The ClanRam Forums http://www.clanram.com/forums/ St. Louis Rams at ClanRam.com, Rams football news, fan chat rooms, exclusive Rams articles, one of the largest Rams discussion forums on the web. Check out ClanRams great new Rams wallpapers, screensavers and music. Complete fan site with multiple daily updated news, stats, chat and original Ram Art to use as wallpaper plus great Ram Screensavers for free. The biggest Rams Forum on the net diskspaceman en Sun, 26 May 2013 01:42:25 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.clanram.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png The ClanRam Forums http://www.clanram.com/forums/ Quick, Pead seek second-year success http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/quick-pead-seek-second-year-success-51976/ Sat, 25 May 2013 19:06:07 GMT By JOE LYONS Brian Quick and Isaiah Pead were chosen by the Rams in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Quick, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver with speed and big-play potential out of Appalachian State, was the first pick on the draft’s second day (No. 33 overall). Not long after that, with pick No. 50, the Rams nabbed Pead, a 5-10, 197-pound change-of-pace back from the University of Cincinnati who ranks third in Bearcats history in rushing yards (3,288) and rushing touchdowns (27). Both entered his rookie season with promise and potential but struggled to make their mark as first-year players in the NFL. Quick showed brief flashes of his skill last season, but finished with just 11 catches for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Pead rushed just 10 times, for 54 yards, caught three passes for 16 and returned 10 kicks for 212. By JOE LYONS

Brian Quick and Isaiah Pead were chosen by the Rams in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Quick, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound receiver with speed and big-play potential out of Appalachian State, was the first pick on the draft’s second day (No. 33 overall). Not long after that, with pick No. 50, the Rams nabbed Pead, a 5-10, 197-pound change-of-pace back from the University of Cincinnati who ranks third in Bearcats history in rushing yards (3,288) and rushing touchdowns (27).

Both entered his rookie season with promise and potential but struggled to make their mark as first-year players in the NFL.

Quick showed brief flashes of his skill last season, but finished with just 11 catches for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Pead rushed just 10 times, for 54 yards, caught three passes for 16 and returned 10 kicks for 212.

But that was then.

“New year, new season. That’s the way I look at it,’’ Pead said Friday after the Rams wrapped up the first week of offseason practices. “The second year, it’s completely different because you have a better idea of what to expect and you have a better idea of what’s expected of you.

“Last year obviously didn’t go the way I wanted, but I survived it and I’m ready to move forward.’’

Quick does not consider 2012 a lost season.

“Last year, for me, was a learning year, and that’s something I’m looking to build on,’’ he said. “It’s a big step, coming to the NFL because everything at this level, physically and mentally, is so much faster. You have to adjust, but you can’t force it.

“But now, after that first year, I really feel like I have a better feel for the offense and my role here. I’m ready to take my game to the next level.’’

The Rams are counting on Quick and Pead to make strides as the offense adjusts to the departure of running back Steven Jackson, via free agency, to the Atlanta Falcons.

“We’ve always said that players make their biggest improvements from year one to year two,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said early in the offseason. “Brian’s second year in the system, we expect him to (develop). The guy’s gonna make a lot of plays for us. And the same is (true) for (receiver) Chris (Givens) and Isaiah. Those three are gonna have to step up and play some major roles in our offense.’’

Quick and Pead each got off to a slow starts last year, for different reasons.

Coming from a small school, Quick struggled with the finer points of the Rams’ playbook.

“This offense is a lot more complicated than anything I’ve run before,’’ Quick said. “You’re constantly working on the little things, trying to make sure that everything is perfect. By the second half of last season, though, I felt a lot more comfortable and now, going into the second year, I really feel like I’m ready to show people what I can do.’’

Quick continued: “I don’t tend to get frustrated and I definitely don’t worry about what other people say. The Rams drafted me where they did for a reason. I know that the coaches believe in me and know what I can do. It’s my time to step up and start making plays.’’

Pead’s slow start can be traced to a late start.

He attended rookie minicamp but was unable to attend the early offseason practices because Cincinnati is on the quarter system and, under league rules, a player is unable to join his NFL team until after the school year is completed.

“The crazy thing was, I wasn’t even in school at the time,’’ Pead said. “So I was just sitting around.

“I had a playbook, but I couldn’t explain it to myself. I missed all but a week of (offseason practices) last year, so this year, I just feel like I’m that much farther along.’’

Both players enjoyed some success in 2012, giving them something to build on for this season.

Quick caught two passes for 31 yards in a loss to Green Bay in Week 7, hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens in a Week 10 tie the game against San Francisco and had two receptions for 12 yards and a score in a Week 15 loss to Minnesota.

In the finale at Seattle, Pead matched his season’s total for carries, rushing five times for 21 yards.

“You’re only as good as your last game, so hopefully that gave the coaches a little bit to remember,’’ he said. “Since then, I’ve really tried to dedicate myself to prepare for this season. My workouts have always been pretty intense, but I’ve really focused to try and bring a violent edge to my game.’’

With Jackson gone, the Rams’ backfield is wide open as Pead joins fellow second-year backs Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway and rookie Zac Stacy as top early contenders for playing time.

“We’re all competitors and we’re all looking to be No. 1,’’ Pead said. “But it’s not like we’re enemies. We’re truly a unit, trying to do everything we can to make sure that we’re all getting better, as individuals and as a group.’’

Both second-year players are excited about the Rams’ offensive potential in 2013.

“Oh man, I really think we’re in for a fun year,’’ Quick said. “The returning guys have an added year of experience and the guys we’ve brought in have a lot to offer, too. Sam (Bradford ) is definitely the leader, but it’s not just on him. I feel like it’s up to all of us, every guy on the team, to step up and support him and to hopefully move this football team first toward the playoffs and eventually to a championship.’’ ]]> RAM TALK MauiRam http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/quick-pead-seek-second-year-success-51976/ Rams’ NFC West Foes to Get Their Fill of a Big “Cookie” http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-nfc-west-foes-get-their-fill-big-cookie-51972/ Sat, 25 May 2013 18:50:44 GMT By Tony Softli on May 25th, 2013 The St. Louis Rams were very aggressive in free agency and the draft, but the ball really started rolling when Jared “Cookie” Cook was signed on the cusp of spring. The Birmingham native was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft (89th pick overall) by Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans. In four seasons there, Cook had 131 receptions for 1,717 and eight touchdowns. A hybrid tight end who can block in-line with good production, he has aligned as a lead blocker from the fullback position. He’s also an athletic tight end tagged in formations from the slot, flex and outside-the-numbers alignments. Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook will reveal further creative measures for Cook, taking advantage of any and all mismatches with this big target who can run. In the Rams’ OTAs, “Cookie” has displayed excellent athletic ability and a very good route-running skill set, with soft and sure hands to catch outside his frame and acrobatic snatch production. But this is nothing new – he jumped off the film when I evaluated him at South Carolina. Despite starting only 15 games (he played in 36 total), Cook finished his career in Columbia with 73 receptions 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, and was an early-out junior. At the combine, Cookie blew away everybody with explosive athletic ability. He stood 6-4, weighed in at 245 pounds and ran the forty-yard dash in 4.49. With a 41-inch-vertical leap, standing broad jump of more than 10 feet and an impressive 23 reps on the bench press, to say nothing of his 35-inch arm length, he somehow lasted until the third round. After the conclusion of the 2013 Super Bowl, Rams coaches and front-office executives spoke about weapons for quarterback Sam Bradford. They started that process by signing Cookie to a free-agent contract on March 12, when the Titans did not apply the franchise tag this talented football player. Tennessee primarily detached Cook from its standard formations, like a wide receiver, and Cook requested to be franchise-tagged as such. The Titans refused, making his services available to the other 31 teams. By Tony Softli on May 25th, 2013

The St. Louis Rams were very aggressive in free agency and the draft, but the ball really started rolling when Jared “Cookie” Cook was signed on the cusp of spring. The Birmingham native was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft (89th pick overall) by Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans. In four seasons there, Cook had 131 receptions for 1,717 and eight touchdowns. A hybrid tight end who can block in-line with good production, he has aligned as a lead blocker from the fullback position. He’s also an athletic tight end tagged in formations from the slot, flex and outside-the-numbers alignments. Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook will reveal further creative measures for Cook, taking advantage of any and all mismatches with this big target who can run.

