Rams notes: Vermeil part of group taking football to China
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-vermeil-part-of-group-taking-football-to-china/article_9c9d736f-5f7b-5e05-a043-1629febf9c1c.html

Former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil and his partners are taking American indoor professional football to China.

In an unprecedented move, the government of China, along with its ministry of sport, has given official approach and sanctioning for the China American Football League (CAFL) to begin play in 2015.

The approval to bring a pro football league to the world’s most populated country (1.4 billion people) came after several years of endeavors by U.S. businessman Marty Judge, the CEO and founder of Pennsylvania-based The Judge Group.

Judge, a co-owner of the Arena Football League, is partners with Super Bowl-winning coach Vermeil and former NFL MVP and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski.

Besides serving as a league investor and partner, Vermeil will serve as a league spokesman and ambassador.

“Hey, once a coach, always a coach, so you know that this is coming I’m very much looking forward to,’’ Vermeil said in a press release Thursday. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have always had a tremendous passion for our game of football. To get the opportunity to share our great sport with the sports fans in China is something that very much excites me.’’

The CAFL, which will feature a combination of American and Chinese players, plans to kick off in August 2015 with six to eight indoor teams in two conferences with franchises in major cities throughout China. Plans also include a championship game and an all-star game in Macau.

Franchise owners will initially invest $10 million and will receive a portion of TV licensing rights.

After considerable analysis of traditional American football vs. the arena-style game, the Chinese Rugby Football Association concluded that indoor American football best suits the Chinese fan base due to its faster pace, scoring and close-to-the-fans entertainment. Also, China has limited outdoor stadiums that would be conducive to traditional football but an abundance of high-caliber arenas that make indoor, arena-style football the compelling model for a launch of professional football.

Last year, the Arena Football League held its all-star game in Beijing and 10,000 people showed up, which showed there is a curiosity about the game in China, Judge said. The Super Bowl has been broadcast in China for four years.

“With the backing of the Chinese government, the sky is the limit for how we can grow American football in the vast, untapped Chinese marketplace,’’ Judge said.

SNEAD IN FOR CHARITY

Rams general manager Les Snead took the plunge in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. In turn, Snead challenged rapper Nelly and actor Ty Burrell of Modern Family fame. Both are big Rams fans.

RAM-BLINGS

• The Rams worked a lot on the run game Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s 3 p.m. preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at the Edward Jones Dome.

“It was good. We had two real good periods,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “One was exclusively run and then the other one was the run play-pass. I thought they worked well together and got some stuff done. Now we’ll back down and focus a little bit on the Packers.’’

Some key pass plays during Thursday’s workout, which drew 369 fans, included a 25-yarder down the right sideline from Sam Bradford to Brian Quick and a well-placed Bradford pass down the middle to tight end Lance Kendricks.

In the same “team’’ session, safety Rodney McLeod nearly picked off a Bradford pass intended for Quick, and rookie free agent defensive end Ethan Westbrooks batted down an Austin Davis pass at the line of scrimmage.

In a later session, Bradford hooked up with Quick on a pass to the outside but then overthrew Kendricks on a pass picked off by McLeod. Newcomer Brad Smelley showed some nice hands at tight end, coming down with a Shaun Hill pass in traffic.

Late in the workout, wideout Emory Blake snagged a Garrett Gilbert pass between defenders Cody Davis and Marcus Roberson.

• Blake’s father, longtime NFL quarterback Jeff Blake, was at practice Thursday, getting a look at his son. The elder Blake still looks like he’s in playing shape and said he still throws passes to Emory and his nephews, but wants no part of getting hit anymore.

Jeff Blake, who also made a trip to watch the Rams during OTAs, spent 13 seasons in the NFL. He enjoyed his most success with Cincinnati, earning a Pro Bowl berth in 1995.

Emory Blake, an Auburn University product who was on the practice squad a year ago, has looked good in camp and was among the Rams’ leading receivers against New Orleans last weekend with three catches for 41 yards.

“I think he’s finally starting to feel comfortable,’’ Jeff Blake said. “And once that happens, you can just go out and play football.’’

• The Rams are down to two open-to-the-public workouts next week — 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

• Demand is up slightly for Rams’ tickets on the secondary market according to StubHub. The Rams are 24th in sales this year after ranking 29th a year ago. The hottest tickets for Rams’ home games are Sept. 21 against the Dallas Cowboys and Nov. 16 against the Denver Broncos.

On the road, the biggest demand for the Rams is the Nov. 2 contest at San Francisco.

