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August 4, 2014 at 8:04 pm #3283
RamBillParticipantRams Camp Report: Day 9
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10184/rams-camp-report-day-9
ST. LOUIS — A daily review of the hot topics coming out of St. Louis Rams training camp:
Now THAT was a football practice. There’s no doubt the Rams want to be an aggressive, physical team unafraid to hit opponents in the mouth. At Monday’s workout, they weren’t afraid to hit one another in the mouth, either. In what was the most physical practice of this training camp, the Rams got after it all afternoon with shoulder pads on and run game drills aplenty. The defining moment came when receiver Austin Pettis felt like cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was a little too over the top in his pursuit of the ball after a play and threw it at Joyner. Joyner wasn’t pleased with that response and went after Pettis. Before they were separated, both players threw punches and most of the team intervened to pull them apart. It wasn’t the only moment of the day where the feisty Joyner got under someone’s skin. A handful of plays before the skirmish, Joyner got tangled with receiver Kenny Britt and ended up with Britt’s helmet in his hands. Britt later repaid the favor with a crushing downfield block. Joyner might be small but it’s quite clear he doesn’t back down.
As for the run-game work, the Rams emphasized that in today’s practice. They did a period of run-blocking only drills early in the practice and made it a point to do even more during the team portion. They didn’t tackle but there was plenty of “thud” tempo. That might not do it justice but think of these thuds as the kind that used to show up on the old Batman TV show where the word is in all caps with 18 exclamation points behind it. Starting running back Zac Stacy brought the hammer repeatedly, dropping his shoulder into safety Rodney McLeod multiple times and doing the same to linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong. Tight end Cory Harkey did the same after a couple of catches, including one that drew some not-fit-for-print words from Armstrong.
A couple of others who showed up when the contact increased: tight end Justice Cunningham and safety Maurice Alexander. After Alexander came up with a run stuff in one period, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams could be heard yelling “Look who finally showed up.” Cunningham came with some big blocks during run plays in team as well, drawing praise from his offensive teammates and coaches.
The walking wounded list is still extensive but none of the injuries appear serious. Among the key names not practicing were linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford, wide receiver Brian Quick, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Brandon McGee and offensive lineman Barrett Jones. Laurinaitis, Brockers and McGee are battling ankle issues and Saffold has a stinger. One player who did practice was safety Christian Bryant. He’s been stuck on the non-football injury list since his arrival and Monday’s workout was his first with the Rams.
The Rams return to practice Tuesday with the workout scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. That practice is the only one left this week open to the public at Rams Park.
August 4, 2014 at 9:52 pm #3304RamBillParticipantRams report: Scuffle between Joyner and Pettis highlights feisty workout
• By Joe LyonsWith the heat and humidity back to normal August levels, the Rams went through a spirited and somewhat contentious workout before a crowd of 1,003 Monday afternoon at Rams Park.
Rookie defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, just back after tweaking a groin muscle in last week’s special-teams workout, drew the ire of veterans Kenny Britt and Austin Pettis, with a number of teammates needed to break up the Joyner/Pettis scuffle.
“We’re competing. That’s brotherhood out there,” the second-round draft choice from Florida State said. “We’re not playing for paychecks out here, we’re playing for championships.”
Rookie Greg Reid, who played alongside Joyner at Florida State, had a couple of big hits during Monday’s workout. Reid also closed out the practice in style, stepping front of fellow rookie Austin Franklin to pick off off a Garrett Gilbert pass.
“We’re both just passionate players,” Joyner said.
Reid, signed as a free agent in March after missing the 2013 season with a knee injury, closed out the practice in style when he stepped in front of fellow rookie Austin Franklin to pick off a pass from rookie Garrett Gilbert.
Joyner, the projected starter at the nickel back spot, was just happy to be practicing again after a few days off.
“It felt like I was out for a year,” Joyner kidded. “Ask guys like Greg Reid, who’s been out for two years; I can only imagine his pain. I was only out three days and I felt like I was suffering.
“Today, I was just excited to be back on the football field, to be around my teammates and just have fun.”
The other big hits of the day came at the end of Zac Stacy runs. On the first, Stacy put a pretty good hit on safety Rodney McLeod. But McLeod returned the favor later in practice.
The offensive highlights Monday included at least three passes from veteran quarterback Shaun Hill to rookie free agent tight end Alex Bayer.
