Rams notebook: Fisher confirms that Saffold will start over Robinson
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-fisher-confirms-that-saffold-will-start-over-robinson/article_c2f66cac-259e-5cc8-83d9-eeaa24b612f7.html

Following practice Wednesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed what many had suspected: that Rodger Saffold will start ahead of Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, when the Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings to open the season at noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

“We made the decision for the opener that we’re better off going with experience,’’ Fisher said. “Doesn’t necessarily mean (Robinson) won’t play in the game, but we’re going to go with guys who have a lot of snaps under their belts.’’

That means a veteran line of Jake Long at left tackle, Saffold at left guard, Scott Wells at center, Davin Joseph at right guard and Joe Barksdale at right tackle on Sunday.

“I feel good about the guys we’re going to play with,’’ Fisher said. “They’ve been practicing together now for a couple of weeks and so I have no concern there. And I feel good about our depth as well.’’

And Robinson?

“He’s doing a good job,’’ the coach said. “He’s playing guard, he’s playing tackle. He’s doing both in practice, he’s done it all through preseason and he’s gotten better each week.’’

When asked if learning two positions has hurt the 21-year-old Robinson, Fisher answered emphatically.

“Nothing hurts him at all. It does not hurt him at all,’’ Fisher said. “I was told that Orlando Pace, the first player taken in the draft, didn’t play until Week 5. There’s no issue here, (Robinson) is going to be an outstanding player.

“Our focus right now is to put the guys on the field we think can give us the best chance to win right now.’’

Pace, by the way, signed as a rookie with the Rams in 1997 after a three-week contract holdout.

The 6-foot-5 332-pound Robinson, who played in college at Auburn, started three of the Rams’ four preseason games.

KEENUM SETTLES IN

The newest Ram, quarterback Case Keenum, completed his second practice with the team Wednesday.

“It’s been kind of a whirlwind couple of days,’’ said Keenum, 26, who was claimed off waivers from the Houston Texans on Monday. “I’m excited to be here, to start learning the system and do my best to contribute to the team.

“Any system in this league is tough … but I’m excited to learn some new stuff. It’s like speaking another language and I’m trying to learn it as fast as I can.’’

A Texas native who enjoyed a record-setting career at the University of Houston, Keenum signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent and spent the 2012 season on Houston’s practice squad. Last year, he made eight starts, making his debut the week after the Rams blasted the Texans 38-13 in Houston. He ended up completing 54.2 percent of his passes for 1,760 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

He was waived over the weekend after Houston picked up Ryan Mallett in a trade with New England.

“It hasn’t really set in yet, but I’m just trying to stay at it, got the grind going,’’ he said. “I’m excited to be in a new place, to be outside of Texas, to get out of my comfort zone and to grow a little bit.’’

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Keenum gets by on his smarts, leadership and quick release.

“Because of injury, Case got a lot of experience last year, started eight games,’’ Fisher said. “No, he didn’t win any of those games, but there were some really good things you saw out of a young player. We spent a lot of time evaluating those games and felt like he’d be a good option to come in and try to develop as a No. 3 or No. 2. We just wanted to get him in the mix; you want to get as many good players as you can.’’

SSM KICK CANCER

The Rams specialists — punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Greg Zuerlein and long snapper Jake McQuaide — are teaming with SSM Health Care Foundations in a new fund-raising program to support the needs of cancer patients in the region.

In addition, a new event to benefit SSM Kick Cancer — “RAM-OKE’’ — will be held Monday Sept. 22, at Four Seasons. Led by Hekker and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, the night will feature Rams players taking the microphone to belt out karaoke renditions of their favorite songs. Fans can support SSM Kick by making a pledge for every point kicked by the Rams in 2014 or buy tickets to RAM-OKE at SSMKickCancer.org.

RAM-BLINGS

The first injury report of the season included four players who were limited on Wednesday — T Jake Long (knee), DE William Hayes (chest), Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder) and DE Eugene Sims (knee). Two other players, CB Trumaine Johnson (knee) and center Barrett Jones (back), did not participate and are still weeks away from playing. For the Vikings, LB Brandon Watts (knee), LB Michael Mauti (foot) and fullback Zach Line (ankle) did not participate and T Mike Harris (shoulder) was limited. CB Jabari Price (shoulder) and WR Rodney Smith (neck) were full participants.

• Austin Pettis switched to No. 12 from No. 18 in Wednesday’s practice as a show of support for teammate Stedman Bailey, who is serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

• The Rams placed TE Brad Smelley on the practice squad in place of S Matt Daniels. Smelley was cut on Saturday after posting four catches for 46 yards in the preseason.

• Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks, the undrafted free agent from West Texas A&M who was among the team leaders with 12 tackles in the preseason, has switched to No. 93 from No. 62.

Rams starters sit out loss to Dolphins
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-starters-sit-out-loss-to-dolphins/article_e013230b-388e-544a-a483-1958daa1b77f.html

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. • Michael Sam and Ethan Westbrooks slugged it out one last time for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Backup quarterback Austin Davis put the finishing touches on an impressive preseason, completing 12 of 19 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

And undrafted rookie Trey Watts got plenty of work in his late bid to claim employment at running back.

As for the Rams regulars? They were in mothballs watching Thursday’s preseason finale wearing ball caps on the sideline during a 14-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

If it were the regular season, seeing a 13-0 lead turn into a 14-13 defeat in the second half would be a bitter pill for the Rams to swallow. But it’s still August, and with this contest turned over to the subs from the outset, this was a battle for roster spots for a couple of dozen Rams.

The headliner on that front obviously was Sam vs. Westbrooks — one last time. Sam was very active in the first half, and according to unofficial press box stats led the Rams with six tackles by game’s end. But Westbrooks wasn’t far behind with four tackles. One of those tackles came on his second sack of the preseason, and he added two quarterback hits.

“I’m gonna have to look at the tape, but Ethan was making a lot of plays every time I looked,” Fisher said.

As for Sam?

“I really didn’t see anything good or bad out of Mike … but he played hard,” Fisher said.

Fisher did say that Sam has shown enough in training camp and the preseason to show he belongs.

