Head Coach Mike Martz Speaking--more injured

[RamWraith]

Thursday, August 5, 2004

(Opening statement)
“Good work today, we had a real solid days work. It’s good to get in there and see somebody different, get a little tempo going.”

(On talking to Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith)
“A little bit, he came in this morning and we just has a short visit in the office. I think he pulled his hamstring. I told Lovie this (having so many hamstring injuries) is so silly to me. I know one year when we went to the Super Bowl, we had seven guys with hamstrings at this time of year, so it just amazes me, I guess it’s whatever way you look at it.”

(On Lovie Smith running his practice the same way as the Rams)
“It’s just one of those things, how you do it has nothing to do with it, it’s just luck. There’s nothing you can do to prevent that stuff (hamstring injuries).”

(On G Chris Dishman’s intent to retire)
“Chris did not want to come back and play for a team that he felt like didn’t have a chance to contend. He was excited when I called, to be honest with you. He mentioned a couple of other teams that he would consider. He was coaching high school football. He has great passion for this game, he sounds like a coach when you talk to him. It’s going to take a little while to get some of that weight off and get into playing shape. I’ve always admired the way he plays, I know he’s got terrific ability, he’s a good addition for us. We’re going to be careful with him, and get him back into shape and get him mentally into what we’re doing, which is going to take about two weeks before he can line up and feel pretty good about knowing what to do. He just sounds very passionate on wanting to play this game. In his position he could easily retire, he’s got a nice living going and coaching some high school football. But obviously he wants to play, and he’s going to come in and compete for this thing. Our players and (defensive coordinator) Larry (Marmie) gave him such a strong endorsement, from a character standpoint, as a professional and how he prepares to play, and all those things. We felt like if we could just get him into this environment that he’d have some success and we could help him.”

(On new TE Ryan Prince)
“I was really impressed with him on the one-on-one stuff out there. He looks like he’s a pretty nifty guy. He’s a terrific receiver, just watching him down there. In terms of the other things I don’t have a whole lot about his background, this is something that Jay (Zygmunt) and Charley (Armey) researched. There’s obviously a number of tight ends out there, we just want somebody that can come in and have the potential of making this squad. Not somebody just to have in camp to take a place and then you cut. He looks like he has a little something to him, so it will be interesting to see what he does here in the next week.”

(On being hurt at the tight end position)
“We are, we can always void that and get around it a little bit. This gives us an opportunity to bring another player in and look at him, so we’ll see how it goes.”

(On today’s injuries)
“Jimmy Kennedy rolled his foot somehow. This was one of the things that were so adamant about with getting him a good, wide shoe in the off season so that these things don’t happen. I don’t really know what the extent of it though. Tom Knight dislocated, and quite possibly fractured a finger. There will be a little time off, but we’ll just put a little cast on it. It’s not like he has to throw the football or anything. Lamar Gordon also had a bit of a sore ankle. At this point in camp we’re holding a lot of guys out today. As soon as a hamstring, for example, gets tight the next thing that happens is they’re going to injure it. Speaking of hamstrings we had six or seven of them today. It just happens. Lamar is a situation where we were a little uncomfortable, but nothing really to be concerned with. We’re going to get a MRI on it because it seems to be persistent. I haven’t heard anything about Kyle Turley. I put a call into him today. He’s been moving around pretty well. He’s on his way to Atlanta to go see Dr. James Andrews. After today he will have seen three doctors and this would probably conclude his visits. All three doctors are really at the top of their profession. I’d even encourage him to see a fourth. The whole thing about this guy is that I want him to feel good about whatever it is and have a consensus opinion. This is more about Kyle than his career in football.”

(On offense’s productiveness today)
“We didn’t really have a whole lot of time to get going. We only had about four or five good sets in. It was kind of hard, but I was pleased with the nine on seven and the team. It’s good to get these guys shocked a little bit in facing somebody new in terms of seeing a different defense and how they move and shift and things. There are some guys that have pleased me in the offensive line though and I’ve been waiting to see if they’re going to step up and while watching the nine on seven I saw some guys that competed pretty well.”

