Rams’ preparation for home game in Arizona | College News
TEMPE, Ariz. — The sky was clear Saturday when the Rams went by means of drills in preparation for their NFC wild-card game towards the Minnesota Vikings.
The circumstances on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching facility supplied a stark distinction to what the Rams confronted a few days earlier, when smoke from wildfires billowed during observe at their facility in Woodland Hills.
Because of security considerations attributable to the wildfires in Southern California, the NFL moved Monday evening’s game from SoFi Stadium to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
“It was eerie,” defensive sort out Kobie Turner mentioned of exercises earlier in the week, “but to be able to get out here, to get away from all those things, it feels like we’re back to normal a little bit.”
And what’s regular?
“Normal is preparing for a game,” coach Sean McVay mentioned. “Normal is enjoying the opportunity to prepare for a game when there’s 18 teams that don’t have the luxury of doing that.”
Veteran receiver Cooper Kupp, nevertheless, famous that the scenario at home in the Southland and being transplanted to the Cardinals’ turf was not regular.
“There’s nothing normal about practicing at the Arizona Cardinals facility and all the implications that are going around,” he mentioned. “You still feel that but … it is nice to be able to be out here with the guys and have something to work towards.”
Since the pandemic, the Rams have traveled the day earlier than video games. But they left for Phoenix on Friday with a touring occasion of more than 400, together with gamers, members of the family, coaches, employees and two canine.
Cardinals proprietor Michael Bidwell made two planes out there to help transport the Rams contingent, and they’ve been welcomed with open arms by their NFC West rivals.
The fires that compelled McVay and different coaches and gamers to evacuate their properties, and the change of venue for the playoff game, have been solely the most recent hostile conditions the Rams have confronted this season.
Coach Sean McVay has tried to keep a good face for the Rams, who’re getting ready for their playoff game in Arizona.
(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)
They endured quite a few accidents earlier than and on the outset of the season, and began 1-4 earlier than rebounding to complete 10-7 and win the NFC West.
When McVay addressed his staff earlier this week, he displayed a paperweight emblazoned with the phrase “Built For This.”
“This group is built to be able to handle different forms of adversity and overcome, which they’ve done,” McVay mentioned Saturday, “and we’re looking forward to doing that this week.”
Kupp, an eighth-year professional, mentioned there was one thing highly effective about being collectively in the Rams’ scenario.
“Nothing close to things that are happening in the real world,” Kupp mentioned, “but it is an opportunity for us to draw closer together and say ‘Let’s be able to respond from a little bit of hardship here and go out there and do something special.’”
Kupp was among the many starters McVay rested in the season finale towards the Seattle Seahawks so they might be refreshed and healthy for the playoffs. The Rams will go into Monday evening’s game with no gamers out or questionable as a result of of accidents.
Vikings linebacker Patrick Jones II is out as a result of of a knee harm, and operating back Cam Akers (sickness) and defensive lineman Taki Taimani (ankle) are questionable.
The grass area will likely be painted with the Rams colours and brand, and different elements of State Farm Stadium will likely be outfitted to make it really feel like a home game.
Despite the inconvenience of touring, “it’s a playoff game, and you don’t get too many of these, and a home one,” Turner mentioned.
McVay, in his eighth season because the Rams coach, has largely loved success towards the Cardinals in the venue. So he requested that the Rams gown in the guests locker room.
“We’re familiar with it,” he mentioned.
Was his request granted?
“We better have,” he mentioned. “It’s a home game, right?”
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