* Rams starters are expected to see action tomorrow night against Baltimore for at least a series after halftime. Kickoff is at 6:00, and I am still waiting for an explanation for why the damn game was moved up an hour. It's not on NFL Network.
* Injury list. Not expected to play:
- Harvey Dahl (illness)
- Eugene Sims (ankle)
- Darell Dorell Scott (knee)
- Darian Stewart (hamstring); Craig Dahl is healthy again and will start.
No updates on Brandon Gibson or Jamaar Jarrett, but I probably missed them. Assume they'll play.
Sam Bradford will also play, on the ankle he sprained 46 weeks ago.
Kendall Langford and Lance Kendricks sat out Tuesday's practice for "minor reasons".
* Transactions: the Rams picked up defensive end Mason (not Jethro?) Brodine and cut wide receiver Mike Campbell. Brodine was cut by the Raiders on Monday. Oakland signed him as a rookie free agent last year; he spent most of the season on the practice squad and was active the final three games. He's listed at 6'7", 255. He was a three-year starter at Nebraska-Kearney and holds a school record with 23.5 career sacks.
Meanwhile, the Jason Smith trade gets better and better. Not only did they deal him for one of the worst tackles in the league, they're paying the Jets $1.5 million of Smith's salary this season. Given how he's played the last 12 months, should the Rams even be that sure Wayne Hunter is going to make the team? Well, since they volunteered to pay an extra mill-and-a-half just to get him, I guess we know the answer to that one.
* Ex-Rams who didn't make the cutdown to 75 with their teams:
- Josh Brown, Jets
- Alex Barron, Seattle. Alex did have at least one false start this preseason.
- Anthony Hargrove, Green Bay
- Fendi Onobun, Buffalo
- Jonathan Wade, Miami
- Roger Allen, Carolina
- Dominique Curry, Detroit
- Demarco Cosby, Green Bay
- Jimmy Saddler-McQueen, Houston
- Cord Parks, New Orleans
- Demario Ambrose, Jets
- Terrail Lambert, Oakland
- Jamie McCoy, Pittsburgh
- Mortty Ivy, Pittsburgh
- Phil Trautwein, San Diego
- K.C. Asiodu, Chicago
-$-
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Rams trade Jason Smith to Jets
Unbelievably, the Rams' signing of Vernon Gholston turned out not to even be their weirdest move of the past week. Tonight, they traded former #2 pick overall Jason Smith... and their offensive line got worse.
If there was any offensive tackle considered worse than Barry Richardson heading into this season, Jets tackle Wayne Hunter would have been a good bet, but thanks to the brilliant Brian Schottenheimer Pipeline of Mediocrity, it is in fact Hunter whom the Rams have acquired for Smith. Promoted to starter last season, Hunter richly earned a reputation as one of the worst tackles in the league. Pro Football Focus scored him as giving up 11 sacks for third-worst in the league, committing the fourth-most penalties and giving up the most quarterback hits by a tackle. This is supposed to protect Sam Bradford HOW? Seriously, Jason Smith was a huge disappointment, but trading Smith for Hunter is a major downgrade.
Say what you will about Jason, but he was never so bad that he got booed off the field by his own fans. Just last week, Hunter gave up 2 and a half sacks against the Giants and had to be restrained by a teammate from getting into a brawl with fans berating him behind the Jets' bench. He was replaced by a former undrafted free agent and banished to garbage time in the 4th quarter against Carolina Sunday night, when he gave up another sack and got booed again.
Coming into the season, Hunter was effective coming off the Jets' bench, but that pretty clearly is his high-water mark. The Rams, on purpose, are going into the season with two of the worst tackles in football as their main options at right guard.
Les Snead, what the hell are you doing? Any more shitty ex-Jets out there we need to pick up in an apparent effort to make this team even worse?
-$-
If there was any offensive tackle considered worse than Barry Richardson heading into this season, Jets tackle Wayne Hunter would have been a good bet, but thanks to the brilliant Brian Schottenheimer Pipeline of Mediocrity, it is in fact Hunter whom the Rams have acquired for Smith. Promoted to starter last season, Hunter richly earned a reputation as one of the worst tackles in the league. Pro Football Focus scored him as giving up 11 sacks for third-worst in the league, committing the fourth-most penalties and giving up the most quarterback hits by a tackle. This is supposed to protect Sam Bradford HOW? Seriously, Jason Smith was a huge disappointment, but trading Smith for Hunter is a major downgrade.
Say what you will about Jason, but he was never so bad that he got booed off the field by his own fans. Just last week, Hunter gave up 2 and a half sacks against the Giants and had to be restrained by a teammate from getting into a brawl with fans berating him behind the Jets' bench. He was replaced by a former undrafted free agent and banished to garbage time in the 4th quarter against Carolina Sunday night, when he gave up another sack and got booed again.
Coming into the season, Hunter was effective coming off the Jets' bench, but that pretty clearly is his high-water mark. The Rams, on purpose, are going into the season with two of the worst tackles in football as their main options at right guard.
Les Snead, what the hell are you doing? Any more shitty ex-Jets out there we need to pick up in an apparent effort to make this team even worse?
-$-
RamView, 8/27: Rams cut down to 75
* Placed DT Trevor Laws on injured reserve. His season is over.
* Released:
- WR Danario Alexander
- FB Todd Anderson
- TE Brody Eldridge
- WR Charles Gilbert
- DL Todd Gill
- WR Brandyn Harvey
- LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis
- OL Kevin Hughes
- LB Noah Keller
- K Garrett Lindholm
- OL Ryan McKee
- RB Calvin Middleton
- RB Nick Schwieger
- LS Travis Tripucka
* Comments:
RamView went 9 for 15 on this round of cuts, a far cry better than last year, when I think I went 3 for 10. I wasn't sure enough of Laws' or DX's injury status, but even had I predicted them to go, I still would have had Jamaar Jarrett and Quinton Pointer on the cut list.
The Rams didn't cut anyone I have making the final roster, but they did cut two I had on the practice squad, Hughes and Middleton. They must like T-Bob more than I do. And shoot, Middleton's shown me as much in preseason games as Isaiah Pead has.
I had Anderson on my cut list at the start of Saturday night's game, but he impressed me enough that I backspaced him and put in Ben Guidugli instead. The fan club lives a couple more days!
Never could figure why Hoffman-Ellis was only tried at middle linebacker. I had high hopes for him until I figured out his only chance was going to be to make one of the least open positions on the roster. Has to be another team out there he'd make sense for. Maybe Philadelphia.
Is Tom Brandstater even going to play Thursday night? What's he going to do the next three days?
Why keep Darell Dorell Scott when he hasn't cracked second string this summer and is going to be out injured the first couple of weeks of the regular season anyway? All I can think of is that they're not sold on Jermelle Cudjo yet; I'd be shocked if Matt Conrath failed to make the final roster.
