By Bill Coats
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The most improved players this spring on offense, in coach Scott Linehan’s estimation, might come as a surprise to some: tight end Joe Klopfenstein and running back Antonio Pittman.
“Both had to adjust to really tough roles last year,” Linehan said. “Antonio coming off being released by the team that drafted him and then coming in here and not knowing the offense. And then Joe, he started as a rookie, and then got moved out of a starting spot. It really wasn’t anything he did. We just picked up a guy (Randy McMichael) that we felt that we were going to play in front of him. It was a tough situation. But Joe has had a great offseason.”
***
With running back Darren McFadden now under contract with the Raiders (six years, $60 million), three of the top four picks in April’s draft are in their respective folds. The exception is Rams defensive end Chris Long, the No. 2 overall selection. Does this portend a training camp holdout?
Long has made it very clear that he intends to be in Mequon, Wis., on July 24, when the players are to report to Concordia University for the start of camp. He appears sincere in that vow. “I was never into that holdout business,” he said recently. “That’s real important to me . . . as a teammate more than anything.” Asked whether there was any doubt that he’d be there, Long said firmly, “No.”
Naturally, Linehan said, “I’d like to have him in camp.” Still, he realizes that there is no guarantee.
“I know realistically that sometimes that doesn’t always happen,” Linehan said. “I’ve been through guys that have signed the day before camp, and I’ve been through guys that have gone a week (of camp before signing), and unfortunately I’ve been through a season where our first-round pick held out half a season.
“I wouldn’t anticipate that. But that’s the business side. . . . I believe a deal will get done. I don’t think there will be an issue when we head to Wisconsin.”
In the meantime, Long has showed steady improvement during the OTAs that followed minicamp. “He’s really picked it up,” Linehan said. “We have high volume on defense, and this is a tough test for any rookie to come in and pick it up. But he’s done a great job.
“The first two weeks there were some analysis issues, with trying to figure out what in the heck’s going on, adjusting from a 3-4 (defense at Virginia), things like that. But these last three practices . . . you’ve really seen the light come on. He’s playing at a very high level. The kid’s a special person and a special player, and he’s really going to be a great addition to what we’re doing on defense.”
***
Drew Bennett is now the No. 2 wide receiver behind Torry Holt, a role that Isaac Bruce had filled for several seasons. Bruce signed a free-agent deal with the 49ers earlier this year.
“It’s very difficult to replace a guy like Isaac Bruce. Hopefully I can just play my own game and do my own things,” said Bennett, whose locker was next to Bruce’s in the locker room at Rams Park. “We got along great, and I learned a lot from him. I definitely appreciate the time I had with him. It was nice to play with someone who’s a future Hall of Famer like that. It’ll be interesting to see him on the other side of the field this year.”
***
New offensive coordinator Al Saunders had made a positive impression on center Brett Romberg. “Coach Saunders is a motivational speaker if I’ve ever seen one,” Romberg said. “He makes you come in and work hard. While you’re here, those five hours or six hours or 10 hours, however long you’re here, you’re here to work and get your job done. While you’re here, it’s 100 percent totally focused on football.”
All for now. . .
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The most improved players this spring on offense, in coach Scott Linehan’s estimation, might come as a surprise to some: tight end Joe Klopfenstein and running back Antonio Pittman.
“Both had to adjust to really tough roles last year,” Linehan said. “Antonio coming off being released by the team that drafted him and then coming in here and not knowing the offense. And then Joe, he started as a rookie, and then got moved out of a starting spot. It really wasn’t anything he did. We just picked up a guy (Randy McMichael) that we felt that we were going to play in front of him. It was a tough situation. But Joe has had a great offseason.”
***
With running back Darren McFadden now under contract with the Raiders (six years, $60 million), three of the top four picks in April’s draft are in their respective folds. The exception is Rams defensive end Chris Long, the No. 2 overall selection. Does this portend a training camp holdout?
Long has made it very clear that he intends to be in Mequon, Wis., on July 24, when the players are to report to Concordia University for the start of camp. He appears sincere in that vow. “I was never into that holdout business,” he said recently. “That’s real important to me . . . as a teammate more than anything.” Asked whether there was any doubt that he’d be there, Long said firmly, “No.”
Naturally, Linehan said, “I’d like to have him in camp.” Still, he realizes that there is no guarantee.
“I know realistically that sometimes that doesn’t always happen,” Linehan said. “I’ve been through guys that have signed the day before camp, and I’ve been through guys that have gone a week (of camp before signing), and unfortunately I’ve been through a season where our first-round pick held out half a season.
“I wouldn’t anticipate that. But that’s the business side. . . . I believe a deal will get done. I don’t think there will be an issue when we head to Wisconsin.”
In the meantime, Long has showed steady improvement during the OTAs that followed minicamp. “He’s really picked it up,” Linehan said. “We have high volume on defense, and this is a tough test for any rookie to come in and pick it up. But he’s done a great job.
“The first two weeks there were some analysis issues, with trying to figure out what in the heck’s going on, adjusting from a 3-4 (defense at Virginia), things like that. But these last three practices . . . you’ve really seen the light come on. He’s playing at a very high level. The kid’s a special person and a special player, and he’s really going to be a great addition to what we’re doing on defense.”
***
Drew Bennett is now the No. 2 wide receiver behind Torry Holt, a role that Isaac Bruce had filled for several seasons. Bruce signed a free-agent deal with the 49ers earlier this year.
“It’s very difficult to replace a guy like Isaac Bruce. Hopefully I can just play my own game and do my own things,” said Bennett, whose locker was next to Bruce’s in the locker room at Rams Park. “We got along great, and I learned a lot from him. I definitely appreciate the time I had with him. It was nice to play with someone who’s a future Hall of Famer like that. It’ll be interesting to see him on the other side of the field this year.”
***
New offensive coordinator Al Saunders had made a positive impression on center Brett Romberg. “Coach Saunders is a motivational speaker if I’ve ever seen one,” Romberg said. “He makes you come in and work hard. While you’re here, those five hours or six hours or 10 hours, however long you’re here, you’re here to work and get your job done. While you’re here, it’s 100 percent totally focused on football.”
All for now. . .