3k's note: Great job by Hetfield in bringing this to the non-Sirius (though entirely serious) Ram community.  And if there ever was a lesson here, it's to make sure you put the Rams before work.

This morning from 9-12 CST, Howard Balzer and Jim Miller were live from Rams training camp on the Sirius NFL Blitz radio program. I cleared my calendar at work this morning so that I could listen to everything and I got to hear some great interviews and commentary. I just wrote down some things that I found interesting from each of the interviews for those of you who didn't have the opportunity to listen to this. I wanted to give some quotes and some of the stuff I caught that I found interesting. I know it is a lot, but I hope you enjoy.

Steve Spagnuolo (Head Coach):

• Emphasized his respect for what Jim Johnson has done and his legacy in the NFL.
• Said that he was really happy to have everyone in here for camp.
• Kept saying that the whole thing is a process and that he is just focusing on team and toughness

Billy Devaney (GM):

• He said some interesting stuff about how he felt that Steven Jackson's holdout really hurt him last season. He also said: "It's obvious that Steven is our best player and we need to get him the ball."
• Just said that he was really proud of how the contract negotiations were handled and that everyone is in camp on time with no distractions

Donnie Avery (WR):

• Said that it has been really great to get in a full off-season workout. He doesn't have to worry about the combine and he can just focus on working hard and learning the new offense.
• Donnie talked about how it has been a physical camp so far and instead of doing 1-on-1 WR/CB drills they did blocking drills instead. The interviewers commented on how he was really making the extra effort out there on the field, blocking his CB and shedding him and going after the safety once the RB got around his initial block. He said he wants to give 100% effort in camp because that is what lets your teammates know that they can count on you and that you will do your job

James Butler (SS) and OJ Atogwe (FS) (joint interview):

• The first thing that jumped out from these guys is that they have awesome chemistry. They were joking around with each other, doing some friendly ribbing, and they just sounded like they were having fun.
• Butler: When asked about how installing the new defensive scheme is going: "All we do is install. We have about 150 blitzes now and about 150 more to go."
• Both commented on how Spags is making them pick up every loose ball as a defense. They are always focused on stripping in drills. It is just giving them the mentality that the ball is the most important thing and they always need to be aware.
• As a final note, Butler was just really outgoing and funny. He was joking around with OJ and then Chris Long when he came over to get interviewed. He sounds like he is fitting in great and these guys just really made it sound like the defense is really coming together as a team.

Chris Long (DE):

• When interviewers were saying that his hair is exactly like his dads. "I don't have a flat top. Don't even accuse me of that"
• When asked how he would be utilized: "Spags has a lot of exotic packages...You could see any of us D-lineman anywhere on the field....You just have to trust Coach Spags, which I do, that he will put you in place to make plays."
• He spent some time talking about how technique is the biggest thing moving from college to the NFL. Said that if you don't have the right technique, you will get blocked on every play because the guys you are going against are pros and will take advantage of any weakness in your game. He also said " I don't think you can develop a motor or work ethic...those are just things you bring to everything you do"
• When asked about his main impression of Spagnuolo: "The minute he walks in the room he is believable. His resume is believable."
• Chris was talking about how he had never really seen Spags before he was hired as the head coach. The interviewer said that he must have been surprised by his small stature. Chris: "No comment. I don't know if he has like a short thing. He might kick me when I walk in the door."

Adam Carriker (DT):

• When asked about what he is trying to do this off-season: "Play fast, get to the ball, and make plays."
• When asked about how training camp this year has been different: "This year I could focus on getting bigger, faster, stronger...instead of just focusing on my shoulder."
• Commented that the defensive system will have set left and right DT's probably and not do too much switching around.
• When asked about all of the losses last season: "I think as a team we have moved on. We are looking to the future and to next season. It is really a team mentality."

James Laurinaitis (MLB) and Jason Smith (OT) (joint interview):

• Laurinaitis when asked about why he was carrying around his playbook: "I'm not trying to give any money back. I don't want to leave it lying around and get fined."
• Laurinaitis when asked about the differences between college and the NFL: "There are a lot more checks within a coverage. In college you try to keep things simple. Right now I am comfortable with the checks that I am making."
• Laurinaitis when asked about starting at MLB: He said he really needs to know his stuff, make the right calls and checks, be a leader on the field and the coaches will make the right decision.
• Smith when asked about switching to RT: "At the end of the day we want to be a productive offense. If I can play tight end, I'll play tight end."
• Smith when asked about the difficulty of the switch to RT: "Its a lot different. The angles, the different types of DE's you see."
• Smith when asked about the other guys on the OL: "Even Alex Barron is talking to me. He doesn't really talk too much to people, but he is talking to me."
• Laurinaitis when asked how involved he was in his contract stuff and how it feels now that it is all done: "You are glad it is all over. I was texting back and forward with my agents saying that it needed to get done and I wanted to be in camp on time...I don't want to be seen as someone who is holding out  and doesn't want to get out there and play football."
• Smith when asked about how involved he was with the contract stuff: "When James and I were first drafted we talked and said that we needed to be the guys. So me not being here, I would have felt like I was letting James down. As an offensive lineman, you never want to let people down."
• Smith when asked about how physical practice has been: "When you see a lion sitting there and his food walks by...it doesn't matter when it is, he's gonna go get it."
• Just a note about Laurinaitis. He sounds so mature and smart it is crazy to think that he is a rookie. He sounds like a veteran when you hear his talk and definitely just seems like a born leader. This was the first interview I have heard with him as a Ram and it was great to hear how mature and confident he sounds.

Steven Jackson (RB) (calling in from the phone):

• First off I think that it was awesome that S-Jack called in. He and Bulger had a publicity thing they needed to attend, but Jackson went out of his way to call in.
• "I really dove in this off-season, making sure I was in St. Louis for a good portion of the off-season."
• Talked a little about how he changed up his off-season routine. He said that his old routine was a little stagnant, but the new strength and conditioning coach has really focused on getting back to basics: power lifting, clean sweeps, etc.
• The interviewers asked if he could stay on the field for every play and be the full-tiem key to the offense: "I don't really come off the field already so that's not really a question."
• "Coach Spags has put together such a great staff on both sides of the ball. We are starting off with such an intense training camp, I think it will really pay off for us."
• "I have a new center, a new fullback, and the rookie on the right side. I am just trying to get a feel for these guys, how they come off their blocks and their timing."
• On the addition of Karney this -: "My best season so far in my career is when I had a big time fullback and I feel like I have that again. Ever since we signed him, I have been the guy who gives him a phone call or text message just to keep up with him. We sit together in the meetings and talk it up."
• When asked about how the RB's are approaching the new offense: "When they take the run away, we (the RB's) don't want to feel like we can't contribute. We can do it either running or receiving."
• On a final note, the interviewers were discussing how fast and powerful Jackson looked during the practice sessions and what a great opportunity it is going to be for him in this system with his running and receiving abilities.

That's all I've got. Hope that can satisfy your need for Rams info for the day.