Rams notebook: Alexander healthy, looking to contribute

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Rams notebook: Alexander healthy, looking to contribute
4 hours ago • By Joe Lyons jlyons@post-dispatch.com 636-493-9675

On Monday, Eureka High product Maurice Alexander received some good news. On Tuesday, he returned to action in the first of two rookie workouts at Rams Park in Earth City.

“I was cleared yesterday, so this really is a blessing,’’ said Alexander, a fourth-round draft choice from Utah State who missed all but one organized team activity practice in June after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. “I’ve been waiting to get back out here. I didn’t know if they were going to clear me or not.

“I believe all things happen for a reason and I definitely feel a lot better now.’’

Alexander, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound safety, said he had some knee discomfort during the team’s first OTA workout.

“I noticed something wrong with my leg,” he recalled. “It wasn’t that bad — I could still run on it — but there was some swelling. When I mentioned it, they reacted pretty quickly. I got an X-ray and they noticed there was a tear in there.’’

Not long after surgery, with the help of the Rams’ training staff headed by Reggie Scott, Alexander started rehabbing.

“It was very stressful,’’ he said. “You just get here and you want to earn people’s trust.’’

After OTAs, the rest of the Rams took a month off. But Alexander stuck close to home — and the Rams’ trainers.

“I like vacations, but I was already home,’’ the 23-year-old South City native kidded. “I knew I had work to do and the training staff did a great job of getting me ready to get back on the field.’’

Alexander, who played just one season at safety after starting his college career at linebacker, also used the down time to study his playbook.

“You need to get those mental reps,’’ he said. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams “had made it pretty comfortable for us. It’s a large playbook, so I won’t say it’s easy to learn. It’s a little complicated, but it’s things I’ve done before.’’

The team’s first full-squad workout is Friday.

TWO-WAY WARRIOR

After spending the last two seasons on the Rams’ practice squad, Mason Brodine worked during OTAs to make the transition to tight end from defensive end. Tuesday, the 6-foot-7, 284-pound Brodine was back in the defensive unit’s white jersey.

“I’m switching around; the more you can do, you know?’’ he said. “I’m still playing offense as well. (The coaches) approached me about doing both and I was open to it. I had to knock a little of the rust off today, but I’m pretty comfortable doing what I need to do — anything I can do to help us win games.’’

Brodine, from the University of Nebraska Kearney, knows of only one other player, San Francisco tight end/defensive tackle Demarcus Dobbs, who sees action on both sides of the ball.

“He’s a blocking tight end who also plays on defense and on special teams,’’ Brodine said. “At this point, for me, offense is a lot more of a mental game than defense, but it just takes studying.’’

ROSTER MOVES

The Rams cut four players and added four to keep the roster at 90.

Placed on no-recall waivers were linebackers Caleb McSurdy and Tavarius Wilson, tackle Abasi Salimu and wide receiver Diontae Spencer. Added to the squad are tackles R.J. Dill (Rutgers) and D.J. Morrell (Old Dominion) as well as linebackers Pat Schiller (Northern Illinois) and Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut).

None of the released players have played in an NFL game.

Morrell was cut earlier this month by the Detroit Lions; Dill spent some time on the New England Patriots’ practice squad last season; Schiller was previously with the Atlanta Falcons; Wilson, a sixth-round pick by Carolina in 2011, spent some time that season on the Panthers’ practice squad and was last with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.

Tavarius Wilson, Salimu and Spencer were signed as rookie free agents shortly after the NFL draft.

McSurdy, selected in the seventh round of the 2012 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, was signed to the Rams’ practice squad in December.

RAM-BLING

Veteran defensive end Chris Long stopped by to catch a bit of Tuesday’s workout.

The full squad won’t begin practicing until Friday, the first of 13 workouts at Rams Park that will be open to the public.