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Boisterous defensive backs continue to shine at Rams training camp
Rams’ Tavon Austin, left, works with wide receivers coach Eric Yarber during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UCI in Irvine on Monday, July 31, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND
IRVINE — When they’re not slapping hands, encouraging each other and trash-talking receivers, the Rams’ defensive backs are huddled in practice, laughing about a frozen water bottle.
Through three days of training camp at UC Irvine, the Rams’ secondary has made noise on the field as well. The defense clearly has been ahead of the offense, which isn’t atypical for the first week of pass, and on Tuesday, E.J. Gaines returned a Jared Goff tipped pass for a touchdown.
The secondary, not surprisingly, responded with cheers. These guys are happy, because the Rams’ new system, under coordinator Wade Phillips, encourages them to be aggressive and make plays.
“Some defenses are definitely designed for different groups,” Gaines said. “I think Wade’s is designed for the secondary. (Former coordinator) Gregg Williams’ defense was pressure, pressure, pressure, so we had a lot of sacks and our D-line was very productive. This defensive scheme is completely different, so I’m enjoying it, honestly. It’s allowing us to be more free and definitely make plays.”
The Rams added to that collection of potential playmakers during the offseason when they signed cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman to a group that already was fairly deep.
Trumaine Johnson, presumably, is locked into one starting spot, and Robey-Coleman’s main role figures to be as a nickel back. That means, entering camp, the primary competition seems to be between Gaines and Webster for the other starting cornerback job.
The Rams listed Webster, who played under Phillips in Denver, as a projected starter before camp, but Gaines shouldn’t be written off. He has dealt with injury issues, and missed all of the 2015 season, but last year he started 10 games and had 56 tackles.
“There’s not really tension in the room,” Gaines said. “It’s just competition, so everybody is enjoying it.”
That’s noticeable, in an audible sense. Perhaps it’s no surprise, considering that new cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant also brings a lot of energy to the field, and Gaines agreed that the secondary clearly is the loudest of the Rams’ position groups.
“I don’t know why, but it’s normally the defensive line,” Gaines said. “With (former Rams) Will Hayes and Eugene Sims it was just a loud group. But with the new guys that came into the secondary, it’s just the competition and the energy is just crazy in the room. Everybody is enjoying it.
The secondary also periodically gets some “help” from Coach Sean McVay, age 31, who likes to jump into drills and cover receivers and tight ends at times. Asked how he would grade McVay’s cover skills, Gaines laughed loudly and said, “ I’d give him about a 3, and you can tell him I said that.”
Gaines then added, “He’s definitely in tune with the practice. He’s a young guy, like us, and he’s full of energy. All of the coaches are, really, so it’s exciting.”
‘REAL FOOTBALL’
The Rams will practice in full pads on Tuesday for the first time in this camp, but McVay said there will not yet be any periods of “live,” full-tackling practice.
“Now it’s real football,” McVay said. “You want to try to keep guys off the ground. Some of those piles can occur and guys can get hurt, get rolled up on. So we want to try to avoid that but also get it as much like a game-type atmosphere as we can.”
To prepare for the more intense day, McVay gave five veterans the day off Monday: offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan, defensive lineman Dominique Easley and linebacker Connor Barwin. And of course, the holdout of star defensive lineman Aaron Donald reached a third day.
PHILLIPS OUT
Phillips also missed Monday’s practice. McVay said Phillips encountered “a situation that occurred where he needed to be back for his family.” McVay didn’t elaborate, but said Phillips would return to Southern California on Monday evening.
[www.ocregister.com]
Rams’ Tavon Austin, left, works with wide receivers coach Eric Yarber during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UCI in Irvine on Monday, July 31, 2017. (Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND
IRVINE — When they’re not slapping hands, encouraging each other and trash-talking receivers, the Rams’ defensive backs are huddled in practice, laughing about a frozen water bottle.
Through three days of training camp at UC Irvine, the Rams’ secondary has made noise on the field as well. The defense clearly has been ahead of the offense, which isn’t atypical for the first week of pass, and on Tuesday, E.J. Gaines returned a Jared Goff tipped pass for a touchdown.
The secondary, not surprisingly, responded with cheers. These guys are happy, because the Rams’ new system, under coordinator Wade Phillips, encourages them to be aggressive and make plays.
“Some defenses are definitely designed for different groups,” Gaines said. “I think Wade’s is designed for the secondary. (Former coordinator) Gregg Williams’ defense was pressure, pressure, pressure, so we had a lot of sacks and our D-line was very productive. This defensive scheme is completely different, so I’m enjoying it, honestly. It’s allowing us to be more free and definitely make plays.”
The Rams added to that collection of potential playmakers during the offseason when they signed cornerbacks Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman to a group that already was fairly deep.
Trumaine Johnson, presumably, is locked into one starting spot, and Robey-Coleman’s main role figures to be as a nickel back. That means, entering camp, the primary competition seems to be between Gaines and Webster for the other starting cornerback job.
The Rams listed Webster, who played under Phillips in Denver, as a projected starter before camp, but Gaines shouldn’t be written off. He has dealt with injury issues, and missed all of the 2015 season, but last year he started 10 games and had 56 tackles.
“There’s not really tension in the room,” Gaines said. “It’s just competition, so everybody is enjoying it.”
That’s noticeable, in an audible sense. Perhaps it’s no surprise, considering that new cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant also brings a lot of energy to the field, and Gaines agreed that the secondary clearly is the loudest of the Rams’ position groups.
“I don’t know why, but it’s normally the defensive line,” Gaines said. “With (former Rams) Will Hayes and Eugene Sims it was just a loud group. But with the new guys that came into the secondary, it’s just the competition and the energy is just crazy in the room. Everybody is enjoying it.
The secondary also periodically gets some “help” from Coach Sean McVay, age 31, who likes to jump into drills and cover receivers and tight ends at times. Asked how he would grade McVay’s cover skills, Gaines laughed loudly and said, “ I’d give him about a 3, and you can tell him I said that.”
Gaines then added, “He’s definitely in tune with the practice. He’s a young guy, like us, and he’s full of energy. All of the coaches are, really, so it’s exciting.”
‘REAL FOOTBALL’
The Rams will practice in full pads on Tuesday for the first time in this camp, but McVay said there will not yet be any periods of “live,” full-tackling practice.
“Now it’s real football,” McVay said. “You want to try to keep guys off the ground. Some of those piles can occur and guys can get hurt, get rolled up on. So we want to try to avoid that but also get it as much like a game-type atmosphere as we can.”
To prepare for the more intense day, McVay gave five veterans the day off Monday: offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan, defensive lineman Dominique Easley and linebacker Connor Barwin. And of course, the holdout of star defensive lineman Aaron Donald reached a third day.
PHILLIPS OUT
Phillips also missed Monday’s practice. McVay said Phillips encountered “a situation that occurred where he needed to be back for his family.” McVay didn’t elaborate, but said Phillips would return to Southern California on Monday evening.
[www.ocregister.com]
