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By Jim Thomas
Rodger Saffold’s unusual 2013 season has taken another twist.
Moved from left tackle to right tackle following the signing of Jake Long in free agency last March, Saffold will start at right guard Sunday for the Rams against Indianapolis.
“With some of the injuries and some of the unknowns, basically it’s just at the point like: ‘Where can you help us?’ ” Saffold said. “That why I got moved.”
The Rams’ usual starting right guard, Harvey Dahl, suffered a knee injury in the Rams’ Oct. 28 Monday night loss to Seattle. Shelley Smith started in Dahl’s place last week, against Tennessee, but coach Jeff Fisher has decided to go with Saffold against the Colts.
After missing four games because of a knee injury of his own, Saffold has been unable to regain his starting job at right tackle from Joe Barksdale.
Barksdale and Saffold have rotated in the three games since Saffold’s return, but Barksdale has gotten three-fourths of the reps the past two contests.
“Whatever I’m doing I’m going to do to the best of my ability,” Saffold said. “I’m doing this so I make sure that Harvey can breathe easier, recover himself so he can come back ready to go.”
It has been a while since Saffold played offensive guard — try seventh grade for the Heskett Hornets in the Cleveland area.
“Everything happens faster (inside),” Saffold said. “The big change is just flattening out your angle instead of setting vertical and setting deeper.”
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_e22cea95-2559-5077-9608-00b9048fcf55.html