(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The big game is just a couple of days away and the Rams are “fired-up and ready to go” in their ongoing drive to reach the Super Bowl once again. “Mr. Momentum” has been a great asset to have as the (10-7) Rams continue to shock the world of NFL experts and beat writers as they find themselves on a huge positive roll after notching seven wins in their last eight games of the regular 2023 season.
It’ll be a historical and a sentimental reunion of sorts as both QBs, Jared Goff and Matt Stafford, were traded for each other in 2021, and Coach McVay has had the opportunity to coach both in his career. Also to be taken into account on Sunday’s match-up is that Stafford gets a Super “Wild Card” playoff game, and a very competitive reunion with some members of his former franchise of 12 years, the Detroit Lions.
Remember to take a moment in your easy chair to read what Coach McVay had to say to the weekly media outlets gathered at the Training Facility on Friday, 1/12, before the team’s departure back to Detroit.
Rams Transcripts: Head Coach Sean McVay, 1/12
(Opening remarks)…“Injury-wise, the guys that will be listed as questionable for the game (OL) Joe Noteboom will be questionable. He’ll be limited today, but things are continuing in the right direction, feel good about him. (DB) Jordan Fuller will not participate today. He will be listed as questionable. We’ll use every day with him. He is making good progress with his ankle. Whether or not he can go or not is still to be determined, but he’ll be questionable. (LB) Troy Reeder will be limited and listed as questionable. (OL) Kevin Dotson and (TE) Tyler Higbee will both be limited and listed as questionable, but don’t expect those guys to be affected I think they’ll be in good shape. (NT) Bobby Brown was a little sick today, but hopefully, he’ll turn over. You guys know it’s kind of that season where some stuff is going around.”
(On if Fuller is able to go and whether he would maintain his starting spot despite not practicing this week)…“Yeah, I think so. I think ultimately, I trust him and I trust (VP Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and our group to be able to say, ‘Okay, physically are we going to be able to perform at a level that is in alignment with the standards he’s set for himself and for the caliber of play that he brings?’ He is a guy that because of his experience, because of his ownership, you want to give him all the time that he needs. But then I thought it was good for some other guys to get the opportunities to step up and do really well. We’ll hopefully have him but if not, then a lot of confidence in those guys to step up.”
(On if he feels there’s enough experience with the other safeties on the roster to do the things that he wants to do without Fuller)…“Yes. Yeah, that’s a good thing. You obviously want Jordan to be out there, but if he is not able to go it will not change or limit any of our packages that we want to be able to activate against these guys.”
(On what he liked from DB Russ Yeast last week and if he has to step into Fuller’s role) …“Yeah, Russ has a lot of experience. He played a lot of safety for us. He has done some different things in some of the underneath coverages. He’s a good, tough, physical player, has a lot of range. I thought he made some big plays coming out of the middle of the field and then as a half-field player on two big pass breakups that would’ve led to absolute scoring opportunities and you don’t win that game without the plays that he made. I think he has just gotten better and better. I think it’s a really cool example of a guy that just continues to go to work and there’s been some different things that he’s navigated through, but he’s a mentally tough guy. He’s obviously really physically tough. He’s got great athleticism and I think last week was a really good opportunity for him to be able to build on the confidence that was earned. If he does have to step up into a more prominent role, then we have all the confidence in the world in him.”
(On his confidence level in the kicking game and punt coverage)…“Yeah, I think we’ve been working really hard at that. You just continue to take it a day at a time. I like what I’ve seen up to this point and then ultimately, we’ve got to be able to go execute.”
(On the message he wants the younger players to take away from the Lombardi trophy being in the locker room)…“Look at the guys that have been in these types of situations, trust the things that have allowed you to earn an opportunity to be even playing in this game. Yeah the stakes are higher, but you don’t want to press. You don’t want to change any bit of your rhythm and routine. I think it’s really settling for those guys to be able to say, ‘Hey, what is it like?’ There’s nothing like that peer-to-peer advice, perspective. When you look at (DT) Aaron (Donald), you look at (QB) Matthew (Stafford), you look at (WR) Cooper (Kupp), (TE) Tyler Higbee, (OL) Rob Havenstein, we mentioned Jordan Fuller, (LB) Ernest Jones, these guys have played in teams that have been able to win a Super Bowl. They’ve played in these big-time games. There are a lot of guys that I’m not even mentioning. There are examples of people that are on this team that have really done a great job like I’ve mentioned modeling the way. And then there are a lot of young guys that they have a lot of confidence to just be able to go cut it loose and play. That’s what I want to be able to see from our team. We’re excited about this op for sure.”
