Quotes & Notes 7/29: Clay Matthews enjoying his first training camp with L.A.

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https://www.therams.com/news/quotes...ews-enjoying-his-first-training-camp-with-l-a

Quotes & Notes 7/29: Clay Matthews enjoying his first training camp with L.A.

After each media session, Quotes and Notes will bring you what was said, who said it, and what it means for your Los Angeles Rams.

“Ram for life.”
— GM Les Snead

• The Rams signed the franchise’s all-time leading rusher Steven Jackson to a one-day contract on Monday, allowing him to officially retire as a Ram.
• Jackson rushed for 10,138 yards while playing in horns from 2005-2012.
• He had eight consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards rushing, putting him in rarefied air.
• Jackson went on to play two seasons for Atlanta, and one in New England.
• He’s currently No. 18 on the all-time rushing list with 11,438 yards.

“We’ve got a couple guys that we want to be smart with.”
— HC Sean McVay

• While players were in shoulder pads for the first time on Monday, the Rams gave many veterans the day off from practice.
• Head coach Sean McVay noted after the session that it’s usually players who have been in the league for at least seven years who get those veteran rest days — like left tackle Andrew Whitworth, safety Eric Weddle, linebacker Clay Matthews, cornerback Aqib Talib, defensive lineman Michael Brockers, etc.
• Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was also a part of that group, even though he’s entering just his sixth season.
• McVay said those players are slated to be back on the field for Tuesday’s full-pad practice.
• The head coach also noted that the Rams have successfully avoided soft-tissue injuries so far during camp, and that everyone who was out of practice today was scheduled to be.

“We’re counting on big things from Clay Matthews.”
— HC Sean McVay

• Matthews was one of the veterans who received a day off, but with him scheduled to speak to the media on Monday, McVay received a question about the veteran linebacker.
• McVay said the Rams have definitely already benefited from Matthews’ veteran presence.
• While Matthews has positional flexibility based on what he did with Green Bay, the Rams have mainly had him at outside linebacker during practice so far.
• But given his skillset, he could be a wild card in known-passing situations.

“To have a day off like this — I didn’t get many days off in Green Bay.”
— LB Clay Matthews

• Matthews told the media that he appreciates the veteran rest days that the Rams have implemented.
• He mentioned that the Rams may have taken some heat for not playing starters during the preseason last year, but also noted it worked out well for L.A. in the end.
• From what Matthews has observed, he said it feels like the Rams are at the forefront of sports science when it comes to taking care of players’ bodies.

“When you go to a new team, you get to prove yourself all over again.”
— LB Clay Matthews

• Matthews said it’s exciting to him to be in a new spot and to have to demonstrate his value to a new group of teammates and coaches.
• It’s something Matthews hasn’t had to do throughout the course of his career, given that he spent 10 seasons in Green Bay.
• Matthews noted that in some ways, certain things may have gotten a bit stale for him over the course of the last couple years.
• But with the talent around him, new teammates, to learn, and a new system to master, Matthews is excited about what’s ahead.

“Having this thing come full circle, it definitely feels like this is the way it should continue, or should end — however you want to look at it.”
— LB Clay Matthews

• Matthews is a Southern California native, attending Agoura Hills High School and USC.
• He said he’s enjoying being back home now as his career reaches its next stage.
• Matthews also mentioned that when it became clear he wouldn’t return to Green Bay, his goal was to get to the Rams.
• The linebacker feels there was a need for a player like him, but the fact that the club has a good chance to be highly competitive once again was also enticing.

“Those are things that he does naturally because he’s invested in these guys, he wants to help out.”
— HC Sean McVay

• Even on his day off, Whitworth was still involved with his teammates throughout the course of practice.
• Whitworth could be seen taking to the younger players along the offensive line, counseling them between plays.
• McVay said that’s typical of Whitworth, who the head coach has often called one of the best leaders he’s been around.

 

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https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-3-of-2019-rams-training-camp

10 Observations from Day 3 of 2019 Rams training camp

After each training camp practice, senior writer/team insider Myles Simmons will share his top observations from the session. Here are the notes from Monday, July 29.

1) The Rams were in “shells” for Monday afternoon’s practice — meaning shoulder pads with shorts or pants with no leg pads. With that, many of the club’s veteran players like left tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, safety Eric Weddle, cornerback Aqib Talib etc. were given a veterans day off. Head coach Sean McVay said the Rams will have on full pads on Tuesday before Wednesday’s full team day off.

2) Before the special teams portion of practice started, wide receivers JoJo Natson and Austin Proehl were fielding punts from the JUGS machine. Natson was Los Angeles’ primary punt and kick returner at the end of last season, while Proehl was a member of the practice squad.

3) The offense and defense came together for half-field drills early on in practice. During those, wide receiver Cooper Kupp displayed his strong route-running ability — and a strong route concept — with a catch over the middle. Kupp was initially lined up in a stack on the left side with wide receiver Brandin Cooks, made a cut to the inside, and got easy separation to make the catch.

4) Running back Darrell Henderson seems to do something impressive every practice, and on Monday that was making a one-handed grab to pull in a swing pass on a short route to the right side.

5) At the end of the half-field drills, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a deep route down the middle of the field for what would’ve been a touchdown. Reynolds put a double move on the defensive backs and Goff put the ball just within reach of the wideout, who stretched out to make the grab.

6) Running back Todd Gurley received the first play of the first 11-on-11 period with a handoff up the middle. He showed pretty good burst and explosion on the play. With pads on, defenders were fitting but not really popping too much.

7) Outside linebacker Dante Fowler had a couple of impressive periods on Monday afternoon. During the first 11-on-11, he got into the backfield to stop Natson for what would’ve been a loss on an end around to the defense’s right, showing his speed and strength. Then he burst in off the edge on the defense’s left to get a pop on Henderson. His speed really makes a difference

8) Reynolds used his 6-foot-3 frame again in 11-on-11 drills, making a catch from Goff off play action. On an intermediate route over the middle, Reynolds stretched up to make the catch, reeling in what initially looked like it could be an incompletion. That’s an element Reynolds can bring that’s unique in the WRs room.

9) Fowler continued his strong practice with a very athletic interception along the right side of the line of scrimmage in 11-on-11 drills. With the first-team defense going against the second-team offense, Fowler leapt up and picked off a short pass before it could go anywhere.

10) Later in practice, the offense went through a “move the ball” drill with the music turned up loud on the practice field in order to emulate adverse atmospheres on the road. The offense was even going no huddle at times, so the emphasis was clearly on communication.