DOVE VALLEY — Highlight: The team spent much of Friday practicing in the red zone, and the star was clearly quarterback Jay Cutler.
On back-to-back plays in a seven-on-seven drill Cutler tossed touchdowns to Clifford Russell (back corner of the end zone) and Darrell Jackson (just across the goal line). But the most impressive score was in the full-team drill a few minutes later when Cutler hit Brandon Marshall in the back of the end zone. That pass – and the way Marshall nimbly got both feet down in bounds – wowed new wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch. “Can I get a signal over there?” Fisch called out to the official standing beside the goal post. “There it is!” Fisch shouted as soon as the official obliged.
Lowlight: One week of camp is done, but right guard Montrae Holland still hasn’t shed the weight he needs to lose in order to rejoin the team for full-squad workouts. The fact that Holland spent today pushing around a 200-pound sled – and not defensive linemen – does not bode well for his chances to be the starter for the season opener against Oakland. “Anytime you give guys an opportunity to get in front of you, it’s never good,” coach Mike Shanahan said.
Quote: “There is a difference between being injured and being hurt. Tom knows the difference. So when he can play, he’ll be back in the lineup,” coach Mike Shanahan on center Tom Nalen, who has been out of practice since Monday with an injured left knee.
Point after: Most of the coaching staff from Colorado State University attended practice today morning. Notably absent, though, was new head coach Steve Fairchild. The Ram staff stayed for the entire two hours, and spent a while chatting with former CSU star Cecil Sapp at the conclusion of practice.
