Fisher press conferences, 10/15-16 (belated)

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – October 15, 2014

(On if he got what he wanted out of today’s practice)
“Yeah we did. Success on short weeks really requires two things: preparation, recovery. We got a lot of that done today. We cut practice down a little bit. Had a really good session this morning, instillation. Tomorro, we’ll let them get their legs back and we’ll be right back on our schedule.”

(On if practice started later to help the team get their legs back)
“Yes. We let the coaches have a little bit more game planning time as well.”

(On if the coaches are where they would normally be game planning wise on a typical six day week)
“We’re caught up, yeah. It’s amazing if you have a long week then you take every second. If you have a short week, you always get caught up. Long weeks are harder because you find more things to do.”

(On if it helps that they’re playing a familiar team)
“Yes, it does. We know them very well. They’re very, very talented. They’re playing good ball and I know they’re a little disappointed in the results last weekend. But, this is a good football team. (Seattle Qcool smiley Russell’s (Wilson) better this year, it looks like earlier in the season than he was last year and he played outstanding ball last year. We have a great deal of respect for him. We know it’s going to require a lot out of us. Again, it’s another physical team. I thought we matched the 49ers. We went toe-to-toe with them physically. We have to do that again with these guys.”

(On if he sees Wilson improving on a year-to-year basis)
“Yes, he is. The anticipation, the throws down field and the accuracy. Some of the throws he makes, they’re just like (49ers QB Colin) ‘Kap’(Kaepernick) last week. He just makes great throws on the run.”

(On what he saw from RB Tre Mason’s snaps when he watched the film)
“I got five snaps. He had production on all of them. He blocked on one and made a nice run after catch and split the two tacklers. Got what he could on a couple of the runs. The 24 yarder, it was great vision and acceleration. Think he might have caught them a little off guard.”

(On if Mason has improved his pass blocking)
“Yeah. It’s protection and the actual technique. He’s improved significantly at that. That’s why he played.”

(On if it’s not unusual for a running back coming out of college to be taught how to pass block)
“Yeah, that’s the first thing that you work on is that and sometimes it takes time. It takes time with most of the backs.”

(On what caught his attention from watching OL Greg Robinson Sunday)
“He was physical and athletic. He was in the right place more times than we thought. I thought he played pretty well. He matched-up, you have to ask (49ers DT) Justin (Smith) what it’s like to play against him because it was a pretty good match-up there.”

(On if Robinson and Smith had some interesting collisions)
“There were some collisions, yes. He was very efficient. Both he and OL Rodger (Saffold) on the pulls. Both of them pulled very well in the game.”

(On if CB Janoris Jenkins has been a high risk/reward player and if there is anything he needs to do to improve)
“I disagree. He’s playing corner, it’s the hardest position to play in this league. The great part about him is that he’s got a short memory. He doesn’t let those things bother him. He doesn’t make mistakes on purpose, understands our defense. Like I said he will take responsibility for the play. I think it was more of something that we should have kept him out of. I have no concern with his production and his play at this point.”

(On if he is as confidant as ever in Jenkins)
“Yes.”

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – October 16, 2014

(Opening Statement)
“We had a really good practice. They practiced really hard. We’ve got quite a challenge on our hands, this is a good football team. You watch the Dallas game real close and they were really close to winning that ball game. Dallas was able to hang on, despite having a punt blocked for a touchdown, stuff like that. They were able to hang on particularly because they ran the ball, were able to run the ball in the second half and that’s been their common theme. When you’ve had a chance to stay in the game in the second half you’ve got to run the football. That’s what San Diego did obviously. Arizona does a good job with it and we’ve done okay in the past with that, so we’re going to have to get in there.”

(On if it was surprising for him to see Seattle loose at home)
“Well it doesn’t happen very often, but Dallas, as we found out is a good football team right now. Sometimes hey, sometimes those things happen and Dallas earned it. I know the Seahawks. We know (Seahawks Head Coach) Pete (Carroll) and they’ve got a lot to prove.”

(On if he feels as though the team is not far off considering the seasons that Dallas and Philadelphia are having and the fact that they almost beat both teams)
“We feel in-house that we’re close, but our record doesn’t reflect that and we’ve got to win games.”

(On what element Seahawks WR Percy Harvin brings to their offense that changes what they can do)
“It’s just his speed. He’s very, very explosive and he’s an excellent athlete. He sees well, he’s got good vision. He can take the ball any place on the field and hit a crease and go. That was what he did in college, that’s what he did at Minnesota and he’s healthy now, so he adds an extra weapon to their offense.”

(On what kind of progress has QB Austin Davis’ progress with regard to holding the ball too long in the pocket)
“I think he’s doing a good job. If he’s holding the football you give defense credits for it. He understands he’s got a good sense of timing. He’s got a clock, he’s knows when the ball has to come out.”

(On if he encourages Davis to look for the deep ball opportunities)
“He’s going to take a shot. It’s rare-not-rare but when you get an opportunity to put the ball down the field, you need to do it. He’s done that. Obviously, you saw what he did against Philadelphia, so that’s his deal. Now, if they take things away and he’s got to go underneath, he’ll go underneath. Putting it up and giving those guys a chance to make a play, that’s part of playing the position.”

(On if Seattle is getting a different look from the Rams considering the size of WR, Kenny Britt and Brian Quick and how their size can match with Seattle’s corners)
“Right, we do. We have the matchup. Their guys tend to match up well with the bigger guys. Obviously, we have to work to get open. We have to do some different things. We’re going to attack the entire field. He’s going to take the ball where he needs to take it.”

(On if that makes WRs like Chris Givens and Tavon Austin are better matchups against Seattle’s corners because of their speed)
“I like our matchups across the board.”

(On if the team’s physicality, especially on both sides of the line of scrimmage, last week against San Francisco)
“We played physical, very, very. If you’re going to give us a grade and you want to grade physicality, I think we’d get an ‘A.’ We played very physical in that game. We have to now continue. We have to carry it over and do it again this week.”