“We Are L.A. Strong!”

(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: We’d like to begin this posting with a thought that optimism, coupled with humanitarianism, is a great combination, and coupled together in many ways, in the sense of the Rams organization, they bring all things about this NFL franchise into an incredible blueprint for success. Recognized today as one of the most famous teams in global awareness for one of our nation’s most-followed professional sports teams, the Rams continue to display enormous sensitivity to the City of Angels, Inglewood, and the County of Los Angeles communities through its strong outreach efforts.

From its community outreach efforts to the legacy of outstanding players, including all who are members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, they are truly the standard bearer of what a team does for its city in the reciprocity of respectful helping of those who are most in need of life’s essentials

Having said that, the new NFL year is now upon us and the Team held its first media availability for Head Coach, Sean McVay and four of his players on Tuesday, 7/22. We present all of our followers and avid readers of Rams transcripts a super-long posting, but one that is tremendously packed with information that will be at your disposal to always return to read more of the interviews when there may more time in your busy schedules. Please give this a bookmark in your choice of devices and read what Coach McVay and his players had to say on Day #1.

Rams Transcripts – Head Coach Sean McVay, RB Kyren Williams, OL Rob Havenstein, DE Braden Fiske & OLB Byron Young – Tuesday, 7/22/25 – Day 1 (Media Availability)

[Head Coach Sean McVay]

(Opening remarks)…“Hey guys. Ok, hopefully you guys had some good time and we’re excited to get going. Coaches reported yesterday, just getting all our ducks in a row and then our players are starting to get in here this morning. It’s exciting. I thought we had a really good offseason program and now really the work starts. And I think it’s going to be important for us to stack days. A couple of things that I did want to be able to touch on before you guys, before I open it up for questions. With AJ (Alaric) Jackson, that’s obviously been a unique situation. What I think has been great that we’ve been able to learn is we do have a plan in place that we’re confident in that most importantly he feels good about, that hopefully leads to him being on the field for us. But we are going to take it a day at a time. He’s not going to be on a PUP or NFI list. What he’ll be able to do in the meantime is some individual drills with [SVP of Sports Medicine and Performance] Reggie [Scott] and his group. Some of that we’ll do with coaches, some of the jog-throughs. The actual physical stuff he will not partake in it right now and we’ll just take it a day at a time with something of this nature. But I do feel good about the plan we have in place that hopefully leads to him being able to go out there and compete with his teammates. And I know he is really feeling good. He’s handled this like a total stud and I think the perspective this stuff gives you, where it’s always about the human being first and foremost, but he’s got a lot of people that love him that are with him on this journey and we’re excited to be able to just take it a day at a time with him. The other thing that you notice is that Matthew’s feeling good. He had a little bit of soreness in his back that kind of crept up when he was… He’s been throwing, feeling good. It’s not anything that’s necessarily new, something that he’s dealt with before. Going into year 17, we were going to take a modified approach with him, kind of similar to what we did in the offseason program. And so, we’ll allow him to just work kind of off to the side on his own, get himself feeling as good as possible, and then he’ll be ready for block two, which will really represent once we finish the five-day acclimation period. He feels good about that. I feel good about that. And ultimately, it’s about having him feel as good as possible mentally, physically, [and] emotionally going into year 17. And then, that’s where you do feel fortunate that you got a guy like [QB] Jimmy [Garoppolo] that will step in and do a great job for the first few practices and then Matthew will be ready to roll.”

(On how long Stafford will miss practice)…“Just that first block is what we anticipate. So really, the fiv- day acclimation period starts today, represents day one. And then we’ll have two days of practice, we’ll have a job through, then a practice. Then kind of a de-loaded day, and then a practice on what will represent the fifth day. And then after that, projection wise, feeling good about him returning.”

(On if he’s concerned that Stafford will miss practices)
“You know, if he was a first-year player, then I think you’d say, ‘Man, every rep really matters.’ I think the important thing is having a big picture perspective with a guy going into year 17 based on this being something that he’s had before and dealt with throughout different parts of his career. He’s so in tune with his body and talking with him, I feel really good. And I think that’s why you want to be as careful and cautious as possible because of the importance of him feeling good. And these are things that… I don’t believe it’s going to affect his ability to be ready to roll. We’ve got a lot of time, but had he not already had as much experience as he has, maybe I’d feel a little bit differently but because of his ability to communicate to me, to Reggie, I do feel confidence and I think this is most importantly the right thing for him and for our football team.”

