camp, pre-season, week 5…& the game (on now)

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay said rookie RB Kyren Williams will participate in joint practices with Bengals in Cincinnati this week, and that the goal is for him to play in the preseason finale against the Bengals as well.

Sean McVay doesn't want to see any fights between the Rams and Bengals during practice this week

Good chance there will be at least one, imo https://t.co/nItvqY8mfQ

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) August 23, 2022

GOT 🖐 ON IT. pic.twitter.com/l10BhL859Q

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 24, 2022

Lance McCutcheon with fade for 6 in the joint practice against Cincinnati. #82 continues to show that he may be a diamond in the rough and may one day soon be catching these from QB1 pic.twitter.com/0dQC5pQRb2

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) August 25, 2022

Bengals-Rams joint practice: Super Bowl deja vu and other observations

https://theathletic.com/3536530/2022/08/24/bengals-rams-joint-practice-super-bowl/?source=emp_shared_article

When the Rams offense lined up against the Bengals defense for the start of joint practices next to Paycor Stadium on Wednesday, it looked like a continuation of the visitors’ final possession in Super Bowl LVI, with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and company driving the ball at will.

Stafford and backups John Wolford and Bryce Perkins came out and ran tempo right away, completing their first 19 passes against the Bengals defense in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 action.

The first incompletion came when Bengals cornerback Tre Flowers — who was getting increased reps because starter Eli Apple was out after having fluid drained from his quad — broke up a pass intended for Allen Robinson II in the end zone.

Stafford came back and hit his next four passes, the last two of which were touchdowns to Kupp, who beat Chidobe Awuzie on the first one and Mike Hilton on the second, again conjuring memories from February.

“We started off very slow,” Awuzie said. “I think it was one of our slowest days to start a practice.”

It was the first real action the first team had seen in nearly a week. Friday was a walk-through, Saturday a travel day, Sunday a preseason game in which no starters dressed, and Monday and Tuesday were off days.

“That’s very true,” Awuzie said. “But there’s no excuses in this league. If you’re out here, you’ve got to put out your best stuff. And obviously we didn’t in the first half of the practice.”

All told, in the first set of sevens and 11s, the Rams completed 27 of 29 passes, punctuated with a touchdown pass from Wolford to undrafted rookie wide receiver Lance McCutcheon, who had Bengals undrafted rookie corner Allan George draped on him in coverage.

After a couple of periods of special teams work, the teams went back to an 11-on-11 period of third downs. On the first play, Flowers broke up a pass intended for Kupp to set a tone of redemption for the defense.

Even on the passes Stafford and the backups completed, many were short of the first down.

And the young defensive linemen — Cam Sample, Jeff Gunter, Joseph Ossai and Zach Carter in particular — spent a lot of time in the backfield, and each of them recorded at least one “sack.”

On the downside, there were multiple offsides penalties. Three of them went against Trey Hendrickson, one went against Sample and on another, Sample and Gunter jumped.

While talking about the young linemen after practice, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo noticed Sample picking up his equipment behind him and pivoted off topic while comically raising his volume to say: “As long as we can stay onside on defense with our defensive line. Oh, is that Cam right there?”

The most impressive periods for the Bengals defense were at the end, in the two-minute drill, which again brought back Super Bowl memories.

The second team went first, and Gunter got a sack on second down while George appeared to intercept a pass on third down, only to have the officials rule it hit the ground. On fourth down, safety Trayvon Henderson, who had an interception go off his hands earlier in practice, tipped a pass that George intercepted.

Stafford and the first team got one first down, but on the ensuing third down, he tried to hit Kupp along the right sideline, only to have Awuzie break up the pass. “That was sweet,” Kupp told Awuzie as they headed out of bounds, and the conversation continued as they headed back to their huddles.

“He said he tried to go late hands, but he didn’t get me,” Awuzie said. “Ja’Marr (Chase) does a real good job of that, too, so I was kind of used to it.”

On fourth down, Stafford tried to force a ball into coverage over the middle, only to have either Flowers or Hilton deflect just before they collided. Vonn Bell snared the ball out of the air for a practice-ending interception.

Rams head coach Sean McVay was complimentary of Anarumo and the Bengals defense afterward.

