tweets, vids, articles from camp – 8/2

WR vs. DB battle. @Tayaustin01 stops on a dime. #RamsCamp https://t.co/3rqXiPVlF8

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 2, 2016

VIDEO: Troy Hill covering Nelson Spruce in drills. Just like high school and college. Now in the pros. pic.twitter.com/mj91FaesGZ

— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) August 2, 2016

.@_MikeTeee got it done on this play

And he made it look easy: https://t.co/Cp7MfEzXzj #Rams #RamsNation

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 2, 2016

—
Vincent Bonsignore ‏@DailyNewsVinny
First snap under center for #Rams Jared Goff is a fumble. But comes right back with nice throw to Malcolm Brown

Vincent Bonsignore ‏@DailyNewsVinny
From the keeping it real department: #Rams offense looking pretty good on 1st day in pads

Myles Simmons ‏@MylesASimmons
Best part about pads in camp is running plays are now legitimate in team drills. Gurley just ripped off a nice one in 11-on-11.

Myles Simmons ‏@MylesASimmons
Best part about pads in camp is running plays are now legitimate in team drills. Gurley just ripped off a nice one in 11-on-11.

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Yes, he’s been playing with McDonald at safety. G Williams is doing some interesting things schematically. https://t.co/zXUS2bRsE5

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) August 3, 2016

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Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson playing for this season – and next

Trumaine Johnson is the Rams’ highest-paid player and most experienced defensive back. After the Rams used their ‘franchise tag’ on him, he hopes his performance this season leads to a blockbuster deal next year.

RICH HAMMOND

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/johnson-724288-rams-first.html

IRVINE – Trumaine Johnson glanced skyward after he completed the third practice of his fifth NFL training camp. On a warm Monday late morning, the wise pro sought out a shady spot for an interview.

“Big vet, huh?” Johnson said with a grin. “I guess you could say that. I still feel young, though.”

Johnson is 26, and his career with the Rams has included a steady progression, then one big leap out of the shade and into the spotlight. Johnson is the Rams’ highest-paid player and most experienced defensive back, and is poised to parlay what could be an awkward season into a blockbuster contract.

The Rams used their “franchise player” tag on Johnson, who otherwise would have become a free agent in March, and retained him for the 2016 season but failed to lock him up with a long-term extension.

So, Johnson will make $13.95 million this season, the team’s largest contract in terms of guaranteed money and salary-cap figure. That’s no small thing, but Johnson also enters this season with uncertainty. The Rams had hoped to sign him to an extension, but now he could become a free agent next summer.

“Of course I was thinking about it, but I’m blessed either way,” Johnson said. “For them to (franchise) tag me, it talks volumes, but this is my main focus right now, and I’ll wait until the year is over to handle everything else.”

Johnson, a third-round draft pick in 2012, was a part-time starter during his first three seasons but took a major step in 2015 when expected cornerback starter E.J. Gaines suffered a season-ending foot injury in training camp.

Johnson had seven interceptions and was considered a more consistent performer than Janoris Jenkins, who left the Rams in March and signed a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the New York Giants.

At this point, Johnson isn’t thinking about leaving Los Angeles. He’s set to start opposite either Gaines, Coty Sensabaugh or Lamarcus Joyner, and his first week of training camp at UC Irvine has included family members who traveled down from Johnson’s native Stockton.

“We had 10,000 fans out here the first day,” Johnson said. “To come out here and hear them cheering, it’s a blessing.”

SALUTE TO FRIEND

If you’re having trouble finding Johnny Hekker at UC Irvine, it’s because he’s wearing a different number.

The Rams’ punter is temporarily donning No. 3 – replacing his usual No. 6 – during training camp to honor his friend Mike Sadler, the former Michigan State punter who died less than two weeks ago.

“Brilliant, brilliant kid,” Hekker said. “It was cut short, but he lived a hell of a life when he was alive.”

Sadler, who was the first four-time Academic All-American in Spartans history, died in a July 23 car crash. With him were Nebraska punter Sam Foltz – who also died at the scene – and LSU punter Colby Delahoussaye, who crawled out of the burning car and survived.

The news rippled through the punter fraternity, a community knit together by various camps and clinics. Hekker and Sadler first crossed paths more than five years ago in Prattville, Ala. The former was already a Ray Guy semifinalist at Oregon State, but the latter was just heading into his freshman year at Michigan State.

“Just the kind of guy that could light up a room,” Hekker said. “Really didn’t take himself too seriously, but was a hard-working dude.”

SPECIAL DAY

Three days into training camp, the Rams put on full pads for the first time, albeit only for a one-hour special teams practice that didn’t include many of the highest-profile players.

It did include some spirited, physical drills, and it included receiver/kick returner Tavon Austin, who had to leave Sunday’s practice because of apparent cramping. Austin said he ran out of time to eat lunch before practice but said he felt fine Monday.

“That won’t happen again,” Austin said.

The special-teams practice included a large number of rookies who might be fighting for roster spots. Standouts included tight end Tyler Higbee, who probably has a secure spot, and receiver Duke Williams, who struggled with dropped passes in the first two practices.

“If it’s a toss-up at a certain position, offensive or defensively, then the trump card is special teams,” special teams coach John Fassel said.

The Rams resume full-team practice – in full pads for the first time – Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at UC Irvine, and that session is open to the public.

