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McCluer High's Martin advances beyond Rams' rookie minicamp
• By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8197
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/mccluer-high-s-martin-advances-beyond-rams-rookie-minicamp/article_e3ca1e2d-d741-5212-a513-a82bb9771e30.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... 71e30.html</a>
Davis has a chance at safety with Rams
Four-year starter from Texas Tech makes bid for NFL; he was timed at 4.37 in the 40.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher summed up what this rookie minicamp was all about when asked Friday if he was spending more time looking at all the tryout players on hand.
“You can watch (Alec) Ogletree in the first one-on-one where he picks the ball off and you go, ‘We’re OK there,’” Fisher replied. “I guess, probably, I am looking more at the tryout guys at this point, knowing that these guys are going to be with us the next six weeks.”
At least the ones who survived the weekend. When all was said and done, 26 tryout players were on the field Friday and Saturday at Rams Park, auditioning for a contract.
“The tryout consists of a number of things,” Fisher said. “One, obviously we’re testing, timing. We’ve got them in the classroom with the rest of the guys. We’re teaching them so we can evaluate not only their athletic ability, but their ability to learn football and bring it back on the field.”
In other words, their ability to retain information presented in the meeting room and during installation periods, and then apply it on the field.
“Whether it’s an assignment, or it’s a technique change, or whatever it is,” Fisher said.
At least three of the 26 tryout players passed muster over the weekend and were offered contracts to join the Rams’ roster as rookie free agents: Quarterback Tim Jenkins of Fort Lewis (Colo.) College, linebacker Joseph LeBeau of Jackson (Miss.) State and cornerback Andre Martin of North Dakota State. All are expected to sign today.
Martin played at McCluer High and grew up about 15 minutes from Rams Park.
The Rams had only 81 players under contract entering rookie minicamp — nine below the 90-man roster limit. It’s expected that they will sign more tryout players to contracts today.
As for the rest of the 26 — those who aren’t coming back? They can at least tell their friends about their weekend at Rams Park, and as Fisher put it, they’ll leave with a “pretty good understanding of a couple coverages and some routes.”
Fisher knows the value of undrafted players. All five of the safeties on last year’s Rams roster entered the league without being drafted.
The Rams’ season-ending roster in 2012 included eight undrafted rookies. So Fisher respected all the players on the field Friday and Saturday, and told them so.
“We talked to them ... congratulating them on their accomplishments,” Fisher said. “Had they not done what they did in college they wouldn’t be here.”
For the rookies who are continuing, the weekend simply was the first layer of the NFL onion. And even a player such as first-round draft pick Ogletree, who will start at outside linebacker, has much to pick up between now and opening day.
“He’s learning,” Fisher said. “He has no problem learning and we knew that. He’s got a good feel for what he’s doing. His drills are good, very athletic. He’s going to be a good player for us. I’m kind of looking forward to getting him lined up and getting into the OTA’s (organized team activities, or practice) with the rest of the defense.”
That comes a week from now in the step-by-step process of getting ready for the season. This week, the rookies get mixed in with the veterans for the first time.
Conditioning, weight-training and drill work are on the menu. But the first real practices don’t come until May 21.
For the Rams, the preparation for 2013 does not include the usual mandatory full-squad June minicamp, long a staple of NFL offseason programs.
Fisher has shown no hesitation about deviating from the norm since coming to St. Louis, and this is another example.
“After going through the experience last year, I just felt like we could get by with (only) the OTAs,” Fisher said.
“We’re permitted to have 10 OTAs and we’re also permitted to have a three-day mandatory minicamp,” Fisher added. “I thought it was important because of the commitment that they’ve made, to have a week off.
“Come in and work for four or five weeks and then take a break for the vets — that way we could focus on the ‘rooks.’ It just didn’t leave us time for the minicamp. ... It’s a long day and it’s a three-hour practice and all that stuff. In the offseason, I don’t think those things are necessary.”
Fisher believes that’s especially true because of the commitment the veterans have made to the offseason program, which technically is voluntary.
Attendance has been excellent so far.
“They’re here every day,” he said. “They’re coming early and staying late. They’re having fun and they’re determined.”
So even with the cutbacks in offseason practices mandated by the new collective bargaining agreement, Fisher is doing less with his team on the field. Three fewer practices without the full-squad minicamp.
“I feel like we can get everything installed,” Fisher said. “This is the second year in the system now, so we can get it installed. They deserve the break in mid-June.”
