Friday, Aug. 07, 2009

Rams are eager to lock horns at intrasquad scrimmage

ST. LOUIS -- Having essentially scrimmaged every day in practice, the St. Louis Rams' official intrasquad scrimmage today shouldn't come as a shock to any of the players' systems.

The Rams will hold their scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. today at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

"Usually when you have that scrimmage, guys get a little bit nervous because it's the first time you go live,'' Rams quarterback Marc Bulger said. "Everyone's hyperventilating, but I think since we got all of that out of the way, I think we'll be able to be a little more crisp and hopefully the coaches have a little bit better chance to evaluate everyone.''

Admission to the scrimmage and parking are free.

Fans are encouraged to park in the Harmon parking lot on the north side of Harlen C. Hunter Stadium. Parking also is available at the Hyland Performance Arena parking lot and the dorm parking lots southeast of the stadium.

Players will sign autographs at the conclusion of practice.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo wants to use the scrimmage as a rehearsal for the team's preseason opener against the New York Jets on Aug. 14 at the Meadowlands.

A stickler for details, Spagnuolo even wants to work on how the team goes about the pregame warmup.

"We have to get that knocked out so everybody knows how we do it,'' Spagnuolo said. "There's a lot of little things, detail things, and then kind of let them play. Every period will not be live, there will be some situations and there will be a period just like this where it'll be a 'thud.' We've counted it out, and we think we have the right number of plays, and just keep our fingers crossed that everyone stays healthy."

"Thud'' means players can hit each other, but they don't take the ballcarrier to the ground.

Spagnuolo has called for two 30-play live tackling periods each day in training camp. He scaled back to one 30-play live tackling period Thursday in preparation for the scrimmage.

"It's fun,'' Rams tight end Randy McMichael said of the live tackling. "When we're in the huddle, the first thing you want to know is what speed we're going. And when he says live, everybody gets ready for it. It's fun to be out there. Why wait until preseason to tackle? Why not get it out the way right now, so you won't be surprised when it's time to really go get hit."

Spagnuolo said the live tackling allows coaches to better judge their players' abilities.

"How do you find out if a guy is going to tackle, in a live situation?'' Spagnuolo said. "How do you find out if a back is going to break a tackle? We've seen some of that, so it's very helpful."

The Rams will hold special teams practice during the scrimmage, but it won't be live.

The scrimmage is especially important for the Rams' fringe players who have a short window to show what they can do before roster cuts later this month.

"It's in a small setting in a new stadium, and guys have got to step up,'' Spagnuolo said. "It's like the spotlight is on them a little bit, and you see how guys react to that.''

Rams cornerback Quincy Butler, who played in one game for the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and one game for the Rams late last season, said he's approaching the scrimmage the same way he approaches every practice.

"I feel every day is a good shot for me to show what I can do,'' Butler said. "I feel every day I go out on the field is an interview.

"Every day is an interview, so I can't waste any days. I'll treat tomorrow just like I treat every other day.''

The Rams will be playing on field turf, which was installed this summer at the 6,000-seat Harlen C. Hunter Stadium.