Diminutive Austin ready to give Rams more

By R.B. FALLSTROM

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/diminutive-austin-ready-rams-more-185952425–nfl.html

ST. LOUIS (AP) — This time last year, diminutive Tavon Austin could brag about never missing a practice, let alone a game.

After a rookie season that featured a handful of brilliant highs mixed with stretches of low productivity and three weeks of downtime at the end with a high ankle sprain, the St. Louis Rams wide receiver came clean. Especially early on, the playbook had him bamboozled.

”I didn’t really know what was going on,” Austin said. ”Everything looked like Spanish and sounded like Spanish to me.”

Entering Year 2, the eighth overall pick of the 2013 draft realizes there’s more to the job than simply outrunning defenders. He’s comfortable with a system that’s undergone only minor tweaks, and better prepared to bedevil opposing coordinators.

”I understand the plays, the depth, the routes, the splits and everything,” Austin said. ”I just feel good that I can make some plays. Definitely, the game’s slowed down for me.”

Having Sam Bradford calling signals can only help, even if Austin’s memorable 310-yard, three-TD game at Indianapolis came on tosses from backup Kellen Clemens a couple weeks after Bradford’s season-ending knee injury.

Austin’s overall numbers were somewhat pedestrian: 40 catches with a 10.5-yard average and six total TDs.

Though the Rams (7-9) never envisioned the 5-foot-8, 176-pound Austin as an every-down threat, they know there’s plenty of untapped talent.

Here are some things to know about the Rams:

SAM’S TOWN: Coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead deserve kudos for making the Rams the first NFL team to draft an openly gay player. And for not making it a big deal.

Michael Sam had an individual media session in addition to spending time on the podium with the rest of the later-round draft picks, but that’s the last time the Rams made a concession to celebrity status.

The Oprah Winfrey Network’s Sam documentary was shut down after collecting one day of footage. Players welcomed the former SEC co-defensive player of the year into the fold, many of them pointing out sexual orientation has never been a big deal.

Now, it’s up to Sam to win a roster spot as a lowly seventh-rounder on a team that has one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. Fisher had the guts to take him and also has the guts to cut him loose.

BRADFORD’S STAR: While the first overall pick of the 2010 draft rehabbed from knee surgery, job security was never a concern. Well before the draft, the Rams assured Bradford he was the unquestioned starter and that rumors they might take Johnny Manziel had no basis.

Bradford was eased back into the mix during OTAs and anticipates he’ll be ready for the preseason opener. He’s coming off a nice half-season, finishing with 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions, and at 26 is a seasoned hand counted on to guide one of the NFL’s youngest teams.

WILLIAMS FACTOR: Gregg Williams was Fisher’s original pick as defensive coordinator in 2012. Reunited with a long-time friend, the one-time villain of the Saints’ bounty program is appreciative of the second chance. He seems as feisty as ever and has relentlessly prodded a unit that has underachieved despite being loaded with top picks and free agents.

At least after the fact, players seem to appreciate the instantaneous feedback. Williams definitely made an impression on rookies during OTAs.

”If he gets on me, I’m obviously not doing my job,” said defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, a second-round pick who’ll provide immediate help for a secondary that struggled last season. ”I need that. I don’t want this guy mad at me.”

JOB LISTING: Fifth-round pick Zac Stacy just missed 1,000 yards after cracking the lineup in Week 5. He’ll have to earn the carries again. Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist and third-rounder who ran behind Greg Robinson for Auburn’s national title runner-up team, will push for playing time.

”Oh, absolutely there’s going to be competition,” Stacy said.

Mason is far from content being a change-of-pace back, Fisher’s initial designation.

”Not sure how it starts out, and you never know what can happen,” Mason said. ”I’m the type of guy who’s hands-on.”

THROWBACK TIME: Throughout the season, the Rams will recognize the 15-year anniversary of the ”Greatest Show on Turf” Super Bowl title team that held off Fisher’s Titans, 23-16. Remembrances will be less bittersweet if Year 3 under Fisher can be that long-awaited breakthrough.

The Rams have a pair of seven-win seasons so far, a major step forward from the franchise’s darker days. They’ll try to honor that ’99 team with their first winning record since 2003.

Rams camp preview: Five positions to watch

Nate Latsch

http://stl.scout.com/2/1423197.html

ST. LOUIS — The Rams get back to work later this week with the beginning of training camp, so we are taking a look at some things to keep an eye on at Rams Park.
We’ve looked at five veterans to watch and five rookies to watch and now here are five position battles to watch during training camp.

