Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › vet interviews 6/1: Mack, Harrah, Cromwell, Slater, Holt…+ J.Everett, Pace
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June 2, 2017 at 12:35 am #69618
znModeratorTom Mack – Rams Legends Press Conference
Rams legendary lineman Tom Mack (1966-1978) speaks to the media during the Rams Legends Reunion.
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Dennis Harrah – Rams Legends Press Conference
Rams legendary lineman Dennis Harrah (1975-1987) speaks to the media during the Rams Legends Reunion.
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Nolan Cromwell – Rams Legends Press Conference
Rams legendary safety Nolan Crowell speaks to the media during the Rams Legends Reunion.
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Jackie Slater – Rams Legends Press Conference
Rams legendary lineman Jackie Slater (1976-1995) speaks to the media during the Rams Legends Reunion.
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Torry Holt – Rams Legends Press Conference
Rams legendary wide receiver Torry Holt (1999-2008) speaks to the media during the Rams Legends Reunion.
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June 2, 2017 at 12:56 am #69619znModeratorThat was great. All of it.
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June 2, 2017 at 1:54 am #69621znModeratorRams legends return to the franchise they helped build
A group of 50 former Rams greats, ranging from Jim Hardy, the oldest living Ram, to possible NFL Hall of Famer receiver Torry Holt, descended on the Rams practice facility at Cal Lutheran on Thursday as part of the Rams Legends Reunion.
The ex-Rams spent the day at the facility, talking with the team’s current players and coaches, observing OTA drills and sitting in on position group meetings.
“I’ve been sitting in the meetings over there with the offensive line coach (Aaron Cromer), listening to him coach these guys,” said Jackie Slater, the team’s left tackle from 1976 through 1995. “He’s a smart coach. It’s been fun meeting the guys. It’s cool.”
At 6-foot-4 and roughly 275 pounds, Slater was considered a large left tackle during his playing days, but things have changed a lot since he retired.
“Those guys in that room are a whole lot bigger and more powerfully built than we were,” Slater said. “It’s just different.
“But when you sit in a meeting room with an offensive line coach whose covering detail, that’s when the similarities start rearing their head. On the offensive line in particular, there is so much detail to how you move your body around and how you use your strength.”
Hall of Fame guard Tom Mack, who anchored the offensive line from 1966 through 1978, visited the team’s facility last season when Jeff Fisher was the head coach. Mack said the biggest change he’s noticed is the way the coaches are instructing the players under new head coach Sean McVay.
“The focus on technique is biggest change I have seen,” Mack said. “A year ago they were focused on what their assignment was, not how to do their assignment. The biggest failing they had a year ago, in particular, was pass blocking. Most of the guys could not execute and complete pass blocking.”
Dennis Harrah, Mack’s former teammate on the offensive line, said one of the greatest moments of his life was having his two sons with him when he was given the honor of lighting the torch before the start of a game at the Coliseum last season.
Harrah, who played with the Rams from 1975 though 1987, believes McVay and his staff have the team moving in the right direction.
“It’s hard to tell you how much I appreciate today and them bringing us back and letting us be part of it,” Harrah said. “Listen to him (McVay) talk. The offensive line coach was talking about how he knows the offensive line play so well so you don’t want to make a mistake because he’ll catch it.
“Most head coaches they are not in tune with offensive line. It gives me chill bumps thinking about it. I have a real positive feeling about what he’s doing. His excitement, his knowledge, it’s all a 10 in my book.”
Holt spent his entire career playing for the St. Louis Rams. Holt admitted he had some issues with the move back to Los Angeles, but was glad to be invited to the reunion.
“I am a Ram forever,” said Holt, who played with the team from 1999 through 2008. “Whether we are in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Cleveland, it feels good to get back home to a place where I am comfortable.
“When I was walked in the building this morning I thought about what would it have been like to be an L.A. Ram. I talk to Eric Dickerson all the time and he tells me great stories about what that was like playing in L.A. If the move was going to happen, it feels good it happened coming back to Los Angeles. We have a tremendous fan base out here.”
Holt spent time with the team’s receivers and coaches on the field and in the meeting room.
“Saw some attention to detail, pretty good understanding of what they need to do on the offensive side of the football,” Holt said. “I thought (quarterback) Jared Goff threw the ball really well. There are still some timing and quickening up things that come along with playing and getting experience.”
