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June 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm #26046
znModeratorRams safety T.J. McDonald working toward return
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/19126/rams-safety-t-j-mcdonald-working-toward-return
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Some thoughts and observations from the St. Louis Rams’ third open organized team activity Tuesday.
The Rams don’t have many weaknesses on their defense with all of their projected starters and key backups returning, plus the offseason additions of linebacker Akeem Ayers and defensive tackle Nick Fairley. But for right now, in June, when the games and real practices still haven’t started, they are a little thin at strong safety. On Tuesday, they were working without starter T.J. McDonald and backup Mark Barron, leaving some first-team reps for second-year man Maurice Alexander.
Since we aren’t in season, Rams coach Jeff Fisher is not required to offer an injury update but did acknowledge that McDonald has been dealing with some sort of injury issue.
“He’s coming off a little ordeal,” Fisher said. “He’ll be ready for camp. He had a little offseason issue.”
McDonald has been present at the OTAs, but knowing that he’ll be back in time for training camp should alleviate any concerns. He was one of the team’s most productive players near the end of last season, and though he’s missing out on valuable reps, there will be plenty of time for him to get back in the mix during camp — assuming Fisher’s prognosis holds. Barron’s case is a little more of an unknown. For now, Alexander is getting valuable opportunities that could be helpful in the long run. The former fourth-round pick was considered a bit of a project when the Rams drafted him, so any additional chances he gets to work with the first team could benefit him long-term.
Joining Barron and McDonald in sitting out Tuesday’s practice were receiver Damian Williams, running back Todd Gurley, cornerback Brandon McGee, tackle Steven Baker, guard Cody Wichmann and tight end Alex Bayer. Gurley continues to get plenty of work on the side. Receiver Brian Quick, guard Rodger Saffold and tackle Greg Robinson continued to work only in individual drills.
On the offensive line, it was Barrett Jones’ turn to work with the first-team offense. He was joined by the usual cast of teammates for team drills with Brandon Washington at left tackle, Garrett Reynolds at left guard, Jamon Brown at right guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle. For what it’s worth, Fisher says there are no plans to settle on a starting center right away. In other words, expect Jones, Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney to continue competing for the job into training camp.
Fisher said his team got a lot of work done Tuesday, but had to cut a period because they were about to go over on time. Part of the reason for that might have been some sloppiness with pre-snap penalties. During one team period, there was a run of about three out of five plays in which somebody jumped on either or both sides of the ball.
As you would expect, the defense remains well ahead of the offense during team drills, but Tuesday was better for the offense than it has been in other open sessions. One reason? The ball was coming out awfully quick. That’s one way to neutralize the Rams’ defensive line, especially without the benefit of pads. As always, these OTAs should be taken with the appropriate grain of salt.
A few from the highlight reel for Tuesday … During individual drills, undrafted rookie receiver Bradley Marquez made a beautiful diving catch in the end zone on a deep ball from quarterback Nick Foles. The catch came with no defenders, but still drew praise from teammates and coaches for the effort. … In one team session, safety Rodney McLeod came on a perfectly disguised blitz and timed it just right to jar the ball loose and recover it. … Linebacker Alec Ogletree came up with an impressive pass breakup against tight end Jared Cook.
June 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm #26047znModeratorRams quarterback Nick Foles enjoying working with Chris Weinke
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The thorough renovation that took place on the St. Louis Rams depth chart and the quarterback room this offseason brought nothing but new faces save for the return of Austin Davis.
At the top of the list is a new quarterbacks coach in Chris Weinke and a new starting quarterback in Nick Foles. Weinke came to the Rams from IMG Academy, where he spent time tutoring quarterbacks from teams all over the league.
