WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams conducted their third Organized Team Activity workout open to the media on Tuesday, with chemistry between quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua on display and safety Kam Kinchens hauling in an incredible one-handed pick.
More on those notes and observations below.
1) Kyren Williams' continued attendance and the latest on contract talks: The running back has remained present throughout OTAs even though he's entering the final year of his rookie contract. Asked if they've made any progress in those contract talks, McVay said "there's a lot of discussions that are consistently going on" with Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and that the communication has been "really positive."
McVay also said that Williams "has been here, been leading, been doing exactly what Kyren does, and so been pleased. And we'll see if there's an opportunity to be able to land that plane."
While there has been good progress, McVay said there is nothing new to report on that front.
2) Mixing it up: As has been consistently noted in this series, it was a lot of the projected first-team offense against the second-team defense and vice-versa.
3) Air Adams: The wide receiver connected with Stafford often in Tuesday's practice, including one impressive catch in which he high-pointed and snatched the ball out of the air over the middle. It's clear it has not taken the two veterans long to establish chemistry.
4) Coverage rules-breaker: Speaking of the Stafford-to-Adams connection, Adams said there was one ball he caught that he wasn't expecting, though he was ready for it, and it created a catch-and-run opportunity for him off of it.
"If you got a guy like that, that's gonna make you defend it the proper way, not just allow you to display a coverage and dictate where the ball goes, you in trouble," Adams said.
5) Play of the Day: Kinchens wrapped up the 11-on-11 team drills leading into the competitive "mamba" period with an Odell Beckham Jr.-like one-handed pick on a Jimmy Garoppolo pass targeting rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson. Given his team-high-tying four interceptions last season, the second-year safety is picking up where he left off as a rookie.
6) Play of the Day II: Nacua's leaping grab as he high-pointed and tracked the ball on a deep sideline pass from Stafford
7) Taking to coaching: Emmanuel Forbes didn't have a pass breakup or interception like he's had in the previous two open practices, but there were multiple instances where he showed the concept trigger recognition that head coach Sean McVay talked about and an understanding of what he's been taught by assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant.
And when there were moments that required coaching points, Forbes was quick to approach and work with Pleasant on the sideline throughout Tuesday's practice.
8) Broken up: Cornerback A.J. Green had a nice pass breakup on a Stafford pass intended for Ferguson in team red zone drills.
9) Broken up II: Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in 11-on-11 team drills had a strong pass breakup on an intermediate Garoppolo pass intended for wide receiver Jordan Whittington.
10) Ferguson over the middle: While the Oregon product couldn't connect with Stafford on that red zone drill touchdown, he did make a nice catch over the middle on a pass from Garoppolo in the previous 11-on-11 team period.
