Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorThis is what I worry about with Saffold. He had shoulder surgery. How soon can he lift weights?
znModeratorRams rookie Jamon Brown: Guardian of quarterbacks — and also horses
Elisabeth Meinecke
FOX Sports MidwestST. LOUIS — Rams’ third-round draft pick Jamon Brown isn’t sure he’ll watch the Belmont Stakes today, but he does have a surprising connection to some horse racing history.
Brown played college football in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby and the first leg of the Triple Crown. Last year, he worked security for the event and guarded the horses on the backside of the racetrack, where they were stabled. Following the Derby, Brown was assigned to guard the winner, California Chrome.
“After he won, he had 24-hour security,” Brown says.
His presence ensured no unauthorized person had access to Chrome once he returned to the stable post-race.
“That’s when I guard him, or ‘sit on him,’ as they say,” Brown explains. “I’m guarding the stable. Nobody comes in, nobody comes out unless it’s the owner or the trainer.”
It’s not a bad way to witness sports history, but we’re guessing Brown liked his job on this year’s Derby weekend even better — getting drafted No. 72 overall by the St. Louis Rams. That doesn’t, however, leave him much time for watching the Belmont Stakes this Saturday.
“My time is pretty occupied — we’re trying to learn the playbook,” Brown admits. “And, on top of that, I don’t watch too much TV.”
In other words, bet on Netflix.
June 6, 2015 at 3:33 pm in reply to: what are your reasons (so far) for thinking Foles will have a good year #25956znModeratormy 2 cents
IF the OL comes together reasonably well and stays healthy
& IF the running game comes together
then…I think the reasons for predicting Foles will do well are that
* he can do a very good short to medium ball control, quick throw passing game—although that, I think, won’t be the whole offense, I have a hunch it will be a big part of it (if they continue in the 2012-14 tradition, ball control + power running will set up all kinds of designed big plays, including play action passes but not just that)
* he showed signs in the 2014 season that when the Eagles were not offensively dominant front-runners like they were in 2013, he could be clutch in comeback situations
Now for the question marks. His longball accuracy fell off in 2014, so I want to see him get some of that back. He wasn’t very good under pressure in 2014, but if the right things fall into place, he can maybe rein that in. He dropped off in the redzone in 2014, so I want to see him get some of that back too.
I am not very rah rah just yet because we haven’t seen him in action in this offense, but for me, the 2 things I list above are enough to start with.
What if the OL struggles? I think he will be hampered, but I won’t hold that against HIM. I would just wait until the OL was fixed or stabilized (for example if injured starters came back or young players improved).
znModeratorInstead of being about three compelling and disparate characters trapped together
“You were on the Indianapolis?”
znModeratorCool, I can talk about movies here. I saw it and it was a great film, however I took my pregnant wife and that might have been a mistake.
I went with a friend of mine, and she
described it as “boring beyond belief.”So, its not for everyone.
I enjoyed it, myself, but i am a sucker
for apocalyptic distopia stories.w
vYour friend has no soul.
Your friend didn’t even like the part where we witness the major characters quietly sipping wine to good chamber music and wittily discussing current events?
znModeratorFisher couldn’t say ‘no’ to Garcia
By Jim Thomas
When he interviewed Jeff Garcia for the Rams’ quarterbacks coach job in February, coach Jeff Fisher came away impressed. So impressed, in fact, that for a while it looked like Garcia would get the job.
Always the competitor, Garcia didn’t take the news well when Fisher hired Chris Weinke instead.
“It was like the wind was let out of my sail,” Garcia recalled.
That same day, Garcia left a message for Fisher, thanking him for the opportunity while making it clear he remained interested in joining the Rams’ staff in any capacity.
“He got back to me later that day and just said, ‘Hey, I was extremely impressed by you and I want you on my staff,’ “ Garcia said.
Turns out that wasn’t just lip service. Three months later, Garcia has been hired as an offensive assistant by the Rams. Garcia accepted the job in late May (the week of the NFL owners meetings in San Francisco), and the Rams formally announced the hiring earlier this week.
As a player, Garcia was MVP in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders, and went on to earn four Pro Bowl berths in the NFL at quarterback. But with the Rams he will help wide receivers coach Ray Sherman with that unit.
“When I was done (interviewing) Jeff, I just felt like he’s got some special qualities and characteristics,” Fisher said. “Kind of one of those guys you want on your staff.”
It took a while to make that happen, but Fisher likes what Garcia can add to the wide receiver room.
“He gives a different perspective,” Fisher said. “He gives that quarterback perspective to the receivers, which I think is helpful.”
Garcia and Fisher have no prior history, other than the fact that Garcia played against some of Fisher’s Tennessee Titans teams over the years. That’s worth noting because coaching jobs often go to buddies in the NFL.
“Coaches that I played for are still coaching,” said Garcia, whose 12-year NFL playing career included five seasons with San Francisco as well as stints with Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Houston. “When I started to pursue a (coaching) opportunity in the NFL, I thought it may come through the relationships that I had.”
Didn’t happen that way, however.
“The great thing about Jeff (Fisher) is he saw value in what I brought as a former player,” Garcia said. “Maybe part of it was my background — how I had to scratch and claw my way into the league, battle and fight for everything. And just the type of player that I was out there on the field.”
The feisty Garcia was as competitive as they come as a player. In terms of approach, he was a grinder — a gridiron version of a gym rat. Beyond the X’s and O’s, if some of those qualities rub off on the Rams’ wideouts, the team will be better off for it.
