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By: Cameron DaSilva | 16 hours ago
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
With a two-day break on Wednesday and Thursday, the first half of training camp is in the books for the Los Angeles Rams. They’ve gone through four practices thus far at UC Irvine, with only three remaining.
There’s been plenty to take away from those practice sessions, from standout players to Todd Gurley’s status, but the top position battles also continue to develop.
There are several spots the Rams still need to sort out, whether it’s with starters or backups. Here’s an update on how those position battles are going so far and who appears to be leading each one.
Inside linebacker
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
All offseason, it’s seemed like Micah Kiser would get the nod at linebacker next to Cory Littleton. Bryce Hager, however, will not go down without a fight. Through four practices, Kiser and Hager have alternated days with the first-team defense. As of now, it seems like they’re fairly close in the competition to replace Mark Barron.
Given his potential, Kiser is still likely the front-runner to win the job, especially based on the way coaches have talked this summer. With an impressive preseason and camp, though, Hager can keep his hopes alive.
At the very least, Hager should make the 53-man roster for his ability on special teams. That by itself gives him a chance to beat out Kiser at some point, even if it’s not in training camp.
As for Dakota Allen and Travin Howard, it’s been a relatively quiet week for them thus far.
Nose tackle
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
This is one of the most important battles of the offseason for Los Angeles. Rookie Greg Gaines and second-year player Sebastian Joseph-Day are fighting it out as viable replacements for Ndamukong Suh, with both providing good potential as run-stuffers in the middle of the line. Coaches talked highly of Gaines after he was drafted and suggested he would be the starter in base packages, but that was before practices began.
Since then, Joseph-Day has garnered most of the attention as a standout player in OTAs and training camp.
“He really had a good offseason,” McVay said of Joseph-Day. “He was one of the guys that really stood out for us. I think he’s really taken a big step from Year 1 to Year 2 with what we’ve seen so far. Certainly when you’re playing in the trenches, putting the pads on is usually the best indicator. But, in terms of a guy who has done what he can control up to this point and putting himself in a position to compete to see a lot of playing time, he’s done that.”
This competition isn’t over yet, of course, as we’re just four days into camp. But based on the way things have gone – Joseph-Day got first-team reps on defense – it looks like the second-year player has the edge over the rookie.
Offensive line
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
It looks like the Rams are settled on Joseph Noteboom at left guard and Brian Allen at center with Austin Blythe remaining at right guard. But the competition on the offensive line goes deeper than just the starters.
The Rams have yet to sort out the backup rotation, which features young players such as Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans and David Edwards.
At swing tackle, it appears Noteboom will be the guy. When Andrew Whitworth got the day off on Monday, it was Noteboom who stepped in at left tackle. In his place at guard, Demby got the nod with the first-team offensive line.
On the second-team, it was Evans and Edwards lining up at each tackle spot, suggesting they’re each No. 3 on the depth chart behind the starters and Noteboom.
Backup running back
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Todd Gurley has gotten every other day off from practice, meaning he’s only been on the field twice in four days. That’s given his backups additional opportunities in practice, providing them extra reps that they would not have otherwise gotten.
As for who’s winning the competition, it’s difficult to say. Darrell Henderson Jr. has had a fantastic first four days of practice, according to those in attendance, and has already received first-team reps on offense.
Malcolm Brown and John Kelly have also gotten reps with the starters, too, so it’s not just the rookie practicing with the first-team offense, while Justin Davis is still in the picture, too.
“Malcolm Brown is a great player. We’ve always felt that Malcolm Brown is a starting-caliber back. When we lost him last year against Detroit, that was a huge loss for us because he does so many valuable things for us. … Darrell Henderson, John Kelly has done some good stuff, Justin Davis. It’s a good chance for those guys, but it’s just great having Malcolm back healthy. He had a good offseason and he’s started off camp the right way.”
Henderson undoubtedly has the greatest potential and has lined up at wide receiver in practice, so it would be great to see him emerge as Gurley’s primary backup. But the reliability of Brown and the comfort the coaches have with him could keep him as RB2.
https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/31/rams-training-camp-position-battles-update-depth-chart/
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
With a two-day break on Wednesday and Thursday, the first half of training camp is in the books for the Los Angeles Rams. They’ve gone through four practices thus far at UC Irvine, with only three remaining.
