By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
Wednesday, Aug. 25 2004
While cornerback Travis Fisher had surgery on his broken right forearm
Wednesday, Kevin Garrett was busy trying to show that he is worthy of replacing
Fisher in the Rams' lineup.
"I want to do well so I can prove myself and let everybody relax a little bit,
let them know I'm capable of taking the job," Garrett said before practice at
Rams Park. Although coach Mike Martz reported that the operation went "very
well; there wasn't any damage to any of the nerves," Fisher is expected to be
sidelined three to four months.
Barring a personnel move, Garrett and DeJuan Groce, when he recovers from a
strained knee, are the primary candidates to fill Fisher's spot. Both are
second-year players, the 5-foot-10, 194-pound Garrett from Southern Methodist
and the 5-10, 192-pound Groce from Nebraska. Groce started one game last year,
which is one more than Garrett.
Still, Groce said: "We're real confident. That's what they drafted us for. If
anybody goes down, we have to be prepared to go in. You've just got to be
ready. You never know what's going to happen."
Garrett got the call when Fisher was injured late in the first quarter Monday
night at Kansas City. Garrett was credited with one tackle in a 24-7 loss that
dropped the Rams' preseason record to 0-2 heading into Friday night's meeting
with Washington (2-1) at the Edward Jones Dome.
"When I found that he'd broken his arm, it got to me that I'd have to go in
there and step up," Garrett said. "He and (Jerametrius Butler, the other
first-team corner) had been nursing some hamstring issues during camp, and
myself and Groce got the chance to get some reps in camp and start in the
Chicago game (Aug. 12). So that gave me a place to start and see where I was.
"I feel right now like I'm ready to step in and take over for Fish and
hopefully do my part."
Groce ran outside while the team practiced inside Wednesday and said he expects
to be ready to go soon. "There was always an urgency, because you just want to
get back. It doesn't feel right, sitting on the sideline and watching your
teammates out there," he said. "Now, there's more of an urgency."
Bulger bruises knee
Quarterback
Marc Bulger, who took a shot to his left knee against the Chiefs,
participated in Wednesday's non-contact practice. He said that "unless I'm told
otherwise, I anticipate playing" Friday.
"He's got a little bone bruise in there. It's annnoying, but certainly it's
nothing that he can't play with," Martz said. "It's nothing really to be
concerned about other than it's painful and it's aggravating for him."
Bulger said he was eager to atone for a weak showing in KC, where the
first-team offense was unproductive during six first-half possessions.
"We could make a million excuses, but the bottom line is, we're just not
executing," said Bulger, who went eight for 15, threw an interception that was
returned for a touchdown and had a 37.4 quarterback rating. "I was embarrassed
personally."
Nutten steps up to the first team
Less than a week after un-retiring and reporting to camp underweight and rusty,
Tom Nutten was working with the first-team offensive line Wednesday. Nutten
filled in at right guard for Adam Timmerman, who has a sore shoulder and might
not play Friday.
"Tommy took all the reps with the 'ones.' We're getting him ready to play,"
Martz said. "He's up in weight, and he's gaining his strength back. He feels
good. I'm anxious to get him in a game and play him a little bit this week."
Nutten, who is listed at 6-5 and 280, spent five seasons, four as a starter,
with the Rams before retiring last August.
Linear Mode
