The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/130469
where are they now? seasons with the team. A fresh start in St. Louis, where he signed as a free agent in the offseason following an injury-shortened 2012 campaign with the Dolphins, has him ready to prove himself once more. In a sense, it's like 2008 all over again. "Absolutely there's pressure [to perform]," Long said of being the No. 1 pick. "When you get picked that high, they expect great things from you. You've got to produce, go out and prove everybody right — and prove some people wrong. That's the mindset I went in with, and it's still the mindset I have every single day. You've got to prove people right." Including critics who already say he's not the same player he was when he came out of Michigan in 2008. A torn triceps muscle suffered in December was the latest physical setback, and while he'd played through many injuries in his first few years — a shoulder and a knee to name a couple — this one required immediate surgery. Long has spent the last several months rehabbing. Always a relentless worker, he carries an extra chip on his shoulder to prove he's still among the league's best at his position. "It's like my rookie year — I feel like I have to prove it all over again, and I'm excited for that challenge," he said. "I'm doing great. Honestly, best I've felt in a very long time. "My tricep from last year is feeling great and I'm doing drills out on the field. Everything else is feeling awesome. I'm getting strong, really happy with how I'm feeling. My arm was repaired back in December and I've been rehabbing ever since. It's feeling great." Though the Dolphins made a late push to keep him, Long found just what he was looking for in St. Louis, an up and coming young team with plenty of potential. Under new head coach (and former Tennessee coach) Jeff Fisher, the Rams improved to 7‑8‑1 last year from 2-14 the previous season, boasting a solid nucleus and a proven coaching staff. Long, like most, recognized the Rams as a franchise on the rise. St. Louis finished with the best divisional record in a tough NFC West (4‑1‑1, including 1-0-1 against Super Bowl loser San Francisco) and appreciated the coaching staff's pitch when he visited. It was like a collegiate recruiting trip all over again, and he felt wanted. "It was just like that — it felt really weird [to be recruited], but it was fun," he recalled with a laugh. "I got to explore the stadium, talk with all the coaches during the visit, meet all the guys. It was great. When I came in on my visit, Coach Fisher and I met a lot, along with [general manager] Les Snead and [chief operations officer] Kevin Demoff. "I spent a lot of time with them, and I fell in love with the philosophy. Coach Fisher, his love for the game, the way he approaches coaching, where the team is at, how young, energetic and up and coming this