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In late stretch, Rams will rely on playoff-tested veterans like Andrew Whitworth
On a team lacking much playoff experienced, Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth stands out. He’s made the postseason five of the past six seasons and is a player Coach Sean McVay can lean on to keep teammates from getting over-anxious during key late-season games like Sunday’s against Philadelphia. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
December 6, 2017 at 5:32 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — It’s December, which in the Rams’ locker room typically has represented a time to book that ski lodge or that flight to Cabo San Lucas. Now, all eyes are on something new: the playoffs.
Of the Rams’ 22 offensive and defensive starters, only four – linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan, linebacker Connor Barwin and cornerback Kayvon Webster – have been to the postseason. Now, with the Rams about to embark on a season-defining stretch, it’s time to rely on those guys.
Sunday’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum features two division leaders and the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. It’s uncharted territory for most of the Rams, including their coach, who has been a part of only two playoff games, but it’s nothing to fear, according to their most-veteran player.
“You play this game for these big moments,” said Whitworth, the first-year Ram who made the playoffs six times in 11 seasons with Cincinnati. “The approach is to be excited about them, and not being worried about them. Be excited about those opportunities that you’ve worked a long time for.”
The message from Coach Sean McVay seems to be: don’t change anything. The Rams’ narrow-focus approach has carried them to a 9-3 record and the top of the NFC West, and even though another top team, the 10-2 Eagles, are coming to town, the Rams aren’t attempting to do anything different.
Except they were forced to on Wednesday, because of air quality from the fires in Southern California. The Rams decided to cancel their normal afternoon practice at Cal Lutheran and instead held only their normal morning walk-through practice, which they held at an on-campus gym.
Professional athletes are notorious creatures of habit, but McVay said he didn’t feel concerned about the change in routine, and said he saw it as a positive to get his players some late-season rest.
“Our guys, they just kind of adjust and adapt,” McVay said. “I think we’ve become a mature team as the season has progressed. The goal, at the end of the day, is to make sure our players are as fresh as possible on Sunday. … I think our players will feel fresher.”
Given the unconventional week, McVay might rely on his veteran players more than ever. That starts with Whitworth, who turns 36 next week and has made the playoffs in five of his past six seasons.
The start was a bit bumpy, though. In 2009, Whitworth’s fourth season, the Bengals hadn’t made the playoffs in four years but they got off to a 9-3 start then closed the regular season with three losses in their last four games, and lost their first-round playoff game (and then went 4-12 in 2010).
The obvious lesson is, late-season games are tough, and the Rams will start the final quarter of their season with what seems to be their toughest game, against the well-rounded Eagles.
“Tremendous football team. They’re great in every aspect of the game,” Whitworth said. “Much like the Minnesota game and the Saints game, this is a playoff game. It’s one of those games where, every little tiny play can affect the game, because both teams are that good.”
The pressure increases in December, but it’s a welcome change for a player such as Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who arguably has been the NFL’s top defensive player since his arrival in 2014 but who hasn’t enjoyed much winning until this season.
Now, Donald gets to play in a showcase game against a potent offense, and a division showdown looms next Sunday at Seattle.
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it,” Donald said. “Any time you’re winning, you’re going to feel good about it. We’ve got a lot of good players that are still hungry. We’re not comfortable.”
PLANS CHANGE
There was only a slight smell of smoke in the air at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon, so the Rams intend to have a normal practice on Thursday afternoon. Should the situation get worse, the Rams have contingency plans to practice at USC this week. McVay said no players, coaches or staff members have homes that were impacted by the fires.
SMALL CHANCE
The Rams have a chance this week, albeit a slim one, to clinch their first playoff spot since 2004. The Rams must beat the Eagles, then hope five other games break their way, including two big upsets.
The victorious Rams also would need the following losses: by Atlanta (to New Orleans on Thursday), by Carolina (to Minnesota), by Green Bay (to Cleveland), by Detroit (to Tampa Bay) and by Dallas (to the New York Giants).
ROSTER MOVES, INJURIES
Even though the Rams didn’t practice Wednesday, they were required to issue an injury report. McVay said, if the Rams had practiced, they would have been without Sullivan (rest), Whitworth (rest), Mark Barron (rest), Barwin (arm), Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Robert Woods (shoulder).
McVay said Ogletree, who suffered a hyperextended elbow last Sunday, remains on track to play against the Eagles, and that backup running back Malcolm Brown should return.
The Rams added linebackers Ejuan Price and Cameron Lynch to their practice squad. Price, a seventh-round draft pick in April, was waived from the main roster on Saturday. Lynch played for the Rams in 2015 but was waived in Sept. 2016 and spent time with Tampa Bay.
