Business As Usual As St. Louis Rams Prepare for First Scrimmage

The St. Louis Rams had a largely uneventful practice Thursday morning at Rams Park, but that doesn't mean there weren't a few things to take notice of.

With morning temperatures already climbing close to 90 degrees, some players struggled with dropped balls and false starts. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo didn't really address the dropped passes, but did say that the false starts concern him.

"They have to be eliminated," Spagnuolo said. "When you go backwards, this game's tough enough on offense."

With the first live scrimmage scheduled for Friday night at Lindenwood University, the Rams had just one "period" of live tackling run throughs Thursday morning. The Rams were in helmet and shoulder pads shells Thursday afternoon, and will be in shells again for Friday morning's short practice.

Spagnuolo said the main focus of the scrimmage will be situations.

"There will be some movement of the ball, where we'll play it as it goes," Spagnuolo explained, adding that he wants to get the pregame warmup routine down as well. "There are a lot of little detail things, and then just kind of let them play."

Friday's scrimmage will be the first time for some less-established players to make their mark in a game situation.

"In some regards, when you get out in that kind of platform, guys gotta step up," Spagnuolo said. "It's like the spotlight's on them a little bit. You see how guys react to that."

Spagnuolo added that live tackling during practice has helped evaluate his team, and it's something the players appreciate.

"It's allowing us to gel as a team more and more, in a different type of way," said third-year cornerback Jonathan Wade. "I think we all enjoy it as a team."

During the lone period of live tackling Thursday morning, second-year wideout Donnie Avery shook off Justin King to spring downfield following a catch on an out-route.

While Avery was one of the players called for a false start, and the quarterbacks had dropped passes from Laurent Robinson, Tim Carter and Steven Jackson, Spagnuolo said he's pleased with the receiving corps.

"I won't say anybody's separating themselves from the pack, but as a group, they've all gotten better," Spagnuolo said. "We're asking some of those guys to be returners who haven't been in awhile. They've approached that the right way."

Robinson made up for his drop later by hauling in ball on a perfect deep pass from Marc Bulger.

Avery, Ronald Curry, Derek Stanley and Keenan Burton all took time fielding punts Thursday morning. One player who has not seen any return time is Wade. The Tennessee alum has return experience, and would like to do it again.

"I'm definitely a defensive back who wants the ball," Wade said. "You do want the ball in your hands as a defensive player. You've got to."

Bulger had a special guest at practice. His quarterbacks coach from West Virginia University, Dan Simrell, was in attendance along with his wife Dodo. Simrell said Bulger did a lot of things well at WVU, and has improved on those things in his nine professional years.

The now retired coach drove over from his home in Indiana to watch, and said Bulger still has a quick release and good footwork to go along with his accuracy.

Bulger's understudy, free-agent acquisition Kyle Boller, has done nothing but impress Spagnuolo and Rams quarterbacks coach Richard Curl.

"He's a quality guy," Spagnuolo said of Boller. "He picks up everything real well, and he's got a command and a presence. He's been a starter in the league, so it helps to have a guy like that."

Members of the offensive line signed autographs following the morning session. One of those guys tasked with protecting the quarterbacks — first-round draft choice Jason Smith — is steadily improving despite being beaten a few times Thursday morning on speed rushes from ends Leonard Little and Victor Adeyanju.

"(Smith) is constantly studying, reading his playbook," Spagnuolo said. "That's a good sign. It's a mountain to climb when you're a rookie, especially at that position. I don't really have a full assessment of where he is, except that he's a great worker."

Aug. 6 Notebook

Former Rams Mike Jones and D'Marco Farr were also in attendance. Farr now co-hosts a radio show in St. Louis and was watching his first morning practice. Jones is now the head football coach at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis. He was donning his Hazelwood East Class Five state championship ring, and was trying to come up with new team practice drills.

Rookie middle linebacker James Laurinaitis worked out with the first-team defense for most of Thursday's practice.

Running back Samkon Gado got hit in the eye, and was out for a few plays, but did return. Fullback Mike Karney is still nursing an ankle injury, and rode the bike for most of the morning.

"Mike is rehabbing, and it's a day-to-day thing," Spagnuolo said. "Other than that, it's just bumps and bruises. So I think we're OK."

The Rams scrimmage is scheduled to begin at 6:30 Friday evening at Lindenwood University in St. Charles.