From SoFi Stadium to Camden Yards: How the Rams are preparing for London
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles, is located a short walk from M&T Bank Stadium, where the Rams began an extended road trip on Sunday with a 17-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
For much of this week, the baseball stadium will serve as the Rams’ home away from home as they prepare for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
This is not the first time that the Rams have played an away game and then remained in the city before traveling abroad.
In 2017, coach Sean McVay’s first season, the Rams defeated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., and then stayed in town before traveling to defeat the Arizona Cardinals at Twickenham Stadium in London.
Two years later, the Rams beat the Falcons in Atlanta, and then remained there for a few days before traveling to London and defeating the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium.
Several players said they would rely on the Rams' training staff to help them modify weekly routines that include massage, acupuncture and other bodywork sessions with California providers outside of the organization.
Rams safety Quentin Lake noted that last season, the Rams stayed in Arizona for a few days before they played the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC wild-card game that was moved from SoFi Stadium because of wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
“You’re in an unfamiliar environment and ... it’s just the team and staff,” Lake said Sunday, adding, “Nothing truly is going to change in terms of our routine. ... Honestly I love it because it’s fun.
“It’s fun for us to be in a different environment and really just lock in on football and focus on the task at hand.”
Last week, McVay and several players said that while adjustments were necessary for a long trip, none were too onerous.
During the Rams' first two trips abroad, McVay was neither married nor a father. This time, McVay said that his wife, Veronika, who has roots in the region, and son, Jordan, would make the trip to Baltimore.
“I'll keep it as normal as possible,” McVay said. “What I like about these things is you get a chance to be around the guys a little bit more because of the nature of what this trip entails. ... I try to keep a normal rhythm and routine.
“You just might be in a different location, but we have the film, we have the field and most importantly, we have the players. We'll be in good shape.”
For quarterback Matthew Stafford “the biggest thing is not being in your own house, not having your family around, all that kind of stuff,” he said.
“I won't be sleeping in my own bed and I won't be doing some of the things that I'm accustomed to doing,” he said. “I just change location, really. What I would do maybe at home I'll do wherever our setup is when we stay there.”
Receiver Davante Adams, a 12th-year pro in his first season with the Rams, said that he once was part of an extended trip that included a game in New Orleans and then a stay in Sarasota, Fla., before playing in Jacksonville. But this will be the first time Adams will be on an extended trip that includes a game in London.
Read more:Puka Nacua dealing with ankle sprain that could keep him out vs. Jaguars
It will be different, Adams said, because he has “a lot of different checkpoints and things throughout the week that I do locally. It’s going to be different for me for sure.”
Especially being away from family.
“The main thing for me is just being away from my kids, honestly more than anything,” he said. “That's a big part of my healing process and mentally throughout the week just resetting, going home, spending time with them and my wife. Not having that element. ... I mean, we'll get through it.”
This will be the first extended trip that will end in London for defensive lineman Kobie Turner and other young players. Turner said he and his wife grew up about an hour outside Baltimore, so they were looking forward to spending time this week with his wife’s family.
“It will be interesting to see how it all plays out,” he said.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.