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Fisher, Cignetti support Bradford
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_d8c2575f-309f-53c4-b43d-2696a956ba6c.html
One of the most noteworthy things to come out of Friday’s introductory press conference for new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was how strongly both Cignetti and coach Jeff Fisher came out in support of quarterback Sam Bradford.
Based on what was said Friday, there appears to be little doubt that Bradford will be with the team next season — and be the starter.
One exchange was particularly telling during the 20-minute session at Rams Park. When asked if Bradford was kept in the loop during the process of hiring an offensive coordinator, Fisher replied:
“I had a lengthy discussion with Sam, yes, prior to making the decision. It was part of the information gathering process. Sam was very forthcoming. He had some firm opinions. I really enjoyed and appreciated his input.”
So would Cignetti have been promoted to coordinator (after three seasons as QB coach) if Bradford had voiced objections?
“We wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Fisher replied.
“As it should be,” Cignetti chimed in.
If you were seriously considering trading Bradford, or even releasing him, none of that probably would’ve taken place.
So the Rams definitely want him back in ’15?
“That’s correct, yes,” Fisher said. “He’s been in the building since the season ended. He’s doing well.”
Fisher even backed down from his end-of-the-season comment that there will be competition for Bradford on the roster next season, competition that’s currently “not in the building.” The plan still calls for at least one new face on the quarterback depth chart in 2015, but on Friday having competition became having options.
Here’s what Fisher had to say Friday when asked about bringing in an outside QB.
“It’s not as much from the standpoint of challenging Sam,” Fisher said. “It’s to have options. We don’t know what that looks like right now. We don’t know if that’s draft, if that’s free agency, or what that looks like. But when we line up in September, we’ll have somebody there.”
Fisher’s altered stance may be partly to do with the fact that the free-agent market is lean, there don’t seem to be many concrete trade options developing, and the 2015 draft is neither deep nor strong at the position.
(Sunday’s Post-Dispatch will explore the free-agent and trade markets at quarterback.)
Continuity and stability on the offense were cited by Fisher as one of the main reasons he chose to promote from within at coordinator, selecting Cignetti in a close call over tight ends coach Rob Boras for the job. In the end, Boras was promoted to assistant head coach/offense while still maintaining his duties as tight ends coach.
“Same system for Sam, same system for the rest of his teammates,” Fisher said. “That was very, very important, and it was about how we get better. How we become more productive.”
All told, Bradford’s name came up a half-dozen times at the press conference, often without prompting by media members.
“We’re looking forward to Sam moving forward,” Cignetti said. “He’s doing a great job in his rehabilitation. When you go back to last year, he had an outstanding offseason. He had a great training camp. Unfortunately, in Cleveland he got injured. Moving forward, getting Sam back healthy again will greatly increase our chances of winning.”
The team remains optimistic that it can restructure Bradford’s contract for 2015 — the final year of his original deal — in a way that is more cap friendly.
When the Rams get on the field for spring practices, Bradford and the rest of the squad will find some changes in approach and playbook compared to how things were done for three seasons under Cignetti predecessor Brian Schottenheimer.
For one, the playbook will be simplified. There will be less volume than was the case under Schottenheimer, who left in January to become OC for the Georgia Bulldogs.
In discussing changes being made on offense, Fisher said: “We need to reduce the amount of information that we’re giving to the players, and go out and execute.”
So was there too much volume in the playbook previously?
“I think we agreed that there was at times,” Fisher replied. “I’m confident that our system will be such in April ... that it will be simplified but appear to be much more complex.”
As a rookie in 2013, wide receiver Tavon Austin remarked that the playbook was like Spanish to him. By minimizing terminology in the playbook, Cignetti hopes for better results.
“The foundation of the playbook’s the same,” Cignetti said. “Coach Schottenheimer’s put a terrific system in place here, the same system I was part of when I was with the San Francisco 49ers (as QB coach in 2007).”
But Cignetti added: “Whether Coach Schottenheimer was still here or whether it was myself leading, every year you look at ways of doing things better. Something that we talked about was how could we minimize terminology? There’s certain things that we did in my past that we’ll be able to minimize terminology.”
Another change from Schottenheimer’s tenure is that Cignetti — as coordinator — won’t be as hands-on with the team’s quarterbacks.
“I’m not going to be as involved with the quarterback as much as Coach Schottenhiemer was involved,” Cignetti said. “That would probably be the biggest difference (in approach).”
Fisher added: “Frank’s going to allow the quarterback coach to spend more time with (the QBs) in the meetings and on the field, which will be a little different than how it has been in the past.”
