Report: Greg Robinson to play left guard for St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams went the route of “best player available” by selecting former Auburn offensive lineman Greg Robinson with the second overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Rams had bigger needs than they did along the offensive line, but Robinson proved to be incredibly talented while at Auburn, and now, St. Louis is reportedly planning to use that talent in a unique way

Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report brings the news that Robinson will play left guard, instead of tackle, for the 2014 season:

"Even though the Rams signed free-agent guard Davin Joseph, the plan still is for first-round pick Greg Robinson to begin his career at left guard. There are a number of reasons Robinson is expected to be playing guard instead of tackle this season. The Rams want to get their best five on the field, and in order to do that they need to play Jake Long at left tackle and Joe Barksdale at right tackle. Robinson actually might be more valuable at guard than tackle, because the Rams believe that in the physical NFC West, they need a powerful guard who can win the line of scrimmage and pull to get to the second level."

This isn’t the first we’ve heard about Robinson beginning his career at the guard spot, but the revelation that he will remain there, virtually regardless of circumstance, is an interesting one. In a tackle class that included more polished products like Michigan’s Taylor Lewan and Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, Robinson stood out in run blocking and with his raw physicality, and those traits would be greatly utilized immediately at the guard spot.

Long-term, you would have to believe that the Rams intend to shift Greg Robinson to the “big money” position of left tackle, but if he can be dominant at left guard from day one, it is tough to argue with the decision to play him there.