Orlando Pace
| St. Louis Rams | |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| College: | Ohio State |
| NFL draft: | 1997 / round: 1 / pick: 1 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Orlando Lamar Pace (born November 4, 1975 in Sandusky, Ohio) is an American football player who currently plays offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. He was the first overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.
High school & College career
Pace attended Sandusky High School and played for the Blue Streaks before going on to play collegiately at The Ohio State University, as only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the prestigious Buckeyes football team. He won the Outland Trophy in 1996 for the best college football interior lineman. He was also a two-time winner of the Lombardi Award for the best college lineman or linebacker in 1995 and 1996, and he was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy and finished fourth in the voting, the highest finish for a lineman (offense or defense) since Hugh Green finished second in 1980. Pace is considered to be one of the top offensive lineman in the history of college football.
He was so dominant that the term pancake block - referring to when an offensive lineman knocks a defender on their back - gained popularity due to his play.[1][2][3] In fact, the Ohio State Athletic Department distributed Orlando Pace pancake magnets as a promotion for his Heisman Trophy run. Pace did not allow a sack in his last two years at Ohio State. In one game against Illinois, Pace shut down defensive end Simeon Rice and pancaked him ten times.
Professional career
Pace was the first offensive lineman in 29 years to be drafted first overall, following Ron Yary (Minnesota) in 1968. He is widely recognized as one of the best tackles in the NFL, especially in pass protection. Pace garnered attention in a 2005 game versus the Indianapolis Colts, where he impressively shut down the threat of Colts' defensive end Dwight Freeney, who until that point had beaten even the best left tackles in the league.[4] He has been voted to seven consecutive Pro Bowls dating back to the 1999 season, his third season in the league. Pace's blocking assisted the Rams to a championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV and a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI.
At 6' 7" tall and 325 pounds, Pace is well-suited for the tackle position. His strength and armspan allow him to be effective in both run- and pass-blocking, but perhaps his greatest asset is his athleticism - Pace's quickness of reflexes and speed are unmatched among NFL offensive linemen.
Sandusky High School retired his jersey number, 76, in a ceremony during half time of a game on October 20, 2006.
Orlando Pace left in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on November 12, 2006 after he tore his triceps, ending his 2006 Season.
He is married and has 3 kids.
Trivia
- Pace is one of the best offensive lineman in NFL Street 2 and he has his own team called Pace's Aces in a pick-up tournament at the end of "Own the City" mode.
- Pace actually lined up at defensive tackle during some goal line situations during his junior year at Ohio State.
- Pace has been quoted in several interviews that his favorite ice cream is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
References
- ^ St. Louis Rams Roster: Orlando Pace. The Official Website of the St. Louis Rams. Retrieved 13 September 2006
- ^ Wagoner, Nick (Sep. 6, 2004). Monday Notebook: Pace Back in Fold The Official Website of the St. Louis Rams. Retrieved 13 September 2006
- ^ Reynolds , Jeff (May 10, 2006). Cover Boys. ProFootball Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2006
- ^ 2005 NFL GameCenter: Game Stats: "Freeney was held to one tackle assist and a force fumble all game." Accessed 14 September 2006