Tweet
By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Nov. 01 2004
It's Election Day, and Mike Martz has made up his mind: His choice is ...
Trev Faulk, for the office of starting middle linebacker. Faulk received the
head coach's vote on the heels of a strong outing Oct. 24 against the Dolphins.
Faulk, who entered in the first quarter after rookie Brandon Chillar pulled a
hamstring, recorded six tackles - five solos - in the Rams' 31-14 loss leading
into their bye week.
"For him to do what did down at Miami was just incredible," Martz said. "So,
he's seized the starting role at (middle) backer at this point."
Third-year pro Robert Thomas is the incumbent, but a bad ankle kept him out of
the past two games. Chillar stepped in, went down, and Faulk got his chance.
Chillar remained on the sideline Monday during the team's first practice in a
week, but Thomas took part in the full-pads workout and didn't appear to be
hampered.
Martz indicated that Faulk earned the job on merit, not because of injuries.
"There's no question about that. It's his to lose," Martz said.
Joining the fray at middle linebacker in Miami was "definitely exciting," Faulk
said. "That's my position; that's what I do," he said. "(But) the coaches
determine whatever my role is. If it's on special teams, I'll do my best at
that. If I get to play linebacker, I'll do my best at that."
The promotion comes at an ideal time for Faulk personally: His cousin Kevin is
a running back for the New England Patriots (6-1), who will square off with the
Rams (4-3) at 3:15 p.m. Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Trev Faulk, 23, was plucked from the Arizona Cardinals' practice-squad roster
last Dec. 31 but didn't get into a game with the Rams. He originally signed
with Denver as an undrafted rookie in 2002, after he left Louisiana State
following his junior season.
His first NFL game action was on special teams against Arizona this year in the
opener. He missed the next two games with a hamstring pull, then emerged an
effective performer on kick and punt coverage, collecting a total of eight
tackles at San Francisco and Seattle. Another hamstring injury kept him out vs.
Tampa Bay on Oct. 18, but he returned in a big way in Miami.
"For him to stay up on it mentally without taking reps was pretty incredible,"
Martz said. "And then he's physical, gets to the ball, excellent tackler - all
the things that you want a (middle) backer to be, he is. And he's probably the
best hitter we have on the team."
Martz also praised the 6-foot-3, 254-pound Faulk's instinct for closing on
ballcarriers. "Some guys have it and some guys don't," Martz said. "He can get
through traffic so easily. He reads and reacts very well, doesn't get out of
position. ... He's just a natural inside."
Players heal up
Part of the reason Martz gave the players last week off - save for lifting and
running - was so their various bumps and bruises could mend. Based on the
near-perfect attendance at Monday's practice, that strategy appeared to pay
off.
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, who has been out since early August with a
broken foot, took part in all the drills and might be able to play Sunday.
"Absolutely, there's a chance," Martz said. "We'll just see how he goes through
practice. It looked like he did a nice job out there today."
Defensive end Tyoka Jackson (hamstring), who sat out the past two games,
returned to full work. Cornerback Travis Fisher (arm), who said after the Miami
game that he was concerned about a flare-up of his injury, was back with the
first unit. Running back and kick returner Arlen Harris (hamstring) and
offensive tackle Grant Williams (neck) dressed but saw limited action.
Sidelined were Chillar and wide receiver Dane Looker (ankle). Both were hurt in
the Miami game.
McBride switches
The newest Ram, former Green Bay and Atlanta cornerback Tod McBride, hasn't
played free safety since his senior season at UCLA, some six years ago. But
that's where the Rams plan to use him, and he's OK with that.
"I'll finally be going back to the middle, and I think it'll suit me fine,"
said McBride, who explained that the primary adjustment from corner was "just a
little more physical play at the safety position. But as far as recognizing
routes and knowing the secondary, I think it's all fairly much the same."
McBride, 6-1 and 208, signed with the Rams last week.
