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Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, RB Todd Gurley II – October 24, 2019
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Rams Head Coach Sean McVay
(On CB Troy Hill appearing on the injury report and if he expects Hill to play Sunday)
“Yeah, we do. We want to be smart with him. Anytime that you’ve got those DBs with those soft tissue muscles, you want to be smart about it. He’s making really good progress. He’s had some soreness, but we expect him to be ready to go.”(On if RB Malcolm Brown will be out for the game on Sunday)
“Malcolm Brown is going to be out, so he’ll be out for the game. He’s making progress on that ankle, but not good enough to where he’s going to be able to do the things necessary to play that running back position. We’ll go into it with the same three that we had last week and feel good about that group.”(On what he’s seen from RB Darrell Henderson and why he didn’t play a considerable amount of snaps last game)
“Well, I think he did a good job. I think it was a nice little balance. I thought he and (RB) Todd (Gurley) really spelled each other really well throughout the game. Then (RB) John Kelly did a good job kind of coming in and finish it up. I think we’re learning about (RB) Darrell (Henderson) as well. I think you saw some physical runs. You knew that he had the speed and the athleticism to catch the ball out of the backfield. To see him put his pads down and make some good physical runs. I thought the third-and-1, on the third play that we had offensively when (Falcons DT) Grady Jarrett’s free in the backfield, he makes him miss and ends up coming out for a big conversion. I think he took a lot of good steps in the right direction, did a good job in protections. I think he’s going to be a really good player for us.”(On if he’s reached an ideal balance of the workload between his running backs)
“In a lot of instances, how the flow of, ‘Are we getting plays off?’ You want to be able to get (RB) Todd (Gurley) in the rhythm of the game. I thought we were able to do that while still getting Darrell (Henderson) some touches. I thought that worked out pretty good for us. It’s something that, really, each of theses seven games has kind of dictated different things. When you’re able to have some balance then you’d like to say, ‘Well, yeah you can naturally get Todd a little bit more involved.’ But you see him make some plays in the pass game. At the end of the day, what you’re saying is, you’ve got (RB) Todd (Gurley), you’ve got (RB) Darrell (Henderson) – and then if (RB) Malcolm’s (Brown) available – those are guys that you want to find a way to get involved and make sure they’re getting their work. Todd’s still our starter and those types of things. I think that balance is something that we’re kind of working through and figuring out what is the best formula for success for our team.”(On if the offense has found its identity now that the team has reached the midpoint of the season or if they’re still figuring it out)
“I think we’re still figuring it out. What’s been good about it is, the guys have been so receptive to the things that we want to get corrected. It’s as much as players and coaches alike figuring out, ‘All right, what are the things we want to do? What are we doing to best suit our skill sets of our players with some of the new pieces that we do have in place?’ I expect us to run the football more consistently. That’s the one thing really, I think really, all in all it’s been tough sledding because – whether it be the game gets out of reach with the Tampa game or just some of those things. We just need to be more efficient in the run game snap in and snap out – and kind of figure out that identity. I think that has been a big reason that we haven’t felt as consistent as what years past have been.”(On if he can point to anything specifically that’s causing the inconsistency in the run game)
“I think it’s a collaborative effort, the run game. Really, football is the greatest team sport. It takes all eleven (players). There’s not one culprit. Sometimes it’s, ‘Are we putting the players in good spots?’ And that’s where you’ve got to look at yourself and make sure that you can say yes to that. Sometimes, it’s an execution thing. Really, what it’s about is we’ve got to do a better job of consistently playing performances that are indicative of being able to control the football, having some balance, but ultimately scoring points and putting ourselves in a position to win football games.”(On what T Andrew Whitworth has meant to the team the last couple years and how he’s playing now)
“I think he’s playing well. I thought he played really well against Atlanta, especially. His leadership has been invaluable, and in a lot of instances, I’ve learned from him. He’s been a great sounding board for me. As a guy that has played so long, he’s got such great wisdom and he’s also has a great perspective on things. I think that has been invaluable, really, for our team. He really just looks over his teammates. He can still play at a high level. Then he’s got a great way of being able to find that balance of, ‘All right, here is what needs to get done, if there is something that maybe I can do to help better benefit what we are doing with the players.’ He’s been outstanding. He’s been one of the key parts of why this thing has gone the way it has the last three years.”(On what kind of practice the team will have on Friday in London)
“It will be more of a modified walk-thru type deal, so we will do a little bit more today. You want to get these guys active and moving around. With the travel and some of those things, you do leave yourself susceptible to some of the soft tissue injuries that can typically occur. So, we want to be safe and smart about that. We kind of have gotten ahead from our install – in terms of what a typical week entails. So, today will represent kind of a combination of a Thursday and Friday. Then tomorrow will be an accumulation of those things in a jog-thru, in a way.”(On how Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor’s familiarity with the team impacts preparation)
“He’s a great coach. He’s done an excellent job for us when he’s been with us. I would say, the one thing that has helped my perspective on that is when my first year here we played Washington in the second game, and their offense was very similar. You almost realize sometimes you try to give too much information. It ends up thinning out and watering down things when you still have to play your call, make a reactionary check. So, I think we’re mindful of the things that maybe he would be able to help out with and adjust those, so that it’s not exactly what they anticipate. But I do think there is an element of, you don’t want to overthink it because you still make a call. You don’t know when we are going to do it and then there’s a call that they have to react to on defense as well or on offense. Those are the things I kind of learned when we played Washington in a very similar situation.”***
Rams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips
(Opening Remarks)
“Cincinnati, obviously (Bengals Head Coach) Zac Taylor is there. He’s familiar with our defense from being with us. Also, they put in an offense that’s really throwing the ball really well, which we expected when he went to Cincinnati. (Bengals QB Andy) Dalton’s a really good quarterback and they’ve got really good receivers. The running game hasn’t been as good as he wanted, I’m sure, but they do have the leading rusher, (Bengals RB Joe) Mixon, was the leading rusher in the AFC last year. Again, the passing game, we know is going to be good because it comes from ours, really. They can take advantage of it.”(On how Taylor’s knowledge of L.A.’s offense changes his approach)
“You have to do what you do well no matter what. But, you have to change a few things as far as when you call things or things like that. You have to play what you play and play it well enough so they can’t run things against you. It’s always that case whether they’ve been with you or not.”(On how the addition of CB Jalen Ramsey enables the defense to maneuver)
“(CB) Jalen Ramsey’s come in and we’ve certainly changed a few things with him. We played a lot more man defense than we played throughout the season. It worked well for us. His forte is he can play man-to-man, so you want to utilize that. He did a really good job, but also the mentality last week – up against a really good passing team, I thought we played really well.”(On how man-to-man coverage in the secondary affects the pass-rush)
“It’s a combination of both. If you can cover man-to-man, they may have to hold the ball a little bit longer and it gives the defensive guys a chance – the front guys a chance to rush. We play zone, too, but we did play more man-to-man and I expect to do that.”(On how the defense has performed so far this season)
