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Fisher trying to cut down on flag football
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_4826ac16-9a29-54bf-8d51-0ca57e99c9f9.html
Last week, Jeff Fisher used the stick, making the Rams run wind sprints after a 14-penalty outing against New Orleans.
This week he tried the carrot. He told the team if it had seven penalties or fewer against Green Bay, he would break camp after Saturday’s game.
Alas, the carrot approach didn’t work, either.
“We’re still in camp, yeah,” Fisher said. “Yep. I’m a man of my word. We are still in camp. We’ll be breaking camp Wednesday.” (As originally scheduled.)
The Rams were flagged 10 times for 76 yards in their 21-7 loss to Green Bay. So they’ll have a few more days of meetings going into the evening, which is a camp custom. And for all players with fewer than four years experience in the league, they must continue to stay in the team hotel.
Those with four years experience or more have the option of staying at home or staying in the team hotel.
The Rams were third in the league last year in penalties (123) and sixth in penalty yards (1,009). Fisher would rather not be among the league “leaders” again this year.
But throughout the NFL, flags have been falling like confetti this preseason, as officiating crews are looking closely at illegal hands to the face on both sides of the ball as well as illegal contact and holding on defense.
Those areas are points of emphasis this year in the NFL, and boy, are they being emphasized. On Friday, New Orleans was penalized 22 times for 184 yards. On Saturday, 12 of the 16 teams in action were assessed 10 or more penalties. Last year, the per-game average in the regular season was 6.06 penalties.
Does Fisher believe the high rate of penalties will continue into the regular season?
“Well, it’s a point of emphasis, and we have to assume it’s going to continue,” he said. “We’ve gotta teach our players to avoid those things.”
Speaking specifically of illegal hands to the face, Fisher said: “The (competition) committee looked at a lot of plays, talked to the players association, talked to physicians, and the safety panel — we’ve got to get the hands down off of the headgear and those types of things.”
The Rams were penalized three times for illegal hands to the face Saturday, one of which was declined. They got called once for defensive holding.
Meanwhile, the Packers were flagged three times for illegal hands to the face, and four times for defensive holding, two of which were declined.
Those penalties were particularly costly for Green Bay. Two of the illegal hands penalties nullified touchdowns. Another illegal hands penalty negated a Packers interception.
As is usually the case with points of emphasis, officials can be overzealous in searching for such infractions.
“There are going to be things that look like (penalties) that weren’t,” Fisher said. “And that’s what we’re dealing with now. We had several Saturday that weren’t hands to the face, and we had several contact plays down the field where the contact was so minimal.”
Other takeaways from Saturday’s 21-7 Rams defeat:
BLITZ PICKUP
One of the toughest things for college running backs to learn entering the NFL is the importance of blitz pickup and overall pass protection. That’s especially true for Tre Mason, given Auburn’s extremely run-heavy offense.
“There’s two issues,” Fisher said. “One is recognition. ‘Who you got?’ And then two is actually going out and executing the block.”
Early in the third quarter, a pair of Mason miscues led to a pair of Green Bay sacks. On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Mason didn’t recognize a blitz by linebacker Sam Barringon until it was too late, resulting in a sack of backup Rams QB Shaun Hill.
On the next Rams possession of the quarter, Mason didn’t get enough of a block on blitzing safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, resulting in another sack of Hill.
“Yeah, I think that’s one of the biggest challenges for the position,” Fisher said. “To learn how to play without the football. Guys have run skills, can carry the ball and run, and do those kind of things. But it’s playing without the football. It’s protection. Tre needs to keep working on it.”
YOUNG BLOCKERS
Sean Hooey, a first-year offensive tackle who was on the Rams’ practice squad, had a horrendous fourth quarter, giving up three sacks as well as a couple of quarterback pressures.
“We moved Hooey from right tackle to left tackle,” Fisher said. “He had not played in the game there before. And you know, he had his hands full. He graded out very well at right tackle when he was in the game.”
Fisher said he would emphasize the positive when the players return today at Rams Park after a day off Sunday.
“When he comes back in the building you talk about how well he played at right tackle. That’s a hard place to play, out there on the left side.”
STAYING WITH YOUR MAN
On more than one occasion, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ mobility caused Rams defenders to lose contract with receivers. One of those plays came late in the second quarter, when Rodgers scrambled to his right, surveyed the field and connected with tight end Andrew Quarless for a 35-yard gain.
“We had a young defensive back that kind of lost track of his responsibility on the deep ball,” Fisher said. “He should’ve have carried that coverage. But that’s a good lesson to be learned in that instance.”
By “carrying the coverage” Fisher meant sticking with the receiver even though the Rams were in zone coverage.
When asked if that “young defensive back” was nickel back Lamarcus Joyner, Fisher hedged at first. “It was a young defensive back,” Fisher replied. “And his jersey number was in the 20s. That’s all I’ll say.”
Joyner wears jersey No. 20.
