The Athletic@TheAthleticLA

As part of a training-camp tour, @bylindsayhjones visited the Rams and Chargers. Here are her observations, including the Rams’ thoughts on Todd Gurley

From Irvine, with the Los Angeles Rams

1. Don’t expect to see any of Todd Gurley in the Rams’ four preseason games, and it became clear very quickly into training camp that we won’t see a ton of him during practices, either. The Rams have concocted a detailed plan to limit Gurley’s workload this camp. Generally, that plan includes alternating practice days with rest days, and it started from the first day of camp in Irvine and will continue through joint practice with the Raiders in Napa.

But there appear to be no limitations on Gurley on the days he is in uniform. He is a full participant in 11-on-11 drills, run drills, blitz pickup, and when he’s running, it does not look like the knee injury that sidelined him late last season has slowed him down. Wide receiver Robert Woods said that when the players sought out their max-speed data during the first weekend of camp, it was Gurley who hit 22 mph – the fastest of any of the skill position players.

The Rams consider this decreased workload part of their plan to maximize their investment in Gurley. A year after they signed Gurley to a four-year, $57.5 million contract, general manager Les Snead said he has no regrets about the size or timing of that contract. Gurley remains the NFL’s highest-paid running back, in both annual salary ($14.35 average per year) and total contract. His full deal is worth $5 million more than the contract Le’Veon Bell signed with the Jets in March, though Bell received more guaranteed money at signing ($27 million, to Gurley’s $21.95 million).

…

2. It’s been a unique camp for the Rams in that, for the first time in recent years, there is almost no contract drama. The Rams practiced all of training camp without Aaron Donald the past two years, but this year, there are no holdouts, with Donald, Gurley, wide receiver Brandin Cooks and offensive tackle Rob Havenstein all having received new contracts in the past year. Even head coach Sean McVay and Snead are settled, each receiving an extension in July.

The Rams have had contract talks with the agents for quarterback Jared Goff, who is heading into the fourth year of his rookie deal, and cornerback Marcus Peters, who is in the final year of his contract, but no deals appear imminent for either player.

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3. This preseason is critical for the Rams’ coaching staff. After appearing to be one step ahead of most defensive coordinators last year, Sean McVay was outcoached by Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl. The Patriots held the Rams to just a field goal, in part by following a defensive blueprint established in December by Vic Fangio and the Bears. The Rams failed to adjust when the Patriots played primarily zone defense instead of man-to-man, and had few answers to solve the Patriots’ smothering run defense that consistently resulted in difficult third-down passing situations for Goff.

McVay said he would be using training camp, especially the four joint practices against the Chargers and Raiders, to work on making better in-game coaching adjustments.

“You can’t shy away from the things we didn’t do well last year, and some of the situations where I certainly could have put our players in a better spot,” McVay said. “So that’s a huge point of emphasis. If you’re afraid to look at the things that we didn’t do good enough, you’re kind of brushing it under the rug and inevitably it’s going to come back to haunt you.”

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Noteboom and Allen could get some playing time Saturday. Kiser and Joseph-Day definitely will, as will Bryce Hager

==

Which players stood out at joint practice today?@JB_Long + @minakimes break it down from Napa! pic.twitter.com/vYNfnEmUPi

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 8, 2019

From a Raiders beat writer.

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from It was clear which team is coming off a Super Bowl and which is still trying to be competitive.

Levi Damien

https://www.silverandblackpride.com/2019/8/7/20759398/raiders-training-camp-2019-day-10-recap-derek-carr-cant-set-the-tone-rams-jared-goff-has-his-way

The day the Raiders have been waiting for was here. The Rams were in the house and they were finally going to test themselves against a world class team. One of the storylines of the first part of Raiders’ camp is how great Tyrell Williams and Derek Carr look.

Then they faced the Rams aaaand not so much.

Right from the first snap, Carr went to the well, sending Williams deep and putting the ball in the air for him. And there was Aqib Talib to pick it off.

Talib knows Carr well. Carr has had to face him at least once per season in his five-year career. The first four were as a member of the rival broncos, which means usually he faced him twice. Last year as a member of the Rams. Carr didn’t fool the All Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.

“The first play I jacked the ball up really to set the tone and you hope to come down with it and they make the play,” said Carr. “That kind of stuff is going to happen. It’s not alarming to anyone in the meeting room but there are stuff that we need to correct off the film and need to do better.”

Needless to say, Carr was not able to set the tone early. Talib snatched away that tone like it was a gold chain around Michael Crabtree’s neck.

As it happens, on the final play of scrimmages, Carr and Williams would try again to hook up on a bomb. This time Williams got behind Nickell Roby-Coleman and Carr found him… but he dropped it.

Those two plays bookended a lackluster day for an offense which is still without top target Antonio Brown and number one tight end Darren Waller.

