(East Los Angeles,CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Rams final practice day on Friday came with the much awaited remarks from Head Coach Sean McVay, as he gives all Rams fans, through his mainstream media interviews and ultimately his on-line transcripts, a glimpse of the personnel he will, or will not use, and other interesting game notes that he can share, in the team’s Week #6 NFL West match-up with the (1-4-0) Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams, with their (2-3-0) record to date, are still evolving as a work in progress, while Cooper Kupp will make his presence felt, slowly but surely. There is still lots of time for the team to find its winning ways and gradually move up in the standings as we move deeper into the schedule. So, do give a good read to what Coach McVay had to say in his always awaited pre-game transcripts. Kick-off for the game will be at 1:25 pm and can be viewed on FOX, and heard on Radio stations, ESPN LA 710 AM | KWKW 1330 | 93.1 JACK FM. 

 Transcript – Head Coach McVay – 10/13

[Head Coach Sean McVay]

(Opening remarks)…“Injury wise, the only guys that will be listed as questionable for the game will be (LB) Ernest Jones, (DT) Larrell Murchison, and (OL) Joe Noteboom. Ernest, we’ll be careful with him today. He’ll go through walkthrough and different things like that but he’s feeling good. He’s making good progress and it’ll be good to see what Joe and Larrell and how they do today. That’ll indicate exactly how we’re feeling about their game status. That’s what it’ll look like for them.”

(On if he expects Jones to play Sunday)…“I do, yes.”

(On the plan if Jones does not play)…“(LB) Troy Reeder has done an excellent job. (LB) Jake Hummel provides depth. (LB) Christian Rozeboom has played really well. Some of it depends upon the personnel groupings that we’re in but those guys, both Troy and Jake, got some more reps in some of our practice settings when Ernest was just out there and kind of just staying mentally locked in, so they would be ready to step up if need be.”

(On the status of Jones’ knee)…“No, it’s been good. This has been par for the course, so this is kind of what we anticipated. So just want to be smart with him. He’s going to do the walkthrough. He’s getting himself in a position so this was kind of our thought process all along.”

(On why he thinks he’s had so much success against the Arizona Cardinals in previous seasons)…“Yeah, I think it’s all a game-by-game situation and scenario so I don’t necessarily look at it that way. We didn’t have success in one of the games against them last year. What I do know is this, when you flip the tape on, kind of talked about this a little bit earlier in the week, you see some familiar faces. I’m seeing a really impressive operation in all three phases. I think (Cardinals Head Coach) Jonathan Gannon has done an excellent job. You can just see they’re really sound schematically. They put a lot of pressure on you in some of the different situational things that come up throughout the course of the game. I think they do a really good job of being able to mix personnel groupings on both sides of the football that creates different dialogue and conversations that you have to be able to work through. I’ve been really impressed with their ability to identify their players’ skill sets and consistently try to get them in situations where they can replicate that. I’ve been really impressed when you look at the tape. I don’t get too caught up in some of the numbers. I think the tape is where the real truth is and seeing a lot of really good football in all three phases and we got to be ready to go and we’re looking forward to it.”

(On the emphasis of tackling this week and what that looks like in practice) …“Well, I think it really is about some of the drills where you can try to simulate that, even more of a premium, more of an emphasis on it. You always emphasize those things. Then when things do break down, alright, what is the tackling plan relative to, alright, where is your help coming from? What type of position are you? What’s the best way to be able to get that player on the ground? Those are big points of emphasis that we make every single week. I think when you look at last week and really, you’re going three weeks in a row with quarterbacks that can put pressure on you with their athleticism, their ability to be able to buy time. It’s about playing 11 as one, making sure that we rush with integrity. We try to do a good job of keeping (Cardinals QB Joshua) Dobbs bottled up, but because of some of the things that unfolded last week, you say, ‘Hey, how do we fix things?’ When you identify the problems, you try to provide solutions and then you put the work in to try to be able to get those things. That’s what we’ve done. There are some challenges as you alluded to, just because you don’t always go to the ground, but you try to make even more of an emphasis on it, allow the guys to have an ownership of the intent, and then make it come to life during the game.”

(On the type of impact DT Aaron Donald has on his teammates when he sends a message through press conferences)…“Oh yeah. When he speaks, people listen, myself included. I think there’s a powerful way about the way that he goes about his business. That means when he does speak, there’s an added emphasis on that. He’s a great listener. He takes a lot of things in. You’ve heard me mention just modeling the way is one of the most powerful ways, but there are times when I think especially a player like him, you end up speaking up and it just resonates differently than when you’re hearing it whether it be from yourself or (Defensive Coordinator) Raheem (Morris) or (Defensive Line Coach Eric Henderson) Coach Henny. That’s when I think he’s been at his best. I think when you look through the course of his career, he does a great job of having a feel for when to be able to use that. I think the best thing you can say about him, like you’ve heard me say before, is he’s an igniter. He elevates people around him. When he’s adamant about something, usually that means guys don’t want to let him down and I think it’s really powerful.”