[www.ocregister.com]
On a team lacking much playoff experienced, Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth stands out. He’s made the postseason five of the past six seasons and is a player Coach Sean McVay can lean on to keep teammates from getting over-anxious during key late-season games like Sunday’s against Philadelphia. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
December 6, 2017 at 5:32 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — It’s December, which in the Rams’ locker room typically has represented a time to book that ski lodge or that flight to Cabo San Lucas. Now, all eyes are on something new: the playoffs.
Of the Rams’ 22 offensive and defensive starters, only four – linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan, linebacker Connor Barwin and cornerback Kayvon Webster – have been to the postseason. Now, with the Rams about to embark on a season-defining stretch, it’s time to rely on those guys.
Sunday’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum features two division leaders and the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. It’s uncharted territory for most of the Rams, including their coach, who has been a part of only two playoff games, but it’s nothing to fear, according to their most-veteran player.
“You play this game for these big moments,” said Whitworth, the first-year Ram who made the playoffs six times in 11 seasons with Cincinnati. “The approach is to be excited about them, and not being worried about them. Be excited about those opportunities that you’ve worked a long time for.”
The message from Coach Sean McVay seems to be: don’t change anything. The Rams’ narrow-focus approach has carried them to a 9-3 record and the top of the NFC West, and even though another top team, the 10-2 Eagles, are coming to town, the Rams aren’t attempting to do anything different.
Except they were forced to on Wednesday, because of air quality from the fires in Southern California. The Rams decided to cancel their normal afternoon practice at Cal Lutheran and instead held only their normal morning walk-through practice, which they held at an on-campus gym.
Professional athletes are notorious creatures of habit, but McVay said he didn’t feel concerned about the change in routine, and said he saw it as a positive to get his players some late-season rest.
“Our guys, they just kind of adjust and adapt,” McVay said. “I think we’ve become a mature team as the season has progressed. The goal, at the end of the day, is to make sure our players are as fresh as possible on Sunday. … I think our players will feel fresher.”
Given the unconventional week, McVay might rely on his veteran players more than ever. That starts with Whitworth, who turns 36 next week and has made the playoffs in five of his past six seasons.
The start was a bit bumpy, though. In 2009, Whitworth’s fourth season, the Bengals hadn’t made the playoffs in four years but they got off to a 9-3 start then closed the regular season with three losses in their last four games, and lost their first-round playoff game (and then went 4-12 in 2010).
The obvious lesson is, late-season games are tough, and the Rams will start the final quarter of their season with what seems to be their toughest game, against the well-rounded Eagles.
“Tremendous football team. They’re great in every aspect of the game,” Whitworth said. “Much like the Minnesota game and the Saints game, this is a playoff game. It’s one of those games where, every little tiny play can affect the game, because both teams are that good.”
The pressure increases in December, but it’s a welcome change for a player such as Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who arguably has been the NFL’s top defensive player since his arrival in 2014 but who hasn’t enjoyed much winning until this season.
Now, Donald gets to play in a showcase game against a potent offense, and a division showdown looms next Sunday at Seattle.
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it,” Donald said. “Any time you’re winning, you’re going to feel good about it. We’ve got a lot of good players that are still hungry. We’re not comfortable.”
PLANS CHANGE
There was only a slight smell of smoke in the air at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon, so the Rams intend to have a normal practice on Thursday afternoon. Should the situation get worse, the Rams have contingency plans to practice at USC this week. McVay said no players, coaches or staff members have homes that were impacted by the fires.
SMALL CHANCE
The Rams have a chance this week, albeit a slim one, to clinch their first playoff spot since 2004. The Rams must beat the Eagles, then hope five other games break their way, including two big upsets.
The victorious Rams also would need the following losses: by Atlanta (to New Orleans on Thursday), by Carolina (to Minnesota), by Green Bay (to Cleveland), by Detroit (to Tampa Bay) and by Dallas (to the New York Giants).
ROSTER MOVES, INJURIES
Even though the Rams didn’t practice Wednesday, they were required to issue an injury report. McVay said, if the Rams had practiced, they would have been without Sullivan (rest), Whitworth (rest), Mark Barron (rest), Barwin (arm), Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Robert Woods (shoulder).
McVay said Ogletree, who suffered a hyperextended elbow last Sunday, remains on track to play against the Eagles, and that backup running back Malcolm Brown should return.
The Rams added linebackers Ejuan Price and Cameron Lynch to their practice squad. Price, a seventh-round draft pick in April, was waived from the main roster on Saturday. Lynch played for the Rams in 2015 but was waived in Sept. 2016 and spent time with Tampa Bay.
[www.ocregister.com]
