When Opportunity Knocks

     This past week has really challenged me to be patient and just focus on making the most out of my reps on the 3rd team.  Using my day off on Tuesday to relax and clear my mind, I came into Wednesday's practice with a good patient attitude and renewed focus.  Well as the saying goes, you have to stay ready because you never know when your opportunity will come.  Suddenly after warm up I was thrown into the mix running with both the 2's and the 3's.  Talk about a swing of reps, phew that was a little harder!  I was prepared and knew what to do and tried the make the most out of the opportunity.  I had a good practice with some good tackles and an interception, but far from perfect.  This little opportunity gives me more chances to work on my technique and show streaks of what I have.  I was able to do this the rest of the week and really get into a flow of practicing, film feedback, and correction.

     The week of practice ended with #RamsFanFest in the Edward Jones Dome.  This was a great way to get prepared for the coming game week and also get to get in front of the fans.  It was my first time to be in the stadium and walking out into the lights suited up in Rams gear was definitely a little eye opening.  It makes you take a step back and realize how blessed and amazing it is to be here with this opportunity.  These moments are few and far between, because when it comes down to it you can't sit back and enjoy the view... you have to stay focused on the task at hand and keep working.  It's back to business and the interview never ends.  We had a great practice which ended with a rookie scrimmage.  We started with special teams and whether I was going as a backup role or as a scout team, I try and use every opportunity to prove myself.  There is still a lot of techniques and moves, to block and defeat blocks, that I must learn to become an elite special teamer.  This is important because the one obvious difference between college and the NFL has to be the level of preciseness.  I continue to keep that focus as I practice.  Overall I had a pretty good day with efficient communication, tackling, and technique.  I enjoyed playing in front of the fans and signing autographs afterward.  All of this is building up anticipation for one thing... game week.  The preseason games are ultimately what we will be judged on as rookies and for us it is where we win or lose our job.  My NFL resume is a clean slate for only three more days... here we go!

 

-Student of the Game

#StayReady

A Week into the Grind

     We are now one week into training camp!  This week has been a swarm of nerves, emotions, meetings, practices, and an overall long week of work.  Coming out of the rookie portion of training camp I was anxious to make an impact, showing I could be successful and competitive with the veterans.  I didn't know where they were going to put me and what the coaches had in mind for me.  Well it didn't take long for a depth chart to show up for the first practice and I realized, along with all the other undrafted rookies, just how much of an uphill battle it was going to be.  Having Matt Giordano as a late addition to camp, I was bumped down to the 3's in both defense and special teams.  I thought this might happen and I wasn't surprised, but it takes the wind out of your sails a little bit when you see it on paper for the first time.  This along with the flow of an NFL training camp has brought a lot of learning and adjustments for me.

     I have really had to focus and work hard on how I practice and my mental mind set in training camp.  Coming from college practices as a starter to NFL practices as an undrafted rookie with the 3rd team is quite a transition.  As the week has gone along, I have continued to work on the details of my technique and execution.  From full speed drills every rep, to communicating loud and crisp, finishing at the ball, competing against my teammates and giving a good look there are certain new practice habits that I am having to form.  It is almost like the way you play in a game is expected now in practice one short interval at a time.  Also, mental reps and staying ready at this high level is important because the scarcity of reps.  The 3rd defense may only get 2-4 plays at the end of a period and you have to stay warm and mentally sharp after being out 14-16 plays.  Not being in the consistent rotation, it is hard to get into a flow.  I have continued to improve on staying locked in and focused from the sideline, and have to fight off frustration and worrying about factors I can't control.  Every athlete is competitive and wants to be out there but I have to focus on what I can control, do the best I can with my opportunities, and let the depth chart fall into place.

     The pads finally came on and now we are slowly getting closer to finding out who is Tarzan and who is Jane.  I loved getting back in pads as it is a little bit closer to a game situation and even more evaluating of players can be done.  Hitting and competing against each other always gets the practice hype going and makes it even more fun with a few scuffles mixed in.  I had a great first day in pads showing well in special teams with a take-down in punt return of a starting gunner and finished practice with an interception.  The weather has been great and this is definitely the most cool I have practiced in this time of the year.  Even with the cool temperatures, I guess I sweat more in this environment because I have been dripping.  I don't know if it is the humidity or what, but that helmet visor has to get cleaned every day!  Overall the first week has been a lot of things for me, but I am excited to keep working as hard as I can to earn a spot and let everything I can't control fall into place.

