(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Rams first road game of the season was a rewarding one in that they defeated a very good Division opponent in the Arizona Cardinals, led by their Mega-Star QB/Kyler Murray. They came away victorious by the score of (20-12) thanks to its great defense, led by All-Pro, #99/Aaron Donald, who notched his 100th career sack, and his strong unit of comrades, along with the offensive unit, led by #9/Matt Stafford and his great corps of receivers, especially All-Pro, Cooper Kupp.
Combine both of those elements consistently with the productive and timely run game with Cam Akers, in the right way at the right time in any given game, and that team usually comes out a winner for its fans and its city. Of course, we do have to consider unforced and forced turnovers. But if they’re kept to a manageable minimum, then that’s just part of the game and should not impact the team too adversely. After all, the Rams are the current and reigning Super Bowl LVI Champions.
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Now let’s take a look at the Monday review that Head Coach Sean McVay gave in a wide-ranging interview with many of the team’s assigned media outlets.
Head Coach Sean McVay – Monday, September 26, 2022
(On if there are any updates on DC Derion Kendrick after leaving the game)…
“He’ll be in the (concussion) protocol. He’s a guy that I feel like you got to go through the necessary steps, but the early signs are trending in a positive direction, but you can obviously never be too cautious as it relates to just taking the appropriate steps to get through the protocol.”
(On injury updates for OT Rob Havenstein)…
“Yeah, he came back, got his ankle rolled up on. It’s your typical bumps and bruises, but nothing that I expect or anticipate that’ll affect anybody’s game status as it relates to next Monday.”
(On what it meant for him and his coaching staff to see so many guys step up after so many injuries)
“Yeah, it was really positive. You know, like I mentioned, I thought the coaches did a great job and then ultimately the players stepping in and doing a handful of really good things. I loved the response from our special teams as a whole, really in all phases. And then I mentioned a handful of those guys on the defensive side, particularly the back end that were asked to really step up. Even it doesn’t go unappreciated or unrecognized by us, and I know you guys recognize the same thing. Just being able to see guys like (OT) AJ (Alaric) Jackson be able to step up, do a great job at the right guard spot, seeing (OL) Coleman Shelton bump in from being a right guard to the center spot. You see (TE) Kendall Blanton come in there on his first play and make a big play when we end up bringing him in on short notice. And so, a lot of guys from the receiver room, you saw (WR) Brandon Powell make some plays offensively, obviously (WR) Ben Skowronek. There was a lot of positives from yesterday and that’s what it’s about, is being able to have a deep roster. When guys are asked to step up, they do that, and I think that’ll serve us well in the long haul. Obviously, we want to try to be able to keep guys as healthy as possible, but when those things do come up…I was really pleased overall with the coaches and the players doing a phenomenal job of not allowing that to be an excuse and just get ready to go and try to find a way to get a win and that’s what they did.”
(On what he’s seen from the offense thus far after only a few weeks and what areas he wants to improve on going forward)…
“I think the first thing you said is it’s a really small sample size. The Buffalo game obviously was a game that we weren’t able to really establish any sort of continuity or rhythm and that was a tough outing for us. Thought against the Falcons, a lot of really good, efficient play going up and down the field. Got to be able to finish some of those drives and we had three turnovers that I felt like are all correctable. And then yesterday, you have a couple series that kind of stand out, particularly that two-minute at the end of the half and then the opening series to start the second half, but other than that, we were up and down the field. Have to be better in the red area.
Even though we might not be hitting some of those big balls down the field, we obviously missed on a couple opportunities yesterday that we’ll continue to try to be able to hit those, but I thought the running game was a real positive. But we can’t have turnovers in the red area. You got to be able to do that and then we got to be able to come away with touchdowns. There is different ways to be able to move the football and score points and that’s really all I care about. I’m not necessarily worried about how we’re creating explosives as long as we’re efficient moving the football and scoring points. I think those things are there for the taking over the last couple weeks. We’ve just got to be able to execute better in some of those particular scenarios that I just alluded to. I do believe that we’re capable of it and now we got to go do it.”
