LOS ANGELES, Calif — The Rams began their first day of training camp with pads on Monday at Loyola Marymount University and the overall message was growth and making each other better every day from head coach Sean McVay.
“I think the more that you put yourself in those stressful situations, the better equipped you are to be able to handle it and be in those uncomfortable moments and then do the next right thing,” McVay said.
Not just making each other better but doing it the right way was a detail McVay told the team at Saturday’s practice before getting into their two-minute drill, the last drill of that day. Before that, players were seen celebrating after drills, a little too enthusiastically, and it could have contributed to why McVay addressed making each other better the right way.
There was no update surrounding starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has been dealing with a sore back since the start of training camp. He still remains week-to-week, according to McVay, as he enters his fifth season in Los Angeles and 17th year in the NFL.
McVay praised the leadership on the defensive side of the ball in Monday’s practice, mentioning most of their starting front seven. He added that Jared Verse made his presence felt in practice, a great sign on the first day of pads from one of the top front seven in the NFL.
“You definitely felt the energy, the bounce in their step, and they came ready to go,” McVay said.
Kobie Turner said he is “ecstatic” about what this young Rams defense can be and win games this year as one of the team’s leaders. He mentioned that leading this group is what keeps him going as the “head of the snake” of this defense.
“I can’t be slacking; I can’t not be making plays; I can’t not be producing because this team is too talented because we have too much fire,” Turner said.
McVay talked about Turner doing a great job naturally leading going into his third year in the NFL and the overall growth of the defense.
The defense caused havoc on the Rams’ offense, led by Jimmy Garoppolo under center and without their X receiver, Devante Adams. The offense couldn’t find much rhythm, moving the sticks more in the run game, at times, behind some nice cuts from Kyren Williams.
The offense had some bad drops and only a couple of big plays, the biggest being from Stetson Bennett IV, who threaded a pass to Xavier Smith down the right sideline.