“About 4-3, yeah. That’s about how we’ve done. Some games we played really well. We haven’t been as consistent as we want, but I thought last game was an up-tick against a good team. We have played good run defense throughout the year. I think our run front is strong – probably stronger than we did last year. That helps us in that if we can force them in the passing game, we’ve got to play good pass defense.”(On how he measures DT Aaron Donald’s success)
“Well, he’s a great player and plays great. That’s what I look at, he’s been playing great. That’s what we expect from him, that’s what he expects. Sacks aren’t everything. Certainly, he disrupts so many things and he helps other people in that when he gets double teamed, certainly other people are one-on-one and he’s double teamed a lot, we know that. But, he also dictates protections for them, which gives us a chance to rush better in some of those situations. You look at the film, he’s still a dominant force. Whether he gets 20.0 sacks or not, he’s still a dominant force.”(On OLB Dante Fowler Jr. turning up to another level)
“Yeah, he had a great game last game. (OLB) Dante (Fowler Jr.) had a tremendous game in the run and the pass. That’s’ what we expect from him. He’s not going to get 3.0 sacks every week, but we expect him to play well and he did.”(On if it’s rare in the NFL to find cornerbacks that can play man-to-man defense)
“It’s rare to find shut-down corners, yes. You can have man-to-man corners. If you have a guy that’s at another level, obviously he can help you.”(On why that makes such a rare quality)
“Well, because there’s so many great athletes at wide receiver. To match up with those kinds of guys, it’s not easy. There’s some good man-to-man players, but then there’s a few great ones. Those are the guys that you can say, ‘Hey, he’s got it no matter what and can help somebody else.’ Some guys can play blitz coverage and other guys help somebody else. You basically eliminate one guy for us as far as what’s going on with us now. We didn’t completely eliminate the guy last week, but we did in a lot of situations – on third-downs and stopped them quite a few times. That’s the way it goes.”***
Rams RB Todd Gurley II
(On how it’s been to be back in Georgia for the week)
“It’s been cool. Got some love, got a chance to play against the Falcons – had some Falcons supporters/Gurley reporters, so it was cool.”(On if he was able to see friends and family while in Atlanta for the week)
“That’s what I’ve been kind of doing all weekend. Just spread it out each day, just try to do something different and see everybody for the most part.”(On if he’s looking forward to the trip to London)
“Yeah, a little bit – little bit, little bit. I like London, but during the season – I wish we could’ve been there all week, but it was cool that we got a chance – at least we’re not in Jacksonville.”(On the environment and atmosphere in London)
“It’s cool. A lot of energy. Those fans are a little different over there – pretty much get excited for everything. It’s cool just to be able to have the opportunity play an international game. This is something you can look back on and half the team, a lot of us aren’t going to go to London just to go to London, so a good opportunity for a lot of guys to get a little stamp on their passport and go over there and experience everything.”(On his thoughts on his touchdown reception against the Falcons)
“It was just during the game. It’s literally what we do every day. We even do pat-and-go before the game. Just happened to be a touchdown in the game on a pretty good player in (Falcons LB) Vic (Beasley). It’s really just one of those things, ‘Just catch the damn ball,’ really.”(On being able to keep his feet in bounds for the touchdown catch)
“We never get the opportunity. You give us the opportunity and we’ll be able to do it. We got like four or five great receivers, good tight ends, so I don’t get that opportunity as much – which I understand. We have great players – we got (WR Cooper) Kupp, we got (WR Brandin) Cooks, (WR Robert) Woods, (WR) Josh (Reynolds), (TE Tyler) Higbee. I let them guys do that.”(On if he felt he and RB Darrell Henderson Jr. were able to get into a flow on Sunday)
“It was cool. Obviously, my first game coming back from the contusion, so we had a plan and we were able to get things going and rotate and stuff like that.”(On if Henderson Jr. is getting over his rookie apprehensions)
“Well, just getting more reps now. The more reps you do, the more comfortable you are. That’s just like with anything – you got a job, but you can’t really do it and you don’t really know how to do it until it’s time to do it. Just like I told him (RB Darrell Henderson Jr.) before, when the opportunity opens up, you just got to be prepared for it and be able to just go out there and perform. That’s just how this league works.”Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, – September 19, 2019
Rams Head Coach Sean McVay
(Opening Remarks)
“Injury update on (OL) Austin Blythe – he making good progress. He’s still going to be day-to-day, he won’t practice today. The same thing with (TE) Tyler Higbee.”(On DT Aaron Donald and RB Malcolm Brown appearing on Wednesday’s injury report)
“Malcolm (Brown) had a little bit of a sore ankle – he should be okay. We were, more than anything – when he kind of just communicated that there was some soreness, better off being smart with it. That was kind of the approach that we took. He’s feeling better today, so I anticipate him participating (in Thursday’s practice). (DT) Aaron (Donald) is feeling better as well and he’s going to go today as well.”(On if he believes Higbee will be available for Sunday’s game)
“I think it’s a good question. I think we really are taking it day-by-day, so we’ll find out Sunday at 8 p.m. Actually, you’ll find out before, because I have to turn the inactives in before then, right? (Laughs).”(On how he emphasizes the Browns’ ability to make a big play early in the game to the defense)
“It’s a good question. Really, it’s about applying pressure to an offense by mixing up some of the looks, bringing certain guys going forward. Typically, you’re used to just a four-man rush – maybe thinking about bringing five, six, maybe seven guys. Just changing up some different things, being aware of what we’ve done to not let them dictate the circumstances. We always want to try and apply pressure to our opponents – I know most teams feel that way, vice versa. That’s kind of an overall philosophy, where we’re going to be aggressive, but smart on offense, defense and special teams.”(On how the tight end role changes without Higbee playing)
“Really not much. (TE) Tyler (Higbee) is a very, very important piece, but (Tight Ends Coach) Wes Phillips is coaching (TE) Gerald (Everett) up to be able to do all the things that you’ve seen Tyler do in some of those early down and distances. We’ve seen Gerald play in a lot of those early downs as well, but then also be a key contributor in some of our known passing situations. Gerald is more than capable of doing those types of things, as is (TE) Johnny Mundt – if Tyler’s down, then he’ll be up.”(On if he notices defenses changing their schemes against the Rams’ offense from year-to-year)
“There’s trends in the league that go around. Situationally, schematically, those are things that you kind of always want to adapt and evolve. In certain ways that you’ve seen us get defended differently, but you look around the league and you see some of that defensive structure showing up in some different places. It’s really – I think – a lot of times in the offseason especially, all the coaches around the league get a chance to really have access to every single play that occurred during that previous season. You’re going to study some of the teams that maybe had some success or that do some different things that you feel like fits – schematically and situationally – for your players. That’s where you kind of just see some of the things adjust year-to-year. A lot of people made a big deal about some of the fly-motions, different things like that or the jet sweeps. I think you see some trends, but at the end of the day, a lot of the things go back to fundamentals, techniques, executing and being able to do the things that have consistently enabled teams to execute, whether it be on offense or defense over time.”(On if he remembers what the main points of emphasis were for defenses across the league last season)
