By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Jun. 05 2008
The reshuffling of the Rams’ offensive line continues.
Mark Setterstrom has been moved back to guard after an audition at center, and
Richie Incognito, the first-team right guard last season, returns to center,
where he started 12 games in 2006.
Incognito will battle incumbent Brett Romberg for the starting job at training
camp.
Setterstrom was a first-teamer at left guard for the last six games in ’06, his
rookie year, and the first three games in ’07 before he suffered a
season-ending knee injury.
Setterstrom is working at right guard during organized team activities at Rams
Park, with free-agent pickup Jacob Bell at left guard.
Of course, nothing is set in stone in early June.
"It’s a long time until we play a game," Setterstrom said. "Things work their
way out."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moves solidify Rams' offensive line
By Jeff Gordon
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Thursday, Jun. 05 2008
Rams coach Scott Linehan reminded us that offensive linemen don’t really battle
for jobs during the organized team activities.
These are voluntary sessions, after all. The players wear shorts in the
workout. Physicality is not a factor. The players aren’t beating on each other
just yet.
“We’re practicing right now,” Linehan said after Thursday’s session at Rams
Park. “We’re not really competing.”
But the Rams offensive picture DID change this week. Here is how the unit
shaped up at Rams Park:
-- Mark Setterstrom moved from center to right guard. Setterstrom, who has
mostly played left guard in his career, had made some progress at center during
the last three weeks . . . but it appears he will only play there in case of an
emergency.
At right guard, he will compete for a starting spot. He has been a very strong
run blocker.
“He’s played there his whole life,” Linehan said. “That is probably where he is
going to battle to be in the top five, after we assessed the three weeks of
work we’ve had.”
Setterstrom was philosophical about switching. “I’m been working hard at
center,” he said. “At the same time, in this league, you have to be able to
play both, especially if you’re a back-up and somebody goes down. You have to
be able to play all three spots inside.”
-- For now, anyway, Richie Incognito moved from right guard to center. He has
played both spots for the Rams.
“Let’s be honest, he’s played his best football for us at center,” Linehan
reminded reporters. “He’s played guard before and he’s played well at that
position. That will be interesting, to see how the next week goes.”
Incognito was OK with the pre-camp shift. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I was
feeling comfortable at right guard. The way things shook out, they wanted to
get little competition for me and Romberg at center. It’s great. It good for
both of us. It makes us both better players.
“It will be better for the team, better for the offensive line,” he said.
Yeah, but can he still play a physical game at center?
“Most definitely,” Incognito said. “You can play as physical as you want at any
position. You can play physical at receiver.”
Now THAT is why we love the guy, even with the excessive personal fouls. This
team needs more intensity, not less.
-- That said, Brett Romberg will head into training camp atop the depth chart
at center. He, too, is having a strong offseason.
“The battle will ensue at center,” Linehan said. “And Romberg is playing very
well. This is not a reflection on him. We’re just trying to find our best five.”
-- Alex Barron moved from left tackle to right tackle, where he will be No, 1
on the depth chart heading into camp. He had been filling in for Orlando Pace,
who won’t be cleared for full activity until camp begins.
-- Utility lineman Adam Goldberg is holding the fort at left tackle, adding to
his versatility.
Rookie John Greco should back up both tackle spots, but the Rams believe he is
better suited to play on the right side. The Rams also expect rookie guard Roy
Schuening to become a starting-caliber player as well.
The one constant through the offseason has been Jacob Bell’s play at left
guard. Although he can fill in at tackle, Bell is expected to become a
cornerstone player at left guard.
All this flexibility should serve the unit well. Other than losing spare
blocker Rob Petitti to nasty leg injuries, the Rams have had a splendid
offseason at this position.
When the Rams have starting-caliber blockers competing against other
starting-caliber blockers, that is a very good thing.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Jun. 05 2008
The reshuffling of the Rams’ offensive line continues.
Mark Setterstrom has been moved back to guard after an audition at center, and
Richie Incognito, the first-team right guard last season, returns to center,
where he started 12 games in 2006.
Incognito will battle incumbent Brett Romberg for the starting job at training
camp.
Setterstrom was a first-teamer at left guard for the last six games in ’06, his
rookie year, and the first three games in ’07 before he suffered a
season-ending knee injury.
Setterstrom is working at right guard during organized team activities at Rams
Park, with free-agent pickup Jacob Bell at left guard.
Of course, nothing is set in stone in early June.
"It’s a long time until we play a game," Setterstrom said. "Things work their
way out."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moves solidify Rams' offensive line
By Jeff Gordon
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Thursday, Jun. 05 2008
Rams coach Scott Linehan reminded us that offensive linemen don’t really battle
for jobs during the organized team activities.
These are voluntary sessions, after all. The players wear shorts in the
workout. Physicality is not a factor. The players aren’t beating on each other
just yet.
“We’re practicing right now,” Linehan said after Thursday’s session at Rams
Park. “We’re not really competing.”
But the Rams offensive picture DID change this week. Here is how the unit
shaped up at Rams Park:
-- Mark Setterstrom moved from center to right guard. Setterstrom, who has
mostly played left guard in his career, had made some progress at center during
the last three weeks . . . but it appears he will only play there in case of an
emergency.
At right guard, he will compete for a starting spot. He has been a very strong
run blocker.
“He’s played there his whole life,” Linehan said. “That is probably where he is
going to battle to be in the top five, after we assessed the three weeks of
work we’ve had.”
Setterstrom was philosophical about switching. “I’m been working hard at
center,” he said. “At the same time, in this league, you have to be able to
play both, especially if you’re a back-up and somebody goes down. You have to
be able to play all three spots inside.”
-- For now, anyway, Richie Incognito moved from right guard to center. He has
played both spots for the Rams.
“Let’s be honest, he’s played his best football for us at center,” Linehan
reminded reporters. “He’s played guard before and he’s played well at that
position. That will be interesting, to see how the next week goes.”
Incognito was OK with the pre-camp shift. “I think it’s great,” he said. “I was
feeling comfortable at right guard. The way things shook out, they wanted to
get little competition for me and Romberg at center. It’s great. It good for
both of us. It makes us both better players.
“It will be better for the team, better for the offensive line,” he said.
Yeah, but can he still play a physical game at center?
“Most definitely,” Incognito said. “You can play as physical as you want at any
position. You can play physical at receiver.”
Now THAT is why we love the guy, even with the excessive personal fouls. This
team needs more intensity, not less.
-- That said, Brett Romberg will head into training camp atop the depth chart
at center. He, too, is having a strong offseason.
“The battle will ensue at center,” Linehan said. “And Romberg is playing very
well. This is not a reflection on him. We’re just trying to find our best five.”
-- Alex Barron moved from left tackle to right tackle, where he will be No, 1
on the depth chart heading into camp. He had been filling in for Orlando Pace,
who won’t be cleared for full activity until camp begins.
-- Utility lineman Adam Goldberg is holding the fort at left tackle, adding to
his versatility.
Rookie John Greco should back up both tackle spots, but the Rams believe he is
better suited to play on the right side. The Rams also expect rookie guard Roy
Schuening to become a starting-caliber player as well.
The one constant through the offseason has been Jacob Bell’s play at left
guard. Although he can fill in at tackle, Bell is expected to become a
cornerstone player at left guard.
All this flexibility should serve the unit well. Other than losing spare
blocker Rob Petitti to nasty leg injuries, the Rams have had a splendid
offseason at this position.
When the Rams have starting-caliber blockers competing against other
starting-caliber blockers, that is a very good thing.