Andrew Whitworth explains the events that unfolded before inking a deal with the Rams in free agency back in 2017 https://t.co/9Vh83kB2go

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 26, 2021

from Bucky Brooks, QB-coach combos under pressure: https://www.nfl.com/news/how-steelers-revamped-offense-will-benefit-big-ben-plus-qb-coach-combos-under-pr?campaign=Twitter_atn

#1 Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay

It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Rams after they shipped out Jared Goff as part of a deal with the Lions for Stafford. With Goff’s 42-20 record (and a Super Bowl appearance) in four seasons under McVay representing the bar, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Stafford and McVay to capture a Lombardi Trophy. Considering the 13th-year pro has zero playoff wins and only four winning seasons on his resume, the Rams’ quarterback shuffle is a roll of the dice that could backfire on a team looking to make good on its current competitive window.

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/25/rams-sean-mcvay-nfc-championship-saints-noise-metallica/

[NFC title game vs. Saints] Sean McVay and his players won’t soon forget that contest for a number of reasons, one of which was the noise level inside the Superdome. On the latest episode of the “Flying Coach” podcast, McVay reflected on just how loud it was in New Orleans that night.

He compared it to being front row at a Metallica concert that never let up.

“By far the loudest game I’ve ever coached in,” he said. “It’s funny because we had played at New Orleans earlier in the year and so we figured, it was an unbelievable atmosphere but we still had the ability to communicate and get some of our longer intricate play calls and didn’t ever really feel like it was too much of an issue. Still operating on your silent count, different things like that. Maybe you can use your verbal cadence under center. So we were going to test our headsets out during warmups and I’m talking to Goff as they’re introducing their guys and I’m thinking, ‘Holy (expletive), we’ve got no chance of communicating the way that we did before.’

“It was like a Metallica concert sitting front row that never slowed up.”
…
“It was definitely the loudest atmosphere. It for sure affected our ability to communicate. We had to streamline the game plan,” McVay added. “We had to eliminate a lot of the longer verbiage, wordy play calls. It was an adjustment but our guys settled in and did a great job of finding a way to get it done, but that was definitely unparalleled in terms of the noise and what we had there. it was a rockin’ atmosphere, that’s for sure.”

#PFF50

For the 5th consecutive year, #Rams Aaron Donald dons the number 1 spot of the PFF50 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

After his rookie year, the lowest pass-rushing grade he’s earned is a 92.8 😳https://t.co/s4cTNHGKkH

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) June 25, 2021

from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/06/24/andrew-whitworth-on-matthew-stafford-you-can-see-how-hungry-he-is-for-success/

Whitworth sees the benefits of having a seasoned QB like Matthew Stafford to lead the offense.

“You know what, just being around Stafford, Matthew is one of those guys you can tell, [he’s] just a veteran QB who has played a lot of football and has been a really good football player in this league for a while and is just yearning to have some success,” Whitworth said on Thursday’s episode of the Jim Rome Show. “And you see it in him, how hungry he is, how hard he works, and also just how talented he is. So I think our whole football team is obviously really excited about the opportunity to take the field with him this fall.”

Whitworth added that no matter how talented a quarterback is, there’s no substitute for actual game experience.

“I think it’s pretty invaluable. It’s one of those things that you can’t — I don’t care what a quarterback’s done early in their career, you can’t replace experience and wisdom and the opportunity to see all these defenses,” Whitworth said. “And for Matthew, also, to play in a lot of different offenses. He’s had a lot of different schemes. He’s read things a lot of different ways. So he’s had that opportunity of experience where there’s things he can help young linemen with, there’s things he can help young receivers, backs, tight ends — just little tidbits that he can say, ‘Hey, against this coverage, this is what you’d want to do,’ that almost feels like a coach on the field a little bit.

“I think that’s that added level that a veteran QB gives you that’s just hard to replace. And a guy who’s as talented as him, I think, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t excited about our opportunity this season.”

