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Rams' Mason focused on 'doing me'
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c7522d34-37fa-5e28-979a-b63fe8b869bf.html
During the opening round of the NFL draft in late April, Rams running back Tre Mason was on a flight back to St. Louis.
Shortly after landing, he learned the Rams had selected University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall selection.
“I was in shock, really, because I thought I did a good job last year,’’ said Mason, a third-round draft pick in 2014 who led the Rams in rushing and tied for the team lead in touchdowns last season as a rookie. “At that time, with a pick like that, it’s a replacement.’’
Mason eventually regrouped and got back to work, preparing for his second NFL season.
“At the end of the day, the goal is to win a championship and the only way I can do that is to just keep doing me, to become the best me I can be,’’ he said. “I’ll just continue to chase greatness. That’s been the mindset since school; find the record and go out and break it.’’
Mason, 21, capped a three-year stay at Auburn University by eclipsing Bo Jackson’s single-season rushing record with 1,816 yards while scoring 24 touchdowns in 2013. After being selected in the third round (75th overall) by the Rams and being inactive for last fall’s first four games, the 5-foot-8, 200-pound Mason led the Rams in rushing in each of the final 12 games of the season.
He ran for 765 yards, averaging 4.3 a carry, and added 16 catches for 148 yards. His five touchdowns, four on the ground and one through the air, tied tight end Lance Kendricks for the club lead.
“I felt like (my rookie season) went well,’’ Mason said last week after the final organized team activity at Rams Park. “Everything happens for a reason — God makes everything happen for a reason — and there’s always room for improvement. Overall, though, I thought I did well.’’
On draft day, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead surprised a lot of people around the league when they opted for Gurley, a gifted runner whose career at Georgia was cut short by ACL surgery on his left knee in November, and referred to him with terms like “special’’ and “unique talent.’’
On draft day, Fisher said: “We’ve got outstanding backs on our roster. (Gurley’s) gonna add to that group. When that happens, we don’t know. But he’s gonna be the running back of the future for a number of years.”
When healthy, the 20-year-old Gurley can be a game-changer, the type of every-down back with size (6-1, 227), power, speed, vision and balance that Fisher covets for his ball-control style offense. In three seasons at Georgia, he ran for 3,285 yards and caught 65 passes. His 44 career touchdowns are second in school history to the legendary Hershel Walker.
But when will Gurley be healthy enough to play? During OTAs, he went through daily rehab work with the Rams’ trainers, and he and the team have vowed patience.
“He’s in the meetings. He’s killing the rehab,’’ Fisher said during rookie orientation. “He’ll definitely know what to do when he’s able to go out there.”
Last week during OTAs, Fisher was asked if Gurley would be ready for the start of training camp, which begins in late July.
“It’s hard to say right now. I can’t predict that,” the coach said. “I know he’s doing well. He had a day off today because he’s doing so well. He’ll rehab with us during the break. ... We’re just going to see how he progresses. ... If he’s not PUP-ed (physically unable to perform), then I think you could probably assume that he’s going to play sooner than you think.”
If Gurley isn’t ready to go when the Rams open the season Sept. 13 against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, it figures that Mason would get the nod. And that is the second-year back’s focus.
“Realistically, it’s a competition because there’s usually just one running back out there at a time,’’ he said. “But honestly, that’s not my mindset. I can’t worry about anybody else; I have too much work to do. I’ve been working on my long-distance speed; I know I can burst through the hole, but I want to try and get more long runs this year.’’
After wrapping up OTAs, Mason returned home to Palm Beach, Fla. But this, he stressed, is no vacation.
“There’s no relaxation for me. None,’’ he said. “Right now I feel like I grind as if there is no more time on the clock, like there’s no tomorrow.’’
Mason, who has slimmed down to between 195 and 200 pounds by training and eating better to help improve his speed, will spend the next month or so working alongside cornerback and teammate Janoris Jenkins with trainer Tony Villiani at XPE Sports in Florida.
“A whole lot of top guys work out there — (New Orleans’) Mark Ingram, the Pouncey brothers (Miami’s Mike and Pittsburgh’s Maurkice), (Philadelphia’s) Byron Maxwell — and (Hall of Fame receiver) Cris Carter is a coach down there,’’ Mason pointed out. “It’s a great atmosphere because the trainers and the other guys there are constantly pushing you to get better and that’s what I’m looking for. And I need the sand, the beach, in my workouts.’’