And he’s from a coaching family. It’s in his blood. His father, Bob Garcia, coached him in junior college at Gavilan College in his hometown of Gilroy, Calif.
Once his playing career ended, Garcia opened Jeff Garcia Football in San Diego, where he trained quarterbacks from the junior high level up. Among the NFL quarterbacks he tutored there were Mark Sanchez, Matt McGloin and Tyrod Taylor.
But at the end of the day, he missed the preparation for a game. His one-year stint with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes last season, first as a consultant and then as quarterbacks coach, only whetted his appetite to get into coaching.
“This is where I need to be,” Garcia said. “This is where I feel I can have a tremendous impact. I can still mentor and direct and guide and inspire young people to reach above and beyond what they ever thought they could do themselves, and bring out more.”
Garcia thinks his quarterback background will help a still-young Rams wide receivers group grasp the big picture.
“Understanding what the mindset is of a quarterback, and what he’s thinking about a given concept,” Garcia said. “How so many of the technical, fundamental things about the game are so important in order to create great timing.”
But the Rams also plan to tap into Garcia’s vast experience playing quarterback. Toward that end, new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has involved Garcia in the meeting room with Weinke in discussions and film review.
“Being able to talk about, not just receivers but quarterbacks, and the fundamentals of playing the position,” Garcia said. “Where their eyes, where their thoughts, where their progressions should be in creating success on the field.”
Even so, Garcia made it clear that the last thing he wants to do is step on Weinke’s toes when it comes to the quarterback position.
So he’s getting to know the wideouts, and vice versa. With a slight grin, Garcia says the wide receivers have “a little bit” of an understanding about who he was as a player.
“I know they were young when I was playing,” he added. “A couple of the defensive players asked if I could sign a ball for them. They remember what I was all about.”
Despite his NFL success, Garcia was only 1-7 as a San Francisco starter against the Rams. Then again, all of those starts came from 1999 through 2003, the period encompassing the Rams’ greatest success in St. Louis as the Greatest Show on Turf.
Now, he finds himself on the other side of the rivalry.
“I grew up in the Bay Area, so I was a big Niners fan,” Garcia said.
But that was then. Now he’s wears a blue and gold Rams cap at work.
“Hey, this is my new favorite team,” he said.
znModeratorJune 5, 2015 at 11:09 pm in reply to: This could definitely be the best defense in NFL in 2015 #25924znModeratorIn my view, it’s virtually impossible to reconcile a “they were still learning” frame to last year. Even if one could accept the “slow start” (a damn long slow start), the regression in the NYG game seems pretty tough to fit with that read.
Yeah, agreed, I don’t see it that way. And teams can be inconsistent until they master what they’re supposed to do, so the inconsistency of the Giants game doesn’t bother me. Plus the Giants game had its own boneheaded errors, including the D losing its cool.
I don’t worry about the first games without sacks. Here’s what I thought I saw happening. The offenses were getting the ball off quickly, negating the rush, so they had to counter that by playing a containment game with the receivers on short routes. In fact I have never seen Rams safeties be so good at that when they got it going. But then, to do that, and also control big plays, they needed superior communication in the secondary, because essentially they were hovering over a short passing game while having to keep an eye out for anything more dangerous than that. And, the recognition and communication were not always there to accomplish that. That, to me, is where most of the mistakes came from.
I think if you subtract the really bad mental errors that led to TDs, they win 2-3 more games.
Also, to me it’s perfectly natural that they would not have it together at first—Wms has put together top 5 (and even #1) defenses before, but not as a coordinator under the new CBA, which limits practice time. Plus the team itself keeps saying they took a while to learn it. I think part of it is that Fisher gave Wms free reign for a bit and they went all high tech, but then he asked them to simplify it, and that took immediate hold and they went to another level.
Anyway, yeah, I am projecting last year’s performance into a top D this year, just not safely—because anything could happen. Heck before 2011 the word was that the D improved enough to expect another step up, but then some of us argued they were too vulnerable to injuries. We must have jinxed them because they put 10 CBs on IR.
In any even, I don’t see the harm in high expectations. I’ve done it before, been wrong, and lived through it.
I am not the type who has to temper the fun of enthusiastic early projections. If they stumble for clear reasons (like injuries, or lack of heart, or whatever it is) I just see the reality and quickly adjust, which means flipping to “look for the bright spots” mode. Anyway, there are coordinators in the league who have less going for them than Williams who could make a defense out of the combination of Donald, Quinn, McDonald, and Gaines, plus the more solid anchor guys like LOng, JL, and McCleod.
znModeratorNew helmets won’t negate the physics involved and he knows it. We may see this more in the future from highly drafted and paid linemen.
It’s what happened to Jason Smith. Smith just couldn’t do the actual walking away part.
znModeratorReady to play: Rookie Havenstein an odds-on favorite to start on O-line this fall
Elisabeth Meinecke
FOX Sports Midwesthttp://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/rookie-rob-havenstein-ready-to-play-for-st-louis-rams-060515
ST. LOUIS — Yeah, there’s a chance rookie tackle Rob Havenstein may not be starting on the St. Louis Rams’ offensive line come fall. There’s also a chance that Taylor Swift finds true love, Brett Favre unretires or the zombies take over (OK, maybe not the last one).
Havenstein, the team’s second-round draft pick this year, finds himself in this excellent position through hard work, but also by default. There are two gaping holes on the right side of St. Louis’ offensive line, and few candidates with any notable pro experience to fill them. The team did add veteran Garrett Reynolds during the offseason but also used four of their nine draft picks on offensive linemen. Of these, Havenstein is the highest selection, and comes from Wisconsin, a program Rams head coach Jeff Fisher clearly respects when it comes to offensive linemen.
