Los Angeles Rams Training Camp Standouts, One Rookie Shining Above The Rest

Los Angeles Rams Training Camp Standouts, One Rookie Shining Above The Rest

Hey, what’s going on Ramly? Welcome to the Rams skinny here on the LAB Network. We are Los Angeles sports. This is your daily dose of Los Angeles Rams news. Full boore into camp season. I mean, I guess technically camp season is almost done uh in terms of Rams practicing at LMU. Only two days left today and tomorrow. Um, but technically training camp is going on for another three or so weeks as the preseason is just kicking off. Myself or Skinny T has been at Rams camp every single day taking in the sights and sounds. Been a busy busy few weeks, but a ton of fun. U, we haven’t been on here as much as we put up a lot of articles and put up other videos, but between the travel, the driving, and then I’ve also been at USC camp a bunch. You’ve been at Chargers camp, son. It’s just been a whirlwind. So, finally getting on here to kind of recap what we’ve seen and what we’re looking for uh moving into the weekend and into next week. But first and foremost, Skinny T, how are you doing? Doing fantastic, man. Um, you know, we we’ve got so much going on that unfortunately we haven’t had time for this. It’s um just unfortunate because we’ve wanted to record. We’ve tried to, it’s just fallen through. So, we apologize. We’re gonna get We’re gonna get back to a much more normal schedule now that we’re back in football season. We had Chargers Lions on TV. Yeah. Hall of Fame game. It’s back. Yeah, football is back, baby. Um, but yeah, it’s been uh it’s been so fun being out there, but it’s like uh there’s no place to like record because it’s all just that it’s just like the media work room and then there’s no other like room. So, you’d have to be like in a hallway. So, then it’s like, “All right, we’ll wait till we get home.” And then after dealing with traffic from LMU going through the teeth of LA, it’s like, oh, that’s two hours later getting home. And so, um, yeah, it’s been wild. But it’s been fun. It’s been fun. Um, I was at USC fall camp yesterday. You can tell by my Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer here. Got a little sunburn. Um, got nice and toasty out there yesterday morning. And then, uh, you know, it was at Rams Camp before that. You’ll be at Rams Camp today, which is Saturday, and tomorrow, which is Sunday. Um, so make sure to get that SPF on. Um, but yeah, let’s let’s run through it, man. So, uh, I think it’s been a fun camp. Uh, my first time at LMU. I didn’t get to make it last year. You were there last year. Um, but kind of a cool cool little setup they got there. Not as massive as it was in Irvine. A little more um intimate, which is great. Uh, but let’s just talk uh let’s start with injuries, I guess. Right. So, we’ve talked a lot on Stafford. We’ll be very brief on that and then we’ll move on. But I’ll just toss you first. Still week to week. I think the more I kind of thought about that, we talked a lot about, hey, the back, the spine specialist, is there cause for concern? I think the more I thought about it, I’m still like leerary about it, but I feel like McVy changed it to week to week, so he just doesn’t have to get questions every single day. I think it was more like a okay, it’s week to week, so every Monday you can ask me, and other than that, like I don’t want to hear your questions because it’s week to week. Um, just your thoughts, quick thoughts on Stafford. Any update there? Yeah, hardly any update. I mean, basically, that’s where he left it. It’s week to week. uh you know we talked about a spine specialist being uh used by the team to talk about it. So you know what does that rule in? What does that rule out? It does have to do with the spine. Um so it’s it’s not just a a muscle ache. It’s not just a soreness in in the muscles. It has to do with the spine itself uh the skeletal structure of it all. So that’s you know that puts it in into a more concerning context. And you know, I’m looking at um the August 5th, I believe it is, um scrimmage and joint practice with the Cowboys. You know, what’s his involvement with that? That’s kind of when McVey kind of pulls out all the stops, lets uh starters play, uh lets people hit and and and really truly compete. Um and that’s the only time that u anybody gets any idea of who the starters are going to be, what the offense is going to look like. is he going to be involved in in those two practices at all? You know, the Cowboys and then later on uh the Chargers ahead of the preseason games. So, you know, um again, we’re just going to have to kick the kick the can down the road and and see where and and how exactly this is all shaking out. Um you know, they’re always going to say all the positive things on their side. Yeah, of course. That’s kind of where it’s left. Yeah. Sweeping the rug. Uh um I will say this that it’s in line. We’ll kind of be jumping all over the place, but um McVey has obviously raved about Jimmy Garopppolo and and calling him like, “Oh, he’s a starter. We get to have him as a backup.” And you know, I think we all know that we all love Shawn McVey, but we all know he kind of, you know, he’s going