Rams offensive lineman
By Leslie Gibson McCarthy
Photograph courtesy of Peter Aiken/wireimage.com
“Gentle giant” might not be the right phrase to describe a 6-foot-7, 325-pound offensive lineman for whom the term “pancake block”—as in “flatten like a pancake”—was invented. But Orlando Pace did seem gentle when we talked with him at Rams Park—about the new atmosphere, how he plays his position, where he gets his hair cut and how he spends his holidays.
Scott Linehan is the third coach you’ve played under. How’s it going? There was a new energy around here during training camp. The past couple years, the atmosphere has been a little rough. I think guys really appreciate the new feel. To come in and have a whole new coaching staff, you felt like you had to prove yourself all over again—but to have different challenges means the world to us.
Describe how different it is to pass block than to run block, because you’re probably doing more of the latter under the new system. When you’re pass blocking, you’re first retreating a bit and waiting for the guy to come to you. When you’re blocking for a running play, you’re firing off the ball and moving forward. That’s more physical, and it makes a lineman want to punish the other players—but you can punish them pass blocking also.
You’ve made a Pro Bowl career of it. [Laughs.] I guess so.
What advice do you give the rookies? Mainly technique. I’ll see something [during a play] they haven’t seen before, so I can tell them that they should step this way or move that way. Oh yeah ... I tell them good spots to eat, too.
Such as ...? We just went to Fleming’s the other day with my kids, and J. Buck’s is another spot that we frequent. Bahama Breeze is another one. It’s got to be a place where I can bring my kids, and they love those places.
What’s been your favorite moment as a Ram that didn’t involve winning the Super Bowl? Our first playoff game in St. Louis [January 16, 2000], playing the Minnesota Vikings, just remembering how excited everybody was and how the game started off—we scored on our first couple drives, the 70-, 80-yard touchdowns. At that moment, we were the best team in the world.
Describe a typical Monday after a home game. My boys get me up early in the morning. My wife makes me take them to school if we’ve had an early game the day before. Then I relax the rest of the day and get a massage in the afternoon. I’ll pick the kids up at the end of their day. During the season, it’s tough to spend time with them, so on our days off I try to do as much with them as possible.
Can you go out in St. Louis without being recognized? [Laughs.] Well, I’m kind of hard to miss. If fans don’t recognize me, they tell me, “Hey, you should play football.”
Who are the NFL players you’d want your three sons to look up to? They’re huge fans of Steven Jackson and Torry Holt. In fact, I don’t know if they like me as much. But I don’t want my kids to put too much on any athlete, really—I just want them to grow up and be good people.
You better be careful with your little girl. I had three brothers, too, and I grew up to become a sportswriter. That’s funny you say that. She’s already trying to throw a football like her brothers.
Are you a Cards fan? Sure. I had to buy my two older sons Pujols jerseys because they had Cardinals day at school.
Have you had a chance to meet Albert? Actually, we have the same barber.
Want to tell me where? [Laughs.] No.
I’ve always wondered how NFL players deal with the holidays. At Christmas, I have a great system. My wife does all the shopping. I just have to buy one gift, and that’s hers. We just enjoy the family on the days that we get off, even if it’s not the traditional day. At Thanksgiving and at Christmas, a couple of guys will come over and eat dinner with us and join us in being thankful for what we have. Isaac Bruce and Torry typically come over every year, and I’ll invite some of the younger guys this year also.
So what exactly do NFL players do after dinner on Thanksgiving, just sit around all day and watch football? [Laughs.] That’s exactly what we do.
Keeping Pace
Position: Tackle
Height/Weight: 6-7, 325
Born: November 4, 1975, in Sandusky, Ohio
NFL's No. 1 Draft Pick: 1997
College: Ohio State
NFL Experience: 10 years
Honors: Named to the Pro Bowl for seven consecutive seasons, 1999-2005