In the Rams’ OTAs, “Cookie” has displayed excellent athletic ability and a very good route-running skill set, with soft and sure hands to catch outside his frame and acrobatic snatch production. But this is nothing new – he jumped off the film when I evaluated him at South Carolina. Despite starting only 15 games (he played in 36 total), Cook finished his career in Columbia with 73 receptions 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, and was an early-out junior.

At the combine, Cookie blew away everybody with explosive athletic ability. He stood 6-4, weighed in at 245 pounds and ran the forty-yard dash in 4.49. With a 41-inch-vertical leap, standing broad jump of more than 10 feet and an impressive 23 reps on the bench press, to say nothing of his 35-inch arm length, he somehow lasted until the third round.

After the conclusion of the 2013 Super Bowl, Rams coaches and front-office executives spoke about weapons for quarterback Sam Bradford. They started that process by signing Cookie to a free-agent contract on March 12, when the Titans did not apply the franchise tag this talented football player. Tennessee primarily detached Cook from its standard formations, like a wide receiver, and Cook requested to be franchise-tagged as such. The Titans refused, making his services available to the other 31 teams.

Cook signed a five-year deal worth $35.1 million that could max out at $38 million if he reaches incentives and or escalators within the contract, in which $19 million is guaranteed. A true weapon is now in place for Bradford, someone capable of inflicting damage in the division down the seams and outside the numbers – or wherever the Rams align him. The Rams suddenly have dual tight end options with “Cookie” and Lance Kendricks, plus bona-fide receiving threats in receivers Chris Givens, Brian Quick, Austin Pettis and rookies Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.

News and Notes

Not only has Givens gotten bigger, he has maintained his elite speed. It was on full display today as he blew by several Rams defenders on a few deep-ball receptions from Bradford. All told, Givens has gained four pounds of muscle and truly reshaped his physique.

The lost man in the rubble of Rams running backs has emerged and is turning heads with his size, burst, acceleration and natural receiving skills. Terrance Ganaway is the only Rams RB with the size that teams covet, and his athletic ability is starting to shine with every carry. Keep an eye on this big boy in the battle for the RB slots on the 53-man roster.

Quick had a good day after missing a large chuck of practice time Thursday with tight hamstrings. He flashed good movement and snatched several balls out of the air with good body balance and control. This receiver competition is really starting to heat up.

It’s good to see defensive back Darian Stewart back in the mix for a job. One can’t help but watch his leadership, natural awareness and football instincts in space and close to the LOS. If Stewart can stay healthy, the back end of the Rams’ defense will be very good.

Highlights from Thursday and Friday’s practice sessions included viewing Bradford during his drill work. The QB pushed to perfect his timing and anticipation with receivers, running backs and tight ends. Offensive and defensive linemen also hit the bags and sleds, polishing play recognition and responsibility, while linebackers and defensive backs concentrated on zone drops, footwork (backpedaling and turns with burst) and, of course one-on-one drills.

The Rams came together to compete in seven-on-seven drills and team work, with the offense pitted against the defense in situational football (down and distance and red zone). Second-year kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker, both of whom were asked to grow up in a hurry as rookies, fine-tuned their techniques and craft on the far field. ]]> RAM TALK MauiRam http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-nfc-west-foes-get-their-fill-big-cookie-51972/ Kendricks to miss OTAs after having knee scoped in April http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/kendricks-miss-otas-after-having-knee-scoped-april-51965/ Sat, 25 May 2013 17:58:46 GMT Per Adam Schefter: Rams TE Lance Kendricks underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is missing OTAs. Per Adam Schefter:

Rams TE Lance Kendricks underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is missing OTAs. ]]> RAM TALK thoey http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/kendricks-miss-otas-after-having-knee-scoped-april-51965/ Lindenwood receiver gets Rams’ attention http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/lindenwood-receiver-gets-rams-attention-51941/ Sat, 25 May 2013 14:46:39 GMT By JOE LYONS jlyons@post-dispatch.com

Andrew Helmick’s tryout with the Rams lasted all of seven plays.

“I took more time warming up than I did actually catching passes,’’ the 22-year-old wide receiver from Lindenwood University said this week. “I caught seven passes — five from the wide position and two from the slot — and then talked a little with (coach Jeff Fisher). But he didn’t say a whole lot.

“At that point, I really didn’t know what to think. I tried to stay positive, but I also wondered, ‘Was I that bad that after just seven passes, he’d seen enough?’’’

But after lunch, Helmick was called upstairs and signed as a college free agent.

“It’s just amazing how things work out,’’ said Helmick, a 6-foot, 199-pounder from Winnetonka High in Kansas City. “I had a number of teams talk to me before and after the draft, but the Rams weren’t one of them. I went to rookie tryouts in Atlanta and in Cleveland and felt like I did pretty well. Both teams said they were interested, but Atlanta had a full roster and had to make some cuts to find room and Cleveland said that I really didn’t fit their style.

“I was back at the dorms at Lindenwood, trying to decide whether I was going to try and find a team in Canada or maybe give indoor football a shot. But then I get a call from the Rams, go for the tryout and end up with a team that’s just across the river.’’

Helmick enjoyed a record-setting career in St. Charles.

He finished as the Lions’ career leader in receptions (153), receiving yards (2,828) and touchdowns (32) while posting 12 100-yard receiving games and four games with 200-plus receiving yards.

Last season, he caught 66 passes for 1,363 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.

“I’m a competitor, a guy who hates to lose — at anything,’’ said Helmick. “I may not be the biggest or fastest guy but if I have a shot at making a catch or making a play, I’m going to do whatever it takes to get the job done.’’

Helmick said the tryouts with the Falcons and Browns opened his eyes and boosted his confidence.

“As a D-II guy, I think there’s always going to be a little doubt at first,’’ he said. “But once I got on the field, I put that aside and just focused on making plays. I realized that I was as good, maybe better, than the (free-agent) guys from bigger schools and even the guys those teams had drafted. I proved to myself that I could play at this level and now I have to make sure that I can prove to the Rams’ coaches.’’

Helmick, whose 40 time is in the 4.3-4.4 range, hopes to make an early impact on special teams and move forward from there.

At this point, he said the biggest adjustment is learning the playbook.

“When we’re doing one-on-ones, I’m fine because I know what I need to do to make the play,’’ he said. “But at this level, it’s as much about the mental preparation as the physical. When the play’s called in the huddle, you have to be able to lock in right away. You have to know the alignment, your spot on the field, your pattern and how all of that comes together to make the play work.

“At this point, with so much being thrown at us, it can be a little overwhelming. Instead of grasping it right away and reacting, you catch yourself thinking and sometimes over-thinking it. It has to become second nature.’’

That is why Helmick is spending so much time studying the playbook with other rookies. And why he is running post-practice pass patterns every day.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I have to everything I can to try and make the most of it,’’ he said.


