OXNARD, Calif. -- After a combined 15 years of looking to defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis for leadership, the Los Angeles Rams now have to lean on data plans, text messaging and FaceTime to keep up with two of their former captains.
For the defensive line, it means plenty of time talking to Long in a group text or the occasional video chat. For Alec Ogletree, who is Laurinaitis' replacement, it means reaching out on the phone after four to six hours of film almost every day with any questions he might have about coordinator Gregg Williams' defense.
That's the Rams' new reality after releasing Long and Laurinaitis, along with tight end Jared Cook, in a pre-free agency salary-cap purge. Long and Laurinaitis landed with the Patriots and Saints, respectively.
"It’s definitely been strange," defensive end Robert Quinn said. "Chris and James, those were two of the staples here. I wish the best of luck to them at their respective places. I came in with them my first five years and now to see different guys in those numbers, it’s a little weird. But we are all going to come and we are all going to go. I think they’re going to take full advantage of where they’re at. There’s no more Chris and no more James here, but again, it’s one of those things."
When the Rams parted ways with Long and Laurinaitis, they already had their minds made up on replacements, with Ogletree shifting to middle linebacker. Los Angeles re-signed end William Hayes to step in for Long.
But the unanswered question was which players would fill the gaping leadership void left behind by the locker room's two most prominent voices. Early returns indicate that the Rams will look to a number of players to step into that void.
Naturally, the Rams are hopeful that the answer to that question will come from in-house. Logical choices like incumbent captains Nick Foles and linebacker Daren Bates weren't really options, as Foles is likely to be off the roster before the start of the season and Bates signed with the Oakland Raiders. Quinn and punter Johnny Hekker are the team's only returning captains of the five they had in 2015.
Which means that one of the underrated storylines of this offseason program has been the development of new leadership. Of course, one of the easiest ways to find new leadership is to simply turn to players who are either the most productive on the team, play a position such as quarterback or middle linebacker that lends itself to the job, been around the longest, or a combination of the three.
In the first instance, running back Todd Gurley and defensive tackle Aaron Donald would be two that would immediately jump to mind. Gurley and Donald certainly have the respect of their teammates for their early-career productivity, but both have a reputation more for leading by example rather than taking a vocal approach.
Gurley, who is in just his second season, intends to continue going in that direction, though running backs coach Skip Peete believes he could continue to grow into a more all-encompassing leadership role.
“I just kind of do my game," Gurley said. "I feel like sometimes I can be a natural leader more in terms of being in the weight room, working hard. Guys see that and they feed off of that. So, just basically doing what I’m doing, not doing anything extra, and making sure I’m holding myself accountable as well as my teammates.”
Quinn is of a similar mind.
"Well, I’m not the most vocal guy, I like to lead by example," Quinn said. "In a sense, I try to give my all in whatever I’m doing and hopefully the guys will see how it’s done, especially the rookies."
Although he's one of the league's most soft-spoken superstars, Donald is taking a little different approach. He's actually working on speaking up more often.
"I definitely have got to be more of a vocal guy at times and speak up, but so far everything has been good," Donald said. "We’re on the right path. I feel like I have earned the respect of the guys for what I have done. I’m just playing my role, trying to do my part."
Other Rams who have now been around for a while, such as guard Rodger Saffold, tight end Cory Harkey, ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, and tight end Lance Kendricks, have expressed willingness to shoulder their share of the burden.
Like Quinn, Kendricks has been with the team since 2011 and understands that his longevity will naturally thrust him into that role.
"I would consider myself experienced," Kendricks said. "I kind of know what to expect with, we’ve had a losing record for how many years now? Just kind of being in that moment you kind of know what to give to the guys in the offseason to raise their expectations. We have so many young guys and we need a lot of them to step up."
As the de facto quarterback of the defense, Ogletree will also have to become more of a leader. The same will eventually be true of quarterback Jared Goff, who has enough to worry about for right now but will eventually be viewed in that light because of his position. Case Keenum is doing some of that for the offense right now.
That's something Ogletree already understands and is openly embracing.
"It comes with the position," Ogletree said. "I definitely have to be there to be their centerpiece. But we’ve got good guys. Nobody is going to be somebody you have to keep an eye out for them, but you definitely have to hold everybody accountable for what they are doing on and off the field."