(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: Our Nation’s highly-anticipated New Year’s Eve day is coming closer and closer in the NFL’s Week #17, as the Rams (8-7), head back east to confront the NFC East’s third-placed team, the New York Giants, with their overall (5-10) record. Another big three-game winning streak is what the Rams’ collective eye has on this prize that could lead them into the playoffs on a very positive high note, considering how the much-riddled with injuries season, has plagued the team. After their Week #10 Bye, the Blue & Gold have won 5 out of their last 6, only losing to the Baltimore Ravens (37-31) in an overtime road game in Week 14. This game will be televised on FOX 11 and radio broadcast on ESPN LA 710 AM | KWKW 1330 | 93.1 JACK FM. Kick-off is slated for 10:00 AM.
As is our regular reminder on this weekly post, we encourage all of our Rams fans to go ahead and pull up your favorite reading chair in the house, the outdoor patio by the pool, or that special place or location you are very familiar with, and read what Head Coach McVay has to say about Sunday’s match-up. It’s all here in his pre-game Transcript.
Rams Transcripts – Head Coach Sean McVay – 12/29,
[Head Coach Sean McVay]
(Opening remarks)…“Okay guys as far as injuries today, (DB) Tre Tomlinson he will not participate. He’ll be out for the game. (OL) Joe Noteboom will be limited. He’ll be questionable. (WR) Puka (Nacua) we’re going to hold him out today. He’s taking part in the mental stuff. He felt a little tightness in his hips so we’re going to be smart with him, but don’t expect that to affect his status for the game. (LB) Ernest Jones was a little under the weather so hopefully he’ll be in good shape, but we kept him at home today and that’s kind of going around but hopefully he’ll be good to go. Don’t expect anything to change his status. Those two will be listed as questionable. Then (DT) Aaron (Donald) and (OL) Brian Allen will have rest days for veterans.”
(On if he expects Nacua to play)…“I do, yep.”
(On his experience going against Giants QB Tyrod Taylor)…“Experienced player, has done a lot of good things in this league. He’s very dangerous in terms of his ability to create, the athleticism. But I think you see him… he’s seen a lot of different things. I thought he did a good job coming in giving them a spark last week. I remember just in some of the games that he’s played earlier this year, it’s down to the wire against the Bills. But he sees the field well. He can extend plays. He can make you pay with his mind, his arm, or his legs. We have to be ready to go and it’s going to be a great challenge. It seems like we’ve played a lot of mobile quarterbacks that really can make plays in the pocket, but then have the ability to extend plays where real dangerous things can happen. He’s certainly one of those guys and it’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
(On if he expects LB Ernest Jones to be okay for Sunday)…“I do.”
(On if he expects Jones to travel with the team)…“Oh, yeah. Nothing’s changed on that. It’s just with these things kind of going around this time of year, you want to make sure that he gets as healthy as quickly as possible and that also you don’t leave anybody else susceptible to it.”
(On what he’s learned about Offensive Line Coach Ryan Wendell after working with him this past year)…“I’ve always heard great things about him from afar and then when you get with him, you can tell incredibly smart, refreshingly secure person. He’s got a great mental toughness about himself. You can see from just his experiences as a player and as a coach, really well thought out. You can see he’s got a great intuition where he just thinks through things. He’s got a really unique way of being able to communicate with a calm presence, but an urgency that guys respond. I think one of the coolest things you can say as a coach is you feel like when your players don’t want to let you down, and I think because of how much he cares about them, how much he pours into them, how well he wants to see them do, and how he really handles trying to solve problems with them really endears him to those guys. I’ve been really fortunate to be able to get him here. I think he’s done a great job working alongside (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Zak Kromer, (Offensive Assistant) Nick Jones, (consultant) Mike Munchak has obviously helped out a lot as well with that offensive line, but he’s been awesome. I’ve really enjoyed continuing to get to know the person number one, but also what a special coach he is, how well he sees the game, and I think he uses his experiences both as a player and a coach. He’s really conscientious and been really lucky to have him here.”
