From the Podium: OC Mike LaFleur and DC Chris Shula on upcoming joint practice with Saints, preseason standouts(Lampkin serving pancakes)clip

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From the Podium: OC Mike LaFleur and DC Chris Shula on upcoming joint practice with Saints, preseason standouts and more​

Aug 13, 2025 at 02:22 PM

Wyatt Miller
Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams have had to adapt to different circumstances recently. From scheduling a last-minute joint practice with the Saints after the Chargers canceled, to navigating quarterback Matthew Stafford's back injury, the coaching staff has had a busy week.
After Wednesday's jog through, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and defensive coordinator Chris Shula spoke with local media about their approach to Thursday's joint practice, preseason standouts and more. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.

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"We're doing our stuff (in the joint practice on Thursday), and it's rules ball right now. We're not necessarily game planning, whether it's a preseason game or an opponent." - Shula​

While the Rams aren't concocting an opponent-specific game plan for either the Saints on Thursday or the Chargers on Saturday, the fact that those two teams played each other in the preseason already means they are watching film from the same game, but on opposite sides of the ball. "It's a challenge, but at the same time, we're not putting a ton of stock into (it)."
The Rams play the Saints in Week 9 this year, which Shula said is always in the back of their minds as they prepare for the joint practice. Still, these practices are an opportunity for players to "try some things" against competition that isn't their own team. Still, they want to perform well, giving them a "heightened level of urgency."

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"(Inside linebacker Pooh Paul Jr. on Saturday) was really good, communicated good, thought he played really hard... Pooh Paul's always been a guy, just talking to a lot of his college coaches and stuff at Ole Miss, when the lights come on, he shines the brightest where he tackles, he runs, he's physical. And when you can play full tackle football with pads on, that's where he's gonna shine the brightest. So I thought he did a really nice job with the green dot, especially for missing the first couple of weeks." - Shula​

Paul made five tackles (four of defense and one on special teams), including three stops (an unsuccessful play for the offense, via PFF), against the Cowboys on Saturday. He relayed plays to the defense and took 34 snaps in what was a successful day for L.A. Shula said he liked how the entire inside linebacker unit looked in that game.

Meanwhile, fellow rookie draft pick Josaiah Stewart has done a "great" job at outside linebacker, Shula said, even picking up his first NFL sack on Saturday. After missing the first few weeks of OTA practice with a hamstring injury, Stewart has shown that "he's physical, he's tough," and Shula has liked the way he's progressed, learning from veterans in his position group.
One of those veterans is reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, who Shula said has diversified his pass rush throughout the offseason program. "In OTAs, training camp, before we got pads on, we're not really bull rushing too much, so it allows him to kind of work some hands, work some edges, work a different array of moves." Expect a more versatile Verse in Year 2.

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"(Offensive lineman Willie Lampkin IV is) a strong, sturdy dude... Sometimes, obviously, the attributes don't get you drafted, but it doesn't matter. You just got to land, and we like what we've seen from him. I thought he had a really good game, I thought he got better as the game went on." - LaFleur​

Lampkin earned the second-highest overall grade (94.1) and run blocking grade (92.2) among all offensive linemen (min 20% snaps played) in the first week of preseason, according to PFF. At just 5-foot-11, 290 pounds, the undrafted rookie out of North Carolina has impressed not just Rams coaches, but a variety of football fans and analysts.



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I know it's Game 1 preseason but i can't remember a rams Center serving pancakes like
this in a while..