The Los Angeles Rams had their first organized team activity (OTA) of the offseason program yesterday.
Head Coach Sean McVay and QB Jared Goff spoke to the media afterward:
#LARams LIVE: Sean McVay OTA Day 1 Press Conference https://t.co/OciVW4XjnN
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 20, 2019
#LARams LIVE: Jared Goff OTA Day 1 Press Conference https://t.co/odjO9gLDIQ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 20, 2019
There were some absentees in RB Todd Gurley, CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib and EDGE Dante Fowler, Jr. Not a big deal, though as the Athletic’s Rich Hammond pointed out, these kinds of absences are growing under McVay.
One other absentee? OL Rodger Saffold III who is now a Tennessee Titan. This is the first OTA without Saffold since 2009.
One non-absentee? DL Aaron Donald. AD held out the last two offseasons, so he missed OTA participation. Yesterday, he was at it:
AD x OTAs @AaronDonald97 | #LARams pic.twitter.com/CGhNEmATrQ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 20, 2019
While it’s great to see Donald cutting it up as if he’s just any normal player, I’m not sure I’d want him to actually participate in anything prior to Week 1 of the regular season. Donald’s two holdouts in the last two years didn’t stop him from winning Defensive Player of the Year the last two years. And given the handful of injuries we’ve already seen around the NFL in OTAs...yeah, I’d be good with Aaron just hanging around and working out but nothing else. Much more important for the Dakota Allens of the team:
Helmets
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 20, 2019
It’s time for OTAs! @dakota_allen40 | #LARams pic.twitter.com/rbDZc7dzt2
While we didn’t get much clarity on the offensive line, we did see LB Clay Matthews moving both inside and out. That opened some inside snaps for ILB Micah Kiser with the first group.
The Rams are back it again today before getting Wednesday off and then finishing with a Thursday session.