I think the Rams best positions in their history are Dline, CB, WR and RB. Today does not steer away from that trend with all pro cornerback, Jerry Gray.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/YlGiAQXG-7E


Jerry is currently the defensive backs coach for the Packers.

Building on this thread...


If you could go back in time... and experience any part of history as a fly on the wall - where would you go?

As a fly on the wall, you are simply a safe observer... just watching.

This can be interesting to think about, because while I wouldn’t want to go back and experience WWII, I would find it fascinating to be a fly on the wall to observe and experience this in 1945;

OC Kevin O'Connell talks QBs' development, creating competitive situations

Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell held a video conference with local media Saturday afternoon to discuss what he's worked on with Jared Goff and his potential backup John Wolford, among other important topics. Here are some highlights and key takeaways from that virtual conversation:

"We've worked a lot on his fundamentals."

Asked to describe Jared Goff, O'Connell called the Rams quarterback "incredibly talented" and went into detail on some of the things they've worked on, including Goff's base when he throws a football ("having a more athletic stance and posture through the sequence of the snap").

That the two of them are emphasizing the fundamentals early in training camp isn't a surprise – O'Connell in May mentioned it as one of the ways to help Goff improve upon his performance from the 2019 season.

"I don't worry too much about the experience with John, because I've seen him work already."

For the first time in his Rams tenure, Goff will go into the regular season without a veteran backup unless they sign someone prior to their Sept. 13 season opener against the Cowboys. However, O'Connell expressed confidence that John Wolford could capably fulfill that role when asked about Wolford specifically.

O'Connell's confidence in Wolford is understandable, because although Wolford hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL regular season game, he did spend the 2019 season on the Rams' practice squad and thus has familiarity with the offense.

O'Connell said Wolford will get "a lot" of opportunities to lead a huddle with "maybe some young players, maybe some guys that have been around here that are ready to compete."

"We got a great plan that (head) coach (Sean) McVay's laid out, which will really allow us to do everything we need to do from a competitive standpoint."

Because of the aforementioned unusual training camp and offseason, the evaluation process will look different for the Rams' coaching staff. With no preseason games to evaluate the back-end of the 80-man roster, the coaching staff will have to create competitive situations in practices and through a pair of scrimmages.

Besides the initial 53-man roster, an expanded practice squad from 12 to 16 players due to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will also be impacting those assessments, "so there will be a lot of people fighting for a lot of jobs," according to O'Connell.

O'Connell said "the standard at which we practice and we play on a daily basis around here" will still create a competitive environment.

Rams coaches see no excuses as competition for starting spots gets serious

In a normal year, Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brandon Staley would have spent Saturday evaluating players’ performances in the team’s first exhibition game the night before.

As it is, they were still gearing up for the Rams’ first full-bore, padded practice sessions, which don’t begin until Tuesday.

A year of virtual coaching is about to get real for the Rams staff that must pare down the roster and choose the starters for the season-opening game against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 13.

“You guys can probably hear that I sound like a real coach now,” Staley said from training camp in Thousand Oaks in a Zoom chat with reporters.

Staley’s voice was raspy from yelling on the practice field on the third day of the “ramp up” phase of the pandemic-season training-camp schedule agreed to by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

When the phase featuring offense vs. defense contact drills begins this week, coaches finally will have their best chance to audition players fighting for starting jobs and other roster spots.

Conventional wisdom is that the cancelation of preseason games and inter-team scrimmages will make evaluations more difficult and make it harder for rookies to win jobs.

Staley and O’Connell disagree.

The two young coordinators, hired during the offseason, say the upcoming 16 days of high-speed practice will focus more than usual on competition between players. But maybe not a lot more than Rams practices in any other year under coach Sean McVay.

“I’m 100% confident that we’re going to get the competitive side we need to see, not only to get the guys we’re counting on ready but to really be able to evaluate the younger guys we have fighting to make the roster or the practice squad,” O’Connell said Saturday via Zoom.

The offseason of video-stream meetings and slower start to training camp have allowed more mental training, O’Connell said.

