Cool and collected Gaines ready for first NFL start
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/cool-and-collected-gaines-ready-for-first-nfl-start/article_4bb0595b-e239-526e-823a-07d0ba902695.html

Cornerback E.J. Gaines is not the sort to crank up the iPod and bang his head against the locker during pregame.

“No,” he said, laughing. “I definitely won’t be having a concussion or anything like that. I just like to stay calm. I’m a relaxed-type guy. I’m not really hooting and hollering or anything like that.”

And that’s just fine with Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. With Gaines, the rookie from Missouri, expected to make his first NFL start Sunday, Williams likes his cool head and calm demeanor.

“If you guys focus on him during the game, you don’t ever see him get rattled,” Williams told reporters Friday. “And that’s extremely important when you play the corner position. A lot of times we talk about how high strung a corner or wide receiver is.

“That can be good, but you’ve also got to be able to keep your wits about you. E.J. has been very impressive in the games I’ve seen so far, on staying composed and doing what corners have to do.”

That includes having a short memory, being able to forget the bad play that just happened and focusing in on the next one.

“Been real impressed with how he’s gone about his business,” Williams said.

Granted, Gaines has yet to play in a regular-season game, but nothing about the NFL seems too big for him. He seems far from overwhelmed, particularly for someone drafted in the sixth round, No. 188 overall.

“Nothing is too big,” Gaines said. “It’s just the next level. It is what it is, really. I like to look at it like that. And never to be too overly dramatic about it or anything. I feel if I do that I’ll make the coaches nervous, and make everybody else nervous. Make myself nervous.”

Gaines gets this starting chance because of the knee injury Trumaine Johnson suffered Aug. 23 in Cleveland during the Rams’ third preseason game. Johnson is expected to miss at least this month, so Gaines has the opportunity to get valuable NFL playing time to open his career.

After an impressive performance in the preseason opener against New Orleans, Gaines suffered a hamstring injury and missed the next two games. But he returned against Miami in the exhibition finale and played well.

The fact that Gaines came back from the hamstring injury one week before teammate Brandon McGee returned from an ankle injury may have helped him win the job. McGee, who was on the team in 2013, might have gotten the job ahead of Gaines because of that experience edge.

But McGee suffered the ankle injury when he got pulled down from behind in the team’s second preseason game against Green Bay.

“I got my jersey pulled by a receiver trying to make a tackle,” McGee said. “Got my ankle caught under me and twisted it. High ankle sprain.”

As a result, McGee missed the final two preseason games. He’s healthy enough to play, although not 100 percent.

“E.J. did everything that he had to do (to win the job),” McGee said. “We’ve got faith in him to be able to step in. But at this level, that’s kinda what you have to do. It’s a long season, though, so we’re just getting started.”

As he gets ready for his first NFL start, Gaines has been all about preparation. He’s been hanging around with cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety T.J. McDonald, asking a bunch of questions.

“Probably more than (they) want,” Gaines said. “I’m bothering everybody, really. I even talked to Chris Long the other day for a while and he plays D-line. I’m sure I’m getting on their nerves.”

No, Long isn’t giving Gaines pass-rushing tips.

“Just something pertaining to being a rookie, and getting my first start,” Gaines explained. “Chris, he’s definitely had my back since I’ve been here. … He gave me some advice on staying calm, doing everything I can to prepare for this game, and stuff like that.”

Other than being excited, Gaines has no idea what the game-day experience will be like as the Rams open 2014 with a noon kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome against the Minnesota Vikings.

He’ll undoubtedly be matched up at times against Minnesota wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, whom he faced in college while Patterson was at Tennessee.

“Great athlete. Great player,” Gaines said. “Lot of respect for the man.”

Gaines is known as a sure tackler, and run support also will be key for him against running back Adrian Peterson, perhaps the best back in football. He’ll probably test Gaines more than once coming around end.

“Just one of those things,” Gaines said. “You know, getting your head on right, strapping up, and getting ready for a battle as far the running game. And really, the passing game because they’ve got some receivers out there, too.”

He will have some personal support in the stands because a caravan of family and close friends is heading east this weekend from his hometown of Kansas City to take in the game.

They’ll be the ones wearing the No. 33 Gaines jerseys.

“Oh definitely,” Gaines said. “You’ll see them all in the stands. And you’ll hear them, too.”

