Rams News

Rams practice proves a real scorcher

07/20/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

MACOMB, Ill. -- Ever the optimist, coach Dick Vermeil tried to sound convincing as he sucked down a can of Gatorade.
``It wasn't that bad, with the wind blowing,'' Vermeil said.
The wind helped. But it was, after all, a whopping 104 degrees during the Rams' practice Monday at Western Illinois University. Given the senior status of Vermeil's coaching staff, call it a case of ``Sweatin' With the Oldies'' for the 31 players currently in training camp.
``This is beautiful,'' said Wistrom, obviously delirious after the afternoon practice.
You could have fried an egg on Roland Williams' forehead, had it not been drenched in enough sweat to fill a kiddie pool. Williams is the only tight end in camp until the full squad reports at the end of the week. So he gets absolutely no rest.
``There's no way you can get acclimated to this,'' said Williams, from Rochester, N.Y., where the summers aren't nearly as searing.
Linebacker Lorenzo Styles and offensive guard Ryan Tucker needed IVs to restore fluids Sunday, when the temperature reached ``only'' 98 degrees.
``I haven't heard any complaining about the heat,'' Vermeil said. ``They're tough kids.''
Vermeil had particular praise for the work of the three defensive linemen in camp -- Wistrom and street free agents Glenn Young and Corey Sears. They have been working against six offensive linemen the past two days, not favorable odds during the high-tempo pass-rush drills.
During team drills, the Rams took water breaks after every four plays. The team's trainers as well as the two team doctors assigned to every practice kept a close eye on the players. As did Vermeil.
``I think you can judge when you're on the field on a day like today when you're entering a danger zone,'' Vermeil said. ``I never felt that at any time today, because of the breeze.''
Coming & going: Cornerback Omarr Morgan, a rookie free agent from Brigham Young University, was released Monday morning after only one day of training camp.
Nicknamed ``The Blanket'' at BYU because of his coverage skills, Morgan was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection in college. Vermeil said Morgan left camp because of concerns about his mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months ago.
The Rams hope to fill Morgan's roster spot with veteran cornerback Roger Jones. Jones, 29, has agreed to terms with the team but has yet to pass his physical. The Rams are holding off on signing Jones until they see results of an MRI exam.
Jones closed out the 1997 season on the Tennessee Oilers' injured reserve list because of a back injury. He has started 22 NFL games in a seven-year career, including stops with Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and the Oilers.

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