After each OTA practice, team insider Myles Simmons will share his top 10 observations from the day's session. Here are 10 notes from Day 4 on Wednesday, May 29.
1) At the beginning of each practice, run game coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron Kromer leads his position group in some basic technique work — getting out of a stance and taking the first few steps in a particular play based on whatever the individual's position is. On Thursday, Kromer gave a little individualized instruction to rookie Bobby Evans, using a pen to hone in on the details of where the young OL's foot should be.
2) During individual drills, quarterbacks were in the middle of the field practicing throwing while keeping a solid base. With two bags set up, the QBs had to keep their legs on either side while moving in the pocket, and then had to throw an intermediate pass to different parts of the field — left, over the middle, and to the right.
3) For your weekly fashion update, defensive tackle Aaron Donald had on more player-themed socks — but this time he was also sporting himself. Donald had on a Todd Gurley sock over his right foot, and his own "Donald" sock on his left.
4) Following the conclusion of the special teams period, quarterbacks and the skill players worked on making off-schedule plays in the red zone. Each QB would drop back before a coach acting as a pass rusher would flush the signal-caller out of the pocket — first to the right, later to the left. After that, the quarterbacks had to fit a pass into what was usually a decently tight window on the run. Wide receivers coach Eric Yarber was stationed near the end zone to give the QBs and pass catchers another obstacle to avoid.
5) After that drill, the tight ends were working on catching low passes with position coach Wes Phillips. The players would shuffle their feet quickly for a few yards, then run up to where Phillips would underhand a ball to about the shin area and the TEs would have to catch it.
6) Later on in practice, there were a good number of competitive periods. While the starters were going through 11-on-11 drills on one field, reserves were participating in 7-on-7 on the other. Undrafted rookie wideout Jalen Greene made arguably the catch of OTAs so far, when he reached back with his right hand and reeled in a deep pass to the end zone — Odell Beckham Jr. style. Even the defensive players trying to stop him were impressed. It was honestly a great play.
Check out photos of week two of the Los Angeles Rams during OTAs.
7) At one point, head coach Sean McVay announced to the team that **cornerback Troy Hill had received a new two-year contract** to keep him with the team through 2020. Everyone on the field with the starters gave him some applause, and special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel came up and gave him a hug.
"He gave me my first shot, because when I first came here I was on special teams," Hill told therams.com just after signing his new deal on Thursday. "I love 'Bones' for real and I respect him and everything that he does. And that's family now."
On the next play, Hill nearly came up with an interception in the defense's front-left corner of the end zone. It was almost as if the QB had grooved it to him — like Cal Ripken Jr. at the 2001 All-Star game. But Hill couldn't quite make the catch, instead batting it out of bounds.
8) Los Angeles' starters finished with a red zone 11-on-11 drill, during which both offensive and defensive players came up with some strong plays. The first came from safety John Johnson, who tipped a pass out of reach from tight end Gerald Everett in the offense's front right corner of the end zone.
9) Then slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman made a sliding interception in the back of the end zone, preventing wideout Robert Woods from getting his hands on the ball. Robey-Coleman and Woods have had some solid battles throughout OTAs. "Iron sharpens iron," as the saying goes.
10) Finally, Everett made a terrific catch hugging the right sideline in the end zone. Rookie safety Taylor Rapp had good coverage, but Everett was able to get the ball just in the nook of his right arm, securing it for a touchdown. McVay congratulated Everett on the strong play as the TE came back to the huddle.