-Student of the Game

#toGodbetheGlory

A Look Back at Rookie Training Camp

     Training Camp, after four weeks of build up the big stage is finally here and the show waits for no one.  Everything we do is being examined and the result will either help us or hurt us with one goal in mind, make the team! Us rookies arrived Sunday afternoon to check into the hotel, our new home for the next six weeks. The suitcase life continues! As we caught back up with all our rookie teammates one thing was obvious, everyone was worried about weigh in and the conditioning test... with good reason!  Each player was given a 6 pound weight range that we had to meet when we reported.  If you don't, you could be fined up to $400 per pound... per day! The conditioning test is two 300 yard shuttles, going to the 25 yard line and back six times in under 56 seconds for the skill players.  These both had consequences, but even more it was something that could be held against you and look bad in the coach's eyes. I was finally able to put on some muscle and gain a little weight, but that put me at the top of my weight range that I had to be at when I reported. I was a small bit worried, so I focused on not eating quite as much and at night. The plan almost went too good as I weighed in one pound away from the low weight range, but I was happy to get that out of the way.  The conditioning test lived up to the hype and the heat and humidity didn't help the situation.  The first rep is hard, but the trouble comes between the reps when your legs lock up from all the cutting you have to do.  I was able to survive and make my times on both, but not many were as fortunate.  I went from my hips cramping to bending over to taking a knee until i slowly but surely ended up on the ground from exhaustion.  Someone commented that it looked like a battlefield out there after we were done.  It was definitely one of the hardest and high tense conditioning i have been a part of. What a way to start off training camp!

     That afternoon and the following day, we were able to get two practices in to get back into the flow before the vets reported to camp.  The heat and humidity welcomed us again as we pushed through a practice with our legs dead from the conditioning test.  I had a great start and came up with an interception on the first team period.  I still have plenty to work on and a long way from where I want to be.  Getting back into the playbook and practice flow payed off as the practices went off a lot smoother than the OTAs.  We now have a better understanding of the playbook and you can tell on the field that it is starting to click with all the rookies.  We also got a little break on the nights, getting off after dinner, but the intensity and difficulty is about to turn up when the vets report.  Now as the vets have arrived, the 7-9 grind is about to start and the pressure is on to make every rep count.  Already another safety behind me has gotten cut and another one is brought in.  Every time it is eye opening and all the rookies kind of tense up when it happens.  Like I have said before, you never quite know where you are in the coaches eyes, but one thing I do know is that nobody is safe and there is always someone snapping at your heels.  I am excited to get out there in training camp and prove I have what it takes to be an NFL special teams player and safety.

-Student of the Game

#RamsRookies

*Check back soon for future updates, I will try and post every couple of practices looking back at the previous day's highlights*

Taking a Leap of Faith

     I am back from my break!  I enjoyed my time off from football and blogging while touring Texas to see my family for one last time before the craziness begins.  In the span of two weeks I visited the in-laws at their home, visited my brother, vacationed with my wife's family in San Antonio, visited my parents at their home, and finally celebrated the 4th of July at my uncles with extended family.  If that wasn't enough, there are a lot of kids and babies in the family right now so I was extra worn out from uncle and cousin duties.  I managed to work out at various local high schools to stay in shape.  I loved getting to spend time with my family, but all this traveling and not having a set home is stressful.  Since late December 2012 from the bowl game on to my training, all star game, pro day, regional combines, wedding, honeymoon, draft, rookie camp, and OTAs I have been on the move and living out of a suitcase.  I am chasing my dream and wouldn't have it any other way, but with my wife living back in Lubbock a decision had to be made.  Either we stay apart while I try the NFL or we go for it and see what happens.

