- Joined
- Jun 20, 2010
- Messages
- 35,576
- Name
- The Dude
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...affold-expects-to-start-week-1-at-right-guard
Rodger Saffold says his versatility helps him fill out the Rams' offensive line. Jeff Roberson/AP
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold is no stranger to changing positions. He's made a career of it since he entered the league in 2010.
Saffold has changed positions because of injuries to himself, injuries to others and outside free-agent signings. But never has he changed positions while injured simultaneously with the player whom he's trading spots. Until now.
After sitting out preseason games and practices since the exhibition opener against the Oakland Raiders with a right shoulder injury, Saffold returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday. When he suffered the injury, he was the Rams' left guard. When he returns, Saffold said he'll be on the move again.
"I'm going to go ahead and say right guard," Saffold said. "Coaches really felt that the way things have been going, they felt like we would be firmer if we were in that protection. They understand my versatility and the way to have the best combination to keep it firm inside was for me to go play right. They have seen me play right guard before in years past so they have confidence in me in being able to switch. They think it would be more natural for him to play left.
"When those type of things get asked of you, I mean what am I here for? I'm here to be that versatile guy. You'll probably see me playing a bunch of different positions all year but that means nothing to me. My goal will stay the same."
So, as was clear in Saturday night's preseason loss to Indianapolis, Saffold is indeed moving back to right guard with rookie Jamon Brown flipping to the left side. At the time, Rams coach Jeff Fisher was coy about the move, saying he just wanted to give Brown some work on the left side. But he acknowledged Sunday that moving Saffold back to the right with Brown on the left was under consideration.
"I think Rodger's really comfortable on the right," Saffold said. "It'll be a consideration and that's particularly why we did it. Line him up and let him work with [left tackle] Greg [Robinson] and then put Rodger over next to [right tackle] Rob [Havenstein]."
Obviously, this late in the preseason, it's odd for a team with so many young offensive linemen to keep moving pieces around, but it would have made even less sense if the Rams had flopped Brown to the other side as a one-off experiment. In 2014, Saffold started all 16 games at left guard and Brown played nothing but right guard since arriving as a third-round pick in May.
But both players have experience playing on the other side. Saffold, in fact, played right guard at the end of the 2013 season and looked like a burgeoning star at the position. He moved last year to make room for veteran Davin Joseph, who had never played anywhere but the right side. Brown played a lot of left tackle at Louisville but hadn't played left guard since his freshman year.
Now, finally, the Rams seem like they're finally settled with their two guards and two tackles (center still has no definitive answer) and Saffold is closer to being back to full strength. Saffold said he took an awkward hit to the shoulder against the Raiders but could have returned to practice sooner.
Instead, the Rams have been patient with his recovery, allowing him to strengthen the shoulder and spend time working on his conditioning. In switching back to the right side, Saffold said the only real challenge is making sure he stretches properly.
"I'm pretty much comfortable anywhere at this point," Saffold said. "The only people that are mad at me are my hips man because when you switch positions, your hips get super tight. Other than that, everything is good."
For his part, Fisher said Saffold will be questionable to play in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs but he's likely to be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener against Seattle.
"Definitely, he's in a really good position for the opener," Fisher said. "He's played a lot of games. He's played the Seahawks. He understands, so I'm not concerned about that. The one that he's doing is he's getting the walk-thru reps so the communication is very sound up front with the young guys, so I'm not concerned."
Rodger Saffold says his versatility helps him fill out the Rams' offensive line. Jeff Roberson/AP
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold is no stranger to changing positions. He's made a career of it since he entered the league in 2010.
Saffold has changed positions because of injuries to himself, injuries to others and outside free-agent signings. But never has he changed positions while injured simultaneously with the player whom he's trading spots. Until now.
After sitting out preseason games and practices since the exhibition opener against the Oakland Raiders with a right shoulder injury, Saffold returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday. When he suffered the injury, he was the Rams' left guard. When he returns, Saffold said he'll be on the move again.
"I'm going to go ahead and say right guard," Saffold said. "Coaches really felt that the way things have been going, they felt like we would be firmer if we were in that protection. They understand my versatility and the way to have the best combination to keep it firm inside was for me to go play right. They have seen me play right guard before in years past so they have confidence in me in being able to switch. They think it would be more natural for him to play left.
"When those type of things get asked of you, I mean what am I here for? I'm here to be that versatile guy. You'll probably see me playing a bunch of different positions all year but that means nothing to me. My goal will stay the same."
So, as was clear in Saturday night's preseason loss to Indianapolis, Saffold is indeed moving back to right guard with rookie Jamon Brown flipping to the left side. At the time, Rams coach Jeff Fisher was coy about the move, saying he just wanted to give Brown some work on the left side. But he acknowledged Sunday that moving Saffold back to the right with Brown on the left was under consideration.
"I think Rodger's really comfortable on the right," Saffold said. "It'll be a consideration and that's particularly why we did it. Line him up and let him work with [left tackle] Greg [Robinson] and then put Rodger over next to [right tackle] Rob [Havenstein]."
Obviously, this late in the preseason, it's odd for a team with so many young offensive linemen to keep moving pieces around, but it would have made even less sense if the Rams had flopped Brown to the other side as a one-off experiment. In 2014, Saffold started all 16 games at left guard and Brown played nothing but right guard since arriving as a third-round pick in May.
But both players have experience playing on the other side. Saffold, in fact, played right guard at the end of the 2013 season and looked like a burgeoning star at the position. He moved last year to make room for veteran Davin Joseph, who had never played anywhere but the right side. Brown played a lot of left tackle at Louisville but hadn't played left guard since his freshman year.
Now, finally, the Rams seem like they're finally settled with their two guards and two tackles (center still has no definitive answer) and Saffold is closer to being back to full strength. Saffold said he took an awkward hit to the shoulder against the Raiders but could have returned to practice sooner.
Instead, the Rams have been patient with his recovery, allowing him to strengthen the shoulder and spend time working on his conditioning. In switching back to the right side, Saffold said the only real challenge is making sure he stretches properly.
"I'm pretty much comfortable anywhere at this point," Saffold said. "The only people that are mad at me are my hips man because when you switch positions, your hips get super tight. Other than that, everything is good."
For his part, Fisher said Saffold will be questionable to play in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs but he's likely to be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener against Seattle.
"Definitely, he's in a really good position for the opener," Fisher said. "He's played a lot of games. He's played the Seahawks. He understands, so I'm not concerned about that. The one that he's doing is he's getting the walk-thru reps so the communication is very sound up front with the young guys, so I'm not concerned."
Fro...Not those young bucks, if they're healthy (Brown) they're playing...Foles needs those guys fine-tuned....So does Gurley...our surprise starter...
