Frerotte is armed and ready to roll
September 28th, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
As the Rams’ backup quarterback, Gus Frerotte asks only this of starter Marc
Bulger: “I tell him all the time, ‘If you don’t think you can go, just lie down
and give me some time to get loose.’”
Understandably, Frerotte needs a few extra throws on the sideline these days to
get his 36-year-old right arm warmed up. And with Bulger playing with a couple
of broken ribs and a banged-up knee, Frerotte is keeping a close eye on his
colleague. “I know if he’s hurt or not,” Frerotte said.
Coach Scott Linehan is giving Frerotte extra snaps with the first team in
practice this week, just in case. “Just a couple,” Frerotte stressed. “Mostly
of it’s mental reps, and that’s the hard part for a backup, not getting the
practice time to get those quality reps in. But that’s what you’re paid to do,
come in cold and do the job.”
Frerotte was the backup to Daunte Culpepper at Minnesota in 2003 and 2004, when
Linehan was the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. In 2005 in Miami, where Linehan
filled the same position, Frerotte started 15 games. “I’ve been in and out of
this role,” Frerotte said. “It doesn’t bother me.”
Overall, Frerotte has started 79 NFL games for five teams in his 14-year
career. A less-experienced No. 2 might need more work in a similar situation,
Linehan said.
“You’d have to give him more snaps,” he said. “Gus has been doing this for so
long and … he’s been in this position a number of times. He knows he has to
prepare. He knows what’s going on. He knows where Marc (Bulger) has been with
his injury.”
Even when the starting quarterback is completely healthy, Frerotte prepares
throughout the week with the understanding that one play could shove him into
action.
“You get ready to go, because you never know when that play’s going to happen,”
he said. “It could happen at any time, and you’re going to have to go in and
play. So you prepare the same no matter what.”
Frerotte got into one game last season, his first with the Rams, when Bulger
was shaken up before halftime against San Francisco. Frerotte completed one of
three passes, but it was a crucial play. His 27-yard strike to wideout Kevin
Curtis that led to a field goal on the last play before intermission in a 20-17
Rams win.
RAM-BLINGS
Guard Richie Incognito (ankle) did more demanding work in individual drills but
again was held out of the “team” session. “I’m not going to count him out” for
Sunday’s game at Dallas, Linehan said. … Linehan, a quarterback at Idaho, was
with the Cowboys during the offseason in 1987 but failed a physical exam
because of a shoulder injury and never made it to training camp. … Fox’s Nick
Gianino is the Rams’ high school coach of the week. The Warriors upended
previously unbeaten Festus 18-14 on Friday.
