'Learning' Rams Vs. Chargers Preview: L.A. 'Making Positive Strides'?

The Los Angeles Rams are correcting last year's wrongs in Irvine, California, focusing on improving each day until their regular-season opener against the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 10.

The Los Angeles Rams had a noticeable Super Bowl hangover in 2022.

They were spooked on Halloween weekend by the San Francisco 49ers which jump-started a 2-9 stretch to close out what was a disappointing season. For the seventh-consecutive season, the Rams did not have a first-round draft pick, but bring back a core of talent headlined by quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

Head coach Sean McVay said on "Inside Rams Camp" that despite some growing pains, Los Angeles is beginning to round the corner in training camp. 

"We've got a lot of guys that know how to compete," McVay said. "They bring the right energy every single day. There's so much learning going on, but this group has done an excellent job. They're coachable. They're correcting their mistakes, and we've got a long way to go, just like any season when you're at this point in training camp, but I think we're making positive strides."

After trading Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Kupp suffering a hamstring injury in practice, that has allowed young players to get more looks and potentially climb the depth chart. At cornerback, Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, who started a combined seven games last season, are in line to be the Week 1 starters, while Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua are molding their development.

The Rams open their preseason slate Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers, and McVay has said that their star players are likely to sit which will open opportunities to evaluate newer players in starting roles. 

With just over a month until the regular season, McVay said continued development is at the day-to-day level.

"Coaches are doing a great job," McVay said. "I've really enjoyed working with this group and want to just keep stacking blocks."

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You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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