Intriguing kid. Seems to have his head screwed on right as well. Hope he makes the PS at least. ]]> RAM TALK Tampa_Ram http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/lindenwood-receiver-gets-rams-attention-51941/ <![CDATA[Chuck Cecil: Too Vicious for the NFL? [SI, 1993]]]> http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/chuck-cecil-too-vicious-nfl-si-1993-a-51934/ Sat, 25 May 2013 13:22:45 GMT Thought this was a good offseason read about our secondary coach, especially in context of recent rule changes.

Headlong and Headstrong

Chuck Cecil's world is exploding. The Phoenix Cardinal free safety has closed on his target like an electron returning to a nucleus, and now he uncoils into Washington Redskin tight end Ron Middleton with a crash that is both terrifying and thrilling to behold. Middleton crumples around Cecil like a crash-test dummy around a telephone pole. His feet buckle and his helmet flies. The headgear will come to rest five yards from the site of impact, and when Middleton revives sufficiently to know where he is—RFK Stadium on Sept. 12—he will notice that all four snaps on his helmet chin strap are still in place; Cecil's blow knocked the helmet off the way carbonation blows a champagne cork out of a bottle.

But just now Middleton is on another planet. Flat on his back, knees up, eyes closed, he looks as though he has been nailed to the ground. Cecil stands over him, twitching with ecstasy. Later, sports-writers will say Cecil appeared to be imitating a boxing referee, counting Middleton out. Cecil doesn't think that's what he was doing, though he admits he doesn't remember much of what happened in the euphoric state he had entered. He does recall kicking Middleton's helmet when he saw it lying in front of him.

For the six-foot, 185-pound Heat Seeking Missile, as Cecil was dubbed during his All-America career at the University of Arizona, the blow approached perfection. For the NFL brass reviewing the collision on slow-motion replay later that week, the hit, and another on the same series, approached insanity. On Sept. 20, Bill Polian, the NFL's vice-president for football development, announced that Cecil was being fined $30,000, one of the largest nonsuspension fines ever imposed on a player, for "two acts of flagrant unnecessary roughness involving the use of his helmet." He is appealing the fine, but he has reportedly been warned that another such hit will result in suspension.

Polian's statement read, "Cecil speared running back Ricky Ervins and tight end Ron Middleton of the Redskins. On each play, Cecil used the top of his helmet to strike intended receivers in the upper body." No matter that the two plays occurred during a crucial fourth-quarter Washington drive in a game that Phoenix would win 17-10, for its first victory at RFK in 15 years. No matter that no penalty flags were thrown on either play. No matter that Ervins bounced up after his hit or that Middleton outweighs Cecil by 75 pounds. The league had spoken: Spearing is illegal: Cecil was a menace to others and to himself. Striking with the crown of the helmet is prohibited, noted Polian, because of the danger it poses to the players involved, "including the one doing the hitting." Told that Cecil didn't think he had used the crown of his helmet for impact, Polian said, "Well, he's totally wrong then." And the fine was the stiffest ever, he said, "in light of Cecil's prior conduct outside the playing rules."

Almost two weeks later Cecil is sitting at a table in Rick's Cafe in Tempe, not far from the Cardinals' training camp. He orders biscuits and craw, ham on the side—"Get the cholesterol level up," he says with a crooked grin—a meal that might stick to his skinny, unmuscled bones. As a high school freshman Cecil weighed less than 90 pounds; as a walk-on at Arizona he weighed 148. "Don't ever let a recruiter see you without a shirt on," Rey Hernandez, his defensive coach at Helix High in La Mesa, Calif., had told him. As it happened, UCLA recruiter Homer Smith did catch a glimspe of the bare-chested Cecil, and that was the end of his interest.

"Why me?" Cecil says now in his quiet, almost docile way. "They single me out for something being done leaguewide on a regular basis. They're saying what I do is dirty and cheap, but I've played this way forever. I signed a million-dollar contract because of it. People cheer when I make a big hit. I mean, that's what I do."

Support for Cecil has come from many sources, including some who were at the game. After watching Middleton's helmet roll to a stop, CBS commentator Randy Cross said, "This, I gotta tell you, is how a safety gets to the Pro Bowl." After the game Redskin coach Richie Petitbon said, "That's football, man. This game is not played in short pants." Said Dallas Cowboy coach Jimmy Johnson, "That's the kind of football I like to see."

Even Middleton doesn't think the hit on him was against the rules. "It was just great lick," he says. "That's the nature of the game. Guys dream of licks like that."

Maybe so. But Middleton's tongue was numb for several minutes after the blow, and when Cecil had hit Ervins moments earlier, it was Cecil who had fallen to the turf in agony, a nerve stinger shooting down his left arm. These days, in fact, he moves his neck with difficulty, even off the field. Cecil says that his head was up on both hits, that he was tackling with his face mask and the front area of his helmet, nose on numbers, trying to drive his body through his opponent, the way coaches, fans and teammates like it. If he doesn't tackle like that, he says, he has little to offer on the playing field.

"He's totally wrong," Polian says of Cecil's insistence that the hits were legal. "His head was down. The sole issue is where his head is at contact. What we say is, 'See what you hit.' " Polian knows about improper head placement on tackles; as a safety for New York University in the mid-'60s, he twice knocked himself out by hitting with the crown of his helmet. Watching Cecil's tackles in slow motion, Polian was overwhelmed by visions of Darryl Stingley, Mike Utley and Dennis Byrd, all victims of spinalcord injuries. If not reined in, Polian concluded, Chuck Cecil would paralyze someone—an opponent or himself. "Are we saving him from himself?" Polian asks. "Perhaps."

And there was that "prior conduct" thing. In 1988, his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers, Cecil walloped New England Patriot receiver Stanley Morgan. "Morgan was on the ground for five minutes, inert," recalls Packer publicist Lee Remmel. "A lot of us were very concerned." But there was no penalty called and no fine from the league. Last year, in the Packers' season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, Cecil dished out two hits, against wide receivers Jake Reed and Joe Johnson, that were deemed flagrant, and he was fined $3,500 for each by the league office. "The one on me was definitely a cheap shot," says Reed. "It was at the end of the game, the ball was way overthrown, uncatchable. I was slowing down, and he hit me helmet first under the chin." Then in the Cardinals' second preseason game this year, against the Chicago Bears, Cecil crushed wideout Anthony Morgan on a crossing pattern, hitting the stretched-out receiver under the chin with his helmet and knocking him into the gray area. "It was a quick slant and the ball was high," recalls Morgan. "I don't remember anything else until the next day." Morgan spent four days with a concussion. It's no wonder that the Bears now call the NFL-issued locker-room sign, warning players against blocking or tackling with the top of the helmet, the Chuck Cecil poster.

"With repeat offenders you step up the fine to get them to stop," says NFL director of communications Greg Aiello. "It's a deterrent. The important message is to kids, so they don't see these things and practice unsafe tackling techniques."

Funny thing is, young people love Cecil. In Green Bay a group called the Rock 'n' Roll Cecil Club used to come to Lambeau Field wearing Cecil's jersey number, 26, and sporting fake blood on their noses in homage to the gore that often streamed from Cecil's battered beak.

Says Hernandez, Cecil's old coach, "He's a hero to every small, slow kid in the secondary. Kids are always saying to me, 'God, he hits hard!' "

But Cecil's skills are not easily duplicated. He may be small and slow (a 4.7 40 these days), but he has keen football intelligence, great anticipation, outstanding hand-eye coordination and the ability to raise himself to a transcendent state of competitiveness during games. Even his father, a high school football coach in Avenal, Calif., is at a loss to explain it. "I never coached him," says Tom Cecil. "I had to talk to him in fourth and fifth grade and explain to him that games were not as important to other kids as to him. He's just so competitive at anything he has an interest in." Including academics: In high school Chuck had all A's except for one B, and he graduated from Arizona with a 3.3 GPA and a degree in finance.