“I think he can play in this league — yes,” Fisher said. “As can some other guys on this team that had good preseasons.”

With Sam on the threshold of history as the first openly gay player to make an NFL team, a horde of reporters waited patiently in the visitors’ locker room at Sun Life Stadium afterwards, and then engulfed him when he was ready to meet the media.

“That was a very good day to see that I could play the run,” Sam said. “I was very successful and made some plays and got some tackles.”

Sam said he felt he has shown enough to make an NFL team, be it the Rams or someone else.

“I’m very confident that I’ll be playing on an NFL roster this fall,” Sam said. “I know I can play in this league.”

Before the game Sam tweeted that the game would be his final exam. How did he fare?

“I did good,” he said. “I give myself a B-plus. I’ve very proud of myself, like I said, of how I fought the run.”

Now he must wait until 5 p.m. (St. Louis time) on Saturday to see if he has made the Rams’ regular-season roster.

“You know what, it’s not gonna be like the draft,” he said, laughing. “I’m very confident that I’m going to sleep well tonight.”

Only eight picks remained in the entire draft when the Rams selected Sam late in the seventh round in May.

But draft weekend was no picnic either for Westbrooks. The former NCAA Division II defensive player of the year at West Texas A&M went undrafted.

“I feel like a did well,” Westbrooks said, speaking of Thursday’s game as well as the preseason as a whole. “Let the chips fall where they may. Everything’s in the books right now, so I’m definitely comfortable with what I did this preseason. I’m proud of what I’ve done. So I just wait for the next two days.”

Once again, Westbrooks played both defensive end and tackle for the Rams, only this time in a three-man front.

Fisher must trim 21 players from the roster to reach the regular-season limit of 53.

“This is the hard part about the National Football League right now in the next couple of days,” Fisher said.

Making those roster decisions is complicated by several factors beyond the realm of play on the field, including injuries that will keep cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) and center/guard Barrett Jones (back) sidelined for several more weeks.

“Those are things that all fall into play with these decisions,” Fisher said.

At running back, Watts was the busiest skill player on the field for the Rams, carrying 13 times for 51 yards, and catching one pass for 12 yards. He also played all four “core” units on special teams: punt return, kickoff return, punt coverage and kickoff coverage.

“I haven’t had that many reps in a while,” Watts said. “But I enjoyed it, enjoyed just being out there playing football — the game you love.”

After missing the first exhibition game with a hamstring injury, Watts felt he stated his case over the final three contests.

“Whether they want to keep me or not, I just leave that up to them,” he said.

After a scoreless and sluggish first quarter, the Rams got on the board first with a 49-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein with 11 minutes 46 seconds to go in the first half. Minutes later, an interception by Mizzou product E.J. Gaines set up the Rams’ only touchdown of the game, an 11-yard pass from Davis to Austin Pettis.

“It felt good to get my first pick,” Gaines said. “I should have kept the game ball but I was too hyped, so I dropped it.”

On an active night for Zuerlein, he tried a 63-yard kick with 8 seconds left in the half, but barely missed — wide left. In third quarter, he connected on a 53-yard attempt to give the Rams a 13-0 advantage with 5:37 to play in the quarter.

But the Dolphins scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim the victory and leave the Rams at 1-3 for the 2014 preseason.

“As far as the game’s concerned, there were some good things in there, (but) you get frustrated at some of the young mistakes,” Fisher said.

The Rams didn’t commit any turnovers, but topped triple digits in penalty yards, with 102 on 14 infractions.

“But all in all, our training room’s empty right now, so that’s good news,” Fisher said.

Morning Ram-blings: QB options?
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10942/morning-ram-blings-qb-options

EARTH CITY, Mo. — There has been plenty of discussion about the St. Louis Rams adding help at the quarterback position after Sam Bradford’s season ending injury.

As coach Jeff Fisher is quick to point out, those conversations have not taken place within the confines of Rams Park, at least not yet. While Fisher says the team wants to be patient to see if any potential backup options to starter Shaun Hill become available, our man Field Yates took the time Monday to offer some possibilities.

Yates went into further detail in this Insider piece Insider, providing some names and the thought process that would go into each one.

Clearly, there are many opinions on this topic from fans and media alike but the only one that really matters is Fisher’s. He’s serious about Hill being the starter so it’s probably best to move on from the idea the team will be looking for anything but a possible backup as cuts are made.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday’s Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. … We began a busy day with this week’s projected 53-man roster. … Next, we got to the Ram-blings by trying to offer something to cheer fans up. … From there, we took a closer look at the dark cloud that seems to be hovering over the Rams since 2002 or so. … Lost in the Bradford news was some actual good injury news on four key starters. … This week’s rookie review looked at snaps and production for the rookies against Cleveland. … We closed the day with Fisher’s strong words emphasizing Hill is the guy.

Elsewhere:

Grantland’s Bill Barnwell wonders where the Rams go from here.

Ron Jaworski discusses what he thinks the Rams should do at quarterback.

At stltoday.com, columnist Bryan Burwell writes that the Rams season isn’t doomed by Bradford’s loss.

In this video, Bernie Miklasz agrees.

Jeff Gordon writes that there’s no easy answers for the Rams at quarterback.

Burwell: Rams should avoid crazy QB ideas
• By BRYAN BURWELL

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bryan-burwell/burwell-rams-should-avoid-crazy-qb-ideas/article_83cf1fd7-f96c-5c62-b3a4-8b3d3ce1c0d6.html

So now all the amateur football geniuses and junior GM’s of the world have had time to devote their full attention to concocting wonderful fantasy-football solutions to the Rams current quarterback upheaval, this much is quite clear:

Everyone has a plan.

Mark Sanchez. Kirk Cousins. Ryan Mallett. Michael Vick. Chase Daniel. Kyle Orton. Names and outlandish trade ideas are being thrown around with plenty of freedom, but with a short supply of wisdom. And that lack of wisdom pertains particularly to that special breed of crazies who still think Tim Tebow’s best career move would be to put down the SEC Network microphone and race to Rams Park immediately to rescue the season. (Well, they could always use an extra H-back.)

