ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Rams' choice of offensive tackle Jason Smith with the second pick of the NFL draft will likely move Adam Goldberg to a reserve role, but the veteran said Friday he is committed to helping his young linemate adapt to the NFL.
At 28, Goldberg and guard Jacob Bell are the oldest members of the rebuilding Rams' offensive line. Alex Barron will start at one tackle spot, and Smith is all but certain to start at the other.
The Rams held the second day of their final three-day minicamp on Friday. The Rams, under new coach Steve Spagnuolo, will try to improve on last season's 2-14 record.
Any success will depend on a stronger showing by the offensive line, which in recent seasons has struggled to protect quarterback Marc Bulger.
The addition of Smith, 22, brings another young player to the line. Barron is 26. Center Jason Brown is 25. Guard Richie Incognito is 25.
Goldberg played in all 16 games last season and started six. An unrestricted free agent, he was re-signed on March 20 to a two-year, $1.8 million contract.
A little over a month later, the Rams drafted Smith, from Baylor.
Goldberg has been impressed with the rookie.
"He's going to be a great player," Goldberg said. "It's really reassuring and it's good when you see a guy come in and he's really highly-touted and about to be very highly-paid and it's nice to see a guy who takes his job seriously, takes great notes, asks great questions and works extremely hard on and off the field."
But Goldberg wasn't ready to concede a starting job.
"I look at is as I've got to go out every day and make myself as good as I can make myself," Goldberg said. "All those other decisions about who plays where and when are out of my control."
Spagnuolo wants his tackles to be able to play on either side. Orlando Pace was entrenched at the left side but the club released the Pro Bowl veteran in the offseason.
"We're going to try to have some versatility at tackle, so at some point they'll all probably get work at both sides," Spagnuolo said. "I just think at all the positions on both sides of the ball and special teams, the more versatile we can be with the guys I think the better off we'll be. It will help us."
At 28, Goldberg and guard Jacob Bell are the oldest members of the rebuilding Rams' offensive line. Alex Barron will start at one tackle spot, and Smith is all but certain to start at the other.
The Rams held the second day of their final three-day minicamp on Friday. The Rams, under new coach Steve Spagnuolo, will try to improve on last season's 2-14 record.
Any success will depend on a stronger showing by the offensive line, which in recent seasons has struggled to protect quarterback Marc Bulger.
The addition of Smith, 22, brings another young player to the line. Barron is 26. Center Jason Brown is 25. Guard Richie Incognito is 25.
Goldberg played in all 16 games last season and started six. An unrestricted free agent, he was re-signed on March 20 to a two-year, $1.8 million contract.
A little over a month later, the Rams drafted Smith, from Baylor.
Goldberg has been impressed with the rookie.
"He's going to be a great player," Goldberg said. "It's really reassuring and it's good when you see a guy come in and he's really highly-touted and about to be very highly-paid and it's nice to see a guy who takes his job seriously, takes great notes, asks great questions and works extremely hard on and off the field."
But Goldberg wasn't ready to concede a starting job.
"I look at is as I've got to go out every day and make myself as good as I can make myself," Goldberg said. "All those other decisions about who plays where and when are out of my control."
Spagnuolo wants his tackles to be able to play on either side. Orlando Pace was entrenched at the left side but the club released the Pro Bowl veteran in the offseason.
"We're going to try to have some versatility at tackle, so at some point they'll all probably get work at both sides," Spagnuolo said. "I just think at all the positions on both sides of the ball and special teams, the more versatile we can be with the guys I think the better off we'll be. It will help us."