New & unlocked: I studied every snap of Seahawks T Duane Brown's 2020 season, recorded where exactly he excels, & put together an article detailing/showing why he should still be considered among the top players at his position.https://t.co/NDN6ugNSuh

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) June 24, 2021

As a rookie, Jordan Fuller made an impact instantly with this key 4th down stop against the Cowboys in week 1. Fuller goes into his sophomore year as the projected starter once again but this time he will be sporting the #4 jersey pic.twitter.com/KKhe6cTIzs

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) June 24, 2021

The understated thing about @AllHands81 is that he did it the same when it was Kurt Warner, Marc Bulger, Jamie Martin or whoever at QB. Many say he was only successful because of the GSOT, but that was only 3 years of a 10+ year career https://t.co/PCKV4kY057

— 𝕋𝕠𝕞 – 𝕃𝔸 ℝ𝕒𝕞𝕤 (@TL_LARams) June 24, 2021

Sean McVay has kept the Rams above .500 for just about every week he’s been head coach in L.A. https://t.co/M6bQUFywwr

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 24, 2021

==

from the above link:

A good way to put the Rams’ success into perspective is looking at this list from Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Stats. He ranked every team in the NFL based on how many weeks they’ve had with a winning record since the end of the 2016 season. The Rams are No. 2 with 62 such weeks, one behind the Chiefs and eight ahead of the third-ranked Saints.

Rams’ Matthew Stafford taking it slow, but making progress with new team

https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/42751/rams-matthew-stafford-taking-it-slow-but-making-progress-with-new-team

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Matthew Stafford took snap after snap, dropping back each time to scan the field.

And that was the extent of the 11-on-11 action for the new Los Angeles Rams quarterback, who did not throw the ball during full-team periods at mandatory minicamp.

Entering his 13th NFL season, but his first with a team outside of the Detroit Lions, the plan for the offseason program was to familiarize Stafford and other newcomers with teammates and Rams coach Sean McVay’s scheme.

“We’re not moving extremely fast, not really trying to get open or make great throws in that period,” Stafford explained. “It’s more, let’s get the protections adjusted, let’s get the runs going off in the right direction and get all the above-the-neck stuff going.”

How the Rams’ offense will appear with Stafford when the season opens Sept. 12 against the Chicago Bears remains mostly a mystery after an offseason program dominated by one-on-one work and some 7-on-7 action.

It could also remain something of a mystery through training camp after McVay acknowledged that he is likely to keep in step with his past approaches to preseason games and not play starters.

But if McVay’s good mood this offseason is any indication, his once-prolific offense that struggled to find consistency the past two seasons with quarterback Jared Goff is trending positive with Stafford.

“He’s done outstanding,” McVay said about Stafford, whom the Rams acquired from Detroit in exchange for Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick in January. “He’s only going to continue to grow and we’re going to continue to get better.”

McVay raved about Stafford’s leadership, ability as a natural thrower and his football savvy — including his knack to recognize and manipulate a defense.

Stafford underwent surgery on his right thumb in March. He described it as “a quick little fix” and said that he felt “way better.” The procedure did not affect his participation in voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp.

The goal of the offseason program for the 33-year-old Stafford was to stress himself mentally as he integrates into McVay’s system.

“I’m just trying to learn as much as I possibly can about not only our playbook and the way we want to operate as an offense,” said Stafford, who departed Detroit as the all-time leader in every passing category but never won a playoff game in three attempts. “But also [learn] my teammates as well.”

The Rams return eight offensive starters from last season’s 10-6 team, including four linemen, receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Cam Akers.

Woods and Kupp spent the past four seasons with Goff, but have quickly began to adapt to their new signal caller after numerous one-on-one drills and time spent between action communicating nuances.

“He’s a vet quarterback [who’s] really honing in on picking up this offense very fast because we all got plans, we need him to learn it and be ready to go right away,” said Woods, who fell 64 yards shy in 2020 of a third-consecutive 1,000-receiving yard season. “I would say his attention to listen to receivers, wanting to still get better at his level and at his year is super big.”

Rams general manager Les Snead also added firepower for Stafford over the offseason, signing veteran receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency and selecting Louisville receiver Tutu Atwell in the second round of the NFL draft. Both are considered speedy receivers who can provide deep targets and stretch the field.

“It’s been awesome with Matt, having a veteran quarterback that’s played a lot of ball in this league,” said Jackson, who has been slowed because of injuries the past two seasons but has recorded the most 60-plus-yard touchdowns (24) in NFL history. “It’s definitely going to be a scary group for defenses and defenders ’cause Sean McVay, one thing about it, he’s going to figure out how to get you open, so we just look forward to having a lot of fun doing it.”

Stafford said each receiver brings a unique skillset. He described Woods as smooth in and out of his breaks, Kupp as one of the smartest he’s played with, Jackson and Atwell for their long speed, and second-year pro Van Jefferson as good separator.

