May OTAs … reports, snippets

Rams OTAs takeaways: Matthew Stafford not throwing, Aaron Donald’s status

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3329154/2022/05/23/rams-practice-matthew-stafford-aaron-donald/?source=emp_shared_article

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford wasn’t throwing in Monday’s opener of spring OTAs, but head coach Sean McVay seemed unconcerned and indicated that holding Stafford out of the voluntary sessions has more to do with ramping him up for live work ahead of training camp this July.

Stafford had an anti-inflammatory injection in his arm in March, The Athletic initially reported, and did have to spend some time in a brace and sling in order to keep his arm immobile while the injection went to work.

“I don’t think so,” said McVay, when asked whether Stafford would throw at all during the spring. “We’re taking it a day at a time right now, but the goal and the thought process was that he’ll start to ramp that up when we get closer to training camp. He’s able to communicate with us in how he’s feeling. But the plan all along has been, ‘let’s really stress above-the-neck and things that we can control, but be smarter than anything else with him, especially with his experience and his ability to communicate with us.”

Meanwhile, star defensive lineman Aaron Donald was among a handful of players who weren’t present for Monday’s workouts — this is not an abnormality for Donald, who trains in Pittsburgh, even as he goes through a contract extension process with the team.

Dialogue with Donald “has been good”, said McVay, who added that he spoke with Donald that morning to wish him a happy 31st birthday. “He’s done a great job of communicating, with my relationship with him, and he gets a chance to spend time with his family right now, so I feel good about that.”

Since March, McVay and Rams executives have publicly expressed confidence that they would be able to get a deal done with Donald without him missing significant mandatory time. The team has been flexible with the “mandatory” aspects of OTAs and minicamps since last season, so any absence from Donald before training camp may not necessarily be cause for concern even as the negotiation continues to play out.

Monday, the Rams went through a series of light seven-on-seven periods, with individual drills worked in as well. Contact is not allowed and the time is largely spent installing core concepts and working on technique by position.

Media with practice access cannot discuss scheme or strategy. Still, here are some notable takeaways and highlights from the first access day of Rams OTAs:

• Several other players worked in the training room or off to the side on the field as they either continued to rehabilitate injuries or worked through new ones. Running back Darrell Henderson suffered a soft-tissue leg injury last week, McVay said. Receiver/tight end Jacob Harris is also progressing through his rehab after tearing his ACL last season. Van Jefferson spent the workout in the training room (his injury was unspecified, but he played through a knee issue in the Super Bowl). Cornerback Jordan Fuller continues to onload toward on-field activities, and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd spent the initial part of the day running wind sprints on the sideline (he also sat out individual drills). Rookie safety Quentin Lake worked through agility drills on the sideline through the second half of the day and running back Cam Akers mixed drill and seven-on-seven work with additional work on the side.

• Tight end Tyler Higbee, who had knee surgery this spring, was able to escalate his recovery into on-field work Monday.

• The Rams are being cautious with their offensive linemen, as rookie Logan Bruss onboards and center Brian Allen eases back into full football activity (McVay indicated the team is just being careful with Allen, who played through a serious elbow injury last season). Coleman Shelton took reps at center while Tremayne Anchrum played right guard.

“Just being smart with guys,” said McVay, “… this isn’t the time to be able to push it. You see Coleman in there, you see Tremayne Anchrum getting some opportunities and this time of year enables that for us.”

• New receiver Allen Robinson looks like he could play in a game tomorrow, if he needed to. Robinson, who said last week that he’s worked to fully immerse himself in the Rams offensive system in a variety of ways, is clearly impressing his teammates.

“His football aptitude is incredible,” said receiver Cooper Kupp. “His willingness to spend the time here and learning this thing. … He doesn’t want to just know the offense, he wants to understand the offense. There’s a difference between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it. He wants to know how to do it, and how to do it as efficiently as possible and as effectively as possible. I’ve got great appreciation for that.

“You get guys out here in walkthrough who feel like, ‘Hey, my job on a hitch route, I just need to run a hitch.’ But for A-Rob, it’s understanding all the nuance about it.”

McVay has taken notice of Robinson’s effort and ability, too.

“He’s locked in in the meetings,” he said. “And I think the first thing that stands out is just the body control for a bigger receiver. I bet you that he’s a baller on the basketball court. He’s wired to be able to double-up, play underneath himself. Some of those bigger guys who play as big as he does typically don’t have the ability to get in and out of their breaks as seamlessly as he does. But I think his transition in and out of breaks, how smooth he is for how big he is physically, it’s been very exciting. Really love getting to know him a little bit more every single day.”

• Without cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey or Troy Hill present for Monday’s voluntary period (both players have been present at other times throughout the spring), several younger players got opportunities to work into drills. David Long Jr. was the most veteran cornerback present Monday, and he says he’s taking on a mentorship role for the up-and-coming players.

“I just feel like the culture here is everybody trying to help everybody,” he said. “I think that’s important. As you’ve seen, to win a Super Bowl we needed a collective cast. We needed a lot of people (who) maybe weren’t playing earlier in the year … I think it’s important during this time to help develop those guys. Just as a person, I wouldn’t want anybody to stumble in the same areas that I did. I do think it’s a mentorship and a leadership role for the guys that are here, because we’re only as good as those guys.”

• Nose tackle Greg Gaines and rotational defensive lineman Marquise Copeland are taking on a larger leadership role with Donald and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson absent. Gaines and Copeland led off drills on Monday. Meanwhile, the two young undrafted free-agent defensive linemen the Rams signed earlier this month — Elijah Garcia and Dion Novil — are massive players. It’s clear, however, that the two rookies are very technically raw. Defensive line coach Eric Henderson spent extra time with both players.

• Seventh-round rookie outside linebacker Daniel Hardy’s frame is more comparable to that of second-year pass-rusher Chris Garrett than initially expected. Hardy’s scouting reports said he was “undersized”; while he’s not as long as Floyd or Justin Hollins, Hardy definitely has a pro player’s build and noticeably large wingspan. Hardy impressed position coach Thad Bogardus with his effort in bend drills and on the hit sled on Monday, and with Floyd on the sideline, Garrett and Terrell Lewis got a lot of work opposite Hollins in team periods.

• The Rams re-signed Jake Gervase, a former safety who made the transition to inside linebacker last year. Gervase continued to work at inside linebacker Monday.

• Second-year receiver Tutu Atwell joined Brandon Powell at punt return on Monday during the initial special teams drills. Kupp mentioned that Atwell, who ultimately spent most of last year on injured reserve, came to the team’s facilities early this spring to work with him independently before OTAs began.

• Inside linebacker Ernest Jones, who started as a rookie, has made an official number switch from No. 50 to N0. 53. Jones wore No. 53 in college at South Carolina.