Braden Fiske remembers the Chicago Bears’ final journey to the Tremendous Bowl.
Fiske, a Rams rookie defensive lineman, grew up in Michigan Metropolis, Ind., about an hour by automotive from Soldier Area in Chicago.
With members of the family and associates rooting for the Bears, the then-7-year-old Fiske was enamored by the Indianapolis Colts, who defeated the Bears in Tremendous Bowl XLI in Miami to cap the 2006 season.
“I grew up in the Peyton Manning era,” Fiske mentioned, including. “I have family down in Indianapolis, and I grew up loving that defense. [Retired All-Pro safety] Bob Sanders is still one of my favorite players.”
Fiske is trying ahead to in the future taking part in towards the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, however he additionally is happy to compete for the primary time as a professional towards the Bears at Soldier Area on Sunday.
At the very least 25 members of the family and associates are anticipated to attend the sport, Fiske mentioned.
They are going to be rooting for Fiske, however he acknowledged that allegiances solely go to this point.
“That’s Bears country,” he mentioned.
Fiske, 24, has made a direct affect for a Rams protection that made a number of key stops late in a 27-24 comeback victory final week over the San Francisco 49ers.
Fiske made two tackles. He additionally recovered a fumble for the second time in two video games.
“He knows how to be a pro as a rookie and that’s rare,” Rams line of defense coach Giff Smith mentioned.
It may be tough for the Rams’ Braden Fiske to search out Chicago Bears followers rooting for him, however a couple of might be there.
(Kamil Krzaczynski / Related Press)
Fiske, nevertheless, remains to be acclimating to the NFL, and the problem of wrapping up quarterbacks way more elusive and seasoned than faculty gamers. The Rams struggled to include Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals and Brock Purdy of the 49ers.
“He’s learning that, and he’ll continue to grow,” Smith mentioned, “and he’ll start to be able to close out those rushes.”
Fiske started his faculty profession at Western Michigan and transferred to Florida State for his last faculty season. Fiske teamed with edge rusher Jared Verse for the Seminoles, and got here on through the second half of the season. His draft inventory continued to climb throughout Senior Bowl practices.
After the Rams chosen Verse with the nineteenth choose within the first spherical of the draft, they traded up 13 spots to pick out Fiske within the second with the thirty ninth total choose.
Rams coach Sean McVay opts to not play projected starters or vital gamers throughout preseason video games, so Fiske’s first snaps as a professional got here as a starter within the opener towards the Detroit Lions on “Sunday Night Football.”
“I’ve gotten to see some big stages and to go against some good quarterbacks and a variety of offensive linemen,” Fiske mentioned. “It’s been a good adjustment so far. I think the biggest thing right now is learning and trying to absorb everything.”
Rams deal with Kobie Turner is coming off a rookie season throughout which he recorded eight sacks and was a finalist for defensive rookie of the yr.
Turner mentioned he benefited from starting the season with restricted duty after which working right into a extra vital position.
Fiske has began from the outset.
“The coaches and we all kind of put a lot on his plate,” Turner mentioned of Fiske’s position in a number of personnel packages. “To be able to play all of that from the jump is a lot to process, just coming into the league and having nerves and all things like that.
“I’m just looking forward to kind of continuing to see him grow and mature as he starts to see the game and the game starts to slow down a little bit.”
All a part of the method, Fiske mentioned.
“You really find out on Sundays who you are as a player, what you need to work on and what kind of separates the best from the guys that may not be there yet,” he mentioned.
