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Chris Long takes the first preseason game in stride, and puts it into perspective.............
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Nice to get out there with the guys in a live game. We have a lot to work on, but after the first game of preseason all teams do. Can't wait</p>— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) <a href="https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/statuses/365686357131141121">August 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Les Snead.....with a bit of advice for Alec Ogletree, after his debut against Cleveland last Thursday......
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"They're not scared of you. You're not in Georgia anymore. They're going to throw it at you." - Les Snead discussing Alec Ogletree's debut</p>— Ben Frederickson (@Ben_Fred) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Fred/statuses/365656833647583234">August 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Rams just picked up a little bit of tackle depth on Monday....
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rams have signed D.J. Young, a second-year offensive tackle from Michigan State. He's 6-5, 298, age 25.</p>— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) <a href="https://twitter.com/jthom1/statuses/367018830255501312">August 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Power Ranking Every NFL Defense Heading Into The 2013 Season: Bleacher Report
The Rams earn the number 9 ranking - in this breakdown of all 32 NFL defenses. A top-ten ranked defense will help keep the Rams in many games - and in playoff contention - throughout the season.
Rams rookie Tavon Austin on fast track to stardom: USA Today
Cortland Finnegan has seen plenty of Tavon Austin in training camp, defending him in the slot. He likens Tavon to a pitcher:
"Trying to keep up with a youngster with 17 different pitches," Finnegan said. "It's like he's got a fastball, a curveball, a sinker and a few more."
55 Observations From Preseason Week 1: RamsHerd
The folks at RamsHerd are pretty observant...55!...done in honor of Greg Zuerlein's two field goals [55 and 54 yards] against Cleveland last week. The "Leg" looks like he is rested and ready to steal a couple of wins for the Rams this season.
You Think It's Easy To Cut A Guy?: S.I. - Peter King - MMQB
August is always a difficult month for me, as a sentimental fan of NFL football. 18 days from now, 37 players will have been released by the Rams, to get down to the 53 man roster limit. Players that we may have watched, read, and learned about. Then we get to witness their dreams vanish before our very eyes.
Rookie Highlight Reel - Brandon McGee
Brandon McGee vs Florida State (2012) (via Aaron Aloysius)
Are You Smarter Than A Football Player?: S.I. - Extra Mustard
S.I. presents "Nine Timeless Foot-In-Mouth Moments"......some of us may indeed be smarter than some of them:
"Danny Amendola, then with the Rams, told SI’s Peter King he expected his team’s 24-24 tie against the San Francisco 49ers to go into a second overtime."
NFP preseason power rankings: National Football Post
The Rams come in at number 20 in the power rankings......"but could be on the rise in a hurry". The Rams have 6 games with teams who have a top-six power ranking: San Francisco (2), Seattle (2), Houston, and Atlanta. Can the Rams win 4 divisional games again?
Chris Givens working to diversify game: ESPN
Chris Givens put on a few pounds, and worked on some new routes during the off season. All with the intent of becoming more than just a deep threat. Look for Givens to be the Rams' number one wide receiver this season.
Is Isaiah Pead In Trouble?: Ramblin' Fan
In a wide open running back competition, Isaiah Pead appears to be on the outside looking in.
"Pead may just officially be the first "bust" of the Snead and Fisher era."
On This Day In Sports History
1948 - Satchel Paige, at 42, pitches his 1st major league complete game.
Rams Zac Stacy Loses His Head......Hit By Kitchen: NFL Spin Zone
A GIF is worth a thousand words................
Is Sam Bradford Finally Ready For A Breakout Season?: Bleacher Report
Bradford looked comfortable and confident in the Ram's first preseason game. A sign of things to come?
"it will take time for Bradford and his new counterparts to get on the same page, but once they do, watch out."
Bill Murray drinking with Harry Caray: SB Nation
25 years ago, the Chicago Cubs played their first-ever night game. Bill Murray joined Harry Carey for the festivities.....with hilarious results.
5 Players Not Worth Their Big-Money Contracts: Bleacher Report
The Rams' Jared Cook and Cortland Finnegan make the short-list: Finnegan for his 2012 performance, and Cook for career production. Finnegan was a welcome addition to the Rams secondary last year. Cook has clicked immediately with Sam Bradford this offseason. Value is all in the eyes of the beholder. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have little doubt that both players are worth the money.
