LA Rams: Padding the truth in Rams Training Camp

The LA Rams are putting on the pads today. No more pretending. No more dress rehearsals. This is the point of training camp that the truth comes out. Or rather, is shaken out. Pads mean contact, physicality, wide base, and leverage. The LA Rams Training Camp has just geared down from a track meet into a bonafide slobber-knocker. Or as defensive line coach Eric Henderson would say, it’s time for DAWGWORK.

This is the litmus test of the team. Like it or not, this is where the real assessments begin. The Rams have a lot of question marks about the offensive line, the linebackers, the defensive line. They need to test the defensive backs.  The team even needs to ensure the physicality of the tight ends, running backs, and receivers.

So far, the team has installed plays on offense, and through a pattern of drills has practiced executing those plays in the freedom of shorts and tee shirts. Controlled flag football, Nothing more, and nothing less. The LA Rams, like all NFL teams, are restricted as to when and how often the pads can go on. But that only gives coaches glimpses of who can perform and who cannot. To truly get a full panoramic view of players, squads, and units, the team needs to simulate NFL game conditions as closely as possible.

Or as Steve Rodgers said to Tony Stark – Put on the suit and let’s go a few rounds…

Going a few rounds puts everything into perspective. Fast is not as fast. Power is not as powerful. Now it’s all about football, the savvy shifty ability to play bigger better faster, and stronger in full pads than the other guy.

Even as the Rams emphasized special teams and athleticism, there was no way of determining who can block until now. Without pads, linebackers who are never engaged by blockers cannot show how well they can shed them.  Running backs who may appear fast in shorts must now deal with offensive linemen fully matched up with defensive linemen. It’s no longer a footrace. Now it’s about football smarts, using blockers, avoiding tackles, breaking tackles, wrapping up, and making tackles.

Now it’s the slower guys turn to impress. The players who have the right tempo to allow lanes to open up, who takes the right angle of pursuit, who can mash up a receiver at the line of scrimmage and throw off the rhythm of the play.

Now it’s football, folks.  The real stuff.  Grab some popcorn, because the show is about to begin.