“And now the competition phase comes into play. We’ll lay that out so that, every day, there’s that competitive fire, and guys feeling challenged,” O’Connell said.

Staley said challenging his defensive players won’t be difficult. He looks at who they’ll be practicing against.

“We’re going to have to get as many live looks at these guys against top competition (as we can),” Staley said. “We’re fortunate. If we need to evaluate a player at a secondary position, well, guess what, they have to defend (Rams wide receivers) Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, (Josh) Reynolds, Van (Jefferson), all these guys.”

Draft choices have a chance to win big roles immediately at running back (Cam Akers), wide receiver (Jefferson), linebacker (Terrell Lewis), defensive back (Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller) and kicker (Sam Sloman). Staley said the shorter evaluation period forced by the coronavirus pandemic shouldn’t give rookies any excuses.

“We will have plenty of time to evaluate these players,” Staley said. “This process is exactly how it happens in college football; you don’t have preseason games to evaluate players. If they (rookies) are good enough, they’ll express themselves.”

One break for the nine draft picks and 17 undrafted rookies on the roster is that NFL practice squads have been expanded from 10 to 16 this year, creating more jobs.

Three three weeks before the Sept. 5 deadline to trim active lists to 53, the Rams have 80 players on their roster. One of those is defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, is on the non-football injury list and likely to miss at least part of the season with what is reported to be a cardiovascular condition. Offensive tackle Chandler Brewer opted out of playing this season because he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2018 and is at elevated risk of COVID-19.

Staley can relate to Brewer’s decision. The 37-year-old coordinator had Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was a graduate assistant coach at Northern Illinois. He said Saturday he didn’t consider sitting out this season as a further precaution against the virus.

“I’m fortunate that I’ve been past it for going on 12 years now. I feel confident where I’m at, (with) a clean bill of health and still a relatively young man,” Staley said.

Getting back to normal football practice, he said, “makes you feel alive.”

2020 just keeps on doing 2020 things.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/MatthewCappucci/status/1294759244722581505?s=20

The Conversation Thread - WHO IS SUFFERING FROM COVID HAIRCUTS STILL?!!! - Edition




Just, drop in, drop out... say “hi”... Shit on the place.

Talk about WHATEVER. Have fun, be stupid.

The Goal: Contribute to “a conversation of randomness”

Post Pics. Gifs. Make us laugh.

What are you drinking?

Music?

Eating?

Tomorrow we’ll move this thread to Off-Topic, but for now... It’s Saturday Night!

My Brother in Law and My best Friend Ever.

My Sister was hit over 20 years ago by someone with no car insurance, injured good. He takes her out to dinner 3 4 times a week, helps around the house, big time.I;m disabled because I was hit by a Semi,can":t do much, but I need help he"s here..

He could have left years ago.

Next My Best friend ever died of Colon Cancer took me out of a troubled childhood and years of depression,left millions to the poor.

BTW nothing against anyone but I always like women and a man getting close to me was very very rare.

The biggest move(s) we made this offseason was adding O’Connell and Staley.

That cocktail of young play calling creativity... I don’t know how McVay could surprise us more than he already has... but, he just might with these two.

I can only imagine the white board brainstorming! Stuff these guys will throw at each other.

Exciting!

Rams have 2nd-youngest coaching staff in NFL

The Los Angeles Rams underwent a youth movement on the coaching staff this offseason, bringing in two young coordinators to join Sean McVay. The result? Los Angeles now has the second-youngest coaching staff in the NFL;


Going strictly by head coach and the three coordinator spots (offense, defense and special teams), the average age of the Rams’ coaches is 40.5. That’s older than only the San Francisco 49ers, whose average age on the coaching staff is just 38.

Here’s a look at the ages of the Rams’ coaches, as of Aug. 13.

Head coach: Sean McVay (34)
Offensive coordinator: Kevin O’Connell (35)
Defensive coordinator: Brandon Staley (37)
Special teams coordinator: John Bonamego (56)

The Rams moved on from Wade Phillips this offseason, replacing him with 37-year-old Brandon Staley. That’s a 36-year age difference, while 35-year-old Kevin O’Connell’s arrival also lowers the average age. John Bonamego is the eldest of the bunch at 56, which is 10 years older than the man he’s replacing, John Fassel.