A few other StubHub tidbits: Dallas is the top-selling team overall and for home games. The top-selling road squad is San Francisco.

The top-selling single game is the Sept. 7 contest featuring the 49ers at the Cowboys.

Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

Rams Day 15 Camp Report
Nate Latsch

http://stl.scout.com/2/1434150.html?

ST. LOUIS — The Rams got some good news Thursday with the return of cornerback Janoris Jenkins to the practice field after dealing with a recent hamstring injury and may have escaped injury to rookie offensive lineman Demetrius Rhaney.
Rhaney, one of the Rams’ seventh-round picks, was injured while blocking during a field goal session late in practice and had to be taken off the field on a cart. But Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after practice that the injury wasn’t as serious as it may have looked at first.

“All indications right now are preliminary that Demetrius is going to be OK, which is encouraging,” Fisher said. “We’ll have to do an MRI but it looks like the interior of the knee is good, so that’s good news.”

Rhaney has been working as the Rams’ third-string center recently, behind Scott Wells and Tim Barnes, because Barrett Jones is still out with an undisclosed injury. After Rhaney went down on Thursday, the Rams used Mike Person as the third-string center.

• Fisher said that left tackle Jake Long would not make his preseason debut on Saturday against the Packers.

“I’m going to wait another week for Jake,” he said. “Jake’s doing a great job out here, but we’re going to wait another week for Jake and that’ll be the case with a couple other guys.

• Defensive tackle Kendall Langford and running back Isaiah Pead got some good work at practice. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold and defensive end William Hayes both remain out with injuries but did get some work on the side.

• Among the players who remained out of action because of injuries were middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, offensive linemen Jones and Brandon Washington, safety Matt Daniels, cornerback Darren Woodard and fullback Kadeem Jones.

• Fisher announced that quarterback Sam Bradford would play at least one quarter on Saturday against Green Bay.

“Well, we’re going to play him a quarter maybe a little bit more and (look) for him to continue doing the same things he’s doing out here, push the ball down the field,” Fisher said. “It’s an opportunity to work against someone else and work with our receivers that he’s been working very well with right now. ”

Bradford had some nice throws during 11-on-11 work on Thursday, including a toss down the seam to Lance Kendricks and a strong throw to Brian Quick along the right sideline. He also had an overthrown ball that Rodney McLeod intercepted.

• Wide receiver Emory Blake’s father, former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake, was among the onlookers on Thursday. The younger Blake had one of the highlights of the day when he hauled in a touchdown pass while being double-covered.

• Backup quarterback Shaun Hill had nice connections with Stedman Bailey and newly signed tight end Brad Smelley.

TE Alex Bayer one of Rams’ camp surprises
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10516/te-alex-bayer-one-of-rams-camp-surprises

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Back in the spring when the St. Louis Rams were going through organized team activities, it was clear that most of the rookies were still working to get acclimated to their new jobs.

There were a couple of notable exceptions, including first-round pick Aaron Donald, who has looked advanced beyond his years from the moment he arrived in St. Louis. But another came in the form of tight end Alex Bayer, an undrafted rookie from Bowling Green.

Although the Rams were not in pads, Bayer has a knack for showing up a couple of times each practice with a catch in traffic or down the field. In this training camp, with the pads on, Bayer picked up where he left off.

After a five-catch, 71-yard debut against the New Orleans Saints last week, the secret seems to be getting out. Bayer has a legitimate shot to win a spot on the 53-man roster.

“He has consistent hands,” tight ends coach Rob Boras said. “He’s going to be in the right place at the right time. He’s very trustworthy. Then you saw him Friday night he stepped up and made some plays which we thought he was capable of doing.”

After a solid college career, Bayer thought he had a chance to get drafted but was well aware that he’d be a late-round choice if he was. When he didn’t hear his name, he was quickly deluged with plenty of opportunities around the league. More than 10 teams called with their pitch.

But Bayer did his homework, studying the depth charts of teams around the league and learning the preferred number of tight ends each has traditionally kept. In the Rams, Bayer saw the offseason departure of fourth tight end Mike McNeill and was aware they had kept four in each of the two years under coach Jeff Fisher.

Bayer felt additional comfort with the Rams since Boras had paid him a visit the week of the draft, putting him through a workout and taking him to lunch.

“We knew before the draft this was going to be the team to go to if I wasn’t going to be drafted anywhere else,” Bayer said. “So I’m really happy.”

