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Fisher not worried about holes on O-line
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_75c439b2-b536-5590-b336-e60c7727e6e5.html
One month ago at the NFL owners meetings, coach Jeff Fisher said he was not alarmed over the state of the Rams’ offensive line.
Thirty-four days later, the only thing that’s changed is that potential free-agent pickup Stefen Wisniewski, a center, has signed with Jacksonville. So less than two days before the draft, the Rams still don’t have a clear-cut starting center, a starting right guard or starting right tackle.
Still not concerned about that O-line, coach?
“I feel good about it,” Fisher said Tuesday at the annual tap-dancing show otherwise known as the Rams’ pre-draft news conference. “I feel good about the direction we’re headed. And I’ll feel much better when the weekend’s over. But I feel good about it. We have options. And there’s still (free-agent) options out there.”
Joe Barksdale is one. The Rams’ starting right tackle the past two seasons remains unsigned on the free-agent market. Fisher said the Rams remain interested in re-signing Barksdale and are in “constant communication” with him.
Fisher said he didn’t know why Barksdale’s contract status remains unresolved, be it re-signing with the Rams or signing elsewhere.
“Things may not have worked out for them from the perspective of what they thought was gonna happen,” he said.
Translation: Barksdale hasn’t received an offer anywhere near what he is hoping for.
“But we have interest in Joe because he played some good football for us,” Fisher said.
Another offensive lineman whom the Rams have talked about remains available as well in free agency: veteran guard Justin Blalock of the Atlanta Falcons.
If the Rams re-sign Barksdale, sign Blalock then draft a couple of offensive linemen in the opening three rounds —preferably one in the first round — all of a sudden what looks like a dire offensive-line picture looks settled.
Fisher added: “We’ve got some good young players on our roster, that you’ve not seen play or haven’t played very much. But we’re developing players currently on our roster. So we feel good about it.”
Such as the three center candidates on the roster: former fourth-round pick Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes (who started four games in 2013), and 2014 seventh-round draft pick Demetrius Rhaney. One of those might be the team’s starting center in 2015.
The Rams left no stone unturned in terms of their pre-draft research on the offensive line, including bringing in a dozen college blockers among their confirmed total of 22 visits to Rams Park.
Perhaps fittingly, general manager Les Snead believes there’s plenty to choose from there this year.
“We felt early on in the process there were some quality offensive linemen in this draft,” Snead said. “Now you can rate the quality, depending on whether it’s an A guy, B guy, whatever it is. But we thought there’s a lot of linemen that could help any football team. So that was a little bit of a guidepost as we went into the offseason.”
As is often the case at these pre-draft media sessions, the dialogue could best be summed up as vague, sprinkled with generalities.
Such as ...
“We have some options (at No. 10),” Fisher said. “So I could see us taking just about any position.”
Even at edge rusher, where defensive ends/outside linebackers Shane Ray of Missouri and Randy Gregory of Nebraska suddenly could be available when the Rams pick because of drug-related issues.
“It’s very possible, yes,” Fisher said, smiling. “We like defensive players here; good defensive players here. Can’t get enough.”
And could the Rams find a way to get said pass rusher on the field in Week 1 on a roster loaded with pass rushers?
“Yes we would,” Fisher said, still smiling. “Week 1.”
On the subject of quarterback, Fisher seemed to back down some from his owners meeting comment that the Rams planned to draft a QB.
“It really depends on how things unfold,” Fisher said Tuesday. “Aside from the top two (Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota), which I think everyone assumes will be gone, there’s some (quarterbacks) in this draft that can come in and help you.
“But we’re very excited about what we’ve seen here the last week and half with Nick (Foles), and what he’s done in the offseason program. I think we’re better at the position.”
The latter part of Fisher’s response was interesting, a seeming endorsement of Foles over Sam Bradford.
“We’re healthy right now and there’s some good things ahead as far as that’s concerned,” Fisher continued, on the quarterback topic. “But it doesn’t mean to say there’s not a guy at a certain point that we like (in the draft) that we can’t pass up.”
Snead said the Rams’ draft board is basically set. It’s all about fine-tuning and going over scenarios at this point.
“Les’ staff has done a great job to this point,” Fisher said. “We started a little bit early, earlier than we have in the past. So we’ve taken some quality time putting it together.
“There’s still some things that we need to look at. Some minor adjustments we need to make.”
Fisher compared that to what transpires on Friday of a typical game week during the season.
“The game plan’s in, you’re prepared to play,” he said.
Snead said the phone calls with other teams have started, but there’s nothing serious at this point.
“I think I mentioned it last year, we’re at the flirting stage of just chatting with other GMs,” Snead said. “You kinda try to figure out what each is gonna do.”
