Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Rams – regular and postseason combines

EPA/play

Dime package-3rd and long – 7th in NFL

Base-1st and long -26th in NFL
1st and long, EPA/run play- 30th

Shore up the run defense — and get in 3rd and long and swarm QBs.

Landman and Poona, plus year 2 for some guys—

Jaylon Johnson’s 3 hardest wide receivers to guard:

🏈 Justin Jefferson
🏈 Tyreek Hill
🏈 Davante Adams pic.twitter.com/LbPADZyqWx

— Whistle (@WhistleSports) July 30, 2025

from https://ramblinfan.com/nfl-insider-shares-insight-into-matthew-stafford-that-will-delight-rams-fans-01k1dj0wya26

As to the severity of Stafford’s back pain, ESPN NFL Insider/analyst Peter Schrager weighs in. He could go for clicks and views by proclaiming the sky is falling over SoFi Stadium. But he takes a different approach.

He suggests that the Rams are just being overly cautious

"I don't think there is a great level of concern as far as Matthew Stafford being ready for week one..

I think the Rams are just being ultra cautious"@PSchrags #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/2hWGffvhMG

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 28, 2025

Okay, so why do the Rams feel it necessary to be overly protective of the starting quarterback? Well, his injury history over the past four seasons would give the first sign of caution. Stafford has had to fight through significant (but not season-ending) injuries in each of the last four seasons:

A bruised spinal column in 2022
An injured thumb on his throwing hand in 2023
Rib injuries in 2024
Back pain in 2025

With a track record like that, the Rams have many reasons to play it safe with Stafford.

Could Stafford suit up if need be? Probably, yes. After all, this is the same quarterback who returned to the game after dislocating his shoulder to complete a game-winning touchdown pass. But the Rams need a full season, not one play, out of him this season. It’s not ‘nothing,’ but it’s not something that shakes the team’s confidence in seeing Stafford under center when the season starts.

MIKE LANSFORD, @RamsNFL K – 35th Anniversary – Played his final game for the Rams in 1990. The barefoot kicker made 158 of 217 FGs + 315 of 325 XPs in 9 seasons (Per PFR) #RamsHouse #Rams #LARams #LosAngeles #NFL #nflnews #NFLTwitter #nflx #NFLPicks #nfltrainingcamp #NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/nswJ5dxWTT

— Pro Football Hall of Fame Ambassador (@PFHOFAmbassador) July 29, 2025

Five Takeaways From Rams 2025 Training Camp Day Five
The Los Angeles Rams had a great first day in pads

Brock Vierra

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-poona-ford-training-camp-jared-verse-jimmy-garoppolo-kyren-williams

The Los Angeles Rams put the pads on for the first time this season and got to work with a physical practice that emphasized stress testing the trenches. With that being said, here are five takeaways from Monday’s practice.

1. Poona Ford is a monster.

Ford was the best defender on Monday with Jared Verse closely following in second. Ford plugged gaps, constantly defeated double teams, and was just a lot to handle.

2. Jimmy Garoppolo got an offense tailored to him and he shined.

Garoppolo put on his finest performance of training camp so far, playing exceptionally well, making smart decisions, and throwing precise passes that consistently hit their targets with velocity. For the first time we saw the Rams run an offense fitted for Garoppolo’s strengths.

A pass game built off the run, Garoppolo looked just like how he did his first season in San Francisco after getting traded from New England. This was with Davante Adams sitting out practice, as it was a rest day for him. Garoppolo was balling.

3. Jaylen McCollough is on the verge of a big year

McCollough, who was receiving personal instruction from Super Bowl champion Eric Weddle, continued to be a force in coverage. He looks confident, instinctive, and should be a presence at all levels of the field.

“It’s really same thing that you saw him do a great job with last year,” stated Sean McVay after practice. “He’s so valuable. He’s so versatile. He can play safety or the dime linebacker. When we played Seattle last year, the first game, he was playing linebacker on early and normal down and distances and taking on guards when they’re easily climbing to him uncovered. What’s cool is when I think about you guys ask me about different players, these are people you don’t bet against. They just show their value. They are grown men and they’re mature beyond their years. That’s exactly how [Safety] ‘Tank’ [Jaylen] McCullough came in last year. I think there are certain guys that just have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He was doing that at Tennessee. It’s not by mistake that he had the ball production that he did last year. He’s made of the right stuff. I love what he’s about. He’s just continuing to get better and to really show his value to this football team.”

