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The LA Rams and Las Vegas Raiders are holding joint practices this week, and the first of those two sessions just concluded as of noon on Wednesday. There were reports out of training camp of a fight between the two teams, Matthew Stafford getting picked off multiple time by the Raiders new-look defense led by coordinator Gus Bradley, and Jalen Ramsey having a mixed day against Derek Carr and Hunter Renfrow.
Here are some updates to consider as the Rams prepare to face the Raiders in their second preseason game of the year on Saturday at SoFi Stadium.
#Raiders and #Rams on the field prepping for their scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/I4c3u5foDQ
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Levi Damien. a Raiders beat writer who formerly was managing editor at SB Nation’s Silver and Black Pride, had a good vantage point of the action from Vegas’s side.
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue also had a view from the Rams perspective.
Special teams drills and stretching getting underway for the Rams and Raiders are warming up on the other field. pic.twitter.com/OghA7gXBpK
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
Three interceptions for Matt Stafford — but it’s PRACTICE
And Rasul Douglas just picked off Stafford. Two interceptions for the #Raiders defense against the Rams' first-team offense so far.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 18, 2021
Former Eagles cornerback Rasul Douglas had the second of two picks on Wednesday. The other went to former LA linebacker Cory Littleton, a player hoping to bounce back after struggling in his first campaign with the Raiders.
Cory Littleton picks off Matt Stafford.
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Of course, these “interceptions” are not worth getting worried over. Stafford said he was “glad” to have made the mistakes in practice and that he was attempting some new things on purpose that led to the turnovers.
Stafford said they installed some new things today and dictated some new looks, and he wanted to try the throw out with them and is glad he made the mistakes in practice; however he added that the picks were on him and he needs to correct those things moving forward. https://t.co/pWZ57mWMQK
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
Jalen Ramsey is “hitting full force” but not locking down Hunter Renfrow
Jalen Ramsey isn’t treating this like practice. He’s hitting full force. Foster Moreau just got in his face about it.
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Ramsey has all the confidence and boisterousness that you expect in a shutdown cornerback, and that can bleed into practices because of the competitive nature that the NFL requires of its stars. However, it seems he wasn’t locking down Renfrow like many would have expected.
Hunter Renfrow just torched Jalen Ramsey up the right sideline. #Raiders
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Hunter Renfrow goes up high over Jalen Ramsey. Renfrow is killing Ramsey today.
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Rodrigue reminded us on Wednesday, there was “no tackling to the ground” in the joint session, so take everything with a grain of salt.
Couple reminders based on questions in mentions: No tackling to the ground. May as well not be a pass rush because no contact on QBs. Hard to eval run game or the end moments of some coverage concepts on both sides because of that. Fields split so we all are doing our best.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
Robert Rochell gets a pick also
Marcus Mariota picked by Robert Rochel
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Not every interception was thrown by Stafford. Rookie cornerback Robert Rochell got in on the action by picking off LV backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has been shining during his second training camp with the Raiders.
DeSean Jackson shows off speed
Stafford attempted a deep shot to Desean Jackson, who was matched up with Johnathan Abram. Abram got his head turned around late and was able to force the incompletion even though Jackson had a step on him. There was some contact, but there was no flag thrown.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 18, 2021
He’s still got it.
Las Vegas has a superstar tight end
Darren Waller makes the catch on Kenny Young. pic.twitter.com/tbTkSOR2v3
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Darren Waller with a catch against linebacker Kenny Young, who is still fighting for a starting position in the middle of the defense.
Travin Howard drops an interception off of Marcus Mariota
Looked like Travin Howard nearly came away with it https://t.co/In5S1Lx3h5
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
There was tussling, of course
Nevin Lawson gets into it with somebody in special teams drills. Teams swarm to break it up.
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
Big ol fight. Hard to tell how it started. But plenty of rolling around on the turf.
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021
There’s still another practice and a preseason game left to go and the teams are getting “chippy” already. Amazingly, Richie Incognito was involved and things didn’t escalate.
Another scrum. Incognito in the middle of this one as both sidelines run on field.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 18, 2021
Tremayne Anchrum exits with team doctor due to allergic reaction
We had a bit of a CA-version downpour a few minutes ago so sorry for the lack of updates - one thing to keep an eye on is Anchrum walking off the field w team doctor.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
Sean McVay said OLB Leonard Floyd (ankle) did not practice today for precautionary reasons. “He’s going to be ok, but we were just smart with him with his ankle.”
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 18, 2021
OL Tremayne Anchrum Jr. left practice due to an allergic reaction to something he ate earlier.
Many Rams fans are saying that LA’s backup offensive linemen are allergic to blocking, but in Anchrum’s case, it was something he ate. Meanwhile, Sean McVay said Leonard Floyd “is gonna be okay” and that they were being cautious to hold him out on Wednesday.
Sean McVay says “Leonard Floyd is gonna be OK” and they were just just being extra cautious by holding him out today.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 18, 2021
Back at it on Thursday.
#Raiders #Rams scrimmage number one done. Raiders hit the buses. pic.twitter.com/9Z2ELBztU8
— Levi Damien (@LeviDamien) August 18, 2021