“When you come from programs like Iowa, like Wisconsin — you’re technique-sound,” Fisher says.
That doesn’t mean transitioning to the NFL has been a cakewalk, even for Havenstein. Like a typical rookie, he’s spent the past month trying to master the NFL playbook and adjust to a faster pace of play.
“Speed’s definitely different,” Havenstein admits. “There can be different calls for the same movement, and you’ve gotta be able to decipher between that, and it’s all got to happen like this.”
Since he got to St. Louis, he and offensive guard Jamon Brown, a third-round draft pick this year, have become something of an odd couple on the right side of the offensive line. Working closely together in practice has led to them also meeting outside of it, either downtown or at their hotel, to ensure they’re on the same page when they get on the field.
Havenstein is a Maryland native who spent his college career playing up north, while the 323-pound Brown is Savannah-born and Louisville-raised. Brown found out he loved playing football in middle school, where he had a pretty good career as a right guard and middle linebacker. Havenstein, meanwhile, never even played football until ninth grade — and it took him even longer to figure out he was good at it.
“Maybe senior year (of high school), I thought I was good, but whether or not I was actually good …” Havenstein leaves the question hanging. “Freshman year (of college) was freshman year, and you don’t really think you’re great because you’re going out there and getting your butt kicked on scout team all the time, and trying to get better and better.”
After redshirting and then seeing game action the following season, he got the starting job at right tackle for the Badgers his sophomore year, and never missed a start through three full seasons. As his college career progressed, so did his dream of reaching the NFL. The guys he’d played on a line with, Havenstein noticed, were going to the pros, so maybe he had a shot, too.
“Instead of kind of (being) on the outside looking in and saying, ‘Can I actually do that?’ I had something to kind of base it off of,” Havenstein says.
The Rams thought he was capable. They liked his durability, his smarts, the fact that he came from an offense that ran the ball well. In fact, general manager Les Snead called him “ready to play” when talking to reporters on the day Havenstein was drafted.
Now, the opportunity seems his for the taking.
“This is the dream for a lot of people,” Havenstein said during Rams’ rookie orientation in May. “At least we get a chance to make it a reality here in the upcoming months. That alone is just something absolutely special. It’s the best job in the world, and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”
znModeratorFor Rams, getting young offensive line together a top OTA priority
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra…ng-offensive-line-together-a-top-ota-priority
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Upon releasing veteran offensive linemen Scott Wells and Jake Long, opting not to re-sign guard Davin Joseph and choosing only to add linemen through the NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams once again committed to being young.
That should be no surprise for a team that has often had no issue with embracing youth in recent seasons. In fact, the Rams have been one of the youngest teams in the league in each of coach Jeff Fisher’s three years with the team. That will likely be the case again this year but nowhere will that be more apparent than on the offensive line.
As it stands, the projected starters on the Rams’ offensive line have an average age of 23.4 years old. If it panned out that way, the Rams would have the youngest line in the league with only the Detroit Lions coming within two years at 23.8.
Taking it a step further, only guard Rodger Saffold comes with even one full season of starting experience. Saffold has 60 career starts to his name. The rest of the team’s offensive linemen combine for a total of 43 NFL starts with projected swing tackle Garrett Reynolds offering 27 of those, left tackle Greg Robinson supplying 12 and center Tim Barnes providing four.
In other words, aside from Saffold, only Robinson is a sure thing to bring NFL starting experience to the table as the Rams wade through these organized team activities (OTAs). While rookies like projected right tackle Rob Havenstein, guard Jamon Brown and guard Cody Wichmann played and started a lot of games in college, it’s still going to take some time to get everyone up to speed at the NFL level.
And though Barnes has the only starting experience among a trio of centers competing for the starting job, it’s not a guarantee he’ll win the spot. Barrett Jones has been in the league for two years and is considered one of the team’s most intelligent players. Demetrius Rhaney missed his rookie season last year but also figures into the mix.
Havenstein is all but certain to take over as the starting right tackle and, as it stands, Brown projects to be one of the starting guards though the Rams may opt for Reynolds in one of those spots until Brown is ready to go. They could also pursue a veteran option such as free agent Justin Blalock but nothing has materialized on that front yet.
All of which is to say that during these OTAs, the most important man in the building might be offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Boudreau has a longstanding reputation for coaching up young players and getting them ready to go but this might be one of his most difficult challenges yet. Fortunately for him and his young linemen, the Rams hope to be a power running team capable of controlling the line of scrimmage. There’s not a whole lot of thinking that goes into such an approach, which could shorten the learning curve a bit for Boudreau’s young group of maulers.
This is just the latest in a series of attempts to rebuild a unit that the Rams never seem to quite get right. But as OTAs continue and we head toward training camp, all eyes will be on an offensive line that’s starting over once again.
znModeratorTodd Gurley finding ways to participate in Rams OTAs
By Nick Wagoner
ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13019961/todd-gurley-st-louis-rams-progressing-rehab-acl-tear
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Although St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley isn’t technically participating in organized team activities this week, he is doing everything he can to get a reasonable approximation.
Gurley is still rehabilitating from the torn left ACL he suffered in November. For now, Gurley is mostly limited to hanging out on the sideline with the athletic trainers. But he is not just standing around with nothing to do.
Near the start of the team’s Thursday practice, Gurley worked with athletic trainer Byron Cunningham on the side. As his teammates went through individual drills, Gurley did some high leg kicks and running. He was mostly limited to linear work that doesn’t require him to move much laterally, but he was able to do a few agility drills that required change of direction.
