Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Cornerback Trent McDuffie is looking to pick the brain of the only Australian contracted to the Los Angeles Rams before their last-gasp dash to Melbourne.
Ahead of Australia’s first regular-season game between the Rams and rivals San Francisco 49ers, McDuffie is looking to gain any advantage he can.
It comes as Los Angeles are planning to fly into Melbourne only around 24 hours before the MCG blockbuster.
But they have a secret weapon which can help them acclimatise immediately.
“We do have a punter from Australia that we signed recently, and I haven’t gotten to pick his brain yet. I’ve been waiting,” McDuffie told AAP.
“I’m one of those guys where if I start asking too many questions too early, I’m going to get in my own head.
“I’ll probably start hitting him with all the questions like how’s the weather, what food (is good), and what to expect.
“I didn’t ever really expect myself to ever make it to Australia with how far it is, and then go there to play football.”
Punter Jack Bouwmeester signed a deal with the Rams last month to be part of their practice squad, which comprises 17 players who train with the team.
This season, the Bendigo native will be looking to impress selectors and promote himself onto the main 53-man roster after he was waived by San Francisco in August.
But Bouwmeester does face a steep task to become the main punter as the incumbent Ethan Evans has cemented himself as the mainstay choice for the past three campaigns.
Although Bouwmeester has a very unlikely chance of playing in Melbourne, for McDuffie the opportunity to feature for Los Angeles is a full-circle moment.
The cornerback grew up in Orange County, but moved across the country and spent the past four seasons featuring for Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he won two Super Bowls.
“I feel like the only real big difference is just how your day-to-day schedule is. The Chiefs obviously were a Super Bowl team. We had a lot of success,” McDuffie said.
“There’s a lot of the same things going on over here with the Rams. I feel like it’s just two different head coaches.”
Despite arriving only the day before the clash, Los Angeles will take part in the Australian fanfare.
The Rams will transform the Southbank Riverwalk into a Los Angeles tailgate experience while also hosting community flag football programs with select Victorian schools.