-$-
Sunday, August 26, 2012
RamView, 8/25
RamView for last night's 20-19 Rams loss in Dallas is up now at ramview.com. Link* Positives: the rookie kickers, rookie QB Austin Davis, rookie safety Rodney McLeod, rookie RB Daryl Richardson, rookie guard Rok Watkins, Robert Quinn, rookie Isaiah Pead as a kick returner
* Negatives: the secondary was brutal beyond belief, especially rookie CB Janoris Jenkins, giving up 198 yards passing in the 1st quarter and 270 by halftime. Quinn Ojinnaka and Barry Richardson continue to baffle with their ability to hold starting NFL jobs and their inability to protect Sam Bradford. Pead as a RB continuing to get in his own way. Overall tackling was poor; overall officiating was even worse.
* Injuries: Besides the usual suspects, Harvey Dahl missed the game due to illness and could also be out Thursday. Brian Quick and Kellen Clemens both got rocked by big hits. Quick got his wind back and returned to the game; Clemens sat out the 4th quarter, which he may have been scheduled to finish.
* Rams host the Ravens at 6:00 Thursday. If both teams stay to their schedules, it'll be mostly Rams starters vs. mostly Ravens backups. Of course, that guarantees nothing. RamView of the game likely won't be up till Friday night or Saturday morning.
-$-
Friday, August 24, 2012
The road to 53, 8/25
* Quarterback (keeping 3): Sam Bradford, Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis. We'll see if the new regime handles the Thaddeus Lewis scenario better than the last one did. Davis will not clear waivers to the practice squad. If you've watched any Green Bay games this preseason, you know he's already better than Graham Harrell, for instance. And hell, Davis could probably start for Arizona right now.
Cut: Tom Brandstater. As I have no idea where to find out how many games a player has been on the active roster in his career, I can only suspect that Brandstater is not eligible for the practice squad. If he is eligible, I would keep him, believe it or not. The Rams went through 4 QBs last season; it would only be smart to keep 4 on hand if possible. But I'll stick with 3.
* Running back (keeping 4): Steven Jackson, Isaiah Pead, Darryl Richardson, Chase Reynolds. So, there's a surprise already. Reynolds has looked good to me on special teams, which is the main thing that can help him survive the bubble. And he can actually play a position, unlike Dominique Curry the past couple of seasons.
Practice squad: Calvin Middleton.
Cut: Nick Schwieger.
* Fullback (keeping 1): Brit Miller. Miller should make the team for his special teams play even if he's beaten out at fullback. I've never been impressed with him at fullback, but haven't seen anyone stepping up and beating him out, either.
Cut: Ovie Mughelli, Todd Anderson, and, sigh, Ben Guidugli, though he might still have an outside chance at the practice squad.
* Wide receiver (keeping 6): Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Brian Quick, Chris Givens, Steve Smith, Greg Salas.
Suspended weeks 1-2: Austin Pettis, who I'm guessing takes Salas' job week 3. But Jeff Fisher has said he likes Salas' special teams play, which opens up a scenario for keeping 7 WR.
Cut: Danario Alexander, Nick Johnson, Mike Campbell, Charles Gilbert, Brandyn Harvey.
* Tight end (keeping 4): Lance Kendricks, Mike Mulligan, Mike McNeill, Mike Hoomanawanui.
Practice squad: DeAngelo Peterson, Corey Harkey.
Suspended weeks 1-4: Brody Eldridge, who I doubt we'll ever hear from again, effective week 5.
Cut: None, but Hoomanawanui would not be a shocker. I don't know that he's done anything in this camp to make the team. Not out of the question for Peterson to beat him out. I have Illini Mike as the last man in.
* Offensive line (keeping 8): The current starters are the easy ones: Rodger Saffold, Quinn Ojinnaka, Scott Wells, Harvey Dahl, Barry Freaking Richardson. Robert Turner's also easy to include. Physical, veteran, backs up guard and center. Rokevious Watkins has versatility and upside and could become a starter yet this season. #8, you need to have a reliable third tackle. Jason Smith is the most reliable tackle they have left, - Ojinnaka's shown the job is too much for him - so the one-time second pick overall makes this year's roster by the skin of his teeth.
Practice squad: Joe Long, Kevin Hughes.
Cut: T-Bob Hebert, Ryan McKee, Tim Barnes, Jose Valdez, Brian Mattison. I'm stumped all summer that Mattison's never taken the starting job away from Ojinnaka. And it's hard to see him taking up a bench spot when he's limited to playing guard.
* Defensive line (keeping 8): Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, William Hayes, Michael Brockers, Kendall Langford, Matt Conrath, Jermelle Cudjo.
Practice squad: Scott Smith, who should get heavy consideration for a main roster spot. Current d-line injuries could propel him into the top 53, but the Rams also have Justin Cole to spot pass-rush, and he contributes on special teams.
Cut: Trevor Laws, Darell Dorell Scott, Cornell Banks, John Gill, Jamaar Jarrett, Vernon Gholston. Cudjo should win a roster spot at defensive tackle. Darell Dorell's never passed him on the depth chart (and is out for a month now after arthroscopic knee surgery), and Laws hasn't played a down in camp to my knowledge.
* Linebacker (keeping 7): James Laurinaitis, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Rocky McIntosh, Mario Haggan, Aaron Brown, Josh Hull, Justin Cole
Practice squad: Sammy Brown, consider him a pass-rusher more than a LB
Cut: Noah Keller, Alex Hoffman-Ellis. The Hoff is an excellent athlete, enough so that he's the iffiest of my projected cuts, but he hasn't played a down outside of MLB, where the Rams are about to sign Laurinaitis to a major deal. I don't think the Rams can tie up a practice squad spot grooming a backup Mike 'backer.
* Secondary (keeping 9): Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, Bradley Fletcher, Trumaine Johnson, Jerome Murphy, Quintin Mikell, Craig Dahl, Darian Stewart, Rodney McLeod.
Practice squad: Matt Daniels.
Cut: Kendric Burney, Quinton Pointer. Sorry, but they're both awful. If my scenario holds up, Reynolds can thank the Josh Gordy trade for his roster spot. The Rams only kept 8 DBs last year, with four corners, so it's not like they're obliged to keep a bad player just to have ten DBs. However, all the recent injuries at safety may force the Rams to bring in a veteran stopgap, which would probably take Reynolds' spot away.
* Specialists (keeping 3): Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide.
Cut: Garrett Lindholm, Travis Tripucka.
-$-
8/24 injury report
The injury list should look something like this heading into tomorrow night's game with the Cowboys:
* Danario Alexander, out forever, hamstring
* Sam Bradford, probable, ankle, 45th consecutive week
* Craig Dahl missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practice due to sore hamstrings
* Brandon Gibson, out, hamstring
* Jamaar Jarrett, still out, still unknown
* Trevor Laws, out, knee
* Darell Dorell Scott, out, knee. Scott had arthroscopic surgery on a knee earlier this week and figures to be out for 4 weeks in the less and less likely event he makes the roster.
* Eugene Sims, out, ankle. Lower ankle sprain, out 1-2 weeks. Lucky thing, too, we now know those high-ankle sprains can last 45 weeks or more! The d-line injuries are enough that Vernon Gholston will get onto the field after a whole two days in camp, and I'd expect John Gill to get kicked inside. (He was at DE late in the Kansas City game.)
* Darian Stewart returned to practice this week and promptly went right back to the sideline with hamstring issues. Rodney McLeod will start and should get more action in Dallas than Debbie.
