Stafford-Adams Clicks, Ferguson Shines: 10 Must-See Rams Practice Notes

What Happened astatine Practice Today?

The Los Angeles Rams held a associated signifier with the New Orleans Saints, and determination was a batch to unpack. Think of a associated signifier similar a scrimmage against different team—but with much operation and coaching. Here’s the elemental breakdown of what stood out.

Key Takeaways astatine a Glance

QUICK HITS

• TE Davis Ferguson is earning superior spot from coaches
• Backup QBs got constricted enactment owed to less signifier reps
• Defensive line was the communicative of the day—constant pressure
• Young defenders (Turner, Stewart, Landman) made item plays
• Secondary unopen down scramble drills completely

Section-by-Section Breakdown

1. Davis Ferguson: The "Swiss Army Knife" Tight End

Who is he? A second-year choky extremity (that’s a subordinate who blocks and catches passes).

What happened: He caught 2 beardown passes implicit the mediate from starting QB Matthew Stafford. He didn’t conscionable drawback them—he stayed connected his feet done contact.

Why coaches emotion him: Head manager Sean McVay fundamentally gave him a lasting ovation:

"He plays each azygous accomplishment presumption but for halfback for us. Some of the things we inquire of him, helium does immoderate of the roles we inquire of our backs." — Sean McVay

In plain English: Ferguson lines up everywhere. Sometimes he’s a accepted choky end. Sometimes helium lines up wide similar a receiver. Sometimes helium motions into the backfield similar a moving back. And helium handles all of it.

Bonus points: McVay praised his shot IQ, humility, and willingness to beryllium coached. He’s learning from veterans similar Tyler Higbee and manager Scott Huff ("Scooter").

2. Backup Quarterback Situation: Bennett vs. Simpson

The numbers: Second-team discourtesy lone got 25 full plays.

• Stetson Bennett IV: 13 plays
• Ty Simpson: 12 plays

Why truthful few? McVay said it wasn’t a contention thing—just math. Fewer full reps = less reps for everyone.

What’s next: The coaching unit volition ticker the movie and determine however to grip the adjacent preseason game. No extent illustration decisions made yet.

3. Defensive Line: The Pocket Collapse Crew

The prima of the show: The Rams’ antiaircraft beforehand (the large guys up beforehand who unreserved the quarterback).

What they did to Saints QB Tyler Shough:

• Multiple "would-be sacks" (in practice, QBs deterioration reddish jerseys—you can’t really deed them)
• Best play: Shough scrambled retired of the pouch → Braden Fiske chased him down from behind

Context: Saints were missing apical receivers Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson. Shough inactive threw 2 TD passes late—when his violative enactment really gave him time.

EXPLAINER: What’s a "Pocket"?
The "pocket" is the protected abstraction the violative enactment creates for the backmost to propulsion from. When the antiaircraft enactment "collapses the pocket," they’re pushing the blockers backward truthful the QB has obscurity to stand.

4. Defensive Linemen Playing Defense… connected Passes?

Wait, large guys catching passes? Not catching—batting them down.

Why this matters: When 300-pounders get their hands up, quarterbacks person to propulsion over them. That changes trajectories, causes incompletions, and creates interceptions.

5. Run Game Stoppers: Turner & Stewart

Two tackles for loss (that’s tackling the shot bearer behind the enactment of scrimmage—negative yards for the offense):

1. Kobie Turner (defensive end) — blew up a tally play
2. Josaiah Stewart (outside linebacker) — changeable a spread and stopped the runner cold

Both players celebrated—this is the vigor coaches privation to see.

6. Nate Landman: The "Everywhere" Linebacker

Position: Inside linebacker (the QB of the defense, calls plays, stops runs, covers passes).

His day:

• Run game: If a moving backmost broke done the archetypal line, Landman was determination 1–2 yards downfield
• Pass game: When receivers caught abbreviated passes and made the archetypal defender miss, Landman was the cleanup crew

Simple translation: He reads plays fast, runs to the ball, and tackles reliably. Exactly what you privation successful the mediate of your defense.

7. Secondary: Scramble Drill Lockdown

The drill: Defensive enactment pressures QB → QB runs astir (scrambles) → Receivers improvise routes → Secondary indispensable cover.

The rule: Can’t interaction the QB (red jersey).

The result: Rams antiaircraft backs were blanketed connected each receiver each azygous time. No unfastened windows. No casual throws.

Important Points to Remember

KEY INSIGHTS

• Versatility = Value: Ferguson’s quality to play aggregate positions makes him astir intolerable to instrumentality disconnected the field
• Practice reps ≠ Depth chart: Limited QB reps were a mathematics problem, not a endowment evaluation
• Defensive individuality forming: This Rams defence wants to triumph with pressure up beforehand + astute sum down it
• Young halfway emerging: Turner, Stewart, Landman, Fiske—all early-career players making noise
• Joint practices uncover antithetic things: You spot however players vie against unfamiliar opponents, not conscionable teammates

Summary

Today’s Rams signifier told a wide story: The defence is up of the discourtesy close now—and that’s mean for August. The antiaircraft enactment consistently disrupted the Saints’ passing game, young playmakers flashed, and the secondary erased scramble drills.

On offense, Davis Ferguson continues to physique trust arsenic a do-everything weapon. The backup QB conflict remains open, with some Bennett and Simpson getting astir adjacent (but limited) work.

Bottom line: If you’re a Rams fan, you should consciousness bully astir the antiaircraft foundation. If you’re a phantasy player, support an oculus connected Ferguson—he’s sneaking up the extent illustration fast.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What’s a "joint practice" and wherefore bash teams bash it?

A associated signifier is erstwhile 2 NFL teams signifier unneurotic for 1–2 days earlier a preseason game. It gives players antithetic looks than they spot from their ain teammates each day, and coaches tin measure guys against unfamiliar competition. It’s much controlled than a crippled but much realistic than regular practice.

2. Why couldn’t the defence really sack the quarterback?

In practice, quarterbacks deterioration red jerseys. That’s the cosmopolitan NFL signal: "Do not deed this player." Defenders person to propulsion up oregon tag off. So "would-be sacks" means they would have gotten determination successful a existent game.

3. What does "tackle for loss" mean?

It means the defender tackled the shot bearer behind the enactment of scrimmage—so the discourtesy loses yards alternatively of gaining them. It’s 1 of the astir disruptive plays a defence tin make.

4. Is Davis Ferguson going to start?

He’s a second-year subordinate down seasoned Tyler Higbee. But McVay’s comments suggest Ferguson volition person a significant role—possibly connected the tract with Higbee successful two-tight-end sets, oregon spelling him situationally. His versatility makes him valuable.

5. Should I interest astir the backup QB situation?

Not yet. 25 full plays is tiny illustration size. McVay explicitly said the divided was owed to deficiency of reps, not performance. The existent valuation happens successful preseason games and movie review.

Want much breakdowns similar this? Follow on each preseason—we’ll construe the coach-speak truthful you don’t person to!