(On the value of OTA periods and Stafford being able to work with WR Davante Adams)
“It’s really important. And I think there still can be a lot of dialogue and communication. He’s going to be there in all the meetings and different things like that. But, I thought they were able to really set a good foundation. And that’s not exclusive to Davante, but really just our group of skill players in general and even some of the dialogue that’s necessary between him and the offensive line. So it’ll be good, but we’ve got some time to be able to make up some ground. I think the important thing for us is let’s stack days and be present and do the things that we can control and I think we’ll be able to do that.”

(On if it’s possible that Alaric Jackson starts the seasonal)
“Yeah, I’m not going to rule anything out. What I also don’t want to do, and hopefully you can understand this, is set expectations on something that we are in the process of learning. We have a plan in place that if things go according to plan, feel like that is a very real possibility. But again, this is the first time I’ve navigated through anything like this with a player. You start to realize there’s a lot of guys that have been able to be in great situations even though they’ve had to overcome some similar issues. You know, [Chiefs OL) Trey Smith is a really cool story to look at with what he’s been able to do. And so, the answer is we’re hopeful and optimistic, but what I don’t want to do is set expectations. When there’s a lot of things that could happen, but taking it a day at a time, I think is going to be the right approach for all of us from a mental perspective and physically from Alaric.”

(On what Stafford’s modified approach to training camp will look like)
“That would probably represent something along the lines of, if you look at our four-day blocks, one of those four days, he would be off. And we’ll do that with a couple other veteran players as you look at the totality of the amount of work that we’ll get in. And really when you are saying, ‘Hey, it’s as important as anything to get as healthy and ready to go for week one as we possibly can.’ Some of those guys that have a lot more experience, that’s where you’re balancing that hey, you got to work. I think growth does demand a discomfort in terms of setting those right calluses, but not unnecessarily pushing the envelope from a sports performance perspective where guys feel worn down before you’ve even played one of these 17 that you’re guaranteed. But one of the four days to answer your question. Sorry for all the unnecessary ‘BS’ there.”

(On if his message to the players about how training camp has changed throughout the years)
“Yeah, you know what I would say, I think there’s a consistency of values and principles. And I do think it’s important for us to evolve, adapt, and say what’s specific and what do we feel like this group needs? But there are some consistent things that, shoot, I was just walking over here with [VP of Communications] Artis [Twyman]. I can’t believe [I’m] going into year nine, year 23 for Artis. How about that? Isn’t that awesome? But the answer is there’s some consistent values and principles. But some of the things in terms of what we’ve learned, good and bad, over the last eight years, you absolutely try to apply. But the answer is yes, it does change, but there still is some similar things that you’re saying, ‘That feels similar to last year.’ And I think you want to be consistent in that.”

(On having continuity with his Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, and Special Teams Coordinator)
“What the hell… I don’t know what to do with myself! (Laughter). I think it’s huge. I think the most important thing is being able to delegate and give people autonomy and authority over things that they’re capable of handling. And you want to make sure that you’re there to be an ear, to be able to provide some vision or perspective if necessary. But, with [OC] Mike [LaFleur], with [DC] Chris [Shula], with [ST] Chase [Blackburn], there’s a lot of trust, and that goes for the other coaches that are working on those sides of the ball as well. I think what’s been really cool is the amount of turnover that we have had. I think we’ve gotten better at identifying the kinds of people that thrive in these atmospheres and environments that we want to cultivate, and the people are what it’s all about. But it’s a great thing. I think as you’re continuing to learn how you grow, how you can be better, how you can positively impact people, it’s nice to feel like in a lot of instances stepping back provides the clarity and then also gives the trust that has been earned by a lot of these guys to go do their thing. And then you can be there whenever is necessary without diluting things.”

(On his coaching is now versus when he first came in nine seasons ago)
“Well, I just think the first thing is, is there’s a lot of learning. I think you’re growing and maturing as a man and that’s continuously going on. But things in my life have changed in better ways. You learn from your mistakes, how you deal with people. I think you become more empathetic, have more of a heart for people. And having my wife, having a son, it’s awesome to be able to have my dad around. My parents were in town this week and then my dad’s around practice. We always joke if you didn’t know any better, you’d think that’s [Rams owner] Stan Kroenke because he walks around like he owns the team. But it’s awesome. It’s a blessing and a lot of the things where the mistakes have occurred, I think are where there’s been some of the most gratifying moments that come from it, even though in those times you’re like, ‘Man, it sure doesn’t feel like there’s anything good that’s going to come of it.’ But I feel really fortunate to be in a position where I think you’re enjoying it even more. I think you have a healthier perspective without being any less competitive and crazy. That’s not been a bad thing sometimes too.”

