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The 2011 NFL season proved to be more difficult than expected for the St. Louis Rams. However, the team had some bright spots. Defensive end Robert Quinn recorded five sacks in limited action for the club and earned more playing time in the second half of the season. I got in touch with Quinn recently, and here is what he had to say about the Rams, his career, and his personal life.
Do you expect there to be any changes in how the Rams use you in 2012? With James Hall no longer with the team, I’m assuming you’re going to be starting. Is that right?
I have no idea. I just go with the flow. It would be nice, but I have no idea. I guess this year, or just in general, I want to be on the field a little bit more. I’ll go with the flow. Whatever they need me to do I’ll do to help the team win, just like this past year.
What do you think of the offseason personnel moves the Rams have made thus far?
I definitely like some of the pieces that they brought in, from a Pro Bowl center [Scott Wells] to [Cortland] Finnegan at corner. It’s not just me, but some of the guys I’ve talked to are definitely excited about these moves. Everyone’s excited about the upcoming season. It can’t get here fast enough.
How much did injuries affect the Rams in 2011?
No matter who it is or when it happens, it definitely affects you. From the first game to the very last game when my teammates got hurt, it just pushed the guys to try to stay positive and strong, just to be professional. It’s tough, but at the end of the day, everybody gets paid to do their job. It was a tough transition.
Which opposing offensive lineman gave you the most problems in 2011?
I usually go against the left tackle, so I always get the best o-lineman out there and a couple Pro Bowlers at that. You win some, you lose some, but off the top of my head that’s a toughie. I remember Joe Thomas and Joe Staley had a really good year.
It’s been said that, as an offensive lineman, if you’re not holding in the NFL, you’re not trying. Based on your first year in the NFL, what percentage of the time do offensive linemen hold you?
(laughs) Shoot, 100 percent. How many get called? Probably none. But hey, someone told me – and I think it was an old coach back in high school – but he told me that if we don’t hold, the quarterbacks will get killed. Holding is kinda becoming part of the game. But it’s competitive out there. You have to do what you have to do in order to get up on the opponent, so you just have to put your work in and do all these different kinds of drills to work on keeping these offensive linemen’s hands off of you.
What was your favorite memory from your rookie season?
Oh, that’s a tough one. There are a couple, you know. My first sack and our first win were two of the big ones that I have from last season. Those two are my personal favorites. And then there are moments in the locker room when guys are just joking on each other. It’s that chemistry that I really enjoy.
Speaking of locker room chemistry and that part of the game, who are your best friends on the team now?
Well, a guy named Quinn Porter. I talk to him a good bit. The d-linemen, of course, they just bond naturally. There are a couple of them, but Quinn Porter is one of the guys I really hang out with a lot.
How have you adjusted to life in St. Louis?
I do the same thing that I did in the south: a whole bunch of nothing. I come home and just relax. I do something every now and then, which is hardly ever, but what I do is come home and relax. I might watch TV or play a game. I’m a big music guy, so I always have music playing. That’s kinda what I do. I don’t know if that’s too boring, but that’s just me.
What else do you do with your time?
Well, my girlfriend and I go to the movies a lot. I think I’ve seen just about every movie out there. I got a pool table, so I shoot pool now and then. Of course, when the guys are in town and feel like doing something, I’ll hang out with them. We’ll go out to eat or just kick it at the house and play video games. It depends on the day and how I feel. But like I said, personally, I’m just relaxing.
I do have a shih tzu named Sophie. She’s a headache. We’ll run around the house every once in a while. She’s only good for about 10 minutes before she’s ready for a nap, so that’s where I get my workouts this offseason. I’m running around with her. So, she’s definitely a handful. She’s like a kid in a dog’s body.
That’s good practice for you to be a father one day.
Well, I do have a son.
Oh, you do? How old is he, and what’s his name?
Well, he’s seven months, so he’s not running around just yet. (laughs) Robert, Jr.
Does he take after you or your girlfriend?
(laughs) I think he’s a little bit of me. If you ask her, she might say it’s her. But everybody’s different. I think he’s like me. He’s calm, but likes to have a bit of fun at the same time.
You know, I had my son and signed my contract with the Rams on the same day. That was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Where does that rank in your all-time best days?
That’s got to be the top. That’s the number one.
You can follow Robert on Twitter @RQuinn94
Derek Ciapala has been following the Rams since childhood. He has been published on Yahoo! Sports, Sports Out West and multiple other websites. You can check him out on Facebook or Twitter @dciapala.
