fan camp reports weeks 2-4

Bubbaram 8/2

Screw sorting the notes. I’m tired and want to get this out, so it will be kind of a jumble, but I’ll get it all out.

Upper 80’s and humid team came out late, McVay didn’t come out until 3:15. and team stretched, warmed up. OL on field on north end, DL south end. We are on field 2 where Fassell is working ST. They use a jugs machine to punt to Cooper,# 11 Hodge, 15 Kendal Thompson, 13 Fred Brown . This drill was all about D gunners. Fassel sent TE’s, safties, LB’s, DE’s after the returner. This was an intense drill and a lot of contact. Fun to watch!

Tip and strip drills by DB’s and LB’s. Lots of work on Int set up and return by DB’s. Peters, Hill, Shelds and Christian looked decent in the drill.

Had QB’s Allen and Perez with TE’s in front of us, short passes vs air.

This far into the practice the pace was slow. I attribute that to yesterday’s intense and lengthy 11 on 11 workout. But the pace picks up with the start of 11 on 11.

1st team O vs 2nd D. Reynolds drops 2 at the start but for the rest of the day I don’t think he dropped another one, and more than made up for a slow start by snagging some passes against some tight covering DBs

Goff To Woods for TD in tight coverage. Mannion with several good passes to Hemmingway.

1st team OL still Whit, Saf, Sully, Brown, Hav. 2nd OL kept being switched around, Kromer getting everyone snaps . Blythe, Noteboom, Lucas, and DWilliams got a lot of snaps. Allen and Eldrencamp and even Neary got snaps at C. Williams and Lucas got snaps at LT and RT. For 2 min drill, Lucas got snaps with 1st team at RT (Havenstien winded?) Demby got snaps at LG and RG. Really hard to see who’s in at times with the OL and especially the LB’s because they have their shirts rolled up so you can’t see their #’

Lots of good play in 11 on 11, Gurley is great of course. Brown Davis and Kelly all got in some good plays.

Player that stood out the most 11 on 11–Jared Goff. Goff was on fire today, throwing lasers in tight windows against very tight coverage. He made a few bad passes and had a couple dropped, but he had by far his best day of TC today.

Hemmingway had a pretty good day today, lots of targets and caught most of them.

Ryan Davis, the newest Ram signed a couple days ago, was playing inside LB next to Littleton with the 1st D, Myers @LDE and Ebukam @RDE. Wilson and Hager 2nd team ILB. Davis is a stud run stuffer at 265 and he’s quick. He stopped Gurley and Brown in their tracks for no gain. Keep your eye on this guy, he came in under the radar but might be that big bodied LB the Rams have been needing.

I know I haven’t given much on the d, only because I can’t tell who’s who with their shirts rolled up. I can say that 11 on 11’s are a toss up between the O and the D. With both making good plays.

FG drill. Greg the Leg hit some long ones but missed a couple also.Not as good a day as yesterday.

Justin Davis TD run in Red Zone drill. Goff to Cooks in RZ drill.

Good practice, lots of positives. Still a lot to be sorted out so far as backups.
Starting to see some guys getting more snaps than others. Pre-season games will be deciding factor for most of the bottom tier guys.

Sorry for the jumbled report, I got most of what I took notes on out there.

NO INJURIES!

bubbaramfan: some follow-up

The OL vs DL has been really fun to watch . Saffold and Sully double teaming Suh. Whitworth keeping Brockers at bay. Some good back up OL play from Noteboom, Lucas and Blythe. Rams OL is going to be dominant.

8to12 … 8/4

Warm day like usual …. 85 degrees with a slight breeze

Players not dressed: Lamarcus Joyner, Travin Howard (LB), Gerald Everett (no on field that I could see)

Difficult day to follow & evaluate the 11-on-11 scrimmaging. Many players were being moved in and out of each group of 1’s & 2’s, offense & defense. For example, on the first play of 11-on-11, Johnny Mundt lined up as FB with the second team offense, then lined up as an inline TE on the next play, then he was off the field with 3 or 4 other offensive players.