“It depends on the situation. A lot of the calls that you see and a lot of the calls that we make offensively or that defensive coordinators make defensively, are predicated on the situation. Some of your 1st-and-10 calls are going to be different than your third-down menus. I think you see consistent themes in terms of, ‘What’s the intent of a call?’ Are you trying to beat a protection by overloading the back in a third down situation? Are you trying to stop the run game by creating a chance of loading the front, so that you minimize the opportunity to get some of your combination blocks? I think it goes back to what the intent is. There’s certain defensive systems and offensive systems that have core foundational elements to it. Like anything else, we’ll steal plays from other people if we feel like it fits. I think it all goes back to, ‘What’s the baseline identity?’ You see how productive Seattle’s been for so long – the famous ‘three-deep four underneath’ that they play. You see similar schemes in San Francisco, Jacksonville, Atlanta. It really depends on who you’re talking about and what their identity is and then how they adjust and adapt by year.”(On if he has talked to LB Clay Matthews about letting him see his father’s ceremony of getting inducted into the Browns Ring of Honor)
“We talked about it last week. He told me that it was going to take place at halftime. I want to make sure that we’re understanding to making our adjustments, but then understand what a special moment this is for him, his family and to be able to experience that. To be there playing on the opposing team that night is pretty unique and hopefully this will lead to getting inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame as well.”(On what he thinks about Matthews regarding his level of play with consideration to his age and how is doing this season and how many more years he thinks Matthews has in him)
“He sure looks like he’s doing really well. One of the reasons why we wanted him here so badly is because we saw it firsthand with how productive he was defending us when we played the Packers the previous year. He influenced the game in a variety of ways. I’ve been a fan of his just watching his versatility. In terms of the different things that you can do with him, how smart he is. He’s twitchy, he’s feeling good. You guys have all seen what he’s done over the first couple of games. He continues on this trajectory, it’s going to be really good for the Rams. It’s been good for the Rams so far and we’re really fortunate to have him.”(On if he thinks there is a comparison to Browns QB Baker Mayfield such as Seahawks QB Russell Wilson)
“You have a natural tendency to go towards, ‘Okay, if it’s a smaller in stature,’ but what you see is a guy that plays the position at a really high level. He can make plays in rhythm, there’s no throws that he can’t make. I think he does a great job. He can drive intermediate and breaking cuts, you see a third-and-long that he hit against the Jets. Does a great job manipulating the coverage with his eyes and then hitting the backside dig. He can create off-schedule as well as anybody and then just the fiery competitor. He’s playing the position at a high level, he’s making good decisions. Everybody makes a big deal about how long you’re holding it. Each play, he’s doing a great job recognizing a three-man rush, breaking contain and then guys are working for him off-schedule. When you flip the film on, you see a really good quarterback who’s only getting better and who’s a great competitor that makes people around him better.”(On what the fine line is between being disciplined and attacking on an off-schedule play)
“That’s what is so hard about the quarterback position is there is so many different situations, circumstances that dictate whatever that answer is. Ultimately, if the things are there in rhythm, you want guys to read with their feet, play within the timing and rhythm of the play, understanding that there is 22 moving parts that don’t go exactly how you want it as a coach. There’s a feel to it knowing when, ‘Okay, if the rush lanes or the integrity is lost, can I break contain? Getting some depth while keeping my eyes down the field.’ I think as much as anything, it’s a feel. I think he’s got a great feel for when to stay in rhythm or maybe even off-schedule in the pocket if the rush allows or if he’s got to get flushed and then guys do a great job working for him off-schedule”(On what challenges there are when attacking defensively on an off-schedule play)
“Incredible, because now what that does is, you’re not having a static target that he might not be in a consistent launch point. He has the ability to make you miss. Then that also stresses the second and third levels because now you’re having to maintain coverage integrity longer. With some of your zone stuffs, you really have a chance to break down and then it’s really hard to cover in ‘man’ as it is against the caliber of players in this league, let alone when you start holding the ball for a little bit longer. So, it’s a problem.”(On what his experience is with going against Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr.)
“He’s a great player. Consistently, he’s got the ability to score at any point no matter where he catches it. That’s referenced by last week with the Jets. There’s not many players in this league that can catch short, intermediate, down the field and can literally score on any single moment, any play. He’s an explosive play waiting to happen. He’s got great feel for how to separate in terms of his body control. Everybody sees what great hands that he has, they move him all around. There’s really no limitations in his game and you see why he’s been so productive and why he is a great challenge for us that we’re looking forward to on Sunday night.”***
Rams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips
(Opening Remarks)
“We’ve certainly got another big challenge this week. I think their offense makes a lot of big plays, a lot of explosive plays. Of course, anytime you have (WR) Odell Beckham Jr., you have the possibility to making those, but he’s going to make some himself. They’ve got a Georgia running back that is pretty good too. (Browns RB Nick) Chubb is a really good, young back. They got a great young quarterback. I’m not sure everybody realizes how good this young player is early in his career. There has been a lot of great ones that haven’t done as well as he’s done in there first, however many games he’s played. I remember (Former Browns Otto Graham with 14 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in the 1950s. I didn’t say I was coaching then, I said, I remember reading that Otto Graham, one of the greatest of all time, obviously, a Cleveland quarterback. (Browns QB Baker) Mayfield has got a whole lot of tremendous ability and has really done well. I think they expect so much of a first-round pick and so forth, but I think he’s played well and he continues to play well and he gets better that’s worrisome.”(On how he defends a quarterback that’s not scared to take chances like Mayfield, and how he defends that)
“The off-schedule stuff is where the really good players come through and he’s’ shown that so far in his career. He gets off-schedule and makes some really big plays. Like I’ve said, they’ve had a lot of explosive plays. Not only can he throw it, he has a really good arm from the pocket, but he gets out there in space and finds somebody and throws it tremendously well when he gets out of the pocket. He’s not out of the pocket to run with it, he’s out of the pocket to make a big play and he’s done a good job with that.”(On his impressions on WR Odell Beckham watching him through his career)
“Everybody knew how good he was with the Giants and he’s continued that. They throw a short pass and it’s an 89-yard touchdown. The Jets, everybody has had trouble stopping him. He had a 143-yards last week. He’s a really great player. You’ve got to try to double him as much as you can, certainly.”(On what he will tell his DBs covering Beckham if he makes a big play)
“Anytime they make a big play on you, you go the next play. We’re trying to limit those and we’ve done a pretty good job with those so far this year. We’d like to continue that.”(On how he will balance out what Browns WR Jarvis Landry and Beckham bring to the table with the smarts of S Eric Weddle and CB Aqib Talib)
“(Browns WR) Jarvis Landry is another guy that is tough to cover too, especially on the option routes and those kinds of things. He can really get open on those things. Both of those receivers, with a quarterback that can give them the ball, is going to be problems for you. We’ve got to realize that and play our techniques really well. We need to rush, obviously. We need to stop the running game on first and second down, try to get them in longer passing situations, then you can an advantage.”(On DT Sebastian Joseph-Day stepping in the right direction)
“(DT) Sebastian (Joseph-Day) did come in and played well. He’s playing with our base defense, not our dime, sub defense. He played well in the preseason and he’s done a good job so far. We haven’t seen a whole lot of base defense against the two teams we’ve played, so we’ll see how many snaps he gets this week.”(On LB Clay Matthews’ dad being inducted to the ring of honor this weekend and what Matthews has brought to the team)
