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August 17, 2015 at 3:21 pm #28819
znModeratorRams defensive line vs. Cowboys offensive line highlight of shared practices
Nick Wagoner
The Rams defensive line and Cowboys offensive line will have a chance to square off and see how they compare with each other.
Throughout the St. Louis Rams’ 2015 training camp, coaches and players have discussed how their deep and talented defensive line has helped their young offensive line in practice.
This week, as the Rams spend two days training with the Dallas Cowboys, the Rams defensive line should get plenty of opportunities to better themselves. Depending on who you ask, the Rams and Cowboys boast the best lines in the league on their respective sides of the ball.
The Rams have five first round picks on their defensive line, led by Pro Bowlers Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn. ESPN NFL scout Matt Williamson recently ranked the Cowboys offensive line the best in the league, led by left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin, all of whom are elite at their respective positions.
So while there will be plenty of matchups to watch as the Rams and Cowboys spend Monday and Tuesday practicing against each other, all eyes will be on the trenches.
For Rams coach Jeff Fisher, it’s not just Dallas’ talent upfront that has him excited about the matchup but the opportunity to face a scheme similar to the ones the Rams will see on multiple occasions this season.
“I think it’s great,” Fisher said. “They do a great job in their run scheme. Obviously we found out the hard way last year. But we’re going to face some other clubs that are replicating their run game so I think it’ll be really good work. The one thing that obviously you keep in mind is that in game situations in their run scheme as well in ours, there is cutting on the back side and we won’t have that happen. But still, I think our defensive line will benefit from it.”
When Fisher says the Rams found out the hard way in 2014, he’s referring to Week 3, when the Cowboys rushed for 123 yards and the Rams failed to come up with a sack. Smith, in particular, was dominant in that game, essentially shutting down Quinn. Donald was not starting in that game and played just 24 snaps.
It remains to be seen whether all the pieces will be in place on both sides as the practices kick off. Rams end Chris Long has been battling tightness in his back and did not play against the Raiders. Fellow end Eugene Sims also did not play in that game, though that was the first time he’d sat out during camp. For the Cowboys, right tackle Doug Free and Smith have been battling some nagging issues as well.
Either way, it’s safe to expect plenty of high-impact collisions as many of the best linemen in the league meet head on over the course of the next two days.
August 17, 2015 at 10:01 pm #28851znModeratorBig fan turnout welcomes Rams at Southern California workout
OXNARD, Calif. — If the St. Louis Rams are headed back to Southern California, their long-suffering fans there are ready to welcome them home.
The Rams were greeted by a huge contingent of jersey-wearing, flag-waving fans chanting “L.A. Rams!” as they took the practice field Monday in Oxnard, an hour northwest of Los Angeles.
The Rams are in Ventura County for three days of workouts at the Dallas Cowboys’ training complex. They’re also providing a tantalizing appetizer for fans who know the franchise is weighing a return to Los Angeles, its home for 49 years prior to 1995.
Two decades away haven’t dimmed the passion of the fans whose shouts of “Whose house? Rams’ house!” echoed through an Oxnard crowd packed with the jerseys of players ranging from Los Angeles favorites Vince Ferragamo and Jack Youngblood to St. Louis stars Robert Quinn and Nick Foles.
Even Rams owner Stan Kroenke was spotted at the Cowboys’ training complex, which encompasses most of a hotel a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Kroenke, the billionaire who lives much of the year in Malibu, rarely attends camp in Missouri. He has purchased land in Inglewood and partnered with developers to build a palatial football stadium capable of housing two NFL teams — but he has done it all without explicitly saying he intends to move the Rams.
The Rams traveled to Los Angeles after a preseason loss in Oakland on Friday, and they had the weekend off.
Many players spent the weekend checking out the town: Linebacker James Laurinaitis ran into Arnold Schwarzenegger while working out at Gold’s Gym in Venice, and running back Benny Cunningham hit Hollywood’s famed Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.
Inglewood mayor James T. Butts Jr. also turned out for the Rams’ Oxnard trip. He said the stadium site is getting utility and sewer lines, and he believes it will be ready for construction in mid-December.
