Flowery Branch, Georgia.- Los Rams sacaron ventaja de una mejoría en el clima del área de Atlanta y practicaron el jueves al aire libre en las instalaciones de los Falcons.
La temperatura fluctuó entre 8 y 10 grados Centígrados (entre 47 y 52 Fahrenheit) durante la sesión de aproximadamente hora y media, mucho mejor que el clima bajo cero que por momentos se sintió a principios de semana en Atlanta. De todos modos se trató de una decisión interesante de parte del entrenador en jefe Sean McVay.
“Estábamos flexibles al respecto, pero solamente por tener la oportunidad de estar afuera, pisar la superficie, pensé que iba a ser mejor para nuestros cuerpos, y el clima nos permitió hacerlo. Fue un gran día”, dijo McVay.
Con la canción “On everything” del rapero DJ Khaled sonando de fondo, los Rams hicieron sus ejercicios de calentamiento y estiramiento en una tarde despejada y con sol brillante.
PHOTOS: Rams vs. Patriots through the years
Check out photos of the Rams taking on the Patriots through the years.
St. Louis' Rams Kevin Curtis (83) reaches for the end zone in his attempt to score a touchdown pass from quarterback Marc Bulger in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots' Randall Gay (21) in their NFL game in St. Louis Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004. The Patriots challeged the touchdown and the score was called back. The Patriots defeated the Rams by the final score of 40-22. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
Safety (25) T.J. McDonald of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
(26) Mark Barron and (22) Trumaine Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams make a tackle against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive end (93) Ethan Westbrooks of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive end (93) Ethan Westbrooks of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Kicker (4) Greg Zuerlein of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Linebacker (26) Mark Barron of the Los Angeles Rams against the New England Patriots during the Rams 10-26 loss to the Patriots in an NFL Week 13 game, Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Foxboro, MA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
"St. Louis Rams Brian Quick leaps up to make a reception during a NFL International Series Football game against the New England Patriots on Oct 28, 2012 in London. (G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams Steven Jackson runs for yardage during a NFL International Series Football game against the New England Patriots on Oct 28, 2012 in London. (G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
St. Louis Rams fullback James Hodgins (42) is brought down by New England Patriots left cornerback Ty Law (24) during first quarter play of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson runs past New England Patriots defensive end Mike Wright during the first quarter of a football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
"FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 26: Offensive tackle Orlando Pace #76 of the St. Louis Rams blocks during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2008 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Rams 23-16. (Photo by Paul Spinelli/GNL Photo)"
"St. Louis Rams Adam Archuleta during Super Bowl XXXVI against the New England Patriots on February 3, 2002 in New Orleans. The Patriots won, 20-17. (Photo by Bill Stover/St. Louis Rams)"
"St. Louis Rams Steven Jackson runs for yardage during a NFL International Series Football game against the New England Patriots on Oct 28, 2012 in London. (G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
"FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 26: Defensive end Chris Long #72 of the St. Louis Rams gets help from linebacker Will Witherspoon #51 during a quarterback sack on Matt Cassel #16 of the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2008 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Rams 23-16. (Photo by Paul Spinelli/GNL Photo)"
"FOXBORO, MA - AUGUST 26: Michael Hoomanawanui #86 of the St. Louis Rams runs in for a touchdown during a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Rams won 36-35. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
Los Angeles Rams running back Jerome Bettis, lower right, slips through the New England Patriots front line to score a touchdown in the second quarter at Anaheim Stadium, Aug. 13, 1994. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
New England Patriots offensive guard John Hannah (73) is seen in action during a preseason NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams Aug. 12, 1979 in Foxborough, Mass. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
"FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 26: Wide receiver Keenan Burton #14 of the St. Louis Rams runs the ball during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2008 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Rams 23-16. (Photo by Paul Spinelli/GNL Photo)"
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson scrambles away from New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork, right, and linebacker Brandon Spikes, left, in the first quarter during an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
"FOXBORO, MA - AUGUST 26: Hank Fraley #65 of the St. Louis Rams prepares to snap the ball during a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Rams won 36-35. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/St. Louis Rams)"
FILE - In this Nov. 16, 1986, file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson (29) blocks New England Patriots linebacker Don Blackmon (55) as he protects his quarterback, Jim Everett, left, during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Anahein, Calif. Eric Dickerson is thrilled his Rams have returned to Los Angeles after 21 years away, but the Hall of Fame running back says the current players in the horned helmets must be ready for both the challenges and the opportunities presented by playing in the nation’s glitzy entertainment capital. Former Rams quarterback Jim Everett says the Rams must be careful to stay focused on football amid the distractions of Hollywood.(AP Photo/Bob Galbraith, File)
The New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams take the line of scrimmage for the snap during the first quarter of a football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
St. Louis Rams tight end Michael Hoomanawanui (86) runs in for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk (28) fends of New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law (24) during first-quarter play of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Dante Hall (82) runs with the ball in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots lines up against the St. Louis Rams during Super Bowl XXXVI Feb. 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20–17. (Tony Tomsic via AP)
New England Patriots running back Antowain Smith (32) is tackled by St. Louis Rams safety Kim Herring (20) during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
New England Patroits Tedy Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots' Tebucky Jones (34), and Lawyer Milloy (36) try to make a stop against St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk (28) in the first quarter in Foxboro, Mass., Sunday, Nov. 18, 2001. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
St. Louis Rams' Ricky Proehl dives between New England Patriots defenders Lawyer Milloy (36) and Terrance Shaw (22) into the end zone to tie the score for the Rams late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, left, is caught by New England Patriots middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, during the first half of a NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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La práctica se dividió en dos partes. En la primera, el primer equipo ofensivo enfrentó al primer equipo defensivo. Después de un segmento de equipos especiales con Johnny Hekker realizando altas patadas, la segunda parte tuvo al primer equipo ofensivo contra la defensa del equipo “scout”, y al primer equipo defensivo contra la ofensiva del equipo “scout”. Los Rams practicaron sin hombreras.
“Estos hombres saben trabajar sin estar equipados y de todas maneras hacer todo lo que queremos que hagan”, explicó McVay. “Sentimos que era un buen momento para dejarlos sin protecciones y de todos modos hicieron muy buen entrenamiento”.
El corredor Todd Gurley se vio particularmente explosivo al llevar el balón, igual que los receptores Brandin Cooks y Robert Woods.
Mientras el sol se ponía y empezaba a oscurecer, los Rams operaron con velocidad sobre la cancha central del complejo, siempre con el coach McVay muy cerca, involucrándose en las jugadas y continuamente revisando, en cuclillas, su plan de juego. El trabajo le dejó muy satisfecho al decir que “definitivamente” se cumplió con el objetivo del día.
“El jueves ha sido nuestro día grande de trabajo en la temporada. Hicimos muchas cosas y gracias a donde estamos respecto al plan de juego, eso nos hizo posible trabajar más con cosas de situación en la estructura de las series, contrario a solo practicar terceras oportunidades y zona roja todo en una secuencia”, dijo McVay.
“Creo que eso es bueno porque así es como se juegan los partidos y eso obliga a los jugadores a pensar un poco más de lo que estamos acostumbrados”.
Greg Zuerlein no entrenó, pero McVay dijo que el héroe del Juego de Campeonato de la NFC realizará patadas este viernes y que todo va de acuerdo al plan con él. Mientras que el safety Blake Countess tuvo participación limitada. “Creo que va a estar bien”, dijo el coach sobre el también especialista en kickoffs.
