Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

    Amendola gives Rams return on investment
    BY BILL COATS
    ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
    10/17/2009

    When he wakes up on Mondays now, Danny Amendola is sore all over. That's a good thing, he explained, because it means he's playing football on Sundays.

    "It feels good to be beat up again," Amendola said. "It's been a year and a half."

    The Rams signed the 5-foot-11, 183-pound Amendola off Philadelphia's practice squad Sept. 22 and immediately assigned him to return punts and kicks. Because of injuries to the corps of wideouts, he has also been thrust into the mix on offense.

    "It's baptism by fire, because we had to get him some wide receiver reps in just his second game," coach Steve Spagnuolo noted. "But he's a pretty sharp guy."

    Amendola had one reception for 8 yards at San Francisco, followed by a five-catch, 43-yard outing last week vs. Minnesota. He's averaging 7.6 yards on five punt returns and 22.4 yards on 18 kickoff returns.

    Asked whether he preferred catching or returning, Amendola, 23, said, "I like being on the field in any way possible. Whatever way it is, hopefully I can make some plays in both areas."

    Until the Rams grabbed him, Amendola hadn't seen game action since Jan. 1, 2008, when he helped Texas Tech to a 31-28 Gator Bowl victory over Virginia at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium — site of the Rams' game Sunday against the Jaguars.

    As a senior, Amendola hauled in 103 passes — the fourth-highest total in the nation — for 1,177 yards and five touchdowns. But like fellow Red Raiders wideout and former teammate Wes Welker, Amendola was passed over in the draft.

    Dallas brought him in as a rookie free agent, and he spent the season on the practice squad. The Eagles signed him last January.

    With the Rams, Amendola finally is getting an opportunity to show his stuff in the regular season. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said Amendola "has done a nice job for us. He's quick, he finds a way to separate, he can run real well, and he's a tough guy. We feel good about him."

    INJURY UPDATES

    Safety James Butler (knee) and wide receiver Ruvell Martin (hamstring) were listed as doubtful Friday on the final injury report of the week, meaning they're unlikely to suit up Sunday. Safety Anthony Smith (Achilles tendon) was questionable. Quarterback Kyle Boller (concussion) and defensive ends Leonard Little (illness) and C.J. Ah You (illness) were probable.

    GOLDBERG STARTS

    Spagnuolo said that Adam Goldberg would start again at right tackle but that rookie Jason Smith "is going to see some playing time." Smith, who suffered a knee injury late in the first half Sept. 20 at Washington, got in for two snaps on special teams last Sunday.

    Rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher will start for the second consecutive week ahead of Jonathan Wade, according to Spagnuolo. And LaJuan Ramsey appears to be the new first-teamer at defensive tackle in place of Gary Gibson, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury vs. the Vikings.

    "It's unfortunate that it had to happen through injury, but it is an opportunity. And that's how the NFL is," said the 6-3, 300-pound Ramsey, a free-agent signee Sept. 6.

    RAM-BLINGS

    Sources in Jacksonville report that at least 20,000 of the 66,000 seats will be empty Sunday. ... The NFL fined Rams cornerback Quincy Butler $7,500 for his horse-collar tackle on a second-quarter kickoff return by Minnesota's Percy Harvin.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

    Nice. I've really been impressed with Danny so far he's developing into a good WR and a great return man. With how he's doing I really hope he can stay with this team for the future. Its especially impressive how he's been a practice squad player untill now and can come in and get playing time as a WR. I'm sure he's really happy how he got a opportunity here and he's a great pickup.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

      I hope he really helps the rams in the wr/kr area.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

        He's a typical reciever that all to often are overlooked by the scouts, because they dont have elite size and speed. Lucky Rams, he could fill a void the rams have had for years- decent punt returner. He's fairly tough for his size, seems pretty shifty and give the impression theres no ball security issues??

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Amendola Gives Rams Return On Investment

          Glad he working out hope for something good from him today.
          :ramlogo:

          Comment

          Previous template Next

          Related Topics

          Collapse
          • r8rh8rmike
            Danny Amendola Hopes Solid Season Has Cemented Spot
            by r8rh8rmike
            Danny Amendola hopes solid season has cemented spot
            BY BILL COATS
            ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
            01/02/2010

            The Rams' leading ground gainer this season is …

            No, it's not Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson, who has piled up 1,675 yards (1,353 rushing and 322 receiving).

