Training Camp (FRI Aug-04)

[dolphinlover123]

I don't like the red zone TE fades. They are pretty useless plays.

You take a guy that runs a 4.7 and expect him to get separation in short space. Throw the play out.

I think youre supposed to use your body to shield and create space at the corner of the endzone. Higbee ran out of space. He should have cut a little inside and then back out IMO.

 

[SteezyEndo]

Kurt was busy hugging folks, BUT HE MISSED JACK YOUNGBLOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:redcard:

And Jerry Jones didn't hug Emmitt Smith. Lol

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

Did they have the ceremony already? They aren't televising it here until tomorrow.

.

 

[Loyal]

And Jerry Jones didn't hug Emmitt Smith. Lol

ha! I saw that! Poor Emmitt was expecting a hug back and Jerrah kept moving, lol

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

Kurt was busy hugging folks, BUT HE MISSED JACK YOUNGBLOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:redcard:

I saw him hug Jack.... Jack was the first guy on his left side....

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

I don't like the red zone TE fades. They are pretty useless plays.

You take a guy that runs a 4.7 and expect him to get separation in short space. Throw the play out.

I think you're hoping that with a 6'7 TE he could get a corner on him and play jump ball... on that play it looked like that was Littleton was covering Higbee and just made a solid play..

but we're going to utilize Higbee and Everett's height... .they're are only 2 tall pass catchers too...lol

 

[Merlin]

Just got back traffic was stupid goin up the 15 tonight. So I'm going to throw my notes down here before I forget wtf happened:

* Was great meeting fellow RODers @VeteranRamFan, @bubbaramfan, and @theduke there and talkin some football while watching our team continue its transition into what I pray is a good passing offense.

* Setup there was great. Never did find the water bottles or drinks/food, but you know I damn well found the beer garden and it was cool except for some reason you can't leave the area with your beer. Kind of stupid tbh, but they went down so fast it didn't really matter. I'd like to see more vendors spaced around with water too but they definitely made the entire experience pretty nice with the sun shades.

* Early on I enjoyed watching GZ kick. He was kicking from the 50 on the right hand side field where the posts are very narrow, and it looked from my vantage like most of them were on target or very close. Later on they moved him to the other side where they set up the regular size posts and he was nailing it. Not a surprise or anything based on watching him before, the guy is always impressive in warmups/practice.

* Watched the offensive groups doing their thing pre-scrimmage, and while discussing Kromer and the OL group Bubba and I agreed that there was a lot more teaching going on this year with actual snaps and corrections by the staff vice the standing around and talking. Overall the practice was quick and efficient in that way. At the same time the pass catchers and QBs were doing their thing and of course all looked well since the defense was on the other field.

* Scrimmage started up and right out the gate Higbee had a few drops in a row that were "last year" looking. The first was a pass down the middle that would have been 7 but he couldn't quite bring it in (he got a hand on it but it was placed high and didn't bring it down, would have been a tough catch but still). Second was back of the endzone he should have had, where it was perfectly placed by Goff in his hands and he flubbed it (seemed like the contact coming got into his head). Third was a fade that again Goff put right there and he dropped, man that one was kinda Cook-like tbh.

* That same possession Goff hit both Kupp and Woods in the flat for TDs. Also the play design for that series tended to have the wideouts outside the hashes in their routes for the most part it seemed, with the TEs challenging the middle to back of endzone.

* Then Everett made that catch and as I remarked afterwards no TE on our roster makes that catch last year. He went up and got it with a defender on him then came down with his feet inside the line. NFL catch right there folks.

* The defense on that entire series leading up to the redzone stuff did a great job of smothering guys, but also closing fast and getting hands on the ball to prevent receptions. Saw just about everyone do something good, even Alexander who on the play for a second I was thinking was a CB before realizing he was too damn big. Then of course in between the TDs in the redzone stuff we saw the Joyner pick which was all him and instinct, very nice.

* First team offense overall seems to still be behind the defense, but that said they routinely do good things in protection and passing. What makes it hard is you don't have the hits on the QB. So trying to eye it is objective but I'd say overall yeah, the D is still ahead and I'm not sure if the offense could run the ball on the defense.

* Second team the gap between the D and O is a bit more profound to my eye. Defense clearly has better depth and those guys were firing the F off to the point where I suspect some of the "good" things the O did wouldn't have happened in a real game.

* As Vet mentioned we discussed Hemingway's absence, so not sure if he was dinged up. But it was noticeable that Wilson is gaining some ground based on his snaps, and he looked pretty good. Wilson's not going to stretch the seam or blow by LBs, but damn he's big and he's solid, and I think there is trust building with the staff. Where that goes who knows. But the TEs right now are a very interesting discussion group in terms of who is kept, that's for sure.

