.

Apparently, they drafted a young John C. McGinley in his role as Sergeant Red O’Neill in Platoon.

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Rams Getting Rookies up to Speed

By Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Getting-Rookies-up-to-Speed/a3540569-49a4-40f8-a28d-dce52ae0a85d

The Rams 2015 rookie class took the field for the first time on Friday and Saturday, with 26 drafted, undrafted, and tryout players. In a way, it’s like the first few days of school in that the young players are having initial meetings with their coaches and fellow rookie teammates. And with the way head coach Jeff Fisher likes to run things, it’s a time to get the young players caught up to the veterans in the overall offseason program.

“Nowhere in the building are you going to see anything that says, ‘rookie minicamp.’ We call it orientation,” Fisher said. “We’ve talked to [the rookies] about this — it’s not their fault. They are not in the same condition that the vets are because the vets, many of them were in before the start of the offseason program.”

Fisher added that the Rams will not have the rookies lift with the veterans for a while, and will not have them on the field together until Thursday. The head coach said the team stressed the importance of not going faster than three-quarter speed to reduce the risk of injury.

“We’re combining walk-thrus and meetings,” Fisher said of the rookie program. “We’ve got to get the fitness part going, so it’s the weight room, it’s player development, it’s football — it’s just everything. It’s diet, it’s flexibility. We find out where they are so we can start off appropriately next week.”

One of the four offensive linemen the Rams selected in the draft, Andrew Donnal said that the way the club runs orientation is beneficial to the players’ development.

“It’s a lot of stuff, but the nice part is that this is all we do right now,” he said. “It’s all football. We’re not in college anymore so we don’t have school. We don’t have any other distractions. It’s all football all the time, so we have plenty of time to get the material down.”

Focusing solely on football is helpful in that there is a lot the rookies must do to settle in. There’s the obvious “speed of the game,” which rookies cite as a significant change from college to the pros year after year. The Rams 2015 rookie class is no different.

“Anytime you jump up a level, the speed of the game is going to be faster — something to adjust to, get used to,” offensive lineman Rob Havenstein said. “Obviously, I haven’t done it to this point. So I’m looking forward to learning from that and just trying to be a better football player.”

“We’re just dealing with fresh-out-of-college guys, and it still seems faster because these are all top-notch players,” offensive lineman Cody Wichmann said. “I can only imagine when the big dogs come in here.”

But there is more to it than that. Players are not only getting used to a new environment and new system, but also a different timeframe when it comes to understanding technique.

“They expect you to pick up on things quicker than when you were in college,” offensive lineman Jamon Brown said. “In college, you slow it down, they kind of walk you through a lot more things. But out here, they show you it, and they expect you to be able to soak it in and apply it to the drills.”

There’s also the terminology and technique aspect of adjusting, and some players have more of an advantage. Fisher cited Donnal and Havenstein as two examples because the Iowa and Wisconsin offensive systems are similar to what St. Louis employs. Quarterback Sean Mannion is in a like position, given his experience at Oregon State.

“I know just learning the offense, it wasn’t my first time with certain protections, it wasn’t my first time with certain patterns,” he said of his first couple of days at Rams Park. “But the detail that goes into every little aspect of each play is just so much higher. There’s always tons and tons of things to be sharp on, to learn about, so that way the offense can run at a high level.”

While it’s much too early in the process to come away with any conclusions, Fisher said the O-line has caught his eye. In addition to the four draft picks — Havenstein, Brown, Donnal, and Cody Wichmann — the Rams brought in Darrell Williams as an undrafted free agent.

“It’s hard not to look at the four offensive linemen we drafted and say, ‘Wow,’” Fisher said. “Somebody said yesterday they look like refrigerators with legs. It’s a good looking group and they’re moving around pretty good.”

Now that they’re in St. Louis, Fisher said the Rams rookies will be in town through the duration of the offseason program.

“The draft choices are here through the symposium, which is June 22,” Fisher said. “They’re here. We’ve got them.”

Rookie OL stand out for Rams

Nate Latsch

http://stl.scout.com/story/1545248-rookie-ol-stand-out-for-rams?s=124

ST. LOUIS — It wasn’t hard to notice the Rams’ five new offensive linemen during their rookie orientation program on Friday and Saturday.

“It’s hard not to look at the four offensive linemen we drafted and say, ‘Wow,’” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Saturday when asked if any of the rookie caught his eye. “Somebody said yesterday they look like refrigerators with legs. It’s a good-looking group and they’re moving around pretty good.”

Seeking to renovate the offensive line this offseason, Fisher and general manager Les Snead invested four draft picks on the offensive front after signing tackle-guard Garrett Reynolds to a free-agent deal and re-signing reserve center Tim Barnes.