Bayer’s happiness has apparently translated to a solid training camp that has him in prime position to win a potential fourth roster spot for a tight end. Known for his pass-catching ability and athleticism, the 6-foot-4, 258-pound Bayer has been asked to do a lot since his arrival.

Throughout a given practice, Bayer can be seen lining up in the slot, attached to the line of scrimmage as an in-line blocker and putting his hand down to play fullback. The last one has been his biggest transition after a college career in which blocking in space was rarely asked of him.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to be on this team,” Bayer said. “I’m kind of liking playing fullback. It wasn’t something I did in college but you’ve got to be able to adjust, especially in this league. You’re not going to be able to do the same thing two weeks in a row, you have got to be able to do different things.”

The battle for a possible fourth tight end spot will almost certainly come down to Bayer and Justice Cunningham. Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey are well-positioned to hold down the first three but a possible fourth spot could be a tough decision.

The Rams were excited to land Cunningham late last season and think highly of his ability as a blocker. In some sense, the choice between Cunningham and Bayer could come down to whether the Rams prefer the polished blocker working on his pass catching (Cunningham) or the polished pass catcher working on his blocking (Bayer).

There also remains the possibility that the Rams will only keep three, something that will have to be sorted out later.

“We are just trying to be the best tight end group in the NFL, not necessarily have the best tight end but be the best group,” Boras said. “Whether that’s three guys or four guys, whatever we are blessed to have in the room, we’ll take. They’re both still learning.”

Cunningham has been in St. Louis a little longer and appeared to have the early edge, but based on performance in camp and the preseason opener, it’s hard to believe that margin still exists. And if Bayer continues on his current trajectory, it’s Cunningham who will have to play catchup.

“I try not to look at that,” Bayer said. “I just go out there and do what I can control and that’s play football. Our lockers are right next to each other in the locker room, we are always talking and helping each other out. I’m not trying to look at it as competition. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to be on this team. With the limited reps I get as a lower tight end, I just try to make every play count.”

Morning Ram-blings: The ultimate team
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10492/morning-ram-blings-the-ultimate-team

EARTH CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday afternoon, ESPN Insider Mark Dominik put together the best team money can buy using every roster and every cap number for players around the league.

In this sort of fantasy football, Dominik only had to work within the constraints of this year’s salary cap and did not limit himself to having a representative from every team. For those of you with ESPN Insider, here’s the team he put together.

Quinn
As for the team, without giving away the entire roster, the St. Louis Rams had one representative in the form of defensive end Robert Quinn. Considering his talent, potential and relatively light price tag, Quinn is a no-brainer for the team. Dominik has Quinn starting opposite Houston’s J.J. Watt. What a nightmare that would be for an offense.

In looking at the rest of the roster, there was only one spot that jumped out to me as one where you could and should have gone with a Ram. That’s punter. Dominik chose talented Jacksonville’s Bryan Anger. While he’s a fine choice, but it’s hard to justify taking him over the Rams’ John Hekker. Hekker was first-team All Pro and set a league record for net punting in 2013.

Making Hekker even more appealing is that he’s actually scheduled to count $573,334 against this year’s cap, which is almost $200,000 less than Anger. Not that it’s a big deal, but it serves as an easy swap that could have helped with money elsewhere.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Wednesday’s Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. … In the Ram-blings, we began the day by hearing from Quinn, who appeared on ESPN Radio earlier this week. … In this week’s Buzz video, I discussed the offensive line’s movement toward having its five starters in place in the near future. … Next, we took a look at how Hekker can improve in 2014. … Then we delved into quarterback Sam Bradford’s enthusiasm to get back into game action. … Finally, we closed with a quick camp report from the team’s special teams only practice Wednesday afternoon.

Elsewhere:

At stltoday.com, Jim Thomas looks at the effect receiver Kenny Britt has had on the Rams receivers.

Jeff Gordon offers a look at the increased efforts to get a stadium in Los Angeles.

Joe Lyons recaps the early performance of cornerback E.J. Gaines.

101sports.com has Bradford’s interview heading into the second preseason game.

Merril Hoge joined 101sports.com and talked about the impact of defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Hekker hopes to improve on record season
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10473/hekker-hopes-to-improve-on-record-season

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Attempting to figure out what St. Louis Rams punter Johnny Hekker can do for an encore a season after setting an NFL record for net punting isn’t difficult.

Even with the bar now set to a higher standard, the goal is simple.

