Jalen Ramsey is blowing away Rams coaches with ‘dominant training camp’

The Los Angeles Rams knew they were getting a wildly talented player when they traded for Jalen Ramsey last October. There’s a reason he cost the Rams two first-round picks, and it’s no mistake that he was considered arguably the best cornerback in the NFL just a few seasons ago.

Yet, he seems to be exceeding even the highest expectations this offseason, dominating in camp and thriving in Brandon Staley’s system.

After Ramsey made a spectacular one-handed interception on Jared Goff in Tuesday’s practice, Sean McVay was gushing with praise for the All-Pro cornerback and his impact on the defense.

“He’s been outstanding. I mean, you talk about him really raising his game. I thought I had an appreciation for the way that he played and just watching him from afar, but now really getting a glimpse and with the amount of competitive work we’re getting in these training camp settings — he’s even better than I thought,” McVay said. “He’s had a dominant training camp. He’s making a lot of plays. We’re able to do a lot of different things with his versatility, his intelligence and he’s earning the right to say that he’s one of the best at his position the way that this camp has gone, for sure. He’s a special player. We’re very fortunate to have him.”

That’s as highly as McVay has talked about Ramsey since he was acquired last season, and it’s an indication of just how well he’s played in training camp practices. We haven’t necessarily heard as much about Ramsey as we have Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller and some of the younger players, but it’s clear Jalen is making plays almost daily.

It’s not just McVay raving about his talent level, either. Staley has also had nothing but good things to say about the stud cornerback, calling him a “quarterback back there in the secondary.”

Staley can’t wait to see how Ramsey plays with a full Rams offseason under his belt, especially with John Johnson giving him support over the top at safety.

“He’s a very, very bright football player and I think that’s something that people do not talk enough about him,” Staley said recently. “They talk about his physical gifts, which are obvious, but they don’t talk enough about his mind, the way he thinks, and I think that we’re really lucky to have him that way. I see him as the quarterback back there in the secondary, a guy that can help solve a lot of problems. He and John Johnson, to me – a lot of people talk about Jalen, rightfully so, and I think this guy’s going to play incredible football for us, incredible football. But, he and John Johnson, you can’t ask for two better guys back there quarterbacking your secondary.”

Ramsey joined the Rams mid-season in 2019, almost getting thrown to the fire with his first matchup coming against Julio Jones and the Falcons right after the trade happened. Now that he’s been afforded a full training camp with the Rams – even if it’s a slightly modified one due to the pandemic – his comfort level should grow exponentially

How Staley deploys him in the secondary will be extremely fun to watch, whether it’s at cornerback, safety, in the slot or matching up exclusively with a star tight end like George Kittle. If Ramsey carries this level of play he’s shown in camp into the regular season, the Rams will be tough to throw the ball against.