McVay … 8/27 … transcript

Sean McVay – August 27 2020

(On why he gathered the team together during practice)
“That was really just with everybody on the field because we had special teams in the beginning. So, it’s the first time we could bring everybody up. I had a good meeting with a lot of our players this morning about all of of things that are going on in our country. Want to make sure that we’re always opening up the lines of communication, not just transmitting information. We’ll keep the specifics in house, but it’s always about being able to connect with our guys, make sure we understand their perspectives and really be able to figure out a way to put some tangible things in place to try and move the needle in the right direction. There’s been a lot of conversations and now we’re trying to figure out solutions about how we can take actions in being able to do that. That’s what we’re working through as an organization collectively.”

(On CB Jalen Ramsey not practicing today)
“Yup. That’s what it was, vet rest day. He was here. So, we we’re just being smart with him.”

(On if any players expressed a desire to sit out from today’s practice in wake of the loss of Jacob Blake)
“Yeah. Everybody was on board to practice. I think what guys are most interested in, is how can they use their platform to really do something to affect and influence that real change. We got a lot of really special men on this team that have a passion for making things right in this country. Trying to eliminate and avoid these tragedies that are occurring, that’s what we’re working through right now.”

(On what he has learned from his players by talking to them and listening)
“Yeah, I wouldn’t say I’ve changed. I think it’s more just about learning. It’s much easier to be connected to guys when you’re in person. So, being more present, communicating a little bit more, being a better listener. All of those things help you increasingly improve in those areas that we talked about. But, most importantly it’s creating an atmosphere and an environment where guys feel comfortable to share, if that’s what’s on their heart. Then what we can do to try and figure out how to help people heal and then help people try to use, I keep saying this platform, to try and really do some things that can really affect that change that we’re looking for. I know that, that’s what we’re all working through and want to be able to start to put some actions in place as opposed to just continuing to talk about it. That’s what I think you can expect to see moving forward from us.”

(On if there’s something unique about this team than the other teams who have decided to cancel practice)
“I can’t speak for those other teams. I can just speak on what’s on a lot of our guys hearts. It’s about being connected to them and understanding, and that’s what we try to do. I can always do a better job of that. Our guys, they know that our interest is what they’re feeling. We want to have that shared ownership. Their ability to communicate to me, to their other coaches, we’re always going to try to figure out. It doesn’t matter who’s right, it’s what’s right and what’s best and that’s what we’ll always do. Our players know that they have a huge influence on how we handle things, with things of this magnitude.”

(On if there has been any discussion with the league about coming together as one)
“I’m sure that it’ll get to that point. Our discussions have been internally with just our organization, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is something that the league ends up doing to represent that unified approach like you said.”

(On if OL Andrew Whitworth practiced today)
“Yeah he was here today too. Same thing with (CB) Jalen (Ramsey), just gave him a rest day. We had two good days in a row of full padded practices. Today we tailored it back a little bit and wanted to be smart he and Jalen.”

(On what he hopes to see in the scrimmage practice this week)
“Yeah, just good, crisp execution on both sides. You want to limit the self-inflicted wounds, the pre-snapp penalties. Whether it’s jumping off sides offensively or defensively. You want to see guys play with the right fundamentals and techniques, communicate at a high level. Just as important as anything is kind of getting comfortable with that rhythm and routine. Staying at a new team hotel the night before and just being comfortable getting to the stadium, where they park, and how they’re getting to the locker room. As you guys saw, that’s quite a stadium. So, I just want to get all those things that sometimes you take for granted in a year where you don’t have those preseason opportunities to usually get that stuff figured out. That’s as big apart of this as anything. And then continue the evaluation of our roster. It’s going to be a really good opportunity for some of our younger players to get a significant amount of work in the second part of this scrimmage. Everything we do is important and evaluated, but this certainly represents a big ‘Opp’ for a lot of guys.”

(On if this year is going to be more difficult than usual to set a roster)
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that. I just think you wish you could provide more opportunities that a natural and normal schedule allows. You know, preseason games. It won’t be an excuse. I think, like we said, we’re evaluating everything and that’s part of our job to make sure that we do a thorough job of getting these guys evaluated the right way, identifying our top players that are going to be on the active roster, who we deem as appropriate practice squad players and then hopefully help those guys that it doesn’t work out for them here, find some other opportunities based on the environment they’re in here.”

(On the workload for players in the scrimmage to be properly evaluated)
“You know, we’ve got a schedule that will be a little bit lighter in terms of the workload. I think that was a reflection of just getting guys up to speed and in game shape. I think you’ll see a lot of our top guys try to get in between anywhere from 45 and 50 snaps and the same our other players in that second half. I think you’re looking more at 90-100 plays, as opposed to 140 or something that we got.”

(On the lack of crowd noise dictate communication on the sidelines)
“Yeah, it really depends on what that decibel level is that they allow. Whatever it is, it’s going to be consistent across all the league. It’s just a matter of if it’s consistent whether you’re on offense, on defense. Do you have the ability to crank it down a little bit when you’re at home on offense and crank it up when you’re on defense. So, those are things that we’re closely, you know, monitoring if you will. I’ve had some good conversations with a lot of people at the league office and then obviously got some coaches on the competition committee. They’re working through that. Whatever it is, it’s going to be consistent. So, I could tell you once I know exactly what those parameters are.”

(On whether the opponent will be able to hear what is said across the field)
“I think part of the reason is why they want to have some of that noise, if you will, is to eliminate the ability to hear all that type of stuff. Obviously, kind of what we’ve seen in some of those NBA games, I would envision that they will filter in some noise so that it feels like when you’re watching it, what a normal game would feel (like). I think they’ve done a great job in those NBA broadcasts I’ve watched of doing that. I would imagine that’s in alignment with what the NFL’s thinking. As far as for the crowd noise, I know that hasn’t been finalized. But, we’ve got to do a great job of being ready for whatever that scenario is. I would imagine that it would be along the lines of controlled volume setting that won’t be too loud that you can’t communicate on offense at home, but it’ll be loud enough that it minimizes being able to hear some of those things that you talked about.”

(On his emotions when he sees the recent events and after talking to players)
“I think in a lot of ways, sadness. Like what I talked about a couple months ago, that really resonated with me, is that I’ve been so blessed to be raised to love people and I’ve been around sports my whole life which has given me exposure to so many unique men of different backgrounds and racial backgrounds and experiences that they’ve had. So, you love people and you’ve been fortunate to be around so many unique, special people that have had huge influences on me. What is so sad is that outside some of the arenas, whether it’s sports in this building, when you really ask those questions to people that you love and care about, what they’ve gone through and then you see how it hits home. Then you really start talking to guys when they’re talking about their daughters and their sons, and how that affects them. That’s when you feel that pit in your stomach. One of our coaches (Running Backs Coach) Thomas Brown, who has been an incredible influence on me and a help in terms learning, understanding, getting a better perspective on all this, he was talking about he’s got three young boys and he’s hopeful that 30 years from now, when they’re grown men, we’re not having these same things and he’ll be really upset. That’s why you want to be so adamant about trying to use what you can, use the platform to really affect and influence change so that we can get more along the lines of what usually the sports locker room atmosphere feels like where everybody loves one another, they’re on equal playing surfaces and that’s what we’ve got to figure out.”