Yet when all the nuttiness is done, when all the fantasy-football draft strategies are exhausted, when all the impractical dreams have run their course, we’re still left with the only logical course of action for this franchise to take.

Leave the football team in the hands of the competent veteran who already knows how to run this offense. Whatever wild ideas you might have to bring in a guy from somewhere else, there’s no one out there who is more ready to run the Rams’ offense than Shaun Hill.

The NFL is not a rec league hustle or a Saturday afternoon game of touch played on the street. You don’t walk in off the street, draw up a few plays in the dirt and tell the receiver to run a buttonhook at the Buick. You don’t bring in a guy who had no knowledge of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook, then expect him to run through this buzzsaw schedule in the toughest division in football without a glitch. A little recent history lesson should remind you of the disasters that happened when Carson Palmer and Josh Freeman were tossed in the mix in midseason.

In case you haven’t heard, this NFL quarterbacking thing is not an easy thing.

On Monday after practice at Rams Park, Jeff Fisher was particularly amused by all the speculation swirling around his football team and the countless trade rumors connected to the Rams. “I don’t really like to deal with hypotheticals, but had Shaun not (already) been here and we had an (injury) issue, we very well could have brought some guys in and see who’s got a better feel for us under center and then go and name a starter,” Fisher told a horde of reporters who surrounded him after a late-afternoon practice. “But we already have a starter. (Hill) was clearly our (No. 2). He steps in and goes and so anything that happens beyond that I can’t comment because we’ve really not done anything.”

If you need an interpreter to read between the lines, here goes:

There’s no one out there in the great big NFL universe right now who is available, could become available or who wants to make himself available who presents a better option than Shaun Hill. Teams aren’t going to just give away gifted backups (see: Kansas City and Chase Daniel) without asking for a king’s ransom. And the other teams that have guys they’re more than willing to dump are going to try to hijack valuable assets the Rams aren’t (or shouldn’t be) willing to part with (see: Tavon Austin).

Why are so many people fascinated with Ryan Mallett when it’s so obvious that the New England Patriots seem to be ready to dump him for rookie Jimmy Garoppolo? Mallett has thrown seven passes in his four-year NFL career. Is this someone you want to mortgage draft picks for?

Oh yes, and then there is Sanchez, whose greatest accomplishment in the last few seasons in the NFL is the “butt fumble.” He had some limited success with Schottenheimer with the Jets, but he has been a huge disappointment and proved to be a bust as a first-round draft pick. Again, why would the Rams waste any important assets (players or picks) trying to bring in someone who isn’t an improvement on what you already have?

“There are a lot of players out there that are under contract and so you can’t discuss those things,” said Fisher. “But we’ve not had any discussions with anybody. Again, we’re going to be patient with this.”

So here’s what the Rams will do. They’ll be patient. They already know that Hill is the guy who will run their offense and they have been satisfied with what they’ve seen out of Austin Davis as well. Remember shortly after the end of the 2012 season, Fisher practically gift-wrapped the No. 2 job to Davis for the 2013 season. However, Davis mysteriously did not rise to the opportunity and by the middle of training camp, Kellen Clemens had won the job. Now a year later, Davis is playing the way the organization envisioned he would, albeit a year late, and now he should have secured a job.

The next step is to be patient and see what pops up on the waiver wire as we get down to the final cutdown date when rosters must be trimmed to 53 men. NFL personnel people call this churning the bottom of the roster, which means if they see a name that they believe is an upgrade on rookie Garrett Gilbert, they’ll take a look.

But trust me on this: The next great Rams quarterback of the future is not going to be found on some frantic dumpster dive at the end of training camp.

The future isn’t now, it’s next spring when the draft rolls around. That’s where you’ll find your QB of the future; everything else is the stuff of silly fantasy or irrational folly.

I think if you read their tea leaves, they are bringing someone in but on the cheap. Not a trade. As a #2 or #3. This is the time for the pro scouting dept. They are going to be looking for qbs who have been in camp and may be do-able. I don’t know if they trust Austin as a #2. In fact the way Fisher put it, it almost sounds like the Miami game is a try-out for him. I don’t think any team in the league can feel safe waiving a qb for the practice squad.

Here’s what Fisher says about Austin. It’s what led to these thoughts.

These are not put-downs but you don’t see any endorsement of him as the #2:

Again, we’re going to be patient with this. There’s probably a couple quarterbacks let go at 75. There will probably be some let go at the 53 and like I said, there may be somebody, a club, we may have a trade partner out there. We don’t know. but we’re not initiating anything right now.”

(On Davis’ improvement this offseason)
“Well it’s been hard on him and the others because of what they’re seeing from the defense in camp. That has helped him as you move into the games. (Defensive Coordinator) Gregg’s (Williams) going to throw everything at him and it’s very competitive and it’s difficult. But that makes it easier for him as you get into the regular season. The game slows down when you’re seeing so much happen at practice. It slows down and it’s slowing down for Austin.”

Jeff Fisher emphasizes faith in Shaun Hill
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10935/fisher-emphasizes-faith-in-shaun-hill

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher is not a fan of quarterback controversies and wears it as a badge of honor that he’s never had a situation where two players have really battled one-on-one for a starting job.

That’s why Fisher, one day after confirming the season-ending knee injury for starter Sam Bradford, again emphasized that veteran Shaun Hill is his quarterback. Not just during Monday’s practice or in this week’s preseason game but for the season barring something happening to him.

Hill
“I think it’s important once you make a change for whatever reason, you stick with it,” Fisher said Monday. “And we’re sticking with this. There’s no doubt about that. That allows everybody to get comfortable and have confidence in who is under center as opposed to ‘Well, what are we going to do this week?’ There’s no doubt that he’s our guy and we’re going to move forward.”

The Rams moved forward with Hill as the starting quarterback for the first time in Monday’s practice. Hill had some ups and downs, including throwing a few interceptions but Fisher was mostly pleased with his performance.

In fact, Fisher offered a little of his trademark dry humor when asked how Hill practiced Monday.