Bradley Fletcher, who had been out with a rib injury, has returned to action. Not sure how they plan to use Scott Wells, who has been practicing. Maybe limited action. Sounds like starters will play a series or two into the second quarter.
-$-
* Danario Alexander, out forever, hamstring
* Sam Bradford, probable, ankle, 45th consecutive week
* Craig Dahl missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practice due to sore hamstrings
* Brandon Gibson, out, hamstring
* Jamaar Jarrett, still out, still unknown
* Trevor Laws, out, knee
* Darell Dorell Scott, out, knee. Scott had arthroscopic surgery on a knee earlier this week and figures to be out for 4 weeks in the less and less likely event he makes the roster.
* Eugene Sims, out, ankle. Lower ankle sprain, out 1-2 weeks. Lucky thing, too, we now know those high-ankle sprains can last 45 weeks or more! The d-line injuries are enough that Vernon Gholston will get onto the field after a whole two days in camp, and I'd expect John Gill to get kicked inside. (He was at DE late in the Kansas City game.)
* Darian Stewart returned to practice this week and promptly went right back to the sideline with hamstring issues. Rodney McLeod will start and should get more action in Dallas than Debbie.
Bradley Fletcher, who had been out with a rib injury, has returned to action. Not sure how they plan to use Scott Wells, who has been practicing. Maybe limited action. Sounds like starters will play a series or two into the second quarter.
-$-
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
RamView, 8/23: Rams sign... Vernon Gholston?
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| Photo - Sports Illustrated |
Gholston's draft stock soared in '08 thanks to the NFL Combine, but the years since have exposed him as just another workout wonder. His strength did not translate to the field. He has no bull rush, can't shed blockers and doesn't stop the run well at the line of scrimmage. He's a stiff, upright pass rusher, a one-note speed rusher easily blocked by a RB or a TE, who takes poor angles to the QB and plays too out of control. He disappears on the field for stretches and his motor and killer instinct have been questioned. Whatever amount of faith you place in Rams defensive line coach Mike Waufle, he's likelier to successfully flip a crack house for a profit in the next two weeks than he is to turn Vernon Gholston into a viable NFL player.
The only advantage I can see in this signing is that it could potentially raise Jason Smith's self-esteem. For once, he might not be the biggest draft bust on his team.
* Wednesday injury list:
- Danario Alexander, out, hamstring
- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle
- Craig Dahl, out, hamstring
- Bradley Fletcher, out, ribs
- Brandon Gibson, out, hamstring
- Jamaar Jarrett, out, unknown
- Trevor Laws, out, knee
- Darell Dorell Scott, out, unknown
- Eugene Sims, out, foot. Jim Thomas reports Sims is wearing a walking boot.
- Darian Stewart, out, undisclosed but probably hamstring
Sims' and Jarrett's injuries seem to be the reason Gholston was signed. Nick Wagoner speculates that Gholston could play Saturday night.
-$-
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
RamView, 8/22: Monday/Tuesday practice notes
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| Photo - Reuters |
* Breaking transaction news: the Rams have traded cornerback Josh Gordy to the Colts for an undisclosed draft pick in 2014. Not a bad move by the Rams at all. They got Gordy for free, by raiding Green Bay's practice squad last season. Gordy played quite well last season after being thrust into a starting role and shows solid potential as a cover corner. The acquisitions of Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins, and the assumed return to health someday of Bradley Fletcher, knocked him back down the depth chart, though. He's also been slowed by injury in this year's camp, and his tackling and run defense honestly haven't been very good. He's been outplayed by Trumaine Johnson and Jerome Murphy. So, as much as RamView dislikes the idea of keeping Kendric Burney on the roster, the Rams did just get a draft pick for their #6 corner.
RamView sends its regrets to Gordy, who now will once again have to share a secondary with Justin King.
* Injury report:
- Danario Alexander, out, hamstring
- Bradley Fletcher, out, ribs. Jim Thomas says Fletcher should return soon.
- Jamaar Jarrett, out, unknown
- Trevor Laws, out, knee
- Darell Dorell Scott, out, unknown
- Brandon Gibson (hamstring) practiced Monday but cut practice short Tuesday due to soreness.
- Craig Dahl also missed part of Tuesday's practice due to sore hamstrings.
- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle
Can we just cut Alexander already and get it over with?
* Returning players:
- Brian Quick missed practice Monday due to back spasms he had Saturday night but practiced Tuesday.
- Quintin Mikell was out Monday but also returned Tuesday.
- Scott Wells is back on a limited basis and is working with the first string offense. He's expected to play this Saturday night in Dallas.
- Darian Stewart has apparently returned to action.
* Non-injury update: though the radio broadcast talked about a helmet-to-helmet collision at the time, when Michael Brockers came off the field Saturday night, it was because he had gotten poked in the eye. He's been good to go.
* Depth chart report: Rodney McLeod got reps with the first string Tuesday. Greg Salas, Quick and Chris Givens also got first-team reps. Keeping the WR picture complicated, Jeff Fisher said Monday he's been impressed with Salas' special teams play. Sammy Brown got some looks as a pass-rush DE. Mike McNeill got some more work with the first-string offense Monday, and Daryl Richardson got some time in with the second string.
* Former Rams update: unlucky weekend for a couple of former Rams.
- Chris Chamberlain tore an ACL in the first quarter of New Orleans' preseason game Friday night against the Jagwires. He is out for the season.
- Nate Ness suffered a concussion in the second half of Carolina's preseason opener against the Texans. That injury, plus the excellent start rookie CB Josh Norman is off to, made Ness expendable enough that he was waived injured on Sunday. He was put on Carolina's IR today.
* This year's final practice open to the public is Wednesday at 3:30.
-$-
Let some other fans worry about L.A. for a change
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| Illustration - St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission |
* First, the team announced it was abandoning the London series after this season so it could concentrate on the "First Tier process." This finally looked like the team admitting some level of commitment to try to stay in St. Louis. It also looked like an act of goodwill toward the city and local fans by restoring home games in 2013 and 2014.
* Next, the city stepped up its offer to upgrade the Dome to "First Tier" status with a proposal addressing many of the features and concerns mentioned by the Rams in their counterproposal to the city's original plan. Highlights of the city's updated plan:
- Glass exterior on the east side to let in natural light and provide an expansive view of the city from inside
- Hanging scoreboard at midfield goes from 2-sided to 4-sided
- Existing end zone scoreboards are removed in favor of club seating
- Enough seating added overall to get capacity to 70,000, which qualifies Dome to host the Super Bowl
- Significant suite upgrades and (oh, puh-leeze) a private stadium entrance for club seat owners
- Expanded concourses
- Two-level team store with a street entrance
- Double the number of existing escalators
- Close Broadway Avenue on game days, but not permanently
The CVC says their new offer will cost "tens of millions" of dollars more than, "but not double," their original $124 million renovation plan. The city did not offer a new cost estimate of the updated plan. They're still expecting the Rams to pick up slightly more than half of the tab, and still contend there will have to be a public vote to approve the city's share of the cost. The panel of three has been selected for the arbitration process but there have been no proceedings yet.