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(On RB Cam Akers’ progression over the last couple of weeks and RB Darrell Henderson’s performance)…
“Yeah, I thought it was good. I thought he really provided a spark on that one drive, getting a handful of tough runs. I thought the other 10 guys did a great job. (QB) Matthew (Stafford) carrying out his fakes, getting us in and out of the right stuff, and then obviously the other nine guys doing a good job of being able to try to get hat on a hat and then he was pressing it and being able to do a great job of getting more than what the play was blocked for. So I was really encouraged for (RB) Cam (Akers), thought (RB) Darrell (Henderson) had some good tough runs, and then obviously a couple contributions where you end up getting (WR) Cooper (Kupp) on a good 20-yard touchdown run. I was very pleased with that, and I thought we were efficient for the most part when we did run the football. We had a couple penalties that set us back and put us behind the sticks, but we were able to overcome it. But (I) thought Cam, really, I thought that was something that he can really build on and that looked like the guy that we’re all very familiar with and I was really happy for Cam.”
(On Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach Chris Shula and Defensive Backs Coach Jonathan Cooley getting guys ready to go and DB Grant Haley and DC Derion Kendrick)…
“I think it’s really just been a continuation of everything that they’ve done since training camp, getting guys ready to go. We try to create as many competitive situations and scenarios as possible. And the one thing that I think as it relates to (DB) Grant (Haley) and (DC) DK (Derion Kendrick) in particular, it’s not too big for those guys. Grant’s always been a guy that I’ve been a huge fan of since we got around him of the last couple years, just with his instincts, his feel, his short space quickness, his toughness that I think you guys have seen when he’s got an opportunity to play on special teams. And then DK’s a guy that he’s played in a lot of big games, whether it was at Clemson or at Georgia. He’s got a swagger, he’s got a confidence, a fearlessness, and a toughness that I think guys feed off of and I thought that was on display with both of those guys. But you can’t minimize what a great job, (Defensive Backs Coach) Jonathan (Cooley) and (Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach) Chris (Shula) and (Defensive Assistant) Lance Schulters (have done). Obviously, (Defensive Coordinator) Raheem (Morris) has a huge influence on that group as well, but I also think the leadership from the players, whether that’s (DB) Jalen (Ramsey) from a cornerback spot or even you look at (DB) Nick Scott (DB) Taylor Rapp, and even though (DB) Jordan Fuller wasn’t playing yesterday, his leadership is certainly felt just in that room as a whole. Guys didn’t make any excuses. We had some weird kind of things occur as far as how those injuries came about, but nobody flinched, nobody blinked, and those guys played a really good game and did an excellent job of helping us secure the win.”
(On the two touchdowns scored and the looks pre-snap and when he found out as a coach that those types formations were beneficial)…
“Yeah, I think it’s just been a combination of whether it’s coaches…Ultimately, it’s always about the collaboration of the coaches and then your previous experiences and environments you’ve been a part of. When I think back to the short amount of time that I’ve been doing this, the one thing that I feel certainly blessed about is that I’ve been around some of the best football minds. Very good, core, sound foundational philosophies that are in alignment with creating conflict for the defense or vice versa, the defense to the offense. I think in a lot of instances those are very similar and the one thing that always is true is the good players make those things come to life. I thought our players did a great job. You talk about the timing on the touchdown to (WR) Cooper (Kupp). Outstanding sell by everybody else, great job by (WR) Allen Robinson being able to kind of secure that left side of the defensive structure where (Arizona Cardinals CB Marco) Wilson probably didn’t even really realize where the football was before Cooper was about five yards out from scoring. But the timing, the execution, that’s a real credit to the players and then the coaches being able to provide that clarity. Then on the touchdown run for (RB) Cam (Akers), it was an outstanding job, again with the timing, the rhythm of it. And then, what else can you say except for he’s a war daddy with what (WR) Ben Skowronek did leading up in there, isolating on a very tough physical linebacker, to be able to spring Cam, and then for Cam to be able to have the toughness, the contact balance, to be able to finish when he gets probably contacted around the six-yard line. But ultimately, it’s always about the players. I’ve been really fortunate to number one be around great coaches here and then number two, have some other great exposure to special coaches with a sound foundational philosophy that is in alignment with what you see reflected in a lot of good football around this league.”
