camp reports week one

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July 24, 2022 at 12:01 am #139767

zn
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Link to Rams Camp FAQ: https://www.therams.com/trainingcamp-faq

July 25, 2022 at 1:53 pm #139789

zn
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10 Storylines as Rams training camp gets underwayhttps://t.co/ebsyGrgn9T

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) July 25, 2022

July 25, 2022 at 1:54 pm #139790

zn
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The champs are back at it.

(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/UuD7cXEdcQ

— NFL (@NFL) July 24, 2022

July 25, 2022 at 6:02 pm #139794
zn
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Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue

DAY ONE of Rams camp in the books. Ask Matthew Stafford about anything except jointing IG (even about his arm). He threw today and was a “full” participant; plus a few standout plays and unfolding position battles to track and more observations:

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Rams QB Matthew Stafford throws publicly, more notes from Day 1 of training camp

By Jourdan Rodrigue



https://theathletic.com/3445744/2022/07/24/rams-training-camp-matthew-stafford-throws/?source=emp_shared_article

IRVINE, Calif. — Ask Matthew Stafford anything. Just don’t ask him about joining Instagram.

Yes, even ask him about his throwing arm — that topic is preferable to the notoriously social-media-avoidant Rams quarterback.

“I have no idea, guys,” he said with a dry grimace after Sunday’s first training camp practice, when a reporter commented on Stafford joining IG over the weekend. “You can ask me all of the football questions you want. Don’t ask me about that.”

Sunday, Stafford threw publicly for the first time since the Super Bowl. After receiving an anti-inflammatory injection in his elbow in March, Stafford did not throw a single pass during the portions of organized team activities reporters were able to view, and he said he wouldn’t throw until training camp out of extra precaution for that arm.

On Sunday, Stafford was able to work through each phase of individual drills (short, medium and long routes) and also threw in team drills.

“He was a full participant today,” said head coach Sean McVay after practice. “Him having as much experience as he does, we’ll continue to build him up (and) we’re aware of what that pitch count is. But it didn’t restrict him from being able to do anything today.”

On Friday, McVay confirmed that Stafford would be cleared to throw in camp. The Rams have him on a training plan as they monitor how his arm reacts to the increasing workload. Stafford said he had throwing sessions in the time between OTAs and camp, but there’s nothing that can simulate a full practice.

“It feels good to get out there. Definitely knocking some rust off and feeling it again,” Stafford said. “It’s good to … stress it a little bit, and see how it reacts.”

McVay joked Friday that Stafford was “freakin’ irritated” to not be throwing in the spring more so than harboring concern for any lingering injury. For Stafford, following the Rams’ onload/de-load plan has been an exercise in patience, with a very long season in mind.

“It’s a little bit of a process, but I’ve got to just sit there and go with it,” Stafford said. “There’s a little bit of something that we have down on paper, but it’ll be fluid, I’m sure. So we’ll just go from there …

“It’s an interesting thing, trying to have a little bit of governor on there, and at the same time just be as smart as I can. It’s a process. Gonna have to sit there and work through it, trust it, and we’ll figure it out as we go.”

I spent most of Sunday watching the offense — though the team did break into 11-on-11 drills several times. As a reminder, the Rams often structure their live periods to run the second team against the first team on each side of the ball. Media members cannot report on schemes, but otherwise the full practice is open to credentialed viewers.

Here are some observations from Day 1:

• Cornerback Jalen Ramsey worked with the defense in installation periods, largely at the beginning of practice (he also did an on-field workout with team athletic trainers later in the day). The Rams said Friday that Ramsey, who is recovering from shoulder surgery to repair one of two torn A.C. joints he suffered midseason in 2021, would go on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open camp, but the team shifted that plan Sunday.

“Doctors cleared him in a limited fashion,” McVay said, “that enables him to participate in a lot of the jog-throughs, the above-the-neck stuff, and to be able to have him out here with his teammates with all of the different things that we ask of him. He felt good about that, we felt good about that, and so I think that’s what’s best for our football team, (and why) we pivoted in that direction.”

• Ramsey had a great moment with safety Nick Scott during those installation periods, as the two huddled to talk through a concept after a simulated play. Scott’s role will likely increase through the summer and fall.

• Inside linebacker Travin Howard went on the non-football injury list Sunday. Howard pulled his groin while training off-site this summer, and a source said he had to get surgery. No timetable to return has been disclosed. Receiver Warren Jackson, running back Kyren Williams and safety Quentin Lake all went on the PUP list. The nature of Lake’s injury wasn’t previously known (he didn’t practice in the spring), but McVay clarified Sunday that the team is monitoring a knee issue.

Williams, who broke his foot and had surgery in the spring, is likely to be cleared for practice before the end of the preseason, McVay also indicated.

• It was receiver Allen Robinson’s first training camp practice with the Rams, but he didn’t look new. Robinson impressed with his body control on several catches, and Stafford called him out in his news conference for a contested red zone fade. It was hotly debated whether Robinson completed the catch in-bounds, a conversation sure to circulate when the team watches practice cut-ups later.

“Allen is a really intelligent player. I’ve been really impressed by his ability to not only pick up what we’re doing — X’s and O’s and lines on a paper, but (also) the nuanced stuff of what we’re trying to accomplish on each play,” Stafford said. “When you have guys who think like that and can play like that, it makes my job a lot easier.”

• As expected, guard/center Coleman Shelton is competing with rookie guard Logan Bruss for the vacancy on the right side. Shelton can play both guard positions as well as back up Brian Allen at center.

“(Shelton) is a guy we have a lot of trust in,” McVay said. “When you look at getting B-A back and making sure we’re smart with his rep count, he played so many snaps last year (so we’re) making sure that he feels good, and is as fresh as possible. … It’s really fortunate to have a player like Coleman Shelton, who has started, who I think can start at any of the three interior spots and perform at a high level. He’s gonna get an opportunity to do that (and) guys like Logan Bruss.

“But we’re gonna really open it up and try to see what it looks like, to find who is gonna be that fifth player, playing with the other four guys (who) are already established.”

• Cornerback Troy Hill nearly intercepted a pass by backup quarterback John Wolford in team drills, and rookie defensive back Russ Yeast nearly took one away from Stafford in another series.

• Running back Darrell Henderson was able to participate in Sunday’s practice after sitting out all spring with a soft-tissue injury.

• Tidbits that might be interesting only to me: Rams offensive line coach Kevin Carberry (so far) rides his bike to the practice fields from the team hotel. … As demonstrated by receivers coach Eric Yarber, “Yarbs,” the Rams may have invested in new types of padded gloves for use by coaches in individual drills. Teams usually deploy boxing gloves for “punch-out” attempts during those periods, but the gloves Yarber wore Sunday had finger holes and were sheath-padded up to his elbows. That means he wasn’t just “punching” at the ball during catch-and-runs but also could grip-and-rip. That, to me, indicated a slight change in the Rams’ approach to ball-security techniques as a natural integration into drills.

