Rams HC Sean McVay already sees Maui Mini-camp as major distraction

The Los Angeles Rams coaches and players suffered great personal loss during the 2024 wildfires. Fires repeatedly sprang to life and ravaged many communities in and around the Los Angeles, California, community. It was the presence of those wildfires and the accompanying smoke that forced the Rams to host their playoff game in Arizona, and not at SoFi Stadium. To be fair, the Arizona Cardinals' owner, Michael Bidwell, went above and beyond the call to ensure that the Rams transition to play a playoff game in Arizona was as seamless and comfortable as possible.

The Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 27-9.

It was the Rams' experience with fires in 2024, and the personal loss to the team and friends and families of the team, that prompted the Rams to locate their 2025 NFL Draft headquarters at the LAFD Air Operations building. Not only was it an incredible way to say 'Thank you,' to the brave first responders, fire and rescue, and law enforcement staff who threw themselves at risk to help others, but the act focused attention of the popular NFL Draft upon the heroes and heroics that meant so much to Los Angeles. It was the best story that emerged from the 2025 NFL Draft, and it didn't happen in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Rams raising awareness to fire ravaged sites in mini camp, too

Some NFL analysts believe it is the Rams heightened awareness of fires and the damage caused to communities that has prompted the team to locate its first NFL minicamp in Maui, Hawaii. That minicamp is scheduled to take place from June 16 through June 19.

The Rams have veered to Hawaii in the past. The Rams and Dallas Cowboys played a preseason game in 2019 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The return of the Rams to Hawaii is part of relief efforts after the 2023 Maui wildfires that devastated the area.

The Rams are also slated to join in a number of community events scheduled to coincide with the team's minicamp.

Of course, the extension of aid to Hawaii brings a lot of goodwill and projections of ongoing future endeavors between the Los Angeles Rams and Hawaii. And with the Los Angeles Rams holding global markets in Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates*, it makes sense for the team to strengthen relations with Hawaii, which could ultimately serve as an ideal staging area as the team will begin to compete in football games in those countries.

But what about football practice?

Of course, it's a double-edged sword for the Rams. Embedding a minicamp at Maui when all other NFL teams are focusing their attention on practicing and getting better is a huge distraction. And that speed bump in the team's quest to prepare for the 2025 NFL season is not lost on Rams HC Sean McVay.

McVay shared his thoughts at Sportico's Invest West symposium:

The Rams cannot enter the offseason expecting to win. In fact, it was the low expectations of NFL analysts that seemed to fuel the Rams' success in 2023 and 2024. But low expectations for the Rams are no longer the norm this season. That could prove to be detrimental to the team's success. it's easier to get in the right mindset when nobody takes the team seriously.

Now the team has to maintain its focus as more and more projections place them atop the NFC West Division. One NFL analyst believes that the Rams have closed the gap on the Philadelphia Eagles, even to the point of overtaking them.

That type of progress doesn't happen in a vacuum. Nor does it happen by sunbathing on beaches at exotic locations. Improving means grinding it out on the practice field, focusing on getting better, and then going out and taking steps to improve.

Perhaps that is why I hold a special place for former Rams DL Coach Eric Henderson. His #DAWGWORK mantra was simple, but cut right to the heart of NFL success. It's a strategy that is not limited to gifted athletes, nor to the football field. And now that the Rams are scheduled to hold minicamp in Maui, it's more important than ever.

The Rams will not get better without putting in the work. Coach Henny gets it. Coach McVay gets it too. Hopefully, Rams players get it too.

As always, thanks for reading.

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