A very important item to note is that the Dome does not have to be closed during the football season for the improvements in the city's new plan to be made. The Rams' initial proposal involved extensive renovations which the city insists would require the Dome to be closed for two years.
The takeaway here is that the Rams and the city are actually engaged in honest negotiations. The Rams aren't tanking it for L.A. and the city isn't half-assing their end of the deal. Both sides look serious about getting a mutually beneficial deal done. I haven't felt this positive about the Rams' long-term prospects in St. Louis in a long time.
* Finally, Shad Khan has committed the Jagwires to play a home game in London for FOUR years starting in 2013. Hard not to like that move from St. Louis' standpoint. Let our Florida counterparts, who stole our expansion franchise in 1995, and got to host a Super Bowl, despite their dump of a stadium, while St. Louis never has, worry a while about losing home games and a future where they've lost their team to London or Los Angeles or wherever. (Though Khan, unlike Stan Kroenke, has committed publicly to keeping his team where it is.)
-$-
Sunday, August 19, 2012
RamView, 8/18
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| Photo - ESPN.com |
* Last night's positives: Bradford, Amendola, Steven Jackson, Lance Kendricks, Mike McNeill, Daryl Richardson, linebacker play overall, five sacks, forcing four turnovers, scoring 21 points off of those turnovers, Barry Richardson as a run blocker.
* Last night's negatives: Isaiah Pead again, covering the tight end, Quinn Ojinnaka as a left tackle, Barry Richardson as a pass blocker.
* Last night's injuries: still waiting for details on these two fairly important injury situations. Michael Brockers left the game woozy after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Peyton Hillis and did not return. Brian Quick left the game with suspected tightness in his back and did not return.
The usual suspects did not play at all Saturday night due to injury: Danario Alexander, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Gibson, Jamaar Jarrett, Trevor Laws, Darian Stewart, Scott Wells. Some of y'all aren't even going to have jobs any more when you do get back.
Sam Bradford played despite an ankle injury that is now 44 weeks old and counting.
Update: Gibson, Stewart and Wells are all expected to practice this week. Quick had back spasms and doesn't appear to be expected to miss any time. No discussion of Brockers' "ding" in STLToday's Rams report Sunday.
* Rams practice is at 3:30 tomorrow and is open to the public. Wednesday's is the final open practice of training camp.
-$-
Friday, August 17, 2012
Preseason schedule change
Kickoff for the Rams' August 30 home game against the Ravens has been moved up an hour, to 6:00.
Yeah, guess who is supposed to have a fantasy league draft that evening? I was expecting to get it in before the game.
Thanks a lot, NFL.
-$-
Yeah, guess who is supposed to have a fantasy league draft that evening? I was expecting to get it in before the game.
Thanks a lot, NFL.
-$-
Rams make roster moves
Malone averaged about 20 yards less a punt last week than rookie punter Johnny Hekker; he never had a real chance at winning that job. Hekker should benefit from the extra live work.
-$-
Thursday, August 16, 2012
RamView, 8/17: Thursday practice notes
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| Photo - STLToday |
* Updated injury list:
- Limited: Brandon Gibson, Darian Stewart, Scott Wells
- Out: Danario Alexander, Bradley Fletcher, Jamaar Jarrett, Trevor Laws
- Probable: Sam Bradford (ankle). You know, that non-issue he brought up on his own a couple of weeks ago.
- Back in action: Trumaine Johnson.
* Depth chart report: Brian Quick, Chris Givens and Michael Hoomanawanui all played on the first unit Thursday. Quick had his best practice to date, making quite a few good plays. Isaiah Pead dropped a bunch of passes Tuesday apparently because he forgot to put his contact lenses in. In related news, you have got to be f**king kidding me.
* Former Ram update: D-lineman Marlon Favorite signed by the Redskins.
* Sounds like the starters will go about three series against the Chiefs. That is of course a guideline, not a rule. The game will be televised live locally on KTVI. Does that mean the game is sold out? That would be a surprise, to say the least.
-$-
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
RamView, 8/16: Wednesday practice notes and news
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| Photo: Sacramento Bee |
* Roster moves. The Rams made three roster moves Wednesday, signing wide receivers Charles Gilbert and Brandyn Harvey, and cutting tight end Jamie Childers. The moves put them at the 90-man roster limit.
Gilbert was just waived by Jacksonville, where you have to be pretty bad not to make the team at wide receiver. He was, however, considered the fastest player on their roster. He's a rookie free agent out of Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, where he had 89 catches, 1,941 yards (18.5 ypc) and 25 TDs in two seasons. He was a Division II second-team All-American. PFW lists Gilbert as a teeny 5'11", 167-pounder who ran 4.46 at Minnesota's pro day. He also showed impressive jumping ability - 38.5" vertical, 9'11" broad jump. His 75" "wingspan" doesn't seem too shabby, either. There is YouTube out there of him, but no scouting material I could find quickly. NFLDraftScout doesn't even appear to have heard of him, and they rank nearly 2,000 players.
Don't expect more of a RFA profile than that on Gilbert any time soon, but I'll put it on my to-do list.
Harvey (6'3" 201) was signed as a RFA in 2010 by - guess who - the Falcons. It sounds like he was released in 2010 with an injury settlement but still spent time on Atlanta's practice squad late in the season. Atlanta released him in the cutdown to 53 last season. Arizona quickly signed him to their PS, but he didn't make it to the end of September there, and I don't see any pro activity for him since then. He was a double major in geography and sociology at Villanova, where they considered him a deep threat, a good receiver in traffic and a good blocker. DraftNasty credits him for leadership and fiery play. He set the tone for Nova's national championship win over Montana with a devastating block. NFLDraftScout ranked him the #106 WR in the 2010 draft. His 4.6 40 (ran at Temple's pro day) won't make many headlines, but look at his jumps: 40" vertical, 10'8" broad. He had 53 catches for 694 yards (13.1 ypc) and 5 TDs for Villanova in 2009 and averaged 7.3 yards over two years as a punt returner.
The new players are expected to join the team practice Thursday.
Childers was a capable, sure-handed receiver from what I saw of him, and I did not expect him to be such an early cut, but injuries at wide receiver appear to have forced the Rams' hand a little, and Childers was likely the last tight end on the depth chart, behind fellow RFAs Cory Harkey and DeAngelo Peterson. Seems like the timing's really bad for him to catch on somewhere now, but you'd think there'd be at least one team out there willing to take a flyer on a tight end prospect with high athletic ability.
* Injury report. DE Jamaar Jarrett joined this summer's usual injury suspects on the sidelines Wednesday. Everyone from yesterday's list remained out, including "chillin'" liar Darian Stewart. Jarrett's injury was not disclosed. Scott Wells has progressed to joining the line in walkthroughs, so there's progress there.
* Aaron Brown is improving by leaps and bounds judging from Nick Wagoner's reports, and is especially impressing on special teams. That is great, because that seemed to be the reason the Rams drafted him. Sammy Brown and Rodney McLeod also stood out at Wednesday's practice.
* Word is out from Jason LaCanfora that the Rams expect to have a new deal with James Laurinaitis before the start of the regular season.
