LOS ANGELES – The ninth practice of Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union saw several notable moments from the defense despite defensive end Kobie Turner (back) being held out of Saturday's practice and linebacker Nate Landman (calf) leaving it as a precautionary measure. The offense still managed some highlights, too, between the plays made by wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Davis Allen, as well as wide receiver Konata Mumpfield's performance over the course of practice.
Senior staff writer Stu Jackson spent the afternoon watching the offense, while staff writer Wyatt Miller watched the defense. Notes on each unit below.
Offense
1) Terrance Ferguson held out with "a little groin" injury. Head coach Sean McVay indicated the team will take a cautious approach with the rookie tight end. "Don't know how long he'll be out for, but we are going to be smart (with him)," McVay said.
2) Bombs away to Tae. The two plays that drew the loudest cheers of the evening were both deep completions from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to Adams, one of which was for a touchdown in the face of a blitz.
3) Davis Allen makes most of opportunities. Ferguson being sidelined meant more snaps to be spread around to the Rams' top three healthy tight ends, and the third-year pro was a big beneficiary. He had a pair of touchdown catches on passes from quarterback Stetson Bennett in 1-on-1s, including an impressive toe-tap reception, and was a reliable target for both Bennett and Garoppolo in 11-on-11.
4) Konata Mumpfield's encouraging response to an unusual day. The rookie wide receiver has consistently displayed an ability to separate and make catches, so some of the drops he had in 1-on-1s and 11-on-11 drills on Saturday were uncharacteristic to his overall performance in training camp so far. But he bounced back from those challenging moments in impressive ways. Some moments of note:
- After dropping a pass toward the left sideline, Bennett targeted him on the very next play, and Mumpfield made an impressive catch near the right sideline.
- Mumpfield hauling in a deep touchdown pass from Bennett to end 11-on-11 drills. After the frustration expressed following some of those uncharacteristic drops, the joyous celebration was a wonderful moment to see and a nice high note for him to end Saturday's practice on.
5) A touchdown catch even the other side of the ball can respect. Undrafted free agent signee and wide receiver Mario Williams had an impressive touchdown catch in 1-on-1s despite tight coverage from cornerback A.J. Green. There was nothing Green could do about it, and assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant – who coaches the cornerbacks and safeties – seemed to recognize that, giving an enthusiastic high-five to Williams in respect afterward.
Defense
6) Quentin Lake has another big day. The Rams' fourth-year safety nabbed his second interception of the week in similar circumstances to the first. Once again, he caught a pass that was tipped in the air by running back Kyren Williams, but this time he stumbled into a summersault to finish off the play and secure the catch.
Later on, Lake and inside linebacker Omar Speights broke through the line for a tackle for loss against running back Blake Corum. Then, he blew up a screen to wide receiver Puka Nacua – once Garoppolo turned to throw, Lake sped past the blocker and hit Nacua as the ball reached him. Lake was exactly where he needed to be throughout Saturday's practice.
7) Speights goes into game-wrecker mode. On the first play of practice, Williams got a quick check down and Speights was there to meet him before he even got his head around. That was just the beginning.
When Garoppolo tried to layer a pass over Speights' head in the middle of the field, he read the quarterback's eyes and leapt up to bat it away. Puka Nacua jet sweep? Not on his watch. Speights stopped him quickly. Adams in the end zone? Nope. Speights nearly picked off the errant throw. He was all over the field.
8) Safety Jaylen McCollough picks off Garoppolo. Standing in the middle of the defense, pressure closed in on Garoppolo's right, and he knew he had to get rid of it. As defensive end Braden Fiske made very slight contact with his leg, the pass went ajar and sailed right into McCollough's hands for an easy interception.
9) The defensive line works stunts. The Rams' defensive line practiced stunts in individual drills using tackling dummies, and then put that work to the test during team drills. Stunts on both sides of the line resulted in defensive end Braden Fiske and defensive tackle Poona Ford running free off the edges after starting on the interior. Another put a blitzing Troy Reeder against Corum, who he beat, while outside linebacker Jared Verse came free on the other side. At least one of them would surely have sacked Garoppolo.
10) Byron Young flashes athleticism in 1-on-1s. I only saw Young do two reps, and he won both decisively. First, the outside linebacker beat veteran offensive lineman Rob Havenstein with an inside spin move. Then, he dipped below offensive lineman Warren McClendon Jr. on the outside to get home hastily. Young's agility seems to have taken a step forward during his pilates-filled offseason.
