Top pick struggles with new position

ST. LOUIS -- Alex Barron, the St. Louis Rams' first-round pick, has hit the wall.

Barron was primarily a left tackle at Florida State and is moving to the right side. That's one of his challenges. The other one, and the bigger one, is adjusting to life in the NFL.

So far, it's been such a struggle that he's been temporarily demoted to second string for this weekend's minicamp.

"You just get so overwhelmed that you just can hardly function," coach Mike Martz said. "You get locked up and that's kind of where he is."

Last year the Rams tried several players at right tackle after Kyle Turley was lost for the season with a back injury in training camp. In the next few days the Rams are expected to release Turley, who's about 40 pounds below his playing weight last year.

Barron was anointed the starter opposite left tackle Orlando Pace shortly after the draft, partly to motivate him. Martz wanted him to make certain he was ready.

"If you try to nurse him along, then of course players normally don't have the same sense of urgency, and that's why we did what we did," Martz said. "So we'll let him regroup and catch his breath somewhat, then we'll put him back in the fire and see where he is."

Martz said Barron showed signs of stress a few days ago in informal workouts, and during the minicamp Barron has constantly asked players and coaches for feedback. For now, Blaine Saipaia, who had five starts at right tackle last year, is playing with the first unit.

"We can be patient because we've got two or three other guys that can go out and play at right tackle," Martz said. "Whenever he's ready, he's ready."

Barron played primarily left tackle at Florida State, but he also played a decent amount on the right side, so drafting him to play the right side wasn't a stretch. Still, making the move full time to right tackle has been more difficult than he had expected.

"I'm a natural left tackle, that's just the way it is," Barron said. "It's been a big learning experience, trying to stay focused and learning a whole bunch of new stuff. I think I'll be able to make the switch, but it's going to take a lot of time.

"It's not easy at all."

The Rams figured that would be the case, no matter where he played. Martz said Barron excelled on natural ability in college.

"He has to trust what we're teaching him to do, and right now he's not doing that. He reverts back to kind of street ball," Martz said. "His technique was horrible in college."

For Barron, being named the starter adds to the pressure.

"Being placed in a critical position is overwhelming anyway, coming from one level to the next," Barron said. "I've just got to take it one day at a time, one practice at a time.

"It's two different positions and I've just got to fight through this."

Pace, who moved from left tackle to the right side in the Pro Bowl this February, said it's not at all a routine switch.

"It's a whole 'nother world," Pace said. "You think it's pretty much the same position, but there are so many different variables, as far as your hands and your feet.

"There's so many different things you have to take into account."

Barron said the challenge, compared with Pace's cameo at right tackle, is daunting.

"He said it was tough enough to do it for that one weekend," Barron said. "I've got to try to do it for a long time."

Pace, whose locker stall is next to Barron's, said he'd do whatever he could to help the rookie. Pace is entering his ninth season after being the first overall pick of the 1997 draft.

"Like I told Alex, I extended my hand to him if he has any questions," Pace said. "He can communicate something he may not be getting on the field."