Stat Facts Of The Week - Red Zone Scoring Percentage (TD)
Rank
Team
2012
2011
1
68.52%
65.22%
2
68.42%
59.04%
3
67.50%
65.12%
4
61.82%
41.18%
5
61.02%
50.00%
6
60.87%
44.19%
7
60.00%
66.13%
8
59.09%
50.00%
9
59.09%
57.89%
10
57.97%
51.67%
11
55.26%
47.17%
12
55.10%
50.91%
13
54.84%
54.93%
14
54.69%
47.62%
15
54.69%
40.68%
16
53.85%
47.83%
17
53.45%
44.44%
18
52.83%
56.60%
19
51.35%
38.71%
20
51.02%
49.02%
21
50.98%
42.11%
22
50.00%
59.46%
23
50.00%
52.83%
24
50.00%
52.63%
25
48.94%
65.38%
26
46.81%
53.70%
27
44.44%
48.57%
28
44.00%
51.52%
29
43.59%
41.94%
30
42.86%
51.06%
31
40.00%
51.11%
32
27.03%
33.33%
The three top teams in this ranking are no surprise - as all three are led by elite quarterbacks. The Rams were ranked 19th in 2012, a vast improvement over their 2011 ranking [31st]. Given the off season additions to the offense, the Rams are on track to once again improve on their ranking.
[The chart is courtesy of Team Rankings]
Rams' calculated risk-taking on prospects working wonders so far: CBS Sports
Jason La Canfora takes a look at how Les Snead and Jeff Fisher assess risk - when drafting players like Janoris Jenkins and Alec Ogletree. Kevin Demoff shares his own thoughts on the subject:
"When I watch Jeff and Les together in the draft process, where they both share a fascination is in player development, and off-field character development,"
5 Players off to Best Starts at St. Louis Rams' Camp: Bleacher Report
Sam Bradford, Benny Cunningham, Matt Conrath, Chris Givens, and Daryl Richardson are all standing out - and excelling - at the Rams' camp. Look for Cunningham to make the 53 man roster.
CBA Hurting Top To Bottom: Ramblin' Fan
By most accounts, this off season is unprecedented for the number of injuries being sustained. Are "practice restrictions" in the new CBA to blame?
Big Ram Rumble: National Geographic
Leave it to an unlikely source - National Geographic - to sum up what the remainder of training camp will look like.
St. Louis Rams Weekly "Re-Cap"
The Rams Available Cap Space currently stands at $113,676, second lowest in the league. They will have some maneuvering to do in the coming weeks, to create enough cap space to navigate through the regular season.
My First NFL Experience: Student Of The Game [Cody Davis]
Cody Davis, through his own blog, shares his thoughts about stepping on the field, for the preseason game against Cleveland last week.
Camp Confidential: St. Louis Rams: ESPN NFC West
Nick Wagoner takes a detailed look at how the Rams are faring, going into the final stages of training camp. Sam Bradford sees the positive changes all around him:
"There’s no doubt that this offense has a totally different feel than the one last year," quarterback Sam Bradford said. "I think if you look at some of the pieces that we’ve added, we’re faster. We’re faster at almost all the positions on the field now."
Team Report - St. Louis Rams: Yahoo Sports/The SportsXchange
Notwithstanding the questionable remarks made by Bernie Kosar - Jeff Fisher had a plan for the first preseason game........and executed it, as only an experienced, exceptional coach can.
"They have an opportunity to go out there and do the right thing. That's what we want to see, is carry over the things that they learned from the meeting room and the practice field into a game. But we've got a lot of players that have not played in an NFL game before and there's going to be a shock factor early. So, you encourage them to pay close attention to the vets and what they're doing the first couple series and prepare yourself to go because tempo and intensity and contact is a lot different." -- Coach Jeff Fisher on rookies playing their first preseason game."
NFL All-Underrated Team: Sports Illustrated
There are many reasons to believe that Sam Bradford will live up to his potential this season, and have a breakout year. He has grown as a quarterback, and the supporting cast is finally top-notch. Nice recognition from S.I., as Bradford is named the all-underrated quarterback.
Seahawks Preview: Another Revolution Is Coming: S.I. - Peter King - MMQB
Peter King details the upcoming season for the Seattle Seahawks, a team the Rams must be competitive with to achieve a playoff spot in 2013..........
"When Percy Harvin hits the field (eventually), Seattle's read-option just might become unstoppable. And with that defense, how could they not be contenders?"
Back From Injury, Former Blue Raider Turning Heads As Ram: Fox Sports Midwest
Benny Cunningham played well in the Rams first preseason game, and has impressed throughout camp. My prediction: Cunningham, along with Ray Ray Armstrong and Cody Davis, will make the 53 man roster as UDFA's.
Daryl Richardson Starting To Turn Heads In The NFL: Ramblin' Fan
As each day of the preseason passes, Richardson is making believers out of many around the NFL. A belief that he can fill the void left by the departure of Steven Jackson to Atlanta.