“He was fine,” Fisher said, a smile creeping across his face. “He actually completed some passes today. He was fine. And he actually knows where to go with the football, believe it or not. He’s a competitor and knows what he’s doing.”

For his part, Hill said he’s only once been able to enter a season as a starting quarterback. That was in 2009 with San Francisco but he also made it clear that his mindset doesn’t change regardless of circumstance. He does, however, acknowledge that having such a strong vote of confidence from Fisher is helpful.

“That feels good to have his confidence,” Hill said. “And the team’s confidence. They’ve all rallied around me. It’s been good.”

As for all the rumors of the Rams pursuing outside options at quarterback, Fisher again hit the familiar refrain of saying that Hill is the starter and they will be patient to evaluate possibilities for backups behind him.

“I don’t really like to deal in hypotheticals but had Shaun not been here and we had an issue, we very well could have brought some guys in to see who has got a better feel for us and then go with them as the starter,” Fisher said. “But we’ve already got a starter. He was clearly our two, he steps up and plays. We’ve really not done anything.

Washington battles to get back to practice field
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/washington-battles-to-get-back-to-the-practice-field/article_1b032f97-cd71-5c67-a7ff-99e4848c8911.html

Rams guard Brandon Washington readily admits he is not a good patient.

“I probably was a pain in the butt for the guys in the training room because I was constantly bugging them to let me get back on the field,’’ said Washington, a second-year pro who returned to the practice field this week after missing time with a hamstring injury. “I did everything in my power and they helped get me back out here.

“I cannot afford to be on the sideline. I just kept reminding myself daily that you can’t make the club in the tub.’’

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Washington hopes to make his preseason debut Saturday when the Rams take on the Browns in Cleveland. Even while injured, he tried to stay as connected to the offensive line as possible.

“You can’t afford to fall behind, so you try to stay on top of things physically, mentally and emotionally,’’ Washington, 25, from the University of Miami, said. “But it’s good to be out here again, back with my brothers. It just feels good to get some reps and get a chance to compete again.’’

Washington, one of a handful of players battling for interior-line spots, was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the draft in 2012 and signed to the Rams’ practice squad that September. Last season, he split time between the practice squad and active roster before making his regular-season debut with 17 offensive snaps in the Rams’ season-ending loss in Seattle.

TOUGH LUCK FOR DANIELS

Safety Matt Daniels, a third-year pro from Duke, simply can’t catch a break when it comes to injuries.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Daniels went down with a season-ending knee injury that fall when a teammate rolled up on his leg as Daniels was blocking on a punt return. Last year, on an very similar play in the season’s second game, he suffered a broken ankle and was again done for the year.

This month, in the preseason opener against New Orleans, Daniels lasted just three snaps on special teams before being sidelined.

“It happened in the first quarter, but I couldn’t tell you much more than that,’’ the 24-year-old said. “On the sideline, I just felt a little off, so I went to trainers. Surely enough, I was concussed, and had to shut it down before I even got a chance to get any defensive snaps.’’

Daniels sat out last weekend’s game with Green Bay and returned to practice early this week.

“It’s always frustrating when you can’t play because you feel like everybody else is getting a chance to compete and get better, but I couldn’t even be in the building,’’ he said. “They told me to stay home and rest. I just felt useless.

“But I’m feeling good and I’m starting to get excited about playing football. And I’m excited about Cleveland. I’ve got two games to show what I can do and I’m definitely ready to ramp it up a little bit.’’

CATCHING UP

The lone fullback on the Rams’ roster, rookie Kadeem Jones suffered a hamstring injury a day or two into camp and returned to the practice field early this week.

“Just feels good to be back out there, getting reps with my guys,’’ the 5-foot-10, 266-pounder from Western Kentucky said. “It was frustrating (sitting out), but I did my best to take mental reps to stay involved. Now that I’m back, I really have to get after it, doing whatever I need to do to stay.’’

Jones, 22, attempted to come back to practice a week or so ago, but returned to the stationary bike the next day.

“A minor setback,’’ said Jones, who focused on blocking in college but did manage to score 15 career touchdowns for the Hilltoppers.

After missing so much time, Jones has some catching up to do.

“Just taking it day by day, rep by rep,’’ he said. “All I can do is give it all I’ve got and trust and believe in God.’’

When discussing the return of several players, Rams coach Jeff Fisher did mention Jones: “Kadeem looks like he’s on the road to recovery, looks like he’ll be full speed tomorrow.’’

RAM-BLINGS

The Rams wrapped up their first post-training camp workout Thursday and went through some of their final preparations for Saturday night’s game at Cleveland.

Coach Jeff Fisher expects left tackle Jake Long, offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and defensive tackle Michael Brockers to start. Even with the status of middle linebacker James Laurinaitis still to be determined, the Rams could have as many as 20 of their normal starters on the field for the third preseason contest.

Only a handful of players missed Thursday’s workout — linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, defensive ends William Hayes and Sammy Brown, defensive tackle Matt Conrath, linebacker Pat Schiller, center Demetrius Rhaney and guard/center Barrett Jones.

• As expected, running back and special teams player Isaiah Pead was not claimed on waivers and has been shifted to the injured reserve list. Pead, a third-year pro, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while returning a first-quarter kickoff last weekend.• With their season openers slated for this weekend, the three high school football squads from the Ferguson-Florissant School District — McCluer, McCluer North and McCluer South-Berkeley — practiced at the Rams indoor facility on Thursday.

some follow-up

===============
CoachO

I plan on working on a final report, giving my general thoughts on where they are, and evaluate the roster kinda like I did at the midway point of camp. There have been a few players who really helped themselves over the final 2 weeks, and some who have slipped. It should be an interesting final two weeks of the Preseason.

I would say there are a couple of surprises. On both ends of the spectrum.

On the positive side, one of my biggest surprises is just how good Bradford has looked. The velocity on some of the throws is noticeably better. He is fitting throws into tight windows consistently. Obviously, the combination of Quick and Britt, and how well they have looked has been a big surprise.

