(East Los Angeles, CA)[From The Editor’s Desk]: The Rams will head into their Christmas Day match-up against the Denver Broncos with a very disappointing (4-10) overall record and will not be participating in the playoffs. This fact comes following their incredible Super Bowl LVI performance from last year. What a difference a season makes, and it came at the great expense of seeing many front-line starters from last season’s team get hit by some overwhelming, and early-to mid-to late season ending injuries, vis-a-vis, Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Joe Noteboom, A’Shawn Robinson, and Allen Robinson, Jr. Also, you can add on starting center, Brian Allen, and tight end, Ben Skowronek in last Monday Night’s game against Green Bay, and so forth.
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So what’s left for Coach McVay and his Coaching staff is to give those reservists/back-ups, on both sides of the ball, a big chance to step up into the fray and see how they fare. The addition of Baker Mayfield, at least gives the Rams a decent competitive fight at the QB spot and there is still much potential in the young wide receiver corps of Tutu Atwell, Van Jefferson, Brandon Powell, and Austin Trammel. Cam Akers has certainly proved he is the team’s best running back based on his last several games.
Los Angeles Rams Transcripts – Head Coach Sean McVay, LB Bobby Wagner, QB Baker Mayfield – 12/21/22
–Head Coach Sean McVay–
(On what he’s seen from RB Kyren Williams the last couple of weeks)…“I think he’s done a good job. I think he’s a guy that can play on all three downs, conscientious, kind of like what I’ve mentioned, mature beyond his years for a rookie, and it’d be good to get him more involved these last few weeks if we’re able to.”
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(On why Kyren Williams has had limited carries during the last few games)…“Yeah, and also, we’ve had less snaps. I think you look at it, we had 17 offensive snaps in the second half compared to 41 for them offensively. So just your opportunities are a bit more limited when they were able to kind of possess the ball and then in some instances, we aren’t able to extend drives.”
(On what participation he expects in walk-through today given the injuries)…“Yeah, it’ll be just kind of same as.”
(On his evaluation of QB Baker Mayfield’s performance on Monday night)…“Yeah, it’s the one play at a time. It’s kind of playing within the framework of what we’re asking, but there is such a unique element to it relative to the amount of moving parts around him and then just with how recently he’s gotten here. So I think anytime that you’re talking about the quarterback, when it comes to the pass game you’re talking about, all right, your decision making, your accuracy, the timing and rhythm that you’re playing with. Then when things do off go off schedule, how are you able to kind of create on your own and have that kind of stuff come to life? So those are the things that we consistently look at and that’s what we’ll continue to evaluate. I think that there’s a whole lot of layers that make it very different and more complex than any scenario or situation that I’ve been through. But (I) thought there was some good things and then there’s some things too that he can certainly learn from and it’s not exclusively to him where there’s a lot of moving parts up front and at the skill positions with guys that are playing for the first time and he’s certainly playing with them for the first time as well.”
(On how they get Baker Mayfield back into a rhythm with the ‘before the sticks throws’ and help him establish that timing on more ‘layup style throws’)…“Yeah, I think it’s just like you said, on even some of the play actions, just understanding where you’re underneath outlets are and it’s things that sometimes I know I can take for granted where, all right, well, if it ends up being a three-level throw but you’re not really cognizant of, ‘Oh, well, where is that third level coming from based on how we final formationed it, whether it was with a motion or somebody coming from a different location as opposed to just the back being that outlet?’ So there were some instances that just when you have continuity or when you have experience, you kind of immediately know, ‘Okay, one, two, where’s my checkdown?’ Or being able to quickly exhaust your progression if you’re getting five eligibles out in the pattern. Those are things that…it’s why what he did was so unique against the (Las Vegas) Raiders, but I also think it creates a false sense of expectations just based on the nuances that that position entails week in and week out with the plethora of different things that you can kind of activate and that’s kind of where we’re at. But it’s something that he’ll continue to improve on and we have to do a good job of being selective with the types of things that we want to do relative not only to him being so new with us, but also the amount of guys and turnover that’s occurring around him.”
