By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Apr. 20 2008
One of the first things new offensive coordinator Al Saunders noted when he was
hired in January was that the Rams' offensive line "probably will need some
attention."
He's just hoping it won't be constant medical attention, as was the case last
year.
"I'd never seen anything like that," said tackle Orlando Pace, shaking his
head. "Every week it seemed like somebody was going down and we were on the
waiver wire, getting guys to come in, guys off the street. That made it tough
for us."
It was Pace who set the painful pace, suffering a season-ending injury to his
right shoulder in the regular-season opener. The perennial Pro Bowler, who
signed a seven-year, $52.8 million contract in 2005, had missed the last six
games of the 2006 season after tearing a triceps muscle in his upper right arm.
"The triceps was tough, but when I did the shoulder, it was one of the toughest
things I've had to handle, not only in my professional career but in my life,"
Pace said in a rare offseason interview. "I was so excited about coming back
and playing last year ... and I couldn't even make it through one game. It was
so disappointing. It took me awhile to get over it mentally."
Pace, 32, underwent surgery Sept. 20 in Houston to repair his rotator cuff and
labrum. Rehab began soon thereafter, although he was in a sling for several
weeks.
"It feels pretty good," Pace reported. "When it first started, it was a slow
process. But now it's a matter of lifting weights and getting it strong again,
getting it back up to where I was."
His surgeon, Dr. Walt Lowe, has told Pace that he should be fully cleared in
time for the start of training camp in late July. "He wants to take it pretty
slow," Pace said. "But once I get the strength back up, the contact ... is easy
to come back."
Coming back from the arm injury worried him more "because you do so much
punching," he explained. "The shoulder, being that it's my right shoulder, I
seldom get it caught outside. As long as I can keep it close and tucked in, I
won't have any reservations about it."
Pace has had plenty of company for his almost-daily workouts at Rams Park. Four
of the five starters on the offensive line missed significant time because of
injuries last year, for a combined total of 42 games: Pace (15 games), guards
Richie Incognito (knee, seven) and Mark Setterstrom (knee, 13), and center
Brett Romberg (ankles, seven).
Only Alex Barron played in all 16 games — but just one at his original
position, right tackle. He started the final 15 in Pace's old spot on the left
side.
Plus, backups Adam Goldberg (knee) and Todd Steussie (foot) were out for a
total of 22 games. Desperate, the team brought in six free-agent offensive
linemen during the season, which ended with the 3-13 Rams in the NFC West
basement.
If they are to make significant improvement this year, a far healthier
offensive line is required. "As a group, you have to have guys that have played
together ... at least know the first and last name of the guy that's playing
next to you," Pace said, laughing.
The recovery of the unit begins with the recuperation of its anchor. "If
Orlando comes back full speed at left tackle, then you've got a marquee player
there," Saunders said.
Regaining such status is important to him, acknowledged Pace, the last
offensive lineman to be the NFL's No. 1 overall draft choice, in 1997. He never
sat out because of injury at Ohio State and missed only a handful of games
during his first nine NFL seasons, seven of which concluded with an
all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for the league's all-star game.
But first things first, he emphasized.
"I just want to play," he said. "Sometimes late in their career, guys get to
the point where you kind of take this game for granted a little bit. (The
injuries have) reignited a new type of hunger and motivation for me.
"I just want to go out, play and be a part of the team again."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Apr. 20 2008
One of the first things new offensive coordinator Al Saunders noted when he was
hired in January was that the Rams' offensive line "probably will need some
attention."
He's just hoping it won't be constant medical attention, as was the case last
year.
"I'd never seen anything like that," said tackle Orlando Pace, shaking his
head. "Every week it seemed like somebody was going down and we were on the
waiver wire, getting guys to come in, guys off the street. That made it tough
for us."
It was Pace who set the painful pace, suffering a season-ending injury to his
right shoulder in the regular-season opener. The perennial Pro Bowler, who
signed a seven-year, $52.8 million contract in 2005, had missed the last six
games of the 2006 season after tearing a triceps muscle in his upper right arm.
"The triceps was tough, but when I did the shoulder, it was one of the toughest
things I've had to handle, not only in my professional career but in my life,"
Pace said in a rare offseason interview. "I was so excited about coming back
and playing last year ... and I couldn't even make it through one game. It was
so disappointing. It took me awhile to get over it mentally."
Pace, 32, underwent surgery Sept. 20 in Houston to repair his rotator cuff and
labrum. Rehab began soon thereafter, although he was in a sling for several
weeks.
"It feels pretty good," Pace reported. "When it first started, it was a slow
process. But now it's a matter of lifting weights and getting it strong again,
getting it back up to where I was."
His surgeon, Dr. Walt Lowe, has told Pace that he should be fully cleared in
time for the start of training camp in late July. "He wants to take it pretty
slow," Pace said. "But once I get the strength back up, the contact ... is easy
to come back."
Coming back from the arm injury worried him more "because you do so much
punching," he explained. "The shoulder, being that it's my right shoulder, I
seldom get it caught outside. As long as I can keep it close and tucked in, I
won't have any reservations about it."
Pace has had plenty of company for his almost-daily workouts at Rams Park. Four
of the five starters on the offensive line missed significant time because of
injuries last year, for a combined total of 42 games: Pace (15 games), guards
Richie Incognito (knee, seven) and Mark Setterstrom (knee, 13), and center
Brett Romberg (ankles, seven).
Only Alex Barron played in all 16 games — but just one at his original
position, right tackle. He started the final 15 in Pace's old spot on the left
side.
Plus, backups Adam Goldberg (knee) and Todd Steussie (foot) were out for a
total of 22 games. Desperate, the team brought in six free-agent offensive
linemen during the season, which ended with the 3-13 Rams in the NFC West
basement.
If they are to make significant improvement this year, a far healthier
offensive line is required. "As a group, you have to have guys that have played
together ... at least know the first and last name of the guy that's playing
next to you," Pace said, laughing.
The recovery of the unit begins with the recuperation of its anchor. "If
Orlando comes back full speed at left tackle, then you've got a marquee player
there," Saunders said.
Regaining such status is important to him, acknowledged Pace, the last
offensive lineman to be the NFL's No. 1 overall draft choice, in 1997. He never
sat out because of injury at Ohio State and missed only a handful of games
during his first nine NFL seasons, seven of which concluded with an
all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for the league's all-star game.
But first things first, he emphasized.
"I just want to play," he said. "Sometimes late in their career, guys get to
the point where you kind of take this game for granted a little bit. (The
injuries have) reignited a new type of hunger and motivation for me.
"I just want to go out, play and be a part of the team again."