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Practice Report 9/1: Keenum Has Advantage for Backup QB
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-91-Keenum-Has-Advantage-for-Backup-QB/392f5bf3-4c0b-497d-a176-99385ed9000c
With his heavy amount of preseason reps, it’s become fairly apparent Case Keenum has a leg up in the backup quarterback competition. And head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed the notion on Tuesday afternoon.
“I think Case has the advantage right now,” Fisher said. “I think Case has done a good enough job at this point right now that he’s got No. 2 locked up.”
Fisher added the club’s familiarity with the quarterback from last year when he spent time on the roster and practice squad has benefited all parties in 2015. After the Texans signed Keenum off the Rams’ practice squad in December, the quarterback started two games to conclude 2014 before St. Louis re-acquired him via trade in March.
“He just has a good feel for our offense and timing and release and is a natural athlete,” Fisher said. “Since the trade, he’s been able to sit here and really grasp the offense, so he’s a got a good feel for what we’re doing.”
Through three exhibition matchups, Keenum has completed 20 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown -- good for a 92.2 rating.
“I’ve felt pretty good,” Keenum said of his preseason. “Obviously, there are things you want back, and decisions you make that you learn from. But I feel like overall, we’ve moved the ball fairly well and done some good things and grown.”
With the 27-year-old quarterback shuttling between Houston and St. Louis a few times over the last year, Keenum said on Tuesday he’s feeling a significant difference in the way he’s been able to prepare for the season.
“I wasn’t even on the team at this point last year,” Keenum said. “I didn’t get all the offseason workouts and the OTAs and training camp where it’s a grind and you’re getting to know all the guys -- throwing routes with guys and earning respect as you do in those tough summer workouts. So that’s what has been really nice this year, is getting to know the guys and kind of forming a chemistry.”
Listed at only 6-foot-1, Keenum doesn’t have the stature of starting quarterback Nick Foles. But Keenum doesn’t appear to see that as a disadvantage.
“Every quarterback is different in this league,” Keenum said. “For me, I’ve always said, if my feet can be in position, and get the ball out quick, the ball gets there in the same amount of time as somebody who’s got a rocket arm. So I try to anticipate defenses, anticipate guys getting open on routes and putting the ball where it needs to be.”
And while being the backup quarterback can be a tough job for a variety of reasons, it’s a task Keenum eagerly embraces.
“Obviously, playing and being a starting quarterback is very tough, but being a backup quarterback, you have to be ready to go at any time with virtually no reps throughout the week,” Keenum said. “It’s a mental strain -- being in the game, being warm, being ready to go at any time. When the quarterback gets hit, you’re always over there with one hand on your helmet, not knowing what’s going on.
“So it’s a tough position, but I like it,” Keenum continued. “I like playing football. Football is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it.”
SAFFOLD GETTING CLOSER
Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold has been sidelined since tweaking his shoulder in the game against Oakland a few weeks ago, but said on Tuesday he feels like he’ll be ready for Week 1.
“I’m feeling good,” Saffold said. “Everything is going as planned, and it’s another step in the right direction today.”
“He’ll be questionable for Thursday,” Fisher said, “but obviously, definitely, he’s in a really good position for the opener.”
When he does come back to the field, Saffold will be playing on the other side of the line. While he had been working at left guard alongside Greg Robinson, Saffold said Tuesday that he’ll be playing right guard next to Rob Havenstein when he returns. The news was not much of a surprise, considering rookie Jamon Brown started at left guard in Saturday’s game against the Colts.
Having played there in the past, Saffold said he’s comfortable making the switch.
“The way to have the best combination to keep it firm inside was for me to go play right,” Saffold said, adding the coaches “have seen me play right guard before in years past, so they have confidence in me to be able to switch.”
“When those types of things get asked of you -- what am I here for? I’m here to be that versatile guy,” Saffold added. “So you’ll probably see me play a bunch of different positions all year. But that means nothing to me. My goals stay the same.”
With the shift, Saffold said he feels like he can assist Havenstein in making his transition to pros by imparting some of his experience.
“A lot of times, the offensive line is about feel,” Saffold said. “I can feel twists pretty well. Sometimes I can tell based on a safety rotation what kind of blitz we’re going to have, and I can point those things out to him. He’s a smart player and he’s really been able to get this offense down. Hopefully, I can get him to the next level so that if I miss something, he can help me.”
While Saffold was limited on the field on Tuesday, Fisher said he’s not worried about the lineman jelling with the rest of the unit for Week 1.
“He’s played a lot of games,” Fisher said. “He’s played the Seahawks. He understands, so I’m not concerned about that. The one that he’s doing is he’s getting the walk-thru reps so the communication is very sound up front with the young guys, so I’m not concerned.”
WALK-THRU AT SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE
As has become an annual tradition, the team will conclude training camp with a trip to Scott Air Force Base to conduct a walk-thru there.
“This is our third or fourth consecutive year that we’re going over to Scott Air Force Base and we’re going to have a walk-thru, so the soldiers will participate,” Fisher said. “If it’s an offensive period, then we’ll have soldiers on defense and vice versa. And they always look forward to that.”
It’s a great event for all, and we’ll have coverage of it tomorrow, right here on stlouisrams.com.