     The leap of faith it is!  After a long and hard decision making process we decided to go ahead and move to St Louis.  Having the most unpredictable job possible, I knew this would be a very risky decision and at the end of the day we could be here one day, the rest of our life, or something in between.  We wanted to be together, I felt good about my chances of making the team, and when Ashley's company posted a job opening in St Louis for July we jumped on it.  Ashley was transferred and after the two week break we headed to Lubbock to pack up.  As you can see above we loaded a big moving truck and towed our car all of the grueling 15 hours to St Louis, Missouri.  My foot was about cramped solid from driving that long without a cruise control, but I'm now happy to have a home base and my wife with a solid job.  Hopefully she won't have to be the provider this year, but whatever happens we have a backup plan.  After a long couple of days moving in and painting (I told y'all she would use my painting skills now!) we were able to spend a week together before I move into the hotel for training camp on Sunday.  I have a long and hard road ahead and I will focus on what I can control, try my hardest to do my best, and have faith in God's plan.

-Student of the Game

#CrunchTime

My painting skills need some fine tuning.  Note to self: don't buy the off brand painter's tape.

#RookieWeek

     As the veterans take off for break, us rookies get to take part in an orientation called Rookie Week.  This week consists of meetings, charity events, and exploring new areas of St Louis with lunches and socials.  Now it wasn't all fun and games, we had hard off-season workouts and conditioning every morning to start out the day.  These were harder than normal, because we didn't have to save our legs for practice.  Also with the break just around the corner, there is always a tension between the players and the strength coach.  As players we get a little restless and it is harder to focus which doesn't mix well with coaches that know this tendency and are on edge, ready to jump on top of the problem.  This has always been the case since I was in high school, and continues to be the case today.  Rock warned us that last year on the last day before the break he had to punish the rookies because of this and pretty much ran them into the ground.  Well it came close to happening again, but we pushed through and remained focused enough to have a great week of work.

     After a good hard workout, the next thing you want to do as a player is go sit in information meetings! Well maybe not too exciting but we did get some good presentations on financial/credit help, NFLPA, highway patrol, drug, and legal information.  While all the players might not pay attention, I try and gain all the knowledge I can to help me out in the future.  I always learn something new!  We are blessed to have the team offer free services to us to help us out in these areas that our new to us.  The funnest part of the week was in the afternoon with the charity events, seeing the city, and social events.  They wanted to take us to new parts of the city and also get some team building time in, so we went to eat as a team at Blueberry Hill and Scape.  Blueberry Hill was awesome to see the history put into that place with all the pictures of famous people on the wall.  It also was a good time playing games, and teaching Barrett Jones how to play darts... by beating him.  Scape was a more modern place and the best food I have had in St Louis so far!  These were great lunches in two areas that I have not been to so far, but will definitely be back.  

     The two charity events we got to participate in were the Rams Training Academy and TASK (Team Activities for Special Kids) Bowling event.  The training academy was fun interacting with the community and playing football with the kids.  I ended up helping with a tackling drill where they went through cones and tackled a dummy.  Man kids get intense and their faces and tactics are priceless!  The funniest was when I was trying to get creative with the drill.  I had them back peddle to a cone where the dummy was, then break downhill to swat the receiver out of the way and make the interception. While I was explaining it one of the kids says, "isn't that pass interference?!" Lol, don't you hate smart kids... well he was technically right and I had to just tell them to go around the dummy without touching him.  We ended the day with signing autographs.  For the bowling event, each player was assigned a lane along with some TASK athletes.  The picture shown above was my lane with Katie (who won), Megan, Colin, and Andrew.  They were all fun to bowl with and I enjoyed the time with them and their families.  I really connected with Colin as he was the outgoing one and very funny also.  He showed off his muscles after he made a good bowl, and later he showed them to the cheerleaders coming around!  It was a fun time and hopefully I will get a chance to be with the TASK athletes again.  We ended the week with a young professionals social at the Missouri History Museum where we got to network with people our age outside of football.  I actually met a woman who works with a company here in town that makes reality TV shows, one of which I watch (Fast N Loud)! I thought that was pretty cool and we also got to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit.

     Overall this week was a fun experience and we were provided with some great opportunities and information that will help us out in this transition into the NFL.  We now have a four week break before training camp, which I will use to go back to Texas to continue working out and visit family.  It is hard to believe that I won't be a short drive away from family after this break and will hopefully be starting my new life in St Louis.  But for now I will enjoy this time off and can't wait to see my family, until next time!

