bubbaramfan

Demby is getting a lot of work at various positions on the line. He even took snaps with the 2nd team at C.

Fox has also been getting a lot of snaps. @ OLB and DT. He looks quick and strong.

Mike Thomas has gotten in the mix. He looks like he’s worked out over the off season.

Whitworth still looks great. He makes it look so easy, not a lot of wasted effort, guy just knows how to play a guy.

Starters have all looked good. backups and LB won’t shake out until end of pre-season.

==

oldnotdead

Demby got a lot of snaps at OG and center and he looked pretty good. This type of workout really doesn’t show much in terms of blocking, but you can see how he moves, and he looked good when he did.

David Edwards played both at OT and OG and it was clear that he’s basically an OT. He can play at OG but IMO only in relief. Edwards is very long at 6’6″ with 33 3/8″ arms which makes it hard for him to keep his pads low when he’s at OG. His technique has to be different at OG to compensate for his length by relying upon his arm length to fend off the defenders.

Bobby Evans played both OT and OG and looked equally comfortable in both positions. He is built like a classic OG, at 6’4″ with 34 3/4″ arms at 312 lbs. This guy looks like a LG and has the feet and length to play both OG positions and RT.

IMO we are going to see more oline changes next year. Noteboom LT, Evans LG, Allen C, Demby RG, Havenstein RT with Edwards as the swing OT. This will give them a very mobile oline with good size when they need to dig in. I like what I’ve seen so far in the young guys. But it will be interesting to see how they actually stand up in a game. But I think they have the makings of a very good oline.

As far as NT is concerned, SJD played with the 1’s but that’s really all you can say. He got zero penetration when they played 11 on 11. At least once I saw him blocked by a single OG and he couldn’t get off the block. The OG simply stood him up and that was that. He needs to show more if he wants to stay with the 1’s. Maybe it was the nature of the practice but there were times it looked like he was waiting to see if the play came to him. Which could be the case if they were playing a two gap scheme, but they weren’t. Hopefully he will get into attack mode when they play their preseason game.

Gaines looks like a rookie, trying to adapt to the speed of the NFL and the differences in technique. Flaws in technique are amplified at this level. He clearly needs work and I think he will improve markedly by the end of TC.

Eric Weddle loved Rams-Chargers practice: 'It was incredible work for us' https://t.co/Y6AdjWWjqr

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 2, 2019

max

SIRIUS VISITS RAMS

Bill Polian on SiriusXM just now

they had Jack Youngblood on for a few minutes and talked about some fun stuff when he played and then the current SB and Jack said as he was watching the game it looked like we were in over our heads, just not ready for the big stage. Jack said “oh, no, we aren’t ready for this”. Polian said he totally agreed especially on offense and that it was so tough to face the Pats for the first time in on that stage. Very understandable and McVay will learn from it.

Just remember the Youngblood story. He said in the late 70’s he wanted to go back home to Florida and get back to his roots, and he had a sit down with CR. He said, boss I would like to be traded to Tampa. And CR paused and looked sternly at Jack and said, Tampa doesn’t have anything I want. And that was the end of the meeting. Jack got up and left.

from oldnotdead

Noteboom looked very good with his movement on runs to the right. Both he and Allen have looked just fine so far. IMO Allen will be an upgrade to Sullivan. Allen is quicker with much better overall speed to get into the second level, which is something the center must do in this scheme. The same can be said with Noteboom, he appears more mobile and quicker than Saffold. Whit is just amazing. The dude just doesn’t age. He might want to come back next year too. Whit is totally energized and a complete technician at his craft.

==

Bubbaramfan

Scrimmage With Chargers in Costa Mesa

Just got home form Rams-Chargers scrimmage from Costa Mesa.

Some impressions of Chargers TC. Not as fan or kid friendly as Irvine. Chargers set up has 2 fields with bleacher stand on only one side. No stands in the end zones and no access at all to the far field. Of course that’s where they put the Rams for warm-ups, and a lot of the 11 on 11 Ram offense vs Charger defense was on the far field . The only way to see was with strong binoclulars. I missed a lot because the action was so far away.

Had punts with gunner drills. One guy stood out to me . Nick Scott. Guy flat out gets after it with two defenders trying to slow him up before he can get downfield. Good luck with that, he beat them every time.

Gurley was full practice, was in on some plays but was only targeted a few times. Brown was mostly starting RB. after they ran position group exercises for the 1st hour they got into 7 on 7 and then 11 on11 without tackling. Teams looked pretty even with offenses getting the best of defenses.