to pump his guys up, which is fair, as he should. Um, I think Jimmy overall has had a decent camp, but I will say when I was there on I believe it was Thursday, which would have been the last practice they had, not a good day for Jimmy G overall. Uh, couple of interceptions off, his timing was off. Um, accuracy was off. one practice, not put a ton of stock in it, but as you and I have both said, like if you’re actually having to go into this thing rolling with Jimmy G, like I’m not saying it’s going to be a two- win season, but I don’t think that’s a Super Bowl winning team with him under center. And I’m not going to take one practice to say that, but the body of work has kind of speaks for itself. I do think he can be serviceable. I do think if they need to have him a couple games, they can they can win some games. Um, but if for whatever reason this thing does linger, which I, you know, I hope it does not. Um, but if it’s like, okay, yeah, it’s it’s Jimmy G’s team now moving forward, like not feeling great about the prospects of of where this season can go. Yeah. Yeah, 100%. And and there’s been other there’s been other throws, you know, I’m paying attention to the ones that go outside the numbers and deep down the field, and he just hasn’t been on target on those. Um, and that’s the world you live in with with Jimmy Garopppolo. you know, go go find some uh not safe for work statements by Devonte Adams when they played on the Raiders. Now, I get that was in a different situation uh with the Raiders. Devonte was very unhappy. Um but he let some expeditives fly in the receivers show uh about, you know, problems that have plagued Jimmy Garopppolo throughout his entire career, holding on to the ball too long, making bad decisions. You know, last last year I saw him throw a interception to a defensive lineman. Um, that’s not great. We saw him overthrow uh 22 at Well, now it wasn’t massively overthrown, but it wasn’t on target, you know, and that’s, you know, that’s that’s, you know, the world you live in with a 37 year old quarterback and the world you live in with Jim Jimmer Garopolo under center, you want Stafford back. Um, he’s he’s the best team’s chance. Now, he’s not I don’t think he’s going to be out the entire season. I don’t think anybody’s thinking that. Yeah. Um, but getting off to a fast start, they they don’t have an easy schedule right off the jump. and all all sorts of factors go into that. Installing new offensive schemes, more 12 personnel, different run running backs involved. It’s all in there. Yeah. You know, I I can’t remember if we brought this up earlier in the uh in the off season, but I still am honestly I don’t want to say like upset or angry, but I’m definitely still a little bit perplexed why the Rams did not try to sign Tre Lance. And I know he hasn’t had the season so far or the the career so far. now now is on his what third team after drafted by the Niners, traded to the Cowboys, and now signed with the the Chargers. And we’ve been at Chargers camp a few times. And obviously, I’m sure a lot of people saw the Hall of Fame game yesterday, uh, whatever that was Thursday. And again, you can’t take a lot of stock in a preseason game going up against a bunch of backups, but I think the ceiling of what he could be was worth the signing. Not even saying, not even saying he would have beat out Jimmy Garopppolo, but here we are. We talk consistently about how this team does not have a future plan at quarterback. We have the two first round picks. You’re going to draft a guy. Trey Lance is almost three years younger than Stson Bennett. I mean, he’s still only 25 years old. You could have got him for unbelievably cheap as a free agent. Like, why not bring him in to at least compete in that room? Like, you could have got him probably for almost the same price as what they’re paying Dresser Win to be the fourth QB arm. And here’s a guy that would have pushed and competed. And hey, what if he ends up fitting in the system and doing well? Not saying he’s going to be the guy, but you have a former third overall pick, 25year-old that you’re like, you had a full season to work with that going the next year, you’re not as strong potentially. Now, again, he could crash out. He could who knows? But I mean, it looks like he’s winning the backup job with the Chargers, beating out, you know, the the the rest of their QB room. So, I that’s just another one that’s perplexing that they just felt really good about Jimmy G on a one-year deal and Stson Bennett who’s, you know, his contract’s only two years left and kind of going into this offseason blind. Obviously, I don’t think they knew Stafford’s back would be an issue in the training camp, but I don’t know. I just perplexing to me when you have a potential ceiling of a guy that, you know, hasn’t done anything, but the age and the the draft pedigree is worth a shot in my opinion. Yeah. The impression I get from everything that McVey has said about Garopolo um gives indications about how he views quarterbacks in general. And I just don’t think he wants the headache and the handholding that is involved with a guy like Tre Lance. He didn’t play a lot of football um in college or or in the NFL