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 Manning Cramming
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 Text Size Text Size By Nick Wagoner Senior Writer With his second son due in October, Ricky Manning Jr. is preparing for plenty of sleepless nights. In his first week with the Rams, he’s getting a head start.
Manning officially signed with the Rams on Monday and soon
after buried his head in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s voluminous
playbook. “It’s a whole lot to do,” Manning said. “It’s like learning
a new language in a week. For me to get out there, I have to know the defense. I
can’t get out there knowing some of the stuff. This is for real, these games
count so you can’t afford to go out there and make mistakes. So, like I told
(DB) coach (Ron) Milus, I’m on coach’s hours. I’m here around the clock.” Manning comes to the Rams from Lovie Smith’s Cover
2 principles weren’t difficult to understand. After spending his first three NFL
seasons in “It’s not an
option,” Manning said. “It’s what I have to do. This isn’t
If Manning had his
way, he would have been in Early in Chicago’s camp, the Bears made it clear to Manning
that he would be slotted well behind starters Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman
as well as nickel back Danieal Manning. With no apparent opportunity to move up, Manning requested
his release or a trade. The Bears complied but not until last week with most of
the preseason and opportunities to get repetitions in a new defense gone.
“It was kind of a relief but it was also kind of a
disappointment because it was like this was going to happen all along and I
could have gotten a couple more weeks and be forced into the situation I’m in
now,” Manning said. “And now I have to be forced into cramming a defense and be
ready for a game in week one.” Based on his NFL experience, though, coach Scott Linehan and the Rams expect Manning to be ready to contribute if needed this week. Manning adds some all important experience to a banged up
secondary. Starter Fakhir Brown missed most of this year’s preseason with a
shoulder injury and rookie Justin King was lost for the season to foot surgery.
That left a group of Tye Hill, Ron Bartell and Jonathan Wade
to take all of the reps. Brown is working his way back into shape and could play
this week but Manning brings a reputation as an aggressive and versatile play
maker to the secondary. In his six seasons, Manning has posted 14 interceptions, 292
tackles and three sacks. But Manning’s play admittedly fell off in 2007 when he
had what he considers his worst season in the league. “It was a combination of me messing up, me being in some
uncomfortable situations or playing techniques,” Manning said. “It was a
combination of things. Of course, me making mistakes and not playing up to my
ability but the main reason the season wasn’t successful was because I didn’t
have any turnovers. I measure my season off not only the techniques I play but
turnovers contributed. This was my first year I had zero. That makes a bad
season for me.” One bad season in six doesn’t mean Manning is no longer
capable, though, as Rams fans can certainly attest. Many Rams fans will remember Manning from the 2003 season
when he was a rookie with the Panthers. In a NFC Divisional playoff game at the Edward Jones Dome,
Manning wrested an interception out of the hands of receiver Torry Holt during
the first overtime. Just three plays later, the Panthers scored on a 69-yard
touchdown pass to receiver Steve Smith to advance to the NFC Championship game.
“That was a great game, instant classic, a game you never
forget,” Manning said. “Especially for me, I was a young player at the time, I
was a rookie. That was a great game so hopefully now I can make some of those
plays for the other sideline.” Assuming Manning gets up to speed in terms of the playbook
in the next four days, his journey will come full circle to the place where the
rest of the league first got to know him. It’s fitting that
Manning’s first game as a Ram could come in
And Manning is confident he’ll be ready if called. “We’ll see how it plays out,” Manning said. “I’m an
experienced player; this is my sixth year in the league. I had some success at
the nickel spot and at corner so I guess it just adds more depth to the team
depending on how fact I can pick up the defense and get in there and make some
plays.” ROSTER MOVE: To make room for linebacker/special teams ace Gary Stills on the roster, the Rams released linebacker Tim McGarigle.
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