We had Chargers offense vs Rams defense in front of stands, Far field 100 miles away was Rams off vs Charger defense, I couldn’t see that far and no fan access to that field.

Rivers and his O are good. He picked apart defending LB’s over the middle to TE’s mostly. Rams have to figure how to defend that or its going to be a long season.

Starting Ram D is not bad, with good rush. 2nd team got tore up. Don’t know what other folks are looking at but Jo-Day is a player and is a better NT than Gaines at this point, Day with the 1st, Gaines with the 2nd. A lot is going to change once the get some games in and coaches can look at tape vs other teams.

Things I think after 5 TC days and a Scrimage vs another team.

Rams offense is better than at this time last year. Goff is bigger and stronger and looks more confident.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with Gurley. I’ve watched him run, catch the ball, make hard cuts. If he’s hurting he’s not showing it. The OL looks solid. Whitworth looks great. Noteboom and Allen stood up well against Chargers 1st team D. I have no ideal who they want as backup C. Neary, Demby, Hrynkwicz?

Rams DL looks very good. Must mention that they went with just 2 DT and 5 LB’s several times today. Brockers, Donald, Fowler, Eubekam, Kiser, Littleton and Mathews. Brockers looks bigger and was getting off the line and penetrating. Mathews got a sack. Fowler got a sack. Jo-Day not losing out to Gaines any time soon.

Most everything else has already been coverd. Oh, Greg the Leg was nailing it from60+.

Back at Irvine tomorrow.

10 Observations from the Rams first joint practice with the Chargers

Myles Simmons

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-joint-practice-with-chargers

1) One notable element of the session was who didn’t participate — wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Head coach Sean McVay said after the session that the Rams held Kupp out for precautionary reasons, not wanting to expose the wideout to a tempo that could jeopardize his progress. But based on everything, that happened, McVay said Kupp would likely be on the field for Saturday’s practice at UC Irvine. Kupp did participate in the separate warmups with the Rams before the two teams came together.

2) During red zone 7-on-7 work, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wideout Brandin Cooks in the back-right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Cooks ran a nice route and Goff put some good touch on the throw to float it in. McVay mentioned the Rams held Cooks out later on in the session due to some discomfort in Cooks’ hamstring, but the head coach didn’t make it seem like it was too serious.

3) In one-on-ones on the other side of the field with offensive lineman and pass rushers, left tackle Andrew Whitworth used Melvin Ingram’s momentum against him to push the defensive end to the ground before he could make a move. Whitworth may be 37, but he’s still got it.

4) The Rams’ tight ends made some big plays throughout the day, one coming in the red zone 7-on-7 period from Tyler Higbee. Los Angeles was using a two tight end set, Higbee ran a slant on the right side, made the catch, got popped by a defender, but still held on for a touchdown.

5) Goff went back to Higbee during the first 11-on-11 period, hitting the fourth-year tight end down the left sideline off play action for a play that would’ve gone for a touchdown. Goff’s ball placement was strong on the play, dropping it in the bucket for Higbee to run down the field for YAC.

6) With the second offense in for 11-on-11, quarterback Blake Bortles hit wide receiver Mike Thomas on the left side with an intermediate pass. Thomas, who had a strong practice, went up for the catch, got hit as he went to the ground, but still held on. Bortles has gone to Thomas a bunch throughout the first week of camp.

7) In red zone 11-on-11 drills, tight end Gerald Everett caught a pass and tiptoed the end line for a touchdown. Whitworth neutralized Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa in the backfield, giving Goff time to complete the pass as the play developed.

8) Early on for an 11-on-11 “move the ball” drill, Goff faked left, booted to his right, and then connected with a wide open Higbee for a big gain down the right side of the field. Again, Goff’s ball placement was just right for the tight end to continue running.

9) On the same drill, the offense ended the drive with a touchdown as Goff once again connected with Everett in the red zone. The tight end got his feet in quickly for a second time, but in this instance he was at the front right pylon.

10) In a two-minute period with the second-team offense toward the end of practice, Bortles threw a pass to JoJo Natson that the receiver was able to run under to make a nice catch as he approached the sideline. It was one of a few nice receptions for Natson on the day — prompting running back Todd Gurley to quip at his press conference that both Natson and Thomas “had a day.”

Cameron DaSilva

from: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/01/nfl-rams-chargers-camp-practice-notes-takeaways/

Here are notes and takeaways from practice, which was shown live on NFL Network.

