tweets … 6/13

Robert Klemko@RobertKlemko
You don’t need to do this to get recruited as a DT or win a job as a TE. It sure helps to travel to camps and pay to train at a higher level, but it’s not essential. It has become essential for QBs. Who gets left out? Poor kids. Black kids. Kids who might have thrived in the NFL.

Bucky Brooks@BuckyBrooks
The private training business for QB can be exclusive. Price points for QB training greatly exceed what parents pay for skill players (RB/WR/DBs). If the nuances of the position matter, QB from disadvantaged situations have to a tougher road.. No doubt

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Speaking of linebackers, Wade Phillips said Samson Ebukam “certainly” will be a starter on the outside, and indicated Matt Longacre would be in line for the other spot when healthy.

Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Phillips on the LB depth chart post Fox injury: “We’ll have some young guys who will have to play, Samson certainly will have one of the starting positions. Hopefully Longacre comes back. I think we have good possibilities for players to come through for us.”

Wade Phillips on LB corps: “I think training camp is going to show which ones step up. We’ve got some good-looking players. I think the strong-side linebacker needs pads on to be able to play the tight end… We’ll see if any of those young guys can do that.”

Wade Phillips says Cory Littleton, having been moved to MLB, has been calling the defensive signals in practice.

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Wade Phillips, on Aaron Donald’s absence and heavy on the deadpan… “We feel like it will happen sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. He didn’t come until late last year and he did OK. I guess he fit in the 3-4. Everybody was worried about that.”

Asked to identify leaders who have stepped up on defense, Wade Phillips named Michael Brockers, Aqib Talib and Mark Barron. “I think we have at least one leader in all of the groups,” Phillips said.

Special teams coach John Fassel opined that Greg Zuerlein probably could kick in a game this week if the Rams had one. Full speed for camp, it seems, after December back surgery.

Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Asked about the Aaron Donald situation and his potential contract issue on the horizon, Todd Gurley responds “I play football, man, and let the rest take care of itself. There’s no reason to think about 2019 until it’s (here.)”

Asked if there’s any room to improve as a receiver, Todd Gurley deadpans “So I’m a receiver now?”

McVay says he’ll take a vacation immediately and get back because as training camp approaches the “itch” sets in.

Coach Fassell says P Johnny Hekker is working on a few specific things in the offseason. “He recognizes that there’s still a lot of room for him to get better, which may seem crazy.”

“I like personalities, because they’re independent to do things on their own… You don’t want a player who does everything you say. You want guys to show some initiative.” — Wade Phillips on his star-studded defense

“We’ve got a lot of versatility there. We can matchup guys. Both corners can play either side. Robey is a tremendous nickel inside player. And the two safeties are outstanding. I’d be surprised if we weren’t really good.” — Phillips on his secondary

Ryan Kartje@Ryan_Kartje
Wade Phillips said that Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the Rams two new starting corners, will be able to switch sides of the defense. Wade said it gives them a ton of versatility to create ideal matchups.

Wade Phillips on his new weapon on the Rams defensive line: “Ndamukong has so much power. You can see it. He just holds guys off with one arm.”

Phillips adds that with CB Marcus Peters, there were a couple of examples last year of him playing man-to-man, the ball goes to another receiver, but Peters intercepts it anyway. Phillips says that’s not a trait he wants to take away from a guy like Peters.

==

Wade Phillips had a typically great answer today when asked about managing the strong personalities the Rams have added on defense: pic.twitter.com/cTfqDGIlfN

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) June 13, 2018

snowman wrote:

Good stuff! Thanks for posting it zn.

Yeah this was a good one.