There is a gentleman wearing No. 99 at #RamsCamp this year, apparently hoping to earn a @RamsNFL roster spot, despite appearing undersized.

Will report further once we get his name and position. pic.twitter.com/EtHgiCX6is

— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) July 27, 2019

WR Cooper Kupp — also back #LARams pic.twitter.com/XKvs3zz0Ss

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) July 27, 2019

🗣 WHOSE HOUSE?!#RamsCamp is officially here! pic.twitter.com/NIRxx5QBko

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 27, 2019

Andrew Whitworth is once again treating this training camp like it could be his last https://t.co/SmkIUS2snT

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) July 27, 2019

Training camp from the early 90s to today sure have improved in every way! @RamsNFL #GoodLuckRams pic.twitter.com/AUkf4giNEw

— 𝒥𝒾𝓂 𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓉 (@Jim_Everett) July 27, 2019

Rams to work though Super Bowl pain at training camp

Joe Curley

https://www.vcstar.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vcstar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Frams%2F2019%2F07%2F26%2Frams-work-though-super-bowl-pain-training-camp%2F1842479001%2F

THOUSAND OAKS — The confetti fell. The Los Angeles Rams left Atlanta without the Lombardi Trophy. And the NFL has continued to churn throughout the last six months.

The mysterious state of the star running back’s knee. The young quarterback’s potential nine-figure contract extension. Fresh faces on the offensive line and down the middle of the defense.

Sean McVay hope to shake off last year’s disappointing finish in the Super Bowl and maintain the Rams’ quick ascension to one of the NFL’s premier teams. (Photo: The Associated Press)

Those will be the primary topics as the Rams opened training camp this weekend at UC Irvine, even if the disappointment of Super Bowl LIII lingers in the back of the team’s mind.

“I know it still hurts to talk about it,” cornerback Marcus Peters said, “but we’re talking about this year now.”

Sean McVay joked on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in July that the head coach still thinks about the 13-3 loss to New England in Super Bowl LIII “every minute.”

Although, McVay told Kimmel, “You can’t allow it to hijack your ability to move forward.”

“It’s the best season that I’ve ever been a part of,” McVay said about last year’s 13-3 campaign, which included the franchise’s first NFC title in 17 years and allowed Los Angeles to experience its first Super Bowl since 1984.

“It certainly does give you a motivation and a drive to do better, if you do get that opportunity again.”

Rectifying the missed opportunity in February will be the biggest test for McVay in his stellar young career.

Although he has the advantage of an up-close view of the blueprint. By beating the Rams, New England became the first team to win the Super Bowl after losing it the previous season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

But even getting back is a rarity. New England was the first Super Bowl loser to return to the big game in 24 years.

Since Buffalo reached four straight Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994, only three teams that have lost the Super Bowl have returned to the conference championship game. Historically, only 37 percent of teams who have lost a Super Bowl have responded by winning a single playoff game.

So for many reasons, the 2019 season will be the stiffest test of the winning culture the Rams have built over the past two seasons.

Physically, the returning players bore a bigger burden than 31 of 32 other teams in 2018.

“There’s massive different load that’s put on your body playing that much more football,” said veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, who will return for his 14th NFL season. “So there’s definitely a toll it takes on you.”

Strategically, McVay admitted in April that the extended season forced the team to adjust how it prepared for the draft.

“When we got to the combine,” McVay said, “it seemed like it was pretty quick, where we were a little bit behind where we typically are.”

And emotionally, the players and coaches will have to return to square one and, once again, begin pushing the rock back up the tallest of hills.

“If you’re worried about proving that you’re going to win one, that’s a foolish thing to say,” Whitworth said. “I think it’s more about, ‘You know what, we’re ready to take the challenge on of trying to get back there.’ ”

Quarterback Jared Goff said the Rams will attempt to approach every day “like we would have had we won that game.”

“Our process isn’t going to change based on one game,” Goff said.

Although the game plan might. Despite averaging more than 30 points per game under McVay, finishing first and second in the league in scoring the past two seasons, the Rams were held without a touchdown by Chicago and New England late in the season.

