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Creating the All-Time Rams Roster: Offensive Line
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2016/06/28/creating-the-all-time-rams-roster-offensive-line/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 15 hours ago
In this new series, we will break down our All-Time Rams roster position-by-position. We last covered the tight ends, and now it’s time to move on to the offensive line. We’ll have five starters and five backups for this position.
Starting offensive tackle: Jackie Slater
Arguably the greatest offensive lineman in Rams history, Jackie Slater out of Jackson State plowed lanes for Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson. Slater is a Hall of Famer in his own right, and is also a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Slater was the definition of a Rams legend. He started 211 games over his franchise record 20 years with the team — a record that will likely never be broken.
He’s the obvious choice to start, because while players have been great for the Rams, Slater is arguably one of the greatest offensive lineman ever.
Starting offensive tackle: Orlando Pace
Alas, the cornerstone of the Greatest Show on Turf. Orlando Pace was a once in a generation type prospect out of Ohio State University. How insane was Pace? Well, for starters, he finished top five in the Heisman Trophy voting as a lineman and he basically invented the idea of a pancake block.
The 2016 NFL Hall of Fame inductee was a force for the Rams, starting 154 games for the franchise. Despite his success, Pace had a tendency to look at other teams. He held out multiple times, but came back to the team each time.
Pace would start at right tackle with Slater plugged in on the left side. He is absolutely a lock to make this team on anyone’s list.
Starting offensive guard: Tom Mack
One of the greatest offensive guards of all time out of Michigan State. Mack was the second pick in the 1966 NFL draft by the Rams. He was the definition of a winner, and a very productive bull in the trenches.
He started 162 games over the course of his time in Los Angeles, which totaled all 13 seasons of his career. Mack had all the accolades, including 11 Pro-Bowl appearances, four All-Pro first team selections and four All-Pro second team selections. Mack was also named the number seven overall offensive guard of all time by Bleacher Report.
It’s pretty obvious where and why Mack fits on this All-Time roster.
Starting offensive guard: Dennis Harrah
The former Miami Hurricane was drafted No. 11 overall in the 1975 draft, and he carved out a decorated career with the Los Angeles Rams. Just like Mack, he played 13 seasons with the Rams, which was the length of his entire career.
Harrah started 144 games, was a first-team All-Pro and a six-time Pro-Bowler. He was a part of six NFC West titles, but never won the big one. The franchise great could be considered a Hall of Fame snub also, as he was highly productive and is an obvious choice to make this roster.
Starting center: Doug Smith
It was tough, but the former Bowling Green alumni gets the nod over his predecessor Rich Saul. Doug Smith paid his dues, he waited in the wings while Saul’s time came to an end.
Smith was underrated, but he showed once he got his shot that it didn’t matter. He started 160 games and went to the Pro Bowl six times. Smith gets the slight nudge over Saul.
Backup OT: Charley Cowan
The fifteen-year tenured Ram came from New Mexico Highlands via the 1961 NFL draft. He was taken in the fourth round and just like the previous names, he played his entire career with the team.
Obviously Cowan makes the team, but while he was pretty stellar, going to three Pro-Bowls and playing 206 games, he wasn’t on the freakish level Slater and Pace were.
Backup OT: Bob Brown
The man dubbed The Boomer, Bob Brown only played two seasons with the Rams, but guess what? He was a first-team All-Pro and Pro-Bowler in each of those two seasons. Unfortunately, the Rams traded him to the Raiders.
Due to the lack of seasons with the Rams, the Hall of Famer is just going to earn the nod as a backup this time around.
Backup OG: Tom Newberry
Tom Newberry is still a favorite of Rams fans today. He played all but one season with the Rams, and is a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro-Bowler. He started 128 games out of the 131 total he played.
If his competition weren’t two crazy talents, he might have cracked the starting lineup.
Backup OG: Kent Hill
First off, look at that mammoth of a man in the picture above. That right there is Kent Hill, and he is a former five-time Pro-Bowler with the Rams. He started 95 games before being traded to the Houston Oilers for the eventual all-time passer in Rams history, Jim Everett.
Backup C: Rich Saul
The late, great Rich Saul started 106 games in horns and went to six Pro-Bowls in the process. It seems wrong that he’s a backup here, but that is because Smith had about 44 more games started than Saul.
Honorable Mention
Riley Matheson, OG
The five-time Pro-Bowl guard from Texas El-Paso played eight of his 10 seasons with the Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams. He was also playing in a time period when players played multiple positions, unlike today’s standards. Matheson had 12 interceptions, while playing both offense and defense.
Adam Timmerman, OG
Another former Greatest Show on Turf team member won two Super Bowls, one of which came with the Rams. Timmerman also had two Pro-Bowl appearances and a selection to the All-Pro second team. The man from South Dakota State started 124 of his 126 total games for the Rams.
Joe Scibelli, OT
The former Fighting Irish alumni was drafted by the Rams in the 10th round of the 1961 NFL draft. He would go on to be named to a Pro-Bowl and start 132 games for the Rams over a span of his full 15-year career.
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2016/06/28/creating-the-all-time-rams-roster-offensive-line/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 15 hours ago
In this new series, we will break down our All-Time Rams roster position-by-position. We last covered the tight ends, and now it’s time to move on to the offensive line. We’ll have five starters and five backups for this position.
Starting offensive tackle: Jackie Slater
Arguably the greatest offensive lineman in Rams history, Jackie Slater out of Jackson State plowed lanes for Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson. Slater is a Hall of Famer in his own right, and is also a seven-time Pro Bowler.
Slater was the definition of a Rams legend. He started 211 games over his franchise record 20 years with the team — a record that will likely never be broken.
He’s the obvious choice to start, because while players have been great for the Rams, Slater is arguably one of the greatest offensive lineman ever.
Starting offensive tackle: Orlando Pace
Alas, the cornerstone of the Greatest Show on Turf. Orlando Pace was a once in a generation type prospect out of Ohio State University. How insane was Pace? Well, for starters, he finished top five in the Heisman Trophy voting as a lineman and he basically invented the idea of a pancake block.
The 2016 NFL Hall of Fame inductee was a force for the Rams, starting 154 games for the franchise. Despite his success, Pace had a tendency to look at other teams. He held out multiple times, but came back to the team each time.
Pace would start at right tackle with Slater plugged in on the left side. He is absolutely a lock to make this team on anyone’s list.
Starting offensive guard: Tom Mack
One of the greatest offensive guards of all time out of Michigan State. Mack was the second pick in the 1966 NFL draft by the Rams. He was the definition of a winner, and a very productive bull in the trenches.
He started 162 games over the course of his time in Los Angeles, which totaled all 13 seasons of his career. Mack had all the accolades, including 11 Pro-Bowl appearances, four All-Pro first team selections and four All-Pro second team selections. Mack was also named the number seven overall offensive guard of all time by Bleacher Report.
It’s pretty obvious where and why Mack fits on this All-Time roster.
Starting offensive guard: Dennis Harrah
The former Miami Hurricane was drafted No. 11 overall in the 1975 draft, and he carved out a decorated career with the Los Angeles Rams. Just like Mack, he played 13 seasons with the Rams, which was the length of his entire career.
Harrah started 144 games, was a first-team All-Pro and a six-time Pro-Bowler. He was a part of six NFC West titles, but never won the big one. The franchise great could be considered a Hall of Fame snub also, as he was highly productive and is an obvious choice to make this roster.
Starting center: Doug Smith
It was tough, but the former Bowling Green alumni gets the nod over his predecessor Rich Saul. Doug Smith paid his dues, he waited in the wings while Saul’s time came to an end.
Smith was underrated, but he showed once he got his shot that it didn’t matter. He started 160 games and went to the Pro Bowl six times. Smith gets the slight nudge over Saul.
Backup OT: Charley Cowan
The fifteen-year tenured Ram came from New Mexico Highlands via the 1961 NFL draft. He was taken in the fourth round and just like the previous names, he played his entire career with the team.
Obviously Cowan makes the team, but while he was pretty stellar, going to three Pro-Bowls and playing 206 games, he wasn’t on the freakish level Slater and Pace were.
Backup OT: Bob Brown
The man dubbed The Boomer, Bob Brown only played two seasons with the Rams, but guess what? He was a first-team All-Pro and Pro-Bowler in each of those two seasons. Unfortunately, the Rams traded him to the Raiders.
Due to the lack of seasons with the Rams, the Hall of Famer is just going to earn the nod as a backup this time around.
Backup OG: Tom Newberry
Tom Newberry is still a favorite of Rams fans today. He played all but one season with the Rams, and is a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro-Bowler. He started 128 games out of the 131 total he played.
If his competition weren’t two crazy talents, he might have cracked the starting lineup.
Backup OG: Kent Hill
First off, look at that mammoth of a man in the picture above. That right there is Kent Hill, and he is a former five-time Pro-Bowler with the Rams. He started 95 games before being traded to the Houston Oilers for the eventual all-time passer in Rams history, Jim Everett.
Backup C: Rich Saul
The late, great Rich Saul started 106 games in horns and went to six Pro-Bowls in the process. It seems wrong that he’s a backup here, but that is because Smith had about 44 more games started than Saul.
Honorable Mention
Riley Matheson, OG
The five-time Pro-Bowl guard from Texas El-Paso played eight of his 10 seasons with the Cleveland and Los Angeles Rams. He was also playing in a time period when players played multiple positions, unlike today’s standards. Matheson had 12 interceptions, while playing both offense and defense.
Adam Timmerman, OG
Another former Greatest Show on Turf team member won two Super Bowls, one of which came with the Rams. Timmerman also had two Pro-Bowl appearances and a selection to the All-Pro second team. The man from South Dakota State started 124 of his 126 total games for the Rams.
Joe Scibelli, OT
The former Fighting Irish alumni was drafted by the Rams in the 10th round of the 1961 NFL draft. He would go on to be named to a Pro-Bowl and start 132 games for the Rams over a span of his full 15-year career.
