With joint practices not allowed, how will Rams handle preseason?

With joint practices not allowed, how will Rams handle preseason?

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Cameron DaSilva

The coronavirus pandemic may force Sean McVay to change one of his core offseason strategies this year. In each of the last two offseasons, McVay has played it safe by keeping his top players out of preseason action in an attempt to avoid injury.

That’ll be much more difficult to do this year after the NFL informed teams that joint practices will not be allowed this summer.

Joint practices have been a staple of training camp for the Rams in recent years. McVay has talked about the value they carry for players and coaches, allowing guys to compete against other teams in controlled environments.

The risk of injury in joint practices is far lower than it is in the preseason, which is part of the reason McVay has let his starters loose in practices against other teams instead of letting them hit the field for meaningless preseason games.

“There’s a premium on some of these practices where we’re going to get a chance to compete against the Chargers twice while we’re out here and then the Raiders twice when we go up to Napa,” McVay said last year. “If we feel like we’ve gotten the work necessary, then that can rally almost serve as the preseason work in a little bit more of a controlled setting.”

Jared Goff said in 2019 that he prefers joint practices to preseason games, too.

“I prefer them over preseason games, honestly, because we’re able to get the work in a controlled environment,” he said.

None of the Rams’ primary starters played in the preseason last year. Micah Kiser was one of the few would-be starters who did participate, and he suffered a pectoral injury that sidelined him for the entire season.

No significant injuries were suffered by Rams players in joint practices, and players were still able to go full speed and compete against an opponent that wasn’t their own teammates like it would be in a normal practice.

These joint practices don’t lack intensity, either. Last year, punches were thrown as a small fight broke out during the Rams’ session with the Raiders. Tempers cooled down quickly, but it was an example of how seriously players take these joint practices.

The Rams would’ve had the opportunity to hold joint sessions with their preseason opponents again this year, with the Raiders and Chargers both on the exhibition schedule. The Rams practiced against both teams last year.

Now with joint practices unavailable, how will McVay handle the preseason? Will he allow his starters to play limited snaps in an attempt to simply get them warmed up before the regular season? Or will he once again hold them on the sidelines and let the backups get extensive work?

McVay hasn’t said what approach he’ll take, but don’t expect him to stray too far from his core philosophy regarding the preseason. He’ll most likely keep players such as Jared Goff, Andrew Whitworth, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Michael Brockers – proven veterans locked into starting jobs – on the sidelines.

The biggest difference this year compared to the 2019 preseason is the number of position battles and new faces near the top of the depth chart. The Rams still have competitions to sort out at center, guard, right tackle, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, as well as the No. 3 wide receiver and cornerback spots. Will camp practices be enough to settle those battles? Or will the coaching staff need the preseason to determine starters at each spot, too?

Not to mention, Cam Akers could be the starting running back, and thrusting him into action in Week 1 without any preseason work could be a gamble by McVay. The same goes for Terrell Burgess if he emerges as the best option at nickel corner.

McVay will have some tough decisions to make, but knowing his stance on the preseason and keeping players healthy, don’t hold your breath on seeing the Rams’ biggest stars suit up for meaningless exhibition games in August.