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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Saturday Rams' news.
        
(Message started by: paulinstl on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 8:40am)

Title: Saturday Rams' news.
Post by paulinstl on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 8:40am

Taken from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:

"
Rams injured running back Marshall Faulk congratulates head coach Mike Martz as time expires during a game between the St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears at the Edward Jones Dome.
(Chris Lee/P-D)
Marshall Faulk hasn't practiced since he suffered left foot and right ankle injuries Nov. 10 against San Diego. And Rams coach Mike Martz said Faulk may not get on the field for the rest of the week.

As to whether Faulk will play Sunday at Washington, Martz said, "I think we'll just keep him out and make a decision on Sunday. What's helped him is staying off this thing, and letting it heal so we'll just have to see. I don't know whether we'll have him for Sunday or not, but I'm more optimistic certainly than last week. I think there's a chance we'll have him."

At this point, Faulk's left foot injury is all but healed. His right high ankle sprain remains a problem. He spent part of Thursday visiting doctors, and additional X-rays showed no structural damage. The fact that the injury is now isolated is "good news," Martz said, but it's still tender and sensitive.

"They are stubborn injuries," Rams trainer Jim Anderson said. "They take a while to heal. He'll be day to day, basically. He has done some running and cutting on it but just not at full speed."

In the meantime, Martz said Faulk is eager to return.

"He gets frustrated because he's such a quick healer," Martz said. "But it's just a sprain in that membrane down there. There's no tear or stretch or anything else like that so at least he's comfortable that there's no damage. I think that's a relief for him."

Warner shakes off rust

Kurt Warner took all the snaps with the first team Thursday for the first time since breaking his right pinkie finger Sept. 29, and he was rustyWarner described his practice as "lousy. ... I'm just not in rhythm yet. It wasn't so much that we didn't complete balls because we completed a lot of balls. But I missed some throws that I don't usually miss.

"You expect a little of that. It was my first day back from seven weeks off, and the great thing was I felt like I saw everything and adjusted to everything and made the right reads. Now it's just fine tuning the mechanics and the timing of the throws."

Warner is slated to start Sunday against the Redskins, and Martz predicted Warner will play well. Still, Martz noticed some of Warner's deficiencies Thursday.

"He's a little quick in some of the drills," Martz said. "He's going so fast. He's there with the ball before he really needs to. He's just got to get used to the timing of letting the ball go. Another good day of practice and I think he'll be ready."

Bulger sits out practice

Marc Bulger, now the Rams' No. 2 quarterback, didn't practice Thursday as he recovers from a sprained ligament between his index and middle finger, but according to Martz, the swelling has diminished quite a bit. Still . . .

"It's still very sensitive so I don't know if he'll throw at all tomorrow," Martz said. "We may just wait until Sunday. He'll be the No. 2, but in order for him to play they'll have to treat it, and then he'll be able to play."

Bulger suffered the injury Monday against Chicago.

Pace is probable

Orlando Pace is listed as probable on the injury report with a calf injury, but he practiced Thursday. Starting left guard Tom Nutten sat out practice Thursday because of a sprained right foot. He suffered the injury in Monday night's game against Chicago, and aggravated it Thursday morning. But he's expected to be OK to play Sunday. "

Title: Re: Friday Rams' news.
Post by BarnabyWilde on Nov 22^nd, 2002, 10:51am

[smiley=smileythumbsup.gif]

Title: Re: Saturday Rams' news.
Post by paulinstl on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 1:10pm

From the Post Dispatch:
"Night and day."

That's how Kurt Warner described the difference between his rusty Thursday practice and his near-perfect Friday workout.

"I missed one throw," Warner said Friday while walking off the field. "And that one I should have hit, too. I just missed it. Timing-wise I felt a lot better."

A day earlier, in his first full practice with the first team since breaking his pinkie finger Sept. 29, Warner struggled with his timing and rhythm. Warner described his Thursday workout as "lousy," but said he had expected some unpolished moments after the long break. Warner also said he expected daily improvement leading up to Sunday's game at Washington, and he proved to be right.

"He was sharp," Rams coach Mike Martz said. "He had one ball that was a little short, but everything else was perfect. He looks today like the rhythm is back. Everything looks like it's supposed to look so I would just expect him to pick up and go. I feel very comfortable with where he is right now. He looked like the old Kurt out there."

And what does that means come Sunday?

"I would expect him to play at the level that Kurt's been at for several years," said Martz, adding that if Warner had his way he'd throw on every down. "I'm looking forward to it."

No. 2 quarterback Marc Bulger dressed for practice Friday but didn't throw. The sprained ligament between his index and middle finger was too sore.

Faulk works on treadmill

Marshall Faulk did some work on the treadmill Friday, but he didn't practice - again - and Martz said a decision won't be made regarding Faulk's availability for Sunday until pregame warmups in Washington. Faulk is still troubled by a high right ankle sprain.