Practice started on the near field for me with Punt return. There would be 2 up field players (blockers) in line (horizontally)…. then when the ball is in the air the larger blocker moves laterially to line himself up with the punt returner in a vertical line upfield along with the smaller blocker doing same falling into the space equal distant between the 2 players. They are all in alignment verically as the returner catches the ball and starts upfield. The blockers then break off from the alignment to make their blocks. The returners were P. Cooper, MIke Thomas, Steven Mitchell, and Jojo Natson. Jojo would remind you of Tavon Austin ; small with quickness.

In other individual drill, the TE’s worked on blocking with the O-line, then broke off to take passes versus air. The took turns in sequence that I thought to be their spot on the depth chart ; HIgbee first, Hemingway second, Mundt third, Kreiger-Koble fourth, and Cody McElroy last. Should be noted that After Hemingway, Mundt seems to have run the best routes and have the best hands of all the other TE’s. He looks natural as opposed to McElroy, who is more long legged and seems to Lumber around.

In WR vs CB drills, Cooper Kupp beat Robey-Coleman 3 straight times for completions. Coleman looked frustrated after the third one. Reynolds schooled Sam Shields with a stop and pivot move . Shields was riding him with his body to the outside when Reynolds stopped on a dime, came up out of his crouch and cut inside while Shields kept moving to the outside. It was an OH WOW moment. Mike Thomas was looking smooth running his routes and catching the ball. He is looking more consistent then he has in the past.
Woods and Cooks were their usual….. unstoppable against the DB’s

After individual drills, the Offense worked on Reverses. The WR would come around the back side of the QB to receive the toss. Then they worked some Dbl reverse with the RB receiving a toss and then tossing it to the WR coming the opposite way. They ran one of these in 11-on-11 with Woods being faked the toss, then play action with Woods then catching a wheel route for a TD from 20 yards out.

During 11-on-11’s, for many plays, the second team offense had Noteboom (LOT), Demby (LG) and Brian Allen at Center. They seemed to hold their own when Brockers and Suh were on the field. Mannion made a couple of nice completions. He hit Reynolds on an 18 yard crossing pattern against the first team D.

Interesting note regarding 2nd team Defense ; on many plays, they had T. Young, DT Smart and DT Day with J. Lawler all down with their hands in the dirt and all within the OT’s. They had 2 LB’s with 5 DB’s. It must have an experiment with a 4-2-5 (Nickel)
On some plays, MIcah Kiser and Tegray Scales were playing MLB with the second team.

ON a play in 11-11, MIcah Kiser blitzed and blew up John Kelly trying to protect. The collision knocked Kelly’s helmet off. That was the play of the day for me.

After seeing 2 practices, the one thing that jumps out at me is how the first team Receivers are catching passes at a very high percentage rate. In individual and 7-on-7 drills, the CB’s can’t cover the Rams receivers. I don’t know what to think about that at this point.

InvaderRam wrote:

just love what i’m hearing about goff so far. still only practice but still…

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Edited/expanded version:

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SoCalRam78

Goff is shredding it in camp

guy threading needles and calling own plays and hooking up all over the place with different receivers.

Second year in system. Second year with receivers. Age 23.

McVay is just feeding him growth at QB. Just look at Cousins.

The Great thing about Jared Goff is how level headed he is. Doesn’t get too high or too low. He can get flushed & then just lives for another play. The thing that is cool is if Goff gets flushed he keeps eyes open down field , but also mindset is not to force it.

He is so connected to Robert Woods it’s crazy. Goff would talk about things on routes with Woods keeping a good 30-60 seconds between routes.

Copper Kupp was last player on the field a couple days. Wonder if he is in trainers room trying to stay healthy?

Cooks is electric, but stayed after practice running routes with Goff. That big long hair blonde dude throwing snaps.

Last season I had Copper Kupp & Woods at certain points on fantasy. Woods was a numbers machine before getting hurt.

Gurley is already in the same page as well. Goff hit Gurley to end Thursday’s practice for a 2 point conversion to have the offense win the day !! Goff is hitting his spots.