            Danny Amendola has Jackson beat … by a lot.

            Amendola has gobbled up 2,100 yards of real estate — 1,507 on 61 kickoff returns (both franchise records), 287 on 26 punt returns, 308 on 40 receptions, and minus 2 on three carries.

            He's amassed those numbers in just 13 games since the Rams signed him off Philadelphia's practice squad Sept. 22. And he has one more chance, Sunday's season finale against visiting San Francisco, to add to them.

            The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Texas Tech product, who joined the Eagles as an undrafted rookie, has taken a pounding. But he isn't complaining.

            "I'm definitely sore," he acknowledged Friday after the team's last full practice of the season. "That's what the NFL's all about. You play 16 games, and it's a grind. But that's what the people want to see, and it's fun."

            Amendola has been effective on returns, with solid averages of 24.7 yards on kickoffs and 11.0 yards on punts. That came as no surprise, coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

            "We certainly knew that he was a good returner," he said. "I think he's really surfaced as a guy we rely on in the pass game a little bit. He finds ways to get open."

            Only Jackson (51) and fellow wide receiver Donnie Avery (45) have more catches than Amendola.

            "I could have done some better things, but I've definitely improved since I first stepped on the field at receiver when I got here," he said. "You've got to give credit to the coaching staff for helping me do so."

            Asked whether he felt that he carved out a spot for himself on the team, Amendola said, "In a way, yeah. I definitely feel like I got a lot of experience, which has helped me a lot. But ... I've got a job to lose, and I'm going to try to go all out" to prevent that.

            PRIDE OF RAYTOWN

            Another undrafted rookie — the Rams have eight on their 53-man roster — will get his first start Sunday, and he'll have plenty of friends and family members here to witness it.

            "I'll have a nice little support huddle in the stands," said Roger Allen, who will line up at left guard in place of the injured Mark Setterstrom. Allen hails from the Kansas City suburb of Raytown, and his phone has been ringing all week.

            "I'm sure even more will be calling up with ticket requests," he said. "I bought a few in advance."

            Allen, an NCAA Division II All-American at Missouri Western State, was among the inactives for the first 13 games....
            -01-01-2010, 11:24 PM
          • r8rh8rmike
            No Slowing Amendola Now That He's Healthy
            by r8rh8rmike
            No slowing Amendola now that he's healthy

            BY DAN O'NEILL
            August 17, 2012

            Isaac Newton's first law of physics says a body in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. Danny Amendola offers corroborating evidence.

            The Rams receiver is, if nothing else, a body in motion, a veritable fruit fly on a football field. But after establishing his energetic presence with the Rams in 2010, the Texas Tech product was acted upon by an outside force. During the 2011 season-opening loss to the Eagles, Amendola suffered an injury that materialized as a dislocated left elbow. The body in motion came to rest for the remaining 15 games of the season.

            For Amendola, it was cruel and unusual punishment, like closing the gate on a thoroughbred as the rest of the horses galloped down the track. Sunday, almost a year later, Amendola played two series and caught one pass for 6 yards in an exhibition loss at Indianapolis.

            The performance was short on action but long on symbolic value. The body is back in motion.

            "It had been a while since I had been out there competing," Amendola, 26, said. "It was good to get back out there, good to get tackled, good to hit someone again. ... It was fun."

            If you know anything about Amendola, you know he thrives on the three C's — contact, competition and camaraderie. Injuries and idleness were not on his bucket list.

            The elbow problem, which he aggravated by trying to practice, "was kind of a freak injury and there's nothing I could do about it," Amendola said. "I understand injuries are part of the game and things like that happen, but ...

            "I'm good now. It was a bad injury but it's not anything that lingers or is threatening. I'm 100 percent."

