Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach Sean McVay - Monday, November 27, 2023

Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach
Sean McVay - Monday, November 27, 2023

Head Coach Sean McVay

(On injuries from Sunday)

“Everybody came out pretty good, except for (D Duke Shelley. He got his
hamstringing so that's unfortunate and he'll probably be a candidate for IR.”

(On if the decision to play TE Davis Allen and TE Hunter Long more on
Sunday was due to their work in practices)

“Yeah, I think it was just what you mentioned. Those guys have done a good
job in practice. I think we wanted to make a concerted effort to be able to get
some other guys some snaps. (TE Tyler Higbee) Higg’s has done such a good
job, but to take a little bit off his workload just considering all the work that he's
gotten, continue to develop the depth at that position. (Tight Ends Coach) Nick
Caley has done a really good job. Then we had another guy that wasn't active
who's more than capable of filling in and playing snaps when he’s done that in
previous games with (TE) Brycen Hopkins as well.”

(On winning back-to-back games and if he’s aware of that)

“Only because you ask me. Yes, we're conscious of it. Here's what I would tell
you, I think one of the things that's been fun about this group is they take it a
week at a time. I do think that momentum can be a powerful thing and I think
we talked about it a little bit after the game, continuing to learn how to capitalize
on opportunities to play complimentary ball, to be able to finish games, to be
able to recognize and identify those moments that are key and critical to be
able to put yourself over the top. I think those are things that you have to be
able to continue to learn how to do. We've got a lot of guys that have been a
part of a lot of teams that have won, but every single year's a new year. What
I'm really proud of is that one of the things that we challenge these guys coming
off the bye was let's focus on what we can control. It still is that one day at a
time, one week at a time mindset and mentality and every streak starts at one.
After that bye, these guys have gotten that to two. By taking it one day at a
time, one game at a time, we're going, with a great opportunity in front of us, to
see what we can do against a really tough opponent in the Cleveland Browns
this coming week. I was aware of it, but what I am pleased with is this team's
ability to take it one day at a time, one game at a time while also being able to
build on some momentum that they've established. I think a lot of things have
been on display over the last couple weeks that we can learn from. Winning
each of those two games was reflected in a little bit different manner which I
think is powerful.”

(On coming into the office after a win and if it’s different than after a loss
for him personally)

“It's a big deal. I don't necessarily know if you have to reset because every
single week entails evaluating, doing an after-action review on what we can do
better and how we move forward regardless of what the outcome is. But it
certainly is a lot more enjoyable. I think most importantly, the feelings that you
have when a lot of work goes into those three and a half hour windows that
you're allotted on a weekly basis and to see those guys and the joy that they
have for getting that kind of result, that's what makes it all the worthwhile. We
want to continue to do that. Yeah, it's definitely a little bit different mood as you
can imagine.”

(On Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris’ approach to in-game
adjustments)

“They do a great job. I don't necessarily know if it's adjustments or just
executing the way that we're capable of. I think our coaches do a phenomenal
job and if those adjustments are necessary, but in a lot of instances and
yesterday for example, it was more about hey, let's just settle in. Let's play the
way that we're capable of, let's execute the calls, and then let's just do our ‘one
eleventh’, every single play and try to play as close to 11 as one. I thought our
guys did a great job and I thought they brought the plan to life. It wasn't
necessarily as much as adjustments as opposed to just bringing the game plan
and executing the calls that Raheem and the defensive coaches made after
that and playing good situationally. I think it was more that than it was
necessarily having to make any sort of altering adjustments because they did a
good job of executing their first drive and then ultimately punching in the two-
point conversion, but then our guys settled in and played the way that we
thought that they could.”

