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Gaines expecting to play "a lot" in opener
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11376/gaines-expecting-to-play-a-lot-in-opener
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Rams rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines didn't exactly come right out and say it, but he did offer plenty of breadcrumbs that his first NFL game Sunday against Minnesota will double as his first NFL start.
"Yeah, if not I think I’ll get a lot of playing time so I’m excited," Gaines said. "It’s just a lot of preparation that goes into it, a lot more than college. So I’m hanging out with [cornerback] Janoris [Jenkins] and [safety] T.J. McDonald and stuff like that trying to get the hang of it."
In anticipation of the possible, if not probable, start against the Vikings, Gaines said he's been regularly picking the brains of his fellow defensive backs and, well, just about anyone willing to answer his questions. He even mentioned that he's been speaking to defensive end Chris Long about handling the situation.
"Just [talking] about being a rookie and getting my first start, really," Gaines said. "He’s definitely had my back since I’ve been here."
Of course, it would come as no surprise if Gaines did start against Minnesota even though he'd be doing so as a sixth-round rookie with only two preseason games under his belt. The Rams are without starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has missed the past couple of weeks with a sprained MCL and isn't expected back until after the bye if the initial four-to-six-week diagnosis proves correct.
Without Johnson, the Rams will start Jenkins at his usual right cornerback spot. Rookie Lamarcus Joyner has long been penciled in as the team's primary nickel corner, and it's unlikely the Rams would move him from that job. That leaves a decision between Brandon McGee and Gaines. On the unofficial depth chart, Gaines is listed as the No. 2 left corner behind Johnson.
Putting all the pieces together, it sure seems to point in the direction of Gaines. Even if he only gets "a lot of playing time," there's no doubt that Gaines has come a long way since the team drafted him in May.
At the time, many believed the Rams found a late-round steal in the first-team All SEC pick, and Gaines quickly set about proving those beliefs true. He was the defense's best performer in the preseason opener against New Orleans, showing a willingness to be physical and tackle, despite his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. He also did solid work in coverage.
A hamstring injury kept Gaines out of the next two preseason games but even before a solid final outing in Miami, Gaines had already moved beyond simply earning a roster spot.
Throughout camp and the preseason, Gaines has never had the appearance of a player overwhelmed by the moment.
"The thing about him is if you guys focus on him during a game is you don't ever see him get rattled," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "That's extremely important when you play the corner position.
"E.J. has been very impressive in the games I've seen so far on staying composed and doing what corners have to do. He's got a short memory and he gets out there, and the most important play is the one he's on. I've been real impressed with how he's gone about his business."
Regardless of the circumstance, Gaines will be playing against a talented skill-position corps against the Vikings. Receivers Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings bring a solid combination of veteran savvy and explosive youth. Gaines and Patterson actually squared off in 2012 when Gaines was at Missouri and Patterson was at Tennessee.
In that meeting, the Tigers won 51-48, but the Volunteers found themselves seeking alternative ways to get Patterson the ball as he was limited to three catches for 53 yards, a small fraction of the 432 Tennessee threw for that day. Patterson ended up completing a pass for 28 yards and ran five times for 28 more in addition to return duties.
Gaines doesn't remember much about that game other than escaping with a win. To get another one on the Edward Jones Dome turf where Gaines played in college against Illinois and in high school in the Missouri state championship game, he'll have to help stop running back Adrian Peterson.
And if he does indeed go from sixth-round pick to opening day starter in a few short months, it won't change his approach.
"It’s just one of those things," Gaines said. "It’s surreal, really. Being a sixth-round pick, this doesn’t happen very often, and I know that so I still have a lot to prove to this team."
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11376/gaines-expecting-to-play-a-lot-in-opener
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- St. Louis Rams rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines didn't exactly come right out and say it, but he did offer plenty of breadcrumbs that his first NFL game Sunday against Minnesota will double as his first NFL start.
"Yeah, if not I think I’ll get a lot of playing time so I’m excited," Gaines said. "It’s just a lot of preparation that goes into it, a lot more than college. So I’m hanging out with [cornerback] Janoris [Jenkins] and [safety] T.J. McDonald and stuff like that trying to get the hang of it."
In anticipation of the possible, if not probable, start against the Vikings, Gaines said he's been regularly picking the brains of his fellow defensive backs and, well, just about anyone willing to answer his questions. He even mentioned that he's been speaking to defensive end Chris Long about handling the situation.
"Just [talking] about being a rookie and getting my first start, really," Gaines said. "He’s definitely had my back since I’ve been here."
Of course, it would come as no surprise if Gaines did start against Minnesota even though he'd be doing so as a sixth-round rookie with only two preseason games under his belt. The Rams are without starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has missed the past couple of weeks with a sprained MCL and isn't expected back until after the bye if the initial four-to-six-week diagnosis proves correct.
Without Johnson, the Rams will start Jenkins at his usual right cornerback spot. Rookie Lamarcus Joyner has long been penciled in as the team's primary nickel corner, and it's unlikely the Rams would move him from that job. That leaves a decision between Brandon McGee and Gaines. On the unofficial depth chart, Gaines is listed as the No. 2 left corner behind Johnson.
Putting all the pieces together, it sure seems to point in the direction of Gaines. Even if he only gets "a lot of playing time," there's no doubt that Gaines has come a long way since the team drafted him in May.
At the time, many believed the Rams found a late-round steal in the first-team All SEC pick, and Gaines quickly set about proving those beliefs true. He was the defense's best performer in the preseason opener against New Orleans, showing a willingness to be physical and tackle, despite his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. He also did solid work in coverage.
A hamstring injury kept Gaines out of the next two preseason games but even before a solid final outing in Miami, Gaines had already moved beyond simply earning a roster spot.
Throughout camp and the preseason, Gaines has never had the appearance of a player overwhelmed by the moment.
"The thing about him is if you guys focus on him during a game is you don't ever see him get rattled," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "That's extremely important when you play the corner position.
"E.J. has been very impressive in the games I've seen so far on staying composed and doing what corners have to do. He's got a short memory and he gets out there, and the most important play is the one he's on. I've been real impressed with how he's gone about his business."
Regardless of the circumstance, Gaines will be playing against a talented skill-position corps against the Vikings. Receivers Cordarrelle Patterson and Greg Jennings bring a solid combination of veteran savvy and explosive youth. Gaines and Patterson actually squared off in 2012 when Gaines was at Missouri and Patterson was at Tennessee.
In that meeting, the Tigers won 51-48, but the Volunteers found themselves seeking alternative ways to get Patterson the ball as he was limited to three catches for 53 yards, a small fraction of the 432 Tennessee threw for that day. Patterson ended up completing a pass for 28 yards and ran five times for 28 more in addition to return duties.
Gaines doesn't remember much about that game other than escaping with a win. To get another one on the Edward Jones Dome turf where Gaines played in college against Illinois and in high school in the Missouri state championship game, he'll have to help stop running back Adrian Peterson.
And if he does indeed go from sixth-round pick to opening day starter in a few short months, it won't change his approach.
"It’s just one of those things," Gaines said. "It’s surreal, really. Being a sixth-round pick, this doesn’t happen very often, and I know that so I still have a lot to prove to this team."
