9 things we learned from Rams’ draft-focused episode of ‘Behind The Grind’

Cameron DaSilva

9 things we learned from Rams’ draft-focused episode of ‘Behind The Grind’

The Los Angeles Rams released Episode 2 of their “Hard Knocks”-style web series called “Behind The Grind”, with this episode focusing primarily on the 2023 NFL draft. It gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes on in the days leading up to the draft, as well as the process during the three days of selecting players.

Cameras were all over the Rams’ draft house to capture the conversations of Sean McVay, Les Snead and others, which revealed exactly what the team was thinking throughout the draft. In this episode, we learned just how far up the Rams wanted to trade in the first round, how high they were on Kobie Turner and got a good look at the collaborative process with Snead, McVay and those involved in the selection process.

Here are nine things we learned from Episode 2 of the team’s fantastic show.

1

Rams’ draft room is incredibly open and collaborative
The Rams don’t just draft based on the opinions of McVay and Snead. They have position coaches, personnel evaluators and scouting analysts in the building when picks are made, weighing the opinions of many before making a selection.

Obviously, Snead is the primary decision-maker, but he takes into account how his coaches and talent evaluators feel about a player. McVay is always willing to trust Snead’s gut and primary instinct, deferring to him because of all the work he puts in leading up to the draft.

It’s truly fun to watch Snead and McVay work in tandem while the draft is going on.

2

Kevin Demoff is more excited about 2023 team than last year’s group
There was a lot of hype about the Rams in 2022 coming off their Super Bowl win. They were one of the favorites to win it all again, only to come up way short with a 5-12 record, largely due to injuries.

Yet, even with as much pre-season excitement as there was about the Rams potentially running it back,” COO Kevin Demoff is more excited about this year’s team.

“I am so excited for what this team can become,” he said. “I think some of you have heard me say this and it’ll sound crazy, but I promise you it’s not. I am more excited about this team going into 2023 at this point in the year than I was for last year’s team going into 2022.”

3

Rams looked as high as No. 16 to trade up
Though the Rams didn’t have a first-round pick, they didn’t just sit on their hands and enjoy the show. They were proactive in trying to move up. It was reported recently that they targeted five different offensive players in the first round and in this “Behind The Grind” episode, we found out just how high the Rams were looking.

McVay asked Snead at what point a trade up makes sense, and Snead replied by asking whether the Rams should call Washington at No. 16 overall.

“What do you really think begins to make sense?” McVay said.

“I wonder if you call Washington,” Snead replied.

4

Rams didn’t want to trade 2nd-round pick in 2024 to move up
Snead was on the phone with a member of another team, presumably a GM, talking about a potential trade into the first round. We don’t know who he was talking to, but the other team wanted the Rams’ second-round pick in a potential trade up, which Snead wasn’t interested in doing.

“We wouldn’t do the next year’s two,” Snead said. “I don’t mind talking about next year but this year’s picks would be better.”

5

McVay was talking to Kevin O’Connell about trading up to No. 23
At one point in the first round, McVay was pondering a trade up. He asked a couple of members of the Rams’ personnel group whether it would make sense to trade up to No. 23, citing Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell’s interest in moving down after talking to him throughout the night.

“I’ve been talking with O’Connell. I think they’re trying to get out. Would that still make the most sense for us?” Snead asked.

The Vikings didn’t end up trading down, standing pat and selecting Jordan Addison.

6

Les Snead loves Steve Avila’s run blocking
When the Rams were on the clock at No. 36, they were working through their options. Avila was one of their top targets and when discussing his game, Snead was fired up about his run-blocking ability.

“This guy’s a clinic in the run game. I know he can play the run. I know he can run block,” Snead said confidently.

The Rams felt he was the best offensive lineman on the board and ultimately the best player for them, excitedly selecting the TCU product in the second round.

7

Rams were looking for players to complement Aaron Donald
In the third round, the Rams were weighing their options in terms of positions to target. It’s clear they were eyeing defensive players and McVay mentioned the importance of finding guys who complement Donald up front.

