Rams News

Hanifan's O-line gains strength through stability
08/23 07:48 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

Last year at this time, holdout left tackle Orlando Pace had just signed a contract after missing all of training camp.
Left guard Gerald Perry was a few days away from walking out of a team meeting, and subsequently getting his walking papers.
Center Bern Brostek was battling back problems that ultimately led to his retirement.
Wayne Gandy was playing right tackle for the first time since 1994.
Zach Wiegert was playing right guard for practically the first time in his life.
Other than that, offensive line coach Jim Hanifan was bored stiff.
This season, a little stability has gone a long way for Hanifan and the Rams' offensive line. Oh, there have been a couple of blips on the radar screen.
For one, there was the sudden retirement of Ed Simmons at left guard. At least Simmons did the Rams a favor in announcing his decision one day before veterans reported to Macomb, Ill. When the Rams realized that Ryan Tucker wasn't ready to replace Simmons in the starting lineup, they acted decisively in switching Fred Miller from tackle to left guard nearly a month ago. So far, that switch has been a success story.
For another, there was the media boycott by the offensive line, which lasted little more than a week before its quick and relatively painless death.
But for the most part, Hanifan has been able to work on teaching, rather than running a crisis shelter as he did last preseason.
``You have to really hone in on those techniques,'' Hanifan said. ``This training camp we've had that opportunity, so the things that we wanted to get done, got done. But it's the same old stuff -- the proof of the pudding is what you do during the year.''
Hanifan expects improvement, but he's been around too long to get delusional.
``This is a young group of guys,'' Hanifan said. ``If they can all stay together for the next three, four or five years, you can wind up with something . . . something special.''
Center John Flannery, a free-agent pickup from Dallas, is the elder statesman of the group at age 29. The five projected starters have a combined 67 games of NFL starting experience at their current positions. By comparison, Willie Roaf, the fine offensive tackle the Rams will face in their season opener against New Orleans, has 77 games of starting experience. Roaf is 28 years old.
As good as Roaf is, Hanifan probably wouldn't trade his left tackle to get him. That's because Pace appears primed for a breakthrough season.
``He's had as good a training camp as one could have,'' Hanifan said. ``He came in, obviously, in the offseason and really worked at getting his weight down. He was always quick anyway, but now he's even a bit quicker. You're talking about a big, powerful man.
``He has brought his game to a different level. A year ago, he was trying to learn the offense. A year ago, he was pretty raw. Nothing against the previous places where he's been, but he was such a dominant guy at the high school level and a dominant guy at the college level that he could get away with really bad technique, and still be exceptionally dominant.''
Pace's technique isn't so bad this season. He isn't so raw.
At left guard, it's a case of so far, so good with Miller. At 6 feet 7, 315 pounds, Miller didn't seem to have the body frame to play that position. But he appears to be athletic enough to pull it off.
``He moves very well,'' Hanifan said. ``You look at some of the other guys in the league that are playing offensive guard, and I won't mention names, but they are rather stiff.''
Miller will have his rough spots, because his game needs plenty of polish. ``But he's working his butt off,'' Hanifan said. ``If you're tough, and you're smart, all those things will come.''
One of the top battles of training camp at any position figured to be Mike Gruttadauria vs. Flannery at center. Gruttadauria had been enjoying what Hanifan called ``an exceptional training camp'' until he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday. Flannery now has two preseason games, and perhaps a regular-season game or two, to win the job.
In Wiegert and the athletic Gandy, the right side features two players who should be highly motivated this season because they will be unrestricted free agents next offseason. Hanifan said both players have improved their run blocking and pass protection during training camp. But it is no secret the Rams would like to see both players develop more of a nasty streak.
Tucker, Tom Nutten and Ethan Brooks figure to be the team's reserves, along with the runner-up in the Gruttadauria-Flannery joust. Brooks was switched from guard to tackle after Miller made his switch from tackle to guard, and has performed surprisingly well.

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