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Rams learn that with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, there’s substance behind the hype
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/2...e-hype/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips walks the field during the Rams training camp at UC Irvine on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: August 24, 2017 at 2:55 pm | UPDATED: August 24, 2017 at 4:58 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Even before they met him, the Rams bought into the idea of playing for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. His 40-year resume, Super Bowl ring and wry sense of humor didn’t hurt.
Then, after a few weeks in meeting rooms and on the field, the Rams discovered Phillips’ substance.
“It was surprising how much the defense works, really,” tackle Michael Brockers said. “I was surprised at how smart Wade is. When he calls stuff, if you execute it and you do it the right way, it’s going to work. That’s been the biggest surprise to me, is just seeing it come to fruition.”
Certainly, there’s a long way to go. The contract holdout of star lineman Aaron Donald continues, and injuries to linebackers Robert Quinn and Mark Barron and cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman have prevented the first-string defense from playing together during the preseason.
So from the outside, the Rams’ defense remains a bit of a mystery, and not one that will be solved during Saturday’s exhibition game against the Chargers. The Rams, insist, though, that things are coming along nicely.
“You see (players) in meetings kind of seeing it all come together,” linebacker Connor Barwin said. “Guys are able to see the whole system. ‘I see what we do in this situation and how this play works.’ It’s a good feeling when you see guys seeing results show up in tape. It makes them buy in more.”
Phillips’ history of being a turnaround artist is undeniable. Over the past 15 years, he has taken over defenses in Atlanta, San Diego, Houston and Denver and made immediate statistical improvements.
Any concern over Phillips and the Rams involved not his system, but existing players fitting into it.
The Rams asked defensive end Robert Quinn to move to outside linebacker. Mark Barron, a natural safety who played outside linebacker last season, moved to inside linebacker. Brockers, previously a 4-3 defensive tackle, shifted to nose tackle. Barwin, who played linebacker under Phillips in Houston, has moved back there after a season at defensive end.
Quinn and Barron missed most of training camp and probably won’t play together until the Sept. 10 season opener against Indianapolis, but Quinn said off-field installation of the defense has been smooth.
“I think the guys have made a great adjustment,” Quinn said. “The system might seem complicated to everyone else, but I think Wade simplifies it for us. Guys have been able to adjust a little bit easier, because he makes it, while you’re in the classroom, easier to understand.”
Brockers had a more basic concern. No lightweight at 302 pounds, Brockers understood that he was 20-30 pounds lighter than the average NFL nose tackle, but then he did a little research into Phillips.
“At first, it was kind of scary, coming from a 4-3,” Brockers said. “You’re thinking you should be a big, burly nose tackle, but you look at Wade’s history and he usually doesn’t have those. In Denver, he didn’t really have a large tackle, so I fit in perfectly.”
That seems to be the consensus among the Rams, in part because Phillips values versatility.
The Rams might have one of the fastest defenses in the NFL, but there are questions about size. Neither Barron nor Alec Ogletree is a traditional, stout middle linebacker, and, of course, the Rams have yet to incorporate Donald into their defense.
Still, there’s optimism. Phillips is known to be a stickler for details, but also will explain a concept as many times as is necessary for a player to understand it. Rams players say that nuances of the system might take a little while to learn, but once it is installed, the system is simple to run and player-friendly.
“Maybe it’s simple,” Barwin said, “but I think Wade has a really high standard, where you’re not allowed to make mistakes. Because of that standard, guys learn it and know it. But I also think once you learn the system, it can be complicated to the offense but simple to us. Because there’s really just a few things that we do, but we move different people around and make it complicated to dissect what it is.”
SITTING OUT
Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ leading receiver in the preseason, will not play Saturday against the Chargers, Coach Sean McVay said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. Kupp apparently is dealing with a minor groin injury and did not practice.
McVay said the status of linebacker Robert Quinn and cornerback Kayvon Webster had yet to be determined, and that cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman would not play.
SPECIAL GUESTS
The Rams hosted comedian/actor Kevin Hart and actor Scott Eastwood at practice, and they filmed scenes for an upcoming online show. Hart attempted to field a punt (he fumbled) and raced receiver K.D. Cannon in a 40-yard dash (he lost) as Rams players and coaches cheered and jeered.