4. The running back room looks dangerous

Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Jarquez Hunter saw opportunities and took advantage of them. Williams was excellent in the red zone, being the Rams’ biggest threat to score. Corum once again flashed his speed and agility, bouncing runs to the outside where he found space, and Hunter tried once again to run through the defense, striking at the heart of the front seven in multiple occasions.

5. The Rams have the best defensive line in football

The Rams’ defensive line has the feeling of unison where they’re currently coordinating their attacks on each and every play, making adjustments in the field in order to play well off each other. They are operating at a level that produces championships. This defensive line is going to strike fear into offenses.

Rams Wire@TheRamsWire
Jaylen McCollough is a former undrafted free agent who Sean McVay considers “so valuable” and “so versatile” for the Rams.

Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Rams defense — after the Bills game — was good … until giving up 250 yards rushing in playoffs.

And as I have said the Rams dime defense (or nickel with dime personnel, whatever you want to call it) that package is elite.

they took steps to play the run better and the dime/nickel defense is already dangerous

Rams “dime” is actully nickel defense with a DB playing “dime linebacker”

But McCollough has key role in defense as dime LBer,

…

Here McCollough has the #3 – matched final #3 pic.twitter.com/H86ykCKNOJ

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) July 29, 2025

zn wrote:

Tyler Davis is a name to watch for 2025. The second-year defensive end showed impressive power in individual and team drills, and was later lauded by Turner for his consistency. McVay likewise name-dropped him after Monday’s practice.

“Tyler Davis is another guy that deserves to be mentioned, because he has really shown why he’s a total stud and guy that’s going to be a major factor for us,” McVay said.

Here’s some draft year stuff on Davis, recycled.

…

1.

from https://www.therams.com/news/tyler-davis-nfl-draft-defensive-lineman-clemson
.
The 6-foot-2, 301-pound Davis was a First-Team All-ACC performer for the Tigers in 2023 after producing 34 total tackles (3.5 for loss) while starting all 13 games. It was the third-straight season he earned First-Team all-conference recognition, going back to the 2021 season.

2.

PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
Tyler Davis: 91.1 run defense grade since 2022 (3rd among DTs)

3.

canadaram wrote:

OURLADS

6.98 Davis, Tyler |Clemson| Apopka, FL| Proj Rd: 3-4. Height:6020 | Weight: 301| 40:5.02| Arm:3138| Hand: 0914|Wingspan:7500

Four year starter. Four time all ACC and three time 1st team all ACC in 2021 through 2023. Consensus all America in 2022. Compact thick frame to go with athleticism for an interior defender. After phenomenal freshman year in 2019 he suffered through injuries in 2020 and a good portion of 2021. He was healthy for the most of part in 2022 and 2023 and he flashed the ability that made him an elite prospect. Powerful at the point of attack with a high motor and effort to the ball. At the snap, he can penetrate gaps showing body control to work through the slip blocks. Physical attacking a block, he uses a strong punch to separate along with a violent rip move to shed. Excellent lateral agility, he can redirect off the block and react to an agile ball carrier in traffic Has range in pursuit and his hot motor is on display chasing across the field, his physical tackling and can stop a ball carrier in his tracks. As a pass rusher he’s quick at the snap and shoots his into a blocker to stun before working into a move. Can be relentless working the edge of a blocker and using an arm under or push pull off the bull rush to escape. Once free he can chase and adjust to the quarterback. His lack of length is not an obvious hindrance, but it shows up at times working through a block. Has problems with double teams and is occasionally washed out. Doesn’t always maintain leverage and his pad level can get upright at times. The injury question lingers, but he has shown elite skill and has been a highly productive player. 2023 stats : 34 T, 3.5 TFL, .5 sack, 3 QBH. OSR: 38/41.

4.

from https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-teams#LAR

Davis was a monster against the run in college.

Brock Vierra@BrockVierra
3 Immediate Takeaways From Rams training camp

1. Poona Ford…Oh my goodness. He defeats double teams with ease.

2. Jimmy Garoppolo looks calm and confident, delivering precise passes

3. Jaylen McCollough is on the verge of a big year

Davante Adams details ‘natural connection’ with Sean McVay, mutually beneficial relationship with Rams’ WR room

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/davante-adams-details-natural-connection-with-sean-mcvay-mutually-beneficial-relationship-with-rams-wr-room

LOS ANGELES – When wide receiver Davante Adams walked into the Rams’ facility for the first time and laid eyes on head coach Sean McVay, he breathed a sigh of relief. After admiring each other from afar for many years, they would finally get to go to battle together.

