CAMP REPORT Sat Aug-11 Camp Thread

[CGI_Ram]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-what-we-learned-20180810-story.html

What we learned in the Rams' 33-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens

Here are the takeaways from the Rams’ preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, a 33-7 loss.

Sean McVay is not taking chances with injuries

Kicker Greg Zuerlein’s back injury notwithstanding, the Rams got through the 2017 season without many key starters suffering major injuries.

Offensive linemen no doubt played through any number of issues, but none sat out games because of them, enabling running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff to flourish.

So McVay is accustomed to working with a healthy roster. He needs one if the Rams are to live up to their lofty expectations.

The Rams appeared to have emerged without any significant injuries after practicing twice with the Ravens. McVay said he had planned all along to rest his starters in the preseason opener.

He stuck to his plan and kept 22 on the sideline.

Sean Mannion needs a fair shot with front-line players

The backup quarterback struggled against the Ravens, completing only three of 13 passes for 16 yards, with an interception. He was sacked twice, and the Ravens deflected several passes at the line of scrimmage.

It was Mannion’s first game since his start against the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale. With starters sitting out to avoid injuries before the playoffs, Mannion completed 20 of 34 passes for 169 yards and was sacked three times in a 34-13 defeat.

Goff, the Rams’ starter, is a rising star coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. There is no quarterback competition. This certainly is not a call for one.

But if McVay truly wants to assess Mannion’s ability to lead in the event of a Goff injury, let him play behind a line anchored by left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Let him hand the ball off and throw screen passes to Gurley. Let’s see if he can accurately deliver the ball to receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks.

Mannion, in the final year of his contract, might struggle in those scenarios as well. But his chances for success — and a realistic evaluation of his capability — are exponentially greater playing with the proven starters.

Offensive line depth could be an issue

Guard Jamon Brown, suspended for the first two regular-season games but eligible to play during the preseason, was the only starter who played on offense.

With Whitworth and starting right tackle Rob Havenstein on the sideline, Darrell Williams and Cornelius Lucas were listed as starters. And the Ravens got constant pressure off the edges.

Rookie Joseph Noteboom said he played a series at right guard but also played tackle. He needs time to mature. He might have to do it quickly.

Adjustment to new rules will take time

Rams players were called for lowering their head twice during a Ravens’ first-half scoring drive.

Safeties Marqui Christian and Blake Countess each drew 15-yard penalties that helped the Ravens move down the field.

All NFL players are getting used to the rule, and officials are aggressively calling it so that players can adjust.

Sitting starters keeps them safe, but it also prevents them from real-time exposure to situations they can learn from before making costly mistakes when games count.

Young linebackers were active

Draft picks Micah Kiser and Trevon Young made six and four tackles, respectively. And undrafted free agent Tegray Scales had five tackles.

Ejuan Price, a seventh-round draft pick in 2017, had a sack.

Lamar Jackson is fun to watch — and difficult to tackle

Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, probably cannot stay out of harm’s way in the NFL if he scrambles like he did in college at Louisville, and as he attempted at times during no-tackle practices with the Rams.

On Thursday night, that didn’t stop Jackson from faking out three would-be tacklers on a nine-yard touchdown run against the Rams.

With Jackson and Robert Griffin III playing well, the Ravens are three-deep at quarterback.

 

[CGI_Ram]

https://www.therams.com/news/reynolds-peterson-undergoing-evaluation-for-injuries

Reynolds, Peterson Undergoing Evaluation for Injuries

Having rested all but two of their starters, the Rams avoided serious injuries to all their front-line players on Thursday night. But there are two key depth pieces still undergoing evaluation.

On a conference call Friday evening, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that wide receiver Josh Reynolds (ankle) and cornerback Kevin Peterson (knee) sustained injuries in the matchup with Baltimore.

“Josh Reynolds had his ankle that we’re waiting to figure out a little bit, whether that’s a sprain and how long that will keep him out,” McVay said. “And then Kevin Peterson kind of tweaked his knee and we’re waiting on the final results from that, as far as when he was coming on a nickel pressure early in the game.”

Safety Blake Countess and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks were shown on Thursday’s telecast being tended to by trainers, but McVay said both should be fine going forward.

Given the heavy nature of injuries throughout the league, McVay did not entirely rule out sitting key starters for the entirety of the preseason. But McVay emphasized his appreciation for the value the teams get from the live competition in preseason games.

One wrinkle in Los Angeles’ decision-making process is that the club will play Oakland next Saturday and in Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 10.