(On what he remembers from his interview with Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris)…“Will you take the job? (laughs) In terms of when I interviewed him to be the DC? It was basically how about don’t go to Jacksonville and come be with us here. So here’s what I remember. We’ve really been so close for such a long time. Our friendship started my first year in coaching. He always had such a unique way about leading. The guy has never had a bad day in his life and then you get around him and you’re thinking, ‘Yeah, you can’t be like this all the time.’ And you’re like, ‘Holy… He really is like this all the time.’ He’s just got such great energy that’s so authentic. He can be demanding on people. He’s just such a great person. He has got such an incredible high capacity for this game and the ability to be able to teach in a digestible manner. I can’t say enough good things about him in terms of what he’s meant to me. He’s been like a big brother. And to be able to have somebody that’s been here for the last three years that’s done such a great job leading, you really enjoy doing this and you love his family and you get to know them over the course of years, and then when you go through some of the challenges and some of the incredible experiences that we’ve been able to share, it just makes you appreciate it that much more. But he is a phenomenal leader, a great coach, a great friend. I can’t say enough good things about him. but what I remember is as soon as we were able to get him on board, there was an immediate excitement from everybody that he touched in this building whether it be players, coaches, or staff, and he’s got that magnetism about him where he is just saying something’s different about this guy and he’s really special.”
(On his thoughts and reflection regarding Former Patriots Head Coach Belichick and Former Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban) …“I think all of these guys, you talk about the consistency is the most impressive thing and the competitive stamina that Coach Belichick had… I don’t know Coach Saban too well, but I have tremendous respect for him from afar. What he’s done is undeniable. We’ve had a little bit of interactions, but he’s as good as it gets and his resume speaks for itself. And then (Pass Game Specialist) Jake Peetz worked with him and I’ve heard so many great things and a lot of the things that he shared that they did, it’s like, oh man, we should implement that. With Coach Belichick, he has been so great to me. You start in this business and you’re a fan of the coaches and I had such respect and admiration and then obviously it was a really humbling experience in the Super Bowl in ‘18. But the relationship that we’ve been able to develop, the way that you can almost feel like he’s done so much for this game that it almost felt like he was giving back to the game with the information that he shares and how he’s always treated me. And that sure means a lot. But just the amount of the work capacity, the consistent stamina that he’s had, the way that he’s been able to develop players, coaches, and people around him. And then the results are one thing, but it’s just the consistency over time. And then you talk to (Offensive Line Coach) Ryan Wendell and you talk to (Tight Ends Coach) Nick Caley and (Seahawks Offensive Coordinator) Shane Waldron that have really worked with him year in and year out and the admiration, but just how impressive everything that he can do and that he’s done and that he still does it at such a high level. The game is better for these guys and really a lot of the same things for (Former Seahawks Head Coach) Coach (Pete) Carroll. But these guys are what make the game special from a coach’s perspective and I know they love it. And this game has really been good to me, and I appreciate the way that those guys have been towards me as well.”
(On if he feels like a pioneer for young head coaches)…“No, I mean, you look at it, (49ers Head Coach) Kyle (Shanahan) was hired the same year that I was. There’s a lot of other guys that are… dependent upon where you draw the line of what you consider youthful. I was certainly really young. 30 was young. It’s crazy when you think back. Sometimes I look at Mr. (Chairman/Owner Stan) Kroenke and I say, ‘What the hell were you thinking?’ What you do is you have respect for this game and you don’t take lightly what a blessing it is to be in these positions and so one of the most rewarding things is when you’re a part of a good thing here and other people get an opportunity that I was so fortunate to be afforded seven years ago. (Chief Operating Officer) Kevin Demoff said it was the seven-year anniversary today and that’s what’s special. But I grew up, my grandfather, his history with this game is why I got into it and why I’ve been so fortunate to get the positions that I’ve gotten and I’ve never forgotten that and you always want to make sure that you’re doing right and you have respect for people that have done it for a long time, but you don’t take lightly the opportunity to work with players, to work with coaches to try to do right. I’ve never looked at it as like a pioneer thing as long as just making sure, man, what a blessing it is. And you guys know, there’s been times where I’ve taken it for granted and I don’t ever want to go back to that place, but I do know that a lot of the opportunities that have been afforded to me in particular are because of my family legacy and then as a result, I got a really unique opportunity to be around some special coaches at an early age. The Gruden family, the Shanahan family, my grandfather’s experience with (former NFL Head Coach) Mike Shanahan is why I was able to get on at Washington at such a young age. My grandfather’s previous experience is why I got on with Tampa with the Grudens and with (Former NFL Executive President) Bruce Allen and so all of those things… sometimes you sit there and it’s almost embarrassing, but you want to do right by the profession because of how much it means in terms of this game and what coaching really means to try to uplift and elevate people.”
(On what it was about former Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick that allowed them to develop a professional relationship and friendship even after the Super Bowl LIII loss)…“You just felt there was a willingness. I got connected with him through (University of Arizona Head Coach) Jedd Fisch and you guys know Jedd’s a close friend of mine, what an amazing job he did. But we got connected and I was just so grateful for how willing and open he was when we first ended up spending some time together. There was obviously a lot of respect on my end, but there was just a willingness to share and to answer questions and provide a perspective that nobody but him really can provide and so that was something that I always appreciate and he’s been consistent with that throughout. So I’ve just enjoyed the interactions that have occurred. I can’t speak for him, but it’s been a special thing and I’d be surprised if he’s not still coaching because of the way that he does it at such a high level.”
(On if he’s hoping that if Belichick coaches again, it’ll be in the AFC)…“I am hoping that (laughs).” ###
