Rams notes: Healthy again, Saffold set to lead young O-line – STLtoday.com
Rams offensive linemen Rodger Saffold started and played in all 16 games a year ago. He did so with a shoulder he figures was “70 or 80 percent’’ by the end of the season.
“Early on, it wasn’t too bad as long I had everything taped up, but as the season went on, it became a little more chronic, so I decided to take care of it,’’ said Saffold, who had surgery to repair a torn labrum shortly after the 2014 season ended. “It’s feeling good. I’m still a little rusty, but we’re chipping away at it every day. It was hard to use my opposite hand to push off last year, but I’m getting more and more confident in my left-handed punch now.
“It definitely feels good to be healthy again.’’
The Rams’ second-round draft pick in 2010, the 6-foot-5, 332-pound Saffold is entering his sixth season; only defensive end Chris Long (2008) and linebacker James Laurinaitis (2009) have been with the Rams longer.
“It’s different, being with all these young-uns,’’ he said. “There are going to be some growing pains, I’m sure, but eventually, I think we’ll be better for it.’’
Saffold, 27, is set to start at left guard as part of the Rams’ most inexperienced starting unit. Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick a year ago, returns at left tackle, with 2015 draft picks Rob Havenstein (second round) and Jamon Brown (third round) projected to start at right tackle and right guard, respectively.
At center, Mizzou product Tim Barnes, 2013 draft pick Barrett Jones and 2014 draft pick Demetrius Rhaney have rotated throughout OTAs and training camp. Of that group, only Barnes, with four, has started an NFL game.
“We’re not there yet, but we’ll keep chipping away; the season’s still a month away,’’ Saffold said when asked about the O-line. “I’m happy with the way (the younger players) work and how they attack. There’s no question they have talent, but now it’s just a matter of fine-tuning the technique and getting them as many reps as possible.’’
Saffold, an Indiana University product from suburban Cleveland, has made starts in 60 of his 63 NFL games and has played every position except center since joining the Rams. The plan is for him to stay at left guard in 2015, but …
“I’m one play from being asked to move if something happens, so I have to be mentally prepared,’’ he said. “And that’s fine. I’ll do whatever’s best for the team.’’
Except play center, he stressed.
“They know that I’d snap that thing all over the place,’’ he joked. “I really do not want to play center. Ever.’’
HAGEN HOLDS ON
To wrap up Saturday evening’s short workout, special teams coordinator John Fassel staged a single-elimination “grip’’ tournament.
All players practicing took part in the contest, in which two players squared off with one hand each on the football. The winner of each round was the player who held the ball the longest.
A pair of undrafted rookie free agents reached the finals with Jacob Hagen, a safety from Liberty University, beating out former University of Texas running back Malcolm Brown.
“Coach Fassel just wanted us to have a little fun competing,’’ said Hagen, who had 245 career tackles and 15 interceptions with the Flames. “As a competitor, all these guys want to win. Even something as little as this, you want to win.
“It’s about your grip and the size of our hands. I wear 2X gloves, so that probably helped. I think it helps when you’re on the bottom of the ball, you usually have more power there. I don’t know if I want to put that out there.’’
Too late.
The drill got the players fired up and Hagen was rewarded with a “pre-shower before my real shower.’’
“They gave me a little cool-off; it was a little humid anyway,’’ he kidded.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams released rookie free agent running back Terrence Franks (Texas State) and signed defensive tackle Marcus Forston, a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder who spent time with New England in 2012 and 2013.
Signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of Miami, the 25-year-old Forston spent most of those seasons on the practice squad, seeing action in one 2012 game and recording three tackles in three games the following season.
• The Rams held a quick special teams workout late Saturday afternoon. Their final three open-to-the-public practices will be held Sunday (3:30 p.m.), Monday (3:30 p.m.) and Tuesday (5:30 p.m.).
The team will kick off its preseason schedule Friday in Oakland against the Raiders.
• A large group of youth football players from Francis Howell Central, Dupo, Potosi and Nashville, Ill., were on hand to watch Saturday’s workout.
• Running back Tre Mason, who left practice Thursday with a sore hamstring, did not practice but did do some running on the side Saturday.
• Stephania Bell, ESPN’s injury analyst, watched part of Saturday’s workout.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
