WARREN MAYES
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rams wide receiver Brian Quick had seven catches for 99 yards in their opener, both career highs.
A second-round pick in 2012, Quick is now more comfortable with St. Louis’ offense and the league.
“I’ve made a lot of progress from last year,” Quick said Thursday. “There’s no thinking at all for me. I’m preparing the way I need to and I’m going out there and handling business. It’s all more natural to me.”
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Quick caught 29 passes for 458 yards in his first two seasons. Coming from Football Championship Subdivision school Appalachian State, he found the Rams’ playbook much more complex.
“It kept me from playing fast,” Quick said, “but now that I’m dialed in, I can move fast and make plays.”
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer wasn’t surprised by Quick’s performance in the opener.
“He’s been doing it all spring, all training camp,” he said. “He’s just a playmaker. He’s improved his ability to run routes. I was happy to see him have that kind of success because he’s worked really, really hard.
“He’s been a fun guy to watch develop out of Appalachian State. You watch him work his way up out here in the grass and in the classroom. I think we’ll see that week in and week out.”
The only downside of his performance in a 34-6 loss to the Vikings was a facemask penalty that negated a 21-yard gain.
“I was encouraged. Brian came on. He made every catch,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “The only thing that he could improve was the facemask penalty. He’s learned from that. But he was very productive. Made different types of catches, contested catches.
“This happened to be a day where we had opportunities to get the ball to Brian. For the most part, Brian made the plays. He’s not going to get an opportunity when we hand the football off. He did, however, do a nice job blocking.”
NOTES: QB Shaun Hill (thigh) did not practice along with CB Trumaine Johnson (knee), C Barrett Jones (back) and DB Lamarcus Joyner (back).
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