Does that suggest the Rams just missed injured receiver Cooper Kupp? Or do they need to evolve beyond their reliance on 11 personnel? Under McVay, they have been on the forefront of the league trend to use one running back, one tight end and three receivers.

While the league used the personnel grouping on about two thirds of offensive snaps, the Rams were still an outlier, using it a league-high 90% of snaps, according to Sharp Football.

They’ve used five offensive groupings in two seasons under McVay, while Chicago, New Orleans and Baltimore have used more than 30, according to Next Gen Stats.

“It’s a balance,” said McVay. “You’ve got to have an identity and you want to figure out what’s the best way to get your best players on the field, but then also, what are the best ways that you can try to create conflict for the defense?”

The Rams were on pace to become the first team in a decade to have three receivers with 1,000-yard seasons when Kupp suffered a knee injury in Week 10. Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks both went to catch at least 80 passes for 1,200 yards and five touchdowns.

“It’s about the players,” McVay said. “We feel like we got a lot of production. But you also want to make sure that you’re versatile enough not to be predictable and get stagnant.”

Kupp took part in non-contact drills during offseason workouts and was cleared to join the team at the beginning of training camp.

Todd Gurley’s knee might pose a longer-term issue. The running back led the NFL in touchdowns the last two seasons, despite missing the last two games of the regular season with a knee injury.

Gurley, who became the highest-paid running back in NFL history last summer, had averaged 23 touches per game under McVay. After returning to the lineup in January, his workload was halved to 11 touches per game in the three playoff games.

Gurley was not on the field with the team during offseason workouts, opting instead for his own training plan.

“Our goal is to get him ready to go for camp,” McVay said.

Gurley’s trainer, Travelle Gaines, told CBS Sports’ Dave Richard in June that the running back is managing an “arthritic component to his knee,” stemming from the injury that ended his Georgia career.

Gurley, who is not expected to take the field in the preseason, has downplayed the injury.

“I had bigger problems to worry about coming out of college,” Gurley said. “This is small.”

But the Rams made sure to build depth at the running back position in the offseason. They matched a restricted free-agent offer from Detroit for Gurley’s backup, Malcolm Brown, and drafted the explosive Darrell Henderson from Memphis in the third round.

“His explosiveness, his hands, his smoothness, his quickness are all really good,” Goff said of Henderson. “You can see why we liked him.”

One year after giving Gurley a $60 million contract extension, the Rams are on the cusp of giving Goff an extension that would make him one of the highest paid players in the NFL. The deal is expected to surpass the four-year, $128 million extension Philadelphia gave to quarterback Carson Wentz in June.

McVay, the quarterback guru who has yet to draft a player at the position, said the Rams intend Goff to be their quarterback “for a long time.”

“With what Jared’s done over the last couple years, you can’t argue with the production and how good we feel about him being our quarterback,” McVay said.

After two offseasons muddied by contract negotiations, the Rams have been boosted in the offseason by the sight of two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.

“To have Aaron here really helps,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillip said. “He’s such a hard worker and a great example, great players influence other players.”

Together the Rams will attempt to “wipe the slate clean,” McVay said, and continue to build on their recent winning culture.

“I think you want to learn from the past, you want to be able to take some of the things that we learned that help us sustain a certain level of success,” McVay said. “Not lose sight of those things, but understand that you have to earn it every single day.

“I think our players will take that approach. We’ve got to produce right now. That’s the biggest thing.”

Omar Ruiz@OmarDRuiz
#Rams GM Les Snead says “it’s not a matter of if, but when” on a contract extension for QB Jared Goff.

—

from https://www.therams.com/news/quotes-notes-rams-vets-give-their-thoughts-as-they-check-in-for-2019-training-ca

“It makes it really easy. Just going out there and working, practicing, and in games — I know where the ball is going to be every single time.”
— WR Robert Woods
Woods is entering his third season with quarterback Jared Goff, and the number reflect their strong chemistry.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Aaron Donald’s workload will depend on “how much he’s wrecking things” in practice.