What the Rams’ coaches lack in experience and wisdom they make up for with innovation and creativity. McVay is one of the best young coaches in the NFL, while Staley is viewed as an up-and-comer after spending three years on Vic Fangio’s staffs in Chicago and Denver. O’Connell worked with McVay in Washington and will bring another layer of ideas to the offense.

Behind the Rams in average age are the Titans (average: 42 years old), followed by the Patriots (42.4) and Bengals (43.25).

I'll take this as good news for the Rams.

Continuing the streak on RBs, today we’re going with Wendell Tyler. I have no idea why the video quality is so bad but oh well lol
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/WJwTqHn4E-w

'A scouting nightmare': 2021 NFL draft could see big ripple effects from college football cancellations, postponements

The 2020 NFL draft was an unprecedented event in the league's century-long history, the entire process basically conducted from a virtual standpoint once the COVID-19 pandemic exploded shortly after the completion of this year's scouting combine.

And yet, with 40% of college football's Power Five conferences already deciding not to play this fall – and the SEC, ACC and/or Big 12 could follow the leads of the Big Ten and Pac-12 in the near future – the 2021 draft seems likely to be seismically unique in its own right.

"It's a scouting nightmare," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay noted Wednesday.

Among other things.

A few things to consider that might distinguish the 2021 draft from its predecessors:

When will the 2021 NFL draft be held?

It's currently scheduled to run from April 29 through May 1 next year in Cleveland. But the league's new CBA allows for the "Annual Selection Meeting" to be conducted as late as June 2, per the discretion of the commissioner. It could be a consideration if some college conferences actually attempt to play in the early part of 2021, however the NFL Players Association would have to sign off for the draft to be pushed beyond June 2.

How are 2021 draft-eligible players affected?

Top 10-caliber prospects like Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman had already opted out of the 2020 season in order to focus on draft preparation even before their conference did so collectively Tuesday. With the Big Ten and Pac-12 off the autumn docket, other superstars – quarterback Justin Fields and cornerback Shaun Wade of Ohio State and Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell among them – also find themselves sidelined.

Prospects of their stature almost surely wouldn't incur the risks of participating in prospective spring seasons, having very little to gain – and way too much to lose –compared to peers who had been biding their time for a starting opportunity or were perhaps on the verge of an unforeseen breakout. Such developmental leaps for lesser-known players so often mean the difference between eight-figure guarantees and mid-round compensation – or even what determines an NFL opportunity and forced entry into the job market outside of football.

"I cannot imagine being in this particular predicament as a senior if you haven't already established yourself as a potential first-round draft pick or a high-round draft pick, and you put the offseason work in and try to give yourself the best opportunities to jump the board," former Dallas Cowboys first-rounder and current ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears told USA TODAY Sports.

"Joe Burrow may have been a free agent before this past season. He may have been a sixth- or seventh-round pick. You go from that to being the first pick of the draft, that can happen. We just saw it happen."

Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Burrow were the No. 1 picks of the past three drafts, but good luck finding anyone who projected that a year ahead of time for any of them.

The college talent pool is replenished annually, but finding its waterline obviously requires determining how so many newly elevated players perform. That's likely going to be a much more significant challenge as it pertains to scouting the Big Ten and Pac-12, which had more players drafted in 2020 – 48 and 32, respectively – than any other conference aside from the SEC (63). The Mountain West and MAC previously announced they wouldn't be playing football this fall, either, as has every Football Championship Subdivision conference.

How might the NFL adjust?

Not only could the draft slide back on the calendar, the combine – normally held at the end of February – might also be impacted if some conferences try spring football.

Dan Orlovsky, a fifth-rounder in 2005 and longtime backup quarterback, suggests the league should allow more visits to team facilities for draftable players – the limit is typically 30, though the league didn't allow for any this spring amid COVID-19 concerns – maybe up to 50 in 2021, pandemic permitting.

