Notes and takeaways from first Rams-Raiders joint practice

[Riverumbbq]

By: Cameron DaSilva | 6 hours ago

The Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders held their first of two joint practices on Wednesday in Napa Valley, squaring off ahead of their preseason matchup on Saturday. There were no notable absences for the Rams, though Antonio Brown remains sidelined with frostbite on his feet.

Here are some notes from the first practice of the week, as well as three takeaways.

• There were no notable injuries on the Rams’ side. Samson Ebukam was expected to be held out due to hamstring tightness, while Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was also not participating, according to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic.
• Dakota Allen returned to practice and went through individual drills, at the very least. He’s been nicked up recently.
• Practice did get chippy at one point, but it was nothing out of control. Jared Goff said it wasn’t anything unexpected for a joint practice like this one.
• Blake Bortles seemed to struggle with his accuracy in 7-on-7 drills. He missed a few underneath throws that fell incomplete, forcing them into tight windows.
• Darrell Henderson is listed as the fifth running back on the depth chart, but that’s a non-story. He got work with the second team on Wednesday and has practiced with the starters at times, too. Malcolm Brown was on the field plenty with the first-team offense.

Jared Goff had a great day

The biggest takeaway from Wednesday’s practice was the stellar play of Goff. In the live coverage shown on NFL Network, it didn’t look like Goff missed a single throw. And according to those in attendance at practice, Goff was as sharp as he’s been all offseason.

One of his best plays of the day came on a touchdown pass to Gerald Everett in the back of the end zone. Sean McVay said after practice that it had to be a perfect throw, and it was.

Goff and the offense were sluggish on Saturday and drew the ire of McVay, but the group was much better against the Raiders. That started with the play of Goff, who spread the ball around and was accurate no matter who he targeted.

Coverage was outstanding vs. Raiders WRs

The Rams have high hopes for their secondary this season with a star-studded group of defensive backs. Their coverage ability was on full display Wednesday, locking down Oakland’s wideouts and forcing Derek Carr to check down in 7-on-7 drills – never a good sign for a quarterback.

Carr was seen scrambling and dumping passes off to his running backs throughout the session, rarely pushing the ball downfield because the coverage was so good. Talib picked off Carr’s first pass of practice, too, taking it away on a deep throw.

Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp remain on schedule
Both players were on the field for practice Wednesday, looking like their normal selves against Oakland. Kupp made a nice grab in traffic between a few defenders and was almost sandwiched on the play, but there was no hesitation on his part to come down with the catch.

McVay said after practice that Gurley will probably sit out Thursday’s practice, keeping with the team’s every-other-day plan for the All-Pro back. There haven’t been any setbacks this offseason and he’s looked good every step of the way, but the Rams are still going to manage his workload.


https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/07/nfl-rams-raiders-notes-takeaways-practice/4/

 

[CGI_Ram]

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-the-rams-first-joint-practice-with-the-raiders

10 Observations from the Rams first joint practice with the Raiders

NAPA, Calif. — In the lead up to the first preseason game of the summer, the Rams and Raiders are having a pair of joint practices. With action on two separate fields, here are 10 notes from the session, focusing specifically on the Rams’ offense.

1) After going through individual drills on separate fields, the Rams and Raiders came together for 7-on-7 work. Los Angeles’ offense mainly stuck with short to intermediate routes, with the ball barely hitting the ground from quarterback Jared Goff to the wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs.

2) The offense looked sharp throughout the day, starting with 11-on-11. After head coach Sean McVay said the Rams looked sluggish to begin Saturday’s session with the Chargers, L.A. got things going with a few completions — including an intermediate, play-action pass from Goff to wide receiver Brandin Cooks on the left side. No. 16 threw a strike to No. 12 for what would’ve been a first down on 2nd-and-short.

3) After the second-team offense got a series, the ones were back and executed a strong play. Goff faked a handoff to both a wide receiver on a jet sweep, then the running back in the backfield, had time, and fired to a wide open Cooper Kupp down the left sideline. Goff hit Kupp in stride, allowing the wide receiver to run for what likely would’ve been a long touchdown.

4) In punt return drills, wide receiver JoJo Natson found himself with good blocking for a return up the right seam. The return specialist likely would’ve gotten up the field for 15 to 20 yards given the way everything was set up well.

