— Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay took his team across the country in an effort to escape the typically mundane NFL training camp practice
that’s all too commonplace in August.
He got exactly what he wanted Monday during a two-hour joint session with the Baltimore Ravens.
“It was a good first day
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It was hot. It was humid. There was hard hitting.
And not a single scuffle.
“That was definitely the message,” McVay said. “We don’t need any of that, especially because some of the things that can happen injury-wise. We always
talk about what the intent of practice is out here, and it’s to get better and
go against another really good football team.”
The Rams and Ravens got all the benefits of competition, with less risk of injury because tackling was not allowed.
“I felt like the two teams cooperated very well,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “Quite a bit of physicality and just a good, strong football
practice.”
The teams will do it again Tuesday, then take a break on Wednesday before getting together for a preseason game on Thursday night.
A joint practice provides a welcome relief for players who are tired of banging helmets or throwing passes against their teammates during the dog days
of summer.
“It’s tough really, what to make of it
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they do every day, so it’s good to see something else.”
McVay knew he was in for something different when he got his first glimpse of the Ravens recently expanded training facility.
“I love it. It’s really impressive,” he said. “You feel like you’re pulling up to a country club.”
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti poured plenty of money into the complex, and he was on hand Monday to watch the practice. So was Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who
wore shorts but made the mistake of pairing that with a black shirt under a
sizzling sun in 90 degree temperatures.
“It’s definitely sticky,” McVay said. “You feel the difference coming out here. We get spoiled in that California weather where there’s no humidity, but I
think it’s great work for us. The fields are in great condition; today was a
good day for us all.”
After both teams dressed, the Rams and Ravens warmed up on adjacent fields before pairing off — Rams offense vs. Ravens defense
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Special teams got some work, too.
It was so comprehensive, that McVay may change the way he uses his personnel on Thursday night.
Asked if quarterback Jared Goff would see action, the coach replied, “There’s a good chance a handful of guys, if we feel like we get the work that we want,
will sit out on Thursday. That’s a big part of being able to get good work in
here and kind of limit the risk of injuries.”
Defensive end Aaron Donald remained a no-show at camp, and McVay said there was no progress on the holdout.
“I don’t think anything is going to change with that in the near future,” McVay said. “I’ve had a little bit of dialogue with Aaron, and we’re hopeful to
get something done. But things remain the same.”
Ravens guard Marshal Yanda
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He missed the last 14 games of the 2017 season with a fractured ankle and sat
out the early part of training camp following shoulder surgery.
Case Keenum was never a highly sought commodity in his NFL career. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent, has been cut twice, once got traded for a
seventh-round draft pick, and finally became a starter last year because two
other quarterbacks were hurt.
So when Keenum became a free agent this offseason and a Hall of Fame quarterback in John Elway wanted to make him the Broncos’ starter, he finally
felt like he’d made it.
“When my phone rang and it was John Elway telling me to come sign with the Broncos, it feels pretty good, especially as a kid growing up an Elway fan,”
Keenum said on SiriusXM NFL Radio
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The Athletic. “We actually talked first when I got to Denver. It was great. Walking into his
office there and it’s John Elway behind the desk. It’s Big John. He’s definitely
a presence, obviously one of the greats that ever played the game. There’s a lot
of tradition and history there, and a lot of it is because of him. It’s a cool
atmosphere, a cool organization, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The last time Elway signed a free agent to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback, he hit a home run with Peyton Manning. It may not be realistic to
think Keenum can have that kind of success in Denver, but Elway is confident
he’s found the right man again — and Keenum appreciates a Hall of Famer having
confidence in him.
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