“They’ve got a Rolodex of coverages. They play it all really sound,” McVay said. “There’s not a lot of air in the coverages, and they mix it up really well. … In a lot of instances, whether it’s watching these guys or even just spending a little bit of time with Lou Anarumo, I have tremendous respect for him and what his group has done, especially just looking at their trajectory since Zac (Taylor) took over. I’m just such a fan of the game, and I’ve got so much respect for the way that they operate.”

Hilton and Flowers stayed down for a bit after the play, but they eventually walked off under their own power, albeit with a slight limp for Hilton. But he said in a post-practice interview he was good.

“We ended up finishing strong, made a lot of plays, doing what we’re used to,” Awuzie said. “This is my first time doing a joint practice. It was kind of awkward and weird at first. It’s not a game, but you’re going against another team. I still don’t really know what to say about it.

“We started with 15 minutes of (individual drills) and then (went) straight to competing. Now we know what to expect, so our minds have to be right as soon as we get out here tomorrow.”

GAME

It’s just turnover city

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sean McVay calls Brycen Hopkins “clearly our No.2” tight end. Deserved after the spring and summer he had.

They have a practice on Monday as far as I am aware, so doesn’t make a lot of sense to wait even until Tues if they want to get to their “real” full install time ahead of Buffalo quick as they can. But they may have some other reason in mind if they do wait.

TurfShowTimes@TurfShowTimes
Rams have no offensive line depth, and the other thing is that we haven’t really seen their offensive line STARTERS yet with Noteboom, Shelton taking on starting roles for the first time.

Lance McCutcheon should change Rams’ long-term plans at WR and maybe even any thought of signing OBJ.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
“It seems like Lance is doing his part to make it easy,” says GM Les Snead on the broadcast as McCutcheon snares a tough grab, then, “Sean likes receivers, so it’s OK to have as many as possible in that room.”

Rams Brothers@RamsBrothers
Perkins is just great in space with his legs. If he ever has to take control of the offense, it’ll hopefully be scaled back to better suit his skill set.

In other words, he should probably never be in empty. Total opposite of what they do with Stafford.

alyoshamucci

What I need to note first is the difference in offensive depth and talent on a Zac Taylor team. I think their defense was above average but still had plenty of holes on 3rd string, where they should be.

I also think both squads were a little tired. I may be reading too much into that but most of the players Im used to seeing move faster had a little lead in their pants.

Guys who will not clear waivers (new section for this game only)

1) Bryce Perkins … He has shown touch, the ability to make quick decisions, and grit running the football.

2) McCutcheon … He’s a 1:1 beater. Just throw the ball up and he’s got the advantage. His tracking and balance cannot be taught.

3) AJ Arcuri … Honestly came along as fast or faster than AJ Jackson last year. The “Nah, we don’t have to draft an OLT” sentence is something I never thought was possible. I was wrong.

4) Jonah Williams … Someone will roster him if we don’t. Hoecht might slide through …

The Great

5) Having cut downs be as hard as they are.

6) Really just a show put on by McCutcheon … haven’t enjoyed a preseason as much as this in a while. (Though he had a couple marks against him this game, late to a block kinda stuff)

7) Keir Thomas. He might make it through waivers, I give it 50/50. He has certainly put together some highlights, but when he’s beat he seems to get fully swallowed.

The Good

8) Trammell, just put him on the bench, we know we want him on the PS as our backup PR.

9) Roger Carter looks smooth catching and running with the ball. He doesn’t have height but he’s still dangerous on bootlegs and check downs… Im sure he’ll be a PS guy.

10) Hummel I thought had a decent to plus preseason and was getting places faster in this game, though I still would take the chance on losing him to save a roster spot.

11) PS talent depth at DB. We won’t lose all of them. Likely 2-3.

12) I thought Ragas was good on short yardage.

13) Garrett Flashed a tiny bit, but should still clear waivers. I’d keep K Thomas over him.

The Bad

14) Jake, you CANNOT fumble. I’m letting him clear waivers.

15) I am NOT happy with our punting situation.

16) The completion percentage by Allen and Browning are a tad disconcerting. It could just be their talent, but I’m not used to seeing so many guys open against us.

17) Not happy with Yeast.

Derion Kendrick channeling his inner Ramsey. Great closing hit! pic.twitter.com/fjBNyRCdoJ

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) August 28, 2022