Rams Inside Slant
By Rams Nation's Site Staff
Coach Mike Martz was at first reluctant to play Wistrom against the Raiders,
but because the game was on grass and since Wistrom was champing at the bit
to get some contact, he started and got his sacks on the Raiders' fifth offensive
play of the game.
Despite not being able to go through the entire one-month fast-twitch, plyometrics
program in Dallas, Wistrom said he was still helped by it.
"My pressures last year were through the roof," Wistrom said. "But
I was a step slow all the time, I guess. My sack total was just 4 1/2 - and
that's just not acceptable."
He is hoping the extra work will provide that extra step to be able to generate
more big plays. On his sack against the Raiders, Wistrom was able to dive and
get quarterback Rich Gannon by the legs.
While he says he's not thinking about a new contract, the reality is that Wistrom
is entering the final year of his original rookie deal.
"That's one reason why I've tried to work so hard this offseason, trying
to make myself into the best player I can be," Wistrom said. "This
is my sixth year. If I get to sign a multi-year deal, it's probably going to
be the last contract I ever sign. So you want to make it as good as you possibly
can."
He acknowledges not wearing the right shoes for the pounding on the feet that
occurs in the program.
"I had put on a little bit of weight, and I wasn't wearing the right kind
of shoes to do it in," Wistrom said. "I was wearing a weighted vest
and just through the repeated pounding on my feet -- and I've got flat feet
-- I think it kind of messed up my arches."
But now all appears well, and Wistrom appears ready to team with left end Leonard
Little to give the Rams a dangerous pass-rushing combination coming off the
edge. Most important, he wants the team to get back to its winning ways. He
knows if that happens, and he plays well, a contract will follow.
"Because if we go out, we win, and I play good football, all that stuff
takes care of itself," Wistrom said.
CAMP CALENDAR: Camp closes Aug. 13.