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[more:]

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Matthew Stafford getting loose – this is the first time I have seen him throw in warmups this year and he’s clearly preparing to throw in individuals coming up (as he said he would be able to do in camp). pic.twitter.com/AsLTDCKNTM

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) July 24, 2022

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Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Among the better plays of the day: Stafford over the top to Robinson as Robinson cut across the back of the end zone through substantial traffic, in RZ team period.
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Jalen Ramsey can’t participate in team drills yet but he’s really active with DC Raheem Morris and DBs coach Jonathan Cooley on the sideline working group through covg concepts and calls. Looks like he even has a practice script like the coaches.
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Really pretty deep pass to Atwell from Wolford, and Atwell had a step on Kendrick for a would-be TD. But effort play from Kendrick who closed to the catch point and helped knock the ball incomplete instead.

I asked Nick Scott about some of these battles today and a grin spread across his face re. Derion Kendrick; cited another play he made on a jump ball to Robinson and added that the rookie Kendrick has already come out of his shell.

Brycen Hopkins looks a step quicker this year.

PUP is like a gray area where the team thinks they can come back (not season-ending) but they still want them able to work on the side with trainers, they just can’t do on-field team stuff.

When I drop tidbits and clues it is always in the hopes that information is provided to the reader that helps them understand the scenario. Per the rules of the credential, I cannot tell you something like (hypothetical), “Coleman Shelton took the bulk of the RG snaps on Day 1 and Bruss was close behind in the rotation” unless it is asked and addressed in a press conference/interview after observing it in practice. Per the rules of the credential I cannot specifically discuss scheme, rotations, etc., unless i ask directly in a presser/interview and it’s answered. That then makes things complicated because often doing that means people who are not at practice will aggregate small pieces of info off the live feed without context for blog stories, so it’s quite a difficult line to walk overall (not complaining, I love my job – but this is something most people don’t know!)
- This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by zn.
July 25, 2022 at 10:46 pm #139803

zn
Moderator

Come for the @thrilll_32 pick. Stay for the @jalenramsey celly ‼️ pic.twitter.com/8000By0MJL

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 26, 2022

July 25, 2022 at 11:17 pm #139805

zn
Moderator

Rams’ Jalen Ramsey immersed in new role while rehabbing shoulder, eyes Sept. 8 return

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3448200/2022/07/25/rams-jalen-ramsey-training-camp/?source=emp_shared_article

IRVINE, Calif. — By the end of the Rams’ second day of training camp, the practice script Jalen Ramsey carried with him up and down the sideline during competitive team drills was crumpled and worn through in his hand.

Ramsey is recovering from right shoulder surgery, which he had in June to repair one of two A.C. joint injuries he sustained around the middle of last season (Ramsey elected to play through the injuries at the time). At first, he said, the thought was that he could go the non-surgical rehabilitation route this offseason, as is possible with such injuries.

“I was hoping (they) would heal on their own, getting some time off and not re-injuring it every Sunday by hitting or whatever the case may have been,” he said. “But it didn’t work out that way. It got to the point where it was just a little too yucky, a little too messed up in there. It just needed to be cleaned out and made new again.

“We kind of had a deadline in our mind (to decide whether to get the surgery). We stuck with that deadline to figure out ‘if it’s not getting better by now then we need to fix it,’ so we’ll be ready when the time is right. It was a calculated decision on all parts, the training staff and myself.”

The expectation is that Ramsey will be cleared for the season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 8.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be ready when the time is right,” he said Monday.

The Rams initially said Ramsey would go on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to open camp, which wouldn’t affect their roster numbers but would mean Ramsey couldn’t participate in team activities such as installation work. The team pivoted Sunday, declining to designate Ramsey to the PUP list after an evaluation by team doctors.

Ramsey has participated in installation periods with teammates but seemed to really relish the mental work he did on the sideline throughout Monday’s practice. He stuck close to defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and defensive backs coaches Jonathan Cooley and Chris Shula, script in hand, and talked several of his teammates through coverage concepts and play calls alongside the assistants. Ramsey held a particularly strong gravitational pull for rookie cornerback Decobie Durant, drafted in the fourth round this spring. Durant workshopped concepts and technical notes with Ramsey whenever he wasn’t on the field.

“He’s very smart. He wants to soak up a lot of knowledge,” Ramsey said of the younger cornerback. “But honestly, not just him — that’s everybody. Him, (Derion Kendrick) ‘D.K.,’ continuing to develop and help (Robert Rochell) ‘Scoota’ … I hate when I hear on a broadcast or something, like, ‘They’re really missing this guy, they’re really missing that guy,’ I hate that. I like when it’s kind of seamless. Maybe there’s a top dog, but everybody else that is under that is all at a steady, extremely high level of playing the position. That’s kind of the goal for our whole unit.”

Ramsey has always enjoyed the tactical elements of football (Cooley told The Athletic last season that Ramsey is “at his best when he’s challenged” in this way and is often a few steps ahead of the class), so having the script with him for the day added another layer to his communication of the defense to others.

“I kind of know the playbook like the back of my hand,” he said, smiling. “That’s really why I carry the script, so I can help the other guys. I know star, corner, whatever position in the secondary. That’s really why I carry the script, so that I can know exactly the play so I can know the certain techniques that I feel like they should be using, that could’ve helped them or if they got beat on a play, why they got beat. I can really analyze it within the play so I can give them feedback as soon as they come off the field instead of me having to wait until we get to the meeting room.”

More observations and notes from the second day of training camp:

(As a reminder, the Rams often structure their live periods to run the second team against the first team on each side of the ball. First-team-vs.-first-team periods will be specified in reports. Media members cannot report on schemes or the depth chart unless addressing it directly with a coach/player in an interview, but otherwise the full practice is open to credentialed viewers.)

• Kendrick, another rookie cornerback, is drawing some early attention. He had a couple of good battles with speedy second-year receiver Tutu Atwell throughout Monday’s practice and even made a play on a contested ball intended for Allen Robinson. One of the plays of the day was made by Kendrick: Backup quarterback John Wolford unfurled a pretty deep pass to Atwell, who had a step on Kendrick well downfield. But Kendrick closed out at the catch point, more than making up for the gap in coverage, and broke up the pass in the end zone as his defensive teammates celebrated on the sideline.

• Receiver Ben Skowronek made up for a couple of lost balls earlier in the day with a sliding catch in the end zone during red zone team drills.

• Cornerback David Long forced an incomplete pass in team drills, and cornerback Troy Hill was the first to record an interception in camp with a snag off a tipped Wolford pass in team drills. Safety Taylor Rapp also forced an incomplete pass near the end of team drills against the second-team offense.

• Receiver/return specialist Brandon Powell drew praise for a tough-fought catch-and-run through the middle of the field during team drills.

