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September 8, 2017 at 10:30 pm #73920
znModeratorPhillips Gears Up for Defense’s Debut
Myles Simmons
With four decades of experience, Wade Phillips has seen it all. With so many top defenses over the years — including the Broncos unit that won Super Bowl 50 — there’s not much that can phase the 70-year-old defensive coordinator.
That’s why even though the Rams’ first-team defense has not seen any live reps together, Phillips isn’t necessarily concerned about the unit coming together and playing well on Sunday.
“I’m just waiting to kind of see how we do. I think there’s going to be good things,” Phillips said on Thursday. “We’re practicing together well this week. I’ve been impressed with our practices this week. And we have all our guys healthy and all of them are practicing now, so you’ve got to carry that to the game. But I thought we’ve practiced really well.”
Though the Colts won’t have quarterback Andrew Luck in this game, Phillips called T.Y. Hilton one of the premier wide receivers in the league. Indianapolis offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski often puts him in good position to succeed, as Hilton led the league with 1,448 yards receiver last year.
“‘Chud’ is a really good coordinator and he’s got a great player there and he utilizes him,” Phillips said. “That’s what you do — you put him in situations where you can get him one-on-one and you can get him running option routes where he can go any way he sees, which he’s great at. So, you have to double him every play, so we will.”
Trumaine Johnson will likely be heavily involved in that plan, and Phillips said he’s been really impressed with the Rams’ top corner so far.
“I think he’s come in here and done everything we’ve asked and a little bit more, really. And that’s what I’ve been impressed with,” Phillips said. “He works at what he does. He’s a smart player, he’s athletic, he listens to what we’re trying to teach. He knows how to fit in, in the defense. I’ve been really impressed with him. I’ve had some really good corners, but he can be right up there.”
The defensive coordinator had similar praise for middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, who is entering his second season as Los Angeles’ signal-caller.
“I’ve been really impressed with Alec Ogletree. He’s a smart guy, but he’s really athletic. He gives you everything you want in a linebacker,” Phillips said. “He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s fast and he’s smart. He can make all the calls and the adjustments. It’s a new defense and he’s the leader of that defense and done a great job with it.”
But when it comes to the defense jelling on Sunday, Phillips said the team will keep track of snaps for certain players who didn’t receiver much — if any — playing time in August.
“We’ve got to be aware of Robert Quinn or even Mark Barron — some of those guys that haven’t been in live action during the preseason at all,” Phillips said. “We’ll have to be aware and monitor how many snaps they have.”
September 8, 2017 at 10:44 pm #73924znModeratorWade Phillips will have his full defense, minus Aaron Donald
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-report-20170907-story.html
Shrouded in injury-depleted mystery during the preseason, a near fully stocked Rams defense will finally be on display in Sunday’s season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is as curious as anybody.
“I’m just waiting to kind of see how we do,” Phillips said Thursday. “I think there’s going to be good things.”
Phillips, 70, brought his trademark 3-4 scheme to the Rams but has not been able to truly evaluate it.
Starting linebackers Robert Quinn and Mark Barron and cornerback Kayvon Webster were held out of preseason games to make sure they would be physically sound for the opener. Others such as lineman Michael Brockers and linebacker Connor Barwin were limited to two games.
And then, of course, there is the Aaron Donald situation. The star lineman did not participate in offseason workouts, did not report to training camp and remains a holdout because of a contract dispute.
Phillips, in his 40th NFL season, has experienced similar situations as a head coach and coordinator.
“It’s disappointing that he’s not here for whatever the reasons are, but I’ve been through it before too,” Phillips said. “You’ve got to play with the guys you have.
“We believe that we can play well and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Sean McVay continues to say that he will not rule out Donald possibly playing against the Colts, showing the first-year coach is no novice when it comes to the sometimes laughable aspects of NFL gamesmanship.
Phillips has coached multiple Hall of Fame players and such current NFL stars as Houston Texans lineman J.J. Watt and Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller.
If and when Donald returns, Phillips will coach him the same way.
“You give them the opportunity to do what they do well,” he said, adding, “you’ve got to put them in a position to be able to utilize their talent, is all you have to do.
“That’s not real hard.”
September 8, 2017 at 10:46 pm #73925znModeratorRams remain without Aaron Donald and will have other defensive starters on ‘pitch count’ against Colts
By RICH HAMMOND
THOUSAND OAKS — Wade Phillips joined the NFL in 1976, so it’s tough to put something new past the Rams’ defensive coordinator, but this year’s season opener even seems to have Phillips scratching his head a bit.
“I don’t know about concerned,” Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “You’re just waiting to see how we do. I think there’s going to be good things. We’ve been practicing really well this week.”
Phillips can’t be certain, though. His best player, Aaron Donald, remains in a contract holdout, and while the Rams haven’t officially ruled out Donald for Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, the idea that Donald could play Sunday, even if he reported to team headquarters Friday, seems improbable.
At least the Rams can plan for that absence. Phillips indicated that he isn’t certain how much the Rams will get out of linebackers Robert Quinn and Mark Barron, both of whom (along with starting cornerback Kayvon Webster) missed the four-game preseason schedule because of injury concerns.
The Rams don’t have any players listed on their injury report, a fact Coach Sean McVay happily reiterated for a second consecutive day, but Phillips indicated that Quinn and Barron might be limited against the Colts. That could mean more work for players such as Matt Longacre and Cory Littleton.
“We’ll have to be aware, and monitor how many snaps they have,” Phillips said of Quinn and Barron. “They’ll be on a snap count or pitch count or whatever.”
Phillips also said the Rams wouldn’t change their defensive game plan depending on Donald’s availability, but said he might ask different things from a player with a different body type or skill set.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence, then, that the player primarily expected to fill Donald’s spot, rookie Tanzel Smart, has similarities. Donald is listed at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds, compared to Smart’s 6-1, 290 pounds. Phillips didn’t seem riled about the prospect of coaching a game without his star player.
“We know what the situation is and I know what the situation is,” Phillips said. “It’s disappointing that he’s not here, for whatever the reasons are, but I’ve been through it before. You have to play with the guys you have. We believe we can play well, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
September 9, 2017 at 1:02 am #73936
HerzogParticipantPhillips feels good. Very good sign
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