Minicamp's hectic pace keeps Palmer hopping: MAKING THE CUT

[RamWraith]

By Kathleen Nelson
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, May. 16 2006

A ROOKIE'S JOURNEY

After the first day of rookie minicamp, guard Tony Palmer was a whipped pup.
When asked how many meetings he had attended, he said, "I want to say three or
four, but I don't remember."

He also wasn't quite sure how the blood got on the front of his jersey. "I was
just trying to go hard," he said.

The pace was torrid by comparison to his days at Missouri.

"You make mistakes, but you don't have a lot of time to think about them," he
said after two workouts Saturday. "We're definitely playing at a different
tempo. Definitely faster."

Over the course of the weekend, the Rams also pumped up the volume, the amount
of information in the playbook.

"Coming from a zone scheme to a power scheme is definitely different," Palmer
said. "In college, there's only so many plays that you repped. In the NFL, it's
at least 10 times as many plays."

Coach Scott Linehan said that despite two to three hours of meetings a day and
five workouts, the staff emphasized that the material covered in minicamp was
just the tip of the iceberg.

"But we gave them quite a bit," Linehan said. "Basically, we gave them the same
as the veterans in their minicamp to see what they can absorb and translate on
the field."

The rookie camp closed with wind sprints, in which Palmer and fellow guard Mark
Setterstrom brought up the rear. Their position was little cause for concern;
the coaches would worry only if anyone finished behind the duo.

"Tony's a road grader," Linehan said. "What he'll be able to show will show up
more when we have pads, when he can really come off the ball and block
somebody. Exceptional strength."

The pace of minicamp was so hectic that Palmer had no time to call his mom and
dad, Adrienne and Richard Gaines, back home in Midwest City, Okla. Instead,
words of support came from players at minicamp who lived through their
initiation last year.

"Some of the first-year players came to me and said, 'We've been in the same
situation, so don't worry about it. It's going to come. Just give it time, and
just keep looking at your playbook. You're going to pick it up,'" Palmer said.

Because Palmer already has received his degree in general studies from Mizzou,
he can stick around and participate in OTAs, shorthand for organized team
activities, which begin today. Palmer said he expected to remain in Earth City
for at least a month, through OTAs and minicamp with the veterans.

He has stayed in tight quarters, though, sharing a hotel room with Setterstrom.
With just enough space for two big guys and their playbooks, the room lacks
creature comforts. That's fine; Palmer planned to spend his downtime after the
first week of OTAs poring over the playbook in his hotel.

"Most of my stuff from school was given away," he said. "The junk's in
Columbia. The stuff I care about is in Oklahoma."

One thing he was forced to part with at Rams Park was the number 52, which he
wore at Midwest City High and Mizzou. Because veteran linebacker Dexter Coakley
has claimed it with the Rams, Palmer is getting comfortable with a new number,
65.

"It would be nice to have 52, but just to have a Rams jersey on my back is more
than enough for me," he said

[Drew4EverRams]

I thinks its a case of throwing everything at them and see what sticks,poor Palmer he must be bricking it!!!

[RamsFan4ever]

blood on jersey..... is that good or bad?

[Varg6]

when do we find out who makes it all, and who gets cut?

[bigredman]

when do we find out who makes it all, and who gets cut?

MY GOD Varg6....plenty of time for that question (July through August)

I have to laugh....I remember looking at the playbook and saying "NO WAY". It can be overwhelming. You'd be surprised what you pick up and remember though. Many of the plays I use today!

[RamsFan4ever]

i cant wait till the rams are through the preseason so i'll know whose officially on the roster

[Drew4EverRams]

MY GOD Varg6....plenty of time for that question (July through August)

I have to laugh....I remember looking at the playbook and saying "NO WAY". It can be overwhelming. You'd be surprised what you pick up and remember though. Many of the plays I use today!

Out of interest Big Red who did you play for and who do you coach??

im guessing you was an O-lineman??

[RamsFan16]

Out of interest Big Red who did you play for and who do you coach??

im guessing you was an O-lineman??

I was also curious after reading his previous post.

[bigredman]

Out of interest Big Red who did you play for and who do you coach??

im guessing you was an O-lineman??

Linebacker...Pop Warner = Jackson Lions, High School = Amador Buffalos, College = California State University Sacramento Hornets, Alaska Semi-Pro team = Anchorage Wolves, and tried out for the Rams in 1979. I coach Pop Warner Varsity Ravens here in Stockton.

[RamsFan16]

Linebacker...tried out for the Rams in 1979.

Are you serious or bull crapping us? And how the heck do you try out?

[RamsFan4ever]

hey RF16 are you planning to play football in college?

do you play football for a team right now?

[Drew4EverRams]

blood on jersey..... is that good or bad?

Im a little concerned that he didnt know where it came from kinda like an unhindged psycho killer who has been found wearing a blood soaked shirt after a "blackout"; claiming "gee,hoss the last thing i knew i was eating chicken"!

[RamsFan16]

hey RF16 are you planning to play football in college?

do you play football for a team right now?

I currently play HS. I play CB/S/WR.

[Drew4EverRams]

Linebacker...tried out for the Rams in 1979. I coach Pop Warner Varsity Ravens here in Stockton.

cool,tough competition for LB places at that time tho so maybe you were round in the wrong era,you would have walked into the team the last few years!

heard the name pop warner-im thinking its either pre teens or kurt warner`s dad??



ok cheers read your edited post!

[Drew4EverRams]

I currently play HS. I play CB/S/WR.

maybe think of sticking to one position RF16 if you want to get drafted in the first two rounds and get the big bucks! (tho im guessing its more your coaches call than yours)