so far. So, how do you get that guy up to that level? And I just don’t think I don’t think Shawn McVey wants to be in that in that world. Which brings up major questions about drafting a guy. There’s going to be some hand holding. There’s going to be some transition. There always is. Um, so you know, we’ve been talking about the quarterback situation. No plan in place. Jimmy Garopppolo is not the future of the franchise. Maybe a bridge, but I don’t love that bridge. It’s a rickety bridge that I don’t want to walk across. Yeah. So, yeah. I mean, yeah. If any year you were going to hold some hands, this was the year to to hold some hands because he could learn from Stafford. Like, totally. And with Stafford being out, his he’d be getting a lot of reps and Stafford would still be there to be in the film room and and helping kind of being that second arm of the coaching staff. So, um, anyway, we’ll see. I mean, Tre Lance obviously is never going to start and with the Chargers with Justin Herbert there. Uh, but maybe we’ll see a mid-season trade try to go get him and and bring him into the room. But, um, anyway, let’s move on from quarterback. Uh, couple other injury updates. Nothing concerning unless I’m missing something. I don’t think anyone’s had any real serious injuries. Um, but McVey did update on Emanuel Forbes and Cameron Curl. I’ll let you drop that update there. And do you have any concern or you know just normal camp uh bumps and bruises? Yeah, Cam Curl was had his ankle stepped on. Um, that one’s probably the most concerning. Sean there when that happened. Yeah. Yeah. Sean McVey called that one week to week as well. Um, so that one I would keep my eye on. Um, the other one is a soft tissue injury to Emanuel Forbes. Now, the only thing I can say about about this one is that the secondary is probably the weakest unit on the team, depending on who you ask. There’s a few people out there really pumping up the secondary. I’m not one of them. Um, you know, this is a a safety and a a potential starting uh quarterback for the team. Um, so just just something to keep an eye on. And you know, you want the safety room is actually quite interestingly deep. So that’s one I’m less worried about, but how does that affect Quinton Lakes’s ability to move around the field? And that’s what this team loves and relies on heavily. So not terribly concerned. So the soft tissue injury, the hamstring injury to Forbes is, he said about a week, probably next week he’ll be back. So all good news. Yeah. Yeah. Not all bad news, I guess I should say. Yeah. Not all bad news. I think and you know that always gives opportunity for some of the younger guys get some reps. Some of these some of these walk-on players and and you know the rotation is different. You going to see Jaylen McCola out there a little more with the ones at safety and and some different scenarios at cornerback as well with Forbes you know has kind of been slotted as one of those fringe starters. Obviously Aella Witherspoon and Darius Williams are your two outside guys with Quinton Lake kind of playing the star nickel. Um but Forbes is a guy that they are seemingly want to rotate in. um fairly consistently. So, you know, getting him back, they they need that depth with a Kella Witherspoon and Darius Williams. You got 32 years old, Darius Williams and often injured, already been injured, had a sort of a calf strain already in camp for Raquel Witherspoon, so they need they need some depth there. Yeah, 100% 100%. So, it’s a long season. Um so, but at least nothing nothing concerning um with that. So, all right, let’s talk some uh some camp standouts so far, shall we? I’ll let you start. Who do you want to start with with camp standouts and then we’ll end kind of end the show. We’ll wrap up here in like 25 30 minutes or so uh with some kind of rookie updates. Um so let’s we’ll keep the rookies not in this conversation. But who are some camp standouts for you or one and I’ll we’ll go back and forth. You know, I’m going to go with Puna Ford. That’s who I’m going to start with. Just praise across the board from everybody. Um you know, probably the most ausive praise come from a defensive lineman next to him, Kobe Turner. um playing with a buoyancy and a lightness about him and then at the at the podium as well just um so excited about somebody that’s dedicated to run defense on this team and put forward is that um you know this this team was in the 20s in EPA per play in the 20s in um success rate allowing you know just a lot of explosive plays and just a you know good consistent chunk gains as well that have really that really that really plagued them. Um and beat them in the playoffs. You know, go back to those two Saquon Barkley games, you know, that it was, you know, everybody knew you could run on this team and they were the ones that just kept at it and had great success. And obviously Saquon Barkley is who he is, but you know, this guy um Puna Ford being in there being able to stop the run uh just raises the level of this defense. And not only that, it allows them to rotate Kobe Turner off the field. he’s been on the field a ton as a rookie and as a second year. Um, and so he’s going to be able to get