            Amendola is probably the only receiver in Rams camp who has his ticket punched. Perhaps generously listed at 5 feet 11, 188 pounds, the Mighty Mite emerged as a go-to guy for rookie quarterback Sam Bradford in 2010. Amendola caught 85 passes for 689 yards and three touchdowns, and 29 of those receptions came on third downs.

            He also is important to the Rams' special teams, an Allstate kick returner whose good hands were sorely missed. Amendola led the NFL in combined kick and punt return attempts in 2009 and 2010. And while Martha White is the one all-purpose flour, Amendola is the one all-purpose receiver. His 2,364 all-purpose yards led the league in 2010.

            Like his fellow campers, the perpetual motion pass catcher is learning the language and schemes of new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. It shouldn't be too difficult for Amendola to forget what he learned from the departed Josh McDaniels' program — he hardly had a chance to use it. Regardless, nimble No. 16 likes the makeover.

            "It's a tough offense to get,"...
            -08-18-2012, 10:26 AM
          • 01d 0rd3r
            Amendolla pinballs into the record books.
            by 01d 0rd3r
            By Nick Wagoner
            Senior Writer

            The Rams were just two games into the season and they found themselves banged up at receiver and looking for someone to inject life into a sagging return game.

            In Danny Amendola, they hoped to find an answer for at least one of those questions. What they might not have expected was a cure for the ailing return unit and a surprise contributor to the offense. In Amendola, they found both.

            “Danny has been great,” special teams coach Tom McMahon said. “Danny has toughness, and that’s the biggest quality that I see in him. And, he’s a pro, he always spends extra time, and the guys see that, and they block harder for him. When you’ve got a guy who is putting in extra time, the other guys perform harder.”

            Since signing with the team on Sept. 22, Amendola has been one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2009 season. For a team that has repeatedly gone to the well in search of someone who can stick, Amendola has perhaps been the most consistent contributor to the team on a weekly basis.

            “Personally, I was just trying to come in and fill a role and do what I do to help the team in any which way,” Amendola said. “It’s been fun getting in there.”

            Upon his signing, Amendola’s foremost job was to help on special teams where he was immediately plugged in as the starting kickoff and punt returner.

            After bouncing around some from Philadelphia’s practice squad this season and the same role in Dallas the year before, Amendola made his NFL regular season debut on Sept. 27 against Green Bay.

            Amendola went right to work, returning eight kickoffs in his debut for 187 yards. The eight returns were tied for the most in franchise history. He also returned a pair of punts for 23 yards. All in all, not a bad first day of work.

            Since, Amendola has made a statement about his ability to return kicks in the NFL. IN last week’s game against Houston, Amendola five kicks for 159 yards. In the process, he set the Rams season mark for return yards at 1,435 yards. That bests the previous mark of 1,379 yards held by Tony Horne from 2000.

            This week, four kick returns for Amendola would push him past Drew Hill for the most returns in a season by a Ram.

            Impressive numbers sure, but ones that Amendola doesn’t spend much time worrying about.

            “I didn’t even know that,” Amendola said. “That’s great I guess. At the end of the day, I just want to get more wins. That’s all I can really say.”

            The always humble Amendola joins some pretty impressive company among players that have held the return duties in Rams history. Although the past few years haven’t provided much in the way of spark in the return game, there is a long line of guys who have done it and done it well in team history.

            Horne, Az-Zahir Hakim, Hill and Dante Hall are among the most accomplished...
            -12-24-2009, 06:21 PM
          • MauiRam
            Small in stature, Amendola coming up big for Rams ..
            by MauiRam
            BY BILL COATS • Friday, October 8, 2010

            Asked to describe Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola in one word, running back Steven Jackson replied, "Feisty."

            "Electric," said wideout Mark Clayton.

            "Quick," said fullback Mike Karney.

            "Tenacious," said wideout Brandon Gibson.

            "Energetic," said quarterback Sam Bradford.

            "Special," said wideout Laurent Robinson.

            "Competitive," said offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

            Amendola laughed when asked to portray himself in one word. "What did the others say?" he asked before finally settling on "effort."

            All are apt adjectives for Amendola, who although he's listed at 5 feet 11 and 186 pounds admitted that he's actually 5-10 and 180. He's the Rams' second-leading receiver, with 21 catches for 208 yards, heading into Sunday's game at Detroit.