“We talk about taking things a day at a time, and those are things that inevitably you just kind of have a better feel as you accumulate some experience. And certainly some injuries — or hopefully if we avoid them — then you’re able to have those conversations,” McVay said. “But I wouldn’t go that far [to rule some starters out for the entire preseason] yet. But there’s definitely going to be some good dialogue between our coaching staff with regards to how we want to handle, really, this next week, if you will, before leading into that Saturday game. Also, in particular, because that’s the team that we open with, and that adds another layer to it as well.”


https://www.therams.com/news/westbrooks-shows-flashes-in-preseason-week-1

Westbrooks Shows Flashes in Preseason Week 1

On a night when the Rams second and third units could not get much going on the offensive side of the ball, defensive end Ethan Westbrooks certainly made his presence felt, energizing the defense.

Westbrooks, who is not expected to play as a starter in the regular season — assuming defensive end Aaron Donald rejoins the team before games that count — provided a few much-needed plays to slow down Ravens’ rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson showed flashes of athletic excellence, entering the game after starter Joe Flacco’s opening touchdown drive. On his first possession, Jackson scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown run, dropping Rams tackle Tanzel Smart with a smooth cut-back juke late in the first quarter.

Westbrooks responded nicely, doing everything he could to halt Baltimore’s building momentum behind Jackson.

On the first play of the second quarter, Westbrooks shot across the line of scrimmage and wrapped up Jackson’s legs, leading to his first sack of the night.

“I thought it’s always important to do your best just like in any job. Any time you get on the field, you want to do your best,” Westbrooks said of his play Thursday night. “I feel like as long as you’re doing your best, you’re doing what the coaches ask, it is what it is.”

Westbrooks’ continued to do his best, getting to Jackson once again during the following Raven’s drive. On 3rd-and-5, Jackson, who finished with 119 yards passing and 21 yards rushing, darted up the middle of the field attempting to rush for the first down marker. Jackson’s dash fell short at the hand of Westbrooks, who made a nice shoestring tackle just behind the line of scrimmage — a key defensive stop for the Rams.

Over the last four seasons, Westbrooks has carved out a nice spot in L.A.’s defensive line rotation. The former undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M recorded a career-best 4.0 sacks in 2017, and is expected to be a supporting member of an impressive Rams’ front line consisting of defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers, and Aaron Donald.

 

[VeteranRamFan]

I'll be there today. Taking my 12 year old grandson for the first time. I'll have a report or at least pictures to post but it won't be till much later in the evening.

 

[Karate61]

I'm going today too. It's my sons 21st bday, so planning on.a fun day!

 

[OldSchool]

 

[CGI_Ram]

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/08/10/rams-might-sit-starters-for-another-preseason-game/

Rams might sit starters for another preseason game
Lopsided loss to Ravens isn't likely to change cautious approach to exhibitions

The game is football, but there’s some poker involved. Rams coach Sean McVay doesn’t want to tip his hand in the preseason, and he also wants to weigh the odds that, for some teams, end in disaster.

The Rams lost 33-7 to Baltimore in Thursday’s exhibition, a score of no consequence. The preseason is about examining young players and giving starters just enough work to get in game shape. Given the injury risk and intensity of training camp, it’s fair to ask whether veterans need the preseason at all.

McVay said he hasn’t yet considered nixing the entire preseason for his starters. Emphasis should be placed on the word “yet.”

“It’s a really delicate balance,” McVay said in a Friday conference call with reporters, “of measuring the value of getting some experience before that game, but also making sure that you don’t put guys in harm’s way and add the risk of losing them for the season. We don’t ever want to play scared, but you want to balance. How can you do it in a smart way and get guys ready to go?”

It’s clear that McVay is leaning toward pragmatism in the preseason, and not just because of injuries, but if he needed a reminder, Washington running back Derrius Guice tore an ACL in a game Thursday.

Meanwhile, Rams star back Todd Gurley stood on the sideline in casual wear, knee ligaments intact. The Rams chose to keep all but two of their regular starters out of the game, and it showed in the results, as the Rams’ backups got throttled in the first quarter, when the Ravens gave their starters some work.

McVay had no regrets. After the game, he indicated that he might again hold out starters for the Aug. 18 game against Oakland. One with an ear for coach-speak might think the decision already has been made.

“There’s definitely going to be good dialogue between our coaching staff,” McVay said, “with regard to how we want to handle this next week.”

There’s another tricky thing. Two of the Rams’ three final preseason opponents – Oakland and New Orleans – also are regular-season opponents. The gap between the two games against the Raiders is only 23 days, which makes one wonder what the league office was thinking.

Why should McVay – or Oakland coach Jon Gruden – show anything to a soon-to-be opponent? McVay’s play-calling against the Ravens on Thursday was very bland, no doubt by design, and he certainly won’t be apt to open things up against the Raiders.

There is a flip side. While teams practice on a near-daily basis during training camp, most – like the Rams – do not tackle. There is some value in getting players that contact, and getting them into a competitive mindset, before games start to matter. But it’s tough to judge how much that is worth.

Of the 23 other teams that played preseason games on Thursday, 17 gave at least one series to their starting quarterback. Two of the other six, New England and Philadelphia, took injury precautions.

