Rams notes: Gurley says he's ready to play if asked
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_ea4fbfd3-d4b2-55f2-9bc3-2fac74582c2a.html
Following Wednesday’s practice at Rams Park, rookie running back Todd Gurley was asked if he would tell coaches he’s ready to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers if they asked, responded: “Yeah, I would.”
Asked the same questions last Friday before the loss to Washington, Gurley hesitated and said, “I don’t know.”
The 10th overall pick in the last spring’s draft, Gurley said he feels good, is getting more work in practice and is working his way back into football shape. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Gurley, who starred at Georgia, is working his way back after undergoing ACL surgery on his left knee in November.
“I’m definitely getting there,” the 21-year-old said. “I know as far as my recovery from being tired, I definitely feel a lot better. I feel like I’ve been doing a great job of that. And getting those reps, it’s helping a lot.”
Another step in the right direction: Gurley was not on the Rams’ Wednesday injury report.
From the start, Rams coach Jeff Fisher has preached patience when it comes to Gurley.
“He’s had two good days. Had a good day today in pads and he had a good day at three-quarter speed in practice yesterday,” the coach said Wednesday. “He’ll get a day off tomorrow and we’ll see how he is Friday.”
During a teleconference call earlier in the day, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin jokingly asked the St. Louis reporters what they thought about Gurley’s status. When that conversation was relayed to Fisher, he said, “You guys just have him give me a call. I’ll talk to him.’’
When told that the reporters could pass along the information, Fisher declined: “I’d rather talk to him in person.’’
LINGERING DEFEAT
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and his teammates cannot wait for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Edward Jones Dome.
“We always talk about 24-hour-rule, but if I’m going to be honest, it doesn’t sit well with me until I play again,” said Laurinaitis, who will enter Sunday’s action one tackle short of tying the franchise record for tackles set by Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen from 1962-76. “I hate losing more than I enjoy winning, if that makes sense, especially when you feel like you have a very good matchup.
“Every (loss) gets to me, but I think the opportunity to be 2-0 was a special one. That hurt. But you really don’t have time to sulk because you’ve got Big Ben (Roethlisberger) coming to town ... they’ve got a really talented squad.”
Washington ran for 182 yards and averaged 4.9 a carry in Sunday’s 24-10 win over the Rams. Laurinaitis expects the Steelers to take a similar approach.
“It’s a copy-cat league. If I’m Pittsburgh, I’m running the same plays (Washington) did until we prove that we can stop them,” he said.
Laurinaitis likes the way the team has responded to the ugly loss.
“Guys are watching film, studying and working their butts off,” he said. “I’ve been on teams here where a loss like this would start the blame game. But the guys in this locker room, they’re looking in the mirror and focusing on what they can do better. As long as we have that, you can fix it.”
After Pittsburgh, the Rams hit the road for games against Arizona and Green Bay.
“Three really good quarterbacks (and) three really good teams,’’ Laurinaitis said. “We’re going to find out a lot about what kind of club we have here.’’
INJURY REPORT
The Rams have just two players on the first injury report of the week, with defensive end Eugene Sims (knee) and running back Chase Reynolds (knee) sitting out.
Pittsburgh worked without three players, including starters Ryan Shazier (shoulder) and William Gay (not injury related) at linebacker and cornerback, respectively. Defensive tackle Daniel McCullers (knee) also sat out Wednesday as cornerback Cortez Allen (knee) went through the full practice.
RAM-BLINGS
• A pair of Los Angeles Rams Hall of Famers, offensive lineman Tom Mack and defensive end Jack Youngblood, watched Wednesday’s practice in Earth City. Youngblood was with the Rams from 1971-1984 and was a five-time All-Pro. Mack, who played from 1966 through 1978, was named to the Pro Bowl 11 times.
“Since we got here, we’ve opened the doors to all the alums ... it’s great to have them around,” Fisher said. “They’re not the first, they won’t be the last. Really good to spend some time with them. A lot of good football there between those two players — a lot of Pro Bowls.”
For the record, it’s 18.
• Daryl Richardson, a running back who played for the Rams in 2012-13, has been signed to the Houston Texans’ practice squad.
In other Wednesday moves, DE Kourtnei Brown, who was with the Rams last year, was cut by Tampa Bay, and CB Josh Gourdy, who started nine games for the Rams in 2011, has been terminated with an injury settlement by the New York Giants.
