June 12, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brian Quick (83) catches during minicamp at ContinuityX Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

Tuesday was awfully busy for a June day in Rams Nation, so let’s not waste any time in getting to it. First, the Rams inked second-round WR Brian Quick to a four-year deal worth a reported maximum of just under $5.4 million. Glad the deal is done and Quick is locked up so we don’t have to worry about it.

Now, on to the next order of business. Jeff Fisher and Steven Jackson met with the media after the minicamp session, so here is some of what they had to say.

Fisher

“It was a good day. Basically we’re just continuing on with the OTA practice. We just get them for a few more hours during the day. We’re still limited to a walk-thru and a practice but it went well. We got a lot done inside this morning in an hour walk-thru and we got a lot more put in.”

“It’s good to get Isaiah (Pead) back, and clearly he’s been working, he’s in shape and he’s picking things up very, very quickly. It’s the guys that haven’t been here, we’ve got our tight end from UCLA (Cory Harkey) and our punter from Oregon State (John Hekker) that will be coming in some time over the weekend. We’ll get them caught up if at all possible next week from a strength and conditioning standpoint, but everybody’s working hard. Steven (Jackson) had a great day. He’s enjoying the offense and made some really good adjustments in the protection game today.”

(On WR Brian Quick)
“The athletic ability is there. The one-on-one stuff is all there. When he knows exactly what to do, he does it right. Two weeks ago, there was a lot of information coming in there. He was a little hesitant. He wasn’t hesitant today. He was very explosive, making plays. He’s a big target, as you can see. Real good out of frame. He just needs to practice. He’s not intimidated by anything. He just needs to practice, needs to see things and once he knows exactly what to do, he’ll do it well.”

Jackson

(On if he thinks he and the team accomplished what they needed to this offseason)
“I believe so. We have a lot of turnover from last season to this season. It’s an entirely new team and new staff. But from what we’ve been able to accomplish from the draft, signing guys in free agency and now OTAs and minicamp, I think we’re moving at a pretty good pace. I think guys are grasping the schemes and we have some talent. I think, we’re actually going to be able to put together a nice team for the upcoming season.”

(On the level of confidence that Coach Fisher brings since he has head coaching experience)
“It’s quite a difference. Nothing against what I’ve had before Coach Fisher, but you can definitely tell a difference in leadership, a difference in confidence. It’s not so much of on-the-job training. I’m just impressed by what he’s assembled with assistant coaches around him. We have very credible coaches that are teaching me and some of my teammates. It’s just impressive, what they’ve been able to accomplish in some of their own careers. It’s very refreshing to have a coach that has that kind of resume and brings that kind of credibility. You can just feel it. It’s quite a difference. I haven’t felt this way since the 2004, 2005 years, where now it’s more so ‘when’ is it going to turnaround, not ‘if’ its going to turnaround.”

(On if Robert Quinn has shown anything that shows that he has developed or improved)
“I think, not for myself, I think for a lot of fans when we drafted him, a lot of people were, ‘Who is that guy?’ He didn’t have a chance to play. With him having a year off and then having a rookie season last year…coming off a year where he did play, I think his natural, raw talent, being a pass rusher, being a high draft pick, what everyone projected him to be the year before he had that year off, that you were seeing that on the football field. I just think the sky’s the limit. He has a lot of untapped talent that I think he will tap into in these next coming years.”

Dec 24, 2011; Honolulu, HI, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles quarterback Austin Davis (12) tries to avoid Nevada Wolf Pack defensive back Isaiah Frey (28) during the 2011 Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-US PRESSWIRE

The St. Louis Rams sent out a press release on Wednesday announcing the signing of 23 undrafted rookies for the upcoming season. We have already talked about most of these guys, but some of the names are new. In a nice added bonus, the press release included little blurbs about each player to let us get to know them a little better. This is going to be an interesting summer for the rookies, who should be given every chance to make this team. I wouldn’t be shocked if more of these guys make the final roster than expected, because I think Jeff Fisher wants to get his guys in here and he has no allegiance to any player from the previous regime. Considering we have the worst record in the NFL over the last five years, some new blood probably isn’t such a bad idea.

October 9, 2010; Gainesville FL, USA; LSU Tigers tight end Deangelo Peterson (19) catches the ball as Florida Gators safety Matt Elam (22) defends during the first half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The Rams had an awfully busy draft weekend, and they continued their aggressive approach in the world of undrafted free agents. The team has signed a large group of college rookies, and there are some names on the list that are at least a little exciting. Here are most of the guts that have signed, and expect more when they are confirmed:

LSU TE DeAngelo Peterson, Syracuse OT Michael Hay, Oregon State P John Hekker, Duke S Matt Daniels, UCLA TE Cory Harkey, Southern Mississippi QB Austin Davis, Wayne State OT Joe Long, Houston LB Sammy Brown, Ohio LB Noah Keller, Washington State LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Eastern Kentucky CB Jeremy Caldwell, LSU OL Bob Hebert, Virginia S Rodney McLeod, Virginia DL Matt Conrath, Massachusetts LS Travis Tripucka, Michigan State FB Todd Anderson, Stephen F. Austin LB Derrick Choice and Jacksonville State RB Calvin Middleton.

Hekker looks likes he’s going to be our punter this season, so there’s one starter right there. Peterson looks like a very nice addition, and I’m actually surprised he didn’t get drafted. Daniels is a guy the Rams really liked heading into the draft, so they have to be happy to get him afterwards. Brown is a guy I have heard good things about already, and considering our lack of depth at LB, that’s very good news.

Overall, you have to like this group. I wouldn’t be shocked if several of these guys make the team, and that’s really all you can ask.