Monday Wrap-Up: Gaines, Cooper, Spruce Could Return Soon

Monday Wrap-Up: Gaines, Cooper, Spruce Could Return Soon


By Myles Simmons

[www.therams.com]

Head coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams came through Sunday’s game against the Seahawks relatively healthy, and provided more good news on the injury front at his press conference on Monday evening.

“We have a chance to get some guys back this week,” Fisher said.

Over the course of the media session, Fisher elaborated on who those players might be. Cornerback E.J. Gaines, wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, and wide receiver Nelson Spruce were all among them.

All three players suffered injuries that have kept them out since the preseason. Spruce was the first to go down with a knee injury against the Cowboys in the first exhibition matchup. He nevertheless made the initial 53-man roster.

Cooper and Gaines suffered their injuries later in the preseason. Cooper made an outstanding catch in the third preseason game at Denver, but came down hard on his shoulder. Gaines has been dealing with a thigh injury suffered in the same contest.

Fisher first mentioned Gaines, saying he’s really close.

“We’re going to get some guys back on the field this week, so E.J.’s close,” Fisher said.


If Gaines is back, he has a good shot to regain the starting spot opposite Trumaine Johnson.

“He’s been there, he’s done it, he’s played there, he’s excelled there,” Fisher said. “We’ve missed E.J. there. So once he’s healthy, I would suggest that he’s probably got a pretty good chance of taking that job over. But he’ll be questionable for this week.”

As for Cooper and Spruce, Fisher said both wideotus have a chance to return to practice this week, though that is not a guarantee for availability on Sunday.

“We expect to get them on the field,” Fisher said. “Whether they’re available on Sunday, I don’t know yet. But they’re making progress, which is good.”

Los Angeles needs more production from its offense as a whole, and the two rookie wide receivers could help in that regard. But Fisher tempered expectations, seeing as how neither Cooper nor Spruce have played a game that counts.

“How it affects the offense, I can’t tell you,” Fisher said. “They’re both rookies — they haven't had a regular-season snap yet. But they both have promising futures and showed that they can make plays in the NFL early in the preseason.”

If the Rams can get any or all of those players back on the field this week, it should provide a boost for the club’s units.

NEED TO INCREASE OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION

While the Rams are 1-1, they have not yet scored a touchdown. Fisher reiterated Monday, the club has to increase its offensive production and score points.

“We have some room for improvement in some specific areas,” Fisher said. “Clearly, offensively we’re still struggling — in the third-down area and scoring. But, we made some plays.”

Quarterback Case Keenum played better in Week 2 than Week 1, which Fisher took as a positive sign.

“I’m expecting Case to continue to get better in this offense and we’re going to win games and score points,” Fisher said.


But as the quarterback situation relates to rookie Jared Goff, Fisher repeated the same line he’s used since draft day.

“I don’t want to be a broken record here, but we’re going to play him when he’s ready,” Fisher said. “When that happens we’ll let you know.”

When Goff plays will be based on a number of factors, according to Fisher. But the club will only play him when it’s determined he is best primed for success.

EXTRA POINTS

— Punter Johnny Hekker was a significant factor in the Rams’ victory, as he continually set the defense up in the best position possible.

“Our punt team did an outstanding job. Johnny had six punts and all six were inside the 20,” Fisher said. “That gave us drive-start advantage, put them in a long field every time, gave our defense an opportunity to get them into third down and get off the field.”

— Rookie linebacker Josh Forrest played 10 of Los Angeles’ 61 defensive snaps, as the Rams used their base 4-3 set for a limited time. Fisher admitted the strongside ‘backer may have been a little nervous when he heard defensive coordinator Gregg Williams sub him into the game.

“When Gregg called, ‘Regular,’ I looked and his eyes got really big,” Fisher said with a chuckle. “But he did a nice job. He’s learned from that. So he knows that when we go there, we’re going to lean on him for that.”

Forrest was a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky this past spring.

— Cornerback Troy Hill also saw time on the outside after getting plenty of practice reps during the week, playing 66 percent (44) of the Rams’ defensive snaps.

“Our intention going into the game was to give Troy some snaps, and Troy got some snaps,” Fisher said. “I thought he responded well. He had some heat issues, but beyond that, he can run, he can play.”

If Gaines is unable to play on Sunday, there’s a chance Hill could be the starter over Coty Sensabuagh.

“We’ll see where that goes,” Fisher said. “We’ll make a decision at the end of the week as far as that starting spot there between Troy and Coty.”

— L.A. used a number of three-safety sets during Sunday’s contest. T.J. McDonald and Maurice Alexander played all 61 defensive snaps, and Cody Davis was in 36 percent of the time.

“We have numerous packages and we tried to attach the packages to some of the things that they were doing,” Fisher said.

— Some more notes from the Rams’ snap counts, Fisher said last week the offense would likely settle on one of Cody Wichmann and Jamon Brown to be the full-time right guard after rotating them last week. At least for Sunday, the club went with Wichmann, as he played 100 percent of the snaps.

And rookie wide receiver Mike Thomas also played five offensive snaps.

— Finally, running back Todd Gurley has recorded only 98 yards rushing through two games for a number of reasons, one of which being defenses are clearly loading the box to stop him. But Fisher isn’t concerned about the 2015 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“Everyone expects the running back to have 30 carries for 150 yards — that doesn’t happen every week,” Fisher said. “But we got chunks out of Todd and that was good. It was good for us from a field-position standpoint.

“But he’ll have a breakout day.”