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- Jun 20, 2010
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Rick Venturi
http://www.101sports.com/category/rvent ... ning-Camp/
As we pass into late June – the NBA Finals have ended and baseball turns its eyes to the Midsummer Classic – the reality hits that NFL training camp is just around the corner. At this point, hope springs eternal for most teams. Teams come out of OTAs and minicamps undefeated, and spirits are normally at an all-time high. The reality is that in one month, each team will begin a six-month grind that will culminate in February with only one happy franchise.
There is a real sense of optimism with the hometown guys. Head coach Jeff Fisher has brought his brilliant resume to the Gateway City, as well as his personal confidence and poise. What will be important to watch is how well his coaching staff adapts to this group of players and if they will be able to max out their potential, while minimizing their liabilities. I will be keeping my eyes on what I think the important coaching emphasis areas must be for this team to make progress this fall.
[hil]The first thing will be the development of the kicking and coverage teams.[/hil] The NFC West is steeped in return guys who can and have turned games around versus the Rams. A poor roster is normally exposed on coverage teams, and this has been the case the past three years. When you’re looking at return guys like Leon Washington, Tedd Ginn Jr. and Patrick Peterson, you better have a guy (hopefully, Greg Zuerlein) who can directional kick, and you better have guys who can cover and tackle. This will be the first thing we will monitor in camp. An improved roster should be a big plus here.
[hil]The second thing I will be looking at hard will be if and when defensive line coach Mike Waffle can get Robert Quinn to play to his investment level.[/hil] I’m confident defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford will shore up the inside rush defense, and Chris Long has emerged as a force. But, the real key will be Quinn. If he can become a force on the right side, he will force the protection to slide to him, which will give Long a mismatch on the left side on most Sundays.
Quinn has ability – he can burst, he can cut the corner to the quarterback, and he can stretch his body to extremely long lengths, which was evident in his ability to block kicks. Can Waffle get him to be forceful at the point of attack, though? The North Carolina product showed no interest or aptitude to play in the “briar patch” in 2011, and other than “chase” plays was a total liability in the running game. If he can overcome his liabilities, the Rams will have something.
[hil]The third aspect of the game I will be studying will be the meshing of Sam Bradford and the offensive line.[/hil] This became an issue a year ago, with Bradford regressing from his performance in 2010, while the offensive line became a liability well before injuries decimated the unit. It will be interesting to see how Brian Schottenheimer utilizes his signal-caller’s assets, which in my opinion are five-step, deliver-on-time throw and the ability to move to the perimeter and throw on the move (boots and sprints).
Fisher will demand a solid running game, and that will help Bradford and the line. The line will improve, technique-wise, under new coach Paul Boudreau, [hil]but to think it can hang in there consistently in stressful pass-protection situations all day is a pipe dream.[/hil] Last year’s approach, with an inordinate amount of “empty” sets and second-level passing, was suicidal from the beginning, so it will be interesting to see the adaption by this staff.
Probably the most difficult challenge for the staff will be to leave its comfort zone and go quickly with the talented newcomers on the perimeter. The Rams have struggled at the corner on defense, and the receiver corps (minus slot specialist Danny Amendola) has been subpar. Assistant coaches like guys who do things well daily and, unfortunately, it’s difficult for young kids to be consistent early.
[hil]We coaches are competitive by nature, and don’t want to put guys out there until they’re absolutely ready. Unfortunately, you do not have that luxury with this team.[/hil] Though you can factor in the coaching component for a lack of success, you cannot overlook the lack of perimeter ability that the team has played with for a while. Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Brian Quick, Chris Givens, and Isaiah Pead must have major roles by opening day. You simply cannot continue to go with guys who lack the playmaking ability to win games.
[hil]In 1994, I, as secondary coach of the Browns (Nick Saban was the defensive coordinator), had drafted Antonio Lanham (corner from Alabama) as our number one pick, but was reluctant to throw him in. We had a marginal veteran guy in the reliable Donnie Franks, and were hesitant to make the move. Midway through training camp the head coach, Bill Belichick, called Nick and me in to tell us it was time to put the rookie in. When we protested, he informed us that he had just traded Franks. Belichick didn’t want a mediocre guy to stand in the way of a guy with a high ceiling, and it was a good lesson to learn.[/hil]
July will be here faster than we think, and we will all watch these things play out. If the Rams’ coaching staff can push the proper buttons in these key areas, fun may be back on Sundays in St. Louis.
http://www.101sports.com/category/rvent ... ning-Camp/
As we pass into late June – the NBA Finals have ended and baseball turns its eyes to the Midsummer Classic – the reality hits that NFL training camp is just around the corner. At this point, hope springs eternal for most teams. Teams come out of OTAs and minicamps undefeated, and spirits are normally at an all-time high. The reality is that in one month, each team will begin a six-month grind that will culminate in February with only one happy franchise.
