Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach Sean McVay - Friday, November 17, 2023

Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach
Sean McVay - Friday, November 17, 2023

Head Coach Sean McVay

(Opening remarks)

“Okay guys, everybody will be full. The only guy that'll be limited will be (D
Cobie Durant. (We’ll) see how he's feeling with his stinger that he sustained
going back to the Green Bay game and he'll be questionable for the game.
Everybody else should be good to go and the ‘DNPs’ (did not participate) will
just be veteran rest days.”

(On if he feels this is the healthiest the team has been since the beginning
of the season)

“Yes, no question. Yeah, it is and that's a good thing because a lot of these
guys that we're getting back, when you watch and especially when you have a
chance to really be able to digest the first nine weeks of the season, it's good to
be able to get a lot of these players back feeling good, (L Ernest Jones, (NT)
Bobby Brown, (OL) Rob Havenstein, (Q Matthew Stafford. I think it's really
been good for some guys that have played a really physical presence to have a
week to get refreshed and rejuvenated, like (WR) Puka Nacua. I think another
week for (WR) Cooper (Kupp) and just some of those different types of things.
There's a lot of guys that stand out that you're feeling like, hey, they're feeling
good and we'll certainly be excited when we get (R Kyren (Williams) back
after this week as well. It is probably as healthy as we've been since the start of
the season without a doubt.”

(On how QB Matthew Stafford has looked throwing the ball this week)

“He's looked really good. He'd be better equipped to tell you. Like I had said
earlier, I haven't really noticed anything. He’s throwing it like the really special
talented player that we know. He's had a great energy. He's led great
throughout the course of the week and looking forward to finishing this week off
the right way. Let’s let that lead into a good performance for our group on
Sunday.”

(On if Stafford will wear a brace on Sunday)

“I think so, something like that. There are ways that you can adjust it that don't
necessarily… the answer is yes. I think how much it restricts or anything like
that, that would be something that he'd be able to tell you, but I certainly haven't
noticed and it's got some flexibility. It's not quite like a firm brace that restricts
as much as you would think, but I would think so, yes.”

(On the function of the brace)

“I think it's just to be able to stabilize it so that it doesn't move past certain
thresholds because of what that ulnar collateral ligament is responsible for
doing. ‘UCL’ there (laughter).”

(On how he thinks they need to continue to build for the remainder of the
season)

“I think you look at it in the nine games… I could give you such a long answer
about where I think there's been a really good amount of positive things and
there are reasons. The challenging thing is it's not exclusive to one thing to
where I know we're capable of playing at a consistently higher level, whether
that's our overall execution, whether that's schematic driven, whether that's
playing with some guys that we haven't really been able to… or that we are
playing with because we're missing guys from injury. What I draw confidence
from is real tangible evidence of good quality football. Then it's how consistently
can we put that together? Then what does that look like on a week-to-week
basis for our players? Then how our best is reflected in terms of defending the
opponent or attacking the opponent. I think that the answer is you always want
to be able to have a foundation that you can really be able to build on, but this
league is ever evolving, whether you're talking about it from an offensive
standpoint and what defenses are doing and what's the best way to try to be
able to attack that. Then on the flip side, how offenses have to attack the
landscape of the league, but there is an element of an individual case-by-case
given the opponent and the personnel matchups and things of that nature as
well.”

(On if he feels the team morale is strong and what he attributes it to)

