There's one week remaining in the Rams' OTA work for the offseason, but this week saw a significant change on the offensive line.
After working for the first two weeks and the mandatory minicamp at center in competition with Brett Romberg, Mark Setterstrom is now the team's right guard. Richie Incognito, who played right guard for the final three games of the 2006 season and the four games he was able to play in 2007, is now competing with Romberg for the starting center job. Romberg was able to play just nine games last season.
Setterstrom played guard in college and started six games at left guard in 2006. He opened the 2007 season at that position, but played in only three games before injuring his knee and missing the remainder of the season. Early in free agency, the Rams signed Jacob Bell from the Titans to play left guard.
Coach Scott Linehan said the move was designed to get "the best five players on the field at the positions they play best."
It would be surprising for Romberg to beat out Incognito, who started 12 games at center in 2006. However, Linehan said Romberg will begin training camp as the starter.
Incognito admitted to some surprise at the switch, but claimed not to be disappointed at moving from a clear starting spot to one where he is in a competition.
"It's great," Incognito said. "Whatever is best for the team. This will make us both better players. We're good friends and now we will be in competition with each other."
Incognito knows wherever he plays, he has to cut down on some of the feisty play that has led to 15-yard penalties.
"It's just a growing and maturation process," he said. "You just have to know when to choke it back. Some of the stuff is real close. Some of the stuff, the whistle blew ... I'm playing hard, sometimes I don't hear the whistle.
"A lot of the stuff is stupid, ticky-tack on my end that I need to cut out of my game to be a better football player."
Because of the mental demands of playing center, Incognito was asked if playing there would cut down on his aggressiveness.
"No way," he said. "You can play as physical as you want at any position."
He wants everyone on the line to step up their game. He said, "A lot of the stuff is just playing the whole game through and playing real physical. We (need to) have five guys doing it. That's our M.O. If they see we play hard, we play physical all through the end of the play ... there is a lot more leniency when a whole unit is doing it instead of just one guy."
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Rams were awarded quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who was placed on waivers Monday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oakland and Chicago also made claims for Gradkowksi, but the Rams had priority because they had the worst 2007 record of the claiming teams.
The Rams have been looking for a younger quarterback, preferably one with experience, that will compete with Brock Berlin in training camp for the No. 3 job, but be able to play should Marc Bulger and Trent Green not be available.
Gradkowski started 11 games for the Buccaneers as a rookie in 2006 and played in four games last season.
—The Rams are close to finalizing a schedule of practice days with the Tennessee Titans prior to the Aug. 9 exhibition game between the two teams.
The Rams will likely leave their Wisconsin training camp the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 5 and practice twice Wednesday and once Thursday with the Titans in Nashville. Friday is expected to be an off day, although they will probably have a light walk-through.
After the game, the Rams will return to Wisconsin and then break camp Aug. 14.
—Coach Scott Linehan said the team's attendance at the voluntary workouts has been "the best since I've been here."
Linehan added, "It's a big commitment by the players. We meet in the morning, are on the field for what we're allowed, and then meet again afterward. We have to get it all in within six hours. But these guys are anxious to have a great year and the work ethic has been great."
—With all the rain that has hit the St. Louis area in recent weeks, kicker Josh Brown has sometimes thought he's back in Seattle.
"I'm sick of rain," Brown said. "That's what happens in the Midwest in April and May. I'm just glad no tornadoes are coming by the motel right now."
Brown was signed on the first day of free agency when longtime kicker Jeff Wilkins retired. Said Brown, "Jeff left a great amount of space to fill. He did a great job for a long time. I just want to concentrate on carrying on what I've already learned and what I've started to accomplish and the reputation I already have. Jeff played here for a long time, and he will be missed, but I'm kind of glad the job is open."
Coach Scott Linehan said it was fortunate Brown was available and the Rams were able to move quickly to get him signed.
"It is nice, I can tell you that," Linehan said. "I think this thing about 'Wilky' and what he meant to this team and the whole thing with him retiring with all of the emotions we went through during the offseason was sad.
