The St. Louis Rams are just a few minutes away from today's afternoon practice. Tomorrow, they'll travel to New York for the preseason opener. That's right, just tonight and one more miserable evening after that before we have Rams football to watch again. Step away from the edge of the building.
I'm always leery about camp hype for non-established guys, for lack of better term. Countless guys turn it on in August only to disappear come September, never to be seen again until the next August. CB Quincy Butler is no stranger to NFL training camps than he's played regular season games, since being signed as an undrafted rookie by the Cowboys in 2006. So far, he's having a great camp with the Rams. He impressed coaches and observers in practice today with strong play in coverage and a Kyle Boller pickoff.
Is Butler an August hero or the real deal? I suspect we'll know more as the preseason games play out, especially since the Rams are auditioning every CB not named Ron Bartell to determine the depth chart. Butler's size, 6' 1", 190 lbs lends itself well to the more physical style of play embodied in the Spagnuolo/Flajole defensive scheme, and the chance to work with a new coach in a new scheme could certainly give Butler the fresh start he needs. I'm not ready to anoint him the right man at the right time for the Rams defensive backfield, but I think, especially given the Rams situation a cornerback, he's a guy you'll want to keep an eye on as the season gets closer. You're certainly hearing lots more about Butler than you are last year's early camp surprise CB, Justin King. Well, maybe. King filled in with the first team defense in practice today as Bartell sat out to rest a sore hammy.
Carriker is out for Friday's game. FB Mike Karney's status has yet to be determined.
Starters will play a quarter or thereabout in Friday's game, and all four QBs will take some snaps.