LOS ANGELES – After Wednesday's jog-through, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur spoke with the media about their respective sides of the ball and impressions of individuals through seven days of Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.
Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"(The emphasis for defensive backs is) always taking the ball away, if you just said it as a single group, but there is obviously a lot of different things that they're going to be working whether (they're) safeties, corners, nickels, or anything like that as far as specific things to get better at every single day." - Shula
Safety Quentin Lake said on Tuesday that each day brings a different objective for different position groups. When asked what the overall emphasis was for defensive backs this training camp, Shula didn't hesitate to say takeaways. No matter what the individual defensive back positions are working, Shula said they emphasize taking the ball away every day.
Shula's approach in Year 2 has evolved the way he does "everything." He has a better understanding of how to prepare for practice, how to scheme plays for individual players' strengths and what processes he needs to execute to get through an entire season smoothly. "Whether it's good experience or bad experience, as long as you've learned from it, you're growing," Shula said.
"Guys just play calmer and better (when Ahkello Witherspoon is around). He communicates, he's such a vet, he's like the savvy leader, the veteran. He's almost like the Yoda of that room with his personality, so we've been wanting him the whole time." - Shula
This is the first full offseason that Witherspoon will have spent with the Rams, despite it being his third season with the team. Shula has been happy to have him around from the jump this offseason, not just for his production but for his impact on the rest of the defense.
Shula lauded new inside linebacker Nate Landman once again for his leadership and physicality. Third-year defensive end Kobie Turner also drew praise for his consistency as a person and player, as Shula said he "doesn't take any snaps off" and is a leader in the meeting room.
Rookie outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart out of Michigan had to be eased into the Rams' defense during OTAs due to a hamstring issue, but now he's started to show the strengths that enticed L.A. to draft him: Physicality in pads, a strong pass rush arsenal and toughness against the run.
"It's one really, really historic good receiver (Cooper Kupp) for another really, really good historic receiver (Davante Adams), but they're different... It's (like) Anthony Davis and Luka (Doncic), and I'm not saying one's (better than) the other, but they're both really dang good players, and you're going to use them in different ways." - LaFleur
Just like Davis and Doncic, Kupp and Adams are very different players and LaFleur said Adams' usage will reflect that. Adams is not just going to plug into the Kupp role, just like Doncic didn't get plugged into the Davis role. Plus, the Rams' offense is always evolving, so Adams could be the beneficiary of some new tactics.
"Don't want to say we get bored, but we like to try new things," LaFleur said, especially with new players who boast different strengths than they've previously had at their disposal. He said they are "still installing a base menu" for the 2025 offense, but they aren't done tinkering yet.
"Any time you get a guy that's played as much football as (offensive lineman D.J. Humphries) has, at least the one thing you do know is that learning an offense is not going to be too big for him... This guy's played a lot of good football and he's fitting right in with the guys, he's gelling with the guys." - LaFleur
With Alaric Jackson dealing with blood clots, swing tackle has been an important position to monitor during training camp, and LaFleur has liked what he's seen from the veteran Humphries. A former first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Humphries is entering his 10th NFL season, and he even made a Pro Bowl in 2021.
A more familiar face, wide receiver Puka Nacua, is in "the best shape he's been in since he's been here," LaFleur said, adding that every days has been "a little bit better" for the third-year star. Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield has also impressed LaFleur, who said "He understands football. He understands stems, he understands angles, he has a great feel for space, a knack for space, his route tempo changes, he's catching the ball great, he's fearless."
LaFleur also showed appreciation for wide receiver Jordan Whittington, calling him "a huge, vital piece for our football team" on both offense and special teams, where he played gunner as well as kick returner last season. "He's playing good enough at receiver that you wouldn't need to throw him out there in special teams, but he's too valuable for them as well," LaFleur said.
