Rookie DE Longacre enjoys productive NFL debut

Rams notes: Rookie DE Longacre enjoys productive NFL debut

Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-rookie-de-longacre-enjoys-productive-nfl-debut/article_64ba3495-8428-54a2-925b-0e3cd96c819d.html

Rams defensive end Matt Longacre fulfilled a lifelong dream on Sunday, playing in his first NFL game.

“Other than the loss, it was more than I could’ve ever expected or hoped for. Awesome,” the rookie from Northwest Missouri State said Tuesday, referring to the Rams’ 21-18 overtime loss to the Vikings in Minnesota. “It was good to get back out there on the field — it’d been eight or nine weeks since I’d actually been in a game (exhibition) — and then, to go out and make a few plays in the game, it was special.”

Signed as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL draft last spring, Longacre made five tackles, including four solos, and had a quarterback pressure in Minnesota.

“Matt was productive,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He got off some blocks and made some plays. He was good. I mean, you look at the tape and you’ve got three guys (Longacre, rookie guard Andrew Donnal and second-year safety Maurice Alexander, from Eureka High) that really haven’t played much and there were some redeeming qualities to all three.”

Sunday’s game capped a hectic few days for the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Longacre, a two-time Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association defensive player of the year.

Despite a productive preseason — he was among the team leaders with 18 tackles, six QB pressures and five QB hits — he was cut at the end of training camp and then re-signed to the practice squad.

On Friday, he was promoted to the 53-man roster. On Sunday, with starting defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn unavailable because of knee injuries, Longacre got his chance.

“I was headed out for the walk-through Friday when Coach Fisher pulled me aside and told me I was being moved up to the varsity,” the 24-year-old recalled. “Nobody actually ever told me that I’d be active on Sunday, but as I warmed up, I realized that it was go time.”

Adding to Sunday’s excitement for Longacre was having his parents, Mark and Kathy, on hand.

“My dad was on a hunting trip in South Dakota, so he was able to get there without too much trouble,” said Longacre, whose family is from Omaha, Neb. “My mom, it was a little more of a scramble. At first, she talked about taking public transportation, but I told her I’d pay for a flight and told her that she couldn’t miss my first game.

“She ended up making the trip with one of my high school coaches and his family, so everything worked out great. When we walked out of the tunnel, I was able to find them in the stands and give them a head-nod, just like in high school and college.

“They’ve been with me through all the highs and lows and it meant everything to me to have them there for my first NFL game.’’

INJURY REPORT

The first injury report of the week for the Rams included six players who did not practice Wednesday — DE Chris Long (knee), DE Robert Quinn (knee), S T.J. McDonald (foot), T Rob Havenstein (ankle), LB Akeem Ayers (illness) and RB Todd Gurley (coach’s decision).

The report also included RB Chase Reynolds (thigh), who was a full participant in practice.

In spite of Wednesday’s report, Fisher is optimistic.

“I think Friday is going to be a really good day for us,” he said following the workout at Rams Park. “Todd was just a rest day today. He needed the rest; he’ll be fine. I think we’ll see Rob, both Robs — No. 94 (Quinn) and No. 79 (Havenstein) — on the field.’’

Starters Quinn, Havenstein, McDonald and Long missed last weekend’s game.

The Rams face Chicago on Sunday and the Bears practiced Wednesday without WR Eddie Royal (knee), LB Pernell McPhee (knee), S Antrel Rolle (ankle) and K Robbie Gould (illness). Going through limited workouts were RB Matt Forte (knee), C Hroniss Grasu (neck), T Jermon Bushrod (shoulder) and LB Shea McClellin (knee).

Forte, Royal, Grasu and McClellin all sat out Chicago’s 22-19 win in San Diego on Monday night.

RAM-BLINGS

The Rams announced that U.S. Army war hero Daniel Rodriguez, a wide receiver who walked on at Clemson and who was in training camp with the Rams this year, will return as an honorary team captain for Sunday’s game, at noon at Edward Jones Dome.

Rodriguez, 27, earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroism in the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan in October 2009. He was signed by the Rams after a tryout.

In the preseason, the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder caught two passes for 10 yards. He also averaged 23.7 yards on seven kickoff returns and 4.8 yards on six punt returns.

• With the first wave of fan voting for the Pro Bowl received, the Rams have a pair of players —Gurley and second-year defensive tackle Aaron Donald — in second place at their respective positions. Gurley, the top rookie vote-getter, trails Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman while Donald is runner-up to Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins.