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Jared Goff and other Rams rookies will get an NFL orientation as mini-camp arrives
By Gary Klein
[www.latimes.com]
The moments of clarity came before and during a rainstorm.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and Coach Jeff Fisher traveled to Berkeley before the NFL draft to work out quarterback Jared Goff. Rain was in the forecast, and Snead told Goff during a meeting the night before that they could be flexible and hope for some dry periods to get the evaluation done.
"No," Goff told him. "We've got a 9 a.m. appointment and we're sticking to it."
Then he added, "I hope it's raining."
Goff's confidence about showing his talent in less than ideal conditions impressed Snead. So did Goff's performance the next day, when drizzle turned to rain and the undeterred Goff displayed uncanny accuracy as the weather worsened.
"He was still throwing it," Snead said, "You come away going 'Wow.' You kind of like that."
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour >>
Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, could get his first opportunity to show his confidence and skills Friday when the Rams' rookie orientation and mini-camp for drafted players and undrafted free agents begins in Oxnard.
Fisher has described Goff as "our franchise quarterback" and did not rule out the possibility of his starting the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football."
Goff has said he would take an understated approach with teammates as he attempts to blend in and begin his pro career.
"At first, just kind of come in and put your head down and work hard, and just kind of stay low and gain their respect," he said during a news conference last week. "I think you have to do that for a little while and once you do that then you can begin to lead and be the leader that you need to be, and as a quarterback you have to do that."
Goff is one of six draftees. Receivers Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway and linebacker Josh Forrest are others.
The Rams signed 19 undrafted free agents. Three receivers — including Colorado's Nelson Spruce, the Pac-12 Conference career receptions leader — four linebackers and two cornerbacks are among the hopefuls.
Fisher said the first-year players would not be subjected to intense workouts at the outset.
"We call it an orientation," he said. "We're going to bring them in and just introduce the National Football League to them. Just bring them along slowly over the period of a couple days — that includes walk-throughs and meetings.
"We're going to find out where they are physically, from a conditioning standpoint, and then we're going to get them caught up with our vets that have been working for a few weeks now."
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, a second-round draft pick last year, said his experiences during rookie orientation remained fresh. He started 13 games at right tackle in 2015, and said drafted players and free agents should approach the opportunity with this mentality:
"The first time you show up and show your face to an organization you want to work for, a good first impression is a step in the right direction," he said.
Havenstein said the orientation experience proved valuable.
"The one thing that was conveyed to us with the coaches was they really wanted us to learn and understand what it takes to work like a Ram," he said. "That was very helpful to us rookies."
Safety Rodney McLeod, who signed a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in March, and running back Benny Cunningham, who re-signed with the Rams, began their pro careers as undrafted free agents with the Rams.
Snead said the goal was to find one to four undrafted free agents each year who can contribute.
"If they do get on the field, they usually go in to play just as much or more than, like, the fourth-rounders, fifth-rounders, sixth-rounders," he said.
Linebacker Cameron Lynch signed with the Rams last year as an undrafted free agent from Syracuse. His philosophy going into rookie orientation mirrored Havenstein's.
"Make a great first impression, because the window for a guy who's gone undrafted is pretty small," he said. "My whole thing was, 'Squeeze through that window.'
"I took special teams very seriously. That's a real key — taking everything you do seriously."
Higbee in court
Higbee appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to an incident in Kentucky last month, his attorney said. Higbee's next court date is June 17, attorney Brian Lowder said. Higbee was arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion as well as a brain hemorrhage. According to a police report obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News, there were conflicting accounts from Higbee and witnesses about what occurred. Higbee told police that the incident was precipitated by a man who was bothering Higbee and his girlfriend. Lowder has disputed accounts that characterized the incident as racially motivated.
By Gary Klein
[www.latimes.com]
The moments of clarity came before and during a rainstorm.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and Coach Jeff Fisher traveled to Berkeley before the NFL draft to work out quarterback Jared Goff. Rain was in the forecast, and Snead told Goff during a meeting the night before that they could be flexible and hope for some dry periods to get the evaluation done.
"No," Goff told him. "We've got a 9 a.m. appointment and we're sticking to it."
Then he added, "I hope it's raining."
Goff's confidence about showing his talent in less than ideal conditions impressed Snead. So did Goff's performance the next day, when drizzle turned to rain and the undeterred Goff displayed uncanny accuracy as the weather worsened.
"He was still throwing it," Snead said, "You come away going 'Wow.' You kind of like that."
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour >>
Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, could get his first opportunity to show his confidence and skills Friday when the Rams' rookie orientation and mini-camp for drafted players and undrafted free agents begins in Oxnard.
Fisher has described Goff as "our franchise quarterback" and did not rule out the possibility of his starting the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football."
Goff has said he would take an understated approach with teammates as he attempts to blend in and begin his pro career.
"At first, just kind of come in and put your head down and work hard, and just kind of stay low and gain their respect," he said during a news conference last week. "I think you have to do that for a little while and once you do that then you can begin to lead and be the leader that you need to be, and as a quarterback you have to do that."
Goff is one of six draftees. Receivers Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway and linebacker Josh Forrest are others.
The Rams signed 19 undrafted free agents. Three receivers — including Colorado's Nelson Spruce, the Pac-12 Conference career receptions leader — four linebackers and two cornerbacks are among the hopefuls.
Fisher said the first-year players would not be subjected to intense workouts at the outset.
"We call it an orientation," he said. "We're going to bring them in and just introduce the National Football League to them. Just bring them along slowly over the period of a couple days — that includes walk-throughs and meetings.
"We're going to find out where they are physically, from a conditioning standpoint, and then we're going to get them caught up with our vets that have been working for a few weeks now."
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, a second-round draft pick last year, said his experiences during rookie orientation remained fresh. He started 13 games at right tackle in 2015, and said drafted players and free agents should approach the opportunity with this mentality:
"The first time you show up and show your face to an organization you want to work for, a good first impression is a step in the right direction," he said.
Havenstein said the orientation experience proved valuable.
"The one thing that was conveyed to us with the coaches was they really wanted us to learn and understand what it takes to work like a Ram," he said. "That was very helpful to us rookies."
Safety Rodney McLeod, who signed a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in March, and running back Benny Cunningham, who re-signed with the Rams, began their pro careers as undrafted free agents with the Rams.
Snead said the goal was to find one to four undrafted free agents each year who can contribute.
"If they do get on the field, they usually go in to play just as much or more than, like, the fourth-rounders, fifth-rounders, sixth-rounders," he said.
Linebacker Cameron Lynch signed with the Rams last year as an undrafted free agent from Syracuse. His philosophy going into rookie orientation mirrored Havenstein's.
"Make a great first impression, because the window for a guy who's gone undrafted is pretty small," he said. "My whole thing was, 'Squeeze through that window.'
"I took special teams very seriously. That's a real key — taking everything you do seriously."
Higbee in court
Higbee appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to an incident in Kentucky last month, his attorney said. Higbee's next court date is June 17, attorney Brian Lowder said. Higbee was arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion as well as a brain hemorrhage. According to a police report obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News, there were conflicting accounts from Higbee and witnesses about what occurred. Higbee told police that the incident was precipitated by a man who was bothering Higbee and his girlfriend. Lowder has disputed accounts that characterized the incident as racially motivated.