• One of the best plays of the day was made by Robinson in red zone team drills. Quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a pass over the middle of the field as Robinson cut across the back of the end zone (and through heavy traffic) to secure the touchdown.

• Stafford, who threw publicly for the first time since the Super Bowl as camp opened, again took a full workload and appeared crisper than he did Sunday.

“He hasn’t been able to throw for a little while now, (and) you can’t simulate what it’s like throwing against a live defense until you get out here and do it,” said Cooper Kupp, who connected with Stafford several times in team drills. “There (were) lot of guys, during OTAs, that (was) all we got was being able to jog through stuff. So there’s going to be a little bit of that, getting back to feeling that (and) processing that as quickly as possible, and for Matthew being able to feel those live throws, speeding things up and manipulating people, manipulating his arm like he does. That’s gonna come. I know it’s gonna be leaps and bounds as things get going here.

“Everyone wants to be in midseason form on Day 1. And it’s just not realistic. So we just gotta be patient, take things one day at a time and just continue to lay bricks.”

• Extra tidbit: Count tight ends coach Thomas Brown and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis among the assistants who ride their bikes to the facilities from the team hotel. The peloton also includes offensive line coach Kevin Carberry.

July 27, 2022 at 12:20 am #139817

zn
Moderator

Bobby Wagner’s communication as Rams’ ‘green dot’ on display in mental workday

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3451655/2022/07/26/rams-training-camp-bobby-wagner/?source=emp_shared_article

IRVINE, Calif. — How do you know it’ll mostly be an installation/mental workday at Rams camp? The walkie-talkies come out — and not just for the coaches.

Usually, when a player has a helmet microphone (reserved for quarterbacks and whichever player calls the signals on the defense), the communication to the sideline is a lot less obvious to onlookers. But because the workload was physically lighter Tuesday, the Rams’ third day of training camp, inside linebacker Bobby Wagner had a walkie-talkie instead with a channel attuned to defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

“It’s funny, because Rah talks a lot of trash in the walkie-talkie, too,” said Wagner after practice, smiling.

“I tried (to talk back) — they cut that portion off. They must have known I was gonna say something back. I tried to hold the button and I didn’t get static back … we’ll work on that.”

Wagner will wear the “green dot” for the Rams, meaning he’ll be the player with the green sticker on his helmet and the earpiece inside of it, who is in charge of relaying calls from the defensive coordinator to the rest of the defense.

“It’s the mike (middle) linebacker, that’s all I know,” he said. Wagner held the responsibility over the past 10 years in Seattle.

The Rams have assigned those duties to a safety in some previous years (most recently it belonged to Jordan Fuller), but traditionally the role has been filled by a middle linebacker. Typically that player does not come off the field. So far, it’s clear that the team’s plan for Wagner will be expansive, and not just on the field.

“There are some subtleties and some different things that we’ll be asking of him, (whether) it’s blitzing (or) some of the coverage responsibilities,” head coach Sean McVay said after Tuesday’s practice. “Really, I like to pick (his) brain — really learn how did he see our stuff, what’s he seeing from the landscape of the league, what are some things that they’ve done that maybe we can incorporate.

“He’s such a mature, impressive human being that I’ve really just enjoyed getting to know him and how he carries himself day in and day out. His presence, his ability to communicate with poise, I think (it) rubs off on the rest of the guys when you try to create some frenetic paces.”

That communication was especially helpful Tuesday because the Rams did little to no live football work and instead worked mostly on conceptual drilling at 50 percent speed, including in 11-on-11 situations.

“It’s kind of just using this as a way to get their legs back underneath them,” McVay said. “Stress them on some stuff that maybe we’re not giving each other offensively and defensively, still pushing our installs a little bit. Our guys handled it really well. You can do this when you have the right kind of guys and leadership like Bobby and our other veterans. It’s an important day, but it’s still very early on in the process for us.”

(As a reminder, the Rams often structure their live periods to run the second team against the first team on each side of the ball. First-team versus first-team periods will be specified in reports. Media members cannot report on schemes or the depth chart unless addressing it directly with a coach/player in an interview, but otherwise the full practice is open to credentialed viewers.)

• Right tackle Rob Havenstein, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, tight end Tyler Higbee and defensive tackle Aaron Donald were among the players who didn’t practice Tuesday. McVay said the team wanted the veterans to rest their legs ahead of a more intense practice Wednesday. The Rams will also have their first padded practice later this week/weekend.

• Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who said Monday that he’s still eyeing a return from shoulder surgery by the Rams’ season opener Sept. 8, did a pretty grueling on-field workout with team athletic trainers before the day’s practice began.

• Rookie running back Kyren Williams, who broke his foot during spring OTAs and had surgery, is still on track to return later in the preseason. Williams notably sticks close to his position group during drills and installation periods, even though he can’t participate directly, clearly in an effort to soak in as much information as he can. Third-year running back Cam Akers, who returned ahead of the 2021 playoffs from an Achilles tear he suffered before training camp last season, said he’s taking on a mentorship role with Williams not only as a more veteran player at the position, but also as Williams works through his own injury and recovery process.

“Just being there whenever he needs me, or just being there if he needs to talk or if he’s got a question for me,” Akers said of Williams. “Just being there when he needs me — he’s been handling it very well … He’ll be back on the field in a couple of weeks, I think … just a credit to our staff, how hard they work and how hard he’s worked to get back. I tip my hat to Kyren.”

• With the Rams spelling Brian Allen at times (for similar reasons as the aforementioned veteran players, although Allen did participate in some of the practice) and Coleman Shelton moved to center, guard Logan Bruss got installation reps with the first-team offensive line (he and Shelton are competing for the job when Shelton isn’t backing up Allen at center). Between snaps, guard David Edwards took extra time to go over technical work with Bruss.

• Cameron Dicker took live punt reps while Riley Dixon ghost-repped through the special teams installation periods (it’s not clear whether that was by design or for health reasons, but Dixon is participating fully in practice so likely the former). Dixon, the more veteran of the two players, was signed to a one-year deal this spring but the Rams opened a “punter competition” when they added Dicker in undrafted free agency. Dicker appeared to place the ball well as it correlated to the demands of the installation, and Dixon stood with kicker Matt Gay and talked through the play sheet. Similar to former longtime punter Johnny Hekker, Dixon is built more like a linebacker than a stereotypical punter. The real question is: Can he throw?

July 27, 2022 at 3:33 am #139820

zn
Moderator

Stu Jackson@StuJRams

Rams HC Sean McVay: “We’re further along in terms of the installs and some of the things that we’re able to get done offensively and defensively than we’ve been in previous years. What that means leading into September 8, we’ll have a better idea, once we get closer to that.”

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Rams OLB Leonard Floyd with praise for OLB Terrell Lewis this afternoon. Floyd said Lewis has been taking care of his body the entire offseason and can tell in training camp that he’s pass-rushing with confidence in his knee.