• By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8197
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/mccluer-high-s-martin-advances-beyond-rams-rookie-minicamp/article_e3ca1e2d-d741-5212-a513-a82bb9771e30.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football ... 71e30.html</a>
Davis has a chance at safety with Rams
Four-year starter from Texas Tech makes bid for NFL; he was timed at 4.37 in the 40.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher summed up what this rookie minicamp was all about when asked Friday if he was spending more time looking at all the tryout players on hand.
“You can watch (Alec) Ogletree in the first one-on-one where he picks the ball off and you go, ‘We’re OK there,’” Fisher replied. “I guess, probably, I am looking more at the tryout guys at this point, knowing that these guys are going to be with us the next six weeks.”
At least the ones who survived the weekend. When all was said and done, 26 tryout players were on the field Friday and Saturday at Rams Park, auditioning for a contract.
“The tryout consists of a number of things,” Fisher said. “One, obviously we’re testing, timing. We’ve got them in the classroom with the rest of the guys. We’re teaching them so we can evaluate not only their athletic ability, but their ability to learn football and bring it back on the field.”
In other words, their ability to retain information presented in the meeting room and during installation periods, and then apply it on the field.
“Whether it’s an assignment, or it’s a technique change, or whatever it is,” Fisher said.
At least three of the 26 tryout players passed muster over the weekend and were offered contracts to join the Rams’ roster as rookie free agents: Quarterback Tim Jenkins of Fort Lewis (Colo.) College, linebacker Joseph LeBeau of Jackson (Miss.) State and cornerback Andre Martin of North Dakota State. All are expected to sign today.
Martin played at McCluer High and grew up about 15 minutes from Rams Park.
The Rams had only 81 players under contract entering rookie minicamp — nine below the 90-man roster limit. It’s expected that they will sign more tryout players to contracts today.
As for the rest of the 26 — those who aren’t coming back? They can at least tell their friends about their weekend at Rams Park, and as Fisher put it, they’ll leave with a “pretty good understanding of a couple coverages and some routes.”
Fisher knows the value of undrafted players. All five of the safeties on last year’s Rams roster entered the league without being drafted.
The Rams’ season-ending roster in 2012 included eight undrafted rookies. So Fisher respected all the players on the field Friday and Saturday, and told them so.
“We talked to them ... congratulating them on their accomplishments,” Fisher said. “Had they not done what they did in college they wouldn’t be here.”
For the rookies who are continuing, the weekend simply was the first layer of the NFL onion. And even a player such as first-round draft pick Ogletree, who will start at outside linebacker, has much to pick up between now and opening day.
“He’s learning,” Fisher said. “He has no problem learning and we knew that. He’s got a good feel for what he’s doing. His drills are good, very athletic. He’s going to be a good player for us. I’m kind of looking forward to getting him lined up and getting into the OTA’s (organized team activities, or practice) with the rest of the defense.”
That comes a week from now in the step-by-step process of getting ready for the season. This week, the rookies get mixed in with the veterans for the first time.
Conditioning, weight-training and drill work are on the menu. But the first real practices don’t come until May 21.
For the Rams, the preparation for 2013 does not include the usual mandatory full-squad June minicamp, long a staple of NFL offseason programs.
Fisher has shown no hesitation about deviating from the norm since coming to St. Louis, and this is another example.
“After going through the experience last year, I just felt like we could get by with (only) the OTAs,” Fisher said.
“We’re permitted to have 10 OTAs and we’re also permitted to have a three-day mandatory minicamp,” Fisher added. “I thought it was important because of the commitment that they’ve made, to have a week off.
“Come in and work for four or five weeks and then take a break for the vets — that way we could focus on the ‘rooks.’ It just didn’t leave us time for the minicamp. ... It’s a long day and it’s a three-hour practice and all that stuff. In the offseason, I don’t think those things are necessary.”
Fisher believes that’s especially true because of the commitment the veterans have made to the offseason program, which technically is voluntary.
Attendance has been excellent so far.
“They’re here every day,” he said. “They’re coming early and staying late. They’re having fun and they’re determined.”
So even with the cutbacks in offseason practices mandated by the new collective bargaining agreement, Fisher is doing less with his team on the field. Three fewer practices without the full-squad minicamp.
“I feel like we can get everything installed,” Fisher said. “This is the second year in the system now, so we can get it installed. They deserve the break in mid-June.”