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Rams checking out East Carolina QB
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_ac0056a7-b0e9-5db7-a8ff-43242f82b3b0.html
MOBILE, ALA. • East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden’s favorite QBs are Brett Favre and Philip Rivers.
Favre is an interesting choice because Carden looks a little like the young Favre and even sounds a little like him.
“Growing up, I was always told I looked like (Favre),” Carden said. “And I just loved the way he played the game. He always had so much passion in everything he did. The plays he was able to make outside the pocket — I just always enjoyed watching him.”
And Rivers?
“Same type of deal,” Carden said. “He brings some fire to the field. He looks like an ultimate competitor. I’ve never met the guy, but just from what I’ve seen, how he plays the game, I just love the way he plays football.”
According to one scout, Carden doesn’t necessarily wow you on the practice field, but come game day it’s a different story. He’s a gamer. Carden didn’t dispute the description.
“I try to get the most out of practice,” Carden said. “But yeah, when games start something else kinda switches in me, and I stay after it.”
Carden, who has spoken with the Rams at the Senior Bowl, grew up in Newport Beach, Calif., but moved to Houston when he was 12. A little undersized at a shade under 6 feet 2, Carden has had some good moments on the practice field in Mobile, particularly when throwing on the run on rollouts and bootlegs.
In that sense his style is reminiscent to Jeff Garcia, a feisty four-time Pro Bowler who had a long and productive NFL career. Not only has Carden heard of Garcia and heard the comparison, he has trained with Garcia in California.
“I actually worked out with him this past spring,” Carden said. “He looked at me and he was like ‘Man, you could be my brother.’
“When we were working out, he was doing the drills. He was leading them, and he was getting after it. He can still spin it, man.”
Garcia is 44.
Carden doesn’t have the name recognition of most of the other QBs attending the Senior Bowl because East Carolina isn’t a so-called “Power 5” school. But he put up great numbers in college, including school records for passing yards (11,991) and touchdowns (86) over three seasons.
He’s hoping to make a name for himself this week among the scouts and coaches here in Mobile.
“All the coaches, obviously they want to see me under center,” Carden said. “In my college career I was in the ’gun pretty much all the time. I’m just getting comfortable with that. It’s just being consistent with that footwork. Just little things here and there that each team wants to know about.”
COORDINATOR SEARCH
Nathaniel Hackett wasn’t the first name on everyone’s lips when the Rams began the task of replacing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
But Hackett is the first candidate known to interview with Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. According to a league source, Hackett was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday night with the interview taking place on Thursday.
Buffalo’s offense hasn’t been scintillating the past two seasons under Hackett, finishing 26th in total offense in 2014, and 19th in 2013. But the Bills did finish second in the league in rushing offense in 2013.
Critics labeled the Bills offense under Hackett as unimaginative, lacking aggressiveness, and without a clear concept. But others pointed out that he didn’t have a lot to work with, was well-liked by the players, and had good ideas and concepts but may have been shackled by the head coach (Doug Marrone).
Hackett, 35, is the son of former NFL and college coach Paul Hackett.
GOLDEN INJURY
What was shaping up as a good week for University of Missouri (and Affton High) defensive end Markus Golden took a downturn Thursday when Golden suffered a groin injury during the South squad practice.
Golden’s agent, Joseph Clayborne, said the injury wasn’t serious, and termed Golden day-to-day. But at the same time, he added: “We don’t want to risk turning it into something major. If he’s ready to play (in Saturday’s Senior Bowl), trust me, he’ll play.”
CONTRACT TALKS
The agents for wide receiver Kenny Britt, a pending free agent, met with the Rams in Mobile. Talks were positive, according to a team official.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_ac0056a7-b0e9-5db7-a8ff-43242f82b3b0.html
MOBILE, ALA. • East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden’s favorite QBs are Brett Favre and Philip Rivers.
Favre is an interesting choice because Carden looks a little like the young Favre and even sounds a little like him.
“Growing up, I was always told I looked like (Favre),” Carden said. “And I just loved the way he played the game. He always had so much passion in everything he did. The plays he was able to make outside the pocket — I just always enjoyed watching him.”
And Rivers?
“Same type of deal,” Carden said. “He brings some fire to the field. He looks like an ultimate competitor. I’ve never met the guy, but just from what I’ve seen, how he plays the game, I just love the way he plays football.”
According to one scout, Carden doesn’t necessarily wow you on the practice field, but come game day it’s a different story. He’s a gamer. Carden didn’t dispute the description.
“I try to get the most out of practice,” Carden said. “But yeah, when games start something else kinda switches in me, and I stay after it.”
Carden, who has spoken with the Rams at the Senior Bowl, grew up in Newport Beach, Calif., but moved to Houston when he was 12. A little undersized at a shade under 6 feet 2, Carden has had some good moments on the practice field in Mobile, particularly when throwing on the run on rollouts and bootlegs.
In that sense his style is reminiscent to Jeff Garcia, a feisty four-time Pro Bowler who had a long and productive NFL career. Not only has Carden heard of Garcia and heard the comparison, he has trained with Garcia in California.
“I actually worked out with him this past spring,” Carden said. “He looked at me and he was like ‘Man, you could be my brother.’
“When we were working out, he was doing the drills. He was leading them, and he was getting after it. He can still spin it, man.”
Garcia is 44.
Carden doesn’t have the name recognition of most of the other QBs attending the Senior Bowl because East Carolina isn’t a so-called “Power 5” school. But he put up great numbers in college, including school records for passing yards (11,991) and touchdowns (86) over three seasons.
He’s hoping to make a name for himself this week among the scouts and coaches here in Mobile.
“All the coaches, obviously they want to see me under center,” Carden said. “In my college career I was in the ’gun pretty much all the time. I’m just getting comfortable with that. It’s just being consistent with that footwork. Just little things here and there that each team wants to know about.”
COORDINATOR SEARCH
Nathaniel Hackett wasn’t the first name on everyone’s lips when the Rams began the task of replacing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
But Hackett is the first candidate known to interview with Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. According to a league source, Hackett was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday night with the interview taking place on Thursday.
Buffalo’s offense hasn’t been scintillating the past two seasons under Hackett, finishing 26th in total offense in 2014, and 19th in 2013. But the Bills did finish second in the league in rushing offense in 2013.
Critics labeled the Bills offense under Hackett as unimaginative, lacking aggressiveness, and without a clear concept. But others pointed out that he didn’t have a lot to work with, was well-liked by the players, and had good ideas and concepts but may have been shackled by the head coach (Doug Marrone).
Hackett, 35, is the son of former NFL and college coach Paul Hackett.
GOLDEN INJURY
What was shaping up as a good week for University of Missouri (and Affton High) defensive end Markus Golden took a downturn Thursday when Golden suffered a groin injury during the South squad practice.
Golden’s agent, Joseph Clayborne, said the injury wasn’t serious, and termed Golden day-to-day. But at the same time, he added: “We don’t want to risk turning it into something major. If he’s ready to play (in Saturday’s Senior Bowl), trust me, he’ll play.”
CONTRACT TALKS
The agents for wide receiver Kenny Britt, a pending free agent, met with the Rams in Mobile. Talks were positive, according to a team official.
