- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Havenstein learns lessons during Rams' OTAs
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1557215-havenstein-learns-lessons-during-rams-otas
ST. LOUIS — Rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein learned plenty of lessons during the Rams’ three weeks of OTA sessions. The second-round pick received some of those courtesy of veteran defensive ends Chris Long and William Hayes.
Asked what he learned from Long and Hayes during OTAs, the second-round pick from the University of Wisconsin first laughed.
“I think the biggest lesson is to stay technical with what you’re doing,” Havenstein said, “because if you don’t you’re going to get a lesson real quick as he’s turning the edge and getting by you or doing something to you where it’s blowing the play up or taking an inside move if you overset him or anything like that. You have to be a technician going against those guys because they are such good players.”
The 6-foot-7, 321-pounder said there was definitely learning curve during the OTA practice sessions. He acknowledged that it’s something he needs to improve on.
But Havenstein also said that Long, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008 who has 51.5 career sacks to his credit, has been helpful to the rookie right tackle when the two have talked.
“It hasn’t been extensive talk,” Havenstein said. “Obviously they are in their meeting rooms and I’m in mine and I’m getting great coaching there, but just a thing or two that Chris has said to me has been very helpful.”
The Rams’ revamped offensive line got plenty of work during OTAs against a defensive front that ranks among the best in the game.
The group that St. Louis put on the field offensively during team drills also lacked two starters, left tackle Greg Robinson and left guard Rodger Saffold, which hurt their cause against the defensive line.
So for much of the past three weeks of on-field work you had Havenstein, rookie right guard Jamon Brown, a third-round pick, the team’s three-man center rotation and then reserves at left tackle and left guard going up against established pros like ends Long and Robert Quinn and tackles Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Nick Fairley.
Lessons were certainly learned.
They weren’t always pretty, but they were learned one way or another.
Havenstein cited the biggest adjustment for him, making the transition from playing college football to the NFL, as the speed of the game.
“Every time you jump up a level you’re going against better athletes and when you jump to the NFL it’s going to be the best of the best,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to have some of the best of the best just on the opposite side of the ball that we practice against every day. It was obviously an adjustment and I’m still trying to get there. The goal is not to lose a rep, but it’s just that challenge every day to get better and better.”
The Rams are hoping the lessons learned during OTAs, and later on in training camp, will help its new-look offensive line come together quickly to make an impact this season. They will need those guys to step up and contribute after releasing two veteran starters in the offseason and allowing two others to leave as unrestricted free agents.
Havenstein, who was a three-year starter at right tackle for the Badgers’ run-heavy offense, is doing everything he can to put himself into position to contribute this season. He said while the Rams’ playbook has some similarities to what he did at Wisconsin, he is working on taking what he knows and incorporating that into what he’s being taught now by veteran offensive line coach Paul Boudreau.
“I think Coach Boudreau has done a heck of a job,” Havenstein said. “Obviously he knows what he’s talking about. The proof’s in the pudding. He’s a heck of an o-line coach. He’s been around for a long time. He definitely knows what he’s talking about, so I’m just going to try to take as much as I can from him and be a better offensive lineman.”
Those lessons figure to pay off for Havenstein eventually, but the Rams will hope that they do sooner rather than later.
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1557215-havenstein-learns-lessons-during-rams-otas
ST. LOUIS — Rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein learned plenty of lessons during the Rams’ three weeks of OTA sessions. The second-round pick received some of those courtesy of veteran defensive ends Chris Long and William Hayes.
Asked what he learned from Long and Hayes during OTAs, the second-round pick from the University of Wisconsin first laughed.
“I think the biggest lesson is to stay technical with what you’re doing,” Havenstein said, “because if you don’t you’re going to get a lesson real quick as he’s turning the edge and getting by you or doing something to you where it’s blowing the play up or taking an inside move if you overset him or anything like that. You have to be a technician going against those guys because they are such good players.”
The 6-foot-7, 321-pounder said there was definitely learning curve during the OTA practice sessions. He acknowledged that it’s something he needs to improve on.
But Havenstein also said that Long, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008 who has 51.5 career sacks to his credit, has been helpful to the rookie right tackle when the two have talked.
“It hasn’t been extensive talk,” Havenstein said. “Obviously they are in their meeting rooms and I’m in mine and I’m getting great coaching there, but just a thing or two that Chris has said to me has been very helpful.”
The Rams’ revamped offensive line got plenty of work during OTAs against a defensive front that ranks among the best in the game.
The group that St. Louis put on the field offensively during team drills also lacked two starters, left tackle Greg Robinson and left guard Rodger Saffold, which hurt their cause against the defensive line.
So for much of the past three weeks of on-field work you had Havenstein, rookie right guard Jamon Brown, a third-round pick, the team’s three-man center rotation and then reserves at left tackle and left guard going up against established pros like ends Long and Robert Quinn and tackles Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Nick Fairley.
Lessons were certainly learned.
They weren’t always pretty, but they were learned one way or another.
Havenstein cited the biggest adjustment for him, making the transition from playing college football to the NFL, as the speed of the game.
“Every time you jump up a level you’re going against better athletes and when you jump to the NFL it’s going to be the best of the best,” he said. “We’re lucky enough to have some of the best of the best just on the opposite side of the ball that we practice against every day. It was obviously an adjustment and I’m still trying to get there. The goal is not to lose a rep, but it’s just that challenge every day to get better and better.”
The Rams are hoping the lessons learned during OTAs, and later on in training camp, will help its new-look offensive line come together quickly to make an impact this season. They will need those guys to step up and contribute after releasing two veteran starters in the offseason and allowing two others to leave as unrestricted free agents.
Havenstein, who was a three-year starter at right tackle for the Badgers’ run-heavy offense, is doing everything he can to put himself into position to contribute this season. He said while the Rams’ playbook has some similarities to what he did at Wisconsin, he is working on taking what he knows and incorporating that into what he’s being taught now by veteran offensive line coach Paul Boudreau.
“I think Coach Boudreau has done a heck of a job,” Havenstein said. “Obviously he knows what he’s talking about. The proof’s in the pudding. He’s a heck of an o-line coach. He’s been around for a long time. He definitely knows what he’s talking about, so I’m just going to try to take as much as I can from him and be a better offensive lineman.”
Those lessons figure to pay off for Havenstein eventually, but the Rams will hope that they do sooner rather than later.