Fort Zumwalt West and Mizzou product T.J. Moe also made a couple of nice catches Monday.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams, who host the New Orleans Saints in the preseason opener for both clubs Friday at 7 p.m. at the Edward Jones Dome, will hold their final open-to-the-public workout today beginning at 5:30 p.m.
• Linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle) and defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle) were at the top of Monday’s did-not-practice list. Others sitting out were receiver Brian Quick, guard Rodger Saffold, defensive tackle Kendall Langford, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, cornerback Brandon McGee, linebacker Pat Schiller, center/guard Barrett Jones, guard Brandon Washington, running back Trey Watts and fullback Kadeem Jones.
• On the flip side, safety Christian Bryant took part in his practice as a Ram. A seventh-round draft choice from Ohio State, Bryant had his college career ended last fall when he suffered a fractured ankle late in the Buckeyes’ victory over Wisconsin.
• Former Rams receiver Mark Clayton watched Monday’s practice and liked what he saw of the squad’s receiving corps. Clayton, in town on business, has a company (LIVV) that’s producing high-tech headphones. Production will begin in October.
• High school coaches on the sideline Monday included Fort Zumwalt South, Timberland and Warrenton.
(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)
August 4, 2014 at 11:21 pm #3311RamBillParticipantPractice Recap: Plenty of Pops
By Myles Simmons Rams InsiderThe first game week of the season is upon us, and the Rams looked like they were ready to hit another team on Monday. Yes, it’s only preseason, but St. Louis will take on New Orleans Friday night for the team’s first live action of 2014.
YOU COULD HEAR IT
Practice wasn’t just about what you could see at Rams Park this afternoon — it was what you could hear.
The Rams got after each other on offense and defense, providing a soundtrack of pops and thuds for the assembled crowd of over 1,000 fans.
“We needed to get out of them what we got out of them today,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “We worked on the run game early in practice, which was good. They’re protecting each other. They’re using their pads.”
There was plenty of chatter on the field as well — and not just from the usual suspect, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Plenty of players were whooping it up, mustering some enthusiasm on a pretty warm day.
“When it’s hot, it’s hot,” Fisher said. “But they got used to it. They had a little breeze, so they’re fine.”
Tempers did boil over at one point in practice, though. Wide receiver Austin Pettis and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner got into a minor scrap after Pettis caught a pass and Joyner tried to rip the ball away when the play was over. Pettis flung the ball at Joyner, and members of the team came over to join in the excitement. But there was really nothing more to it than that.
“That’s brotherhood out there,” Joyner told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We’re not playing for paychecks out there. We’re playing for championships.”
“I think those guys are just trying to transition themselves into game-like situations,” rookie Greg Robinson said to our Casey Phillips. “That’s why we turned it up a little bit, put on the pads, going full speed a little bit and making contact, getting the feel of it. I think that’s just to prepare ourselves for Friday.”
Even with the nature of Monday’s practice, Fisher said Tuesday could bring even more sound effects.
“We’re probably going to do a little bit more probably from the physical standpoint than we did today,” Fisher said.
It’ll be plenty more fun to hear those pads continue to pop.
OGLETREE’S PROGRESS
With his 117 tackles, 10 pass deflections, six forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks, linebacker Alec Ogletree undoubtedly had one of the best rookie seasons of 2013. And according to Fisher, he’s been taking steps to get better.
“We expect more production out of him,” Fisher said. “He’s been working on it. We’re pleased with where he is right now.”
Fisher said Williams has done a nice job with moving Ogletree around defensive alignments in order to maximize his skillset.
“We’ll create some matchups and might be doing a little bit more pressure than he’s done before,” Fisher said. “But from a cover standpoint, he can do it.”
As someone who Fisher said has “made the big plays and he’s got the big-play potential,” Ogletree told our Casey Phillips on at #RamsFanFest on Saturday that his goals start with mastering his craft in meetings.
“Just being fundamental with all my stuff,” Ogletree said. “Make sure I own the playbook, and make sure I’ll be able to take what I’ve learned in the classroom onto the field.”
As long as he’s progressing, the Rams will have another stout player for their front seven.
TWITTER QUESTION OF THE DAY
If you missed it a few days ago, I’m new around these parts as your Rams Insider. (http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Recap-Defense-Gets-Aggressive/f618a58a-26d2-46b5-b14a-5bfba2d6e8f6) So given my title, I figured it might not be a bad idea to try something new by taking a Twitter question and using it here. Tweet it to me at any time @MylesASimmons (https://twitter.com/mylesasimmons), and it might make it here. And even if it doesn’t, I’ll do my best to Tweet you an answer.