“Do it again,” Hekker said. “Last season at the beginning of the season Coach (John) Fassel sat us down and had some goals written down on a piece of paper. Mine was the Rams’ all-time net record. I didn’t even know what the mark was. And we went out and messed around and broke the NFL record, so it’s just a great feeling when you can set a goal, visualize it and then go out and achieve it. I think that’s something I’m going to try to do again this season. I’ve got a number in my head I’d like to attain, but that’s going to stay in my head for a while.”

Considering Hekker exceeded even the goals set forth by demanding special-teams coach Fassel, it’s hard to cast doubt that he and his coverage unit won’t go out and reset the bar once again. It won’t be easy after Hekker averaged 44.23 net punting yards on 78 attempts.

Entering his third season in the league, Hekker made great strides in 2013. As a rookie, he struggled with consistency and learning the ins and outs of directional punting, something Fassel demands from the position. The idea being that a well-angled punt with the proper hang time leaves little opportunity for return.

During his rookie season, Hekker hit his spot about half the time. Last year, Fassel and assistant special-teams coach Paul Boudreau Jr. were more surprised when he didn’t hit the intended landmark.

“He was really good, and obviously the goal is to be better,” Fassel said. “When you look at the all-time net punt record … you don’t want to be worse than that, so I mean that’s a high standard. Johnny even knows, there’s some things that I’m not going to tell you that we talked about where he can improve and he knows he can improve.

“If we can make improvements in a couple of those things that we’ve talked about, then I don’t want to say it because it may give away some different things, but there’s room for improvement.”

Hekker also doesn’t want to tip his hand on what some of his other goals are for the season. And considering his eccentric personality, it might be best not to try to dive too far into his mind. Hekker does openly acknowledge a few aspects of his game he’d like to improve.

Among the items on his must-improve list are adding hang time to force more fair catches, generally adding consistency and building a repetitive warmup routine.

Beyond that, Hekker is also looking to take a page out of the book of “Zoolander.” Although his directional punting improved in 2013, Hekker says there’s a noticeable difference between when he aims right and when he goes left.

“This offseason I put a lot of emphasis on working on left directional,” Hekker said. “Last year I was pretty effective at putting the ball out of bounds and down the field going right, but going left is a little more difficult for a righty punter. But this season I want to be more effective at that.”

Adding to Hekker’s cause is the return of a young and talented coverage unit. Special-teams units are perpetually in a state of flux because those rosters spots are always up for grabs. But Hekker can rest easy knowing that at least core guys such as snapper Jake McQuaide, linebackers Ray-Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates, safety Rodney McLeod and receiver Stedman Bailey (after a four-game suspension) will be back in the mix.

That group struggled with silly penalties early last season, and though only a handful came on the punt team, there’s reason to believe the coverage will improve with another year of experience and the addition of feisty defensive back Lamarcus Joyner.

Should Hekker and his teammates again find a way to break the net punting record, it will likely go with little fanfare as it did last season. That doesn’t seem to be of much concern to Hekker. After all, he earned first-team All-Pro honors and his first trip to the Pro Bowl last season.

And Hekker can point to the Hall of Fame induction of Ray Guy as proof that even punters can earn a place among the game’s greats. He even has an addendum for NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and his “punters are people, too” campaign.

“Punters are Hall of Famers, too,” Hekker said, laughing. “Take that Rich Eisen.”

It’s way too early to put Hekker in that kind of company, but if he meets his goal of setting an NFL record for net punting every season, he’ll have an argument to make.

We mic’d up Rams running back and special teams star Chase Reynolds for the team’s first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome on August 8, 2014. (3:26)

http://www.rams-news.com/wired-chase-reynolds-vs-saints-video/

Rams notebook: Mizzou’s Gaines makes the most of preseason start
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-mizzou-s-gaines-makes-the-most-of-preseason/article_fb891ba4-d27d-5a72-822a-09cd94d10672.html

Already pumped up about his NFL preseason game, Rams rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines received an added adrenaline boost when he was given a starting nod Friday against the New Orleans Saints.

“It was definitely a surprise,’’ the sixth-round draft choice from the University of Missouri said. “I didn’t actually find out until an hour before the game, so that kind of changed my mindset.

“A little nervous at first. It was exciting, though, to be able to get in there and get my first start, to prove myself and prove that I could play at this level.’’

Gaines, a 5-foot-10, 190-pounder from suburban Kansas City, was on the field for 51 defensive plays, nine more than any other Ram, and also participated on six special-teams snaps. He led the team with six tackles, four solos and two assists.

“I felt like I played well, but I also feel like I have a lot to learn. We all do,’’ said Gaines, who took advantage of the added playing time with starting cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson sitting out the preseason opener.

