Kevin Garrett
Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 6:25 pmhttp://story.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=122&p=2&c=292434
Rams Are in Need of a “Prime Time†Step up
By Jared Balzer Publisher
Date: Sep 8, 2004
It is no news that in the first half of the Rams’ Monday night preseason game against in-state rivals Kansas City Chiefs, Rams starting cornerback Travis Fisher broke his right arm. Fisher tied the league lead with 205 yards returned on his four interceptions in 2003. The cornerback will now get a plate surgically inserted
It is no news that in the first half of the Rams’ Monday night preseason game against in-state rivals Kansas City Chiefs, Rams starting cornerback Travis Fisher broke his right arm. Fisher tied the league lead with 205 yards returned on his four interceptions in 2003. The cornerback will now get a plate surgically inserted into his right forearm and according to coach Mike Martz, “it’s a three to four month deal†(although the best-case scenarion might be 8-to-10 weeks) and he will possibly be able to play near the end of the season. Fisher said it happened on an easy open-field tackle on a screen play in the last minute of the first quarter.
The Rams second-year pro, Kevin Garrett will take over as the No. 2 cornerback on the other side of Jerametrius Butler. The other option would be DeJuan Groce, also a second-year man, who should be ready to go after recovering from his knee injury. Some would argue to move Aeneas Williams back to corner instead of installing one of the younger less experienced corners. However, that creates a new problem at free safety with the decision to go with either the unproven Justin Lucas or Rich Coady or the premature start of rookie Jason Shivers out of Arizona State.
Garrett, the 5-9, 194-pound defensive back out of Southern Methodist University had little playing time in nine games last year gathering just four tackles. He wears No. 21, has a towel hanging from his waist like his perceived role model Deion Sanders, and his speed is close to match. His speed and intelligence mark the potential he has to become man-to-man corner, but his weakness is the height that he gives up to his competition.
Groce may become the No. 2 cornerback by the time he fully recovers from his knee injury. He is also undersized, but did play in most of last year’s regular season games and managed to get one interception. The short and medium range receptions he may give up against the quicker wide receivers can lead to the opportunity to get more interceptions but also the responsibility of more tackles.
The Rams desperately need their cornerbacks to turn up the intensity this year to compete with the receivers of the NFL, like the productive Seattle tandem of Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson and perhaps the toughest all-around group in Week 8 against the world champion New England Patriots. Having a mentor on the sideline like Aeneas Williams should aid in the development of both corners.
Rams Are in Need of a “Prime Time†Step up
By Jared Balzer Publisher
Date: Sep 8, 2004
It is no news that in the first half of the Rams’ Monday night preseason game against in-state rivals Kansas City Chiefs, Rams starting cornerback Travis Fisher broke his right arm. Fisher tied the league lead with 205 yards returned on his four interceptions in 2003. The cornerback will now get a plate surgically inserted
It is no news that in the first half of the Rams’ Monday night preseason game against in-state rivals Kansas City Chiefs, Rams starting cornerback Travis Fisher broke his right arm. Fisher tied the league lead with 205 yards returned on his four interceptions in 2003. The cornerback will now get a plate surgically inserted into his right forearm and according to coach Mike Martz, “it’s a three to four month deal†(although the best-case scenarion might be 8-to-10 weeks) and he will possibly be able to play near the end of the season. Fisher said it happened on an easy open-field tackle on a screen play in the last minute of the first quarter.
The Rams second-year pro, Kevin Garrett will take over as the No. 2 cornerback on the other side of Jerametrius Butler. The other option would be DeJuan Groce, also a second-year man, who should be ready to go after recovering from his knee injury. Some would argue to move Aeneas Williams back to corner instead of installing one of the younger less experienced corners. However, that creates a new problem at free safety with the decision to go with either the unproven Justin Lucas or Rich Coady or the premature start of rookie Jason Shivers out of Arizona State.
Garrett, the 5-9, 194-pound defensive back out of Southern Methodist University had little playing time in nine games last year gathering just four tackles. He wears No. 21, has a towel hanging from his waist like his perceived role model Deion Sanders, and his speed is close to match. His speed and intelligence mark the potential he has to become man-to-man corner, but his weakness is the height that he gives up to his competition.
Groce may become the No. 2 cornerback by the time he fully recovers from his knee injury. He is also undersized, but did play in most of last year’s regular season games and managed to get one interception. The short and medium range receptions he may give up against the quicker wide receivers can lead to the opportunity to get more interceptions but also the responsibility of more tackles.
The Rams desperately need their cornerbacks to turn up the intensity this year to compete with the receivers of the NFL, like the productive Seattle tandem of Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson and perhaps the toughest all-around group in Week 8 against the world champion New England Patriots. Having a mentor on the sideline like Aeneas Williams should aid in the development of both corners.
