From USC to Buffalo and back, these former teammates know the drill

From USC to Buffalo and back, these former teammates know the drill

By Gary Klein

The practice matchup has played out thousands of times in more than seven years, first when they were teenage teammates at USC, then as young pros with the Buffalo Bills and now as NFL veterans preparing for their first season with the Rams.

Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman bends his knees, stares directly across the line of scrimmage at receiver Robert Woods and readies for a challenge.

It happened again during the Rams’ organized team activities last week.

On a third-down play near the goal line, Woods ran a slant pattern into the end zone. Robey-Coleman matched him stride for stride as Woods anticipated a pass from quarterback Jared Goff.

Goff fired and Robey-Coleman reached in at the last moment and batted the ball away.

“It’s like the old SC connection,” Robey-Coleman said of the duel with Woods. “Going at it one on one — and afterward we always talk.

“It’s all coming back. The best energy I’ve been feeling in a while.”

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[www.latimes.com]