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Three takeaways from Rams' rookie orientation
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18399/three-takeaways-from-rams-rookie-orientation
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams wrapped up their rookie orientation over the weekend after spending a couple of days getting their rookie class acclimated to how the Rams do things.
There's not a whole lot to glean from this process as the players don't do much aside from some basic conditioning and individual work. But here's a handful of takeaways from what we were permitted to see on Friday and Saturday:
1. The Rams got much bigger in this year's draft, especially on the offensive line.
It was no secret what the Rams were trying to accomplish during the draft. They loaded up early and often on the offensive line and in the process bulked up in a major way. Tackles Rob Havenstein and Andrew Donnal and guards Cody Wichmann and Jamon Brown bring no shortage of beef to an offensive line in need of it.
Even Rams coach Jeff Fisher couldn't help but notice the size of the group.
“It’s hard not to look at the four offensive linemen we drafted and say, ‘Wow,’" Fisher said. "Somebody said yesterday they look like refrigerators with legs. It’s a good-looking group and they’re moving around pretty good.”
Havenstein, in particular, is hard to ignore. At 321 pounds, you'd think he'd need some work in the weight room to be prepared to play, but he carries the weight on his frame quite well and could probably even use some added muscle. Brown also cuts an impossible figure.
2. There's a reason why the word minicamp isn't used at Rams Park.
Fisher is the only coach in the league who doesn't have traditional "minicamps," especially for his rookies. His belief is that the youngsters need to come in and get used to how to do things and get in shape before being thrown in with the veterans.
That's why he refers to the two days the rookies spent together as "orientation." Fisher wants to protect his players as much as possible and though he expressed sympathy to the Jacksonville Jaguars and rookie Dante Fowler, who suffered a torn ACL in a team drill during his minicamp, that injury is the exact reason Fisher believes in a slow indoctrination for his rookies.
"I heard he was in an 11-on-11 full-speed pass rush and he had a problem," Fisher said. "Our philosophy is not to put them in that position for a couple of weeks until we know where they’re at.”
The rookies will join with the veterans for some on-field work on Thursday this week, but the most important statistic from the two-day orientation is zero, as in zero injuries suffered.
3. If you're looking for an unknown rookie to cheer for, look no further than wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez.
The Rams had nine drafted rookies and 15 undrafted rookies in town with just a pair of tryout players. There are always good stories to be found in the undrafted and tryout groups, but perhaps there have been none better than Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 27, got a tryout with the Rams after spending four seasons at Clemson. Before that, he was in the Army from 2006-2010, becoming a sergeant and serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, he earned a Purple Heart when a rocket-propelled grenade left shrapnel in his neck and legs and a bullet hit him in the shoulder.
Fisher, who is a big proponent of the military and holds the Wounded Warriors close to his heart, couldn't help but be impressed with Rodriguez's journey.
“His story’s well-documented," Fisher said. "Wanted to give him an opportunity. We’ll see what happens. Very impressed obviously with his story and what he did at Clemson and what he was able to accomplish.”
It remains to be seen whether the Rams will sign Rodriguez to a free-agent contract but they do have a pair of roster spots remaining.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18399/three-takeaways-from-rams-rookie-orientation
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams wrapped up their rookie orientation over the weekend after spending a couple of days getting their rookie class acclimated to how the Rams do things.
There's not a whole lot to glean from this process as the players don't do much aside from some basic conditioning and individual work. But here's a handful of takeaways from what we were permitted to see on Friday and Saturday:
1. The Rams got much bigger in this year's draft, especially on the offensive line.
It was no secret what the Rams were trying to accomplish during the draft. They loaded up early and often on the offensive line and in the process bulked up in a major way. Tackles Rob Havenstein and Andrew Donnal and guards Cody Wichmann and Jamon Brown bring no shortage of beef to an offensive line in need of it.
Even Rams coach Jeff Fisher couldn't help but notice the size of the group.
“It’s hard not to look at the four offensive linemen we drafted and say, ‘Wow,’" Fisher said. "Somebody said yesterday they look like refrigerators with legs. It’s a good-looking group and they’re moving around pretty good.”
Havenstein, in particular, is hard to ignore. At 321 pounds, you'd think he'd need some work in the weight room to be prepared to play, but he carries the weight on his frame quite well and could probably even use some added muscle. Brown also cuts an impossible figure.
2. There's a reason why the word minicamp isn't used at Rams Park.
Fisher is the only coach in the league who doesn't have traditional "minicamps," especially for his rookies. His belief is that the youngsters need to come in and get used to how to do things and get in shape before being thrown in with the veterans.
That's why he refers to the two days the rookies spent together as "orientation." Fisher wants to protect his players as much as possible and though he expressed sympathy to the Jacksonville Jaguars and rookie Dante Fowler, who suffered a torn ACL in a team drill during his minicamp, that injury is the exact reason Fisher believes in a slow indoctrination for his rookies.
"I heard he was in an 11-on-11 full-speed pass rush and he had a problem," Fisher said. "Our philosophy is not to put them in that position for a couple of weeks until we know where they’re at.”
The rookies will join with the veterans for some on-field work on Thursday this week, but the most important statistic from the two-day orientation is zero, as in zero injuries suffered.
3. If you're looking for an unknown rookie to cheer for, look no further than wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez.
The Rams had nine drafted rookies and 15 undrafted rookies in town with just a pair of tryout players. There are always good stories to be found in the undrafted and tryout groups, but perhaps there have been none better than Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 27, got a tryout with the Rams after spending four seasons at Clemson. Before that, he was in the Army from 2006-2010, becoming a sergeant and serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, he earned a Purple Heart when a rocket-propelled grenade left shrapnel in his neck and legs and a bullet hit him in the shoulder.
Fisher, who is a big proponent of the military and holds the Wounded Warriors close to his heart, couldn't help but be impressed with Rodriguez's journey.
“His story’s well-documented," Fisher said. "Wanted to give him an opportunity. We’ll see what happens. Very impressed obviously with his story and what he did at Clemson and what he was able to accomplish.”
It remains to be seen whether the Rams will sign Rodriguez to a free-agent contract but they do have a pair of roster spots remaining.
