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Rams' Jonathan Wade is ready to start opener for the first time
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/10/2009
Life is changing dramatically for Jonathan Wade. He's gotten married, become a father and now is a starting cornerback for the Rams.
Items one and two easily are the most important, he stressed. "I married my soulmate, and I have a child now. That changes everything about the way you look at life," Wade said. "I feel so blessed to have those two people in my life."
Although the youngster is barely a month old, Wade already has an ambitious future mapped out for him. "I'm looking for him to be drafted," said the proud father, a third-round draftee in 2007.
The near future is bright, too, he acknowledged. On Sunday, Wade is expected to be in the starting lineup for a season opener for the first time in his three NFL seasons.
"Just to get on the plane, travel with the team, and put the uniform on is a special treat. I try not to take any of it for granted," he said. "That I may be out there on the first play is a tad bit exciting by itself, but I have to go out there and play. I can't be star-struck, because I have 10 other teammates counting on me."
The Rams decided not to re-sign Fakhir Brown, the first-team cornerback opposite Ron Bartell last year. Then they traded Brown's successor, former first-round draft pick Tye Hill, to Atlanta last week.
Obviously, the new coaching staff felt comfortable with Wade, who had played in all 32 games, with two starts, his first two seasons.
"Jonathan's one of those feisty guys ... one of those energetic guys," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really into it; he loves playing football. Any defense needs that kind of energy."
Wade, a former All-America sprinter at Tennessee, also brings speed, decent size (5 feet 10 and 198 pounds) and improved coverage skills. He tied for second on the club in preseason tackles, with 12.
"Jon moving up is no big deal," Bartell said. "He's been here for three years now, and he's become a better football player. He's not worried about making mistakes or missing tackles or anything. He's a lot more confident now. ...
"We expect a lot of big things from him."
INJURY UPDATE
Safety Craig Dahl (hamstring), linebacker Larry Grant (knee) and guard John Greco (wrist) sat out practice Wednesday. Spagnuolo already has ruled out Grant for Sunday's game, and Greco, who had surgery over the weekend, is expected to miss two to three weeks.
Spagnuolo said only quarterback Marc Bulger (finger) and fullback Mike Karney (ankle) were limited. But when the first game-week injury report of the season was issued later, running back Samkon Gado (ribs) and defensive end Leonard Little (knee) also were listed as limited.
GADO 'GOOD TO GO'
Gado is wearing extra padding to protect the cartilage damage to his ribs. "In practice, I don't even realize that I'm hurt," he reported. "I'll be good to go Sunday."
The injury occurred Thursday in the preseason finale vs. Kansas City. Gado, who is expected to back up Steven Jackson vs. the Seahawks, played down his quick recovery.
"It's something that you play with," he said. "Yeah, there's going to be pain during the game. But at this position, if something like that is enough to put you out, then you might want to consider playing another position."
RAM-BLINGS
Using what he called a "secret system," Spagnuolo will name weekly captains. This week's choices are Jackson (offense), safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (defense) and kicker Josh Brown (special teams). ... While the 53-man roster is set (for now), two players have changed numbers: Gado, to 35 from 38; and cornerback Cord Parks, to 23 from 42.
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/10/2009
Life is changing dramatically for Jonathan Wade. He's gotten married, become a father and now is a starting cornerback for the Rams.
Items one and two easily are the most important, he stressed. "I married my soulmate, and I have a child now. That changes everything about the way you look at life," Wade said. "I feel so blessed to have those two people in my life."
Although the youngster is barely a month old, Wade already has an ambitious future mapped out for him. "I'm looking for him to be drafted," said the proud father, a third-round draftee in 2007.
The near future is bright, too, he acknowledged. On Sunday, Wade is expected to be in the starting lineup for a season opener for the first time in his three NFL seasons.
"Just to get on the plane, travel with the team, and put the uniform on is a special treat. I try not to take any of it for granted," he said. "That I may be out there on the first play is a tad bit exciting by itself, but I have to go out there and play. I can't be star-struck, because I have 10 other teammates counting on me."
The Rams decided not to re-sign Fakhir Brown, the first-team cornerback opposite Ron Bartell last year. Then they traded Brown's successor, former first-round draft pick Tye Hill, to Atlanta last week.
Obviously, the new coaching staff felt comfortable with Wade, who had played in all 32 games, with two starts, his first two seasons.
"Jonathan's one of those feisty guys ... one of those energetic guys," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really into it; he loves playing football. Any defense needs that kind of energy."
Wade, a former All-America sprinter at Tennessee, also brings speed, decent size (5 feet 10 and 198 pounds) and improved coverage skills. He tied for second on the club in preseason tackles, with 12.
"Jon moving up is no big deal," Bartell said. "He's been here for three years now, and he's become a better football player. He's not worried about making mistakes or missing tackles or anything. He's a lot more confident now. ...
"We expect a lot of big things from him."
INJURY UPDATE
Safety Craig Dahl (hamstring), linebacker Larry Grant (knee) and guard John Greco (wrist) sat out practice Wednesday. Spagnuolo already has ruled out Grant for Sunday's game, and Greco, who had surgery over the weekend, is expected to miss two to three weeks.
Spagnuolo said only quarterback Marc Bulger (finger) and fullback Mike Karney (ankle) were limited. But when the first game-week injury report of the season was issued later, running back Samkon Gado (ribs) and defensive end Leonard Little (knee) also were listed as limited.
GADO 'GOOD TO GO'
Gado is wearing extra padding to protect the cartilage damage to his ribs. "In practice, I don't even realize that I'm hurt," he reported. "I'll be good to go Sunday."
The injury occurred Thursday in the preseason finale vs. Kansas City. Gado, who is expected to back up Steven Jackson vs. the Seahawks, played down his quick recovery.
"It's something that you play with," he said. "Yeah, there's going to be pain during the game. But at this position, if something like that is enough to put you out, then you might want to consider playing another position."
RAM-BLINGS
Using what he called a "secret system," Spagnuolo will name weekly captains. This week's choices are Jackson (offense), safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (defense) and kicker Josh Brown (special teams). ... While the 53-man roster is set (for now), two players have changed numbers: Gado, to 35 from 38; and cornerback Cord Parks, to 23 from 42.
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