12/31 Rams Practice Report: Finishing Strong Defensively

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RamBill

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Practice Report 12/31: Finishing Strong Defensively

By Myles Simmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-Practice Report 12/31: Finishing Strong Defensivelypracticereport/Practice-Report-1231-Finishing-Strong-Defensively/d3a8d1ea-f1c8-4645-96eb-befc707b6e94

NAPA, Calif. -- A few weeks ago, the Rams fell to 4-8, which was a record far from the expectations the club had set for itself coming into 2015. Despite the disappointment, the team continued to stay focused, and defensively, coordinator Gregg Williams set a high bar for the last four games.

“Gregg always talked about going 4-0 the last quarter of the season,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “That was a big goal of ours. We’re at 3-0, we can accomplish that. Do something we haven’t done here, win four in a row and kind of move on from that.”

“I believe it’s important for a confidence standpoint to be doing right at the end of the year,” Williams said. “I was pretty hard, pretty stern about this last quarter of the season, about being 4-0. And we wouldn’t be in position right now to go do that, to be 4-0 in this last quarter, had we not taken care of business in the first three games.”

Now at Week 17, having the opportunity to finish a season at .500 is still significant, given it’s a mark St. Louis has not reached since the 2006 season.

“It’s not where we want to be, and quite frankly, this team, we’re going to look back and be like, ‘Goodness, how aren’t we 10-6 or 11-5?’” Laurinaitis said. “But it feels better to be at 8-8 saying that than at 6-10.”

Even though the playoffs are not an option, multiple players have said the team has treated these last couple weeks as if they were the postseason.

“We always talked about, hey, if we do make the playoffs, we’re going to have to go up somewhere like Seattle and play in a playoff-type atmosphere,” Laurinaitis said. “So we treated that like a playoff game, and we got over that hump of not winning there in a decade. Hopefully, it spurs our franchise around like it did the Cardinals, when they went up there when nobody was winning at Seattle.”

“We’re treating this game like a playoff game,” cornerback Trumaine Johnson said. "We treated the Seattle game like a playoff game. That’s our mindset coming in. So I feel like if we do what we’ve got to do, we’ll come out with a victory.”

Last week, the defense played one of its best games against a Seattle offense that had been rolling. The multiple injuries to the unit, especially across the defensive line, made holding the Seahawks to just 17 points and 313 yards of offense that much more significant.

“The way our D-line played was remarkable. Really, the whole defense,” Laurinaitis said. “We were super physical with them, especially in that first half. I’m not sure a team has played them as physical as we did on Sunday. Anytime you can score on defense that early in the game, it really just lets you relax and play fast.”

Sunday’s victory also saw Johnson continue his run of strong play. He’s now intercepted a pass in each of his last four games, bringing his total to seven on the season.

“Finishing strong is the focal point,” Johnson said. “Our goal was to finish 4-0, and I’m doing everything possible to finish 4-0. So if anything, just finishing 4-0 and strong.”

“Tackling very well. Playing very smart. Jumping routes. Understanding route concepts, formations, splits, alignments and things like that. He’s doing a great job with that,” Fisher said of Johnson. “The hand-eye coordination is extraordinary. He can make plays on the ball.”

But this week presents another divisional challenge with the 49ers. While San Francisco has gone through its share of disappointments this year, it’s still a team with a noticeable identity on film.

“That’s their bread-and-butter right now, is keep the ball away from opposing offenses,” Fisher said. “They do a nice job of the conventional run game with the I-formation and stuff and the extra tight ends.”

“They do a great job of that,” Williams said of the Niners’ run game. “You take at those guys when their offensive linemen get off the bus, you say, well there’s some football players there. And they’re big, strong men. And we’ve got to play well in the run game.”

Plus, quarterback Blaine Gabbert has played well since taking over for Colin Kaepernick. The St. Louis native and Mizzou product has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,677 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. And while he may not be known as much for running as Kaepernick, Gabbert has rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts in 2015.

“For the most part, they’re still the same 49ers -- the same structure, the same play concepts,” Williams said. “There’s a few other tendencies that Blaine does better and is able to do some things.”

“Colin, he had the zone-read style runs that were built in for him, they don’t do that as much with Blaine,” Laurinaitis said. “But it seems like on third-and-whatever, if Blaine’s first two options aren’t there, he’s running it.”

Shutting the offense down will be a challenge, considering the two teams are division rivals and thus know one another quite well.

“We’re going to have to be ready to go,” Williams said. “This division is a strong division. They know us, we know them. So it’ll come down to who’s prepared the best.”