Butts was impressed but not surprised by the fan turnout in Oxnard.
“I think it’s a huge message to the Rams’ popularity here in Southern California,” Butts said. “The Rams are the team that most of us as children grew up with. Roman Gabriel. Jack Snow. The Fearsome Foursome. That is part of our DNA growing up, so there is no team that can claim they are more integrated into the psyche of the people that were old enough to attend football games than the Rams. That’s hands-down. And then would come the Raiders.”
The Rams became the first major pro sports team in Los Angeles when, drawn to the growing market and postcard-perfect weather of the West Coast, owner Dan Reeves uprooted his 1945 NFL champion team after eight seasons in Cleveland.
The Rams were a Southland institution for the next five decades. They won the 1951 NFL title and reached the Super Bowl after the 1979 season. Although they went through long stretches of poor play, the Rams made generations of fans with their distinctive uniforms, star players and tradition.
For this three-day engagement, Southern California fans organized $30 round-trip bus rides and packed the parking lots hours before practice. They planned to wrap up each day with food, drinks and partying at a nearby restaurant.
Ray Soto has been a Rams fan since 1960, and he made the drive from Bakersfield to Oxnard to attend practice with his son and grandson. While his brothers gave up on the team after its move to the Midwest, Soto stayed faithful to the franchise that has been in his family’s life since he gave a blue-and-white helmet to his son as a child.
“I feel sorry for the St. Louis fans, and I appreciate them taking care of our team,” Soto said. “I know for sure they’re coming back because Kroenke knows how much value they’ll have to bring them back here.”
August 17, 2015 at 10:11 pm #28853znModeratorTavon Austin’s big play draws rave reviews
Nate Latschhttp://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1575524-tavon-austin-s-big-play-draws-rave-reviews
The St. Louis Rams didn’t have many highlights in their preseason-opening 18-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Friday, but third-year wide receiver Tavon Austin certainly provided one.
On the second play from scrimmage, Austin took a quick screen pass in the left flat from quarterback Nick Foles and, with the help of a key block from Kenny Britt, zigged and zagged his way around several Raiders defenders for an electrifying 35-yard gain.
“That’s one of Tavon’s finest (plays) since he’s been here,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters afterward. “That was really impressive.”
Austin’s new quarterback was also impressed.“Tavs is one of those guys you want to get the ball in his hands,” Foles told reporters. “He’s a dynamic player. He’s a guy that, if he gets the ball in open space like that scenario right there, he can do electrifying things. He just showed you right there. We got a great block and he was off, he’s off to the races and he’s a hard guy to bring down because he’s so quick and he’s so fast and he can see the field really well.”
The Rams are hoping that Austin can have a breakout season in 2015.
They traded up to select him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 Draft but have failed to figure out how to get him the ball more throughout his first two seasons.
As a rookie, Austin had 40 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns, ran nine times for 151 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a punt return. In his second season, he had 31 catches for 242 yards, ran 36 times for 224 yards and two scores and also had another punt return for a touchdown.
If the Rams and new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti can find more creative ways to get Austin the ball this season, the Rams could get a big payoff on their first-round investment from 2013.
August 17, 2015 at 11:32 pm #28863znModeratorOnly a little tension between Cowboys, Rams in first practice
Todd Archer
OXNARD, Calif. — Day 1 of practices between the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams were largely calm with only a couple of minor dustups.
Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson took a swing at Cowboys receiver Devin Street after Street didn’t take kindly to Johnson’s hit on Joseph Randle. There was a brief dustup between the Cowboys defense as well but nothing like what occurred last year, when the Cowboys practiced against the Oakland Raiders and a fan took a swing with a helmet at a Cowboys player.
By the end of practice Dez Bryant, who didn’t practice, was visibly upset with something. He kept jawing with several St. Louis defenders and had several coaches and teammates keep him at bay.
“Obviously Dez is a competitor and I’m sure he’s dying to be out there,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “It’s probably a good thing he wasn’t out there today. He probably didn’t need that. It was good for him to have a break today.”
One of the more vocal discussions came between Jason Witten and Rams assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden. Witten drew two holding penalties and had his t-shirt ripped from the Rams’ clutching and grabbing.