Chuck's parents have been divorced since he was a young boy. His mother, Evelyn Aardema, recalls that Chuck, the second oldest of three boys and a girl, was "the most pleasant, honest, straightforward person you'd ever want to meet." She also remembers that she always told him he was too little to play football. Tom agreed. Chuck was not allowed to play Pop Warner ball, and it wasn't until the family moved from central California to the San Diego area during Chuck's junior year in high school that the boy was turned loose on a football field.

"He kept asking me when we'd have hitting drills," recalls Hernandez. "Bugging me all the time. Finally we had the drill, and he took out three players, injured them. Against Monte Vista he took out their two best receivers, and there went their passing attack."

The story was the same in college. Recruited mostly by Ivy League schools and the military academics, Cecil made the squad at Arizona by dominating in drills. "They had to yell at me a lot," he says. At Arizona he had 21 interceptions, running one of them back for a 100-yard touchdown. In his sophomore season he played with a left thumb so badly broken that a doctor later said it looked as though it had been "smashed with a hammer."

At Green Bay, where he was a fourth-round pick, it was more of the same. In his rookie season, after Cecil knocked teammate Scott Bolton out of action on a drill, the coach at the time, Lindy Infante, assembled the team and said, "The next man who hits somebody and makes him miss practice will get the maximum fine of $1,500! Did you hear that, Chuck?"

Last season Cecil's kamikaze style was rewarded when he was voted a starter in the Pro Bowl. He played every game, says Packer coach Mike Holmgren, in a "controlled rage." After a narrow win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Cecil let his inner fire burn out of control, raising a ruckus at a Green Bay restaurant and somehow getting his nose bloodied. Arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, Cecil was described in the police report as being "very intoxicated." He ranted that he was being arrested only because the policemen on the scene were Bengal fans. He exhaled blood onto the Plexiglas shield behind the front seat of the squad car taking him to the station, then used his nose to smear the blood across the partition, the report said.

Cecil, who became a free agent after last season and signed a $5.25 million, three-year contract with the Cardinals in April, described that incident in Green Bay as a "misunderstanding." His concern now is that football may be taken away from him. "Football has always been the foundation of my life," he said in Phoenix. "It's me. It's what I understand. Now officials are after me, teams may not want me, I may not have a job. I need football. Football gives my life meaning. I don't feel like I'm contributing to the planet unless I'm playing it."

Two days later, in a 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, Cecil seemed reserved, subdued. When he broke up a long pass to wideout Willie Green in the second quarter, he didn't detonate. After the game he and Green talked, as friends. "You know I could have knocked you out," Cecil said. "But it's not worth it."

In the locker room Green voiced his compassion for Cecil. "Fining him is like putting a guy in jail for stealing a Snickers bar," he said.

Lion linebacker Chris Spielman was more outraged. "Fining Chuck was terrible," he said angrily. "We all know the risk of this game. Hell, I lived it with my buddy Mike Utley. That's the way it is."

Back in Phoenix, alone in the darkened team auditorium, Cecil is watching a film of his hit on Middleton again and again. He sees himself make a break on the receiver before the ball has even been thrown. It is a move only a brilliant defender could make. It guarantees a critical third-down pass will not be caught. "It's very pure," he says quietly. "I'm not afraid to hurt myself. That's a great hit."

But is it great football? There is a deep scar across the crown of Cecil's helmet that looks like it was made with an axe. He says he has no idea how it got there. No doubt it is from a big collision, one of those meetings that Cecil says happen "much too fast to rationalize." He doesn't think the game should be slowed down on screens and analyzed, the way the league big shots are doing, just as he doesn't think he should be labeled a dirty player. He says there's nothing personal about any of this violence. "I don't see players," he says. "I see situations."

But the damage is real, involving real people. One of Cecil's big hits two years ago was laid on the skull of former Jet wideout Al Toon. The blow gave Toon a concussion. Toon is now retired, the victim of cumulative head trauma, some of it courtesy of the Heat Seeking Missile. Toon doesn't blame Cecil for the blow, though he does feel all contact in pro football should be made below the neck. "Chuck is only going to hurt himself," he says. "He's going to break his own neck."

Cecil brushes such warnings aside, focusing instead on the rapture of a devastating hit. "It's unbelievable," he says. "An orgasm. Euphoria. I don't know if you can put it into words. There is just this feeling of...power. For that split second of time you own that person. You are better. For just one moment, you know where you stand."

Perhaps no longer. ]]> RAM TALK evil disco man http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/chuck-cecil-too-vicious-nfl-si-1993-a-51934/ <![CDATA[Rams' Saffold Improving At Right takle]]> http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-saffold-improving-right-takle-51886/ Sat, 25 May 2013 02:36:13 GMT Rams' Saffold improving at right tackle

12 hours ago • By Joe Lyons jlyons@post-dispatch.com

When the Rams signed four-time Pro Bowler Jake Long as a free agent to play left tackle, it meant that incumbent Rodger Saffold would be making the shift to the right side.

Although Saffold remained quiet, his representatives expressed their displeasure with the signing of the former Miami Dolphin and suggested that Saffold would not be opposed to a trade.

But Saffold is back and working as hard as ever.

“This game is a business; that’s just the way it is,’’ said Saffold, a Rams’ second-round draft choice in 2010. “I talked to my coach and basically they told me that they had a lot of faith in me to play right tackle and try to use my versatility as an advantage for the team. I went home, back to Cleveland, just to get away from football for a little bit.

“But I came back ready to work. I’m a hard worker; I’m a loyal guy to my team.’’

Adjusting to a position that he has not played since his freshman year in high school, Saffold is focused on making steady improvement.

“It’s just a matter of getting used to it, the muscle memory, the change in stance,’’ he said following Thursday’s Organized Team Activities in Earth City. “Honestly, it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it was going to be. As far as the smaller details, that’s what I’m constantly working on. It’s just the second day out here, so I just want to continue to work and to learn.

“I think I got better today than I was yesterday and I intend on getting better again tomorrow.’’

Rams coach Jeff Fisher is confident that Saffold can handle the switch and thrive on the right side.

“Football’s football. Responsibilities are the same,’’ the coach said. “He’s just at the point of attack when the ball goes to the right now. He’s done a great job since we switched him over.’’

Tornado relief effort

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has teamed with the city of St. Louis and a marketing and event production company, Switch + Contemporary, to help provide aid to his hometown following Monday’s devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma City.

Donation sites will be set up today from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Loughborough Commons, at Interstate 55 and Loughborough, and at Kirkwood Commons, Interstate 44 and Lindbergh. Items that are needed include non-perishable food, size “C” and “D” batteries, candles, cleaning supplies, baby items, pet supplies, blankets, building and packing materials and bottled water.

“Thankfully it didn’t hit in our part of town,’’ said Bradford, who was in Oklahoma City on Monday. “But it’s still hard to see something like that happen in your hometown.

“We’re trying to fill these three trucks – these people need anything and everything – to take down to Oklahoma City on Saturday. If you can donate anything, there are thousands of families back home right now who have literally nothing.’’

Bradford, who starred at the University of Oklahoma, and a buddy were on his patio in north Oklahoma City when they heard the warning sirens.