Adams said they’ve built a “natural connection” that started when McVay was calling him in Japan this summer to recruit him to L.A. During the first week of Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union, they could often be spotted chatting before practice or on the sidelines.

“I value it every time (we talk),” Adams said. “I mean, it may seem organic, but sometimes I seek it. I’ll see him over there and I’ll go walk over and I just know he gonna say something either funny or something that we can all grow from. He’s just that type of person.”

Just as McVay has left an imprint on Adams, the All-Pro wide receiver has done the same for his position group. Adams said the transition to Los Angeles has been “smooth” and they’ve built “a good foundation” during the offseason. He’s even picked up a few things from the younger players.

“I’ve really been enjoying the way the mastermind (McVay) has been able to kind of conduct some stuff over there,” Adams said in reference to the Rams’ offseason program. “Well, the masterminds, there’s a lot of people involved, but it’s just been fun, and like I said, the best part for me is just getting to know the guys and hanging out with them every day.”

One of those guys is fellow star Puka Nacua, who insisted that Adams lead position group drills during training camp so that he could see how the All-Pro approaches each rep.

“I laughed at it first because he was saying it almost like he’d been wanting to say it for a long time, but he didn’t really know how to say that,” Adams said.

But he recognized Nacua’s offer not only as a show of respect towards Adams, but as a way of helping his own progression. Adams said they talk through a lot of technique, so it’s easier for Nacua to watch Adams’ reps before he does it himself, as opposed to straining his neck to look back at Adams after just running a route.

The best questions he’s gotten from fellow wide outs have revolved around how he dissects coverages, as he so often wins on choice routes. Adams tries to simplify the answers as much as possible so that they, like him, can know what the defense is running and use that against them.

Adams isn’t “a walking wise-man” who drops nuggets of wisdom at every turn, he explained with a smile, but whenever something comes up, whether it’s in the meeting room or on the field, he chips in advice about how to get open or execute certain rotes.

“Me having seen a lot of doubles and different brackets and different things, I’ve had to look at coverage differently than other people and kind of take a deeper dive,” Adams said. “That part is actually some of the most enjoyable part of this thing for me, the cerebral game.”

Every day, things come up that someone in the Rams receiver room wants advice on, and Adams is happy to oblige. But the veteran also takes things from his younger teammates. It’s not that he’s discovering techniques he’s never seen before, but Adams said “the wheel’s always being reinvented,” so when something works, he takes note of it.

He mentioned rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield as someone who’s ran good routes and changed his pace advantageously. Adams feels like “a proud dad” watching Mumpfield work through his failures and then succeed after talking things through.

As Adams said earlier this offseason, the lack of a “dark cloud” hanging over his new facility is refreshing. All the good things he heard about McVay and the Rams’ culture have materialized, and that’s been a pleasant surprise.

“Everything that glitter ain’t gold, but this is looking pretty golden over here,” Adams said.

10 Observations from Day 4 of Rams Training Camp: ILB Nate Landman continues to impress and a competitive 2-minute drill

Wyatt Miller & Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-4-of-rams-training-camp-ilb-nate-landman-continues-to-impress-and-a-competitive-2-minute-drill

LOS ANGELES – Day 4 of Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union was the longest yet, and featured some spectacular plays on both sides of the ball.

On defense, inside linebacker Nate Landman continues to shine while outside linebackers Jared Verse and Byron Young made some noise. Offensively, competitive situation drills and deep passing headlined the day.

Senior staff writer Stu Jackson spent the afternoon watching the offense, while staff writer Wyatt Miller watched the defense. Here are notes on each unit:

Offense

1) A back-and-forth two-minute drill. This situational work was the most competitive period of the day, with the first team offense going against the first-team defense. After quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a pair of passes broken up by cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes (one each), he responded with an intermediate completion to Puka Nacua, then a deep completion to Davante Adams before spiking the ball to stop the clock for a series of field goal attempts by kicker Josh Karty.

2) Going deep. One of Garoppolo’s best passes of the day came on a ball he launched down the left sideline to Adams, who made the catch look easy.

3) Going deep Part II. Quarterback Stetson Bennett also had an impressive deep completion when he connected with wide receiver Xavier Smith for a big gain during team drills.

4) Konata Mumpfield impressing. While most of the attention has been on Nacua, Adams, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington so far, rookie Mumpfield was a standout on Saturday with the movement and separation skills he displayed. His best catch of the day was on a short pass near the sideline from Bennett in tight coverage during team drills.