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Rams S Nick Scott speaking highly of rookie DB Derion Kendrick, whom Scott said showed confidence right away. Specific example of that Scott pointed to today was Kendrick defending WR Allen Robinson II on contested catches.

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July 28, 2022 at 1:04 am #139832
zn
Moderator
Robert Mays@robertmays

Main takeaway from 2 days at Rams camp: The staff here is in love with Allen Robinson. From his approach in meetings to what he can give them in this offense. His route tree and where he can line up are more varied than they’d even hoped. Potential monster year incoming.

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Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue

I try to avoid big takes of this time of year, but just had to talk at length to Robert about this when we recorded an episode of The Athletic Football Show after practice yesterday, which comes out tomorrow Robinson is already special in the minds of these guys.

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You can see that chemistry building between Stafford and Robinson in the red zone. They’ve tried a few different placements through their first live week together. Fun to watch, tbh

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Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue

QB John Wolford just put together a nice series in team drills in the phase where the Rams run the twos against the ones (as noted previously). Highlight was a thread over the middle to Blanton, who made a really nice catch with a small workspace to do it. He’ll be a good TE2

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Biggest celebration of the day: Rookie CB Derion Kendrick breaks up a would-be TD catch in the end zone, target was Allen Robinson – and Jalen Ramsey (play sheet in hand) called the defense’s shot to the sideline ref just before the snap, too. Kendrick having a heck of a start.

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Which players are expected to take a big leap this year?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
My opinion: Shelton. Funk (special teams). Van. Akers. Lewis/Garrett combo. Hoecht and Copeland. Ernest.

Can you spot a difference already with the 1st team defense with Bobby Wagner in the middle of it.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
It probably doesn’t feel this way to the QB but players described him to me as “creating a pocket of zen” in middle of the field and when they have that they can flow a bit freer in orbit. Super savvy in run fit installs. LBs seem to be doing more/not just reacting to front

How are the DE’s looking so far?

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Fast, even in some of this light install. Floyd is in his happy place. Hollins has something to prove. Garrett and Lewis clearly have developed. Eager to see how the young guys, especially Hardy and Whitley. Hard rotation to crack this year but they are very twitchy

Is tutu still progressing in camp, saw he gained some muscle, how’s it looking from year 1 to year 2

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
He’s got a (McVay voice) good way about himself this year in terms of seeming focused on improving. Remember, this is all crucial time he missed last year. Interested to see how he fares when catches/coverage get more physical.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by zn.
July 28, 2022 at 1:23 am #139835

zn
Moderator

Allen Robinson stealing Rams camp spotlight in early going. Matched with Sean McVay’s praise for Tutu Atwell, Matthew Stafford could have a special WR room already even without OBJ https://t.co/Wk9bybLsc4

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) July 28, 2022

July 28, 2022 at 1:25 am #139836

zn
Moderator

July 28, 2022 at 1:26 am #139837

zn
Moderator

July 28, 2022 at 1:27 am #139838

zn
Moderator

July 28, 2022 at 1:46 am #139840

zn
Moderator

The Rams have had four training camp practices so far and there’s already a lot to break down https://t.co/1PJuQt6Oxo

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) July 27, 2022

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[link above]

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Coleman Shelton is getting a crack at RG spot

Shelton is getting reps with the starting offensive line already, working at both right guard and center. But with Brian Allen locked in as the starting center, Shelton is mainly competing with Logan Bruss at right guard.

That’ll certainly be a position battle to watch throughout camp because the Rams need someone to step into Austin Corbett’s role on the right side. Bruss and Shelton are both solid options, and the Rams will give them equal chances to earn the starting job.

Jalen Ramsey focused on getting healthy, not a new deal

Ramsey was originally going to be placed on the PUP list to open camp after undergoing shoulder surgery, but the Rams opted not to go that route. He was cleared by doctors for limited work in camp, and because he’s not on the PUP list, he can still participate in walk-throughs and mental reps on the field.

He still plans to be ready for the start of the regular season, saying he has “no doubt” he’ll be healthy by Week 1. He’s just focused on getting healthy for September 8.

What he’s not worried about is his contract. He was asked if he’s looking for a new deal after seeing Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp get raises, but that’ll come “when the time’s right.”

“I gotta handle what I gotta handle, and right now, for me that’s being a good teammate, getting the shoulder right, getting the rehab right so I can go have another good season and help this team in as many ways as possible,” he said.

Bobby Wagner will be defensive signal caller

Wagner confirmed that he’s going to be the Rams’ defensive signal caller, wearing the green dot on his helmet. He’ll relay the calls from Raheem Morris to the rest of the defense, which is the role he had with the Seahawks.

“That’s all I know,” he said of wearing the green dot.

Right now, he and Morris are using walkie-talkies, but it’s a one-way line of communication, and Morris talks a lot of trash. It sounds like this transition for Wagner is going smoothly, and he’s having fun so far.

Troy Hill pulled in a great interception

Hill has wasted no time making an impact on defense since returning to the Rams this offseason, picking off a pass in practice on Monday. Jalen Ramsey was immediately there to celebrate the interception, which was a great play by Hill.

He doesn’t appear to have missed a beat after leaving the Rams for one year, and he should pick up right where he left off in 2020.

Matthew Stafford is throwing again but Rams will be cautious

Stafford didn’t throw at all during OTAs and minicamp after getting an injection in his right elbow, but the plan was for him to be ready by training camp. Stafford began throwing on the first day of camp and didn’t have any limitations, according to McVay, but the Rams are still going to be smart with him by keeping Stafford on a “pitch count,” as the coach called it.

There are no concerns about his availability for Week 1, and it’s great to see him throwing to his new target, Allen Robinson.

Kyren Williams, Travin Howard among 4 injured Rams

Williams broke his foot during OTAs and isn’t yet ready to practice, so he was placed on the PUP list to start camp, along with Quentin Lake and Warren Jackson. Howard pulled his groin while working out on his own and needs surgery to repair the injury, landing on the non-football injury list.

None of the four players will be forced to miss regular-season time as of now, and they can all be activated at any time, so hopefully they’ll be back sooner rather than later.

Rookie DBs have caught McVay’s eye

The Rams brought in a bunch of rookie defensive backs this year, adding Decobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake all in the draft. They’re just getting their feet wet in training camp right now (though Lake is injured) but they’ve already caught the eye of McVay in practice. McVay paid them a compliment, saying the game makes sense to them – while also noting Yeast’s breaks on a couple of passes in practice.

“When you look at guys like DK, Durant, Russ Yeast even as a safety had some really good breaks today,” McVay said. “These guys, the game makes sense to them. They’re really comfortable back there and they’re getting a lot of reps against some really good players with the way that we’ve got practice situated right now.”

Kendrick made a great play to break up a pass intended for Allen Robinson on Wednesday, which had the whole defense fired up afterwards.