“ Clay Matthews come in and done a great done, Clay the III, has done a great job for us. We’ve said all along that he’s a good player and he’s shown that already. His dad going into the ring of honor it’s well deserved. I’ve coached in that division a long time against Cleveland, Otto Graham wasn’t there then. Gut Clay Matthews was and I thought he was a great player. He was a great player. To play 19 years at outside linebackers is unheard of. I know offensive linemen can play a long time, you just don’t see many defensive players, especially at that position where you got to run, you got to hit, all those things, you got to cover, he’s a really good cover guy too. It’s really neat that they’re putting him in the ring of honor and I hope he’s wearing a Rams jersey when they do it (laughs).”(On what told him that LB Cory Littleton and LB Bryce Hager would be able to play at a high level)
“I mean you don’t have to be a high draft choice to be able to play in this league. Those two guys have shown that. Cory (Littleton) had a tremendous year last year and Bryce (Hager) came the last couple of years when we had injuries and played really well and has gotten better and better. You’ve got to be a solid football player to be able to play in this league and both those guys, no matter when they were drafted or not, can do that. You see it throughout the league, inside linebackers, I think we miss more probably on the inside linebackers than we do anybody (in the draft) as far as higher draft choices and those guys coming through. College football has changed a little bit, it’s harder to find that inside, rough tough, inside linebacker. Because so much college football is just outside passing game and all that. But both those guys played well against the run and the pass.”(On how he would asses CB Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters)
“ Marcus (Peters) and Aqib (Talib) have both played real solid for us. We haven’t given up many big plays and they’re not going after them. You always see a ball game you say, well their going after this one cornerback because the other cornerback can’t really play. They haven’t gone after either of our corners very much because both of them can play.”Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, – September 12, 2019
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Rams Head Coach Sean McVay
(On DL Michael Brockers and LB Clay Matthews appearing on Wednesday’s injury report)
“They’re making good progress. Both veteran players – (LB) Clay (Matthews) had a little bit of back stiffness and Mike (DL Michael Brockers) had a little something with his shoulder. Those guys are making good progress, we’ll be smart with them again today, but we’re optimistic about the game.”(On if RB Todd Gurley II will practice on Thursday)
“He (RB Todd Gurley II) will.”(On if Gurley practiced on Wednesday)
“He (RB Todd Gurley II) did. He’s feeling good.”(On if Gurley’s practice schedule will be based on how he feels that day or if the team will continue an every other day approach)
“I think it’s kind of by day. I think ideally, we’ve said in a situation where we’ve mapped it out over the course of the year, it’s probably two out of three days. There might be some specific things – this is the heaviest day of install, so there’s some things that maybe we want to get timed up with him (RB Todd Gurley II) and work through. If he’s feeling good, that’s something we want to be able to do.”(On if Gurley’s practice schedule is strictly based on keeping his knee healthy)
“It’s just more about just managing how he (RB Todd Gurley II) is feeling. When you look at the pounding that running backs take – just in terms of just how their body is feeling. It’s not exclusive to any specific part of his body, it’s just really his body and he’s feeling good so that’s the approach we’ll take today.”(On if there is a challenge regarding familiarity when playing the Saints for the third time in two seasons)
“I think, if anything, there’s a respect for what a good football team this is. There’s a lot of stuff that takes place in between an offseason where you’re looking at yourself offensively, defensively, special teams. But, there are a lot of things that foundationally remain the same with our systems and the continuity that each team’s had. I can’t speak to the Saints, but you that you’re playing a really good football team. I think you have a good appreciation for their scheme and their personnel is really, probably the best way I would articulate it. I don’t think you want to think too much into, ‘All right, we’ve done all this.’ You’re always evaluating those games and that’s a part of it. Making sure that they’re looking at that, you know that you’ve already run these certain things. It does affect a little bit the way that you put together your gameplan for the next game.”(On the conversation before having K Greg Zuerlein kick a game-winning field goal in the NFC Championship game)
“It was really, once we had gotten in range that we felt like he (K Greg Zuerlein) could make it, there was never any second guessing. It’s to the confidence that we have in Greg, you don’t even think about the alternative solution or alternative outcome – I guess I should say – would have been there. It would have been deep, but fortunately he knocked that thing true.”(On how the Saints’ secondary compares to other teams and if he considers them ‘elite’)
“They (the Saints’ secondary) are really good. I think their defense is really good as a whole. (CB) Marshon Latimore’s one of the better corners in this league, he’s physical, he’s got great ball skills, you see why he was a top pick. (CB) Eli Apple’s played really well since they traded for him last year. (CB) P.J. Williams is a really good, physical nickel that they can utilize in a bunch of different ways. He’s good in coverage, he’s competitive once he gets around the box. (S) Marcus Williams has as good a range as any safety in the league. You see him come over the top the other night and make a pick. (S) Vonn Bell’s a really versatile player, so they’ve got a lot of guys that they’re consistently playing with that are really good football players. I think they’re put in spots that kind of accentuate their skill-sets and it’s a great challenge. They’re definitely one of the better secondaries in the league.”(On if he’s seen anything he could exploit in the Saints’ secondary after watching the Texans convert big plays against them in Week 1)
“It’s hard to say with just such a small sample size. I think it was a situation where (Texans WR DeAndre) Hopkins makes a great catch. They make a great throw and then they decided to bring pressure. (Texans QB) Deshaun Watson kind of just slid to his right and ended up throwing a great ball on a seam throw to (Texans WR) Kenny Stills. Those two plays, I don’t think are necessarily indicative of what a good defense this is, but I think you also have to give credit to the Texans in that situation where they made two pretty dang good plays.”(On if S Eric Weddle is feeling good today)
“He’s feeling good. He’s in great shape, he’s doing all the necessary steps and we’re fully anticipating him being ready to go.”(On why he thinks it is that his receivers group seems to be lowkey in comparison to the national narrative about receivers being ‘divas’)
“It’s a credit to who they are as people. They’re great players that are great people. They’re as selfless a group as I’ve ever been around. They play hard for one another, they play hard for their teammates. They compete with and without the ball. It’s more than anything, just a reflection of the character that they have. They make each other better. I think (Wide Receivers Coach) Eric Yarber and (Assistant Wide Receivers Coach) Liam Coen do an excellent job leading that room. I’ve never been around a group that’s as special as this one is and you certainly don’t take it for granted.”(On if character is a high priority when he looks at receivers to bring in)
“I think it is. I think it is for our team. You want guys that are accountable and coachable. It sounds cliché the, ‘We not me,’ but you want guys that want to be about the team and being a part of something bigger than yourself. Those are the kind of people that we identify, that love football. You try to create an atmosphere and an environment where there’s a mutual respect like you hear us talk about. These are special people. If you can find talented guys that are wired like those guys mentally and as human beings, that’s a win-win.”(On where the ‘We Not Me’ phrase originally came from and how hard it is to reinforce it in today’s sports world)
“I know that we’re not the first people to say that, but I think it really just epitomizes, we think football is the greatest team sport there is and how important it is for everybody to be pushing in the same direction. More than anything that you could say, it’s really how do your actions match up with what you want to represent day-in and day-out. It’s doing things together, it’s working through the inevitable adversity, trying to look inward, be accountable first and foremost. Those things naturally and organically come up through the course of a week, through the course of a day. You just want to make sure that your actions are reflective of what you say.”(On why it is that wide receivers seem to be the prima donna’s around the league)