“We got a couple guys that are out, but that’s next guy up,” Carr said. “When that happens we got to have our best guys be our best guys. That gets tough when people are taking them away in practice and things like that. Definitely that will be a recurring theme in every practice.”

For the defense’s part, there were some positive signs. Though not many.

Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff carved them up for the most part.

There were only a handful of passes defensed from the Raiders. One came from Johnathan Abram on a deep shot for tight end Gerald Everett. Another was Gareon Conley who knocked down a deep shot up the right sideline for tight end Tyler Higbee. Defensive backs making plays on tight ends isn’t really a great accomplishment. Even though for the Raiders it might be.

Lamarcus Joyner made a play against his former team. Goff stood in the pocket so long, the play would have been over long before that, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway, but Joyner didn’t give up on it. He stuck with Brandin Cooks the whole way and when Goff tried to connect with his speedy receiver, Joyner knocked it down Then stood and smiled at Cooks as if to say ‘remember me?’

And that was about it for the positives.

Two of the biggest plays of the day for the Rams, the Raiders were so out of position, it was impossible to tell who was supposed to be there. Both resulted in wide open catches and long touchdowns up the left sideline.

Trayvon Mullen gave up a long catch to Michael Thomas, Curtis Riley gave up a touchdown catch at the right pylon to Robert Woods, Karl Joseph gave up a touchdown in the back of the end zone to Gerald Everett — though that was a brilliant throw by Goff —, Gareon Conley gave up a long catch on a slant to Robert Woods, and Nicholas Morrow gave up a long catch and run to tight end Johnny Mundt.

Despite the struggles, Abram thinks they did some good things.

“Pretty much that we can play with anybody,” Abram said of what they showed today. “That’s one thing I’ll say is we can play with anybody. If we can go against one of the best offenses in the league and go out there and compete the way we did, then we can compete with anybody.”

There were plays the Raiders defenders made, but most were with Blake Bortles in at quarterback.
The Raiders secondary is supposed to be much improved this season. Though no one really expects them to be able to go blow for blow with one of the top offenses in the league, you hope they would have made more plays.

One more day to make corrections on both sides of the ball and come out of this feeling better about themselves.

Cooper Kupp’s return gives Rams ‘four-headed monster’ at receiver

Lindsey Thiry

https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/40367/cooper-kupps-return-gives-rams-a-four-headed-monster-at-receiver

IRVINE, Calif. — Cooper Kupp cut across the training camp field as quarterback Jared Goff threw a pass in his direction.

But the Los Angeles Rams receiver stood no chance of making the catch with Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Rayshawn Jenkins blanketing him during the combined practice.

Jenkins’ contact forced Kupp to the ground.

A brief hush fell over the fans who stretched the field on bleachers, as they waited to see if Kupp would stand up. Seconds later, cheers of “Cooooop” broke out, and Kupp climbed to his feet.

“It honestly felt good,” Kupp said afterward. “First time really getting knocked down to the ground and popped back up.”

Cooper Kupp had 40 catches for 566 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before a knee injury last season. AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo

It’s been 8 1/2 months since Kupp tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, a non-contact injury, in a Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks and underwent reconstructive knee surgery. Despite apparent strides in his rehabilitation throughout the offseason program, which included workouts on the sideline and participation in limited team drills at jog-through speed, questions remained when training camp opened whether the third-year pro would return to form and be ready to play in a season opener against the Carolina Panthers.

After knocking off some initial rust, but otherwise making it through a week of training camp that included participating in one of two joint practices against the Chargers, those questions no longer linger.

“I felt free to do whatever I wanted to do,” said Kupp, whose knee is not aided by a brace. “And really was kind of excited about that aspect of the day, being able to hit the ground and have to pop back up a few times.”

Kupp’s return is crucial as the Rams attempt to put a disappointing 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII behind them. After Kupp’s injury last season, coach Sean McVay’s high-powered offense never appeared to recover, as Robert Woods moved into Kupp’s role and Josh Reynolds was inserted on the outside.

Before his injury, Kupp was on pace to tally 1,000 receiving yards, but instead finished with 40 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns.

With Kupp’s return, Woods dubbed the Rams’ receivers a “four-headed monster,” given Kupp’s elusiveness inside, the development of Reynolds, and the return of sixth-year pro Brandin Cooks.

“We have a lot of receivers making key plays,” said Woods, who broke for a 52-yard touchdown reception in combined practice against the Chargers. “Cause Josh has been making plays, but just to get Cooper back in it … four different styles of receivers and four different ways to attack your defense.”

Last season, Woods caught 86 passes for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns and Cooks caught 80 passes for 1,204 yards and five touchdowns. In eight starts, Reynolds finished with 29 receptions for 402 yards and five touchdowns.