When Weinke wasn’t running the academy’s program, he was coaching signal-callers ranging from Russell Wilson to Cam Newton to Ryan Tannehill, among others. One could make the argument that no quarterbacks coach in the league has a more diverse portfolio than Weinke even though he’s never coached in the NFL before the Rams hired him in February.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been able to touch a lot of different guys with a lot of different skill sets coming from a lot of different backgrounds,” Weinke said then. “You have to adapt and you’ve got to be able to understand the importance of every quarterback as an individual. You may be able to understand something visually or you may have to write it down. I need to know what my quarterbacks can handle. So I will coach every quarterback with certain fundamentals, let them have some flexibility within that but then understand how they learn because that’s the most important thing.”
Foles sits at the top of Weinke’s to-do list and represents an interesting challenge that requires focus on more than fundamentals and footwork and expands to scheme and system. Foles is attempting to adjust to the Rams’ more buttoned-down offensive approach after cutting his teeth under Chip Kelly in Philadelphia.
Part of that is re-learning how to go under center, something Weinke should have no problem helping with given his background tutoring quarterbacks attempting to transition from college spread-based systems to more traditional NFL schemes. Weinke also has the task of learning the Rams offense and helping implement it.
In many ways, Weinke is starting from scratch with the Rams’ new quarterbacks given only a two or three month head start. Foles has been attached to Weinke’s hip in the early organized team activities and has made himself a staple in the quarterback room as he learns the new scheme.
“Chris is doing a great job,” Foles said. “He has a lot of knowledge. He played a lot of football and he played at a high level. I think for us quarterbacks, getting to tutor underneath him, just his knowledge — what it was like under center when he played, he knows what we’re seeing when we drop back, so he can relate to it. So, that helps him with teaching us and relating to us. He’s been outstanding.”
There’s no denying that the Rams need more from their quarterbacks if they are to take a step forward to playoff contender in 2015. To get there, it’ll require Foles, Weinke and everyone in that new-look room to be on the same page.
June 10, 2015 at 2:15 am #26077znModeratorRams’ Foles Taking Charge, Earning Praise
Shane Gray
It has not yet been three months since quarterback Nick Foles was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford, but in his short time in the Show-Me State, the 26 year old signal caller has exhibited plenty of in-demand qualities — both on and off the field.
On the field, Head Coach Jeff Fisher says the 2013 Pro Bowl honoree almost instantly begin taking charge and building a rapport with his teammates after arriving in St. Louis.
“That’s what he’s done since he got here,” Fisher said during last week’s OTA’s. “He walked in the door and he went out of his way to meet everybody. They did some individual things together. He took charge. In the phase one where the coaches can’t be present, he took the players out — the skill players and offensive players — and threw and did those things. Since then, he’s been doing great. Everything that we heard is true, and I’m sure we’re going to be surprised as we move ahead with him because we’ve been really pleased.”
Off the field, Foles has made a concerted effort to build camaraderie with the men he will battle alongside this season.
“The way we’re going to be successful on Sunday, or whatever day we end up playing on, is the relationships,” Foles asserted last week. “Come the fourth quarter, we have to know each other. We have to care about each other. That’s where you stick together through adversity. Just getting to know the guys in the workouts, in the film room, in the training room… whatever we do is a key part of it. I’ve really enjoyed it. Like I said, we have a great group of guys here that love to work hard and love to have a good time.”
Foles, for his part, does not find the task of relationship-building to be a difficult one.
“I really don’t think it’s a challenge,” Foles said in regard to building chemistry and cohesion, particularly with his pass targets. “It’s just fun. It’s a day-to-day thing. It’s getting to know them. It’s getting to know who they are as people. 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. It’s all about communication. What they see on the routes, how they’re going to run their routes (and) what they see in the defenders. 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. They’ve been awesome. The receivers have been awesome. They’re buying in. They’re working hard and they’re going to make some plays.”
Speaking of Foles’ receivers, they have apparently been as impressed with him as he has been with them.
“We love him,” wide receiver Kenny Britt told R.B. Fallstrom of the Associated Press last week. “Great deep ball (and) he puts it on the money every time. He can throw every pass in the book.”