"It was really sad to see his career come to an end. To have Josh come in and fill his role is a bittersweet kind of a deal, but it is nice to have Josh here. I'm glad we had a chance to replace Jeff with a guy of his caliber, that's for sure."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That probably puts the biggest smile on my face out of this whole thing. It is going to be great being able to concentrate on kicking inside and not having to worry about Mother Nature that much. I can focus in on what I have to do rather than contend with her at the same time." - PK Josh Brown on moving from Seattle to kicking in a dome for at least eight games every season.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: RB Steven Jackson, who tweaked an ankle two weeks ago, missed work this week after injuring his groin Tuesday (June 3). ... TE Joe Klopfenstein was sidelined by back spasms. ... WR/KR Dante Hall was on the sideline with a groin injury.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Game is on in battle for center's job
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/25/2008
Nothing has come easy in the NFL for the Rams' Brett Romberg, a highly decorated center at the University of Miami. And now he has another fight on his hands."There's always something," said Romberg, who wasn't drafted, began his career on Jacksonville's practice squad and didn't start a game until his fourth year in the league. "There's always somebody ready to come in and test your will."This time, it's third-year pro Mark Setterstrom, a former guard who is challenging Romberg for the first-team job at center. The position has been in flux since Andy McCollum suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2006 opener after 97 consecutive starts.
Richie Incognito, now the first-team right guard, filled in for 12 games and Romberg for three that season. Last year, Romberg made nine starts and McCollum seven.Romberg, 28, and McCollum, 37, were unrestricted free agents after the season. Romberg signed a one-year deal in March; McCollum hasn't landed a new job.Setterstrom, 24, started the last six games of his rookie season at left guard and held on to that spot heading into last year. But his season ended in Week 3 when he tore a ligament and damaged cartilage in his left knee.
After the Rams signed free agent Jacob Bell, who started 46 games at guard in four seasons with Tennessee, the decision was made to try Setterstrom at center.Setterstrom has the edge in size: He's 6 feet 4 and 314; Romberg goes 6-2 and 298. But Romberg, a three-year starter for the Hurricanes and the winner of the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center in 2002, has a vast experience advantage."I've never played (center) before, so I'm going to have to work really hard at it," said Setterstrom, a seventh-round draft pick from Minnesota. "But at the same time, it's something new, it's something exciting."
After a somewhat ragged start at minicamp, Setterstrom is beginning to settle in."He's taken that role and the challenge of that position to heart, and he wants to be great at it," coach Scott Linehan said. "I think our competition at that position's going to be pretty good."Romberg, who has been working with the first unit this spring, missed seven games and most of an eighth last year with injuries to both ankles. He acknowledged that at one point he didn't think the Rams would re-sign him."But the opportunity arose," he said. "I really wanted to come back; I felt I had a lot of unfinished business here. And I love my teammates here."Some might not be so fond of him, though. "I keep getting blamed for the sand pit thing," Romberg said.
He urged the team to install a pit at Rams Park for certain drills and individual work that also increases ankle strength and flexibility. The 50-yard-long, 8-yard-wide bunker is being used liberally."It was just something that we used a lot at Miami, and I never saw high ankle sprains. I just thought it might help," he explained. "We're in it just about every day, pulling sleds, doing agility drills. It's nothing that people look forward to going into, but the work will pay off."
Neither center reported any lingering problems from his '07 injury during minicamp and organized team activities.
Training camp July 25-Aug. 14 in Mequon, Wis., will be far more demanding. And that's where one should emerge as the starter."You've always got to create some kind of competition or it would be kind of lackadaisical, and a lot of things would be taken for granted," Romberg said. "Competition is always encouraged."Added Setterstrom: "I just want to get on the field, so I'm looking forward to the challenge."
RAM-BLINGS
Running back Steven Jackson sat out Thursday's practice after turning an ankle Wednesday. "It did swell up a little bit, but it's not serious," Linehan said. ... Tackle Orlando Pace was excused so that he could attend an event in Ohio honoring his foundation. ... OTAs will resume June 3 and wrap up June 12. Then the team will break until training camp.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/25/2008
Nothing has come easy in the NFL for the Rams' Brett Romberg, a highly decorated center at the University of Miami. And now he has another fight on his hands."There's always something," said Romberg, who wasn't drafted, began his career on Jacksonville's practice squad and didn't start a game until his fourth year in the league. "There's always somebody ready to come in and test your will."This time, it's third-year pro Mark Setterstrom, a former guard who is challenging Romberg for the first-team job at center. The position has been in flux since Andy McCollum suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2006 opener after 97 consecutive starts.
Richie Incognito, now the first-team right guard, filled in for 12 games and Romberg for three that season. Last year, Romberg made nine starts and McCollum seven.Romberg, 28, and McCollum, 37, were unrestricted free agents after the season. Romberg signed a one-year deal in March; McCollum hasn't landed a new job.Setterstrom, 24, started the last six games of his rookie season at left guard and held on to that spot heading into last year. But his season ended in Week 3 when he tore a ligament and damaged cartilage in his left knee.