            Still, one more word is needed to complete the Amendola outline: "tough."

            "You know what, that's probably the word I would've picked before 'quick,' how tough he is," Karney said. "He'll take some big hits out there. The guy's got a lot of guts."

            Robinson called Amendola "the toughest little guy I've seen. Doesn't care about anything. Just one tough guy."

            Added coach Steve Spagnuolo: "He's off the charts there, in everything he does. ... Walking in the hallway, he looks tough."

            Always 'a handful'

            Willie Amendola chuckled at the various depictions of the youngest of his two sons. "He's been like that since the day he was born, believe me," he said. "He was a handful when he was little."

            Growing up in The Woodlands, a suburb of Houston, Danny was what his father termed a "tag-along kind of guy." Brother Matt was 5 years older, and Danny constantly was in competition with bigger boys.

            "He learned to defend himself," Willie Amendola said.

            Or as Weldon Willig, who coached both Amendola brothers at The Woodlands High, put it, "Younger brothers get to be tougher, because they have the hell beat out of them every day as they're growing up."

            Willie Amendola is the head football coach and athletics director at Dekaney High in Houston. After a long day at practice, he faced the daunting challenge of putting young Danny down for the night.

            "Couldn't get him to bed," Willie recalled. "You'd have to chase him around the house, and I couldn't catch him. We used to do what we called race to bed. So wherever he was, 'I'll race you to bed.'

            "One day he leaped from the doorway over the bed and put his head right through the headboard. Didn't blink an eye."

            Danny...
            -10-08-2010, 12:26 AM
          • Rambos
            Amendola Embraces Leadership Role
            by Rambos
            Nick Wagoner

            Although he is entering just his fourth full NFL season with the Rams, Danny Amendola at the age of 26 has already become the de facto grizzled veteran of a mostly young and inexperienced receiver corps.

            In fact, of the 10 receivers the Rams have on their current roster, Amendola is the second oldest, only about six months behind Steve Smith and the next closest wideout in terms of age is Brandon Gibson, who is almost two full years younger.

            So as the Rams transition into another new offensive system under coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and continue to develop with a young crew of wideouts, the onus falls on Amendola, along with receivers coach Ray Sherman, to help his young teammates realize their potential.

            It’s a role that Amendola has embraced, not that he has much say in the matter.

            “That’s just the role as a veteran you are automatically kind of slotted into that, I guess,” Amendola said. “The fact that you know, whether it’s questions about where to live, how to turn the computers on, where do I get my car washed or just stuff relative to life in St. Louis, to be a rookie and a new guy here is a learning process. I’m willing to help any way I can.”

            To think that Amendola has become the veritable leader amongst players in the wide receiver meeting rooms is no surprise considering the work ethic and ability he brings to the table on a daily basis.

            What is surprising, though, is that in many ways Amendola is still learning the finite details of the game himself and only a few years ago was fighting simply to salvage a spot on a NFL roster, let alone a practice squad.

            Coming out of Texas Tech in 2008, Amendola bounced between Dallas (where he first learned under Sherman) and Philadelphia, spending his time on each team’s practice squad before the Rams signed him to their active roster on Sept. 22, 2009.

            Since then, Amendola’s career has been on a decided upward trajectory. In just three years, he’s gone from the fringe of the NFL to valuable receiver and positional leader.

            That journey has been an interesting one but Amendola knows better than most that if he stops to take time and think how far he’s come, he could find himself right back where he began.

            “At the end of the day, when my career is over I will look back and look at that stuff but right now honestly I am just trying to get this playbook down,” Amendola said. “I don’t even know what I’m going to eat for lunch. I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes. At the end of the day, I’ll look back but not right now.”

            Right now, Amendola has much bigger fish to fry. In Schottenheimer’s offense, Amendola’s role has expanded greatly from the more simple description of “slot” receiver that he’s been saddled with since his arrival in St. Louis.

            Amendola has proved more than capable of playing...
            -08-15-2012, 05:03 PM
          Working...
          X