Rams set offseason program
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/7290/rams-set-offseason-program
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- While the NFL moved the draft back a couple of weeks to May this year, it didn't do much to change the dates for offseason programs around the league.
The league announced the starting dates and all of the organized team activities (OTAs) dates for all 32 teams on Thursday afternoon. Included in that group, of course, is the St. Louis Rams.
Because the NFL allows teams hiring new head coaches to get underway earlier than others, some teams will start their offseason conditioning programs as early as next week. As Jeff Fisher enters his third year as Rams coach, the Rams will have to wait until April 21 to begin the offseason program.
Until OTAs begin, the Rams can do strength and conditioning work. But all teams will have to wait until after the draft to start OTAs, the time when they can actually begin doing the on-field activities most closely resembling a practice.
Here are some key dates of the Rams' offseason program:
First day: April 21
OTA dates: June 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20
The Rams are getting started on OTAs s little later than other teams, but that's been common practice under Fisher. Fisher prefers to give his rookies a chance to come in, learn how the team wants things done and then mix in with the veterans. So it's safe to assume the rookies will come in soon after the draft and begin getting acclimated, likely with a rookie minicamp mixed in.
Another quirk to Fisher's offseason plan that differs from other teams is the absence of a mandatory full-squad minicamp. In fact, the Rams are the only team in the league without one scheduled.
All offseason work is closed to the public.