Regardless, the league's 32 scouting departments are likely to bear the brunt of creatively assessing players who may not have been on the field for a meaningful snap in more than a year. The knowledge and sources of area scouts should be especially vital, especially as it pertains to finding small-school diamonds in the rough at a time when everyone will be playing catch-up to some degree on depth charts of the traditional football factories.

"There is going to be a challenge tied to this for the NFL scouts and GMs, absolutely," Orlovsky, now an ESPN analyst, told USA TODAY Sports.

"But the tape is the tape is the tape – it always has been, always will be. It's not like these guys have never played college football."

How will GMs adjust?

This could be the most fascinating ramification, whether the 2020 college season is partially or fully wiped out by the coronavirus.

It won't take a scouting savant to place Fields or Parsons – or Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, LSU receiver Ja'Marr Chase or Alabama corner Patrick Surtain II, whether they play or not – atop next year's draft boards. But for a process steeped in projections and speculation in a normal year, differentiating the bulk of the players in 2021 should be especially difficult.

And might the increased number of variables influence how personnel decision makers regard next year's draft pool and the value of its selections?

The New York Jets are one fascinating case study. Just last month, general manager Joe Douglas dealt All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks for a package that included two first-round picks. The Jets joined the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars as teams that now own multiple Round 1 picks in 2021.

But viewing the trade in hindsight now engenders a compelling debate regarding the lens you view it through now. Are Douglas and his team in a worse position after offloading a proven young player for picks at a time when the draft could be a bigger crapshoot than ever? Or are teams like the Jets, Jags and Fins – all in the midst of ongoing rebuilds – advantageously positioned, able to get multiple cracks at better-known commodities atop the board or maybe empowered to extract future premiums from clubs targeting such players?

"There will be challenges," acknowledged Orlovsky. "But there's definitely ways when you're good at what you do, this should not have tremendous impact on what you're going to do. Joe Douglas will be fine with how he drafts."

And yet it's worth wondering if the uncertainty that will almost inevitably be attached to the 2021 draft sparks a more active trade market. Would you rather draft and develop a player next year in the latter part of the second round or somewhere in the third? Or instead invest that level of draft capital now to acquire a known veteran like Yannick Ngakoue, the disgruntled Jacksonville pass rusher who will play 2020 on the franchise tag? Will teams be more willing to pay through the nose before the trade deadline for, say, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette or Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, both on the cusp of free agency?

Such considerations could come at a time when the value of picks could also be altered. Typically the trade of a pick in the upcoming draft returns one of higher value the subsequent year – a 2021 third-rounder netting a 2022 second-rounder, for example. But the uncertainty that could pervade the 2021 draft might simultaneously inflate the value of Round 1 choices but perhaps dilute picks in Days 2 and 3. Great potential for a revised calculus to replace the draft trade chart that has typically been a guidepost.

Could the XFL be a factor?

The temporarily resurrected spring football league – its original version appeared for one season in 2001 – was shuttered in April, forced by the pandemic to shut down after five weeks. However a group headlined by actor Dwayne Johnson purchased the league in bankruptcy court earlier this month for $15 million.

Details for the XFL's next reboot are currently scant, and there's no timeline for a return. However if Johnson and Co. can bring it back with expedience, it might conceivably serve as a vehicle for college prospects unable to play in 2020 to showcase their skills ahead of next year's draft. (Former West Virginia safety Kenny Robinson, who was kicked out of school for academic violations and didn't play in 2019, wound up suiting for the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks this year and was subsequently obtained in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers.)

Imagine if Fields and Bateman teamed up on an XFL field for a few months and made a little money for their trouble. Admittedly, unlikely for such highly regarded players ... but perhaps a desirable forum for mid- and late-round prospects seeking a platform to boost their stock.

Tyler Higbee eager to show his value at tight end for the Rams

The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs this week rewarded tight ends George Kittle and Travis Kelce with massive contract extensions that could be worth a combined $132 million.

Rams right end Tyler Higbee took notice.

“Anytime you see a guy in the NFL get paid I’m happy for him — especially a fellow tight end,” Higbee said Friday during a videoconference with reporters. “Those guys, they’ve been at the top of the game the last few years. Kelce doing it even longer.