Fisher confirmed that he interviewed Jeff Garcia for the quarterbacks coach job on Thursday and Friday. Fisher said he has at least one other candidate in mind for Cignetti’s old job, but didn’t give a definite timetable on when that position would be filled.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_d8c2575f-309f-53c4-b43d-2696a956ba6c.html
One of the most noteworthy things to come out of Friday’s introductory press conference for new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was how strongly both Cignetti and coach Jeff Fisher came out in support of quarterback Sam Bradford.
Based on what was said Friday, there appears to be little doubt that Bradford will be with the team next season — and be the starter.
One exchange was particularly telling during the 20-minute session at Rams Park. When asked if Bradford was kept in the loop during the process of hiring an offensive coordinator, Fisher replied:
“I had a lengthy discussion with Sam, yes, prior to making the decision. It was part of the information gathering process. Sam was very forthcoming. He had some firm opinions. I really enjoyed and appreciated his input.”
So would Cignetti have been promoted to coordinator (after three seasons as QB coach) if Bradford had voiced objections?
“We wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Fisher replied.
“As it should be,” Cignetti chimed in.
If you were seriously considering trading Bradford, or even releasing him, none of that probably would’ve taken place.
So the Rams definitely want him back in ’15?
“That’s correct, yes,” Fisher said. “He’s been in the building since the season ended. He’s doing well.”
Fisher even backed down from his end-of-the-season comment that there will be competition for Bradford on the roster next season, competition that’s currently “not in the building.” The plan still calls for at least one new face on the quarterback depth chart in 2015, but on Friday having competition became having options.
Here’s what Fisher had to say Friday when asked about bringing in an outside QB.
“It’s not as much from the standpoint of challenging Sam,” Fisher said. “It’s to have options. We don’t know what that looks like right now. We don’t know if that’s draft, if that’s free agency, or what that looks like. But when we line up in September, we’ll have somebody there.”
Fisher’s altered stance may be partly to do with the fact that the free-agent market is lean, there don’t seem to be many concrete trade options developing, and the 2015 draft is neither deep nor strong at the position.
(Sunday’s Post-Dispatch will explore the free-agent and trade markets at quarterback.)
Continuity and stability on the offense were cited by Fisher as one of the main reasons he chose to promote from within at coordinator, selecting Cignetti in a close call over tight ends coach Rob Boras for the job. In the end, Boras was promoted to assistant head coach/offense while still maintaining his duties as tight ends coach.
“Same system for Sam, same system for the rest of his teammates,” Fisher said. “That was very, very important, and it was about how we get better. How we become more productive.”
All told, Bradford’s name came up a half-dozen times at the press conference, often without prompting by media members.
“We’re looking forward to Sam moving forward,” Cignetti said. “He’s doing a great job in his rehabilitation. When you go back to last year, he had an outstanding offseason. He had a great training camp. Unfortunately, in Cleveland he got injured. Moving forward, getting Sam back healthy again will greatly increase our chances of winning.”
The team remains optimistic that it can restructure Bradford’s contract for 2015 — the final year of his original deal — in a way that is more cap friendly.
When the Rams get on the field for spring practices, Bradford and the rest of the squad will find some changes in approach and playbook compared to how things were done for three seasons under Cignetti predecessor Brian Schottenheimer.
For one, the playbook will be simplified. There will be less volume than was the case under Schottenheimer, who left in January to become OC for the Georgia Bulldogs.
In discussing changes being made on offense, Fisher said: “We need to reduce the amount of information that we’re giving to the players, and go out and execute.”
So was there too much volume in the playbook previously?
“I think we agreed that there was at times,” Fisher replied. “I’m confident that our system will be such in April ... that it will be simplified but appear to be much more complex.”
As a rookie in 2013, wide receiver Tavon Austin remarked that the playbook was like Spanish to him. By minimizing terminology in the playbook, Cignetti hopes for better results.
“The foundation of the playbook’s the same,” Cignetti said. “Coach Schottenheimer’s put a terrific system in place here, the same system I was part of when I was with the San Francisco 49ers (as QB coach in 2007).”
But Cignetti added: “Whether Coach Schottenheimer was still here or whether it was myself leading, every year you look at ways of doing things better. Something that we talked about was how could we minimize terminology? There’s certain things that we did in my past that we’ll be able to minimize terminology.”
Another change from Schottenheimer’s tenure is that Cignetti — as coordinator — won’t be as hands-on with the team’s quarterbacks.
“I’m not going to be as involved with the quarterback as much as Coach Schottenhiemer was involved,” Cignetti said. “That would probably be the biggest difference (in approach).”
Fisher added: “Frank’s going to allow the quarterback coach to spend more time with (the QBs) in the meetings and on the field, which will be a little different than how it has been in the past.”
Fisher confirmed that he interviewed Jeff Garcia for the quarterbacks coach job on Thursday and Friday. Fisher said he has at least one other candidate in mind for Cignetti’s old job, but didn’t give a definite timetable on when that position would be filled.