The inaugural question comes from @CasualMook, who asks:
Donald looks like he fits right in with the first team. As all of you know, there is a whole lot of talent on the Rams defensive line, and it definitely looks like Donald has the tools to be another strong piece. Of course, you never really know until the games start and he’s played some snaps against a live opponent. But it sure looks so far like Donald could be the real deal.
Thanks for the question, @CasualMook.
LEFTOVERS
…Fisher complimented the backup quarterbacks on Monday, saying Shaun Hill, Austin Davis, and rookie Garrett Gilbert all have a pretty good feel for what’s been going on in camp.
“[Hill] traditionally has played very well in preseason games over the last few years, so we expect him to do so,” Fisher said. “They’ll all get a chance to play.”
…Hill, a 13-year veteran who has seen his share of quarterbacks, had some pretty nice words about the starter at his position.
“I’ve been very impressed with Sam,” Hill said. “What an unbelievable talent — great guy, too. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time together so far.”
UP NEXT
The Rams will have their last open practice of the week on Tuesday at Rams Park. The session starts at 5:30 p.m. and admission is free.
August 5, 2014 at 12:09 am #3316RamBillParticipantRams Day 9 camp report
Nate Latschhttp://stl.scout.com/2/1429614.html
ST. LOUIS — The Rams had their most spirited practice of training camp on Monday afternoon at Rams Park, including their first fight of camp.
That was a showdown between rookie cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, the team’s second-round pick out of Florida State, and veteran wide receiver Austin Pettis.“We’re competing. That’s brotherhood,” Joyner said. “We’re not playing for paychecks out here; we’re playing for championships. We want to fun and we’re having fun doing it.”
Pettis took exception to something Joyner did following a catch during team work. Pettis flipped the ball at Joyner. Then the two went at it, with both players throwing punches before being separated.
That altercation came just a few minutes after Joyner and wide receiver Kenny Britt got into a tussle that ended with the rookie cornerback grabbing his teammate’s helmet, which then fell to the field.
The diminutive rookie showed some feistiness. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 184 pounds, Joyner wasn’t afraid to go out of his weight class in scuffles with Britt (6-3, 223) and then Pettis (6-3, 203).
“Oh yeah, football,” Joyner said. “We was competing, man. Our first preseason (game) coming up and we’re trying to win a championship around here, so you’ve got to play football.”
• Joyner, rookie seventh-round safety Christian Bryant and undrafted rookie linebacker Johnny Millard were among the players who returned to practice on Monday after missing time with injuries.
Joyner said he was nicked up during a special teams practice last week.
“It felt like I was out for a year,” he said.
Among the players who did not participate in Monday’s practice were linebacker James Laurinaitis, wide receiver Brian Quick, offensive linemen Rodger Saffold and Barrett Jones, defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Brandon McGee.
• The Rams set the tone for the day with a physical early session that focused on the run game. There was no tackling involved, but plenty of popping of the pads.
Running back Zac Stacy delivered several thuds against the linebackers and safeties. Safety Rodney McLeod was on the receiving end of big one.
• Undrafted rookie tight Alex Bayer continued to look good with several catches during the team period.
The Rams figure to keep four tight ends, with Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey essentially guaranteed roster spots. That leaves Bayer, Justice Cunningham and 6-7, 284-pound converted defensive lineman Mason Brodine competing for one spot.
• T.J. Moe had two nice catches during the late team period.
Moe, from the University of Missouri, missed all of last training camp and regular season with an injury after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent. He’s got his work cut out for him in earning a roster spot, but he’s a guy that figures to have plenty of chances to impress during the preseason games.
• Rookie cornerback Greg Reid intercepted a Garrett Gilbert pass along the sideline late in the team period. Reid, who missed the past two seasons after suffering two knee injuries, will be an interesting player to watch during the preseason because he should get plenty of looks.
• Former Rams wide receiver Mark Clayton watched practice on Monday.
A first-round pick in 2005 out of Oklahoma, Clayton played five seasons with the Ravens (2005-2009) before being traded to St. Louis. He looked to be one of Sam Bradford’s go-to targets in 2010, when Bradford was a rookie, before getting hurt.
In his Rams’ debut, against the Cardinals, Clayton caught 10 passes for 119 yards. He caught two touchdown passes the next week. He only played in five games in 2010 because of a knee injury but he finished with 23 catches for 306 yards and two scores.
Clayton played in just two games the following season, 2011, because of an injury and then he never played another game in the NFL.
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