Andrew Whitworth remains close to the team

Whitworth is gearing up for his first post-retirement job this year after being hired by Amazon to be a studio analyst during Thursday Night Football coverage, but he remains close to the team he ended his NFL career with. On Wednesday, Whitworth was spotted at practice wearing a Rams shirt, hanging out with McVay and other coaches before things got underway.

Coaching should still be in Whitworth’s future because he’s more than cut out for that type of job. Maybe he’ll be on McVay’s staff one day.

July 28, 2022 at 1:56 am #139841

zn
Moderator

.@AndrewWhitworth here for Day 4 of Rams training camp pic.twitter.com/KW6guDBOqt

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) July 27, 2022

July 29, 2022 at 10:36 pm #139857

zn
Moderator

This is all from the Rams new ESPN beat reporter, who replaced Thiry, who went on to the Chargers. So now a new one in the line of Wagoner, Sando, Thiry, and others. On the new one: https://theramshuddle.com/topic/rams-have-yet-another-new-espn-beat-reporter

…

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop

The Rams waived/injured RB Xavier Jones and signed RB Trey Ragas.

Tyler Higbee says he jokes training camp is “eat, sleep, poop, football for 18 days straight.”

That’s a second interception for Decobie Durant during the team period. He and Derion Kendrick have impressed through the first week of practice.

A highlight of Jalen Ramsey’s press conference was him explaining the thought process of the Rams deciding to keep him off the PUP list. “I ain’t no puppy anyway, so let’s get it.”

Jalen Ramsey said he was carrying a script during practice because it allows him to help teammates right away. “I can really analyze it within the play so I can give them feedback as soon as they come off the field instead of me having to wait until we get to the meeting room.”

July 29, 2022 at 11:54 pm #139861

zn
Moderator

Really incredible turnout for the first open practice https://t.co/Ibyr0OrK7N

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) July 30, 2022

…

Stu Jackson@StuJRams

Hard to even estimate a number, but all the bleachers were full and there were lots of fans standing and observing along the edges of the practice fields too

July 30, 2022 at 12:02 am #139862

zn
Moderator

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue

Holy high-flying leap, DeCobie Durant. He intercepts a Stafford long crosser intended for Kupp as ones go vs twos.

.

DeCobie Durant just grabbed his second pick of the day, this time on a Wolford pass. Having quite a day.

…

Rams camp notes: Sean McVay raises bar after ‘sloppy’ moments in first pads day

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/3461817/2022/07/29/rams-training-camp-sean-mcvay/?source=emp_shared_article

IRVINE, Calif. — It is the first day in pads for the Los Angeles Rams, but head coach Sean McVay didn’t want that to be an excuse for what he called a few “sloppy” moments in training camp on both sides of the ball.

“A lot of things that we need to get cleaned up, stuff that I expect better from our team,” he said. “But there was a lot of positives; it’s the old cliché, ‘you go back and look at the film.’

“There was enough stuff that I expect us just to be a sharper overall outfit and I trust that tomorrow will be a step in the right direction.”

The Rams had a live NFL referee crew officiating their team periods Friday (led by Shawn Hochuli), and the flags were frequent. That’s ultimately what disappointed McVay, as opposed to any mistakes when the ball was live.

“Just pre-snap penalties, whether it’s not being on the same page offensively (or) jumping offsides defensively, things that the disciplined teams do a good job of avoiding,” said McVay. “The easy thing is to say, ‘Well, it’s still early in camp,’ but I expect more from our team than that. So I have no doubt that our guys will respond the right way, they’ll be intentional about looking at this film (and) figuring out how we can be a little bit better with our focus and concentration, and eliminate some of the things that take no talent to get fixed.”

McVay added that he didn’t want to minimize the standout plays made by a couple of younger players, including cornerback DeCobie Durant — who had two interceptions, one against quarterback Matthew Stafford and the first-team offense, and the other against backup quarterback John Wolford.

“I thought they were great. Those were really competitive plays, one down the field (when) we’re in a man coverage, then the other one he’s kind of slipping underneath on a seam as he’s carrying it outside-in. He’s got great ball skills,” said McVay of the rookie Durant. “I thought those were two really big-time plays that DeCobie made today.”

With the pads on and fans in the stands, the grind-days of camp can begin. The Rams will practice through Monday before they get another day off.

“I joke to people, it’s ‘eat, sleep, poop, football,” said tight end Tyler Higbee. “For 18 days straight.”

A reminder: The Rams often structure their live periods to run the second team against the first team on each side of the ball. First-team versus first-team periods will be specified in reports. Media members cannot report on schemes or the depth chart unless addressing it directly with a coach/player in an interview, but otherwise the full practice is open to credentialed viewers.

• Now-retired longtime left tackle Andrew Whitworth was present for a second consecutive day Friday and spent a lot of time coaching up rookie guard Logan Bruss between reps during installation periods.

• Cornerback Jalen Ramsey underwent a pretty active workout on the sideline with team athletic trainers before joining his fellow defensive backs on the sideline for the second half of practice. Rookie running back Kyren Williams moved very well in a sideline workout of his own. The expectation is that both players return before the season opener, and Williams could return as early as the third preseason game.

• Tight end Kendall Blanton is making a strong case for himself as “TE2” behind Higbee after putting together a few really smooth days of camp.

• The Rams upped the intensity at times in the team periods (although they don’t fully tackle to the ground at any point in camp). Stafford hit Higbee in the red zone for consecutive touchdowns before defensive lineman Greg Gaines took matters into his own hands, literally. Gaines batted a pass and then intercepted it, to the delight of the crowd.

• It’s easy to forget how difficult it is to move around in full football gear. Coleman Shelton (repping at right guard) had an untied shoelace that he couldn’t attend to with full pads/helmet/thick gloves on, so Stafford tied it for him in the huddle.

• After Durant’s first interception on a ball intended for Cooper Kupp, he immediately went to the sideline to get coaching from defensive assistant Jonathan Cooley.

• Veteran safety Nick Scott also broke up a Stafford pass intended for Kupp in the team period.

• Stafford and Kupp got the defense back later in the afternoon, with a long pass that Kupp secured inbounds along the defensive sideline.

• Receiver Ben Skowronek had a couple of drops over the last few days, but put together a nice practice Friday.

• Rams safety Jordan Fuller is still onloading into a full snap share after recovering from a bad ankle injury (and surgery) last season. Fuller, who has started for the last two years, said Friday he’s “not where I want to be, but taking steps in the right direction.” Training camp represents the first football Fuller has been able to play in months, so the team is progressing his workload with caution.

McVay politely disagreed, saying, “it hasn’t looked that way to me. I told him, I said, ‘I think you want to be able to have a smart progression,’ but I think he’s moved around really well, he’s looked comfortable. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of accumulating that experience where you can just really let it go and go trust (the ankle). But if you didn’t know any better, if you didn’t talk to him, the movement (and) the way that he’s playing, I think he’s doing a really good job. Those safeties as a whole have been outstanding throughout camp.”