“It’s a really talented group, top to bottom,” Stafford said.

Stafford also is expected to have support in the backfield from Akers, who emerged late in his rookie season as a feature back after playing in a committee most of the year.

“It’s been fun getting to know Matt,” said Akers, who rushed for 625 yards in five starts and 13 games last season. “Gaining chemistry, catching balls, getting handoffs from him. Feeling the way he likes to lead, just learning each other. That’s what this time that we’ve been spending together has been, we’ve been learning each other and just getting comfortable.”

There’s no exact science, Stafford and teammates said, as to when they will jell and establish an exact chemistry. But Stafford expressed confidence about his progress before the Rams broke for the offseason.

“I definitely have learned quite a bit,” Stafford said. “I feel like my knowledge is a lot broader now than it was when we started that’s for sure. I’ve been exposed to a lot both from Sean and our offense and our defense as well, so it’s been a good learning experience for me.”

Quarterbacks report to training camp on July 25th.

How has Rams QB Matthew Stafford established timing, rapport with top WRs in Sean McVay’s offense?

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2660685/2021/06/22/how-has-rams-qb-matthew-stafford-established-timing-rapport-with-top-wrs-in-sean-mcvays-offense/?source=emp_shared_article

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — For new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, timing has lately been everything.

Seizing upon opportune timing is a big part of the reason Stafford is in Los Angeles in the first place, after 12 years in Detroit — he requested a trade around the same time the Rams were deeply assessing their options at quarterback, then he and Rams coach Sean McVay happened to be at the same resort in Cabo, and the rest is history.

Now, Stafford’s timing will need to apply to how he runs the offense — especially one that depends on the quarterback and receivers falling into total rhythm with each other before, during and after every snap.

“The only way a guy in my position can play ‘on time’ and ‘in rhythm’ is understanding exactly what’s going on around him at all times and feeling comfortable with it,” Stafford said. “To get that, in my opinion, you can definitely look at it on a screen, look at it on a piece of paper and take your notes, but until you get out there and watch Cooper Kupp run this route or Robert Woods run that route, that’s something that takes time and in-person repetition.”

The details that need to be accounted for within a single passing play — between just the quarterback and the receiver — can feel endless, but must become automatic. Further, all of the little things the quarterback does between the snap and the moment the ball leaves his hand happen essentially as the receiver’s back is toward him.

“Within a drop, a quarterback has a lot of tools in terms of his eyes, his shoulders — where he’s trying to move guys,” Kupp said. “I think that’s the big thing, is understanding on plays: You might have two windows, you have the tight first window or you can hang on for the second window. And you have the conversation, ‘Would you rather hold this hook player away and try to zip this into the first window — or are you thinking you’re going to take him to me and hit this thing behind him?’

“So it’s kind of understanding just things like that. When am I really trying to get my eyes down? When can I anticipate the ball to get out versus certain looks? How (is he) manipulating coverages and what he feels comfortable with? Even within his drops, just seeing the nuance of using his shoulders and eyes to move guys and anticipate throws — that helps us out at receiver because now we’re really able to anticipate when that ball is coming and also get into those windows — or (move with tempo) into the windows he’s really trying to get to.”

Stafford and the Rams receivers were quite apparently stacking the building blocks of this process throughout the spring — not only increasing the amount of processing required between the two groups but also shifting at times from an emphasis on the live reps to focus on the communication between plays and how the various elements of the passing game complement each other when the rhythm is correct.

For example, veteran receivers Woods and Kupp were present for the voluntary OTAs sessions in May — which was notable because it was the first opportunity for Stafford to work in-depth with teammates after offseason thumb surgery and his cross-country move with his family. These practices were half-speed and could be stopped halfway through a play so that McVay and Stafford, and Stafford and his receivers and offensive line, could talk through the concepts. Though the sessions were not mandatory and many players trickled in and out through the two-week period, Kupp was active each day in order to build the necessary on-field rapport with Stafford, while Woods added that he often sat next to Stafford during film sessions to whisper live notes about certain throws as they watched. Rotating through the practices and reps also meant that when they weren’t working into the live action, receivers were able to watch Stafford’s movements more closely.

