With Saffold out, it's Reynolds' turn
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_8109b720-2080-553d-bc00-8efccd6bc8f8.html
Last March in free agency, the Rams signed Garrett Reynolds for moments like this. Backup guard, backup tackle and he was ready to step in and start at a moment’s notice if somebody went down.
When right guard Rodger Saffold suffered a right shoulder injury last Sunday in Green Bay, Reynolds figured he might be starting for a week or two. On Thursday, “a week or two” became most likely the rest of the season when the Rams placed Saffold on the season-ending injured reserve list.
After being checked out by Rams doctors, Saffold received a second opinion from his own specialist. According to coach Jeff Fisher, both sets of doctors agreed that undergoing surgery right now was the best course of action to repair labrum damage in Saffold’s right shoulder.
“You know, he was willing to try to play, but inevitably it’s gonna come out again when we talk about the condition of his shoulder,” Fisher said. “So we just felt like career-wise and future-wise, it’s best to get it fixed.”
Fisher said the surgery will take place “in the next couple of days.”
Saffold fought through a similar injury last season to his left shoulder, wearing a brace and playing in pain when that shoulder popped out, putting off surgery until the end of the season. He decided against doing that this time around.
By having the surgery done now, it’s expected that Saffold should be healthy by late February or early March, meaning he’ll miss little or no offseason work.
With Saffold done for the year, Reynolds becomes the most experienced offensive lineman on the roster in terms of career starts – with 27. At age 28, Reynolds already was the oldest O-lineman on the team – 11 months older than Saffold.
Reynolds is from Knoxville, and speaks with a Tennessee drawl. But he played his college ball at North Carolina, and as a senior Reynolds was teammate to a talented Tar Heels freshman named Robert Quinn. The better part of a decade later, they are teammates again with the Rams.
“Kind of a flashback,” Reynolds said. “It’s kind of funny where life takes you.”
Indeed. Just five games into his first season in St. Louis, life has taken Reynolds into the Rams’ starting lineup at right guard.
He spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, with Paul Boudreau his position coach there in 2009-2011.
“He grew up playing behind Harvey Dahl, so he learned the right way,” said Boudreau, who came in with Fisher as Rams O-line coach in 2012.
The now-retired Dahl, who played in St. Louis after a stint in Atlanta, was a tough-minded player who protected his quarterbacks and running backs, even it meant playing outside the lines from time to time.
(Think back to 2013 when Dahl went after Carolina safety Mike Mitchell after Mitchell celebrated a sideline hit that knocked quarterback Sam Bradford out of the game and out for the season with a knee injury.)
Well, Reynolds has some of that spirit in him. Go after his quarterback or running back too vehemently, and Reynolds will, uh, clean up the pile.
“It comes with the territory, I reckon,” Reynolds said.
Fisher said the line seemed to settle down when Reynolds entered the Green Bay game following Saffold’s injury. That that happened probably is not mere coincidence. Because of his experience and past association with Boudreau, Reynolds was positioned as a leader of the line almost from the moment he set foot in Rams Park.
“He knows me, and he knows when I’m (upset),” Boudreau said early in training camp. “He knows when we’re doing OK. So he’s kind of been my helper as far as getting ’em together off the field.
“He’ll say, ‘We’re all going out, we’re gonna have pizza and beer. And if you don’t show up, you’re gonna pay the bill.’ ”
After spending the 2014 season with Detroit, the chance to hook up again with Boudreau was a major reason why Reynolds signed with the Rams.
“It’s easier to come in and understand the scheme,” Reynolds said. “Even though it’s gonna be a little bit different, you can relate it back to, ‘hey, it’s something I did a couple years ago.’”
Reynolds has started at guard and tackle during his NFL career, but most of his experience has come at right guard. When he signed with the Rams, he figured his job description would be backup/fill-in starter.
“Nothing was ever said to me, but that’s kinda the person I’ve always been,” Reynolds said. “Wherever you need me, throw me in, and I’ll be ready to roll.”
Added to that in St. Louis, Reynolds said, “is to be the older guy and try to bring some these young guys along.”
As for having a settling influence on the younger players, Reynolds said: “I just get in there and remind guys to stay calm and let’s keep rolling. It’s a long game, and just stick together. That’s the most important thing: just stay together and keep pushing.”
In terms of his blocking, Reynolds more than held his own once he replaced Saffold at Lambeau Field.
“He played well,” Fisher said.
Fisher also likes what he sees from rookies Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal. Eventually one of them could take over the starting spot. Perhaps next season if the team decides to part ways with Saffold. But for the foreseeable future, it’s Reynolds’ time.
“You never want to see anybody, especially any of your buddies, go down,” Reynolds said. “But that’s part of the game. I’m looking forward to playing,”
