Rams take Baylor's Smith with second pick in draft

ST. LOUIS (AP) " The St. Louis Rams filled their greatest need with the second pick of the NFL draft, taking offensive tackle Jason Smith of Baylor on Saturday.

The Rams have many holes to fill, as evidenced by their 5-27 record the last two years and the fact they picked second for the second straight year. They created the biggest gap on the line when they released seven-time Pro Bowl selection Orlando Pace.

Pace, a fixture at left tackle since being picked first overall in 1997, had been dogged by injuries in recent seasons and was released.

"Obviously, that is big shoes to follow," Smith said. "I have to go in and make my own shoes. At the end of the day and end of my career here, I want them to be saying the same things about me: 'Hey young buddy, you've got to go in and replace Jason Smith, 20-time Pro Bowler."'

In the second round, St. Louis addressed a defensive need with Ohio State All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis. The 6-2, 244-pound Laurinaitis was Big Ten defensive player of year and led the school in tackles three times.

"He's been a tackling machine," general manager Billy Devaney said.

The Rams plan to move Will Witherspoon, who started 12 games at middle linebacker last year, to the outside. Chris Draft, who was at middle linebacker in the first minicamp earlier this month, is 33 years old.

Baylor's first first-rounder since 1996 has a sense of humor to match the talent. During a conference call, he pretended several times not to hear a question asking him to name his biggest weakness.

"You know I can hear you, right?" he said after laughing for several seconds.

The Rams passed on other enticing prospects such as Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez, each representing less pressing needs. St. Louis used all 10 of its allotted minutes before taking the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Smith while awaiting offers to trade down, but Devaney said there was no action.

"We kind of started kind of planning what-ifs," Devaney said. "But we thought at the end of the day we'd be turning our card in, and that's how it played out."

Devaney said Smith separated himself from the field with his passion, production and smarts.

"He's off the charts in those categories," Devaney said. "We just thought for what we're trying to put together here, he's the perfect fit."

Both Devaney and new coach Steve Spagnuolo were impressed with Smith's ability to finish plays, and after numerous contacts discovered no negatives.

"Each time we kept looking," Devaney said. "What are the flaws and what are the problems? And there was never any with this guy."

Smith was a standout despite Baylor's four-year record of 18-31 when he was at school, and could be immediately plugged in at right tackle. Alex Barron, a first-round pick in 2005, moved from right tackle to the left side in St. Louis' first minicamp earlier this month, although Spagnuolo hinted that switch is not a done deal.

"We'll do what's best," Spagnuolo said. "You've got to give us a little time to get him in a helmet and pads first."

Smith said he didn't care where he landed, noting he began his college career as a defensive end, then moved to tight end, and played both right and left tackle.

The Rams selected Virginia defensive end Chris Long last year and got a solid rookie season out of the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. Long started every game and had four sacks, second among NFC rookies, while giving the team a pass-rush threat opposite veteran Leonard Little.

Devaney said the Rams had explored trading up to a late first-round slot to make sure Laurinaitis, the son of former professional wrestler Joe "The Animal" Laurinaitis, was still available. Instead, Devaney said, the Rams "sweated it out" for a player who fulfills their desire for more size at the position.

"He's been in a lot of big games, made a lot of big plays," Spagnuolo said. "That gets me excited."

Laurinaitis said his agent, St. Louis-based Tom Condon, told him the Rams wanted to pick him. He's billed as a three-down linebacker with coverage skills and made an impression with his first workout in St. Louis.

"I'm excited to show everybody what I can do," Laurinaitis said. "My agent had kind of been telling me they had a dire need for a middle linebacker."

Laurinaitis started the last 39 games of his college career and was voted team captain for the second straight season by his teammates.