5) Whittington remains consistent. The second-year wide receiver was once again a reliable target for Bennett throughout team drills, and also hauled in a impressive touchdown reception during team drills on a perfectly-placed pass by Garoppolo.

Defense

6) ILB Pooh Paul and CB Ahkello Witherspoon out with calf injuries. McVay said they are “being smart” with Paul, but did not give a specific timeline, and said Witherspoon is “day-to-day” as both nurse calf injuries.

7) Nate Landman displays command of the field and huddle. Landman set the defensive sideline into uproars when he punched the ball out of tight end Davis Allen’s hands during red zone drills, and the fumble was recovered by cornerback Darious Williams. He was a leader in the huddle once again and McVay was complimentary about his leadership skills.

“He’s a great communicator,” McVay said. “He’s got great command. He’s got the ability to elevate people. He’s got a great feel for attacking the football… He’s just got some natural leadership traits and communication skills where he understands what’s going on from an All-22 perspective. And I think when you’re talking about a guy that’s at that inside linebacker position, it’s key and critical, and he’s done a great job leading the way for that group.”

8) Young gets consistent penetration. Young beat multiple opposing tackles to pressure the quarterback and collect some sacks, or at least they would have been if contact was permitted. His bull rush was powerful, his moves were twitchy and his quickness was on full display. He also ran down speedy rookie Jarquez Hunter on a run to the outside before he could turn the corner. It looked like Young’s offseason pilates training has paid off.

9) Verse’s competitive edge comes out. Verse was hounding the quarterback all day. His constant trash talk and aggressiveness led to a teaching moment with McVay.

“One of the things that makes Jared great is that edge that he plays with,” McVay said. “I can remember it’s the same things that Aaron (Donald) and I used to talk about when he was playing… You don’t want to take that away from him, but you want to make sure that you’re able to reset from one snap to the next. We always talk about, let’s respond, let’s not react, and I like the way that he finished practice.”

10) Troy Reeder picks off Bennett. Near the end of practice, Bennett tried to thread the ball between defenders in the middle of the field, but Reeder leapt in front to snag the interception.

Zooey wrote:

I did not mean to imply that it is a lingering injury from the end of the season. I don’t even know if I would call it an “injury.” He has had back “soreness” previously, and he’s played great. But I am concerned that back “soreness” is a Fred Wagner collision short of a back “injury.”

You made me write that whole long reply just based solely on me misreading you? 😐

Anyway. I don’t quite yet sense McVay being in his suppressed-panic type denial while lying to the public about the severity of injuries mode. I could be wrong.

Zooey wrote:

his back hasn’t recovered. I can’t just close my eyes to this. It’s a concern.

He was throwing in OTAs. That was just 2 months ago.

And according to his wife, the injury Stafford played through at the end of last season was broken ribs. The spell with broken ribs was in the last 4 or 5 regular season games. Then after that, with recently recovered ribs, in 2 playoff games he averaged 22.5 completions out of 35.5 attempts (63.4%), throwing for 266 yards per game, 2 TDs per game, and in those 2 games got an avg. qb rating of 107.4.

Near as I can recall no one mentioned his back as having issues last season.

I don’t know anything about his current back problems, but this is not an injury that continued from last year.

….

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/07/27/rams-training-camp-takeaways-practice-players-standout/85394389007/

The secondary will be better than expected this season

There’s no lack of depth in the secondary this year, which is encouraging. The safety group features a terrific trio of Kamren Curl, Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough, while the cornerbacks are led by Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Quentin Lake and Cobie Durant.

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Josh Wallace are two players who could contribute, as well. That gives the Rams a ton of options on defense, especially with Lake’s versatility.

Durant has made some splash plays in camp by breaking up passes and sticking close to receivers in coverage, while Forbes has been tasked with covering Davante Adams in practice and has done a nice job, as well. Forbes is the wild card in this group because if he can take his game to the next level as a starting-caliber player, the Rams will be flush with cornerback talent.

The secondary as a whole could go from being a perceived question mark to a strength on defense.

Forbes vs. Adams. pic.twitter.com/ijYdrzqq2n

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) July 26, 2025

LAFB exclusive with @J_Whitt3 ! We talked Year 2, learning & growing in the Rams offense, and Rams’ player development.#RamsHouse #NFLTrainingCamp #LAFBNetwork pic.twitter.com/w5vT5fxtAJ

— FootballByNikko (@FootballByNikko) July 27, 2025