Gaines’ play in camp has caught the eye of those around him.

“He’s just making plays,’’ coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s very instinctive, a very conscientious, smart player. He’s picked the defense up really well and made plays. He’s a football player. He tackles, he covers, he’s got ball skills, so we’ll continue to get him some reps.’’

Asked about the young defenders in camp, third-year safety Rodney McLeod said, “No. 33, Gaines, that guy seems to get his hands on the rock almost every day in practice.’’

Gaines was a four-year standout at Missouri, making starts in the final 37 games of his career and earning All-SEC honors last fall as a senior. He said his “Welcome to the NFL’’moment came seconds into Friday’s game.

“When I got out there, the first person I lined up against was Marques Colston,’’ Gaines said. “That was like ‘Wow’ for me because I’ve been watching him play for a while, since I was in high school.’’

Gaines said working against the Rams’ receivers helped prepare him for the preseason debut and that he will continue to work to fine-tune his game.

“I’m working on everything, really,’’ he said. “Just trying to become a complete corner. I’m working a lot on my press-man (coverage), we didn’t do a lot of that at Mizzou. The defensive coaches have been working with me, helping me get more physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage.’’

On a team loaded with young talent in the secondary, Gaines knows he’s in a battle to earn a roster spot.

“It’s tough not to think about that stuff, especially being the competitive-type person we all are,’’ he said. “But the key is just coming out here and trying to get better along with your teammates. At the end of the day, these guys are my teammates and this is a family. It’s all about trying to help each other get better.’’

THE ‘A’ CONNECTION

Wide receiver Austin Franklin, a rookie free agent from New Mexico State, also had a debut to remember, hauling in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Austin Davis early in the fourth quarter.

“First game, getting that first touchdown, I was real proud,’’ the 5-11, 190-pound Franklin said. “When I scored, I honestly didn’t know what to do, so I just pointed to the crowd.’’

With the Rams facing a third-and-10 play, Franklin ran a post pattern, using his body to hold off the defender.

“As soon as (the defensive back) opened his hips, I knew I had to cut across his face and get open,’’ Franklin said. “Austin threw me a great pass, right there — it was the ‘A’ connection, Austin to Austin.’’

At New Mexico State, Franklin led the Aggies in receiving the last two seasons. Last fall, despite missing four games for academic reasons, he finished with 52 catches for 670 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.

“When I get in there, I just have to show them I can play,’’ the 21-year-old said. “I’m trying to focus on the little things, certain routes, my footwork, because I know that those little things are what’s going to help get me on the field.’’

RAM-BLINGS

After a sluggish workout Monday, the team showed a bit more life Tuesday.

During a run-blocking drill, right tackle Joe Barksdale and rookie defensive end Michael Sam got into a scuffle that included a few punches. It was quickly broken up.

Another rookie, No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson, really seemed to thrive in the run-blocking drills.

Tavon Austin made a couple of nice grabs while McLeod picked off a deflected pass to highlight the “team” session.

• Today’s special teams practice is closed to the public. Thursday’s workout, scheduled for 3:30-5:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.

• No major changes on the injury front, except that defensive end William Hayes sat out Tuesday’s workout. Also missing were cornerback Janoris Jenkins (hamstring), fullback Kadeem Jones (hamstring), linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle), guard-tackle Rodger Saffold, guard Brandon Washington, center-guard Barrett Jones, safety Matt Daniels and cornerback Darren Woodard.

• As expected, DE/TE Mason Brodine (fractured ankle) was placed on the injured reserve list.

In another NFL move Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins waived TE Raymond Webber, a Miller Career grad who went on to play at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

• Former NFL exec Gil Brandt, of Sirius XM NFL Radio, made a stop at Rams Park on Tuesday along with broadcast partner Alex Marvez.

Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

Rams Camp Report: Day 13
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10457/rams-camp-report-day-13

EARTH CITY, Mo. — A daily review of the hot topics coming out of St. Louis Rams training camp:

The Rams followed a sluggish Monday practice with a physical Tuesday workout with plenty of work on the run game, some big collisions, and even a small skirmish. For the second time in this camp, defensive end Michael Sam found himself exchanging shoves with a teammate, this time offensive tackle Joe Barksdale. During a run blocking drill late in practice, Barksdale blocked Sam to the ground after the whistle. Sam took exception and went after Barksdale. The two were separated quickly.