“It’s a good learning experience for Lamarcus,” Fisher finally said.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_4826ac16-9a29-54bf-8d51-0ca57e99c9f9.html
Last week, Jeff Fisher used the stick, making the Rams run wind sprints after a 14-penalty outing against New Orleans.
This week he tried the carrot. He told the team if it had seven penalties or fewer against Green Bay, he would break camp after Saturday’s game.
Alas, the carrot approach didn’t work, either.
“We’re still in camp, yeah,” Fisher said. “Yep. I’m a man of my word. We are still in camp. We’ll be breaking camp Wednesday.” (As originally scheduled.)
The Rams were flagged 10 times for 76 yards in their 21-7 loss to Green Bay. So they’ll have a few more days of meetings going into the evening, which is a camp custom. And for all players with fewer than four years experience in the league, they must continue to stay in the team hotel.
Those with four years experience or more have the option of staying at home or staying in the team hotel.
The Rams were third in the league last year in penalties (123) and sixth in penalty yards (1,009). Fisher would rather not be among the league “leaders” again this year.
But throughout the NFL, flags have been falling like confetti this preseason, as officiating crews are looking closely at illegal hands to the face on both sides of the ball as well as illegal contact and holding on defense.
Those areas are points of emphasis this year in the NFL, and boy, are they being emphasized. On Friday, New Orleans was penalized 22 times for 184 yards. On Saturday, 12 of the 16 teams in action were assessed 10 or more penalties. Last year, the per-game average in the regular season was 6.06 penalties.
Does Fisher believe the high rate of penalties will continue into the regular season?
“Well, it’s a point of emphasis, and we have to assume it’s going to continue,” he said. “We’ve gotta teach our players to avoid those things.”
Speaking specifically of illegal hands to the face, Fisher said: “The (competition) committee looked at a lot of plays, talked to the players association, talked to physicians, and the safety panel — we’ve got to get the hands down off of the headgear and those types of things.”
The Rams were penalized three times for illegal hands to the face Saturday, one of which was declined. They got called once for defensive holding.
Meanwhile, the Packers were flagged three times for illegal hands to the face, and four times for defensive holding, two of which were declined.
Those penalties were particularly costly for Green Bay. Two of the illegal hands penalties nullified touchdowns. Another illegal hands penalty negated a Packers interception.
As is usually the case with points of emphasis, officials can be overzealous in searching for such infractions.
“There are going to be things that look like (penalties) that weren’t,” Fisher said. “And that’s what we’re dealing with now. We had several Saturday that weren’t hands to the face, and we had several contact plays down the field where the contact was so minimal.”
Other takeaways from Saturday’s 21-7 Rams defeat:
BLITZ PICKUP
One of the toughest things for college running backs to learn entering the NFL is the importance of blitz pickup and overall pass protection. That’s especially true for Tre Mason, given Auburn’s extremely run-heavy offense.
“There’s two issues,” Fisher said. “One is recognition. ‘Who you got?’ And then two is actually going out and executing the block.”
Early in the third quarter, a pair of Mason miscues led to a pair of Green Bay sacks. On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Mason didn’t recognize a blitz by linebacker Sam Barringon until it was too late, resulting in a sack of backup Rams QB Shaun Hill.
On the next Rams possession of the quarter, Mason didn’t get enough of a block on blitzing safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, resulting in another sack of Hill.
“Yeah, I think that’s one of the biggest challenges for the position,” Fisher said. “To learn how to play without the football. Guys have run skills, can carry the ball and run, and do those kind of things. But it’s playing without the football. It’s protection. Tre needs to keep working on it.”
YOUNG BLOCKERS
Sean Hooey, a first-year offensive tackle who was on the Rams’ practice squad, had a horrendous fourth quarter, giving up three sacks as well as a couple of quarterback pressures.
“We moved Hooey from right tackle to left tackle,” Fisher said. “He had not played in the game there before. And you know, he had his hands full. He graded out very well at right tackle when he was in the game.”
Fisher said he would emphasize the positive when the players return today at Rams Park after a day off Sunday.
“When he comes back in the building you talk about how well he played at right tackle. That’s a hard place to play, out there on the left side.”
STAYING WITH YOUR MAN
On more than one occasion, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ mobility caused Rams defenders to lose contract with receivers. One of those plays came late in the second quarter, when Rodgers scrambled to his right, surveyed the field and connected with tight end Andrew Quarless for a 35-yard gain.
“We had a young defensive back that kind of lost track of his responsibility on the deep ball,” Fisher said. “He should’ve have carried that coverage. But that’s a good lesson to be learned in that instance.”
By “carrying the coverage” Fisher meant sticking with the receiver even though the Rams were in zone coverage.
When asked if that “young defensive back” was nickel back Lamarcus Joyner, Fisher hedged at first. “It was a young defensive back,” Fisher replied. “And his jersey number was in the 20s. That’s all I’ll say.”
Joyner wears jersey No. 20.
“It’s a good learning experience for Lamarcus,” Fisher finally said.