“I’m so glad he’s here. I love that he’s here,” tight end Jared Cook said Friday. “I love what he brings to us, and I love the fact that he’s just an up-tempo, positive guy.”
Although Foles is still very new to the Rams, one would be remiss not to note that his persona and approach has been a little different than that of Bradford.
Whereas Bradford always seemed somewhat reluctant to take on the role of a prototypical vocal leader — even after being nudged in that direction by coaches — Foles seems to naturally be a take-charge type of guy.
“Nick’s been great, not only in the team stuff but in the individual days with the receivers and everybody,” Fisher said. “He’s taken charge.”
According to this feature from Myles Simmons and the Rams official website, Foles’ natural leadership qualities have made an early impression upon the likes of the aforementioned Britt and Cook
“A couple of days ago, I was down on myself, not feeling well,” Britt said, “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.’”
Furthermore, Foles’ confident demeanor has clearly made a positive impression on the likes of Cook.
“That’s what you like to see,” Cook said of Foles’ personality. “Just having a little swag, a chip on your shoulder — that separates you from the rest. He’s cool as a fan, man. He’s everything that you want in a quarterback — everything that you’ve always wanted. 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.”
“And just think, once he gets this offense down, and once we all get this offense down — it’s going to be cake, man,” Cook added. “It’s going to be cake. And that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
Without question, Foles has made a strong early impression upon both his teammates and the coaching staff. That, of course, is a major plus.
If Foles can revert to something close to his 2013 Pro Bowl form, the Rams should have a great shot at making their first postseason appearance in over a decade.
The defense should be strong. A deep running game should be rugged. The kicking game and special teams play should be sound.
If St. Louis can get some consistency from the quarterback position, then this could be — and perhaps should be — the franchise’s finest season since the close of the Greatest Show era.
Foles will not necessarily need to be fabulous to win, considering the fact that he should be surrounded by a potentially dominant defense and a very good run game, but he will need to thrive off of play action, consistently make the plays that are there and thrive in crunch time.
As Foles said during OTAs, the extra time he is putting in now with his teammates — both on and off the field — should help the offense succeed in the fourth quarter once September rolls around.
And if they can do that, the defense and ground game should put Foles in position to win a lot of games this fall.
June 10, 2015 at 9:32 am #26079znModeratorRams Tuesday Practice
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2015/6/9/8751739/2015-st-louis-rams-otas-news-updates
Today wraps up the first half of the Rams’ 10 allotted Organized Team Activities.
While many teams actually wrap their 10 up this week, most of the NFL (25 of 32 teams) will hold their minicamp next week. Of course, Jeff Fisher doesn’t do minicamp, so the Rams will be holding the rest of the OTAs.
In any case, yesterday was a closed session, so not much came out. Today’s a catch up day for these last two practices.
The Offensive Line
Current status (left tackle to right tackle): Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Barrett Jones, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein
Previous status: Brandon Washington, Garrett Reynolds, Barrett Jones, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein
Previous previous status: Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Tim Barnes, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein
Injuries
Lest we forget, here’s where we were on Friday:
The caveat of course is that’s a “did not practice” and necessarily an injury list as it pertains to Williams, McDonald and Bayer. We can also rejoice at every nugget of recovery from Rodger Saffold, Brian Quick and Gurley as we are wont to do.
The Rookies
This is where I really miss Tony Softli. Uncle Tony was good for some relevant scouting info and for calling Steven Jackson a “war daddy.” Come back, Uncle Tony.
OTA Offseason Workouts: June 2, June 4-5, June 8-9, June 11, June 15-16, June 18-19
June 10, 2015 at 11:59 am #26081
HerzogParticipantThis is where I really miss Tony Softli. Uncle Tony was good for some relevant scouting info and for calling Steven Jackson a “war daddy.” Come back, Uncle Tony.
