LB Vobora returns after “humbling experience”
Linebacker David Vobora was on the practice field for the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday for the first time since being slapped with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Vobora spent most of the time with the first-team defense at strongside linebacker, where he’d been starting before his banishment.
Sitting out for a month “was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through,” Vobora said. “Having to watch on TV and watch my teammates, it was rough. It was definitely a humbling experience.”
Vobora said he informed Rams officials in July about the failed test. “I approached Coach Spags and Billy Devaney and I said, ‘Listen, here’s the exact situation. I have nothing to hide.’ . . . They kept me around; they could’ve easily said, ‘Too bad, we don’t want to deal with it.’ But they stuck by me.”
Coach Steve Spagnuolo liked what he saw of Vobora on Wednesday. “He had some fresh legs. When he did some kickoff stuff with the special teams, he was ahead of everybody,” Spagnuolo said. “He surfaced and climbed his way to starting SAM linebacker (during training camp). He worked his butt off all offseason. He deserved being a starter.”
Notes & quotes:
*As expected, Adam Goldberg was at RG with the first-team offense in the absence of Richie Incognito, who is out with a foot injury. Alex Barron was at LT and rookie Jason Smith at RT.
*Mark Setterstrom got a few first-team reps at LG.
*WR Ruvell Martin was a full participant at practice for the first time since he injured a hamstring three weeks ago.
*DE C.J. Ah You (ankle) didn’t practice. DE James Hall (groin) and CB Justin King (groin) were limited. G/T John Greco was absent because of a family matter. He’ll practice tomorrow, Spagnuolo said.
*This week’s captains are WR Keenan Burton (offense), DE James Hall (defense) and LB Paris Lenon (special teams).
*Spagnuolo indicated that Martin and/or Brandon Gibson, acquired last week in the Will Witherspoon trade, could suit up Sunday in Detroit.
All for now…
glad to see vobora back, but why not have both martin and gibson on the roster??? martin (if healthy) is automatic start and as for gibson, he should be starting this week! we gave up witherspoon and gave gibson time to learn the play book. prove to us u can play and play well! GO RAMS! CAN’T WAIT TO WATCH THE 1ST WIN ON SUNDAY
Glad to see Setterstrom getting reps at LG- where he should have been all along. Bell is overrated, overpaid, and gone in the off-season.
I’m sick of seeing Goldberg playing at this point. I don’t question his value as a swing tackle. Every team needs a guy that can play multiple positions along the oline, even if he isn’t particularly skillful at any of them. All that said, I’d rather they start Greco at one of the guard spots right now. Or, even better start Smith at LT and try Greco at RT. Barron and Goldberg are not the future of this team. Hopefully Greco’s family situation isn’t anything too serious.
Put Gibson in now please. You can not reconstruct a fallen building (franchise) without starting to put the new foundation in place.
Let’s see if he is part of that since we thought so much of him to part with Witherspoon.
Let the kid play!
I don’t know why anyone is so dead set on getting rid of Barron. He has done a great job at LT this year, and it seems like he will ALWAYS be a better pass protector at LT than Jason Smith ever will be. Jason Smith did look good at RT before he got hurt, and since RT seems to be more of a run blocking position, Jason Smith fits in perfectly.
I would love to see what Greco can do in one of the guard spots, and I highly agree that Jacob Bell is worthless on this team. He was just a panic signing by Linehan when we lost out on Faneca.
I think it is time to see what Gibson and Martin can do for this team, especially to see if either of them as the potential to be a starter for next year. As of right now Tim Carter should NOT be a part of this team.
Wally- i will tell why i do not like Alex Barron. the man is 6′5 315 lbs, first round pick for us, he’s a 5 year veteran but somehow he still plays like hes a rookie with constant false starts, holds, and poor technique. im not saying there haven’t been bright spots with his playing, but there needs to be some improvement or he wont be around for long.
Rambles- i agree with what you said too, we need to throw Gibson in the lineup, and Martin- a guy whose 6′4 220 sounds like someone who can produce
What? Play them both and sit Carter! I so badly want to see what these two bring.