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/2...e-hype/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips walks the field during the Rams training camp at UC Irvine on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: August 24, 2017 at 2:55 pm | UPDATED: August 24, 2017 at 4:58 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Even before they met him, the Rams bought into the idea of playing for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. His 40-year resume, Super Bowl ring and wry sense of humor didn’t hurt.
Then, after a few weeks in meeting rooms and on the field, the Rams discovered Phillips’ substance.
“It was surprising how much the defense works, really,” tackle Michael Brockers said. “I was surprised at how smart Wade is. When he calls stuff, if you execute it and you do it the right way, it’s going to work. That’s been the biggest surprise to me, is just seeing it come to fruition.”
Certainly, there’s a long way to go. The contract holdout of star lineman Aaron Donald continues, and injuries to linebackers Robert Quinn and Mark Barron and cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman have prevented the first-string defense from playing together during the preseason.
So from the outside, the Rams’ defense remains a bit of a mystery, and not one that will be solved during Saturday’s exhibition game against the Chargers. The Rams, insist, though, that things are coming along nicely.
“You see (players) in meetings kind of seeing it all come together,” linebacker Connor Barwin said. “Guys are able to see the whole system. ‘I see what we do in this situation and how this play works.’ It’s a good feeling when you see guys seeing results show up in tape. It makes them buy in more.”
Phillips’ history of being a turnaround artist is undeniable. Over the past 15 years, he has taken over defenses in Atlanta, San Diego, Houston and Denver and made immediate statistical improvements.
Any concern over Phillips and the Rams involved not his system, but existing players fitting into it.
The Rams asked defensive end Robert Quinn to move to outside linebacker. Mark Barron, a natural safety who played outside linebacker last season, moved to inside linebacker. Brockers, previously a 4-3 defensive tackle, shifted to nose tackle. Barwin, who played linebacker under Phillips in Houston, has moved back there after a season at defensive end.
Quinn and Barron missed most of training camp and probably won’t play together until the Sept. 10 season opener against Indianapolis, but Quinn said off-field installation of the defense has been smooth.
“I think the guys have made a great adjustment,” Quinn said. “The system might seem complicated to everyone else, but I think Wade simplifies it for us. Guys have been able to adjust a little bit easier, because he makes it, while you’re in the classroom, easier to understand.”
Brockers had a more basic concern. No lightweight at 302 pounds, Brockers understood that he was 20-30 pounds lighter than the average NFL nose tackle, but then he did a little research into Phillips.
“At first, it was kind of scary, coming from a 4-3,” Brockers said. “You’re thinking you should be a big, burly nose tackle, but you look at Wade’s history and he usually doesn’t have those. In Denver, he didn’t really have a large tackle, so I fit in perfectly.”
That seems to be the consensus among the Rams, in part because Phillips values versatility.
The Rams might have one of the fastest defenses in the NFL, but there are questions about size. Neither Barron nor Alec Ogletree is a traditional, stout middle linebacker, and, of course, the Rams have yet to incorporate Donald into their defense.
Still, there’s optimism. Phillips is known to be a stickler for details, but also will explain a concept as many times as is necessary for a player to understand it. Rams players say that nuances of the system might take a little while to learn, but once it is installed, the system is simple to run and player-friendly.
“Maybe it’s simple,” Barwin said, “but I think Wade has a really high standard, where you’re not allowed to make mistakes. Because of that standard, guys learn it and know it. But I also think once you learn the system, it can be complicated to the offense but simple to us. Because there’s really just a few things that we do, but we move different people around and make it complicated to dissect what it is.”
SITTING OUT
Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ leading receiver in the preseason, will not play Saturday against the Chargers, Coach Sean McVay said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. Kupp apparently is dealing with a minor groin injury and did not practice.
McVay said the status of linebacker Robert Quinn and cornerback Kayvon Webster had yet to be determined, and that cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman would not play.
SPECIAL GUESTS
The Rams hosted comedian/actor Kevin Hart and actor Scott Eastwood at practice, and they filmed scenes for an upcoming online show. Hart attempted to field a punt (he fumbled) and raced receiver K.D. Cannon in a 40-yard dash (he lost) as Rams players and coaches cheered and jeered.
