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Practice Report 11/17: Keenum's First Session
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-1117-Keenums-First-Session/0d9f1389-dffb-4a1a-a8f8-d856c14f20f2
The Rams will have a different look under center when they play the Ravens in Baltimore this weekend, as Case Keenum takes over at starting quarterback. And after Tuesday’s practice -- his first as QB 1 -- it was clear how much Keenum relishes his new opportunity.
“I'm excited for my chance, I really am,” Keenum said. “I'm excited to go out there and compete again. You don't get many chances to play in this league. I definitely count it as a blessing, and to get a second chance to come out and compete is incredible.”
Having been with St. Louis for much of last season, Keenum had plenty of familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti prior to the trade that brought him back from Houston in March. That’s helped him this season in gaining comfort in the offense, even as things have changed within it.
“Cig and I spent a lot of time last year together -- being the third guy, the practice squad guy for the last half of the season -- just talking ball,” Keenum said. “I think as a quarterback, you want to be on the same page as your coordinator, see the defense with the same set of eyes. And I think we do.”
Because of that, head coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams do not have to pare down much with the playbook in order to get Keenum ready for Sunday. They will, however, make some adjustments based on what Keenum really likes.
“We made some minor adjustments in the plan just because there’s some things that he sees and sees a little differently than Nick [Foles] and [that] they prefer,” Fisher said. “It’s all good. All it does is, hopefully, translates into first downs.”
While Fisher has said the Rams may take advantage of Keenum’s mobility, the quarterback conceded he’d rather throw the ball than just run it himself all the time.
“I try to find the open guy and get the ball out of my hands and into the fast guys’ hands -- that tends to work better, when I'm not holding it and they've got it in their hands,” Keenum said. “You know the talent we have in this locker room -- you've seen it every Sunday. That's my job.”
“I think that Case has shown that he can extend plays -- scramble around, extend plays and make throws down the field,” Fisher said. “So, yeah, there are some things that we can do a little bit differently. But, it all starts with the run game and our ability to protect him.”
And when Keenum does throw it, he’ll have to be on the same page as his receivers. Getting the timing down between a new quarterback and pass catchers can be tough in the middle of the season, but Keenum does have experiences with his teammates to draw upon.
“I got a lot of reps with these guys during the preseason,” Keenum said. “They rotated receivers in and out, so I've seen every practice rep and everything that's happened around here the whole time.”
“I think it always takes time -- chemistry always takes time,” Keenum added. “That's why we practice and go out there and play. The more you play and practice, the more experience you'll get and that's priceless.”
While he hasn’t started a regular-season game for the Rams, Keenum has gone against the Ravens. He started the Texans’ Week 15 contest against Baltimore last year, helping lead Houston to a 25-13 victory.
“It helps and it doesn’t,” Keenum said. “It's previous years. It's a new team, it's a new opponent. There's good and bad things to that.”
As a backup, Keenum said he’s done his best to prepare each week as if he would get in the game. It’s the way it must be done, as the No. 2 quarterback is always one play away from becoming No. 1. But Keenum admitted this week is a little different.
“You may dot a few more ‘I’s or cross a few more ‘T’s when you're thinking about the plan,” Keenum said. “I try to prepare and be the most mentally ready that I can be every time I step on the practice field. Now, instead of sitting back there visualizing it and doing fake reps on air, I get the real reps, which is a lot better.”
Keenum said he felt a bevy of emotions after receiving the news he’d be starting from Fisher on Monday. On one hand, he was glad to get his shot. But on the other, Foles has become a close friend.
“We've been fighting hard to play the best that our position can play, and I have the utmost respect for Nick,” Keenum said. “That's the first person I talked to after coach Fisher told us. We have a great relationship and I have his back no matter what.”
The same can be said from Foles’ perspective, as he reiterated how close the two have become and his team-first mentality on Tuesday.
“I love Case to death,” Foles said. “He's one of my favorite people in the world, so I'm going to be right there to support him every step of the way and help him in any way possible.”