There’s been plenty to take away from those practice sessions, from standout players to Todd Gurley’s status, but the top position battles also continue to develop.
There are several spots the Rams still need to sort out, whether it’s with starters or backups. Here’s an update on how those position battles are going so far and who appears to be leading each one.
Inside linebacker
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
All offseason, it’s seemed like Micah Kiser would get the nod at linebacker next to Cory Littleton. Bryce Hager, however, will not go down without a fight. Through four practices, Kiser and Hager have alternated days with the first-team defense. As of now, it seems like they’re fairly close in the competition to replace Mark Barron.
Given his potential, Kiser is still likely the front-runner to win the job, especially based on the way coaches have talked this summer. With an impressive preseason and camp, though, Hager can keep his hopes alive.
At the very least, Hager should make the 53-man roster for his ability on special teams. That by itself gives him a chance to beat out Kiser at some point, even if it’s not in training camp.
As for Dakota Allen and Travin Howard, it’s been a relatively quiet week for them thus far.
Nose tackle
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
This is one of the most important battles of the offseason for Los Angeles. Rookie Greg Gaines and second-year player Sebastian Joseph-Day are fighting it out as viable replacements for Ndamukong Suh, with both providing good potential as run-stuffers in the middle of the line. Coaches talked highly of Gaines after he was drafted and suggested he would be the starter in base packages, but that was before practices began.
Since then, Joseph-Day has garnered most of the attention as a standout player in OTAs and training camp.
“He really had a good offseason,” McVay said of Joseph-Day. “He was one of the guys that really stood out for us. I think he’s really taken a big step from Year 1 to Year 2 with what we’ve seen so far. Certainly when you’re playing in the trenches, putting the pads on is usually the best indicator. But, in terms of a guy who has done what he can control up to this point and putting himself in a position to compete to see a lot of playing time, he’s done that.”
This competition isn’t over yet, of course, as we’re just four days into camp. But based on the way things have gone – Joseph-Day got first-team reps on defense – it looks like the second-year player has the edge over the rookie.
Offensive line
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
It looks like the Rams are settled on Joseph Noteboom at left guard and Brian Allen at center with Austin Blythe remaining at right guard. But the competition on the offensive line goes deeper than just the starters.
The Rams have yet to sort out the backup rotation, which features young players such as Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans and David Edwards.
At swing tackle, it appears Noteboom will be the guy. When Andrew Whitworth got the day off on Monday, it was Noteboom who stepped in at left tackle. In his place at guard, Demby got the nod with the first-team offensive line.
On the second-team, it was Evans and Edwards lining up at each tackle spot, suggesting they’re each No. 3 on the depth chart behind the starters and Noteboom.
Backup running back
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Todd Gurley has gotten every other day off from practice, meaning he’s only been on the field twice in four days. That’s given his backups additional opportunities in practice, providing them extra reps that they would not have otherwise gotten.
As for who’s winning the competition, it’s difficult to say. Darrell Henderson Jr. has had a fantastic first four days of practice, according to those in attendance, and has already received first-team reps on offense.
Malcolm Brown and John Kelly have also gotten reps with the starters, too, so it’s not just the rookie practicing with the first-team offense, while Justin Davis is still in the picture, too.
“Malcolm Brown is a great player. We’ve always felt that Malcolm Brown is a starting-caliber back. When we lost him last year against Detroit, that was a huge loss for us because he does so many valuable things for us. … Darrell Henderson, John Kelly has done some good stuff, Justin Davis. It’s a good chance for those guys, but it’s just great having Malcolm back healthy. He had a good offseason and he’s started off camp the right way.”
Henderson undoubtedly has the greatest potential and has lined up at wide receiver in practice, so it would be great to see him emerge as Gurley’s primary backup. But the reliability of Brown and the comfort the coaches have with him could keep him as RB2.
https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/31/rams-training-camp-position-battles-update-depth-chart/