(On the importance of RB Kyren Williams practicing during training camp)
“It’s huge. He’s handled himself like the guy that you guys know. I mean, that’s just who he is. And we’re going to sit down with [Agent] Drew [Rosenhaus] tomorrow. Looking forward to that. You say these things all the time and the ultimate goal in mind is for him to get under contract and finding that sweet spot that fits for that puzzle that we’re trying to piece together as a team, and what represents his value for the production and what he means to us, those can sometimes be challenging things, but I think there’s been a good, healthy collaborative approach. We have gotten closer, haven’t gotten the deal over the finish line, obviously, and he has done everything that he can control that makes you want say, ‘Let’s try in good faith to figure this out for this guy because he’s representing all the things that are right about the Rams.’ And the way he plays, his spirit, his mindset, what he is as a teammate, how he responds to adversity, the physical and mental toughness, so it means a lot. I love this guy and love what he stands for and what he is about, most importantly, as a man.”

(On if he anticipates a deal with Williams getting done)
“I’m hopeful for that. What I don’t want to do… there’s, even just talking with Drew and [Senior Manager, Football Administration] Matthew Shearin yesterday, there’s some things that… where we’re at and where they’re at, that we’ve got to be able to bridge a gap for that to be able to get over the finish line. But based on where we are now compared to where we were, there has been a progressive approach towards that finish line. But I don’t want to say anything. I’m hopeful that’s the goal. Whether or not that ends up getting done, we’ll see. And you guys will find out I’m sure as soon as it does if that’s the case.”

(On how Jimmy Garoppolo’s approach as a backup differs from other backup QBs)
“Well, what I think’s great is it doesn’t. What I’ve noticed from him is consistency, steadiness. There’s a lot of confidence that I think’s been earned. He’s going into year 12, sometimes people forget how much experience he’s accumulated. He’s just got this great vibe about himself that, whether it’s leading the scout team or whether that’s stepping in and leading the offense if we’re giving Matthew a day off. I think going back, consistency would be the answer. But this is a guy that even though he is in that role here, he knows what he is and where he stands in the pecking order where there’s no doubt in my mind, he’s one of the… he’s a real quarterback and I’ve got a lot of belief in him. And I feel really fortunate that we’ve got Matthew and then somebody as unique as Jimmy that these situations with Matthew, I’m circling back with what you asked earlier, don’t worry about Matthew because of his experience. And I also know that, Matthew is so unique and special, but when you have a quality player like Jimmy that can step in, now you don’t feel like the team is totally punished either. And that’s a big deal to me that allows a freedom to be best for Matthew because you don’t feel like you’re punishing the team. Whereas, we’ve been in some situations and scenarios where the drop off is so drastic and so significant that now it’s hurting our ability to move forward like what we want to be able to do. And by no means am I saying that… we know how special Matthew is, but it’s a blessing to have a player like Jimmy to be able to come in and he’ll do an excellent job. There is a lot of confidence that his teammates have in him and it’s really cool to watch the reverence and respect he has from Matthew and their relationship and even watching Matthew mentor both of those guys, and [QB] Stetson [Bennett], it’s a special quarterback room and Matthew leads the way, but Jimmy…I’m really glad that he came back.”

(On how Jimmy seemed happy with the team last year and deciding to return even though he seemingly had opportunities to play as a starter elsewhere)
“Hell yeah. I think he’s really at peace. I think he’s had some different experiences where maybe your priorities shift and don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a starting quarterback in this league and he will be again at some point. But I think when you are truly secure in yourself, and you’re able to make decisions that are best for your fulfillment in life and where you’re at, that’s a pretty cool thing. And it sure meant a lot to us that there were multiple examples of players that showed they wanted to be here by the decisions and it wasn’t exclusive to money. And don’t get me wrong, the financial part is a huge part of this thing. But there were a handful of examples of guys that took a little bit less to continue to be here and I can’t tell you how much that means to us and why you want to continuously strive to create and cultivate an environment that people want to be a part of. Where hey, there’s that sense of urgency, but I like coming to work and I feel like I’m getting pushed, and it’s not easy, but it’s worthwhile and I’m doing it with people that move me forward and help me become who I want to be. Jimmy does that for his teammates; he does that for his coaches, and hopefully, we do the same thing for him.”

(On the change from “We not me” to “We then me”)
“It’s one of the things that was asked about. I got too much time to think about stuff that, you know, but I think when you talk about the words meaning something, we’ve always talked about football’s the greatest team sport that there is. And it is about the team first and the we matters a whole hell of a lot. And it comes first but man, the me matters a whole lot as well. It’s not me. It’s we and me or we then me, but it subconsciously communicates that it is about the team. But what is your role and responsibility as a teammate? What do we want that to be about? What are those values and principles that we want to subscribe to that’s authentic to guys’ personalities? And then what is my individual responsibility within the framework of, hey, my mindset, my energy, how I move my one-eleventh on each snap if I’m out there on the field competing. And so I think it’s just having the words mean something and continuously being able to say, ‘Hey, how do you adjust, adapt? How do you make things better?’ And all the stuff that we talk about is a collaboration with our players, with our coaches. A lot of these things come from being exposed to some special people that have done it the right way. And we’ll never shy away from the fact that we’re always trying to push the envelope and move forward and try to do things and message things in a manner that’s reflective of what we want to be about to be the best people we can be.”

