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By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
09/30/2004
Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce was quick to correct a questioner who sought to compliment him on his "good start" this season. "We're 1-2," Bruce shot back. "That's not a very good start."
Point made. Individually, however, Bruce is putting up big numbers. At age 31, he tops the NFL in receptions (25) and receiving yards (348). Teammate Torry Holt, the league leader in both categories last season, is fourth in catches (22) and seventh in yards (282).
"We get receivers that come into camp and they go three plays in a row and they're staggering back to the huddle. They want somebody to come in a relieve them," coach Mike Martz said. "Isaac and Torry, they don't come out of the game. And they don't take any breaks. Whether it's a run or a pass, they go down the field as fast as they can go.
"The conditioning and the tough athlete it takes to do that is pretty extraordinary. Not everybody can do that, obviously. But both of these guys, and particularly Isaac, do it."
Bruce, an 11-year veteran out of Memphis State, had eight catches for 134 yards, both team highs, in Sunday's 28-25 overtime loss to New Orleans. He threw a key block on quarterback Marc Bulger's 19-yard touchdown scramble that put the Rams ahead in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
"He's such an unselfish player," Martz said.
Archuleta is probable with sore hamstring
Strong safety Adam Archuleta was added to the Rams' injury report Thursday with a sore hamstring. He's listed as probable for Sunday night's game against the ***** (0-3) in San Francisco.
Middle linebacker Robert Thomas, nursing a mild ankle sprain, rested for a second consecutive day. He is also probable.
"We're trying to take it easy on that ankle," Martz said. "If you do too much on it, it's going to be puffy and swollen most of the week. We'll let him get a lot of reps" today.
Chris Dishman (knee) is questionable, so Scott Tercero again worked with the first unit at left guard. With Arlen Harris (hamstring) also questionable, Furrey and rookie Dwight Anderson returned kickoffs Thursday in practice.
Kennedy's foot has already healed
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy returned from a surgeon's examination in North Carolina on Wednesday with good news: The broken bone in his right foot that was operated on in early August has healed, and he should be back earlier that the initial mid-November forecast.
"He's been completely cleared to resume football activities," Martz said. "He's going to start running next week. He's two weeks away, probably, from having some contact, where he'll really to press and drive off that thing. But it's healed very quickly, and he's much further along than you'd anticipate."
Kennedy, the team's first-round draft choice last year, said: "Everything's good. Now it's just about get used to running and putting weight on it and fighting through the soreness."
Martz praised Kennedy's conditioning during his layoff, in addition to his offseason work in the weight room. "He's really improved his strength remarkably," Martz said. "When he got injured, he was just beginning to learn how to play inside and do the things that we want him to do. So who knows what he'll do? It's up to him."
Of the Post-Dispatch
09/30/2004
Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce was quick to correct a questioner who sought to compliment him on his "good start" this season. "We're 1-2," Bruce shot back. "That's not a very good start."
Point made. Individually, however, Bruce is putting up big numbers. At age 31, he tops the NFL in receptions (25) and receiving yards (348). Teammate Torry Holt, the league leader in both categories last season, is fourth in catches (22) and seventh in yards (282).
"We get receivers that come into camp and they go three plays in a row and they're staggering back to the huddle. They want somebody to come in a relieve them," coach Mike Martz said. "Isaac and Torry, they don't come out of the game. And they don't take any breaks. Whether it's a run or a pass, they go down the field as fast as they can go.
"The conditioning and the tough athlete it takes to do that is pretty extraordinary. Not everybody can do that, obviously. But both of these guys, and particularly Isaac, do it."
Bruce, an 11-year veteran out of Memphis State, had eight catches for 134 yards, both team highs, in Sunday's 28-25 overtime loss to New Orleans. He threw a key block on quarterback Marc Bulger's 19-yard touchdown scramble that put the Rams ahead in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
"He's such an unselfish player," Martz said.
Archuleta is probable with sore hamstring
Strong safety Adam Archuleta was added to the Rams' injury report Thursday with a sore hamstring. He's listed as probable for Sunday night's game against the ***** (0-3) in San Francisco.
Middle linebacker Robert Thomas, nursing a mild ankle sprain, rested for a second consecutive day. He is also probable.
"We're trying to take it easy on that ankle," Martz said. "If you do too much on it, it's going to be puffy and swollen most of the week. We'll let him get a lot of reps" today.
Chris Dishman (knee) is questionable, so Scott Tercero again worked with the first unit at left guard. With Arlen Harris (hamstring) also questionable, Furrey and rookie Dwight Anderson returned kickoffs Thursday in practice.
Kennedy's foot has already healed
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy returned from a surgeon's examination in North Carolina on Wednesday with good news: The broken bone in his right foot that was operated on in early August has healed, and he should be back earlier that the initial mid-November forecast.
"He's been completely cleared to resume football activities," Martz said. "He's going to start running next week. He's two weeks away, probably, from having some contact, where he'll really to press and drive off that thing. But it's healed very quickly, and he's much further along than you'd anticipate."
Kennedy, the team's first-round draft choice last year, said: "Everything's good. Now it's just about get used to running and putting weight on it and fighting through the soreness."
Martz praised Kennedy's conditioning during his layoff, in addition to his offseason work in the weight room. "He's really improved his strength remarkably," Martz said. "When he got injured, he was just beginning to learn how to play inside and do the things that we want him to do. So who knows what he'll do? It's up to him."