They used a second-round pick on Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein, a third-round pick on Louisville’s Jamon Brown, a fourth-rounder on Andrew Donnal from Iowa and a sixth-round pick on guard Cody Wichmann from Fresno State.

Those four were joined at rookie orientation by undrafted free agent Darrell Williams, a left tackle from South Florida.

Williams worked at left tackle over the two days of on-field work, with Donnal at left guard, Wichmann at center, Brown at right guard and Havenstein at his customary right tackle spot.

The five rookies represented a larger group than Fisher’s Rams have had in the past few seasons, but they were able to get plenty of reps on the field.

“It’s great work for them,” Fisher said. “The Iowa offensive system, the Wisconsin offensive system are probably more closer to what we do. Fresno State, Cody (Wichmann) is well-coached. We’re really excited about Jamon (Brown) because he’s got tremendous athletic ability. I don’t think it’s going to be a long time for the four of them to catch on to the techniques and things and what not.”

With only two starters returning from last season in left tackle Greg Robinson and veteran guard Rodger Saffold, it’s possible the Rams could start two of the rookie linemen this season if the team doesn’t re-sign starting right tackle Joe Barksdale.

Havenstein, a 6-foot-7, 321-pounder, could open the season as the team’s right tackle, though Saffold could move back to that spot and Reynolds has experience after starting four games at that position for the Detroit Lions last year.

Brown, a 6-4, 323-pounder, could start at one of the guard spots opposite Saffold after playing tackle at Louisville. Donnal and Wichmann will also go into training camp competing for one of those guard spots, along with veterans like Brandon Washington.

The Rams have made no secret of the fact that they want to be a physical team and run the football. The upheaval along the front line — where Jake Long and Scott Wells were released and Barksdale and Davin Joseph remain unsigned free agents — speaks to the changes needed to make that a reality.

Now the issue is how quickly players like Havenstein and Brown can become contributors and earn starting spots. They certainly look the part and have plenty of experience from their college careers. This weekend’s rookie orientation was just the beginning.

Rams take different approach to rookie ‘orientation’
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18385/rams-take-different-approach-to-rookie-orientation

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Somewhere along the way, the words “rookie minicamp” when paired together became verboten around the St. Louis Rams.

That’s why there’s no evidence of what took place at Rams Park in the past two days being called anything other than Jeff Fisher’s preferred term.

“We kind of fell into this,” Fisher said. “Nowhere in the building are you going to see anything that says ‘rookie minicamp.’ We call it orientation. We have talked to them about this. It’s not their fault. They’re not in the same condition that the vets are. The vets, many of them were in before the start of the offseason program, they got a three-week head start and so our job is to get them caught up. That’s what we’re doing.”

Fisher and the Rams welcomed their nine drafted players, 15 undrafted rookies and a pair of tryout prospects to St. Louis on Thursday and held what amounted to glorified conditioning sessions on Friday and Saturday. In total, they didn’t spend more than about two-and-a-half hours on the field, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t work getting done.

From Fisher’s perspective, the idea is to slowly introduce the rookies to the mix before throwing them in with the veterans. He instructed the rookies to practice no faster than about three-quarter speed during the on-field work. Only running back Todd Gurley (knee) and receiver Bud Sasser (pending physical tests) did not participate.

Even with these two days over, Fisher won’t let the rookies join the veterans in the weight room yet. In fact, the rookies won’t have much interaction with the veterans until Thursday, when they do some skill development.

“That’s kind of the way we approach it,” Fisher said. “We had two good days on the field and we don’t have a single soft tissue issue with anybody. So we have got to get them caught up. We are going to use the next week or two to get them caught up.”

Getting caught up includes a little bit of everything, Fisher said. That means getting the rookies ready in the weight room, in player development, on the football side, even diet.

When the rookies do join the veterans on Thursday of next week, they’ll still have be in separate offensive and defensive groups doing drill work on the field. By league rule, they can’t come together as an entire team on the field until the beginning of June.

And the rookie class is now with the team until the end of organized team activities, with the draft class able to stick around until the rookie symposium on June 22.

(On if the Rams actively pursued LSU OL La’el Collins)
“Yeah, we were involved in it. . . .We were told by them that we were in the final four, which isn’t necessarily a consolation, but we were involved, yes.

Interesting

Gurley, Rams Rookies Begin Orientation

By Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Gurley-Rams-Rookies-Begin-Orientation/4f4f677c-a6e3-48fd-9483-b51ae6827016

The new running back is in the building.

Along with his 23 fellow rookies and two tryout players, Todd Gurley, the No. 10 overall selection in the 2015 draft, was in attendance and on the field for the Rams’ first day of rookie orientation.

