Alden Gonzalez@Alden_Gonzalez
McVay made it sound like Rams’ LB spots are wide open, at least outside of Mark Barron. Cory Littleton, Ramik Wilson and Bryce Hager will have a leg up inside. For OLB, McVay mentioned Matt Longacre, Samson Ebukam and Morgan Fox, who will become more of a standup pass rusher.
“I wouldn’t have a problem if we got something done right now.” Rams coach Sean McVay was asked about Aaron Donald, who remains absent from the offseason program
How is new Rams OT Joe Noteboom going to spend his first NFL paycheck? “Probably on a car.” He doesn’t have one. You kinda need one out here.
Obo Okoronkwo (Oklahoma) was selected in the fifth round by the Rams with the hope that he could eventually replace Robert Quinn. The guy he modeled himself after? Robert Quinn. “When I first started playing, one of my coaches in high school said that eventually this is what you can do. I started playing nose guard and 3-technique originally, but he told me, ‘When you finally get it, when the light comes on, this is the type of player you’re going to be.’ That’s what he showed me. So I never forgot about Robert Quinn.”
Myles Simmons@MylesASimmons
#LARams HC Sean McVay at the podium now. Says the rookies had a good start today, and he anticipates veterans will take the young players under their wing to help them out.
“The team room was a lot more full than it’s been this morning,” McVay adds.
Noteboom faced Obo Okoronkwo twice in college and says, “He was definitely the best pass rusher I’ve ever faced.” The two are now teammates with the #LARams.
OL Joseph Noteboom Said upon seeing Whitworth in person for the first time, “You can definitely see why he’s so good just by looking at him.”
Sean McVay on former USC WR Steven Mitchell, who the Rams have signed as a UDFA: “Anytime you’re looking at a receiver, you want to see guys that have the ability to separate, aggressive hands attacking the football.
“He’s a guy that does have some of those traits and those characteristics that you’re looking for, that we feel like will translate. I’m interested to see what he does, as far as ‘Is he an X? Is he a Z? Does he have the ability to play in the slot.’ He’s a guy we are excited abt”
Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Joe Noteboom played hockey growing up, beginning at 4 years old. “It definitely helped with footwork… balance, feet and stuff like that.” Also played basketball and threw the shot.
Sean McVay on the fresh group of rookies: “A lot of wide eyes… but it seemed to me that they were excited.”
McVay on UDFA QB Luis Perez, who won a roster spot at the tryout camp: “He definitely won that job with the way that he performed.”
Sean McVay says the Rams “got a lot of the guys we targeted” during the UDFA process. You can imagine it was easier to recruit a linebacker than a receiver this year
Okoronkwo said he continued to watch cut ups of Quinn’s game in college in order to help out his own game. Okoronkwo also mentioned Vonn Miller, Justin Houston, and Dwight Freeney as players he’s studied to model his game after.
“I think what Todd (Gurley) did was he showed why he’s a complete back and to take him off the field, he better be pretty tired. Now you want to be smart about that. But there’s a reason why he was able to have all that success…
“And you can’t say enough about the consistency at which Malcolm Brown performed when he got his opportunity. You’ve got two guys in that room that have performed.”
“When you look at what Justin (Davis) was able to put on tape last year in the preseason, in terms of the excitement, as he continues to mature, take better care of the football, be more productive in protection, we’re excited about him.”
McVay called rookie John Kelly “a physical, violent downhill runner who did a lot of good things at Tennessee… John’s going to have a chance to come in and compete.”
The Rams have been awarded RB Larry Rose on waivers from Tennessee, the team announces. Rookie out of New Mexico State who signed with Titans as a UDFA and was cut after their rookie camp last week.
QB Luis Perez, who earned a spot on the team over the weekend at the Rams’ tryout camp. is another Rams UEFA signing who did not play varsity football in high school.
McVay on Perez: “Everybody that I’ve talked to really can’t say enough about the human being. But then when you just watch him in terms of natural base, balance, body position to deliver the ball, he earned the right to be able to be on this team.”
“You can see he’s got a command and a nice presence about himself.”
Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Rams rookie LB Obo Okoronkwo recalled the first of his two matchups (with Oklahoma in 2016) against TCU offensive lineman Joe Noteboom…a game-clinching play: “I sacked Kenny Hill and we won the game and went home. His story might be a little sadder.” (Obo laughed)
.
Agamemnon