(On when he felt Ben Skowronek would help in different positions across the offense)…
“That’s a good question. I think it’s kind of something that is always one of the things that we try to work through as coaches every single week. What’s the best way to take advantage of our players and different things that we can present based on their skill sets. Last year, it was what we felt like what we needed at that time. I’m sure that this won’t be the only thing that ends up being a little different way of trying to accentuate our player skill sets, whether that be personnel groupings or using certain players to create the illusion of that personnel grouping even though you might be in what is typically an 11-personnel type of look. So like I said, it kind of goes back to collaboration, but it takes the players to be able to fit and you certainly can’t do that unless you have somebody like a Ben Skowronek that has the toughness, the physicality, the overall football IQ and intelligence to be able to play a bunch of different spots because he’s playing receiver, he’s playing fullback in a lot of those two-back looks. There’s certain plays that we ask him to do, certain some of the roles that are similar to a tight end. It takes the player number one, and then creative coaches that have an open mind of different ways to be able to utilize guys. That’s a real credit to our offensive coaching staff.”
(On what he sees from QB Matthew Stafford’s statistics contradicting the solid game he had for the team)…
“Yeah, I thought he’s played really well for the last two weeks. I think we’ve kind of talked about obviously the turnovers against Atlanta that end up being a big talking point. But (you) kind of break them down and you isolate. How do we learn from it? But I thought he played a really clean game. I thought he had great command, great control, thought he saw the field incredibly well. Like you mentioned, there’s a couple opportunities for that to be a little bit different narrative, but ultimately that quarterback position and what we ask of Matthew… he does so many things that maybe even don’t show up on the stat sheet that are such a great reflection of what a stud he is. (I‘m) really pleased with his overall performance. There were a couple plays that not many people in the world can make. Yes, to answer your original question, (I) was very pleased with his performance. I think what we’ve realized, especially over the last couple weeks, is that the stats don’t even begin to tell the total story. It is about winning the football game. In a lot of instances, I thought he led us offensively with a chance to be able to score 35 points but we didn’t, we scored 20. But within the framework of what he could control, I was very pleased with Matthew. That’s what we expect because he’s a great player and have all the confidence in the world in him.”
(On why he thinks it’s been tough in the past to win at Levi Stadium and what he plans to do in order to change that next Monday)
“I think the main thing is they’re a really good football team. They’ve done a good job. Which year do you want to talk about? We could talk about all those different games, but I think at the end of the day what it boils down to is they’ve played well, they’ve made the plays in crunch time. And I know you got to be able to ask those questions, but I think the ultimate thing that’s really important for us is each game is its own separate entity. They’ve always been a good, tough, physical team that has great players, great coaches in all three phases and that’s why we’ve always had such respect for these guys. I think there’s just a little bit different story. But we know that this game is going to be different than the other ones. We’ve got to be able to show up, play well in that three-hour window, or three and a half hours, however long it takes. That’s what our focus and concentration will be solely focused on. No different than when we had to play them for the third time last year.”
(On if he ever anticipated seeing San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo again and what he’s done to have success against them)…
“Yeah, number one, you never wish injuries on players, but you also just seeing it from an outside-in perspective, you hope (San Francisco 49ers QB) Trey Lance makes a full recovery. But you also know that man, when he stayed on the roster, he’s such a really good football player that has definitely been outstanding for them. They’ve won a lot of games behind his guidance and leadership, and I think he’s a really good player. I don’t think it’s like he’s only played good against the Rams and he is never played good against anybody else. I mean, just look at his career record when he’s started for the 49ers since he and (San Francisco 49ers FB) Kyle have been together in ’17. It’s a pretty good movie for those guys. So he’s a really good football player. I don’t know if you ever really get too far ahead of yourself, but if you would say that, ‘I’m shocked that Jimmy’s in this position.’ No, I’m not shocked. I feel terrible that Trey ended up hurting his ankle, but that is a part of football and fortunately for them, they had two big time starting caliber quarterbacks on their roster. Now that’s where Jimmy’s in a position to be able to lead their team. I know they have a lot of confidence in in swagger with him at the switch.”