(On deciding whether the game plan or execution is the issue during the
middle of the game)

“I think it's about being able to see what the problems are and if you need to
find solutions that are outside the framework of the execution, then that's what
requires changes and adjustments. And that's where it's so important for all the
coaches to be able to see the right things, to be able to communicate and stay
connected as one when there are 11 guys on each side of the football trying to
do things that are not necessarily in alignment with what we're trying to get
done, whether that be defensively, offensively, or in the kicking game. So if
there are certain things that are totally different or outside the framework of the
intent of the calls, that's when changes need to be altered and adjusted in
regards to those game time adjustments. But in some instances, if you say all
right, it's a misfit, we didn't match up a certain pass concept based on the
coverage contour we were in, we didn't hit this blitz pattern the right way, or we
didn't have a protection pickup. So it's more about if you need to solve
problems that are outside the framework of the intent of the original call is
where those major adjustments come into play.”

(On if QB Matthew Stafford’s thumb is 100% or if it’s still healing)

“I think a hundred percent would be probably a strong percentage. I think he felt
a lot better than he did last week and I thought he was able to make some
incredibly high-level throws that not many people in the world can make when
they're feeling at a hundred percent, but his one hundred percent is pretty
special. I think he'd have to tell you that. I do know that it felt a lot better than
what it did last week. I think there were a couple just last little right before that
release point adjustments that he made that demonstrated that that thing was
feeling a little bit better that are throws that very few people in the world can
make. So I know he is taking steps in the right direction, to say a hundred
percent, I would defer to him on being able to tell you that percentage.”

(On if Raheem Morris has done anything this year that’s stood out in the
way he’s coached)

“He's been the same great coach that I've always known. He's a great leader.
He elevates people and situations that he's a part of and I think that's the
greatest sign of leadership. We always talk about trying to help guys reach and
realize their highest potential. I think we're seeing a lot of growth and
development from a lot of people that he has an influence on and it certainly
isn’t exclusive to just the defense. Raheem influences this whole building. He
influences this coaching staff and these players in a real positive manner. It
certainly isn't to take any credit away from the job he's done, but I've seen the
consistent great coach this year that I've seen each of the last couple years
since he's been here and what I've always witnessed from afar when we
worked together in Washington. That's just who he is and he's as consistent as
it gets.”

(On what a quarterback has to do against the rush when the screens are
so effective)

“I think that's one of those plays, in particular the screen game, where, does it
feel authentic and genuine to some of the other things that you're trying to
marry it up with? Whether that be off of an action or off of the drop back, and
then how can you influence and entice guys to continue to rush? And I think the
quarterback is instrumental in the success of the screen game, being able to
change the release point, the eye manipulation, all the different things like that
and he does as good a job as there is. And I think in a lot of instances people
say, ‘Oh, it's just a screen,’ but there's just so many intricacies that the
quarterback position entails that the great ones, they just do a good job of
making a monotonous or what people would look at as an elementary play and
it ends up turning into an explosive because of the way that they can kind of set
it up and then it puts everybody in a better position to be able to get their blocks
set up, the backs in better phasing with those guys. And those couple things
were definitely on display yesterday with what he was able to do, but there's an
art to it without a doubt.”

(On if he thinks DB Quentin Lake will be back this week)

“I would say that would probably be…Probably not this week. But again, we're
going to see how he does. I was really pleased with the way that (D Russ
Yeast and (D Cobie Durant played in his absence. (D John Johnson (III) is
playing a lot of snaps and doing a heck of a job at safety. I thought he and (DB
Jordan) Fuller were excellent yesterday. We'll take it a day at a time. I'm not
ready to quite rule him out, but I think that would be tough for him to make it
back for this game.”

(On what he’s noticed from the DB rotations over the last two weeks and
if he thinks it’s a trend coming from the college game)

“Yes and I think some of it is by necessity, but also some of it is the versatility
that the way these guys are trained and you just see some of the different
things that they can do. I mean, you really have a handful of guys that can play
safety, they can play the star position. And when you can do that, you can
create a lot of different looks for the defensive staff to prepare for. Number one,
that's a credit to the skill sets and the versatility of these guys that you're talking
about, but it also does give you the ability to be able to present a variety of
different things that make it a little bit more challenging for offenses, which is a
good thing from a defensive vantage point.”

--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