reporters on camp

10 Observations from Day 1 of training camp

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-1-of-training-camp-x3669

After each training camp practice, senior writer/team insider Myles Simmons will share his top observations from the session. Here are the notes from Saturday, July 27.

1) With practice beginning around 3:30 in the afternoon, quarterback Jared Goff was the first on the field at about 3:10. It was a beautiful day in Irvine, with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees throughout practice.

2) The moment everyone’s been waiting for came early on in practice — running back Todd Gurley took a handoff from Goff and opened it up a little as he ran down the field. After practice, Gurley told reporters he felt good and that he enjoyed being on the field with his teammates again.

3) There was a strong fan presence as Los Angeles got training camp started on Saturday, and the crowd definitely enjoyed any time Gurley did anything on the field. Case in point — Gurley caught a simple swing pass in individual drills from Goff and the crowd went wild.

4) Cooper Kupp started out practice working on the side with trainers and assistant offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch. But then he got in with the offense as it worked on screens against air. Kupp also caught a few passes from Goff during individual drills. He was a significant part of the team’s 11-on-11 sessions as well.

5) While head coach Sean McVay downplayed the notion of running back Darrell Henderson getting first-team snaps — the Rams are rotating in a lot of players, McVay said — Henderson looks the part. During one-on-one drills, Henderson caught a slant going from left to right and it’s easy to see why the Rams like him. McVay credited Henderson’s work ethic and running backs coach Skip Peete for getting the rookie RB up to speed.

6) During 7-on-7 drills, Robert Woods had a nice catch along the right sideline on an intermediate route. He grabbed it out of the reach of cornerback Aqib Talib, for a completion that would have gotten the offense past the sticks for a first down. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips waved his arms to signal incomplete, but it looked like No. 17 got two feet down. To that end, cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant yelled out from the sideline, “Hey, good throw 16! Good throw!”

7) While Goff and Woods got Talib then, the cornerback got his later in the 7-on-7 period. On this particular play, the defense had strong coverage on all the receivers. Goff rolled to his right and looking to make something happen, threw a pass intended for Woods in the end zone. But the ball floated, Talib camped under it and picked it off — running up the left sideline. As he walked back following the play, Phillips gave him a fist bump. Goff later joked in his press conference that he told Talib he threw it to him on purpose.

8) During that 7-on-7 period, punter Johnny Hekker was on the same field booming coffin-corner punts down the field on the left side. Some of the punts were going 60 yards in the air, with Hekker standing at about the 50-yard line and the ball landing out of the end zone.

9) Henderson made a couple of nice plays in 11-on-11 drills that illustrated his versatility out of the backfield. Keep in mind that he made the plays while on the second-team offense facing the first-team defense. But on the first play, Henderson motioned out of the backfield and then caught a pass in the flat. Then on the next play, he caught a screen on the left side. It’s not a direct comparison, but as general manager Les Snead has said, Henderson does bring that “Alvin Kamara element” to an offense. He should be fun to watch with pads.

10) At the end of practice, Goff and backup quarterback Blake Bortles participated in a friendly competition of target practice. Goff fared a bit better than Bortles in their respective attempts with assistant QBs coach Zac Robinson feeding them the footballs.

DAY 2, 7/28

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4 takeaways from Day 2 of Rams training camp: Gurley sits as planned

Cameron DaSilva

4 takeaways from Day 2 of Rams training camp: Gurley sits as planned

Todd Gurley will be monitored closely

After practicing on Saturday, Gurley got the day off Sunday. He didn’t participate in any drills or team sessions but he was out on the field without a helmet. There’s nothing to be alarmed about, as this was the plan all along for the Rams.

Sean McVay made it clear that Gurley will get days off here and there to manage his workload and keep him fresh. It’s somewhat surprising to see his off day come so early in camp, but it’s clear the Rams have a plan for him.

And in Gurley’s mind, “it’s a good plan.

Darrell Henderson is going to have a big impact

With Gurley sitting out, Henderson got more work than he did on the first day of practice. He appears to be the No. 2 back right now, though John Kelly also got first-team reps on Saturday and Sunday, too.

The Rams have been rotating their running backs in the first two practices, giving multiple players the chance to work with the starters. Henderson, however, has the greatest potential of anyone not named Gurley, and given how highly coaches have talked of him, he should have a significant impact right out of the gates as a rookie.

Things got chippy on Day 2

The pads haven’t come on yet, but things got a little heated on the field Sunday. According to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic, McVay stopped practice at one point and huddled the entire team together. It was likely to settle things down and give everyone a chance to regain their composure before the next rep.

McVay stopped practice a second time after Jared Goff was knocked to the ground, which should never happen in training camp.

