Rams Notebook: Newcomer Smith just wants to play

[RamWraith]

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Apr. 23 2006

It rhymes with "panel," Rams linebacker Raonall Smith said, clarifying the
pronunciation of his first name.

"My mom's Irish, so she gave my brother (Kealan) and I Irish names," he
explained.

Yet Smith has lacked the luck of the Irish when it comes to his NFL career. A
second-round draft pick in 2002 by Minnesota, Smith battled injuries throughout
his first three seasons.

He missed his entire rookie year with a shoulder injury. In 2003 and '04, he
played in a total of just 14 games; a bad hamstring and a concussion were the
culprits. So it's understandable that Smith, 27, said staying injury-free was a
key component for him this season.

"Obviously, everybody needs their health," said Smith, a former Washington
State standout.

New Rams coach Scott Linehan was the Vikings' offensive coordinator from 2002
through '04, so he is familiar with Smith.

"At a point in his career, Raonall had made some errors, like a lot of young
players do," Linehan said. "But he always seemed to make plays: get a ball out,
recover a fumble, make a key tackle on a kickoff. He's one of those guys that
has a knack."

Smith finally got through a season unscathed, playing in all 16 games last
year, with six starts. He collected 30 tackles and a sack. On special teams, he
added 21 tackles, the second-highest total among the Vikings, and two fumble
recoveries. So when Smith became available as a free agent, the Rams pounced.

He received a one-year deal worth $750,000, including a $150,000 signing bonus.
He also visited Green Bay and planned to meet with Miami officials.

Smith, who is 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, said he chose the Rams for two reasons:
His familiarity with Linehan and several assistant coaches, plus a chance to
compete for a starting job at strongside linebacker.

"It seemed like a pretty good fit," Smith said. "I still feel like I'm a young
player with an upside."

Special teams is probably where he'll have the greatest impact, at least
initially.

"Every linebacker's going to play special teams; it's just part of the deal,"
he said. "Special teams are just as important as the offense and the defense;
it's just a different phase of the game."

Dinner with Young

Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson and quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier
headed for Houston after Sunday's final minicamp practice, where they had a
dinner date with quarterback Vince Young.

Young, who guided Texas to the national championship, is expected to be one of
the top picks in next weekend's NFL draft. The Rams hold the 11th spot in the
first round, and Young might well have been taken by then. But Linehan is
taking no chances.

"We're just covering every base," he said. "I don't know when guys are going to
get drafted."

[RamsFan16]

Thanks for the article post.

[tomahawk247]

"Every linebacker's going to play special teams; it's just part of the deal,"
he said. "Special teams are just as important as the offense and the defense;
it's just a different phase of the game."

Does that mean we will be seeing Spoon and Pisa on specials as well? That would help the coverage units immensely

[psycho9985]

The days of crappy special teams is over.

[tomahawk247]

The days of crappy special teams is over.

Hopefully not, but il believe it when i see it. I think we need another return man, hopefully we can pick up a real speedster in the draft