us some breathers. He admitted that, you know, that did affect his play uh in his first two years just being gassed sometimes on third downs and those those are money downs. Those are passing downs that you need to be um, you know, your ears pinned back getting to the quarterback. Yeah. No, 100%. Um, and you know, all his teammates are heaping praise. And I think, you know, don’t not to bring up old uh old players, but I think you can see what Bobby Brown was kind of lacking in this situation. And, you know, not trying to take a shot, but obviously the Rams wanted him to be that run first or that run stuffing first mentality. And he was quoted many times even to us personally at LFB that he thought he had talents in other areas. He wanted to be put in other situations for this and Puna Ford is just absolutely embracing like I am here to plug holes. I am here to stop the run and fix what this running game could not do last year which is why this team did not make the Super Bowl essentially because if they could have I mean that last that last run to Saquon is what you know obviously sealed it and if they could have just had any semblance of a run defense in that game they would have gone obviously then to the NFC Championship and it would have had to beat Washington and then go to the Super Bowl. Um, Buuna Forge is embracing that, which I think is is the teammates are loving because, you know, everyone’s going to support their teammates, but like everyone knows they have a specific role, right? Like there’s some guys on every team, they’re like the jack of all trades, do everything. I kind of think of Quinton Lake with that. They’re moving him all over the back end. Um, but some guys know like, okay, this is my role like, and I just need to embrace it and do my job. And Puna Ford is absolutely doing that. his teammates recognize it, the coaches recognize it, and yeah, everyone just I mean that we said it I think when they signed him, this might be one of the most underrated signings of the offseason. And if two weeks of training camp are an indication, it’s certainly living up to that bill for sure. Um, all right. So, I’ll I’ll give mine another free agent signing, somewhat underrated free agent signing that now seems to be really good in training camp at least, and that’s linebacker Nate Landman, the Zimbabwean. from the University of Colorado, played at Atlanta last year. And training camp is hard because there’s no real tackling. It’s all thud or two-hand touch essentially. So, it’s hard to really tell the linebacker position specifically might be the hardest. But if intensity, if volume, if respect from teammates is an indication, Nate Lamman’s having a fantastic camp so far. I mean, he definitely has that leader mentality, has kind of a you can always tell Skinny like certain guys just people like gravitate to. And it seemed like like Omar Spates, I think, is having a good camp, but it feels like already Nate Lamman’s like the guy in that room, like the guy that everyone respects when they’re doing like one-on-one um blocking drills with the running backs. Like he is like the head honcho it seems like of like the running backs. They’re if you can stop him, like you’ve done a good job. Um, and so I think he’s had a fantastic camp and has done, you know, different things within the run game and at different, you know, I think he’s I don’t think his specialty is in coverage, but he has shown some better stuff than the Rams have had in the past at that position. So, we’ll see if it translate to actually gameplay. That’s what’s so hard about Rams camp specifically is it’s even less it’s more tactical, I should say, than uh than others. Uh, but so far, Nate Lambman’s definitely one of my standouts. Yeah. uh you know, similar to Puna Ford, everybody who’s been asked about him has been raving about him. All the beat reporters um are also uh you know, noticing that he’s he’s making some standout plays. Um you know, I’ve noticed that as well when I’ve been out there. I have big question marks, though. I wonder if there’s a it’s being graded on a cr on a a curve. Um you know, is it just that he’s so much better than the linebackers they previously had specifically last year? uh if he’s just so much better than that. Um you know, Quinton Quinton Lake, you know, said he’s he’s always going after the ball. He’s always trying to dislodge that th you know, that’s that’s a great sign. Those are explosive defensive plays. The turnovers specifically if you can force fumbles, that’s great. Um you know, but kind of what you’re pointing to, this is this is just training camp. There’s been two or three padded practices so far. You know, you can only learn so much. And now you see guys when they’re in the right spot versus when they’re in the wrong spot. So, so that’s all good, but the guy lost his job in in Atlanta. They didn’t resign him. Um, you know, he kind of filled in there, you know, and may maybe it’s just a getting up to speed with with football, you know, like you said, he’s he’s a Zimbabwean. Not a ton of of of quality coaches over there. I wouldn’t imagine in in youth football, even if maybe he didn’t even play youth football. Um, so I have my question