Thousand Oaks, California (AP) – Matthew Stafford understands why the soccer world is still talking about his elbow.
After all, follow up on the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl victory by not throwing passes in any off-season workouts, participating sparingly in training camp and sitting in all three pre-season games – all to avoid aggravating an elbow condition that coach Sean has dubbed McVay is a bit unnatural for a midfielder.”
Stafford understands, but he’s also tired of talking about it himself.
“I feel great,” Stafford said Sunday. “Ready to play. He can always be better. I can always try to feel like 21 again. We will keep trying. But no, I feel really good. I feel like I can do every throw. I don’t know what else you want to hear” .
The veteran passer is eager to end discussions Thursday night when he takes the field at SoFi Stadium for the opening game of the NFL regular season against the Buffalo Bills. Both Stafford and McVeigh say the quarterback will have no limitations while leading the Rams’ high-octane attack against the NFL’s best passing defense team last season.
The discussion about Stafford’s facility did nothing to diminish the impression of his accomplishments last season, after 12 frustrating seasons with the Detroit Lions, he changed his NFL story and moved to the edge of the 50,000-yard club – he would become the 12th member in NFL history with His first 5 yard passes this season.
Stafford moved west and immediately won the ring through balanced and fluid play, particularly during the first four playoff wins of his career. He achieved the highest finish of his career while throwing 4,886 yards and a career high of 41 touchdowns.
But Stafford also played last season when he was still learning the intricacies of McVeigh’s attack and building chemistry with his new receivers. A year later, that chemistry has been established with most of his would-be playmakers, and he knows the crime from the inside out.
This gives him more room to rest his arm, and the Rams decide to use it.
“I think we have a really good plan, not unlike last year,” McVeigh said. “Those were the things he was working on in his own way… but he throws the ball perfectly. Everything I see reflects everything he tells me.”
McVeigh said the Rams are “always aware of the court clock,” but Stafford has no inherent limitations. If the quarterback needed to throw 50 times, McVeigh said they wouldn’t hesitate to do so.
Stafford and the rams were intentionally inaccurate when talking about the details of his elbow soreness, but he had an improper injection that helped him. It follows a regimen of exercises and exercises to keep the joint in good shape.
“I’ve been doing some things that made her feel better,” Stafford said. “You will probably keep doing these things if you need to, and if you don’t, you just go out there and play ball.”
Stafford has a year of history with all of his potential receivers except for Allen Robinson, the Rams’ biggest free agent signing off on the offense. They’ve worked together whenever possible since the start of bootcamp, and they expect to have much less difficulty getting onto the same page than players without their years of experience. Robinson got several long passes from Stafford on Sunday in the early periods of training.
Stafford is eager to get back into the game, and may also get a little extra motivation if he looks across the sideline on Thursday at Bills high-energy reception coach Chad Hall. Hall happens to be the brother of Stafford’s wife, Kelly.
“One of my best friends, to be honest with you,” Stafford said. “A guy I’ve spent a lot of time off-season with. I think even if I wasn’t married to his sister, we’d be good friends too. … It would be fun to stand up against. He’s obviously not in sanitary pads, but he’ll run up and down the sidelines like a guy.” Crazy as he usually does, cheer them up.”
Notes: WR Van Jefferson is still “day in and day out” after undergoing knee surgery early in training camp, McVeigh said. Rams has given no update on his progress, but his prolonged absence from training makes it unlikely the player who started all 21 Los Angeles games last season will be ready to play on Thursday. …Ozzy Osbourne will perform in the first half on Thursday at Inglewood.
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