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Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

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  • #1

    Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

    12.30.2009 2:20 pm
    Surprise! Rookie tackle Jason Smith returns to practice
    By Bill Coats
    St. Louis Post-Dispatch


    The St. Louis Rams had a surprise addition to their practice contingent Wednesday. Rookie tackle Jason Smith, out since suffering a concussion Nov. 22 vs. Arizona, was suited up and participated in some light drills. It had generally been assumed that Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, wouldn’t return to the field this season.

    But he passed his follow-up neuro exam and was cleared by the team’s doctors to begin rehab work.

    “It was a great relief to, No. 1, pass the test and then to be able to be around the team, be at practice and . . . be able to do something,” Smith said. “We took the test a couple of days ago, and I was able to pass it. We started taking it one day at a time from there, doing light workouts and seeing how the head reacts.”

    Neither Smith nor coach Steve Spagnuolo has ruled out the possibility of Smith playing Sunday when the ***** are in town. “We’re just taking it day to day, just light activity and progressing as the week goes,” Smith said. “We’ll see what happens this weekend.”

    All for now… more later.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

    This IS a surprise. It's great to see that Smith has the fire to get back with the team, but I'm not sure playing him makes sense when dealing with lingering concussion issues. It's only one game and I'd hold him out, let him take the off-season to fully recover and make sure eveything is right. It will be interesting to see what happens.

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    • #3
      Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

      Nice to see him back out there and finally pass the neuro-test, but I don't see much sense in trying to play him this weekend.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

        Originally posted by Nick View Post
        Nice to see him back out there and finally pass the neuro-test, but I don't see much sense in trying to play him this weekend.
        Ditto. The Rams need to take it slow and easy with Mr. Smith.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

          [QUOTE=r8rh8rmike;324662]

          But he passed his follow-up neuro exam and was cleared by the team’s doctors to begin rehab work.

          “It was a great relief to, No. 1, pass the test and then to be able to be around the team, be at practice and . . . be able to do something,” Smith said. “We took the test a couple of days ago, and I was able to pass it. We started taking it one day at a time from there, doing light workouts and seeing how the head reacts.”
          QUOTE]

          It sounds to me more like he's just out there to slowly work himself back into things - not rush back to the field. I would bet he feels like he's just been released from prison and just wants to feel the freedom.
          temp_4394_1467243487543_20
          RAMS!

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

            I would want him to sit unless he's 100%. Concussions are things you can't mess around with.

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

              Originally posted by Mooselini View Post
              I would want him to sit unless he's 100%. Concussions are things you can't mess around with.
              This.

              However, if he is 100%, id like to see him getting some playing time at LT. Might as well give him some experience there
              @EssexRam_

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

                Originally posted by tomahawk247 View Post
                This.

                However, if he is 100%, id like to see him getting some playing time at LT. Might as well give him some experience there
                No way should the rams risk him getting a concussion again, sit him out and give him a year to recover... Head injuries take a lot more than a couple weeks to fully heal...

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Surprise! Rookie Tackle Jason Smith Returns To Practice

                  Originally posted by r8rh8rmike View Post
                  This IS a surprise. It's great to see that Smith has the fire to get back with the team, but I'm not sure playing him makes sense when dealing with lingering concussion issues. It's only one game and I'd hold him out, let him take the off-season to fully recover and make sure eveything is right. It will be interesting to see what happens.
                  I agree Mike, nice to see him back but I don't think it's worth the risk for only one meaningless game,I can't wait to see what he can do for a whole season,I really think he is going to be a big time player.

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                    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.”

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                    “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...
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                    Throughout the process of waiting for his initial, lucrative NFL contract, Smith never wavered in his faith that the contract would be completed in time for him to join the rest of the team for the first full squad practice.

                    Smith stayed out of the negotiations and left the work to his agents, Ben Dogra and Tom Condon, and Rams Vice President of Football Operations/Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff.

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                    Smith remained calm even as his teammates and fellow rookies went through the paces.

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                    Smith left the Russell Training Center after signing the contract and immediately reported to the team hotel in time for dinner and a team meeting.

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