This season, the challenge for McVay could be finding ways to get all four involved.

Last season, when the Rams finished second in the NFL in scoring and produced 32.9 points per game, McVay relied almost exclusively on an 11-personnel package, which includes one running back, one tight end and three receivers. He rarely used substitutes, except in injury situations.

However, Reynolds emergence as a starting-caliber receiver provides McVay with options.

“You don’t know, you never know,” said Woods, a seventh-year pro, when asked if the scheme this season would evolve to allow for different personnel groupings. “Whether it’s a rotation or whether it’s an injury. … You never know who it’s going to be, and at this point it doesn’t matter who it’s going to be.”

“We’re just trying to build off what we did last year,” Reynolds said. “I’m trying my best to get in that rotation, but ultimately we’re here to win.”

Kupp’s return undoubtedly will aid in a repeat playoff run, as the Rams seek to win a third consecutive division title and return to the Super Bowl.

On the first day of training camp, Kupp did not hold back. Goff found Kupp over the middle, as Kupp leaped to make a difficult catch. Afterward, Goff asked Kupp, “‘Hey, you’re glad you got that one, huh?”

Kupp responded, “Yeah, it felt good.”

Three days later, when the team practiced for the first time in full pads, Kupp stood out again. During a team scrimmage, which pitted the starting offense against the starting defense, Kupp blew past the defensive backs to catch a deep pass from Goff in stride.

“It sounds crazy,” McVay said afterward, “but he looks more explosive than he was before.”

from 2019 NFL season: … projected stat leaders

Cynthia Frelund

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001039248/article/2019-nfl-season-patrick-mahomes-among-projected-stat-leaders

…

Sacks: Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald (18). Fun fact: Donald, who paced the NFL last season with 20.5 sacks, would be the first player to lead the NFL in sacks in consecutive seasons since Reggie White in 1987-88. That’s great company, no? I use computer vision to track pressures (and specifically pressures that disrupt passes, a.k.a. defenders coming within 5 feet of an opposing quarterback in a way that influenced the pass), and Donald is able to enter that 5-foot halo about 0.5 seconds faster than the next-fastest interior defender.

Dayton Police Killed Shooter Within 30 Seconds Of 1st Shot, Police Chief Says

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/04/748111546/dayton-police-killed-shooter-within-30-seconds-of-first-shot?utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3hZAwtXMlchhMLh4iLcCYCTCq2_R7gMsGb-_vDfnFSnuOcx4M1ppOcNJo

It took about 30 seconds to bring down the gunman who killed nine people and injured 27 others in a crowded section of downtown Dayton, Ohio, early on Sunday morning — just hours after another scene of violence in the Texas city of El Paso.

But figuring out why the alleged shooter, Connor Betts, who lived with his family in a sleepy suburban Midwestern community, descended on scores of innocent people — including his younger sister and a friend — is a question that will take much longer to solve, said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl in a news conference Sunday afternoon.

What officials have offered is a timeline of the deadly events that ended in dozens of lives upended almost instantly. On-duty officers first heard shots at 1:05 a.m. as they patrolled what is normally a safe and lively part of the city just before local bars shut down. Within approximately 20 seconds, six officers were running toward the hail of bullets pouring from the shooter’s .223-caliber high capacity rifle with 100-round drum magazines.

Ten seconds later, the shooter, who was wearing a mask, a bulletproof vest and hearing protection, was dead. Lying beside the body was a shotgun that had not been discharged.

“The threat was neutralized at approximately 30 seconds of the suspect firing his first shots,” Biehl said.

He added that the 24-year-old shooter had a minimal criminal history as an adult — only a pair of traffic violations are included in his record. Biehl noted that both weapons were purchased legally, explaining the more destructive rifle was ordered online from Texas and “transferred to the suspect from a local firearms dealer.” The shotgun was purchased in Ohio.

“There’s nothing in this individual’s history or record that would have precluded him from purchasing that firearm,” the police chief explained.

Biehl released surveillance footage showing panicked crowds running down the street to escape bursts of rapid gunfire, as well as a 911 call made moments after the shooting began.

Dissecting Betts’ movements before the attack have proved more complicated. Biehl said the shooter arrived at the nightlife spot in the same car as his sister Megan Betts, 22, and a friend, “but they were separated at some point later in the evening.”

It is unclear whether he intended to fire on her, but Megan Betts was the youngest of her brother’s victims — who ranged in age from 22 to 57. The other person in the car was also shot but survived. Police have not released his name.

Biehl said the man has been questioned by police and they are attempting to glean information that will help them piece together the shooter’s whereabouts after the group parted ways.