Rams starter Jared Goff did not play Thursday and seemingly might not play against the Raiders. Starters almost never play in the fourth and final preseason game, which means that Goff might only get one game – the third week, against Houston – to face a full-speed defense.

BUMPS AND BRUISES
McVay said receiver Josh Reynolds hurt his ankle and cornerback Kevin Peterson hurt his knee during Thursday’s game, and that the severity of both injuries was still being evaluated.

Players were given Friday off, in large part because the Rams arrived home from Baltimore at approximately 4 a.m. Friday. They will resume training-camp practices at UC Irvine on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Rams’ star of Thursday’s mostly dreadful game might have been rookie running back John Kelly, who didn’t play until the third quarter but finished with 77 rushing yards on 13 attempts, and also caught two passes for 14 yards. That’s 91 yards, more than half of the Rams’ team total of 170.

Kelly, a sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, is listed at 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, and showed impressive physical running and open-field vision. Late in the third quarter, Kelly had the Rams’ biggest play of the game when he cut across the field for a 40-yard run.

“The way that we were able to run our offense,” Kelly said, “I felt like I had the opportunity to make some plays. It was a good first game, I would say.”

 

[Loyal]

In one aspect, it seems that we’re playing scared. Is it because the guys trying to make the squad might hurt one our guys (play too hard)? Otherwise, you never think of injury until it rears it’s head in the regular season, or at least I don’t worry until there’s something to worry about. It used to be that guys did two a days, full tackle practice, and then play in preseason...Maybe that was too much, but Jackie Slater never had a problem with it, when he speaks of it.....

 

[A.J. Hicks]

In one aspect, it seems that we’re playing scared. Is it because the guys trying to make the squad might hurt one our guys (play too hard)? Otherwise, you never think of injury until it rears it’s head in the regular season, or at least I don’t worry until there’s something to worry about. It used to be that guys did two a days, full tackle practice, and then play in preseason...Maybe that was too much, but Jackie Slater never had a problem with it, when he speaks of it.....

It does seem a bit cautious and I really feel there would be a little bit of a different approach if our starting center and left tackle weren't on the back end of their careers.

Hard to put your franchise QB out there with a back up left tackle.

I hope we come into the season oiled and ready and don't have to knock rust off and get our engines going.

 

[hotanez]

I don't see a problem with the Offense because its almost the same group from last year except Cooks and Brown who will be suspended. The defense on the other hand needs reps in my opinion. So many new guys on that side of the ball. Shoot they even sat out a rookie

 

[TexasRam]

i agree Mannion needs to get reps with starters. can’t evaluate him when he’s getting pummeled.

Noteboom and Bemby look like solid depth at tackle not worried about depth at this moment.

Blythe Elrenkamp and Bemby are your interior depth.

 

[jrry32]

i agree Mannion needs to get reps with starters. can’t evaluate him when he’s getting pummeled.

Noteboom and Bemby look like solid depth at tackle not worried about depth at this moment.

Blythe Elrenkamp and Bemby are your interior depth.

We're not going to risk injury to our starters to get Mannion reps. There are plenty of other backup QBs in the NFL who look plenty good with the second team.

 

[ramsince62]

We're not going to risk injury to our starters to get Mannion reps. There are plenty of other backup QBs in the NFL who look plenty good with the second team.

Absolutely, Mannion is in his 4th season and still doesn't look it. Sam Darnold missed 4 days of camp and had an excellent game first time out. He (Mannion) had chances against the two's, the results were much the same.

 

[ramsince62]

I don't see a problem with the Offense because its almost the same group from last year except Cooks and Brown who will be suspended. The defense on the other hand needs reps in my opinion. So many new guys on that side of the ball. Shoot they even sat out a rookie

Unfortunately, teams that don't tackle in practice, usually don't at game time. It's like fighters, they need to get hit a few times to get going. :boxing:

 

[hotanez]

Unfortunately, teams that don't tackle in practice, usually don't at game time. It's like fighters, they need to get hit a few times to get going. :boxing:

exactly why I think the Defense should at least play a series or two

 

[VeteranRamFan]

I’m here with Ryley my grandson and met up with @Karate61 and his son. Pics to follow

 

[VeteranRamFan]

R -L. Me , grandson Ryley, @Karate61 Jeff, Jeff’s son Who turns 21 today.

Yes he had his birthday beer

 

[VeteranRamFan]

No pads today

 

[wolfdogg]

I'd like to see the offense go in game 3 against watt and clowney. Defense too. Id like to see only the defense and for at least a quarter in oakland game.

 

[Loyal]

Mannion vs Half of ROD, is the new Warner vs Bulger...:yess:

 

[Loyal]

See that throw, Sean? It's an NFL throw. A Not For Long throw... ~McVay

View: https://twitter.com/VinnyBonsignore/status/1028423491547160576