• Both punters — veteran Riley Dixon and rookie Cameron Dicker — were “live legs” at the end of practice, when the special teams unit worked on coverage drills. Both appeared to kick well, but Dixon finished the day with an excellent rep (and a good bounce angle) that second-year cornerback Robert Rochell was able to down at about the 5-yard line.

July 30, 2022 at 12:11 am #139863

zn
Moderator

from

Covering NFL training camp: Six beat writers talk biggest challenges, storylines and more

https://theathletic.com/3454759/2022/07/28/nfl-training-camp-coverage/

What is the biggest challenge covering training camp?

Rodrigue: I’ve covered in a lot of detail the ways the Rams have been a catalyst in the league — and in camp, the schematic elements of that are at the forefront. But providing detailed reporting within the parameters of the media guidelines can be a challenge (although believe me, I understand why they exist in terms of keeping hold of certain competitive advantages that coaches and players don’t want public until they absolutely have to be). It’s an odd feeling when a reporter can’t share which player is taking the bulk of first-team reps at right guard unless it’s directly asked in a press conference and addressed by said coach or player, but fans in the stands are able to share and video as much as they can (and again, the nuance here is that I’m stoked that fans can have a great experience; both can be true).

If that simple question is asked at a press conference in order to make the subject “usable,” it’s live-streamed and cherry-picked for aggregation immediately without the instant added context from the people on the ground who are watching every snap (because they’re in the press conference) and the possibly important context gets lost in the social media churn. This, of course, is a champagne problem. But finding the right balance of what to ask, and when to ask it within the parameters of the credential, especially as it pertains to scheme and building stories that are different and special for readers, is a challenge. Hell, I like a challenge.

What is the storyline or subject your fan base is most interested in during training camp?

Rodrigue: “Can the Rams repeat?” is, and will be, the biggest question facing this team from now until February. However, the question I get most often is how many snaps I think Cam Akers will get per game. (Answer: A lot!)

What is something NFL readers in another city would be surprised to learn about your training camp?

Rodrigue: I wish people from all over could see the playing surface and atmosphere in Irvine, Calif., where the Rams hold training camp. The team is still re-building their fan base in a lot of ways, especially in a region that went without pro football in-city for a while. But in Irvine, with the emerald grass that bounces a little when you walk on it, the constant breeze (and occasional wayward seagull), and the packed, excited bleachers — the vibes are excellent.

Who is someone on your beat (player/coach/executive) who you could see working in the sports media after his/her NFL career has concluded — and why?

Rodrigue: I feel like saying “Sean McVay” is a cop-out, right? We all know he’s going to be a broadcaster someday (my sense is he’s tied to quarterback Matthew Stafford, in the shorter term). I look at a player like safety Terrell Burgess, who blends a bright, truly earnest and eager personality with a little bit of a dry sense of humor, as someone who could bring a fresh voice to the broadcasting space if given the tools and opportunity.

July 30, 2022 at 6:07 am #139864

zn
Moderator

July 30, 2022 at 6:10 am #139865

zn
Moderator

bubbaramfan

Wow! TC is finally happening! Got there early and got decent seat in the south endzone. VeteranRamFan showed up not to long after. We had our customary beer and waited for practice to start. Used a voice recorder so I’m just going to play it back and write here what went down and some thoughts as the practice progressed.

First in front of us they practiced punt drills, then 1st team O and D looked to be doing walk through, play installation. 1st OL of Noteboom, Edwards, Allen, Shelton LG, Havenstien. Defense AD, Gaines, Robinson, Jones, Wagner, Floyd, Hollins, Rapp, Scott, Ramsey, Long. Note that Ramsey only was on the field for these walk throughs, the rest of the time he was like a coach on the sideline.

2nd team O vs 1st team D Aleric Jackson took most snaps at LT, Anchrum at LG. Shelton, Kolone and Brewer all took snaps at C today. Bruss and Shelton took turns with 1st and 2nd team at LG. Bobby Evans took the majority of snaps 2nd team RT, though Anchrum did get in a few. 2nd team D was harder to see who was in. Guys that stood out were Hardy, who has speed and high motor and Durant who got couple of pass breakups and two INT’s. Hill and Long seemed to be alternating, Rochelle back and forth 1st and 2nd team. I really liked what I saw of the new guys.

Now Acuri at. LT, Snyder C, Brewer RT. Look like everyone on OL is going to get in. Mx Pircher got snaps at LT and RT.

Next they broke up into their position groups with db’s closest. Drilling backpedling, change of direction, etc.

Stafford and 1st team vs 1st D several scrimmage snaps. short pass to Robinson, run up middle by Akers, pass to Upp for 10. No hard contact, Akers looking good as he takes a short screen pass. I could see from my vantage who was on D, Wolford now out there with Funk RB, Skow, Harris Tutu A jackson LT, Anchrum LG, shelton C, Brewer RG, Bobby Evans RT. Wolford the Hopkins over the middle, Powell several snpas from the slot, Funk with a screen for 15.

1st team back in, Henderson run up the middle. Stafford gets sacked by Hardy. Hardy playing hard. Brewer some snaps at LG, Henderson with couple nice runs.
No deep passed so far. Durrant pass breakup to Robinson.

Redzone drills, Higbee nice catch. Durrant with INT. Terrell Lewis with good pressure, beat Havenstien.

Kicking team now out, Matt Gay right on, drilling FG’s.

Still 15 min odd of practice to go I had enough and headed to the car.

Good practice. Good intensity. Some of what I took away from today’s practice. Atwell looked to have put on some weight, especially on his upper body. He was fast out there but his route running looked a little shabby. Kupp also looked to have muscled up. Brian allen looked bigger, had a huge brace on his right leg. Stafford looked good, but didn;t throw anything over 15 yds.

Standout players for today: Durant is a player. 2 picks and a breakup today. I really liked what I saw from him and the other DB’s. Hardy was in the backfield a lot guy is fast and turns the corner quick. T Lewis looks like he’s trusting his knee.

Looking forward to tomorrows practice. Going to try and get sideline seats. Was hard to see the numbers on guys.

Rams are going to repeat.

July 30, 2022 at 6:18 am #139868

zn
Moderator

VeteranRamFan

Camp was supposed to open at 11 and since I’m only 15 minutes away, I left work at 10:30 thinking its early on a workday. There won’t be many people there. WRONG! Packed house! And parking was a pain too until @bubbaram told me about his parking lot. Using that one tomorrow.

Weather was nice. Sunny, mid eighties with a cool breeze blowing. Bubba had some choice seats picked out, but the staff said he had to move because those were reserved. So, he did and then the staff changed their mind and opened the section back up. Too late for us so we had to sit in the end zone. Good view from there!

When the Rams took the field as a team, the crowd erupted into cheers! When ever a position group was done with drills and moved to another section of the field, the crowd cheered! What a great feeling to be associated with such a class organization and Super Bowl champs too! Couldn’t have said that for a long time.