“So, well deserved.”

Last September, on the eve of the 2019 opener, Higbee signed a four-year, $29-million extension that included $15 million in guarantees. It was market rate — or perhaps better — for a player who had yet to prove that he could be a highly productive receiver after the Rams selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

But Higbee might now be undervalued.

Last season, he amassed more than 100 yards receiving in four of the final five games, including a streak of four games in a row. He finished with 69 catches, three for touchdowns, and 734 yards.

“Some opportunities were presented to me more and I just tried to take advantage of them,” he said, adding that a coach told him, “‘Prove to be reliable.’ And that’s all I’m trying to do.”

Higbee is the most experienced player in a tight end group that includes Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt and rookie Brycen Hopkins, a fourth-round draft pick from Purdue.

During the offseason, the Rams traded star running back Todd Gurley and receiver Brandin Cooks. So as new players move into those roles, tight ends could shoulder an increased role in an offense shaped by coach Sean McVay and new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.

Everett is entering the final year of his contract. The 2017 second-round draft pick has made some big plays, and McVay said it was on him as a coach to give Everett more opportunities.
Mundt is a versatile blocker at the line of scrimmage and out of the backfield.

Hopkins is coming along, Higbee said. “A little quiet at first — that might be part of the rookie coming to a new environment,” Higbee said. “But a good dude, great athlete.

“Already made strides from what I’ve seen.”

The Rams completed the two-week acclimation phase of training camp and will begin practice Tuesday. They open the season Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium.
Quarterback Jared Goff has indicated that he has confidence in Rams receivers, tight ends and running backs as targets.

Will McVay call on Higbee early to continue last season’s momentum?

“Hopefully,” Higbee said. “we’ll see. Jared spreads the ball around well to all these weapons that he has on offense, and I’m just trying to make the most of mine when I get them.”

Etc.

Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, a third-round draft pick from Alabama, was activated to the roster from the COVID/IR list, the Rams said. The COVID/IR list is for players who test positive or have been quarantined because they have been in close contact with an infected person. The Rams put Lewis on the list July 31 but did not specify why. This week, during a broadcast of the “Hard Knocks” television show, it was revealed that Lewis had tested positive. In other moves, the Rams cut receiver Brandon Polk and re-signed safety Jake Gervase. ... Higbee donated $5,000 to the “Think Watts” organization and $5,000 to “Communities in Schools Los Angeles” to aid the Watts community with food and technology resources, the Rams said.

I know I’ll probably get catch some flack for this. But screw the haters! Lol this is one of my favorite plays ever and I figured we couldn’t do this countdown without including a highlight from one of the biggest blowouts in Rams history.
Tre Mason.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/qbMnKqZhOf4

Analysis: Previewing the interior offensive line position battles

Heading into this year's NFL draft, the perception outside Rams headquarters was that the offensive line should be addressed. They did, but not until the seventh round.

Surprising as it probably was to many pundits whose projections had Los Angeles taking a different direction, that approach seemed to indicate L.A. was comfortable sticking with last year's group to further their development.

That approach has also created strong competition – specifically at center and both guard spots.

Here is a look at the candidates for those spots on Los Angeles' current roster, listed in alphabetical order:

Brian Allen

Experience: Two seasons

Notes: Allen was the Rams' starting center for the first nine games until a Week 10 knee injury at Pittsburgh cost him the rest of the 2019 season. After overcoming that setback and a COVID-19 infection earlier this offseason, he is now healthy, has not had any lingering effects of the virus and is practicing without any restrictions. Including his rookie season in 2018, Allen has played in 16 career games.

Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

Experience: Rookie

Notes: Though he started at tackle for Clemson, he spent the Tigers' bowl practices getting reps at guard – where he's projected to play as a Ram.

Austin Blythe

Experience: Four seasons (three with the Rams)

Notes: Blythe began the 2019 season as L.A.'s starting right guard, then moved to left after Joe Noteboom's season-ending knee injury in Week 6, then center after Brian Allen's season-ending knee injury in Week 10. Blythe has missed only one regular season game since joining the Rams in 2017.