On the other end, Givens has been a huge disappointment. I have never been a big fan, but he just looks disinterested, and almost defeated. He contributes next to nothing in practice, and other than a few days two weeks ago, he looks no where near the guy they drafted. The other, again, not a huge fan (obvious to anyone who has read anything I have posted before) but with all the hype and chatter about how Armstrong was poised to step in and “take reps from Dunbar”, he has been given every opportunity, and has not shown much at all. In fact, I now hear how “we need to be patient” “he is still earning a new position”, “he missed the last year of school” and “at least he still is a value because of his Special Teams play.”

*

Austin looks like the 3rd or 4th option on many of the routes he runs. Most are crossing routes, or an occasional wheel route up the sideline. They tried to run the toss/reverse they ran vs. Chicago, and it was sniffed out by Westbrooks who stayed at home, and was waiting for him when he reversed fields.

*

I have always paid close attention to the Special Teams, especially the 2nd units. They tend to be very fluid, based on who is not practicing, and who the coaches feel deserve an extra look. Fisher commented last week, that every position coach, breaks down the Special Team tapes, so they can see their position players and how they perform. So it’s not just Coach Fassel when it comes to input on these teams. They can be very telling as to the back end of the roster, and who is garnering a second look.

*

[Jake]…Long looks fine. He always looks like he just understands how to play the position. No worries about him being ready.

*

Quick didn’t look to be serious. He just got caught in an awkward position, extended and reaching for a high throw. Davis didnt hit him hard, just ill timed and caught him just right. For what’s worth, Quick did not look happy about it as practice wore on.

*

Hayes was limited, and I had a conversation wiht someone who said they are just being very cautious with him. His hip is the biggest issue from the off season, and they want to ease him back.

*

Robinson in one on one stuff dominates more than not. It’s still not as consistent as he needs to be in terms of assigments, and playing “fast”. I was somewhat surprised, that Saffold worked as much as he did at LG today, and that Robinson took most of his reps with the “2’s”.

What’s with Joseph getting 1st team reps over Robinson and GRob with the second unit? Joseph has been the one constant this entire training camp. He and Barksdale have been out there virtually every day since the begining of camp.

What direction they go in, is purely speculation, even on my part, and wont’ do us any good. There are a 100 different possible scenarios as to why they are doing what they are doing [playing GRob with the 2s in one practice]…. It’s one day, so I am not reading anything into it. But I did think it was something that needed to be mentioned in my camp report.What they do in the next 2 preseason game will give us a much better picture of their plans heading into Sept 7th.

*

[LBs]…Phillip Steward has been a constant in getting 2nd unit reps from the outset of training camp. At this point, I would say he is definitely in their plans. He is showing up on Special Teams as well.

*

I would be shocked if Washington makes this roster. He has missed a ton of training camp, and honestly, I didn’t like his chances before camp. I think they have added too much talent, who have made him vunerable. He stuck around last year because he was the “best” of an otherwise very weak group of depth guys. By adding the likes of Joseph, and even Bond to some extent, Brandon Washington’s day could be numbered.

*

Rams Lay Foundation in the Trenches With Robinson & Donald
By Casey Pearce

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Lay-Foundation-in-the-Trenches-With-Robinson–Donald/1bf52adb-b049-4fa2-b2f8-2fcc0dc71c10

The following piece was initially published in the first edition of the 2014 Rams Insider Magazine. For more stories like this, purchase a copy of the Rams Insider Magazine during any and all Rams home games at the Edward Jones Dome.

Rams General Manager Les Snead is a big fan of crafty analogies and weighty quotes.

His office is decorated in them. They are mounted in frames on his walls.

Several are scribbled in Snead’s handwriting on a grease board behind his desk, including Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, “Well done is better than well said,” and another from author Steven Covey, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Snead’s mantra, “Wake up sprinting and don’t be scared,” is one that is often repeated by Rams staffers throughout the building.

So it came as no surprise that shortly after executing the team’s two first-round picks in May’s NFL Draft, the head man of the team’s personnel department developed the perfect metaphor to describe the team’s approach to the picks, ones that yielded massive offensive lineman Greg Robinson and penetrating, disruptive defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

“When you lay your foundation for your skyscraper, it’s probably the least exciting thing that you do,” Snead said. “But that’s the thing that holds that skyscraper up for a lot of years.”

In the Rams’ case, the foundation is literally the front and center portion of their team on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Snead and Head Coach Jeff Fisher chose grit over glitz, and while Snead understands that the selection of big two men in the first round might not draw the same buzz that other position potentially could bring, he has strong convictions about the approach.

“We’re in an age where skill people are sexy,” Snead said. “Fantasy football is hot. Those guys are some of the nice ornaments on the building. It may not be the sexiest thing in the world, but we’re building the foundation of our building, and that foundation is what’s going to hold it up for years to come. The lines are the closest thing to the ball. Our approach to the draft was definitely a strategy that we’re going to get our foundation stronger, and I think that’s going to help us.”

As Snead, Fisher and their staffs work to build a roster that they hope will return them to the top of the NFC West and ultimately the NFL, they do so with a specific philosophy in mind. Fisher has always been point blank about what he hopes to develop in the personality of his teams. He laid it out in plain terms when he took his current job in January of 2012.

“We’re going to have a disciplined, tough, physical football team that’s going to first and foremost matchup and be able to win games in the division,” Fisher said. “It’s a team that’s going to run the football, protect the quarterback, play good defense and get the ball back.”

The formula is one that has yielded plenty of success in in the NFL in recent years. It’s the one Seattle used to win its first Super Bowl a year ago. It’s the one San Francisco has ridden to three-consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances and a narrow defeat in a Super Bowl. It’s the personality other recent champions such as Pittsburgh and the New York Giants have used to win multiple titles.

That’s why Snead pauses a little when he hears that the NFL has become a “passing league.”

“I think it’s correct to say the passing game has gotten more sophisticated,” Snead said. “We may be throwing the ball more. I think if you just throw that out as a blanket statement, it’s low-hanging fruit. When you run the ball well, it can get you in the 2nd-and-6s, the 2nd-and-4s, and at that point it’s a harder guess for the defensive coordinator. When teams find balance offensively, it seems like the defense is always playing on their heels. Coordinators and players are guessing, not sure what’s going to happen. It’s correct to say passing has gotten better, but it’s not a passing league.”