“We turned on the news,’’ he recalled. “The tornadoes were well south of us and the meteorologists were saying that this was going bad in a hurry. They knew what was coming. To see the actual tornado live on TV and know what it’s doing on the ground. I think that’s the hardest part because you know that every second, every minute, there are people who are losing their homes and losing all their belongings.’’ ]]> RAM TALK r8rh8rmike http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-saffold-improving-right-takle-51886/ Rams Updates: Austin Takes Handoffs http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-updates-austin-takes-handoffs-51885/ Sat, 25 May 2013 02:33:18 GMT Rams updates: Austin takes handoffs

6 hours ago • By Joe Lyons jlyons@post-dispatch.com
Some quick observations after watching Friday's Organized Team Activities workout at Rams Park in Earth City:

• Tavon Austin, chosen No. 8 overall in the recent NFL draft, took a few handoffs midway through practice. At West Virginia last fall, in addition to catching 114 passes for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns, Austin rushed 72 times for 643 yards and three scores.

With the Mountaineer backfield depleted by injury, he amassed a school-record 572 all-purpose yards against Oklahoma. He ran 21 times for 344 yards and two touchdowns, caught four passes for 82 yards and added 146 yards on eight kickoff returns.

Now, at 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Austin isn't likely to see a ton of time in the backfield at the NFL level. But with his versatility and explosiveness, he's clearly someone that opposing defensive coordinators will have to account for.

• Quarterback Sam Bradford and new tight end Jared Cook seem to be clicking. Signed as a free agent, the ex-Tennessee Titan should be a huge part of the new-look Rams' attack.

• Friday's workout included a number of catches on deep balls. Bradford hooked up with second-year wideout Chris Givens for a 40-yarder during an early 6-on-6 drill and again down the middle on another drill.

Later, in a hurry-up drill, Kellen Clemens completed deep-route passes to rookie Stedman Bailey and to Raymond Radway, a 6-4, 204-pound second-year receiver out of Abilene Christian.

Third-year receiver Austin Pettis also made a nice grab on a long pass.

• The last player off the practice field Friday was rookie receiver ScottPillar, a 6-foot, 182-pound free agent Albright University in Reading, Pa. After running some post-practice routes with quarterback TimothyJenkins (Fort Lewis, Colo.) and fellow wideout Andrew Helmick (Lindenwood), Pillar finished up the day by catching passes from the Juggs gun. ]]> RAM TALK r8rh8rmike http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-updates-austin-takes-handoffs-51885/ Pead Pushing for More in Year Two http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/pead-pushing-more-year-two-51880/ Sat, 25 May 2013 01:28:00 GMT Nick Wagoner Senior Writer Much has changed in the past year for Rams running back Isaiah Pead. A year ago at this time, Pead was in his Cincinnati apartment, waiting for Rams running backs coach Ben Sirmans to contact him via FaceTime and discuss what his fellow running backs and rookies went over that day in the classroom. Restricted to the use of technology to make a sort of digital classroom, Pead did his best to keep up while NCAA rules dictated that he wait for his class to graduate before he could begin his new job as a Rams running back. Pead missed out on the basic introduction most rookies get during the Organized Team Activities and fell behind as his teammates learned new schemes and got to know one another. Nick Wagoner Senior Writer

Much has changed in the past year for Rams running back Isaiah Pead.

A year ago at this time, Pead was in his Cincinnati apartment, waiting for Rams running backs coach Ben Sirmans to contact him via FaceTime and discuss what his fellow running backs and rookies went over that day in the classroom.

Restricted to the use of technology to make a sort of digital classroom, Pead did his best to keep up while NCAA rules dictated that he wait for his class to graduate before he could begin his new job as a Rams running back.

Pead missed out on the basic introduction most rookies get during the Organized Team Activities and fell behind as his teammates learned new schemes and got to know one another.

“Not only to be in the meetings with the rest of the team and learning the things in the classroom but being out on the field with the team and learning that chemistry,” Pead said, of what he missed out on last year. “The team learning you as a player, as a worker, what type of person you are. When I came out to training camp, the guys knew I was a second round draft pick but I hadn’t proven myself.”

Given the presence of longtime stalwart Steven Jackson at running back, Pead’s absence wasn’t as damaging as it might have been had Jackson not been around.

But this year, Pead is exactly where he wants to be and the opportunity in front of him is quite clear.

Pead finished his third OTA on Friday along with the rest of his team and he’s entering this part of the offseason program well aware of what could be out there for him to achieve in year two.

With Jackson having departed for Atlanta as a free agent in the offseason, the job of starting running back which has been filled for the better part of the past decade now sits with a “Help Wanted” sign hanging from the window.

While it seems unlikely the Rams will lean on just one back to replace Jackson, there is clearly a burgeoning competition to see which back will get first dibs on the opportunity and potentially stake a claim to the most amount of chances during the season.

Because of those numerous possibilities, Pead is taking a serious approach to his job and viewing every aspect of what he does as a way to gain a slight edge.

“I look at it as an opportunity every day,” Pead said. “Whether it’s Steven being gone or somebody getting a question wrong and I get the question right. Every small opportunity that I can capture or see, I try to capture it. This one will be a bigger opportunity but I’m trying to capture it as if it was a small one.”

For Pead to capture that opportunity, he knows that he’s going to need to take a big step forward in his second season. Rams coach Jeff Fisher has often indicated that he believes players make their biggest jump between their first and second seasons.

It’s a jump Pead is going to have to make after an unsatisfying rookie season in which he never fully caught up to his fellow backs or even his fellow rookies.

Upon his return to the Rams after his class graduated, Pead had just a couple of days to get acclimated before the team departed for the pre-training camp break. It was during those OTAs that the Rams installed the entire offense and though Pead did his best to keep up via Face Time, it didn’t really offer the hands-on learning that everyone else received.

“I was in Cincinnati, frustrated,” Pead said. “I was on FaceTime with the coach trying to simulate what it was like in the meetings but it didn’t work too much.”

When everyone returns to Rams Park for training camp, Pead was still in catch up mode while the rest of his teammates were essentially re-learning the schemes and concepts they’d learned in the spring.

Although Pead was the second-round pick, he was passed by fellow rookie Daryl Richardson on the depth chart and Richardson earned the bulk of the carries not taken by Jackson.

Other than a cameo appearance against New England in which he carried three times for 32 yards in London, Pead didn’t get many more opportunities until the season’s final week in Seattle.

In the meantime, Pead did his best to learn from his fellow backs. If one of them made a mistake and then had it corrected during film work, Pead would make a note of it and file it away to try not to make the same mistake when his turn came.

Wanting to get a glimpse of how Pead was catching up before the season ended, Fisher gave Pead a little longer look in the finale. Pead carried five times for 21 yards and finished the season with 54 yards on 10 carries.

The Seattle game wasn’t much but it was at least a chance to leave a positive impression and Pead did what he could.

“They say you are only as good as your last game,” Pead said. “Those small images are still stuck in the coaches’ mind. But I can’t just pride myself off of five carries. I have got to pride myself off of the work that I do every day in the weight room, out here on the field, in the classroom. Even outside of football in conversations with the coaches and always keeping a smile on your face.”

For any competitor, maintaining that smile can be a difficult exercise when things don’t necessarily go according to plan. After a successful college career, Pead had high hopes for his rookie season and when things on the field weren’t going how he’d envisioned, he was put to the test of trying to stay upbeat and patient while waiting for his turn.

“When football is your life and football is your job and football is not going right, your life is not going to go right as far as feeling wise, My life is great, I have got a great family, loving family at home, a nice house in Chesterfield, great people, it was great, it was just the football aspect wasn’t going as planned. I’m still playing football. I’m still doing what I love to do every day.

“As a competitor, you want to play, bottom line. You want to be out there contributing and that wasn’t happening for me. It was just a down feeling. Not necessarily the whole year. But last year was a learning point. Whether I was on the field or not, I learned something every day. I can honestly say that.”

