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Opportunity Abound at Guard
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
Make no mistake; John Greco and Mark Setterstrom aren’t rookies. In fact, that duo has done what any dutiful backup offensive lineman is asked to do and filled in admirably when the man ahead of him is injured.
The only difference is that when it happens this week, it will be on a slightly more permanent basis than a play here, a series there or even a quarter or a half.
Following the season ending hamstring injury to Jacob Bell and the release of Richie Incognito, the Rams found themselves with two openings for new starting guards.
So the time is now for Greco and Setterstrom to use the next three games, starting this week against Houston, to state their case for why they should figure prominently into the Rams’ offensive line plans.
“Both of them have played throughout the course of this season so we don’t look at it that way,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “Those guys take a lot of pride in stepping up and being the next guy to go in.
“They are all interchangeable. (Line coaches) Steve (Loney) and Art (Valero) have really prepared that whole group and everybody in this league knows that the so called backups have to be versatile and John and Mark have done that. We are looking for them to step right in and not skip a beat.”
Of course, in the first practice since those roster alterations (Bell was placed on injured reserve, ending his year); the Rams didn’t even have the luxury of using the line they plan to use Sunday against the Texans.
Center Jason Brown missed the practice with an illness, leaving Setterstrom to handle the center duties and rookie Roger Allen III to take the repetitions at left guard with Greco on the right side.
For Greco, Allen and Setterstrom, the next three weeks could provide a big opportunity to provide the Rams with a much better idea of what they bring to the table.
Considering the nature of the position and the collisions that occur every week, most offensive linemen prepare as though they will start every week. That should make the transition easier.
Setterstrom, for one, believes things won’t be much different.
“I don’t think it’s changed,” Setterstrom said. “We are going to go out and try to win the line of scrimmage. Games are won on the offensive and defensive lines. I know we say it all the time but it’s true. Our coach emphasizes it doesn’t matter who is in there, those five guys have to work together. We have to go out and perform and open some holes.”
Of the trio of guys who could figure into the mix in the next few weeks, none comes with more experience than Setterstrom.
After starting the final six games of 2006, Setterstrom had looked to establish himself as a key component of the Rams’ line moving forward. He started the first three games of the 2007 season before a knee injury ended his season prematurely.
That beat last season when Setterstrom again suffered a knee injury in the preseason and never even played in a game.
The resilient and tough Setterstrom never let his unfortunate luck get him down and he reinvented himself as a more versatile player this offseason, developing his center skills and making himself more resourceful.
Along the way, Setterstrom never let his bad injury luck creep into his mind.
“That’s in the past,” Setterstrom said. “If you dwell on the past and coulda, wouldas and wishes, you are going to be looking backwards. I have been looking forward and I was just worried about getting myself strong enough and healthy enough to play this year and I have been able to stay healthy so I feel good.”
The Rams drafted Greco in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft with hopes that he could swing between tackle and guard after he spent most of his college career at Toledo playing tackle.
Since, Greco has been plying his trade at both spots while learning the guard position. He played in nine games as a rookie, starting and playing well in the season finale against Atlanta at right guard.
This year, Greco has filled in a few times, including stints at right guard, left guard and left tackle. But this week will be his first start of the year and second of his career.
Given his time in St. Louis, Greco says he is comfortable playing inside.
“I don’t even think about it anymore,” Greco said. “It’s been almost two years I have been concentrating on guard so I don’t even think about it anymore. I just wait for opportunities and just try to step in there and show that I am ready for it.”
Allen, meanwhile, is the rookie of the bunch with his experience limited to practice and the preseason. He signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent and though the team has high hopes for his future, he’s been inactive for the first 13 games of the season.
In the meantime, Allen has bided his time and done all he can to learn from the veterans around him.
Allen doesn’t figure to start right away but after being inactive, he’ll now truly be a play away from getting his first opportunity.
“It’s great,” Allen said. “All year I have been wanting to suit. Wearing sweats on the sideline is not that fun. You don’t actually get to feel like part of the team. Now that I will actually get to put my jersey on for the first time since preseason, it’s just great.”
Although continuity is one of the keys to success for an offensive line, it’s not like Greco and Setterstrom are strangers to the likes of Brown, Adam Goldberg and Alex Barron.
That’s why they remain confident that they can step in and get the job done this week and beyond.
“We play together every day,” Greco said. “This is the nature of the business. You have got to be ready to roll in there no matter who is in there so we play together every day and I would like to think everyone is comfortable next to each other.”
