- Joined
- Nov 24, 2012
- Messages
- 2,624
- Name
- News Bot
Dan Pompei
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfp-sunday ... --nfl.html
With a young team, there will be ups and downs.
Taking care of business against RGIII and Russell Wilson. A blowout loss to the Patriots. A tie in San Francisco against the 49ers. An upset loss to the Jets.
A run up the stadium steps to the concourse at Candlestick Park. And a run back down.
This is life for Jeff Fisher and the 2012 Rams, football’s youngest team. “I haven’t had a team this young in awhile, and it’s fun,” Fisher told me. “You don’t treat rookies like rookies or expect them to act like rookies. You have high expectations and coach them up.”
Not everything has gone Jeff Fisher's way this season, but he rolls with it.
So Fisher, in his 18th year as an NFL head coach and his first year in St. Louis, believes he is in a very good place, despite the roller coaster ride. “We’re having fun and getting better,” he said. “It’s a fun team. They love to play. We had a ball out there in San Francisco. They are fun to coach. There is a good dynamic. Good chemistry. Good personalities. I’m really, really happy with the staff. It’s going to take us some time, but that’s OK. There is no one they don’t think they’re good enough to play against, which is good.”
Fisher is excited about the futures of many of his young players. He mentions defensive tackle Michael Brockers, defensive end Robert Quinn, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, running backs Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead, kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker.
And quarterback Sam Bradford still is a young player at 25. “He’s going to be outstanding,” Fisher said. “He’s improved weekly. His accuracy, his deep balls, what he’s doing on the line of scrimmage, his relationship with [offensive coordinator] Brian [Schottenheimer], it’s all coming along. This offense is going to take off in the future with him.”
With Fisher’s Rams this year, the big picture is of utmost importance. Fisher talks about big picture experiences like having the team bond in London for a week prior to the Patriots game and building character by coming out of San Fran with a tie.
Having Jenkins and receiver Chris Givens run the steps at Candlestick Park after a reported curfew violation also was a big picture move. Fisher said he never has made players run stadium steps before, but he thought it was the right thing to do because he is trying to establish his program.
Some coaches might have hesitated to bench a player as valuable as Jenkins, but Fisher didn’t. Not in this situation. “It wasn’t hard, considering the circumstances,” he said. “It’s not hard when you have young players behind them that will get opportunities and step up. Trumaine Johnson played well for Janoris. As you build a team, you want to know that. He played hard, played well. Now you know you have somebody who can come off the bench and play.”
Ideally, Fisher, Jenkins and Johnson all benefited from the situation. Fisher knows more about his team. Jenkins knows more about his boundaries. And Johnson knows more about playing in the NFL.
Peaks and valleys are part of the terrain for a young team. Fisher is enjoying the ride.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfp-sunday ... --nfl.html
With a young team, there will be ups and downs.
Taking care of business against RGIII and Russell Wilson. A blowout loss to the Patriots. A tie in San Francisco against the 49ers. An upset loss to the Jets.
A run up the stadium steps to the concourse at Candlestick Park. And a run back down.
This is life for Jeff Fisher and the 2012 Rams, football’s youngest team. “I haven’t had a team this young in awhile, and it’s fun,” Fisher told me. “You don’t treat rookies like rookies or expect them to act like rookies. You have high expectations and coach them up.”
Not everything has gone Jeff Fisher's way this season, but he rolls with it.
So Fisher, in his 18th year as an NFL head coach and his first year in St. Louis, believes he is in a very good place, despite the roller coaster ride. “We’re having fun and getting better,” he said. “It’s a fun team. They love to play. We had a ball out there in San Francisco. They are fun to coach. There is a good dynamic. Good chemistry. Good personalities. I’m really, really happy with the staff. It’s going to take us some time, but that’s OK. There is no one they don’t think they’re good enough to play against, which is good.”
Fisher is excited about the futures of many of his young players. He mentions defensive tackle Michael Brockers, defensive end Robert Quinn, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, running backs Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead, kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker.
And quarterback Sam Bradford still is a young player at 25. “He’s going to be outstanding,” Fisher said. “He’s improved weekly. His accuracy, his deep balls, what he’s doing on the line of scrimmage, his relationship with [offensive coordinator] Brian [Schottenheimer], it’s all coming along. This offense is going to take off in the future with him.”
With Fisher’s Rams this year, the big picture is of utmost importance. Fisher talks about big picture experiences like having the team bond in London for a week prior to the Patriots game and building character by coming out of San Fran with a tie.
Having Jenkins and receiver Chris Givens run the steps at Candlestick Park after a reported curfew violation also was a big picture move. Fisher said he never has made players run stadium steps before, but he thought it was the right thing to do because he is trying to establish his program.
Some coaches might have hesitated to bench a player as valuable as Jenkins, but Fisher didn’t. Not in this situation. “It wasn’t hard, considering the circumstances,” he said. “It’s not hard when you have young players behind them that will get opportunities and step up. Trumaine Johnson played well for Janoris. As you build a team, you want to know that. He played hard, played well. Now you know you have somebody who can come off the bench and play.”
Ideally, Fisher, Jenkins and Johnson all benefited from the situation. Fisher knows more about his team. Jenkins knows more about his boundaries. And Johnson knows more about playing in the NFL.
Peaks and valleys are part of the terrain for a young team. Fisher is enjoying the ride.
