Fisher, Bradford, Jackson

[zn]

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – Fan Fest Scrimmage – 8-4-12

(On today’s practice)
“It was really good. All week I think they were kind of looking forward to this to kind of finish up the first phase of camp. What we wanted to accomplish today was a lot of situation things. We did a 4-minute offense, trying to get the ball back on defense and play keep away on offense, and of course we did the 2-minute with a lot of good individual work and 1-on-1 situation stuff. Overall, it was good. We came through healthy. It looks like we’ll get some guys back on Monday. Most of the DBs will be back on Monday. They’re obviously done now, they’re off tomorrow, we come back Monday and we’ll have three good, solid days of camp and then we’ll start preparing for our first preseason opponent.”

(On K Greg Zuerlein)
“In a two-minute offense, when you go to the offense and tell them, ‘Look, you have a minute and 20 seconds left, one timeout, you need a field goal.’ You ordinarily try to get to the 32, 35-yard line. These guys are saying all we need to do is get to midfield now.’ But yes, he’s got a very, very strong leg. They both kicked actually very well today.”

(On if the defense is ahead of the offense)
“I think both sides of the ball are pretty much on pace. We’ve got a lot of work we have to do. We have to fine tune some things and we had some tired legs after the first week. We’ll have a better idea after we play in the preseason game, but I think we’re on track.”

(On the tight ends)
“We have a dozen or so tight ends, so a lot of them are getting a lot of work. It’s important, as we talked about during the week, that they’re all improving. They’re all getting better. They’re all going to have an opportunity to play in the preseason. It’s nice to have those kinds of numbers because you can continue with the personnel groupings throughout the preseason game.”

(On practicing in the Edward Jones Dome for the first time)
“For many of us, it was our first time. I toured the facility during the offseason, but for many it was their first time. That’s good. We didn’t utilize our locker room because we opened it up to our fans. We’re going to come back again and go through the pregame warm-up thing and we’ll have a walk-thru here before our first preseason game.”

(On WR Brandon Gibson)
“He had two very impressive catches today on the boundary. He made a couple of other catches in the 1-on-1 and 7-on-7. Sam (Bradford) trusts him and he’s getting into the right place. When you go up in a jumping contest and your receiver comes down with it, it’s important.”

(On QB Sam Bradford)
“Yes, Sam’s doing well. The defense in the 7-on-7, it’s kind of hard when it’s 8 or 9-on-7 and they’re dropping linemen or using extra linebackers, but he’s doing fine. No problems with the leg. The accuracy’s there and he’s got a good feel for what we’re doing. He’s got really good command in the huddle which I think is important.”

(On how the offensive line did in goal line situations)
“I have to look at the tape. They’re getting low, they’re digging them out. We went 1s-against-2s and 2s-against-1s so we’ll look at the tape, but I thought there were some good things.”

(On today’s practice lasting two and a half hours)
“It was more giving them breaks, getting water. We tried to give them some breaks. We had 13 plays out there, that was a 13-play live drive for those guys, so you have to give them a break. It’s hard once you get into scheduling it. Sometimes we go over, sometimes we don’t. Most of the time, we’ve been off the field in two hours. Considering the fact that we’re indoors and the weather’s perfect and they have a day off tomorrow, I didn’t mind going a little over.”

(On today’s attendance)
“We were excited. I was told that there were almost 13,000 people here, so we were real excited that they came out to see what we’re about. We’ll continue to invite them out to training camp and encourage them to come out. Of course, we need their support in the preseason.”

(On next weekend’s preseason game against Indianapolis)
“We’re going to have to prepare specifically our offense for their defense. It’s an odd front defense, so we’ll make sure our guys are ready to go. We’ll probably start late Thursday or early Friday.”

(On QB coach Frank Cignetti and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer)
“Frank and Brian are really close. They’re on the same page. A lot of times, Frank and Brian and the quarterbacks will meet together. Their relationship is very solid. He gets along great with anybody and everybody and he’s really helping him. When Brian ends up getting caught up with the rest of the offense, Frank’s out there watching every snap. You see we’ve got a ground camera on the quarterback at all times. They spend a lot of time going over the fundamentals and the specifics. Frank’s been through the West Coast quarterback school, if you will. He understands this offense and the fundamentals and the techniques very, very well. That’s why we hired him.”

(On if he had previously worked with any of the coaches on his staff)
“It was just Ray (Sherman). Coach Sherman was the only one.”

(On how he got to know Cignetti)
“It was all through the interview process. It was the same with Coach (Ben) Sirmans. I think I interviewed nine running back coaches.”

