- Joined
- Oct 28, 2012
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- Name
- Dale
Long read, fair warning!
Yesterday was my final camp attendance for this year. Here are my thoughts on the players, the facilities and our overall experience along with some photos.
I tried to focus on our DB's and their coverage so that is why you won't see much in the way of receivers catching the ball, there's only one ball and I could only pick on one receiver/DB to follow at a time.
Final Camp Photos
LMU is a nice campus with limited space and that reflected on the limited number of tickets available to the public. We can't thank @Flatlyner and @Bkfld_Rams for sharing their tickets with us. It was very much appreciated. The bleachers face west so we are looking into the afternoon sun which played havoc with my camera (I'm not a pro photographer, not even an amature, just a point and shoot and hope for the best). The main field handled the bulk of the work outs and a baseball diamond behind us was also used for conditioning drills. Now that I think about it, for the three days I was able to attend camp, the Rams never did do any 7x7 as in the past, just 11x11. I think I like that idea, get everyone more opportunities for some plays. Make a note of that for future reference.
I preferred the confines of UCI feeling it was much more fan friendly with plenty of seating and of course the shade provided. Also, it was only five miles from my work (when I as working) and 14 miles from my home. It's a hundred mile round trip up to LMU so UCI spoiled me there.
Who's for real, who's just getting by and who will we be saying goodbye to:
QB's - Stafford, Jimmy G are for real. Jimmy not as good as Stafford but one of the better back up QB's we've had in a long time. Stafford looks ready to play. I don't recall and bad throws from him, his anticipation was spot on. I'm looking for an MVP type season from him.
Stetson Bennet is just getting by. Remember, this is really his rookie year although he did attend camp last year at UCI. He needs some polishing. Some throws were behind the receivers, some fell short, some went to an area where there were no receivers. Again, needs a little more work. Has a good feel for the pocket and can scramble if needed.
Dresser Winn is not a bad QB, just not NFL starting caliber. Is he even back up material? Not really. He has a good arm, not a deep arm but can be accurate. I think his release is a little slow. He's a good depth chart QB.
What will the Rams do with 4 QB's? Stafford is the starter (duh). Jimmy G is the back up except for the first two games where it will be Bennet. Winn goes to the practice squad. After Jimmy G comes back I could see Bennet moving to the practice squad replacing Winn.
WR - Kupp, Pucca, D. Robinson are for real. Great talent here and they all look hungry for the ball. The hard part here is who is WR #4? Tutu? Whittington? X. Smith? Johnson? An argument could be made for each of them but I'm seeing Tutu on the bubble. I beleive Johnson and Smith provide better value than Tutu or Whittington. The only thing I can't judge is their willingness and ability to block in this offense. That may be what separates each of them. This is a wonderful problem to have, to many quality receivers! Stoops, Wiglusz, Lapp won't make the team. I don't really recall seeing Lapp on the field. The other two did get some looks but I didn't see the crisp rout running of a Kupp or the ability to shake defenders to get open. They may be practice squad players but not starters in my opinion.
TE - For real, Parkinson, Allen, Higbee (once back from IR). Long is getting by but could be a numbers casualty. Did not see much of the the others, Forristall, Johnson or Kalinic.
OL - Easily Havenstein, A. Jackson, Avila, Dotson, J. Jackson, Noteboom, Bruss (draft status, make or break year), Limmer (only backup center). The remainder I can't say due to lack of reps when I was there. The only one I think who will not make it is KT Leveston. I sure hope they don't plan on using Z. Thomas at tackle.
RB - K. Williams, Corum, Scott and Rivers are in. Evans could make it on teams otherwise he didn't much opportunity to shine. I hope I'm wrong on this but then who doesn't make it? Rivers or Scott? Just signed Scott so I don't see him being cut.
DL - Turner, Young, Fiske, Verse will be the strength of this defense. Brown will also be in this mix. I made a comment yesterday that AD would not be missed. Seems I received some flack about that. @RamBall summed it up well when he said we all will miss AD but the combined efforts from this front four will be able to make up for the lost production of one player, AD. So it's not that I'm dismissing AD, it's that I don't feel we will have any drop off statistics wise.
DB - I wasn't able to focus on this group as they were being mixed in through out camp. Let's say we know Cam Curl and Kinchens and J. Johnson are solid. All the others I can't really say one way or the other.
LB - Jones and B. Jackson looked good, after that it's hard to say so I won't.
Teams - Karty, Evans and Ward (long snapper) are in. PK Brown is good and will be poached once he is released (Detroit?).
To summarize, this was the best camp I have seen as far as player performance, intensity. The coaching staff knows what they are doing and we are so fortunate to have McVay leading the way. He really sets the expectations and the tone and tempo of these open practices. Thank you for taking the time to read all these reports from @bubbaramfan and my self and we both appreciate the likes and comments provided.
