Long wait is over for Quick
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f2dbd797-3db6-518b-853d-cbf0de5f4df5.html
Brian Quick was riding high last year at this time, with 16 catches for 235 yards through three games, one of those grabs being good for a 51-yard touchdown against Dallas.
The light switch had finally flipped on for the 2012 second-round draft pick out of Appalachian State. He was on pace to become the Rams’ first 1,000-yard receiver since “Big Game” Torry Holt in 2007.
But then came that severe season-ending shoulder injury in Game 7 at Kansas City, followed by surgery, rehab and the long wait. Quick spent most of the first three weeks of 2015 on the scout team, running the plays of that week’s opponent for the Rams’ defense.
For three weeks in a row he didn’t even get to put on the uniform, a game-day inactive against Seattle, Washington and Pittsburgh. What a depressing change of fortunes from a year ago.
It would’ve have been easy to scream: Why me? What’s going on?
“Never. Never,” Quick said Friday. “You can’t do that. As far as you preparing and working hard every day, and giving everything you have, you can’t have that mindset. Things happen.”
Despite the temptation to read more into the situation, his problem was pretty basic. Quick was rusty and not in the best of shape at the end of training camp. He had participated in only 30 offensive plays all preseason as he completed his rehab from the shoulder surgery.
Coach Jeff Fisher, who is big on special teams, decided to reserve one of five wide receiver slots on game-day for rookie Bradley Marquez — who has made the most of that opportunity as maybe the team’s top special teams performer so far.
Chris Givens, part of that same 2012 draft class with Quick, deserved the chance to be the No. 4 wideout based on a strong preseason.
That left Quick on the outside looking in.
“It wasn’t necessarily hard for me, there’s just certain things that you have to work through,” Quick said. “You just have to do it. It’s a must in the NFL because everything is critical. I mean everything — everything you do out there.
“Whenever my number was called, as far as when the coaching staff decided to bring me back (to the game-day roster), I was just prepared, making sure I was prepared for everything.”
Now, the long wait is over. With the offense struggling mightily the past two weeks and Quick in better football shape than he was a month ago, Fisher has decided to change things up.
Quick will be active Sunday, making his 2015 regular-season debut against the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals. Fisher, always hesitant to tip his hand on personnel matters, revealed the news after Friday’s practice with subtlety and without much elaboration.
When asked what he thought about Quick’s work in practice this week, Fisher replied: “Had a great week. I hope it carries over into the game.”
Does that mean he’ll be “up” on Sunday, came the follow-up question.
“I hope it carries over into the game,” Fisher replied.
So there you have it. Fisher actually had made up his mind early in the week on Quick. Although Quick never spilled the beans, it seemed like he had an extra bounce in his step all week.
“I’m really excited,” Quick said Friday. “I can’t wait to get out there with my brothers and try to get this win. Just go out there and fight.”
The good news for Quick probably means bad news for Givens. It won’t become official until the game-day inactives are announced Sunday, but Givens probably will be inactive against the Cardinals to make room for Quick.
At 6-3, 218 pounds, Quick gives quarterback Nick Foles another big target who can go up and get the ball against a talented Arizona secondary.
“The sky’s the limit for that guy,” Foles said a week ago before the Pittsburgh game. “So talented; such a big receiver. His ball skills are among the best I’ve seen, just how he goes up and gets it.”
Quick missed both games against the Cardinals last season following his shoulder injury, and played sparingly for the most part against them in 2012 and ’13, with only one catch for 16 yards in 69 snaps over four games. He was targeted only four times in those contests.
It’s uncertain how much work he’ll get Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium, but for openers it probably won’t exceed the snaps of Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin or even Stedman Bailey. For now, Quick will take what he can get. After all, just being out there is better than the alternative.
“Long time coming,” Quick said. “I’m just ready to go out there and take advantage of the opportunity that I have.”
Quick has spent extra time when possible with Foles after practice to build up their chemistry. He can frequently be seen on the JUGS machine both before and after practice working on his hands by catching extra passes.
He’ll enter the Arizona game with fresh legs and lots of pent-up energy from three weeks of game-day inactivity.
“I’m just gonna take the same approach that I always do as far as staying calm and staying focused,” Quick said. “Because as an offense you have to be calm and just do the little things right because it’s about details.
“You can’t go out there hyped and then you bust assignments and do the wrong thing. You have to be calm and just make sure that you take care of your business and handle all your assignments the way you’re supposed to.”
And catch the football.