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Nov. 01 2004
It's Election Day, and Mike Martz has made up his mind: His choice is ...
Trev Faulk, for the office of starting middle linebacker. Faulk received the
head coach's vote on the heels of a strong outing Oct. 24 against the Dolphins.
Faulk, who entered in the first quarter after rookie Brandon Chillar pulled a
hamstring, recorded six tackles - five solos - in the Rams' 31-14 loss leading
into their bye week.
"For him to do what did down at Miami was just incredible," Martz said. "So,
he's seized the starting role at (middle) backer at this point."
Third-year pro Robert Thomas is the incumbent, but a bad ankle kept him out of
the past two games. Chillar stepped in, went down, and Faulk got his chance.
Chillar remained on the sideline Monday during the team's first practice in a
week, but Thomas took part in the full-pads workout and didn't appear to be
hampered.
Martz indicated that Faulk earned the job on merit, not because of injuries.
"There's no question about that. It's his to lose," Martz said.
Joining the fray at middle linebacker in Miami was "definitely exciting," Faulk
said. "That's my position; that's what I do," he said. "(But) the coaches
determine whatever my role is. If it's on special teams, I'll do my best at
that. If I get to play linebacker, I'll do my best at that."
The promotion comes at an ideal time for Faulk personally: His cousin Kevin is
a running back for the New England Patriots (6-1), who will square off with the
Rams (4-3) at 3:15 p.m. Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Trev Faulk, 23, was plucked from the Arizona Cardinals' practice-squad roster
last Dec. 31 but didn't get into a game with the Rams. He originally signed
with Denver as an undrafted rookie in 2002, after he left Louisiana State
following his junior season.
His first NFL game action was on special teams against Arizona this year in the
opener. He missed the next two games with a hamstring pull, then emerged an
effective performer on kick and punt coverage, collecting a total of eight
tackles at San Francisco and Seattle. Another hamstring injury kept him out vs.
Tampa Bay on Oct. 18, but he returned in a big way in Miami.
"For him to stay up on it mentally without taking reps was pretty incredible,"
Martz said. "And then he's physical, gets to the ball, excellent tackler - all
the things that you want a (middle) backer to be, he is. And he's probably the
best hitter we have on the team."
Martz also praised the 6-foot-3, 254-pound Faulk's instinct for closing on
ballcarriers. "Some guys have it and some guys don't," Martz said. "He can get
through traffic so easily. He reads and reacts very well, doesn't get out of
position. ... He's just a natural inside."
Players heal up
Part of the reason Martz gave the players last week off - save for lifting and
running - was so their various bumps and bruises could mend. Based on the
near-perfect attendance at Monday's practice, that strategy appeared to pay
off.
Defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, who has been out since early August with a
broken foot, took part in all the drills and might be able to play Sunday.
"Absolutely, there's a chance," Martz said. "We'll just see how he goes through
practice. It looked like he did a nice job out there today."
Defensive end Tyoka Jackson (hamstring), who sat out the past two games,
returned to full work. Cornerback Travis Fisher (arm), who said after the Miami
game that he was concerned about a flare-up of his injury, was back with the
first unit. Running back and kick returner Arlen Harris (hamstring) and
offensive tackle Grant Williams (neck) dressed but saw limited action.
Sidelined were Chillar and wide receiver Dane Looker (ankle). Both were hurt in
the Miami game.
McBride switches
The newest Ram, former Green Bay and Atlanta cornerback Tod McBride, hasn't
played free safety since his senior season at UCLA, some six years ago. But
that's where the Rams plan to use him, and he's OK with that.
"I'll finally be going back to the middle, and I think it'll suit me fine,"
said McBride, who explained that the primary adjustment from corner was "just a
little more physical play at the safety position. But as far as recognizing
routes and knowing the secondary, I think it's all fairly much the same."
McBride, 6-1 and 208, signed with the Rams last week.
Comment