The pass protection is spot on in timing. Putting the package together.

8/13

Elvis

Today was probably my last day at camp, might make it Wednesday but more likely i won’t.

Unlike previous practices, the offense didn’t win today. Though, as always, Goff, Woods and Cooks did a lot of quality business in the middle of the field. Still, it was tough sledding a lot of the time for the offense.

Goff and Mannion had all of the team reps until later in practice where Allen had a couple series with the 2’s. Mean anything? Who knows.

A lot of 1 vs 1 today.

Davis is still ahead of Kelly on the depth chart. Brown is solidly #2 RB at this point. When Gurley is out but the 1s are in, Brown is the RB.

Noteboom got a fair amount of time with the 1’s at LT, so much so i thought Whitworth had the day off but Whit was in later.

…

8/13

bubbaramfan

Watched the QB’s warm up, then Fassel and ST on field 2. Cooper and JoJo Natson fielding punts and ST working on returns. We wanted to key on LB’s but its hard to tell them apart when they all have their jersies rolled up.

Practice pretty much followed the same routine. They seemed intense and McVay spent a lot of time with QB’s and recievers, both TE,RB and WR. A lot of instruction going on between snaps. McVay very animated.

Most of the starters didn’t do much, if anything at all. Brown and Havenstien got work, but Whit , Sully and Saffold were dressed but did nothing. Same on the DL Suh and Brockers dressed but did nothing. Noteboom, Lucas LT (mostly Noteboom), Blythe LG, Allen C Brown, Neary RG, Hav, DWilliams RT.

I met Mr. Westbrooks last season and had some short conversations. He remembered me from last camp and came over to say hello. I asked about the AD sitch, he just said that’s the business end and they are just getting ready to play ball. We both agree, with AD this DL is sick. Spoke with Dom Easley as he ran sprints (without the brace) and asked if he’s will be ready to go game one, gave me a wink and thumbs up. I yelled at Barron “you gonna lead the team in tackles again?” He gave us a big smile.

Aquib Talib was a full go in practice, picked off Mannion for a pick-six. Now don’t get your backs up on Mannion as he had a very good showing today. Granted he got the pick and he threw one into the ground, but he made some very good passes and did some scrambling and got the ball out on the run for completion.

11 on 11 was without Gurley. Goff, Woods, Cooks and Kupp all looked good. Higbee got a lot of work, went up over defender a couple time to use his height to snag a reception. Bout time!

I have to give Mannion another game or two before I lose confidence in him.

Short report, but I wanted to get something up on the board before dinner.

8/15

So Cal

Demoff might have got upset with me a bit. Said The Rams need a TE that can catch. Hemmingway way is dropping to many passes. Higbee dropped a tough catch, but was in his hands. Demoff is more pigeon toed than myself.Snead was around watching as well.

Marquiss Christian, was the defensive player in the 1st half. Had a nice INT & Tackle on 3rd Dwn.

Talib looks like he is playing hurt with his ankle.Fighting through it. Peters has small hands & jammed his finger trying to make pick he should of made.

Ejuan Price looks like he might make the team.

Fassel has small players in on punt coverage ,which I never noticed before ?

OL notes

My take is John Sullivan played with a lot of nasty & confidence.

Whit & Goff talk a lot. All last season Goff would check in with Whit & Sullivan on the sideline.

Roger Saffold opened up a nice hole for a Gurley TD !! Was solid, but did give up a sack on a blitz.

Brown was running with the 1’s , but I’m making the CALL Noteboom will start at RG
Game 1 !

Big Rob is getting more physical. Looked like he is starting to put it in another gear.

Noteboom was taking most of the LT Reps & Williams at RT. Noteboom at LT has been jumping way to many times.I think he starts at RG.He got a rep with the 1’s in place of Brown.

Lucas— did not get a lot of reps s today. I like his spirit, but I think he gets cut.

Williams- IMO – will make the 53 man roster. He does have a couple lapses, but has a good feel for the plays.He was getting both RT & LT Reps today. I’ve watched him a lot. My feel is The Rams have him making the team. I watched the Ravens game as well.He missed 2 blocks bad.—If I thought otherwise I would say it. I was going down that path from some reports.Now I don’t agree with them at all.