Let’s talk about some of the players. I’ll just shoot from the hip from what I recall.

#14 DeCobie Durant. Dude was everywhere! Flying around like he was superman! You already know he had two interceptions but unless someone has them filmed and posted on twitter, you have no idea how difficult those plays were. The throws the QB were good throws! No tipped balls, no one in their face. The receivers were also open, but Durant just put himself out there, closed the gap and dove in front to intercept. A true thing of beauty!

#6 Derian Kendrick. I wanted to make a point to focus on him, but he seemed to have got lost in the shuffle to me. I may be wrong; everyone is talking about him so he must be doing something right. The only time I noticed him was during passing drills and he failed to catch a ball thrown out in front of him. No big deal, we all have moments, but it just seemed…. odd, I guess? I’ll try and watch him closer in the coming days.

#44 Danial Hardy. Stud. Fast! Has balance, control. Chased Wolford out of the pocket and caused an incompletion, more than once. I like this guy. Let’s keep an eye on him.

#60 Bruss. Played at right guard mostly with the 2’s but did get some reps with the 1’s. He anchors well. Seems to have good leverage and good use of his hands. Didn’t get beat. Don’t recall the defender going against him though. In this short practice, I felt he did better than Shelton. The kid, to me, is ready to start.

#49 Rodger Carter. He is a big TE! Huge legs! Was practicing some long snaps at the beginning. I imagine he is looking for a role to play. Don’t think he sticks.

#1 Robinson. He is a player. A professional. He appeared to be giving it his all on every play, regardless of where he fell in the QB’s progression. Caught a couple of balls, curl patterns then turned it up field with some speed! This is a great signing. Only problem, there are only so many balls to go around and we seem to be loaded with WR.

#15 Atwell. Small, yes. Quick, yes. Fast, hard to tell from our vantage point. It seems I have a series of photos with him breaking away from a DB so he must have something going for him. I told Bubba that when he isn’t the primary receiver, I see him not being as crisp in his cuts. I guess I feel you should practice how you play. His hands are good! I just don’t see what the FO saw in him.

#30 Calais. He was catching some balls out of the backfield and look good doing it! Sure hands, good cuts, burst of speed. Be nice to have him fill two roles for us.

July 30, 2022 at 6:37 am #139871

zn
Moderator

Ramsfan1971

This is the one training camp day I am able to attend this year. It was a Beautiful day in Irvine. Perfect weather for players and fans. I have attended each training camp since our beloved Rams returned. Oh my how things have changed! The first year back, there were not that many fans that attended TC during the week. There were a bunch of old timer Rams fans those first couple of years. Today, the place was packed around the fields as well as in the Rams Experience area. There were numerous families and young people all sporting Rams gear. Kupp and Donald were easily the most common jerseys being worn. So, what did I notice at todays practice. First overall impression after the practice ended, was that our Rams are a complete team with lots of talent at almost every position except a few positions.

Defense-

DL- Any time you have Donald on the line, you have a dominant line. Donald, Gaines and Robinson looked great. Donald would have broken Wolford on one of his long completions, if he was able to hit the qb. He came clean and veered off. Gaines got an INT off a tipped pass in the red zone. Backups held their own, but no-one stood out to me.

LB- Wagner is already taking control of getting everyone in the right position. He and Jones were communicating well. Wagner made a few stops in the run game. Floyd, Hollins, Garrett, and Lewis all looked good and got pressure. If outside guys can get pressure, this is a strong position.

DBs- Wow! This looks like a very deep position. I was happy to see Scott with the first team. He was huge in the playoffs. Dacobie Durant made two impressive INTs. One looked like a sure completion to Kupp and Durant dove in front of him for the INT. Kendrick was solid also. There is a lot of talent on this team with Safeties and Corners.

Offense-

Qbs- Given that he is still working on timing with his receivers, Stafford looked good. His arm looked strong. He made a few 20-30 yard throws. He attempted one long deep throw to Robinson that was overthrown. Kupp got most of his attempts. Wolford took second team reps. He played well the second half of practice. I must say, Wolford is my biggest concern for this team. His size and arm strength are lacking. McVay must love his leadership since he does not bring in any young arms. If Stafford has to miss a few games for any reason, Wolford does not look like he can carry us for a few games.

Rbs- Cam and Henderson look strong as usual. I hope we find more depth in case one of those two get hurt. A few good runs of 4-5 yards. I hope our rookie pick recovers soon.

Wrs- Very strong position. Kupp, Robinson, and Jefferson looked great. All three had a few catches. Surprise- Atwell had a couple of catches with good separation. Atwell and Powell look like they are the exact same size. Both look like they would break if a Lb had a clean hit.

Te-
Very strong position! Higbee, Blanton, Bryce, and Harris looked great today. All of them made catches today in scrimmage against D.

OL- Shelton started at rg today. He and Allen both look small at 300 lbs. Bruss played with 2nd team. Did well against 2nd team DL. Did not do as well against 1st team DL. I do believe they will gel by the time the season starts. I hope Bruss gets up to speed fast. 2 guys at just 300 lbs will not hold against the giant nose tackles.

Good to see Kupp working after practice on catching ball with two hands. Ramsey was putting in the work to get back. Gay hit a few Fgs from 35 to 45. Did not see him miss one. I did not see a huge difference between the new punters.

World Champs look like we have a very deep team. Hopefully we are just as motivated to win another championship. Every TC, I walk away with a number of concerns. Did not get that this year. Let’s stay healthy and get another one! I look forward to reading others views today and future camp days.

July 30, 2022 at 8:29 pm #139883

zn
Moderator

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sunday is a scheduled “de-load” day so team will mostly jog-through after two padded days. That means Matthew Stafford isn’t expected to throw; same with all of the other QBs per McVay.

Stafford says his arm “is coming along, kind of right where I want to be” and that he’s just trying to gain back some of the reps he lost in the spring.

Sean McVay says team is working on figuring out an unknown situation with Van Jefferson; declined to say whether it involved Jefferson’s previous knee injury. Says team is working through it.

Jefferson did not practice today, FWIW, from what I saw.

Ernest Jones calls working with Bobby Wagner “the highlight of my career so far.” Adds,

“He is everything.”

Lots of crowd love for Bobby Wagner here today. ILBs are doing movement/ball drills and the crowd swells each time he moves toward the sideline.

***

how has 9 looked so far overall? Mostly sharp or still noticeable working through his limited snaps?

Jourdan Rodrigue
I think largely he has looked in control whereas you could tell he was learning last year. He likes to experiment with placement this time of year and I think that’s a good thing (also fun to watch). But you can at times tell he is shaking off rust. All of this seems on track to me.

He didn’t throw all spring – that’s when he’d usually test out his windows. He has to do it now!