* Where in the world is Gregg? - Remember Gregg Williams? Was going to be the Rams' defensive coordinator but got suspended indefinitely instead for running the Saints' bounty pool? Well, don't look for him around here anytime soon. He goes to Asia next week for a backpacking trip - a "mission of personal growth and discovery" - across Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. (Note to NFL.com: if you're going to call Myanmar "Burma", might as well give 110% and call Thailand "Siam".) NFL.com does humorously mention that Williams will spend time in Thailand's opium country.
When he gets back from that, Williams is going to enroll in a military boot camp, and then later travel to South Africa, and "work his way north through that continent".
Well, if that doesn't get him back in Roger Goodell's good graces, it should at least get him a gig at the Travel Channel. Happy travels.
-$-
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
RamView, 8/15: Tuesday practice notes
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| Photo - STLToday |
* Still on the injury list:
- Bradley Fletcher (ribs)
- Brandon Gibson (hamstring)
- Trevor Laws (knee)
- Darian Stewart (hamstring + being a liar last Friday night)
- Scott Wells (knee)
- Danario Alexander (lives here permanently)
- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle, 43rd week and counting
- and add Trumaine Johnson with an undisclosed injury that I'll bet had to do with getting belted by his own teammate Kendric Burney during Sunday's game. Hardest hit of the game.
* Depth chart report: Barry Richardson starts the week as the first-string left tackle. Quinn Ojinnaka stays at LG despite what I thought was a pretty rough outing for him Sunday. Rok Watkins, however, has started to sneak up and get some reps at LG with the first string. I imagine that would have been the plan for him all along, had he reported for camp in shape.
* Greg Zuerlein hit from 64 today. Brian Quick was another rookie who had a strong outing. Mike McNeill had a bunch of catches. The receivers were dropping passes like they were live porcupines in 7-on-7 drills, though. More drops for Isaiah Pead, and we are at the point where that HAS to improve.
* And, news flash: Tom Brandstater actually got to throw some passes in a practice. Has to be a frustrating summer for him so far.
* Former Ram updates:
- Bears signed K.C. Asiodu Saturday.
- GENTLEMAN KRIS ADAMS had one catch for 9 yards against the Rams Sunday. Didn't want anyone to think I missed that.
- Shockingly, Donnie Avery missed Sunday's game for the Colts because he is injured.
- Jimmy (Hyphen Jr.) Saddler-McQueen is now on the Texans roster.
* Wednesday's practice is at 5:30 and is open to the public.
-$-
Monday, August 13, 2012
RamView, 8/13: Change those future vacation plans
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| Photo: London Telegraph |
This is the most concrete public statement the Rams have made to say they're even going to try to stay in St. Louis, so it's a welcome development.
* The Rams obviously have a lot of practicing to do, and get back to it Tuesday at 3:30. About the only good news out of Sunday's 38-3 debacle in Indianapolis is that there weren't any new injuries.
- Rodger Saffold and Josh Gordy played Sunday, so they come off the list.
- Just my guess, but Darian Stewart should return to action Tuesday.
- Out Sunday, return uncertain: Danario Alexander, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Gibson, Trevor Laws and Scott Wells.
-$-
Sunday, August 12, 2012
RamView, 8/12
It is getting very, very hard to fight the "the more things change, the more they stay the same" mentality right now. The Colts were the worst team in the NFL in 2012, the only team worse than the Rams, and just handed us our heads. I don't think it was unrealistic to expect a far more competitive game. I do feel like a lot of today's issues are coachable, though. I'm sure the Rams coaching staff already doesn't get a lot of sleep, but better keep the coffee pot on the rest of the month, men.
* Today's Rams pluses: Robert Quinn, Kendall Langford, Chris Long, Janoris Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Steven Jackson, Harvey Dahl, Lance Kendricks, Greg Zuerlein, Austin Pettis.
* Today's minuses: the other 80 could all stand to pick up their games. Safety play was dreadful, save McLeod. Offensive line made a lot of mistakes. Isaiah Pead looked amazingly nervous before settling down a little. Linebackers were not noticeable and Michael Brockers did his best Jimmy Kennedy impression. (Too soon?)
It's getting late for me, sorry to leave off the usual detailed injury report. No injuries during the game that I'm aware of. Most of the guys who have been sitting out in camp sat out today. Rodger Saffold was one exception. Will catch up with camp stuff tomorrow night.
-$-
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Training camp report, 8/10
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| Photo - RamView |
* Standouts: if any one player, Trumaine Johnson. Few if any dropped passes.
* Lowlights: backup QBs still look erratic.
* Standout and lowlight: attempted tackle-eligible pass to Jason Smith.
* Returning to action: Trumaine Johnson is definitely back in action. Eugene Sims is as well.
* Remaining on the injury list: Danario Alexander, Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Gibson, Trevor Laws, Rodger Saffold, Darian Stewart and Scott Wells. Stewart as much as said he's not really hurt, just sitting out as a precaution.
* Sunday's game at Indianapolis airs nationally at 12:30 Central time on NFL Network. That is supposed to be blacked out in St. Louis, where we can see the game on Fox-2 KTVI. Or, if you miss it at 12:30, it's on again at 4:00 on KPLR-11.
Nobody say St. Louis isn't a football town, when we're broadcasting preseason games locally twice.
-$-
Thursday, August 9, 2012
RamView, 8/10: Thursday practice notes
* In what has to be the biggest news out of Rams camp so far this summer, the Barry Richardson move appears to be for real. He practiced with the first string again Thursday, and Nick Wagoner said he "appears to be making a push for the job." Richardson and Jason Smith may alternate with the starters against the Colts on Sunday.
* Injury list:
- Danario Alexander out, leg/hamstring
- Bradley Fletcher out, leg/hamstring
- Brandon Gibson out, leg/hamstring
- Trevor Laws out, knee
- Rodger Saffold out, groin
- Eugene Sims out, leg/hamstring
- Darian Stewart out, leg/hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
Steven Jackson got another rest day Thursday.
* Back in action: Kendall Langford. No update on Trumaine Johnson.
* Depth chart news: Looks like Quinn Ojinnaka has managed to stay LG1. He split time with Kevin Hughes at LT1 Thursday because of Saffold's absence. Brian Mattison worked at LG. Jerome Murphy, who had been on milk cartons earlier in the week, was nickel for the ones Thursday with Fletcher out.
* Starters will tend to get about a quarter of work Sunday according to head coach Jeff Fisher, but that's not hard and fast. Jackson, for instance, will be used lightly (if at all). The main goal for Fisher is to get a good look at a lot of the rookies and a good look at everyone in close battles for roster positions.
* Practice is open to the public Friday at 5:30. I'm still planning to check it out. Kickoff Sunday is 12:30 with coverage on NFL Network and KTVI. The game is a sellout. The next open practice is on the 14th.
-$-
* Injury list:
- Danario Alexander out, leg/hamstring
- Bradley Fletcher out, leg/hamstring
- Brandon Gibson out, leg/hamstring
- Trevor Laws out, knee
- Rodger Saffold out, groin
- Eugene Sims out, leg/hamstring
- Darian Stewart out, leg/hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
Steven Jackson got another rest day Thursday.
* Back in action: Kendall Langford. No update on Trumaine Johnson.
