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August 5, 2014 at 10:23 pm #3382
RamBillParticipantRams Camp Report: Day 10
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10231/rams-camp-report-day-10
EARTH CITY, Mo. — A daily review of the hot topics coming out of St. Louis Rams training camp:
The pads didn’t pop as often or as loud Tuesday evening but the Rams continue to ratchet up the physicality as they prepare for the season opener. Once again, the run game took precedence and got plenty of work. Coach Jeff Fisher indicated after practice that he wants each of his running backs to get about six carries in the preseason opener and deployed them in a similar fashion Tuesday night. Even rookie Tre Mason got some reps with the first-team offense and had a couple of impressive runs, including one where he burst through the hole, bounced off a would be tackler, and darted left into the end zone for a would-be touchdown. It was one of his better practices. Running back Zac Stacy departed practice early. The injury didn’t appear serious, but we’ll see more when Friday night arrives. Receiver Austin Franklin also limped off during the workout.
Receiver Brian Quick returned to the practice field after sitting the past couple of practices. He made his presence felt early with a nice diving catch along the sideline from quarterback Sam Bradford. The rest of the injury list remains the same as Monday with key players such as linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and guard Rodger Saffold among those sitting it out.
Speaking of sitting it out, Fisher said after practice that Bradford, left tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells will be held out of Friday’s game. He used the term highly unlikely when describing Bradford but that lines up with what he’s intimated since the beginning of camp, so it’s probably safe to assume Bradford won’t play. For what it’s worth, word out of Saints camp is that quarterback Drew Brees also won’t participate.
Elsewhere on the practice field, receiver Kenny Britt landed awkwardly in individual drills but didn’t miss much and came back to haul in another deep ball from Bradford for a big gain later in practice. … Defensive lineman Alex Carrington provided a scary moment when he pulled up just as he got close to Bradford in a team drill. The two made contact, but no damage was done. … It was one of receiver Tavon Austin’s best practices as he came up with some big plays, highlighted by an over-the-shoulder gem on a perfect throw from Bradford in the left corner of the end zone for a touchdown. He later beat cornerback E.J. Gaines and safety T.J. McDonald on a deep ball down the right sideline. … It’s been two practices in a row in which receiver T.J. Moe came up with a big play or two. He’ll need a big preseason performance to stake a claim to a spot, but he’s picking a good time to make some noise.
The Rams are back at it with a special teams practice set for Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. ET at Rams Park. That practice is closed to the public.
August 5, 2014 at 10:27 pm #3383
znModeratorWagoner has gotten good at these.
I wonder if he reads poster camp reports and realizes how good they are and that those are his real competition.
August 6, 2014 at 12:50 am #3387RamBillParticipantRams Day 10 camp report
By Nate Latschhttp://stl.scout.com/story/1430085-rams-day-10-camp-report?s=124
ST. LOUIS — The Rams have had some key players sitting out of practice recently with various ailments, so it wasn’t a good sign to see starting running back Zac Stacy walk off the practice field on Tuesday evening.
There was no word after practice about Stacy and what the second-year running back may have tweaked during practice, so we will have to wait until Friday night’s preseason opener against the Saints to find out if Stacy suffered anything serious. It didn’t look like it, but we’ll see.If Stacy doesn’t play on Friday, fans will see Benny Cunningham, rookie Tre Mason and Chase Reynolds get a lot of work at running back.
• Wide receiver Brian Quick returned to practice after missing a few days and made a nice diving catch on a Sam Bradford pass during a 7-on-7 period.
• Among the players still not participating on Tuesday were middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, offensive linemen Rodger Saffold, Barrett Jones and Brandon Washington, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive tackle Michael Brockers and undrafted rookie running back Trey Watts.
Watts will need to get back on the field soon to help his chances of earning a roster spot. He can’t show what he’s capable of unless he gets out there and gets some carries during the preseason.
• Jeff Fisher said after practice that it is unlikely quarterback Sam Bradford and veteran offensive linemen Jake Long and Scott Wells will play on Friday against the Saints.
• Bradford looked good once again slinging the ball around.