-Student of the Game

#RookieWeek

Wrapping Up My First OTAs

     The final week of OTAs are in the books, and they were some of the hardest practices so far.  The intensity, expectations, and even the heat continued to rise this week.  It started out Monday with the practice moved to the afternoon.  This was the hottest time of the day and definitely the hottest practice so far.  We installed punt return and kickoff return this week.  Still running with the 2's I will get a chance at "shark" for punt return and a front line blocker for kickoff return.  Basically a "shark" is the 2nd guy from the outside and is a great position that does it all from rushing the punt to doubling the gunners.  We had a chance to compete a little this week in special teams instead of just drills and walk through, as the punt team went against the punt return.  I got to rush a punt of the edge for the first rep, and I had timed it just right to come unblocked.  I didn't go for the block because it is practice and I don't want to punch my plane ticket out of here lol, but it would have been close!  I am excited about these and all of my special teams positions as I think I have the skills and technique to produce and make an impact on this side of the ball.  We ended the week of practice with a little fun change up drills, which I hear is a Coach Fisher tradition.  We started out the practice with switching individual drills with a completely different position group.  For example, the defensive backs went to do offensive lineman drills and the O line went to do DB drills.  This was funny and interesting at the same time to see what the other players do on a daily basis.  Then after a normal practice we ended the day with a little competition of punt catching, D line versus the O line to see what side of the ball had conditioning.  Instead of a normal punt they used the "jugs", a machine that shoots the ball, to launch the ball into the air as high as I have ever seen.  I'm happy to say the defensive line won, with some actually impressive catches including a one handed catch.  It was a great first experience of OTAs and I look forward to improving with my experience and production as we head into training camp. 

     The pressure to perform continues to rise as two people have already gotten cut in the last week in order to bring in more players. As a rookie you always hear of the stories of players getting cut, but watching it first hand makes it more real.  He went through meetings, got ready for practice, and right before he went out someone came and told him the news.  Just like that he was out of the building and looking for a new job and home.  This makes you feel the pressure and you wonder where you are in the coach's eyes.  The only indicator they give you is the tentative depth chart, but other than that the coaches don't give you much feedback on where you fit in or their expectations for you. Maybe they don't want to make false promises or get our hopes up. Whatever the case, as a player I try not to focus on that and just focus on what I can control, which is working and playing to the best of my ability. That being said, when your job and livelihood are on the line... you can't help but notice.  I will just continue to work hard, play to the best of my ability, and keep the faith.  I love the opportunity I have here in St Louis and look forward to earning my role on the team.

     On a lighter note, Emory Blake and I teamed up to take on the specialist's doubles Ping Pong Tournament.  I have always been pretty good at ping pong since I had a table growing up and also there was one in our player's lounge at Texas Tech.  Well there is one here also, so naturally us athletes like to kill any down time with... that's right, even more competition!  The specialists seem to always have the most free time and therefore end up the best ping pong players.  They had a tournament drawn up for this past week in a double elimination doubles tournament.  Emory and I took on Austin Davis and Chris Williams in the first round and came out with a resounding victory. But trying to get the players there at the same time proved too difficult as the rookie and veteran schedules were slightly different.  The verdict is still out on who are the best ping pong players.  Next up, rookie week!

-Student of the Game

#RamsRookies

Week 2 of OTAs

     After a week off for the veterans and a week of workout/conditioning for the rookies, we were back to work for the second week of OTAs.  The first day's practice was delayed as the effects of the tornado knocked out the power for the facility and it remained that way on Monday.  There was also some damage to the fence surrounding the practice field and a lot of the trees around the grounds, but luckily that was the extent of the damage.  The power was finally restored in the afternoon just in time to get a lift and condition in for the rookies.  Coach Fisher continues to impress me with how he always keeps us, the players, in mind first and foremost in all situations including this one.  If we had moved the OTA to Wednesday, that would have been four OTAs in a row.  We might not have gotten as much out of them because of fatigue and no days in between for study and corrections.  Instead he moved it to next week, where we will have no more than two practice days in a row each week.  His reputation of being a player's coach seems to be correct so far!