He felt taking an edge rusher would be best, which is why the Rams selecting Tennessee’s Byron Young.

“Whether it’s edge or interior, it’s like, who complements AD and is also better for us long-term? I think addressing the rusher, whoever you guys think is the best, is the smart thing. Go with your gut.”

8

Snead, Raheem Morris and Eric Henderson all loved Kobie Turner at No. 89
The Rams’ second pick in the third round made for an interesting discussion. Snead was high on Turner at No. 89, but he wondered if they should take him that early.

He wasn’t the only one who loved Turner’s game. Defensive line coach Eric Henderson was also in the room, as was Morris, and both were big fans of Turner. Henderson and Morris’ opinions helped confirm Snead’s gut feeling that the Rams should select Turner.

“My favorite football player is Wake Forest. I just don’t know if this is where we pick him,” Snead said.

“Les, the one thing I appreciate is the conviction on something. If all these guys go, who you gonna be the most pissed about?” McVay asked

“Oh, that dude right there,” Snead said, referring to Turner.

“If you feel strongly about it, I’m (expletive) with you 100%,” McVay replied.

McVay then asked if there was a better defensive player on the board for the Rams at that point.

“Not based on what we are going to use him for,” Morris said.

“My thing is we’re gonna be (expletive) furious if we lose this (expletive) guy,” McVay said.

9

Stetson Bennett kept jumping out to Snead when watching defenders against Georgia
In the fourth round, the Rams selected Bennett – a player Snead loved throughout the draft process. At one point, Demoff even said to Snead that he’d been on Bennett “for months.”

What turned Snead onto Bennett was the way he jumped out when Snead was watching SEC defenders against Georgia. He kept noticing Bennett’s game, viewing him as more of a weapon than a game-manager for the Bulldogs.

“I would always watch SEC defenders against Georgia’s OL because they got a good OL and it’s like, damn, this Stetson Bennett. Everybody said he was the damn walk-on. This guy’s actually a weapon,” Snead said.

zn wrote:

Dan Campbell says Jared Goff is better now than he was with the Rams

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2023/06/07/rams-sean-mcvay-jared-goff-lions-improve-detroit/

Goff agreed with Campbell’s statement, and Sean McVay essentially did, too. Reporters asked McVay about Campbell’s comments Tuesday and asked whether he feels the same way about Goff’s improvement.

“I think Jared’s played at a really high level. I’ll tell you what, though, when you watch what he did last year, he played great,” McVay said. “And I think because he’s so conscientious, repetition is the mother of learning. The more you play, the more you learn. You can really see he’s able to get through progressions quickly. They were asking a lot of him. He got a lot of different guys involved, took great care of the football, and so I think he’s only gotten better. He played really good football here for us, really grateful for those things. But I was really impressed with just the way that he led and the way that he ended up demonstrating a lot of the things that we want to embody, that mental toughness. I think he was like 29-7 in terms of touchdowns, interceptions, one of the better ratios, and threw for a bunch of yards and they were one of the top offenses. I was really happy to see how well he did. I think that’s probably a fair assessment because he’s only getting better.”

Dan Campbell says Jared Goff is better now than he was with the Rams, and I think he's right.

As Campbell said, Goff is asked to do "a lot more" in Detroit than he was in LA https://t.co/7btvaCHRjv

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) June 6, 2023

Name a team trying to be the Rams more than the Buffalo Bills.