WIDE RECEIVER

The wide receiver group doesn’t look like it will have much intrigue in terms of who is likely to make the roster at the start of the regular season.

It would be a surprise if Chris Givens, Tavon Austin, Austin Pettis, Brian Quick and Kenny Britt weren’t on the roster coming out of camp, with Stedman Bailey suspended for the first four weeks and not taking a roster spot for the season opener.

But which of those players emerge as the starters and go-to guys will be interesting to watch throughout camp.

The only new player is Britt, but he’s the most intriguing as a young veteran with the physical tools to make a big impact. What will we see from Austin in his second season and from Givens and Quick in their third? Can Pettis become a bigger contributor?

There are plenty of questions with this group.

LINEBACKER

James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree are starters.

The Rams re-signed Jo-Lonn Dunbar to man the third linebacker spot, but his recent arrest in Miami may open the door for special teams standout Ray Ray Armstrong to take a step forward in his second season.

NICKEL CORNERBACK

The Rams traded up in the second round of the draft to select Lamarcus Joyner to be a nickel cornerback, but in OTAs it was Brandon McGee who saw most of the action at that spot with the starting defense.

McGee didn’t make much of an impact as a rookie in 2013 but earned some praise from Jeff Fisher for his improvement during OTAs.

The Rams are going into training camp with two third-year players, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, set as starters at cornerback. But behind those guys will be youngsters like McGee, Joyner, E.J. Gaines and undrafted guys like Greg Reid and Marcus Roberson.

There will be plenty of opportunities for the young players to step up.

SAFETY

There was plenty of talk about the Rams going after a safety early in the draft but a run on the position late in the first round may have taken some of their top targets off the board.

The Rams grabbed St. Louis native Maurice Alexander in the fourth round but the rookie safety wasn’t able to get out on the field and show what he could do during OTAS because of a knee issue.

T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod’s starting safety spots are probably safe going into training camp, but if Alexander can get up to speed quickly with the defense he’ll have a chance to earn some playing time.

THIRD QUARTERBACK

When the Rams took Garrett Gilbert in the sixth round, he became the first quarterback drafted by the team since Sam Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. But that doesn’t mean the SMU product is guaranteed a roster spot coming out of training camp.

Gilbert will battle with Austin Davis for the No. 3 quarterback position but will also have to prove that he is worthy of a roster spot.

The Rams only had one quarterback, Kellen Clemens, on the roster last season when Bradford went down with his knee injury. Then they had to scramble to add Davis and veteran Brady Quinn, but neither appeared in a game for St. Louis in 2013.

If Gilbert doesn’t show enough in training camp, the Rams could cut him and try to add him to the practice squad after clearing waivers.

stlramz

about 3 years ago got some guy that was totally polite: “yes sir, I will cancel you right away”. uh, thanks . . .’anything else we can do for you?” uh, no.

had to call back later and get another person who agreed with me that a customer since 1995 should not have been treated like this etc .etc. and the free stuff starts rolling in. free ST, free upgrades, free packages.

I always wondered if I got some guy on their first day because this never happened before or since.

(admittedly allied) thoughts from a different poster on a similar topic:

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SOKA

…those dropped balls last year hurt Shotty just like it hurt SB. [and some say] Shotty has to dial up something new when the run does not work.
Well, nobody is able to do that against NFC West defenses. So I think those are unreasonable expectations. Shotty is supposed to take SB, Cook, Givens, TA, Quick and Bailey and do what McCarthy has been unable to do with Rodgers and a stable of great receivers for over three years and five tries against SF?

Its easy to say he is part of the problem, but what OC do you feel can do better against NFC West defenses?

…I don’t think it is on Shotty to score 7 more a game, he improved the ppg even with missing SB for nine games, shouldn’t we be able to get 7 more a game just by having SB along with a more experienced TA, Cook having another camp with SB along with Givens, Bailey, Quick and Kendricks?

Isn’t consistency and chemistry what we have been saying SB needed and he would be fine instead of the turnstile OC’s, receivers etc.?

Unless we have a boatload of injuries, I would expect SB to improve our ppg over KC even with the same play calling? And if there are a boat load of injuries, then how can you put it on the OC and use that same reasoning for why SB may underperform expectations.

