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Ive seen Jason Smith play. Not bad i say. But there are times where he whiffs his run blocks. Can anyone give me where they think he is at this point? cause i only watched the half of the bengals game and that's all. You guys think smith can replace pace? Do you think he is better at right? Or left?
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Jason Smith is a born Right Tackle in my mind. He's a strong, nasty, punishing run blocker who's ok in the pass protection department. On the right side, he'll be able to get help from both the TE and the right guard for pass protection, while he'll also be able to form a great blocking push along side Cogs at right guard.
If he was on the left side, he would be expected to take on the defense's best pass rusher(usually) one on one, and would not be on the strong side for the run game.
It's my opinion that they drafted Smith with the ideal of him being an all-pro bookend tackle to pair with Barron, who is a prototype left tackle, and he proved that in 2007 when he took over for Pace. Barron is not as strong, but is much more nimble and is better suited to deal with pass rushers than to get a push going in the run game. I fully expect that he'll prove his worth this year when he gets to start all 16 games on the left side, so long as he keeps his false starts down, which he started to get under control last year. Of course, with time, he could always get good enough to play on the left side, but for now, he's perfectly suited for the right side.
So, the answer to the question? Jason's a RT in this league. In college he got away with being a left tackle because he was stronger than his competition and could just push them away from the QB. That won't work regularly in the technique based NFL.I believe!:ram: -
Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Any concerns about J. Smith preseason? Does he look like a starting Tackle?Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
To paraphrase Dr. Alan Grant:
Jason Smith and the NFL... previously separated by the entire span of Smith's playing career, have suddenly been thrown into the mix together for a total of three preseason games. How can we possibly have the slightest idea of what to expect?
Seriously... I think its waaaay too soon to be drawing conclusions. In a perfect world, Smith would be a starter on opening day and then start every game for 10 years. In reality, he might need a bit of time. From everything I've read Smith is a great athlete, has a great attitude, and works his butt off every day. Sounds like a formula to long term success to me.Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Well we don't draft right tackles #2 overall, so the hope is that Smith is going to be a franchise left tackle for us. And before we plan his entire career on 3 pre-season games, let's not forget that he was believed to be the OT with the most upside of this year's draft class but was a bit raw so it's going to take a little bit for us to see exactly what we have in him.Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
In the two preseason games I've seen, Jets & Bengals, He's a much better pass blocker than run blocker. He played both left and right tackle in the Bengals game and was equally effective on both sides pass blocking. Yes it was against the ones and twos but he kept the rusher at arms length and away from the pocket pretty good. He's not mauling lineman back in the run game at this point though.
Maineram -Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
I think we all know it may take some time with him but when you are a #2 pick and have a $60 million contract people will expect greatness right away,I think he will be a pro bowl player for us and if we resign Barron (which I think is A Must) then these two guys will be bookend tackles for many years for the Rams and very good ones at that.Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
I disagree, though I do think he's a more balanced player than players generally labeled "prototypical left tackles." He is a nasty run blocker, and that demeanor will benefit him on the right side. But he's also a former tight end who is exceptionally athletic, which I think in the long run is going to help make him an outstanding blind side protector, assuming he successfully improves the areas that need improvement in his game.Originally posted by TekeRam View Post
It's going to take some time for him to work out of a three point stance and get comfortable playing from that position. He's going to need some work on his footwork, leg strength, and other fundamentals. This is one of the reasons why, if you prefer a more polished guy who is more ready to contribute immediately, you were probably a Eugene Monroe fan on draft day.
This is also one of the reasons why I'm not incredibly excited about him working on the right side, because he's going to have to re-learn those techniques or at least have to get comfortable doing the mirrored version of them when he moves to the left side.
But I think for a team that's planning to be built around a power running game, he's very well suited to the left side.Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
I also like his attitude. He loves this team and is a very humble guy. He's one of those guys like orlando pace. I remember in one game marshall faulk was getting up from a play where he just got tackled and Junior Seau, came out of nowhere and blindsided him. None the less, Pace came right back and hit Junior Seau a good one. I think Jason Smith is this kind of guy, i saw a glimmer of this when Berlin got creamed after Setterstrom let the linebacker fly through and blister him. JS was right there to make sure if he was ok. I also thought he might not be awesome right away, but a good fit with development.Last edited by hawaiianpunch; -08-29-2009, 09:40 AM.Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Agreed you do not draft a RT # 2 over all. He has to find his way to the LT spot sometime in the near future I hope. If he never plays on the left side this pick would have been wasted. But it is way too early to draw a conclusion.Originally posted by Nick_Weasel View Post:ramlogo:Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
I don't know if that would make him a wasted pick - by that I mean, if he turns into a stud right tackle for the next decade, he certainly won't be wasted on this team - but more of a disappointment in terms of what you'd expect to get out of a pick that high.Originally posted by eldfan View PostComment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Nick, part of the reason that I see him as a right tackle is that he's a converted tight end. It's obvious that he was not destined from birth to be a left tackle like a Pace or Jones or Ogden. As far as I know, he's got amazing strength, which will probably put him somewhere around average this year and then above average next year with a full offseason of training, and that he relied on it throughout his career for his blocking. He could maul people so his technique is raw. You don't need as much technique on the right side, but you do need a ton of strength, as you usually see bull rushers on the right side.
