Linehan turns up the heat
By Bill Coats
08/12/2007 8:13 pm
How hot was it? Is was so hot Sunday afternoon at Rams Park that defensive tackle and profuse sweater La’Roi Glover was already being hosed down during the stretching period that preceded practice.
The temp was 101 and the heat index 105, but coach Scott Linehan directed his troops through a two-hour practice outdoors. They withstood it well, with only a couple of players needing IV treatment afterward for rehydration.
Linehan believes that working in extreme heat helps the players’ overall conditioning. That’s especially important this year, with the Rams’ first two road games taking place in September in Tampa and Dallas.
The trainers and coaches kept a close eye on the players, and extra water breaks were worked into the schedule. Linehan said he expected to be back outdoors for both practices Monday, as well as the rest of the week.
The 9:20 a.m. practice Monday will be open to the public.
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Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick still was a bit sore Monday as a result of a ferocious hit by Vikings linebacker Heath Farwell in Friday night’s preseason opener. Farwell was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
The wind was knocked out of Fitzpatrick, but he missed just one play. He said he wanted to jump up right away and “talk some trash” to Farwell. But when he tried to speak, nothing came out.
Word to the wise: This talk about Brock Berlin wresting the No. 3 spot from Fitzpatrick? Highly unlikely. The coaches love Fitzpatrick’s potential; Berlin is a camp arm.
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Yet another member of the national media has visited Rams Park. Mike Sando of ESPN.com watched Sunday’s practice as part of his Midwest camp tour. Sando previously was a Seahawks beat writer for the Tacoma News-Tribune.
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Notes from Day 17 of training camp:
>>Newly acquired CB Harrison Smith was on the field for practice. Smith signed with Pittsburgh in 2005 as an undrafted rookie but was cut during training camp. He was with Atlanta in the offseason but was released July 29 after missing a special-teams meeting. DE Ryan Willis, an undrafted rookie, was cut to make room for Smith.
>>Once again, the Rams did extensive red-zone work.
>>G
Richie Incognito banged up a shoulder Friday night and skipped the contact drills. Nothing major, though.
>>WR/KR Dante Hall, who has been nursing a sore hamstring, looked fine and probably will suit up Saturday night when the Rams take on the Chargers at the Edward Jones Dome. He watched from the sideline Friday.
>>Andy McCollum and Brett Romberg continue to share first-team reps. Romberg started in Minnesota, and Linehan said McCollum will start vs. the Chargers.
All for now…
Linear Mode