Cohl Cabral

Experience: Rookie

Notes: An undrafted free agent signee out of Arizona State, Cabral showcased durability during his college career by starting 38-straight games from his sophomore year onward.

Austin Corbett

Experience: Two seasons (One with the Rams)

Notes: The No. 33 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Corbett started each of the final seven games of the Rams' 2019 season at left guard after Blythe shifted to center.
Jamil Demby

Experience: One season

Notes: Demby appeared in five of L.A.'s first six games in 2019, then was inactive for the remainder of the season. When Blythe sprained his ankle during the Rams' Week 3 game against the Saints, Demby replaced him at right guard.

David Edwards

Experience: One season

Notes: Edwards started at left guard in Weeks 7 and 8 last season, then moved to right guard. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, starting in 10 of them.

Bobby Evans

Experience: One season

Notes: Evans handled the Rams' starting right tackle job in place of an injured Rob Havenstein after Havenstein suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10 at Pittsburgh. While Evans is listed as a tackle, Rams general manager Les Snead after the 2019 season said that he's also capable of playing guard.

Jeremiah Kolone

Experience: One season

Notes: A 2019 undrafted free agent signee, Kolone spent his rookie season on the team's practice squad.
Joe Noteboom

Experience: Two seasons

Notes: Noteboom started at left guard last season until suffering a season-ending knee injury against the 49ers in Week 6. Including those six contests he played in prior to the setback, he has played in 22 career games entering his third season.

Coleman

Experience: One season

Notes: Signed to the active roster prior to the start of the 2019 regular season, Shelton appeared in 11 games in his first season in Los Angeles, mainly getting special teams snaps. He returned for his second after being tendered as one of the team's two exclusive rights free agents.

Starts in about 30... streams nicely right from here.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/GgEKUv6lP0Q

7 Up or The Uncola's

For me, it was when an ABC news reporter was shot dead on tv in Nicaragua. I was 13, and it was pretty unsettling to see that happen in real life. I remember my mom being aghast about it.

Login to view embedded media View: https://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/june-20-1979-abc-news-correspondent-shot-dead-56533140

Rams’ John Johnson sets high expectations for revamped secondary

John Johnson has been through two significant surgeries in the past year. One was the operation to repair his right shoulder after a season-ending injury in October. The other, more extensive, was a transplant of the rest of his team’s starting secondary.

When the Rams’ strong safety takes the SoFi Stadium field Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys for his first game in 11 months, he’ll be playing with an entirely different set of fellow defensive backs.

Second-year free safety Taylor Rapp replaces the retired Eric Weddle after filling in for Johnson last season. Cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill go into their first full Rams season after replacing the traded Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib last fall. It remains to be seen who takes over at slot corner from Nickell Robey-Coleman, whose option was declined.

They’ll all be playing in a new defensive system under the Rams’ rookie defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley.

In a video chat with reporters Thursday, Johnson sounded as confident as ever in the Rams’ defense, which also is replacing most of its experienced linebackers.

“Coach Staley came from Denver, came from Chicago,” said Johnson, referring to Staley’s stints as outside linebackers coach for top-10 defenses with the Broncos (2019) and Bears (2017-18). “I think we have better guys on defense than he had in both of those places. So just picture what they were doing, with better guys.”

At age 24 and entering his fourth year out of Boston College, Johnson already finds himself the dean of the Rams secondary, keeping a relatively experienced eye on how the group works together in training camp.

“We’ve got some talent on the back end. We’re great players. We all listen. We’re all low-maintenance – except for maybe a few,” Johnson joked. “We’re going to stick together and get this thing done.”

Rapp and Hill will begin a season as NFL starters for the first time, and Johnson and Rapp form a new safety combination.

“Taylor had a great rookie year, I mean better than I had in my rookie year, so he’s got a lot more ground to stand on,” Johnson said. “I can see us being the best safety tandem in the league, and anything short of that is a disappointment.”