(On if he expects OL Kevin Dotson to play Sunday)…“I do, yeah. He was able to participate in a limited fashion yesterday. He’s feeling good. He’s ready to go. We feel good about that.”

(On the right guard position if OL Kevin Dotson is healthy with OL Joe Noteboom)…“I think the first thing is let’s figure out how Joe feels today. But I think it’s a positive thing that you’ve got guys that have both started at right guard and performed at a high level for you. Obviously, Joe ended up having to start at the left tackle position against Indianapolis. And so having versatile players like that, you can’t have enough guys that are capable of starting and playing winning football for you. So if Joe’s able to go, those will be something that’ll be things that we’ll work through and talk through once we see exactly what he’s feeling like after today.”

(On how he learned how DT Aaron Donald could affect practice when he first arrived as the head coach)…“That was the benefit of him holding out my first two years. I remember, I got a chance to meet him when I was interviewing, he and (Former Rams QB) Jared (Goff) were the two players that I actually met with beforehand and I think that shows the respect that both those guys had from the organization and knowing what you wanted them to be. But he’ll ruin people for sure. And if you don’t have specific plans for him, because every single team goes into it and that’s the first thing that they’re talking about. And if you just say, all right, we’re just going to play rules ball, it can really be bad for some of the development of some of your younger offensive linemen and things like that. The first voluntary mini-camp, I remember that you get when you’re a new staff, you’re obviously in helmets and it’s more of an OTA setting, but you’re making kind of a cut up to really just identify some of the really good stuff and then some things that we can improve upon. And every single clip ended up being, here’s 99 just ruining a play again. And then it was a little bit of time until I saw him when we were getting ready for Washington after that because he had to work through, ended up going through that year about getting it done and then we waited. And so I told him, I jokingly said, ‘It’s a lot better when we don’t see you during training camp and then you just come in so you don’t have to upset me when I put my offensive hat on.’ But you don’t ever get bored with it. You don’t ever take it for granted and he certainly never lets the complacency set in and I think that’s why it’s not out of the question to say he is a one-of-one type of player.”

(On how he sees Donald growing and innovating his game)…“I think it’s cool when you really talk to him because again, you mentioned that when he speaks everybody really listens and their ears kind of perk up, but his nuanced understanding of the game and being able to echo and articulate exactly what’s going on is something that I think the best have and he understands that. He knows based on where he’s located, he’s able to get keys and tells and tips and reads pre-snap on offensive linemen. If you ever just talk to him about personnel and hey, how do you evaluate this offensive line or even some of our own guys? The amount of depth that he can provide. Some of the best learning that I’ve had is from these great players and he certainly checks those boxes. He loves this game. He loves competing and I think when you love something and you’re passionate about it, you’re always trying to continuously take your game in a direction that’s positive and moving forward. That’s not exclusive to physically, that’s mentally for him and I think he understands and appreciates that at a level that is one of the many things that makes him super rare.”

(On whether he will activate WR Tyler Johnson to the roster)…“We haven’t talked about that yet, that’s a possibility, but haven’t gone down that road yet.”

(On if he feels as if he can run certain plays with WR Puka Nacua as he did with Former Rams WR Robert Woods)…“Well, I think Robert brought a toughness, a versatility to our offense that was incredibly valuable and I think Puka does some of those similar things. Robert Woods is one of my all-time favorites, one of the best competitors I’ve ever been around, did so many different things for us. And you start putting guys in that kind of category and that’s a big mantle to be able to put on, but he is a guy that can fulfill a lot of the roles. Want to continue to see him take steps in the right direction, which I’ve loved what he’s done and he’s all about the right stuff. But he and Robert are special types of players and they’re few and far between.”

(On his contingency plan for the arrival of his newborn child)…“It’s coming up here in the next couple weeks, so could be any day now. Really feel fortunate that it’s been a smooth pregnancy. My wife has been incredible and so it hasn’t quite hit me yet. I know he’s active right now and it seems like he’s ready to come at any moment. What a blessing that’ll be and what an amazing job my wife Veronika has done in terms of just handling the pregnancy. She’s a stud and so this gives me a total gratitude and appreciation and newfound respect just kind of watching it unfold in real time and when the little guy comes here, it’ll be such a blessing for us, but it could be any day now.”

                                                                  –RAMS–