Photo: Rico Cabrera, Sr., East L.A. Sports Scene Productions

On if the team still feels young)
“It does in a good way. And we’ve got some guys that are veteran-laden. We’re older on the offensive side of the ball with some of our guys that have been here for a while. When you look at [TE] [Tyler] Higbee going into Year 10, [OT] [Rob] Havenstein year 11, Matthew year 17, Jimmy and Davante going into year 12, [OT] D.J. Humphries who we signed is going into year 12 as well. And then our most veteran-laden player on defense is [CB] Ahkello Witherspoon going into year nine. So yes, but I think it’s a good mix of some guys that have accumulated some experience, but these guys that are still young in age, I think that experience accelerates your mindset, your mentality. But I love the natural just zest and the joy that this group has. I don’t want us to lose that at all. We’re not going to allow expectations to get in the way of our ability to go swing and compete and try to stack days every single day. And it does feel like a youthful energy that we have. And I even feel that from some of our players. You watch the way Matthew Stafford’s running around in the offseason and how he feels and his vibe. So even some of these guys that are older by age, they feel young. Some of the cool comments that Davante made, that’s what it’s about and so it feels like a young team in a good way. But these guys have accumulated some cool experience over the last couple years that I think will serve them well.”

(On if he thinks Stafford will be ready for the start of the season)
“I do. Oh yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I just wanted to make sure that I was at least filling you guys in, mainly so you don’t just bury me with questions after the first day when you see him out there. But it is something that, in all seriousness, feel really good. And I think this is the smartest approach knowing that he’s got that experience accumulated. This is what’s the right thing based on having dealt with some similar things in previous years. And those prescriptions or those approaches, have served him well and that’s why you feel confident that he’ll be ready to go in block two and that’ll be exactly how we approach it.”

*[Running Back (RB), #23 Kyren Williams]

(On the decision to attend camp amid contract negotiations)
“For me, there was no decision. I play football. That’s what I do. That’s what I love. At the end of the day, I do this not for the money, fame, or popularity but to take care of my family. I have three sisters, a mom and dad, ten nieces and nephews that I’m working hard for so that they can one day be able to say that they go to college and come to a school like this [Loyola Marymount University]. For me, it’s a lot bigger than the contract negotiations, it’s putting my feet on the ground and continuing to get better, continuing to keep being who I am as a person, as a player, as an athlete, as a teammate, and as a brother. I’m trying to facilitate it to be the best that I can be. Being here right now is a no-brainer because I’ve got people to take care of. Putting my feet on the grass is the only way I know how to do that.”

(On whether he’ll be practicing during training camp)
“Yes.”

(On whether he trusts his agents to get a deal done)
“Most importantly, I put the trust in God. My agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is a great agent. I was able to be signed to him since my last year of college. Obviously, I trust him. I trust in the plan. I trust in what the Lord is doing right now. There is nothing other than just going to work, keeping my head down, continuing to keep being the best teammate, the best player, the best brother that I can be for each and every guy on this team.”

(On whether progress has been made on securing a long-term deal with the team)
“Yeah, there’s been progress. There’s definitely been progress from when we started in OTAs to where we’re at now. I’m not sure. I don’t know when it’s going to get done. It’s going to get done on God’s timing. So for me right now, it’s [important] for me to be present and where my feet are at.”

(On anticipating a deal getting done with the Rams)
“Yeah, I want to play for the Rams. That’s who I want to be with. That’s who I want to stay with and I know it will work out.”

(On whether his mindset will change if a deal is not reached by the season opener)
“It doesn’t change anything. My one goal is to be able to keep putting on and keep taking care of the people that I love. Whether that’s playing out a contract or whatever it is, it’s a blessing at the end of the day. I’m still playing football. I’m still a professional athlete. I’m still doing the things that, as a kid, I dreamt of doing. Negotiations, all that stuff, it’s all going to work out. It’s all part of a plan. It’s all part of a bigger plan that I have no control over. [Head] Coach [Sean] McVay doesn’t even have control over it. Drew doesn’t even have control over it. I just keep on living the life that we have right now and stop worrying about things that you have no control over.”