* Depth chart news: Looks like Quinn Ojinnaka has managed to stay LG1. He split time with Kevin Hughes at LT1 Thursday because of Saffold's absence. Brian Mattison worked at LG. Jerome Murphy, who had been on milk cartons earlier in the week, was nickel for the ones Thursday with Fletcher out.
* Starters will tend to get about a quarter of work Sunday according to head coach Jeff Fisher, but that's not hard and fast. Jackson, for instance, will be used lightly (if at all). The main goal for Fisher is to get a good look at a lot of the rookies and a good look at everyone in close battles for roster positions.
* Practice is open to the public Friday at 5:30. I'm still planning to check it out. Kickoff Sunday is 12:30 with coverage on NFL Network and KTVI. The game is a sellout. The next open practice is on the 14th.
-$-
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
RamView, 8/9: Wednesday practice notes
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| Photo: STLToday |
* Injury list: Still nothing really serious yet...
- Danario Alexander limited, precautionary
- Brandon Gibson out, leg/hamstring
- Trumaine Johnson out, leg/hamstring
- Kendall Langford out, illness
- Trevor Laws out, knee
- Eugene Sims out, leg/hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
- Sam Bradford probable, ankle
In addition, Steven Jackson got Wednesday off. No one returned to action from Tuesday's list, but that list was very short.
* Depth chart news: With head coach Jeff Fisher claiming "he is creating some competition at right tackle," Barry Freaking Richardson worked with the first unit offense Wednesday, and Jason Smith was stuck with the second unit. The assumption here is that Fisher is sending Jason Smith a message. You'll remember when the Rams signed Richardson, this blog said something along the lines of, if he starts at any point in 2012, we'll know the season is already screwed.
Laws' injury has resulted in more reps for Jermelle Cudjo, and it sounds like Cudjo is Matt Conrath's closest competition for DT4. Darell Dorell Scott appears to be on the outside looking in.
* Looking good lately: Harvey Dahl, Isaiah Pead, Darryl Richardson, Austin Pettis (2 TDs today).
* Alumni report:
- DT Teryl White, in Rams camp last year as a rookie free agent, signed by the Bucs.
* Practice Thursday is at 3:30 and is open to the public. Looking more and more like I'm going to Friday evening's practice, provided my wheels are out of the shop by then. Weather's going to be too damn nice to pass it up.
-$-
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
RamView, 8/8: Tuesday practice notes
* Injury report. Well, hello, the injury report quite suddenly became very, very short on Tuesday. To wit:
- Scott Wells out, knee
- Trevor Laws out, knee
- Brandon Gibson out, undisclosed
- Sam Bradford probable, ankle
* Welcome back: Rodger Saffold, Lance Kendricks, Darryl Richardson, DeAngelo Peterson and I assume Ryan McKee and Todd Anderson. The latter two weren't specifically reported on.
* Depth chart report: Justin Cole got more reps with the first string. So did Josh Hull. Then again, so did Austin Pettis, so I don't know how seriously to take some of these in-practice shifts. Mike McNeill also getting some first-unit work.
* Greg Zuerlein hit another 60-yard FG Tuesday. Yawn. Also reportedly playing well: Brian Quick, Jason Smith, Robert Quinn. All good to hear.
* Wednesday practice is open to the public and starts at 5:30.
-$-
Photo: St. Louis Rams
Monday, August 6, 2012
RamView, 8/7: Monday practice notes
from local reports * Injury report:
- Lance Kendricks limited, leg or hamstring
- Trevor Laws out, swelling in knee
- Rodger Saffold limited, groin pull
- Scott Wells out, knee
* Returning to action: Danario Alexander, Kendric Burney, Josh Gordy, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart. Some reports say Murphy didn't participate.
* No update on Todd Anderson, Daryl Richardson, Ryan McKee, DeAngelo Peterson.
* Oh, and Sam Bradford, probable, ankle.
* Depth chart report:
- Ovie Mughelli got some reps with the first-unit offense.
- Darian Stewart returned to first-string safety but will continue to alternate there with Craig Dahl.
- Justin Cole, Josh Hull and Rocky McIntosh actually got reps with the first-unit defense. The heck?
- Barry Richardson was LT1 today with Saffold still down. Not that he was any good, but he was LT1.
- Janoris Jenkins and Bradley Fletcher splitting time with the first unit at corner.
- Matt Conrath still in heavy rotation with the first unit.
* Isaiah Pead continues to drop passes. Hoo boy.
* Alumni update:
- Ron Bartell, who has missed all of Raiders camp to date due to a hamstring injury, was removed from their reserve/non-football injury list. He expects to play against the Cowboys this weekend.
- Mike Martz is the latest member of the Greatest Show on Earth to get a broadcasting gig. He'll be a color commentator on Fox games this season, working with Ron Pitts.
* Around the league:
- Justin Blackmon has finally agreed to a deal with the Jagwires;
- Shannon Eastin will become the first woman to officiate an NFL game Thursday night;
- Last, and certainly least, may the Seattle Seahawks rot in hell for all eternity for their idiotic feeding of babbling media morons everywhere by signing Terrell Freaking Owens to a one-year contract. WHY?
-$-
Photo: STLToday
Sunday, August 5, 2012
RamView, 8/5: injury report
Here's the closest thing I have to an injury report for the Rams after yesterday's scrimmage:
- Danario Alexander limited, leg/hamstring
- Todd Anderson out or limited (?)
- Kendric Burney out or limited, leg/hamstring
- Josh Gordy limited, leg/hamstring
- Lance Kendricks out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Trevor Laws out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Ryan McKee out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Jerome Murphy limited, leg/hamstring
- DeAngelo Peterson out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Darryl Richardson out or limited (?)
- Rodger Saffold out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Darian Stewart limited, leg/hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
Yes, all of the injuries save Wells are described as leg soreness or tight hamstrings. I observed Anderson and Richardson doing stretching on the side, which seems a common activity for injured players, and did not see them participate in practice. They're not listed in any published reports, though. Head coach Jeff Fisher believes everyone will be back in action next week, not including Wells.
Oh, yeah, there's one injury I forgot:
- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle
I now fully expect to list Bradford on every injury list, for the rest of time, for an ankle injury he originally suffered October 16, 2011. Here's Sam, interviewed after yesterday's practice:
Yeah, obviously it’s something. It is a little bit frustrating that it’s somewhat there still. I thought with rest in the offseason it would’ve been gone by now, but it’s not and I’ve talked about it with (Head Athletic Trainer) ‘Reg’ (Reggie Scott). I understand what his plan is and I think we’re doing as good as we can right now in managing it.
It’s close. I think it’s as good as it’s going to feel. It’s something that we’re managing right now. I’ve been able to take every snap so far without any setbacks and I think that’s a positive sign.
I don't get it. I thought the "bad" high ankle sprain was supposed to be a 4-to-6 week injury. Sam Bradford has had an injured ankle for * 42 * weeks now. Yes, it was a big mistake on the Rams' part (and Sam's) to rush him back into action last season when he clearly was nowhere close to 100%. But FORTY-TWO WEEKS?