“Yeah, I do feel that. I think there's an appreciation. I think there's a perspective
and I think this is a group that wants to continue to take steps, but they truly are
present. They know that this is a blessing to be able to do this game. We're not
pleased with where we're at and that's not a reflection of those guys being
pleased with that. But I think they are genuinely understanding of we can play
better and what that's looked like. And there's been enough examples in those
first nine games and then some of those margins for error of recognizing those
opportunities to play together to be able to finish it, those are the things that we
talk about. But I just think it's a real tribute to the players first and foremost. It's
about them. It's about their consistent approach. I love the leadership of this
group. I think those guys, whether it's the (DT) Aarons (Donald), (L Ernest
Jones, (D Jordan Fuller, you look at (Q Matthew (Stafford), (WR) Cooper
(Kupp), (OL) Rob Havenstein, (TE) (Tyler) Higbee. The guys that were voted
Captain, (WR) Ben Skowronek, but then in addition to this good amount of guys
that are enjoying, continuing to learn how to really appreciate, let's play at a
high level. And you're watching their maturation and they're gaining confidence
as they're gaining experience, but they want to be able to achieve some
different things and they know the only way to do that is to be able to continue
to go to work and let's enjoy that, but let's have the right amount of urgency. I
really have been pleased with the coaches too because there's a lot of ways
that you can allow some of the different things that haven't gone the way that
we want to affect that consistent approach and I haven't seen that at all and I've
been really appreciative of that because it is a different dichotomy compared to
what last year was and you know that very well also.”

(On if there’s a sense of security with having QB Carson Wentz as
Stafford’s backup)

“Yeah, there is. He's done a really good job. I think his immediate ability to be
able to grasp a lot of different things has been really impressive. He's got a
body of work and a resume that kind of speaks for itself. But I think the work
that he and (Pass Game Coordinator) Zac Robinson have put in… I think you
got to give a ton of credit to Zac and to Carson for being able to get him up to
speed as quickly as possible. He's done a great job giving our defense a bunch
of different great looks this week, simulating (Seahawks Q Geno Smith. He
did a great job earlier in the week when we were waiting to get Matthew back
out on the field of executing some different things that we want to do this week
and that have been kind of foundational parts and we're really glad to be able to
have him and so the answer is yes.”

(On if TE Hunter Long will be on the 48-man roster for Sunday)

“We're still working through those things right now, but it's good to be able to
have him back. He's had a unique journey where some of it is just out of his
control in regard to the way that some of these soft tissue injuries have ended
up not allowing him to be able to be available and go compete the way that…he
did a great job throughout the off-season program. But (Tight Ends Coach) Nick
Caley does a great job with that group. It's been great to be able to have Hunter
Long back. Whether he's a part of that or not, I don't know that quite yet but I do
know that we expect him to be a contributor at some point this season and glad
to have him in our building.”

(On the plan if Durant isn’t available for Sunday)

“I think it'll be a combination of some different things. You got (Derion) ‘DK’
(Kendrick), you got (D Duke Shelley, (D Tre Tomlinson is a guy. We've
seen some of our safeties play at a really high level and so based on some
different personnels and some different situations, that'll kind of be how it'll
unfold for you.”

(On if there’s extra excitement and motivation playing against Seahawks
Head Coach Pete Carroll)

“Yeah, he has. The consistency, a lot of the core principles and values that they
operate with are things that I believe to be true too. That authentic enthusiasm
and consistency that he brings and the way that he really pours into his players
and his coaches and the way that that shows up, the way that they compete in
all three phases, it's really impressive. And I think you want to be consistent
week in and week out. But the respect, the admiration that I have for him and
for their group is definitely on display and I think as a competitor, that's what
you love. And we know it's going to be a great challenge and we're looking
forward to it.”

(On if he’s surprised that Carroll is able to maintain so such enthusiasm
in his seventies)

“What I'm impressed with is just the consistency over time from him, from guys
like (Patriots Head) Coach Belichick, (Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin,
(Ravens Head Coach John) Harbaugh, (Chiefs Head) Coach Reid, the guys
that have done it and are continuing to do it. That to me is super impressive.
And they navigate through the different challenges that present themselves. But
there's a steadiness, there's a commitment to their core values, but also a
flexibility that I think is reflected in how they adjust, whether it be schematically
or whether it be connecting with the players with kind of the way that the game
is played now. But yes, I'm really impressed and it's real too. That's the one
thing. The way you watch him run around… And I think that energy, that
authentic energy rubs off on those guys and we're hoping to have a little bit of
that ourselves this week.”

--RAMS--

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#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