Demby got personal work with Kromer JR. He kept working on his form for 5 minutes with a drill of grabbing & moving a DLman(shadow drill of form) to open a whole.He wanted him to keep his hands in tight with power & hands. Demby got a lot of reps. Lg,LT.,RT,RG.

Allen is looking good He is a baller. He comes out & plays. RG & Center.

Austin Blythe goes unnoticed a lot. C & RG .

I’ll stop there,because those are the player I think make the squad.

8/15

So Cal

SOME FOLLOW-UP

Whitworth is sonfreaking cool & such a Stud !! I saw someone saying Saffold was the best offensive lineman on The Rams last season. I say Whitworths value is unmeasurable for all he brings to the table . To think he is older than the head coach & McVay actually called(calls?) him coach. He is the glue & leader.

Sullivan has been with Whitworth from day 1 last season ,& Saffold filled into his position.
He has excelled, but early he sort of was an individual. Brown & Hav we’re changing positions & working things out. Just trying to find there way. Big Rob is a smart player.He really likes the game, & Brown came into the league with him as his roomie.

This year.

Demby is still raw , but getting good reps.

Austin Blythe is smallish, but does a good job at Center. Allen is the future center though moving forward. He competes well.

Lucas I was thinking before yesterday was getting a lot of reps at LT ? I also think Williams at RT & Noteboom were the best 2nd line combo

I say Noteboom will start at RG day 1 because he was the only player yesterday to get reps with The Big 5 minus Brown for 1 series. He looks good there,but his real value is at LT.st year.

8/16

bubbaramfan

Got here early and had a chance to talk to a couple of players, Brian Allen exudes confidence and comes across to me as just what you want in a football player. Says he’s learning so much from coaches and veterans his head is spinning. Appreciates the chance they are giving him with the amount of reps he’s getting.

Spoke briefly with Westbrooks and Suh (Ethan has taken a liking to me, and makes a point to come over and say hi when he sees me, I have no idea why). I asked Suh how he likes not being the center of attention, gave me a big knuckle bump. I asked if they’d like to hear a Raider joke since they play them Saturday, “shoot” “”How do Raider fans teach their kids to count?” Oh and one, oh and two, oh and three….” Both got a big laugh.

Players in shorts and shells. McVay had them doing walk throughs. He had the defense wear jersey’s with Raider #’s. they ran though a lot of basic plays, with 1st and 2nd team alternating. McVay had the 1’s O vs the 1’s D, then the 2’s O vs the 2’sD. Goff was sharp and putting the ball in tight windows. Cooks, and Woods were also very good today.

TE still a concern. Hemingway best blocker and worst pass catcher. Higbee needs to try harder to get open and give Goff a Better target. Higbee had some drops, but he did go up and get a couple in the back of the end zone today with Talib and Christian all over him.

Mannion with the 2’s had a good day, especially with Pharoh Cooper. Mannion looked much better. We’ll see if he translates that to Raider game.

On defense, Suh is just having his way whenever he wants. Westbrooks, Franklin-Myers also having good camp. Franklin-Myers has been bringing the heat and giving Whit and Hav all they can handle all camp long. Westbrooks has been good all TC.

Talib with another pick.

More walk through with 2’s, McVay stopping plays and making them go back in slo-mo to point out mistakes.

OL, nothing new, still sub-in guys all around, Neary was getting snaps at C. Noteboom snaps at LG and RG, Lucas and William at LT and RT. Since they weren’t in pad and not much contact, no way to say who was better.

Well that’s it for novice reporting. We have to rely on the expert talking heads from now on.

I enjoyed TC and I feel confident the Rams will have a winning season. TC this time around just seemed like they shifted into a higher gear. More focus and intensity. There was a feeling of “we need to get so much done in so little time” a sense of urgency. Even when players weren’t participating, they were paying attention. You can tell the players know this will be a good team and are working hard to make sure that happens.