Transcript: Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach Sean McVay - Friday, September 8, 2023

Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach
Sean McVay - Friday, September 8, 2023



Head Coach Sean McVay

(Opening remarks)

“(Q Stetson Bennett will be out for the game as well as (WR) Cooper Kupp
and (TE) Hunter Long, like we discussed the other day. (OL) Brian Allen and
(WR) Van Jefferson will be non-participants in practice, but that's part of the
plan all along, getting those guys ready to go and feeling good for Sunday.”

(On if they are rest days for Jefferson and Allen)

“Just rest days, absolutely.”

(On if Bennett, Kupp, or Long will go on injured reserve)

“Those are all possibilities. We have until tomorrow to be able to make that
decision, but I would say there is a definite possibility on all those guys.”

(On QB Brett Rypien taking on the backup role and the potential of
bringing in another QB and what he would be looking for in an acquisition
at the QB spot)

“I think in a lot of instances, what Brett Rypien has represented, a guy that has
good command, doesn't need a whole lot of reps to be able to have great
understanding of what we're trying to get done, the intent, good communication
in the huddle, (he) has the ability to be able to operate the offense at a high
level. It's really important to have a good rapport with (Q Matthew (Stafford),
he's our guy. It's so important for him to feel comfortable with the atmosphere
and the environment, and he and Brett have a great relationship. It's been cool
to watch those guys continue to connect over the last few months, but I think
you're looking for somebody that can compete at a high level. God forbid, we
want Matthew to be healthy and ready to go and hopefully that's not a situation
that we have to explore, but if so you want somebody that can come in and give
you a chance to compete and go play to the best of your ability as a team as
well. So I feel really good about some of the things Brett's done. There's a lot of
things that Brett has done in the absence of what you guys have seen, maybe
just from preseason games, and I think he's earned the confidence of his
teammates. I feel confident about his ability to back up Matthew and we're
hoping that our guy stays healthy and we won't have to explore that.”

(On what he learned last season with Jefferson and putting him on injured
reserve last year that he can use for Kupp)

“They’re separate injuries. I think what you did learn a lot last year is just the
dynamics of, okay, when you have an understanding of different things that can
occur whether it's guys coming off of major injuries and it's a maintenance
program or it's a soft tissue. No injury is the same, but I think it's the, hey, let's
make sure that there's an empathy, but there's also a confidence in those guys
that might have to play in getting those guys ready to go. It definitely affects the
process as it relates to guys that you're trying to make sure that you maintain
their health over the course of a 17-game season and hopefully earning the
right to play after that. The soft tissue stuff is always pretty tricky.”

(On his confidence in the run game)

“I think you got to go do it, but there's been a lot of confidence that these guys
have earned based on what we've done up to this point and that's all we've
really done and that's been offseason program, training camp. We've had four
competitive opportunities against other teams. We've had a few preseason
games where some guys have gotten reps. We haven't seen anything reflective
of the group that we're going to see play collectively on Sunday, but I think the
guys have positively pushed one another. What I really have enjoyed about this
camp is we've been able to compete and push each other more than what it
feels like we've done in previous years and there's a lot of layers to that. But I'm
excited to watch these guys go do it and that's what it's about. I think they've
earned the confidence. I think they know what a challenge it's going to be
against a great opponent, well-coached. They've got great players on all three
sides of the football and it's going to be a great atmosphere. So I think until we
go do it, but I would say I am confident, but until we end up getting there and
those guys know that I'm confident in them and I believe they've earned the
right to be confident and go play with a quieted mind, go shoot your shot, and
then we'll see what happens when we kick this thing off on Sunday.”

(On the energy of the rookie class leading to first NFL game and the
message he shares with them)

“I think it's organic just based on the feel for the team. This team is energizing.
This team has enjoyed continuing to come together. There's a lot of care for
one another. You can feel it. It's not something that I can say as much as just
something you can feel, the way they support each other, the way that they
bring an energy and an edge to practice every single day. I've had a hell of a lot
of fun working with them. And the coaches, the same thing. When you've got a
group that really wants to be able to continue to just push each other in a
positive way and you get an opportunity to go compete and go cut it loose in
one of the most competitive atmospheres and environments, this is the stuff
that you love. So that's why I think we're all excited to be able to get this thing
kicked off and see what the hell happens on Sunday.”

