The Los Angeles Rams depart their “temporary” training home in Thousand Oaks after eight meager years.
California’s Thousand Oaks (AP) — Upon taking over as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay was informed that the team’s distinctly small training facility located in a remote area of the city’s outer suburbs was simply a temporary setup.
Turns out, “temporary” actually meant eight years.
The Rams have spent McVay’s entire tenure in a series of plain modular buildings strung together on a windswept stretch of the Cal Lutheran University campus, nearly 50 miles from opulent SoFi Stadium. Most NFL teams train and work in opulent, spacious, multimillion-dollar temples of athletic excellence.
On Tuesday, the final day of the Rams’ minicamp, McVay rallied the team around him for a farewell address. At last, the coach was able to turn his attention to the future.
At least according to the plan, the practice marked the Rams’ final one in Thousand Oaks.
This summer, the Rams will relocate to Woodland Hills, a posh area in Los Angeles that is around 25 miles closer to both their stadium and the city center. They will occupy more makeshift structures at a different suburban location, but at a location where owner Stan Kroenke eventually plans to construct a long-term training facility at an undisclosed later date.
Despite the basic circumstances of the Rams, McVay overcame them to become one of the NFL’s most accomplished active coaches, and he still has no serious issues about the unremarkable surroundings for his lofty accomplishments. Even though friends and other coaches who have the luxury of sunlight have teased him for the past seven years about not having a window in his office, he doesn’t really mind.
It’s been fantastic, McVay remarked. “I adore this place’s seclusion. Really, the only drawback is when it becomes windy. I think the amenities are excellent. You and the others are in close proximity. I don’t get bothered by those stuff. The one thing I won’t miss is the Santa Ana winds, which can hinder improvement later in the year, but other than that, the movie and the players’ ability to have enough area in the weight room and locker room.”
Undoubtedly, the most significant disadvantage of the Thousand Oaks facilities is their total absence of wind and rain protection. While this is a rare occurrence in sunny Southern California, it is still an issue, especially during the Rams’ winter playoff run.
McVay has had to cancel or reduce his sessions multiple times because to the winds that may whip over the surrounding hills and onto the practice fields.
McVay remarked, “I hate it for the kickers.” They have to modify their stroke because they are attempting to overcompensate for winds that are typically out of sync with the conditions in which we will be playing. We’ve got quarterbacks that can drive the ball through the wind for the most part. They launch a sharp spiral that pierces through. However, it doesn’t help you improve until you’re playing in those environments.”
The Rams have frequently set up a sizable temporary outside tent at their site, especially for outdoor sessions when the COVID-19 epidemic was in effect. However, it was not as good as a formal practice facility with a dome, and in the strong gusts, it often felt dangerous.
McVay grinned and remarked, “There were many times in COVID when I thought that tent might be coming down on us.” “You’re trying to get to the back of the room during the two-minute team meeting, and after that, your voice just goes completely dead. I think it explains why my voice is always so raspy.
The new temporary home of the Rams is far from complete. Among a plethora of other tasks that need to be finished before Loyola Marymount University’s training camp concludes in August is the planting of the football grounds.
However, the team is adamant that it would be prepared for this temporary saga’s next episode.
McVay remarked, “Cal Lu has been fantastic.” “Being here has been incredible. Probably, we’ll just move this facility to Woodland Hills and wait to see when the real thing is eventually ready.
NOTES: McVay did not provide an update on the Rams’ ongoing talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is demanding a larger guarantee in his deal. However, the coach anticipates having his franchise quarterback in training camp. Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett, the backup quarterbacks, will also be present in camp. RB Kyren Williams should be ready to practice by the end of the month, according to McVay. A foot ailment sustained during the offseason training has hindered the third-leading rusher in the NFL from the previous campaign. … Tre’Davious White, the Rams’ new wide receiver, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 4 of the previous season while playing for Buffalo. White took part in the walkthrough on Tuesday. McVay observed, “You can see he’s really locked in and engaged on the meeting side. He’s got a lot of good stuff done on the side.” We’ll see where he is at in terms of his real process in training camp. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to using just one strategy, in my opinion.
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