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Football
Rehring Key to Sims' Future at Guard
By John Porentas
Rob Sims makes no bones about it: he'd like to play guard.
"I've been trying to move to guard since I was a freshman. I came here and I thought I was going to be playing guard," Sims said yesterday prior to the beginning of spring drills.
Sims has been a fixture at left tackle since his freshman season. He was penciled in as a backup to Ivan Douglas as a freshman, but when Douglas ran into medical problems unrelated to football (blood clots in his lungs) Sims found himself the starter at left tackle, including in the Fiesta Bowl where the Buckeyes won a national championship.
Sims has continued to play left tackle, because that's where his team needed him, but he has never lost that yearning to move over to guard.
"Every year Coach Bollman and Coach Tressel and I have talked about me sliding back down to guard if they could find somebody to play left tackle," said Sims.
"I'd welcome it. I think guard is my natural position. I think if I'm ever blessed enough to make it to the NFL, that's where I hope I'll play. It would be nice to get some reps here and show people I can play both," Sims said.
Sims got a few snaps at guard last season as freshman tackle Steve Rehring worked his way into a bit of playing time at left tackle. When Rehring came into the game, Sims would move to guard. Sims loved it, and says his temperament and physical skills are more suited to the guard position.
"Playing tackle is being more patient, where guard is more physical and aggressive," said Sims.
"That's what I always thought of myself being. I want to come out of my stance and get my hands on you instead of waiting for you to come to me," said Sims.
If Sims is to be able to make the move to the interior line, somebody will have to step up and take his place at left tackle. That somebody is most likely to be Steve Rehring. According to senior center Nick Mangold, Rehring has shown signs that he may actually be ready to do just that.
"Steve's got to step up big to allow Rob to make that change. He has had game experience. Robby's move to guard will be on Steve's shoulders," said Mangold.
According to Mangold, Rehring has made great strides in the weight room since last season and may be poised to make his move for the left tackle position. That would open the door for Sims to move to left guard.
"He's (Rehring) definitely more solid physically, he's worked on his quickness, he really had a great winter," said Mangold.
Mangold seems to want to see the move made, not just for Sims sake, but because he sees a left side of the OSU line featuring Sims and Rehring as a real force.
"Every once in awhile he moves down to the guard position and I just think he's happier there. I think in his mind he's a guard. If he had the chance to play guard I think he'd definitely accept," said Mangold.
"If we had him next to me, then Steve out there at 340 pounds or so, that would be some hefty left side of the line," said Mangold.
"I'd like to see that."
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