According to Medical News Today, it typically takes 6 months to recover from... hip replacement surgery. That's 24-26 weeks. And we're talking old ladies there!
The Rams had today off, so valuable rest for Sam's permanently injured ankle, and practice Monday at 3:30. All practices thru Friday are open to the public.
-$-
Photo: ESPN
- Danario Alexander limited, leg/hamstring
- Todd Anderson out or limited (?)
- Kendric Burney out or limited, leg/hamstring
- Josh Gordy limited, leg/hamstring
- Lance Kendricks out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Trevor Laws out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Ryan McKee out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Jerome Murphy limited, leg/hamstring
- DeAngelo Peterson out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Darryl Richardson out or limited (?)
- Rodger Saffold out, leg/hamstring (added Saturday)
- Darian Stewart limited, leg/hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
Yes, all of the injuries save Wells are described as leg soreness or tight hamstrings. I observed Anderson and Richardson doing stretching on the side, which seems a common activity for injured players, and did not see them participate in practice. They're not listed in any published reports, though. Head coach Jeff Fisher believes everyone will be back in action next week, not including Wells.
Oh, yeah, there's one injury I forgot:- Sam Bradford, probable, ankle
I now fully expect to list Bradford on every injury list, for the rest of time, for an ankle injury he originally suffered October 16, 2011. Here's Sam, interviewed after yesterday's practice:
Yeah, obviously it’s something. It is a little bit frustrating that it’s somewhat there still. I thought with rest in the offseason it would’ve been gone by now, but it’s not and I’ve talked about it with (Head Athletic Trainer) ‘Reg’ (Reggie Scott). I understand what his plan is and I think we’re doing as good as we can right now in managing it.
It’s close. I think it’s as good as it’s going to feel. It’s something that we’re managing right now. I’ve been able to take every snap so far without any setbacks and I think that’s a positive sign.
I don't get it. I thought the "bad" high ankle sprain was supposed to be a 4-to-6 week injury. Sam Bradford has had an injured ankle for * 42 * weeks now. Yes, it was a big mistake on the Rams' part (and Sam's) to rush him back into action last season when he clearly was nowhere close to 100%. But FORTY-TWO WEEKS?
According to Medical News Today, it typically takes 6 months to recover from... hip replacement surgery. That's 24-26 weeks. And we're talking old ladies there!
The Rams had today off, so valuable rest for Sam's permanently injured ankle, and practice Monday at 3:30. All practices thru Friday are open to the public.
-$-
Photo: ESPN
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Updated rookie free agent odds
Todd Anderson, 15%, down from 20%
I don't see that he's even getting on the field. May be injured.
Sammy Brown, 50% and holding
Has some flash as a pass rusher but must get serious about run
Jeremy Caldwell, 0%, down from 40%
Yeah, I know.
Jamie Childers, 40%, up from 25%
Athleticism shows and he's getting a good number of reps. Looking good for practice squad.
Matt Conrath, 90%, up from 55%
Getting a ton of work with the first unit. Hard to see him not making the main roster at this point.
Matt Daniels, 30%, down from 55%
Injury really hurt his chances. Can't get off bottom of depth chart and being outplayed by McLeod.
Austin Davis, 75%, up from 50%
Tom Brandstater's hardly even getting on the field.
Corey Harkey, 60%, up from 45%
Contributing in team drills. Looks good for the practice squad.
T-Bob Hebert, 20%, down from 40%.
Looks overwhelmed and the Rams have clearly better backup center and guard candidates.
Johnny Hekker, 95%, up from 90%
Not being challenged by Tom Malone at all. Looks at least as good as Donnie Jones did last year.
Alex Hoffman-Ellis, 70%, up from 60%
Excellent athleticism, playing 2nd-unit Mike and nickel LB and looks comfortable
Jamar Jarrett, 35%, up from 15%
Had excellent scrimmage today. Could compete with Scott Smith to steal a 5th DE spot on the roster.
Nick Johnson, 10% and holding
Might have to flash big in the first couple of games.
Noah Keller, 40% and holding
Hasn't gotten past 3rd unit, but has made some plays. Needs some big special teams play.
Joe Long, 60%, up from 40%
Should make practice squad from what I've seen, and could easily be outplaying Barry Richardson and Kevin Hughes by the end of camp.
Rodney McLeod, 65%, up from 45%
Think he's well ahead of Daniels for the last safety spot now, but I'm expecting the Rams to throw a wrench into the works here, pick up a veteran and defer McLeod to the PS.
Calvin Middleton, 30% and holding
Showing some ability but has a lot of good competition ahead of him. PS dark horse.
DeAngelo Peterson, 45% and holding
Camp reporters like him, but he really got injured at the wrong time. Probably him or Childers for a PS slot.
Quinton Pointer, 0.5%, down from 5%
Sadly, he is who I thought he was.
Nick Schwieger, 10% and holding
Getting no RB reps, will have to cut it as a returner, and isn't seeing much time there, either.
Scott Smith, 55%, up from 15%
Becoming dominant edge rusher against the scrub o-line. Based on this week, solid shot at the practice squad and could even sneak onto the main roster.
Travis Tripucka, 10%, down from 30%
Pretty much needs Jake McQuaide to get hurt, and even then, isn't consistent enough for a job that demands "five nines" quality.
-$-
Photo: St. Louis Rams
Scrimmage report, 8/4
OK, that took longer than I'd hoped, but RamView's report for today's scrimmage is up now. LinkToday's standouts:
* Believe it or not, Brandon Gibson
* Believe it or even more not, Jason Smith
* That Bradford guy also doesn't look half bad
* Also, Robert Turner, Mike McNeill (who?), Michael Brockers and of course, Greg Zuerlein.
Today's lowlights:
* Isaiah Pead's buttery fingers
* The Wildcat
* All backup QBs
-$-
Photo: RamView
RamView, 8/4: Friday practice notes
* Injury report:
- Danario Alexander limited, hamstring
- Kendric Burney limited, hamstring
- Josh Gordy limited, hamstring
- Jerome Murphy out per camp reports
- Darian Stewart limited, hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
* Returning to action: Tim Barnes.
* Depth chart report: Matt Conrath and Austin Davis continue to get significant reps. Rodney McLeod, too; he seems well ahead of Matt Daniels at safety. Mike Hoomanawanui got almost all the TE1 work Friday.
* Offensive line playing a little better now but the little bit of deep passing game the Rams are trying is far from clicking at this point.
* The Rams "scrimmage" Saturday in the Edward Jones Dome at 12:30. Quotes because it sounds like it will be more of a full-pad practice than an actual scrimmage, but we'll see. I hope to have a full report up on RamView this evening.
* I'm not sure if Sunday is a practice day or a day off. Any practice is not open to the public. The Rams have practice open every weekday next week - 3:30 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 Wednesday and Friday.
* Sorry this was a rush job, running out of time to get over to scrimmage.
-$-
- Danario Alexander limited, hamstring
- Kendric Burney limited, hamstring
- Josh Gordy limited, hamstring
- Jerome Murphy out per camp reports
- Darian Stewart limited, hamstring
- Scott Wells out, knee
* Returning to action: Tim Barnes.