The challenge, I don’t necessarily know if the prima donna, but I think in a lot of instances, so much of their production is relying on other guys doing their job. Where a guy might run a route, separate, do everything, but if the protection, if the throw, you know. There’s a lot of things that have to occur for them to be able to even produce in terms of on the stat sheets. Because of how reliant in a lot of instances that receiver position can be and the tight end position when you’re throwing the football on other things working in unison. That’s where sometimes things can come into play, but we feel fortunate that those issues haven’t come up here.”***
Rams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips
(Opening Remarks)
“Obviously, their offense is a top, top offense. I looked, I think they’ve got 10 guys that are third-round or better, drafted. All of them have really outplayed their draft status. (Saints QB) Drew Brees was a second-round guy but obviously, he’s outplayed that, along with (RB Alvin) Kamara in the third round, (WR Michael) Thomas in the second round. They are all even better than that, they are all playing at a first-round level. They’ve done a great job of amassing, really good personnel. They’ve got a great young receiver that leads the league, was the highest paid receiver in the league for four days, I think. He caught 10 passes last game, he’s a real threat, obviously. Their offensive line is really strong. We know Kamara is just like the guy we played last week, like (Panthers RB Christian) McCaffrey, is a run and pass threat and he’s really good at both of those. It’s a big challenge for us and we are looking forward to it. These are big games, we all know it. Every time we’ve played them it’s been a big game, this is another one.”(On when he goes against elite players how he determines a successful outcome)
“The scoreboard is the most important thing. Winning the ball game is the most important thing. You really want to try to shut down – we didn’t do a good enough job against McCaffrey but overall, obviously, we won the game and played well enough. It gives you a chance to look at it and say, ‘Hey, obviously we need to do better this week because they are a stronger offensive team with a Hall of Fame quarterback that’s thrown for the most yardage in the history of football. Like I said, It’s a big challenge. I was lucky enough to be with Drew Brees for a couple of years. I can’t say enough good things about him. I can’t say I knew he was going to be what he is now, but I knew he was going to be a really good player because his temperament, his smarts, his accuracy, all those things were there even in San Diego his first couple of years.’”(On if facing McCaffrey last week and Kamara this week, and if he likes having challenges like that in back-to-back weeks)
“No, I rather have guys that can’t play and play against them (laughs). Yeah, it’s another challenge for you. Like I said, we need to do better in that challenge. Kamara caught 11 (passes) on us last year in the championship game. We know what they can do.”(On the approach of facing a double threat running back)
“I basically tell them to point them out every time. Wherever they are lined up, point them out. At least let them know that ‘Hey, we are aware of where they are.’ That helps our players to say ‘Hey, he’s right here, he’s over here.’ Just a little more attention for them. Now, you’ve got to double cover players at different times, but you’ve got to meet the challenge sometimes. You’ve got to play 1-on-1 with them, or you’ve got to stop them from running the football, those kinds of things.”(On if there is a familiarity between the Rams and the Saints considering they last played in the NFC Championship and if so, if that means they need to disguise what they are doing)
“With Brees, he’s going to audible plays when he sees something. He’s great at that, one of the best. If he can tell what you’re in, he’s going to audible the best play and he’s going to be able to execute it. He’s a yard-a-second quarterback. That last drive he went 35 yards in 35 seconds with one timeout. He can do it.”
(On if he remembers the no call in last year’s NFC Championship game)
“I remember we won. That’s all I remember.”(On holding the Saints to 290-yards last year)
“Obviously we had a good defensive game against them. They’ve got all their starters back that they had last year and they are playing at a high level already. Like I said, it’s a challenge to play against Drew Brees now. You saw it the other night. It looked like they (Houston Texans) were beating them, then all of the sudden, he wins the game for them. They won it as a team, but he moves the team any time. No matter how much they are behind or what, he’s going to make plays.”(On how acquiring OLB Dante Fowler and his progression)
“That’s why we got him last year. We felt like we needed a threat on the outside. He helped our run defense and our pass defense last year. I don’t think people give him credit for the run defense. From the time we got him, we’ve played better and better against the run. Even against New Orleans, we had a really good game. He’s a heck of a player.”(On Fowler’s move in the NFC championship to hit Drew Brees that lead to the game-winning play)
“He’s hard to block. If you have to hold the ball, again, Drew Brees gets rid of it most of the time, but that was a tremendous play and game-winning play. Anytime you’re in overtime no matter what happened before, if you’re in overtime and you cause a turnover, hit him, and cause a turnover and it wins the game, that’s a big play, you’re a big-time player.”(On if it’s rare for a rookie like S Taylor Rapp to be composed in a situation when he had to help and fill in when S Eric Weddle went down)
“That’s what we thought he was going to do. Until they get in the game you don’t know. He came in and played well. That’s why we played him in the game in the first place.”(On LB Clay Matthews and S Eric Weddle’s first game)
“Again, the first half, (S) Eric (Weddle) was in most of the first half. I thought the communication was really great with him in there. He not only helps everybody with what we are all doing, but he says, ‘Alert this, alert that, 41 is going to run.’ He’s alert to what they might run. Again, we don’t guess, but we do anticipate things and he’s tremendous at that. (LB) Clay (Matthews) is a really good outside linebacker. I saw he’s up for the Hall of Fame, that’s his dad (laughs). It said Clay Matthews, that’s all I care.”(On Eric Weddle describing himself as half man, half machine)
“That’s pretty accurate. Like I said before, he’s a really sharp guy, he understands concepts. He understands defensive football and concepts. It’s happened several times with him, he’s gone up and done something that he’s said ‘Hey, why aren’t we doing that way? After a while, we say, ‘Hey, let’s do it we do it that way next time.’ He’s going to be a real asset for us this year and we’ve seen it already in the first half.”(On Cory Littleton’s communication during the Panthers win)
“Yeah, (LB) Cory (Littleton) did it for us last year. Cory is playing a different position than he played last year. Obviously, he played really well. I think he didn’t quite get the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, but he made 15 tackles, an interception, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble. What a game he had. Seems to be suiting him well and he’s playing well.”(On the difference Cory Littleton’s position this season compared to last)
“He’s playing the weak-side inside backer instead of the strong-side inside backer. We call it MIKE and MO. He’s playing MO this year rather than Mike. It just shows he’s a good football player, he can play anywhere. It’s a good position, it’s a good run and hit position, gives you a chance to make a lot of plays and obviously he did.”(On the Saints ranking higher in yards on the ground than through the air last season)
“They’ve got a good offensive line. Like I said, they’re all first and second, one third round pick. They’re all really good players up front. I think (Pro Football Focus) PFF, whoever they are, said they were the best offensive line the first week of the season, they rated them the best in the league. They played awfully well. They’ve got a strong front. He’s always run the ball though. (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton will run the ball more than you think he does. He’s not a pass happy guy, he’s a win game guy and if he can get the running game going, he will.”Sorry Rams, there’s a problem with Todd Gurley and there’s no denying it
DYLAN HERNANDEZ
https://www.latimes.com/sports/super-bowl/la-sp-super-bowl-hernandez-20190202-story.html
Sorry Rams, there’s a problem with Todd Gurley and there’s no denying it
The question shouldn’t be about whether Todd Gurley is injured, but, rather, to what degree.