Cornerbacks had a solid day

Expectations are high for the Rams secondary this season, particularly with the arrival of Eric Weddle. It’s still very early in the process, but between the first two days of training camp and spring’s organized team activities, the secondary is looking good.

On Sunday, Aqib Talib had a nice breakup in coverage against Brandin Cooks.

It sounds like Marcus Peters also had a nice day in coverage, breaking up a few passes.

If Talib and Peters can both stay healthy for all 16 games and meet expectations, the Rams defense is going to be dangerous.

InvaderRam wrote:

really like what i’m reading about henderson.

can’t wait to see him in preseason.

Myles Simmons
Running back Darrell Henderson continues to impress over the first couple days. Again during on-on-ones, he tracked a deep ball down the right side from quarterback Brandon Allen, reeling it in over his shoulder. There are wide receivers who don’t have that kind of ability. It’s early and the Rams aren’t in pads, but he looks like a weapon.

DH does sound like he’s big in their plans

…

DAY 2, 7/28

Rams shaking off Super Bowl loss to start new training camp

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/07/28/rams-shaking-off-super-bowl-loss-to-start-new-training-camp/39819205/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatodaycomnfl-topstories

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Most of the Los Angeles Rams had never been to the Super Bowl before last February, so they relished every day of the experience in Atlanta.

And over the ensuing five months, the Rams have experienced another first: Being constantly asked how they managed to lose like that on football’s biggest stage.

“Yeah, there was a lot of talk this summer,” cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman said. “It was the last game of the season, so it’s natural. It’s just more motivation. It just actually lets you know how big that game is, and how important it is for people to win.”

The Rams reported to training camp this weekend with that 13-3 loss to New England still sharp in many minds. In particular, the high-powered Los Angeles offense’s largely inept performance still seems baffling in retrospect, both to the fans who watched it and to the players and coaches who lived through it.

When Sean McVay appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC talk show earlier this month, the host asked how often the coach still thought about his offense’s three-point, 260-yard effort in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl.

“Every minute,” McVay said with a rueful smile.

McVay had never coached in a Super Bowl, but he already knows how to use that experience to motivate a team returning with nearly all of the players who came up short in Atlanta.

While he shares most coaches’ earnest focus on the future, McVay knows he can draw motivational fuel from the disappointment and embarrassment of the NFC champions’ thumping from the Patriots.

“It is certainly something we talk about,” McVay said Saturday. “(But) you wipe the slate clean every year. There are 31 other teams that have the same goals as us, but like last year, the only way you achieve goals in this league is you produce in the present, and you just control what you can control.”

The Rams went back to work at UC Irvine this weekend intending to turn their experience into more success. They’ve won 26 total games and two NFC West titles in McVay’s two seasons, but that Super Bowl loss serves as a reminder not to lean on past achievements.

“Yesterday’s home runs don’t count for today’s games,” punter Johnny Hekker said. “Last year’s wins don’t mean anything right now.”

McVay didn’t tear up his inventive offensive schemes after Bill Belichick countered them so comprehensively in the Super Bowl, and Los Angeles didn’t shake up its roster.

Instead, nine of the Rams’ 11 offensive starters are returning along with the potentially enormous addition of receiver Cooper Kupp, who missed the second half of last season and the playoffs with a torn knee ligament.

Kupp broke out with 62 catches for 869 yards as a rookie in 2017, and he was midway through another outstanding season when he went down. He has been the receiver on some of the biggest throws ever made by quarterback Jared Goff, whose 19-for-38 performance in the Super Bowl quieted none of his critics.

Goff appears to be growing nicely from the setback, although the results won’t be clear until the regular season begins in September. He said he feels more mature heading into his fourth training camp, and the Rams hope it shows on the field as they prepare to sign him to a massive contract extension in the near future.

“I think (the opening practice of camp) was the first time that truly felt like we picked up where we left off,” Goff said, noting that McVay was new two years ago, while top receiver Brandin Cooks was new last season.

“The third year, this is it, is where everyone is coming back collectively as a unit,” Goff added. “It felt like there was no fall-off at all. We know exactly what we we’re doing, and it felt really good. … I think this year is truly the first year where it didn’t feel so big. You’re so used to it at this point.”

The Rams’ two biggest offseason additions were Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews, two veteran defensive NFL stars return to their native Los Angeles area to chase a championship. They also added a crop of rookies — most notably Greg Gaines, the current replacement for starting nose tackle Ndamukong Suh — but otherwise will rely on the roster that was so close, but yet so far from a title.

The upcoming season will prove whether one major loss shook the confidence of a team that has been among the NFL’s best teams for the past two seasons. The Rams believe they can shake it off.

“I think you have to realize,” Goff said, “that you didn’t win the division two years in a row on accident.”