Gurley also stayed on the field after practice was over, running a few routes for rookie quarterback Sean Mannion. Gurley worked at about half speed and wasn’t cutting like he would in a game, but he did get some extra repetitions.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft, is progressing well. The Rams have put no timetable on when Gurley will return to practice or games, but Fisher has indicated a willingness to be as patient as necessary.
“Todd’s doing a great job with his rehab,” Fisher said. “He’s very anxious. He’s probably a little frustrated, probably deep down inside not really happy right now, but he’s anxious to get out there right now, so that’s going well.”
During Friday’s OTAs, the Rams appeared to dial it back with Gurley. Near the end of the session, Gurley did get some one-on-one time with running backs coach Ben Sirmans.
Sirmans walked Gurley through some runs, and Gurley ran at about half speed, mixing in a couple of small cutbacks.
“I feel good. I just can’t play football right now,” Gurley said. “I’m running around and doing agility stuff. It’s just day by day.”
When not doing work on the side, Gurley said he is doing his best to stay attuned to what’s happening on the field. When the Rams switched from individual drills to team sessions, Gurley stopped his sideline work and joined his teammates in the huddle, standing close enough to hear the plays and run through them in his mind.
“[It’s good] just being able to get my rehab during practice when they are doing individual, then when team comes, I get those mental reps,” Gurley said.
znModeratorCool, I can talk about movies here. I saw it and it was a great film, however I took my pregnant wife and that might have been a mistake.
Yeah, that’s not a who’s who of take the pregnant wife movies.
June 5, 2015 at 6:58 pm in reply to: This could definitely be the best defense in NFL in 2015 #25906znModeratorThis means that this group could end up anywhere on a continuum from 1st to, say, 18th or so. The results depend on a number of variables. I don’t see how any observer could at this point say much about where on that continuum we’ll end up.
But then, how many of us (fans in general) have ever predicted anything?
That is, when a team takes a leap forward, what does it look like the year before?
What you’re saying is that they did not look cohesive or disciplined. I saw it differently. I saw them struggling with mental errors. That may sound like the same thing, but you can fix mental errors by learning the thing better.
Of all the problems to have, I’ll take “still struggling to grasp the defense.” Cause that can be fixed with time.
That would never have helped the 2008 defense. It wouldn’t have mattered how much time they had.
znModeratorHas anybody else have problems with Rambill’s links here. Take this link. I works on the Herd, but not here. Is it me or this board?
I get redirected here: http://www.si.com/2014/02/12/nfl-power-rankings-offseason-outlook/3
It happens when I try to use the “read the complete article” on Rambill’s site.
It happens in Firefox and Explorer.
Just on that one article.
znModeratorAyers finds right fit with Rams
By Nate Latsch
ST. LOUIS — Akeem Ayers had plenty of options in free agency this offseason, but the outside linebacker who spent most of his first four seasons with the Titans felt at home when he visited with the Rams.
“I was hearing from a lot of teams, but this was the first place I came and once I came here I got to meet the coaches, I knew a lot of guys on the team — a lot of them I played in Tennessee with — and it just felt comfortable for me,” Ayers said Thursday. “It just felt like the right fit.”
The Rams are hoping that the 25-year-old Ayers, a second-round pick out of UCLA in 2011 by the Titans who helped the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl last season, will be a good fit with their defense, a unit that returns all 11 starters from a year ago.
Ayer’s versatility could make him a Swiss Army knife, of sorts, for the Rams’ aggressive, blitz-happy defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
“I think I add a little more versatility,” Ayers said. “The defense is already stellar. They’ve got guys all across the board. I’ll just be able to come in and add my versatility. I’m able to cover in base. I’ve been a rusher most of the season last season, so if they need me to rush, I can rush. So just allow them to mix it up more, switch it up, do a little bit of different things if they want to.”
When the Rams’ No. 1 defense took the practice field on Thursday for the team’s second OTA session, but first open to the media, the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder was lined up at one of the outside linebacker spots, next to James Laurinaitis and opposite Alec Ogletree.
That spot has been manned the past two seasons by Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who is back with the Rams for his third season. Dunbar had a strong campaign in 2013, but was not as effective in 2014, so now the 29-year-old will have to earn his snaps next season.
Ayers looks like he can be a younger, more versatile upgrade — and maybe even a player who helps take the defense to another level after they finished 16th in points against and 17th in yards allowed last season.
“I like the defense,” Ayers said. “I like the scheme they run. They’ve got players, players all across the board. It was just a great opportunity for me to come in, play in a defense I’m familiar with, play with coaches I’m familiar with. It’s all about me getting back into the linebacker mode because I spent the last almost like year and a half being a defensive end. So it’s getting back in a groove, just working on my drops, working on my reads and all of that. That’s just natural for me, so it will come back easy. I think it fits me very well.”
Ayers is also excited to be reunited with Rams linebackers coach Frank Bush, who coached him in Tennessee for two seasons. That was part of the attraction for the free agent when he was looking for a new team.
“He really helped me develop as a linebacker,” Ayers said. “I was really playing well with him as my coach. The things he taught was able to get me on track as a young linebacker. It’s the type of defense I’m used to playing in. It was all just familiar. I knew some guys on the team.
When I came here, I just got a great vibe from everybody around the building. That was huge for me. I just wanted to come somewhere where I can come in and have an opportunity to contribute. The defense is one of the best. To play around the group of guys we have on defense, I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me.”
znModeratorRams’ strong pass rush is back under co-ordinator Gregg Williams
By: Joe Harris, The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Rams’ strong pass rush is back under co-ordinator Gregg Williams.