Though he’s limited while in recovery from his season-ending ACL tear last November, Gurley said it was still special to put on the horns for the first time.

“Oh it felt good,” Gurley said. “It felt real good, just to get the jersey, the helmet, the gloves. It’s been a while, so it definitely felt good just to be able to do that.”

Right now, though, there isn’t much else he is physically cleared to do. He did participate in some of the walk-thru portions of practice. Keeping in mind that it’s his first day at Rams Park, Gurley said that he’ll be getting on top of the next steps in his rehab very soon. He added that he’s been able to run for the past two months, and has been doing certain running back drills — like the ladder — during the process.

But as for a timetable, the running back said that’s not up to him.

“I’d like to be back as soon as possible, but I’m not a doctor or a therapist, so I can’t really tell you when I’ll be back,” Gurley said. “I’m just taking it day-by-day really.”

Head coach Jeff Fisher has previously stated that the team will likely be conservative in the way it eases Gurley back. And as for right now, Gurley says he still has plenty to do mentally when the offense is practicing.

“I can still go through the plays in the back by myself, so that’s always a good thing,” Gurley said, adding that it’s not a boring exercise. “It’s not like I know everything. I don’t know anything, really. So I’m trying to keep my mind busy.”

And once he’s full go, Gurley said that it’s definitely a dream of his to be a bell cow-type back. Many stated throughout the draft process that the No. 10 selection has that kind of potential, and he wants to live up to it.

“Everybody wants to be that three-down back, to be able to stay on the field the majority of the snaps,” Gurley said. “I definitely believe in it, and that’s what I’m working hard to come back and try to be.”

Gurley added that he feels some personal pride in being the first running back taken in the first round since 2012.

“And then Melvin [Gordon] went after me,” Gurley said. “It’s just good. And it’ll make everybody else –running backs around the world — feel good. We didn’t disappear.”

Perhaps the most notable player to campaign for the bell cow back is former Rams RB Steven Jackson, who founded SaveTheRunningBack.org. While the video has its satirical qualities, Gurley is well aware of Jackson’s history when it comes to the Rams franchise.

That was clear when Gurley was explaining his decision to wear No. 30.

“There really aren’t too many numbers available. There’s 39, which is SJ’s number. I’m definitely not going to touch that,” Gurley said. “I respect him. I wouldn’t do that.”

Gurley and the Rams will have their second rookie session on Saturday.

Frank Clark may face possible ban if he has future altercation

Geoff Baker
May 7, 2015

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/frank-clark-may-face-possible-ban-if-he-has-future-altercation/

The Seahawks’ top draft pick won’t face NFL discipline for November fracas, but disorerly conduct plea would be a factor in a subsequent incidents.

Seahawks draft pick Frank Clark won’t face NFL discipline for a hotel altercation with his girlfriend last November, but could be banned indefinitely if anything similar occurs again.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Clark’s criminal offense occurred before he was drafted by the Seahawks, making him ineligible for discipline under the league’s code of conduct policy. But Aiello added that Clark’s arrest and guilty plea to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct “would be a factor in any subsequent incident as an NFL player.’’

The policy, strengthened after last year’s controversy over the NFL’s handling of the Ray Rice case, would see Clark considered a “repeat offender,” with any further violations subject to possible banishment from the league.

“It’s not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime,’’ the conduct policy states. “We are all held to a higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL and is lawful.’’

Clark was arrested Nov. 15 in Sandusky, Ohio, and charged with first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence and assault after an altercation with his girlfriend in a hotel room.

He accepted a plea deal April 10 on a lesser charge of fourth-degree misdemeanor persistent disorderly conduct. He paid a $250 fine, $100 in court costs, and jail time was limited to two days already served. The domestic-violence charge has been stricken from his record.

But the arrest, initial charge and eventual plea will follow him to the NFL and be considered in the event another violation occurs.

Once the league becomes aware of a possible violation, NFL security, private firms, or a combination of both undertakes an investigation. The league can hand out discipline independent of any court decision.

“This decision will not reflect a finding of guilt or innocence and will not be guided by the same legal standards and considerations that apply in a criminal trial,’’ the policy states.

Violations of the policy include disorderly conduct, to which Clark has already pleaded guilty. Domestic violence and assault, which he was initially charged with, carry a minimum six-game suspension without pay.

If Clark is charged with domestic violence or assault, he would face that six-game suspension if league investigators determine he violated the conduct policy. But he could also face a heftier suspension, since the policy lists “similar misconduct before joining the NFL’’ as an aggravating factor.

“Repeat offenders will be subject to enhanced and/or expedited discipline, including banishment from the league,’’ the policy states.

The league offers counseling and other resources to players and family members involved in domestic-violence incidents.