Hoosiers at the Next Level: Rodger Saffold, OG, Los Angeles Rams

Rodger Saffold helped lead the Rams to the 2017 NFL Playoffs Image: Getty Images

Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

Rodger Saffold | Los Angeles Rams | G

While Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard continue to rack up yards and touchdowns, perhaps the most decorated Hoosier in the NFL is Rodger Saffold. He started 41 games for IU over the course of his four-year collegiate career, primarily at the left tackle position. By his senior year, he earned second team All-Big Ten honors and was projected as a second-round draft pick due to his size, durability, and athleticism. The St. Louis Rams drafted Saffold 33rd overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Now in his eighth year with the Rams, Saffold proved he’s incredibly valuable by having his best NFL season to date. Saffold has truly put his stamp on the Rams franchise both on and off the field.

Rodger Saffold is the longest-tenured member of the Los Angeles Rams by a full season. During his first seven seasons with the team, he endured seven consecutive losing seasons. A record of just 40-71. This year, Saffold finally got the chance to be a part of something special. New head coach Sean McVay helped the Rams go from last in scoring (14.0 points per game) in 2016, to first in scoring (29.9 points per game) this season. "The mentality that we have now has been pretty much a complete 180 from the year before," said Saffold, in his eighth year with the organization. "I expected success, but going from worst to first, that’s amazing to me." Saffold helped plow the way for running back and MVP-candidate Todd Gurley. He helped anchor an offensive line that allowed Jared Goff to thrive passing from the pocket.

An MVP-caliber running back and Pro-Bowl-level quarterback was enough evidence for Rodger Saffold to be named to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team, per USA Today. An offseason review by Rams reporter Andrew Irvin noted Saffold had his best season as a professional. Irvin wrote, “The longest-tenured Ram, left guard Rodger Saffold had the best season of his eight-year career. Only allowing one sack all season. Countless times in game film, you’ll see Saffold always piledriving defenders downfield as a lead blocker for Todd Gurley, a significant reason in why the running back achieved the success he did this season.” The Rams will undoubtedly look to re-sign Saffold this summer, as he becomes a free agent. 

“I literally can’t wait for Sundays. I’m excited for every week,” Saffold said, the enthusiasm overflowing. “I walk into this building every day so positive and so ready to go. You take the field every game and you expect to win. You expect to score points. A lot of them.” At age 29, Roger Saffold is turning heads. Head coach Sean McVay praised Saffold, “I can’t say enough good things about really what he’s done this year. He’s been a very pleasant surprise.” Saffold has benefited greatly from McVay’s uptempo offense. “The scheme that we’re running, how we’re attacking things has been huge,” Saffold said. “Being able to get this offense down to the point I can play free, it’s allowed me to be more aggressive than I’ve usually been in the past. Especially in the way we pass block, the landmarks on screens, it’s really helped me out a lot.”

It has helped Saffold evolve from a promising prospect into an All-Pro offensive lineman. During a stint working for Washington, Sean McVay scouted Saffold while playing at IU. “It’s interesting, because when he was coming out of Indiana I remember we were studying him in Washington and thought very highly of him,” McVay said. “Just kind of watching him from afar I know that he’s a very athletic player that had moved around and had the ability to play a variety of spots.” McVay’s creative offense allows for Saffold to play with what he refers to as “reckless abandon.”

Saffold has also solidified himself as a fantastic role model off the field. Per www.therams.com, Rodger Saffold has been a superstar when it comes to philanthropy: “Since relocating from St. Louis to Los Angeles with the organization last year, he has relentlessly donated his time and money to several causes. Among them – Heart of Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai hospital, Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, Operation Progress, Inglewood Unified School District, and Single Mom Planet Awards.” Saffold explains, “I always want to be able to use my pedestal that I have as a professional athlete to be able to do some good out here,” Saffold said. “The people have been so inviting and welcoming with open arms that it’s easy to want to go out there and be able to help all these people in different communities, different backgrounds. There’s so many different charities out here, you can’t really go wrong.”

Rodger Saffold’s efforts were recognized this year as he was selected as the Los Angeles Rams’ Nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Saffold explains how he’s older and wiser, and how he has a better understand of both football and life in general. “You grow up and you have new experiences and now I’m able to put that into good use for the future. Realizing that if I want to make a brighter future, than I need to be able to help as best as I can with groups of people in helping out their futures. It’s been awesome.” Saffold will continue his charitable ways as he signs a new contract this summer. After the remarkable season Saffold had, this contract is going to be a lucrative one. Congratulations to Rodger Saffold on representing Indiana University to the fullest, on and off the field.

Quotes credited to Vincent Bonsignore of www.ocregister.com and Jim Gehman of www.therams.com

Fans of Hoosier Huddle can help support the site by shopping on Amazon using the ad below at no cost to the shopper. Thank you for your support.