“We expect everything from them,” Laurinaitis said. “It’s the NFC West. There’s no motivation [needed] for either team other than division game, cap it off. We’ve got all offseason to heal up.”

INJURY REPORT & ROSTER MOVES

With only one game remaining, the Rams placed defensive tackle Nick Fairley (concussion) and defensive tackle Doug Worthington (thigh) on injured reserve on Thursday. To replace them on the active roster, St. Louis promoted running back Malcolm Brown from the practice squad and claimed cornerback Troy Hill off waivers from New England.

Brown could be a bit of insurance in case Todd Gurley (foot) is unable to play on Sunday. The running back did not practice once again on Thursday, but Fisher said Gurley does not necessarily need to participate in Friday’s session to be active against the Niners.

“He’s getting treatment on the foot right now, so we’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Fisher said.

Elsewhere on the injury report, safety Mark Barron (concussion) was back at practice participating on a limited basis. Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks (concussion) was upgraded to a full participant from limited on Wednesday. And defensive tackle Michael Brockers (thigh) was also upgraded from limited to full.

Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) was limited and cornerback Eric Patterson (ankle) did not practice.
 

RamBill

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Todd Gurley sits again as Rams add running back to roster
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...sits-again-as-rams-add-running-back-to-roster

St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley did not practice for the second consecutive day Thursday as he continues dealing with a foot injury.

Gurley came up limping late in last week's 23-17 win against the Seattle Seahawks and did not practice on Wednesday, either. While his status for Sunday's game against San Francisco is up in the air, the Rams added some insurance at running back on Thursday.

With Gurley ailing, the Rams promoted running back Malcolm Brown from the practice squad to the active roster. To make room for Brown, the Rams placed defensive tackles Nick Fairley (concussion) and Doug Worthington (thigh) on injured reserve. Brown took one of those roster spots with defensive back Troy Hill coming over via waivers from New England.

It would stand to reason that the Rams might not want to push Gurley and potentially risk further injury in a meaningless game unless he is feeling much better on Sunday. Promoting Brown would lend credence to that idea.

The Rams also "officially" added linebacker Alec Ogletree as returning to practice though coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday that it's "very unlikely" Ogletree will be activated from injured reserve/designated to return and play on Sunday.

Here's Thursday's entire injury report:

Did not participate -- RB Todd Gurley (foot), CB Eric Patterson (ankle).

Limited participation -- LB/S Mark Barron (concussion), OL Andrew Donnal (knee).

Full participation -- DT Michael Brockers (thigh), DL Ethan Westbrooks (concussion).

*Fairley and Worthington did not participate and were placed on the injured reserve list.
 

RamBill

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Foot injury may sideline Gurley vs. 49ers
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_bdc522bc-0023-5198-b38b-465cdb61a65d.html

NAPA, CALIF. • With one full-scale practice remaining in preparation for the San Francisco 49ers, it’s looking more and more like Todd Gurley could miss the Rams’ season finale.

For the second day in a row, the rookie running back did not practice, casting doubt on his availability Sunday.

“We left him back (at the team hotel). He’s getting treatment on the foot right now,” coach Jeff Fisher said following the Rams’ Thursday practice.

Staying on the West Coast following last Sunday’s game in Seattle, the Rams are practicing this week at a facility used by the Oakland Raiders for training camp. The team is staying at a resort hotel 15 minutes from the practice fields, taking buses to and from practice.

Fisher said Gurley doesn’t have to practice Friday in order to play against the 49ers. He said Gurley suffered the injury late in the Rams’ 23-17 victory over Seattle.

“He was sore after (the game), and then woke up sore,” Fisher said.

Gurley has been in a walking boot this week in Napa. When the teams met Nov. 1 in St. Louis, Gurley rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries including a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of a 27-6 Rams victory.

Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham would share the workload if Gurley can’t go. And in another sign that Gurley may not play, the Rams promoted running back Malcolm Brown from the practice squad to the active roster.

Signed as an undrafted rookie out of Texas last spring, Brown has been on the Rams’ practice squad all season. During the preseason, he finished third on the team in rushing with 69 yards on 17 carries, and was tied for first in receptions (nine) and second in receiving yards (127).

Gurley ranks third in the NFL in rushing this season with 1,106 yards and was voted to the Pro Bowl. He originally was credited with 1,108 yards following the Seattle game, but a league review ruled that he fumbled at the 11-yard line in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks instead of the 9, thus subtracting two yards from his rushing total.
MORE ROSTER MOVES

Besides promoting Brown from the practice squad, the Rams claimed cornerback Troy Hill off waivers Thursday from New England.