***

Rams DL coach Eric Henderson asked his guys to wear bright gloves today because when they do film study the coaches and players can better track the finer details of their hand placement in drills and beyond. Small detail, possibly big impact. pic.twitter.com/YXXH6Da4oI

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) July 30, 2022

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August 1, 2022 at 2:38 am #139898

zn
Moderator

Rams facing evolving situation at WR, RB plan emerges and more camp notes

Jourdan Rodrigue

.

https://theathletic.com/3465098/2022/07/31/rams-training-camp/?source=emp_shared_article

.

IRVINE, Calif. — As the Rams de-escalated from consecutive padded practices to a much lighter “de-load” day Sunday, all eyes were on the small cluster of wide receivers working on the far field with the first-team offense.

Absent was third-year receiver Van Jefferson, who had 802 yards and 50 catches last season as the Rams’ clear-cut No. 3 (behind Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and then Odell Beckham Jr. in Woods’ absence). Jefferson also missed Saturday’s practice as he deals with a situation — the nature of which coach Sean McVay declined to specify. Multiple sources told The Athletic that Jefferson’s absence is injury-related.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said Sunday morning that Jefferson would seek more consultation about “a knee injury that has been plaguing him” Monday, which will include an assessment about whether he will need surgery. It’s unclear whether the injury is on the same leg Jefferson injured (and played through) in the postseason (and McVay declined to specify Saturday), but Jefferson did confirm as camp opened that he had surgery in the spring to fix it.

Though second-year receiver Ben Skowronek has shifted into a larger share of the snaps in team periods and installation work, the Rams won’t know what a longer-term plan of action will be until they know more about Jefferson’s status.

McVay didn’t have a news conference Sunday but is scheduled to be available Monday — the same day Jefferson may have more clarity on his next steps.

Saturday, because their practice was filmed by NFL Network cameras, the Rams didn’t show much depth of scheme or variety of personnel (although they were in pads for the second day in a row). Sunday, they de-loaded — which means the day was about mental work and installation, and none of the quarterbacks threw. Despite a workload that was kept more surface-level by design, there was still much to observe through the weekend.

A reminder: The Rams often structure their live periods to run the second team against the first team on each side of the ball. First team versus first team periods will be specified in reports. Media members cannot report on schemes or the depth chart unless addressing it directly with a coach/player in an interview, but otherwise, the full practice is open to credentialed viewers.

• Receiver Allen Robinson put together a nice workout Saturday. Robinson’s best catch was a contested effort across the back of the end zone, when the Rams were working first team against first team in a live red zone period. Stafford said later that Robinson was his third or even fourth read in the progression and that he looked off a defensive player to split open just enough room to fit the pass to Robinson as he sped across traffic in the end zone. The buzz swirling around Robinson is real (especially as non-daily media visit camp and watch him practice for the first time), and there’s substance behind it. He’s made quite an impact on teammates and coaches in a short time.

• Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson, the Rams’ two most veteran running backs, are splitting first-team snaps pretty evenly so far. It’s tough to tell without real contact how they will fare when the season begins, but so far both look explosive and healthy. They’re also clearly going to be a factor in the passing game.

“I look at it as we’ve got two starting backs,” McVay said. “Those guys are great complements (to) one another, but I see them as both starting-caliber players. We need to get them involved. They need to be on the field. I think it’s healthy for them to be able to supplement one another.”

The issue in the past, of course, has been both players’ availability. Henderson has suffered a variety of injuries over the past few years and Akers returned in-season from an Achilles tear suffered before camp last summer. Akers appears to have bulked up a bit in a positive way, which should bode well for his ability to keep ahold of the ball through contact and makes him a more dangerous player as a whole.

• Aaron Donald basically lived in the backfield during some of Saturday’s team period run plays, however, and at one point McVay and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris spelled him before executing a consecutive run play — McVay has joked in the past about giving Donald reps off so the offensive linemen can install their concepts without the stress of him bearing down on them. It’s unclear whether that’s exactly what happened in this scenario, but those jokes have a note of truth to them.

• Saturday, cornerback Robert Rochell tracked down and intercepted a John Wolford pass intended for Jacob Harris, who appeared to get redirected after some contact on his route and fell. Morris praised Rochell’s development into his second season in his news conference Sunday.

• Receiver Brandon Powell’s command of the return position is palpable during special teams installation periods at the beginning of practices through the first week of camp. Powell, who joined the Rams midseason last year and acted as an ignitor for their embattled special teams unit, returned to the team this spring on a one-year deal. However, it’s likely the Rams want whoever their return specialist is to also contribute on offense, even if they’d only be called upon to do so in an emergency. It’s notable that Powell, who has been repping first in return drills ahead of second-year receiver Tutu Atwell, spent a lot of time with Atwell and offensive assistant Greg Olson on the field where the first- and second-team offenses were installing Sunday.

• Rookie outside linebacker Daniel Hardy’s longer frame also stands out on special teams, where coaches hope his speed and size will help him contribute early on. Hardy’s family was at camp Sunday and vocally delighted to see him out on the field … even for something as low-glamour as a special teams install. Moments like that are what training camp is all about.

• There was a lot of crowd love for inside linebacker Bobby Wagner on Saturday, as the position group underwent ball tracking and movement drills on the sideline of the “near” field (the field closest to the players’ locker room) and in front of the bleachers on that side. Every time Wagner moved toward the sideline, the crowd swelled through the end of his rep. Each time he got back in line, he directed a small bow with clasped hands toward the direction of the crowd as a “thank you.”

• Reserve running back Raymond Calais is also getting some work at kick and punt return.

• Also during special teams install: Rookie punter Cameron Dicker, who is “competing” with veteran Riley Dixon for the job, demonstrated his ability to handle kickoffs as well. Meanwhile, Dixon seemed to have no problem holding kicks in live field goal periods.

…

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Raheem Morris on Bobby Wagner: “He doesn’t waste movement. It’s no secret … It’s really sickening to watch when he always ends up in the right spot because we played this game, a lot of us, and we’ve been in position and you work as hard as you can and you’re out of breath – and

he seems like he just doesn’t waste any movement, doesn’t waste any time, doesn’t waste any space. He eliminates areas that you didn’t think he was gonna get to as fast as he can get there.”

…

McVay may be hinting at a committee at RB?

Jourdan Rodrigue
If both can stay healthy, sure. Both are very talented and I know Cam is ready to break out. Have yet to see them both healthy together for a full year though, unfortunately.

Is there something going on with Stafford’s arm?

Jourdan Rodrigue
No, just shaking the rust off. He’s on a specific ramp-up plan after not throwing this spring is all, which is why we are all tracking when he does and does not throw – to get a better sense of the plan.

I haven’t heard much about Atwell recently, how does he look and do you think there is any chance he is the 3 if Van misses the start of the season

Jourdan Rodrigue
I think it’s a little more complicated than it looks on the surface though bc he wouldn’t just slide into the spot by any means
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