LA Rams intra-squad drills better preparation than expected

With no preseason games, NFL teams must prepare against themselves?  The LA Rams training camp drills are far tougher than many teams they will face

It’s another day of practice for the LA Rams. Training camp is full of stories about a defender getting the best of quarterback Jared Goff, or rookie Van Jefferson making a circus catch after running a precise route. Aaron Donald dominates the offensive line. Leonard Floyd is getting tremendous pressure off the edge. With each report, there seems to be a reason to cheer for the good play. Then, in an instant, the realization that the other side of the ball failed to make the play.

As the LA Rams prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys, we know that nobody on the LA Rams roster can truly emulate the power and moves of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot. He had a huge game against the Rams in 2019, and you can bet that the Cowboys will look to lean heavily upon that in the season opener.

That works both ways

Fortunately, that works both ways. We know that the LA Rams secondary is far more talented and deeper than anything the Dallas Cowboys can walk onto a football field.  We also know that the Rams defensive line, led by All-Pro Aaron Donald, is far tougher than anything the Cowboys are facing as well.  And while the Cowboys receivers may be quite talented, their confidence is lulled into a sense of false security by outplaying the Cowboys questionable secondary.

Iron sharpens iron. The LA Rams offense is competing against a very talented defense. Likewise, the defense is up against a very talented offense. How can we be sure? Well, the team statistics and player awards are a good basis, and they present a consistent message. The Rams have strong players competing against strong players.

The irony of great vs. great

This concept all came into focus recently when a very highly praised Rob Havenstein discussed competing against teammate Leonard Floyd.

In a normal football contest, Rams players’ successes are simply that: Success. But in the topsy turvy world of 2020, Rams are forced to train and compete against Rams. That translates into good news about the Rams has an equal but opposite bad news about the team.

The Rams may not have convinced everyone of just how good this roster is. But that’s okay. Until now, the only persons fully in the know are the players and the coaches. To date, the tone coming out of the training camp is very positive, with the exception of linebacker play. For now, that will have to do until we see the Rams compete against another NFL team.