Smith at Right tackle?

[BEER]

Spags said Smith will start at right and Barron at left. I dont mind Barron
at left if we would have drafted a right in the latter rounds. Bill D said he
wants to draft a person of there position. He said no more Carriker drafts
where we convert. And yes right is way different than left. I dont get it.
What do you think?

[ramsplaya16]

i think you put the best players on the line where they are best suited right now. Barron is a better pass protector than smith is at this point in his career and id rather have barron protecting bulgers blindside.

Just because he is getting a big contract doesnt mean he has to play a position right away, he is our LT of the future but at this point in time we need to put our best team on the field in the positions that they are best suited to play right now.

[BEER]

i think you put the best players on the line where they are best suited right now. Barron is a better pass protector than smith is at this point in his career and id rather have barron protecting bulgers blindside.

Just because he is getting a big contract doesnt mean he has to play a position right away, he is our LT of the future but at this point in time we need to put our best team on the field in the positions that they are best suited to play right now.

Barron never started with the rams at left, but a couple games. He is just
a rook as smith at left in the nfl. so that being said, why not start Smith
and give him the reps. I still dont like it.

[Goldenfleece]

With Jason Smith making a jump in competition level to the NFL and adjusting to playing out of a three point stance, I think it makes sense for him to start out at right tackle where if he makes some mistakes, at least Bulger won't be blind-sided. I also think surely he's a better run blocker than Barron, and this will give us one more year to see if Barron has any kind of future as a left tackle. A lot of people have noted that he did look better there than on the right.

[laram0]

With Jason Smith making a jump in competition level to the NFL and adjusting to playing out of a three point stance, I think it makes sense for him to start out at right tackle where if he makes some mistakes, at least Bulger won't be blind-sided. I also think surely he's a better run blocker than Barron, and this will give us one more year to see if Barron has any kind of future as a left tackle. A lot of people have noted that he did look better there than on the right.

I heard about this on satellite radio (nfl talk). This is for mini-camp, nothing was said about this being a starting line-up situation for the regular season.
I also think Barron deserves a shot at his natural position. If he doesn't make the most of it then he has no reason to complain. The heat will be on Barron to play at his best knowing that Smith is breathing down his neck. I'ts alot different now that Pace (the given LT) is gone.

[RamsInfiniti]

Barron never started with the rams at left, but a couple games. He is just
a rook as smith at left in the nfl. so that being said, why not start Smith
and give him the reps. I still dont like it.

Barron played almost ALL of 2007, minus the first half on the opening game, on the left side and had his best season to date ...

He also played LT in college ...

Jason Smith is a converted TE. He's probably not so deadset in his ways at LT that he couldn't learn the right side if needed ....

[laram0]

Are the RAMS getting cute here?

Does Smith sign a right tackle or left tackle contract?

hmmmm......

[ramsplaya16]

Barron never started with the rams at left, but a couple games. He is just
a rook as smith at left in the nfl. so that being said, why not start Smith
and give him the reps. I still dont like it.

Barron played his entire college career as a LT, so he isnt exactly a rookie, and i believe he started like 10+ games at LT that one season that pace got a concussion after the 49er game. So barron is no rookie at LT, its actually probably his best position on the line.

[C-Mob 71]

As it was previously stated, Barron HAS played on the left side, and he HAS played pretty decent there. Now, before everyone gets worked up, this is the offseason people. The coaches still have a long time to evaluate the two player before the season starts. And I like your thinking laram, but I highly doubt his agent will buy it. He will get paid like the 2nd overall choice, and with the stupid contract the Lions gave Stafford, we will be lucky if its under 32 million guaranteed.

Now for my next point. Everyone knows I loved Curry, and that is who I wanted us to draft. Well guess what? We didn't, so I am not about to get on here crying that we drafted a RT at number two. I support our FO. Make no beans about it, J Smith is our left tackle of the future. He is going to need some adjusting, so why not let him get used to the NFL on the right side? Then when Barron demands a whole bunch of money because he finally pulled it together, we aren't caught with our pants down.

Now would I have done everything our FO has done this offseason? Probably not, but I'm not going to come on here saying that I know how to put together a football team because I'm a great owner in Madden.

One more point, raise your hand if you we're comfortable with the play of our o line last year. I wasn't, so I respect Billy for trying to shore up that area with our highest pick.

[BEER]

Are the RAMS getting cute here?

Does Smith sign a right tackle or left tackle contract?

hmmmm......

Thats a great point.

[Nick]

Barron never started with the rams at left, but a couple games.

Uhh, he started practically the entire 2007 season at left tackle. More than a couple of games, IMO.

This is for mini-camp, nothing was said about this being a starting line-up situation for the regular season.

Exactly. For all we know, Smith will move to the left tackle position at some point during the season, if not in pre-season or in camp.

This is NOT a permanent move to the RT spot. It's just so he can get acclimated to the NFL. The Ravens started Jonathan Ogden at LG when he was a rookie. This isn't abnormal.

[shower beers]

I think we all know he's moving back to TE. Oh wait, Linehan's not our coach anymore...

[MauiRam]

Are the RAMS getting cute here?

Does Smith sign a right tackle or left tackle contract?

hmmmm......

Right .. left .. no matter, he was the #2 overall pick so he'll sign a HEFTY contract regardless of where they play him ...

[dvbear55]

barron at left, smith at right.. It doesn't matter as long as we get the job done up front by protecting bulger and opening holes for jackson

[AvengerRam]

Whatever side Smith plays this year, I'll put good money on him being the starting LT in 2010 and beyond.