(On seeing Lovie Smith as a head coach)
“It really does give me a great feeling. I don’t really know if we helped Lovie though, he was going to a head coach sooner or later no matter where he was. There’s no question about that, but it’s a thrill to be a little part of that. To watch him move into that capacity and watch his players respond to him. It’s really a lot of fun.”

(On Rams being able to sustain success over the last five years)
“I can tell you exactly why, personnel. When you combine what Jay (Zygmunt) has done with contracts and keeping guys here and guys wanting to be here. Also, Charlie (Armey) finding guys. That whole organization of having the right people here. That’s what this game is about, having the right people. First and foremost, when you have the right people you have a chance.”

(On RB Marshall Faulk)
“I had to tease him because I may not sleep tonight. He looks like the Marshall of old out here, but we’ll see. We’re really cautious with him. He feels so good and when he’s like that we try not to put a damper on it, but we also just want him to be cautious and take this thing in stride.

[evil disco man]

After today he will have seen three doctors and this would probably conclude his visits. All three doctors are really at the top of their profession. I’d even encourage him to see a fourth.

So much for the rumor of Martz and Turley being at odds over this.

[Nick]

(On G Chris Dishman’s intent to retire)

Maybe it's just me, but it's hard to believe the Rams couldn't have found a guard on the free agent market with some skill and who wasn't all but retired and out of shape. This just seems like a really odd signing to me, given this news. Given the fact that McCollum has temporarily moved back to center and Andy King is starting at guard, it sounds as if we need good depth immediately, not guys who are going to take two weeks just to get back into playing shape. I'm kind of dumbfounded by this. Unless this guy's a high level guard, is it really worth it?

[radjohns]

I just read that Kennedy has a fracture in his foot. Brutal.

[Nick]

Yep. Reported by Howard to be the same injury Damione Lewis, Jason Sehorn, and Jevon Kearse suffered. Should require surgery.

[general counsel]

How long would that put kennedy out for. does that cook him for the year?

general counsel

[adarian_too]

Some people seem to wonder why sMartz catches such flak after he speaks. Let's revisit some current sMartz-speak shall we?

(On talking to Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith)
“I told Lovie this (having so many hamstring injuries) is so silly to me.”

Uh, "silly?" Clearly an injury isn't silly. And to prevent reoccurences, I would think that an investigation into whether there is a correlation between weight loss and hamstring injuries might me a worthwhile endeavor. But, I'm not in football ... so silly it must be.

(On new TE Ryan Prince) "He looks like he’s a pretty nifty guy.

Nifty? Nifty? That another new analytical football term? An innovation in descriptive linguistics?

(On being hurt at the tight end position) “We are, we can always void that and get around it a little bit."

Void that? Like in voiding a check and cancelling the TE position and going to 5 WR sets instead? Or like in you have not been fired or terminated but voided?

(On today’s injuries) “Jimmy Kennedy rolled his foot somehow. This was one of the things that were so adamant about with getting him a good, wide shoe in the off season so that these things don’t happen."

Whoo boy. Not more tape, more strengthening around the ankle, stronger high tops ... but a "wide shoe." Must be more of that latent medical expertise of his shining through again.

IN A "BREAKING" NEWSFLASH, an exclusive interview with J Kennedy has emerged.

Reporter: How's the ankle?

Kennedy: Not good. With proper intervention I hope to be out there on the field relatively shortly.

Reporter: Statements are flying around that a wide shoe might be the answer, can you comment on that?

Kennedy: Sure. Research at Martz University has shown that the length of the shoe, the height of the shoe is just not enough support for people as heavy as me. It is like in construction where they broaden the base of heavy equipment in order to lift and move weighty objects.

Reporter: Have you had a prototype made for you yet and can we see it if you have?

Kennedy: Not a problem. The colors don't match the team's yet, but I think you can get the idea from this ...



Reporter: Yes we do. That certainly is on the cutting edge of wide shoes ...