It is those lessons that have Pead motivated and enthusiastic as he goes through his first full offseason program. He’s making it a point to stay in his playbook as often as possible and is enjoying the chance to go through the offensive installation with his teammates and then review it with the coaches.

Asked what some of the things he is working on to ensure that he’ll have more opportunities in 2013 and Pead is quick to rattle off a laundry list of how he’s looking to improve.

Headlining that list is an aversion to mistakes that Pead is hoping to develop and emphasize. He said first and foremost it starts with being assignment sound and understanding his responsibilities. He’s also putting the onus on himself to improve his body positioning and his pass blocking so that he can be a reliable option on any down or distance.

From there, he hopes to let some of his natural talent take over.

“I just wanted to eliminate all mistakes, mental mistakes, physical mistakes,” Pead said. “Things like body position, knowing where to line up, knowing what routes to run, things like that. I just want to be to the tip top shape.”

As he watched the Rams add players like tight end Jared Cook, receivers Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey and tackle Jake Long to the offense during the offseason, Pead couldn’t help but find himself excited about the offense’s potential.

At Cincinnati, Pead played in an up-tempo, spread offense that left a lot of running room for him to do damage. While it remains to be seen how much of those ideas the Rams adopt in their offense for this year, Pead would be a logical fit should those concepts become a staple of the scheme.

As for the competition with players like Richardson, Terrance Ganaway and rookie Zac Stacy, Pead said they all treat it as competition but they help each other out to ensure they are all on the same page.

No matter how that all shakes out, Pead believes that having a full offseason and a platter full of opportunity in front of him will only serve to motivate him to reach his potential.

“I think I just play with a chip on my shoulder,” Pead said. “Whether my emotion is down or it’s high, I am going to try to keep it level. I just try to play with that electric; that oooh, that aaah, I like that. That drives me. And when that play is over, next play. I’m a snap and clear guy but I like to have fun. We are young with a lot of firepower and we are going to make a lot of big plays. I’m just trying to be a part of it.” ]]> RAM TALK MauiRam http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/pead-pushing-more-year-two-51880/ Rams Finish Third OTA http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-finish-third-ota-51863/ Fri, 24 May 2013 21:29:46 GMT Rams Finish Third OTA (http://blog.stlouisrams.com/2013/05/24/rams-finish-third-ota/) Posted by nickwagoner on May 24, 2013 – 6:15 PM - The Rams were back on the practice field again Friday afternoon, going through the third OTA on the schedule. They’re nearly a third of the way through the OTA schedule already and now head off for a little bit of an extended break coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend. - From here, the Rams will not have any OTAs next week though there are some workouts scheduled. The next OTA is scheduled for June 3. The rest of the schedule includes OTAs on June 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14. - Friday’s practice came under the sunshine after a somewhat chilly, overcast day on Thursday. - Feature story on RB Isaiah Pead is coming later today but here’s a quick quote from him that gives you an idea of where he is as he approaches a season full of opportunity for a Rams running back. “I look at it as an opportunity every day,” Pead said. “Whether it’s Steven being gone or somebody getting a question wrong and I get the question right. Every small opportunity that I can capture or see, I try to capture it. This one will be a bigger opportunity but I’m trying to capture it as if it was a small one.” - Had a chance to catch up with Swiss Army Knife D-lineman William Hayes for a bit today and I’ll have a story on him next week but he offered some insight into his decision to re-sign with the Rams. I’ll save the details but Hayes said he instructed his agent during the process to make a deal work with the Rams. Although he had plenty of interest from other teams and the chance for more money and even a potential starting job elsewhere, Hayes said he had no intention of going anywhere and he did what was necessary to stay in St. Louis. - As for today’s practice, let’s again issue the usual this is May and what happens now isn’t a big deal disclaimer that needs to go with unpadded practices. - If you couldn’t tell from the players talking about it, there’s an impossible to miss enthusiasm that permeates the practice field when the team is going through its work. Even DE Chris Long tweeted last night that so far this is the most fun he’s ever had in an OTA. He doesn’t appear to be alone in that. Rams Finish Third OTA

Posted by nickwagoner on May 24, 2013 – 6:15 PM

- The Rams were back on the practice field again Friday afternoon, going through the third OTA on the schedule. They’re nearly a third of the way through the OTA schedule already and now head off for a little bit of an extended break coinciding with the Memorial Day weekend.
- From here, the Rams will not have any OTAs next week though there are some workouts scheduled. The next OTA is scheduled for June 3. The rest of the schedule includes OTAs on June 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14.
- Friday’s practice came under the sunshine after a somewhat chilly, overcast day on Thursday.
- Feature story on RB Isaiah Pead is coming later today but here’s a quick quote from him that gives you an idea of where he is as he approaches a season full of opportunity for a Rams running back.
“I look at it as an opportunity every day,” Pead said. “Whether it’s Steven being gone or somebody getting a question wrong and I get the question right. Every small opportunity that I can capture or see, I try to capture it. This one will be a bigger opportunity but I’m trying to capture it as if it was a small one.”
- Had a chance to catch up with Swiss Army Knife D-lineman William Hayes for a bit today and I’ll have a story on him next week but he offered some insight into his decision to re-sign with the Rams. I’ll save the details but Hayes said he instructed his agent during the process to make a deal work with the Rams. Although he had plenty of interest from other teams and the chance for more money and even a potential starting job elsewhere, Hayes said he had no intention of going anywhere and he did what was necessary to stay in St. Louis.
- As for today’s practice, let’s again issue the usual this is May and what happens now isn’t a big deal disclaimer that needs to go with unpadded practices.
- If you couldn’t tell from the players talking about it, there’s an impossible to miss enthusiasm that permeates the practice field when the team is going through its work. Even DE Chris Long tweeted last night that so far this is the most fun he’s ever had in an OTA. He doesn’t appear to be alone in that.
- QB Sam Bradford and WR Chris Givens had the long ball working today, connecting on at least a pair of deep passes in team drills. For the record, Givens has added muscle and appears to be better prepared for the rigors of playing and playing a lot. He made a diving catch on a deep ball in double coverage that went for about 45 yards.
- From the Department of Redundancy Department: TE Jared Cook. He’s impossible to ignore when he’s on the field.
- It’s clear from watching that the Rams intend to be more high octane offensively. Bradford discussed that possibility yesterday and it seemed it was very likely given the weapons that were added during the offseason.
- That’s going to do it for today.
- Thanks for reading and everyone enjoy your holiday weekend. ]]> RAM TALK Tampa_Ram http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rams-finish-third-ota-51863/ My order came in... http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/my-order-came-51862/ Fri, 24 May 2013 21:26:03 GMT My order came in yesterday. First, I wanted a Rams jacket: Attachment 3477 (http://www.clanram.com/forums/attachments/f11/3477-my-order-came-photo-1sm.jpg) Then, a throwback that will sometime soon be getting a HoF patch: Attachment 3478 (http://www.clanram.com/forums/attachments/f11/3478-my-order-came-photo-3sm.jpg) Needed a little love on the DEF side of the ball: My order came in yesterday. First, I wanted a Rams jacket:

Click image for larger version.  Name: photo 1sm.jpg  Views: 14  Size: 93.0 KB  ID: 3477

Then, a throwback that will sometime soon be getting a HoF patch:

Click image for larger version.  Name: photo 3sm.jpg  Views: 9  Size: 95.5 KB  ID: 3478

Needed a little love on the DEF side of the ball:

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And I saved the best (Hopefully) for last:

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Attached Thumbnails
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]]> RAM TALK thoey http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/my-order-came-51862/ A Walk In the Park .. http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/walk-park-51831/ Fri, 24 May 2013 16:39:49 GMT Adam Sparks MURFREESBORO — Benny Cunningham called it a “walk in the park.” But his NFL pre-draft workout was far faster than a leisurely stroll. Cunningham, an MTSU running back, clocked 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash during a one-hour individual workout Monday at MTSU, and that was only at about 75 percent strength following knee surgery that cut his senior season in half. The 40-yard dash time, along with an extensive workout showing lateral movement and quickness, admittedly gave Cunningham a jolt heading into the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday. Adam Sparks

MURFREESBORO — Benny Cunningham called it a “walk in the park.”

