{"id":54388,"date":"2016-08-19T08:24:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-19T15:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=54388"},"modified":"2016-08-19T08:24:45","modified_gmt":"2016-08-19T15:24:45","slug":"rams-training-camp-notes-08182016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/?p=54388","title":{"rendered":"Rams Training Camp Notes: 08\/18\/2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rams\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams National Scout and Former Running Back Lawrence McCutcheon \u2013 <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Retirement Announcement Press Conference \u2013 August 18, 2016<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

(On how it feels to be retired)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s still sinking in right now. I just recently decided to do it. Still kind of coping with some emotions, but been looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what the Rams organization has meant to him)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s meant everything. Coming from a little small town in Texas, where you didn\u2019t think you would have these types of opportunities. To play before big crowds and play against the best in the country \u2013 made that transition. It\u2019s good to be able to be proud of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

(On if he thought he would see the day that the Rams came back to Los Angeles)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI did not. I\u2019m very excited, like a lot of people are. I think what you saw Saturday at the game is an indication of where this thing is heading. I think it\u2019s going to catch fire and add fuel to it and get better and better, and get more exciting as the weeks go by.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if there are any memories in particular that stand out to him over the course of his time with the Rams)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNot one in particular. I\u2019ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great friends with a lot of great personalities. Had the opportunity to play with a lot of good football players. Just getting the opportunity to form some camaraderie and friendships \u2013 that\u2019s what sticks out for me, most of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On how emotionally difficult this is for him)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve fought with it a lot. I went back and forth with it. I first started thinking about this last year. As I got closer and closer to making a decision, I started thinking, \u2018Do you want to do this? Is this really what you want to do?\u2019\u00a0 I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with my wife about it. We planned on doing some other things, and experiencing some other experiences. It was very emotional and a difficult decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he feels like he is leaving the No. 30 in good hands with RB Todd Gurley)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll miss a beat. He\u2019s a superstar in waiting. A very charismatic guy, a guy that\u2019s level-headed and he\u2019s a great, great football player.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher \u2013 Training Camp Post-Practice \u2013 August 18, 2016<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Opening Remarks)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you got the news on \u2018Clutch\u2019 (National Scout Lawrence McCutcheon). I just want to congratulate him on such a great career. You\u2019re talking about 44 years \u2013 or something like that \u2013 as a player and a scout. He was actually in the scouting department when I made the quick stop here in \u201991 and I got to see him. I\u2019m real happy he gets to retire on top and I\u2019m real happy that they\u2019re going to be recognizing him – that\u2019s cool stuff. I\u2019m proud of he and his family. Good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On McCutcheon getting emotional talking to the media today)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe should be – it was a great career. I enjoyed the last five years with him, especially working as he was helping as a scout \u2013 as a west coast scout \u2013 and then he\u2019d do special projects. It was just always neat to have him around. Like you guys now, I was an old-time Rams fan, so I was a \u2018Clutch\u2019 fan growing up. That was really neat.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Opening Remarks continued)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do about playing time \u2013 obviously (QB) Case (Keenum) is going to start, give him a couple series and see how that works. Then our plan is to get (QB) Jared (Goff) in with the 1s for a series or two and see how that goes. We\u2019ll let Jared play into the third quarter and we\u2019ll see how it goes. (QB) Sean (Mannion) will finish it off. It\u2019s important to get (Goff) in there with the starters and the 1s, so I think it\u2019ll be a good experience for him. He\u2019s been working with them out here off and on all week. I would expect (RB) Todd (Gurley) to play a little bit \u2013 I don\u2019t know how much, but he\u2019s going to play. Maybe a series, maybe two. (There are) a few guys that we\u2019re going to sit that can\u2019t play, obviously \u2013 (WR) Nelson (Spruce) and (T) Isaiah Battle. I think it just makes sense to hold (DE) Robert (Quinn) for another week (with) the travel and everything. He had a good practice today, he\u2019s going to get caught up, his sleep is a little off and you don\u2019t want to take a chance. He\u2019s in great shape, so I think we\u2019ll hold Rob until we go to Denver. Beyond that, playtime-wise, everybody into the second quarter, then we\u2019ll start subbing and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On the competition at the tight end position)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe tight ends, yeah. Obviously (TE) Lance (Kendricks), Lance is our guy, (TE) Cory (Harkey) is an established veteran, then we\u2019ve obviously got the two draft choices that are really doing a good job. \u2018Higgs\u2019 (TE Tyler Higbee) wasn\u2019t here; he\u2019s dealing with some flu-like symptoms, so I don\u2019t know whether he\u2019ll be able to go. (TE) Temarrick (Hemingway) is coming along fast. He\u2019s been slowed by injury, but had a really good couple of days on the practice field, offensively. We haven\u2019t done anything with him in special teams, we\u2019ll increase that load with him next week. (TE) Justice (Cunningham) knows our system and both \u2018Stone\u2019 (TE Jake Stoneburner) and (TE) Benson (Browne) are there competing for playing time in the preseason.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what he would like to see from Gurley on Saturday in his first exhibition game)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it is. A couple carries, maybe some protection stuff and then get him out. It\u2019s the emotions of going through and getting ready. It was different for him last week because he knew he wasn\u2019t going to play. This week it\u2019s getting ready, getting focused and then make some plays, gain some yards for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On how he would describe the wide receiver competition)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wide open. Obviously our top guys are (WR) Kenny (Britt) and (WR) Tavon (Austin) and \u2018Coop\u2019 (WR Pharoh Cooper). Once we get past that, it\u2019s wide open. It\u2019s going to be a really exciting two or three weeks to see how they develop. (WR) Michael (Thomas) is coming on, (WR) Paul (McRoberts) is coming on, we know what (WR) Bradley (Marquez) can do \u2013 especially in special teams. Unfortunately, Nelson (Spruce) is going to be down for a little bit. Some of the younger guys are going to get a chance to play late in the game. And then as we come down to those decisions, sometimes we\u2019ve kept four, sometimes we\u2019ve kept six, maybe seven. You really don\u2019t know, it really just depends on the talent level.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he puts more emphasis on preseason game production or practice production when he\u2019s making final roster decisions)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a combination \u2013 the preseason games and the practice field. But also, when you get to that point, they\u2019re going to play. If they\u2019re active, they have to contribute on special teams and they have to prepare themselves to play in the game, so we have to rely on them to be productive.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if LB\/S Mark Barron will play in Saturday\u2019s game)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think so. We\u2019re going to warm-up and see how he is. He knows what he\u2019s doing. He\u2019s got some things he\u2019s working through, so we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what kind of things he talked about with the New York Yankees at practice today)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I got to see (Yankees Manager) Joe (Girardi). A lot of the stuff was between he and I \u2013 I asked him how many guys he\u2019s got, he said 23, so I said \u2018I\u2019ve got 90.\u2019 So there\u2019s a little difference between the practice sessions and things. It was good to see them and (Yankees pitcher) C.C. (Sabathia) was cool. I watched them a lot, but I had not met them. It was nice to have them to come by and visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if it\u2019s different being in Los Angeles having people like the Yankees and other celebrities coming through practice)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWherever we\u2019ve been, we\u2019ve had people come through town and we invite them out to practice and things. People came to St. Louis while we were there and came by, out of curiosity, while they were swinging through town. But yeah, I\u2019d say there\u2019s been more celebrity presence here than anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On how much better the team is this week as opposed to last week from a preparation standpoint)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think the whole team is better than we were last week. I\u2019m hoping that reflects in our performance Saturday against the Chiefs. Keep in mind the Chiefs are adding things, we\u2019re adding things. We\u2019re probably not going to do much more from a scheme standpoint; we just want to see them play. But I think the guys will be a little bit more relaxed, having gone through the experience. Understand that 90 minutes before kickoff, there\u2019s a lot of stuff going on in their world. Some guys were on the field with pregame warm-ups and asking for help because they needed tickets and that shouldn\u2019t be the case \u2013 that\u2019s a distraction. Once you get through the first one, I think things will settle down a little bit for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On his impression of the running back depth behind Gurley)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy, we\u2019re really happy with it. Really happy with (RB) Malcolm (Brown) \u2013 you obviously can\u2019t say enough about (RB) Benny (Cunningham) \u2013 but Malcolm, (RB) Chase (Reynolds) is doing a good job. I don\u2019t know about (RB Aaron) Green this week, we\u2019ll see. (RB) Terrence (Magee) can carry the football, too. It\u2019s a good group.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if it\u2019s a different dynamic in terms of competition without RB Tre Mason)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTre\u2019s not here, so it gives the other guys more reps. It\u2019s given Malcolm a realistic chance to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On CB E.J. Gaines)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s fine. A little nervous, but he looked good.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rams RB Todd Gurley \u2013 Post Training Camp Practice \u2013 August 18, 2016<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

