AUG 4 BALZER REPORT, BY MJRAdd yourself to The HERD's Official Roster (guestbook), if you think you are man enough!
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Caller: Adam Timmerman. How's he doing?
Snow: doing very well. Doesn't want name mentioned. He's a team leader. Winning attitude. Solid performer. Not spectacular. Pass blocking good. Offensive line play overall is very good.
Caller: Asked Jack Snow about receivers.
Holt. Terrific route running. Catches with his hands. All routes are excellent, still needs to learn. Can really catch the ball. Does very well after the catch. Great cuts. Comebacks. Work ethic is second to none. Holt caught a pass on a curl route over the middle in traffic. Caught the ball with his body which he should do since he was in traffic. Goes to exemplify Holt's natural instincts for the game. Biggest adjustment from college to pro is the size and speed of the players. Even faster during the games.
Az Hakim. Has made the biggest strides of any second year receiver he's seen. Inconsistent at catching the ball. Quick out of his breaks. As a punt returner and kickoff returner. Good. Teams are especially fast on these plays. They are like car wrecks waiting to happen. Great size and speed on special teams.
Caller: Asked about receivers again.
Small is 6'1", 216 lbs. Has made some plays. Proehl may be on the bubble. (MJR: contradicts what he said ave.). Mac Cody can play at this level. This kid is all over the field. Small is a possession type receiver, big.
Caller: Strong safety position.
Question concerning Jenkins' coverage ability. Miklasz said in column that he's vastly improved. He made 121 tackles last year. Lead the team in tackles. Started 13 games. Has terrific durability. Rams have had trouble matching up with opponent's TEs, both Jenkins and Toby Wright. Devin Bush better at coverage of TE. Howard suggested Rams may use Jenkins more on first down and bring Bush in on the nickel defense.
Todd Collins had a great scrimmage in Champaign. Not much was or is said about him. That's good. He's doing a solid job. Knows his business.
Marshall Faulk signing. Jack Snow said Faulk really didn't need DV's training camp in Macomb.
Caller: Questions about the center position.
Gruts, Tucker, and Flannery in that order. Flannery knows his future is limited. Probably gone.
Dre' Bly question. Snow on Bly: McCleon is quiet. Lyght is quiet. Bly is a "yapper." It's a self esteem thing. Gives him a sense of security (he said "false sense of security" but I don't believe he meant it). Plays very tight on crossing patterns, slants, outs and posts. Balzer: He'll get burned but he'll battle back.
Caller: If the offensive line is not good this year will Faulk be like Bettis?
Howard: Not. Faulk is a completely different runner than Bettis. Look what Greg Hill did behind last year's line in only two games.
Battles in camp: Strong safety. Punter. Middle linebacker. This has been a big hole in the defense since the Rams moved to St. Louis. Fletcher is a tremendous player. His height is a problem. The position can't be any worse than it has been.
Loss of Roman Phifer was huge. Collins will be adequate.
Cameron Spikes. 6'2", 310 lbs. Has great ability. Locks up the defensive player. Lots of toughness.
Offensive line in general: Much tougher. Tucker, Timmerman, Spikes/Nutten, Pace, and Miller. We're going to like what we see.
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316 RESPONDS
"Proehl is the consummate professional, team leader, great hands."
On Proehl--what struck me as interesting as I watched the guy last week was his hands. Although they are really good, he has a tendency to get a little lazy and carry them too low. That's why he has a tendency to pop balls up in the air. He carries his hands kind of low, and sometimes doesn't get them into proper catching position until the ball is on top of him. That means he's late, and the ball 'pings' off his hands like a volleyball set. Kinda weird.