As much as Gurley has claimed otherwise over the last couple of weeks, it’s obvious something is wrong.And the Rams will have to do in the Super Bowl what they did in New Orleans two weeks earlier: somehow find a way to win with their single-most potent offensive weapon physically limited.
Maybe it won’t matter. Maybe the Rams really are considerably more talented and maybe they will overwhelm the New England Patriots regardless of how little their $60-million running back touches the ball.Or maybe the dimension the Rams will lose without Gurley catching the ball out of the backfield will make their high-scoring offense manageable for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, who had two weeks to prepare for this game.
Gurley said this week his left knee is “good.” For what it’s worth, he hasn’t been listed on the team’s injury report this week, which indicates he is at least healthy enough to play. However, being healthy enough to play isn’t the same as being healthy enough to perform like the best running back in the league.Here’s what is known: Two weeks ago against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game, Gurley touched the ball only five times.
Think about that. With a place in the Super Bowl at stake, in a game close enough to require overtime, the Rams gave their best offensive player the ball only five times.
The Rams’ insistence that Gurley is healthy — “100%,” coach Sean McVay said this week — is understandable, as the team gains nothing by revealing its hand to Belichick. But their explanations didn’t make any sense.
Gurley blamed his “sorry as hell” performance for his limited participation against the Saints, as if McVay would dare give up on him after only four carries if he was healthy. Would the Lakers stop giving the ball to LeBron James if he missed his first four shots?
Here’s what is also known: The left knee that has bothered Gurley is the same knee he had surgically reconstructed in college after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Gurley was said to have experienced inflammation at various points this season, but who knows what that means. Inflammation is a symptom, not a cause. If a person breaks a leg, he or she will have inflammation. If a person is stung by a bee, he or she will have inflammation. Inflammation is football speak for “no comment.”
But considering how little he touched the ball against the Saints, it’s safe to assume the source of Gurley’s discomfort remains despite the great efforts the Rams took to protect him late in the season.
Against the Saints, he had four carries for 10 yards and one catch for three yards. The 32 snaps he played were his fewest in a game since his rookie year.At this point, the best the Rams could reasonably hope for is a performance similar to the one he produced in their postseason-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys: He rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown.
The game was Gurley’s first in four weeks. He will enter the Super Bowl on two weeks’ rest, as there was an open week on the schedule after the conference championship.
While the Cowboys game has been cited as evidence that Gurley might not be injured, the reality is that he carried the ball only 16 times. In fact, he had 16 or fewer rushing attempts in seven of his last eight games. The exception was when he rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries in a victory at Detroit on Dec. 2.
In other words, don’t expect Gurley to carry the ball 30 times Sunday.
So even if he maximizes his touches and makes a couple of game-altering plays, Gurley will have to be carried by others if he is to become a Super Bowl champion. C.J. Anderson will have to wear down the Patriots defense. Jared Goff will have to make big-time passes. Aaron Donald will have to reach Tom Brady.
The Rams can win, only their chances of doing so are worse with their offensive centerpiece diminished.
Former NFL QB & current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky is today’s guest on the podcast talking about Goff, Mahomes, & his thoughts on Super Bowl LIII
Ross goes in depth on the Rams win over the Saints game & the Patriots victory in Kansas City on today’s podcast. Also, Dr. David Chao checks in with his “Medical Minute” NFL injury report.
AgamemnonTRANSCRIPTS: Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, Defensive Lineman Michael Brockers, Quarterback Jared Goff, Safety John Johnson III and Guard Rodger Saffold III – January 18, 2019
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Rams Head Coach Sean McVay – – January 18, 2019
(On if there was a specific reason why the team elected to travel to New Orleans on Saturday and if the team would normally travel on a Friday)
“We would. Really, because kickoff is going to be at 12 o’clock on our time zone – like in our head – we didn’t feel like we wanted to travel two days out. Wanted to try to stay here as long as possible. That was just something that we felt like was going to be best for our players for just the overall operation. Because of when the kickoff is, and really, it’s two time zones as opposed to sometimes when you’re traveling from West coast to East coast time. So, that was really kind of what went into the decision.”
(On some of the keys that allow his team to play so well on the road)
“I think, really, our team has consistently played well, whether we’re playing at home or whether we’re playing on the road. I think it’s a credit to just their ability to be able to lock in, focus on the task at hand. When you go into some of these environments where the crowds are great, they’ve got a huge home field advantage, I think that’s kind of that ‘us against everybody else’ mentality. The guys kind of embrace that. Ultimately, it’s about trying to win a football game whether we’re at home or on the road. Certainly, you’d love to always be playing in the Coliseum if you could, but it’s a great opportunity for us nonetheless.”
(On how the week of preparation has gone)
“It’s been exactly like a normal week. There’s a couple more people here this week, got to do a couple more things with regards to the media. We try to keep the same rhythm and routine. It’s a big game. We don’t shy away from that, but I think it is important to be able to keep that regulated rhythm for our players and for us because you don’t want to try to make anything up. You don’t need to do anything different than what we’ve done, other than play at our highest level. It’s a great opponent, but it’s a great opportunity for us to go try to be our best on the road for a conference championship. It’s exciting.”
(On if he is feeling the love from L.A. and anything he wants to say to the fans of L.A.)
“They’ve been great all year. I think we’ve really felt the love from them all season. I think it’s kind of been a buildup. Certainly, that Kansas City atmosphere was really special on Monday night when we were able to play here in spite of some of the things going on in the community, watching the players rally together. That was a special feeling. But, this city has really – in the last two years since I’ve been here – I felt extremely embraced by this city. We love it here. Want to continue to try to do a great job putting out a product that these fans want to come see and that it’s something that they can be proud of with the way that our team competes. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to get it done and keep playing.”
(On if he has given much thought to what he will say to the team before Sunday’s game and if it will be any different than any other week)
“Not really. You have things that you focus on in terms of the ‘what it takes for us to be able to go get it done’, but we stick consistent with our themes, some of those core values. But, our players, their leadership, is what’s special about it. In terms of the motivational tactics, different things like that, the motivation is to be able to go win this game and then what the opportunity – what’s next, if you’re able to do that. But, these players have done a great job. We’re just focused on what we can do to put our players in great positions. But in terms of kind of thinking about those things, a lot of times it ends up being just kind of organic, of if something comes up that you feel like is relevant to address or that will hopefully help us play better. But, these guys, they motivate themselves and they’ll be ready to go.”