(On players that come to mind who have capitalized on their opportunities of other players being down)…“Yeah, I think when you look at it, I think a lot of those young defensive linemen. I’ve been really pleased with (DT) Bobby Brown (III) and the way that he’s played. I think you’re seeing a lot of opportunities for (DT) Michael Hoecht and then even in the backend, it’s been really good to see guys like (DC) Cobie Durant and (DB) Russ Yeast, (DB) Quentin Lake got a chance to play for the first time, so those are the guys that would come to mind for me whereas a lot of the guys that…(RB) Kyren (Williams) is a guy we want to continue to be able to see. I think he’s done some good things with his opportunities, but those are the guys that come to mind for me.”
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(On if there are any challenges when scheming against guys like Broncos Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero that know him so well)…“I think they’d probably be better equipped to answer it, but each of those, even though there’s some similar foundational philosophies and principles, it still is relative to how you want to alter and adjust your defensive scheme with those principles around your personnel and I think both (Former Rams Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach and Packers Defensive Coordinator) Joe (Barry) and (Ejiro) ‘E’ (Evero) have done a great job of that. I bet you if you asked them both what our offense has been in terms of the types of things that we’re doing and where we’re at now, it’s a very different thing, so I don’t know if they really know because we don’t really know what we’re going to do until we know who we have week-to-week.”
(On if he had a relationship with Nathaniel Hackett before he became the Broncos Head Coach and if he has had any communication with him on how to handle a tough season)…“Nate’s a friend of mine. I haven’t spoken to him this year, but I obviously am very close with ‘E’ and you keep in touch with those guys and (Broncos Special Teams Coordinator) Dwayne Stukes and (Broncos Defensive Line Coach) Marcus Dixon, so I think in a lot of instances as you kind of continue to go through different things you learn. I’ve mentioned that a lot this year. I think each adversity and each challenge is unique to the circumstances in the situation that you’re dealing with, but you got to continue to fall back on the core values that you have. Nate’s a great coach, he’s a phenomenal person and I think they’ve done a pretty good job of navigating through it and they did a great job against Arizona last week.”
(On how difficult it has been in the past few weeks to game plan with a team that is changing due to injuries)…“It’s been very challenging relative to who you have, who you don’t have, what are the things that you’re able to do, and then how does that relate to getting ready for the upcoming opponent and attacking them. So it has been challenging, but all you can do is immerse yourself in the process, pour into these players, focus on those things that you can control and you have to continually remind yourself of that. I’ve mentioned that to you guys before as we’ve kind of talked about it throughout the whole season. But what does make it easier is the resilience and the consistency at which these guys come back in the building and continue to work and compete to the best of their ability. You want to continue to really focus on, alright, where are those small victories? Where are those things that you’re seeing that improvement? And that’s where we go and that’s our job. I think when you look at it as a coach, your job is to help give clarity to the players but help them play at their highest potential and try to put them in good spots. As long as we continue to focus on that and then guys are doing everything that we ask, that’s all you can do and that’s what we’re going to continue to do for the last three weeks remaining in this season.”
(On if he feels he has leaned on the assistant coaches more this season)…“I think you always lean on them. I think that’s been a consistent theme throughout the six years where you always lean on those guys. Have there been more challenging times this year than any other? No question about it where you do want to lean on those people, whether it be coaches, players, or whether it’s your family, your close friends. Those are things that kind of help you figure out the best way to navigate through and not be afraid to be vulnerable either and admit to, hey, these are challenging times, but how do we try to equip ourselves with the knowledge to be able to continue to move forward in the right manner while not being naïve to the fact that we’re still all human? Those have been things that have been very challenging, but you do know that great growth can occur if you appropriately handle the challenges that are presented to you.”
(On who will replace WR Ben Skowronek for the remainder of the season with his injury)…“It’ll be kind of the same as. You’ll continue to see (WR) Tutu (Atwell), (WR) Brandon Powell, (WR) Austin Trammell. You’re getting down to it where you don’t really have opportunities to get other players up as much as it’s the guys that are currently on the roster have to be able to step up. It’s been so many guys that you’re really getting down to it where you don’t have the luxury of being able to just kind of go get new people and things like that, so it’ll be the same cast of characters.”
-LB/Bobby Wagner-
(On what he has seen on tape from the Denver Broncos)…“I think they’ve got a decent run game, decent pass game. I think, like most teams, they rely on complimentary football so they’re going to set up the run, (the) run sets up of play action, sets up all that other stuff. We’ve got to make them one dimensional. Stop one thing, take one thing away, and then same thing football wise.”