Am I saying that Jason can never play the left side? No, of course not, but when we have a born left tackle on our team in Barron, it makes no sense to throw him to the wolves when he doesn't have the techniques to be able to win the battles consistently. Barron has the techniques now, and always has, to be able to play the left side, we just had a better left tackle than him on the team until now. Now he gets to play where I expect he'll shine. Meanwhile, with Jason on the right side, we should have a nasty run game with him paired with Cogs while we buy time for Jason to learn the techniques that he needs to excel in the league and prove that he has the most upside of any tackle in this draft. That's why I feel that he's a natural right tackle, especially when we have a natural left tackle in Barron.I believe!:ram:Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
Why do you think that makes him a better fit at right tackle then? Usually when you have a tackle with that kind of athleticism, you want to feature him at left tackle where he can use it to protect the quarterback's blind side from the opposition's (typically) best pass rusher.Originally posted by TekeRam View Post
Actually many scouting reports on Smith indicated that he needed to get stronger. He had a good showing on the bench press at the combine, but he disappointed in tests that indicated leg strength. Smith has an aggressive attitude and I think is usually on the prowl for someone to block, but I think he definitely needs to improve his strength, particularly in the lower body.Originally posted by TekeRam View Post
I've made my opinions on Barron known for a while now, but to shortly summarize, I'd prefer to not see him on this team next year. As for Smith, I actually would have liked to see him tried at left guard like the Ravens did with Ogden when they drafted him. That avoids "throwing him to the wolves" by playing him at left tackle from day one, but it allows him to work on the left side so that sliding to the tackle position at a later date is a bit more natural. I'm not necessarily opposed to him working on the right side, but I think the Rams drafted Jason Smith to be their left tackle of the future and, by playing him at right tackle, it means he's going to have another adjustment period transitioning from right side to left side, whenever that happens.Originally posted by TekeRam View PostComment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
lets look at this way...Barron tho not exactly a bust on the right side..pretty much everyone who has watched the Rams on a regular basis during his time at RT should realise he is not the answer there,to the degree that another season on the RT spot would very likely mean that he wouldnt get another contract next off-season and would therefore be off the team. creating another spot to be filled...
if he does a good job at LT which many including myself believe he is better suited for and Jason Smith locks down the RT spot and gives us the best RT we`ve had since arguably the best OT ever in Jackie Slater...
is the 2nd overall pick still wasted just because he`s a RT instead of a LT?
in a way you are getting your OT bookends for one high pick..and a re-treaded 1st rounder who was on his way out.
2nd overall is pretty high for a RT but id rather take a possible perennial Pro Bowl RT at the 2nd spot than a "franchise" QB that stinks it up like Ryan Leaf or Akili Smith..
also, remember that opposing defences dont just blitz the opponents Left/blind side..a good offense has good lineman all along the line!Comment
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Re: Jason Smith: where does he fit?
If he's really that good as a run blocker, there's no rule that says the team couldn't run to the left more than the right. For that matter, there's no rule that says the strong side has to be on the right, either. I think Jonathan Ogden would be a pretty good comparison if you want to look for a left tackle who has been known as much for his run blocking as his pass blocking.
I don't think you draft an offensive lineman that high unless you think he has the potential to be your starter at left tackle. My guess is that he plays at right tackle initially, but if he matures the way the team hopes he will, eventually he takes over on the left.Comment
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Asking NFL rookies to change positions is risky proposition
By Ross Tucker
Being a rookie in the NFL is hard. They have very little time between when their college seasons end and training to become a pro begins. After the combine, pro days and the draft itself, it’s off to a new city for mini-camps, workouts and organized team activities. Add that they have to learn a new scheme while competing against skilled professionals who have been honing their craft for years and it is no wonder why so many rookies struggle.
