countdown to cutdown

Brown fighting for a spot in Rams’ crowded backfield

Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/brown-fighting-for-a-spot-in-rams-crowded-backfield/article_874d6478-5fdc-5192-bfd8-64a00ee075b8.html

The runway is always crowded at running back for Jeff Fisher teams. The Rams coach stacks them up like airplanes at a busy airport, and this year is no different.

Rookie Malcolm Brown is doing his best to move up in the pecking order. In college, he finished No. 9 in career rushing for the Texas Longhorns with 2,678 yards but went undrafted in the spring.

He put his best foot forward Sunday night in Tennessee, leading the team with four receptions for 78 yards and rushing four times for 23 yards. Fifty-four of those receiving yards came on one play — a short pass from rookie quarterback Sean Mannion that Brown took down the left sideline for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

“It was exciting,” Brown said. “I caught the ball, two guys kind of hit me and slung me around, kind of forced the spin move a little bit, and it was a tightrope on the sidelines. I just kept on running.”

The Titans challenged the play, thinking Brown might have stepped out of bounds. But the original ruling was upheld, and preseason or not Brown had his first NFL touchdown. Yes, he kept the football.

Whether he gets the opportunity to add any regular-season footballs to his TD collection remains to be seen. A crowded Rams running back room includes No. 10 overall pick Todd Gurley, 2014 all-rookie selection Tre Mason, and established backup Benny Cunningham.

There’s also former second-round pick Isaiah Pead, special teams ace Chase Reynolds, and promising second-year man Trey Watts.

That’s a tough unit to crack, even with Gurley probably not playing at the start of the season as he returns from college knee surgery and Watts suspended for the first four games.

“Yeah, there’s still a ton in there (in the RB room),” Brown said. “But you’ve got to come in with the mindset of just trying to do what you can. Not try to overdo it. I’m thankful for the opportunity first of all.”

Whether it’s running, blocking, or catching passes, Brown feels he has the skill set to be an every-down back. It remains to be seen if he’ll get that chance in St. Louis.

“Coaches and owners make decisions on cutting guys and stuff like that,” he said. “So I don’t focus too much on that.”

With the first round of roster cuts coming after Saturday’s preseason game against Indianapolis, Brown is among several players hoping to become the next Rodney McLeod, London Fletcher, or Kurt Warner — that is, the next roster long shot to make the team.

Here’s a look at a few others:

WR BRADLEY MARQUEZ

Marquez tried his hand at pro baseball as an outfielder in the New York Mets’ system. Now, he’s giving pro football a whirl as an undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech.“The minor leagues is a lot different than the NFL training and the NFL preseason games,” Marquez said. “But there’s some similarities, especially with the first few pro games that I was actually in.“It’s kinda that same excitement and butterfly feeling, to get that live action and know what you’re actually doing — playing minor league pro ball as well as playing in this league.”

The Rams have five experienced wideouts on their roster in Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Chris Givens, and Brian Quick. Fisher may very well keep just five wide receivers given his overall run-oriented, conservative offensive approach.

So Marquez, who caught 65 passes for 821 yards and 10 TDs last season at Texas Tech, may have to persuade him to keep six. Marquez does have five catches in preseason play, sharing the team lead with four others.

But he realizes his ticket to the 53-man roster probably must come via strong special teams play. Fisher took note of his efforts in that area after the Tennessee game, saying: “Bradley Marquez is showing he’s got some skills to play in this league on teams.”

Until now, Marquez hadn’t played special teams on a regular basis since his sophomore year in college. He’s getting a refresher course.

“It’s kinda like riding a bike; I’m just getting used to what I used to know back then,” he said. “I’m gonna try to do whatever I can for this team, whatever I can do to help make this team better, and special teams is where it’s at right now.”

Marquez has studied the work of several Rams special teams veterans on the field and on film looking for ways he can improve his game.

“I’m just trying to find a little spot in there somewhere, wherever I can,” Marquez said. “And the more versatile I am, it will help me the most.”

S CHRISTIAN BRYANT

The Rams liked Bryant’s toughness and passion for the game when they selected him in the seventh round of the 2014 draft out of Ohio State.But he missed half of his final year with the Buckeyes because of a broken ankle, and even though he spent last season on the Rams’ practice squad, he didn’t really feel right physically until the start of the OTA practice period in early June.“Health-wise, I’m feeling great honestly,” Bryant said. “I’m feeling like I’m making strides, getting better every day out here.”

Bryant spent part of the offseason back in Columbus, where he earned his undergraduate degree in sociology. While he was on campus, he worked out with the Buckeyes’ athletic trainers and strength coaches.

When he went back home to Cleveland, he worked with personal trainer Tim Roberts on speed and strength.

“I honestly just attacked the offseason,” Bryant said. “I knew exactly what I needed to do because if I would’ve come out here this year still doing the same exact thing that I did last year, I wouldn’t have had a shot.”

The numbers game is daunting at safety with Mark Barron, Maurice Alexander, and Cody Davis the top three backups behind starters T.J. McDonald and McLeod. The Rams probably will keep no more than five safeties.

“I’m not too worried about that,” Bryant said. “You can just control what you can control. I come out here every day trying to get better as a player. Try to show the coaches that I know the scheme of the defense at almost every position. I’ve been staying in my playbook, so I’m pretty much covered on the play side.”

Bryant feels he’s knocked off the rust from his long layoff. Although he was penalized twice on special teams Sunday, he made his presence felt on defense against Tennessee with four tackles and a forced fumble.

“I’m out here getting contact,” Bryant said. “I’m making some plays. I’m showing people that I have the ability to play in this league.”

LB BRYCE HAGER

Highly productive at Baylor, Hager is trying to become the second generation Hager to play for Fisher. (His father Britt, also a former Ram, played for Fisher in Philadelphia in 1989-90 when Fisher was defensive coordinator there.)Hager has taken advantage of injuries to Daren Bates (knee) and Korey Toomer (ankle) to make a run at a backup linebacker job.“It’s allowed me to play a little bit more, get a little bit more reps,” Hager said. “So I think that’s helping and getting me used to the system a little bit.”

He has played 90 defensive snaps so far this preseason, more than any Rams player (offense or defense). He also leads the team in tackles, with 12 this preseason.

“I guess that’s what preseason’s for, just so you have the young guys play … and to see who can make the team,” Hager said.

As a backup linebacker, it’s all but a necessity to play multiple positions, and play special teams. After playing exclusively at middle linebacker in college, learning the weakside and strongside positions outside has been an adjustment for Hager.

“Going back and forth to positions, it’s kinda getting my head spinning,” Hager said. “Its starting to calm down a little bit.”

So the mental part of the game, particularly getting a feel for the outside linebacker spots, has meant a lot of time in the playbook and in the film room for Hager.

“Oh man, that’s all I’m doing,” he said