Rams head coach Scott Linehan joined Bernie Miklasz and Randy Karraker on The Roll Home on Team 1380 Thursday afternoon.
Scott said the plan was to get 15 solid days (including these 12 OTAs and 3 days of mini-camp) to establish the system with the players, and he feels good with what they have accomplished so far.
"I feel better about where we are and I feel great about the staff and new players we added to our team," he said.
Scott said he likes the plan they have leading up to the season. They have a "short break here and then a challenging camp in Wisconsin." There is a lot of stuff that has to be done between now and the season, and Scott likes the team and is really hungry and real excited.
Linehan said he is really happy with the mixture of veteran leaders and rookies. The draft picks come in with new energy and they are all about keeping their mouth shut and learning. Now they have to turn that chemistry they have been building into wins on the field.
Orlando Pace has had some troubles with injuries the past two years, but he has worked very hard and is in very good shape. He said the strength is coming back to Orlando's shoulder. The good thing for Pace is that his injury occured so early in the season and he was able to have so much recovery time since his surgery. He checked out fine last week when the players took physicals.
Linehan said that there is a good likelihood of making another signing in the next couple weeks or right before training camp. The roster gets put together throughout the calendar year, and a lot of teams are holding on to their players right now, but some players will become available.
"There's a good chance that one or two things happen before we go to Wisconsin," he said.
Linehan said he likes creating competition at all positions and he would like to add someone on the offensive line and in the secondary in particular. He said maybe they can pick-up a true fullback as well.
Brian Leonard is going to play multiple positions for the Rams including fullback, tailback, 3rd down back, and special teams.
Linehan said that Tye Hill is playing like the type of corner that they thought he would be. He has so much more confidence and looks so much more natural. Victor Adeyanju has stepped up at defensive end, and he is our best run stopper. He has had a great camp so far, and hopefully he can translate that to the season.
Scott said the most improved player added in the past couple years is probably Joe Klopfenstein because of the good competition at tight end, and he is reacting to the coaching he is getting. Anthony Becht is also helping Joe by sharing his experience.
Linehan is "real anxious to see the guys compete in August to make the team."
With the addition of a veteran tight end, back-up quarterback, the young depth at running back, and the wide receivers drafted, there could be some roster shake ups.
Scott said that they have turned over most of the players on the defense side in three years, and this is the year for them.
"The Rams have 8-9 kids at wide receiver who, based on how they perform in preseason can make or break their spot on the roster," Scott said.
Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton have gotten the most snaps out of any of the rookies during the OTAs, and Avery has consistently practiced with the first team offense. Linehan said he is really excited about having those 2 receivers in the fold. Linehan has not seen someone run as fast as Avery in a long time, and he said he is a special kid.
Chris Long is "exactly what we were looking for, and he is going to give us the pressure on the quarterback we need. You can't put the value to what he brings to the team till the season starts. Long brings character and personality to the locker room, and we really believe he is going to be a great player for us."
Josh Brown kicked a 65 yard FG in practice today, and Scott is pretty pumped up about him.
Scott will meet with Billy Devaney and Jay Zygmunt next week to see if they need to tweak the roster, and they will plan meetings for training camp. Linhean will then head back to the northwest for a few weeks.
Barry Sims is coming in as an evaluation, but he would have a chance for a starting spot if he made the roster.
Scott said the plan was to get 15 solid days (including these 12 OTAs and 3 days of mini-camp) to establish the system with the players, and he feels good with what they have accomplished so far.
"I feel better about where we are and I feel great about the staff and new players we added to our team," he said.
Scott said he likes the plan they have leading up to the season. They have a "short break here and then a challenging camp in Wisconsin." There is a lot of stuff that has to be done between now and the season, and Scott likes the team and is really hungry and real excited.
Linehan said he is really happy with the mixture of veteran leaders and rookies. The draft picks come in with new energy and they are all about keeping their mouth shut and learning. Now they have to turn that chemistry they have been building into wins on the field.
Orlando Pace has had some troubles with injuries the past two years, but he has worked very hard and is in very good shape. He said the strength is coming back to Orlando's shoulder. The good thing for Pace is that his injury occured so early in the season and he was able to have so much recovery time since his surgery. He checked out fine last week when the players took physicals.
Linehan said that there is a good likelihood of making another signing in the next couple weeks or right before training camp. The roster gets put together throughout the calendar year, and a lot of teams are holding on to their players right now, but some players will become available.
"There's a good chance that one or two things happen before we go to Wisconsin," he said.
Linehan said he likes creating competition at all positions and he would like to add someone on the offensive line and in the secondary in particular. He said maybe they can pick-up a true fullback as well.
Brian Leonard is going to play multiple positions for the Rams including fullback, tailback, 3rd down back, and special teams.
Linehan said that Tye Hill is playing like the type of corner that they thought he would be. He has so much more confidence and looks so much more natural. Victor Adeyanju has stepped up at defensive end, and he is our best run stopper. He has had a great camp so far, and hopefully he can translate that to the season.
Scott said the most improved player added in the past couple years is probably Joe Klopfenstein because of the good competition at tight end, and he is reacting to the coaching he is getting. Anthony Becht is also helping Joe by sharing his experience.
Linehan is "real anxious to see the guys compete in August to make the team."
With the addition of a veteran tight end, back-up quarterback, the young depth at running back, and the wide receivers drafted, there could be some roster shake ups.
Scott said that they have turned over most of the players on the defense side in three years, and this is the year for them.
"The Rams have 8-9 kids at wide receiver who, based on how they perform in preseason can make or break their spot on the roster," Scott said.
Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton have gotten the most snaps out of any of the rookies during the OTAs, and Avery has consistently practiced with the first team offense. Linehan said he is really excited about having those 2 receivers in the fold. Linehan has not seen someone run as fast as Avery in a long time, and he said he is a special kid.
Chris Long is "exactly what we were looking for, and he is going to give us the pressure on the quarterback we need. You can't put the value to what he brings to the team till the season starts. Long brings character and personality to the locker room, and we really believe he is going to be a great player for us."
Josh Brown kicked a 65 yard FG in practice today, and Scott is pretty pumped up about him.
Scott will meet with Billy Devaney and Jay Zygmunt next week to see if they need to tweak the roster, and they will plan meetings for training camp. Linhean will then head back to the northwest for a few weeks.
Barry Sims is coming in as an evaluation, but he would have a chance for a starting spot if he made the roster.