After the Rams signed free agent Jacob Bell, who started 46 games at guard in four seasons with Tennessee, the decision was made to try Setterstrom at center.Setterstrom has the edge in size: He's 6 feet 4 and 314; Romberg goes 6-2 and 298. But Romberg, a three-year starter for the Hurricanes and the winner of the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center in 2002, has a vast experience advantage."I've never played (center) before, so I'm going to have to work really hard at it," said Setterstrom, a seventh-round draft pick from Minnesota. "But at the same time, it's something new, it's something exciting."
After a somewhat ragged start at minicamp, Setterstrom is beginning to settle in."He's taken that role and the challenge of that position to heart, and he wants to be great at it," coach Scott Linehan said. "I think our competition at that position's going to be pretty good."Romberg, who has been working with the first unit this spring, missed seven games and most of an eighth last year with injuries to both ankles. He acknowledged that at one point he didn't think the Rams would re-sign him."But the opportunity arose," he said. "I really wanted to come back; I felt I had a lot of unfinished business here. And I love my teammates here."Some might not be so fond of him, though. "I keep getting blamed for the sand pit thing," Romberg said.
He urged the team to install a pit at Rams Park for certain drills and individual work that also increases ankle strength and flexibility. The 50-yard-long, 8-yard-wide bunker is being used liberally."It was just something that we used a lot at Miami, and I never saw high ankle sprains. I just thought it might help," he explained. "We're in it just about every day, pulling sleds, doing agility drills. It's nothing that people look forward to going into, but the work will pay off."
Neither center reported any lingering problems from his '07 injury during minicamp and organized team activities.
Training camp July 25-Aug. 14 in Mequon, Wis., will be far more demanding. And that's where one should emerge as the starter."You've always got to create some kind of competition or it would be kind of lackadaisical, and a lot of things would be taken for granted," Romberg said. "Competition is always encouraged."Added Setterstrom: "I just want to get on the field, so I'm looking forward to the challenge."
RAM-BLINGS
Running back Steven Jackson sat out Thursday's practice after turning an ankle Wednesday. "It did swell up a little bit, but it's not serious," Linehan said. ... Tackle Orlando Pace was excused so that he could attend an event in Ohio honoring his foundation. ... OTAs will resume June 3 and wrap up June 12. Then the team will break until training camp.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Holt adjusts to life without Bruce
By Jeff Gordon
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Sunday, May. 11 2008
Physically, Torry Holt feels pretty good these days. His knees feel fresher than they did a year ago at this time.Emotionally, Holt seems a bit wounded. As P-D football writer Jim Thomas reports, Holt wasn’t thrilled about Isaac Bruce’s unceremonious departure via free agency.
Bruce is an iconic figure in the history of this franchise, dating back to Los Angeles. Was there nothing more the franchise could do for him? Why didn’t the Rams take care of Bruce like they took care of Marshall Faulk, who kept collecting checks long after he was done?
While chatting with reporters Saturday at Rams Park, Holt made it clear how much he missed his friend and mentor.“It is really different,” he told the group. “You could always count on Isaac to come in and be ready to roll and be ready for the season. Not to see his locker and not to see him out there on the football field and not to see him in the stretching and the drills . . . he is always the one in the front of the line and getting things going, so it is definitely different and is going to take some getting used to.”
This explains why he didn’t back off earlier comments about the possibility of finishing his career back home in Carolina. In fact, he reiterated them to reporters Saturday.“The real story is that I have this year and next year and hopefully I can finish those years out,” Holt said. “Then I will see where I am at. I will see where I am at physically and emotionally and financially. Then, if they would like to do something here I will consider it. If not, then I will have the option to go and explore and give my services somewhere else. “If that happens, Carolina will definitely be my first choice. There is no question about it. I have 2008 and 2009 left to play and that is what I plan on doing.”
That was a warning shot from one of the cornerstone players on this team. Holt fired it with purpose.Could anybody blame him for remaining skeptical of the current regime? Last season’s 3-13 fiasco took a toll on him. His frustration boiled over on the Rams sidelines.He was in no mood to hang around Rams Park more than necessary during this offseason. “From a mental standpoint, I just wanted to relax and get away from the building and get away from football for a while so I can come back with a fresh mind and give the guys and my teammates what it is they need to go out there and try to win some more games this year and try to get our first playoff berth in a while,” Holt said.