DAY 3, 7/29

10 Observations from Day 3 of 2019 Rams training camp

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-3-of-2019-rams-training-camp

1) The Rams were in “shells” for Monday afternoon’s practice — meaning shoulder pads with shorts or pants with no leg pads. With that, many of the club’s veteran players like left tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, safety Eric Weddle, cornerback Aqib Talib etc. were given a veterans day off. Head coach Sean McVay said the Rams will have on full pads on Tuesday before Wednesday’s full team day off.

2) Before the special teams portion of practice started, wide receivers JoJo Natson and Austin Proehl were fielding punts from the JUGS machine. Natson was Los Angeles’ primary punt and kick returner at the end of last season, while Proehl was a member of the practice squad.

3) The offense and defense came together for half-field drills early on in practice. During those, wide receiver Cooper Kupp displayed his strong route-running ability — and a strong route concept — with a catch over the middle. Kupp was initially lined up in a stack on the left side with wide receiver Brandin Cooks, made a cut to the inside, and got easy separation to make the catch.

4) Running back Darrell Henderson seems to do something impressive every practice, and on Monday that was making a one-handed grab to pull in a swing pass on a short route to the right side.

5) At the end of the half-field drills, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a deep route down the middle of the field for what would’ve been a touchdown. Reynolds put a double move on the defensive backs and Goff put the ball just within reach of the wideout, who stretched out to make the grab.

6) Running back Todd Gurley received the first play of the first 11-on-11 period with a handoff up the middle. He showed pretty good burst and explosion on the play. With pads on, defenders were fitting but not really popping too much.

7) Outside linebacker Dante Fowler had a couple of impressive periods on Monday afternoon. During the first 11-on-11, he got into the backfield to stop Natson for what would’ve been a loss on an end around to the defense’s right, showing his speed and strength. Then he burst in off the edge on the defense’s left to get a pop on Henderson. His speed really makes a difference.

8) Reynolds used his 6-foot-3 frame again in 11-on-11 drills, making a catch from Goff off play action. On an intermediate route over the middle, Reynolds stretched up to make the catch, reeling in what initially looked like it could be an incompletion. That’s an element Reynolds can bring that’s unique in the WRs room.

9) Fowler continued his strong practice with a very athletic interception along the right side of the line of scrimmage in 11-on-11 drills. With the first-team defense going against the second-team offense, Fowler leapt up and picked off a short pass before it could go anywhere.

10) Later in practice, the offense went through a “move the ball” drill with the music turned up loud on the practice field in order to emulate adverse atmospheres on the road. The offense was even going no huddle at times, so the emphasis was clearly on communication.

10 Observations from Day 4 of Rams 2019 training camp

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-4-of-rams-2019-training-camp

1) The Rams were in full pads for the first time this training camp on Tuesday. With that, the club had a couple different special teams drills that can make individuals stand out from the pack. The first was a punt drill, where coordinator John “Bones” Fassel set up a one-on-one type of drill with analogous positions on the punt team and the return team. Essentially, it was a man-on-man situation to see who could win each challenge.

2) As that was happening, JoJo Natson, Austin Proehl, Nsimba Webster, and Alex Bachman served as the punt returners — catching the ball from the JUGS machine. Running back Matt Colburn demonstrated his potential value by bursting down the field as a gunner more than once.

3) The defense began the first period of practice with a pursuit drill. Notably on the first-team defense, Bryce Hager was on the field as the unit’s second inside linebacker next to Cory Littleton. Hager and second-year LB Micah Kiser have traded days at that spot through the first four days of camp.

4) The defensive line and outside linebackers went to a smaller auxiliary field to go through some individual drills. There, both position groups had tho extend their arms against a sled, then move their feet in order to see exactly what direction the “ball carrier” (which, in this case, was their position coach) was going. Even defensive tackle Aaron Donald didn’t quite do the drill right at first.

5) For another defensive line drill, position coach Eric Henderson had the players stay low out of the chute but then find a tackling donut. The drill forces the players to both keep their pad level in a good spot while keeping their eyes up.

More run defense drills. Have to stay low, then get to the tackling donut. #RamsCamp pic.twitter.com/pC99r5DNex

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) July 30, 2019

6) And one last defensive line drill — which Donald dominated — the players each had to touch a towel on the ground before knocking a tackling dummy over in the backfield.

This is really not a slight to anyone else, but this is a drill where you can tell the difference with Aaron Donald’s speed from the DT position. pic.twitter.com/4VPj86hQoc

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) July 30, 2019

7) During 11-on-11 drills, Donald and outside linebacker Dante Fowler got off the ball so fast on one play that they nearly took a handoff from backup quarterback Blake Bortles in the backfield. The pair of defenders absolutely ruined the play for the offense, and embraced one another in celebration near the sideline. Everyone knows what to expect from Donald, but Fowler has put tighter a nice camp so far.

