Jan. 28--The Rams have begun the process of transitioning from St. Louis to Los Angeles, where they will play for first time in more than two decades.
The logistics of the move are only one of the issues the franchise faces as it prepares for the 2016 season, the first of three it is expected to play at the Coliseum before owner Stan Kroenke's Inglewood stadium is completed in 2019.
Coach Jeff Fisher must fill several spots on his staff, more than a dozen players will be free agents and the Rams must decide where they will train this season before a permanent practice facility is constructed.
Rams General Manager Les Snead is attending Senior Bowl workouts in preparation for the NFL draft, which is scheduled for April 28-30 in Chicago.
After watching practices at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Snead sat down with Times reporter Gary Klein and answered questions about several topics.
Will you be playing in the Coliseum for sure?
I've been told that's where we're playing.
Any pitfalls to being in a temporary stadium that is not your own and not outfitted specifically for your team?
The Coliseum is such an historic place; that will be neat for our players. I think our players will really enjoy being outdoors. And judging from the initial ticket [deposits] and having a relatively full Coliseum, any pitfall there is, all those things will outweigh it by a longshot.
How about the locker rooms and amenities that NFL players are accustomed to? Will they care that those are lacking?
Nowadays you can draft players from certain schools and when they come to your NFL facility it's a downgrade. So I don't think so at all. I think because it's the Coliseum -- and maybe for you in L.A. you think, 'Oh it's the Coliseum.' -- but from afar, when you've seen USC play Notre Dame at night or what have you, it's a neat venue. It's something that I think our players relate to because they grew up watching college football. ... I could see where if it was in another town and just a temporary venue, it may be a problem. But for temporary sites, this one is pretty neat.
Will be there a permanent training facility at the stadium?
There is a vision to go out and vet some land and build a permanent training facility.
Will there be a reorientation program for the Rams players with the move to a new location?
I know Jeff [Fisher] has really been at the forefront, pushing with both our league office and the NFL Players Assn., to allow us to have a meeting before we report. Because, technically, this is their vacation. And with the collective bargaining, you can't meet with your guys. But I think all sides -- players, the NFLPA, our league -- think, 'OK it's probably needed.' So right now Jeff's vision is, 'Yes, when we have the information, let's have a meeting and kind of orientate them to what's about to happen.... You have to have some processes in place to get people as comfortable as possible. So we'll design those as best we know how.