marks about it and again I’m going to point toward the uh joint practices to see exactly how how that all shakes out. But if it’s an improvement that’s great news. Yeah. Um, so I think you know you know I always think about it um you know people calling for McVeyy’s head you know get rid of Stafford things like that you know it’s like who else is who else are you going to get in there? What other running back or what other linebackers are are out there? Um, so yeah, I’m I’m I’m still on the fence. I’m not I’m not gonna I’m not gonna post it up on either side. Um, but I will give you the guys this big clue. He was wearing a helmet when nobody else was wearing a helmet on defense. So, we know what that means. He’s taking he’s taking the green dot. I don’t know why I pose that as a as a clue. I was going to tell you anyway. He’s wearing the green dot, which is taking which which allows uh Quinton Lake take some stuff off of his plate. So, they’re putting a lot of trust in him, that’s for sure. Give them a lot of praise. Pumping them up. Yeah, they sure are. Um, obviously, we will not see him in the preseason until week one. So, um, but great camp so far. Anyone on, uh, offense you want to highlight? It’s kind of, you know, Yeah, I I’ll just start. I think Jordan Woodington has had a good camp so far. Um, you know, if I’m being honest, at least the one the camps I’ve been to, you can you can correct me if I’m wrong. I feel like as of now he’s kind of taken over that wide receiver three spot from 22 Atwell. I don’t think 22’s had a great camp. Couple drops here and there. Um and just just hasn’t like stood out at all where I think Wittington seems to be almost more trusted especially in goal line situations. Um and he just gives you a little bit more versatility and and Tutu just still for whatever reason hasn’t been able to kind of be that weapon that that everyone wants him to be. and whether it’s play calling or what, but even when they do get him open down the sideline, he hasn’t been able to haul some passes in on some of those deep ones. So, I think Whittington, in my opinion, has really become that wide receiver three. What’s your thoughts on Wington? Yeah, I 100% agree. Um, he’s moving from that he he’s been in kind of a swing sometimes with a second unit, sometimes with the first unit. Um, and just more and more and more with with the first team. And you know, part of the thing when, you know, they’re running 11 personnel, McVey does not like to sub out his receivers. He likes to keep that illusion of of complexity. He likes everything to look the same. Um, you know, so that they there are no tells. Now, when you have a guy that’s 155 to 165 pounds on the field, um, it becomes a bit of a tell. you know, are they going to run, you know, running plays with Tutu Atwell on the field when, you know, they got they they can use, you know, Jordan Whittington on an escort motion like they do they did with Cooper Cup and with Pukuna. Um, that’s a tell. That becomes a tell. Um, so when when Tutu’s on the field, you just kind of cap him, you know, you try to take him away that way. Uh, take a speed away, which is his his his great success. and and winning is much more versatile. Um, you know, McVey commented specifically on his uh his increase in in the route tree and, you know, his ability to be used in the running game, and that’s just disqualifying, which is more and more, you know, Tutu is on a one-year contract. Devonte Adams is on a one one-year contract. Whittington still got two on his on his rookie deal. Mhm. So, I mean, there’s kind of a a mathematics that you can look to and go the the writing’s kind of on the wall. So, it might be a $10 million mistake. Looking like it right now. We’ll see. Um, you know, hopefully we’ll see him more involved. But, um, all right, quick, uh, offensive lineup date before we move on to rookies. Just for those curious, Eric Jackson has been in pads throughout practice, has done some individual work. Sean McVey talked about on Thursday how he’s thrilled that he’s been able to at least be out there and he wants to do as much as he can. Um but obviously has been limited to just individual stuff here and there and so no team activity really and DJ Humphre is taking the bulk of those left tackle reps with David Questenberry subbing in here and there. So um I think that’s the only real offensive lineup. I don’t know if you wanted to add anything to that. No, just I’ll reiterate that, you know, with the blood clotting issue, the problem is if if you take a big hit, um internal bleeding becomes a big problem if you can’t because he’s on blood thinners to get rid of the blood clots. That becomes a a problem and that’s what they’re monitoring. So, he’s he hasn’t been in contact essentially is is where they are and that’s football. I mean, yeah, you’re hitting you’re hitting a lot in football. So, a lot especially on the in the trenches every play. Yeah, exactly. So, you know, keep that in mind going through these joint practices. I doubt he’s gonna I doubt he’s going to compete in those. I doubt he’s obviously he’s not going to be in the preseason games. So, you know, this is going to be a week one kind of revelation