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The 2011 NFL season proved to be more difficult than expected for the St. Louis Rams. However, the team had some bright spots. Defensive end Robert Quinn recorded five sacks in limited action for the club and earned more playing time in the second half of the season. I got in touch with Quinn recently, and here is what he had to say about the Rams, his career, and his personal life.
Do you expect there to be any changes in how the Rams use you in 2012? With James Hall no longer with the team, I’m assuming you’re going to be starting. Is that right?
I have no idea. I just go with the flow. It would be nice, but I have no idea. I guess this year, or just in general, I want to be on the field a little bit more. I’ll go with the flow. Whatever they need me to do I’ll do to help the team win, just like this past year.
What do you think of the offseason personnel moves the Rams have made thus far?
I definitely like some of the pieces that they brought in, from a Pro Bowl center [Scott Wells] to [Cortland] Finnegan at corner. It’s not just me, but some of the guys I’ve talked to are definitely excited about these moves. Everyone’s excited about the upcoming season. It can’t get here fast enough.
How much did injuries affect the Rams in 2011?
No matter who it is or when it happens, it definitely affects you. From the first game to the very last game when my teammates got hurt, it just pushed the guys to try to stay positive and strong, just to be professional. It’s tough, but at the end of the day, everybody gets paid to do their job. It was a tough transition.
Which opposing offensive lineman gave you the most problems in 2011?
I usually go against the left tackle, so I always get the best o-lineman out there and a couple Pro Bowlers at that. You win some, you lose some, but off the top of my head that’s a toughie. I remember Joe Thomas and Joe Staley had a really good year.
It’s been said that, as an offensive lineman, if you’re not holding in the NFL, you’re not trying. Based on your first year in the NFL, what percentage of the time do offensive linemen hold you?
(laughs) Shoot, 100 percent. How many get called? Probably none. But hey, someone told me – and I think it was an old coach back in high school – but he told me that if we don’t hold, the quarterbacks will get killed. Holding is kinda becoming part of the game. But it’s competitive out there. You have to do what you have to do in order to get up on the opponent, so you just have to put your work in and do all these different kinds of drills to work on keeping these offensive linemen’s hands off of you.
What was your favorite memory from your rookie season?
Oh, that’s a tough one. There are a couple, you know. My first sack and our first win were two of the big ones that I have from last season. Those two are my personal favorites. And then there are moments in the locker room when guys are just joking on each other. It’s that chemistry that I really enjoy.
Speaking of locker room chemistry and that part of the game, who are your best friends on the team now?
Well, a guy named Quinn Porter. I talk to him a good bit. The d-linemen, of course, they just bond naturally. There are a couple of them, but Quinn Porter is one of the guys I really hang out with a lot.
How have you adjusted to life in St. Louis?
I do the same thing that I did in the south: a whole bunch of nothing. I come home and just relax. I do something every now and then, which is hardly ever, but what I do is come home and relax. I might watch TV or play a game. I’m a big music guy, so I always have music playing. That’s kinda what I do. I don’t know if that’s too boring, but that’s just me.
What else do you do with your time?
Well, my girlfriend and I go to the movies a lot. I think I’ve seen just about every movie out there. I got a pool table, so I shoot pool now and then. Of course, when the guys are in town and feel like doing something, I’ll hang out with them. We’ll go out to eat or just kick it at the house and play video games. It depends on the day and how I feel. But like I said, personally, I’m just relaxing.
I do have a shih tzu named Sophie. She’s a headache. We’ll run around the house every once in a while. She’s only good for about 10 minutes before she’s ready for a nap, so that’s where I get my workouts this offseason. I’m running around with her. So, she’s definitely a handful. She’s like a kid in a dog’s body.
That’s good practice for you to be a father one day.
Well, I do have a son.
Oh, you do? How old is he, and what’s his name?
Well, he’s seven months, so he’s not running around just yet. (laughs) Robert, Jr.
Does he take after you or your girlfriend?
(laughs) I think he’s a little bit of me. If you ask her, she might say it’s her. But everybody’s different. I think he’s like me. He’s calm, but likes to have a bit of fun at the same time.
You know, I had my son and signed my contract with the Rams on the same day. That was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Where does that rank in your all-time best days?
That’s got to be the top. That’s the number one.
You can follow Robert on Twitter @RQuinn94
Derek Ciapala has been following the Rams since childhood. He has been published on Yahoo! Sports, Sports Out West and multiple other websites. You can check him out on Facebook or Twitter @dciapala.
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