There is a new star at Rams practice, and it’s not human

As the Rams started practice Wednesday afternoon, there was palpable buzz surrounding an odd attraction.

Parents pointed it out to their children. Others snapped photos. One fan’s voice could be heard above the murmuring crowd.

“That’s the remote-control dummy from ‘Hard Knocks,’” he said to no one in particular, as if the moving machine were Jared Goff, Todd Gurley or Aaron Donald. “Look, there it is!”

A day after the remote-control tackling dummies starred on HBO, the Rams put them to work during special teams drills. After testing them out on training camp personnel, a group of linebackers, safeties and wide receivers took turns dodging the moving dummies while chasing down a ball-carrier.

When the drill started, Rams Coach Jeff Fisher walked over and watched from behind the assistant coach controlling the dummies. He kept his arms crossed and let a slight grin briefly replace his usual stone-faced demeanor. He even laughed once or twice.

“If anybody gets trucked by the dummy...” said Rams punter Johnny Hekker to the group, pausing to think of a fair consequence. “You’re cut.”

The dummies are made by Rogers Athletic Company, and have drawn a good amount of attention since the start of camp. Coaches pull a trigger to get them moving, and then use a circular pad to steer in all directions.

Before Wednesday, the Rams mostly used the dummies as a gimmick and to scare players and coaches. Then they got their 15 minutes of fame.

“That was fun, really fun working with the remote-control pads,” safety T.J. McDonald said. “I have never seen something that technological on a football field. I think they move faster than a lot of the people out here.”

It wasn’t long before the Rams’ specials teams jumped into live kickoffs. And when they did, the two dummies wheeled to the sideline for a well-earned breather.

jesse.dougherty@latimes.com

Twitter: @dougherty_jesse