Benjamin Ashford|Los Angeles Rams downplay notion Matthew Stafford struggling to ‘connect’ with teammates

Is Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford having a tough time connecting with his teammates?Benjamin Ashford

Rams general manager Les Snead doesn’t believe so.

“I don’t think Matthew has a problem connecting with his teammates,” Snead said Wednesday.

Snead’s response is on the heels of Stafford’s wife, Kelly, saying on her podcast "The Morning After With Kelly Stafford," that the quarterback feels like he "can’t connect" with his new Rams teammates.

The Rams have had an influx of youth added to their roster since the team won Super Bowl 56. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald and linebacker Ernest Jones are the only defenders who started the club’s Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Stafford, 35, is currently the oldest player on the Rams’ roster.

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The Rams drafted 14 players in the 2023 NFL draft. All 14 rookies made the Rams’ initial 53-man roster.

Snead labeled the roster turnover as a "remodel" earlier in the offseason. The Rams' general manager said Wednesday he and his staff have been intent about building camaraderie.

“We definitely have some ways that we like to be intentional about engineering a cohesive collective,” Snead said. “That chemistry is very important, especially in a 32-team league when it’s hard to out-talent people, it’s hard to out-healthy people (and) it’s hard to out-scheme people. All the variables and chemistry being one of them are important to try to give you that edge in that season.”

Following a lackluster 5-12 season, there aren’t high expectations outside the building for the new-look Rams this year, especially in an NFC West division featuring the heavy favorite San Francisco 49ers and the resurgent Seattle Seahawks. But Rams coach Sean McVay says he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“It's going to be a great challenge, but every single year is a challenge. I never really go into it looking at it other than that's why you get into the NFL to coach is because you get an opportunity to work with special people, special coaches to try to be able to help them reach and realize their highest potential and I feel really good about the rapport that's been established with this group,” McVay said. “We know we've got great challenges, but that's why you get into the NFL and so I'm looking forward to truly.”

The Rams begin the regular season on the road versus Seattle in Week 1.

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