“I care a lot about my teammates,” Foles added, “so I'm going to do everything I can to prepare this week to help Case and help my teammates to get a win this week.”
The shift will be an adjustment for those around the quarterback as well, including running back Todd Gurley.
“It’s definitely a change,” Gurley said. “It kind of just popped up on us, but it’s something that we’ve dealt with in the past -- whether it’s vets or me from changing quarterbacks in college.
“We believe in Case,” Gurley continued. “He’s a good quarterback, so we’ll see how that goes.”
With his teammates behind him, Keenum is looking forward to taking the next step in his NFL journey.
“I've been on a lot of sides of the quarterback position in this business,” Keenum said. “I've been named the starter after a guy gets injured or whatever it is. I've been a backup for a while, been replaced as a starter. I've been a No. 4 on one team and then started the next week with another team.”
“I've kind of been through it all,” Keenum continued. “You have to be ready when you get a chance, and I'm ready.”
ROSTER MOVES
Aside from the switch at quarterback, the Rams made a few roster moves to bolster the depth of their offensive line.
As Fisher previously announced would be the case, rookies Jamon Brown and Darrell Williams were placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Isaiah Battle was also promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
The Rams added two additional offensive linemen to the active roster as well. The first, Brian Folkerts is a St. Louis-area native and was signed off the 49ers’ practice squad. The second, Eric Kush, was claimed off waivers from Houston.
“[Folkerts] was really excited to come here and go down the street and live with mom and dad, I guess. So, that worked out good for us,” Fisher said. “Then, yesterday afternoon, the Texans waived Eric Kush. Eric’s got some center ability, some great feet. So, we claimed him today off the waiver wire. So, that was good and we’re moving people around.”
To make room on the 53-man roster, St. Louis waived defensive tackle Doug Worthington.
On the practice squad, the Rams released defensive end Gerald Rivers and added guard David Arkin.
Fisher said more moves may be coming as the week continues.
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-1117-Keenums-First-Session/0d9f1389-dffb-4a1a-a8f8-d856c14f20f2
The Rams will have a different look under center when they play the Ravens in Baltimore this weekend, as Case Keenum takes over at starting quarterback. And after Tuesday’s practice -- his first as QB 1 -- it was clear how much Keenum relishes his new opportunity.
“I'm excited for my chance, I really am,” Keenum said. “I'm excited to go out there and compete again. You don't get many chances to play in this league. I definitely count it as a blessing, and to get a second chance to come out and compete is incredible.”
Having been with St. Louis for much of last season, Keenum had plenty of familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti prior to the trade that brought him back from Houston in March. That’s helped him this season in gaining comfort in the offense, even as things have changed within it.
“Cig and I spent a lot of time last year together -- being the third guy, the practice squad guy for the last half of the season -- just talking ball,” Keenum said. “I think as a quarterback, you want to be on the same page as your coordinator, see the defense with the same set of eyes. And I think we do.”
Because of that, head coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams do not have to pare down much with the playbook in order to get Keenum ready for Sunday. They will, however, make some adjustments based on what Keenum really likes.
“We made some minor adjustments in the plan just because there’s some things that he sees and sees a little differently than Nick [Foles] and [that] they prefer,” Fisher said. “It’s all good. All it does is, hopefully, translates into first downs.”
While Fisher has said the Rams may take advantage of Keenum’s mobility, the quarterback conceded he’d rather throw the ball than just run it himself all the time.
“I try to find the open guy and get the ball out of my hands and into the fast guys’ hands -- that tends to work better, when I'm not holding it and they've got it in their hands,” Keenum said. “You know the talent we have in this locker room -- you've seen it every Sunday. That's my job.”
“I think that Case has shown that he can extend plays -- scramble around, extend plays and make throws down the field,” Fisher said. “So, yeah, there are some things that we can do a little bit differently. But, it all starts with the run game and our ability to protect him.”