Hill entered the league with Cincinnati this season, signed as a undrafted rookie from Oregon. He appeared in three games for the Bengals, recording five tackles, but was waived on Christmas Eve and picked up by New England before his Patriots’ release on Wednesday.

To make room for Brown and Hill, the Rams placed defensive tackles Doug Worthington and Nick Fairley on the injured reserve list. Neither had practiced this week because of injuries, with Worthington coming out of the Seattle game with a thigh injury and Fairley leaving early with a concussion.

As the third defensive tackle in the Rams’ rotation, Fairley finished with 63 tackles, one-half sack, and a fumble recovery. Worthington, who spent most of the season on the practice squad, had three tackles and a fumble recovery in two games.

Fisher had expressed optimism at the start of the week that Fairley would clear the concussion protocol, but obviously that proved not to be the case.
MORE ON INJURIES

There was better news on the injury front in other areas. Defensive end/tackle Ethan Westbrooks has cleared the concussion protocol, was full participation Thursday, and will play against San Francisco.

Also, linebacker/safety Mark Barron (concussion) returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis; Fisher said he expects Barron to be cleared Friday. Barron has been one of the Rams’ leading defenders this season, with a team-high 130 tackles along with one sack, a team-high four forced fumbles, and five pass breakups.

Defensive tackle Michael Brockers (thigh) was full participation Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Rookie offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) was limited, while cornerback Eric Patterson (ankle) did not practice.
ROBINSON BACKER

Citing improved play recently by left tackle Greg Robinson, Fisher disagreed with the notion that Robinson’s 2015 season has been a struggle.

“No, it hasn’t,” Fisher said. “The left tackle position is really hard to play. Early on, we put him in too many one-on-one situations. Not every left tackle can handle one-on-one situations against great rushers all the time.

“He’s done a good job with it as of late. We’ve kind of changed some protection things up, and got him some help. And once Garrett (Reynolds) moved over next to him, he settled down.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Rams players had a curfew Thursday night, with a scheduled early morning start Friday as they continue preparations for the 49ers.

When asked after Thursday’s practice if he’d ring in the New Year in style, Fisher replied: “Probably not. Maybe on East Coast time, but not Pacific Coast time.”
 

BonifayRam

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Looks like DT Ethan Westbrooks will get all the interior work he can handle in this last game of the year after Fisher sent both DT's Nick Fairley & Doug Worthington to the IR list. That list has grown to ten now. Ethan should be heading to a full time DE in 2016 with both DE Sims & Hayes entering UFA'cy and the HUGE Chris Long cap money $$$ being a ultra high need in order to buy back a few free agents.

This should be the last time we see DT Worthington on the Rams master roster. He is so slow compared to the rest of our DT's and can not remain healthy. Fairley is off to a big payday in a few months also on another team. With both Fairley & Worthington departed & Westbrooks moving to DE the DT/NT units looks might light. This 2016 draft is slammed full with a extra large amount of good prospects.

Its been close to 7 weeks since Right OT Andrew Donnal has been able to practice since he suffered a sprained MCL in the Week 11 loss to the Ravens. Not sure if its the same knee he had tore his ACL back in his 2012 season @ Iowa. They said before the draft that Donnal was slow to recover from injury. Having Donnal active to back up Havenstein would insure Reynolds continues @ OLG next to GRob. Hope to never see Donnal starting back @ OLG again & he stays as ORT reserve.
 

den-the-coach

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Hope to never see Donnal starting back @ OLG again & he stays as ORT reserve.

Agreed much better Right Tackle, he struggled at left guard, but so did Demetrius Rhaney and in fact, if the Rams had to send somebody in for Havenstein I would rather have Battle play RT than moving Reynolds over and Rhaney at LG which he has no business playing IMHO.
 

BonifayRam

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Agreed much better Right Tackle, he struggled at left guard, but so did Demetrius Rhaney and in fact, if the Rams had to send somebody in for Havenstein I would rather have Battle play RT than moving Reynolds over and Rhaney at LG which he has no business playing IMHO.

The Battle flipping is an interesting thought. I was thinking that Battles thin frame was not suited to play ORT where Battle is listed in most places as a 6-7 290 pounder. Havenstein being 6-7 321 pounds early in spring of this season after trying to take massive amounts of weight off for the combine. I am thinking that Havenstein looks a bit heavier now closer to 330 plus. All of Battles 13 starts were on the left side.