Defensive end Robert Quinn led the team with 10 1/2 sacks and has 29 1/2 the last two seasons. The Rams had 40 sacks in the last 11 games after getting shut out in the first five.
“I think guys just finally got into the momentum of things,” Quinn said. “We had a slow start, not trying to make excuses, but with the playbook and trying to figure where guys are going to fit in and stuff like that, so I think once we got into the swing of things and kind of got our mojo going we didn’t look back. We’re constantly pressing the bar and we finished at the end of the season like we wanted to start.”
For the first time in coach Jeff Fischer’s tenure, the defence will not have to learn a new playbook. Williams settles in for his second season leading the defence, after his son, Blake Williams, and Tim Walton handled the duties in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
“I think coming into this year the guys who have been with him know what to expect,” Quinn said. “We already set our bar high and with his expectations and of course now in his second year, just kind of continue the excellence he wants us to achieve.”
After a slow start, the unit averaged 3.64 sacks in the final 11 games. That average through 16 games would bring the Rams’ total to 58, which would have been tops in the NFL.
“I love the way he coaches,” said Aaron Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. “He’s a coach that wants you to attack and he wants you to be physical and that’s the type of guy I want to play for.”
Donald believes he can improve on the nine sacks he had as a rookie.
“There’s a lot of stuff he throws at you,” Donald said about Williams. “A lot of different schemes we have as a defence, so just to know that and know the concepts of how he wants us to play and how he wants us to attack, I’m just a lot more comfortable this year.”
Chris Long appears healthy, after being limited to just six games last year with an ankle injury. Though William Hayes and Eugene Sims provided quality depth, Long’s injury did factor in the slow start.
“We had a good rotation going and losing Chris kind of jacked up the rotation,” Quinn said. “Knock on wood, everyone stays healthy to get to the season and through the season and hopefully achieve our expectations.”
The Rams also bolstered the unit by signing Nick Fairley in free agency. St. Louis hopes Fairley, added to Donald and Michael Brockers on the interior of the defensive line, will provide even more of a pass rush.
“I think we definitely have one of the most talented D-lines in the NFL,” Quinn said. “We added Nick with what we already had here and I think it’s just constantly adding depth so we can constantly keep our rotation going so everyone can stay fresh. There will be no slow down pays for us. Basically, we’re a tag team as we say. One guy comes off, the next guys is in and keep the production up.”
znModeratorFoles taking charge of Rams
Howard Balzer
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/foles-taking-charge-of-rams/ar-BBkHIPr
EARTH CITY, Mo. — For St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles, the last three months have been a whirlwind.
There was the shocking trade on March 10 that sent him to the Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford, followed by countless hours learning a new offense and new teammates.
Now, as the Rams opened their OTAs this week, he is on the field putting all that work to use.
“It’s exciting,” Foles said Thursday. “I was injured halfway through last season and just to be under center, it’s really a blessing. You never know what to expect. I didn’t expect to be injured. It’s just fun to be out here with these guys. We have a great quarterback room that’s really helping me along and helping me in the learning process. It’s just fun out here competing, making ourselves better.
“It’s a huge learning process and a huge relationship building process, but I’m really enjoying each day doing that.”
While knowing the offense is the obvious nuts and bolts of hoping to have any success, developing camaraderie among teammates is also crucial.
Said head coach Jeff Fisher, “That’s what he’s done since he got here. He walked in the door and he went out of his way to meet everybody. They did some individual things together. He took charge. In the phase one where the coaches can’t be present, he took the players out, the skill players and offensive players and threw and did those things. Since then, he’s been doing great. Everything that we heard is true, and I’m sure we’re going to be surprised as we move ahead with him because we’ve been really pleased.”
Asked if that relationship building is important, Foles said, “Absolutely. The way we’re going to be successful on Sunday, or whatever day we end up playing on, is the relationships. Come the fourth quarter, we have to know each other. We have to care about each other. That’s where you stick together through adversity. Just getting to know the guys in the workouts, in the film room, in the training room, whatever we do is a key part of it. I’ve really enjoyed it. We have a great group of guys here that love to work hard and love to have a good time.”
As for the challenges of building that trust, Foles said, “I really don’t think it’s a challenge. It’s just fun. It’s a day-to-day thing. It’s getting to know them. It’s getting to know who they are as people. It started in the weight room, lifting together, working out together, pushing each other on the run. Then when you’re going out here it’s just communicating. It’s all about communication.
“What they see on the routes, how they’re going to run their routes, what they see in the defenders. When I see my receivers run routes I can tell who’s good at what, so then you get an idea where to throw the ball to different guys. They’ve been awesome. The receivers have been awesome. They’re buying in. They’re working hard and they’re going to make some plays.”
Guard Rodger Saffold likes what he’s seen from Foles.
“He’s very boisterous, very up-tempo,” Saffold said. “He seems to be really excited about every day, about every opportunity, which is really good. He likes to uplift guys. You see him a lot around the locker room and hear him a lot on the field. It’s very inspiring, and that’s a good thing for us, especially with so many young guys. They need that.”
Of Foles, wide receiver Kenny Britt said, “We love him. He throws a great deep ball, puts it on the money every time. He can throw every pass in the book, every route tree.”
Last year, in his first season with the Rams, Britt was a guy that watched out for his teammates, always pushing guys to work. Now, Britt has been on the receiving end from Foles.
