Rams begin off-season workouts Monday in Oxnard
Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree celebrates after sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a game on Sept. 27.
His 2015 season ended because of a broken ankle, he learned in January that his team was moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles and a month later he was informed that he would be the new middle linebacker.
So Alec Ogletree, perhaps as much as any Rams player, is eager for the start of official off-season workouts, which begin Monday in Oxnard.
“It’s something I’m definitely looking forward to,” Ogletree said in a phone interview. “Moving to a new city, there are a lot of unknowns, but this is something we know and is very consistent.”
The Rams will train through June at the facility the Dallas Cowboys have used for training camp. The Rams will conduct training camp at UC Irvine and then move to Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks for the regular season.
The Oxnard setup is part of a sprawling hotel complex that includes two fields, a weight room and training room staged in large white tents, a locker room, equipment room and dining and meeting areas.
The off-season workout program is voluntary but includes an option for a mandatory mini-camp. Coach Jeff Fisher has historically not conducted a mini-camp, and he said last month that good participation during the workouts would probably preclude him from having one this season.
During the first two weeks, activities are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation.
The next three-week phase allows for on-field drills and instruction by coaches but no live contact or drills between the offense and defense.
In the final four weeks, there can be a maximum of 10 organized team activities (OTAs), including 11-on-11 drills, but no live contact.
Ogletree, a first-round draft pick in 2013, enjoyed another strong start at weakside linebacker last season before suffering a right ankle fracture in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals.
In February, the Rams released veteran middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, clearing the way for Ogletree to move to the middle and assume more of a leadership role.
That can begin during the off-season program.
“Everything that you would need to have in one place is here,” Ogletree said.
Second-year receiver Bradley Marquez said he was looking forward to honing individual skills and bonding with teammates.
“Everyone is excited to kind of get back together as a team again,” he said. “There’s excitement about the environment we’re in right now, being in California, and the excitement surrounding the team.”
Marquez, an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech, caught 13 passes as a rookie. The workouts are an opportunity to prepare for more opportunities this season.
“Just focusing on different things every day,” he said. “Route running, catching. I just try to break it down like that and progress.”
Twitter: @latimesklein
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