(On if he wishes he had played last week against Dallas)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s coach\u2019s decision not to play. We\u2019ll see what happens this week. I\u2019m always ready to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On how much he would like to play this week against Kansas City)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter to me. It\u2019s whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what he feels he needs to get out of the preseason games)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJust live reps. Obviously, practice is a lot different from the game. It goes back to the first kickoff. You do that stuff in practice, but those game reps creep up on you a lot faster. It\u2019s always good to go in there and get some reps, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On his impression of the competition level of the running backs group)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody has just been out here ready to compete every day. Everybody knows what it takes to be great, and I feel like we\u2019ve been doing a great job of just going at it with each another, and keeping the intensity high for offense and defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what his relationship with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson means to him)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cool, just for him to be around. Always feel free to contact him whenever. He\u2019s always around; great guy. I\u2019m just happy to have him as a Ram.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On the advice Dickerson has given him)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTypical advice. I can\u2019t really think of anything right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what he was doing last year during the exhibition\/preseason games, since he was rehabbing)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI really don\u2019t even remember. I don\u2019t even want to remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On what activities he participated in last year while rehabbing)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI was doing pregame warm-up, I remember that. I think that\u2019s about it. I did some stuff before the game, like a little workout.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he saw the Yankees and Joe Girardi at practice today)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI did see (New York Yankees starting pitcher) C.C. (Sabathia). I knew I wasn\u2019t tripping. I spun and I said, \u2018That\u2019s C.C.!\u2019 And everyone looked at me like I was crazy. I knew that was him. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, so I guessed that was him. But you guys tell me it was him, so I know that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he\u2019s a baseball fan)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I like baseball. I like the \u2018O\u2019s\u2019 (Baltimore Orioles)\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he\u2019s had opportunities to get more involved in the passing game)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, for sure. We\u2019ve been putting in a lot of different stuff on offense. It\u2019s been a great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On if he\u2019s been watching Hard Knocks Training Camp)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI watched the first one. I haven\u2019t watched the second one.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(On his thoughts about the first episode of Hard Knocks)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was cool, it was pretty funny. I really don\u2019t have to watch it, I kind of live it (laughter).\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Los Angeles Rams Media Release 08\/18\/2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Rams National Scout and Former Running Back Lawrence McCutcheon \u2013 Retirement Announcement Press Conference \u2013 August 18, 2016<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories-news-notes-around-professional-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=54388"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54389,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54388\/revisions\/54389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/midvalleysports.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}