MEQUON, Wis. (Camp Day 8/late report)

The improvement of rookie defensive end Chris Long over the first 12 training camp practices has been noticeable. Long, the second overall pick in the draft, is rapidly approaching the point where’s he reacting and not thinking, meaning that he’s playing faster.

“He had a play (Friday) where he had to come out of a defensive-line stance and cover a back going out the other way,” coach Scott Linehan said. “And he was there. . . .

“He just gets it. He understands what he has to do. His expectation is to improve daily. He’s hard on himself, but he understands if he works hard and keeps doing it the way he’s always done it, he’s just going to continue to improve.

“And he only has one speed, which is really good to see, especially in a rookie. Sometimes they start to shut it down when they’re thinking. But he doesn’t go there.”

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Rookie linebacker David Vobora is a big movie fan. He saw “The Dark Knight” three times in the first 48 hours after its release. “Opening night, then the next morning and then the next day,” Vobora said. “That was awesome.”

But as far as his true preferences go, Vobora likes something a bit, er, mushier. “‘Brian’s Song’ is my favorite,” he said. “It’s something I grew up watching with my dad, and I’ve always loved that story.”

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Notes & quotes:

>>WR Derek Stanley continues to turn in a big catch every day. Actually, he had three nice grabs Friday — but he also committed a bad drop when he was wide open on the sideline.

>>The soreness in Brett Romberg’s right hand has subsided, and he was able to snap the ball for the first time in several days. With Romberg at C, Richie Incognito worked with the first team at RG.

>>The Rams have four rookie LBs in camp — Chris Chamberlain, Vince Hall, Marc Magro and David Vobora – and three might wind up on the 53-man roster.

>>Former CB Eric Bassey looks as if he’s found a home at safety.

>>Click here to see why coach Scott Linehan thinks that some Rams rookies “look like something out of the village people.”

All for now . . . more after Saturday’s scrimmage.