As for the ’08 season. Holt still seems in wait-and-see mode. When reporters asked him about second-round pick Donnie Avery, Torry managed to contain his enthusiasm.“He has to just keep going,” Holt said. “I don’t really have any impression of him right now. Obviously he has some quick-twitch fibers, which is really good. He wants to be good. Hopefully during training camp he will show me something.”Al Saunders’ return ought to perk up Holt up IF the new coordinator has the freedom to use his full scheme. Saunders worked closely with Holt here during the “Greatest Show on Turf” era.“It is good to have Al,” Holt said. “He came in with instant energy. He has put an emphasis on resetting the standard of the way we play offense here, which is really good.
What is really good to see is that a lot of the guys are buying into what he is trying to get accomplished, which is good for us.”Saunders has a big job to do. He must rebuild the confidence and enthusiasm of quarterback Marc Bulger, who took a terrible beating last season.He must oversee the reconstruction of the offensive line, with so many players coming back from injuries.
He must get some mileage out of receiver Drew Bennett, who was utterly ineffective last season -– largely due to injuries. He must groom rookie receivers Avery and Keenan Burton, two kids capable of re-energizing the offense. And Saunders has to get Holt going full-tilt again, physically and emotionally. “We are starting in the right direction,” Holt said. “Obviously, we have a long way to go, but guys are really taking heed to what (Saunders) is saying and doing out there and actually trying to get done what he wants them to get done as an offensive unit.”
Stay tuned . . .
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Sunday, May. 11 2008
Physically, Torry Holt feels pretty good these days. His knees feel fresher than they did a year ago at this time.Emotionally, Holt seems a bit wounded. As P-D football writer Jim Thomas reports, Holt wasn’t thrilled about Isaac Bruce’s unceremonious departure via free agency.
Bruce is an iconic figure in the history of this franchise, dating back to Los Angeles. Was there nothing more the franchise could do for him? Why didn’t the Rams take care of Bruce like they took care of Marshall Faulk, who kept collecting checks long after he was done?
While chatting with reporters Saturday at Rams Park, Holt made it clear how much he missed his friend and mentor.“It is really different,” he told the group. “You could always count on Isaac to come in and be ready to roll and be ready for the season. Not to see his locker and not to see him out there on the football field and not to see him in the stretching and the drills . . . he is always the one in the front of the line and getting things going, so it is definitely different and is going to take some getting used to.”
This explains why he didn’t back off earlier comments about the possibility of finishing his career back home in Carolina. In fact, he reiterated them to reporters Saturday.“The real story is that I have this year and next year and hopefully I can finish those years out,” Holt said. “Then I will see where I am at. I will see where I am at physically and emotionally and financially. Then, if they would like to do something here I will consider it. If not, then I will have the option to go and explore and give my services somewhere else. “If that happens, Carolina will definitely be my first choice. There is no question about it. I have 2008 and 2009 left to play and that is what I plan on doing.”
That was a warning shot from one of the cornerstone players on this team. Holt fired it with purpose.Could anybody blame him for remaining skeptical of the current regime? Last season’s 3-13 fiasco took a toll on him. His frustration boiled over on the Rams sidelines.He was in no mood to hang around Rams Park more than necessary during this offseason. “From a mental standpoint, I just wanted to relax and get away from the building and get away from football for a while so I can come back with a fresh mind and give the guys and my teammates what it is they need to go out there and try to win some more games this year and try to get our first playoff berth in a while,” Holt said.
As for the ’08 season. Holt still seems in wait-and-see mode. When reporters asked him about second-round pick Donnie Avery, Torry managed to contain his enthusiasm.“He has to just keep going,” Holt said. “I don’t really have any impression of him right now. Obviously he has some quick-twitch fibers, which is really good. He wants to be good. Hopefully during training camp he will show me something.”Al Saunders’ return ought to perk up Holt up IF the new coordinator has the freedom to use his full scheme. Saunders worked closely with Holt here during the “Greatest Show on Turf” era.“It is good to have Al,” Holt said. “He came in with instant energy. He has put an emphasis on resetting the standard of the way we play offense here, which is really good.
What is really good to see is that a lot of the guys are buying into what he is trying to get accomplished, which is good for us.”Saunders has a big job to do. He must rebuild the confidence and enthusiasm of quarterback Marc Bulger, who took a terrible beating last season.He must oversee the reconstruction of the offensive line, with so many players coming back from injuries.
He must get some mileage out of receiver Drew Bennett, who was utterly ineffective last season -– largely due to injuries. He must groom rookie receivers Avery and Keenan Burton, two kids capable of re-energizing the offense. And Saunders has to get Holt going full-tilt again, physically and emotionally. “We are starting in the right direction,” Holt said. “Obviously, we have a long way to go, but guys are really taking heed to what (Saunders) is saying and doing out there and actually trying to get done what he wants them to get done as an offensive unit.”
Stay tuned . . .
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