Bubba and I just arrived. I’ll try to provide updates here as they happen.

I know I'm not the only one who enjoys a good cigar ...so what's in your humidor

Just got my box of Perdoma Lot 23 .

in my humidor now is about 10 Victor Sinclair Double Shot along with a variety of Rocky Patel and only 2 left of the CAO flatheads

1. And… we’re back!

2. While I have a lot to unpack, I’m going to try not to be a Captain Obvious here. You all know that the Rams are thin at OT and CB, and that we’re relying on several young players to make a mark. You don’t need me to tell you that.

3. Instead, I’m going to tell you what my gut says because, perhaps… others might feel the same way (or entirely differently – that would be interesting too).

4. Last year at this time, I was playing the role of the eternal optimist. I predicted a 10 win season and a playoff birth, notwithstanding the collapse of 2022.

5. Does that make me a prophet? Hardly. I just looked at the roster, assessed a reasonable range of outcomes, and predicted the high end. That’s what optimists do.

6. Using the same thought process this year, I am going to predict 12 regular season wins and at least one playoff win. If the Rams can keep the key guys healthy into the postseason, I see no reason why we can’t contend.

7. There are three factors that guide my prognostication. The first is Matthew Stafford. He is healthier today than he was 12 months ago. If healthy, he is the starting QB in the NFC who I trust the most to win games that are decided based on how well the QB plays, particularly in crunch time.

8. The second factor is the depth of our “skill position corps.” Cooper Kupp’s return to health, coupled with the additions of Blake Corum, Boston Scott and Colby Parkinson will allow Sean McVay to do the two things that make his offense work: (a) run the ball, and (b) keep defenses guessing, confused and off balance.

9. The third factor is an OL that could be the best we’ve had in a while. Certainly, the interior looks like it has elite potential. No substitute for a bunch of maulers up front.

10. You’ll notice that I didn’t list the defense. That’s not because I believe our defense will be a liability. Rather, it’s a matter of too much unknown. That said, if Tre White stays healthy, and top picks Jared Verse and Braden Fiske develop as quickly as Byron Young and Kobe Turner did last year, our defense is going to surprise a lot of people.

11. As a footnote to my formula for optimism, I also have hope for the special teams. If Joshua Karty is as good as I think he is, his addition alone could be worth one extra win.

12. I love the pressure cooker that the 49ers have found themselves in. In 2025, they will have 8 current starters to re-sign, not to mention Brock Purdy who will be entering his final year and looking to be paid. If they don’t win it all this year, their current group will go down as one that truly failed to realize its potential. The thought of that just makes me smile.

13. Speaking of signing QBs… crazy numbers for some good, not great, signal callers.

14. If the Rams play their cards right, it will be 6-7 years (2 more years of Stafford, 5 years of a successor on a rookie deal) before they’ll have to face the prospect of paying elite young QB rates.

15. Of course, by then, the going rate may be $100M per year.

16. I continue to have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. Love that football is back and the glimpses of future stars. Hate worrying about injuries and the over-the-top critiques (and fawning) from random observers.

17. From a guy who’s posted thousands of comments on multiple Rams sites, I wanted to give a shout out to the Admin and Mods here at ROD. I can honestly say that this site is the best combination of participation, appropriate moderation, and quality content of any I’ve been on. Kudos.

18. And I know @Loyal is probably loading a well-deserved blue-fonted snark-torpedo to fire at the preceding display of obsequiousness, but that too is one of the great things about this site!

19. I’m feeling pretty content right now. I have the only thing I really need at this time of year: rational hope for unbounded success.

20. Looking forward to the ride!

cameron dasilva
Mon, Jul 29, 2024, 11:00 AM EDT·6 min read


Training camp has been a mix of good and bad for the Los Angeles Rams through the first week of practices. The good is that several players have stood out in a positive way and Matthew Stafford looks like the stud he was in 2023. The bad news is two cornerbacks have gone down with injuries already, testing the depth at that all-important position.

There's still more than a month until the regular season begins and the Rams will only put the pads on for the first time Monday, but they've made steady progress in the first week of training camp. Here are nine takeaways from the first four practices at Loyola Marymount.

1. Cornerback depth already being tested​

Oct 22, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As if it wasn’t bad enough that Derion Kendrick tore his ACL in the first day of practice, Darious Williams then strained his hamstring the very next day on the final play of practice. Williams is considered week-to-week and the Rams won’t rush him back as they keep their eye on the start of the regular season.

It didn’t take long for the Rams to bring another cornerback in to help with the depth, signing Jerry Jacobs last week, while also keeping the door open for another corner to be added at some point soon.

Players such as Cobie Durant and Tre Tomlinson will need to step up with Williams and Kendrick out, while undrafted rookies such as Josh Wallace and Charles Woods could also get more opportunities in the secondary.

2. Jordan Whittington making good first impression​

May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (88) during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Whittington is a sixth-round rookie with an unclear path to playing time at wide receiver, but he must be making a good impression in practice already because he’s gotten first-team reps and received some high praise from Cooper Kupp.

He’s not going to unseat Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp or Demarcus Robinson as a starting wide receiver but it’s possible he’s pulling ahead of Tutu Atwell as the fourth option on the depth chart. He’s a good blocker and a very smart player who could also contribute on special teams as a rookie.

3. Matthew Stafford picked up where he left off in 2023​

May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass during OTAs at the team training facility at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Stafford was throwing the ball as well as any quarterback in the NFL last season, earning MVP consideration from some voters. In the early stages of training camp, it seems he hasn’t missed a beat from the high level he was playing at last season. Teammates have raved about him, McVay has complimented his play and the few highlights shared by the Rams have shown a sharp Stafford zipping the ball around the field.

When healthy, No. 9 is a top-tier quarterback and he’s showing that once again in practice. He makes everyone around him better and his leadership on the field and in the locker room is second to none.

4. A healthy Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua will be dangerous​

May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) talk during OTAs at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
For the first time since 2021, Kupp is enjoying a fully healthy offseason. He was plagued by a hamstring injury last year and never looked 100% healthy, but he’s back to being his usual self this summer, which should yield much-improved results during the regular season.

Pairing a healthy Kupp with a receiver like Nacua is going to make a huge difference for the Rams. They’ve both looked great in camp so far, with Nacua making some particularly impressive catches – including one over Tre’Davious White on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams need both players to stay healthy this season because Kupp and Nacua have the potential to be the best receiving tandem in football.

5. Kamren Curl looks like a free-agent bargain​

Oct 23, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commodes safety Kamren Curl (31) runs onto the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The secondary will have an all-new look this year following an offseason of change, with Curl being one of the many additions to the defensive backfield. He’ll be a starting safety after playing in Washington the last four years and the early returns have been great.

Curl is standing out in practice and reports indicate the staff is thrilled with the job he’s done early on. The Rams are still trying to figure out who will start next to him but either way, Curl looks like he might’ve been a free-agent steal for Los Angeles.

6. Tight ends making an early impact as receivers​

May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (86) wears a Guardian helmet cap during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Tyler Higbee is on the PUP list so he’s not practicing, but Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen are more than picking up the slack. In the first practice of camp, they each made impressive leaping catches, standing out in a big way – quite literally.

They give the Rams two very capable tight ends who can make plays as pass-catchers, with Parkinson being the better blocker of the two. With Parkinson and Allen in the mix, the Rams can take it slowly with Higbee, not feeling the need to rush him back from his torn ACL and MCL.

7. Kyren Williams has no limitations​

May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) looks on during OTAs at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Williams suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss most of OTAs this spring but he’s been a full participant in practice during camp, which is a great sign for the Rams. He doesn’t appear to have any limitations based on McVay’s comments and the coach couldn’t be happier to have No. 23 in the backfield.

As excited as he is about Blake Corum, it’s clear that McVay loves Williams and the impact he has on the offense as a whole.

8. Demarcus Robinson firmly entrenched as WR3​

May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) during OTAs at the team training facility at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Robinson was re-signed this offseason and has been given a chance to compete for the No. 3 receiver spot on the depth chart. There’s little down that’s exactly where he’ll land come Week 1 because he’s been a bright spot in camp.

According to team reporter Stu Jackson, Robinson had a big day on Saturday with a few nice receptions from Stafford.

Robinson hauled back-to-back passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford early on in team drills, then later capitalized on a perfectly thrown ball for a deep touchdown catch. All three receptions were a reminded of the 6-foot-1, 202 receiver's speed and size that made him a valuable target for Stafford over the second half of the 2023 season.

Though Atwell is also competing to be the third receiver, Robinson seems to have the clear advantage in that position battle thus far.

