Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Rams’ Potential Backup QB Sean Mannion
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August 16, 2015 at 11:24 am #28773
znModeratorDon’t Sleep on the Rams’ Potential Backup QB Sean Mannion
Luke Schnake
http://www.101sports.com/2015/08/13/done-sleep-rams-potential-backup-qb-sean-mannion/
The Rams have a clear-cut and healthy starting quarterback in Nick Foles, but the team knows better than to bank on that being the case through December.
In a league going through a drought at the QB position, the Rams have had to dip into the reserves more than many franchises.
Two of this year’s training camp reserves wore the horns last season in Austin Davis and Case Keenum. The team decided to give itself an additional option by selecting Sean Mannion out of Oregon State in the third round of the 2015 draft.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and coming from a college that ran a pro-style offense, Mannion looks and acts the part of a player with a shot at a decent pro career.
Davis and Keenum have experience running an NFL offense, but coaches have spoken highly of Mannion and his ability to adapt. The rookie says the difference between today and when he arrived for rookie camp is night and day.
“I feel very comfortable. I feel like I’ve done a lot of good things so far in training camp.”
Mannion said. “I’m trying to be accurate, trying to make good decisions with the ball. I feel really comfortable in the offense. The biggest difference is it’s not my first time out here practicing with the guys. We got that over with in OTA’s so we could come out and hit the ground running.”
Rookie quarterbacks that ran pro offenses in college as opposed to the option ideally have an easier time adapting to the NFL. Mannion believes his time at Oregon State running head coach Mike Riley’s offense has been a big help to him in St. Louis.
“I think it’s helped a lot. Obviously there’s another level of detail with everything: protections, run game, passing concepts…all that stuff. But the good part about it is there hasn’t been much that’s been completely foreign to me.” Mannion said.
“Most of these concepts I’ve seen and ran in games in college. I think the general familiarity with formations, motions, protections…Obviously it boils down to different names and another level of detail, but there’s a great deal of familiarity having run this at some point in my college career.”
The jump has also been easier for Mannion in terms of his mechanics.
He knows he has work to do just like any rookie, but being a college pocket passer, Mannion insists he isn’t changing his approach, but sharpening it.
“(Mechanics) are not something I like to overthink. I like to think of it more as refinement than really changing things.” Mannion said. “Over the years I feel like I’ve been able to sharpen up my motion and eliminate wasted movement gradually. At the same time it’s not something I think of in terms of changing. When you’re in a game you don’t want to be thinking about how you’re throwing the ball. You should be thinking about the defense and where to put it.”
With the preseason kicking off Friday in Oakland, the quarterback depth chart will take shape. Mannion is eager for the chance to face opponents.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to just go out and show I can operate the offense. It’ll be nice to get into a game situation and a great opportunity for our team.”
August 16, 2015 at 11:49 am #28774
AgamemnonParticipantYou know, during the game, they flashed a graphic that said Mannion was 6’9″. I just saw a post were someone used that figure. Now everyone will think he is 6’9″. lol This is the internet. This is how it works. 😉
AgamemnonAugust 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm #28775AgamemnonParticipant AgamemnonAugust 16, 2015 at 8:51 pm #28801
bnwBlockedPoor Man’s Peyton Manning. I like it. That vid is awesome. Thanks for posting it.
The upside to being a Rams fan is heartbreak.
Sprinkles are for winners.
August 29, 2015 at 6:53 pm #29521znModeratorRams notes: Rookie QB Mannion makes the most of limited action
As a rookie in his first NFL training camp, quarterback Sean Mannion is learning the virtue of patience.
“It’s definitely different, but I think it’s different for everybody here,’’ the 23-year-old from Oregon State said this week after a workout at Rams Park. “Every one of these guys was one of the best players on his college team. As a quarterback, I’m obviously not getting the reps I was getting a year ago, so you make sure that you’re learning in other ways. For me, that means standing behind the play and near the other quarterbacks. Nick (Foles), Austin (Davis) and Case (Keenum) have all won games in the NFL and they’re a great resource for me. There’s so much value in what I can learn from them, not only on the practice field but also in the meeting room.’’
In addition, Mannion can usually be found getting in some extra throws with rookie receivers after practice.
“It’s a great way to get in some extra reps and make sure you’re getting in enough work,’’ he said. “But even then, it’s more than just running routes — you’re not just going out to the driving range and swinging away — we’re trying to apply that work the same way we would in a game, thinking about the pattern, the protection and the situation.’’
Mannion, a third-round draft pick in May, seems to be catching on pretty well. He’s come on late in the team’s first two preseason games and excelled while running the two-minute offense. In the 18-3 loss to Oakland, he completed eight of 13 passes for 53 yards. He was even better late in the 27-14 loss at Tennessee, completing six of seven for 93 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown to rookie running back Malcolm Brown.
“I’ve always enjoyed the two-minute offense and I feel fortunate for the chances I’ve gotten,” the 6-foot-6, 233-pound Mannion said. “It’s great situational football work, especially for a quarterback because it forces you to manage the clock and deal with different situations. On top of that, the game gets simplified; your reads don’t change but your mentality does. Instead of worrying about putting together a huge drive, my focus is on completions.
“The touchdown to Malcolm was a perfect example. Instead of thinking about a 60-yard drive, I was able to go through my progressions before throwing maybe an 8-yard pass. Then he breaks a couple of tackles and takes it to the house.’’
Mannion said getting completions on his first pass in each game has helped his confidence.
“It’s tough, going through pregame warmups and then trying to keep yourself prepared, knowing that you’re not getting in until late in the game,’’ he said. “Against Oakland, I think my first pass was a screen to Danny (Rodriguez). I was able to take a breath, knowing that I’d completed my first NFL pass, and from there I was able to get into a little bit of a rhythm. And the experience in Nashville was very similar.
“It’s been a great experience so far. Each day, I’m reminded how lucky I am, but at the same time, I realize there’s still a lot of work to be done.’’
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