     Tuesday was OTA #4 followed by OTA #5&6 Thursday and Friday.  The normal schedule for these days are all relatively the same with rookies starting around 7 am and getting done with everything around 5 pm.  Starting with breakfast it continues on through meetings, practice, lunch, meetings, and finally lifting for the rookies.  The day always starts out with a special teams meeting and this is a critical part of making the team for us rookies.  This week we installed punt and a tentative depth chart was made for practice purposes.  I am getting the opportunity to play the personal protector (PP) but am not the starter just yet (I'll try not and comment too much on depth chart and will leave that for the coaches to reveal).  This position is critical as the protection and communication for the punt team is made by the PP on the field.  I like this position of responsibility and have played it some in college although I didn't play much special teams then.  This was because I started and the coaches did not want to use me in that way.  I always learned the positions and was in every special teams meetings at Texas Tech as I was a backup just in case somebody went down.  Now I look forward to wrecking havoc on special teams and will work my hardest to earn those starting spots.

     Practice starts at about 10:30 and the weather was perfect... except for the occasional whiff of the landfill fire nearby, phew!  The week off gives us fresh legs, but also makes it to where they get sore again for practice.  But for the first day it was great as we got into the flow again without missing a beat.  The playbook is now starting to sink in for the common coverage/calls and the communication continues to improve.  But we are still constantly installing and adjusting our defense, so for us rookies it takes time and experience to make them become second nature.  I was having a pretty good practice Friday when I was hit with a new play that I had gone over but never played before... let's just say I was confused about the adjustment rules and we messed up the play call twice in two different situations.  But now I have it down and that experience has it in my head better than any playbook studying would.  When you don't have to think and worry about the plays and adjustments is when you can play your best football.  Overall, the rest of the practices went great and I even got a interception for my birthday on Thursday.  The coaches are now coaching us harder as the expectations for the rookies continue to rise.  Since we had the extra day of lifting/conditioning, we ended the week Friday with some Yoga for the rookies to help stretch and recover from the week of work.  The last week of OTAs are on deck! See you then...

-Student of the Game

#RamsNation

5th Annual Rams Playground Build

     The 5th Annual Rams Playground Build was our first chance for us rookies to get involved in the community and give back.  This year we were at Washington Elementary to build a playground, set up a basketball court, and paint the classrooms.  We were split into groups to accomplish these tasks in an organized fashion.  As you can see above, I got to practice my painting skills in a classroom and gave it a red and grey color scheme (as planned by the community service team).  I had never painted before and for completing the room with no painter's tape, I think I did pretty good!  Unfortunately, now my wife knows this and probably wants to paint our apartment now... haha but I will gladly do it.  While we were painting, the other groups were working on the playground and parking lot games.  After we had worked for a while, we had a chance to play with some of the kids that attended on a few of the "Play 60" inflatable games.  Kids go crazy over this stuff!  It is so fun to watch kids compete and try their hardest to impress us with their skills.  I got to throw some footballs and kick some field goals, but found out I was not good at the latter.  We were able to do a lot of work in a small amount of time before we departed back for the football facility.  The rest of the community service team put in a lot of work before and after we came to make this playground build a success.

     I love doing community service and working with kids, but hope I can become more of an influence in my communities in the coming years and participate in more events like this.  I have participated in these opportunities that have come to me, but now I need to put myself out there and get involved.  My introverted nature makes it hard for me to push myself to reach out and make the connections necessary to find and follow through on opportunities to serve.  Hopefully this is only the beginning and I will take the next step towards becoming more of an influence in my community.

-Student of the Game

#RamsPlaygroundBuild

Week 1 of OTAs

(Pic of me crossing the Missouri river)

     Hope everyone had a great memorial day!  I am grateful for all of our veterans and everyone still currently serving to protect our freedoms.  I couldn't imagine that kind of sacrifice and dedication to our country and I greatly admire our servicemen.  It makes me realize how blessed I am and how fun my job is!  My wife came up for the long weekend and we had fun running around St Louis.  We visited the arch, Blues-week festival, gypsy caravan, boathouse of Forest Park, and did a little apartment searching while exploring the city.  I am loving my job so far and can't wait to see where it takes me.

