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August 4, 2014 at 1:36 am #3236
RamBillParticipantSetting up Rams’ preseason week one
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10169/setting-up-rams-preseason-week-one
EARTH CITY, Mo. — It’s not the same as the start of the regular season but if nothing else, we’ve finally arrived at the start of football. Real, actual football began Sunday night when the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills started the preseason in the Hall of Fame game.
The St. Louis Rams don’t begin until Friday night when the New Orleans Saints come to the Edward Jones Dome. We’ll dive further into things to watch in the game itself later this week but for now, let’s set the table for this week and some things I’ll be watching throughout the week and heading into the preseason opener.
— Rams coach Jeff Fisher will discuss how much he plans to use his starters this week but if his first two seasons with the team are any indication, it’s worth noting he prefers a slow build in which his top groups play less in the early preseason games and more in the later ones. Even in the fourth and final exhibition game, Fisher has often played his starters more than other teams. Of course, the two biggest names to watch are quarterback Sam Bradford and left tackle Jake Long, both of whom are returning from knee surgery. Bradford has been full speed during training camp and Fisher has indicated he might not use Bradford in the preseason opener. If he does, though, don’t expect Bradford to play much. As for Long, the targeted return has always been closer to the middle of the preseason. While he’s working in more and more team drills and appears to be on track to get some preseason snaps, it’s unlikely it will happen Friday night.
— This is the time of camp where soft tissues injuries start popping up. The Rams might have some of those but they also have some other ailments which could seriously limit who gets work this week and against New Orleans. Linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle) and guard Rodger Saffold (stinger) are among the key names the Rams might be best served to play it safe with this week as they work their way back. Others such as cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Lamarcus Joyner and offensive lineman Barrett Jones appear to be more day to day propositions. The good news for the Rams is that none of their injuries seem to be anything serious.
— Center Scott Wells and end William Hayes are also coming back from illness and injury, respectively, but both seem to be coming along just fine. Wells has been getting more and more repetitions each day and Hayes has also been back in the mix. Worth watching to see how much work they get in practice this week heading toward the preseason opener.
— Defensive end Michael Sam got off to a strong start in this camp by pairing solid pass rush skills with strong work in special teams. Although he’s still getting plenty of work as a blocker on return teams, his pass rush has leveled off a bit. And now there’s a challenger for a potential ninth defensive line roster spot who appears ready to make his push. That’s undrafted free agent Ethan Westbrooks. Westbrooks returned to the field from the non-football injury list late last week and quickly showed why he was the team’s most highly-paid undrafted rookie. He has a lot of pass rush ability and each day he gets in practice is another chance to make up ground from his missed time.
— The Rams practice today at 4:30 p.m. ET at Rams Park. They have a 6:30 p.m. ET practice Tuesday and a special teams workout on Wednesday. Monday and Tuesday workouts are open to the public.
August 4, 2014 at 1:36 am #3210RamBillParticipantRams notes: First preseason game will help gauge defense
• By Joe LyonsWith their dress rehearsal at the Edward Jones Dome — Saturday’s FanFest workout — completed, the Rams now will turn their attention to preparing for their first game action of the preseason. They host the New Orleans Saints at 7 p.m. Friday.
“Cannot wait,” rookie safety Maurice Alexander, a Eureka High product, said after Saturday’s workout. “This is something (defensive coordinator Gregg) Williams has been preparing us for since the start of OTAs, and we’re more than excited about it.”
The Saints held their Black and Gold scrimmage Saturday in West Virginia without quarterback Drew Brees, who sat out as a precaution after straining his side in practice late last week. New Orleans finished 11-5 to earn a wild-card playoff spot a year ago. In the postseason, the Saints defeated Philadelphia 26-24 before falling 23-15 in Seattle to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
But the Rams, who closed out 2013 with three consecutive home wins, stunned the playoff-bound Saints on Dec. 15 when they scored the game’s first 17 points in a 27-16 victory at the Dome.
This figures to be a good opening test for the youthful Rams, who need to see what they can do against somebody else.
“We’re going to be a run-oriented football team, but it’s hard to gauge where it is right now,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said of the offense late last week. “We’ll have a better idea once we get into preseason. We’re getting all kinds of different looks out of our defense — times where there’s space and times there’s not. You practice in pads, but they have a mind to protect each other, so you’re not finishing, not cutting on the backside … we’ll have a better idea in a couple of weeks.”
Williams, the new defensive coordinator, is taking a similar approach.
“It’s improving, but it’s not there yet,” he said, noting that over the month-long break between OTAs and training camp, he reviewed the film. “I re-watched every single practice, every single drill. I’m a lot more familiar with these guys, but until the pads came on, that was a big step. And until you play a preseason game, that’ll be the next step. It’s ever-changing. It’s moving on, but I’m getting a lot more familiar” with the players.
RAMS FEEL AUBURN’S LOSS
The Rams recently donated a pair of Philip Lutzenkirchen game jerseys for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fundraiser at Auburn in memory of the Tigers’ late tight end. Lutzenkirchen, who was in Rams camp a year ago, died in an automobile accident June 29.
The Rams have strong ties to Auburn. Jeff Fisher’s son, Trent, played for the Tigers, as did Rams general manager Les Snead. The Rams have four ex-Tigers on their 90-man roster: second-year linebacker Daren Bates, second-year receiver Emory Blake and a pair of rookies — tackle Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, and third-round selection Tre Mason, a running back.
“I was roommates with Phil at Auburn and it’s tough,” Blake said following a recent practice. “He was one of my best friends and for him to pass so suddenly, it’s hard, hard on a lot of people. But Phil left behind a great legacy; he was a great person and we know where he is now.’’
Like Lutzenkirchen, Bates came to the Rams as an undrafted free agent.
“We came into Auburn together, played all four years together, lived next door in the dorms and came here together,” Bates recalled. “Phil’s somebody I was close to for the last five years; he was like a brother to me.
“You never expect something like this, especially somebody like ‘Lutz’, but something like this can happen to anyone, so you just have to cherish what you have.”
RAM-BLINGS
Following an off day, the Rams return to training camp today for a 3:30 p.m. workout at Rams Park in Earth City. That practice, as well as Tuesday’s 5:30 p.m. session, will be free and open to the public.
August 4, 2014 at 2:51 pm #3241
znModeratorCenter Scott Wells and end William Hayes are also coming back from illness and injury, respectively, but both seem to be coming along just fine. Wells has been getting more and more repetitions each day and Hayes has also been back in the mix.
That’s good, both of them active, getting ready for the season.
Maybe Wells just had his annual missed time early. You know get it over with.
August 4, 2014 at 5:54 pm #3259
DakParticipantCenter Scott Wells and end William Hayes are also coming back from illness and injury, respectively, but both seem to be coming along just fine. Wells has been getting more and more repetitions each day and Hayes has also been back in the mix.
That’s good, both of them active, getting ready for the season.
Maybe Wells just had his annual missed time early. You know get it over with.
Boy, I hope that’s the case. I really think if he’s healthy this year, this offensive line will be one of the better units in the league, and this offense will have its best year since the GSOT.
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