But his NFL pre-draft workout was far faster than a leisurely stroll.

Cunningham, an MTSU running back, clocked 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash during a one-hour individual workout Monday at MTSU, and that was only at about 75 percent strength following knee surgery that cut his senior season in half.

The 40-yard dash time, along with an extensive workout showing lateral movement and quickness, admittedly gave Cunningham a jolt heading into the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday.

“I was excited about the workout, but I already knew where I stood,” Cunningham said. “It just came down to me showing them. I hope everyone sees that and realizes how well my recovery has gone. There’s no question I will be at full strength when (NFL training) camps start in July.”

One scout and one running backs coach attended Monday’s workout, but that’s not quite representative of the interest in Cunningham. This close to the draft, scouts wind down travel and huddle in team war rooms.

Most NFL clubs requested footage of Cunningham’s workout, which was filmed and provided by MTSU’s video crew. And several teams have already interviewed Cunningham and visited him both during and after the season.

“Some teams told me they wanted the film of the workout. Other teams told (MTSU), and different teams told my agent,” Cunningham said. “I hope everyone sees it. I wasn’t shocked that I ran a 4.51, but I was shocked that I did it at this percent (strength in knee). Since I’ve been here (at MTSU) I have always been clocked in the low 4.4s or high 4.3s. So after running this time, I expect to be right back there for camp.”

MTSU strength coach Jason Spray said he was impressed by Cunningham’s speed and change of direction only two months after a metal support cable was removed from his surgically repaired knee.

“Either you can run or you can’t, and Benny can run,” Spray said. “He looked really good, very fluid. And he’s gotten his normal running gate back now. The only thing he still needs is that burst that makes him special. Benny is like a sports car, he can go zero to 60 real quick. At 75 percent, he doesn’t have that burst back at this point, but from how he ran, you can tell it’s on its way back soon. He’ll be full strength for camp.”


Cunningham tore his patella at midseason during his 2012 senior year when he was projected as a possible mid-round pick. He still rushed for 600 yards and 11 TDs in only five games, and his well-rounded skills had drawn scouts from every NFL team to MTSU’s campus.

Showing a snippet of his ability, Cunningham rushed for 217 yards and five TDs against Georgia Tech, and he followed that with 230 yards against Florida International – the nation’s 36th-ranked rush defense – before suffering the knee injury.

His time of 4.51 in the 40-yard dash would have ranked sixth among 15 running backs at the NFL Combine this season. And the 5-foot-10, 212-pound Cunningham is bigger than four of the five backs with a faster time.

Cunningham’s 26 reps on the 225-pound bench press at MTSU’s Pro Day would have also ranked sixth among running backs at the Combine.

Cunningham also ran a 60-yard shuttle in Monday’s workout and went through an extensive script of offensive plays with former MTSU quarterback and 13-year NFL veteran Kelly Holcomb. Cunningham, lauded as ar, top-flight pass blocker and receiver ran a variety of running plays and pass routes to show his versatility and the status of his knee.

“It felt great,” Cunningham said. “I really prepared myself for this and worked hard. Like I said, it was a walk in the park.”

Six months after suffering the knee injury, Cunningham, a former Mr. Football recipient at Goodpasture, said he chose the right support team in his rehab.

Spray already trains several NFL players on MTSU’s campus in the offseason. MTSU’s award-winning athletic trainer, Robbie Stewart, oversaw Cunningham’s rehab. And Cunningham had the knee surgery done by renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews.

“This recovery was very important, so I surrounded myself with the best at what they do,” Cunningham said. “Robbie and Spray know exactly what I can do, and they care about how I do. They knew how to push me, and that’s how I got to this point. I’m excited. This was a great day.”

Should be some heated competition amongst our group of running backs. It will be interesting to see how many Fish keeps on the final roster. ]]> RAM TALK MauiRam http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/walk-park-51831/ <![CDATA[Sam Bradford on Rams' 2013 Goal It's to win the Super Bowl]]> http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/sam-bradford-rams-2013-goal-its-win-super-bowl-51753/ Fri, 24 May 2013 01:19:06 GMT The guy seems so confident! It's his team now and he knows it.

]]> RAM TALK Rambos http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/sam-bradford-rams-2013-goal-its-win-super-bowl-51753/ Saffold Settling in on Right Side http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/saffold-settling-right-side-51749/ Thu, 23 May 2013 22:07:42 GMT Nick Wagoner Rodger Saffold hadn’t played any position but left tackle since his freshman year as a member of the Bedford High football team just outside of Cleveland. As a ninth grader playing for the Bearcats, Saffold was a right tackle. Since, he’s played in dozens of games, exclusively on the left side. But now, after the Rams’ high-profile signing of four-time Pro Bowler Jake Long to play left tackle, Saffold is re-learning a position long since forgotten. Like anything, there will be some growing pains for Saffold in making the switch but he said it hasn’t been as difficult as he might have estimated originally. Nick Wagoner

Rodger Saffold hadn’t played any position but left tackle since his freshman year as a member of the Bedford High football team just outside of Cleveland.

As a ninth grader playing for the Bearcats, Saffold was a right tackle. Since, he’s played in dozens of games, exclusively on the left side.

But now, after the Rams’ high-profile signing of four-time Pro Bowler Jake Long to play left tackle, Saffold is re-learning a position long since forgotten.

Like anything, there will be some growing pains for Saffold in making the switch but he said it hasn’t been as difficult as he might have estimated originally.

“Just with changing stances, it’s difficult because what you are used to doing, you have got to get that muscle memory and change everything up,” Saffold said. “Honestly, it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it was going to be.”

In some sense, the main part of the transition is simply teaching the body to do the same things he’s been doing for years on the left side on the other hand. The mechanics and footwork will almost certainly take some time to learn but the details will take a bit longer.

Although Saffold has been working during on-field drills on his footwork and learning the right side for about a month now, this week has offered his first chance to participate in any sort of actual drills against competition.

The Rams held their first Organized Team Activity on Tuesday and went through No. 2 on Thursday. While the sample size has been small, Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been pleased with what he’s seen from Saffold in making the move.

“Football is football,” Fisher said. “The responsibilities are the same. It’s just at the point of attack when the ball goes to the right. Typically, the right tackle may have a tight end outside of him more often than the left tackle does. With a right handed quarterback you are typically right handed. But he’s done a great job since we moved him over.”

Saffold has left no stone unturned in getting familiar with his new position. He’s spent time with defensive end Chris Long, who has helped him get acquainted with some of the pass rushing techniques and looks that he can expect to see while playing right tackle.

In addition, Saffold has made a habit of staying after practice to get more footwork drills in and get some additional guidance from offensive line coach Paul Boudreau.

So far, Saffold has noticed some differences on the right side but doesn’t believe any of them will make or break his transition.
“There are a few things that are different,” Saffold said. “When you switch up, sometimes your depth perception of the defensive end is different. It’s hard to feel whether they really got your edge or you overset to let somebody inside. It’s repetition and with a good amount of reps that is all going to change.”

Considering Saffold had spent his first three seasons and started 35 games in that time all on the left side, reports surfaced during the offseason that he was unhappy with the team’s decision to sign Jake Long.