Britt said, “The chemistry has been great since day one. He’s a real guy. He goes in the locker room and pumps people up. If you’re down, he’s the first one to say, ‘You gotta go.’ It’s kind of exciting to see him in there and see how he works on and off the field.”
When it was mentioned to Britt that was the one to pump up the players, he laughed and said, “I know. But there were a couple days where I’ve been down on myself, not feeling well, and he’s the first one that comes to me and says, ‘I see it in your face. Let’s go. Can’t have that right now. It’s the start of a new season right now. Got to get it going.’ He’s the same as me, to tell you the truth.”
znModeratorAggressive’ Kenny Britt Has Been ‘Best Receiver’ at St. Louis Rams OTAs
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt is reportedly impressing at organized team activities, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.
Where does Britt fall on the Rams’ WR depth chart? Do the Rams have any concerns about Britt off the field? What do quarterback Sam Bradford and head coach Jeff Fisher think of Britt’s progress?
Watch as Adam Lefkoe and KTGR’s Howard Balzer discuss Britt’s future in the above video.
znModeratorSt. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher joined Frank Cusumano on the Hollywood Casino Pressbox to discuss his charity softball game, Nick Foles, Bud Sasser, and Todd Gurley.
We wrote out some of the main excerpts from the interview below. You can find the full interview by clicking the link below.
Coach Fisher discussed several topics, including his charity softball game, which will take place at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon, MO on Sunday, June 7th (Tickets for the game can be purchased here).
Tell us about Daniel Rodriguez, a war veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, now trying to make your roster.
“He’s a great story, very inspirational. He made a commitment to one of his fallen friends that he’d play football. He walked on to Clemson University and actually played the last couple of years as a returner and slot receiver. He wanted an opportunity in the NFL and we’re going to give him that opportunity, he’s been really fun to be around. Funny story we were in practice and normally at the end I tell the veterans to go over and stretch and cool down, while I keep the rookies. He was confused because he is a veteran so he asks, “Does that mean I go over there or stay here?”.”
Nick Foles looks like he’s commanding respect right away
“Yeah he’s been in here early working really hard and getting a good feel for the offense. It’s important for him at that position to develop key individual relationships with each player and he’s done that. He takes charge of the huddle, he’s very athletic and competitive, and mistakes don’t bother him. He’s learning fast and our defense is hard to go up against, but he’s not worried about making mistakes. He’s got a great arm and we’re very pleased with where he is thus far.”
Everybody in this area obviously has a great respect for Bud Sasser the Missouri wide receiver. How hard is it to tell him that it’s not going to work here, we can’t take this chance?
“Well it was very difficult. We’ve had numerous conversations. He’s an outstanding young man. We sent him to a number of specialists, but it’s difficult telling somebody “You failed a physical and we’ve been advised to not let you play football.” He’s going to be successful because he has that type of personality.”
Regarding Todd Gurley are you starting to get signs that he’ll be ready by opening day or are you not ready yet to commit there?
“We’re hopeful for that, but were not going to make a mistake and put him out there too soon. He looks great and has incredible lower body strength. he’s bouncing back from this injury very well. For me to predict right now would be unfair, but he will absolutely be playing this year. There is no doubt he is returning to football.”
June 5, 2015 at 6:10 pm in reply to: This could definitely be the best defense in NFL in 2015 #25895znModeratorThe offense though? — it could be… 31, 23, 17, 11….
Well, an offense ranked 31,231,711 out of 32 would NOT be good.
znModeratorRobinson: “It should pay off”
Watch Greg Robinson speak to the media about coming back from offseason surgery and progressing with the new offense.
znModeratorQuick: Rams OC Cignetti ‘has a lot up his sleeve’
By Marc Sessler
Are the St. Louis Rams finally ready to break out of their shell on offense?
Wideout Brian Quick suggested this week that new play-caller Frank Cignetti Jr. has made adjustments to the milquetoast attack we saw under former coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“Oh man, we have some stuff,” Quick said, per ESPN.com. “It’s going to take some time but it’s coming. He has a lot up his sleeve and together as an offense we are going to put it together and it’s going to be fun.”
The Rams are expected to add zone-blocking elements to their ground game, but Quick appears to be hinting at more. Perhaps the team will find a better way to display the gifts of third-year wideout Tavon Austin, the former first-round pick who has been held to 71 catches for 660 yards over two seasons. Or maybe the reboot will address the entire passing game, which saw its leading receiver catch only 48 passes last season after hauling in just 40 in 2013.
Either way, we still expect the Rams to smash teams with the run. The combination of rookie Todd Gurley and second-year back Tre Mason gives St. Louis an intriguing pair of runners in a division ruled by the ground game.
As the team’s quarterback coach over the past three years, Cignetti knows better than anyone what plagued this team: chaos under center. Sam Bradford played just seven games over the past two seasons, leaving middling arms Austin Davis, Shaun Hill and Kellen Clemens to run the show.
No matter what the newfangled attack looks like, St. Louis desperately needs new quarterback Nick Foles to stay on the field and give the Rams a much-needed dose of stability. That would be new for Foles — who was a hot-and-cold act in Philly — but at just 26 years old, he has plenty of time to change minds.
znModeratorRams center competition just getting started
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18998/rams-center-competition-just-getting-started
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Some thoughts and observations from the St. Louis Rams’ second open organized team activity on Friday afternoon:
Man in the middle: The St. Louis Rams have a new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator in Nick Foles and Frank Cignetti Jr. They also figure to have a new starting center, though his identity is unknown at the moment. As it stands, the Rams plan to go through these OTAs and into training camp taking a long look at a group that includes Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney.