(On if the injury report was clean following today’s practice)
“Yeah, it’s been great. Really, I think it’s, again, a credit to (Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and (Director of Strength Training and Performance) Ted (Rath) and their staffs and what a great job they’ve done, the players buying in. For us to be able to be this healthy this late in the season is something that is a huge advantage to us and something that we certainly don’t take for granted.”
(On how much of their ability to stay healthy can be contributed to mental toughness)
“In a lot of instances, I think it definitely is that. I also think it’s a credit to having people that can help you kind of – help us set up a structure and a weekly rhythm that keeps our players as fresh as possible while still getting that physical work that we need to continue to get better. Then also, the players’ buy-in. There are certainly things, too, where you can’t really avoid anything about a (WR) Cooper Kupp-type injury, with what happens to Malcolm Brown. So, there are some unfortunate instances that occur where you lose some really valuable players, but I think in terms of the soft tissue injuries, the things that kind of come up as a result of, ‘Alright, what can we do from a preventative maintenance standpoint?’ Our guys, our players, Reggie (Scott) and his staff and Ted (Rath) – they’ve done a phenomenal job and I think it’s a huge credit to them.”
(On the players being loose during practice and what it says about this group being able to keep that mindset going into such an intense game)
“Yeah, I think it’s great. I think because that’s really what this team’s personality has been. I don’t think we want to change at all. I think they do a great job of enjoying it, but also knowing, ‘When is it time to lock in and focus?’. You always want to be able to enjoy what you’re doing. Not at the luxury of where it takes away from our focus and concentration. I think these guys have done a great job being able to kind of have that great balance that’s true to this team’s personality all year. It’s really been a lot of the same and that’s what you want to see from your guys.”
(On if RBs Todd Gurley II and C.J. Anderson have some freedom to dictate when they come off the field when they’re tired or if its run by himself and Running Backs Coach Skip Peete)
“If one of those guys needs a blow, absolutely, they’ll say I need one. That’s kind of the standard operating procedure, really, for how we just rotate in general offensively. So, if one of those guys needs a blow, absolutely. They have the luxury to be able to say, ‘Okay, give me a breather’ and then they’ll go ahead and kind of spell each other naturally. But, there is something that we try to talk about going into it from a communication standpoint – here’s how we anticipate it going. You don’t ever want to catch anybody by surprise, but like you said, you’ve seen these guys do such a great job of supporting each other. This experience gives you even more of an appreciation for how special of a player and person Todd Gurley (II) is. Then, I also think he’s such a smart player. He understands that he’s helping us out. He’s helping our team out. He’s helping our offense. In a lot of ways, Todd is fresher where he’s still getting a good amount of work. You know he’s going to be a big focal point of what we’re trying to get done, but C.J. (Anderson) can come in and play a nice role and I think that’s kind of that perfect balance. But, they do have the ability to spell themselves, for sure.”
(On if QB Jared Goff’s completion percentage numbers not being as high is representative of the offense’s aggressiveness and willingness to make difficult throws)
“Absolutely. Yeah, I think the completion percentage can get a little skewed because sometimes you can inflate those numbers by doing a lot of just completion, getting the ball out of your hand-type plays. In a lot of instances, he is making challenging throws where it’s some of the down-the-field throws off the play-action game or where you’re changing that launch point in some of your boots. So, I definitely don’t think that – sometimes the lower completion percentage is really a result of the way he’s delivering the ball. I think it is more of a product of some of the plays that we’re calling, when the ball is being thrown and how they are a little bit more difficult. He’s done a great job and we expect him to do the same this week.”
***
Rams Defensive Lineman Michael Brockers – – January 18, 2019
(On him saying it was a blessing in disguise last time they played the New Orleans Saints and if it’s played out that way)
“I think, yeah. We learned a lot from that game, learned a lot about ourselves – learned what we could fix and what we could work on. So, like I said, it could definitely be a blessing in disguise, because we feel like we know these guys a little bit better now. It’s hard to beat a team twice. So, we’ll see what’s happening when we get in the (Super) ‘Dome’.”
(On if it was nice to practice in perfect weather today)
“It’s crazy how the football Gods work when it’s time to get things going. So, yeah, it was a beautiful day today. We got outside, the sun is shining. So, it’s a great day to play some football, for sure, especially this late in the season.”
(On having great success against Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and how different it will be covering Saints RB Mark Ingram II and RB Alvin Kamara as interior linemen)
“Like you said, they have two different backs that can have two different games. (Saints RB Mark) Ingram (II) is a downhill runner, he can get those hard yards. (Saints RB Alvin) Kamara is an outside guy, he’s fast. He’s hard to bring down himself. So, it’s a different game. We knew (Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott) ‘Zeke’ was going to get the ball and we knew what type of runner he was. But, we have to prepare for two different running backs. (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton is a master offensive mind. So, he’ll find a way to get those guys the ball in the right situations.”
(On being a veteran and being on the Rams since the start of his career in 2012 and how excited he feels about playing in the NFC Championship game)
“I don’t know. Can you tell I’m excited? (laughs). I don’t know, man. I’m trying not to be too excited about it, just because I know this is my opportunity, this is our opportunity. So, I don’t want to – last year, the thing about this team was being too young in the playoffs. So, really trying to act like we’ve been here before and not get too high on winning or losing. We just focus on one game at a time, one play at a time.”
(On what he needs to do differently in this matchup compared to the last time they faced the Saints in Week 9 to put pressure on Saints QB Drew Brees)
“I think that was the gameplan last time. I think we just didn’t execute as well as we wanted to. It’s the same gameplan. (Saints QB Drew) Brees doesn’t do so well when he has people in front of his face. He’s a shorter quarterback, so it’s hard for him to see. So, if we could get the pressure inside and make him, like we said, uncomfortable, we feel like that’s to our advantage. We didn’t do that well last game, so we look forward to doing it this game.”
***
Rams Quarterback Jared Goff – – January 18, 2019
(On how he would characterize his week of preparation for the New Orleans Saints)
“It’s been good. It’s been sharp. We’ve been sharp. We’ve been really dialed-in, focused on all the little details and have done a good job all week.”
(On some of the team’s characteristics that has allowed them to be as successful as they are on the road)
“Yeah, I think we jell together well on the road and have that mindset of us against the world and all that. When it’s loud, we love it and try to relish in it, try to enjoy it. It’ll be no different this weekend.”
(On if he’s feeling more comfortable going to the Superdome and dealing with the noise knowing that he’s already experienced it)
“Yeah, it’ll be loud. It’ll be something we have to deal with. Definitely something that is an advantage for them if used correctly. But, something that we’ve dealt with, we’ve won in before – we’ve won in that type of atmosphere. Something that we’re ready to deal with accordingly and have prepped for all week.”
(On if there is anything that he feels like he personally has to do differently than when they last played the Saints)
“No. I don’t think so. I think just take care of the football. There was the one turnover I had that you’d like to take away. But, take care of the football, distribute the ball, be smart with it and win. That’s what you want to do as a quarterback, is win.”
