Freddy Fing Kruger is back, Matthew Stafford puts on a show

With the pocket collapsing and a defensive tackle bearing down, Matthew Stafford didn’t flinch.He slid left, bought a sliver of space, and unleashed a 50-yard strike to Puka Nacua for a big gain during the Rams training camp practice on Monday.As the reigning NFL MVP jogged to the sideline, an assistant coach greeted him with two emphatic hand slaps and a yell: “Freddy F— Kruger is back!”Stafford just smiled and nodded.“It was fun to be back out here today,” Stafford said after making his camp debut.And just like that, the rest of the NFL felt it.If this is what Stafford looks like on his first day of camp, what’s it going to look like in December and January?Honestly, the day could’ve ended right there, and it would’ve qualified as a win.

Stafford, Nacua and the Rams offense looked far closer to midseason form than a group still installing a Sean McVay playbook that probably grew by a hundred plays since last year.“You give that guy too much time in the offseason, there’s going to be some tweaks and some fun stuff to come back to,” Stafford said, laughing.Turns out, it was only the opening act.In front of a packed crowd at Loyola Marymount University, the Rams put on a star-studded show that had fans buzzing from start to finish.It all flowed through Stafford, who carved up the field with an efficiency and rhythm that felt more October than late July.And while his 50-yard connection with Nacua turned heads, it wasn’t even his best moment.That belonged to Nacua’s spectacular one-handed snag on a crossing route that he turned into a long touchdown.Not to be outdone, Davante Adams added his own highlight-reel moments, hauling in multiple catches and rounding out a receiver duo that already looks in sync with its quarterback.“I’m surrounded by great players,” Stafford said in one of the understatements of the early season.Lost in the offensive fireworks, the defense had its say, too.A few snaps after Nacua’s one-handed grab, new Ra...