That Battle frame if true may work well for those smaller speed rushers flying & speeding in from the left outside wing but in a run heavy offense being a very thin tall ORT does not sound very ....SOUND in my way of thinking. The 6-6 316 pound Donnal looks to be a decent young reserve ORT currently. I would hope that Battle can add some power & strength to his body in the off season to be able to be a solid young reserve OLT for the Rams.

No matter it looks like OLT will have 3 stacked in 2016 (Roberson- Williams- Battle). The ORT looks to have a trio of Havenstein- Donnal- Reynolds 3 stacked up there. The OT's are finally up to par with any other NFL team.
 
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Looks like DT Ethan Westbrooks will get all the interior work he can handle in this last game of the year after Fisher sent both DT's Nick Fairley & Doug Worthington to the IR list. That list has grown to ten now. Ethan should be heading to a full time DE in 2016 with both DE Sims & Hayes entering UFA'cy and the HUGE Chris Long cap money $$$ being a ultra high need in order to buy back a few free agents.

This should be the last time we see DT Worthington on the Rams master roster. He is so slow compared to the rest of our DT's and can not remain healthy. Fairley is off to a big payday in a few months also on another team. With both Fairley & Worthington departed & Westbrooks moving to DE the DT/NT units looks might light. This 2016 draft is slammed full with a extra large amount of good prospects.

Its been close to 7 weeks since Right OT Andrew Donnal has been able to practice since he suffered a sprained MCL in the Week 11 loss to the Ravens. Not sure if its the same knee he had tore his ACL back in his 2012 season @ Iowa. They said before the draft that Donnal was slow to recover from injury. Having Donnal active to back up Havenstein would insure Reynolds continues @ OLG next to GRob. Hope to never see Donnal starting back @ OLG again & he stays as ORT reserve.
I'm hoping to see a slight restructure in the contracts of CL and JL so we can keep them both and more!
I'm also looking forward to see what Trinca-Pasat can do at DT/NT! And I want to see how Battle developes on the OL next year!
I also think the 2016 TC/Pre-season could prove to be make or Break for GRob at OT!
 

LACHAMP46

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Not sure why, but I always figured the Rams would grab Blaine Gabbert....Esp. after the Jags cut/released him...

I was thinking that Battles thin frame was not suited to play ORT where Battle is listed in most places as a 6-7 290 pounder.........That Battle frame if true may work well for those smaller speed rushers flying & speeding in from the left outside wing but in a run heavy offense being a very thin tall ORT does not sound very ....SOUND in my way of thinking.
Not sure if his weight was accurate. During camp, he was easily the biggest lineman on the team...HUGE bubble-butt too...if that's your sort of thing...:ROFLMAO:
 

BonifayRam

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I'm hoping to see a slight restructure in the contracts of CL and JL so we can keep them both and more!
I'm also looking forward to see what Trinca-Pasat can do at DT/NT! And I want to see how Battle developes on the OL next year!
I also think the 2016 TC/Pre-season could prove to be make or Break for GRob at OT!

I sure hope you are correct JL's should stand a very good chance for a positive restructure (y)but I think that Chris Long restructure is doubtful at best (n)...IMO. CL will still demand a good salary in the open FA market for many other starved pass rushing presence. Rams are in a cap pickle to retain younger play-makers.

IF Demoff thinks he can get CL to take the needed pay cut to get back a few of these needed young play makers departing .....IMO he is in near foolish thinking mode. CL is very smart & knows he can bolt to teams like Falcons,Chargers, Brown, Giants, Bears & Cowboys & make a nice contract.
 

DaveFan'51

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CL is very smart & knows he can bolt to teams like Falcons,Chargers, Brown, Giants, Bears & Cowboys & make a nice contract.
I personally think Chris is too Loyal a Ram to want to leave. I think he would prefer to stay and retire a Ram!!
Although he might be tempted to go to the Bears and Teach his brother a thing or two!!:rolllaugh:
 

BonifayRam

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I personally think Chris is too Loyal a Ram to want to leave. I think he would prefer to stay and retire a Ram!!
Although he might be tempted to go to the Bears and Teach his brother a thing or two!!:rolllaugh:
He may be smart too....he might know that his skill set is in fast decline the last two years & may need to do one more high $$$ year before sliding into retirement in the near future. If he as LOYAL as you think CL may desire to get that big payday from another team & not the Rams?
 

DaveFan'51

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He may be smart too....he might know that his skill set is in fast decline the last two years & may need to do one more high $$$ year before sliding into retirement in the near future. If he as LOYAL as you think CL may desire to get that big payday from another team & not the Rams?
I don't know. his Dad chose retirement rather than go to another team other than the Raiders. Like Father, like Son? Who knows! Money talks!!