RAMS TO BEGIN ORGANIZED TEAM ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK

ST. LOUIS, MO – The St. Louis Rams will kick off their 2013 OTAs next week at the Rams Park, and the media is invited to attend select practices.

OTAs will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. and conclude at roughly 12:30 p.m. The first OTAs that are open to the media will be next Thursday and Friday (May 23 & 24). Reporters are also invited to attend OTAs on Tuesday, June 4; Thursday, June 6; Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 13.

Local television cameras will have the opportunity to film certain portions of the practices. Head Coach Jeff Fisher will be available only on the first open practice of each week, and players will be available following each open OTA.

TRANSCRIPT: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, Rookie Minicamp, 5-11-13


Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – Rookie Minicamp – May 11, 2013



(On how important the inside meetings are for the tryout players)
“Well, a lot. We’re looking at everything. They’re going to learn inside and then they have to carry it out on the field and apply it – whether it’s an assignment or it’s a technique change, or whatever it is. So that’s kind of what we’re looking for. That’s the design: install some basic coverages and basic concepts and see if they can come out and execute it.”

(On if more offensive and defensive concepts were installed today)
“We had another installation phase this morning. Then what happens is we continue with the draft choices and those that are under contract, continue to install throughout the offseason and those that we invite back will continue. Those that don’t have a pretty good understanding of a couple coverages and some routes.”

(On when he will decide which tryouts will make the roster)
“We’ll visit this afternoon and probably Monday.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, WR Tavon Austin, 5-10-13


Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – Rookie Minicamp – May 10, 2013

(On how the rookies looked during Friday’s practice)
“They were good. Basically we’ve got two groups out here. We’ve got draft choices and we’ve got our college free agents with which we’ve agreed to terms, ones that have a roster spot. Then we have almost 30 guys that have come in for tryouts. The tryout consists of a number of things. One, obviously we’re testing, timing. We’ve got them in the classroom with the rest of the guys. We’re teaching them so we can evaluate not only their athletic ability, but we can evaluate their ability to learn football and bring it back on the field. We have two sessions: this one we just completed and another one tomorrow that we’ll do in the morning. That will be the only time that we’ll be on the field this weekend. It’s our philosophy that if you do too much too soon you set people back, and we don’t want to do that.”

(On RB Zac Stacy’s absence Friday)
“No he wasn’t (in St. Louis). As a matter of fact, he’s graduating and I was really excited for him. We talked right after the draft about this weekend and it was our feeling that that was more important than what we’re doing here. We’ll get him caught up.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead, Press Conference, 4-27-13


Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead
Press Conference – April 27, 2013

(On trading up to draft RB Zac Stacy)
Snead: “I think he was one of probably the last guys on our board that we were really, really jacked about. The rest was just going to be people we liked, but not jacked about, so at that point in time we said, ‘Hey, let’s go get him.’ We had been managing that running back board a little bit, and he was a guy we’ve liked for a while. It went from deep to thin pretty quickly so we went and nabbed him.”

(On if trading up was an indication that the talent in the sixth and seventh rounds were similar to undrafted free agents)
Snead: “I think time will tell on that one. I’m sure there’s going to be some guys in the sixth and seventh that are picked and are going to make it, but for us that player was worth giving up those two picks.”

(On Stacy)
Fisher: “Zac is a very explosive runner. He averaged, I think, over six yards per carry in that conference, which is something to be said. He’s an outstanding young man. He’s smart. He’s good out of the backfield. He’s a pass protector. He’s a complete back. He’s a strong inside power runner that kind of gives us a change of pace. You can’t have too many of these guys. We’re looking forward to Isaiah (Pead) taking a step and Daryl (Richardson) continuing to improve, and Terrance (Ganaway), but this was a guy we felt like had a chance to make some plays for us.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams RB Zac Stacy


Rams RB Zac Stacy – Conference Call
April 27, 2013

(On how his day is going)
“Going good. I got some pretty good news, but I’m excited, just ready for the opportunity.”

(On if is this where he expected to go)
“I was projected late rounds, so this is about how far I was expecting in the draft. I wasn’t really stressing about it because I knew, like you guys mentioned, I was projected late round and I was just sitting around, relaxing, not trying to stress about it, watching a little bit of the draft, fellowshipping with my family. It all worked out great.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams CB Brandon McGree, Conference Call, 4-27-13


Rams CB Brandon McGee – Press Conference
April 27, 2013

(On what the weekend has been like)
”It’s been exciting. A lot of excitement, a lot of nervousness as well, but I’m thankful for the way that it played out. I ended up on a great team with a great coaching staff. I couldn’t ask for more.”

(On if he knew the Rams were interested in him)
“I did, but I didn’t know they were going to grab me.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams OL Barrett Jones, Conference Call, 4-27-13


C/G Barrett Jones – Conference Call
April 27, 2013

(On how he feels about being drafted)
“It’s an amazing day. I’m so excited. I’m just glad it’s all over. I’m glad I ended up a St. Louis Ram.”

(On the Rams’ interest in him during the pre-draft process)
“I didn’t make a pre-draft visit. I actually met (Offensive Line) Coach (Paul T.) Boudreau at Alabama. He came up there and visited some players at one of our pro days. Met him and talked to him, and went through a lot of things with him. I really liked him. I know St. Louis is a great sports town, so I’m excited to be there.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, GM Les Snead, S TJ McDonald, WR Stedman Bailey, 4-26-13


Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead
Press Conference – April 26, 2013

(On picking WR Stedman Bailey)
Snead: ”I think that going to that private workout, hearing what our quarterback said about this kid, I think ESPN or whoever said he’s got some of the best hands in the draft. That’s kind of what’s been reported. But to hear the quarterback say, ‘This guy is 5’11, whatever, but it’s like throwing to a 6-foot-3 guy. He goes up and gets the ball.’ So I think that private workout really helped solidify that pick for us.”

Fisher: “I think you have to look at it from this standpoint: We had them on the board based on their grades, not based on what school they attended. He was up there. He was high and it was a great opportunity for us. The staff has already gotten several calls from clubs that were a little disappointed that were right behind us – that’s usually the case. He’s a great young man and is very, very talented. Both of them (Bailey and WR Tavon Austin) had outstanding workouts. What we’ve done now is we’ve filled a couple of spots out there. We’re going to lobby with the league to see if we can play with more than one ball. We’re going to need more than one ball.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, GM Les Snead, WR Tavon Austin, LB Alec Ogletree, 4-26-13


Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, General Manager Les Snead,
WR Tavon Austin, and LB Alec Ogletree
Press Conference – April 26, 2013

(Opening statement)
Jeff Fisher: “Good afternoon everyone, to our friends in the media and to all of our Ram employees who are here. Day Two of the draft is always exciting because we get to go upstairs and pick more players and add to our success in the draft. But secondly, and probably most importantly, it’s an opportunity for you to meet the culmination of a lot of hard work and of course, what took place last night in our two No. 1 draft choices—to my far left, Alec Ogletree, and to my immediate left, Tavon Austin. Welcome them here for us. What we’re going to do is go right to questions and see if anyone has any questions for these new Rams.”

(On what the last 24 hours have been like)
Tavon Austin: “These last 24 hours have been crazy. It’s been a dream come true since I was a kid. I’m thankful that the whole Rams staff made the jump and came and got me. I’m pretty much happy that I’m here now and ready to get to work.”