“Oh, just a little chit chatting you know?” Witten said. “Got two holding penalties that were there. Ripped the shirt. Told him, ‘If you can’t cover get out of Cover 1.’ Nah, I’m kidding. He’s a former player so he’s definitely passionate. That defense, the style they play, they attack. They’re downhill. [Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams] been that way everywhere he’s been so we knew that and I got lot of respect for their defense.”
On to the observations:
For the first time since the third full-padded practice, Tony Romo was intercepted, a span of 98 throws in team and 7-on-7 drills. With linebacker Alec Ogletree unblocked Romo had to hurry a screen throw that defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks picked off. Romo finished the day 13 of 15 but did not take many downfield chances. He was without Tyron Smith and Ronald Leary on the left side of the line and Doug Free took only a few turns at right tackle. His best throw in team drills was a seam route to Witten over linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. In one-on-one work he went deep to Terrance Williams for a 30-yard touchdown on Janoris Jenkins.
Running back Darren McFadden got his first carry of training camp in team drills. Unfortunately the blocking did not give him much of an opportunity to gain any yards. However, McFadden looked fast and strong in one-on-one routes against the St. Louis linebackers.
Much of the anticipation of the work between the Cowboys offensive line and Rams defensive line was lost because of the Cowboys’ injuries up front. In the play-action drills to start practice, the Rams won with Robert Quinn beating La’el Collins to stop Randle at the line of scrimmage. In one on one pass rush, Chris Long was able to use a spin move to beat right tackle John Wetzel. Quinn was able to gain the edge on left tackle fill-in Darrion Weems.
Randle had a fumble on a check down from Romo in seven on seven work when linebacker Bryce Hager, the ex-Baylor player, poked the ball free.
Rams corner Lamarcus Joyner really had no answer for Cole Beasley in the slot. Neither did any corner the Rams put on him. In 7-on-7 he was able to run away from a defender and in team drills he worked outside Joyner and ducked under him as he closed to make a tackle.August 18, 2015 at 9:44 am #28878znModeratorPractice Report 8/17: First Oxnard Session
SimmonsOXNARD, Calif. — The Rams and Cowboys held their first of two joint practices on Monday afternoon at Dallas’ training camp facility in Oxnard.
Head coach Jeff Fisher has said the sessions in many ways serve as a chance to practice against a fifth opponent before the start of the season. And with Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on board, both clubs were able to improve to start the week.
“I thought the work was great,” Fisher said. “Jason and I both talked to our teams about getting things done, respecting each other, because tempers have a tendency to fly when you compete against other people. So I thought we had a couple of push and shove things, but other than that, I thought they worked really well together.”
The session began with the two teams separately stretching and working on individual drills. But then the squads came together for some work in one-on-one situations. In one such instance, the Rams’ quarterbacks and wide receivers were practicing against the Cowboys’ cornerbacks. They worked both in the middle of the field and in the red zone, where Nick Foles would connect on his share of passes with Tavon Austin.
Then St. Louis and Dallas progressed to team drills, where each club’s offense and defense would work against one another on separate fields. Early in the Rams’ offensive session, Foles connected with Austin again on a deep ball down the right sideline that would’ve easily gone for a touchdown. The wideout used his speed to get significantly behind each Dallas defender.
“We got a lot of great work in,” Foles said of Monday’s practice. “I leave the field today feeling great about the work we did.”
Fisher has said one of the reasons for scheduling a training camp session with another team is to aid the Rams in preparing for the season on all fronts. And given the Cowboys as an opponent, the Rams are in position to gain even more from practice than they would with another team.
“You’ve got two different schemes offensively and defensively, and then the competition we had on special teams was outstanding,” Fisher said. “So you’re not going against yourself every day. Players have to react. And this is, obviously, a 12-win football team last year. So it’s good work for us.”
“You’re facing a playoff team,” tight end Jared Cook said. “They’ve got good, quality football players and guys who can fly around the ball. So it give you kind of a game speed to the reps that you do get out of practice out here. So it’s really good for us.”