(On the potential of this team)
“That’s the biggest part to me, it’s seeing the squad that we have. From top to bottom, from special teams to offense and defense, we are stacked. We have people who know what it’s like to be here as a Ram and play as a Ram. We have people who are like-minded, people who go to work, people that are playing for each other and not just for an individual. That’s what I’m most excited about. I’m in my fourth year. I feel like I have a bird’s eye view. I know what to expect. I’m even more excited because I know the potential of this team and how far we can go.”

(On Coach McVay looking to diversify the offense and what he hopes to see this season)
“Me personally, put me in at slot (laughter). Let me go work in at receiver or something. But being able to see how every single individual has their own unique traits and how Coach McVay puts it all together. We have people like [Wide Receiver] Davante [Adams], Puka [Nacua], Tutu [Atwell], me, [Running Back] Blake [Corum], [Tight End] ‘Higs’ [Tyler Higbee], ‘T-Ferg’ [Terrance Ferguson], Colby [Parkinson]. We’ve got people who are playmakers and who do a lot of different things differently but they’re all good. I’m just excited to see how coach does it because he’s smart. He’s a genius when it comes to football so it’s going to be fun to see.”

(On his usage last season and whether he expects to be used as much as a blocker and pass catcher as he is a runner this season)
“I’m going to do whatever it is when my number is called. Last year, I had no expectations of being able to get as many snaps as I did. I had no idea, but I was prepared for it. I worked for it throughout the year. Whatever is to come, I’m going to be prepared for it. I worked so hard from this day on, even before this like even after the season. I’ve been working every single day up to this day. I’m prepared for anything. I’m ready for it.”

(On whether he’s changed anything about his offseason preparation this year)
“Definitely. I’m eating better. I’ve got a chef and I get the macros that my body needs in order to feel good, to feel like I’m alive and vibrant. I wake up every morning, thanks to the Lord, but I’m just full of energy. That’s the food, the things I fuel myself with, but just the person that I’m becoming. It’s just great.”

(On improving his explosiveness and ball security this offseason)
“Simply just grip strength like grip workouts. I’m in the weight room and after my workout, I’m doing a little forearm, something just to continue to strengthen my grip, strengthen my fingers, strengthen everything like that because it goes a long way. Obviously, carrying the ball but also catching the ball and taking the ball away when somebody has it. Running back-wise, I’ve just been working, like really working, getting my feet in the ground, exploding off the cut, one foot in the ground, exploding off the cut. You can’t really work that stuff until… you’ve got to feel it. You’ve got to be able to feel it, how your body feels when it’s sinking into the ground and how you can put your shoulders vertical, get all your momentum going forward and not to the side or to the left. It’s really just a feel, core work. It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of work that you’ve just got to do.”

(On hosting a youth camp)
“It was amazing because that was my second time doing a youth football camp in Los Angeles. I’m not from Los Angeles, but to see how many people still came out and to see the parents, grandparents, the fathers, the cousins, and whoever was able to bring their kids out there to spend the day with me, it was awesome. It was a blessing because despite all the stuff that was going on behind us with the protests and whatnot, we were right here on this field having fun, not focused on the outside world but just continuing to uplift each other in the game of football and just being able to be there with each other. So to me, it was amazing.”

*[Offensive Lineman (OL), #79 Rob Havenstein]

(On his offseason so far)…
“It was good. It seems to get shorter and shorter every year [laughter]. I think we started at six weeks when I was a young guy and now it’s four, but it was good. Some good time to have the family recharge and get ready for what we’ve got going on”.

(On how his shoulders are feeling)
“It feels good, strong and healthy. I hit my benchmark for what I wanted to do for upper body strength. I feel ready to go play football. I’ve never been the world’s biggest bencher anyways, so we’ll save that for the other guys and go out and play football but feeling pretty good.”

(On if he will be a “full-go” starting tomorrow)
“Yeah, absolutely. I’m here and ready to play some football.”

(On what’s going on with the NFLPA and whether he’s been following the news)
“I’ve been kind of keeping some tabs. Obviously, you get text messages being in the union. I haven’t really talked to most of the guys or anyone higher up in the union or anything like that. I’m sure that’ll be a point of conversation here during lunch at some point. I’ve been following. Honestly, I don’t know enough to form an educated opinion right now so we’ll kind of get the gist of what’s going on. I’m sure we’ll have some conversations when the union comes around camp and everything like that to probably address something, so we’ll see what’s going on.”

(On whether he’s had an opportunity to talk to OT D.J. Humphries and how he might fit in)
“Not personally, no. I know it happened right before we broke for summer break and everything. As you get older and the kids get older, summer breaks are pretty well scheduled out. It’s been busy going back and forth, doing everything with the family that we wanted to get in with those four weeks. Haven’t talked to him personally. We’re in the same draft class so I’ve seen his work from afar. He is a great player, excited to have him on and get to know him in the coming weeks.”