Former Rams (McVay era) on the Bills:

David Edwards
Von Miller
Leonard Floyd
Taylor Rapp
Aaron Kromer https://t.co/bi5h72zrwu

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 5, 2023

Did….did she really just say what I think she said?pic.twitter.com/yAQx82Tfmb

— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 4, 2023

Simply can’t coach some of stuff @Vol_Football’s Byron Young does playing on the move. Very few guys—college or pro—can hit a reactive tight spin move like @byron_97 does in this rep. Snaps like this are why @seniorbowl is excited about Young’s upside.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/e3GwqYEt9p

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) July 21, 2022

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Tennessee EDGE Byron Young opens the OT up with an inside move to set up an outside spin for the QB hit – very controlled feet, good balance, impressive rep pic.twitter.com/3SGZmtv6he

— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) April 13, 2023

Mike LaFleur revealed that the Rams don’t have a set starting OL unit yet and that the ‘best five are going to play’ in 2023. https://t.co/hLIzBYbwMn

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 2, 2023

Health will be big but @nickbaumgardner has Rams WR Puka Nacua on his list "…great quickness but stays under control…adjusts to poor throws…maintains his feet near the sideline…finds soft spots in zones…" https://t.co/FG9yXeLXjp

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) June 2, 2023

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[link  above]

from: Day 3 NFL Draft sleepers who can make an immediate impact as rookies

Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
(Round 5, No. 177)

He has to stay healthy, which has been easier said than done for Nacua. He had to deal with a lot of injury-related frustration in college (foot, ankle, hamstring) and never started more than eight games at either Washington or BYU. Nacua also got injured at the Senior Bowl.

When he’s healthy, though, he’s one of the best in this class at tracking the ball. He’s a very confident athlete who isn’t afraid to compete in the air — and he has the frame (6-1, 210) to do so. Nacua runs routes with great quickness but stays under control. He also adjusts to poor throws and maintains his feet near the sideline, and he finds soft spots in zones with consistency.

He could be a QB-friendly receiver for Matthew Stafford and the Rams. Receivers like Nacua who understand how to get open and aren’t afraid to play through contact tend to do just fine in the league.

Come for the Alaric Jackson pass protection.

Stay for the Cooper Kupp touchdown. pic.twitter.com/d5wIeQaKP7

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 2, 2023

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Don't have to worry about Jackson being overpowered. Handles Vita Vea coming around the edge. pic.twitter.com/dt9dQeS6s7

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 2, 2023

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Jackson does a great job of taking his guy wide and forcing them to go the longest route to the QB. Does that to Joe Tryon here. Allows Stafford time for the deep ball. pic.twitter.com/fXof0YgDJq

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 2, 2023

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Alaric Jackson = 🧱🧱🧱

Has his man on 🔒on this play at LT. pic.twitter.com/9sKZAQmsZ7

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 2, 2023

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Jackson remains extremely solid in pass pro. This is a longer developing route. Gives Stafford time to find Kupp. Exactly what you want from your LT. pic.twitter.com/pgd7oNd5he

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) June 2, 2023

Billy_T wrote:

Using a 1st on running backs now is frowned upon, but I think they have more value overall than a receiver. The downside, obviously, is they have shorter careers.

Just taking off and running (so to speak) with that point. I agree with the sentiment that a 1st round RB isn’t worth it really. But then this discussion reminds me of people who have said you can wait for a back in the lower rounds (after the 3rd). (You did not say that, this is not addressed to you personally BT, just me thinking out loud.) I’ve done the numbers on that before…and, your chances of getting a starting RB after rounds 2 and 3 go way down.

Yet having said that, the Rams have 3 backs in camp that could pan out, and they’re all either low picks or a UDFA. This is 3 guys after Akers of course, who as we know was a 2nd rounder. They are Evans (round 6 23), Wms (round 5 22), and T.Evans (UDFA 23). I don’t think it’s a stretch to think one of them will come through.

…

Chase Blackburn says he’s gotten positive reviews from other special teams coaches about the Rams’ rookie specialists https://t.co/75wNO7i88m

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 2, 2023

Rams ST coordinator Chase Blackburn mentioned in his press conference this week that he and asst. ST coach Jeremy Springer had gone to around 44 pro days in the spring. That wasn’t just for specialists! You can read more here from a few weeks ago: https://t.co/JJnur8fghd

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) June 1, 2023

Rams DC Raheem Morris helps save drowning child, credits AED training.

Incredible, life saving reaction by Morris. https://t.co/wJ1aP9um3C

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) May 31, 2023