Rams News Recap: Sept. 1

[RamBill]

Rams Notebook: Team Announces Practice Squad, but No Sam –PD
Like most teams in the NFL, the Rams stuck with the players they knew when it came time to stock their practice squad. But the team elected not to bring back defensive end Michael Sam, a seventh-round draft pick from the University of Missouri.

Case Keenum Joins Rams’ Quarterback Carousel –PD
In effect, the Rams gave quarterback Case Keenum a chance to play 10½ months ago in Houston when they knocked starter Matt Schaub out of the game because of an ankle injury.

Burwell: Fear of Distraction Might Slow Sam’s Search for a New NFL Home
From the moment he embarked on his National Football League journey, the one thing Michael Sam desperately wanted to be was a football player. But today, just two days from the start of the NFL regular season, the former Mizzou star is without a job.

Youth Remains Abundant on Rams Roster –Simmons
As has been the case for the past couple of seasons, the Rams will enter 2014 with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. But don’t let that moniker fool you — this team also has a wealth of experience to draw upon for the upcoming season.

Rams Roster Breakdown: Defense –Wagoner
The St. Louis Rams have their initial 53-man roster in place, and they are now in full preparation mode for Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

Keenum a Solid Choice For Patient Rams –Wagoner
It took all of about an hour for the rumors and speculation to run rampant after St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford’s season-ending knee injury became official on Aug. 24.

Updated: Rams Claim QB Keenum Off Waivers from Houston –PD
The Rams have claimed quarterback Case Keenum off waivers from the Houston Texans.

Case Keenum Quickly Snatched up by the Rams, Proving his Doubters Wrong Again
One day after getting released by the Houston Texans in favor of Bill Belichick reject Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum’s found a new NFL team. The quarterback-needy St. Louis Rams picked up the former University of Houston record breaker off waivers on Monday.

Rams Announce Practice Squad

Rams Roster Breakdown: Offense –Wagoner
The St. Louis Rams have their initial 53-man roster in place and they are now in full preparation mode for Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

A Look at the Rams’ Roster Makeup –Wagoner
St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher was very open about the possibility of the 2014 roster taking on a different look than it has in his first two years in St. Louis.

Morning Ram-blings: Sam Awaits Next Move –Wagoner
Former St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam cleared waivers Sunday and is now free to sign with any team or its practice squad.

Johnny Hekker One-on-One with Chris Long –Video

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: Telling QB stats
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11197/morning-ram-blings-telling-qb-stats

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Good morning, all. Hope everyone enjoyed a nice extended weekend. Let's start the day with something a little different.

On Monday, the good people of ESPN Stats & Information offered up a little deeper look at all 32 of the league's starting quarterbacks.

There's plenty to digest there but obviously the pertinent part for St. Louis Rams fans is what it had to say about starter Shaun Hill. Here's what they had to say:

Shaun Hill is 13-13 with a 50.1 Total QBR (50 is average) in his career as a starting quarterback. Sam Bradford is 18-30 in 48 career starts and has never posted a Total QBR over 50.3 in a season.

That isn't to say that Hill is an upgrade to Bradford, especially considering that Hill has a smaller sample size. But it might also provide a little bit of hope for those who believe the Rams can be completely written off without Bradford.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the Ram-blings, we began the day with an early look at the way the team's practice squad was shaping up. ... Next, we looked at the team's Week 1 roster make up over the past three years. ... From there, we broke down the initial 53-man roster with a look at the offense first and the defense and specialists later. ... Things picked up in the late afternoon when the news came of the Rams' 10 man practice squad and the addition of quarterback Case Keenum from waivers. ... Finally, we discussed the ways in which Keenum's addition makes sense.

Elsewhere:

At 101sports.com, Randy Karraker believes the Rams have enough talent to make the postseason if things fall into place.

At stltoday.com, columnist Bernie Miklasz lays out the Rams' path to a winning season in 2014.

Jim Thomas writes that the Rams completed their practice squad.

Peter King's weekly Monday Morning Quarterback offers some tidbits on the Rams, specifically former defensive end Michael Sam.

The Associated Press story on the Rams' practice squad.