As Davante Adams started his first Rams coaching camp, star receiver Puka Nacua tried to be cool, calm and picked up.
Nacua, a third-year professional, was keen to place apart his seniority with the Rams. The ascending star wished to step again and permit Adams — a three-time All-Professional — to cleared the path and go first in receiver drills.
However when he approached Adams, Nacua’s nerves apparently shone by means of.
“He was saying it almost like he’d been wanting to say it for a long time,” mentioned Adams, who signed with the Rams in March, “but he didn’t really know how to say that.”
The scenario demanded it, Nacua mentioned.
Rams large receiver Davante Adams, left, talks to Rams coach Sean McVay throughout coaching camp.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
“There is a respect for him to come in saying, ‘I don’t want to push you out of the way or take your spot and be like, Oh, I should be up there No. 1,’” Nacua mentioned. “But it’s something that I have a huge amount of respect for his game.”
The request additionally got here with a not-so-hidden bonus.
“When I was in the front, I’m trying to sprint as fast as I can so I can turn around and watch him,” Nacua mentioned, laughing. “So, I was like, ‘Hey, I think it’ll make my job a little bit easier if you just go first.’ … There’s nothing better than seeing him with my own two eyes.”
Adams, 32, has been wowing teammates, coaches and followers with abilities honed throughout 11 NFL seasons. The 6-foot 1, 215-pound Adams has amassed 1,000 yards receiving in a season seven occasions, together with the final six in a row.
The Rams pursued Adams to switch Cooper Kupp, who was launched three days after they agreed to phrases with Adams. The 2-year deal contains $25 million in ensures, in response to Overthecap.com.
Adams, who has performed for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, mentioned throughout offseason exercises that he felt rejuvenated with the Rams and their “college-type camaraderie.” He has loved the way in which coach Sean McVay — “the mastermind,” Adams mentioned — has performed camp.
“Well, the ‘masterminds’ because it’s a lot of people involved,” Adams mentioned, “but it’s just been fun.
“The best part for me is just getting to know the guys and hanging out with them every day.”
Rams coach Sean McVay chats with large receiver Davante Adams, left, as large receiver Puka Nacua walks by throughout coaching camp at Loyola Marymount College.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
It didn’t take lengthy for Adams to make an impression along with his new teammates.
In April, on the primary day of offseason exercises, receivers coach Eric Yarber stood earlier than his assembled prices and gave them an impassioned speech.
“I want to get this out of the way,” Yarber started. “All you guys who were here last year, you learned from Cooper Kupp, one of the best slots ever.
“And now you’re about to learn from a future Hall of Famer. You better pick his brain as much as you can while he’s here because I’m going to do the same thing.”
Adams thanked Yarber for the welcome, after which delivered a message.
“He said, ‘You guys are going to learn a lot from me, but don’t think that I can’t learn anything from ya’ll,’” second-year receiver Jordan Whittington mentioned. “He made that very clear.”
Adams is a part of a receiver corps that features Nacua, Whittington, veteran Tutu Atwell — who signed a one-year $10-million contract — Xavier Smith and rookie Konata Mumpfield.
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has but to follow throughout coaching due to a again difficulty. However Stafford mentioned in Maui on the finish of offseason exercises that Adams was a “seamless fit” for the offense.
With Stafford sidelined, Adams has labored primarily with veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo. The 2 have been teammates with the Raiders in 2023.
“He brought over the same swagger he had in Las Vegas, man,” Garoppolo mentioned “He’s a confident dude.”
Yarber is in his ninth season on McVay’s employees. Throughout his tenure, he coached Kupp, Nacua, Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and DeSean Jackson, amongst others.
Adams brings expertise and a one-of-a-kind talent set.
“He’s a bigger receiver that has the feet of a little man,” Yarber mentioned. “I mean, he’s cat-quick, he’s got great change of direction, great catch radius and a great feel for the game.”
What separates Adams from different receivers is his potential to separate from defensive backs and create house. On the line of scrimmage and whereas working routes in opposition to complicated coverages.
“Separation is a big thing that I wanted to work on, and now I’ve got one of the ultimate separators ever,” Whittington mentioned. “So having him in the film room sharing that type of information and then just watching him go out there and dominate, it’s truly a blessing.”
Nacua feels the identical.
Adams mentioned he dispenses recommendation to Nacua when applicable.
“I’m not a walking wise man where I’m just trying to drop little trinkets on him all day, but it’s more whenever it comes up,” Adams mentioned of dissecting double-coverage and different schemes. “That part is actually like some of the most enjoyable parts of this thing for me, the cerebral game.”
Rams large receiver Davante Adams catches a cross throughout coaching camp.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
Adams’ affect on Nacua has been apparent to McVay.
Throughout a workforce assembly, the ninth-year coach complimented Nacua on a play, after which requested what he was considering whereas working his route. Nacua referenced Adams and a tip he had provided.
“When you have guys that are doing that for each other, that’s special stuff,” McVay mentioned, including, “when you have teammates that are pushing one another, when there’s that mutual respect that exists and that appropriate humility, a lot of good things can follow.”
The Rams hope so.
If Stafford is bodily sound, a passing assault that includes Adams and Nacua might assist make the Rams a Tremendous Bowl contender.
Adams acknowledged that whereas all that glitters isn’t gold, the Rams’ basis below McVay and their personnel and mindset give them a possibility to be a championship-caliber workforce.
“This is looking pretty golden over here,” he mentioned.