(On if it ever matters how you win a game as opposed to ‘a win is a win’)
“It’s a good question. I don’t know that it’s a mindset, maybe a little bit. I don’t know if I’d ever call myself mature though. I think the biggest thing is an appreciation for how difficult it is. Now, that being said, I don’t ever want to minimize the standards we have for playing good efficient football throughout four quarters. I still think that our best football…we haven’t begun to see that. I want us to play at a higher clip throughout the course of four quarters, but I don’t want that to minimize what’s the best way to play the game to win the game. I think what I’ve gotten a better appreciation for, just through your experiences, whether it’s learning from the people you’re around, being around the players, is that there’s different formulas and it’s really about what’s the best formula to win as a team. Not necessarily trying to pile up points or prevent people from scoring, but how do we play our offense, our defense and our special teams against the opposing opponent in the best way given all the circumstances and scenarios. I thought that was reflected in some instances yesterday. When you look at it, specifically our defense doing a great job of, hey, it might have been where that’s a lot of plays to be able to plan. That’s a long time to be out on the grass, but we felt like that was a formula that was conducive for winning the game. And then we got really stout and toughened up in the red area that prevents some really long drives where your plays are at a minimum offensively, where they’re only getting three points and that’s ultimately how you win the football game. I think it’s just having a little bit more of an open mindset and mentality to how you do that and how that’s reflected week in and week out. When you look at the course of the game and the history of this game, I think that’s what the good organizations that have sustained a level of consistency over time do. It’s never the same exact formula, but there’s different ways to find a way to win with your players, with your coaches, and I think that’s what we’re continuing to learn. I think that’s what we’ve seen over the last couple weeks, that our guys have done a great job being able to handle that. I still think there’s a lot left for us to improve upon and continue to figure ourselves out. It’s what’s exciting about knowing that you got 14 more shots at this guaranteed.”
(On if he feels winning a Super Bowl has helped him mature as a coach)
“I’d like to think that whether it be a win, a loss, or if you’re ever a part of a tie game, which I actually was when I was with Washington against the Bengals in London, you use every opportunity as a learning experience, whether that be good or bad. I certainly am a big believer that the experiences end up being the accumulation of your perspective on things. You’ve heard me say this before, ‘repetition is the mother of learning.’ I think the more experiences and the more games that you go through if you have the right approach and a good after-action review procedure in place, then I think you can learn from it. Those things have certainly helped. I wouldn’t say it’s exclusive to what last year entailed, but I think it’s more about just using every single opportunity as a chance to be able to learn and grow and that’s what we try to do.”
(On if he can ever run out of great things to say about DT Aaron Donald)
“No, no. It never gets old. I think you can’t find the appropriate ways to articulate the great things is usually what it is. That’s why you’ve heard me talk about before when people ask me about Aaron, it’s however great you think he is, he’s even better than what you think, no matter how highly you think of him. For him to have his hundredth career sack yesterday in the manner at which he’s gotten it done with the attention that’s paid to him week in and week out, going into three games into his ninth year in the NFL, it’s one of the reflections of what makes him so special because the way he can impact the game. What people don’t talk about is you’re getting that kind of production, but in spite of the attention that he has, to still be able to produce to me is what’s as amazing as anything else. It’s why I think one of the best things that reflects his greatness is the guys usually play their best around him because of the way that he elevates their performance and gives them some special opportunities based on the attention that he grabs up front. But the answer is no. I never run out of great things. I feel like I’m always trying to find the right great things to say about him.”
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(On what drives DT Aaron Donald to be great)…
“I think certain people just have an intrinsic motivation and a drive that they’re always filling their tank up. I think that his standards for himself, the type of competitor he is and how he’s innately wired, I think that’s a special trait that he’s probably always had. I think he’d be better equipped to answer it, but I know nobody has higher standards for Aaron Donald than he does of himself, and that’s pretty consistent amongst any great competitor that’s truly driven. You get all these extrinsic rewards, but whether it was the contracts that he’s earned over the course of his career, winning the Super Bowl, he’s driven to be great because he wants to be great for himself, he wants to be great for his family, for his teammates, for his coaches. That to me is one of those separators where you’re just innately wired that way. I don’t think that’s something that you can teach or coach. I think you either are or you aren’t, and Aaron certainly is.”
(On if he expects WR Van Jefferson to be on the injured reserve to be a short-term designation)…
“Yeah, it really boiled down to, because we’ve had so many of these injuries, there wasn’t any sort of setback. The goal for us maybe was that it would be in a couple weeks. He had been making really good progress and that’s been in alignment, but there’s a lot of layers to whether we put a guy on IR or not, that’s not exclusive to just that person in particular. I think when you look at where the bye was going to fall for us, we had to make that decision and designation so that you don’t end up restricting his ability to return after the bye. That really bought him an extra couple weeks. There wasn’t any setbacks, that’s consistent with what I had told you guys. There was a lot of layers to it, but we do expect that to be short term. Originally, we’re thinking kind of Carolina and then I don’t even know who we play when we get back from the bye (San Francisco), but we expect him to be ready to roll when that time comes.”
