Questions About Jason Smith

As much consternation as there has been over Donnie Avery injury this week there seems to be a second issue that has Rams fans up in arms.  The reports at Rams Park coming out about offensive tackle, and number two pick overall, Jason Smith have been disconcerting to some.  Smith has not advanced into the starting right tackle position as of yet and Rams fans are starting to become concerned that Smith may not make an immediate impact this season and could become a bust.  The question has become twofold.  First is Smith not living up to everyone's expectations and second are the Rams doing the wrong thing in trying to make Smith a right tackle this season instead of his natural position of left tackle.

Let's tackle the first question of is Jason Smith going to live up to expectations this season?  It is amazing to me that we have gone through almost two weeks of training camp and there are already people looking to label this pick as a bust.  We have not even seen one snap of one preseason game and people are already down on Smith.  If we were getting ready for the first game of the season and Smith was not in the starting lineup then I think there would be a legitimate argument to say Smith is not living up to expectations.  But until the Seattle Seahawks are the next team on the schedule than the situation should be watched closely but it is no reason to be down on Smith.

The offensive line is a tough position to play and learn in the NFL.  Unlike a wide receiver or defensive back the position is much more difficult to come in and be ready to go.  The thing is that when you are the number two pick overall you are expected to be ready to go in week one.  I believe that Smith will be ready to go but he is having problems making some adjustments to the pro game.  We still have another month and he is doing everything right off the field so I think Rams fans need to back off a little at this point.  I believe Smith will be fine and there on opening day.

The bigger issue, to me, becomes are the Rams doing Smith and the team a disservice by playing Smith at right tackle, where he is less comfortable, instead of playing Smith at his natural position of left tackle?  There are two schools of thought on this and both are valid points.  The first is that Smith at right tackle gives the Rams their best chance at winning this season.  Alex Barron is not a good run blocker and a pretty good pass blocker.  Former Head Coach Jim Haslett called Barron "horrible" at run blocking on KFNS last week.  Smith is supposed to be better at run blocking than Barron is right now.  The thought by Spagnuolo and his staff is that with Smith at right it gives the Rams a better chance at success this season.  I can't argue that point.

The other side of the argument is that Smith is, theoretically, going to be the left tackle for the Rams for the next 5-8 years so why not make him your left tackle now?  This is also a valid argument.  If there is a learning curve for offensive lineman then why slow that learning curve down by forcing Smith to learn right tackle and then have him relearn the left tackle position in the offseason when and if Alex Barron is not re-signed after the season?  Jim Hanifan, arguably the best offensive line coach in NFL history, said on the same program on KFNS that if it was his call he would have had Smith at left tackle from day one and that "you sink or swim with the kid."

The other factor that comes into play is the health of Marc Bulger and the Rams.  Bulger has had issues of staying upright behind his offensive line so do you trust in a rookie left tackle that he will not make enough mistakes that get your quarterback killed?  Add on top that you have a franchise that is in desperate need of putting something positive together this season on the field to restore the fanbase and you can understand why there are so many issues revolving around Jason Smith.

What it comes down to me is will Jason Smith learn enough and become an impact player in the 2009 season and beyond.  Smith will always be compared to Orlando Pace, for better or for worse.  If you'll remember Pace was a holdout for most of the preseason in 1997.  When Pace finally did make it to camp he was not ready and it essentially killed his entire first season.  Pace played in 13 games in 1997 but only started in 9 of them.  Missing camp killed Pace that year and he was not a dominating offensive lineman in 1997.  Smith is in a better position because he made sure he was in camp from day one.  He is doing all the right things but there will be some bumps along the way.  I am not saying that Smith is going to become a 7-Time Pro Bowler but the expectations of a special career are there.  I just hope the Rams are not stunting his growth by not making him a left tackle right now.

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