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c7522d34-37fa-5e28-979a-b63fe8b869bf.html
During the opening round of the NFL draft in late April, Rams running back Tre Mason was on a flight back to St. Louis.
Shortly after landing, he learned the Rams had selected University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall selection.
“I was in shock, really, because I thought I did a good job last year,’’ said Mason, a third-round draft pick in 2014 who led the Rams in rushing and tied for the team lead in touchdowns last season as a rookie. “At that time, with a pick like that, it’s a replacement.’’
Mason eventually regrouped and got back to work, preparing for his second NFL season.
“At the end of the day, the goal is to win a championship and the only way I can do that is to just keep doing me, to become the best me I can be,’’ he said. “I’ll just continue to chase greatness. That’s been the mindset since school; find the record and go out and break it.’’
Mason, 21, capped a three-year stay at Auburn University by eclipsing Bo Jackson’s single-season rushing record with 1,816 yards while scoring 24 touchdowns in 2013. After being selected in the third round (75th overall) by the Rams and being inactive for last fall’s first four games, the 5-foot-8, 200-pound Mason led the Rams in rushing in each of the final 12 games of the season.
He ran for 765 yards, averaging 4.3 a carry, and added 16 catches for 148 yards. His five touchdowns, four on the ground and one through the air, tied tight end Lance Kendricks for the club lead.
“I felt like (my rookie season) went well,’’ Mason said last week after the final organized team activity at Rams Park. “Everything happens for a reason — God makes everything happen for a reason — and there’s always room for improvement. Overall, though, I thought I did well.’’
On draft day, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead surprised a lot of people around the league when they opted for Gurley, a gifted runner whose career at Georgia was cut short by ACL surgery on his left knee in November, and referred to him with terms like “special’’ and “unique talent.’’
On draft day, Fisher said: “We’ve got outstanding backs on our roster. (Gurley’s) gonna add to that group. When that happens, we don’t know. But he’s gonna be the running back of the future for a number of years.”
When healthy, the 20-year-old Gurley can be a game-changer, the type of every-down back with size (6-1, 227), power, speed, vision and balance that Fisher covets for his ball-control style offense. In three seasons at Georgia, he ran for 3,285 yards and caught 65 passes. His 44 career touchdowns are second in school history to the legendary Hershel Walker.
But when will Gurley be healthy enough to play? During OTAs, he went through daily rehab work with the Rams’ trainers, and he and the team have vowed patience.
“He’s in the meetings. He’s killing the rehab,’’ Fisher said during rookie orientation. “He’ll definitely know what to do when he’s able to go out there.”
Last week during OTAs, Fisher was asked if Gurley would be ready for the start of training camp, which begins in late July.
“It’s hard to say right now. I can’t predict that,” the coach said. “I know he’s doing well. He had a day off today because he’s doing so well. He’ll rehab with us during the break. ... We’re just going to see how he progresses. ... If he’s not PUP-ed (physically unable to perform), then I think you could probably assume that he’s going to play sooner than you think.”
If Gurley isn’t ready to go when the Rams open the season Sept. 13 against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, it figures that Mason would get the nod. And that is the second-year back’s focus.
“Realistically, it’s a competition because there’s usually just one running back out there at a time,’’ he said. “But honestly, that’s not my mindset. I can’t worry about anybody else; I have too much work to do. I’ve been working on my long-distance speed; I know I can burst through the hole, but I want to try and get more long runs this year.’’
After wrapping up OTAs, Mason returned home to Palm Beach, Fla. But this, he stressed, is no vacation.
“There’s no relaxation for me. None,’’ he said. “Right now I feel like I grind as if there is no more time on the clock, like there’s no tomorrow.’’
Mason, who has slimmed down to between 195 and 200 pounds by training and eating better to help improve his speed, will spend the next month or so working alongside cornerback and teammate Janoris Jenkins with trainer Tony Villiani at XPE Sports in Florida.
“A whole lot of top guys work out there — (New Orleans’) Mark Ingram, the Pouncey brothers (Miami’s Mike and Pittsburgh’s Maurkice), (Philadelphia’s) Byron Maxwell — and (Hall of Fame receiver) Cris Carter is a coach down there,’’ Mason pointed out. “It’s a great atmosphere because the trainers and the other guys there are constantly pushing you to get better and that’s what I’m looking for. And I need the sand, the beach, in my workouts.’’