McVay said if he’s dominating too much, he’ll be standing on the sideline

==

Rams DT Aaron Donald arrives at training camp. And I would already be low-key scared if I were a QB. pic.twitter.com/Pntd26bMip

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) July 26, 2019

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
I was never able to crack Les Snead’s contract situation. I believe his/Fisher’s deals both were up after 2016. Fisher got a 2-year extension but the length of Snead’s extension was never reported. If Snead’s was for 2 years, he should have been up after last season but…

…I was told multiple times that 2018 was *not* the last year of Les’ deal. Which means a) his 2016 extension was for more years than Fisher, which is revealing about the Rams’ mindset at the time, or b) something else got worked out between 2016-18 (maybe when Sean got hired).

==

Sando: https://theathletic.com/1094216/2019/07/25/sando-what-i-liked-and-didnt-like-about-2019-quarterback-tiers/

Respect for Goff

The Los Angeles Rams’ Jared Goff was not universally loved as a prospect coming out of college. His first NFL season was a disaster, and some wondered if he could recover. Now that Goff is succeeding, it’s easy to shift credit to coach Sean McVay, running back Todd Gurley and talented wide receivers.

I felt as though voters got it right by placing Goff solidly in the second tier. He does have a hole or two in his game, as the second-tier criteria allow. There are questions about how well he would fare in a less favorable situation. But Goff has proven that when things are right around him, he can produce at an elite level.

It’s good to see voters change their views in light of changing evidence.

from Rams training camp primer: Offseason recap, questions

Cameron DaSilva

Rams training camp primer: Offseason recap, questions and position battles

…

Biggest questions

How healthy will Todd Gurley be?

Sean McVay said this spring that Gurley was going to be ready for camp, getting on the field for the first time all offseason. That’s great news, but how healthy will he really be? Will he be cutting the same as he has? Will he be limited in practice?

Ideally, Gurley will fully participate as he has in the past, but there’s a chance the Rams will bring him along slowly like they did in the spring. They need him as healthy as possible for the regular season and beyond, so keeping him fresh in July and August is definitely a possibility.

Who will emerge to replace Ndamukong Suh?

Suh had a fairly underwhelming regular season in 2018, but that doesn’t mean replacing him will be easy. He’s a former All-Pro and a solid pass rusher from the interior, showing the ability to disrupt quarterbacks from the nose tackle position. Greg Gaines and Sebastian Joseph-Day are the top candidates to fill the void left by Suh, but they’ve played a combined zero snaps in the NFL.

The Rams could be in some trouble if those two players struggle in camp and the preseason because they don’t have much behind them at nose tackle.

Is Micah Kiser the answer at ILB?

Kiser is the top choice to replace Mark Barron, who was released by the Rams and signed with the Steelers this offseason. But with zero defensive snaps played last season, Kiser is essentially a rookie. He has the benefit of a year of practice under his belt, yet questions remain about his ability to be a full-time starter.

Bryce Hager and Dakota Allen could compete with Kiser, but expect the second-year Virginia product to emerge as the top choice.

Will Sean McVay make noticeable changes to the offense?
The Rams’ potent offense was shut down by the Bears and Patriots last season, and it’s no coincidence that they attacked McVay’s scheme with the same defensive approach. After one play in Super Bowl LIII, McVay realized the Patriots were using the Bears’ quarters coverage.

It didn’t take Sean McVay long to realize the Patriots took a page from the Bears’ book pic.twitter.com/uTzvDruMgH

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) February 9, 2019

McVay has relied heavily on 11 personnel and deception before the snap, but if teams begin to figure that out, how will he adjust? His inability to change things up in the Super Bowl is a big reason the Rams lost.

Perhaps he’ll utilize more two-tight end sets and put Gurley on the field with Darrell Henderson together. Or maybe Josh Reynolds will earn playing time in four-wide packages, which the Rams rarely used under McVay.

Can Darrell Henderson push Malcolm Brown for RB2 spot?

Henderson is going to get on the field, whether it’s on offense or as a return man. The Rams didn’t draft him in the third round to replace Gurley three years from now. He’ll be utilized as a runner and receiver on offense, which could limit the number of snaps Brown gets.

If Henderson is electric in camp and ripping off long runs the way he did in college, Brown could be pushed down the depth chart to RB3. Brown is still the more reliable and safer choice because of his experience and pass blocking, but it could be hard to keep Henderson off the field.

