Wagner's leadership on display at outset of camp
IRVINE >> Bobby Wagner, the Rams' new middle linebacker, had a chess match on the field Tuesday against quarterback Matthew Stafford and made sure the intensity level didn't decline on a practice day when many veterans took it easy or didn't participate.
Wagner relayed the defensive calls to his new teammates then carefully surveyed the Rams' firstteam offense while clutching on a gold walkie-talkie during walk-through installs.
“I'm still learning my tools, but we'll be good,” said the eight-time Pro Bowler about facing Stafford in practice.
Wagner likely didn't expect to have walkie-talkies on his list of adjustments for his first training camp with the Rams after spending the past decade with the rival Seattle Seahawks.
Wagner isn't new to the responsibilities of relaying the defensive play calls because, as he mentioned, playing middle linebacker is all he knows. But he's used to receiving the plays through a headset inside his helmet and not via walkie-talkie with Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris shouting on the other end.
“The walkie-talkie has been kinda funny,” Wagner said. “Normally, it's in our helmet, but because we're doing a little walk-through, I gotta do it through walkietalkie. But it's funny because (Morris) talks a lot of trash in the walkie-talkie, too, so it's been cool. The adjustment has been real easy.”
It's been four months since Wagner decided to return home and sign with the Rams, but he's still going through the emotions of having a training camp only 30 miles from his hometown of Ontario, where he starred at Colony High.
“I think it's surreal being back here,” Wagner said. “Although the Rams were in St. Louis, there were so many Rams fans in the area. To be back here to play in front of family and be close to family, it's definitely a surreal feeling.”
Wagner is adjusting to playing away from Seattle and learning a new defensive system, but being a leader comes natural to him. He spent the first 30 minutes of practice Tuesday talking to second-year linebacker Ernest Jones.
Wagner, a Super Bowl champion and six-time first-team All-Pro, was probably imparting wisdom but he likely also received pointers from Jones on how to play in Morris' defensive scheme. Wagner said he doesn't want to force his teammates to adjust to his playing style and that he wants to build on the foundation they have established under Rams coach Sean McVay and Morris.
“He's been such a productive player for such a long period of time, but there are some subtleties and differences,” McVay said of Wagner adjusting to the scheme. “Football's still football and he's been a great player at a high level over the course of his career. But there are some subtleties in some different things that we'll be asking of him as it relates to whether it's blitz in some of the coverage responsibilities.
“As you know, I like to pick these guys' brains, really learn how did he see our stuff. What has he seen from the landscape of the league? What are some things that they've done that maybe we could incorporate?
“He's such a mature, impressive human being that I've really just enjoyed getting to know him.”
McVay wanted to give his veterans a rest day, but he didn't want to lose a day of practice with the team still in the install phase of the offense and defense.
Wagner's leadership and intensity on the field helped with that.
It's also a perk that McVay doesn't have to game plan against Wagner in games this upcoming season.
“His presence, his ability to communicate with a poise, I think rubs off on the rest of the guys when you try to create some frenetic paces, especially in these types of settings,” McVay said.
Hardy steps up
McVay said rookie outside linebacker Daniel Hardy has displayed flashes of brilliance during the first week of training camp.
“He's done a good job,” McVay said. “You can see the athleticism. I think he's getting more and more comfortable with the things we're asking him to do snap in and snap out.
“(Outside linebackers coach) Thad (Bogardus) is such a good coach with those guys to really be able to provide clarity when you're going from outside linebacker to rush-end in some of our sub packages. So, Daniel's a guy that definitely has flashed.”
Hardy, a seventh-round draft pick from Montana State, received an opportunity to work with the firstteam defense Tuesday because starting outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was one of the many veterans who had a rest day.