I spoke to all three contenders for the job Friday, and though we’re a long way from getting an answer on who will win the job, each expressed optimism about his opportunity. What’s interesting about the battle is that each player has something of a chip on his shoulder. Jones came to St. Louis as one of the most decorated college football players of all time, but injuries have kept him from doing much of anything his first two years. He said he’s returned to these OTAs as healthy as he’s been since he arrived in 2013 and does look noticeably leaner. Barnes re-signed with the Rams after they elected not to tender him as a restricted free agent, and he told me that there’s a “do or die” type of approach to this season. He’s been a backup in St. Louis since 2011 and this is clearly his best chance to win the starting job to date. As for Rhaney, he’s returning from an injury he suffered before last season, but he’s something of a sleeper in this whole thing. He told me he’s added about 5 pounds of muscle since last year and said the addition of more zone-blocking concepts suits his style because it’s something he did in college at Tennessee State. The Rams are rotating centers with the first unit depending on the day. It was Barnes on Tuesday, Jones on Thursday and Rhaney on Friday. It’s an approach Jones said he expects to continue “until we hear otherwise.”
Keenum returns: It’s been a strange trip to these OTAs for quarterback Case Keenum. The Houston Texans released Keenum before the 2014 regular season and the Rams quickly scooped him up off waivers. After a few weeks, the team released him to make room for newly acquired safety Mark Barron and promptly re-signed him to the practice squad. After a series of injuries in Houston had them down to their third quarterback, the Texans signed Keenum to their active roster from the Rams’ practice squad. Keenum ended up starting and winning two games for Houston. When free agency opened in March, the Rams surprised everyone by trading a future seventh-round pick for Keenum. While someone else works on the light rail between St. Louis and Houston for Keenum and his family to use, he’s spending his time starting from a much better spot than when he first arrived in St. Louis. Instead of trying to play catch up, he’s joining a quarterbacks room with nothing but new faces save for Austin Davis. And with a full offseason to learn the offense, Keenum says he believes he will have a better chance to prove himself this time around. Coach Jeff Fisher has already said he expects Keenum and Davis to battle for the No. 2 quarterback job. Simply having that chance represents an upgrade from Keenum’s first opportunity in St. Louis.
Sitting it out: The list of players sitting out Friday didn’t change much from Thursday. Receiver Damian Williams, tackle Greg Robinson, safety T.J. McDonald, guard Cody Wichmann, tight end Alex Bayer and running back Todd Gurley were among those not participating. Wichmann left Thursday’s practice early with an ice pack on his left leg and did not return. Robinson is still recovering from offseason toe surgery but said he’s coming along well in his rehab and says he’s lost 20 pounds from last season, down to 319 pounds. Gurley didn’t do as much Friday as he did Thursday but did do some work on the side with running backs coach Ben Sirmans.
znModerator
“…what we’re going to do is move Jeff into the receiver room with Coach (Ray) Sherman and really, he gives a different perspective. He gives that quarterback perspective to the receivers, which I think is helpful.”I have always thought that each opposing group should spend time in the other/opposing positions coach film room, especially in OTAs/Summer so that they learn how the other side sees/attacks their schemes. Also, it’s very helpful for players to watch film of eachother (say OL vs DL) and find the weakness and how to exploit it…and then meet to tell eachother their strengths/weaknesses.
I really think that kind of adversarial scouting would challenge players/schemes(OC vs DC)…
and help players understand their counter-part a little better.So, Garcia helps the WRs understand what a QB is looking for and wants the WRs to do situationally.
I’m sure the teams all do this anyway…but if they didn’t…man, what a wasted opportunity. imoYes this is interesting stuff.
.
znModeratorFoles getting acquainted with new team, new offense
By R.B. FALLSTROM (AP Sports Writer)
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/foles-getting-acquainted-team-offense-222552308–nfl.html
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Quarterback Nick Foles is getting to know his new St. Louis Rams teammates.
”We love him,” wide receiver Kenny Britt said Thursday after the second OTA session and first open to reporters. ”Great deep ball, he puts it on the money every time.
”He can throw every pass in the book.”
Coach Jeff Fisher said Foles had a good grasp of the offense, which is important right now since he’s going against a front that was much improved last season.
Foles was 14-5 as a starter in Philadelphia and is recovered from a broken collarbone that sidelined him the last eight games of 2014.
”He’s got his hands full because we’ve got great defensive team speed and they’re doing a lot of things over there right now,” Fisher said. ”We’ve just really been pleased.”
There have been a multitude of changes on offense.
Frank Cignetti was promoted from quarterbacks coach to coordinator. A number of young offensive linemen could be pressed into action right away. Veteran guard Rodger Saffold is rounding into form after offseason shoulder surgery.
”It’s a different offense, different terminology,” Foles said. ”But that’s the fun of it. I get to learn more football.”
It’ll be awhile before Foles works with the entire group. First-round pick Todd Gurley is rehabbing from left knee surgery and is getting limited work on the side, but might not be ready for the start of the season.
Fisher said the former Georgia star running back was ”very anxious and probably a little frustrated, probably deep down inside not very happy right now.”
View galleryFoles getting acquainted with new team, new offens …
St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles throws a pass during an NFL football organized team activity, …
”You know how it is sitting out for a long time,” Gurley said, ”but I’ve got to be patient. I feel good but I can’t play right now.”Foles hasn’t forgotten the surprise of getting dealt for Sam Bradford in the offseason.