On what it means for RB Kyren Williams to report to camp amid contract negotiations)
“I think that just shows the absolute professionalism of a Kyren Williams. There’s one thing about Kyren, he loves playing ball. The fiery nature and you see, the enthusiasm that you see, that’s just who he is as a person and there’s no faking that. That’s what you love about Kyren. Honestly, the way he goes about his business, you forget that there’s even contract negotiations just because he’s been the same guy from day one since he’s walked in, but for him to be here, reported, ready to go which I’m sure he is…Been seeing his videos online. He got a new haircut. He looks good. Excited to see him.”

(On having Center, Coleman Shelton back on the team)
“It’s great. I love Coleman Shelton. He’s played a lot of years and a couple different positions and been on a couple different teams. I think the experience, the leadership, the calmness and the way he goes about his work… He’s really intentional about what he does. It’s great to have him in the building, personally he’s one of my good friends so it’s great to have him back.”

(On offseason benchmarks he wanted to reach with training)
“Just numbers on weightlifting. I don’t need to get specific because like I said, I’m not the biggest bench presser so it’s not going to wow anyone anyways. But things have been feeling pretty good. There’s going to be some soreness here and there, but that’s just football and after playing it for a decade in the NFL, it is what it is type of thing. But like I said, I’m feeling good. I feel like I’m in a good place, rehab and lifting and everything like that. We’re ready to get after it and put some cleats on the grass.”

(On how his approach to training camp has changed throughout his career)
“Mentally you try not to let it change too much. You’re still taking all the notes you can. On the physical side of things, it’s taking account of the body work that I already have in, trying to stay as fresh for as long as possible, but still continuing to grow and make sure I get all the work I need to make sure I feel good about playing ball.”

On building off last year’s momentum)
“That’s a tough question because it’s hard to keep momentum going from team to team. Players and coaches change. Just the time away, it’s not like you can pick up right where you left off as much as some people say that, I personally don’t believe it. I think it’s understanding the feeling of what that was about, how we finished the season and how we worked at the end of that season and why we got to where we got. We wanted to go further than we did, so definitely keeping a little bit of that hunger in people’s hearts. That’s something that I can feel around guys and I’m sure will show in the coming weeks. It is a different team so it’s not back to square one or anything like that, but it’s still, how does this team work? How does this team go about their business? And we’re shaping more of the foundations than what we did in the spring.”

(On if the locker room feels youthful)
“I’m 33, so yeah [laughter]. That’s a good thing because I think even with the youth that we have, it’s a very mature group. The guys have played a lot of football. They have a lot of game experience. Some guys have playoff experience and all that helps you become a better player to fit into hopefully a better team. We’re still young. They’re flying around with a lot of energy that maybe some of the older guys can’t put forth, not on the field, but you know it’s great to be around because it uplifts you and gets you juiced back up because this is a fun game to play.”

(On making sure the offensive line is on the same page)
“When we hit the ground running, it’s just that. I’ve obviously played next to [OL Kevin Dotson] ‘K-Dot’ for a lot of years. I have a lot of experience next to Coleman [Shelton], whether he’s at guard or center. Steve’s [OL Steve Avila] been playing a lot of ball for us and just knowing how those guys think and react to certain situations, we can clean things up in the meeting room a little faster. We don’t have to learn how each other speak and think about football, about offensive line play, about different blocks, different schemes. All that’s experience and we know what we’re doing. We can all speak the same language a little faster and hopefully get us back to all working together as a unit and things like that.”

  [Defensive End (DE), #55 Braden Fiske]

(On how his summer went)
“It was good. It was short, but it was good. Good little trip to Hawaii. Spent some good time back home in Indiana, right there on Lake Michigan. We had a kids camp out there which was fun, or really “family fun day” I guess it was called. It was awesome. Good summer. It was good to be back and to see the family, but it’s always nice to be back in your own home. That was cool, but it’s good to be back.”

(On how he’s feeling physically heading into camp after a minor knee procedure)
“I feel great right now. Like I said earlier in the summer, we were ahead of schedule. I was able to get out there during OTAs and really get moving. I was out there in some team settings getting some reps in and it felt great. Everything went as planned. Now it’s business as normal going into camp and I’m feeling good.”

(On if he expects to be full-go during camp)
“Yeah, full-go. I was full-go in OTAs. I’m ready to be full-go now.”