Johnson said he didn’t know much about rookie safeties Terrell Burgess, a third-round draft pick from Utah, or Jordan Fuller, a sixth-rounder from Ohio State, before watching them on the practice field.

“Great athletes. You can move ’em around (the secondary), so I’m excited for their future,” Johnson said. “Both of them are very impressive.”

He described Staley’s approach as “aggressive.” The Rams’ defense ranked ninth in the NFL in takeaways as the team went 9-7 and missed the playoffs last season, down from third in the league in the Super Bowl year. It’s probably one reason defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was let go.

It didn’t help that Johnson got hurt late in the Rams’ Oct. 13 loss to the 49ers at the Coliseum. His season was off to a strong start. The highlight was the Rams’ Week 3 victory over the Browns in Cleveland, where he led the team in tackles and had the game-saving interception of a Baker Mayfield pass in the end zone.

The new season, he said, is “just an opportunity to build upon what I started last year.”

Training camp, which opened Aug. 3 in Thousand Oaks, reached a milestone Thursday, one month before the season-opening game. It was the first day day of the “ramp up” phase of camp, the first time players could practice in helmets.

Johnson said he probably won’t wear the face shield that players can attach to their helmets to try to block virus transmission.

“If it was close to 100% in protecting me, maybe I would wear it. But I don’t see how that’s going to help anything,” he said.

Contact drills begin next Tuesday, delayed by coronavirus precautions negotiated by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

Johnson has negotiations of his own to think about, looking for a contract extension before the third-round draft pick’s four-year, $3,258,752 rookie deal expires after the 2020 season.

“I’ve just got to put some good tape out there,” Johnson said. “The rest will take care of itself.”

Analysis: Previewing the position battle at nickel defensive back

Whenever an opposing offense lined up a tight end or a third wide receiver in the slot over the last three years – warranting an additional defensive back – the Rams defense could count on cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman to reliably defend either one.

This year, however, will be different. When the Rams defense faces one of those offensive formations that prompts it to use a fifth defensive back, or nickel sub package this season, it will have to count on someone else after Robey-Coleman was released earlier in the offseason and later joined the Philadelphia Eagles via free agency.

Based on the skillsets of the candidates, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will likely collaborate with both cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant and safeties coach Ejiro Evero to find the player capable of filling that role.

Here is a look at those candidates on Los Angeles' current roster, listed in alphabetical order:

Terrell Burgess

Experience: Rookie

Notes: A 2019 Pac-12 honorable mention choice by conference coaches, Burgess made 81 tackles (7.5 for loss), one interception and five pass breakups while starting in 14 games in his final season at Utah. Burgess' 81 tackles led the Utes' defensive backfield and were third-most on the team. Staley values versatility in the secondary, and Burgess played every position in Utah's secondary. Though Burgess will start out at safety, Staley said he is capable of playing the nickel defensive back position.

Jordan Fuller

Experience: Rookie

Notes: In his final collegiate season, Fuller made 62 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 14 starts en route to first team All-Big Ten honors in 2019. The sixth-round pick and former Ohio State standout is "built like a damn linebacker," according to Evero. Even if that makes him a better fit defending against the run instead of the pass, it would still make him valuable at the nickel.

Dont'e Deayon

Experience: Three seasons (two with the Rams)

Notes: Deayon spent most of his second season with the Rams on their practice squad, but still appeared in three games and made a pair of tackles in 2019. While his opportunities with Los Angeles have been limited, he did have a knack for making plays in college, finishing with 17 career interceptions – two of which were returned for touchdowns – and 155 career tackles across four years at Boise State.

JuJu Hughes

Experience: Rookie

Notes: The safety and undrafted free agent signee made a career-high 80 tackles in his final season at Fresno State, a number that was also good for third-most among Bulldogs defensive players. That shows he fits the mold of what the Rams look for in their safeties. Hughes' college highlights also show him lining up at nickel defensive back at times.

Tyrique McGhee

Experience: Rookie

Notes: In 50 career games across four seasons at Georgia, McGhee made 59 total tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. During his college career, he played cornerback then safety before switching to the Bulldogs' "star" position – a hybrid defensive back-linebacker role with slot coverage and pass-rushing responsibilities.