decision that they’re going to have to make. Yeah, I know. Not not ideal still now two weeks in camp with your quarterback and your left tackle. Big question marks. And we have seen them make mistakes along the offensive line kind of kicking the can down the road last year with with Jon Jonah Jackson and in years past with Logan Bruss. So it’s you know this team this team the hope the hope is high and sometimes it needs to be brought down to reality and just get a guy in there and DJ Humphre can do it you know. Yeah he’s been a competent starting tackle in the league. Yeah exactly. So that they got lucky that he was still out there available when they when they did sign him not too long ago. So um all right, let’s talk rookies. Let’s start with with start with our guy Turd Ferguson. T Ferg. Um you know, he’s a rookie, right? So some rookies, especially we’ve talked about it before, the tight end position is one of the hardest positions to transition from college to pros. Probably the hardest outside of quarterback. Um just because there’s so much on your plate, so many different things, especially in this Shawn McVey offense. And now they’re running more 12 personnel. that’s going to add some some different nuances to the position. Um, I don’t think he’s had a bad camp by any means, so I don’t want anyone to to mishar me there. Um, as of now, I do think he is kind of further down the depth chart than many thought. I think there was like once he was drafted, everyone’s like, “Oh, it’s it’s the Higgby Ferguson show.” And everyone kind of forgot about Kobe Parkinson and Davis Allen and some of these other guys that are going to be competing for reps. And so far, those three I just mentioned have with Heather Higgby have gotten more run than Terence Ferguson. So whether that’s just catching up to the playbook, getting more involved um or not, that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s not going to be involved this season or whatnot, but just, you know, through two weeks, that’s been my summation is, you know, he’s a little bit more behind than maybe some of the other rookies in terms of breaking through that that ceiling of being that kind of true tight end one. What’s your thoughts on Fergus so far? Yeah, the majority of his first team reps have come on um when Higgby was out when he was on a veteran rest day. Um and you know, I think, you know, in those in those 12 personnel sets, we’re going to see Kobe Parkinson on the field more than Hig Higgby and Ferguson. I mean, I think you’re going to sub in Ferguson for Higgby. Um yeah, just because Kobe Parkinson isn’t the blocking tight end. He’s more the inline tight end. So when Ferguson does get to see the field, it, you know, it’s going to be, you know, slot, split out, maybe wide, uh, wide sets for him because he’s he’s an athletic pass catcher and that’s his greatest uh, skill set so far, developing as a as a blocker for sure. Um, but those are, you know, with going going again back to to uh, Stafford, you got to take care of your 37 year old quarterback. Yep. That’s got to be job that’s got to be job one. So, um, I don’t I I that, you know, it’s similar to what I was saying last year about Blake Quormum. It’s like he can’t be on the field because he can’t he’s not good in pass, bro. So, until until he breaks through on that, I mean, he’s going to he’s, you know, he might he might be on the field for the preseason games. So, yeah, constantly pointing back as a barometer as to who and where people are uh in their development and where they are on the depth chart. Well, I think that’s a great trans transition because that is priority number one, keeping Stafford upright and healthy and a lot of that is reliant on the running back. And you know, you talked a bunch about how Karen Williams, why he was on the field so much, a from his running and catching ability, but also just his pass blocking ability and Blake Corm did not meet that mark last year, which is why it was so hard to get him on the field um so far through camp. And I’ll I’ll kind of pose this in two ways. From what I’ve seen, Blake Cororm still struggling in pass production, at least on one-on-one reps. They do this drill with running back versus linebacker. They kind of set up some trash cans and pick a hole and then, you know, you go one-on-one. Corm clearly still struggling that. And fourth round rookie Jarz Hunter might be the best pass blocker of the running back bunch, including Kyrie Williams. I mean, he has been fantastic in those one-on-one drills. So for me right now, Jarquz Hunter has leapfrogged Blake Corin and there’s been a lot of It’s so funny to me and this is what I love about this business is you see some of the other beat writers and their stories and they’ve really highlighted Blake Corm looks more explosive and his speed between the tackles and this not which he has. I’m not taking anything away from that but that’s not that’s really not what’s going to get him on the field. Like it’s it really comes down to how he is in pass bro because they drafted Jarquest Hunter for the explosion anyway. That was one of his big assets. But if he can also surpass him in pass pass blocking, he’s going to surpass him on the depth chart. And that doesn’t mean Blake Corm won’t play. That doesn’t mean Blake Corm hasn’t had a good camp. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t progressed in his maturation process. But from what I’ve seen, Skinny, I mean, to me, maybe the biggest standout of camp has been Jarz Hunter and what he’s been able to do and his work ethic and the love for the coach staff. Michael Flores talked about how he just always wants the ball in his hands. He almost seems like angry if he doesn’t. He loves that mentality. Um, so I mean this guy I think has been killing it and this guy is the future of the running back room and to me he is already RB2 behind Kairen Williams. What’s your thoughts? I 100% agree that that was my impression as well. Um, you know, going back to some of those quotes, McVey said, “It seems like this guy’s staring a hole through me sometimes.” and and McVey is one of the more intense people you’ll ever come across and he’s kind of getting stared down by this this rookie running back which is just fun and hilarious. Um uh you know and go back to what Lafleur was saying he’s like he puts himself in a lot of uncomfortable positions and he likes that life. That’s the that’s the direct quote. He likes that life. Um so he’s intimidating people. He’s a dog, you know, in that drill. He’s just he, you know, he was putting his body in there, just putting his face in there, not worrying about it, you know, going up against Omar Spates, going up against Landman, you know, he he put on a show. Um, so really excited, really, really excited about what Jarquz Hunter just brings in terms of his mentality just and just being a dog, you know, like I think this offense needs more and more of that and and for as much as Kairen Williams is are are those things like limited within with his size. Same thing with Cororm as well. Yeah, there was a moment on Thursday’s practice um I can’t remember if it was against Spates or Troy Reer, but Blake Corman that one-on-one drill got beat bad. I mean, and he was getting kind of beat bad all day on this drill, unfortunately. Um got beat bad and then there was another running back, I can’t remember if it’s Ronnie Raidge or someone was up next and was was set to go against Nate Landman and the coach swapped him out and said, “No, Shark West Hunter, come basically show him how it’s done.” Like, show him how to do the do it right. and he locked him up and he made it look effortless almost. Um, so that and then we’re just going to keep hearing this down. That is what’s going to get running backs on the field. Like explosion, yes, you need that. Obviously, hold on to the football, don’t fumble, you need that. But how you are in pass blocking is extremely emphasized in this offense and it’s what’s going to separate you from the pack. And so unless something changes drastically, I think Jarqu Hunter is playing himself into a big role in this team. And I hope Blake Corm can as well because he does have some of that explosion. He can run good between the tackles. That’s why they draft him out of Michigan. So I’m not saying he’s like dead in the water. But what we saw last year, the lack of snaps as of now, I don’t know if we’re going to see a huge change of that at least early on. Yeah. I mean, they drafted him because he was so similar uh to Blake Quorum and at this point that doesn’t matter because you got another guy back there. Yeah. Yep. So, um, well, unless you got anything else to add, add, I think we’ll wrap up because you’re going to be heading to camp here fairly soon for another day. Anything else together? Great. Sorry. So, nothing else to add. Great. So, uh, well, we will wrap that up. Little Rams camp update. We’ll have plenty more. Um, obviously two more days left at LMU and then the team heads back to their facility uh, at in Woodland Hills. So, um, keep it right here with the Ram Skinny here on the LA FB network. That’s Skinny T. I’m Ryan Dard. Thank you, Ramley. As always, we’ll have plenty more Rams content up on lfnetwork.com and plenty more videos aside from even shows. We’re doing, you know, sights and sounds and stuff like that up on the Rams LFB YouTube channel. So, make sure to hit that like and subscribe button. Thank you as always. Be well, be safe. We’ll be back with plenty more Rams talk here on the Ram Skin.

The Los Angeles Rams are about to wrap up their Training Camp at LMU this weekend.

Ryan and Skinny T recap how camp has gone thus far. Any concern with any of the injury updates? Who has stood out and who is carving out a role? How have the rookies looked? One rookie is shining above the rest and is trending towards ample playing time.

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Sean McVay is the Los Angeles Rams’ Football Head Coach as the team heads into the 2025 NFL Season, looking to build upon their playoff divisional appearance from one year ago. Matthew Stafford is back at quarterback, and he will lead the Rams throughout the season with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams. Jared Verse and Braden Fiske will look to build upon stellar rookie campaigns on defense for the Rams.

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