(On if the Broncos have true offensive tendencies or if they change it week-to-week)…“No, I think they have their overall things they’re trying to do. I think sometimes at every given point in the game, no matter which game you watch throughout the season, they take a shot, and sometimes those shots don’t always work out for them. So we have to be conscious of that because the games where, if you look at the Kansas City game where you think they’re about to get blown out (and) they hit a couple shots and they’re back in the game. So you’ve got to be conscious of those shots, understand they’re going to be (playing) complimenting football. If you take one thing away, the other thing struggles so you have to stop one thing. But they’re professionals just like we are so they’re going to watch the stuff that we do well and we haven’t done well and try to attack that, and it’s whoever can attack it best.”
(On what it will be like playing Broncos QB Russell Wilson for the first time in a game setting)…“I think it’s going to be an upgraded version of practice. I think with practice, everything was pretty much live in the checks and the going back and forth, all of that was full speed, but the hitting wasn’t. You could never touch him. He said I would never catch him, so we’ll see.”
(On the ‘chess game’ played with quarterbacks and if he feels he will have an advantage from playing with him for 10 years)…“To an extent. When you see somebody for 10 years, you kind of know what they like and what they don’t like. But he’s evolved as a player and especially as he moved there, there’s little things that he does differently. But at the end of the day, once you get going and you start hitting and all this stuff, it slows down. The concepts that he likes and the things he likes to do will come to surface and hopefully we’ll be able to take advantage of those things.”
(On what it will be like when he and Russell Wilson both know what each other are going to do)…“Like I said, it’s just like practice. You’re talking trash at practice and a lot of the trash talk would be like, ‘You lucky you have a red jersey on, we can’t touch you.’ Now he has a Broncos jersey on so it should be fun. It’ll be a fun game for Christmas. We get to play in front of our families and hopefully my family’s coming home with a win.”
(On what stands out to him the most when he thinks of being teammates with Russell Wilson for 10 years)…“I would say the person. I think he gets a lot of rap for a lot of things, but he was an extremely amazing person. All the stuff that he did in the community every week. I mean no matter what the situation was, he was always at the children’s hospital. I know that was inspirational for myself and a lot of the guys. Creating a school, doing all the things that he does to help people on a daily basis definitely stood out, but even the stuff that he did for the staff, teammates, things of that nature. There were some years where he had a deal with Alaska (Airlines) and he gifted everybody in the building flights to anywhere that Alaska flew. His generosity, those were some of the things, outside of the playmaking and all the fantastic stuff, that he did on the field, I would say that.”
(On how a defense balances the development of younger players and risk-taking on the field)…“I think at the end of the day you’ve got to just call the game. In my opinion, no one really ever learns until they’re in the fire, so if you keep holding back calls for certain people then they won’t get a chance to grow. That’s my opinion. My opinion on it is if you have a certain play that you want to call at a certain moment, it’s better to develop that player and let him try to run that play in that moment then take that moment away and he doesn’t get a chance to learn. Obviously, there’s a balancing act, but a lot of it comes from practice. I think the biggest thing is putting people in those moments at practice and really stressing yourself. I always felt like practice should be a lot harder than a game. Coaches prepare you. They have all these different plays that they run, all these different concepts that they run. You’ll practice a play that they only ran once, but you’ll practice it maybe 20 times. It’s so many different things, so practice to me, has always been the hardest part. But the game is simple because you’re not going to see all the concepts that you might see at practice. I’m always for stressing players at practice so they can be free during the game.”
(On how the team stresses players during practice with the rotations on the team due to injuries)…“I always believe that this game is 90% mental in my opinion. You don’t have to stress the body, you can stress the brain. Stressing the brain is just as good as stressing the body. Whether it’s in the film room, whether it’s on the field, whether it’s walkthrough, whatever the case may be, if you take those moments seriously, you stress your brain. It’s just as good as the body and it’ll equate on the field during the game.”
(On what he is seeing from some of the younger defensive lineman like DT Michael Hoecht and DT Bobby Brown III)…“They’re just stepping up. They’ve got some big shoes to fill. Obviously one of them is a shoe you can’t fill (in DT Aaron Donald), but they’re coming in, they’re making plays, they’re doing what they’re supposed to do, having energy, they’re playing in the back field and playing fast. That’s really all you can ask for. You don’t want to go out there and think and overthink, because the game is not complicated at the end of the day. You find the person that has that, whatever color the ball is brown, whatever you want to look at. They’re going out there, they’re making plays, they’re knowing and understanding the defense. As they progress and as they play, they’re understanding what the teams are trying to do to them from different schemes and different run scheme perspectives. It’s been fun.”