But Saffold said Thursday that he was aware of the possibility and after he took some time to go home to Cleveland and get away from it, he came back energized and ready to have his best season yet.

“I talked to my coach and basically they said they have a lot of faith in me to play right tackle and try to use my versatility as an advantage for the team,” Saffold said. “I went home; had some time just in Cleveland just to get away from football just a little bit and I came back ready to work. I’m a hard worker, I’m a loyal guy to my team so whatever adversity is in front of me, I continue to work through it. So honestly, it really didn’t matter.”

Indeed, Saffold reported to Rams Park with the rest of his teammates on April 15 for the start of the offseason conditioning program. He’s been here for the entirety of the program working on the adjustment to the right side.

The always optimistic Saffold is happy to be back for this part of the offseason program given that he had to sit out a year ago while he continued to rehabilitate from a season-ending pectoral injury.

With veterans such as Saffold, Long, Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells and Chris Williams supported by some intriguing young talent, Saffold believes the offensive line could take another step forward if it gets a chance to coalesce.

“We are working together and trying to succeed and get better,” Saffold said. “Now we are just waiting to be on the field as a complete unit so we can really focus on our meshing. That’s how we have got to use OTAs.”

As for the left tackle spot, Saffold is taking steps to make sure he doesn’t completely discard the fundamentals that go with his position. He’s well aware that injuries can happen and he wants to be prepared to move seamlessly between the two positions.

“I have been trying to do a lot of things with the right and the left just in case,” Saffold said. “If I’m ever needed, what I’m trying to focus on is just being a football player and doing what I have to do no matter where they put me.”

And while things might be coming to him a bit easier than he first anticipated, Saffold knows he still has plenty of time to perfect his work on the right side and ensure he’s ready to go by the time the opener arrives in September.

“I think that I got better today than I did yesterday and I’ll continue getting better tomorrow,” Saffold said. ]]> RAM TALK Rambos http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/saffold-settling-right-side-51749/ RBs burst speed http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rbs-burst-speed-51748/ Thu, 23 May 2013 16:42:43 GMT I was reviewing the RB position and don't know how much this has been covered on Clan Rams.

Daryl Richardson 10 yard dash speed was fastest in the 2012 draft
Terrance Ganaway 10 yard dash speed was second fastest in the 2012 draft
Zac Stacy 20 yard shuttle second fastest in the draft (they didn't tell us 10x).
Pead as far as I can tell never ran a reported 10x or 20 shuttle time. Looking at his highlights, the burst is what is most obvious so I'm guessing it's superior.


They don't all have great 40x times and in fact Zac Stacy's and Ganaway's 40x were considered negatives. Just guessing here but I'm going to project this type of targeting can't be a coincidence. ]]> RAM TALK RebelYell http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/rbs-burst-speed-51748/ <![CDATA[Sam Bradford: Top 10 QB's 25 or under]]> http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/sam-bradford-top-10-qbs-25-under-51747/ Thu, 23 May 2013 15:38:52 GMT Top 10 quarterbacks 25 or under: Sam Bradford 83 (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000205545/comments/top-10-quarterbacks-25-or-under-sam-bradford) * Image: http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/_Rosenthal1-65x90.jpg * By Gregg Rosenthal * Around The League Editor * Published: May 22, 2013 at 05:49 p.m. * Updated: May 23, 2013 at 09:29 a.m. Top 10 quarterbacks 25 or under: Sam Bradford

83


  • By Gregg Rosenthal
  • Around The League Editor
  • Published: May 22, 2013 at 05:49 p.m.
  • Updated: May 23, 2013 at 09:29 a.m.




This is the age of the young quarterback. Buoyed by the draft class of 2012, we have a surplus of promising young signal-callers. Around The League and "NFL Total Access" will count down the top 10 quarterbacks 25 or under we'd want leading our franchise. You can see the entire list here.
No. 8: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Why he's here

Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft for a reason. (Well, other than the fact the St. Louis Rams badly needed a quarterback and the next QB drafted that year was Tim Tebow.) Bradford came out of Oklahoma known for his accuracy, NFL arm and smarts. After three years and 42 starts, Bradford as a pro is tougher to define.
Evaluating Bradford was harder than any quarterback on this list because of the lack of players around him and his offensive system in 2012. Bradford has played for three dramatically different offenses in three seasons. Blaming the surrounding talent often is a cheap excuse because you can isolate quarterback play, but Bradford's supporting cast often masked solid performances.

The arm strength is still there. And despite the Rams' often frustrating station-to-station offense under coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Bradford enjoyed his best season in 2012. The play below is a nice example of Bradford's ability to throw on the move and use his natural velocity.


Bradford threw 21 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions last season, dramatically raising his yards per attempt average to 6.7. You had to squint, but there was real progress in 2012. Just not enough to satisfy many Rams fans.
Why he's not higher

It's fair to say Bradford has not elevated the play of those around him. In 2011 especially, he appeared shell-shocked because of all the pressure he saw. Early pressure often was a problem last season, but timing with his young receiver crew was the bigger issue. The Rams did not have receivers who could win against press man coverage, which especially killed them on third downs. Even when his receivers won, Bradford often threw behind them on slant routes.
Perhaps Bradford's biggest issue is the toughest to evaluate for an outsider. Greg Cosell of NFL Films would call it "seeing the field clearly." On plays Bradford got the right protection and what he wanted out of the coverage, he often hesitated. This led to dump-off passes when the play design called for more. The first play in the package below is an example of what I mean:


The Rams rely on option routes, which require Bradford and his receiver to be on the same page. I saw a ton of broken-off routes and passes to nowhere. Bradford and his young wideouts, especially the promising Chris Givens, often saw the field differently. The second play above illustrates that. This is understandable in a new offense, but it's something Bradford must overcome this year.
All of the different systems and numerous hits appear to have slowed down Bradford's processing. Hopefully a second year in Schottenheimer's system speeds things up.
Bradford's floor

The talking point around Bradford this season says it's a make-or-break year. His salary explodes in 2014, but I still don't buy the argument. Even if Bradford stagnated, are the Rams really going to give up on him now with everything they have invested? They passed on Robert Griffin III for him.
The only scenario where Bradford isn't a Ram next year would be if the team bottoms out and the Rams falls in love with a rookie quarterback. That's hard to imagine. The Rams have a dynamic defensive roster that will keep them in almost every game. And Bradford showed signs of emerging last season. He made a ton of huge plays in both contests against the San Francisco *****, saving his best throws for when the game was on the line. He also showed far better pocket toughness than I expected over the course of the season.


Bradford delivered a lot of very good passes just before getting smacked around last year. His receivers didn't always make the catch, but Bradford didn't flinch. He stood tall and showed he can deliver with bodies around him. Bradford's going to be an NFL starter for a long time. I'd be surprised if that didn't play out primarily in St. Louis.
Bradford's five-year ceiling

The Rams' defense and coaching staff will give Bradford a chance to start winning playoff games sooner than later. But there's also no denying he's well behind in his development compared to players who reach elite status. Most established top-10 quarterbacks showed more by this point in their career.


Bradford seems to be just missing something, but it's hard to put a finger on what that something is. He's often at his best in the 2-minute drill and when he lets the ball rip on a double move like the touchdown to Chris Givens, shown to the right.
A career like another former No. 1 overall pick who finally emerged -- Alex Smith -- wouldn't be a shock. I think Bradford has an equal chance to raise his game to an Eli Manning-like level where he's always only one crazy playoff run away from immortality.


Obviously the videos wont show up on here, if you want to see the full article go to NFL.com. ]]> RAM TALK Tampa_Ram http://www.clanram.com/forums/f11/sam-bradford-top-10-qbs-25-under-51747/