That’s why both Robinson and Donald were such good fits with St. Louis. Their strengths were exactly what Snead and Fisher look for in players at their positions, ones that are keys to being the type of team they want St. Louis to be.

“On the offensive side of the ball, we’re going to run the ball and we’re going to run it well,” Snead said. “Any time you can get physical up front and be able to run the ball when you want to, you can close out games and open up your passing game. I think pass protection speaks for itself, not only the tackles, but with a pocket passer being able to stand up. Greg’s going to help us there.”

The Rams see Donald as a disruptive player against both the run and the pass, one that can join an already strong front that will allow St. Louis to set the tone defensively.

“We’re going to be an aggressive defense,” Snead said. “There are a lot of ways you can disrupt rhythm and timing. We think one of the best ways to do it is with the guys that are closest to the ball. If you can disrupt rhythm and timing and cause an offense that goes down the field to shorten up their passing game, they’re not playing to their strengths. Same thing in the running game. If you’re strong up front, you can get tackles for loss. You can get into some long distance downs where you can let your pass rushers go.

A Mountain of a Man

At 6-5, 332 pounds, Robinson already looks the part. He comes with the credentials as well. In 14 games last season, Auburn coaches credited Robinson with 130 “knockdown” blocks, an average of more than nine per game as the Tigers sparred with some of the best defenses in the country. As a team, Auburn averaged an NCAA-best 328.3 yards per game on the ground, and their massive left tackle had a lot to do with that success. Robinson was named First-Team All-SEC and was a Second-Team All-American by The Associated Press.

Shortly after the Rams made Robinson the second overall pick, Fisher gushed about his massive new offensive lineman.

“You talk about an athlete,” Fisher said. “Powerful with great quickness and strength. He’s got a chance to be a dominant player inside initially.”

When a player is drafted as high as Robinson, it goes without saying that the team believes the sky is the limit, and that’s certainly the case with the Thibodaux, La. native. Robinson’s expectations are equally as high for himself, but he realizes he’s responsible for extracting the massive potential he possesses.

“I control that ceiling,” Robinson said. “It’s just how much I want to learn. It’s just as far as going into it with a positive attitude and trusting the coaches. I believe (Offensive Line) Coach Paul Boudreau has a great plan for the O-Line. It’s up to me to work hard and be the best player I can be.”

Recently, a reporter recited to Robinson a quote that former Redskins guard Russ Grimm used during his Hall of Fame induction speech. Grimm said that there was “no greater feeling in the world than moving a man from point A to point B against his will.”

Robinson wasn’t familiar with the quote, but he nodded his head in agreement. A quick YouTube search can yield plenty of evidence of Robinson enjoying Grimm’s favorite activity. Robinson is glad to play for a team that has the offensive mentality that the Rams possess.

“I love to run block because of the way it can wear down a defense,” Robinson said. “When you run the ball well, you can impose your will. This offense (with the Rams) is a lot different than what we did at Auburn but I’m excited about it.”

After playing his collegiate career at left tackle, it’s likely that Robinson will likely begin his NFL days as a guard. The challenges of transitioning to a new position while adjusting to a completely new level of competition are ones that have tested Robinson, but he’s confident that he’ll grow into the role this summer.

“I can get my hands on them faster, so it’s something that I think I can grow to like,” Robinson said. “I’m a little rusty. It’s been a while since I played guard, but I’m certainly up for the challenge. I’ll do whatever it takes to help my team.”

In practice, one of Robinson’s biggest challenges may be dealing with his new teammates. When Fisher was asked on draft night if Robinson could play guard, the coach responded in the affirmative but jokingly tempered his expectations for Robinson in practice.

“He may initially have a little trouble blocking Aaron (Donald),” Fisher said.

Quick to the Punch

If Robinson does have a hard time trying to block his fellow first round pick, he’ll hardly be the only player who has experienced such troubles. You’d be hard pressed to find a guard in the Atlantic Coast Conference who did so a year ago as Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss.

If he can continue that productivity at the NFL level, Donald will fit in perfectly with his new teammates. The Rams finished third in the league in sacks last season after finishing atop the NFL standings in the category in 2012. With the addition of Donald, the Rams now have four first-round picks on the defensive line. They also have a position coach in Mike Waufle who is widely considered one of the best in the business at his craft.

With the experience and talent surrounding him at his position group, Donald knows he’ll be in a great position to succeed. Not only will he benefit from teams having to choose wisely when trying to figure out whom to double team up front due to the Rams’ depth of talent, Donald will also have a wealth of knowledge in his meeting room from which he can draw.

“I’m real excited just to have those veteran guys like that around me,” Donald said. “I can learn from them and if I need something, anything answered that I feel like I’m struggling with, I can ask those guys and they can push me and help me to take my game to another level, so I’m real excited about it.”

Donald stands 6-1 and weighs 285 pounds, which makes him physically different from fellow Rams defensive tackles Michael Brockers (6-5, 326) and Kendall Langford (6-6, 313). Speed, quickness and technique are Donald’s tools to success, and they had Fisher raving on draft night.

“He’s way ahead in hand use on the line of scrimmage,” Fisher said. “He does an outstanding job with his hands.”

Snead even sees Donald’s physique as a benefit.

“His game is not size,” Snead said. “I think his game is speed, quickness, so I think getting bigger really doesn’t help him. One of the reasons we were fine with the pick is he’s short so he always has leverage and he’s just a strong kid.”

Donald has received strong reviews in training camp for his ability to quickly get off the ball and disrupt plays in the backfield. Donald knows he must improve daily, and the excitement of those around him is tempered by the knowledge that the Pittsburgh native has yet to take a snap in an NFL game. However, the Rams believe they have good reason to feel positive about Donald’s future. Simply put, he fits the mold and looks the part.

