As pads go on, here are 3 Rams who are defying expectations at training camp

I: Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo is better than the brochure

While the news out of training camp swirls around the mid-season form of starting quarterback Matthew Stafford connecting with the tried-and-true trio of WR Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Demarcus Robinson, there is more than Stafford launching superbly placed passes buzzing at the Rams Training Camp.

Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is lighting up the skies as well. And in doing so, he is getting some seldom-mentioned receivers some positive press as well. Suddenly WR Xavier Smith is making superb plays. He is dropping deep balls into the lap of speedy WR Tutu Atwell.

From all of the offseason rhetoric from Las Vegas Raiders WR Devante Adams, you may have expected Jimmy G. to show up as a shadow of his former self. He was accused of placing the football where his receivers would get clobbered if they caught the football. But Garoppolo was playing his role in Josh McDaniels offense, an offense that has failed whenever he is not protected by the Bill Belichick umbrellas.

Be honest. When was the last time the Rams boasted a former Super Bowl quarterback on the bench as a backup? Now figure in the fact that this is the Rams Training Camp, not a mid-season signing forced by an ill-timed injury. This is more than the fact tha Jimmy Garoppolo making plays.

Suddenly, every receiver on the roster not on the first team has a chance of getting noticed for making plays. It's already happening for WR Xavier Smith. And Tutu Atwell is looking like he may be pushing for a WR3 role this season. The more, the merrier.

The Rams offense is cooking already.

As always, thanks for reading.