Rams open OTA's

[lostsoul]

Rams Open OTAs
Posted by nickwagoner on May 16, 2012 –
7:57 PM

St. Louis Rams – Blog | Rams Open OTAs «


- The Rams just wrapped up their second of 10 Organized Team Activities
and with nearly a full 90-man roster on the field, it’s a bit crowded at the
Continuity X Training Center.

- For the coaching staff, this time of
year is a joy. They get to be out on the field coaching the team of which most
of the players will form the team come September. Head coach Jeff Fisher falls
in that line as well and it’s clear he’s happy to be back on the field.


“It’s the first time the rookies got to meet the vets and the vets got
to meet the rookies,” Fisher said. “From that point on, it went very smooth. I
was really pleased with what we got done yesterday. We added a bunch of things
today. We have a lot of base in, we’ve got third down, we got the red zone
today. We have thrown a lot at them but they have responded very well and they
are practicing very well together.”

- There have already been a few
alterations to the roster after the Rams signed veteran tackle Barry Richardson
and linebacker Mario Haggan yesterday. Still, the Rams aren’t quite at the
90-player limit. On Wednesday, a number of players weren’t in attendance. Here’s
the rundown:

- WR Brian Quick, WR Chris Givens and RB Isaiah Pead were
in California for a rookie event signing autographs, getting their pictures
taken for football cards, etc. Quick and Givens will return next week but Pead
can’t return until June 7 after he goes back to Cincinnati to finish school.


- Pead, RB Nick Schweiger, TE Cory Harkey and P Johnny Hekker are all on
the quarter system and won’t return until their class has taken their final
round of tests in June.

- LB Derrick Choice, an undrafted free agent
from Stephen F. Austin, met with Fisher on Wednesday morning and let him know
that he is all out of football. Choice was waived on Tuesday afternoon after
opting to leave the game.

“He decided he’d had enough football,” Fisher
said. “He decided he wanted to go on and go back to school or start a career.
You’ve got to respect somebody that can walk away with his head up and that’s
what he did this morning.”

- Fisher likes to have some fun with his
rookies so he has them introduce themselves in a unique way:

“You have
them stand up and say their name, position and school, his favorite movie, the
name of his first pet and what happened to it and his nickname…it was good,”
Fisher said.

- On the injury front:

LT Rodger Saffold has not
been fully cleared yet from his pectoral injury. He was limited Wednesday with
Kevin Hughes taking reps in his place. Saffold is very close according to
Fisher.

WR Danario Alexander also was limited (knee).

S Matt
Daniels had a knee scope about seven weeks ago and the Rams are “backing” him
down a little to ensure he makes a complete recovery. He did not practice
Wednesday.

TE/FB Ben Guidugli is wearing a walking boot on his right
foot and also did not practice. Fisher said he has a foot issue that he’s
working through.

- RT Jason Smith is taking his fresh start serious. He
switched his jersey number from 77 to 72. Rookie OT Joe Long is now wearing 77.


- As for the action on the field, the Rams got a lot done with a couple
of standouts from a few of the passing drills.

- CB Josh Gordy is still
working with the first team as the likes of Bradley Fletcher recovers from
injury and the rookies such as Janoris Jenkins settle in. It’s been widely
assumed that Jenkins will eventually win the job opposite Cortland Finnegan and
though that still seems likely, Gordy doesn’t seem willing to just hand over the
gig. He had a number of pass breakups during Wednesday’s practice.

- WR
Greg Salas is coming off a serious knee injury but you wouldn’t know it watching
him on Wednesday. He made a few grabs for touchdowns during some red zone work
including one perfectly run route where he turned Fletcher inside out.

-
The competition at left guard is only just beginning. I’ll have more in a story
for this site later today but it’s starting to heat up. Fisher acknowledged that
a number of players will get a shot there. For today, it was mostly Bryan
Mattison getting the work there.

- Not much hesitation throwing rookie
DT Michael Brockers in the fire. He got some work with the top unit on
Wednesday.

- That’s going to do it for today. Thanks for reading. I’ll
be out of pocket until early next week but will be back with updates for next
week’s OTAs.

[Rambos]

- WR
Greg Salas is coming off a serious knee injury but you wouldn’t know it watching
him on Wednesday. He made a few grabs for touchdowns during some red zone work
including one perfectly run route where he turned Fletcher inside out.

This is the best news Ive heard in awhile. Glad to hear he looks good to go!

[sosa39rams]

- RT Jason Smith is taking his fresh start serious. He
switched his jersey number from 77 to 72. Rookie OT Joe Long is now wearing 77.

Sounds real serious...

[Rambos]

Rams WR Danario Alexander is missing time at OTAs with a hamstring injury.
Alexander's injury isn't known to be significant, but he battled hamstring woes for much of 2011 and needs to make a positive impression on a new coaching staff. The new regime may not be as forgiving with Alexander's durability woes.
Source: Jim Thomas on Twitter
May 16 - 4:18 PM

[Ramblin` Ram]

LB Derrick Choice, an undrafted free agent
from Stephen F. Austin, met with Fisher on Wednesday morning and let him know
that he is all out of football. Choice was waived on Tuesday afternoon after
opting to leave the game.


----------------------------------
i guess he just felt overwhelmed.

[TheBritishRam]

It seems that Fletcher is recovering nicely and should be able to fully participate in training camp, I hope he performs well. Every year there is a big name who is recovering from injury who is cut after training camp, I have a horrible feeling Fletcher might be on the bubble come September.

Also, it's great to hear about Salas doing well. I'd like to hear more about the other second year players as well, especially Kendricks who I think epitomised Spags' failings as a headcoach. In the shortest offseason ever they overwhelmed him with information in training camp (remember reading about him taking snaps in the slot, out of the backfield?) hopefully he can regain his confidence and have a big impact this season.

[lostsoul]

Really love to see Gordy getting a chance out there.

[Trevor]

DX Cannot keep healthy its a shame.

[TekeRam]

- RT Jason Smith is taking his fresh start serious. He
switched his jersey number from 77 to 72. Rookie OT Joe Long is now wearing 77.

Sounds real serious...

This makes me rather pissed off. As a huge Chris Long fan, I have a gold Long #72 jersey. Now when I wear it around the Lou, people will think that I'm specifically supporting Smith! I like him and want him to do well, but this is horrible!

I specifically say St. Louis, as anywhere else, I think they think I'm a Saints fan...

[sosa39rams]

This makes me rather pissed off. As a huge Chris Long fan, I have a gold Long #72 jersey. Now when I wear it around the Lou, people will think that I'm specifically supporting Smith! I like him and want him to do well, but this is horrible!

I specifically say St. Louis, as anywhere else, I think they think I'm a Saints fan...

I've got a C.LONG #72 jersey as well.. what a shame, the off-season I buy it, 2 weeks later, he changes it.