Will the interior of the O-line hold up?

Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen have big shoes to fill at left guard and center, respectively. Rodger Saffold was worthy of a Pro Bowl selection and John Sullivan was a key part of the offense with his pre-snap reads and chemistry with Jared Goff. Replacing them is no small task, especially considering the lack of experience Noteboom and Allen have.

If the two second-year players can’t hold up inside, the Rams are going to have trouble running up the middle and protecting Goff from interior rushers. When he gets pressure in his face, Goff becomes a different quarterback, which makes solid guard and center play vital to the success of L.A.’s offense.

Which version of Jared Goff will the Rams get in 2019?

We saw two versions of Goff last season: The one who was an MVP candidate before Week 12, and the one who looked somewhat lost late in the season and in Super Bowl LIII. If Goff plays the way he did for the first 11 games of last year, the Rams are going to be in fantastic shape. However, there’s also the possibility that Goff doesn’t improve while under pressure and makes poor decisions like he did against the Patriots and Bears.

Goff’s play will be a massive factor in the Rams’ success this season. Although they’re a very talented team, if he commits silly turnovers or can’t protect the football, things could go awry. The expectation is that he’ll take another step forward, but it’s not a certainty.

How will newcomers fit on defense?

Clay Matthews will play both inside and outside linebacker, likely lining up on the edge more often than he will inside. Eric Weddle will be a starting safety, playing alongside young stud John Johnson. Both veterans should have an impact in 2019, but they’re past their prime and may be in for a decline.

At the very least, Weddle’s leadership and instincts will help the secondary in a big way. He’ll get everyone aligned correctly and put his fellow DBs in the best positions for success. The way he’s able to read an offense is outstanding and will make a big difference in the secondary.

from https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/the-ideas-most-likely-to-be-copied-around-the-nfl-in-2019/

Rams’ Jet Motion

There are a number of things teams around the league could steal from Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, but the most likely is their use of jet motion. The Rams used jet motion on 17 percent of their offensive plays in 2018, per SIS. It’s a motion that serves multiple purposes for the offense from identifying the coverage, to opening the box in the run game, to creating mismatches in the passing game. McVay and the Rams use it in a variety of ways to open up the offense. On the play below, the Rams used the jet motion with Robert Woods to the left on top of play action with the run faked the opposite way. Watch the conflict both the jet motion and play action put on linebacker K.J Wright (especially from the end zone angle), and the opening it gives for a 17-yard pass to Brandin Cooks.

…the motion only reaches max effectiveness if there is something done from it. If the motion was just window dressing on every play, defenses wouldn’t have to worry as much. But the Rams know this and involve the motion into the play more than any team in the league. Last season, the Rams used 11 jet sweep passes and 25 jet sweep rushing attempts, both of which led the league. 11 of those rushing attempts went to Woods, who averaged nine yards per carry on those plays. Woods also had the third-most targets and second-most receptions on plays when he was in motion, behind only Julian Edelman and George Kittle in targets and Edelman in receptions.

We saw smart offensive coaches like Andy Reid in Kansas City and Matt Nagy in Chicago embrace this motion a bit in 2018, but we could be in for an explosion of jet motion across the NFL in 2019.

Sarina@sarina
I am attending *Scout School* for the next few days before @RamsNFL Training Camp starts. Feel free to follow along with me/send questions. I will be sharing some of my highlights throughout my time with the scouts.

All of the Rams scouts do their own “training camp” that is four days long. They watch film, go through what is expected for the season and revisit the fundamentals of the Rams way.

The ‘Rams way’ meaning… what scouts should embrace as in their respective job and what scouts should look for from a prospective player.

GM Les Snead addressed the scouts and said he is often asked, “What is the secret sauce.”
The answer: “Keep the main thing, the main thing: Football”

Speaking to the *We Not Me* mentality, Les Snead went around the room asking each scout, “What have you (The ME within the WE) done to be useful to the team (The WE)?

One scout spoke to John Johnson’s story: The scout who oversaw that region said he spoke to so many people about JJ before the team ultimately drafted him in the 3rd round. He said, “Everyone at Boston College loved JJ.”