“It just seems like his body mechanics, the way he bends and moves and takes steps, it’s perfectly in symmetry in what you want the ideal defensive lineman to do,” Snead said. “Make this step, take this angle, dip this shoulder, use this hand. You see some great Olympic swimmers and their lungs are in this shape, their torsos are longer, their wingspans are wider. They’re just made to swim. This guy was made to play defensive tackle.”

Great Expectations

If you look at the Rams’ first-round picks over the last five years, the precedent has been set. In 2010, Sam Bradford was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. A year later, the team’s top pick was Robert Quinn, who led the NFC with 19.0 sacks last season and is considered among the elite in the NFL at his position. The 2012 Draft yielded Michael Brockers, whom has started 28 games in two seasons and helped transform the Rams’ defensive fronts into one of the league’s best. Last year, Tavon Austin gave the Rams explosive plays and scored six touchdowns, while Alec Ogletree was a 16-game starter and the team’s leading tackler.

The bar has been set high. Robinson is expected to start from Day 1. With Langford coming off a career year in 2013, Donald may not be on the field for the first snap of every game, but he’ll see his share of action in the rotation.

Both players have extremely high expectations, but they’re realistic about what they’ll have to do to meet them.

“I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected,” Robinson said. “I feel like you’ve just got to go along with it and you fall in place wherever you land. It’s just all about your work ethic and how hard you work.”

For Donald, it’s a simple approach. He tries to block out distractions so he can focus on his job.

“All I can do is play ball,” Donald said. “When my name is called, I’ve got to try to be productive. I’m part of a great defensive line. I’ve got great coaches. I just have to work hard and do my part when my name is call.”

Although it’s early in their rookie years, Snead likes what he sees from his “foundation pieces.” When asked about the development of Robinson and Donald, the Rams’ GM hedged his answer a bit. He referred to recent comments made by Chip Kelly in which the Eagles’ coach said he believes the NFL Draft is extremely overhyped.

Snead understands the hype and knows it’s part of what makes his job what it is. He knows the Rams must be patient, but he also knows he has reason to be excited.

“We’re never going to take the hype of the draft away,” Snead said. “This is not a cookie cutter league. These are human beings. Each one is at different stages of their career. They don’t just come in and they’re King Kong. Every practice, they’re getting better. We’re jacked about it, but they’re not finished products yet. When they are, I think there are going to be a lot of fruits.”

Bradford is good, but Packers are better
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/bradford-is-good-but-packers-are-better/article_b0159eed-e9b6-5ffe-8007-e06ea0fecae9.html

The Rams were little more than a speed bump for Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s no-huddle offense Saturday.

Despite lots of work on the running game during the practice week, the Rams managed only 78 yards and 2.9 yards a carry on the ground.

Run defense? Not good enough, with the Rams allowing 125 yards and 4.2 yards per carry to Eddie Lacy and Co.

Penalties? Plenty. The Rams were in double figures again, with 10 penalties for 76 yards, although it should be noted that there’s an epidemic of flags throughout the NFL this preseason.

But the most important thing to come out of the contest, played in a half-empty Edward Jones Dome, was the play of quarterback Sam Bradford. Easy enough to overlook in a 21-7 loss were Bradford’s nine completions in 12 attempts, good for 101 yards, a touchdown, and a passer

rating of 127.4.

“I was very pleased with his performance in the brief amount of time that he played,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “You could see, he has his fastball. It was a great throw to Brian (Quick) and also to Lance (Kendricks).

Bradford threw a strike to Quick on a deep-in pattern on the Rams’ second possession of the game. Quick got some yards after the catch, making it a 41-yard gain to the Green Bay 35 before being brought down. Six plays later, Bradford worked through his progressions and found Kendricks over the middle for an 11-yard touchdown.

Kendricks was blanketed by Packers safety Micah Hyde in coverage, so the throw had to be perfect — or close to it.

“To be honest, we’ve called that play quite a bit in training camp, and I’m not sure the ball has ever gone there,” Bradford said. “But it was just a look where their safety was playing outside and Lance did a great job of getting around the ‘backer and inside the safety. … That’s not an easy catch.”

After that throw, Bradford was done for the day. As was the case with Rodgers and the Packers, Bradford played only two series before making way for Shaun Hill, Garrett Gilbert, and Austin Davis.

Bradford wasn’t perfect. Among his three incompletions was a deep sideline heave to Kenny Britt who had gotten behind the Packers’ secondary on the Rams’ first possession. But the throw was a little wide and ended up a couple of feet out of bounds. Otherwise, it might have been a touchdown.

“I just missed it outside a little bit,” Bradford said. “It was an opportunity for a big play — just gotta keep it inbounds.”

But among the 22 plays Bradford was on the field, two others said more about his night than any other completion or miss.

Three plays before the miss to Britt, the Rams faced a fourth-and-3 from the Green Bay 43. Fisher likes to practice situational football when possible in the preseason, and in this instance he decided to go for it.

With pass rushers surrounding him in the pocket, Bradford stayed patient, waiting for tight end Jared Cook to clear on a short crossing pattern.

If Bradford was worried about his surgically repaired left knee, he might’ve thrown early or even bailed out. Instead, he calmly completed a five-yard pass for a first down.

“We had confidence in him,” Fisher said. “He knew what to do. He knew what was going to unfold. We liked the look. He had options, he read it out, and made a good throw.”

Another play of note came on the second Rams possession, just two plays after the big catch by Quick. On second-and-7 from the Green Bay 32, eight-time Pro Bowler Julius Peppers got around rookie Greg Robinson and walloped Bradford from the blindside. (Robinson started at left tackle before moving to left guard later.)

Was Fisher wincing at the sight of Peppers moving in like a shark about devour its prey?

“No, no,” Fisher said. “Sam’s taken a lot of hits in his young career in the pocket. He pops up and goes. His injury (against Carolina) was completely different. He was out of the pocket, he was on the boundary. It was something weird that happened.”

Bradford did pop up quickly, as if almost telling the crowd and the coaching: Nothing to see here. I’m fine; totally fine.

“I think it was good for everyone to see,” Bradford said. “I’m gonna take hits this year, and I’m gonna get up. That’s what I’ve done in the past. But to get that first hit under my belt and know that everything’s gonna be OK, it was a big relief.”

