LA Rams news: Virtual offseason program underway

The LA Rams have begun their offseason program. But with new coordinators and a virtual environment, are the Rams at a disadvantage?

The LA Rams virtual offseason training program is well underway, or so reports TheRams.com sports writer Stu Jackson. The NFL has taken dramatic steps to comply with the numerous Stay-at-home directives acted by state governors to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 among citizens. That translates into strict adherence to the safe distancing and stay-at-home directives which have become commonplace throughout the US.

The Rams have established the nine weeks program. Initially, the first three weeks will schedule 90-minute meetings four days a week, with special teams days later on in the offseason. Head coach Sean McVay is prepared to conduct all nine weeks virtually but clings to a hope that the first six weeks will be done virtually and the final three weeks at the facility as the best-case scenario.

Still, the Rams roster may potentially be 25 percent rookies in 2020.  After all, the Rams have drafted nine players and signed 20 players after the draft as UDFAs. With a larger roster, from 53 to 55 man this year, plus a larger practice squad, the team may bring a larger share of first-timers to the NFL this year.

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That is particularly challenging for the team. After all, the Rams have replaced three coordinators, a running backs coach, a special team assistant coach, and a new Strength and Conditioning coach. That all adds up to new changes and less familiarity between coaches and players. While the Rams will certainly take all steps to minimize these challenges, nothing is as effective as the good ole face to face.

This year, the virtual environment will likely favor younger players who have greater comfort with the newer technology advances. But there are those who learn physically, who absorb instruction more readily on the field in actual drills.  The Rams, in the transition to tweaking their offense, renovating their defense, and rebuilding their special teams, will have various levels of success in this new environment.

It will be one more hurdle for the Rams to overcome.  But thanks to the shift to a younger coaching staff, the team may not be as disadvantaged in implementing this new technology as other coaches in the NFL.

And the team has built around key players on both offense and defense. The Rams offensive line, a disappointment for fans in 2019, may play stronger than ever simply due to the fact that the chaos of 2019 has already transitioned into significant consistency in 2020. The same consistency applies to the team’s defensive backfield as well. That familiarity with coaches and teammates will be very important as the team tries to rebound and earn a playoff spot this season.

The players are set. Now, it’s a waiting game until the 2020 NFL season is underway. As information becomes available, we’ll be sure to pass it along.