Celebs drop by Rams Park for a glimpse of camp
Unofficially, it was Celebrity Day at Rams Park on Monday. After Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel and his entire staff showed up to observe the morning practice, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and pitcher Chris Carpenter visited in the afternoon. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen also was on hand, as was a crew from Sirius radio.
As he huddled briefly with La Russa, St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo was overheard asking, “Tony, why in the world would you bat the pitcher eighth?” (Only kidding).
Notes & quotes:
*T Jason Smith, the team’s first-round draft pick, is showing good technique and has quick feet for a 6-5, 306-pounder.
*Donnie Avery clearly is the top WR in camp, with Keenan Burton and Laurent Robinson a notch behind. After that, the seven other WRs seeking roster spots appear to be running neck and neck at this point.
*DT Clifton Ryan is getting off the ball quicker, boosting his explosiveness.
*DT Adam Carriker had an encouraging spring after being hampered with injuries much of last season. So far in training camp, though, he’s yet to assert himself.
*Derius Swinton, Spagnuolo’s special-teams quality control assistant, is the second-youngest coach in the NFL. Swinton turned 24 in April.
All for now . . .
Id like to know, how Chris Long is doing? Stepping up, making plays?
Ryan and Carriker are going to decide our season. If they can get some penetration and stuff the run that will allow Long, Little, and Hall to rush the passer on 3rd and longs and get the offense back on the field. If teams proceed to hammer the run on us between the tackles and through Ryan and Carriker and get into 3rd and shorts it will be ugly.
C’mon D-Line, get tough and physical and stop the run!
What about Lauranitis, or however you spell his name. Quite a disappointing update. Hopefully they will have another article out tomorrow with better updates. We already knew that Avery was the best we had at WR with a bunch of ??? behind him. What about the O-Line in general? What about the defense? What about the running back we picked up in the draft from TX?
What does a “special-teams quality control assistant” do?