A few notes from Brian Stull - Clayton working at "Z" position

[Nick]

New Rams WR Mark Clayton is confident he'll be ready for Sunday. Per Spags, Clayton worked mainly as the "z"--Avery's former spot.

Clayton actually met Spags at Bradford's Pro Day, also worked out with Sam during some visits back to Oklahoma

Players were off yesterday, but Spags and Bradford spent an hour together yesterday going over the Arizona defense.

From his Twitter feed...

[MauiRam]

Does anyone know if Mark officially passed his physical? Jim Thomas (I think it was Jim) mentioned early on that there might be a problem with that ..

[HUbison]

Players were off yesterday, but Spags and Bradford spent an hour together yesterday going over the Arizona defense.

Where was Shurmur?

[BrokenWing]

Maybe it was a "here's how I'd be thinking as a defensive coordinator" type of session and less about the rams offense.

[HUbison]

Maybe it was a "here's how I'd be thinking as a defensive coordinator" type of session and less about the rams offense.

I see what you're saying, Wing; but isn't that also about the Rams offense......specifically, how the Rams offense would counter a defensive strategist like Spags.

I don't know; I'm sure it's nothing, but I have to admit.......Shurmur just doesn't give me those warm fuzzies.

[berg8309]

I see what you're saying, Wing; but isn't that also about the Rams offense......specifically, how the Rams offense would counter a defensive strategist like Spags.

I don't know; I'm sure it's nothing, but I have to admit.......Shurmur just doesn't give me those warm fuzzies.

Nothing wrong with the big boss wanting some one on one time with his QB to teach him about defenses and help him understand what looks arizona gives and how to read them. I'm sure Shurmur gets plenty of time with Bradford, he doesn't need to be in the room every time Spags wants to help Bradford with defenses though. If anything it is refreshing that Bradford gets a different perspective on defenses without Shurmur in the room.

[HUbison]

Nothing wrong with the big boss wanting some one on one time with his QB to teach him about defenses and help him understand what looks arizona gives and how to read them. I'm sure Shurmur gets plenty of time with Bradford, he doesn't need to be in the room every time Spags wants to help Bradford with defenses though. If anything it is refreshing that Bradford gets a different perspective on defenses without Shurmur in the room.

As long as they're on the same page.

[berg8309]

As long as they're on the same page.

Although Bradford is a big part of the offense, Shurmur has other duties and can't follow him around like a lost puppy and be there for every meeting with every coach. Curl is the QBs specific coach, why aren't you concerned he wasn't there? He'd be the one more likely to follow Bradford around.

[HUbison]

Although Bradford is a big part of the offense, Shurmur has other duties and can't follow him around like a lost puppy and be there for every meeting with every coach. Curl is the QBs specific coach, why aren't you concerned he wasn't there? He'd be the one more likely to follow Bradford around.

When I think of a position coach (ie. Curl), I think of a "technique adjuster". Curl's worth would be on the field watching Bradford. But a Coordinator is a "strategy adjuster". Shurmur's worth should be in the meeting room, discussing how the Rams will approach the Cards defense (which will be stout, IMO).

Ultimately, I'm sure it's nothing. But it just strikes me a little odd that a discussion of the offense is being held w/o the OC. No big deal.

[Azul e Oro]

When I think of a position coach (ie. Curl), I think of a "technique adjuster". Curl's worth would be on the field watching Bradford. But a Coordinator is a "strategy adjuster". Shurmur's worth should be in the meeting room, discussing how the Rams will approach the Cards defense (which will be stout, IMO).

Ultimately, I'm sure it's nothing. But it just strikes me a little odd that a discussion of the offense is being held w/o the OC. No big deal.

I get your point or , at least, share your concern about Shurmur(and Curl, for that matter) , Hub, but I think getting a defensive specialist's one-on-one perspective is a good thing.

To me, it's just another great indication of how meticulous this kid is proving to be since I'd bet it was by Sam's request .I don't think we'd be worried that Sam was doing extra reps with a couple of WRs after team practice just because the center wasn't there nor were any of the DBs. Just icing on the fifty million dollar cake,imo.

And it's probably also true that Spags has so many HC responsibilities that he doesn't have much time to do the biggest thing that got him the job in the first place; teach.I don't see anything but upside in those two getting a little extra bonding time.

[Nick]

Ultimately, I'm sure it's nothing. But it just strikes me a little odd that a discussion of the offense is being held w/o the OC. No big deal.

Stull's report was that Spags and Bradford met to go over Arizona's defense, not the Rams' offense. Depending on what specifically they were going over, it's certainly possible that an offensive coach was not necessary for this session. For instance, if the goal is just to simply familiarize Bradford with the various formations the Cardinals line up in and what their playcalling tendencies are out of those looks, Shurmur (or Curl for that matter) may not be needed.

[thermobee]

“He’s into backgammon, so we played a little backgammon,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said, laughing. “No, we sat and watched some tape. I tried to give him a little bit of the defensive side of it, what I think they might be doing or thinking, what I thought he could expect from…being a rookie quarterback in the first game, from a defensive standpoint.”

[01d 0rd3r]

Where was Shurmur?

Thinking up new ways to run the draw and the screen for Jackson? Maybe adding a few 4 yard slant plays.
Nah, I'm sure shummer got his tape session in with bradford earlier this week.

[HUbison]

Wow. Guys, I must have really overstated my concern on this.

The defensive-minded HC going over the opposing defense (and surely the Rams answer to it, but I assume) with the rookie QB w/o the OC just struck me a little odd. It's all cool. I'm sure it's no big deal AT ALL. It just struck me, a lowly unknowing fan, as a little odd. I am 99.99% sure that is a statement of how little I know about the game preparation process of an NFL team than it is a statement of any disruption in the Rams coaching ranks.

For instance, if the goal is just to simply familiarize Bradford with the various formations the Cardinals line up in and what their playcalling tendencies are out of those looks, Shurmur (or Curl for that matter) may not be needed.

Again, I don't want to overstate this, but........he's telling the QB these things so the QB will know what to do on offense. Offense. So why was this coordination of the offense not done by the offensive coordinator?

To me, it's just another great indication of how meticulous this kid is proving to be since I'd bet it was by Sam's request

I'm sure you're right, Azul. The kid does seem to cover all his bases, and ultimately, I'm sure that's all this is.

Thinking up new ways to run the draw and the screen for Jackson? Maybe adding a few 4 yard slant plays.

---rimshot---. He'll be here all week; don't forget to tip your waitress.

Thank you, order; we'll leave it with a little humor.

[Nick]

The defensive-minded HC going over the opposing defense (and surely the Rams answer to it, but I assume)

Again, I don't want to overstate this, but........he's telling the QB these things so the QB will know what to do on offense. Offense. So why was this coordination of the offense not done by the offensive coordinator?

That's the thing, though. You're assuming that a discussion about one topic (the Arizona defense) had to also include a discussion about another topic (the Rams' offense), but it's entirely possible it doesn't.

In fact, both the original Stull tidbit and Spags' own quote on this matter (posted by thermobee) specifically refer only to Arizona's defense as the topic of this meeting. Your concern is brought about entirely by your own assumption that offense was discussed when there's really no indication that it was.

While I'm sure the Rams will have a number of meetings where they discuss what their offensive gameplan will be for attacking the Arizona defense, I don't see any reason to believe this was one of them.