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_75c439b2-b536-5590-b336-e60c7727e6e5.html
One month ago at the NFL owners meetings, coach Jeff Fisher said he was not alarmed over the state of the Rams’ offensive line.
Thirty-four days later, the only thing that’s changed is that potential free-agent pickup Stefen Wisniewski, a center, has signed with Jacksonville. So less than two days before the draft, the Rams still don’t have a clear-cut starting center, a starting right guard or starting right tackle.
Still not concerned about that O-line, coach?
“I feel good about it,” Fisher said Tuesday at the annual tap-dancing show otherwise known as the Rams’ pre-draft news conference. “I feel good about the direction we’re headed. And I’ll feel much better when the weekend’s over. But I feel good about it. We have options. And there’s still (free-agent) options out there.”
Joe Barksdale is one. The Rams’ starting right tackle the past two seasons remains unsigned on the free-agent market. Fisher said the Rams remain interested in re-signing Barksdale and are in “constant communication” with him.
Fisher said he didn’t know why Barksdale’s contract status remains unresolved, be it re-signing with the Rams or signing elsewhere.
“Things may not have worked out for them from the perspective of what they thought was gonna happen,” he said.
Translation: Barksdale hasn’t received an offer anywhere near what he is hoping for.
“But we have interest in Joe because he played some good football for us,” Fisher said.
Another offensive lineman whom the Rams have talked about remains available as well in free agency: veteran guard Justin Blalock of the Atlanta Falcons.
If the Rams re-sign Barksdale, sign Blalock then draft a couple of offensive linemen in the opening three rounds —preferably one in the first round — all of a sudden what looks like a dire offensive-line picture looks settled.
Fisher added: “We’ve got some good young players on our roster, that you’ve not seen play or haven’t played very much. But we’re developing players currently on our roster. So we feel good about it.”
Such as the three center candidates on the roster: former fourth-round pick Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes (who started four games in 2013), and 2014 seventh-round draft pick Demetrius Rhaney. One of those might be the team’s starting center in 2015.
The Rams left no stone unturned in terms of their pre-draft research on the offensive line, including bringing in a dozen college blockers among their confirmed total of 22 visits to Rams Park.
Perhaps fittingly, general manager Les Snead believes there’s plenty to choose from there this year.
“We felt early on in the process there were some quality offensive linemen in this draft,” Snead said. “Now you can rate the quality, depending on whether it’s an A guy, B guy, whatever it is. But we thought there’s a lot of linemen that could help any football team. So that was a little bit of a guidepost as we went into the offseason.”
As is often the case at these pre-draft media sessions, the dialogue could best be summed up as vague, sprinkled with generalities.
Such as ...
“We have some options (at No. 10),” Fisher said. “So I could see us taking just about any position.”
Even at edge rusher, where defensive ends/outside linebackers Shane Ray of Missouri and Randy Gregory of Nebraska suddenly could be available when the Rams pick because of drug-related issues.
“It’s very possible, yes,” Fisher said, smiling. “We like defensive players here; good defensive players here. Can’t get enough.”
And could the Rams find a way to get said pass rusher on the field in Week 1 on a roster loaded with pass rushers?
“Yes we would,” Fisher said, still smiling. “Week 1.”
On the subject of quarterback, Fisher seemed to back down some from his owners meeting comment that the Rams planned to draft a QB.
“It really depends on how things unfold,” Fisher said Tuesday. “Aside from the top two (Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota), which I think everyone assumes will be gone, there’s some (quarterbacks) in this draft that can come in and help you.
“But we’re very excited about what we’ve seen here the last week and half with Nick (Foles), and what he’s done in the offseason program. I think we’re better at the position.”
The latter part of Fisher’s response was interesting, a seeming endorsement of Foles over Sam Bradford.
“We’re healthy right now and there’s some good things ahead as far as that’s concerned,” Fisher continued, on the quarterback topic. “But it doesn’t mean to say there’s not a guy at a certain point that we like (in the draft) that we can’t pass up.”
Snead said the Rams’ draft board is basically set. It’s all about fine-tuning and going over scenarios at this point.
“Les’ staff has done a great job to this point,” Fisher said. “We started a little bit early, earlier than we have in the past. So we’ve taken some quality time putting it together.
“There’s still some things that we need to look at. Some minor adjustments we need to make.”
Fisher compared that to what transpires on Friday of a typical game week during the season.
“The game plan’s in, you’re prepared to play,” he said.
Snead said the phone calls with other teams have started, but there’s nothing serious at this point.
“I think I mentioned it last year, we’re at the flirting stage of just chatting with other GMs,” Snead said. “You kinda try to figure out what each is gonna do.”
