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August 27, 2014 at 11:35 am #5316
RamBillParticipantWatts is one to watch as Rams trim roster
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11000/watts-one-to-watch-as-rams-trim-roster
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Since returning to the practice field after a hamstring injury early in training camp, St. Louis Rams running back Trey Watts has embraced every facet of the game in an effort to steal a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster.
Watts has proved a shifty runner capable of making defenders miss, catching the ball out of the backfield and, well, just about anything else the team asks him to do.
“He’s very talented with the ball in his hands,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “In college, he was a versatile back. [He] worked out of the backfield, lined up in the slot, and did all those kinds of things.”
All of those kinds of things are the little details that have added up to Watts possibly emerging as a surprise on the team’s roster. NFL teams have until 4 p.m. ET Saturday to trim their rosters to 53 players. A proposition that seemed like a long shot upon signing and even more of one when watching early camp practices from the sideline now seems within Watts’ grasp.
That’s because Watts has been one of the team’s best performers in the past two preseason contests. Against Green Bay and Cleveland, Watts piled up 55 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries to go with 39 yards on four catches.
After being forced to watch those early practices while healing, Watts returned knowing he’d have to do everything possible to impress the coaching staff.
“Every rep counts,” Watts said. “You have got to show the coaches that you’re accountable and they can put you in there in any situation and they can trust you to get the job done.”
Watts, who is the son of former Oklahoma quarterback and politician J.C. Watts, means it when he says any situation. At Tulsa, Watts handled many roles but his only special teams contributions came as a kick returner. But if he is to make it in St. Louis as an undrafted free agent at a crowded position, he’s well aware that he must impress special teams coach John Fassel as much as running backs coach Ben Sirmans.
To that end, Watts has had to make a major mental adjustment.
“ just trying to stay confident and just go down, turn your brain off and throw your body into somebody and hopefully you just make a play and the coaches notice,” Watts said. “That eye in the sky it watches everything.”
Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham and Tre Mason are almost certain to land roster spots ahead of Watts. Chase Reynolds is also in the mix though he’s exclusively a special teams player rather than a running back. Isaiah Pead’s season ending injury could open a spot since the Rams kept five backs last year. But it seems unlikely the Rams will keep as many this year with depth needed at other positions.
If they do keep five, Watts would make it but if they choose to go with four, he’s locked in a battle with Reynolds for the spot. Although Reynolds has been a key special teams contributor, Watts’ ability to do both could give him a leg up.
It also wouldn’t hurt for Watts to provide a strong closing statement in Thursday’s preseason finale at Miami.
“You never want to count your chickens before they hatch,” Watts said. “Don’t act like you’re there or you’ve arrived and I’m playing as if I still have to fight for a spot on this team.”
August 28, 2014 at 2:08 am #5347RamBillParticipantVersatile RB Watts has come on strong
• By Joe LyonsRookie running back Trey Watts watched the Rams’ preseason-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints from the sideline, nursing a hamstring injury.
But the undrafted free agent from the University of Tulsa has been coming on strong ever since. In a loss to Green Bay, he had a 14-yard carry while rushing three times for 19 yards and added an 8-yard pass reception.
Then, in the team’s 33-14 victory over the Browns in Cleveland last weekend, Watts led the game’s rushers with 36 yards on nine carries and added a 25-yard pass reception, finishing with three catches for 31 yards.
And he finished off the game’s scoring with a 12-yard run.
“It just feels good playing football again,’’ said Watts, who figures to see plenty of action both on offense and special teams tonight when the Rams close out their preseason schedule against the Dolphins in Miami. “I haven’t played a lot of minutes like that since college. It really felt good to help the team by making a few plays.’’
The 5-foot-9, 208-pound Watts is one of five running backs on the roster, joining second-year players Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham, core special teams player Chase Reynolds and fellow rookie Tre Mason, a third-round draft pick.
The Rams lost third-year back and special teamer Isaiah Pead when he suffered a season-ending knee injury while returning a kickoff against New Orleans.
“Everybody knows cuts are coming, but you just have to try and put it out of your mind,’’ said Watts, 23. “As a competitor, when you’re not getting playing time, it’s frustrating. But you need to be a team guy. Zac and Benny have helped me and Tre pick up the offense and I think we’re all pushing each other to become better backs. You’re only as good as your weakest link.
“All I can do is wait for my turn and then try to do the most of it.’’
Watts certainly did so in Cleveland, showing plenty of quickness and elusiveness. On his touchdown run, for example, he started to the right and then made a quick adjustment.
“I took it right and just made a cutback move,’’ he said. “The guys up front did a great job — they did the hard work to make my job easy — and I also got a great down-field block from (fellow free agent rookie) Austin Franklin near the goal line.’’
Rams coach Jeff Fisher likes what he’s seen of Watts.
“He’s very talented with the ball in his hands (and) I thought he was OK without the ball in his hands,’’ Fisher said. “In college, he was a versatile back, worked out of the backfield, lined up in the slot and did all those kind of things. (He has) good run skills and vision.’’
Watts is the son of former University of Oklahoma quarterback J.C. Watts, who went on to serve four terms in the House of Representatives following a career in the Canadian Football League. J.C. Watts now works as a lobbyist in Washington.
A three-year starter at Oakton High in Virginia, Trey walked on at Tulsa and enjoyed a stellar career, finishing as the program’s No. 3 career rusher. As a senior, he had eight 100-yard rushing games and finished with 1,329 rushing yards. He also had 46 catches for 395 yards and scored 12 touchdowns while leading the Golden Hurricane in kickoff and punt returns.
“I pride myself on being a complete back, a guy who can do a lot of different things to help a football team,’’ Watts said.
RAM-BLINGS
A bit of encouraging news for the Rams, who finished 7-9 and at the bottom of the NFC West standings a year ago.
In 2013, four teams — the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints — qualified for the playoffs after finishing last in their division the previous season. And Carolina (NFC South) and Philadelphia (NFC East) captured division titles.
Last year marked the 11th consecutive season in which at least one NFL squad made the worst-to-first move in a division. The model team for such a run is the 2009 New Orleans Saints, who went from 8-8 to 13-3 and ended up as Super Bowl champions.
• Former Rams defensive end Sammy Brown and safety Matt Daniels cleared waivers Wednesday after being cut Tuesday.
• Dallas has placed ex-Illini defensive back Justin Green on injured reserve.
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