(On Coach Wendell being able to coach various personalities… “There’s no question. And there’s so many intricacies that go on as it relates to the offensive line, techniques, fundamentals, run game, pass protection, screen game. I think one of the best things you can say is, all right, what’s a way of giving clarity in the least amount of words, which is something that I struggle with (laughs). But he does a great job with that and I think that really resonates and I think it gives you a certain amount of credibility when you’ve been in those situations. You can see he was a former center. He understands the issues and he and (OL) Coleman (Shelton) and (OL) Brian Allen, they’ve all kind of got a cool little fraternity amongst each other. But it’s awesome. I love spending time in that room and just listening and watching him and his way of being able to communicate not only with the players but also myself. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
(On if it feels as if the team is playing their best football right now)…“It does and I think that’s the most important thing being able to go through… It’s a long season, the ebbs and flows. I do think our guys are playing good football right now. Perfect? No, but that’s never the case. And so I think there’s a confidence that’s been earned. I think they understand that humility is only a week away in this league. And so I love the way that they’ve approached every single day, understanding what a great opportunity that they’ve earned to be playing meaningful football that gives you a chance to potentially extend your season. But I do think that they’re playing their best football right now and that’s exactly what we want.”
(On linebackers that step up when LB Ernest Jones misses a day)…“(LB) Troy Reeder and (LB) Christian Rozeboom are the guys that would be able to step up. We’ve got a lot of different guys. Our safeties do such a great job of communicating, whether that’s (DB) Jordan Fuller or (DB) John Johnson, (DB) Quentin Lake’s ability to play all over, but mainly Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom assume a little bit heavier responsibilities.”
(On if he feels they’re a team that no one would want to play right now)…“I don’t know about all that. I know this, we’re going to try to do a great job of preparing and playing really well against the Giants on Sunday because that’s our game. You see the narratives out there, but it’s such a week-to-week, day-to-day thing. Been around this game long enough to know that, hey, let’s just continue to be where our feet are planted. Let’s enjoy this journey that we’re on and let’s not take anything for granted and make sure that we do a great job of trying to play our best football on Sunday. “
(On if he ever got caught up looking ahead during his earlier years of coaching)…“That was one of the things that served us fairly well early on. I found myself doing that a lot probably when I was in Washington. And I think the ability to just almost have an unawareness or being a little bit naïve to the surrounding parts other than just truly focusing on that. And I think you do have to be mindful of guarding against not having your experience be a detriment sometimes. And sometimes it’s being reminded of those foundational things. Hey, let’s just focus on pouring into these guys, doing the right things day in and day out, continuing to commit to our values and principles, and let’s go play with joy and see if we can do it the right way and if that gives us a chance to get the result we want, then we’re all feeling good about that.”
(On what it would mean for the offense if OL Joe Noteboom is out for Sunday)…“Yeah, it would mean (OL) Warren (McClendon) would step up, but I do expect Joe to be able to go. I’ve been really appreciative of all the different things and the versatility that Joe has brought to our room. We’ve really looked at it as he’s a starting player that can play guard or tackle. He gives us a luxury that a lot of teams don’t have and when he’s played, he’s played really good football whether that be at guard or at tackle for us and so he’s pushing through just like he’s done a lot of this year. Grateful for that, but I do expect him to be able to go unless something changes in the meantime.”
(On why QB Matthew Stafford’s connections with players seem to be working out so well)…“I think the first thing is, he’s just got such a nice way about himself that there’s a natural dialogue that exists and he’s so approachable, even though everybody knows he’s the man, he’s the quarterback, but he’s got such a nice humility but also a confidence at which he carries himself that makes him approachable to have that kind of dialogue. And then, he loves competing and I think he brings out the best in these guys. You’re getting reps. Repetition is the mother of learning. They’ve gotten more reps together. I think they’re earning the right to play with some confidence and they know that it’s earned every single day. Want to continue to have that growth mindset, but it’s all things that are encompassing to the way that he approaches the game, the person that he is, and that’s why I think you’ve seen him elevate everybody that he’s around and why those guys are certainly doing a great job and we’re really lucky to have them. But I think they are beneficiaries of each other, both Matthew with them and then them with Matthew certainly and it’s been fun to watch.”
(On if he could foresee such strong relationships between Stafford and other players in the beginning of the season)…“I would say I’m not surprised, but it’s been fun just to kind of immerse yourself in it and watch it organically grow. And you mentioned those guys, he and (WR) Tutu (Atwell) have had a lot of good connections as well and I thought that was illustrated early on and he’s going to make some plays for us and he’s going to be an important piece as we continue to go, we all know that. But I think the consistency at which he’s approached it and how important it is to him and just the natural leader that he is every day, I think it’s something that you’re just excited to see it come to fruition and you want to continue to see it show itself on gamedays. But I would say not surprised, but certainly don’t take it for granted.”
–RAMS–