Other than Bradford’s play — and the play of Quick and Kendricks — there wasn’t much to get excited about Saturday. On offense, the Rams couldn’t budge the line of scrimmage in the running game.

Starter Zac Stacy had only six yards on six carries while the starting offense was on the field, albeit a starting unit missing starters Jake Long at left tackle and Rodger Saffold at right guard.

“The Packers’ front seven is pretty good, pretty athletic,” Stacy said. “So they made plays. The main thing is just we want to keep improving. We know what we’re capable of in the running game and the passing game.”

On the other side of the ball, Rodgers toyed with the Rams’ defense, completing 11 of 13 passes for 128 yards in his two series, leading the Packers to a touchdown and a field goal.

For the newcomers on the St. Louis defense, they got a taste of what it’s like to play an elite quarterback. Rodgers bought time with his feet when needed, and as is almost always the case, displayed pinpoint accuracy.

Rookie nickel back Lamarcus Joyner struggled to keep up. On the Packers’ opening drive, Joyner appeared to get tangled up in the end zone while Rodgers avoided the rush by moving the pocket to the right. He then rifled a strike to Randall Cobb in the back of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass on 2nd-and-goal.

“I’ve just got to work my scrambling technique,” Joyner said. “If the quarterback gets out of the pocket you’ve got to plaster (stay with) your guy. I kind of had a mental error. That’s something we can correct.”

Nonetheless, Joyner was grateful for the experience.

“With a guy like Aaron Rodgers running the offense, he’s pretty much the commander-in-chief of that offense,” he said. “They go at his pace.”

A humbled Austin looks for better things in 2014
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/a-humbled-austin-looks-for-better-things-in/article_b7906bb2-99a9-504d-bd10-bde9764528ff.html

English was a second language for wide receiver Tavon Austin when it came to understanding the Rams’ playbook in 2013.

Although things got better as his rookie season progressed, Austin said there were times when he felt like it was written in Spanish.

“It definitely was hard in the beginning last year,” Austin said. “Toward the middle and the end (of the season) I probably started picking up on it. That’s when I started having some big games. But for the most part, it’s all about the mental game, getting comfortable. I believe I’m comfortable now.”

After a full offseason in the conditioning program, the OTA sessions in June, and now three weeks into training camp, Austin says he’s back to reading English.

“Yeah. Definitely,” he said, grinning. “It’s exactly what I speak now.”

In college at West Virginia, the playbook was thinner and the play calls were shorter. In fact, Austin said most of the plays were called via signals with the Mountaineers.

Those playbook struggles, combined with a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss the final three games, made it a so-so season in Austin’s mind. The No. 8 overall draft pick in 2013 gave himself a ‘C’ grade for his rookie campaign. Average.

“That’s just me talking because I know what I can do, and I know I can do better,” he said. “I wasn’t comfortable last year, so it’s all about me getting back in my state of mind, getting comfortable, and hopefully I’ll get some big plays.”

The big plays started coming over the second half of the season. The dam burst in Game 10, a 38-8 dismantling of the Indianapolis Colts, with Austin returning a punt 98 yards for a touchdown and catching TD passes of 57 and 81 yards.

The following week in a 42-21 thrashing of Chicago, Austin scored on a 65-yard rushing play. And then late in the third quarter of a 30-10 lost cause at Arizona in Game 13, Austin raced 56 yards on a non-scoring run to the Cardinals’ 4-yard line. But that’s where the big plays stopped, and where Austin’s season ended, because he suffered the ankle injury on that play.

The injury made the rookie year even tougher for him to swallow because Austin was as durable as they come in college, high school, even little league. He just doesn’t miss practices or miss games despite his small frame (5-8, 176).

“It definitely hurt that I missed those three games,” Austin said. “But everything happens for a reason. It taught me to be humble. It taught me to be patient. That’s the two top things that stuck with me through that whole process.”

The injury ended Austin’s first NFL season at 40 catches for 418 yards and four touchdowns. He had nine carries for 151 yards and a TD; 398 yards on kickoff returns; and 280 yards and a score on punt returns.

It all added up to 1,247 all-purpose yards, good for fourth among NFL rookies in 2013 behind Minnesota’s Cordarrelle Patterson (1,862), Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy (1,435) and Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell (1,259). Minus the ankle injury, Austin should’ve easily finished second behind Patterson.

Nonetheless, Austin felt he should’ve done more, studied more, produced more.

“Definitely, because I know what I can do for the team,” he said. “That’s what it all boils down to. I’m probably my biggest critic. At the end of the day, I’m gonna keep on grinding myself until I know I’ve had a successful season.”

Austin hasn’t been as noticeable on the practice field this camp as teammates Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt and Brian Quick. He had a couple of drops Monday but bounced back Tuesday with some impressive catches in traffic. (The team had a special teams only practice Wednesday.)

“We just have to give him the ball,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “Give him the ball in space, because we all know what he can do with it. And so we’re doing some different things. Probably won’t show a whole lot in the preseason but I’ve very pleased with where he’s at right now.”

Yes, the Rams are planning to expand Austin’s role in terms of where they line him up and what they do with him. They can expose him to more of the playbook because he has a better grasp of it entering his second year.

“Being able to move him around in different spots, he’s got a lot on his plate,” wide receivers coach Ray Sherman said.

The best part of Austin’s game is running fast and making people miss with his quickness. An improved grasp of the playbook greatly helps the cause, because it’s hard to play fast if you’re not sure about the play call, or where you’re supposed to go, or what you’re seeing after the snap.

Austin was on the field for only 19 offensive plays last Friday in the preseason opener against New Orleans and had a modest three catches for 20 yards. So it was difficult to gauge his progress, or lack thereof, in that game.

But quarterback Sam Bradford likes what he’s seen of Austin on the practice field.

“You can see that he’s playing so much faster than he was last year,” Bradford said. “Being in the second year of the offense, I think he feels a lot more comfortable with what he’s being asked to do. I don’t think he’s thinking as much, and you really see his speed come out in the way that he’s playing right now.”

And a speedy Austin should be a big-play Austin.