The week following the National Football League draft, the St. Louis Rams held their mini-camp out at Rams Park in Earth City.
All the rookies, street free agents and veterans were in attendance. This was the second camp so far for the Rams. They are allowed to have an extra camp because of the new coaching staff.
Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo was pleased with the camp. It was his first full mini camp as a head coach. So far, Spagnuolo is saying all the right things. For example, Spagnuolo is well aware of the perceived attitude of star running back Steven Jackson. He shared a nugget that Steven is really involved in what is going on, even when he is not in the play being called.
That’s very refreshing to hear. Steven Jackson is without a doubt the face of the franchise. And it appears that his new head coach loves the new attitude. But, this is only mini-camp. And we are still in the month of May. Thats why I’m going to take the wait and see approach.
In years past, I’ve been guilty of mini-camp fraud. Yes, that’s right, mini-camp fraud. It’s very easy to get caught up in it. I remember during the mini camps in 2004 when former Rams quarterback Chris Chandler was making every throw on the money. He threw perfect spirals all over the field while Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Marshall Faulk ran underneath them.
And what transpired after that? Quarterback controversy. For every throw that Chris Chandler made, Marc Bulger was not even close. It just never dawned on me at the time of this exhibition that it’s only May. And later on that season when called upon to play, Chris Chandler threw a record six interceptions that led then-coach Mike Martz to say, “It is tragic that, that position (when played by Chandler) holds this team hostage. Ouch!!!
So, I have made a commitment to myself not to get too excited about practice. I mean we are talking about practice. Before you get the impression that I’m dumping on the male sheep, keep this in mind. How do you get good in practice when you practice against bad people? And since the Rams have had a nauseating record of 5-27 the past two seasons, it makes it a little hard to get pumped up over a great practice.
No matter what coach Spagnuolo says about his team and the way they practice, we don’t have a clue in the world about the Rams until we see them hit someone on the other side of the field.
The next mini-camp will be held the first weekend in June, and the Rams will have a couple of new additions. Tim Carter, who was cut by the Houston Texans had one of his better seasons as a wideout when employed by the New Giants in 2004. He has had some problems staying healthy over the past few seasons so maybe he can help bloster the wide receiver core.
The Rams traded running back Brian Leonard to the Cincinnati Bengals for defensive tackle Orien Harris. Brian Leonard never lived up to his potential as a backup to Steven Jackson. He had surgery on both shoulders last season and have not been heard from since.
The addition of Orien Harris gives the Rams another big body to play up the middle. It also will provide some healthy competition on the defensive line. That is one thing that I can get a little excited about this team. Steve Spagnuolo knows what type of defensive lineman it takes to execute his scheme. It was a scheme that turned the New York Giants into champions, and later turned Steve Spagnuolo into a head coach.
Any questions or comments email me at Livnlegend@hotmail.com.