Other legends like Nolan Cromwell and Vince Ferragamo echoed Holt’s thoughts.
“I am very excited to see what Coach McVay is putting together,” Cromwell said. “The ‘We Not Me’ is a great slogan. When I played with guys, we all played for each other.”
June 2, 2017 at 1:56 am #69622znModeratorEric Dickerson, Jackie Slater attend Rams Legends event in a show of team unity across eras
By Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-legends-reunion-20170601-story.html
It’s been nearly 70 years since Jim Hardy played quarterback for the Rams.
But at 94, Hardy still apparently maintains his skills.
“Even to this late date, I’ll get out in the neighborhood and punt and pass with the local kids,” Hardy said Thursday during a Rams Legends reunion event in Thousand Oaks. ”I can still throw a tight spiral and turn my punts around.
“I just don’t want to get hit anymore.”
Hardy, a USC star before playing for the Rams from 1946 to 1948, was among about 50 former Rams players from the Los Angeles and St. Louis eras who met current players and coaches and sat in on meetings.
Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson, Jackie Slater, Orlando Pace and Tom Mack were among the attendees.
Dickerson was at the center of controversy last season when he became embroiled in a conflict with former coach Jeff Fisher. The dust-up sprung from his criticism of the team and his request for extra sideline passes to a game.
New coach Sean McVay has said that he welcomed Dickerson and former Rams players.
Rams offensive lineman Greg Robinson staying positive while competing for a starting job
The three-day Legends event is an attempt to “bridge the gap” between generations, to allow former players to interact with current players and coaches and reconnect with teammates they might not have seen for years, said Kyle Eversgerd, the Rams’ director of external football affairs.“When you have a guy that played in the 70s standing next to a guy that played in the 2000s, it’s just a really unique way to build the NFL brotherhood, as we call it, specifically the Rams brotherhood,” Eversgerd said.
Torry Holt earned Pro Bowl recognition seven times during his 10 seasons as a Rams receiver. He said he enjoyed speaking with Rams receivers such as rookie Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds.
“I’m a Ram forever,” said Holt, a 1999 first-round pick who won a Super Bowl title as a rookie.“Whether we’re in St. Louis, whether we’re here, whether we’re in Cleveland. Hell, if we’re on the moon.
“I’m a Ram, so it feels good to get back home.”
Slater, an offensive tackle who played for the Rams from 1976 to 1995, said bringing together players from the Los Angeles and St. Louis eras “gives you kind of a harmonious feeling and what it means to have played with this organization.”
During an offensive line meeting, Slater said the former linemen “all stood up and gave our two cents on what we thought was important.”
Nolan Cromwell, a safety who played for the Rams from 1977 to 1987, was encouraged by the “We Not Me” slogan that McVay has adopted.
“When I played with guys, we were all talking, it was all we played for each other, we played together,” Cromwell said. “And I think the thing has really swung to a ‘Hey, look at me’ concept in today’s game, and I hope this message gets across to the team and he’s able to preach and they go with it.”
June 2, 2017 at 1:57 am #69623znModeratorPhotos: Rams Legends Reunion
Slide show link: http://www.therams.com/photos/photo-gallery/PHOTOS-Rams-Legends-Reunion/4d4ff945-963f-4312-b38e-d27d4cb425ff
June 2, 2017 at 7:26 pm #69645znModeratorRams Legends Reunion Highlights
Go behind-the-scenes for our Rams Legends Reunion where former players gathered to mentor current Rams, tour the facility and more.
June 2, 2017 at 7:28 pm #69646znModeratorLegends Interview with Torry Holt & Orlando Pace
Relive the Bob and Weave celebration with former Rams wide receiver Torry Holt and Hall of Famer Orlando Pace.
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Legends Interview with Jackie Slater & Jim Everett
Rams reporter Dani Klupenger reminisces with Rams legends QB Jim Everett and Hall of Famer Jackie Slater.
June 9, 2017 at 9:45 pm #69866znModeratorRams Legends Reunion Recap
Relive the Los Angeles Rams alumni weekend reunion.
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Rams-Legends-Reunion-Recap/0e1cba4f-a3fa-4040-b88c-9f4bfa6b2ddd
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