camp thread 4: more general news & general takeaways

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Sean McVay noticing a change in Stetson Bennett’s confidence this season
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett during NFL football practice.

Gary Klein

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2025-07-31/sean-mcvay-stetson-bennett-rams

Quarterback Stetson Bennett never appeared to lack confidence when he was leading Georgia to back-to-back national titles.

And for the first time since the Rams drafted him in 2023, Bennett is practicing with an obvious spring in his step.

With starter Matthew Stafford sidelined because of a back issue, and Jimmy Garoppolo running the first-team offense, Bennett has impressed while working with the second unit.

“Everything is just more comfortable,” Bennett said Thursday after a full-pads practice at Loyola Marymount.

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman (53) celebrates after a tackle with Jared Verse (8) during the NFL football team’s training camp Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Rams

Bennett, 27, played in the 2023 preseason but was out during the regular season for what he later acknowledged as a mental health issue. He returned last season, played in the preseason and was the No. 3 quarterback behind Stafford and Garoppolo.

But the tentativeness of last season appears to be gone. He has connected for touchdowns and big gains with several receivers while avoiding poor decisions and turnovers.

“Confidence, and he’s enjoying it,” coach Sean McVay said when asked what he noticed as the biggest difference in Bennett. “When you watched him play at Georgia, and even some of the preseason games, when he gets into a rhythm and he’s smiling, all these great competitors, there’s an enjoyment for mastering their craft and enjoyment of just being totally immersed in the moment, and then enjoyment of your teammates’ success.”

Bennett credits quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone for his development in the Rams’ system.

“Every day, he’ll challenge me a little bit more,” Bennett said.

Stafford and Garoppolo also have helped with their example and advice, Bennett said.

The instruction and counsel, combined with the increased amount of reps, has translated to more confident play. And more Bennett-initiated communication with Ragone after each series.

“I know a little bit more of what’s going on,” Bennett said. “Whereas last year I was a lot more reactionary, this year I kind of know what I’m looking at, and what could have changed or might have happened if I’d done something different.

“I can have a lot more conversations instead of just listening.”

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (4) smiles after winning.
Rams

Bennett said he was “bummed” that Stafford has not been able to practice, but he has been excited and has tried to take advantage of the opportunity for more reps.

Bennett is on track to get plenty of work Tuesday during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard. He also is expected to start on Aug. 9 when the Rams play the Cowboys in a preseason game at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s been two or three [years] since I’ve gotten to practice meaningful snaps, so I’m really grateful for it,” Bennett said. “And I try to be confident and ready and present every single day.

“It will be exciting to play other people. I know some dudes on the Cowboys, so that will be fun. It’s always fun to play somebody in a different color jersey.”

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69RamFan

Ford and Landman, I’m sure they’ll be a big impact in the run game.

If you check out the video clips I posted, there is one clip on day 6 with pads,
It showed on the tape with Turner, Ford and Fiske in the middle,
With Turner, Ford, & Fiske, in the middle, we have some run stoppers.
They are gonna cause some havoc in the run game.

POONA Ford is as advertised!!! pic.twitter.com/CgNEmZAfCs

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025

Kobie Turner with a big play. pic.twitter.com/BfLdywgrri

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025

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from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/08/02/rams-corum-hunter-williams-training-camp-running-backs/85490584007/?taid=688e616c461fe20001cf6c99&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Coach McVay had some more to say on Corum, specifically commenting on how good Corum has looked so far in training camp.

“I think [Blake] has done a really good job,” McVay said last week. “I thought he had some excellent runs today. I think he’s had a really good camp. He’s one of those guys who, because of how conscientious he is, he’s going to improve in his second year. I think [Running Backs Coach] Ron Gould does such a great job with that room as a whole. Really love what we’ve seen from Blake and Jarquez Hunter.”

Blake Corum toss sweep!!! pic.twitter.com/2wERn9ZWeZ

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025

Hunter got some love from McVay, too, catching the coach’s eye in practice for his physicality.

“I thought you saw Jarquez do an excellent job,” McVay said last week. “He’s heavy. He’s got a great body lean. Even though we’re not truly tackling, you can feel that he is heavy through the hole. He has a really good demeanor. He can stare a hole through you. He’s continuing to show improvement.”

Jarquez Hunter. pic.twitter.com/x3OcJXHLT8

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 30, 2025

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J.B. Long@JB_Long
Closing thoughts from Rams camp:

*Really feel competitive depth.
*Hard for rookies to find work so far & that’s a great thing. Roles are coming.
*Nice not to think about kicking game.
*Bullish on upside at LB & S.
*Looking forward to seeing Sat: 15, 86, 35, 41, 54, 43, 56, 57.

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Five things learned from 2025 Rams Training Camp

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/five-things-learned-from-2025-rams-training-camp

LOS ANGELES – Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union officially wrapped up on Monday with a closed jog-through, following Sunday’s final practice open to the public.

Here are five things we learned:

1. Inside linebacker Nate Landman and defensive tackle Poona Ford on track to be difference-makers, especially against the run

The calling card of both players’ skill sets was their run-stopping ability, and that showed up often throughout camp. Landman and Ford both made their presence felt in the backfield.

Coaches and teammates regularly praised Ford’s upside as a pass rusher, and the leadership and communication of Landman, so those are also some items to watch heading into the season.

2. Tyler Davis poised to be “major factor” in second season

If Davis was the “unsung hero” of the 2024 defensive line, as defensive end Braden Fiske said, his praises were sung loud and clear in camp this year. The second-year defensive end is no longer under the radar after head coach Sean McVay said he is poised to be a “major factor” for Los Angeles this season.

Davis’ emergence is a big reason why defensive end Kobie Turner spoke so highly of the defensive line’s interchangeability. Like Landman and Ford, he was stout against the run often in practice.

3. Wide receiver depth looks promising

There’s a lot to like about the depth at wide receiver based on the camp performances of Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield especially. Whittington’s development in particular over his first full offseason is a big key to that, same for Mumpfield’s consistency.

That’s not to take away from Tutu Atwell, either, whom wide receivers coach Eric Yarber said was capable of playing all three receiver spots (and showed that in camp). And at the top, of course, is Puka Nacua going into Year 3, working in tandem with veteran Davante Adams. Xavier Smith also had some nice moments in camp.

4. Tight end depth should allow Rams to mix personnel more often than it did last season

Unfortunately, Terrance Ferguson sustained a groin injury that kept him out of the last couple of training camp practices, but McVay told J.B. Long and D’Marco Farr on Inside Rams Camp that he had been stacking days before that occurred. Davis Allen had a promising end to camp, and Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson displayed the consistency you’d expect from veterans with experience in this offense.

McVay last week said that depth at tight end could help L.A. “mix personnels” this season after it ranked bottom-10 in the NFL in both 12 (one running back, two tight ends) and 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) usage in 2024.

5. Confidence-building camp for quarterback Stetson Bennett going into preseason

With Matthew Stafford not practicing due to back soreness and Jimmy Garoppolo guiding the first-team offense, Bennett got perhaps the most action he’s seen in training camp in his time as a Ram – certainly more than last year as the third quarterback. Bennett showed command of the offense and made some impressive completions in- and out-of-structure, but more importantly, lots of smiles.

“The biggest thing is, number one, I’m seeing a lot of smiles out here,” McVay said Sunday when asked about Bennett’s areas of growth. “I think guys are at their best when they’re immersed in the moment, they’re enjoying it. This is still a game that, when people are at their best, they love everything that it accompanies. Whether it’s pursuit of mastery, the challenges, overcoming adversity, but I just feel like he’s a guy that’s totally present.”

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