* Let's see oh yeah we noticed Thomas running some real hard routes early on, and I didn't realize it was him at first until Bubba let me use his binoculars. I had watched him run routes last year and let's say the difference is so profound that I am still thinking it might not have been him.

* Re the receivers in general: clear starters right now are Woods, Kupp, and Cooper. Woods and Kupp are basically the top two targets hands down. But Cooper looks good too, and is very integrated into this offense right now with Tavon out.

* Goff looks pretty good. I don't think he's anywhere near where he needs to be. But he's dishin the ball quick, it's coming out fast and accurate, and I noticed a couple things that tell me the wideouts and him are getting very good connection. Like when he throws the ball to lead the receiver away from the hit, getting it to the right side/shoulder and the receiver expecting it, etc. We're not going to be subjected to guys running wrong routes, they've moved way beyond that stuff now IMO and the floor has already been raised a bit. One thing I looked for that I didn't see was him showing he could look off defenders, doesn't mean he can't do it or anything but I was hoping to see it.

* Mannion made some nice throws. So did Orlovsky. But again it just seemed like the twos on offense got swarmed.

* Couple unheralded types caught my eye: Shakeir Ryan and the RB who was wearing 37, I was told it was Llorens. I kept thinking he was Brown lol, intriguing kid at the RB position had a nice run. Hard to say how much of the power he showed was real, since they're not going full tackling to the ground but he definitely flashed a couple times to my eye at least.

 

[nighttrain]

great write-up amigo, props to you sir
train

 

[Faceplant]

Thanks very much to all of you who reported. Two things that make me go hmmmmm..

* Is Tavon possibly on the trading block or is he legit hurt. Hmmmm...

* Goff looks slow to me in everything he does. There was one periscope vid of a pass out to the right hash that took 5 seconds for him to get rid of. That's a Sack in a game. Is he slow like this all the time in practice?? He just seems a lil dopey.

 

[rams56]

Thanks for the camp report @Merlin .... fantastic read..... can you elaborate a little on Goff like what he isn't doing yet that you expect he should be able to do?...thanks again.... great job....

Go Rams..... .

 

[JackDRams]

Just got back traffic was stupid goin up the 15 tonight. So I'm going to throw my notes down here before I forget wtf happened:

* Was great meeting fellow RODers @VeteranRamFan, @bubbaramfan, and @theduke there and talkin some football while watching our team continue its transition into what I pray is a good passing offense.

* Setup there was great. Never did find the water bottles or drinks/food, but you know I damn well found the beer garden and it was cool except for some reason you can't leave the area with your beer. Kind of stupid tbh, but they went down so fast it didn't really matter. I'd like to see more vendors spaced around with water too but they definitely made the entire experience pretty nice with the sun shades.

* Early on I enjoyed watching GZ kick. He was kicking from the 50 on the right hand side field where the posts are very narrow, and it looked from my vantage like most of them were on target or very close. Later on they moved him to the other side where they set up the regular size posts and he was nailing it. Not a surprise or anything based on watching him before, the guy is always impressive in warmups/practice.

* Watched the offensive groups doing their thing pre-scrimmage, and while discussing Kromer and the OL group Bubba and I agreed that there was a lot more teaching going on this year with actual snaps and corrections by the staff vice the standing around and talking. Overall the practice was quick and efficient in that way. At the same time the pass catchers and QBs were doing their thing and of course all looked well since the defense was on the other field.

* Scrimmage started up and right out the gate Higbee had a few drops in a row that were "last year" looking. The first was a pass down the middle that would have been 7 but he couldn't quite bring it in (he got a hand on it but it was placed high and didn't bring it down, would have been a tough catch but still). Second was back of the endzone he should have had, where it was perfectly placed by Goff in his hands and he flubbed it (seemed like the contact coming got into his head). Third was a fade that again Goff put right there and he dropped, man that one was kinda Cook-like tbh.

* That same possession Goff hit both Kupp and Woods in the flat for TDs. Also the play design for that series tended to have the wideouts outside the hashes in their routes for the most part it seemed, with the TEs challenging the middle to back of endzone.

* Then Everett made that catch and as I remarked afterwards no TE on our roster makes that catch last year. He went up and got it with a defender on him then came down with his feet inside the line. NFL catch right there folks.

* The defense on that entire series leading up to the redzone stuff did a great job of smothering guys, but also closing fast and getting hands on the ball to prevent receptions. Saw just about everyone do something good, even Alexander who on the play for a second I was thinking was a CB before realizing he was too damn big. Then of course in between the TDs in the redzone stuff we saw the Joyner pick which was all him and instinct, very nice.