* Depth chart report: Matt Conrath and Austin Davis continue to get significant reps. Rodney McLeod, too; he seems well ahead of Matt Daniels at safety. Mike Hoomanawanui got almost all the TE1 work Friday.
* Offensive line playing a little better now but the little bit of deep passing game the Rams are trying is far from clicking at this point.
* The Rams "scrimmage" Saturday in the Edward Jones Dome at 12:30. Quotes because it sounds like it will be more of a full-pad practice than an actual scrimmage, but we'll see. I hope to have a full report up on RamView this evening.
* I'm not sure if Sunday is a practice day or a day off. Any practice is not open to the public. The Rams have practice open every weekday next week - 3:30 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30 Wednesday and Friday.
* Sorry this was a rush job, running out of time to get over to scrimmage.
-$-
Friday, August 3, 2012
RamView, 8/3: Thursday practice notes
* Injury report:- Darian Stewart out, hamstring
- Jerome Murphy out, "soreness"
- Danario Alexander limited, hamstring
- Josh Gordy limited, hamstring
- Kendric Burney limited, hamstring
- Tim Barnes limited, calf
- Scott Wells out, knee
So, yes, less than a week into camp and the Rams ALREADY have FOUR defensive backs who can't go. Jeff Fisher does say he's expecting them all back in the next day or two.
* Returning to action: Eugene Sims, Daryl Richardson, Rokevious Watkins. Watkins is working at right guard with the scrubs. I think Richardson actually returned to action Wednesday.
* Depth chart report:
- Brian Mattison now getting some turns with the first unit at left guard.
* Friday's practice will be at 3:30 and is open to the public. Practice "got chippy" a couple of times today but we're still waiting for our first really good scrum. The d-line is still pwning the o-line.
* Alumni report:
- CB Nate Ness signed by the Panthers.
- RB Keith Toston signed by the Jagwires.
- Because they know no daily report here would be complete without a Cord Parks update, the Saints re-signed Parks after releasing him a couple of days ago.
-$-
Photo: STLToday
Rams preseason schedule on NFL Network
All times are Central and are the first airing of each game on NFL Network. Games are frequently re-aired, but since NFL Net has yet to EVER put a full schedule online, we're on our own to check our cable/satellite guides.The game against the Colts will be carried live.
Week 1
Sun August 12: @ Colts - 12:30
Week 2
Mon August 20: vs. Chiefs - noon
Week 3
Sat August 25: @ Cowboys - 11 p.m.
Week 4
Sat September 1: vs. Ravens - 3 p.m.
Full preseason schedule will go up at the 2012 NFL Preseason Challenge blog shortly.
-$-
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
RamView, 8/2: Wednesday practice notes
from local reports
Practice Wednesday was special teams only, and honestly, there wasn't a lot of news coming out of it. Just a couple of notes:
* Head coach Jeff Fisher has already made Danny Amendola the primary punt returner. Other players trying out the role in camp are playing strictly to back Amendola up.
* No injury report Wednesday other than Darian Stewart missing practice due to a tight hamstring.
* Rookie free agent punter Johnny Hekker has a big leg as advertised, but is also very inconsistent on directional kicks, also as advertised.
Thursday will be a full-team, full-pads scrimmage, but won't be open to the public. Who will start the first fight of training camp? I'll take Harvey Dahl vs. the field. Cortland Finnegan might be a sleeper.
* Alumni report: former Ram blocking TE Billy Bajema signed with the Ravens.
* Bullet dodged: the best move the Rams made in the 2012, hands-down, is actually a move they didn't make: trading up for Justin Blackmon. What a pile of garbage that guy has turned out to be. He gets a DUI right after he gets drafted, and now, he's the only of this year's first-round picks still holding out. You have to be particularly obstinate to be a rookie holdout under the current CBA. The Rams took some character risks in this year's draft, and honestly, had Blackmon not gone 5th overall, he almost certainly would have been a Ram. Or, more likely, an unsigned draft pick of the Rams and a daily subject of this blog describing what a jerk he is. I expressed the fear while it looked like the Rams were going to get him, and it's now impossible not to think Michael Crabtree all over again with Blackmon. He's certainly matching Crabtree as a fakeass diva.
And that's just part of what looks like a complete meltdown in Jagwires camp. Maurice Jones-Drew is also holding out for a new deal. Marcedes Lewis got a big contract before last season, which he pretty much tanked, and reported for this year's training camp out of shape. Oh, and Jacksonville's biggest free-agent signing this year, Laurent Robinson? Dropping everything thrown at him. Lotsa luck this season, Blaine Gabbert. Shad Khan has got to be wondering what the hell he did to deserve this mess.
The Rams, meanwhile, should thank their lucky stars the draft fell the way it did. If Matt Barkley comes out, they probably couldn't have traded out of #2. And then the Bucs help them out by trading out of #5, which allows them to avoid the Blackmon trainwreck.
This franchise has been well overdue for that kind of luck; let's hope there's more like it on the way.
-$-
Practice Wednesday was special teams only, and honestly, there wasn't a lot of news coming out of it. Just a couple of notes:
* Head coach Jeff Fisher has already made Danny Amendola the primary punt returner. Other players trying out the role in camp are playing strictly to back Amendola up.
* No injury report Wednesday other than Darian Stewart missing practice due to a tight hamstring.
* Rookie free agent punter Johnny Hekker has a big leg as advertised, but is also very inconsistent on directional kicks, also as advertised.
Thursday will be a full-team, full-pads scrimmage, but won't be open to the public. Who will start the first fight of training camp? I'll take Harvey Dahl vs. the field. Cortland Finnegan might be a sleeper.
* Alumni report: former Ram blocking TE Billy Bajema signed with the Ravens.
* Bullet dodged: the best move the Rams made in the 2012, hands-down, is actually a move they didn't make: trading up for Justin Blackmon. What a pile of garbage that guy has turned out to be. He gets a DUI right after he gets drafted, and now, he's the only of this year's first-round picks still holding out. You have to be particularly obstinate to be a rookie holdout under the current CBA. The Rams took some character risks in this year's draft, and honestly, had Blackmon not gone 5th overall, he almost certainly would have been a Ram. Or, more likely, an unsigned draft pick of the Rams and a daily subject of this blog describing what a jerk he is. I expressed the fear while it looked like the Rams were going to get him, and it's now impossible not to think Michael Crabtree all over again with Blackmon. He's certainly matching Crabtree as a fakeass diva.
And that's just part of what looks like a complete meltdown in Jagwires camp. Maurice Jones-Drew is also holding out for a new deal. Marcedes Lewis got a big contract before last season, which he pretty much tanked, and reported for this year's training camp out of shape. Oh, and Jacksonville's biggest free-agent signing this year, Laurent Robinson? Dropping everything thrown at him. Lotsa luck this season, Blaine Gabbert. Shad Khan has got to be wondering what the hell he did to deserve this mess.
The Rams, meanwhile, should thank their lucky stars the draft fell the way it did. If Matt Barkley comes out, they probably couldn't have traded out of #2. And then the Bucs help them out by trading out of #5, which allows them to avoid the Blackmon trainwreck.
This franchise has been well overdue for that kind of luck; let's hope there's more like it on the way.
-$-
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