New Rams quarterback Case Keenum speaks on the difficulties of learning the Rams offense after arriving from Houston.

http://www.rams-news.com/case-keenum-on-learning-rams-offense-video/

Strauss: Rams critics stand tall as Robinson takes a seat
• Joe Strauss

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/joe-strauss/strauss-rams-critics-stand-tall-as-robinson-takes-a-seat/article_1a8d5313-367f-522b-ab62-8141804ec65b.html

Of the 256 players selected in May’s NFL draft, all but Jadeveon Clowney came off the board after the Rams grabbed Auburn tackle Greg Robinson. The Rams, who last experienced a winning season before golfer Phil Mickelson won a major, since have shifted Robinson to guard, where he won’t start Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

This suggests any number of things:

• The Rams have quietly amassed untold wealth on the offensive line.

• Robinson’s pass-blocking skills remain rudimentary, inviting the dreaded description of “project.”

Media’s short-attention-span theater has moved beyond Michael Sam’s shower habits and Sam Bradford’s left knee to Robinson’s failure to provide instant gratification, deeming it an indictment of a front-office gang that can’t shoot straight.

Four months ago, analysts fell over one another praising the Rams’ well-conceived draft. One national critic extolled general manager Les Snead for “killing it.”

Now, two days before playing their first game that counts, has time already arrived to kill the Rams?

Has a franchise long thirsting for success decided to spend the last drops in its canteen on washing its hands?

Sure, it looks bad. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad.

Critics already have started comparing Robinson to Jason Smith, the Baylor tackle whom the previous Rams regime drafted second overall in 2009. Smith actually did start the opener his rookie season, then went on to become the preferred definition for draft “bust.”

Smith endured concussions but before that was suspected of marginal desire and trying to leave the Cardinals’ clubhouse clutching Albert Pujols’ game cap.

Robinson only stands accused of coming from a run-first college program with a narrow playbook. He remains a massive man rated a run-blocking road-grader.

Don’t misconstrue this as an apology for a franchise on the clock in several ways. Fan skepticism is warranted after years of bait-and-switch surprises. Bradford’s return from last year’s knee surgery became the hook for heightened expectations. Then, when the knee again buckled in the Rams’ third exhibition tilt, the sell shifted to Shaun Hill representing only a minor markdown within a run-first offense. Hill’s first pass Sunday will be his 17th in the last four seasons.

The issue regarding Robinson is that the Rams love to draft on potential while their market desires immediate gratification.

“He’s going to be an outstanding player,” coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday afternoon. “Our focus right now is putting the guys on the field that we think give us the best chance to win right now.”

The Rams last year traded up for Tavon Austin then struggled to incorporate the smallish, elusive receiver into the offense.

This occurred after taking Brian Quick with a second-round selection in 2011. Quick’s rep has been one of a practice All-Pro who goes missing on Sundays. His third season is supposed to be different. The Rams have realized quick returns from defensive draftees but continue to urge patience with receivers Austin, Stedman Bailey, Quick and Chris Givens — all taken within the first 96 overall picks.

The Rams drafted Robinson because they preferred his ceiling over the short-term certainty of Texas A&M left tackle Jake Matthews, the No. 7 pick who starts Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons.

Of course, the Rams declined to go sexy by taking top-rated receiver Sammy Watkins or quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Robinson gets the expectation questions a lot. He answers politely, patiently. He acknowledges the “process” that has him at guard, where reads must be made more quickly than at tackle. A talent who established his reputation steam-rolling college opponents now learns a thicker playbook at a fresh position.

“The game’s much faster here. It’s the NFL. You expect that. But you still have to make adjustments,” Robinson says.

Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau refers to what Robinson sees now as “a blur.” Defenders are distinguished by uniform rather than stunts and twists. Boudreau rates Robinson’s talent as a given. Making accurate reads is the tougher challenge but one that will be mastered in time.

“He’s exactly the player we thought we were getting,” Boudreau said.

More nuanced issues exist. The left guard lines up next to Jake Long, who is coming off knee surgery. Rodger Saffold fits there for now. Veteran Davin Joseph signed to play right guard. Former waiver claim Joe Barksdale started 13 games at right tackle last season. At some point Robinson will move to that side.

Last season, the Rams started eight players from tackle to tackle. Only left guard Chris Williams appeared in all 16 games. Harvey Dahl started the first eight games at right guard before ruled inactive for seven of the last eight. Center Scott Wells started the first 12 games but finished the season on injured reserve. Long blew out his knee in the penultimate game. Saffold made two starts at right tackle, got hurt, returned against Indianapolis at right guard, moved back to right tackle at Arizona then finished the season replacing Long at left tackle. Shelley Smith made two starts seven games apart at right guard.