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-91-Keenum-Has-Advantage-for-Backup-QB/392f5bf3-4c0b-497d-a176-99385ed9000c
With his heavy amount of preseason reps, it’s become fairly apparent Case Keenum has a leg up in the backup quarterback competition. And head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed the notion on Tuesday afternoon.
“I think Case has the advantage right now,” Fisher said. “I think Case has done a good enough job at this point right now that he’s got No. 2 locked up.”
Fisher added the club’s familiarity with the quarterback from last year when he spent time on the roster and practice squad has benefited all parties in 2015. After the Texans signed Keenum off the Rams’ practice squad in December, the quarterback started two games to conclude 2014 before St. Louis re-acquired him via trade in March.
“He just has a good feel for our offense and timing and release and is a natural athlete,” Fisher said. “Since the trade, he’s been able to sit here and really grasp the offense, so he’s a got a good feel for what we’re doing.”
Through three exhibition matchups, Keenum has completed 20 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown -- good for a 92.2 rating.
“I’ve felt pretty good,” Keenum said of his preseason. “Obviously, there are things you want back, and decisions you make that you learn from. But I feel like overall, we’ve moved the ball fairly well and done some good things and grown.”
With the 27-year-old quarterback shuttling between Houston and St. Louis a few times over the last year, Keenum said on Tuesday he’s feeling a significant difference in the way he’s been able to prepare for the season.
“I wasn’t even on the team at this point last year,” Keenum said. “I didn’t get all the offseason workouts and the OTAs and training camp where it’s a grind and you’re getting to know all the guys -- throwing routes with guys and earning respect as you do in those tough summer workouts. So that’s what has been really nice this year, is getting to know the guys and kind of forming a chemistry.”
Listed at only 6-foot-1, Keenum doesn’t have the stature of starting quarterback Nick Foles. But Keenum doesn’t appear to see that as a disadvantage.
“Every quarterback is different in this league,” Keenum said. “For me, I’ve always said, if my feet can be in position, and get the ball out quick, the ball gets there in the same amount of time as somebody who’s got a rocket arm. So I try to anticipate defenses, anticipate guys getting open on routes and putting the ball where it needs to be.”
And while being the backup quarterback can be a tough job for a variety of reasons, it’s a task Keenum eagerly embraces.
“Obviously, playing and being a starting quarterback is very tough, but being a backup quarterback, you have to be ready to go at any time with virtually no reps throughout the week,” Keenum said. “It’s a mental strain -- being in the game, being warm, being ready to go at any time. When the quarterback gets hit, you’re always over there with one hand on your helmet, not knowing what’s going on.
“So it’s a tough position, but I like it,” Keenum continued. “I like playing football. Football is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it.”
SAFFOLD GETTING CLOSER
Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold has been sidelined since tweaking his shoulder in the game against Oakland a few weeks ago, but said on Tuesday he feels like he’ll be ready for Week 1.
“I’m feeling good,” Saffold said. “Everything is going as planned, and it’s another step in the right direction today.”
“He’ll be questionable for Thursday,” Fisher said, “but obviously, definitely, he’s in a really good position for the opener.”
When he does come back to the field, Saffold will be playing on the other side of the line. While he had been working at left guard alongside Greg Robinson, Saffold said Tuesday that he’ll be playing right guard next to Rob Havenstein when he returns. The news was not much of a surprise, considering rookie Jamon Brown started at left guard in Saturday’s game against the Colts.
Having played there in the past, Saffold said he’s comfortable making the switch.
“The way to have the best combination to keep it firm inside was for me to go play right,” Saffold said, adding the coaches “have seen me play right guard before in years past, so they have confidence in me to be able to switch.”
“When those types of things get asked of you -- what am I here for? I’m here to be that versatile guy,” Saffold added. “So you’ll probably see me play a bunch of different positions all year. But that means nothing to me. My goals stay the same.”
With the shift, Saffold said he feels like he can assist Havenstein in making his transition to pros by imparting some of his experience.
“A lot of times, the offensive line is about feel,” Saffold said. “I can feel twists pretty well. Sometimes I can tell based on a safety rotation what kind of blitz we’re going to have, and I can point those things out to him. He’s a smart player and he’s really been able to get this offense down. Hopefully, I can get him to the next level so that if I miss something, he can help me.”
While Saffold was limited on the field on Tuesday, Fisher said he’s not worried about the lineman jelling with the rest of the unit for Week 1.
“He’s played a lot of games,” Fisher said. “He’s played the Seahawks. He understands, so I’m not concerned about that. The one that he’s doing is he’s getting the walk-thru reps so the communication is very sound up front with the young guys, so I’m not concerned.”
WALK-THRU AT SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE
As has become an annual tradition, the team will conclude training camp with a trip to Scott Air Force Base to conduct a walk-thru there.
“This is our third or fourth consecutive year that we’re going over to Scott Air Force Base and we’re going to have a walk-thru, so the soldiers will participate,” Fisher said. “If it’s an offensive period, then we’ll have soldiers on defense and vice versa. And they always look forward to that.”
It’s a great event for all, and we’ll have coverage of it tomorrow, right here on stlouisrams.com.