“Invaluable reps, really,” Kupp said. “Obviously as an offense, having a new signal caller out there — just being able to see the field with him, trying to understand the things that he’s seeing and how he’s analyzing things on the go. … Everyone has a different nuance to how (he) wants to play certain concepts, the throws that (he) leans on, the throws (he) wants to make, things you want to see and how you want to dictate certain things. (We were) able to have great conversations, (able) to see the field through his lens and understand what Matthew wants us to do at receiver and how he wants us to run our routes, the holes he wants us to find.”

In some seven-on-sevens and 11-on-11s, Stafford didn’t throw the ball as the route concepts unfolded before him and he mentally worked through his progressions and then workshopped the scenarios with Kupp, Woods, Desean Jackson, Van Jefferson and others. Where do his feet need to be in his dropback at a specific point in the receiver’s route? How about when they turn to present a target? What about boot action, play-action, the motions that McVay uses so often and more — how does the quarterback match his timing and movement with the receivers’ own as they progress through their route?

While the live reps are certainly the most valuable tool for both a quarterback and a receiver during this process, the required level of collaboration, communication and sharing of techniques and ideas can’t be understated.

“We’re collaborating to put the most efficient offense on the field,” Kupp said. “Whatever it takes for me, however he wants (us) to run routes … however he wants to throw the ball and manipulate coverage, whatever it’s going to look like to be the best offense we can possibly be when we step onto the field, that’s what we want to do. … It’s collaboration and being able to make sure that we’re on the same page with each other, that we’re working in tandem with each other — and that I’m doing the things that I need to do so that he’s seeing the field exactly how I’m seeing it, and we’re in those spots together.”

From Stafford’s lens, figuring out receivers’ preferences within their route tree is a part of that collaboration. Kupp, for example, has several “choice” routes built into his tree, so his decision-making in tandem with Stafford on those particular plays becomes not only crucial to Kupp’s own route run but also to the various leverage possibilities and assignments for the rest of the receivers in turn.

“We’re just trying to have dialogue,” Stafford said. “As we’re watching other guys (take second- and third-team reps), (we talk) about what we might have done in that situation — what he would expect from me, what I would expect from him. Just constantly trying to make sure that we’re on the same page and able to execute.”

Tiny details and tweaks made for the comfort of both the receiver and quarterback as they establish a feel for one another can turn into major moments in live action. At one point in the spring, Woods said Stafford approached him because he was feeling a little off about the steps in a passing concept and felt as if he might look to throw a little bit earlier than what they had practiced. Woods told him that he could adjust accordingly and would get his eyes back around for the ball without a problem. Conversely, throughout the offseason, Woods would record pieces of his own film study and send little cut-ups to Stafford that communicated Woods’ preferred catch window in which to specifically maximize yards after the catch.

“(Stafford’s) intention to listen to his receivers, wanting to still get better at his level and at his year is super big,” Woods said. “I think, from a receiver standpoint, your quarterback asking you ‘What do you want from this?’ or ‘What do you see in this route’ is super big. He’s come into our offense with some receivers who have made plays — but (is) really just trying to make us feel comfortable.”

In June, as the Rams held their minicamp — the last series of practices before breaking for the summer — Kupp and Woods especially orbited around Stafford at alternating times and in between his reps in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, play cards in their hands.

They were not practicing live but were in near-constant communication with Stafford — troubleshooting plays and concepts, pointing out different preferences and alignments and getting feedback from the quarterback on what he felt and saw as the plays unfolded.

“The dialogue amongst one another — there’s so many things that go on in the absence of coaches and in between those white lines that is so beneficial,” McVay said. “The best teams that I’ve been a part of is where the players lead it. That’s where you have a chance to be great. We’ve got the guys in this building to be able to do those things. … I think Matthew’s natural ability to communicate with everybody … that’s a valuable thing. That’s sometimes where (my) best is to give a little bit of guidelines and then get the hell out of their way.”

You can be that person who saves a life. 🏳️‍🌈♥️

For more information on how you can help the @TrevorProject, a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, visit https://t.co/yav26eFeDT pic.twitter.com/QHpzi4axEA

— NFL (@NFL) June 22, 2021

128 yards receiving & THREE TDs! (2001) Marshall Faulk was a matchup nightmare. If you notice on the 2nd & 3rd touchdown, Faulk is lined up as the outside Wide Receiver… So versatile. Many think he could have made a good living as a WR if he so chose to. Generational talent pic.twitter.com/p5kNaDN1ZL

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) June 22, 2021