OTAs Day 2

Foles Making Strong Early Impression

By Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Foles-Making-Strong-Early-Impression/6bf910e3-c86a-4fbc-a89b-502e4b90b08d

There have been a bevy of changes to the Rams’ offense since the conclusion of the 2014 season, arguably the most important of which is the trade that brought in quarterback Nick Foles. And given the unit’s early impressions, the new signal-caller seems to be a great fit for St. Louis.

“Things have been going great,” Foles said after the Rams’ second Organized Team Activity on Thursday. “We’ve been really getting after it. It’s a huge learning process and a huge relationship-building process, but I’m really enjoying each day doing that.”

Any time a quarterback arrives with a new team, there’s an expected adjustment period. Foles mentioned establishing a strong rapport with his teammates as a priority just after the trade happened in March, and he hasn’t wavered since. While some might see it as a challenge, Foles said he just sees it as a fun part of his job.

“It’s getting to know who they are as people,” Foles said. “It started in the weight room, lifting together, working out together, pushing each other on the run. Then when you’re going out here it’s just communicating.”

Communication is one of the factors that made Jared Cook heap effusive praise on Foles. The tight end said that element is one of the best parts of the QB’s leadership.

“He’s cool as a fan, man. He’s everything that you want in a quarterback — everything that you’ve always wanted,” Cook said. “It just feels like he belongs here, and it feels like he’s been here for a while, which is a good piece. It’s what we need.”

Cook, wide receiver Kenny Britt, and offensive lineman Rodger Saffold each described Foles as a positive, up-beat guy who knows how to give a teammate a needed lift.

“Those are good things to get from your quarterback,” Saffold said. “He’s very inspiring, so that’s a good thing for us, especially with so many young guys. They need that.”

Britt noted that the chemistry between him and Foles has been strong since the day the quarterback arrived.

“A couple of days ago,” said Britt, “I was down on myself, not feeling well, and he was the first one to come to me and say, ‘Hey Kenny, I see it in your face. Let’s go, we can’t have it right now.’”

“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” Cook said. “That’s exactly how a team and an offense is supposed to click.”

Head coach Jeff Fisher said everything the team had heard about Foles and his leadership was true, adding that the quarterback has taken charge.

“He walked in the door and he went out of his way to met everybody,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “In Phase One [of the offseason program] where the coaches can’t be present, he took the players out — the skill players and offensive players — and threw.”

According to Cook, that’s when the chemistry between the receivers and quarterback really began to take off. The tight end said when Foles was leading the workouts, the signal-caller’s personality came shining through, bringing the unit closer.

“That’s what you like to see,” Cook said. “Just having a little swag, a chip on your shoulder — that separates you from the rest.”

So far, the relationships Foles has built with the offense has translated well to the field. While it takes time for any receiving corps to adjust to a new quarterback, Britt said that he’s already gotten used to the way Foles puts touch on the ball.

“He’s not going to throw a fastball when you’re five yards down the field,” Britt said. “He has a sense of when to put a little bit of touch on it, and when to throw it in there with his fastball. But he can throw it all.”

“When I see my receivers run routes I can tell who’s good at what, so then you get an idea where to throw the ball to different guys,” Foles said. “The receivers have been awesome. They’re buying in. They’re working hard and they’re going to make some plays.”

Of course, Foles has some adjustments to make coming from the Eagles’ up-tempo, shotgun-heavy system to the Rams’ power-run attack. He said there are some similar passing concepts in the two offenses, though he does have to master new terminology.

“But that’s the fun of it,” Foles said. “I get to learn more football. It’s a great offense to play in.”

He’ll also have to get used to playing under center a lot more.

“It’s been a little while but I enjoy it,” Foles said. “Being under center and in the ’gun — you have to be able to do both in the NFL. There’s different situations that you need both. I enjoy doing it.”

Still, Foles brings valuable winning experience from Philadelphia, where he complied a 14-4 record as a starting quarterback over the last two seasons.

“He’s been part of a successful offense,” Cook said, citing Foles leading the Eagles to the playoffs in 2013. “The things he’s learned there, he brings here.”

“I love that he’s here,” Cook added. “I love what he brings to us, and I love the fact that he’s just an up-tempo, positive guy. And just think, once he gets this offense down, and once we all get this offense down — it’s going to be cake, man. It’s going to be cake. And that’s how it’s supposed to be.”