Some NFL franchises complicate matters by adding another obstacle in the path to first-year success: the position switch. The Rams, Bengals, and Redskins are among those taking their high-priced youngsters out of their comfort zones. Some moves, like St. Louis moving the No. 2 overall selection, Jason Smith, to right tackle appear to be temporary. Others, like the Bengals having No. 6 pick Andre Smith make the same transition, appear to be permanent. The Redskins, on the other hand, are making the bold move of putting the 13th pick, defensive end Brian Orakpo, off the ball as an outside linebacker. Time will tell how long that change lasts.
Let’s start with the big boys up front, Jason and Andre Smith. Switching an offensive lineman from one side of the line to the other is much more difficult than it sounds. I have seen solid players look like a fish out of water when forced to play the other side. But playing tackle is playing tackle and either way you are doing the same thing, right? Yes and no. The task at hand is essentially the same. The differences include the stance, weight transfer, hand placement and techniques necessary to get the job done.
Take Jason Smith. He spent the past three seasons gradually improving his game as a left tackle after making the move from tight end while at Baylor, and now the Rams want to mess with his progression by moving him to the other side?
Instead of pushing off with his right leg as he kicks and extends with his left in pass protection, Smith now must do the exact opposite. He used to have his left hand down and left leg back in his three-point stance and now it is the right-side limbs that have that duty. All the critical muscle memory that he built up and acquired during his time in college is pretty much lost as he attempts to get his body ready to do the same things in the opposite directions. For example, Smith is right-handed and used to have his more dominant arm inside when punching the defender and preventing him from beating him inside, the closest route to the quarterback. Now, his left arm has to handle that role.
The Rams say the main reason for the switch is so they can see former first-rounder Alex Barron, an underachiever thus far in his career, on the left side. My instincts tell me that is only part of it and they wouldn’t risk their sizable investment (over $30...-07-08-2009, 12:26 PM -
But this tough S.O.B. went down with injury, came back in the game, and made a NASTY kick out block on that 27-yard TD run by Jackson ...
Smith looks like he will eventually become an elite run blocking right tackle. He's an average pass blocker to date, but it looks like he's coming around ...
His intensity is unmatched ...
Starting to love this guy!-12-06-2010, 08:31 AM -
Smith Progressing Well
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
After almost every practice since the Rams made him the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Jason Smith can be found out on the practice field doing two things.
First and foremost, Smith has made a habit of staying after practice to work with offensive line coaches Art Valero and Steve Loney on something he feels needed improvement from the just-completed workout.
When that is done, about 20 minutes later, Smith can be found hauling around the pads of his veteran teammates.
“It’s what I am but I am not doing it just to be doing it,” Smith said. “It’s something that I need to work on that day technically or physically. There’s always something to work on.”
Such is the life of a rookie in the NFL. And while those parts of it are normal, Smith’s approach to the game is anything but.
The Rams completed their final two a day practice of this year’s training camp on Tuesday afternoon. With that, the team is almost halfway through the preseason and Smith’s development process is in full swing.
From the moment he arrived in St. Louis, plenty of people have placed some weighty expectations on Smith but the coaching staff has ignored that and asked Smith to earn his position.
Until Tuesday, Smith had extremely limited repetitions with the first team offense as he has worked almost exclusively as the second-team right tackle behind Adam Goldberg.
Nothing has been handed to him and Smith has asked for nothing in return. Instead, Smith is lapping up every opportunity to learn the game from his veteran teammates.
Nary a player has been more helpful in that regard than Goldberg. Although Goldberg and Smith are technically competing for the job at right tackle, neither seems too concerned with beating out the other.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
“I take that as part of my role but I tell you what, he doesn’t need too many tips,” Goldberg said. “He’s going to be a really good football player and he’s a great person too, the kind of guy that you like to help out because he works hard, doesn’t take anything for granted, takes good notes, asks good questions. So he’s the type of young player that you want to help and want to see succeed.”
The modest Goldberg won’t take much credit for helping Smith learn the nuances of the NFL but Smith is quick to credit Goldberg for stepping into the mentor role.
“I feel that if Goldberg wasn’t here I would have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off,” Smith said. “What is the competition? The competition is Rams vs. whoever we play. It’s not amongst each other. Obviously we are going to make each other better by communicating things we see but if he wasn’t here, how far along would I...-08-18-2009, 08:23 PM -
By Nick Wagoner/Senior Writer
Entering his third year in the NFL, Rams tackle Jason Smith has moved well beyond the expectations set for him by those outside of the team.