(On what he learned during his first camp and going through a full NFL season last year that he will take into training camp this year)
“Yeah, I feel a hell of a lot better going into this one. You talk about a lot, just going from college straight into Combine training, you’ve got the All-Star games, you’ve got the Draft prep, the whole deal. Going into this is so much better just because I got all that under my belt now. I got a year of experience, played a ton last year and played a ton of football. I got to experience a lot of unique things out in the field so now going into year two, I was able to really turn my focus. Yeah, there was a little rehab in-between with my knee, but a lot of my focus could be back to real football again instead of the underwear Olympics at the Combine and all that can be. It’s cool. I feel great, mentally going into it. We got a little time off. Last year at this time, my girlfriend and I were looking for a house to live in in L.A. We’re all settled in. I feel good going into camp. We got a great group of guys here, so I’m excited to get rolling.”

(On his areas of focus for improvement during the offseason)
“Just improving my body. I think just in total, changing up my diet. I worked with a dietician and everything to get my body comp(osition) down and to get my weight back up to where I want it to be to play the position that I do. And, where I feel comfortable and most dominant is at this weight. That was the biggest thing, really just taking care of my body. I think it was easy last year to get kind of lost in all that’s going on that you lose the amount of focus that needs to go into your body to be ready for an NFL season and be able to attack it the way I wanted to. There are things on the field that we’re working on, but that’s practice. It’s just getting better, but we’ll take care of that as camp goes on and as the season rolls.”

(On what weight he expects to play at)
“Right now, I’m about 292/293 (lbs). That’s where I feel the best at. Last year, I kind of floated under 290, which was fine, but I feel a lot better when I’m a little bit heavier and I’m not getting moved around too much. It feels a lot better at that weight.”

(On how speed training has trained the last few years and how he keeps the speed while trying to bulk)
“Nothing too crazy. I was fortunate as a kid. Since I was about 12-years-old, I had a trainer back home, shout out Eric Griffin, hopefully he sees that. I’ve been working with him since I was young. Working on the speed, that’s something I’ve always been progressing on and it hasn’t been too much of a shift as I’ve gained weight. I played high school football…I was probably between 230-250 (lbs), and I made that quick jump up to three bills. At one point, at least, not anymore. So, no, it’s not too bad.”

(On how the defensive unit has learned how to rush off one another and how it influences the way he’s attacking the summer)
“I think it’s huge. Last year there was a lot…between our rush group, tiptoeing around, trying to feel our way through of just who is going to be this, who’s going to be that, who’s going to be the guy? And I think we’ve kind of molded into our identity and who we’re going to be. Coming off last year, we finished pretty strong. I think just growing on top of that is going to be huge going forward. I love the group that we have. We have a lot of fun. Aside from just the way we play the game, just off the field, enjoying being in each other’s presence, it’s hard to come by. It’s a lot of fun being with this group.”

(On what excites him about working with Nose Tackle, Poona Ford)
“It’s been great. That guy is awesome. He works hard and his film speaks for itself. I mean, he’s dominant in the run game and he’s got some juice in the pass game. I think that’s something that people don’t see a lot of. He’s twitchy and he gets moving in the pass. I’m excited to add him to this front. I think he could be a key piece and maybe even the missing piece that we needed. I’m just excited to see him go forward through training camp and working with him.”

(On how he would describe the defensive identity as a front, having added Ford this year)
“For one, we’re young. And two, we’re relentless. We get after it. I think we’re just hungry. We got a lot of guys that are hungry to take that next step in their career and just get after it. As a whole, as a team and as a defense, we just appreciate being able to go out there together because these things don’t come often when you have a group like we have. I’m just excited to get after it with these guys. We got a really, really solid group.”

(On if he communicates with his teammates during the offseason)
“Just last week we were working. We had a bunch of D-linemen out there working with our D-line trainer and getting after it. So yeah, we talked quite a bit. Whether it’s quick text on social media or I’m sending something stupid to [outside linebacker] Jared [Verse] or [outside linebacker] ‘BY’ [Byron Young], which happens pretty frequently, but yeah we communicate a lot.”

(On how the Rams locker room is organized and whether that affected his rookie experience)
“I liked it because I think about that too, of just how lucky I was to be in that part of the locker room. We call that ‘the suburbs’ over there. But having the opportunity to be by ‘Big Rob’ [OL Rob Havenstein], when [wide receiver] Cooper Kupp was over there, [quarterback] Matthew [Stafford] is over there, [wide receiver] Puka [Nacua] is in our area, or [tight end] Tyler Higbee. To have that veteran presence and be able to talk to those guys whenever I needed to. [Offensive lineman] K-Dot [Kevin Dotson] is right next to me, too. Having those guys that have been in the league for a while, to see how they go about their day-to-day. Cooper was a big one last year that I would talk to. How did he make that jump in year two of his career? What was something that elevated his game? And a lot of that was the diet. That’s a lot of what I implemented into my offseason. I was super fortunate to have those guys in my area of the locker room.

