Rams News

New-look Pace ready to produce for Rams

By Steve Korte
Belleville News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace is a new man.
He is no longer a pudgy-faced 344-pound rookie. He now is a chiseled 315-pound blocking machine.
"There is a big weight off my back," Pace said.
Pace, 22, filled out his No. 76 jersey a lot differently during the Rams' minicamp this weekend than he did during the club's first minicamp last year after he was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
"He had alot of baby fat on him, but he doesn't have that on him now," Rams coach Dick Vermeil said.
Pace said he had no special diet. He lost the 29 pounds through the Rams' offseason conditioning program.
"I wasn't necessarily trying to lose weight," Pace said. "When you get into good shape, it just naturally kind of comes off." Pace was a regular during four-day-a-week workouts at Rams Park this winter.
"He's learning what it is to be a pro," Vermeil said. "He's worked hard in the offseason so far and he is going to continue to work as hard. He won't be as heavy as he was, but he'll be stronger and faster."
Vermeil referred to Pace as being cat-quick earlier this week. The comment caused Pace some razzing from his teammates.
Pace said. "I feel quicker. I don't know if it comes from just losing Weight or just being a little more confident."
Vermeil still marvels at Pace's natural ability. "He is a remarkable athlete, that's all I can say about him," Vermeil said, "I watch him on tape and you just can't believe what he can do. The quickness is awesome, but it's the grace and balance that is really amazing. You never see him on the ground. He pulls, and runs, and it's absolutely no effort for him."
Pace missed all of training camp before signing last summer. He then missed three games because of a knee injury. He ended up starting nine games.
Pace said he feels much more comfortable entering his second NFL season.
"I've got big goals for this season," Pace said. "This year will be better because I know what to expect. I know what to do, what places to go. Last year, I was hesitating because I was uncertain where to go. This year. I can be aggressive as I want."
Pace said he is glad that he won't have to deal with the extra attention of being the NFL's No. 1 rookie this season.
"With being the first pick in the draft there is a lot of added pressure," Pace said. "You try to perform to the best of your ability, but you know that everybody is watching you. The pressure is on. This year it will be on Peyton Manning. It's a relief for me."
Pace will be working against the Rams' top draft choice this season, Nebraska defehsive end Grant Wistrom, in practice. "I think defensive end is a lot easier to learn per say than offensive tackle," Pace said. "I'm just going to give him a good look in practice and hopefully he will progress and be pretty good during the course of the year."
It's obvious that Pace no longer feels like a rookie. He even had rookie wide receiver Az-zahir Hakim, who has the cubicle next to Pace in the locker room, bringing him a sandwich from the lunchbuffet every day.
"He has to pay rent for being on this side of the room," Pace said.
Pace doesn't want to lose any more weight. He already weighs less than offensive guard Fred Pollack (321 pounds) and defensive tackle James Manley (320 pounds) on the Rams' roster.
"I just want to try to maintain my weight and get stronger," Pace said. "I think the stronger I get, the better I'll get."

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