By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Saturday, Sep. 30 2006
Sure,
Orlando Pace is a seven-time Pro Bowler. But when it comes to the Detroit
Lions, he's no Adam Goldberg.
With Pace almost surely out for Sunday's game at the Edward Jones Dome,
Goldberg will be in the Rams' lineup. Acquired from Minnesota on Sept. 2 for a
seventh-round draft pick in 2008, Goldberg brought with him a personal 6-0
record vs. Detroit.
Still, Goldberg assured that despite their 0-3 record, the Lions would be no
pushovers. "The thing about Detroit is, when you face their defense, no matter
what happens -- you could win by two scores -- but after the game, you're going
to be sore," he said. "It's a physical, physical defense."
It's also a defense the Rams will challenge with a revamped left side of their
offensive line. Veteran Todd Steussie steps in for Pace at left tackle, and
Goldberg takes over the left guard spot
Richie Incognito manned before moving
to center after Andy McCollum sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.
Despite suffering a concussion Sept. 17 in San Francisco, Pace played the whole
game last week at Arizona. Afterward, though, he experienced a searing
headache. "I could hardly sleep Sunday night," he said.
When the headaches continued, he was unable to practice this week. On Friday,
he was downgraded to doubtful from questionable on the injury report.
"That's what we were hoping wouldn't happen," coach Scott Linehan said. "But
we've got to be careful with that thing. He just hasn't felt as good this week.
So, there's a good chance he won't play Sunday."
Pace hasn't sat out a game since the 2003 season, and he doesn't want to miss
any more than he has to this year. "I don't know if I rushed back too soon or
what," he said Friday. "But I don't want to do anything that's going to have me
going throughout the year with these same headaches."
Steussie started the last two games at left guard. Goldberg, 6-feet-7 and 310
pounds, filled a reserve role last week after playing the second half against
the ***** with Pace sidelined.
"It's terrible for the team and for the unit, the offensive line, when somebody
like Orlando can't play," Goldberg said. "But for my situation, given that
that's the case, it's nice being able to rep all week at practice at the
position that I'll be playing."
All the better to prepare for a rematch with Shaun Rogers, the Lions' Pro Bowl
defensive tackle.
"I played him twice a year for the last two years," Goldberg said. "He's a
great player, but I'm not a big believer in building anybody up. ... You just
go out and play, and let the chips fall where they may."
Hargrove in limbo
Defensive end Anthony Hargrove "worked very hard" in practice this week,
Linehan reported. But the coach was unsure whether Hargrove would be in uniform
Sunday.
"We don't know if we're going to keep four ends up or four tackles," Linehan
said. Hargrove apparently would be the fourth end behind
Leonard Little, Victor
Adeyanju and Brandon Green.
After skipping two practices last week for what he later called a "personal
matter," Hargrove remained behind while the Rams traveled to Arizona. He
apologized to the team and returned to practice Wednesday.
Ram-blings
Rams linebacker
Will Witherspoon has been fined $7,500 for his helmet-to-helmet
hit on Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner. ... Terrence Holt, the younger
brother of Rams wideout
Torry Holt, is Detroit's starting free safety.
Linear Mode