Perhaps more entertaining than that is watching rookie Greg Robinson take part in the run blocking drills. You can tell the big man just feels at home when he gets to move downhill and wipe out a defender. One of the unfortunate souls in his way Tuesday was linebacker Johnny Millard. Robinson buried Millard after a short head start with the sound of impressed teammates serving as the sound track. We haven’t really seen Robinson cut it loose yet in part because he’s still learning but drills like that should certainly help open things up a bit.

Tight end Justice Cunningham is another one who drew some oohs and aahs from his teammates for his blocking in the run drills. Cunningham, working out of a fullback spot, came down hill and dropped the hammer a couple of times. He’s battling Alex Bayer for a potential fourth tight end spot. Bayer has the leg up on the receiving side but Cunningham is ahead as a blocker. Should be an interesting battle.

Receivers Austin Franklin and Stedman Bailey had strong outings in the one-on-one passing drills. Franklin caught back-to-back touchdowns against Rodney McLeod with some sharp route running. Bailey continues to consistently get open and make plays when the opportunity arises.

On the flip side, cornerbacks Brandon McGee and Greg Reid had some impressive pass breakups in seven-on-seven. McGee climbed the ladder on a deep ball to receiver Brian Quick and though it appeared Quick had him beat, McGee stuck with it and jarred the ball loose for an incompletion. He’s battled an ankle injury in camp but seems to be rounding back to form.

The funniest moment of the day came after the veterans departed practice, leaving only the rookies on the field. Running back Tre Mason ran into the flat where a pass was thrown to him but apparently the sun got in his eyes and it hit Mason in the chest. Problem was, Mason never saw it, so it hit him in the chest and fell to the ground. The miscue brought chuckles from coaches and teammates.

CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Darren Woodard, S Matt Daniels, FB Kadeem Jones, LB James Laurinaitis, OL Barrett Jones, OL Brandon Washington, OL Rodger Saffold, DT Michael Brockers and DL William Hayes did not participate in Tuesday’s practice.
The Rams have an afternoon special teams practice scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. local time. That workout is closed to the public.

Rams rookie review: Plenty of work
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10383/rams-rookie-review-plenty-of-work

EARTH CITY, Mo. — A look at playing time and production of each of the St. Louis Rams’ drafted rookies and a quick glimpse at the undrafted rookie class in Friday’s 26-24 preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints.

OL Greg Robinson, first round, No. 2 overall: Robinson split time between left guard and left tackle, playing 33 snaps offensively and a pair of special teams snaps in a blocking role. All in all, it was a solid first showing for Robinson though he had a communication mistake which led to a sack early in the game when he blocked outside rather than coming down to help on the defensive tackle. He held the edge well in pass protection albeit against third string pass-rushers.

DT Aaron Donald, first round, No. 13 overall: Donald started at defensive tackle and was in for 37 plays on defense and two more on special teams. Coach Jeff Fisher indicated that Donald got a little tired as the game went on since he couldn’t rotate in and out. He had no tackles but was disruptive and spent plenty of time in the backfield. That workload could end up being similar to what he gets in the regular season, though the reps will be spaced out better when the Rams have their full complement of interior players.

DB Lamarcus Joyner, second round, No. 41 overall: Joyner also got plenty of work, mostly as the nickel corner in playing 33 snaps on defense and seven more on special teams. He had a pair of tackles and was effective as a gunner.

RB Tre Mason, third round, No. 75 overall: Mason got a bigger workload than the Rams would have liked as he was on the field for 34 plays on offense and four on special teams. He carried 15 times for 51 yards and had another long run called back because of a holding penalty.

S Maurice Alexander, fourth round, No. 110 overall: Back working at the Edward Jones Dome, Alexander was tied for the second most defensive reps with 42 and a whopping 12 on special teams. He finished with just one tackle but had a crushing block on special teams and looks like he’s going to factor heavily into a role there right away.

CB E.J. Gaines, sixth round, No. 188 overall: The busiest of all Rams on defense, Gaines played 51 defensive snaps and six on special teams. He led the Rams with six tackles and was solid in coverage as he begins building a case to make the roster.

QB Garrett Gilbert, sixth round, No. 214 overall: The second quarterback in the mix, Gilbert took 29 reps as the backup to Shaun Hill. Gilbert was up and down in his first NFL action as he finished 6-of-11 for 53 yards. He still remains the favorite to land a possible third quarterback job.

OT Mitchell Van Dyk, seventh round, No. 226 overall: Van Dyk also got plenty of work, with 42 snaps on offense and four on special teams. The Rams have a lot to sort through in terms of backup linemen. Van Dyk was mostly nondescript but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

S Christian Bryant, seventh round, No. 241 overall: Bryant is still working his way back from injury and though he is practicing again, he did not play.

