“Sluggish” Rams to get a slight break in schedule
The weary St. Louis Rams players, drilled hard by new coach Steve Spagnuolo since training camp opened last week, finally are about to get a break. Starting Tuesday, the afternoon practice will be scaled back a bit. It’ll run just 75 minutes and feature mostly team work in shells (shorts and light shoulder pads).
“It’ll be more to sharpen up and execute,” Spagnuolo explained. “It’ll be 30 plays of team on offense, 30 on defense, a little bit of special teams. The legs are heavy, and this is just about the time to change up a little bit.”
That doesn’t mean, however, that the morning practice won’t include more live-tackling drills. Again today, the Rams were padded up and pounding away. Spagnuolo wasn’t satisfied with what he saw, however.
“I thought it was a little sluggish,” he said. “I would’ve expected when the cloud cover came and we had a breeze that they’d have a little juice. I asked them if they could give us that this afternoon.”
Notes & quotes:
*CB Ron Bartell (dehydration) was back after missing Sunday afternoon’s practice. So was TE Joe Klopfenstein, held out of both Sunday workouts after experiencing a reaction to a medication.
*Rookie DT Darell Scott turned in his best practice of camp. Scott showed off good strength and surprising speed.
*RB Samkon Gado was shaken up after being taken down hard on a carry up the middle but continued to practice.
*S Craig Dahl, who earned a Super Bowl ring with Spagnuolo and the Giants two years ago as a rookie, is having a strong camp. Dahl made the Giants roster as an undrafted rookie from North Dakota State, but he missed the 2008 season because of a knee injury.
*FB Jerome Johnson, a converted LB from Nevada, is making a positive impression. Johnson is an undrafted rookie.
*Veteran DE James Hall has stood out in the live drills.
*Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel and his entire staff watched from the sidelines. Afterward, they were treated to lunch by Rams GM Billy Devaney.
All for now . . . more following the afternoon practice.
I keeping an eye on Craig Dahl, I have a good feeling about him. A possible Spagnuolo gem waiting to shine?
The picture of Jackson with Spags… Looks like Jackson was complaining about something…
Or maybe Spags is telling jackson that it’s my way or the highway!!!
Hey! If you want to see a Ram with some major guns, take a look at the training camp photos, one showing Samkon Gado’s arms. This guy has muscles ON his muscles!
I like what I’m hearing about Darell Scott and Craig Dahl!
I agree, looks like he is complaining about a hard hit or something. I hope they don’t start this crap already. In the real world you talk back to the boss, you hit the road. As much money as SJ is making, bout time to git er dun!!!! Be a leader not a complainer….
GO RAMS!!
SJ39 was complaining to Spags in this photo. It’s the same one we ran in the paper on Sunday. Jim Thomas wrote about the moment … Jax got upset by a slow whistle when he was being gang-tackled by teammates on defense. This was an exchange with Spags right after that.
I love the comments about the picture…it just amazes me that people will look at a STILL picture and speculate what is being said…for all any of us know Steven Jackson was telling Spags about the awful dinner he had before he watched Don’t Tell Mom the Baby-sitter is Dead on HBO.
“But coach Linehan never used to make me do that!” Get that whiney look off your face Mr. Jackson. Just shut your hole and do what you are told. There’s a new Sheriff in town boys. In the mean time I think I’ll bust out some cheese to go with that whine. Ain’t football great?
sum1,
I can read still picture lips!! And after that, I agree with Mr.Hensley. I guess, because he is so fired up about this coming season, and he wants to be 100% for every game this year, he does not want to be hurt and thus the complaining. Wonder if he will do it to the Refs during the games. They say you play how you practice! IT’S FOOTBALL DADGUMMIT…. PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANNIES AND DEAL WITH IT!!!
GO RAMS!!!
“Sluggish”??? Geeze they’ve only been in camp a few days. Worn out already? Will we have anyone not to tired to play when the season opens? Aren’t they supposed to come to camp ready to go? Geeze!!!