I thought Brockers was the “War daddy”.
June 11, 2015 at 10:20 pm #26137znModeratorRams getting a closer look at cornerback competition
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — There’s not a whole lot of wiggle room when it comes to competition on defense since the Rams return all of their 2014 starters. We’ve already discussed the battle between Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Akeem Ayers for a starting linebacker job and that is the one spot that seems to be truly up for grabs. But there could also be some things brewing at cornerback that are worth watching.
At the March owners meetings in Phoenix, coach Jeff Fisher indicated that E.J. Gaines and Trumaine Johnson would compete for the starting job opposite Janoris Jenkins (who has been especially sharp in these OTAs). Gaines looks like the early favorite to win that job, with the Rams then figuring out what happens when they go into the nickel. On Thursday, Gaines worked with the first team at outside cornerback in the first half or so of practice before giving way to Johnson for the second half. In both settings, it’s been Lamarcus Joyner who has worked with the first unit in the nickel.
Although the team isn’t in pads, Gaines looks to be as solid as ever in his spot and it would surprise if he didn’t eventually win the job. Johnson has had some strong moments but also dropped an easy interception on Thursday. For his part, Joyner says the coaches tell him he’s “light years” ahead of where he was last year on the mental side. That’s a good thing for him as he attempts to lock down the slot corner job.
Some other thoughts and observations from the St. Louis Rams’ organized team activity Thursday afternoon:
— As always, the “this is an OTA and the team isn’t wearing pads” caveat goes here. Take it for what it’s worth but Thursday was the best open to the media practice I’ve seen from receiver Tavon Austin. Austin made a couple of tough catches in traffic in early team drills, one on a slant and another on a deep corner route. He followed with a tough catch for a touchdown in traffic during red zone drills. I’ll have more on it next week but Austin said after this is a big year for him and he’s tired of hearing the “bust” label thrown around with his name.
— In what amounts to not a big deal but certainly not a bad thing either, rookie running back Todd Gurley actually took a few snaps with the rookies after practice Thursday. No, not full speed, live team reps but a couple of handoffs with other players on the field, nonetheless. Per Fisher’s custom, he likes to keep rookies on the field for a few extra reps after the veterans are done for the day. They don’t have helmet or pads on and it’s basically a walkthrough speed but it’s the first time I’ve noticed Gurley doing it in these OTAs.
— Add Dunbar, end Eugene Sims, defensive tackle Nick Fairley and receiver Kenny Britt to the list of those not participating in Thursday’s practice. That quartet joins a group that includes receiver Damian Williams, safety T.J. McDonald, safety Mark Barron, Gurley, cornerback Brandon McGee, tackle Steven Baker, guard Cody Wichmann and tight end Alex Bayer. With McDonald and Barron sitting, Maurice Alexander again got repetitions with the first-team defense.
— Austin wasn’t the only former West Virginia receiver making tough touchdown catches in traffic during red zone work as Stedman Bailey added one of his own. … Quarterback Austin Davis threw a perfect deep ball for a touchdown to receiver Bradley Marquez. It was the second practice in a row in which Marquez has made a nice catch on a deep throw. … Thursday was Demetrius Rhaney’s turn to take the first-team reps at center. … Undrafted rookie receivers Daniel Rodriguez and Tyler Slavin spent some extra time running routes with offensive assistant Jeff Garcia after practice.
June 11, 2015 at 10:32 pm #26138znModeratorEven after strong rookie season, Rams’ Gaines still sports a chip on his shoulder
Elisabeth Meinecke
FOX Sports MidwestST. LOUIS — This session of organized team activities, admittedly, looks a little different for Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines.
After a breakout rookie season following his sixth-round selection by the Rams in 2014, Gaines is entering this year’s OTAs with less of a learning curve, but still with something to prove. Despite his impressive 2014 campaign, he’ll likely be battling Trumaine Johnson for a starting spot at corner.
Gaines isn’t bothered by it.