* First team offense overall seems to still be behind the defense, but that said they routinely do good things in protection and passing. What makes it hard is you don't have the hits on the QB. So trying to eye it is objective but I'd say overall yeah, the D is still ahead and I'm not sure if the offense could run the ball on the defense.

* Second team the gap between the D and O is a bit more profound to my eye. Defense clearly has better depth and those guys were firing the F off to the point where I suspect some of the "good" things the O did wouldn't have happened in a real game.

* As Vet mentioned we discussed Hemingway's absence, so not sure if he was dinged up. But it was noticeable that Wilson is gaining some ground based on his snaps, and he looked pretty good. Wilson's not going to stretch the seam or blow by LBs, but damn he's big and he's solid, and I think there is trust building with the staff. Where that goes who knows. But the TEs right now are a very interesting discussion group in terms of who is kept, that's for sure.

* Let's see oh yeah we noticed Thomas running some real hard routes early on, and I didn't realize it was him at first until Bubba let me use his binoculars. I had watched him run routes last year and let's say the difference is so profound that I am still thinking it might not have been him.

* Re the receivers in general: clear starters right now are Woods, Kupp, and Cooper. Woods and Kupp are basically the top two targets hands down. But Cooper looks good too, and is very integrated into this offense right now with Tavon out.

* Goff looks pretty good. I don't think he's anywhere near where he needs to be. But he's dishin the ball quick, it's coming out fast and accurate, and I noticed a couple things that tell me the wideouts and him are getting very good connection. Like when he throws the ball to lead the receiver away from the hit, getting it to the right side/shoulder and the receiver expecting it, etc. We're not going to be subjected to guys running wrong routes, they've moved way beyond that stuff now IMO and the floor has already been raised a bit. One thing I looked for that I didn't see was him showing he could look off defenders, doesn't mean he can't do it or anything but I was hoping to see it.

* Mannion made some nice throws. So did Orlovsky. But again it just seemed like the twos on offense got swarmed.

* Couple unheralded types caught my eye: Shakeir Ryan and the RB who was wearing 37, I was told it was Llorens. I kept thinking he was Brown lol, intriguing kid at the RB position had a nice run. Hard to say how much of the power he showed was real, since they're not going full tackling to the ground but he definitely flashed a couple times to my eye at least.

Thanks Merlin. Interesting about Cooper. You state he's in with the first team now, but we hear very little about him. Good to hear he's doing well.

 

[Ram65]

J D Kannon looks very interesting. That bad attitude is carried on to the field. If he gets his head right he could be productive.

 

[VeteranRamFan]

Just got back traffic was stupid goin up the 15 tonight. So I'm going to throw my notes down here before I forget wtf happened:

* Was great meeting fellow RODers @VeteranRamFan, @bubbaramfan, and @theduke there and talkin some football while watching our team continue its transition into what I pray is a good passing offense.

* Setup there was great. Never did find the water bottles or drinks/food, but you know I damn well found the beer garden and it was cool except for some reason you can't leave the area with your beer. Kind of stupid tbh, but they went down so fast it didn't really matter. I'd like to see more vendors spaced around with water too but they definitely made the entire experience pretty nice with the sun shades.

* Early on I enjoyed watching GZ kick. He was kicking from the 50 on the right hand side field where the posts are very narrow, and it looked from my vantage like most of them were on target or very close. Later on they moved him to the other side where they set up the regular size posts and he was nailing it. Not a surprise or anything based on watching him before, the guy is always impressive in warmups/practice.

* Watched the offensive groups doing their thing pre-scrimmage, and while discussing Kromer and the OL group Bubba and I agreed that there was a lot more teaching going on this year with actual snaps and corrections by the staff vice the standing around and talking. Overall the practice was quick and efficient in that way. At the same time the pass catchers and QBs were doing their thing and of course all looked well since the defense was on the other field.

* Scrimmage started up and right out the gate Higbee had a few drops in a row that were "last year" looking. The first was a pass down the middle that would have been 7 but he couldn't quite bring it in (he got a hand on it but it was placed high and didn't bring it down, would have been a tough catch but still). Second was back of the endzone he should have had, where it was perfectly placed by Goff in his hands and he flubbed it (seemed like the contact coming got into his head). Third was a fade that again Goff put right there and he dropped, man that one was kinda Cook-like tbh.

* That same possession Goff hit both Kupp and Woods in the flat for TDs. Also the play design for that series tended to have the wideouts outside the hashes in their routes for the most part it seemed, with the TEs challenging the middle to back of endzone.

* Then Everett made that catch and as I remarked afterwards no TE on our roster makes that catch last year. He went up and got it with a defender on him then came down with his feet inside the line. NFL catch right there folks.