(On if he is noticing teams scheming against them differently without DT Aaron Donald and DT A’Shawn Robinson)…“I think a little bit. I don’t know if they changed the scheme, but I think the biggest thing is they might come off the block a little faster. So if there’s a double team, they might come off the double team a little faster, versus AD (Aaron Donald) they probably wouldn’t come off on it. That’s the only thing I can probably pinpoint outside of maybe run more perimeter plays or just run away. But nothing that really stands out that’s any different for me.”
(On who is in charge of gifts for the defense)
“Santa doesn’t tell anything. Santa’s my guy, so he’s going to take care of the stuff.”
-Quarterback Baker Mayfield-
(On his takeaway from his plays and the offense after watching film of Monday night’s game)…“(It’s) kind of spot on with what I had mentioned after the game, just a few things early on with taking some of the shorter completions, some of the things that were there, some of the ‘gimme’ throws. Yeah, there were still just a few plays off down in the red zone that (we) just didn’t capitalize (on). When you’re playing a team like that, they’re going off some confidence trying to make a last stretch to the playoffs, it’s tough when you get behind like that. So obviously losing a couple guys in- game didn’t help, but I’m proud of the way the guys fought the whole game. I think that shows just the character and just the pride they have.”
(On if he’s been able to get in a rhythm for game preparation)…“Yeah, I was able to get back into a routine last week just being a longer week just to normally (do) how I do my game prep, just study wise throughout the week. Obviously, yeah, it’s a little bit shorter this week, but I think with how banged up we were, it was probably going to be one of those weeks anyway. So just more mental prep (preparation), get ready to go, get everybody on the same page, and yeah, handle it like we did.”
(On if he’s had enough time to reflect on his time at the Carolina Panthers and what he learned about himself during that time)…“A little bit, yeah. I think overall this year has been just kind of a lot of ups and downs. (I’m) just trying to stay as steady as I possibly can. Like I mentioned to you guys, I think the hardest part was saying goodbye to my teammates. We built such a strong bond in a short amount of time. Anytime you go through coaching changes like that mid-season, it brings everybody closer together than you already were. So like I told you guys, I’m really thankful for those guys. I’m really thankful for (Carolina Panthers Quarterbacks Coach) Sean Ryan and (Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator) Ben McAdoo in that QB room that we’re working with every day and those teammates I had. So, it’s tough, but everything happens for a reason. So, like I said, (I’m) trying to make the most of my time here and (I’m) focused on playing a (Denver) Broncos team coming in here.”
(On what stand out to him about the Broncos secondary on defense)…“They’re playing really well in the secondary. Overall on defense, they’re extremely talented. They play at a high level. They got guys that can make a lot of plays. Obviously having (Denver Broncos CB) Pat Surtain (II) over there to be able to lock one side of the field down helps. But then you got two veteran safeties that have seen a lot of balls, seen a lot of concepts, they’re able to react, and the rookie (Denver Broncos CB Damarri) Mathis is playing really well. So this was… when I played the Broncos, that was my last game prep in Carolina so (I’m) familiar with the structure of the defense. It’s similar to the structure we have here with L.A. So yeah, they’re playing at a high level that hasn’t stopped. So we got to be ready for the challenge.”
(On if there’s anything he must do differently in his preparation with OG Coleman Shelton stepping in for OC Brian Allen)…“No, I think the communication in that room is really good as it is, so that’s not going to be a drop off. It sucks to lose Brian, there’s no doubt about that but Coleman’s ready to step up in a big way. So yeah, we’ll be talking all week, we’ll get on the same page, and we expect to play well on Sunday.”
(On how much of the check-down throws and shorter passes are predicated on timing)…“I don’t even want to put it on a timing issue. It’s more of just taking what the defense gives you, especially in a game like that where we kind of got the flow of it. They were going to play some two-shell stuff and rely on their front and their linebackers to stop the run game so they were going to play some soft coverage and I’ll take the blame on that one for sure. It’s not about timing with guys and not having reps (repetitions), it’s just seeing what the defense is going to give you and accepting that.”
