Rams Long Snapper Jake McQuaide (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Last Friday, we took a closer look at Rams rookie long snapper Travis Tripucka and his journey to the NFL.  Travis, doing his part to continue the Tripucka legacy, started with a lacrosse scholarship and eventually walked on to win the long snapping job at the University of Massachusetts.  Tripuckacaught the eye of professional scouts and is here at Rams Park trying to make his NFL dream come true.

This week, we continue our player interview series with second-year long snapper Jake McQuaide.  McQuaide took a similar route, walking onto the team at Ohio State.  He tells us about his transition from tight end to his current position, about being a professional in this league and how long snappers are unique football players.

Ohio Football

McQuaide learned the basics of long snapping his first year of playing football in the sixth grade.  It was then that a coach on his junior varsity team, who had previously played the position at Ohio University, literally taught him how to snap a football.

» Continue reading “One-on-One With Rams Long Snapper Jake McQuaide”

Rams rookie long snapper Travis Tripucka having fun at at TASK event (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

*From my most recent post on 101ESPN.com.

My family ventured on our annual East Coast road trip. If you don’t know already, I am a huge foodie. So, our travel route was plotted along the map of “Man vs. Food.”

Gray Brothers Cafeteria, just outside of Indianapolis, was our first stop. Hello, perfectly juicy fried chicken and fresh strawberry pie. Then onto Pittsburgh’s famous Primanti Brothers for sandwiches stuffed with fries and coleslaw – absolutely scrumptious and filling. But our final destination was the Garden State and the island of Manhattan.

New Jersey wasn’t all about my love for food, though. (But can I get an “Amen!” for BonChon Chicken and Jing Fong’s dim sum?) The trip was mostly about my love for my family. Road trips to California will prove to be few and far between, so I wanted to spend some quality time with my parents and sister before their big move to the opposite coast.

OK, I’ll admit we did eat a lot while we were there and did some touristy things. As we all know, nothing says quality family time like frolicking on the infamous Shores of Jersey. So, while the kids were body surfing the waves, I was busy getting my sunburn on. As I was involuntarily crisping in the water, I saw a guy with a mustache that reminded me of a certain Rams rookie who also spends time on the Jersey Shores.

During the last week of OTAs I had a chance to sit down with the Rams’ rookie long snapper, the Fu Manchu mustache-modeling Travis Tripucka. We talked about two of the biggest passions in his life – family and sports.

» Continue reading “Rams’ Tripucka Honors the Family Name with His Work”

(Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

According to @jthom1 of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch these are the undrafted free agent rookies the Rams have agreed upon.

Offense:

Austin Davis, QB, Southern Miss

T-Bob Hebert, OC, LSU – Son of former Saints QB, Bobby Hebert.  Ragin’ Cajun!

Joe Long, OL, Wayne State – Brother of Miami Dolphins Jake Long.

Michael Hay, OT, Syracuse

Nick Johnson, WR, Henderson State

Todd Anderson, FB, Michigan State

Calvin Middleton, RB, Jackson State

Nick Schwieger, RB, Dartmouth

Cory Harkey, TE, UCLA

DeAngelo Peterson, TE, LSU

» Continue reading “Rams Undrafted Free Agent List”