DE Michael Sam, seventh round, No. 249 overall: Sam entered the game early, working with the second team defense and played into the third quarter for a total of 32 defensive snaps and five more on special teams. He had a quarterback hurry and a tackle for no gain in that time.

C Demetrius Rhaney, seventh round, No. 250 overall: Rhaney was even busier than Van Dyk, playing 43 offensive snaps and six on special teams. Like Van Dyk, Rhaney didn’t necessarily stand out one way or the other but he has showed some toughness to this point.

Undrafted rookie roundup: Tight end Alex Bayer was a busy man, playing 44 snaps on offense and nine on special teams. He made the most of that time with five catches for 71 yards. … Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks also showed well with three tackles and some pressure on the quarterback in his 33 snaps. … Receiver Austin Franklin hauled in a 15-yard touchdown on his 21 plays and had a 27-yard kick return.

Aaron Donald Has Some Believing St. Louis Rams Have Created A New ‘Fearsome Foursome’
August 12, 2014 5:04 AM
By Cedric Williams

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/08/12/aaron-donald-has-some-believing-st-louis-rams-have-created-a-new-fearsome-foursome/

CBS Local Sports presents 32 Players in 32 Days, a daily feature focusing on one impact player from each NFL team.

Aaron Donald – DT – #99
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 285 lbs.
Age: 23
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
College: Pittsburgh
Experience: Rookie

Ask Aaron Donald and he’ll tell you, without a doubt, that he believes he couldn’t have landed in a better spot when he was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the No. 13 overall pick.

“This defensive line was good without me,” Donald said, following a particularly productive day of training camp for himself and his linemates against St. Louis’ re-vamped starting offensive line. “My job is to just come in here and be an extra piece to the puzzle.”

Through the first 10 days of practice though, Donald, a consensus All-American who won just about every prestigious award a college defensive player could – including the Lombardi, Nagurski, Bednarik, and Outland trophies following his senior season at Pittsburgh last year, has shown himself a potentially spectacular piece to the Rams’ defensive line puzzle.

Some have even said St. Louis’ current defensive front, which with the addition of Donald now boasts four first-round draft picks among its starters, is the club’s best unit since the franchise’s glory days when Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen led the Los Angeles Rams, as members of the renowned “Fearsome Foursome.”

“We don’t really talk about us all being first-round picks or anything,” Donald said. “But we do talk about being great and what it takes to be great. I just want to come in and do my part.”

For now, doing his part means the rookie must simply watch and learn from veteran teammates Chris Long, Robert Quinn, and Michael Brockers—St. Louis’ other first-round gems now starting on its defensive front—while also competing with backups Kendall Langford, William Hayes, and Eugene Sims for playing time.

“Those guys are in my ear all the time,” Donald said. “Mostly cracking jokes on me and kinda getting after me because I’m a rookie. But they also are there to help me if I have any questions or don’t understand something, they’re right there to help me figure it out. So it’s been great. I can’t wait to get into that first game and go to battle with these guys.”

Some scouts that have been in to see the Rams this summer have described Donald as “sensational,” “dominating” and “unblockable” through the early days of training camp.

But Donald says he’s just doing what he’s always done—competing as hard as he can for as long as he can.

“Well nobody wants to come in and just get pushed around in practice,” he said. “We’re all out here working to get better. That means me too. I’m just working on things and trying to get better. Hopefully, I am.”

The Rams also expect its defense, which ranked 15th overall in total yards allowed last season, but was third-best in the league with 53 sacks, to be bolstered by the return of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams was hired for the same job in 2012, but then was suspended for that season by the league for his role in the New Orleans Saints “Bountygate” scandal.

The suspension was lifted in February 2013, but by then, St. Louis had another defensive coordinator. So Williams was hired as a special assistant with the Tennessee Titans last year.

This year though, the Rams hired Williams again to be their DC, and he’s spent the entire offseason implementing his system.

“It’s been a lot of fun already,” Donald said. “It’s an attacking type defense. And I love that. That’s how I like to play. Everything we do is physical. I think I fit in perfect. It’s the kind of system I love to play in.”

And it’s a system that could make Aaron Donald a household name very early in his NFL career.

“I don’t know about that,” the rookie DT said. “I still need to play my first game. I don’t even really feel like a pro yet. That probably won’t happen until I play my first game. I’m excited. I can’t wait. I think we can be really good. I just want to do my part.”

