Fisher, 5/7 … vid & transcript

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – May 7, 2016

(Opening Remarks)

“We just finished our second practice with the rookies. They’ve done a really good job, just really impressed with the whole group. We’ve got a lot accomplished. As we have referred to this in the past as an orientation, as opposed to a minicamp, and in essence that’s what it is. We’re monitoring their speed and explosive movements and things like that, particularly because they are a little bit behind the veterans. They adjusted, they did a nice job. We got a lot of offense and defense in; we got some special teams work going. Their schedule right now, they are going to go in and have their first lift. They were introduced to our weight room philosophy yesterday, and then they are going to have their lift. Then we’ll have some more meetings tonight. Then, they get a day off tomorrow. As we continue to move in to our offseason program, we’re going to kind of keep them separate from the veterans for about a week or so. Work them in the afternoon and just let them observe, just to ensure that we get them caught up to that conditioning level where our vets are. As far as Jared (Goff) is concerned, I thought he did a really good job. A little frustrated at times for him because he’s setting the back foot and getting ready to go and we’re running half-speed routes, so the timing stuff doesn’t work out. So, if you see balls hit the ground or things like that, it’s all because we’re encouraging the skill players not to run full speed. He’s doing a great job of picking up our offense. I know he’s looking forward to coming back. We have a number of players that have to leave tomorrow because their exams aren’t over – Jared being one of them. But, most of everybody will be back next weekend. Those that do leave, we have about a half dozen or so that are leaving, but the rest of the guys will be here and participate throughout the offseason program.”

(On how the receivers and tight ends have looked so far)

“Basically, what we’ve evaluated are their hands and their mental capacity on offense. We just haven’t gotten full speed. Competitive, very skilled. (WR) Pharoh (Cooper) is what we thought he was, based on a couple days, but he’s not full speed yet. Impressed when the tight ends walked off the bus, it’s good to see them. Good tight ends that are long that can catch. We have a lot of work to do, but by and large, the coaching staff is very excited.”

(On how impressive RB Aaron Green has to be to make the team)

“He’s going to be competing with Malcolm Brown – who’s also out here. Yes, it will probably come down to the end, but he’s a very productive college player. Had a lot of yards and a lot of big plays, he can catch and he’s picking things up. It will be one of those situations that comes down to the end, in all likelihood.”

(On if there is anything about Goff that they have noticed in the past couple of days that they didn’t see before)

“We’ve given him a lot more information than we did at the private workout and in our meeting and he’s handled it without any problem. That’s the type of player that he is. I passed him last night walking to the room and he was leaving the meeting room at 10 o’clock. He’s that kind of guy. He’s spending the time.”

(On how much of a shock it will be for the rookies when they mix with the veterans)

“Well, that’s the objective of what we’re doing so it’s not a shock. We want them to go out and condition and be prepared to go into the drills. Our offseason program is this, we can’t come together until June, until the OTAs. So that’s when the offense and defense come together and compete, so we’re separate, so they’ll just be drilling. That’s an excellent opportunity to get them up. Once they come together in the OTAs in June, then they’ll be able to compete. I think what we’re going to see on Monday, when the vets come on the field for their 90-minute session and the rookie class is observing, you’re going to see a little of this (pounds chest) out of the vets because they are going to show off a little bit. So it works out good – you get more out of the vets, the ‘rooks’ get to see it. Once we get to OTAs everything will be good.”

(On the NFL hosting a collective rookie orientation and if the Rams are doing anything different)

“The NFL’s going to come in and address and make a presentation to the ‘rooks.’ We’re going to continue and do the same things that we’ve always done. We’ll have meetings starting next week with respect to financial planning, life skills and decision making and all those things that we cover. Social media, media relations and the list goes on and on and on. They’ll be educated once we’re done with (rookie) camp. The draft classes are always used to going to the symposium for three days. This has a chance to be a little bit more intimate. I think it has a chance, from the standpoint of the guys being able to absorb more information, I think it may work out better. Plus, we can also participate in them.”

(On how the rookies are adjusting to the playbook and the terminology which can seem like learning a foreign language)

“Well, they’re coming on. We had a walk-thru earlier today. We’ve had meetings today and last night, so it’s coming on and they have to stay up on it. What it is, it’s a matter of them relating what we’re teaching them, the terminology, to that in which they’ve learned in the past. The coaches do a good job of asking them, ‘Well what did you call this?’ ‘Well, we called this that.’ ‘OK, well this is what we call it.’ ‘So you got the concept?’ ‘Yeah.’ And then they go on to the next concept.”

(On his initial impressions of LB Josh Forrest)

“Big, long, athletic and can move really well right now at half speed. I haven’t seen him at full speed. He’s a good-looking physical specimen. He looks good. He’s got a lot of work to do, like the rest of them do catching up before we cut them loose. But he’s got some movement skills.”

(On what kind evaluating he’s able to do when the players are moving at half speed)

“You’re looking at the mental things. Are they doing the right things? Is the footwork appropriate? Are the steps appropriate? Are you dropping your hips? Those kinds of things. Then of course you’re looking at every once in a while someone goes a little more than half speed and so how well do they pay attention to the details? It’s hard to evaluate the explosiveness and things like that. It’s hard to evaluate when you’re not competing against an opponent, an offensive or defensive opponent. This is the way you have to do it. We’re convinced this is how you have to do it. It’s really unfair for them to come out and ask them to get to full speed and then you have a soft tissue injury and then he misses OTAs then he’s behind at camp. We’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s worked out for us because ideally what you want to have is you want to have a healthy roster when you start training camp.”

(On if the rookies are separate from the veterans for the next week or if there will be any mingling)

“They’ll be meetings together and things like that. As a matter of fact and they’re looking forward to it, they get to introduce themselves to the veterans on Monday morning at the team meeting. That’s always amusing.”

(On how impressed with how QB Jared Goff has handled everything so far)

“He’s a guy that understands priorities. He knows how to budget his time and where to spend his time. It’ll change a little bit. We’ll get him some information this week so he can stay up as we continue to install. He’s handled everything. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s got that internal, competitive drive that you don’t see. He doesn’t wear it on his sleeve. He’s going to make sure that everything’s right.”

(On how much contact can he have with Goff when he’s not here)

“It’s very, very limited so we’re going to send him stuff back. It’s going to be a week is all so he’ll be fine.”