(On holding a few players out of practice)
“We’re just being smart. When you get indoors and the lights go on and there are people out, you have a tendency to play fast. We had some bumps and some bruises and we didn’t want to subject anybody to any serious pulls. We hope to have everybody back next week.”

(On if he is proactive about being cautious with players so they don’t injure themselves worse)
“Yes, as best you can. I talk with (Head Athletic Trainer) Reggie (Scott) and his staff all the time about the status of the players. We encourage the players to give us feedback. That’s important. We just don’t want to risk it. For example, if you get a mild hamstring tightness and they say it’s going to take probably two or three days, we’ve always had the philosophy, we’ll go three or four. We’ll just wait an extra day or two to be on the safe side.”

(On RB Isaiah Pead)
“Obviously, he’s shown some really good things during the first week not only as far as his run skills but pass protection, catching the ball and finishing and doing those kinds of things. He’s still got a lot to learn. He gets lost every once in a while, but he’s going to get a lot of work in the preseason. It will be fun to evaluate not only he but most of the younger players.”

(On DT Michael Brockers)
“We were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the shoulder pads. We got the pads on and he continued to do what we saw without pads and what we expected. So far, he’s doing just fine out there.”

(On DT Matthew Conrath)
“We’re seeing some potential there. He has a chance to be a pretty good football player. The process is evaluating them in the games. That’s where you get a better sense. Based on what we’ve seen so far, he’s very strong, he’s got a lot of growth potential physically, but he’s a very smart young football player.”

(On if the rookies were excited to be practicing in the Edward Jones Dome)
“Yes, they were all excited. I had to remind them this is not our locker room, our locker room is down the hall. It’s a little nicer than this one. But yeah, they’re excited, they were looking forward to coming down here. You could see it. They were all taped up with little bands on and things.”

Rams QB Sam Bradford – Fan Fest Scrimmage – August 4, 2012

(On what you got out of practice)
“Really, it was just a normal practice for us. We went through the same thing we do in a normal day, but I thought we had a great two-minute drill today. It’s something that we talked about actually last night in our meetings, so it was nice to see that carry over onto the field and (for) us to go out and execute the way we did today. Other than that we got some good work in some different areas. Today was the first time we went goal line. Got some good live snaps down there. I’ll have to look at the tape, but I thought we had a pretty good practice today.”

(On the two-minute drill)
“We just talked about it in general. ‘Fish’ (Coach Fisher) put up some slides last night, just kind of made a presentation on what it takes to be successful in the two-minute drive, both from the offensive standpoint and the defensive standpoint. Mainly for the offense, it’s eliminating negative plays whether they’re penalties, sacks, things like that, and I thought we did a good job of that today.”

(On the kicker)
“Yeah, our kicker now, it’s been pretty impressive to watch. I think today that last one was, what, 64 (yards)? Yeah, it got there. To have that in your back pocket and know that we don’t have to get down to the 30-yard line to give ourselves a chance. I think today that last one was snapped on about the 46 (-yard line), so it’s nice as an offense knowing that you don’t have to get it all the way down there, just to give yourself a chance to win.”

(On trusting WR Brandon Gibson)
“Yeah, I do. Obviously, ‘Gibby’s’ (Brandon Gibson) been here since the beginning. This is our third year together. He’s someone that I feel extremely comfortable with. Gibby’s had a really good camp so far too. I think he’s playing at an extremely high level right now. He’s running good routes, he’s getting open and today he made some tough catches. They were contested balls, he used his hands, he went and got it. So I’ve been really pleased with the way Gibby’s playing right now.”

(On feeling 100 percent)
“It’s close. I think it’s as good as it’s going to feel. It’s something that we’re managing right now. I’ve been able to take every snap so far without any setbacks and I think that’s a positive sign.”

(On reconnecting with fans)
“Yeah, it’s huge. Obviously, we’re trying to change our reputation, our image in the city. Obviously with Coach Fisher we’ve got a new look, a new attitude, it’s something that we want to share with the fans and this city. Hopefully, they feed off of Coach Fisher just like we do in the building, so I think it’s great for us to come down here, practice in the Dome, let our fans come out and see it. Again, I think it’s great for us to come down here too because if we don’t then, our first preseason game here is really the only time, the two preseason games, the only time we play here before it counts for real. So I think it’s nice to come down here and get another shot at practicing in the Dome and getting used to it.”