“I feel like competition is for the better, for the whole team — not just the defense,” he says. “Coming out and competing every day will help this team, and help us all get better as a unit.”
Besides, regardless of position battles and a stellar rookie season, playing with a chip on his shoulder fits Gaines’ style.
“I feel like everybody should play like they have something to prove,” he says. “That’s just my type of game, so I’m just definitely coming out with a chip on my shoulder and just trying to get better.”
Those words likely won’t come as comfort to some of the offenses Gaines may end up facing this fall — not after a rookie season in which he made 70 tackles over 15 games. But he knows his ceiling is higher.
“I feel I played OK, played at a pretty high level,” he says. “I just feel like I have so much more to prove and a lot more room to grow.”
Still, the past year hasn’t been all work and no play. Gaines says on the advice of several veterans, he took a “big break” between the end of the regular season and starting his offseason program.
“A lot of the vets told me to do that, take a month off just to myself, because coming as a rookie out of college, you really don’t have a break for a good two years,” he says.
So he took a few trips with Rams teammates, relaxed at home and now is back on the field — playing like he has something to prove.
June 11, 2015 at 10:44 pm #26139znModerator… Undrafted rookie receivers Daniel Rodriguez and Tyler Slavin spent some extra time running routes with offensive assistant Jeff Garcia after practice.
There you go. Garcia teaching receivers by throwing to them. It will be interesting to see if this pays off.
In terms of replacing Givens or adding a 6th receiver, I am getting the impression that Rodreiguez and Slavin are the favorites.
Take it for what it’s worth but Thursday was the best open to the media practice I’ve seen from receiver Tavon Austin. Austin made a couple of tough catches in traffic in early team drills, one on a slant and another on a deep corner route. He followed with a tough catch for a touchdown in traffic during red zone drills. I’ll have more on it next week but Austin said after this is a big year for him and he’s tired of hearing the “bust” label thrown around with his name.
Well let’s hope this continues!
I belong to the camp that believes Austin needs to step up as a receiver, ie. that the issue is him, not anything around him or outside of him. I have no trouble with him as a runner or returner, but it would be nice if he started to draw more targets as a receiver.
June 12, 2015 at 5:50 pm #26173znModerator5 Takeaways from the Week’s OTAs
Myles Simmons
Between a charity softball game, a community field build project, and three organized team activity sessions, the Rams have had a busy week. But here are five takeaways from head coach Jeff Fisher’s media availability from the second set of OTA sessions.
1) Rotating centers
The Rams have been cycling through three players at center along the offensive line at OTAs: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes, and Demetreus Rhaney. Fisher said on Tuesday that the team will be patient in making the decision for who will start.
“They’re all getting opportunities to work with Nick, so he’s familiar, not only with the exchanges, but also the communication,” Fisher said. “We’ll make that decision when somebody shows us he’s earned the job.”
It’s important for whoever fills the role to not only master the physical, but also the mental tasks associated with the center position.
“There’s no indications at this point that there’s going to be limitations from the mental standpoint with the guys that are competing,” Fisher said. “They all understand.”
2) A trimmed down Fairley
Nick Fairley looked as svelte as ever when he signed with the Rams back in March. And while he’s dealt with overweight issues in the past, Fisher said he was actually concerned about the defensive tackle being underweight.
“Nick’s changed his lifestyle, changed his diet,” Fisher said. “We’re trying to get some weight back on him right now and he’s done it. He’s worked hard the last couple of weeks. He’s doing fine. His conditioning level is fine. If he’s going to compete with our guys up front, he’s going to have to run and he knows that.”
3) Robinson’s looking svelte, too
While Greg Robinson will never be confused for anything other than a massive man, it’s clear from standing near him that he looks slimmer this summer. He said last week that he’s down to 319 pounds from his high of 339.
“He’s been working here,” Fisher said. “He’s been rehabbing and he’s working and he feels good. His strength has increased. If there’s a little bit of weight loss and increase of strength, that’s a good thing.”