Around the NFC West: Successful start: Mike Sando - ESPN
Despite the mounting toll of injuries around the NFL this preseason, the Rams have remained relatively healthy. Rodger Saffold's injury was less critical than feared, and he should be returning in the next 2 weeks. The Rams can ill-afford injuries at the offensive tackle position - as depth is a major concern.
The Pressers
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 8
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 9
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 10
Jeff Fisher Press Conference - August 12
All press conferences are courtesy of stlouisrams.com
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Cortland Finnegan talks with Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez, of SiriusXM NFL Radio, about his toughest matchup, Janoris Jenkins, and why he plays the way he does.
via a.espncdn.com/Getty Images
Updating St. Louis Rams' Key Position Battles Halfway Through Training Camp: Bleacher Report
BR updates the ongoing camp battles at 4 positions: Safety, wide receiver, running back, and left guard. Who will be the starters?
Rams being careful to keep it basic for now: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Rams' first preseason game did not reveal a whole lot about their offensive/defensive plans. And that's exactly the way Jeff Fisher likes it.
"As for the Rams, Fisher seems to be more old-school when it comes to not showing much of the playbook in August."
Protecting Long a Rams priority: ESPN NFC West
Given the injury history of the offensive line, and depth concerns, the Rams are being very careful with their linemen in the preseason. It is a fine balance that needs to be maintained:
"So while keeping Long and the rest of the veteran linemen healthy is imperative, the Rams must also ensure they’re getting plenty of work together."
Peter King on Jared Cook: S.I. Fansided
Peter King traveled to to the Rams camp, and came away impressed with Tavon Austin. He was even more impressed with Jared Cook:
"I have not seen a better offensive weapon in all the practices I’ve seen on this training camp tour than I saw in the athletic and imposing Cook on this afternoon."
Coach O's Rams Notes and Observations: Rams News Now
Coach O breaks down how well each of the receivers consistently catch the ball. The following UDFA's have shots at sticking with the Rams: Benny Cunningham, Phil Lutzenkirchen, Ray Ray Armstrong, and Cody Davis.
Gil Brandt sees plenty he likes in 2013 Rams: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Gil Brandt made a stop at the Rams training facility over the weekend - and likes what he sees:
"This could be a playoff team," he said. "Yeah I think they can. They’re better in all phases of the game. I think they’ve got more depth than they had a year ago."
New Weapons Need To Be Integrated Into Rams Offense In Second Preseason Tilt: Rant Sports NFL
The Rams kept things rather "vanilla" during the first preseason game. Anthony Blake suggests reasons why the Rams should be more Neapolitan, in the next preseason game.
Is Austin the answer to Rams special teams woes?: KMOV 4 St. Louis
Although not decided, the Rams are still pondering using Austin as a kick return specialist.
"Everything we saw on tape in college: great ball skills, dynamite with his feet, and a little guy, hard to tackle", said Rams special teams coach John Fassel. "So far, so good".
2012 Rookie WRs by Yards
WR Tm. Rec. Yds. Justin Blackmon JAC 64 865 T.Y. Hilton IND 50 861 Josh Gordon CLE 50 805 Chris Givens STL 42 698 Kendall Wright TEN 64 626 Rod Streater OAK 39 584 Michael Floyd ARI 45 562 Alshon Jeffery CHI 24 367 T.J. Graham BUF 31 322 Ryan Broyles DET 22 310 Jarius Wright MIN 22 310 Source: ESPN Stats & Information
Jets Coach Rex Ryan Slams West Virginia: NFL.com
What better way for the New York coach to defend Geno Smith - than by slamming West Virginia's football program, and lack of leadership. The same program that produced Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. It is interesting to note that we have not heard a bad word from Jeff Fisher, Austin, or Bailey about the West Virginia football program. Food for thought.
Jeff Fisher says Bernie Kosar issue "dead": ESPN NFC West
So much for that little piece of drama. Fisher again handled it all with class today. More important are the camp goings on, noted by Nick Wagoner.
Video: Tavon Austin Could Wreak Havoc: MMQB - Peter King
Peter King visited the Rams' training camp, and gives us his impressions of Tavon Austin and Alec Ogletree.
Rams rookie Stacy looks to build on solid first game: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Promising rookie RB Zac Stacy is looking forward to the next preseason game, and is adjusting well to the speed and complexity of football in the NFL.
Blast From The Past - Tuesday's Got The Blues
Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King, Jimmie Vaughan (Rock me baby) (via Ant Varandonis)
Have a great Tuesday......and a Ramtastic week!!!