Safe to say, continuity wasn’t last season’s strong suit.

Needing 43 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season, rookie Zac Stacy managed 16 yards in 15 attempts behind an improvised line in Week 17 in Seattle.

That last year’s team won seven games — four following Bradford’s injury — remains a marvel. Boudreau has no desire that his fifth season as Rams offensive line coach go as his fourth — or his third.

Two years ago, right tackle Barry Richardson emerged as the lone Rams offensive lineman to start every game at the same spot. It was the sixth-round draft pick’s only season with the club.

Among 2012’s most enduring memories was Williams unexpectedly being pressed into service inside London’s Wembley Stadium six days after being picked up from the Chicago Bears. Glancing to his right, Dahl asked, “Who the hell are you?” The Rams employed seven line combinations during the 7-8-1 season.

An offensive line’s high mortality rate almost guarantees Robinson will appear sooner or later. All parties say he could see time Sunday. But force-feeding Robinson into the starting lineup to immediately validate a premium draft pick isn’t part of the plan.

Fisher didn’t seem to care much to talk about Robinson not starting when it rained on Wednesday’s post-practice parade.

One moment Fisher pointed out to a media herd that All-Pro tackle Orlando Pace did not start Week One his rookie season after the Rams made him the first overall pick of the 1997 draft. Moments later, standing about 20 yards away, Boudreau made precisely the same point to a breakaway scribe. Overlooked was the fact Pace held out for three weeks during his rookie camp.

The game is faster at this level, much faster. Still, there’s ample time to pass judgment on Robinson and the process that brought him here.

Who is Kevin Demoff really looking forward to seeing on Sunday? The Rams’ COO talks to Randy Karraker and D’Marco Farr and explains the new treats you can expect at the Edward Jones Dome. He talks about handling the loss of Sam Bradford and much more.

http://www.rams-news.com/kevin-demoff-talks-rams-vs-vikings-radio-interview/

Rams rookie Robinson relegated to bench
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11294/rams-rookie-robinson-relegated-to-bench

EARTH CITY, Mo. — For the better part of the past three weeks, it’s become increasingly apparent that Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick of the St. Louis Rams, was not going to be a Day 1 starter at any position on the offensive line.

In response to a question about Robinson’s progress, Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed what was already suspected late Wednesday afternoon.

“We made the decision that in the opener that we’re better off going with experience,” Fisher said. “Doesn’t mean to say that he won’t play in the game, but we’re going to go with guys that have a lot of snaps under their belt right now.”

And by that, Fisher means the Rams are going to go with Rodger Saffold at left guard and Davin Joseph at right guard. With Jake Long and Joe Barksdale penciled in at left and right tackle, respectively, that means Robinson’s role in Week 1 will be limited to playing in a swing role off the bench.

That move has been in the making since the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns when the Rams opened the game with Robinson not in the starting lineup. That happened sooner than expected when Saffold left with an ankle injury.

Robinson spent the preseason and training camp playing left guard and left tackle, never settling into a position, which almost certainly made his transition to the league that much harder.

Fisher said Wednesday that’s not the case.

“Nothing hurts him at all,” Fisher said. “It does not hurt him at all. I was told Orlando Pace, first player in the draft didn’t play till Week 5. There’s no issue here. He’s going to be an outstanding player. Our focus right now is putting the guys on the field that we think gives us our best chance to win right now.”

What’s left unsaid there is that Pace was also a holdout in his rookie season and didn’t sign his contract until the day of the team’s final preseason game in 1997. He didn’t have the benefit of the full offseason program and first three weeks of training camp. Then again, he also wasn’t asked to play multiple positions when he did arrive.

Of course, none of that is to say that Robinson isn’t going to turn into a good player in the NFL. It was no secret he was going to need refinement upon entering the league from a run-oriented offense at Auburn in which he did little in the way of pass protection. Drafting beyond the scope of a player’s rookie season is fine, even logical, but the same can be said for putting that player in one spot and letting him develop so he can contribute right away.

To this point, Robinson seems like a hard worker with the desire to be great. Whether he will be or not, nobody knows. But even if Fisher insists there’s nothing wrong, it’s more than fair for Rams fans to be disappointed that the No. 2 overall pick in the draft isn’t in the starting lineup in Week 1.