(On his ankle)
“Yeah, obviously it’s something. It is a little bit frustrating that it’s somewhat there still. I thought with rest in the offseason it would’ve been gone by now, but it’s not and I’ve talked about it with (Head Athletic Trainer) ‘Reg’ (Reggie Scott). I understand what his plan is and I think we’re doing as good as we can right now in managing it.”

(On working with QB coach Frank Cignetti)
‘It’s been great having ‘Cig’ around. Just the little things that he reminds me of, whether it’s in the middle of practice, in warm-ups, he’s always hammering me on, ‘Run-game footwork, pass-game footwork. Hey, you were a little wide on that last track, make sure you get the back A-gap or we might need to push that a little more.’ It’s just those small things you start out and at the beginning of the year, you’re so conscious of those. But as the season goes along, sometimes you forget about the small things and just concentrate on the big picture. But, I don’t think that’ll be the case this year at all with ‘Cig’. I think he’s going to be there day-in and day-out making sure that we as quarterbacks are doing all the right things in all the right areas.”

Rams RB Steven Jackson – Fan Fest Scrimmage – August 4, 2012

(On kicker Greg Zuerlein and his range)
“The kicker is very impressive and he has a huge leg. I think he makes it easy on the offense knowing that he has such long range that we can get within striking distance, especially in two-minute situation. We don’t necessarily have to get to the 35 yard line traditionally for most kickers.”

(On where the team is)
“I think we’re in the step in the right direction. I believe Coach Fisher and what he’s brought to the team, what he’s brought to the community, I think you can see it. The excitement in our fans, we had a huge turnout today and I think from what the fans saw, they saw a new type of team that is very aggressive, very confident in what we’re doing and looking for a change.”

(On having the scrimmage at the Edward Jones Dome)
“I actually prefer it. It actually acts as if it’s a dress rehearsal for us for next week getting ready for Indy and a preseason game. There’s a lot of young guys. To be in our venue for the first so they can get that out of the way so when it’s time to try and win jobs in the next four to five weeks they can just really hone in on the game and not think about being at awe of the venue.”

(On where he thinks the offense is right now)
“Kind of hard to tell. We’re still actually putting in plays, still working the chemistry between the offensive line and myself and the other guys in the starting lineup, and then you still have guys competing for starting jobs. It’s hard to tell where we are as far as installation and where we are as a team, but the progress we’ve made has been tremendous. A lot of it has carried over from the spring. What we’ve been able to do I think in the running game has been very impressive, the blocking schemes and everything, guys are really on the same page right now.”

(On how much he will play this preseason)
“That has not come up at all. I think today our fans had a chance to see me live on some goal line action, so that gave you some indication that I will be playing this preseason.”

(On how his legs are felling since he has lost 10 pounds)
“Body fat has been the same, but I am 10 pounds lighter. I do feel good. I feel fresh and ready to go.”

(On kicker Greg Zuerlein)
“The kicker, he did a great job. It’s very impressive, especially a young guy like that to be able to kick the ball with that kind of distance. He definitely makes it easy on us, especially in a two minute situation where we could really get within striking distance really fast.”

(On RB Isaiah Pead)
“Isaiah has looked really impressive this camp. Isaiah is someone that is very shifty. He has a good understanding of the game of football. From my understanding he played in a spread offense, so he definitely brings a dynamic to us so we can use him and spread out the defense in ways so we can have a match up problem, actually in our favor though.”

(On his early thoughts on FB Ovie Mughelli)
“Well, he’s done good. He joined us just within a week so he’s still trying to learn the offense. Veteran guy, you have to love it, but he has some understanding of the offense coming from Atlanta. He is catching on to it really well, but he brings that presence and mind. He’s a veteran, he knows how to be a professional and he actually helps with younger fullbacks understand how to play the position as well.”

(On how the team is doing with the new offense)
“So far so good. We’ve been installing this now for some months. We started in the spring and I think a lot of it has carried over and the guys are clicking, especially within the 1s. The blocking schemes are being able to…everyone’s been on the same page and looking really good on the run game. We have to continue to just work on it and just work on the chemistry and make sure that we can try all stay on the field together. That’s how you can build off of that success.”

[InvaderRam]

Frank’s been through the West Coast quarterback school, if you will. He understands this offense and the fundamentals and the techniques very, very well. That’s why we hired him.

ok. nitpicking. but again. why do they keep using the "west coast" term for this offense?

[zn]

Frank’s been through the West Coast quarterback school, if you will. He understands this offense and the fundamentals and the techniques very, very well. That’s why we hired him.

ok. nitpicking. but again. why do they keep using the "west coast" term for this offense?

It is just confusion.