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July 29, 2014 at 9:39 pm #2827
RamBillParticipantRams Camp Report: Day 5
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10002/rams-camp-report-day-5
EARTH CITY, Mo. — A daily review of the hot topics coming out of St. Louis Rams training camp:
The Rams put the shoulder pads on for the first time in this training camp Tuesday afternoon and it resulted in a little bit more of an even playing field. After the top defense dominated the first-team offense for much of the opening days of camp, the addition of pads got the offense some traction. Quarterback Sam Bradford had what looked like his best practice of camp as he frequently connected on passes down the field. The primary recipient? Receiver Brian Quick. Quick is off to a good start in this camp and only built on that start with Tuesday’s work. Bradford and Quick hooked up a couple of times on deep balls in early team drills and then Quick brought even more cheers when he caught another deep ball from rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert later on. Bradford also hit receiver Kenny Britt for about a 40-yard touchdown deep down the right sideline as Britt got behind cornerback Brandon McGee. That play elicited the biggest cheers of the day.
One thing that needs to be cleaned up early on is pre-snap penalties. So far, both sides of the ball have been guilty of jumping early. In many places, you’d allow for the benefit of the doubt since it’s so early in camp, but the Rams have been persistent penalty magnets in the two years under coach Jeff Fisher and many of the infractions can be attributed to veteran players who should be past such mistakes. There isn’t necessarily one player in particular jumping early, which might make it more frustrating for Fisher and his staff since it can be harder to rein in a team-wide issue.
Progress is coming for defensive end William Hayes, offensive tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells. All three have been participating in some individual work early in practice and Hayes and Wells, in particular, look to be close to a return. Hayes said after practice he had a couple of offseason procedures, though the nature of his injuries are unknown. Wells’ injuries are also unknown at this point but none of that will matter much if they get back on the field soon. For what it’s worth, Hayes says this is as good as he’s felt since his second year in the league. That was 2009.
A few developments of note at running back. Zac Stacy continues to get most of the work with the first team, but Tre Mason got a few reps Tuesday afternoon and Benny Cunningham is finding his way onto the field some as well. Isaiah Pead sat out the practice and was wearing what appeared to be a cast on his right hand.
Some special guests were in the house Tuesday, including the bulk of the University of Missouri football coaches. Defensive end Michael Sam, cornerback E.J. Gaines, receiver T.J. Moe and center Tim Barnes spent some time with the staff after practice and Sam said it was good to see the group. Former Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage also took in the workout.
July 29, 2014 at 10:25 pm #2835RamBillParticipantRams report: First full-squad day in pads results in big plays
• By Joe LyonsThe Rams went through their first full-squad padded workout _ helmets, shoulder pads and shorts _ Tuesday afternoon before 1,678 fans at Rams Park in Earth City. And coach Jeff Fisher liked what he saw.
“We had a special-teams practice in pads yesterday, so the young guys kind of got used to it,” he said. “But (today) was really what we expected. They loved the practice. They protected each other and there were no issues, except a lot of big plays on both sides of the ball,”
Highlight plays Tuesday included a pair of well-thrown deep balls from Sam Bradford to third-year receiver Brian Quick; a Sam-to-Kenny Britt grab over second-year corner Brandon McGee; a Garrett Gilbert pass to Chris Givens in the back corner of the end zone; a Shaun Hill ; and interceptions by rookie Lamarcus Joyner and second-year safety Cody Davis.
RAM-BLINGS
Following a day off Wednesday and a closed-to-the-public workout on Thursday, the next practice open to the public will be Friday at 3:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the team will shift to the Edward Jones Dome for its FanFest workout at 12:30 p.m.
• Players sitting out Tuesday’s workout included cornerback Trumaine Johnson, linebacker Johnny Millard, fullback Kadeem Jones, and corner Jarrid Bryant. running back Isaiah Pead, who had a cast on his right hand. Tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells, guard Brandon Washington and defensive end William Hayes continue to work on the side, with safety Christian Bryant and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks still on the non-football injury list.
• No Gary Pinkel but the rest of the Mizzou coaching staff watched practice and spent some time with former Tigers Michael Sam, T.J. Moe, E.J. Gaines and Tim Barnes after the workout.
• Area football legend Jim Hanifan made another practice appearance Tuesday. Others in attendance were sportswriters Joan Niesen (Sports Illustrated), Bill Rhoden (New York Times), Jarrett Bell (USA Today) and former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage, who’s now the executive director of the Senior Bowl.
Area high school programs with coaches on the sideline Tuesday included St. Charles West, Fort Zumwalt West, Francis Howell Central, SLUH and Hazelwood East.
July 29, 2014 at 10:55 pm #2841
InvaderRamModeratormost won’t agree. but i think this offense is going to be really fun to watch this season. very physical. with some big plays in between. there’s just a really good mix of talent on offense. of course i say that every year.
July 30, 2014 at 1:27 am #2853RamBillParticipantRams notebook: Rookie Sam continues to make progress
• By Joe LyonsRams rookie defensive end Michael Sam continues to work toward earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
And he continues to answer media questions.
Do you want to be a trailblazer?
“I’m a football player,’’ the seventh-round draft pick from Missouri responded.
At what point do you think people will stop asking you those kind of questions and ask you just about football all the time?
“When I lay somebody out that first game,’’ he said.
