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Practice Report 11/6: Defensive Continuity Leading to Success
by Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-116-Defensive-Continuity-Leading-to-Success/91dd3982-8c75-42d7-b84a-2689bcee6bc3#
It’s been nine quarters since the Rams allowed a touchdown, which is a nice feat for the defense. But that doesn’t mean the unit is where it wants to be.
Head coach Jeff Fisher said after Sunday’s win that 12 points in two games is too many. While that may seem a bit outlandish to the outside world, inside the building it’s a motivating mantra to encourage continuous improvement among coordinator Gregg Williams’ group.
“That’s what I want to hear, because that just means that he thinks we can do even better than we are now. And I think that’s true,” linebacker Mark Barron said. “That’s the mindset you want to have. You want to go out there and give your best performance. You want to try to be perfect.”
“I think it's just raising that bar every week,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “With Gregg, we raise the bar every week. Even with the win he's getting on us about little stuff we didn't do right. He's very detailed, and I think that was just him raising the bar and not getting complacent.”
Part of the reason the Rams have been able to continue raising the bar defensively is because the unit is in its second year under Williams. Last year, it took a little while for the defense to get going, as its coordinator was new and needed to get familiar with the personnel. Now that everyone knows the expectations, it’s clear there has been a difference.
“It's been tremendous,” defensive end William Hayes said of the continuity. “We have two years with Gregg Williams and have been able to stick with one scheme and figuring out what we do well right now. Guys are playing at a high level. That's probably the difference between us now and last year -- the film studies are picking up and guys became pros. As long as we keep that up and grind every day and come to work, we're going to be fine.”
“We have a feel for each other and we’re more focused on what the offense is trying to do to us,” safety T.J. McDonald said. “That allows us to be a step ahead and be ahead of things -- a motion, or a shift, or things that we see on film, tendencies. We’re able to focus on things like that instead of focusing on what our job is and what we have to do.”
“Guys know what to expect from each other and what to expect from Gregg -- what he's looking for,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “The best thing about Gregg is he sees big picture. He says all the time that we haven't scratched the surface of what we can be.”
That mentality comes despite the fact that the Rams are ranked in the top 10 in many defensive statistical categories, including sacks (tied at No. 2), points allowed per game (No. 4), and total yards per game (No. 6).
“Where other people look and say we played pretty well against the Packers, we look at it as, ‘Why did we give up two huge pass plays?’” Laurinaitis said. “It's always this [mentality of], ‘We're doing well, but we could be way better.’ So I think everyone's buying into that, and I think it's true.
“There's nobody in here patting each other on the back,” Laurinaitis continued. “You might recognize good individual play -- guys like Michael Brockers who had a great game [against the 49ers]. But collectively as a unit, we don't sit around and say, ‘Oh gosh, we're doing a great job.’ We know we have to be the best defense on Sunday if we want to win the game.”
That’s why despite all the numbers and rankings, Williams can’t buy quite into the notion that the Rams defense has reached the so-called ‘elite’ status.
“When we get those kind of things, it’s kind of when the season’s all over and done with,” Williams said, adding, however, he’s encourage by the team’s progress. “When [players] take ownership -- and they are -- when they have say -- and they do … when they’re doing the same thing that I’m thinking about, then we have a chance to be really, really good.
“If they can stay healthy, and we’ve got to keep all of our guys healthy, they have a chance to really do it,” Williams continued. “We’ve had several nice weekends in a row -- hey, all that’s over and behind us now. We’ve got to go do it this weekend.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have seven players on their injury report this week, but only one has been declared “out.”
Robert Quinn (knee), Will Hayes (thigh), Tre Mason (ankle), Chase Reynolds (thigh), Rob Havenstein (ankle), and T.J. McDonald (foot) are all listed as questionable. Only Quinn, McDonald, and Havenstein did not practice in at least a limited basis on Friday.
“Rob [Havenstein] didn’t practice and he’ll be questionable for the game with an Achilles,” Fisher said. “And if that’s the case [that he can’t play], then we’ll just plug people in. We’ve got young guys who know what to do.”
Chris Long (knee) did not practice this week and is out.
LONGACRE PROMOTED
With a spot open on the 53-man roster, the Rams promoted defensive end Matt Longacre from the practice squad on Friday. An undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State, Longacre flashed in the preseason with 18 tackles, six quarterback pressures, and five quarterback hits. He’s been on the practice squad ever since, playing on the scout team and sometimes filling in on the D-line when the regular rotation players need a break.
“I had no idea they were going to do it,” Longacre said of his promotion. “Coach Fisher called me as we were walking out to do our walk through at around 10:30. He was like, ‘We're going to promote you to varsity,’ so I'm going to go make the trip up to Minnesota. I'm excited.”
It’s a start of another journey for Longacre, as he joins Ethan Westbrooks as the two Division-II college products on the defensive line.
