IRVINE, CA — After the Los Angeles Rams dominated day one of Training Camp, the offense woke up and made their presence felt on day two, which thoroughly impressed head coach Sean McVay.
Tavon Austin made two spectacular plays, one where he made an aerodynamic catch just as the ball touched the ground for an incomplete catch. The second play, he ran a sweep to the right side before cutting up the middle for a would-be touchdown.
“It’s exciting for anybody that plays this position,” Austin explained about playing under McVay’s system. “Everybody wants the ball. Everybody wants the opportunity to get the ball. So I’m definitely excited to be in the offense, I just want to keep working every day.”
Former Broncos cornerback Kayvon Webster made life on the field hard for former USC Trojan and Buffalo Bills WR Robert Woods, after he broke up an impressive catch by Woods in 1-on-1 drills. Woods was still solid as he connected with quarterback Jared Goff on several passes thrown to him.
“He’s done excellent. He’s playing both outside and inside for us. He’s competing well in the run-game,” McVay said about Woods. “Kind of like we talked about the other day, he’s been what we had hoped. He’s a complete receiver, not really limited in any of the routes he can run.”
RB Todd Gurley who looks to have a bounce back season this year, looked refreshed and hit a lot of holes as he burst through the back field on several runs. His approach to the game seems to be with a renewed energy, which is not surprising since the attitude of McVay is infectious through the team. Gurley could be on pace for another 1,000 yard season, as long as he stays healthy, he will accomplish just that.
“Todd [Gurley] did a nice job. I think when you look at just the running back position as a whole, one of the things that makes him special is his ability to break tackles, so a little hard to get a true evaluation of what a special player he is until you get in those game situations,” McVay said. “But, I think in terms of doing all the little things the right way and being a player both in the pass and the run game and being mindful in protection – I think he’s done an excellent job. He’s definitely setting the standard in that room for sure.”
With the defense continuing to impress everyone under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, The defensive line in particular, has continued to the transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4. As they continue to adjust daily, the Rams defense are showcasing a lot of depth up front. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers, Dominique Easley and Ethan Westbrooks took reps with the first-team. Alec Olgetree looks sharp despite the absence of Aaron Donald who continues to holdout due to a contract dispute.
