Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – Post-Practice – July 26, 2013
(On the weather)
“Yes, we got a break on the weather. That was good.”
(On if practice was definitely going to be outside considering the weather)
“It’s going to be hard to put 90 players inside. We have to make some adjustments, but we had a sense that it would clear up, so it was good for us.”
(On what impressed him most about Day 2 of practice)
“We’re not making a lot of mistakes right now. We’re not having a lot of line of scrimmage issues. The defense is really getting off on the ball. The defense made a lot of plays, got their hands on a lot of balls. We had a couple of very competitive drills, got in the plus territory and making plays. (QB) Sam’s (Bradford) throwing the ball well and so far so good.”
(On if he expects the defense to make plays)
“Someone’s going to make the play when you’re competing against each other. The offense either makes it or the defense makes it. So, from my perspective, those are good things. The defense got their hands on a lot of balls today. We were competing and it’s good to see some of the younger DB’s make some plays.”
(On how explosive he thinks the offense can be)
“Well it’s still real early, it’s just Day 2. Our goal, as we said, is to increase scoring and keep the defense off the field and put drives together, but first and foremost we have to run the football. It’s hard to evaluate your run game without pads and we’re a couple days away from that, so we’ll be able to start pushing the run game a little bit.”
(On when the team will practice in pads)
“We’ll go pads Sunday in a special teams practice – special teams session – and then Monday will be the first official team practice in shoulder pads.”
(On DE Chris Long’s leadership considering his seniority on the team)
“We assigned parking spots to the players, and we did it based on seniority, and he’s still about four or five down the line. (LB) Will Spoon (Witherspoon) came in here and he got the first one right off the bat. From a standpoint of seniority that’s been here, yeah, he’s enjoying every minute of it. He’s taken a leadership role in the room with a bunch of young guys. They work together, and he’s taking a lot of pride in this defense.”
(On if Long has room to improve)
“I think everybody can get better. He makes a great share of his big plays with effort. I think if you ask him he’d tell you that he can still do better at times with technique. He and (Defensive Line Coach) Mike (Waufle) are doing a great job working together, as the rest of the guys are, and that’s been the biggest improvement up front, it’s been hand usage and technique with the defensive line.”
(On the position battle at safety)
“What we want to make sure is that everybody is getting reps. Right now, T.J (McDonald) and ‘Stew’ (Darian Stewart) are working together with the first team and Rodney (McLeod)’s had a great offseason and is doing a great job at both positions. Fortunately, we got Matt (Giordano) in here with the experience and we’ll see how the young guys do. But, I’m especially pleased right now with T.J.’s progress. He’s really doing some good things out there.”
(On what stands out about S T.J. McDonald so far)
“Each day there’s improvement. There’s more and more familiarity with what we’re doing. He’s making more plays each day. He’s just an excellent athlete and a good football player.”