Smith says his full attention is dedicated not to meeting some sort of lofty expectations that are inherent with his draft status. Rather, Smith is aiming only to meet the goals he sets for himself and meet the needs of the team.
“It’s one of those deals where other people make a scenario up for you,” Smith said. “But for me, I just look at it the same; it’s football and I want to be the best I can be at it.”
There have been plenty of ups and downs in Smith’s relatively short career but many believe that the third year is the time for a player to make his move.
In this training camp, the coaching staff has been pleased with Smith’s progress, especially considering that though his media guide bio says he’s in his third year, he’s really only working with about a year and a half of experience.
It’s helped that Smith has been able to settle in at the right tackle spot where he’s been tasked with facing one of the league’s emerging pass rushers in Chris Long every day in practice.
Long has been one of the Rams’ best players in camp according to coach Steve Spagnuolo and he’s pushed Smith to improve his pass protection.
“You are playing a position and playing a game and the more you are doing it, the more comfortable you are getting, the more patience you are gaining, the more ability you have to do your job,” Smith said. “And I am going against Chris Long every day. This guy is a workhorse and I feel like I have become a better tackle going against him and understanding what I’m doing.”
Taken with the second overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Smith was expected to step right in and dominate as a left tackle. That’s the job most view as commensurate with being selected that high and made even more difficult for Smith by those expecting him to be the next Orlando Pace.
Smith’s rookie season was derailed by injuries, though, including an early season knee injury and a concussion that ended his season. All told, he played just eight games with five starts and just when it appeared he was settling in, he suffered the concussion.
“Obviously I have had some stumbling blocks in my career with a couple of injuries here and there but I trained and feel like I had a great offseason,” Smith said. “I am sound in my faith in God and I don’t see myself wavering from anything I know to do.”
Finally able to get on the field and stay there in 2010, Smith made strides as he settled in on the right side with then-rookie Rodger Saffold on the left.
In 15 games (he missed one with a concussion issue), Smith allowed four sacks according to STATSPASS as the Rams trimmed their total sacks allowed by 10 as quarterback...-08-22-2011, 12:32 PM -
Rookie Jason Smith gets tutorial
By BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/26/2009
On just his fifth snap at left tackle as a pro, rookie Jason Smith found out what he'll eventually be up against in the NFL.
Part of the Rams' three-man tackle rotation in Sunday's 42-6 loss to Indianapolis, Smith was in for his second series. On second down and 7 from the Rams 11-yard line with about 6 minutes left in the first half, defensive end Dwight Freeney blew by Smith and slammed quarterback Marc Bulger to the turf for a 9-yard loss. If Smith even touched Freeney, it wasn't visible to the naked eye.
"It's no secret that Freeney's one of the best defensive ends to ever play the game," said Smith, the Rams' first-round draft pick in April. "Obviously, you give him his respect. ... He's a good defensive end to go against."
The Rams have made it clear that Smith, the second overall selection in the draft, is their left tackle of the future. He shared that spot Sunday with incumbent Alex Barron. Smith also spent some time at right tackle, where veteran Adam Goldberg was the starter.
That meant that Smith also got a good look at Robert Mathis, who mans the left side of Indy's line. Between them, Freeney (four) and Mathis (one) have been invited to five Pro Bowls.
After spending the spring and summer in a backup role, Smith was named the first-team right tackle the week before the regular-season opener. He lasted about six quarters there before suffering a knee injury at Washington.
Smith missed two games, got in for a single special-teams play Oct. 11 vs. Minnesota, then split time with Goldberg at right tackle last week at Jacksonville.
Asked whether he thought the three-tackle approach Sunday was beneficial, Goldberg took a long pause before replying.
"I just take orders. If they tell me to rotate, I rotate," he said. "When they tell me to go in, I try to make all my blocks and execute my assignment. That's really all I can do.
"The personnel decisions are up to the head coach and the powers that be. We just play when called upon."
Goldberg wasn't on the sideline long. When Richie Incognito went down with a foot injury during Smith's first series at right tackle, Goldberg was back on the field at right guard.
Last season, Goldberg was the only player in the league to start at both tackle and both guard spots. So switching positions is almost routine for him. "If the team needs me to play different positions, I'll just try to do whatever I can to help the team win," he said.
Such is the mantra for Smith, too, who insists he's "one of those guys that thinks about 'we' and not 'me.'"
"Football's football, and whether you line up at left tackle or right tackle...-10-26-2009, 04:04 PM
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