Coming off Friday’s contest with the Raiders, Cook said he feels like the offense is beginning to find a solid rhythm.
“On Sunday, we went out and just worked on a lot of things that needed to be corrected from the game,” Cook said. “I think we’re starting to get a little more attitude. Guys are starting to understand — especially young guys — how the game tempo goes, And just how the games work. I think it’s going pretty well so far this week.”
Foles also said on Monday one of the aspects he hopes the team can improve on this week is executing well early in games.
“When we get the ball in the red zone, we really want to come away with touchdowns,” the quarterback said. “And I think we just made some mistakes — penalties, missed opportunities with reads — but that happens this time of year.
“You’re getting back on the field, you’re getting things going. Game-plan wise, you’re only out there for a couple of series,” Foles continued. “Watching the film, you see so many things that you can go out and correct. And I thought the guys came out here today and we’ve improved. We still have a ways to go, but I see us moving in the right direction.”
And so in all, the Rams had a good first session with the Cowboys, using the opportunity to improve in many respects.
“I think the effort the guys gave today is tremendous,” Foles said. “And we have to make sure we come out here tomorrow and do the same thing.”
August 18, 2015 at 9:42 pm #28909znModeratorOnly a little tension between Cowboys, Rams in first practice
Todd Archer
OXNARD, Calif. — Day 1 of practices between the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams were largely calm with only a couple of minor dustups.
Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson took a swing at Cowboys receiver Devin Street after Street didn’t take kindly to Johnson’s hit on Joseph Randle. There was a brief dustup between the Cowboys defense as well but nothing like what occurred last year, when the Cowboys practiced against the Oakland Raiders and a fan took a swing with a helmet at a Cowboys player.
By the end of practice Dez Bryant, who didn’t practice, was visibly upset with something. He kept jawing with several St. Louis defenders and had several coaches and teammates keep him at bay.
“Obviously Dez is a competitor and I’m sure he’s dying to be out there,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “It’s probably a good thing he wasn’t out there today. He probably didn’t need that. It was good for him to have a break today.”
One of the more vocal discussions came between Jason Witten and Rams assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden. Witten drew two holding penalties and had his t-shirt ripped from the Rams’ clutching and grabbing.
“Oh, just a little chit chatting you know?” Witten said. “Got two holding penalties that were there. Ripped the shirt. Told him, ‘If you can’t cover get out of Cover 1.’ Nah, I’m kidding. He’s a former player so he’s definitely passionate. That defense, the style they play, they attack. They’re downhill. [Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams] been that way everywhere he’s been so we knew that and I got lot of respect for their defense.”
On to the observations:
For the first time since the third full-padded practice, Tony Romo was intercepted, a span of 98 throws in team and 7-on-7 drills. With linebacker Alec Ogletree unblocked Romo had to hurry a screen throw that defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks picked off. Romo finished the day 13 of 15 but did not take many downfield chances. He was without Tyron Smith and Ronald Leary on the left side of the line and Doug Free took only a few turns at right tackle. His best throw in team drills was a seam route to Witten over linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. In one-on-one work he went deep to Terrance Williams for a 30-yard touchdown on Janoris Jenkins.
Running back Darren McFadden got his first carry of training camp in team drills. Unfortunately the blocking did not give him much of an opportunity to gain any yards. However, McFadden looked fast and strong in one-on-one routes against the St. Louis linebackers.
Much of the anticipation of the work between the Cowboys offensive line and Rams defensive line was lost because of the Cowboys’ injuries up front. In the play-action drills to start practice, the Rams won with Robert Quinn beating La’el Collins to stop Randle at the line of scrimmage. In one on one pass rush, Chris Long was able to use a spin move to beat right tackle John Wetzel. Quinn was able to gain the edge on left tackle fill-in Darrion Weems.
Randle had a fumble on a check down from Romo in seven on seven work when linebacker Bryce Hager, the ex-Baylor player, poked the ball free.
Rams corner Lamarcus Joyner really had no answer for Cole Beasley in the slot. Neither did any corner the Rams put on him. In 7-on-7 he was able to run away from a defender and in team drills he worked outside Joyner and ducked under him as he closed to make a tackle. -
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