Rams News

Vermeil sees a lot to like, a lot to fix with Rams
08/02 08:30 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- Two weeks into his second training camp, Dick Vermeil sees plenty in his Rams to be happy with. Then again, he's always been a glass-half-full kind of guy.
``I'm pleased with the progress the offensive line is making,'' Vermeil said Sunday. ``I'm pleased with the addition of (Ray) Agnew, and the addition of (John) Flannery and Ricky Proehl.
``I'm pleased with the progress, for the most part, that our draft choices have made. I'm extremely pleased with how far Orlando Pace has come.''
All that being said, Vermeil still took the time to watch offensive game film of the Indianapolis scrimmage three times after the team returned to Macomb on Saturday night. While his players enjoyed their first night off in Macomb, Vermeil dined with his wife, Carol, then headed for the film room.
Concerns?
``Pass protection, that's the No. 1 one thing,'' Vermeil said. ``And our pass rush, trying to get pressure without having to blitz.''
The Rams also were minus-2 in giveaway/takeaways against Indy, with three turnovers to one for the Colts.
``You lose 80 percent of the games you're in at minus-2,'' Vermeil said. ``No one keeps score in scrimmages like that, but we would have lost. And I think we ended up with more penalties.''
After limping in and out of Champaign with a long injury list, Vermeil hopes to have several players back this morning when the squad resumes two-a-days at Western Illinois University.
``We need some running backs back,'' Vermeil said.
Jerald Moore (shoulder), Robert Holcombe (hamstring) and David Thompson (thigh) saw little or no work in Champaign. Vermeil seems particularly down on Moore, who has been sidelined by a bruised shoulder.
``Guys like Jerald Moore, they start falling out of the picture,'' Vermeil said. ``They've got to get on the field. He can't afford to miss too many reps. That's been his `MO,' his so-called problem for a long time.
``If we were playing a game Sunday, I'd expect Jerald Moore to play. If he can't play with that (injury), then he can't play in the league.''
Vermeil has made similar comments in the past week about middle linebacker Eric Hill, who has been sidelined with a strained back. But Vermeil says Hill may return to the practice field today.
``He says it's better,'' Vermeil said.
Holcombe could return by Wednesday.
The tenor of training camp changes today, because the Rams are in a game week.
They open preseason play Saturday at the Trans World Dome against the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
Eighty percent of the offensive and defensive playbook has been installed. There will two-a-days today and Tuesday, but one of the Tuesday workouts is a night session at Hanson Field, home of the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Tickets are $3 for adults, with children 12 and under admitted free. The practice begins at 7 p.m. The schedule tapers off the rest of the week.
Vermeil and the rest of the staff spent part of Sunday night discussing personnel. They would like to add running back Greg Hill and ``H-back'' Chris Sanders, but Vermeil isn't sure he wants to cut anyone at this point to create roster spaces.
``I try to put those (cuts) off as long as I can,'' Vermeil said. ``Many times those decisions will start being made for themselves as the preseason games go on. Very quickly you start seeing things -- someone coming up and someone dropping off. A separation occurs.''
The first mandatory cutdown day -- to 60 players -- doesn't take place until Aug. 25, three days after the Rams' third preseason game.
For his part, defensive end Kevin Carter thinks improvement -- not the team's won-lost record in August -- should be the focus as the team embarks on exhibition play.
``We should not dwell on the bad things, but look to address them,'' Carter said. ``Use all the preseason games as tools to find out where we're weak and make ourselves stronger.
``These don't count. You can go 0-4 in the preseason, and win every game during the season. Most Super Bowl teams aren't concerned too much about the preseason. They're worried about getting better.''

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