9. Rams will be smart with certain players’ workloads​

Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
There’s more than a month until the regular season begins and the Rams want to ensure their most important players are healthy. When it comes to the defense, they’re going to be smart with the workloads given to several proven players, including Ernest Jones, Tre’Davious White and John Johnson III.

They don’t want to push any of those guys too much, which is the wise approach with so much time until Week 1 arrives.

"Just managing his workload,” McVay said of Jones Saturday. “He practiced for the whole beginning. We set up the practice in a manner that was reflective of when we ended up de-loading him towards the latter half, it was to get some other guys in there. You'll see that kind of approach with some guys like him, John Johnson, 'Tre' White and some of our guys up front as well."

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 9 takeaways from Rams' first week of training camp

Yes, there will be a TC report tonight, almost wasn't, had to get the RV to the shop, anyway that got done.
Rumor is pads go on today. I will post that as soon as I know. No VFR pics today, he had family comitment
so I gotta do this one on my own.

Didn't see this so hope it's not old. Our running attack with Kyren and Blake has the chance to be special

This stuff get's me so fired up. And the banter between Blake and Verse was priceless.

Login to view embedded media

Great read.

The objective of this competition is to get as many snaps from your team as possible.

All entrants must name 11 offensive players and 11 defensive players from the Rams’ 2024 roster.

Of these, a maximum of three on each side of the ball can be from the “first team” lineups on the official Rams depth chart.

The entry with the most snaps at the end of the regular season wins ROD Credits, with the prize to be determined by the number of entrants.

All snap counts will be as given by www.pro-football-reference.com.

The depth chart will be taken from www.therams.com at 12:00 Sunday 1st September.

Entries close at 12:00 Sunday 8th September.

During the course of the season, injuries happen. So each entrant is allowed one transfer to be made at any point during the season.

No further transfers will be allowed, so if your entry picks up a second injury after you have made your transfer, you’ve simply been unlucky.

The playoffs do not count.

All times are PDT.

I am just disgusted with the Dutch NOC allowing a convicted child rapist to participate in these games.

Sorry this is so late. It was a long day yesterday with wonderful weather, great fans to talk to and of course, the beer. A couple of fans even bought Bubba and I a beer! Bubba tried to recruite her to join ROD so lets see what happens. Sandra D you out there?

I got a little involved talking with some of the fans around us so I sort of missed the last 45 minutes or so of practice. BUT!, I did save the best for last in honor of @Selassie I . Check it out!

Camp Pics Sat 7-27

Shocked they are +3000.
Little $10.00 bet.

Anyone else place money on the Rams this year?

The Rams history is rich with great players and coaches and so it wouldn't do to have 20 statues outside of SoFi, imo. My requirements would be:
*Ultimate Success at SoFi
*HOF worthy player that reached the pinnacle of success in LA, especially during the SoFi era (since this is outside of the greatest stadium in LA and in the World)
* Pick the greatest HC in Rams history. I also attach the HC success at SoFi.

You don't have to use my criteria, but it's just my idea that the two statues should represent founding pillars of Rams success in their second go around In Los Angeles.
My Picks:

Ring Me, Aaron Freakin Donald

Login to view embedded media View: https://i.imgur.com/7ONujB5.png


HC Sean McVay
Login to view embedded media View: https://i.imgur.com/eWS1iop.png

Heading out soon for today's practice. Hope to find out Darious Williams injury status.
Stay tuned for updates and VFR pics.

What the hell? That was straight up a freak show.

Jeremy Fowler

@JFowlerESPN
·
Follow
Source: Corner Jerry Jacobs plans to sign with the #Rams. Former Lions starter finds a home in the NFC West.

Very excited for our “Dual Kam” backfield! (Shout out to Gandalf!)


One of the players the Washington Commodes let get away is already having a huge summer for his new team.

Said player is safety Kam Curl, now a member of the Los Angeles Rams after signing a two-year deal worth up to $13 million.

The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue summed up Curl’s early showing:

“The Rams generally have a good eye for safeties. Kam Curl, signed in free agency this spring, moves differently than most they have had. His fluidity, obvious handle on the defensive installation to this point and his athleticism stood out against Stafford and the rest of the offense during team drills, and drew some buzz from the scouts in town for their annual summit.”

Click to expand...

This one will sting for Commodes fans.

