Iron sharpens iron at Rams camp

Los Angeles, CA (News4usonline) – Training camp for every NFL team is to work out the kinks and get better in preparing for the upcoming season. A week into their training camp, the Los Angeles Rams have the look of a team that is fully engaged. 

Practices have been crisp. After practice on Monday, Rams head coach Sean McVay talked about what has impressed him thus far from his ballclub in training camp.  

“I’d say just the overall understanding and intent,” McVay said. “I think we’re looking for guys that can solve problems. There’s 22 moving parts every single snap. I think defensively, we’ve got great command of some different things that we’re trying to do on all three levels. I think offensively, we’re understanding how to solve problems. I think they’re positively pushing one another so that’s a positive for us and we’ll continue to take it a day at a time.”  

Moving into the direction of 11 as one, McVay has his team in sync with one another. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, back for an 18th NFL season, has been sharp. 

And for an offense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL last year, LA’s offensive unit has not flinched in going up against a defense that now includes Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. Training camp has showed off this highly competitive energy from both units. McVay said he liked what he saw following one of the team’s recent practices. 

“It was good,” McVay remarked. “We did a lot of different situations. We ended up having six play drives. I thought it was good with both groups, but I thought there was especially some really good back-and-forth with the ones.” 

“Some really good plays on both sides, but that’s what we’re looking for, good quality play where you can really see guys playing through the cycle of the snap. I thought there were some great opportunities for some big plays down the field where our DBs [defensive backs] played all the way through the echo of the whistle,” McVay added.   

One thing that’s different in this camp is the rapport between Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams. Last season was the first for Adams as a member of the Rams. Finding his rhythm in the offense and being on the same page with Stafford was somewhat limiting for the veteran wideout.

Stafford missed parts of training camp last year trying to get his health right. As it turned out, Stafford produced an all-time season and became the NFL’s regular season MVP. 

Adams caught 60 passes for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns. But clearly there was an element missing from the dynamic duo’s on-field symmetry. 

“When you’re as intentional as they are, repetition ends up being the mother of learning. It’s also the best way to be able to develop rapport with each other and that’s so important whether you’re a center playing with a guard, a guard playing with a tackle, or quarterbacks [with] receivers,”McVay said.

What a difference a year makes. Stafford is healthy and looking spry. He and Adams seemed to have found that connection that was absent in the team’s run to the NFC Championship game. 

What’s been the fix? A full offseason and another training camp working together has made the pair’s cohesiveness look a little bit more fluid.   

“[We’ve] got two guys that five years from when they finish, they’re going to be putting gold jackets on,” McVay went on to say. “So I feel really fortunate to be coaching these guys. They love football. They’re always really trying to challenge each other. Sometimes I like just being a fly on the wall because I think the player-led teams are the best teams and that’s what we’re in the midst of building right now.” 

In comparison to this point last season, Stafford is enjoying training camp right now..

“It’s been going good. It’s been going great. [I] love getting out here, being able to compete on the field,” Stafford said. “Even the moments in the meeting rooms and the meal rooms with the guys, just being able to get to know your teammates.”   

Cover Art: Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during a training camp practice at Loyola Marymount University on Aug. 1, 2026. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline