Rams News


Rams Class of '98 "Big Motor" Playmakers

 

by Randy Karraker

Gamers. One-hundred percenters. Big-motor guys. Intense. Competitors.

All these words apply to the athlete who never gives up in his desire to win ... and plays every down like it might be his last. It's the kind of player Rams coach Dick Vermeil and personnel chief Charlie Armey set out to find in the NFL draft on April 18-19, and by all accounts they selected that type of player with each of their selections.

"They are hard workers, I can verify that. I've seen them play. I've presented them on national television. They are that, and they will be here," Vermeil says.

Armey calls them "Dick Vermeil-type players," highly self-motivated and competitive. Vermeil himself can't wait to see Grant Wistrom, Robert Holcombe and the rest of his 1998 draft class in action.

The players knew what they were in for during the just- completed minicamp, but Wistrom knew when he visited Rams Park before the draft what he was in for.

"Oh, definitely. If you want to be a St. Louis Ram, you can't be afraid of hard work," he says. "I heard that even before I talked to Coach Vermeil. I knew that Coach Vermeil has some of the hardest training camps in the NFL, and I'm not afraid of a little hard work. I'm going to earn my paycheck just like everyone else. I'll go out there and give it my all every day. Make myself a better player, and the Rams a better team."

Wistrom is a native of Webb City, Mo., and says his work ethic was indoctrinated throughout his childhood. In fact, it's not just football that Wistrom is devoted to. He was a student with a 3.7 grade point average at Nebraska who didn't bulk up for football because he had to concern himself with his grades. Needless to say, he dives into EVERYTHING he does.

"If you're there, you might as well give it 110 percent," he says. "Who am I? I'm nobody compared to most of the guys on the Rams. They've been playing in the league for 5-10 years. They've been busting their butts every day. I'm nobody compared to them, so if they can go out there and work hard, I can do the same thing."

While Holcombe has a similar attitude, he's not overwhelmed. Being in the NFL "is something I've looked forward to. I knew that if God blessed and I lived long enough, the way things were looking it was going to be a reality for me. I feel blessed to be in this position."

Playing in the Big Ten gave Holcombe an indication of what was to come. Of course, he played against Charles Woodson and Michigan last season and has seen the likes of Orlando Pace and Tony Banks in seasons past.

"I didn't get to play against Tony in school, but I look forward to being able to work with him here."

Like Wistrom, Holcombe is regarded as a relentless worker

"That's how I've always been. I've always felt like, in order to be better, you have to work harder. That's how I've looked at it from day one, from the day I started playing football. That's how I've always approached the game, and that hasn't changed."

Holcombe's coach at Illinois, Ron Turner, saw that work ethic up close and personal in their year together with the Illini.

"I think the people in St. Louis are going to love Robert," Turner says. "The coaches, the players, everybody associated with the organization and fans are going to love him. He's as good a person as I've been around, on and off the football field."

Having coached in the NFL, Turner sees a quality NFL back in Holcombe.

"I think he'll be a tremendous player. He's got great running ability, good instincts, can catch the ball, run in traffic, has better speed than many people give him credit for, can block. He can really do all of it, and he's a really unselfish player. He was by far the hardest-working player we had on our team."

And the best.

"Not even close," says Turner. "He has a chance to set the example for the other people. He's the sort who will do that wherever he is."

As Wistrom makes the transition from the classroom to the weight room, trying to keep his weight in the 270-275 pound range, he anticipates taking that relentless attitude with him. Will he become a workout warrior?

"I love to work out. I'm sure that I'll be able to pick up a lot from several of the older guys, what makes them the players that they are. I like to work out. I live in the gym during the off-season and a lot during the season, too. It's part of the game, and if you want to be a great player, you have to love to work out."

While weight is important for a defensive end, Wistrom notes that strength is the key.

"At any position on the field, if there's dead weight you're carrying around, it's not going to help you that much. For the most part, you'd rather be strong and fast than just plain big."

Despite his high draft position and the esteem with which he was held on a strong Nebraska team, Wistrom still realizes that he'll have to step it up a notch in the NFL.

"It's a whole different ball game. It's an adjustment, and hopefully I'll catch on pretty quick. When you don't know what's going on, you tend to play a little passively, so hopefully I'll learn the defense quickly and be able to play more aggressive out there."

Wistrom's team won a co-national championship in 1997. Holcombe's team went 0-11.

But both will try to set an example here.

"That's something I try to do," Holcombe says. "I try to set an example through my work ethic. That's me. Some people try to do it differently, but that's just my way of going out and producing and trying to help the team."

Both players were accepted with open arms by their new teammates. Wistrom got a chance to meet some players he watched growing up.

"When you're out there stretching, and I walk in the huddle and I'm standing next to Joe Phillips, it's kind of a neat thing," Wistrom said. "I've been watching the guy play for years, and he's a great player. I'm excited to be a part of this."

"The guys here have been great," Holcombe says. "They welcomed us here, and when we need help they're here for us. The whole thing is to try to make this team better. If guys come in that can get that accomplished, then it's going to be good for everybody."

Last year, the Rams suffered as first-round draft choice Pace held out for most of the preseason before agreeing to a contract. This year, both Wistrom and Holcombe are represented by former Chief Tom Condon of Kansas City.

"I don't think it's ever easy," says Vermeil. "but I know it'll get done because (Condon and his players) are solid people, and that's their track record."

Wistrom himself doesn't know if the negotiation process will be quick.

"I hope it is," he says, "but I don't know. I don't know when it starts, when it finishes, whatever. I'm glad to be in St. Louis. I'll attend both minicamps. I'll be in St. Louis on June 1, which is the earliest we can move into town and start working out with the team. So I'm going to be here to start picking things up as quickly as I can."

And hopefully, he'll be on hand for the first day of camp.

"Hopefully, negotiations will go as smoothly as possible."

As the top two draft choices grabbed most of the headlines, perhaps the most intriguing pick was third-rounder Leonard Little of Tennessee. He was projected by many as a first-round talent, but dropped to the third because of his weight: 237 pounds. The pass rusher will line up at standup linebacker and defensive end for the Rams ... and they hope to have him play at about 250 pounds.

On the second day of the draft, the Rams took small, but speedy wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim with the first of their two fourth-rounders. Hakim is regarded as one of the best return men in the draft, and will push Eddie Kennison and Ricky Proehl for the wideout spot opposite Isaac Bruce.

Syracuse tight end Roland Williams also arrived in round four. The tall target is regarded as an excellent blocker and would see time in two tight-end sets. Fifth-round running back Raymond Priester of Clemson dropped so far because of a relatively slow 40-yard dash time, but Vermeil says that Priester had more yards after being hit than any other running back in the country.

Sixth-round guard Glenn Rountree of Clemson and seventh-round linebacker Jason Chorak of Washington both had excellent junior years in college but regressed in their senior seasons. The Rams are hoping both bad seasons were aberrations and the players turn into NFL starters.





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