10 Observations from the Rams’ May 27 OTA session

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-rams-may-27-ota-session

The Rams’ organized team activity session on Thursday, May 27, was open to the media. Here are staff writer Stu Jackson’s 10 observations from it:

1) The preliminary first-team offensive line had Austin Corbett at center and Bobby Evans at right guard. Corbett was the team’s starting right guard last year, while Evans was a reserve offensive tackle. Rams head coach Sean McVay went into detail about both players’ fits at their respective positions during his video conference with reporters after the session, and the common elements to both were that they had the athleticism and football IQ to be able to slide over into those spots.

McVay also noted Corbett played along the interior at both right guard and left guard, which helps with the transition, as well as the fact that he played “200-plus snaps” at center for his former team, the Browns, during the preseason two years ago. As for Evans, McVay said his quickness will allow him to kick inside and play guard, in addition to that athleticism.

2) Speaking of the center position, the rotation consisted of Corbett, Coleman Shelton and Brian Allen, aligning with what McVay mentioned after the draft in terms of the internal candidates for replacing Austin Blythe.

2) Rookie wide receiver Tutu Atwell was getting reps with the punt returners, confirming what he told reporters yesterday. Atwell had limited experience with it in college with just four – all during his 2019 sophomore season – but that was primarily because defensive back Rodjay Burn and running back Hassan Hall handled those duties. Hall was an All-ACC Second Team selection as an all-purpose player and Third Team selection as a specialist in 2019. As shown by his wide receiver film and 4.32-second 40-yard dash at Louisville’s pro day, Atwell’s speed makes him an attractive option as new Rams special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis continues to evaluate the position. One of those four punt returns in college went for 50 yards, for what it’s worth.

3) Taylor Rapp had a couple of pass breakups during team drills, the first of which was a near-interception. The other came during redzone work on a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Mundt. It was nice seeing him active and those instincts on display again after being limited to nine games due to injury last season.

4) Play of the Day: Stafford connected with wide receiver Cooper Kupp on a deep pass toward the right sideline during team drills.

5) Play of the Day, Part 2: Van Jefferson also had a nice catch in traffic near the right sideline. While it wasn’t on a deep pass like Kupp’s, Jefferson still hauled Stafford’s pass in with cornerback David Long Jr. in tight coverage.

6) Stafford’s arm talent on display: Besides the above example, there was also a no-look, side-arm pass, plus several passes fired into tight windows with ease during redzone drills.

7) As detailed in this May 7 piece on what set Atwell apart, one of the things that set Atwell apart is his elite quickness off the line of scrimmage. That was seen Thursday, with Atwell using it to separate from his defender and bring in a short pass from Stafford near the left sideline.

8) Flashback to Hard Knocks: Safety JuJu Hughes had his signature toothpick in his mouth.

9) Already buying in: Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris during today’s session wore a #DAWGWORK shirt created last year by run game coordinator and defensive line coach Eric Henderson as a credo for his group.

10) A clean bill of health for the Rams so far during spring workouts. From an injury standpoint, McVay told reporters that other than the “typical bumps and bruises,” there was “nothing that would be significant to note.”

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Sean McVay says the Rams will have joint practices with the Raiders and Cowboys during training camp.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sean McVay also confirms: The Rams will return to Irvine for training camp.

Ian Rapoport@RapSheet
#Eagles promoted Catherine Raiche to VP of Football Ops, the new highest ranking female in personnel in NFL history. The 32-year-old ex-assistant GM for the @MTLAlouettes takes over a role that Andrew Berry held at 32 before becoming the #Browns GM. Another glass ceiling broken. twitter.com/eagles/status/…

Cowboys Throne(41-30)@KingGridiron
Love this move for Philly…get someone who has never played to scout players who do play!! LFG!!!

Brett Kollmann@BrettKollmann
You don’t have to be a former football player to be a great scout. Ron Wolf played baseball and then became a scout for the raiders out of college and went on to be one of the greatest GMs ever.

This isn’t just a douchey, sexist take right here, it’s a straight up moronic one.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Travin Howard is repping with Troy Reeder some on first team defense in partial drills. Those ILB combinations are probably something that will rotate and change a lot as they find their right combo, but Howard is moving well after a year spent recovering from a knee injury.

Micah Kiser repping in here with Kenny Young on the first team here as well – remember, they are going to rotate through combos and such

Another combo: Rozeboom/Howard.

Josiah Johnson@KingJosiah54
What’s the most disrespectful thing a coach said to you?

Kurt Warner@kurt13warner
You’re the best player at your position, but we’re going to play someone else!!! (Telling me I can’t do something or you don’t think I’m good, I can live with, but this didn’t sit well!)

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Free-agent RB Todd Gurley is in Detroit today to visit with the Lions, per source. If he were to sign with Detroit, Gurley would be reunited with Jared Goff and be in the backfield with another former Georgia standout, D’Andre Swift.

Sosa K@QBsMVP
If you told me in 2018 that Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, and Michael Brockers would all be Detroit Lions in 2021, I would’ve slapped you so hard you would just be waking up from the coma to the realization that all three are actually gonna be Lions players.

Todd Gurley is being honored for helping provide access to medical and mental health services in Los Angeles.​ https://t.co/L9i9J39QJz

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 27, 2021

Which offense will have more success in 2021:

49ers or Rams? pic.twitter.com/5CeYUFV05w

— GMFB (@gmfb) May 26, 2021

The historic Vernon A.M.E. Church was a refuge during the Tulsa Race Massacre. Today, it holds an important legacy that must be protected and preserved. Through the Save Our History initiative, we are helping accomplish this. Learn about the Tulsa Race Massacre on Sunday at 8/7c. pic.twitter.com/1PzVDzhAOR

— HISTORY (@HISTORY) May 25, 2021

Rams will have fans at SoFi Stadium next season, in full capacity https://t.co/0v2LVLzEhY

— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) May 25, 2021

Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt predictably top the list, but who comes next?​ https://t.co/bLYVYTpXZv

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 25, 2021

Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi’s forced Jewish people to wear a gold star.

Vaccine passports & mask mandates create discrimination against unvaxxed people who trust their immune systems to a virus that is 99% survivable.https://t.co/6X6VNolcA7

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) May 25, 2021