(On being the second-youngest team in the NFL)

“I think we were the youngest when I first got here too and I'd be interested to
see is that based on average? Because we got a couple guys that might up the
average a little bit. There are some different ways that you can kind of find that
youth, but I think there's been a great compliment of guys that are youthful,
they're energized, they're excited, they're really just looking to see, alright, what
do these guys do to be able to kind of follow their lead? It's been a fun team
and I think you guys are going to see these guys continue to improve
throughout the course of the season. But I've seen just a team that really
enjoys coming together. They enjoy competing. I've also seen some great
veterans that have been here since I was fortunate enough to come here in
2017 that have really brought people with them. I think one of the greatest
things you can say about leaders is they elevate situations they're a part of and
the people that they're around. You bring people with you and I think you can
see that reflected in the guys that were voted captain and I don't think it's
exclusive to those eight guys. I think there's other players that embody that.
And then I think we got some young guys that are going to accelerate and
assert themselves as leaders fairly quickly based on the way they go about
their business, the way they handle themselves, and then some of the things
that they're able to do when they let their skills show on the field.”

(On if OL Joe Noteboom will start at right guard and his progression at
that position after dealing with injuries this offseason)

“There's a good chance for that. I think a lot of the things that he's gone through
have made him stronger. I think they've given him a perspective and
appreciation for getting an opportunity to go compete. He's always been such a
talented player. I'm really happy for Joe. When he had the little setback a
couple weeks ago it was minor and he stayed strong, worked really hard to be
able to get himself back. The learning curve has been quick. He's a guy that
started at a handful of different positions for us, whether it's left tackle, right
tackle, he started at left guard. So he's an incredibly versatile athlete. He's
really smart and I'm really happy for Joe and want to just see him continue to
trust the work that he's put in and just go cut it loose. I'm looking forward to
watching him play on Sunday.”

(On if there are lessons to be learned as evaluators and developers from
the position changing on the offensive line even though every situation is
different)

“Yeah, I think you just said it with the last part of it. Every situation is different. I
think when you look at it, you want to be able to find guys that…it is important
to be able to figure out how does that puzzle best fit together? But I know this,
(OL) Joe Noteboom’s a really good football player and whether he's playing
tackle or guard, and then there might be some situations and scenarios where
a guy might play a different position, but you're saying, ‘Alright, well how do we
bring that group together and what does it look like to find our five best players?
And then how can we really appreciate the continuity and the rapport that
needs to be established between those guys?’ But there has been things in
terms of, alright, how do we project guys? What are the traits and
characteristics? What is the physical and the mental makeup? How do you
really want to be able to play that game? And I think every situation provides
learning opportunities. If there's one thing that I think you know, in the times
that I've been here, if you say, ‘Alright, how much have you learned and how
much changes based on the way you felt in 2017 to the way you did maybe
even a year ago compared to how you are now?’ You're always trying to learn
and I think if you do it with the right perspective, you're not afraid to admit when
there's mistakes that maybe you could have done a better job with the decision
making process if that's something that you're looking at. Alright, well how can
we not make those same mistakes twice? How can we continue to get a good
grasp of what are the types of people that we're looking for both mentally and
physically and how does that project to fitting in this locker room with the guys
that eventually will hopefully assert themselves as leaders, not necessarily in
their first year, but down the line and be guys that we can count on but also
people that we want to be around with.”

(On if WR Tyler Johnson will be an elevation candidate with Kupp out for
Sunday)

“I don't think that's a direction that we would go right now, but he is a guy that
has done a great job. He's a stud and I really love being around Tyler.”

---

#HelmetHornsMatter

“Well, the color is good, I like the metallic blue,” Youngblood recently said while laughing, via NFL Journal. “The horn is terrible. It looks like a ‘C.’ When I first saw it on the logo I honestly thought it was a Charger logo.

“Now when I see it on the helmet, it just isn’t a ram horn. There is no distinct curl like a mature ram horn. I don’t know how the Rams could get that wrong. That is your symbol and it has been for what? Seventy years or more? Longer than I have been alive? It’s just not us, it’s not the Rams.”---Mr. Ram Jack Youngblood