     The first week of OTAs is in the books as we practiced Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week.  This is our first true look at practice compared to the off-season phase 2 field work.  In off-season phase 2, we can do drills and walk through the defense but we cannot be going against the offense. OTAs on the other hand is a full practice in helmets with full competition against the offense and  on special teams.  It was great to get out there and go against and with the veterans.  They set a high standard fast as far as communication on the field and running to the football every rep.  You figure out real fast whether you know the defense and what you need to work on.  TJ McDonald and I started out with the 2s and we were told several times give our coverage, personnel, and down & distance calls faster and louder.  This has gotten better with every practice as we get more comfortable with the defense and the expectations.  OTAs also help rookies know where they stand in their position and also how they measure up to the vets.  I can tell how much more precise and crisp the veterans are with their footwork in drills and also in competition situations.  I will continue to work on this and pick their brains when I get a chance.  I also had the chance to go against some great competition in 1 on 1's with the likes of Jared Cook. I got the opportunity to go against him one day and I am glad to say I had a pass break up and he didn't catch the next one (might have been a bad pass lol).  Going against this type of competition is great and helps adjust to the NFL skill level and speed.  This adjustment is evident as rookie mistakes were all over the field, but we just have to learn from it and not let it happen again.  It was a good start to OTAs and there is a lot of work and improvement still to be had.

     The veterans will be off next week and the rookies will put in more work to catch up starting after Memorial day.  We will condition and lift weights as well as get in any extra film and playbook work we need on our own.  3 OTAs down and only 7 more to go.  Just a small window of opportunity to show what we have before crunch time!

-Student of the Game

#RamsNation

Off-season Flow

     It has only been a week on the job, but it has felt like a lot longer.  After a successful and long weekend of rookie mini camp, we were given a break and treated to a Cardinals baseball game on Sunday.  But Monday it was right back to work starting our phase 2 off-season program.  This program consists of meetings, field skill development/drills, working out, and conditioning activities.  Us rookies are having to play catch up with the veteran players who have had prior experience in the weight room program and also in the playbook.  Therefore, we have a few separate meetings and instructions in order to close the gap before OTAs begin.  The staff has done a great job working us into the flow of things, and this was especially important because we were still sore and tired from rookie mini camp.  We were definitely walking around funny because of soreness for most of the week as we were getting adjusted.  Flexibility is a big focus for us rookies as we have been continuously stretching and finished off the week with a yoga class.  That was funny seeing all of us big guys doing downward dog and getting in weird positions.  It must have worked though because now at the end of the week we are feeling better, walking normal, and caught up for the most part.  We still have a long way to go, but now that we have the flow down and are more comfortable it's just time to work and gain experience. Next week we have OTAs where we get to go with and against the entire team, rookies and veterans, as we come together for the first time in competition. Until then a little rest and relaxation in St Louie!

-Student of the Game

#RamsNation

Mini camp... Max importance...

     Day 1 of practice: This was the first full work day for us rookies.  We woke up at 6 am and didn't get a break until we were done at 9 pm.  Physicals, various meetings, and weight room introductions were all part of the day and were worked around practice and eating.  After two days of preparation and paperwork, it was such a relief to get on the field and practice.  That is when stats, drafted/undrafted, hype, and talking all goes out the window and the players are going show what they know and what skills they have.  We had a good first practice and now have a feel for the flow and expectations of the coaches.  Coach Fisher's approach is one that doesn't try and kill us in rookie mini camp.  He is much more interested in if we have the skills, knowledge, execution, and production that it takes to make the team.  Once that is established, they will work us into the program and get us where we need to be from a strength and conditioning standpoint.  The mental part of days like these are more exhausting than the physical.  Being focused that long in high tense situations and trying to learn a new defense at a high rate of speed begins to fatigue you.  But nothing that we can't handle and we are used to... now it's our full time job and we must dedicate ourselves, body and mind, to perfect our craft.  Speaking of which, I'm going to get off this and get back in the playbook...

