LOS ANGELES — As the Rams reconvened from their bye week, the mood in the locker room was boisterous. Players traveled across their lanes of lockers to join in conversations, to give their teammates grief, to laugh.
After a little break away from each other, there was no sign of stress from the team’s 1-4 start. But that levity did not extend to the Rams’ preparation to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
“I would still say guys are having fun, but when it came to our preparation and our meetings and our practice, there was a clear intent,” right tackle Rob Havenstein said. “A clear focus on what we’re trying to do on the offensive side of the ball, defensive side of the ball, special teams. Meetings have been crisp, guys have been pushed a little bit, which is good. Push them the right way and guys have responded well and stepped up. Having a little bit more accountability in things, it’s going to help us in the long run.”
The miscues and shortcomings that led to four losses in five games have been well-documented. A discombobulated run game amid offensive line shuffles. Missed opportunities in the red zone. A defense that ranks 31st in the NFL in expected points added per play (0.165). And so, so many injuries.
Receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) may or may not be back to play the Raiders (1-4) and alleviate that final concern. But the Rams did make some progress on those other notes even in a losing effort against the Packers in Week 5. Running back Kyren Williams had his best game of the season, rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown. The Rams converted two of three trips to the red zone into touchdowns.
And the defense began experimenting with different personnel ahead of the bye, both in utilizing six-DB or two-down lineman packages and by playing cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Josh Wallace while leaving veteran Tre’Davious White inactive after starting the first four games of the season.
“I think you’re making subtle adjustments throughout and after every game,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “Maybe it’s changing personnel, maybe just moving a couple guys within the scheme, doing something that they might do a little bit better, putting them in a better position, maybe it is the calls where you’re trying to get them in better spots or different things like that. We’re really looking at everything.”
How much the Rams can build off progress in a loss and a week away to clear their heads remains to be seen. The Raiders, in the midst of their own dismal start compounded by trading away receiver Davante Adams this week, certainly present a prime opportunity to get some corrections on film.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has been happy with what he’s seen from his team in practice this week. While he and his coaches took the opportunity to evaluate the first five weeks of game film, he wanted the players to get away and come back reenergized and ready to work.
“I think what says as much about this group as anything is the way that they attacked Monday, the energy that they’ve had,” McVay said. “These are the times you get tested, and I think this group has shown that they’re made of the right stuff. I’ve really appreciated and enjoyed the way that they’ve worked.”
Sunday, and Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, will give the Rams an opportunity to show just how much progress they are making, and perhaps climb a little closer to .500 before getting another weekend off to recuperate.
“The week was good to get away, but I think guys are excited to be back here and getting to work,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Obviously, a couple of home games in a row and a chance to put our foot in the right direction and get moving in the right direction which is what our goal is.”
