(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Rams are set to go back out on the road for their Week #2 encounter with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, at State Farm Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox/NFL with the kick-off set for 1:05 pm. Fans can also view it Live Stream on Fubo. Listeners can go to ESPN LA 710 Radio and 93.1 JACK FM. En Español catch it on 1330 AM | Tu Liga.
Here is Coach McVay’s Friday morning media opportunity outlined in full transcript form as he sizes up the competition and prepares his team for a chance to even their young season record at (1-1). Read everything that Coach addresses from the all-important injuries list to comments on other players who, to date, haven’t been mentioned very often, to the offense and defense outlooks for a successful outcome and a return home with that all-important “W.”
Head Coach, Sean McVay
Rams Transcript: 9/13/24, Friday
(Opening Statement)
“As far as the injuries are concerned, Quentin Lake, Kevin Dotson, [and] Cobie Durant will be listed as limited. They’ll be questionable for the game. I expect all those guys to be able to make it, just kind of erring on the side of caution. Davis Allen has had a back that’s just kind of locked up over the last couple of days so he’ll be doubtful for the game. Other than that, the guys that won’t participate today other than Davis… [Tre’Davious] ‘Tre’ White, it’ll be a veteran rest day and that should be it.”
(On whether any of the injured reserve players had a medical procedure)
“Steve [Avila] did. It went well. He’s doing good. He is in good spirits, smiling like normal. The other two did not.”
(On whether Avila’s injury is more significant than they initially believed)
“No, it wasn’t anything different than what we had expected. It was just kind of this accelerates the healing, the approach that we took.”
(On whether there is an ideal number of passes that he would like QB Matthew Stafford to throw in a single game)
“No, I wouldn’t say that. You go into games… everybody wants to talk about run-pass balance. There are certain situations and different things that dictate different approaches. Ultimately, I’m interested in how do we most efficiently move the football and score points? That’s the most important thing for us. How that is illustrated and how that unfolds is something that is a case-by-case scenario. Now I will say this, the best offenses I’ve been a part of had the ability to do either or. What that looks like is something that I can answer those after the games, but I’m not necessarily looking for a certain number because the defense does have a say in how we best feel like that’s illustrated in regards to moving it and scoring points is a week by week thing.”
(On whether he expects OL Rob Havenstein to play on Sunday)
“I do, yep. He should be good. He’s had a really good week, so I do.”
(On who he has seen step up in practice at the wide receiver position)
“I’ve seen Tyler Johnson do a good job, obviously. Tutu’s [Atwell] been a guy that’s played a lot of different spots for us. I think you see Jordan Whittington. When you look at the five receivers that we’ll have up… all of those guys, obviously led by Cooper [Kupp] and DeMarcus [Robinson], but then those other three guys, they’re ready to go. They’ve done a great job and I thought they did that in the game the other day, Tyler especially.”
(On whether OL Warren McClendon Jr. will be a candidate to play left tackle)
“He would be, yep. Absolutely.”
(On McClendon Jr. moving between right and left tackle and what he has seen from him since training camp)
“I saw a guy that has really stretched himself where there has been growth. I think he’s played really well at right [tackle]. He’s done a great job of getting a bunch of experience that we wouldn’t have anticipated if it weren’t for some of the absences of guys on the left side. To be able to play either or, especially, when you get back to full health… if he ends up being a swing tackle, that’s super important. I’ve been pleased with Warren. He’s continuing to grow. I think he’s really coachable [and] the game makes sense to him. There’s been a lot of good things to see from him.”
(On limiting Cardinals QB Kyler Murray)
“He’s continuing to get better and better, but the challenge is that he’s a threat to be able to create and extend plays as well as anybody in this league. You look at it, if you look at the shot clock on some plays that he’s extended over the course of his career, you look at the athleticism. I think he has the ability to beat you in the pocket [and] out of the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield as a thrower, and then obviously being able to beat you as a runner. As I mentioned earlier, he is a nightmare to prepare for. You have to do a great job playing ‘eleven as one.’ We’ll have our work cut out for us but that’s what you love about this league.”
(On Cardinals S Bubba Baker’s playmaking ability and the challenges he presents)
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for what the tape looks like when you flip it on and you watch the way number three flies around. They use him in a lot of ways. He has some freedom and luxury within the scheme, but I see a guy that plays with a tenacity, a grit, a relentless pursuit to the football that you can’t help but respect. It’s a great challenge for us to see if we can match that. He’s a guy that, obviously we’ve played him a bunch and he has consistently been a focal point and somebody that just flashes on the screen because of the way that he plays from the first snap to the 60th snap, all the way through the echo of the whistle.”
(On what he has seen from the Cardinals defense after one game)
“Well, they’re really multiple. They do a great job. They can morph into different personnel groupings with the same guys on the field. They have the ability to activate different personnel with different body types. You can see there’s a philosophical approach that they take that they understand how to put the offense in conflict. [Arizona Cardinals Head Coach] Jonathan Gannon’s a guy that I have a ton of respect for [and] [Arizona Cardinals Defensive Coordinator] Nick Rallis. They do a great job of creating a lot of issues schematically putting players in positions. There’s an intent and there’s a philosophy. I always respect that when you see it show up on the tape. The Buffalo game, like you mentioned, it is one game of inventory. There were 17 games last year. I think their ability to morph and mold as they see fit and basically match up against an opponent is something I respect.”
(On what has stood out to him with QB Jimmy Garoppolo in the meeting rooms and on the field)
“I think his consistency is something that I’ve really appreciated. He’s so locked in. He is a veteran player. I think some of the traits that I’ve always admired from afar [is] the ability to be able to speed it up. He can make quick decisions. He can get through things quickly. He just has a really nice way about himself. You can see why all of his teammates have enjoyed him. I’m sure when you guys have gotten a chance to talk to him, he’s a great dude. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s used it the right way, but he’s got a refreshing humility about himself as well where he can just be one of the guys. I’ve loved being around Jimmy and it’s good to have him back in the building.”
(On the challenge of playing back-to-back road games to start the season)
“It’s just what’s on our schedule. We try to worry about the things that we can control. [I] thought our guys did a great job of turning over. We got back late, but they came in [and had] a great look in their eye on Wednesday. A lot of guys came in on Monday and Tuesday getting themselves recovered and rejuvenated. Fortunately, it is a short trip. It’s a great city [and] it’s a great place to go play. Arizona’s got a great atmosphere and environment, but I try not to think about things I can’t control. Two road games to start. Hey, let’s go figure out how to play as well as we can and see what the hell happens.”
