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A fit and healthy E.J. Gaines makes big plays in Rams training camp
Gary KleinRams cornerback E.J. Gaines is finally unencumbered and free to make plays.
Gaines showed his fitness Monday when he intercepted a Jared Goff pass that tipped off the hands of receiver Pharoh Cooper during a seven-on-seven drill. Gaines grabbed the ball and sprinted toward the end zone.
It was exactly the kind of play new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips expects, Gaines said. Phillips ran the Denver Broncos’ defense the last two seasons and helped them win a Super Bowl.
Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein
It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.
No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.
Camera crews filming HBO’s...
It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.
No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.
Camera crews filming HBO’s...
(Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein)
Now he is competing with Kayvon Webster — who played as a backup under Phillips in Denver — and others to start opposite Trumaine Johnson.
“This is the best I’ve felt since probably my rookie year,” Gaines said. “So I’m just trying to get back into it and not do everything at one time. I think that’s been my problem the last couple years.”
Gaines said he was enjoying the competition and the energetic environment that McVay and his staff have created.
McVay, the NFL’s youngest coach, occasionally jumps into drills to cover receivers.
Asked to rate McVay’s coverage skills, Gaines laughed.
“Man, about a 3, honestly,” he said. “You can tell him I said that too.”
Backfield opportunity
Running back Lance Dunbar, signed in the offseason to be Todd Gurley’s backup, has not practiced because of a knee injury, opening the door for Malcolm Brown, Aaron Green and Justin Davis, an undrafted rookie from USC.
Brown, a third-year pro, played mainly on special teams last season. He rushed for 39 yards and caught three passes.
“He’s kind of got a quiet confidence about himself, where he just goes about his business, very reliable, knows exactly what to do and how to do it and he is a guy that we can depend on,” McVay said, adding, “Malcolm has done a nice job establishing himself as that secondary role.”
Green and Davis have “shown some flashes,” McVay said.
Famous alums
Gary Klein
It comes with the position.
Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.
When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.
Sean Mannion of the Rams did.
In a television interview...
It comes with the position.
Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.
When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.
Sean Mannion of the Rams did.
In a television interview...
(Gary Klein)
McVay’s phone was buzzing Sunday after the Dodgers’ Kyle Farmer hit a walk-off double in his first major league at-bat.
McVay, 31, and Farmer, 26, both played quarterback at Marist School in Atlanta. McVay said he met Farmer at the school’s football camp when the Dodgers player was an eighth-grader and McVay was working as a camp counselor.
McVay led Marist to a state title in 2003. Farmer led Marist to a state title game in 2008.
So former coaches texted McVay with news about Farmer’s game-winning exploits for the Dodgers.
“That’s a cool deal,” McVay said. “They said, ‘It’s nice to see two guys having success in L.A.’
“I said, ‘We haven’t won a game yet. He’s making plays already. So you can say that after we win some games.’ ”
Notes
The Rams on Tuesday will be in full pads for the first time…. Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and linebacker Connor Barwin were among several players held out of drills on Monday. “What’s important for these guys is getting them at their optimum health by Sept. 10,when we open the season,” McVay said. “So, there’s a handful of guys that we want to be careful with…. Mostly it’s just exclusive to some of the veteran players.”
@latimesklein
Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times
A fit and healthy E.J. Gaines makes big plays in Rams training camp
Gary KleinRams cornerback E.J. Gaines is finally unencumbered and free to make plays.
Gaines showed his fitness Monday when he intercepted a Jared Goff pass that tipped off the hands of receiver Pharoh Cooper during a seven-on-seven drill. Gaines grabbed the ball and sprinted toward the end zone.
It was exactly the kind of play new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips expects, Gaines said. Phillips ran the Denver Broncos’ defense the last two seasons and helped them win a Super Bowl.
Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein
It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.
No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.
Camera crews filming HBO’s...
It was one of the most memorable moments from Rams training camp last year: Receivers Kenny Britt and Brian Quick, traversing UC Irvine’s campus in a go-kart, rolled the vehicle and both players fell out.
No one was injured and it appeared there was no property damage.
Camera crews filming HBO’s...
(Lindsey Thiry and Gary Klein)
Now he is competing with Kayvon Webster — who played as a backup under Phillips in Denver — and others to start opposite Trumaine Johnson.
“This is the best I’ve felt since probably my rookie year,” Gaines said. “So I’m just trying to get back into it and not do everything at one time. I think that’s been my problem the last couple years.”
Gaines said he was enjoying the competition and the energetic environment that McVay and his staff have created.
McVay, the NFL’s youngest coach, occasionally jumps into drills to cover receivers.
Asked to rate McVay’s coverage skills, Gaines laughed.
“Man, about a 3, honestly,” he said. “You can tell him I said that too.”
Backfield opportunity
Running back Lance Dunbar, signed in the offseason to be Todd Gurley’s backup, has not practiced because of a knee injury, opening the door for Malcolm Brown, Aaron Green and Justin Davis, an undrafted rookie from USC.
Brown, a third-year pro, played mainly on special teams last season. He rushed for 39 yards and caught three passes.
“He’s kind of got a quiet confidence about himself, where he just goes about his business, very reliable, knows exactly what to do and how to do it and he is a guy that we can depend on,” McVay said, adding, “Malcolm has done a nice job establishing himself as that secondary role.”
Green and Davis have “shown some flashes,” McVay said.
Famous alums
Gary Klein
It comes with the position.
Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.
When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.
Sean Mannion of the Rams did.
In a television interview...
It comes with the position.
Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, and all levels of football, are accustomed to garnering support from fans unhappy with the starter.
When the endorsement comes from a Hall of Fame player, well, the backup takes notice.
Sean Mannion of the Rams did.
In a television interview...
(Gary Klein)
McVay’s phone was buzzing Sunday after the Dodgers’ Kyle Farmer hit a walk-off double in his first major league at-bat.
McVay, 31, and Farmer, 26, both played quarterback at Marist School in Atlanta. McVay said he met Farmer at the school’s football camp when the Dodgers player was an eighth-grader and McVay was working as a camp counselor.
McVay led Marist to a state title in 2003. Farmer led Marist to a state title game in 2008.
So former coaches texted McVay with news about Farmer’s game-winning exploits for the Dodgers.
“That’s a cool deal,” McVay said. “They said, ‘It’s nice to see two guys having success in L.A.’
“I said, ‘We haven’t won a game yet. He’s making plays already. So you can say that after we win some games.’ ”
Notes
The Rams on Tuesday will be in full pads for the first time…. Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth and linebacker Connor Barwin were among several players held out of drills on Monday. “What’s important for these guys is getting them at their optimum health by Sept. 10,when we open the season,” McVay said. “So, there’s a handful of guys that we want to be careful with…. Mostly it’s just exclusive to some of the veteran players.”
@latimesklein
Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times
. Now if EJ hits it out of the park here in TC & all indications that his health has returned then I would be all in for securing this young professional CB for 2018 season. He has a ton to prove here if he can be a starting BCB. If not then there is no hurry.