(On why the area of the locker room was called ‘the suburbs’)
“We have got a good group of vets over there. They’ve done their time. They’re living life lavish.”

(On coming into a new season with a group of returners and what their goals are this season)
“I think to start from where we ended. How we were as a team and how close we were as a group and to be able to attack every day and just get better. I think the ultimate goal should be to get better because I think we have such a good group of young guys and mix of vets. We have a really good opportunity here and I just want to be able to take advantage of that every step of the way.”

*[Outside Linebacker (OLB), #0 Byron Young]

(On how his offseason has been)
“Offseason has been great. It’s been great.”

(On what he focused on improving during the offseason)
“I really focused a lot on my body. I took on a new hobby now, doing Pilates… getting leaner, loosening up my hips and my knees, getting them a lot stronger. I want to prevent injuries, so that’s kind of what I’ve been focusing on and my technique.

(On whether he feels a difference during field work from Pilates)
“I definitely feel it a lot just breathing and everything. Like I said, I’m feeling a lot leaner. On the field, I don’t get as gassed. In my form, in my technique, every time I’m in position, I can be in it for a longer period of time. Stability with my knees, when I’m in my stance, it’s a lot easier and a lot smoother. Especially bending around the corners. I’ve seen that [improving] during OTAs and [with] everything I’ve been doing. I’ve seen the improvements.”

(On whether he started Pilates for the first time this offseason)
“Yes, I started this at the beginning of February. I’ve been doing it ever since now. I started with two times a week. Now, three to four days out of the week. The first time I did it, it was a challenge. Then I saw the improvements, and something told me that it’s something I want and it’s something I need. So, I continue to do it. I am feeling a lot better and I feel like I’m looking like it too.”

(On whether anything surprised him about Pilates)
“Yes, it was really difficult. When I did the first day, I remember I was like, ‘she’s trying to kill me’. I was shaking really bad and I was kind of embarrassed at first because I’m a competitor and struggling at something being a professional athlete, I’m not used to that. Something my dad told me, ‘if it’s something that you are nervous about or struggling with, and you know you need it, I feel like you should attack it. Don’t do everything you’re good at. You have got to do stuff that you’re not good at.’ Ever since then, something in my head told me that you’ve got to go get it. Every day I was doing it. The weird thing about it is, it really does not get easier. You just understand this is what it takes.”

(On whether he will continue Pilates during the season)
“For sure. Not as many sessions, but I’d say I’m going at least once a week. Try to get in on my off day.”

(On whether OLB Jared Verse could do Pilates)
“Oh yeah, he could do it. Verse could do it.”

(On what he has learned through past camps to prepare for the season)
“Just more about patience over the years from my first one to this one, going into year three. The first year, I feel like I was in a rush to get everything right and be perfect. I learned from that and then going into my second camp, I kind of improved from that. But just remembering everything is not going to be perfect. You are going to make mistakes and that’s the only way you can grow from it. That’s kind of what I take away from the last few years.”

(On the defensive front learning about what it’s like to play alongside each other last training camp and how that will influence their approach this year)
“We just learned about each other through communication… knowing each other’s tendencies and what we are good at, knowing when it’s off [rushing opportunity] for one another. So, we try to stay in touch and stay intact with that. Like I say, communication is the biggest thing and just knowing each other. Knowing when it’s off for [Defensive End] Kobie [Turner], [Defensive Tackle Braden] Fiske or Verse and try to take advantage of those. When Verse is at his best, I’m at my best. When I’m at my best, Kobie is at his best. When Fiske is at his best, Verse is at his best. So, it goes hand in hand and we try to look out for each other. We are brothers.”

(On whether he spent time with Verse in the offseason)
“A little bit, yeah. Me and Verse went to a wedding a few weeks ago. It was fun. We spent some time in Hawaii and did some things. It was pretty fun. It’s good hanging out with the guys.”

(On what the goals should be for a team with many returning players)
“You know the goal is always to go further and reach the Super Bowl. For now, we’re taking it one day at a time. Starting with the first day of training camp, until we get to our first preseason game, and our first regular season game. Every day we’re just taking a step. I’m not trying to look over anything but that’s definitely the main goal is to get to the Super Bowl.”

(On whether anything has changed about Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula’s approach from his first season calling plays to his second)
“I would say the difference is having designed plays for certain players and knowing that type of player for that play. At the beginning, I’d say it was more of him trying to feel it out. But then he kind of leaned towards, ‘okay this player right here is good for this play and this is how he plays’. So, he tries to do that for the sake of the defense. He’s definitely trying to design certain plays for certain players that could take advantage of that [opportunity].”

##RAMS##