The fourth day of St. Louis Rams training camp was not like the previous three. For one, Sunday’s practice was closed-to-the-public. Two, it was completely dedicated to special teams.
Now, special teams get practiced every day but for the squad’s spirited coach, John Fassel, these dedicated sessions are invaluable tools for evaluation and instruction.
“To me, they’re huge,” Fassel told reporters after practice. “And we try to do drills and then at some point—like we did the last 20 minutes today—we’ve got to open the field up and let them run from the line of scrimmage all the way to the returner to see who’s fast and who can get off blocks. Then you flip it, see who can be a blocker and so we got so many guys. I think there might have been 65 guys out here for special teams practice and so we try to split up the drills where there’s short numbers in the lines and try to see everybody on tape. Because when we get into the preseason, everybody might only get a rep or two per phase.”
Right now, the only players close to securing special teams jobs are kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker, and long snapper Jake McQuaide.
Zuerlein was great for most of last season but struggled down the stretch. Fassel believes he was tired from kicking so much between college and his rookie year. The team told Zuerlein to get as much rest as possible during the offseason. The kicker obliged, but when he wasn’t lying back with his feet on the ottoman he was getting stronger. Fassel isn’t sure if his added strength will add to his range.
“I think it will maybe a little bit, but he’s so strong with just his contact that that’s where he gets his distance. Hopefully, the strength will help his ability to stay fresh in November/December.”
Hekker has a monster leg but was inconsistent during his rookie year. Inconsistency was the bad news. The good news is Hekker knows it and wants to get better. Fassel believes he’ll have a great sophomore year punting in the NFL.
“We have some goals for him. I think with him, his consistency which I think towards the end of the season he really became more consistent. We got some directional punts and he’s working right and left, so we’ve got some things that I probably rather prefer not talking about, but consistency and his holding ability, too. That’s something we work on a lot with all those guys.”
As for McQuaide, Fassel thinks he can be one of the best snappers in the league. The special teams coach likes the way he’s improved his quickness and his open-field tackling. The team also invited long snapper Jorgen Hus to camp. Hus is from Canada and must get used to the different rules in the NFL. Still, the Rams like what they’ve seen on tape of the former Regina Rams.
Rookie returner Tavon Austin has given the Rams everything they thought they’d get when they drafted him with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. What is still up in the air is how much he’ll be returning kicks come the regular season.
“I think that’s to be determined. We still have a ways to go before that, but that definitely is a factor. What’s his load on offense? And then is that too much to do both punts and kickoffs? The thing with kickoffs nowadays is half the time they’re touchbacks. So, the reps are less than they used to be as far as a returner. But, I think it’s to be determined, what’s his load on offense and he could be a punt-return, kick-return guy or maybe just one or none based on length of the season and how much work he’s getting.”
The Rams love Austin’s quickness, breakaway speed, and elusiveness. If he’s too ensconced in the offense to be part of the special teams the Rams will likely go with Nick Johnson and/or Isaiah Pead.
It’s only July but guys were already getting under each other’s skins. For example, linebackers Darren Bates and Josh Hull were exchanging barbs all through practice. Hull took exception to a big block Bates laid on him during a punt return.
“I love it. To be a special teams guy, you’ve got to be a little wild and crazy. You can’t be gentle and passive, and so I have to just make sure we’re not fighting and not playing penalty football, but you got to have a little fight as a teams guy and this is the chance for them to show it.”
Special teams are huge for an up and coming team like the Rams. In 2013, they have four games against two teams that could win the Super Bowl (San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks). If they want to take the next step under Fisher, and make the playoffs, they are going to have to beat those teams. To do that, they’ll need great play from their special teams.
