Carl Douglas Smith is a former professional American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 player who played the positions of center

Center (American football)

Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...

 and offensive guard for the Los Angeles Rams from the 1978

1978 Los Angeles Rams season

The 1978 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 41st year with the National Football League and the 33rd season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-NFC Divisional Playoff:*Los Angeles Rams 34, Minnesota Vikings 10...

 season through the 1991

1991 Los Angeles Rams season

The 1991 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 54th year with the National Football League and the 46th season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Regular season:...

 season. Smith attended Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...

, in Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...

, and graduated from Northland High School

Northland High School (Columbus, Ohio)

Northland High School was established in 1965. NHS is a part of the Columbus City Schools system. It is located at 1919 Northcliff Drive, Columbus, Ohio, USA. The current principal is Duane Bland. Northland is the home of the Vikings. The school colors are Green and Gold. This school has one of the...

 in Columbus on June 9, 1974.

Center for the Rams

After serving in a backup role for 4 years, Smith replaced Rich Saul

Rich Saul

Rich Saul was a National Football League offensive lineman from 1970 through 1981, all with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Michigan State University...

 as the starting center in 1982. In that 1982 to 1991 span, the Rams made the playoffs 6 times: 1983 to 1986, 1988, and 1989. Los Angeles won a wild card game in the 1983-84 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

, as Smith with guards Kent Hill

Kent Hill

Kent Angelo Hill is a former American football offensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to five Pro Bowls. He was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech....

 and Dennis Harrah

Dennis Harrah

Dennis Wayne Harrah is a former NFL Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the University of Miami.- University of Miami :...

 and with tackles Bill Bain and Jackie Slater led Eric Dickerson

Eric Dickerson

Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...

 to 99 rushing yards, but lost to the Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...

 in the divisional round. In the 1984-85 NFL playoffs, Los Angeles lost in the divisional round again, this time to the New York Giants

New York Giants

The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

. In the 1985-86 NFL playoffs, Smith was replaced by Tony Slaton

Tony Slaton

Anthony Tyrone Slaton is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League.-College career:Slaton was an All-America center for the University of Southern California in 1984....

 as the Rams won a divisional round game against the Cowboys, but were shut out in the NFC championship game by the legendary Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 defense of '85. In the 1986-87 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost a wild card game to the Redskins, as Smith, Harrah, and left guard Tom Newberry

Tom Newberry

Thomas J. "Tom" Newberry is a former American football guard who played ten seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams for 9 years and the Pittsburgh Steelers for 1 year. He was a starter for the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. He was a 2 time Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro offensive...

 had a somewhat difficult time against their defensive line, rushing 41 times for 138 yards. In the 1988-89 NFL playoffs, the Rams lost a wild card game to the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

. In the 1989-90 NFL playoffs, the Rams defeated the Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 in the wild card game and the Giants in the divisional round, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

 in the NFC championship game. In the Philly game, Smith, with Newberry and Slaton at guards, Irv Pankey

Irv Pankey

Irvin Lee Pankey is a former American football offensive lineman who played twelve seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Los Angeles Rams. He played offensive tackle at Penn State and was a team captain in 1979...

 and Slater at tackles, helped Greg Bell rush for 124 yards in 23 carries. In the Giant game, the same offensive line (except for Duval Love

Duval Love

Duval Love , is a former American football tackle who played twelve seasons in the National Football League.-References:...

 replacing Slaton at right guard), led Bell to 87 yards rushing in 19 carries in their over-time victory. Then the Rams plummeted to 5-11 and 3-13 won-lost records in 1990 and 1991. In 1992, Smith was replaced by Bern Brostek

Bern Brostek

Bern Orion Brostek is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams from 1990 to 1997.-High school:...

.