There is a real sense of optimism with the hometown guys. Head coach Jeff Fisher has brought his brilliant resume to the Gateway City, as well as his personal confidence and poise. What will be important to watch is how well his coaching staff adapts to this group of players and if they will be able to max out their potential, while minimizing their liabilities. I will be keeping my eyes on what I think the important coaching emphasis areas must be for this team to make progress this fall.
[hil]The first thing will be the development of the kicking and coverage teams.[/hil] The NFC West is steeped in return guys who can and have turned games around versus the Rams. A poor roster is normally exposed on coverage teams, and this has been the case the past three years. When you’re looking at return guys like Leon Washington, Tedd Ginn Jr. and Patrick Peterson, you better have a guy (hopefully, Greg Zuerlein) who can directional kick, and you better have guys who can cover and tackle. This will be the first thing we will monitor in camp. An improved roster should be a big plus here.
[hil]The second thing I will be looking at hard will be if and when defensive line coach Mike Waffle can get Robert Quinn to play to his investment level.[/hil] I’m confident defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford will shore up the inside rush defense, and Chris Long has emerged as a force. But, the real key will be Quinn. If he can become a force on the right side, he will force the protection to slide to him, which will give Long a mismatch on the left side on most Sundays.
Quinn has ability – he can burst, he can cut the corner to the quarterback, and he can stretch his body to extremely long lengths, which was evident in his ability to block kicks. Can Waffle get him to be forceful at the point of attack, though? The North Carolina product showed no interest or aptitude to play in the “briar patch” in 2011, and other than “chase” plays was a total liability in the running game. If he can overcome his liabilities, the Rams will have something.
[hil]The third aspect of the game I will be studying will be the meshing of Sam Bradford and the offensive line.[/hil] This became an issue a year ago, with Bradford regressing from his performance in 2010, while the offensive line became a liability well before injuries decimated the unit. It will be interesting to see how Brian Schottenheimer utilizes his signal-caller’s assets, which in my opinion are five-step, deliver-on-time throw and the ability to move to the perimeter and throw on the move (boots and sprints).
Fisher will demand a solid running game, and that will help Bradford and the line. The line will improve, technique-wise, under new coach Paul Boudreau, [hil]but to think it can hang in there consistently in stressful pass-protection situations all day is a pipe dream.[/hil] Last year’s approach, with an inordinate amount of “empty” sets and second-level passing, was suicidal from the beginning, so it will be interesting to see the adaption by this staff.
Probably the most difficult challenge for the staff will be to leave its comfort zone and go quickly with the talented newcomers on the perimeter. The Rams have struggled at the corner on defense, and the receiver corps (minus slot specialist Danny Amendola) has been subpar. Assistant coaches like guys who do things well daily and, unfortunately, it’s difficult for young kids to be consistent early.
[hil]We coaches are competitive by nature, and don’t want to put guys out there until they’re absolutely ready. Unfortunately, you do not have that luxury with this team.[/hil] Though you can factor in the coaching component for a lack of success, you cannot overlook the lack of perimeter ability that the team has played with for a while. Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Brian Quick, Chris Givens, and Isaiah Pead must have major roles by opening day. You simply cannot continue to go with guys who lack the playmaking ability to win games.
[hil]In 1994, I, as secondary coach of the Browns (Nick Saban was the defensive coordinator), had drafted Antonio Lanham (corner from Alabama) as our number one pick, but was reluctant to throw him in. We had a marginal veteran guy in the reliable Donnie Franks, and were hesitant to make the move. Midway through training camp the head coach, Bill Belichick, called Nick and me in to tell us it was time to put the rookie in. When we protested, he informed us that he had just traded Franks. Belichick didn’t want a mediocre guy to stand in the way of a guy with a high ceiling, and it was a good lesson to learn.[/hil]
July will be here faster than we think, and we will all watch these things play out. If the Rams’ coaching staff can push the proper buttons in these key areas, fun may be back on Sundays in St. Louis.