Rams News

Rams rookie school begins session
06/02 09:46 PM

By Elizabethe Holland
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Above the sound of jets zooming over Rams Park and the noises typically associated with football practice, Lynn Stiles could be heard shouting out the most basic of lessons: ``You've got to be able to take the first step!''
Stiles, the Rams tight ends coach and vice president of football operations, was addressing fourth-round draft pick Roland Williams regarding the tight end's footwork. But the message had double meaning, and for not only Williams.
Tuesday was one of the first steps for the Rams' 21 rookie draft picks and free agents, all but one of whom were at Rams Park for the first full day of rookie school. The missing player was seventh-round pick Jason Chorak, a defensive end. He can't attend rookie school because a rule prevents a player from participating until his college class graduates. Chorak's class at Washington has yet to graduate.
While Chorak hits the books, his rookie brethren will continue to view player-development presentations, try to get a grasp on the team's systems, practice and work out. Rookie school began Monday, with a squad meeting, and will end June 10, a day before the Rams' second minicamp begins.
``It's a great situation for us to come in here and learn a little bit before they throw us to the wolves,'' offensive lineman Fred Pollack said. ``We don't have to start out from zero. . . . It's just a real good learning situation.''
Said Rams coach Dick Vermeil, ``This is a great opportunity to take them and work in a real relaxed tempo -- work on little things and all that. . . . Minicamp starts next week, so when the vets come in at the end of next week, (the rookies are) are a little further along.''
By that point, several of the rookies will be somewhat versed in how to catch NFL-quality passes. Quarterbacks Tony Banks and backup Will Furrer worked Tuesday with the receivers, running backs and Williams -- the sole rookie tight end -- to not only help the rookies, but to keep themselves in tune.
``Will and I still have a lot of things to work on,'' Banks said. ``We're still trying to get our feet kind of refined and be ready for camp, so this kind of helps. We're throwing right now anyway, so now we can throw to these guys rather than throwing to each other.''
As for Banks' take on the fresh batch of players: ``We've got a few receivers who are pretty quick, catch the ball pretty well . . . we've got a few guys who are surprises.''
While Banks said he was partial to fourth-round pick Az-Zahir Hakim -- the receiver played at San Diego State, and Banks is from San Diego -- Vermeil pointed to Williams as Tuesday's ``A'' student.
``He looked very explosive for a big, young kid,'' Vermeil said. ``Very eager. Can run. . . . He just caught your eye.''
Hamstrung: Second-year offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, who started last season on the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury, has suffered a hamstring injury. Tucker ``popped it pretty good'' while running during a physical fitness test last week, Vermeil said. Vermeil said he is annoyed that Tucker was injured while being timed running.
``We just can't afford to have someone pull a hamstring because we're trying to find out how quick he is,'' the coach said. ``He's here anyway, what difference does it make? He's here, he's ours. Lets' find out if he can play football.''

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