Shaun Hill spoke about his excitement to start the season, how his experience in the NFC North helps him prepare for the Minnesota Vikings and more following today’s practice.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-qb-shaun-hill-there-was-a-lot-of-energy-video/

Morning Ram-blings: Rams to surprise?
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11290/morning-ram-blings-rams-to-surprise

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Every season in the NFL, there are plenty of teams that surprise. In fact, it’s become a regular occurrence for about half of the teams making the postseason to be teams that didn’t make it the previous year.

So who are some candidates to so this year? Well, according to ESPN Insider columnist Mike Sando, the St. Louis Rams actually fit the bill Insider as a team capable of making the leap to the postseason.

Sando makes the salient point that even though the Rams lost starting quarterback Sam Bradford to a torn ACL for the second consecutive season, the Rams weren’t counting on Bradford to carry the team anyway. To his point, the Rams will ask Shaun Hill to do similar things to what Bradford would have done.

An excerpt from Sando’s take:

This team was already committed to winning with its running game and defense. The key to the season was going to be — and still is — whether new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can fix the secondary to maximize the Rams’ supremely talented front.

In a very general sense, I agree with Sando and think the Rams will remain competitive with Hill in the fold. The biggest difference, to me, between the Rams with Bradford and the Rams with Hill is the ceiling for the team — in this case the playoffs — is lower with Hill starting than with Bradford.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Wednesday’s Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. … In the Ram-blings, we began the day with the news that Michael Sam was headed to Dallas to join the Cowboys practice squad. … In this week’s buzz video, I discussed the Rams’ options at cornerback with Trumaine Johnson out because of a knee injury. … From there, we took a spin around the team’s unofficial depth chart with thoughts and observations. … After making my season prediction, I pieced together the predictions of our other NFL Nation reporters on how the Rams will fare in 2014. … In the afternoon, we took a closer look at quarterback Austin Davis’ state of readiness should he have to play this year. .. We closed the day with the team’s first injury report of the season.

Elsewhere:

Sam signing in Dallas became official Wednesday afternoon.

Players around the league are not happy with the punishment for Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay.

At 101sports.com, quarterback Shaun Hill assesses things going into his first start with the Rams.

At stltoday.com, columnist Bernie Miklasz examines the state of No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson.

Linebacker Christian Kirksey doesn’t play for the Rams but he is from St. Louis and, according to the Madden video game, he’s shorter than any NFL player ever.

LATSCH: Keenum Excited for Fresh Start with St. Louis Rams
September 3, 2014 6:02 PM

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/09/03/latsch-keenum-excited-for-fresh-start-with-st-louis-rams/

ST. LOUIS — It’s been a busy few days for Case Keenum, the quarterback who was waived by the Houston Texans and then received a fresh start when he was claimed by the Rams.

“I’m very excited,” Keenum said Wednesday. “I have been excited ever since I heard word, 3 o’clock the other day. So it’s been kind of whirlwind of a couple of days. I’ve already had two practices. So I’m excited to get in here and learn the system and do my best to contribute to the team.”

How quickly the 26-year-old can contribute to his new team will likely be determined by how quickly he can learn a new offensive system, which is not exactly an easy task.

Keenum said Wednesday learning any system in the NFL is tough, but he’s excited to learn new stuff with his new team.

“It’s being able to I guess translate into what I know and how I run things and then get the terminology obviously,” he said. “It’s like speaking another language. So I’m just trying to learn another language as fast as I can.”

Keenum was a standout at the University of Houston and then signed with the Texans in as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2012. After a year on the practice squad he ended up starting eight games in 2013.

Houston lost each of those games — the Texans finished with a league-worst 2-14 record — but Keenum showed some flashes of his potential. He threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns in his second start, against the Colts, and then followed that up with a three-touchdown performance the next week against the Cardinals.

Keenum’s eight-game stats were modest, but not a bad start for a young quarterback on a struggling team. He completed 54.2 percent of his passes for 1,760 yards, with nine touchdowns against six interceptions, and a QB rating of 78.2.

The Brownwood, Texas, native showed enough good things that the Rams were interested when he was released, which came after the Texans added quarterback Ryan Mallett in a trade with the Patriots.

“Because of injury Case got a lot of experience last year, started eight games,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “You look at the body of work, no, he didn’t win any of those games but there was some really good things that you saw out of a young player. We spent a lot of time evaluating those games and felt like he’d be a good option to come in here and try to develop as a three or a two. We just wanted him in the mix. You’re going to get as many good players as you can.”