Take care,
VRF (VeteranRamFan)
Yesterday was my final camp attendance for this year. Here are my thoughts on the players, the facilities and our overall experience along with some photos.
I tried to focus on our DB's and their coverage so that is why you won't see much in the way of receivers catching the ball, there's only one ball and I could only pick on one receiver/DB to follow at a time.
Final Camp Photos
LMU is a nice campus with limited space and that reflected on the limited number of tickets available to the public. We can't thank @Flatlyner and @Bkfld_Rams for sharing their tickets with us. It was very much appreciated. The bleachers face west so we are looking into the afternoon sun which played havoc with my camera (I'm not a pro photographer, not even an amature, just a point and shoot and hope for the best). The main field handled the bulk of the work outs and a baseball diamond behind us was also used for conditioning drills. Now that I think about it, for the three days I was able to attend camp, the Rams never did do any 7x7 as in the past, just 11x11. I think I like that idea, get everyone more opportunities for some plays. Make a note of that for future reference.
I preferred the confines of UCI feeling it was much more fan friendly with plenty of seating and of course the shade provided. Also, it was only five miles from my work (when I as working) and 14 miles from my home. It's a hundred mile round trip up to LMU so UCI spoiled me there.
Who's for real, who's just getting by and who will we be saying goodbye to:
QB's - Stafford, Jimmy G are for real. Jimmy not as good as Stafford but one of the better back up QB's we've had in a long time. Stafford looks ready to play. I don't recall and bad throws from him, his anticipation was spot on. I'm looking for an MVP type season from him.
Stetson Bennet is just getting by. Remember, this is really his rookie year although he did attend camp last year at UCI. He needs some polishing. Some throws were behind the receivers, some fell short, some went to an area where there were no receivers. Again, needs a little more work. Has a good feel for the pocket and can scramble if needed.
Dresser Winn is not a bad QB, just not NFL starting caliber. Is he even back up material? Not really. He has a good arm, not a deep arm but can be accurate. I think his release is a little slow. He's a good depth chart QB.
What will the Rams do with 4 QB's? Stafford is the starter (duh). Jimmy G is the back up except for the first two games where it will be Bennet. Winn goes to the practice squad. After Jimmy G comes back I could see Bennet moving to the practice squad replacing Winn.
WR - Kupp, Pucca, D. Robinson are for real. Great talent here and they all look hungry for the ball. The hard part here is who is WR #4? Tutu? Whittington? X. Smith? Johnson? An argument could be made for each of them but I'm seeing Tutu on the bubble. I beleive Johnson and Smith provide better value than Tutu or Whittington. The only thing I can't judge is their willingness and ability to block in this offense. That may be what separates each of them. This is a wonderful problem to have, to many quality receivers! Stoops, Wiglusz, Lapp won't make the team. I don't really recall seeing Lapp on the field. The other two did get some looks but I didn't see the crisp rout running of a Kupp or the ability to shake defenders to get open. They may be practice squad players but not starters in my opinion.
TE - For real, Parkinson, Allen, Higbee (once back from IR). Long is getting by but could be a numbers casualty. Did not see much of the the others, Forristall, Johnson or Kalinic.
OL - Easily Havenstein, A. Jackson, Avila, Dotson, J. Jackson, Noteboom, Bruss (draft status, make or break year), Limmer (only backup center). The remainder I can't say due to lack of reps when I was there. The only one I think who will not make it is KT Leveston. I sure hope they don't plan on using Z. Thomas at tackle.
RB - K. Williams, Corum, Scott and Rivers are in. Evans could make it on teams otherwise he didn't much opportunity to shine. I hope I'm wrong on this but then who doesn't make it? Rivers or Scott? Just signed Scott so I don't see him being cut.
DL - Turner, Young, Fiske, Verse will be the strength of this defense. Brown will also be in this mix. I made a comment yesterday that AD would not be missed. Seems I received some flack about that. @RamBall summed it up well when he said we all will miss AD but the combined efforts from this front four will be able to make up for the lost production of one player, AD. So it's not that I'm dismissing AD, it's that I don't feel we will have any drop off statistics wise.
DB - I wasn't able to focus on this group as they were being mixed in through out camp. Let's say we know Cam Curl and Kinchens and J. Johnson are solid. All the others I can't really say one way or the other.
LB - Jones and B. Jackson looked good, after that it's hard to say so I won't.
Teams - Karty, Evans and Ward (long snapper) are in. PK Brown is good and will be poached once he is released (Detroit?).
To summarize, this was the best camp I have seen as far as player performance, intensity. The coaching staff knows what they are doing and we are so fortunate to have McVay leading the way. He really sets the expectations and the tone and tempo of these open practices. Thank you for taking the time to read all these reports from @bubbaramfan and my self and we both appreciate the likes and comments provided.
Take care,
VRF (VeteranRamFan)