I am completely confident in SB and the receivers so long as we have a running game. Without it, no OC succeeds against NFC West defenses. But we can not ask SB to throw a lot when the running game is not working against NFC West defenses because nobody makes it work with any success. Not even certain HOF QB’s or historically great offenses.

The key is to remain committed to the run even if you are only getting one yard a carry because you cant throw over 50% and expect to beat those defenses. I liken it to the old Steelers/Baltimore games where both sides would go three or six and out six or seven times in a row.

If you “have” to throw against SEA, SF or AZ then you pretty much insured a loss. Like NO did with us, Fisher stated when he saw Payton keeping Graham and Sproles in to block during the first quarter he knew they would win.

If SF, SEA or AZ are forcing you to throw in the first quarter then they know they have you where they want you.

zn wrote:

he was a little banged up in camp

RB Stacy won’t play vs. Packers

• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/rb-stacy-won-t-play-vs-packers/article_ed102fbf-c6a6-5537-ab80-9607948b51d3.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The running back competition will not include Zac Stacy tonight against Green Bay. The rookie from Vanderbilt, a fifth-round draft pick by the Rams, was among the pre-game scratches announced by the Rams.

Stacy played last week against Cleveland, but has practiced only sporadically for the past week and half. Team and league sources have described Stacy as having “general soreness” but he has had his right leg wrapped at some practices.

Thanks Ag.

What did I miss?

I tried clicking “copy link location,” but I am maybe not sure what part of the on-site podcast I am supposed to click. I tried the “play” arrow…

or do I need to put commands on it here?

..

TrenchRam wrote:

1. Do we have the personnel to play the 2ndary?

2. Can the coaching staff lift this talented team over the hump?

For me, #2 is THE question of questions. #1 gets answered in large part by #2. Williams needs to turn lots of mostly young talent into an elite defense.

I don’t think we know enough yet to say that even the best coaching can turn this secondary into a decent unit. I think that McDonald and Jenkins have both demonstrated sufficient talent to say that with good coaching they should be at least solid starters and possibly much better than that. Everyone else is pretty much just potential. There are so many players being counted on to make a leap that I just assume that the unit continues to be a weakness for at least the first half of the season. A key injury or two could result in them being really terrible. Hopefully GW can use the scheme and the ridiculous talent level up front to compensate, but if the entire unit doesn’t step up in a big way they’re still going to be vulnerable to the pass.

Welcome aboard, Trench!

Be sure and note this, for those who are interested!

Fwiw, here’s Bradford under pressure, according to Pro Football Focus stats.

2012. They rank him 12th…even though he was hit as he threw more than anyone else. He was also 2nd worst in WR drops when under pressure. He’s 11th in TDs throwing under pressure. He’s tied for 2nd with the least INTs when throwing under pressure.

His sack percentage under pressure is 10th worst, though, remember, 2012 included 8 games with an injury OL that consisted of Hunter Ojinnaka Turner Dahl Richards. (After leaving the Rams, Turner was benched and Ojinaka, Hunter, and Richardson are not presently on any NFL roster. That’s 4.)

His completion percentage under pressure is 20th of 38 ranked qbs. His accuracy percentage (or drops counted as completions) is ranked 18th of 38, which btw is still better Eli, Flacco, Luck, Stafford, Romo, and Brady.

In 2013, the figures are all tilted by the fact that they had no running threat for 4 of the 7 games.

But in 2013, he is 38th, and his completion percentage and accuracy percentage are both worse than 2012.

So what I conclude from that is that Bradford does better under pressure when he has a running threat.

From what I have seen, and just looking at raw numbers, I do not think it is true that he is “bad under pressure,” period. I think he is BETTER when he has a running threat.

All of this was prompted by Robinson. Well…it IS true that the Seattle defense has the number of the Rams offense. Bradford has 38 career INTs in 4 seasons, which is also 49 games played. His overall INT percentage is 2.2%. If he played 16 games last year 2.2% would rank 11th among qbs with 10 or more starts.

So he doesn’t throw INTs overall, but against Seattle he has 6 INts in 6 games. (Of the 49 games he has played, he played Seattle 12.2% of the time yet they represent neatly 16% of his total INTs.)

But then Seattle demolished Manning in the superbowl so I am not weeping into my soup. It’s Seattle. What qb has Seattle’s number? (There might actually be one but if I don’t recall.) The Rams do have to beat Seattle obviously…but the fact that Seattle has their number so far is not this big surprise.

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