Rams News

Wistrom makes Rams' debut in minicamp
04/24/98 02:20:43 PM
By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Grant Wistrom's first day with the St. Louis Rams was a bit of a humbling experience.
The sixth pick of last weekend's draft, a defensive end from Nebraska, definitely noticed the difference between college and the pros on the first day of the team's minicamp.
``Everybody was an All-American in college and they were the best players on their team,'' Wistrom said after a two-hour morning workout.
``You've got 320-pounders out there who can run under 5 flat in the 40 and bench press a Buick.''
Wistrom and other rookies and free agents got a crash course on the Rams' playbook Thursday night, then hit the field.
``It's coming at you a mile a minute and it's tough,'' Wistrom said. ``I'm trying to pick up on things as quick as I can. ``Probably for the (veterans) it wasn't much, but for somebody who's all new to it, it was pretty intense.''
Not intense enough for coach Dick Vermeil. The practice was in helmets and shorts, which meant very light contact. Wistrom worked against last year's No. 1 overall pick, Orlando Pace, but only at half-speed.
``Just watching him, he has that great, explosive quickness,'' Vermeil said. ``But when you're not in pads, you can't explode into somebody. ``We're telling him not to explode into the play and you're contradicting what you want out of a player, but without pads you don't have a choice.''
Vermeil said the same thing about second-round pick Robert Holcombe, a running back from Illinois.
``Robert is the kind of back who will never really startle you until it's live,'' Vermeil said. ``He's a stutter-step guy and you can't turn him loose in this kind of situation.''
Wistrom, by far, was not the only one who was a little confused. All the rookies and free agents are in the same boat.
``It was so intense, it was easy to make a mistake,'' said sixth-round pick Glenn Rountree, a 308-pound offensive lineman from Clemson. ``Right now it's mostly physical -- I mean mental.''
Fourth-round pick Az Hakim, a wide receiver from San Diego State, said it was just like starting all over again ``just like a little, young pup.''
``I just want to get my feet wet,'' Hakim said. ``I feel comfortable and it's good to be back out there.''
Hakim, who was arrested along with two teammates on gang rape charges last summer but never charged, is eager to distance himself from that problem and show he was unfairly implicated. The alleged rape occurred at his house, but he said he was unaware.
``I just want everybody to get to know me in St. Louis,'' Hakim said.
``I'm looking forward to doing plenty of interviews with all you guys.''
The only no-show at the minicamp was no surprise. Cornerback Ryan McNeil, who's unhappy with the team slapping the franchise player designation on him, said he won't report until he signs a longterm contract.
Defensive tackle Joe Phillips, 35, who started 15 games last year for Kansas City, was among the newcomers. Phillips, who agreed to terms earlier this week, had 24 tackles and a half-sack.

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