferred definition for draft “bust.”
Smith endured concussions but before that was suspected of marginal desire and trying to leave the Cardinals’ clubhouse clutching Albert Pujols’ game cap.
Robinson only stands accused of coming from a run-first college program with a narrow playbook. He remains a massive man rated a run-blocking road-grader.
Don’t misconstrue this as an apology for a franchise on the clock in several ways. Fan skepticism is warranted after years of bait-and-switch surprises. Bradford’s return from last year’s knee surgery became the hook for heightened expectations. Then, when the knee again buckled in the Rams’ third exhibition tilt, the sell shifted to Shaun Hill representing only a minor markdown within a run-first offense. Hill’s first pass Sunday will be his 17th in the last four seasons.
The issue regarding Robinson is that the Rams love to draft on potential while their market desires immediate gratification.
“He’s going to be an outstanding player,” coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday afternoon. “Our focus right now is putting the guys on the field that we think give us the best chance to win right now.”
The Rams last year traded up for Tavon Austin then struggled to incorporate the smallish, elusive receiver into the offense.
This occurred after taking Brian Quick with a second-round selection in 2011. Quick’s rep has been one of a practice All-Pro who goes missing on Sundays. His third season is supposed to be different. The Rams have realized quick returns from defensive draftees but continue to urge patience with receivers Austin, Stedman Bailey, Quick and Chris Givens — all taken within the first 96 overall picks.
The Rams drafted Robinson because they preferred his ceiling over the short-term certainty of Texas A&M left tackle Jake Matthews, the No. 7 pick who starts Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons.
Of course, the Rams declined to go sexy by taking top-rated receiver Sammy Watkins or quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Robinson gets the expectation questions a lot. He answers politely, patiently. He acknowledges the “process” that has him at guard, where reads must be made more quickly than at tackle. A talent who established his reputation steam-rolling college opponents now learns a thicker playbook at a fresh position.
“The game’s much faster here. It’s the NFL. You expect that. But you still have to make adjustments,” Robinson says.
Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau refers to what Robinson sees now as “a blur.” Defenders are distinguished by uniform rather than stunts and twists. Boudreau rates Robinson’s talent as a given. Making accurate reads is the tougher challenge but one that will be mastered in time.
“He’s exactly the player we thought we were getting,” Boudreau said.
More nuanced issues exist. The left guard lines up next to Jake Long, who is coming off knee surgery. Rodger Saffold fits there for now. Veteran Davin Joseph signed to play right guard. Former waiver claim Joe Barksdale started 13 games at right tackle last season. At some point Robinson will move to that side.
Last season, the Rams started eight players from tackle to tackle. Only left guard Chris Williams appeared in all 16 games. Harvey Dahl started the first eight games at right guard before ruled inactive for seven of the last eight. Center Scott Wells started the first 12 games but finished the season on injured reserve. Long blew out his knee in the penultimate game. Saffold made two starts at right tackle, got hurt, returned against Indianapolis at right guard, moved back to right tackle at Arizona then finished the season replacing Long at left tackle. Shelley Smith made two starts seven games apart at right guard.
Safe to say, continuity wasn’t last season’s strong suit.
Needing 43 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season, rookie Zac Stacy managed 16 yards in 15 attempts behind an improvised line in Week 17 in Seattle.
That last year’s team won seven games — four following Bradford’s injury — remains a marvel. Boudreau has no desire that his fifth season as Rams offensive line coach go as his fourth — or his third.
Two years ago, right tackle Barry Richardson emerged as the lone Rams offensive lineman to start every game at the same spot. It was the sixth-round draft pick’s only season with the club.
Among 2012’s most enduring memories was Williams unexpectedly being pressed into service inside London’s Wembley Stadium six days after being picked up from the Chicago Bears. Glancing to his right, Dahl asked, “Who the hell are you?” The Rams employed seven line combinations during the 7-8-1 season.
An offensive line’s high mortality rate almost guarantees Robinson will appear sooner or later. All parties say he could see time Sunday. But force-feeding Robinson into the starting lineup to immediately validate a premium draft pick isn’t part of the plan.
Fisher didn’t seem to care much to talk about Robinson not starting when it rained on Wednesday’s post-practice parade.
One moment Fisher pointed out to a media herd that All-Pro tackle Orlando Pace did not start Week One his rookie season after the Rams made him the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Moments later, standing about 20 yards away, Boudreau made precisely the same point to a breakaway scribe. Overlooked was the fact Pace held out for three weeks during his rookie camp.
The game is faster at this level, much faster. Still, there’s ample time to pass judgment on Robinson and the process that brought him here.
• Joe Strauss
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_1a8d5313-367f-522b-ab62-8141804ec65b.html
Of the 256 players selected in May’s NFL draft, all but Jadeveon Clowney came off the board after the Rams grabbed Auburn tackle Greg Robinson. The Rams, who last experienced a winning season before golfer Phil Mickelson won a major, since have shifted Robinson to guard, where he won’t start Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
This suggests any number of things:
• The Rams have quietly amassed untold wealth on the offensive line.
• Robinson’s pass-blocking skills remain rudimentary, inviting the dreaded description of “project.”
