Rams’ plan at OC is no longer a guarded secret...

Rams’ plan at center is no longer a guarded secret​

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THOUSAND OAKS — After the Rams made Matthew Stafford their new quarterback, the big question was who will snap him the ball.

A clear favorite for the role has emerged. It’s Austin Corbett, who has played left and right guard for the Rams but began his NFL career as a center with the Browns.

Corbett practiced at center with the first unit on Thursday, while Bobby Evans stepped into Corbett’s right guard spot, during the first session open to the media in the organized-team-activities phase of the Rams’ spring workouts.

Coach Sean McVay said Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton will compete for the job but the 6-foot-4, 306-pound Corbett, 25, is showing the athletic and mental skills needed to play center.

“Austin is somebody that we’re excited to see how he handles some of the things that really require some extra communication. He’s done a good job with that,” McVay said at California Lutheran University. “I think he and Matthew have established a nice rapport together.”

The plan at center was a mystery after 2020 starter Austin Blythe signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Rams drafted no offensive linemen.

But it appears McVay and new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry had Corbett in mind all along, a move that would give the Rams a different starting center in Week 1 for the fourth consecutive season, following John Sullivan, Allen and Blythe.

Sliding Corbett over from guard fits with McVay’s emphasis for versatile linemen and General Manager Les Snead’s insistence on the center being familiar with the offense.

Evans, 24, who is 6-4 and 312 pounds, is a beneficiary of how the Rams cross-train linemen for different positions. He saw most of his action in his first two years filling in for Rob Havenstein at right tackle late in 2019.

“I think the overall athleticism that Bobby has enables him to be able to play outside (at tackle) with his length and his size, but then he’s got the quickness when things happen a little bit faster on the interior parts of the line, (and he’s) a really smart player,” McVay said.

If Corbett and Evans hold those spots and David Edwards remains at left guard, a trio of 24- and 25-year-olds would play between tackles Andrew Whitworth, 39, and Havenstein, 29.

“I feel good about where we’re at right now, and it’s a never-ending process,” McVay said of the line.

BACK TO IRVINE

McVay confirmed that the Rams will hold training camp at UC Irvine this summer, returning to where they trained for four years before the COVID-19 pandemic kept NFL teams at their in-season facilities in 2020.

That’s not a surprise, with limits on sports attendance being lifted. In Irvine, more than 10,000 fans at a time have been able to watch practices.

Rookies and quarterbacks will report to training camp on July 25, other veterans on July 27, McVay said.

SCRIMMAGES PLANNED

The Rams are scheduling combined practices with the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys during training camp.

McVay likes to give his starters live action in those controlled scrimmages instead of preseason games, and Stafford said that was his own approach with the Detroit Lions.

“It lets guys that maybe won’t play in a (preseason) game go out and get a bunch of live reps against a team without the risk of a huge injury,” Stafford said Monday.

THUMBS UP

Two months after thumb ligament surgery, Stafford looked sharp throwing downfield passes in Thursday’s drills

McVay said he likes the players’ intensity in practice more than 100 days before the team’s Sept. 12 regular-season opener vs. the Chicago Bears.
“I like the urgency that’s been set by our veterans, and then the rookies saying, ‘Hey, that’s what the expectations are,’ ” McVay said.

HEAD COUNT

Several Rams skipped Thursday’s practice, the last workout of the first of two weeks of OTAs preceding a three-day mandatory minicamp next month. Players not there included defensive tackle Aaron Donald, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, tight end Tyler Higbee and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis and wide receiver Robert Woods were there but didn’t practice.

McVay reported no serious injuries and said veterans who have taken days off from the voluntary sessions have been in touch about their plans.

“They’ve handled it the right way,” McVay said.