     Day 2 of practice: This day made us push harder and fight through fatigue and soreness.  We started early again and went straight to more defensive installs.  The defensive concepts are nothing new to me, this is only my fifth defense to learn in five years so there is only so much you can do.  But the terminology and all of the adjustments can get difficult and start to run together.  Luckily after the installs we get to walk through these defenses and get all the mistakes and kinks out before practice.  No matter how much you train and are in shape nothing can duplicate the intensity and movements of a practice, much less a high pressure NFL practice.  You go as hard as you can every rep and every drill but you also have to get back used to your helmets, ankle tape, and helmets.  So from the combination of all that from day one we were sore and hurting but had to push through and continue to prove ourselves.  Along with the defensive back drills, 1 on 1, and 7 on 7... we got the chance to do some special teams.  This is where a lot of rookies and free agents make the team so I was excited to go through the drills.  To finish up the day we lifted weights and worked on flexibility.  Overall this weekend as been a great confirmation that I am in the right place.  I like the coaches, staff, team, and city.  The culture is a positive family attitude with high expectations. I have a good start and am going to keep working to make this team and help get where we want to be.

-Student of the Game

#FirstImpression

The long road to St. Louis

     The long process of becoming a rookie has only just begun.  It all started yesterday with a long road trip from Lubbock, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri.  I am leaving Texas Tech with great memories, successful college football career, a degree, and an amazing beautiful wife.  It was a fast five years and now that college is over, there is no more certainty or path set out for us to follow.  Now we are headed on to the hectic business of the NFL and trying to make our own way.  A contract only means that you have an opportunity with the team, but you have to prove yourself in rookie mini camp, OTAs, and training camp if you want to make the final cut.  To start my journey I drove 838 miles and 12 hours yesterday and I am now in what might be my new home of St. Louis.  We got straight to business today as we started rookie mini camp. After paperwork and equipment fitting, we had preliminary meetings and prepared for tomorrow where we will have a full day and get back to why we are all here... football!  We will have to take the playbook information overload, and show we have the ability to learn fast and be able to turn that into production on the field.  I am ready to get out there and start to prove myself, one play at a time.  Day 2 on deck...

-Student of the Game

#RamsRookies

Becoming a Ram

     The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone leaving some player's dreams fulfilled and others wondering where it all went wrong. Day 3 of the draft was my projected draft day, and it seemed like the longest day of my life.  I watched it unfold at my uncle's house in Dallas where I decided to have a small gathering of just family.  I wanted them there for me whether it went good or bad.  I had tried not to get my hopes up as I know plenty of players that have done everything right and still fallen through the cracks.  But after putting up good numbers and film I was getting mid round grades, private workouts, team visits, and contacted by many NFL teams showing their interest in drafting me... I had a good feeling.  As it started at 11 am, the picks began to roll in.  Nervously watching and waiting for my phone to go off as the picks and rounds went by.  With every call everyone in the room froze and expected it to be "the call."  But it was always a "we might pick you here scenario."  I started to get a bad feeling as calls were beginning to come in about free agent offers even as early as the fifth round.  Teams that had said they planned on drafting me, selected other safeties and the draft was coming to an end.  I had not expected to go undrafted, and was a little disappointed and frustrated.  But it didn't surprise me either because I had prepared myself mentally and knew it was a possibility.  As my phone went crazy from 11 free agent offers, I had a short time frame to make a decision that would affect the rest of my life.

     Head coach Jeff Fisher, special teams coordinator John Fassel, and secondary coach Chuck Cecil all had called me and expressed how interested they were and wanted me to be a St Louis Ram.  After evaluating my options and figuring out the best situation and opportunity for me, I was more than happy to sign a free agent deal with St Louis!  I was so excited to finally have a home and ready to get everything finalized.  I had a contract and was ready to make it official.  I had trouble getting my contract sent back in and actually had to end up going to a neighbors house to fax it in!  It was a long day that started with a radio interview at 9 am and ended when I finally sent in my contract at 11 pm.  After all was said and done, I am truly blessed and thankful to have this opportunity.  It didn't happen like I had imagined, but I have faith in God's plan for me and can't wait to move to St Louis and start working to become a Ram!  This is only the beginning of a long and hard road of becoming a NFL rookie.

-Student of the Game

#RamsNation