The city identified the nine people killed in the shooting: Megan K. Betts; Nicholas P. Cumer, 25; Thomas J. McNichols, 25; Lois L. Oglesby, 27; Logan M. Turner, 30; Beatrice N. Warren-Curtis, 36; Saeed Saleh, 38; Monica E. Brickhouse, 39; and Derrick R. Fudge, 57.

Local and federal law enforcement agencies served a search warrant on Betts’ family home in nearby Bellbrook, Ohio, early Sunday morning.

Bellbrook Police Chief Doug Doherty, whose department helped execute the warrant, said the FBI removed a vehicle from the property.

Authorities said that as of Sunday afternoon, 12 of the 27 people injured in the shooting were still in the hospital. One was in critical condition.

10 Observations from the Rams first joint practice with the Raiders

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-the-rams-first-joint-practice-with-the-raiders

NAPA, Calif. — In the lead up to the first preseason game of the summer, the Rams and Raiders are having a pair of joint practices. With action on two separate fields, here are 10 notes from the session, focusing specifically on the Rams’ offense.

1) After going through individual drills on separate fields, the Rams and Raiders came together for 7-on-7 work. Los Angeles’ offense mainly stuck with short to intermediate routes, with the ball barely hitting the ground from quarterback Jared Goff to the wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs.

2) The offense looked sharp throughout the day, starting with 11-on-11. After head coach Sean McVay said the Rams looked sluggish to begin Saturday’s session with the Chargers, L.A. got things going with a few completions — including an intermediate, play-action pass from Goff to wide receiver Brandin Cooks on the left side. No. 16 threw a strike to No. 12 for what would’ve been a first down on 2nd-and-short.

3) After the second-team offense got a series, the ones were back and executed a strong play. Goff faked a handoff to both a wide receiver on a jet sweep, then the running back in the backfield, had time, and fired to a wide open Cooper Kupp down the left sideline. Goff hit Kupp in stride, allowing the wide receiver to run for what likely would’ve been a long touchdown.

4) In punt return drills, wide receiver JoJo Natson found himself with good blocking for a return up the right seam. The return specialist likely would’ve gotten up the field for 15 to 20 yards given the way everything was set up well.

5) Back in 11-on-11 drills, Los Angeles’ offense set up in the red zone for some more plays. On one, the Rams ran a reverse with Goff handing off to Kupp, who then surreptitiously gave it to fellow WR Robert Woods. The USC product then went down a wide open path on the left side of the field for about a 15-yard touchdown. It was a particularly nice play for the offense.

6) In the same 11-on-11 period, Goff hit Woods in the front-right corner of the end zone with an out-cutting route for a touchdown. Goff’s ball placement was solid, leading Woods to the sideline. And the wideout dragged his feet in bounds to ensure the catch was good — capping a strong segment of practice for the first-team offense.

7) In a later period, Goff kept a play alive by keeping his feet active in the pocket, then rolled to his right and found tight end Gerald Everett in the back of the end zone for an off-schedule touchdown. The connection between Goff and Everett continues to build as the club readies for the 2019 season.

8) During another 11-on-11 segment with the offense closer to midfield, center Brian Allen pulled around to the right on a lead block for running back Todd Gurley. Allen popped Raiders safety Karl Joseph, proving Gurley the needed space to get up the field.

9) Safety Lamarcus Joyner spent his first five years in the league with the Rams, and the now-Raiders nickel corner batted down a pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks on the right side. After, the former teammates embraced and exchanged “good stuff” pleasantries before heading back to their respective huddles.

10) Finally, on a 3rd-and-10 play, the Rams’ offensive line along with running back Todd Gurley picked up a blitz well, giving Goff time to find Woods past the sticks with an intermediate route on the left side. Head coach Sean McVay was fired up about the play, giving low fives to Gurley and members of the OL for the protection.

Rams ball security drill that skills players warm up with.

1. Bags
2. Weave through sticks with 3 coaches with punching gloves
3. Stiff arm standing bag
4. Finish through cones pic.twitter.com/nG0N3ohKrb

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 7, 2019

File this in the, “Wait, Cooper Kupp had reconstructive knee surgery almost 9 months ago, seriously?” category. Kupp has looked sharp. pic.twitter.com/SRpmnTkeWM

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 7, 2019

The dynamic duo is together til 2023. We wanted to see how well they know each other.

Let's just say we're glad they're on the same page on the field. 😂 pic.twitter.com/Zybe7tyTP4

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 7, 2019

What else would you expect from @robertwoods? 😈 pic.twitter.com/L2ZAKcuUmY

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 7, 2019

😳

Aaron Donald with the footwork clinic!

(Via @210ths)

pic.twitter.com/eBy1tJ6XdF

— PFF (@PFF) August 6, 2019

The Rams screwed everything up for other teams with good running backs https://t.co/D4M9PfXhA6

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) August 6, 2019