Media’s short-attention-span theater has moved beyond Michael Sam’s shower habits and Sam Bradford’s left knee to Robinson’s failure to provide instant gratification, deeming it an indictment of a front-office gang that can’t shoot straight.
Four months ago, analysts fell over one another praising the Rams’ well-conceived draft. One national critic extolled general manager Les Snead for “killing it.”
Now, two days before playing their first game that counts, has time already arrived to kill the Rams?
Has a franchise long thirsting for success decided to spend the last drops in its canteen on washing its hands?
Sure, it looks bad. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad.
Critics already have started comparing Robinson to Jason Smith, the Baylor tackle whom the previous Rams regime drafted second overall in 2009. Smith actually did start the opener his rookie season, then went on to become the preferred definition for draft “bust.”
Smith endured concussions but before that was suspected of marginal desire and trying to leave the Cardinals’ clubhouse clutching Albert Pujols’ game cap.
Robinson only stands accused of coming from a run-first college program with a narrow playbook. He remains a massive man rated a run-blocking road-grader.
Don’t misconstrue this as an apology for a franchise on the clock in several ways. Fan skepticism is warranted after years of bait-and-switch surprises. Bradford’s return from last year’s knee surgery became the hook for heightened expectations. Then, when the knee again buckled in the Rams’ third exhibition tilt, the sell shifted to Shaun Hill representing only a minor markdown within a run-first offense. Hill’s first pass Sunday will be his 17th in the last four seasons.
The issue regarding Robinson is that the Rams love to draft on potential while their market desires immediate gratification.
“He’s going to be an outstanding player,” coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday afternoon. “Our focus right now is putting the guys on the field that we think give us the best chance to win right now.”
The Rams last year traded up for Tavon Austin then struggled to incorporate the smallish, elusive receiver into the offense.
This occurred after taking Brian Quick with a second-round selection in 2011. Quick’s rep has been one of a practice All-Pro who goes missing on Sundays. His third season is supposed to be different. The Rams have realized quick returns from defensive draftees but continue to urge patience with receivers Austin, Stedman Bailey, Quick and Chris Givens — all taken within the first 96 overall picks.
The Rams drafted Robinson because they preferred his ceiling over the short-term certainty of Texas A&M left tackle Jake Matthews, the No. 7 pick who starts Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons.
Of course, the Rams declined to go sexy by taking top-rated receiver Sammy Watkins or quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Robinson gets the expectation questions a lot. He answers politely, patiently. He acknowledges the “process” that has him at guard, where reads must be made more quickly than at tackle. A talent who established his reputation steam-rolling college opponents now learns a thicker playbook at a fresh position.
“The game’s much faster here. It’s the NFL. You expect that. But you still have to make adjustments,” Robinson says.
Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau refers to what Robinson sees now as “a blur.” Defenders are distinguished by uniform rather than stunts and twists. Boudreau rates Robinson’s talent as a given. Making accurate reads is the tougher challenge but one that will be mastered in time.
“He’s exactly the player we thought we were getting,” Boudreau said.
More nuanced issues exist. The left guard lines up next to Jake Long, who is coming off knee surgery. Rodger Saffold fits there for now. Veteran Davin Joseph signed to play right guard. Former waiver claim Joe Barksdale started 13 games at right tackle last season. At some point Robinson will move to that side.
Last season, the Rams started eight players from tackle to tackle. Only left guard Chris Williams appeared in all 16 games. Harvey Dahl started the first eight games at right guard before ruled inactive for seven of the last eight. Center Scott Wells started the first 12 games but finished the season on injured reserve. Long blew out his knee in the penultimate game. Saffold made two starts at right tackle, got hurt, returned against Indianapolis at right guard, moved back to right tackle at Arizona then finished the season replacing Long at left tackle. Shelley Smith made two starts seven games apart at right guard.
Safe to say, continuity wasn’t last season’s strong suit.
Needing 43 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season, rookie Zac Stacy managed 16 yards in 15 attempts behind an improvised line in Week 17 in Seattle.
That last year’s team won seven games — four following Bradford’s injury — remains a marvel. Boudreau has no desire that his fifth season as Rams offensive line coach go as his fourth — or his third.
Two years ago, right tackle Barry Richardson emerged as the lone Rams offensive lineman to start every game at the same spot. It was the sixth-round draft pick’s only season with the club.
Among 2012’s most enduring memories was Williams unexpectedly being pressed into service inside London’s Wembley Stadium six days after being picked up from the Chicago Bears. Glancing to his right, Dahl asked, “Who the hell are you?” The Rams employed seven line combinations during the 7-8-1 season.
An offensive line’s high mortality rate almost guarantees Robinson will appear sooner or later. All parties say he could see time Sunday. But force-feeding Robinson into the starting lineup to immediately validate a premium draft pick isn’t part of the plan.
Fisher didn’t seem to care much to talk about Robinson not starting when it rained on Wednesday’s post-practice parade.
One moment Fisher pointed out to a media herd that All-Pro tackle Orlando Pace did not start Week One his rookie season after the Rams made him the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Moments later, standing about 20 yards away, Boudreau made precisely the same point to a breakaway scribe. Overlooked was the fact Pace held out for three weeks during his rookie camp.
The game is faster at this level, much faster. Still, there’s ample time to pass judgment on Robinson and the process that brought him here.