* Mike Thomas had a good day of practice, filling in for Brandin Cooks after his hamstring tightened up. He made a nice leaping catch along the sideline in front of a defender on an out route, coming down with the contested grab.

* McVay didn’t seem concerned about Cooks’ hamstring, saying it just “got a little bit tight” so the Rams pulled him off the field as a precautionary measure. According to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic, Dakota Allen and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo were also held out of practice.

* Cory Littleton got beat by running back Justin Jackson on two consecutive plays, one of which went for a touchdown.

* It was only one rep, but Melvin Ingram made Andrew Whitworth look silly. He beat the veteran left tackle with an outside fake before cutting to the inside, barely getting touched by Whitworth on his way by.

* Todd Gurley was a full participant, working with the first-team offense. Cooper Kupp’s workload was lighter, which McVay says was intentional. He wanted to get a feel for the speed and intensity of practice before throwing Kupp out there.

* It was a solid showing for the Rams’ tight ends against the Chargers. Tyler Higbee broke free early in practice for a huge gain as Jared Goff hit him in stride with a perfect pass. In red zone drills, Gerald Everett hauled in a touchdown grab in the back of the end zone. Again, it was a great throw by Goff to drop it over the second-level defenders and into Everett’s hands.

YES SIR! 👏@lightningstrk12 | #RamsCamp pic.twitter.com/EVVW9EBd7s

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 1, 2019

* Once again, it was Joseph-Day getting first-team reps at nose tackle, not Greg Gaines. He lined up between Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, along with Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews playing OLB. Joseph-Day has received rave reviews from reporters in attendance all week, as well as coaches. He’s the clear No. 1 guy at nose tackle right now, though there’s still time for the rookie Gaines to catch up. They both should see a lot of playing time in the preseason as the Rams sort this position out.

Downtown Rams [DTR]@DowntownRams
Todd Gurley just now on NFL Network: Dante Fowler has been getting to the ball as fast as Aaron Donald. He’s here on a one year deal and we should probably bring him back for more.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
#Rams 1st team defensive front: Joseph-Day, Fowler, Matthews, Brockers, Donald

I think right now, just based on what I’ve seen, Joesph-Day is playing better than Greg Gaines.

Nearly a full practice in with #Rams and #Chargers here in Costa Mesa, and the focus has remained entirely on work. No skirmishes or fisticuffs. Sean McVay and Anthony Lynn were pretty adamant they wanted that to be the case. Looks like the message was heard loud and clear

#Rams offense 7 on 7 Red Zone (12 yard line) drill against #Chargers: four plays four TD passes from Jared Goff to Higbee, Gurley, Reynolds, Cooks

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Sean McVay said Brandin Cooks’ hamstring “got a little bit tight” during practice, so the Rams pulled him out as a precaution.

There were 10 RBs voted into the #NFLTop100@sj39 decided to do his own re-ranking of those 10 RBs 👇 pic.twitter.com/vYm3lkTKPn

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 1, 2019

Some follow-up

bubbaramfan
Gaines might be in the mix, but so far in TC, he’s #2. Jo-Day has been playing with the ones. Day is clearly bigger, faster and has shown great tenacity and drive. I’ve watched the DL group during their hitting the sled drills, coming out on snap drills zigging and zagging around the dummies and Jo-Day is right there with AD and Brockers as far as delivering the biggest “pop”. It’s also worth noting that when they are standing around, Brockers and AD are constantly talking to Jo-Day, more so than Gaines.

It remains to be seen how it all translates to the field against other competition. We’ll get that today in Costa Mesa when the Rams scrimmage the Chargers. I’ll be there.

==

den-the-coach

Sebastian Joseph-Day had a great off season. He’s come back bigger and stronger then his red shirt year as a rookie and looks primed to battle Gaines to start at Nose Tackle. I loved Joseph-Day at Rutgers, one of the players that shined in a program that in most cases was overwhelmed by their competition. I expect both players to have major impacts improving the run defense as well as freeing up Aaron Donald some.

After total touchdowns, @TG3II jumps up to No. 5 on the #NFLTop100!

Top 10 two years in a row 🙌

After 2️⃣1️⃣ total touchdowns, @TG3II jumps up to No. 5 on the #NFLTop100! pic.twitter.com/o5s2hmzp7N

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 1, 2019

The Analysis Team over at #PFF ranks each team's receiving group going into 2019, and the #Rams receivers come in as the 3rd best corps in the league!

Find out why we're so high on the #LA group over and where other teams rank in the link below 👇:https://t.co/RlMk2Mx8ZU

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) July 31, 2019