”I did not expect the trade and that’s the truth,” Foles said. ”Once I started talking to coach Fisher, I was excited to get to know him because that’s where my life was taking me.”
St. Louis released veteran offensive linemen Scott Wells and Jake Long after last season and devoted much of the draft to the offensive line.
Tackle Rob Havenstein was taken in the second round, followed tackle-guard Jamon Brown in the third, tackle Andrew Donnal in the fourth and guard Cody Wichmann in the sixth.
View galleryFoles getting acquainted with new team, new offens …
St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles takes part in a drill during an NFL football organized team ac …
Havenstein and Brown spent a lot of time with the first unit Thursday.”They’re going to do a great job,” Foles said. ”I remember my rookie year, what it’s like for these OTAs. This is really the foundation and you’re going to have those growing pains.”
The players who spoke on Thursday said the possibility the franchise might move to Los Angeles at some point is not on their minds.
”Right now I’m here and that’s all I worry about,” Foles said. ”That’s all out of our control.”
Fisher coached the Houston Oilers when they moved to Tennessee and said he’d rather not be apprised of developments.
”It’s been my opinion really from the start that when all this stuff started happening I’m better off probably not knowing the specifics,” the coach said. ”That way, when someone asks me I can say I don’t know.
”That way, I can say I’m telling the truth.”
znModeratorRams OTA nuggets: As expected, defense dominates
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18971/rams-ota-nuggest-as-expected-defense-dominates
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Some thoughts and observations from the St. Louis Rams’ first open organized team activity on Thursday afternoon:
Defense wins the day: As you might expect when you combine the continuity the Rams have on defense and the moving pieces they have on offense, the team portion of Thursday’s OTA was extremely one-sided. The defense looked sharp with all of the pieces in place and humming as though they were in midseason form. Safety T.J. McDonald did not participate but the team plugged Mark Barron in for him and had new addition Akeem Ayers getting plenty of work with the first unit at linebacker. More often than not, the first-team offense barely had a chance to even get a pass off before the Rams’ defensive line closed in. It’s going to take some time for things to come together for the offense with a new coordinator, new quarterback and so many moving parts so it’s probably safe to expect this to be a trend that continues through OTAs and into training camp.
Expansive offensive tweaks? Perhaps there are more changes to the offense coming than we might have expected after the team promoted Frank Cignetti Jr. to offensive coordinator earlier this offseason. Earlier Thursday, we discussed the possibility of the team adding more zone blocking schemes to the mix and while that is likely to be part of the process, multiple Rams players hinted at more elaborate changes. As part of the agreement with the Pro Football Writers of America, we can’t go into specific schemes and concepts we see on the practice field but some Rams offensive players weren’t shy about indicating there’s more in the offing than what we’ve seen the past three years under Brian Schottenheimer.
“Oh man, we have some stuff,” receiver Brian Quick said. “It’s going to take some time but it’s coming. He has a lot up his sleeve and together as an offense we are going to put it together and it’s going to be fun.”
Sitting it out: With some players still recovering from offseason or previous surgeries, the Rams weren’t exactly working with a full deck during the team portion of Thursday’s practice. Quick (shoulder), tackle Greg Robinson (toe), guard Rodger Saffold (shoulder) and running back Todd Gurley (knee) were among the notables not participating in the team portion of practice. Coach Jeff Fisher made it clear that some of those returning from injury wouldn’t be rushed back. Saffold, Robinson and Quick did participate in individual drills, however. Of that trio, only Quick appears to be set to take extended time to return.
Line dancing: With Robinson and Saffold out, the Rams had to make do with Brandon Washington and Garrett Reynolds on the first-team offensive line. Barrett Jones got some snaps with the first team at center with rookies Jamon Brown at right guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle. That group will clearly change as Robinson and Saffold return healthy and the team takes a longer look at center options Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney. But for now, that was the first five and certainly contributed to the problems of the offense.
Odds and ends: Gurley did a little work on the side himself, mostly straight line stuff with athletic trainer Byron Cunningham. He also stuck around after to catch some passes from rookie Sean Mannion, though he wasn’t running full speed. … The biggest offensive highlight of the day came when quarterback Austin Davis hit receiver Kenny Britt on a long pass down the right sideline over safety Cody Davis and cornerback Imoan Claiborne. Britt then tossed the ball at Cody Davis to let him know about it and Davis threw it back and hit Britt from about 35 yards away. All in good fun, of course. … Quarterback Nick Foles didn’t have much luck as part of that first-team offense but did connect on a well-thrown slant over the middle to tight end Jared Cook during 7-on-7. … Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was all over the place during team and 7-on-7 drills, including an impressive pass breakup on a quick slant intended for receiver Tavon Austin. … The Rams have their third OTA scheduled for Friday. That session will also be open to the media.
June 4, 2015 at 8:16 pm in reply to: Yikes: Zac Stacy looks back on his infamous draft day tweet #25848znModerator…I’ll never understand what exactly happened to him though.
I really thought he showed a LOT that first year. Then…not so much.People (including me) say he gained weight, and it messed with his game. It was “bulking up” weight and IMO it backfired.
Then there’s other stuff.
Mason has more speed and is more of a breakaway threat, and Cunningham mastered the 3rd down role PLUS plays special teams (which Stacy doesn’t). All that conspired to make him inactive on a lot of Sundays.
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
Banner25
dont know how many people heard this, but the Fast lane was talking about how in Gurleys 3 years at Georgia, not 1 Georgia O-lineman was drafted.
Impressive if i must say so myself, and I was not a fan of the pick
-
AuthorPosts
