Tweet
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/29/2009
Training camp is winding down, the regular-season opener is barely two weeks off, and the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft still hasn’t earned a promotion to the first team. If that’s bothering Rams tackle Jason Smith, he isn’t letting on.
“Coach told me when I first got here that there are a lot of steps you have to do to be a part of this team, and then there are a lot of steps you have to do to get on the field,” Smith said Friday. “I just want to take the proper steps.”
Smith saw extended action Thursday night in the Rams’ 24-21 preseason victory at Cincinnati at both right and left tackle — but mostly with the second team.
“I thought he played more aggressive than he did last week. I was pleased to see that,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. But he hedged when asked when Smith might be ready to ascend the depth chart.
“I don’t know that yet,” Spagnuolo said. “It depends on everybody around him, who’s playing where and how the rest of the guys are doing. We’ll just keep him on course.”
Alex Barron is the starting left tackle, and that isn’t likely to change. Veteran Adam Goldberg has been manning the right side most of the time, with Smith contributing here and there.
A left tackle in Baylor’s spread formation, Smith is adjusting to a different side and a different scheme as well as the leap to the NFL.
“It’s a new deal: a new position, new playbook, new everything,” he said. “But the more reps you get at something, the more comfortable you get, the better you get at it.”
Like Spagnuolo, Smith is willing to be patient.
“I never look at my draft status or what (outside) people think,” he said. “I feel that I’m progressing at a steady pace.”
INJURY UPDATE
Guard Jacob Bell (concussion) and defensive tackle Adam Carriker (ankle) are expected to practice this week and could play Thursday night when Kansas City visits the Edward Jones Dome. Carriker has missed all three preseason contests; Bell was injured on the first series of the opener at the Meadowlands.
Quarterback Marc Bulger, recovering from a broken pinky on his right (passing) hand, is scheduled to throw this week, although he might not take snaps.
A status update wasn’t available on the ankle injury wide receiver Keenan Burton suffered vs. the Bengals or safety Craig Dahl’s sore hamstring. Also, Spagnuolo reported that cornerback Justin King “has got something with his thumb that we’re going to have X-rayed.”
FLAJOLE MOVES UP
After being on the sideline for the first two contests, defensive coordinator Ken Flajole watched from the press box at Paul Brown Stadium. Linebackers coach
Paul Ferraro replaced Flajole on the field.
“Part of the whole preseason, not just for players but for coaches, is to get the right mixture. I think Ken felt more comfortable up there; it worked a little bit more smoothly,” Spagnuolo said. “We may do it again this week and then decide how we’re going to do it” during the season.
READY TO ROLL
With just 12 minutes to regroup, halftime in NFL locker rooms is usually pretty chaotic and the players often are rushing to get back to the field on time. That wasn’t the case Thursday.
“Our guys were standing up, ready to go with five minutes to go. They just wanted to get back out and play,” Spagnuolo said. “I thought that was pretty revealing about this group and this team.”
RAM-BLINGS
The first cuts must be completed Tuesday, when rosters are reduced to 75 players from 80. The final cut to 53 players comes just four days later. ... The players had meetings, treatment and some conditioning Friday. They are off today. Practice resumes Sunday.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/29/2009
Training camp is winding down, the regular-season opener is barely two weeks off, and the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft still hasn’t earned a promotion to the first team. If that’s bothering Rams tackle Jason Smith, he isn’t letting on.
“Coach told me when I first got here that there are a lot of steps you have to do to be a part of this team, and then there are a lot of steps you have to do to get on the field,” Smith said Friday. “I just want to take the proper steps.”
Smith saw extended action Thursday night in the Rams’ 24-21 preseason victory at Cincinnati at both right and left tackle — but mostly with the second team.
“I thought he played more aggressive than he did last week. I was pleased to see that,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. But he hedged when asked when Smith might be ready to ascend the depth chart.
“I don’t know that yet,” Spagnuolo said. “It depends on everybody around him, who’s playing where and how the rest of the guys are doing. We’ll just keep him on course.”
Alex Barron is the starting left tackle, and that isn’t likely to change. Veteran Adam Goldberg has been manning the right side most of the time, with Smith contributing here and there.
A left tackle in Baylor’s spread formation, Smith is adjusting to a different side and a different scheme as well as the leap to the NFL.
“It’s a new deal: a new position, new playbook, new everything,” he said. “But the more reps you get at something, the more comfortable you get, the better you get at it.”
Like Spagnuolo, Smith is willing to be patient.
“I never look at my draft status or what (outside) people think,” he said. “I feel that I’m progressing at a steady pace.”
INJURY UPDATE
Guard Jacob Bell (concussion) and defensive tackle Adam Carriker (ankle) are expected to practice this week and could play Thursday night when Kansas City visits the Edward Jones Dome. Carriker has missed all three preseason contests; Bell was injured on the first series of the opener at the Meadowlands.
Quarterback Marc Bulger, recovering from a broken pinky on his right (passing) hand, is scheduled to throw this week, although he might not take snaps.
A status update wasn’t available on the ankle injury wide receiver Keenan Burton suffered vs. the Bengals or safety Craig Dahl’s sore hamstring. Also, Spagnuolo reported that cornerback Justin King “has got something with his thumb that we’re going to have X-rayed.”
FLAJOLE MOVES UP
After being on the sideline for the first two contests, defensive coordinator Ken Flajole watched from the press box at Paul Brown Stadium. Linebackers coach
Paul Ferraro replaced Flajole on the field.
“Part of the whole preseason, not just for players but for coaches, is to get the right mixture. I think Ken felt more comfortable up there; it worked a little bit more smoothly,” Spagnuolo said. “We may do it again this week and then decide how we’re going to do it” during the season.
READY TO ROLL
With just 12 minutes to regroup, halftime in NFL locker rooms is usually pretty chaotic and the players often are rushing to get back to the field on time. That wasn’t the case Thursday.
“Our guys were standing up, ready to go with five minutes to go. They just wanted to get back out and play,” Spagnuolo said. “I thought that was pretty revealing about this group and this team.”
RAM-BLINGS
The first cuts must be completed Tuesday, when rosters are reduced to 75 players from 80. The final cut to 53 players comes just four days later. ... The players had meetings, treatment and some conditioning Friday. They are off today. Practice resumes Sunday.
Comment