After missing half of his rookie season with injuries, including a concussion that effectively ended his season on November 22, St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith is happy to be back on the field, Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports.

"It feels really good being with the team," Smith said. "Obviously, at the end of last year, I wasn’t able to be with them. For me, it feels great to be able to come out here and pull on this jersey for the Rams. I’m glad that we’re focused on a new season."

After the Rams' veterans helped him assimilate to the NFL last season, Smith is doing the same this season with Saffold.

"Big brothers are supposed to show little brothers how to cut their food," said Smith. "At the end of the day, we’re all just going to be one big happy family here, and make sure we’re working together on that goal, which is to be productive and win games."

After beginning the previous decade as one of the NFL's elite teams, the Rams haven't had a winning season since 2003, and hit rock bottom in 2009, winning just one game, their sixth win since the start of the 2007 season.

The Rams used the first overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft on quarterback on University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who is expected to lead the franchise back to the post-season. With Alex Barron traded to Dallas, Smith, the second overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, will be moving to left tackle, with 2010 second-round pick Rodger Saffold expected to start on the right side. The 6-5, 307-pound Smith is expected to protect Bradford's blind-side.

"I played a little left tackle in college, and I was able, I guess, to be a little productive at it," Smith said. "At the end of the day, it’s football. We’re all blocking for the quarterback. I’m just the one on the left."

Smith sounds nonchalant about his new role, but the Rams have invested big money in Smith ($33 million in guarantees) to protect what will be an ever larger investment in Bradford. Smith also has over $650,000 in base salary escalators that are tied to him becoming a Pro Bowl tackle, an honor normally reserved for those who play on the left side.