Rams Camp Report: Day 12/Wagoner

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RamBill

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Rams Camp Report: Day 12
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/10410/rams-camp-report-day-12

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of St. Louis Rams training camp:

The Rams got back to work Monday afternoon in what was a mostly uneventful practice. As promised by coach Jeff Fisher, the team did get some players back to practice in some capacity. But key veterans such as linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle) and guard Rodger Saffold (stinger) did not return to work. Among those getting back in the mix were defensive tackle Kendall Langford and cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson and Brandon McGee. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins did a little work on the side before practice and individual but not much else. Cornerback Darren Woodard was a new addition to the not practicing list. And tight end Justice Cunningham, who appears to be in a heated contest for a potential fourth tight end spot, limped off and rode to the locker room on the back of a golf cart.

Unhappy with his team's 14 penalties against the Saints, Fisher made his team run a sprint for every player who committed a penalty. That essentially meant the whole team had to run, though some more than others.

As for the practice, it was one of the team's more sluggish workouts of this camp, which is probably to be expected after a two-day layoff and a preseason game. Backup quarterback Shaun Hill got his share of work and had some good moments, including some nice throws down the seam in early team and 7-on-7s to tight ends Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks. The first offense appeared out of sync a bit as it had multiple near misses on deep connections and an occasional drop.

Cornerback Marcus Roberson hasn't had many shining moments in camp but showed some deep cover skills against Chris Givens on a deep ball during team. Roberson hasn't distinguished himself like other corners battling for roster spots and needs to pick it up to insert himself into the race. ... Rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert had some ups and quite a few downs in his preseason debut against the Saints but had some good throws in Monday's practice. On one, he dropped a perfect pass into the corner of the end zone for a touchdown to receiver Jordan Harris.

The Rams don't quite have their projected starting offensive line in place yet with Saffold out but they're getting closer. Offensive tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells were back with the first team and in far more than just a cameo Monday. Both appear to be trending toward playing preseason games as they come off knee surgery (Long) and illness (Wells). They took the bulk of the work with the first team and appear to be moving well.

Quick roster note: the Rams signed tight end Brad Smelley to take the spot vacated by injured tight end Mason Brodine. Brodine suffered a fractured ankle against New Orleans and is out for the season.

The Rams are back at it Tuesday with a 5:30 p.m. CT practice. That workout is free and open to the public at Rams Park.
 

RamBill

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Rams report: Fisher closes out Monday practice with wind sprints
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_fa1ed338-b9e2-5f07-a4fc-8cf8e0e1fe97.html

The Rams began their on-field work for preseason game No. 2 on Monday, practicing before a crowd of 401 at Rams Park in Earth City.

The Rams host the Green Bay Packers in a 3 p.m. game at the Edward Jones Dome.

Not happy with his team's 14 penalties in Friday's 26-24 loss to the visiting New Orleans Saints, coach Jeff Fisher closed out Monday's lackluster workout with old-fashioned wind sprints. Each unit ran a sprint for every penalty committed by a member of that group, so everybody on the field got in some extra running.

RAM-BLINGS

After practice, Fisher was asked about the situation in Ferguson, where looting and protesting followed the fatal shooting of a teenager by police. “It's very, very tragic because of the loss of life,'' he said. “We don't have any details, but I just feel very, very bad for the family and their loss.

“We hope they can get things sorted out and get things settled down there.''

_ Injured players sitting out Monday's practice cornerback Janoris Jenkins (hamstring), fullback Kadeem Jones (hamstring), linebacker James Laurinaitis (ankle), defensive tackle Michael Brockers (ankle), guard/tackle Rodger Saffold, guard Brandon Washington and center/guard Barrett Jones. Newcomers to the list after Friday's game are safety Matt Daniels and cornerback Darren Woodard, who started against the Saints.

Saffold and Jenkins worked with trainers on the side, an indication they aren't far from returning to action.

Back on the practice field after sitting out Friday's contest were left takle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and running backs Isaiah Pead and Trey Watts.

_ The Rams' other open-to-the-public practices this week will be Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) and Thursday (3:30 p.m.).

_ With DL/TE Mason Brodine done for the year with a fractured ankle, the Rams signed TE/FB Brad Smelley to fill out their 90-man roster. Smelley, a University of Alabama product, was drafted by Cleveland in the seventh round of the 2012 draft and was with the Rams for a short time last November. He has also spent some time on Houston's practice squad.

In four NFL games, he has one reception for three yards.

_ Quarterback Brady Quinn, who was with the Rams late last season, has been signed by the Miami Dolphins.

In addition, tackle Graham Pocic, a University of Illinois product who was in camp with the Rams last year, has been waived by the Chicago Bears.

_ Highly respected NFL writer Dan Pompei was on hand Monday. He's finishing up some projects for Sports on Earth. The Wall Street Journal also had a reporter at Monday's workout.

(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)