8) During a starters vs. starters 11-on-11 period in the red zone, quarterback Jared Goff connected with running back Darrell Henderson for a touchdown over the middle. Then a play later, Goff hit wideout Cooper Kupp with an out route to the right for another touchdown.

9) Tight end Tyler Higbee also had a few nice receptions during Tuesday’s practice. Earlier in the day, he caught a pass deep down the middle for what ostensibly could have been a touchdown. Then Goff finished a two-minute drill with a pass in the back of the end zone to the tight end for a clear score.

10) In another two-minute drill, wide receiver Josh Reynolds elevated and caught a pass from Bortles on the right side of the field. Reynolds continues to use his frame in order to make plays throughout training camp.

Top 10 Observations from Rams 2019 training camp

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/top-10-observations-from-rams-2019-training-camp

Training camp has come to an end at UC Irvine. Check out senior writer/team insider Myles Simmons’ top 10 observations from each day of camp.

July 27

1) While head coach Sean McVay downplayed the notion of running back Darrell Henderson getting first-team snaps — the Rams are rotating in a lot of players, McVay said — Henderson looks the part. During one-on-one drills, Henderson caught a slant going from left to right and it’s easy to see why the Rams like him. McVay credited Henderson’s work ethic and running backs coach Skip Peete for getting the rookie RB up to speed.

July 28

2) Running back Darrell Henderson continues to impress over the first couple days. Again during on-on-ones, he tracked a deep ball down the right side from quarterback Brandon Allen, reeling it in over his shoulder. There are wide receivers who don’t have that kind of ability. It’s early and the Rams aren’t in pads, but he looks like a weapon.

July 29

3) At the end of the half-field drills, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a deep route down the middle of the field for what would’ve been a touchdown. Reynolds put a double move on the defensive backs and Goff put the ball just within reach of the wideout, who stretched out to make the grab. Later in the session, Reynolds used his 6-foot-3 frame again in 11-on-11 drills, making a catch from Goff off play action. On an intermediate route over the middle, Reynolds stretched up to make the catch, reeling in what initially looked like it could be an incompletion. That’s an element Reynolds can bring that’s unique in the WRs room.

4) Outside linebacker Dante Fowler had a couple of impressive periods on Monday afternoon. During the first 11-on-11, he got into the backfield to stop Natson for what would’ve been a loss on an end around to the defense’s right, showing his speed and strength. Then he burst in off the edge on the defense’s left to get a pop on Henderson. His speed really makes a difference.

July 30

5) Aaron Donald is good at defensive line drills. That’s it, that’s the observation.

This is really not a slight to anyone else, but this is a drill where you can tell the difference with Aaron Donald’s speed from the DT position. pic.twitter.com/4VPj86hQoc

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) July 30, 2019

6) During 11-on-11 drills, Donald and outside linebacker Dante Fowler got off the ball so fast on one play that they nearly took a handoff from backup quarterback Blake Bortles in the backfield. The pair of defenders absolutely ruined the play for the offense, and embraced one another in celebration near the sideline. Everyone knows what to expect from Donald, but Fowler has put tighter a nice camp so far.

Aug. 1 – Joint practice with the Chargers

7) The Rams’ tight ends made some big plays throughout the day, one coming in the red zone 7-on-7 period from Tyler Higbee. Los Angeles was using a two tight end set, Higbee ran a slant on the right side, made the catch, got popped by a defender, but still held on for a touchdown. Goff went back to Higbee during the first 11-on-11 period, hitting the fourth-year tight end down the left sideline off play action for a play that would’ve gone for a touchdown. Goff’s ball placement was strong on the play, dropping it in the bucket for Higbee to run down the field for YAC.

8) In red zone 11-on-11 drills, tight end Gerald Everett caught a pass and tiptoed the end line for a touchdown. Whitworth neutralized Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa in the backfield, giving Goff time to complete the pass as the play developed. Later on in that practice, Goff once again connected with Everett in the red zone for a touchdown. The tight end got his feet in quickly for a second time, but in this instance he was at the front right pylon.

Aug. 3 — Joint practice with the Chargers

9) For an 11-on-11 move the ball drill, the Chargers were able to move the chains on the first try but on the net set of downs, cornerback Aqib Talib batted a ball down, Rivers had to throw away a second-down pass, and then a check-down swing pass went nowhere on third down. Talib continued his big day by nearly making a diving interception on an intermediate route in the middle of the field. And in a later period, he had strong coverage on Keenan Allen on a deep pass to the the end zone, forcing another incompletion.

10) To end practice on the defense’s field, Dominique Hatfield picked off an intermediate Taylor pass in the middle of the field before taking it to the house down the defense’s right sideline. It was a fitting close to a strong defensive day from the Rams.