why I OTA … OTA schedule: May 20-21, 23, 28-29

canadaram wrote:

I apologize for not knowing the answer to this question, but has Verse signed yet? I know others have signed, but I haven’t heard about Verse yet.

Not yet. It’s anticipated to be soon though.

from Rodrigue on OTAs, 5/21: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5510990/2024/05/21/los-angeles-rams-otas-matthew-stafford-kyren-williams/?source=emp_shared_article&redirected=1

Rams OTAs observations: Reserve OL and ILBs get snaps, coaching updates, active D-line

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5525610/2024/05/29/los-angeles-rams-practice-offensive-line/

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams held their second day of media access to organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, an energetic practice that featured several depth players getting snaps because the first-teamers ahead of them weren’t practicing.

As a reminder, the practices are not padded and the Rams prohibit credentialed media from reporting on specifics such as scheme, formations, snap counts or anything they could deem as competitive information. If a coach addresses a position hierarchy directly in a news conference when asked, that information is then able to be reported.

Here are several notes and observations from the day:

• Veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein did not participate in the voluntary workouts, but was on site. As head coach Sean McVay noted last week, left guard Jonah Jackson is escalating on-field activity while recovering from a knee injury suffered in the playoffs last year, so he is not participating in 11-on-11s. That meant more opportunities for reserve players Joe Noteboom (guard) and Warren McClendon (tackle). Second-year lineman Steve Avila, who moved to center this spring after playing every snap of his rookie season at left guard, has continued full-time there with praise from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Left tackle Alaric Jackson used the lengthy special teams period at the end of the practice to work on his pass sets and hand moves against air, and picked up several helmets for his teammates as the day’s work began.

• Renowned offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who consulted for the Rams last season alongside first-time position coach Ryan Wendell, was back out at OTAs this week. McVay said the team would like to retain Munchak in that capacity if he were amenable.

• Inside linebacker Ernest Jones was on the field with a black leg sleeve, but was not in uniform nor was he practicing (he did not practice last week, either). Backups Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder got time opposite Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense. Reeder defended rookie running back Blake Corum on a long-developing route downfield, and Corum dropped the pass which drew some chatter from the defensive sideline. Reeder jokingly slapped both of his own hamstrings after the play, in what seemed like commentary over the rare long sprint (he should not be covering players that far downfield).

• Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Cam McCutcheon worked to the side with athletic trainers during practice, as did running back Kyren Williams. Williams’ own session was up-tempo.

• With White not available just yet (he is recovering from Achilles surgery), Darious Williams and Cobie Durant are testing their compatibility at cornerback. Williams covered speedy receiver Tutu Atwell well on a late-progression route (meaning he had to cover for a while, if Stafford were to decide to get through the progressions to Atwell), but gave up a tricky play to Puka Nacua later in practice. It’s hard to know whether any defender could have stopped this particular concept, as the start of it got the entire defense to flow in one direction before Nacua ripped back outside and Stafford dropped the pass to him right at the sideline.

• Durant broke up a deep pass down the defensive sideline from Stafford, intended for Nacua, that prompted McVay to run all the way across the field from the offensive sideline to praise Durant for the play.

• The Rams are exploring their options at Star/big nickel, a position that could feature a safety or cornerback. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula confirmed they are even considering a position change for third-year cornerback Derion Kendrick, who previously only played on the outside where obviously the Star/big nickel is an interior defensive back.

“Russ (Yeast) and DK have been doing a great job switching in at that spot,” Shula said, “you know, it’s always a spot that there are a lot of nuances to it. That guy (has) to be smart, he (has) to know the defense. A lot of stuff goes through that guy. He’s got to be able to tackle, he’s got to be able to hit blocks. But that’s all 11 on defense. We’re just looking for the best mix of guys and those guys have been doing a great job so far.”

• Rookies Jared Verse (outside linebacker) and Braden Fiske (defensive lineman), in tandem with second-year defensive lineman Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young, among others, were extremely active along the defensive line despite no real contact allowed.

“I definitely felt (the energy) today,” said Shula, grinning. “It’s always that fine line of practicing the right way but also having that edge and that energy. Aubrey Pleasant said it in his defensive backs meeting the other day and it’s true: It’s hard to have a bad defensive practice when you have great energy.”

• The amount of work the Rams are able to get done in practice behind two veteran quarterbacks, the starter Stafford and the backup Jimmy Garoppolo, is apparent (and one reason the team signed the latter player). That Garoppolo knows this offense, or at least a couple different versions of it, from previous stops helped him start his OTAs workload later in the playbook. That means second-team players can still get similar conceptual work as the first-team players, instead of purely developmental work. However, that doesn’t mean it was an easy day for Garoppolo, who had a couple of passes tipped or batted by an excited defense.