Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

[MauiRam]

09.25.2009 2:34 pm

By Bill Coats
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The newest member of the St. Louis Rams, return specialist Danny Amendola, took a number of reps with the first-team offense at wide receiver Friday. He’s expected to return kicks and punts Sunday vs. Green Bay, and the coaches have been trying to get him up to speed in case he’s needed on offense, too.

“We’re kind of just force-feeding him,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “The verbiage is the same as where he came from (Philadelphia). You have no idea how much that helps, just for the words to be the same. So I think it’s been a smoother transition than normal.”

Notes & quotes:

*RT Jason Smith is listed as “doubtful” on the week’s final injury report, but he didn’t practice all week and it would be a shock if he were active Sunday. Center Jason Brown was listed as “probable,” and because he hasn’t missed any practice time, it would be a shock if he weren’t active.

*DT LaJuan Ramsey, who flashed a bit in a brief stint last Sunday vs. the Redskins, probably will get more work in the rotation vs. the Packers.

*Crowd noise was piped in during practice, apparently in anticipation of the thousands of Packers fans expected to invade the dome.

*WR Donnie Avery, off to a miserable start, had his best week of practice.

All for now . . .

GO GET EM DANNY BOY !!!

[01d 0rd3r]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

09.25.2009 2:34 pm

*WR Donnie Avery, off to a miserable start, had his best week of practice.

GO GET EM DANNY BOY !!!

heres hoping that he has a great game.

on the other side i propose a new drinking game every time he drops a pass we all take a shot of tequila.......we should all be drunk by the end of the game

[bigredman]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Going into a game against a defense as good as the Packers with a new receiver that our QB hasn't had time to synch with doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence.

[AtlantaRamFan]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Good point BRM. This WR corp doesn't give me a lot of confidence period. But more so against the Packers. Here's to hoping for big doses of Jackson early and often.

[Ramblin` Ram]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

its their front 7 that worries me more than their secondary..especially if Nick Collins is out..(Atari Bigby is decent but i think we could expose him if the cards fall good for us)..they have Kevin Greene as their LBs coach this year so you just know that they gonna play some pretty intense football under his guidance..and Dom Capers as their DC..

Jackson will need to have a good game if we stand a chance but its the supporting cast that should decide the game for or against us. tho that doesnt mean it has to be Amendola...

[MauiRam]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Going into a game against a defense as good as the Packers with a new receiver that our QB hasn't had time to synch with doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence.

If he's open, he's open .. we'll see I guess ...

[Richbert88]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

He won't be in as a WR hopefully. If he is, something bad has happened to either Avery, Robinson or Burton.

I am thinking that Avery redeems himself this game. And if the defense shift to doubling Robinson, he could very well do it.

[MauiRam]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

He won't be in as a WR hopefully. If he is, something bad has happened to either Avery, Robinson or Burton.

I am thinking that Avery redeems himself this game. And if the defense shift to doubling Robinson, he could very well do it.

It isn't as if our offense is complete Greek to Danny, as was mentioned, he's at the very least familiar with the verbiage. I won't be all that surprised if they draw up a couple of plays for him and throw him in there. If he hangs onto the ball that will be an improvement over what we've been seeing on both returns and attempted pass catching/fumbling ..

[RealRam]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Yes, it's too soon to use DA in passing formations. For this 1st game of his (early enough as it is) I'll settle for some good kick returns; and I hope the Rams offense will already be prepared and have a plan to use that decent field position for a couple of scoring drives or three.

And please, let's see those opportunities as TDs!!! :ram:

[MauiRam]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Yes, it's too soon to use DA in passing formations. For this 1st game of his (early enough as it is) I'll settle for some good kick returns; and I hope the Rams offense will already be prepared and have a plan to use that decent field position for a couple of scoring drives or three.

And please, let's see those opportunities as TDs!!! :ram:

Well ... I'm not insisting the Rams must use Danny as a receiver tomorrow, instead I'm only saying I won't be surprised if he gets a couple of chances on offense. It's not like he'll be stealing reps from Isaac Bruce in his prime. Ostensibly he was acquired to return kicks, however, putting him in for a play or two as a receiver isn't entirely out of the question either. Would you not agree that the Rams could use a "spark" these days?

I have a good feeling about this kid, (probably just the wishful thinking of a desperate fan) really though, I don't care who is inserted at wide receiver for us tomorrow as long as we bag a win ...

[RealRam]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

Agreed, Maui. A spark, a cheerleader, a catalyst, a booster for the team, absolutely. I wouldn't mind if DA also plays WR.

I was just a little concerned that he may not be ready for that but maybe if he's used on some safe, plain vanilla routes or plays, he might turn his debut into a memorable one. Maybe as 2nd or 3rd option for Bulger to throw to.

In any case, like you, I'm rooting for this new addition Vs. Packets. For sure, I too have a very good feeling about this young football player from Texas Tech.

[Ramblin` Ram]

Re: Amendola gets crash course with first-team offense ..

i think Ruvall Martin is more likely to see more playing time as a wideout this week...wouldnt suprise me to see Amendola see some time on the field..but it would suprise me if he had more than say,2 passes thrown his way..