Rams' 8 biggest questions heading into training camp

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Rams' 8 biggest questions heading into training camp


Cameron DaSilva
July 23, 2022 4:00 am PT

Los Angeles Rams players report to training camp today, returning from summer break and getting ready for their title defense. The team is done celebrating its Super Bowl win and now that they’re set to get back on the field, it’ll be all business.

On paper, the Rams’ roster looks Super Bowl-worthy again. But there are still some holes to fill and questions to answer.

Here are eight of the biggest questions facing Los Angeles as training camp gets underway.

1
Who will start at right guard?
This will be one of the most important position battles of training camp. Logan Bruss, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Coleman Shelton and maybe even Bobby Evans will compete for the spot that Austin Corbett left open, and while none of them have much experience, they’re plenty capable of starting.

Bruss is a third-round rookie who’s transitioning from tackle to guard, but that’s a switch David Edwards made look easy with the Rams. Bruss would be my pick to win this job entering camp, given the way Sean McVay talked about him after the draft and during OTAs.


2
Will Cam Akers remain the starting running back?
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Akers will be the starting running back again after he returned from injury and was the Rams’ RB1 during the postseason. However, if Darrell Henderson Jr. is healthy, he could push Akers for snaps.

McVay likes to ride the hot hand and roll with who’s running it well, so this battle could just come down to whoever is playing the best when the season begins. Akers still feels like the more logical pick.


3
What’s the health of Matthew Stafford’s elbow?
Stafford didn’t throw a single pass during OTAs and minicamp after getting an injection in his right elbow this offseason. He’s expected to throw during training camp, but his workload will need to be monitored.

This will be his first chance to work with Allen Robinson on the field, and they’ll need to develop some chemistry rather quickly before the season begins. If Stafford still isn’t 100%, the Rams might limit him early in training camp before unleashing him later on as the season gets closer.


4
How will the offense change with Liam Coen as the OC?
Gone is Kevin O’Connell, and his replacement is a familiar name: Liam Coen. Coen returned to the Rams after one year away from Los Angeles, taking on the role of offensive coordinator. It’s still McVay’s offense, and he’ll remain the play caller, but it’ll be interesting to see if there are any new concepts introduced by Coen now that he’s in a better position to work with McVay.

Could there be more play action? More pre-snap motion? A higher rate of two-tight end sets? The Rams won’t give anything away during camp, but we could see some new wrinkles in practice.

5
Will Jordan Fuller be a full-go in camp? And who will start next to him?
Fuller underwent ankle surgery this offseason and it’s been a tough road back. He’s still rehabbing his ankle and wasn’t fully healthy for OTAs and minicamp, but hopefully he’ll be on the field practicing when camp gets underway. If not, the Rams have plenty of bodies to fill in temporarily, but having their leader in the secondary out there will be beneficial for everyone.

As for who will start next to Fuller, that’s another major question. Nick Scott, Taylor Rapp and Terrell Burgess will compete for snaps, though all of them could wind up playing throughout the season. It’s just a matter of who will get the most opportunities when the Rams deploy two safeties.

6
How will Raheem Morris use Bobby Wagner and Ernest Jones?
For the first time in a while, the Rams have two really solid linebackers. They’ve been a single-backer defense for the most part under McVay, but now he and Morris will have the opportunity to deploy Wagner and Jones together.

Given his contract and experience, Wagner is likely to play just about every snap – and he will probably never come off the field if he’s the signal caller on defense. Jones can blitz, cover and stop the run, so his versatility will also make it easy to find snaps for him. The addition of Wagner will have the biggest ripple effect of any this year.

7
Is Tutu Atwell poised for a bigger role?
Atwell didn’t get many opportunities as a rookie, being blocked by the likes of Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson on the depth chart. He has a slightly clearer path to playing time this year, with Kupp, Robinson and Jefferson as the only receivers definitively ahead of him, but Atwell still has work to do.

He’ll need to show he can not only stay healthy, but take hits from NFL defenders and stretch the field vertically – which is a big reason the Rams drafted him. Being a second-round pick, the Rams should try to find ways to manufacture touches for Atwell, but forcing the ball to him may not be a good idea if he’s not ready.

8
Who will be CB3?
Another critical position battle is at cornerback. The Rams essentially replaced Darious Williams with Troy Hill, but there’s still a void at CB3 – just as there was last year. David Long Jr. held that spot early on in 2021, but he was benched after struggling against the Cardinals. Eventually, he’d earn that job back, but he still has plenty to prove – and even more competition now.

He’ll need to hold off Robert Rochell, Decobie Durant, Derion Kendrick and Grant Haley, who will all be competing for reps behind Jalen Ramsey and Hill. With how often the Rams are in nickel packages, having a reliable and consistent No. 3 cornerback is essential in today’s NFL.