Training Camp '99 CoverageAdd yourself to The HERD's Official Roster (guestbook), if you think you are man enough!
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Training camp is a bonding time. Establish comradery. Coaches are paranoid about letting people know what they're going to do. Attitude is great. Crisp practices. Beginning to get very competitive with the Oakland preseason game coming up this Saturday.
In game situations, intensity level is up. Trent Green and Dexter McCleon argued over a catch, whether receiver caught it before going out of bounds. On 2-minute drill with 8-seconds left there was a screen pass to Greg Hill and he went out of bounds. Argument as to whether there was time left. Mike White steps in, says "let's pretend there's time left for a FG." Rich Gould: "While we're at it, let's pretend we're 16-0."
Interview w/Jeff Robinson, long snapper. Getting a lot of work at TE. Hasn't worked with the defense in quite a while. He has a new jersey number. He's number 45. He says there's a real up tempo. People are a little tired from the week in Champaign. On his work at TE: struggling the most with run blocking. When he's tentative he tends to raise up, losing leverage and so losing the block. He doesn't think doing both TE and long-snapper duties will interfere with each other. He enjoys the TE role because he's on the football field. Being the long-snapper is not really football. Much prefers TE role.
To be a good long-snapper you have to get the ball back there on a spiral consistently, block your guy, then get down field. Consistency is the biggest thing.
On comparing being the long-snapper and the field goal snapper: On FG need to focus on "laces out", spin, and location. You've got usually two 300 lb guys trying to knock you on your can. It's not fun. Being the long-snapper on punts is fun because you can run down the field and make the tackle.
Caller: Last year Grant Wistrom looked lost. Is he legitimate? What can we expect to see?
His first year was a huge learning experience. Needed to work primarily on quickness and footwork. At Nebraska, not one OT he played against is in the pros. Now he's going against guys like OP every weekend. When he came back after his injury last year, DV felt he showed tremendous improvement compared to other rookie DEs. Tremendous work ethic. We'll see how he does this year.
Caller: Does he have what it to get to the QB?
He's a gamer. Look at Orlando Pace. He had problems against the bigger, faster guys. Guys like Pace and Wistrom can physically dominate at the college level but have a learning curve when they make the jump to the NFL.
Caller: What about Dre' Bly?
He's playing mostly in the nickel defense. He has a CB mentality: "you're going to get beat. You've just got to come back and compete." We'll see a lot of 3 CB formations this year.
Charlie Clemons: Thus far in camp should get the defensive player award. Nobody stands out on the DL.
Wistrom. Good test coming up on Saturday against Oakland. Playing against Mo Collins and Matt Stinchcomb.
Interview w/Cameron Spikes: On practicing in the heat: think about it when you're stretching and standing around. You forget about it when actually running drills. Being active is better.
He's the fifth round choice from TX A&M. It was hot at A&M but they switched practice times to accommodate. He's working hard on adjusting to stunts and blitzes, the different looks. Camp is very helpful for rookies. He wants to be out there, be it now or half way through the season. He's trying to do the best he can. Maybe do a little extra to impress the coaches. He needs better running game blocking and ability to pick up the blitzes.
Our DL is so much better than the Colts' DL. They have so many different moves, lots of good moves, not just a few.
Interview w/Trent Green: DV did a good job of taking it easy on us during the heat wave. Some nice changes: Holt, Timmermann, and Faulk. The concentration level is higher with the more complex motion on offense. Timing-oriented. He's excited about fewer penalties at Champaign cause of the higher level of concentration.
He's been making use of a hard count. He drew the defense offside in practice. Likes to use this because it slows up the pass rush. Gets defense off balance maybe leaning thereby tipping off the way they're going. Great help to the OL.
Green on Holt: Great mechanics in and out of cuts. He has a good feel for the game. He feels the window and seams for catching a pass. Great knack for the ball. He was a little rusty at first but has improved. In this morning's practice, he was double-covered on a sideline route on a 3rd down conversion attempt. He came back for the ball and made the completion. Advice to Holt: make plays you're supposed to make; convert on big plays occasionally. He runs great routes. He has a good understanding and instincts for the game.
Green on himself: Not a strong arm. In this league there are so many talented players with strong arms and other tools not playing. Joe Montana very rarely threw the ball 45 yds. You need presence on the field. He says he can throw sixty yards but he doesn't need to. Montana never threw the ball hard but got it there nonetheless. (Side note: Trent made it a point to mention twice that he's not comparing himself to Montana).
Green on playing QB: Nothing like it. Lots of pressure. It's what the NFL has become. You get paid well to play it. Very good learning experience. Since he's a home town (St. Louis) boy he needs to perform. He realizes he may play poorly for the first 3 qtrs. and one good one. Lots of pressure. He accepts that.
Thanks, Trent!
Caller: Will Otis English and Cory Sears make the team?
Sears is being rotated in as the 4th defensive lineman. English is a longshot. Has a good shot at the practice squad. Is Tucker still at center? He's with the 2nd team right now but is battling Gruttadauria for the starting role.
Will KFNS broadcast any of the Sunday night games? Yes and all of Rams pre and post-game stuff.
Caller: Trent Green's attitude in general?
One of the guys. Good leadership. Can see the team is developing confidence in Trent. Brings the intangibles which are so important to the team. Others may have tools but intangibles go along way.
Prediction: WHEN (not if Gould says) Marshall signs the Rams will be one of the most improved teams in the NFL.