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Jim Thomas Talks Rams’ Training Camp, Todd Gurley and Young Offensive Line

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Jim Thomas joined The Wendy’s Big Show on Thursday to discuss several Rams topics on the eve of 2015 training camp, including the health of first-round pick Todd Gurley.

Read notable quotes and listen to the full interview below:

On Todd Gurley passing his conditioning test:

“Tuesday they had their conditioning test and it’s a pair of 300-yard dashes. But you do them in 25-year intervals…up to 300 yards. And then you get to rest for three or four minutes and you do it all over again. It was brutally hot day…Gurley lit it up there. He looked very impressive there. He’s going to be on the active roster on the start of training camp. That’s an indication he’s a little closer to playing on opening day, but I don’t think it guarantees it. But at least he’ll be doing some practice work Friday afternoon. He’ll be doing some of the individual drills, maybe some of the seven-on-seven stuff. It’ll help him get indoctrinated into NFL football. There’s always an adjustment period when you learn what the NFL is like.”

More on Gurley:

“He’s had more of a pro-style and more exposure to pass-blocking (in college), so mentally he should be fine. Physically is a different matter. I can’t even stay for sure…that he’s going to be playing in any of the preseason games or opening day. We’re not going to see Todd Gurley get 20 or 25 touches in September. They’re still going to be pretty conservative with him.”

On the inexperienced Rams offensive line:

“My time of covering the team…they’ve never had a line this young. They firmly expect Rob Havenstein – the second-round pick – the starting right tackle. Jamon Brown – the third-round pick – he’s the starting right guard. At center, you’re going to have either Demetrious Rainey, Tim Barnes or Barrett Jones. That’s a very inexperienced group as well. You’re almost talking about three rookies on the offensive line. I have a little bit of skepticism on how it’s going to work out. But that’s what they planned to do and let’s see how it works out. You’ll see these rookies play more in the preseason than a normal starting lineman would. And they have one of the best defensive lines in NFL going against them every day in practice. If they don’t get demoralized doing that, that’ll be a great learning curve.”