McVay Likes Rams Roster Secondary Connection in OTAs

Sean McVay said the rams roster secondary is already showing the kind of connection he wants, even though it is only the first week of OTAs. The Rams held Organized Team Activity practices last Thursday in Woodland Hills, California, and McVay said the back end is learning all the spots while competing on every snap.

“Guys are learning really all the spots on the back end, no different than really when (offensive line coach) Ryan Wendell cross trains our guys from the inside to outside,” McVay said. He added that he has liked the group’s competitiveness and the way it is building together early in the offseason.

McDuffie’s Versatility

“You’re seeing (cornerback) Trent McDuffie all over,” McVay said, a clue to how the Rams want that unit to function. Last season, Pro Football Focus charted McDuffie playing 479 snaps at cornerback and 209 snaps in the slot, box, or on the defensive line, the kind of usage that fits a defense asking its backs to handle more than one job.

Quentin Lake also plays the star position, giving the Rams another defensive back who can move across alignments. McVay said the team is teaching concepts rather than only fixed spots, which keeps the discussion centered on coverage responsibilities instead of static labels.

Competitive Plays in Woodland Hills

McVay said the defense has already produced “some really good competitive plays,” and he said he has been “really proud of those guys.” That has come in jogthroughs and some seven on work that has tilted toward the offense, giving the secondary early chances to sort out communication before the intensity rises later in the summer.

The early read is simple: the Rams are using OTAs to push flexibility on the back end before training camp narrows the competition. With training camp and the regular season still ahead, the secondary’s ability to keep learning multiple roles now will shape how much the Rams can mix and match once the real snaps count.