In St. Louis, Keenum joins a quarterback group that includes veteran starter Shaun Hill, inexperienced Austin Davis and sixth-round pick Garrett Gilbert, who was added to the practice squad after being released by the Rams in the final cutdown to 53 players.

Keenum said Wednesday he hasn’t talked to the coaching staff yet about his role and how he fits in with his new team. That’s OK because he’s got other things on his mind right now anyway.

“Right now it’s just trying to get in and get acclimated,” he said. “For me, my job is every day coming in just whatever I can do to be the best teammate that I can be and help contribute to this team in any way.”

But he is excited for his fresh start in the Gateway City.

“Yeah, anytime you get a fresh start, new offense, new team — I think a team that’s obviously got a lot of talented players and is headed in a great direction,” Keenum said. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”

QB Austin Davis ready if called upon
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11252/qb-austin-davis-ready-if-called-upon

EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the immediate aftermath of St. Louis Rams starting quarterback Sam Bradford’s second season-ending ACL tear in as many seasons, the reaction for most was sympathy.

For the other quarterbacks on the team, that sympathy might even be more plentiful because they — Shaun Hill, Austin Davis and Garrett Gilbert — are the ones who spent more time with Bradford than anyone. But they also don’t have time to sit around and wallow in pity for their friend because they have a job to do, a job that became more important after Bradford’s injury became clear.

“It’s an extremely weird feeling,” Davis said. “You really can’t describe it. It’s almost like you compartmentalize it. When you are out here at practice and playing, you aren’t even thinking about it. Then at certain times when you realize what’s transpired here, you just feel for the whole situation. It’s tough.”

St. Louis Rams
Austin Davis has never taken a regular-season snap, but the Rams are confident in him.
Upon the official diagnosis and news that Bradford would miss the 2014 season, the Rams set about the process of getting Hill ready to replace him. The trickle-down effect can’t be ignored, however. Much like Hill stepping into the starting job to replace Bradford, Davis instantly became one play away from having to step in for Hill.

Such is the life of a backup quarterback. Rams coach Jeff Fisher made it clear the Rams intend to roll with Hill as the starter and gave Davis a vote of confidence as the backup, though he acknowledged the Rams would continue scouring for more help at the position. After a bit of waiting, the Rams claimed Case Keenum off waivers from the Houston Texans on Monday.

Even with Keenum in the fold, though, Davis is the backup for the time being. He’s been in coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s offense for the better part of three seasons and Keenum will have to play catch-up.

More important, Rams coach Jeff Fisher has seen noticeable improvement from Davis in his third year in St. Louis.

“First off, he’s smart — he understands what we’re doing,” Fisher said. “He can extend plays if he needs to. He’s gotten much better at keeping his eyes downfield, and that’s a hard thing to learn. It’s almost a trait. But, when you can step, feel around the pocket with your eyes down the field, you’ve got a chance to make plays.”

That Davis is with the Rams, let alone poised to enter the season as the No. 2 quarterback, should provide evidence Fisher means it when he says Davis has improved.

Davis earned a roster spot as a rookie with an impressive preseason and looked like he would be elevated to the No. 2 job in 2013, but didn’t perform well in preseason or camp. He returned to the roster largely because of his knowledge of the offense after Bradford suffered his initial ACL injury against Carolina last season.

When the Rams opened camp this year, Davis sat at the bottom of the depth chart. Undeterred, Davis looked more like the promising rookie than the second-year player he once was. His knack for showing up when the preseason games began also resurfaced, though he acknowledges he could be better on a day-to-day basis.

“I didn’t start playing football for the practices,” Davis said. “I love to play. I think being better in practice is something I can improve on. I don’t really have an answer for it. I enjoy playing the game and try to have a lot of fun out there. If you think about it, we do 95 percent training and five percent play, so you have got to be good at the training part, too.”

Having Davis as the No. 2 quarterback remains a question mark for the Rams, if only because he’s never taken a snap in a regular-season game. It’s only reasonable for any team to feel that way about a quarterback with no experience. As Davis points out, though, the only way for him to get that experience is to actually go out and do it.

For now, Davis is content to help Hill prepare while taking advantage of the reps he gets in practice. He doesn’t have any grand plans to come in and take over games, should the opportunity to play arise. Davis said he knows his job would be to manage the game, not turn the ball over and get the offense in and out of plays.

“My approach is I’m just going to be here; I’m going to make this team better while I’m here, keep moving forward,” Davis said. “Until somebody tells me something different, that’s what I’m going to do.”