(On if it helps the offense’s rhythm to hit the check-down throws)…“Yeah, absolutely. I think just staying ahead of the chains, like we had too many long yardage third downs and too many negative plays. So if you stay ahead of the chains, get the guys in the rhythm it just overall helps. So taking those easy plays and taking what’s there.”
(On his mindset when third-and-long plays are unfolding)…“It’s a take what’s there. You have a play dialed up to get the first down, to convert, but (you) just have a positive play and an incompletion on that down a distance is a positive. So (we) want to end the drive with a kick so no negative plays, no sacks, and just try to find a completion, and get the ball out of your hands.”
(On if the defensive coverage dictates if he can make a throw or not and sometimes leads to a sack)…“In some instances, yeah, and with those guys in Green Bay, they’re pretty good at pattern reading. They’re really jumpy, they’re an aggressive secondary. So a lot of that was stepping up, but if the timing’s off against the defense like that they’re going to make a play on the ball.”
(On what he’s learned from working with Head Coach Sean McVay so far)…“Just how detailed he is. I mean, talking about, you know, even when a play looks good in practice, somehow fine tuning it afterwards to the ‘what if look.’ ‘What if we get this certain look, how do we want to teach the guy?’ I mean, it’s pretty special to watch how detailed he is and just getting to know him and how he wants to put guys in good positions, not to ask anybody to do something they’re not capable of and just making sure he’s putting guys in a great spot.”
(On how different or similar the preparation for Denver is the second time this season and if it’s like playing a division rival)…“For me, similar. You don’t want to just say, ‘I’ve already prepped for them (and) I know what they’re about.’ You still want to go back and run through all the new clips and see what the different nuances. Obviously in this league, there’s going to be different faces, guys that might’ve been banged up that are back and healthy and vice versa. So you want to go back in and treat it as if you haven’t played against them, but just knowing little nuances and continuing to grow and learn.”
(On if there are any details about his teammates that he’s learned or were striking to him, made him laugh, or surprised him) …“Yeah, there are a few guys. I think (WR) Brandon Powell is like a pit bull. He’s in there, he’s ready to go, he’s ready to hit somebody. He might not be the biggest guy, but he’s going to bring the punch to the party. No, it’s been fun getting to know these guys. (WR) Tutu’s (Atwell) always got a smile on his face and a toothpick in his mouth and (WR) Benny Sko’s (Skowronek) hilarious, like a bowl in a China shop. No, those guys up front I’m still getting to know. Brian Allen’s a pretty just dry, sarcastic guy and everybody just kind of takes him for what he is and laughs at his jokes. No, it’s a great group and it’s been fun.”
(On if it surprises him that Wide Receivers Coach Eric Yarber calls Brandon Powell ‘Mighty Mouse’)…“I did hear that last week for the first time. I don’t think it makes him very happy, but yeah it’s entertaining just to see the interactions. Obviously with (Sr. Offensive Assistant) Greg Olson on staff too, a guy that’s been around the league and seeing how he interacts with the guys, it’s pretty special.”
(On how many reps they get at practice for routes and special plays)…“Yeah, that’s why you try and have meetings and walkthroughs prior to it to talk about different looks to where you’re not just going out there and wasting a rep. Obviously at this point in the year too, that definitely plays a factor, guys’ bodies, not wanting to run them too much. So on certain pass concepts, one rep, maybe two if it’s something that you really want to call during the week and just making sure you talk through it completely before you actually go out there and do it full speed.”
(On his impression of RB Cam Akers)…“Obviously Monday night I thought he ran it really well. (I) didn’t really know that much about Cam or what to expect, but obviously you want to get the run game going. I thought he ran the ball extremely well and physical and I thought the way he finished with the ball in his hands was great on Monday night. So (we) got to continue that, especially against this team.”
(On if he’s been able to reschedule Christmas for Los Angeles with family coming in or not)…“Yeah, it’s going to be a little bit different for me, but roll with the punches. No, we’re rescheduling some stuff but I’ll be around. My wife’s family, they’ll be in Omaha (Nebraska), my family will be in Texas. It’s the way it works out. It’s a little sacrifice for the short time period, but it’s worth it. Yeah, it’s a little different. But families understand that, you get over it. We’ll celebrate and get together after the season.”
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