* The defense on that entire series leading up to the redzone stuff did a great job of smothering guys, but also closing fast and getting hands on the ball to prevent receptions. Saw just about everyone do something good, even Alexander who on the play for a second I was thinking was a CB before realizing he was too damn big. Then of course in between the TDs in the redzone stuff we saw the Joyner pick which was all him and instinct, very nice.

* First team offense overall seems to still be behind the defense, but that said they routinely do good things in protection and passing. What makes it hard is you don't have the hits on the QB. So trying to eye it is objective but I'd say overall yeah, the D is still ahead and I'm not sure if the offense could run the ball on the defense.

* Second team the gap between the D and O is a bit more profound to my eye. Defense clearly has better depth and those guys were firing the F off to the point where I suspect some of the "good" things the O did wouldn't have happened in a real game.

* As Vet mentioned we discussed Hemingway's absence, so not sure if he was dinged up. But it was noticeable that Wilson is gaining some ground based on his snaps, and he looked pretty good. Wilson's not going to stretch the seam or blow by LBs, but damn he's big and he's solid, and I think there is trust building with the staff. Where that goes who knows. But the TEs right now are a very interesting discussion group in terms of who is kept, that's for sure.

* Let's see oh yeah we noticed Thomas running some real hard routes early on, and I didn't realize it was him at first until Bubba let me use his binoculars. I had watched him run routes last year and let's say the difference is so profound that I am still thinking it might not have been him.

* Re the receivers in general: clear starters right now are Woods, Kupp, and Cooper. Woods and Kupp are basically the top two targets hands down. But Cooper looks good too, and is very integrated into this offense right now with Tavon out.

* Goff looks pretty good. I don't think he's anywhere near where he needs to be. But he's dishin the ball quick, it's coming out fast and accurate, and I noticed a couple things that tell me the wideouts and him are getting very good connection. Like when he throws the ball to lead the receiver away from the hit, getting it to the right side/shoulder and the receiver expecting it, etc. We're not going to be subjected to guys running wrong routes, they've moved way beyond that stuff now IMO and the floor has already been raised a bit. One thing I looked for that I didn't see was him showing he could look off defenders, doesn't mean he can't do it or anything but I was hoping to see it.

* Mannion made some nice throws. So did Orlovsky. But again it just seemed like the twos on offense got swarmed.

* Couple unheralded types caught my eye: Shakeir Ryan and the RB who was wearing 37, I was told it was Llorens. I kept thinking he was Brown lol, intriguing kid at the RB position had a nice run. Hard to say how much of the power he showed was real, since they're not going full tackling to the ground but he definitely flashed a couple times to my eye at least.

DUDE! How in the heck did you remember all that! That was a great write up!

Great meeting you today, hope we can do it again.

 

[Ram65]

Thanks for the great report.

Second was back of the endzone he should have had, where it was perfectly placed by Goff in his hands and he flubbed it (seemed like the contact coming got into his head).

Different opinions in the thread. I rewatched it many times and it was bang bang. Higs could have used his forearm to get a little separation while moving into the defender then pushed away. That still good defense. Higs seems to be dropping some too.

* Then Everett made that catch and as I remarked afterwards no TE on our roster makes that catch last year. He went up and got it with a defender on him then came down with his feet inside the line. NFL catch right there folks.

Yo Merlin Everett may be more ready than you think.

* Re the receivers in general: clear starters right now are Woods, Kupp, and Cooper. Woods and Kupp are basically the top two targets hands down. But Cooper looks good too, and is very integrated into this offense right now with Tavon out.

Cooper was not getting any love here before camp. I guess he is playing on the outside. Very interesting Thanks again.

 

[ReddingRam]

J D Kannon looks very interesting. That bad attitude is carried on to the field. If he gets his head right he could be productive.

I don't blame them at all for kicking the tires. His speed is something that could really help this offense. It doesn't hurt to see if McVay can get it through his skull that he is only going to get so many chances to prove his worth and talent in this league. Now if they had gambled and spent too much capitol on him, I would not be for it. But coming in as he is now is a no harm-no foul thing.

 

[jrry32]

I think youre supposed to use your body to shield and create space at the corner of the endzone. Higbee ran out of space. He should have cut a little inside and then back out IMO.

This is correct. On a fade (and 9 routes in general), you expect your WR or TE to fight inside to give the QB more room along the sideline to drop the ball in and the WR/TE more room to fade as he tracks the ball. If you straddle the sideline, you're only helping the defense.

 

[ljramsfan]

I didn't even know Josh Reynolds was hurt. How's he been in camp? I have not heard a lot out of him. He must not be doing well??

 

[LACHAMP46]

hmmm

great report @Merlin

 

[Loyal]

I saw him hug Jack.... Jack was the first guy on his left side....

I know... I didn't see it. And I was watching?

 

[Legatron4]

@Badfinger you must be true to your name cause my post wasn't inappropriate.