He had a nice completion along the left sideline to Stedman Bailey during an 11-on-11 period, found Lance Kendricks and Tavon Austin for touchdown passes later on and connected with Kenny Britt for a long pass late in a team session.
• T.J. Moe had two more nice catches during a team session, a good follow-up to his Monday practice where he also had two good catches.
• Undrafted rookie cornerback Marcus Roberson had a interception of an overthrown pass from Austin Davis late in the team period. Roberson, one of the youngest players on the team at 21 years old, should get a lot of snaps during the preseason games and will have a chance to impress.
• The Rams have a special teams practice on Wednesday that is open to the media but not open to the public.
August 6, 2014 at 1:40 am #3389RamBillParticipantRams notebook: Special-teams standout Reynolds hopes to inspire others
• By Joe LyonsRams running back and special teams standout Chase Reynolds has a story to tell and recently launched a motivational brand — The Promise Line — to help deliver the message.
“In a sense, it would be great if it turned into a post-career type of thing. But for now, it’s something I’m using to motivate myself and maybe others,’’ he said. “I’m just trying to reach out to people and let them know your dreams, they’re not optional. If you work for them and you want something bad enough, you’re the only one who stands in your way.’’
The Promise Line website notes that a promise is a goal, and features a number of inspirational T-shirts and wristbands featuring the following slogans: Promise to Never Give Up; Promise to Challenge Yourself; Promise to Seize the Moment; and Promise to Train Hard.
“It’s for people who have goals in their lives but don’t necessarily know how to achieve them,’’ the 26-year-old Reynolds said. “Growing up, I can remember people telling me that I wasn’t good enough or fast enough or strong enough. And coming from a town of 300, playing eight-man football and being part of a graduating class of 24, it would’ve been real easy for me to listen to them.’’
But all that changed after his father asked: “How are you going to know that you weren’t good enough if you don’t try?’’
Reynolds, who led Drummond High to three straight state titles and set a Montana prep rushing record, turned down full offers from smaller schools to accept a half-scholarship to the University of Montana.
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could play at the BCS level, but I stuck with it and just kept battling,’’ he said. “After a couple of position changes, I ended up starting at running back for 2½ years.’’
Reynolds, who finished just 3 yards short of becoming the Grizzlies’ career rushing leader, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks shortly after the 2011 NFL draft. After getting cut, he signed with the Rams.
After two seasons on the practice squad, the 6-foot, 205-pound Reynolds became a core special teams contributor in 2013, playing in all 16 games and tied for third on the team with six special-teams tackles.
Reynolds is sporting a Mohawk these days — “Just decided to change it up a little bit.’’ — and is back on the practice field after sitting out OTAs following surgery for a sports hernia.
“It killed me to miss the OTAs,’’ he recalled. “But I talked it over with Coach and this was the best way to go. What I bring to special teams is that full-speed mentality and I’m feeling great now.’’
Reynolds is looking forward to the team’s second full special teams workout today.
“Those practices are like game day for me because guys like me really don’t get a ton of reps,’’ Reynolds said. “You look at all the guys here, 70 or so of them, and they’re all athletes and they’re all fighting for a job.
“All I can do is just focus on giving my best at all times.’’
RAM-BLINGS
• Not surprising, but Rams coach Jeff Fisher said that quarterback Sam Bradford, tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells are unlikely to play Friday when the Rams host the Saints in a 7 p.m. preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome.
• The pass rush continues to apply lots of pressure. Brian Quick, back after sitting out a couple of practices with an abdominal strain, made a nice sliding catch on a pass from Bradford, who also connected on quality deep balls to Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin.
• Running back Zac Stacy left practice early with an undisclosed injury.
• Tuesday’s practice, the last open-to-the-public workout of the week, drew a crowd of 789, the first sub-1,000 crowd of camp. Tuesday’s not-practicing list included linebacker James Laurinaitis, guard Rodger Saffold, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, defensive tackle Kendall Langford, running back Isaiah Pead, running back Trey Watts, fullback Kadeem Jones, receiver Justin Veltung, guard Brandon Washington, guard-center Barrett Jones and safety Avery Cunningham.
• Longtime Rams security chief Dan Linza, now retired, attended Tuesday evening’s workout.
Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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