Staff writer Jack Wang contributed to this report.

Practice Report 8/2 – Offense Finds a Rhythm in Pads

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-82—Offense-Finds-a-Rhythm-in-Pads/0e575fc9-103e-4e8f-849d-d8f2e2a56815

The Rams took another step in their preparation for the 2016 season, going through their first full practice with pads.

Monday’s special teams-only session gave a little taste of what was to come, but Los Angeles had a spirited practice in front of another nice crowd on Tuesday — this time with popping pads.

While head coach Jeff Fisher put the club in a number of different situations, the offense seemed to get the better of the defense in just about all of them on this particular day.

“As you see, we added another phase. We moved into the red zone today and the offense made a lot of plays, a lot of good throws, a lot of good catches,” Fisher said. “We had a lot of good work in the special teams period and got a lot of work just throwing the ball into tight areas in the red zone, which is hard. I thought all of the quarterbacks did a nice job today.”

Indeed, whether it was in two-on-one drills with QBs and wideouts vs. cornerbacks, 7-on-7, or 11-on-11 the offense was consistent in making plays.

“Everybody was just playing sound football today,” wide receiver Tavon Austin said. “Everybody did what they were supposed to do — nobody was extra. Our energy level was up.”

“I think we just came out and competed and we had guys knowing their responsibilities. I think we worked with good tempo,” quarterback Case Keenum said. “It was a good day for us — a good day to build on. I think we set the bar and I want to get better tomorrow.”

Keenum and wide receiver Kenny Britt connected on a number of passes, displaying their running chemistry that dates back to last season. Britt caught a pass of at least 25 yards from Keenum in each of the Rams’ final four games, two of which went for touchdowns.

“Obviously, you feed off of good plays — great plays. I think they like it when you throw them touchdowns. I like it when they catch touchdowns and get open,” Keenum said. “So I think that sort of stuff builds camaraderie and … chemistry between receivers and quarterbacks.”

Keenum also had some nice throws to Austin and Brian Quick, showing good command of the first unit.

But rookie Jared Goff had a strong day with the second unit, too, displaying many of the traits that induced L.A. to trade up to No. 1 for him.

“I thought he did well. He made some really good throws — a couple, the balls should have been caught,” Fisher said. “I thought he was making really good decisions. We had a little bit of noise the last period, so they had to focus in the huddle and I thought he took charge of it. He’s progressing well.”

Fellow rookie Mike Thomas was on the receiving end of a good number of Goff’s passes, and did well to reel in the vast majority of them. But the Cal product’s best throw of the day may have been when he uncorked a ball down the right seam to undrafted WR Nelson Spruce, who ran it in for a touchdown. Spruce is another player receiver who always seems to catch the ball when it’s in his orbit.

With so many receivers competing for a roster spot, Austin described the vibe in the position’s room as competitive, but in the best way possible.

“One thing I like about all of us — all of us look at it like we’re brothers,” Austin said. “Nobody is ever hating on each other. We’re always motivating the next person — especially me. I’m always motivating the next person to get better, because that’s only going to up my game.”

And so while the offense looked sharp on Tuesday, Fisher said the unit better come with it on Wednesday.

“I’m expecting the defense to answer a little bit tomorrow,” the head coach said. “The offense is probably going to need to strap it up a little bit tomorrow. It was a good day overall.”

EXTRA POINTS

— Rookie wide receiver Pharoh Cooper has not practiced for the last couple of days, but Fisher said he should return to the practice field soon. 


“He’s got a little thing going in his quad,” Fisher said. “You push through it, it may be two weeks, [but] if you back him off, it might be a couple days. That’s what we’ve got going there. He’ll be fine.”

— After a back injury prematurely ended Robert Quinn’s 2015 season, the defensive end spent most of OTAs doing rehab work on the side. He did participate in some parts of individual drills for the D-line, but did not venture into the 11-on-11 sessions.

Now Quinn has been getting some snaps during team drills — but not too many.

“That was not an easy thing that he went through last year,” Fisher said. “A lot of hard work during the offseason, step-by-step-by-step to where we are right now.

“He’s 100 percent, but it doesn’t make sense – when you have a racehorse like that, you have got to watch him,” Fisher continued. “We’re going to watch him, his reps aren’t, probably aren’t up, to where he normally would be, but he’ll get there. It just makes sense just to protect him.”

Fisher added Quinn will likely see some snaps in preseason games. But, as it is every year with proven veterans such as Quinn, even if he’s in, he won’t play too much.

— After a tough practice on Sunday, wide receiver Duke Williams has put together a nice two-practice string over the last two days. Fisher said Williams has done a lot of work since the offseason program to get to this point.

“Duke came in, knew he had a once in a lifetime opportunity based on some of the things that happened in his history,” the head coach said. “We gave him that opportunity and he took advantage of it. Went off in the summer and came back, took a lot of weight off and he’s doing well.”

— Finally, the Rams signed two wide receivers to boost depth at the position — Austin Hill and David Richards. Both wideouts played their college ball at Arizona.

Inside Training Camp: First Full Pads Practice

Go inside day four of the LA Rams training camp with Rams insider, Myles Simmons.

http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Inside-Training-Camp-First-Full-Pads-Practice/3b935e5a-a593-4699-a041-2c46a044f3b7