Rams Notebook: Jeff Fisher takes unique approach to last 2 preseason games
By Larry Hartstein | CBSSports.com
August 23, 2012
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/n...kes-unique-approach-to-last-2-preseason-games
Most coaches use the third preseason game as the dress rehearsal for the real thing. Not Jeff Fisher.
The Rams'new head man likes to gradually build playing time for his starters, giving them the biggest workload in the final preseason game. Starters will play in the 25-snap range Saturday night in Dallas.
They'll play even more Aug. 30 against Baltimore, when starters likely will open the third quarter.
“Our philosophy is that -- everybody is clearly entitled to do what they want -- but if you do nothing or very little then you've done nothing or very little in a two-week span,” Fisher said. “To me, that's too much time off. We are just going to continue to build. You lose momentum and you lose that if you don't play a significant amount in the fourth preseason game.”
Fisher told the Rams' official website that he's taken this approach for a long time. While the Chiefs left their starters in longer than the Rams in Week 2, it's likely Rams starters will face Baltimore's backups at some point in Week 4.
“What you're doing is you're playing and you are trying to get quality reps,” Fisher said. “You want to get the halftime experience. You need to go through it before the regular season starts. We'll do it in Week 4.”
Gholston signing: The Rams added Jets castoff Vernon Gholston on Wednesday because they had only four healthy defensive ends: Chris Long, Robert Quinn, William Hayes and Scott Smith. The team also worked out defensive end Andre Carter, who is recovering from a torn quad. Gholston, taken sixth overall in the 2008 draft, has zero career sacks.
McLeod seizing chance: With free safeties Craig Dahl and Darian Stewart sitting out with leg soreness Wednesday, rookie free agent Rodney McLeod rarely came off the field. “We were kind of low on depth,” he told the Post-Dispatch. “I look at it as extra conditioning.”
Beat writer Jim Thomas says the 22-year-old is making a strong case for a roster spot. He is tied for the team lead with seven tackles after two preseason games. "You don't get many opportunities against the other teams, so I definitely took it as a great opportunity to work on what I need to do and prove I can play against the No. 1s," McLeod told the paper. "You have to make sure everything is on point, I think I handled myself pretty well."
