Transcripts - Head Coach Sean McVay - Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach
Sean McVay - Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Head Coach Sean McVay

(On how he spent his holiday break)

“It was good. I got a chance just to kind of relax and unwind. My folks were in
town, got a chance to spend a lot of time with our little boy Jordan and my wife
Veronika, and then my uncle John and my cousin Emma lives out here. So we
got a lot of good family time. A lot of good chances to sit back and watch some
football. And here we go, getting ready to prepare for the Giants now.”

(On how much he pays attention to the NFC playoff picture)

“I pay a lot of attention to it. I tell myself not to get emotionally invested in these
games and then you get invested and then you're saying, ‘Why the hell did I do
that?’ So here's what I'll tell you though, what I do know is true is that we've got
to continue to focus on what we can control and that's the Giants. I'm very
aware of all the things that are going on, but I do think it's important to not let
that take away from the task at hand because you can get caught up with other
stuff and playing the ‘what if' game. What I think the best thing this team has
done is they have focused on what they can control to put themselves in a
position to even have the conversations that we're having right now about
playing meaningful ball in December and up into January. And so that's been
our goal. I've loved the journey that we've had with this team to get to this point
but I do think the most important thing for us is to focus on the task at hand.
And it's getting these guys back in here, everybody made it back. And then we'll
get a really good week of preparation where we'll be able to do some things
relative to our prep that enables us more reps both physically and mentally than
what we would typically be accustomed to at this point because you in essence
got another bye with us having the last handful of days off. But I watch all the
games. I love football so I know exactly what's going on and really I think that's
a way that you learn and you feel like, hey, there's good opportunities to be
able to add. I'm very aware but I also do know that none of that stuff really
matters and that is a hundred percent truth if we don't do a great job getting
ourselves prepared to go play a tough game at New York.”

(On if he anticipates any roster moves this week)

“Those are the things that we'll work through right now. We had signed a long
snapper to our practice squad as a potential way of getting some competition
there. But we'll always evaluate. We'll see how guys come out today doing their
normal checks and balances and being able to get a good workout with
(Director of Strength and Conditioning) Coach (Justin) Lovett. And then making
sure everybody's feeling good with (VP of Sports Medicine and Performance)
Reggie (Scott) and his group. And then I'll have more clarity in regard to exactly
how we want to approach it once we start putting together our game plans and
getting into the actual practice week which will start for us tomorrow.”

(On if the playoff picture impacts his approach with the team)

“Not at all. It really doesn't because the reality is…this is like self-talk I tell
myself, you're watching it, watch it with an unemotional approach because
fortunately or however you look at it, we've got to continue to try to get results
that we want for us to be relevant in these conversations and that's just the
truth. And so that's where anything that takes away from it… that's where it's
good to be able to get back into a work routine because sometimes when you
have enough time, it's great to be able to be with the family, but then you start
watching games and you're like you need to have something to work towards
and getting ready for the Giants will be a good way of saying this is the only
thing that we can focus on and the only thing that we have somewhat of a
control over.”

(On if there has been any changes from an injury standpoint)

“It hasn't. Everybody's doing good. This is the flu season as we know. A couple
guys had some stomach bugs, but not anything that I expect to affect their
ability to start our prep tomorrow in a normal fashion.”

(On if there’s anything about the way QB Matthew Stafford has been
playing that’s allowed him to not throw any interceptions in the last four
games)

“He’s playing great football. He has great command, great control, understands
what he's seeing. I think guys are getting to the locations. I think there's been
just an overall sharp execution that always starts with him and those guys up
front have done a nice job protecting. I think the skill players are distributing the
field well for him and so he’s playing excellent and I think it's really just a credit
to his preparation, his command, and then obviously his ability to be able to
throw the ball with accuracy and anticipation. And then I thought some of my
favorite plays on Thursday were some of the things that he made happen off-
schedule and guys are understanding how to be able to work with him and he's
doing a great job remaining a passer. But he's been playing awesome and he's
been the catalyst for a lot of the good things that have gone on.”

(On how working with Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner, studying and being a
student of the game has helped LB Ernest Jones make all the plays that
he’s made this year)

“I think Ernest would be better equipped to answer in terms of…I know Bobby
had a tremendous influence just watching his everyday approach and his
preparation, but Ernest is extremely conscientious. I think one of his things is
he's got a great concept trigger. He really has a good understanding of what to
expect and anticipate. And really, he and (Linebackers Coach) Chris Shula
have such a cool relationship in terms of their weekly rhythm. It's why he's got
the dot. He's really starting to understand and own the intent of, alright, why is
(Defensive Coordinator) Raheem (Morris) or the defensive coaches calling
certain things? What are we really trying to get out of it? And it's all
encompassing to the run game, to the pass game, to protections. And he’s
been outstanding, but I thought it was a great example for him to be able to
have Bobby to see what that really looks like. You guys have heard me talk
about it, there's nothing more powerful than seeing and really somebody
modeling the way. And obviously, we know what a pro's pro Bobby is but I think
Ernest has really done a great job of continuing to take his game in the right
direction and then just his overall charisma and presence and the way that he
elevates people. He's got such an authentic play energy that I think has been
instrumental in a lot of good things, not only for the defense, but for our team.
One of the coolest things Kirk Herbstreit mentioned to me after the game was
watching how excited Ernest gets for the offensive guys and just this team and
the connection. And Ernest is certainly one of those great representations of
that and I've really been super proud and happy for the things that he's done
and we got to keep it going.”

(On the Giants being a team that fights for four quarters and if that's a
conversation point for them this week)

“Yeah, I think it is every single week because every team is dangerous, but you
look at the run they went on when they won three in a row and how capable
they are. And they're really opportunistic. You look at what a great job they did
taking the ball away and then they get two turnovers, one on special teams,
and then one on defense that turns into points immediately yesterday. So we've
got to do a great job with our preparation. The challenge is always to be able to
play four quarters. On the positive side, what I have liked about both the
Washington and the New Orleans games is even though they started to get
some momentum, the offense was able to get the ball and close the games out.
You look at…there's some positives to take away, but certainly the execution
through 60 minutes and all four quarters is a key and critical factor and that'll
definitely be something that we'll continue to emphasize every single week, but
especially given the things that you brought up about the Giants. And we know
we've got a great challenge ahead.”

(On his thoughts on RB Kyren Williams wanting to be as close as
possible during practice while he was injured)

“I did notice it and he just loves it. And he understands that…he's always doing
things to be able to take steps in the right direction. He understands how much
the work pays off and whether that be physically or mentally, he's a super
cerebral player. And then he's not naïve to the fact too that his energy just
being out there, it's uplifting to people. It's uplifting to his teammates, to me, to
his coaches and so once he got back out there, and I think there wasn't
anybody that was more excited for his return than he was. We were all excited,
but he was champing at the bit and it's been really awesome to see so many
guys, but especially him and the positive influence he's had on this group and
this team.”

--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