And when Keenum does throw it, he’ll have to be on the same page as his receivers. Getting the timing down between a new quarterback and pass catchers can be tough in the middle of the season, but Keenum does have experiences with his teammates to draw upon.
“I got a lot of reps with these guys during the preseason,” Keenum said. “They rotated receivers in and out, so I've seen every practice rep and everything that's happened around here the whole time.”
“I think it always takes time -- chemistry always takes time,” Keenum added. “That's why we practice and go out there and play. The more you play and practice, the more experience you'll get and that's priceless.”
While he hasn’t started a regular-season game for the Rams, Keenum has gone against the Ravens. He started the Texans’ Week 15 contest against Baltimore last year, helping lead Houston to a 25-13 victory.
“It helps and it doesn’t,” Keenum said. “It's previous years. It's a new team, it's a new opponent. There's good and bad things to that.”
As a backup, Keenum said he’s done his best to prepare each week as if he would get in the game. It’s the way it must be done, as the No. 2 quarterback is always one play away from becoming No. 1. But Keenum admitted this week is a little different.
“You may dot a few more ‘I’s or cross a few more ‘T’s when you're thinking about the plan,” Keenum said. “I try to prepare and be the most mentally ready that I can be every time I step on the practice field. Now, instead of sitting back there visualizing it and doing fake reps on air, I get the real reps, which is a lot better.”
Keenum said he felt a bevy of emotions after receiving the news he’d be starting from Fisher on Monday. On one hand, he was glad to get his shot. But on the other, Foles has become a close friend.
“We've been fighting hard to play the best that our position can play, and I have the utmost respect for Nick,” Keenum said. “That's the first person I talked to after coach Fisher told us. We have a great relationship and I have his back no matter what.”
The same can be said from Foles’ perspective, as he reiterated how close the two have become and his team-first mentality on Tuesday.
“I love Case to death,” Foles said. “He's one of my favorite people in the world, so I'm going to be right there to support him every step of the way and help him in any way possible.”
“I care a lot about my teammates,” Foles added, “so I'm going to do everything I can to prepare this week to help Case and help my teammates to get a win this week.”
The shift will be an adjustment for those around the quarterback as well, including running back Todd Gurley.
“It’s definitely a change,” Gurley said. “It kind of just popped up on us, but it’s something that we’ve dealt with in the past -- whether it’s vets or me from changing quarterbacks in college.
“We believe in Case,” Gurley continued. “He’s a good quarterback, so we’ll see how that goes.”
With his teammates behind him, Keenum is looking forward to taking the next step in his NFL journey.
“I've been on a lot of sides of the quarterback position in this business,” Keenum said. “I've been named the starter after a guy gets injured or whatever it is. I've been a backup for a while, been replaced as a starter. I've been a No. 4 on one team and then started the next week with another team.”
“I've kind of been through it all,” Keenum continued. “You have to be ready when you get a chance, and I'm ready.”
ROSTER MOVES
Aside from the switch at quarterback, the Rams made a few roster moves to bolster the depth of their offensive line.
As Fisher previously announced would be the case, rookies Jamon Brown and Darrell Williams were placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Isaiah Battle was also promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
The Rams added two additional offensive linemen to the active roster as well. The first, Brian Folkerts is a St. Louis-area native and was signed off the 49ers’ practice squad. The second, Eric Kush, was claimed off waivers from Houston.
“[Folkerts] was really excited to come here and go down the street and live with mom and dad, I guess. So, that worked out good for us,” Fisher said. “Then, yesterday afternoon, the Texans waived Eric Kush. Eric’s got some center ability, some great feet. So, we claimed him today off the waiver wire. So, that was good and we’re moving people around.”
To make room on the 53-man roster, St. Louis waived defensive tackle Doug Worthington.
On the practice squad, the Rams released defensive end Gerald Rivers and added guard David Arkin.
Fisher said more moves may be coming as the week continues.
