- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Fisher finds positives in Rams' loss
By Nate Latsch
http://stl.scout.com/story/1432368-fisher-finds-positives-in-rams-loss?s=124
ST. LOUIS — Rams coach Jeff Fisher found plenty of things that he liked from his team’s first preseason game, a 26-24 loss to the visiting Saints on Friday night.
“There was some good things, some good efforts, some good plays, no turnovers,” Fisher said when he met with the media on Saturday. “We got two on defense. We capitalized on some turnovers right of the bat. We ended up with balance. When the game was all said and done, we had 34 pass attempts and 32 rushes, the rushing yards are a little skewed because of the punt fake but still, none the less, it was a good run. The bottom line is this: I think we had 18 guys that did not play in the game for whatever reason, nine of whom were starters and this week it looks as if we’ll probably get 15 to 16 of them back.”
Perhaps the only news to come out of Fisher’s press conference on Saturday — and, that said, it’s not exactly surprising — is that he said quarterback Sam Bradford will play this week after sitting out the preseason opener against the Saints.
“Yeah, he’s going to play,” Fisher said. “I haven’t decided how much but yeah he’s going to play this week.”
Bradford taking the field on Saturday against visiting Green Bay at the Edward Jones Dome will be the next big step in the quarterback’s return from the ACL injury that ended his 2013 season. He’s looked good throughout training camp, but this will be the first time he will be under siege against a defense that will be allowed to hit him.
Fisher didn’t elaborate on the other players who sat out against the Saints but are expected to see game action this week. Among the players sitting out Friday were three-fifths of the starting offensive line — left tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and right guard Rodger Saffold — along with starting defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford and three of the Rams’ top cornerbacks in starters Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson and reserve Brandon McGee.
So the team that takes the field on Saturday afternoon against the Packers should look at lot different than the team that lost on Friday. That includes the Rams’ rookies who were getting their first real taste of game action in the NFL.
“We should see everybody take a big step this week, from week one to week two,” Fisher said.
The coach liked what he saw from the Rams’ two first-round picks, offensive lineman Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Robinson started at left guard but then moved out to play left tackle. Donald started at defensive tackle with Brockers and Langford out.
“I thought he did good,” Fisher said of Robinson. “We had a problem early with communication inside. We turned the nose guard loose, he was supposed to come down. That resulted in a sack but from a run game standpoint he was good. Most of the time the pass protection was solid. He was downfield and I thought he played pretty well considering he played two positions. … Aaron played about 35 to 38 plays. Flashed, made some plays, penetrated, got in the backfield. The ball’s coming out quick. That was their plan. Different situations he’s probably got a couple hurries, possibly a sack but got tired. Played a lot and got tired so it’s hard, and that happens. Again, they learn.”
One undrafted rookie who had a strong debut was tight end Alex Bayer, who the Rams scouted out of Bowling Green University.
“We liked what we saw, the athleticism, the pass catching ability, he was well-coached there,” Fisher said. Tight ends coach “Rob Boras went out and had a private workout with him a week before the draft. We were kind of hoping he would fall, he did and so far it’s work out for us. He takes a lot of snaps here at camp and played a lot of snaps yesterday. I think he played over 40 snaps yesterday, 45 snaps. He’s hanging in there and continues to make the plays, so reliable. He’s getting to the right spot and the young quarterbacks trust him.”
With Mason Brodine suffering a season-ending injury against the Saints, the competition for the No. 4 tight end spot is down to Bayer and Justice Cunningham. Bayer had five catches for 71 yards on Friday, leading the Rams in both categories.
By Nate Latsch
http://stl.scout.com/story/1432368-fisher-finds-positives-in-rams-loss?s=124
ST. LOUIS — Rams coach Jeff Fisher found plenty of things that he liked from his team’s first preseason game, a 26-24 loss to the visiting Saints on Friday night.
“There was some good things, some good efforts, some good plays, no turnovers,” Fisher said when he met with the media on Saturday. “We got two on defense. We capitalized on some turnovers right of the bat. We ended up with balance. When the game was all said and done, we had 34 pass attempts and 32 rushes, the rushing yards are a little skewed because of the punt fake but still, none the less, it was a good run. The bottom line is this: I think we had 18 guys that did not play in the game for whatever reason, nine of whom were starters and this week it looks as if we’ll probably get 15 to 16 of them back.”
Perhaps the only news to come out of Fisher’s press conference on Saturday — and, that said, it’s not exactly surprising — is that he said quarterback Sam Bradford will play this week after sitting out the preseason opener against the Saints.
“Yeah, he’s going to play,” Fisher said. “I haven’t decided how much but yeah he’s going to play this week.”
Bradford taking the field on Saturday against visiting Green Bay at the Edward Jones Dome will be the next big step in the quarterback’s return from the ACL injury that ended his 2013 season. He’s looked good throughout training camp, but this will be the first time he will be under siege against a defense that will be allowed to hit him.
Fisher didn’t elaborate on the other players who sat out against the Saints but are expected to see game action this week. Among the players sitting out Friday were three-fifths of the starting offensive line — left tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and right guard Rodger Saffold — along with starting defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford and three of the Rams’ top cornerbacks in starters Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson and reserve Brandon McGee.
So the team that takes the field on Saturday afternoon against the Packers should look at lot different than the team that lost on Friday. That includes the Rams’ rookies who were getting their first real taste of game action in the NFL.
“We should see everybody take a big step this week, from week one to week two,” Fisher said.
The coach liked what he saw from the Rams’ two first-round picks, offensive lineman Greg Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Robinson started at left guard but then moved out to play left tackle. Donald started at defensive tackle with Brockers and Langford out.
“I thought he did good,” Fisher said of Robinson. “We had a problem early with communication inside. We turned the nose guard loose, he was supposed to come down. That resulted in a sack but from a run game standpoint he was good. Most of the time the pass protection was solid. He was downfield and I thought he played pretty well considering he played two positions. … Aaron played about 35 to 38 plays. Flashed, made some plays, penetrated, got in the backfield. The ball’s coming out quick. That was their plan. Different situations he’s probably got a couple hurries, possibly a sack but got tired. Played a lot and got tired so it’s hard, and that happens. Again, they learn.”
One undrafted rookie who had a strong debut was tight end Alex Bayer, who the Rams scouted out of Bowling Green University.
“We liked what we saw, the athleticism, the pass catching ability, he was well-coached there,” Fisher said. Tight ends coach “Rob Boras went out and had a private workout with him a week before the draft. We were kind of hoping he would fall, he did and so far it’s work out for us. He takes a lot of snaps here at camp and played a lot of snaps yesterday. I think he played over 40 snaps yesterday, 45 snaps. He’s hanging in there and continues to make the plays, so reliable. He’s getting to the right spot and the young quarterbacks trust him.”
With Mason Brodine suffering a season-ending injury against the Saints, the competition for the No. 4 tight end spot is down to Bayer and Justice Cunningham. Bayer had five catches for 71 yards on Friday, leading the Rams in both categories.