Sam, the first openly gay football player drafted into the NFL, was met by a larger-than-usual media group after Tuesday’s practice at Rams Park and was generally unfazed by it.
“I could care less if the media was out here or not,’’ said Sam, 24. “My goal is still just to make this team, whether I was a first-round pick or a free agent. My job is to make this team. Whether you guys are here or not, that’s my goal.’’
Sam, the co-defensive player in the SEC a year ago, seems to be catching on. He showed some pass-rush ability off the left end Saturday in one-on-one blocking drills, impressed special teams coordinator John Fassel with his blocking Monday and competed well Tuesday in the team’s first full-pad practice.
“I didn’t see the pass-rush (drills), but it looked like he held his own in team periods,’’ coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s been doing a great job. We’re treating him just like all the other rookies in the rookie class.’’
In addition to the media, Sam had some friendly faces in the crowd Tuesday as the Missouri coaching staff stopped by and visited after practice with Sam and the Rams’ other ex-Tigers — center Tim Barnes, receiver T.J. Moe and cornerback E.J. Gaines.
Mizzou’s “report day is Sunday, so it was real good seeing those guys,’’ Sam said. “I told my defensive coordinator (Dave Steckel) and my position coach, Coach Kool (Craig Kuligowski) to tell the guys good luck this season.’’
Sam, who stands 6 feet 2 and recently lost 13 pounds to 257 to improve his quickness for special teams, said his teammates have been helpful, he’s picking up the Rams’ system and he’s improving every day.
“I’m learning from the guys. … They’re teaching me a lot,’’ he said. “I’m seeing … I’m doing what they’re doing. … I just need to improve at everything.
“I’m a football player. This is football. This feels natural.’’
Coaching Additions
J. Aggabao and Kenan Smith have been added to the Rams’ coaching staff. Smith will work with the receivers while Aggabao, who was a season intern with the Rams last season, will help with strength and conditioning.
A track and football athlete from Sacramento State, Smith worked in the marketing department at Michigan from 2006-2009, worked as a football operations volunteer intern at Ball State and as a graduate assistant in charge of receivers at Anderson University before working the last three years as an assistant coach at Butler University.
“We interviewed him at the (scouting) combine,’’ Fisher said. “He’s a bright young coach. He’s — they call it PhD — he’s poor, hungry and determined.
“He fits a role for us on the offensive staff.’’
Aggabao is a U.S. Navy veteran who earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Washington State and a master’s in exercise physiology from Illinois State. He’s a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a USA Weightlifting certified sports performance coach.
After serving as an intern strength and conditioning coach at Washington State in 2010-11, he was a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Illinois State from 2011-13.
“J. was an intern with us last year and did a great job, so we brought him on full time,’’ Fisher said.
RAM-BLINGS
Tuesday marked the Rams’ first full-squad workout in pads — helmets, shoulder pads and shorts. It drew 1,678 fans.
“Yesterday, we had a special-teams practice in pads, so the young guys kind of got used to it,’’ Fisher said. “But (today) was really what we expected. They loved the practice. They protected each other and there were no issues, except a lot of big plays on both sides of the ball,’’
Highlight plays Tuesday included a pair of well-thrown deep balls from Sam Bradford to third-year receiver Brian Quick; a Bradford-to-Kenny Britt grab over second-year cornerback Brandon McGee; a Garrett Gilbert pass to Chris Givens in the back corner of the end zone; and interceptions by rookie Lamarcus Joyner and second-year safety Cody Davis.
• Following a day off today and a closed-to-the-public workout Thursday, the next practice open to the public will be Friday at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, the team will shift to the Edward Jones Dome for its FanFest workout at 12:30 p.m.
• Players sitting out Tuesday’s workout included cornerback Trumaine Johnson, linebacker Johnny Millard, fullback Kadeem Jones, cornerback Jarrid Bryant and running back Isaiah Pead, who had a cast on his right hand. Tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells, guard Brandon Washington and defensive end William Hayes continue to work on the side, with safety Christian Bryant and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks still on the non-football injury list.
• Jim Hanifan made another practice appearance Tuesday. Others in attendance were sportswriters Joan Niesen (Sports Illustrated), Bill Rhoden (New York Times), Jarrett Bell (USA Today) and former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage, who’s now the executive director of the Senior Bowl.
Area high school programs with coaches on the sideline Tuesday included St. Charles West, Fort Zumwalt West, Francis Howell Central, SLUH and Hazelwood East.
July 30, 2014 at 3:03 pm #2875RamBillParticipantESPN.com St. Louis Rams reporter Nick Wagoner says the defense has been dominant in the early stages of camp. On the other side of the coin, the offense has struggled when 1′s have gone against 1′s. (1:00)
http://www.rams-news.com/wagoners-rams-buzz-defense-had-been-dominant-so-far-video/
July 30, 2014 at 8:49 pm #2886RamBillParticipantRams Training Camp highlights from Tuesday, July 29th: The Rams had their first full contact, full pads practice. Michael Sam talked with the mass of media assembled after practice. He continued to focus on trying his best to make this team out of Training Camp. Mizzou assistant football coaches came over from Columbia, MO to take in the Rams practice. There are four Tiger alums on the Rams current roster; Michael Sam, E.J. Gaines, T.J. Moe and Tim Barnes. (1:44)
http://www.rams-news.com/fox2-rams-training-camp-report-july-29-video/
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