“I've said it since day one, these guys gave me a shot when not a lot of teams would -- that D-II guy a little smaller than prototypical defensive ends,” Longacre said. “I have to prove them right. And that's my whole thing, is they took a shot and believing in me, now it's my turn to reward them with playmaking.”
by Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-116-Defensive-Continuity-Leading-to-Success/91dd3982-8c75-42d7-b84a-2689bcee6bc3#
It’s been nine quarters since the Rams allowed a touchdown, which is a nice feat for the defense. But that doesn’t mean the unit is where it wants to be.
Head coach Jeff Fisher said after Sunday’s win that 12 points in two games is too many. While that may seem a bit outlandish to the outside world, inside the building it’s a motivating mantra to encourage continuous improvement among coordinator Gregg Williams’ group.
“That’s what I want to hear, because that just means that he thinks we can do even better than we are now. And I think that’s true,” linebacker Mark Barron said. “That’s the mindset you want to have. You want to go out there and give your best performance. You want to try to be perfect.”
“I think it's just raising that bar every week,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “With Gregg, we raise the bar every week. Even with the win he's getting on us about little stuff we didn't do right. He's very detailed, and I think that was just him raising the bar and not getting complacent.”
Part of the reason the Rams have been able to continue raising the bar defensively is because the unit is in its second year under Williams. Last year, it took a little while for the defense to get going, as its coordinator was new and needed to get familiar with the personnel. Now that everyone knows the expectations, it’s clear there has been a difference.
“It's been tremendous,” defensive end William Hayes said of the continuity. “We have two years with Gregg Williams and have been able to stick with one scheme and figuring out what we do well right now. Guys are playing at a high level. That's probably the difference between us now and last year -- the film studies are picking up and guys became pros. As long as we keep that up and grind every day and come to work, we're going to be fine.”
“We have a feel for each other and we’re more focused on what the offense is trying to do to us,” safety T.J. McDonald said. “That allows us to be a step ahead and be ahead of things -- a motion, or a shift, or things that we see on film, tendencies. We’re able to focus on things like that instead of focusing on what our job is and what we have to do.”
“Guys know what to expect from each other and what to expect from Gregg -- what he's looking for,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “The best thing about Gregg is he sees big picture. He says all the time that we haven't scratched the surface of what we can be.”
That mentality comes despite the fact that the Rams are ranked in the top 10 in many defensive statistical categories, including sacks (tied at No. 2), points allowed per game (No. 4), and total yards per game (No. 6).
“Where other people look and say we played pretty well against the Packers, we look at it as, ‘Why did we give up two huge pass plays?’” Laurinaitis said. “It's always this [mentality of], ‘We're doing well, but we could be way better.’ So I think everyone's buying into that, and I think it's true.
“There's nobody in here patting each other on the back,” Laurinaitis continued. “You might recognize good individual play -- guys like Michael Brockers who had a great game [against the 49ers]. But collectively as a unit, we don't sit around and say, ‘Oh gosh, we're doing a great job.’ We know we have to be the best defense on Sunday if we want to win the game.”
That’s why despite all the numbers and rankings, Williams can’t buy quite into the notion that the Rams defense has reached the so-called ‘elite’ status.
“When we get those kind of things, it’s kind of when the season’s all over and done with,” Williams said, adding, however, he’s encourage by the team’s progress. “When [players] take ownership -- and they are -- when they have say -- and they do … when they’re doing the same thing that I’m thinking about, then we have a chance to be really, really good.
“If they can stay healthy, and we’ve got to keep all of our guys healthy, they have a chance to really do it,” Williams continued. “We’ve had several nice weekends in a row -- hey, all that’s over and behind us now. We’ve got to go do it this weekend.”
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have seven players on their injury report this week, but only one has been declared “out.”
Robert Quinn (knee), Will Hayes (thigh), Tre Mason (ankle), Chase Reynolds (thigh), Rob Havenstein (ankle), and T.J. McDonald (foot) are all listed as questionable. Only Quinn, McDonald, and Havenstein did not practice in at least a limited basis on Friday.
“Rob [Havenstein] didn’t practice and he’ll be questionable for the game with an Achilles,” Fisher said. “And if that’s the case [that he can’t play], then we’ll just plug people in. We’ve got young guys who know what to do.”
Chris Long (knee) did not practice this week and is out.
LONGACRE PROMOTED
With a spot open on the 53-man roster, the Rams promoted defensive end Matt Longacre from the practice squad on Friday. An undrafted rookie out of Northwest Missouri State, Longacre flashed in the preseason with 18 tackles, six quarterback pressures, and five quarterback hits. He’s been on the practice squad ever since, playing on the scout team and sometimes filling in on the D-line when the regular rotation players need a break.
“I had no idea they were going to do it,” Longacre said of his promotion. “Coach Fisher called me as we were walking out to do our walk through at around 10:30. He was like, ‘We're going to promote you to varsity,’ so I'm going to go make the trip up to Minnesota. I'm excited.”
It’s a start of another journey for Longacre, as he joins Ethan Westbrooks as the two Division-II college products on the defensive line.
“I've said it since day one, these guys gave me a shot when not a lot of teams would -- that D-II guy a little smaller than prototypical defensive ends,” Longacre said. “I have to prove them right. And that's my whole thing, is they took a shot and believing in me, now it's my turn to reward them with playmaking.”
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