David Long Jr.

Experience: One season

Notes: After being inactive for the first six games of the Rams' 2019 season, Long appeared in six of the their final eight and made 10 tackles and two pass breakups. Pleasant said this month that Long played an "inside-out" role as a rookie last year because of his versatility.

Darious Williams

Experience: Two seasons

Notes: Like Long, Williams was able to capitalize on opportunities created by late-season injuries at the cornerback position, making 15 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions over 12 games last year.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/1iuAhvrRTpk

D’Marco Farr Live: He was supposed to go live. Lol.
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/DMarcoFarr1/status/1293193374355222528?s=20

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/1iuAhvrRTpk

Another super obvious pick. One of the most versatile players of all time, Marshall Faulk.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/G_zk2Hif0-o


And just because it was such a cool fucking play, I’m adding Robert Bailey and his 103 yard punt return. Still the longest in NFL history.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/tCuOE9HPXjc

Analysis: Previewing the position battle at outside linebacker

Much like their counterparts in the middle, the outside linebackers in the Rams defense are going through a transition of their own.

Last year's starters Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews are gone, vacating not only starting roles but a significant number of snaps for position coach Chris Shula to allocate entering his second season overseeing the group. Further impacting the position battle for those roles is players being asked to do different things compared to last year as a result of new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's scheme, according to Shula.

Fortunately for Shula, he has an "eager" group of young players to ready prove themselves and embrace the competition. Here's a look at the candidates on Los Angeles' current roster, listed in alphabetical order:

Samson Ebukam

Experience: Three seasons.

Notes: Entering his fourth year in the NFL, Ebukam has been a durable and dependable member of the outside linebacker rotation. He has yet to miss a regular season game and started in 21 of those 48 games played through his first three seasons. Last year, the Eastern Washington product posted 48 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and four pass breakups – all career-highs – while playing in all 16 games (five starts). Ebukam's best game statistically came against the Seahawks in Week 14, when he made four solo tackles and two sacks – both season-highs – in the Rams' 28-12 victory. Of course, no one can forget the memorable performance he had against the Chiefs on Monday Night Football in 2018, either.

Leonard Floyd

Experience: Four seasons.

Notes: After four years with the Bears, the former 2016 top 10 draft pick joined the Rams as a free agent via a one-year deal signed in the offseason. Floyd made 150 total tackles, 18.5 sacks, two safeties, nine pass breakups and returned a fumble for a touchdown in 58 games in Chicago. He has perhaps the most familiarity with what Staley will be asking of the Rams' outside linebackers, since Staley was his position coach with the Bears in 2017 and 2018.

Justin Lawler

Experience: Two seasons.

Notes: Lawler played in all 16 games during his 2018 rookie season, making five tackles. He will look to bounce back in 2020 after missing the entire 2019 season due to preseason foot surgery.
Terrell Lewis

Experience: Rookie.

Notes: An All-SEC Second Team selection in 2019, Lewis was chosen 84th overall by the Rams in this year's NFL Draft after making 31 tackles (11.5 for loss), six sacks and two pass breakups in 11 games in his final collegiate season. Shula said a lot of what Lewis was asked to do at Alabama is what they'll be asking him to do with the Rams.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Experience: Two seasons.

Notes: After injuries sidelined him for his entire 2018 rookie season, Okoronkwo responded by making seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in 10 games in 2019. He flashed his potential in last season's Week 8 game against the Bengals in London, when he made those 1.5 sacks and two of those seven tackles.
Natrez Patrick

Experience: One season.

Notes: One of three undrafted free agents who made the Rams' initial 53-man roster for 2019, Patrick made two tackles while playing in 12 games.

Jachai Polite

Experience: One season.

Notes: Polite was signed to the Rams' practice squad in late September and spent the rest of the season on there, then signed a reserve/future contract with the team in early January to remain on its 80-man offseason roster. Prior to becoming the 68th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, he produced 15.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss during his college career at Florida, including a breakout 2018 season with 11 sacks and an FBS-leading and school-record-tying six forced fumbles.