4) McLeod’s progression
Safety Rodney McLeod has evolved into a solid player in the St. Louis secondary. He’s started all 16 games the past two seasons, and Fisher said that McLeod is someone who takes a step forward each year.
“He gets the game,” Fisher said. “I thought he played really well last year. He misjudged a couple deep balls, but everybody does that. But I thought he was really active, knew what to do, and run-supported very well.”
5) Two generations of Hager
As the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in the late 1980s, Fisher was part of the coaching staff that drafted Britt Hager. Now, he’s coaching Britt’s son, Bryce. The Rams selected the linebacker in the 7th round of this year’s draft.
“It’s interesting because I got to the combine and I wasn’t interested in everybody there,” Fisher said. “I saw the name of the linebacker [and thought,] ‘I wonder if this is Britt’s kid.’ As it turns out it was. It’s a great story behind how Britt was drafted in Philly. He played a long time. There are similarities. Bryce looks a lot like his dad.”
June 13, 2015 at 12:25 am #26190znModeratorRams’ Joyner making progress going into Year 2
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1554589-rams-joyner-making-progress-going-into-year-2
ST. LOUIS — Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner described his rookie season as a “humbling experience” after the team’s OTA session on Thursday.
“Definitely a humbling experience for me, both on the field, off the field — there’s just a lot of things that come with this league,” he said.The Rams’ second-round pick (No. 41 overall) in 2014 out of Florida State, the diminutive defensive back failed to make much of an impact for the team during his debut season.
Drafted to man the nickel cornerback position in Gregg Williams’ aggressive defense, Joyner finished with 48 tackles, three passes defensed, one sack and one quarterback pressure in 10 games.
Joyner struggled early on, came on after a slow start but was then sidelined by an injury. He returned for the final two games.
What was the hardest part about his rookie campaign?
“Just adapting. Just learning the system. Just coming from a successful year at the college level and you think you know everything and you’re just on the wrong path, you need to get adjusted,” Joyner said. “Coach (Gregg) Williams was a great example of molding me out of that and molding me into the young man I am now.”
What the 5-foot-8, 184-pound defensive back is now is a player who is far more aware of what he is doing in the Rams’ defensive scheme, a player fighting for snaps among the team’s cornerbacks and a player who has earned some praise for his play so far during OTAs.
“I feel like my approach is different and that’s probably coming from the more understanding I have, the more wisdom I have and just knowing what I’m doing,” Joyner said. “Instead of running out there like a blind dog in a meat house and you don’t know which way to go, I know what I’m doing, so now I can pretty much contribute to the defense.”
How much different does Joyner feel now within the defense than he was a year ago as a rookie second-round pick? Joyner said the coaches have used the words “light years” to describe the difference.
“I feel great, I feel like I’m settled in, I’m there mentally, which is the most important part at this level,” Joyner said. “I’m already blessed with the God-given physical ability, so I’m pretty caught up.”
Joyner said he is now at the point where is able to react to what is unfolding instead of having to think about what he should do.
He’s come a long way over the past year, a period of time with plenty of ups and downs for the second-round pick who helped Florida State win a national championship in his final season with the Seminoles.
Joyner took some time after his rookie season to reflect and refocus.
“I definitely got away and had to refocus and ask myself what it is about this game that makes me want to come to work every day and I came to the realization that I still love football,” he said. “That kind of helped me spark up a new light inside my heart.”
Now Joyner knows that the struggles of his rookie campaign have helped him get to where he is now and preparing him for what’s to come.
“It was very difficult,” Joyner said. “But I never lost hope, my spirit was never broken. I always had trust in the Lord. That’s what brought me here. I just felt like I needed that. Everything happens for a reason. Obviously I wouldn’t be a step ahead the way I am today if that wouldn’t have happened. I wholeheartedly believe that.”
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