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
Make no mistake; John Greco and Mark Setterstrom aren’t rookies. In fact, that duo has done what any dutiful backup offensive lineman is asked to do and filled in admirably when the man ahead of him is injured.
The only difference is that when it happens this week, it will be on a slightly more permanent basis than a play here, a series there or even a quarter or a half.
Following the season ending hamstring injury to Jacob Bell and the release of Richie Incognito, the Rams found themselves with two openings for new starting guards.
So the time is now for Greco and Setterstrom to use the next three games, starting this week against Houston, to state their case for why they should figure prominently into the Rams’ offensive line plans.
“Both of them have played throughout the course of this season so we don’t look at it that way,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “Those guys take a lot of pride in stepping up and being the next guy to go in.
“They are all interchangeable. (Line coaches) Steve (Loney) and Art (Valero) have really prepared that whole group and everybody in this league knows that the so called backups have to be versatile and John and Mark have done that. We are looking for them to step right in and not skip a beat.”
Of course, in the first practice since those roster alterations (Bell was placed on injured reserve, ending his year); the Rams didn’t even have the luxury of using the line they plan to use Sunday against the Texans.
Center Jason Brown missed the practice with an illness, leaving Setterstrom to handle the center duties and rookie Roger Allen III to take the repetitions at left guard with Greco on the right side.
For Greco, Allen and Setterstrom, the next three weeks could provide a big opportunity to provide the Rams with a much better idea of what they bring to the table.
Considering the nature of the position and the collisions that occur every week, most offensive linemen prepare as though they will start every week. That should make the transition easier.
Setterstrom, for one, believes things won’t be much different.
“I don’t think it’s changed,” Setterstrom said. “We are going to go out and try to win the line of scrimmage. Games are won on the offensive and defensive lines. I know we say it all the time but it’s true. Our coach emphasizes it doesn’t matter who is in there, those five guys have to work together. We have to go out and perform and open some holes.”
Of the trio of guys who could figure into the mix in the next few weeks, none comes with more experience than Setterstrom.
After starting the final six games of 2006, Setterstrom had looked to establish himself as a key component of the Rams’ line moving forward. He started the first three games of the 2007 season before a knee injury ended his season prematurely.
That beat last season when Setterstrom again suffered a knee injury in the preseason and never even played in a game.
The resilient and tough Setterstrom never let his unfortunate luck get him down and he reinvented himself as a more versatile player this offseason, developing his center skills and making himself more resourceful.
Along the way, Setterstrom never let his bad injury luck creep into his mind.
“That’s in the past,” Setterstrom said. “If you dwell on the past and coulda, wouldas and wishes, you are going to be looking backwards. I have been looking forward and I was just worried about getting myself strong enough and healthy enough to play this year and I have been able to stay healthy so I feel good.”
The Rams drafted Greco in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft with hopes that he could swing between tackle and guard after he spent most of his college career at Toledo playing tackle.
Since, Greco has been plying his trade at both spots while learning the guard position. He played in nine games as a rookie, starting and playing well in the season finale against Atlanta at right guard.
This year, Greco has filled in a few times, including stints at right guard, left guard and left tackle. But this week will be his first start of the year and second of his career.
Given his time in St. Louis, Greco says he is comfortable playing inside.
“I don’t even think about it anymore,” Greco said. “It’s been almost two years I have been concentrating on guard so I don’t even think about it anymore. I just wait for opportunities and just try to step in there and show that I am ready for it.”
Allen, meanwhile, is the rookie of the bunch with his experience limited to practice and the preseason. He signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent and though the team has high hopes for his future, he’s been inactive for the first 13 games of the season.
In the meantime, Allen has bided his time and done all he can to learn from the veterans around him.
Allen doesn’t figure to start right away but after being inactive, he’ll now truly be a play away from getting his first opportunity.
“It’s great,” Allen said. “All year I have been wanting to suit. Wearing sweats on the sideline is not that fun. You don’t actually get to feel like part of the team. Now that I will actually get to put my jersey on for the first time since preseason, it’s just great.”
Although continuity is one of the keys to success for an offensive line, it’s not like Greco and Setterstrom are strangers to the likes of Brown, Adam Goldberg and Alex Barron.
That’s why they remain confident that they can step in and get the job done this week and beyond.
“We play together every day,” Greco said. “This is the nature of the business. You have got to be ready to roll in there no matter who is in there so we play together every day and I would like to think everyone is comfortable next to each other.”
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