St. Louis’ preseason opener was Friday, August 8, when the Rams hosted the Saints at the Edward Jones Dome.

From there, the club will have exactly 30 days to get ready for its regular season opener, September 7, against the Minnesota Vikings.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do before then,” Donald said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m still learning all this. I want to be ready to show what I can do when the lights go on for real next month.”

Morning Ram-blings: Sam’s chances
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10412/morning-ram-blings-sams-chances

EARTH CITY, Mo. –It’s ground we’ve already covered here plenty but it’s always interesting to get additional perspective from others.

So it is that we begin this morning with a lengthy anecdote in Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback in which he evaluates the chances of St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam in his pursuit of a roster spot.

It’s no secret that Sam is battling the likes of undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks for a potential ninth roster spot for a defensive lineman in this camp. It’s also no secret that Sam’s best route to the roster is likely through special teams.

King’s piece takes a closer look at how Sam fits in there as well, including some details on where the Rams currently view him and how he’s fit in the locker room.

Also worth noting from King’s weekly tour of the league: a quote from general manager Les Snead in his quotes of the week.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday’s Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. … We opened the day with a new-look roster projection coming out of the preseason opener. … In the Ram-blings, we began with Grantland’s Bill Barnwell’s look at quarterback Sam Bradford. … Next, we set the table for this week as the Rams enter preseason Week 2. … From there, it was a closer look at rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines, who has impressed early on. … Next, we got some comments from coach Jeff Fisher on the tragedy in nearby Ferguson, Missouri. … We closed the day with some thoughts and observations on the Rams’ 12th training camp practice.

Elsewhere:

At 101sports.com, Randy Karraker gives his 10 takeaways from the preseason opener.

At stltoday.com, Jeff Gordon writes that nobody should blame Bradford for the Rams’ issues with drafting talent to surround him.

Jim Thomas explores the ways Sam must improve to win a roster spot.

The latest from Rams rookie linebacker Aaron Hill’s weekly diary.

The Associated Press offers its take on Gaines’ progress.

Rams report: Fisher closes out Monday practice with wind sprints
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/rams-report-fisher-closes-out-monday-practice-with-wind-sprints/article_fa1ed338-b9e2-5f07-a4fc-8cf8e0e1fe97.html

The Rams began their on-field work for preseason game No. 2 on Monday, practicing before a crowd of 401 at Rams Park in Earth City.

The Rams host the Green Bay Packers in a 3 p.m. game at the Edward Jones Dome.

Not happy with his team’s 14 penalties in Friday’s 26-24 loss to the visiting New Orleans Saints, coach Jeff Fisher closed out Monday’s lackluster workout with old-fashioned wind sprints. Each unit ran a sprint for every penalty committed by a member of that group, so everybody on the field got in some extra running.

RAM-BLINGS

After practice, Fisher was asked about the situation in Ferguson, where looting and protesting followed the fatal shooting of a teenager by police. “It’s very, very tragic because of the loss of life,” he said. “We don’t have any details, but I just feel very, very bad for the family and their loss.

“We hope they can get things sorted out and get things settled down there.”

_ Injured players sitting out Monday’s practice cornerback Janoris Jenkins (hamstring), fullback Kadeem Jones (hamstring), linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle), guard/tackle Rodger Saffold, guard Brandon Washington and center/guard Barrett Jones. Newcomers to the list after Friday’s game are safety Matt Daniels and cornerback Darren Woodard, who started against the Saints.

Saffold and Jenkins worked with trainers on the side, an indication they aren’t far from returning to action.

Back on the practice field after sitting out Friday’s contest were left takle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and running backs Isaiah Pead and Trey Watts.

_ The Rams’ other open-to-the-public practices this week will be Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) and Thursday (3:30 p.m.).

_ With DL/TE Mason Brodine done for the year with a fractured ankle, the Rams signed TE/FB Brad Smelley to fill out their 90-man roster. Smelley, a University of Alabama product, was drafted by Cleveland in the seventh round of the 2012 draft and was with the Rams for a short time last November. He has also spent some time on Houston’s practice squad.

In four NFL games, he has one reception for three yards.

_ Quarterback Brady Quinn, who was with the Rams late last season, has been signed by the Miami Dolphins.

In addition, tackle Graham Pocic, a University of Illinois product who was in camp with the Rams last year, has been waived by the Chicago Bears.

_ Highly respected NFL writer Dan Pompei was on hand Monday. He’s finishing up some projects for Sports on Earth. The Wall Street Journal also had a reporter at Monday’s workout.

(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)