Curl was arguably the best draft pick of the Ron Rivera era, a seventh-round success story who developed into a standout on the defense that the team couldn’t really afford to lose.

Instead, Curl left (as did Curtis Samuel and Kendall Fuller) while re-signings were on hold amid the tumultuous team ownership situation.

The Commodes moved on by signing Jeremy Chinn. But fans will likely keep a close eye on Curl, a sour point of the free-agency process this year.

(Having trouble with the link)

Getting ready to head out to todays practice. Only scheduled for an hour.
Some reflections on yesterday's practice, almost all 11 on 11 plays were run out of 11 personnel with someone in motion.
Earnest Jones and Boston Scott were invisible, don't recall either on the field yesterday.

Will post notes on todays TC later.

Fun watch here. Brock does a decent enough job on his new podcast, good for him.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/43l7PxoZuBQ?si=T32fSfjZvdKsjOpT

Since my original post about todays camp is going on to four pages, I thought I would post these in a separate thread so as to get lost. Hope that's OK with the MODS.

Pay close attention to the O and D line matchups. We've got some studs on both sides of the ball.

It's late, I'm tired. More to follow tomorrow.

Rams Camp Day 1

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/CharlesRobinson/status/1816556872457158773


Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/CharlesRobinson/status/1816558347317022756

Excerpt:
The Rams coach used to work long, long days at the office—not your average eight-hour workday, not even 12. McVay revealed that he used to work 18-hour days, with the rest left for sleep.

“I used to think it was cool to think you can go 18 hours,” McVay told ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “You know what that is? That’s called being a dumbass.”

I'll get us started here for our camp reports. If anyone wants to add to this please do. X, Instagram, Facebook posts are welcome.

Just to fill you in on how @bubbaramfan and I operate, Bubba is very good at remembering plays and players and is able to translate that into some very good camp reports. During this time, I'm taking a lot of pictures and pointing things out to Bubba that he may have missed. This seems to have worked well for us in the past and I'm sure we'll continue to use this method during this training camp.

Many of you ask us to focus on individual players or groups during practice. This is very difficult and takes a lot of focus as we all tend to want to follow the ball. Trust me when I say we will do our best to showcase the position groups.

Lastly, if you have seen some pics or videos of camp from yesterday, it must have been a VIP/Season ticket holder session for the fans. Notice there is no shade covering over the bleachers and there is only one set of bleachers. A far cry from the fan friendly environment at UCI. I have my theory on why the move to LMU from UCI. Cost. The setup at UCI had to be expensive with the bleacher rentals (there were three sets of bleachers covering two fields at UCI) plus the dorm rooms at UCI were not air conditioned so the team started staying at a local hotel and being bussed to the fields. Another cost. Now everything is being housed at LMU.

We plan on getting there prior to the parking lot being opened to ensure we can get in early enough for a good seat. It's about a 50 mile drive for me and with parking opening at 1:30 and camp ending at 6:30 today, it will be a long, hot day.

I'll post some pics from my phone early and hopefully through out the day to give you all some real time updates. After I get home I'll download my pics from my camera and then post them with a link to Google Photos so as not to take up any server space at ROD.

Here's to the start of a great 2024 training camp with my expectation that the Rams win it all this year!

VRF

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1816465219993911398?t=QObk8rdtgPKLLhrWVBMeXw&s=19


I mean, I wish him well.

But, may be sort of a blessing in disguise as awful as that is to say.

Rams training camp: Updates from Day 1 of practice​

Story by Cameron DaSilva


Training camp is officially underway. The Los Angeles Rams kicked things off on Wednesday with their first practice of camp at Loyola Marymount, with Matthew Stafford leading the way fresh off his newly agreed-to contract.

Sean McVay said Tuesday that the Rams have perfect attendance for the start of camp, with every player present and accounted for. They avoided any potential holdout by Stafford by getting an adjusted contract done Tuesday, which is great news for both parties.

Below are live updates from reporters on the ground at LMU for Day 1 of practice.

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/StuJRams/status/1816248913952649498

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/RLAndersonLAFB/status/1816253103664181526

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/RLAndersonLAFB/status/1816253701201486023

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/AdamGrosbard/status/1816255338112520226

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/JB_Long/status/1816259141289271349

Login to view embedded media View: https://x.com/RLAndersonLAFB/status/1816269657764241599