5) Back in 11-on-11 drills, Los Angeles’ offense set up in the red zone for some more plays. On one, the Rams ran a reverse with Goff handing off to Kupp, who then surreptitiously gave it to fellow WR Robert Woods. The USC product then went down a wide open path on the left side of the field for about a 15-yard touchdown. It was a particularly nice play for the offense.

6) In the same 11-on-11 period, Goff hit Woods in the front-right corner of the end zone with an out-cutting route for a touchdown. Goff’s ball placement was solid, leading Woods to the sideline. And the wideout dragged his feet in bounds to ensure the catch was good — capping a strong segment of practice for the first-team offense.

7) In a later period, Goff kept a play alive by keeping his feet active in the pocket, then rolled to his right and found tight end Gerald Everett in the back of the end zone for an off-schedule touchdown. The connection between Goff and Everett continues to build as the club readies for the 2019 season.

8) During another 11-on-11 segment with the offense closer to midfield, center Brian Allen pulled around to the right on a lead block for running back Todd Gurley. Allen popped Raiders safety Karl Joseph, proving Gurley the needed space to get up the field.

9) Safety Lamarcus Joyner spent his first five years in the league with the Rams, and the now-Raiders nickel corner batted down a pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks on the right side. After, the former teammates embraced and exchanged “good stuff” pleasantries before heading back to their respective huddles.

10) Finally, on a 3rd-and-10 play, the Rams’ offensive line along with running back Todd Gurley picked up a blitz well, giving Goff time to find Woods past the sticks with an intermediate route on the left side. Head coach Sean McVay was fired up about the play, giving low fives to Gurley and members of the OL for the protection.

 

[CGI_Ram]

https://www.therams.com/news/quotes-notes-mcvay-pleased-with-brian-allen-jared-goff

Quotes & Notes 8/7: Sean McVay pleased with Brian Allen and Jared Goff's rapport

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. Here’s what you should know from Wednesday, Aug. 7.

“I think those two have really showed a huge amount of growth together.”
– HC Sean McVay

• McVay has been happy with the development of both Goff and second-year center Brian Allen so far.
• Between what he saw during the blitz periods and other looks presented by the Raiders’ defense, McVay said both players did an “outstanding job” communicating with each other.
• This is good news for the Rams, as Allen is slated to be the team’s starting center according to the unofficial depth chart following John Sullivan’s departure during the offseason.

“He’s continuing to knock that dust off, knock that rust off. I think today really showed that and he looked good.”
– QB Jared Goff

• Cooper Kupp looked like his usual self in Wednesday's joint practice with the Raiders in Napa, Calif.
• The third-year wide receiver connected with Goff on a deep ball down the left sideline that would’ve gone for at least 30 yards during the 11-on-11 portion of practice.
• Kupp also withstood a big hit from two Raiders defenders within that same session, further solidifying how he feels at this stage of the preseason.

“It’s been a slow build, not necessarily a slow build, but it’s been a progressive build, if you will. It’s all still geared towards that opener against the Panthers, but he hasn’t had any sort of setbacks.”
– HC Sean McVay

“I don’t know how I was feeling last year at this point. It’s just another day, another day to come out here and practice, compete, work on what you’ve got to work on, and don’t worry about nobody else."
– RB Todd Gurley II

• Both McVay and Gurley feel good about the plan in place to maintain Gurley’s health leading into the 2019 season.
• McVay said the Rams will stick with the same schedule of giving the three-time First Team All-Pro every other day off and it is “more likely than not” that Gurley will not practice on Thursday.
• Whether Gurley participates or not, he understands the mental reps he gets are still valuable.

 

[Loyal]

Yeah, but we suck CGI..Didn't you get media-wide memo?

 

[Legatron4]

Sean McVay seems to be holding the offense to a higher standard this year. I don’t think he will stand for 3 points again. Sounds like it really motivated him to hold these guys accountable along with himself. It’s scary to think we could be even better this season.

 

[Loyal]

Sean McVay seems to be holding the offense to a higher standard this year. I don’t think he will stand for 3 points again. Sounds like it really motivated him to hold these guys accountable along with himself. It’s scary to think we could be even better this season.

Bruh...~ The Real Legatron

 

[den-the-coach]

The Autumn wind is a Battering Ram, charging for everyone to see!

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1159175265207095300

 

[whitedk57]

View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1159175265207095300

Gurley was so dead-pan when he said that. It was hilarious!

 

[TheBunk]

Considerable difference between the Chargers and the Raiders though. Those mofos can ball.