(On how much easier it makes his life having RB Todd Gurley II and RB C.J. Anderson)
“It’s good. It’s been great. Just both of them being able to feed of each other and Todd (Gurley II) being the player he is and C.J. (Anderson) being such a good complement for him. Them each giving each other some time to rest, when the other is in, it’s been huge. Just seeing, especially last game, seeing how fresh Todd can be when you get someone in there that can actually give him some rest and C.J. does a great job of that.”
(On if practice was normal this week despite having the weather issues)
“Yeah, yeah it was just as normal as it has been. We didn’t have any weather. It was great.”
(On Head Coach Sean McVay defending his short slump and saying it was a matter of a couple throws going different ways and if he agrees)
“It was a bad game or two. I hate having to keep talking about it, but if you guys keep asking about it – you can call it three games if you want. If you’re going to take three out of 16, I’m okay with that.”
(On Saints QB Drew Brees being the NFL record holder in passing yards and possibly a future Hall of Fame quarterback and if he sees the NFC Championship as an opportunity to take the next step in his personal growth)
“Yeah, no doubt. He’s a guy that’s done it. He’s been there. He’s done it and does it the right way, seems like every year. He seems like he’s only getting better. Have so much respect for him and everything he’s brought to the game. Admire how long he’s done it for and what a high level he’s done it for and the way he leads and the way he goes about his business and the way he works. Everything he does is so admirable. Yeah, you’d love to win this game to try to jump into that type of category with winning a couple more. But, he’s a great player and a guy I have a lot of respect for.”
(On how much of an advantage it is to have the offensive line maintain their health all season and play every game)
“It’s been great. Just having those guys healthy and having them available and jelling together. It seems like they’re playing their best ball right now, which is what you want. They’ve been great. It’s, again, like you’ve said, it’s the same as last year, outside of (OL Austin) Blythe filling in for (Former Rams G) Jamon (Brown) and he’s had a tremendous year. So, it’s been good to see that.”
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Rams Safety John Johnson III – – January 18, 2019
(On if it feels like it’s a normal Friday of participation like they’ve had all year)
“Oh absolutely. We don’t want to change anything that we do because of the magnitude of the game – keep the same preparation. Ramp things up just a little bit. I’m speaking on the defense, so, getting ready to go, good preparation, good week so far, so I think we’ll be ready for Sunday.”
(On in what ways have they ramped things up)
“Just a little bit more studying, a little bit more technique, things that we lacked upon the first time we played these guys. Just tighten things up.”
(On their Week 9 game against the Saints being OLB Dante Fowler Jr.’s first game with the Rams and CB Aqib Talib being out and how much of a difference he thinks it make having Fowler up to speed and Talib being back)
“It’s a huge difference. Dante’s (Fowler Jr.) first game like you said, he didn’t really know us. I think that was the biggest thing. He’s a good player, he can fit into any system, so I think it was just him not being familiar with the guys around him. As you can see, it’s evident that he’s comfortable now and he’s been playing his butt off. As far as (CB Aqib) Talib, I mean, he’s our vet, that’s a presence out there. He makes everyone comfortable. He gives us tips on – just in the Dallas game, he called something out and I couldn’t believe it. I had to believe it. It went just exactly how he said it in the game. He knows everything, he’s played in this league for a long time so it’s great to have him with us.”
(On if he was anticipating a play or a call that Dallas was going to make)
“Before they broke the huddle, he called out exactly what they were going to do and it happened exactly the way it did.”
(On him wearing shorts in January)
“Man, it’s a blessing to be here in Southern California. It’s funny because during rookie minicamp when I came up here, I said something about the weather, like that was the biggest thing that stood out to me. It’s a privilege, it’s a blessing. Not a lot of teams can do it. I’m happy.”
(On what play Talib predicted)
“It was a (Cowboys Dak Prescott, he actually converted it. It was a fourth down play.”
(On if it was when Dallas was fourth-and-one at the 42-yard line in the fourth quarter that Prescott converted for two yards)
“Right, he converted, right. But, we completely just went rouge of what the coverage was. It worked for us, but he kind of got around and got the first down.”
(On what he’s learned from plays Saints QB Drew Brees twice)
“Oh man. You just can’t get frustrated with his completions. He’s going to complete the ball, that’s something you can’t stop. He’s going to complete the ball. He’s somewhere, I think, around 70 percent of wherever it may be. But we just can’t give up that explosive play, that’s what brings team’s back. So just not get frustrated with the small completions and I think we’ll be all right.”
(On how he avoids the frustration)
“It’s tough. It’s tough. You never want to see a guy catch the ball. But knowing the caliber player that you’re playing against, he’s going to make those completions. I mean it’s tough not to get frustrated, we just got to think about the end goal, winning the game and that’ll help the frustration out.”
(On the 72-yard touchdown by Saints WR Michael Thomas during their Week 9 matchup, Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips taking ownership for not giving CB Marcus Peters help on that play and what he’s seen on tape for the safeties to provide help over the top when covering Thomas)
“Yeah I mean, it’s not completely on (Defensive Coordinator) Coach Wade (Phillips). But he always says before the game the mistakes are his, just go out there and play. So of course, he’s going to take the blame for it. But it’s just a scheme thing. It’s a gameplan thing. We can better prepare from that situation, we’re going to learn from it and we’ll be prepared this time for a situation like that.”
***
Rams Guard Rodger Saffold III – – January 18, 2019
(On this week’s preparation and team’s mood going into this game)
“I think we’re treating it the same. I think we treat every week the same. Just from a mental standpoint of being able to be focused, but not let how big and special the event is get us out of position of just being too emotional. We want to be level headed, we want to be the same guys that we are week-in and week-out so that we can perform efficiently.”
(On if there were moments in his career that he doubted he would ever be this close to a Super Bowl)
“There was a lot of frustration in the past. One thing I really did hang on to was hope. I always had a lot of confidence in my team, no matter what the team was. I tried to use that to the best of my ability to go out and perform as best as I could and just let the season play out for me the way that it has. The good thing about me is I like to bring a lot of positive energy to the O-line. You’re going to still see me with a smile on my face, no matter what the circumstance. That’s kind of how I’ve been treating it every season of my career.”
(On the loss of Saints DT Sheldon Rankins and what that means for their run defense)
“We have a lot of respect for (Saints DT) Sheldon Rankins. It is tough not seeing him in there because you want to continue to compete and perform with a team at its best, so we can see who’s going to be the better team that week. At the end of the day, we have to prepare for this game. Although Sheldon is a big part of that defense, there are a lot of other guys on that defense that we really need to look out for, we need to prepare for. If we’re going to be as efficient as I know we can be, we’re going to need to take advantage of that inside.”
(On the perspective of being the longest-tenured Rams player and how it feels being this close to the NFC Championship game)
“The one thing I keep saying is how surreal it is. Sometimes it’s hard to just take the gravity of the situation because, like I said, guys are the same week-in and week-out. Although there’s a lot of excitement, I think that the focus has more taken over. It’s one of those things, you’re going to have to really feel it at the beginning of the game. When the National Anthem is going, I think that’s when you really take in the gravity of the situation. Then, you have a little bit of a self-check so that you can get ready for the game.”
(On how noisy the Superdome is and how useful it is to have the continuity on the offensive line for dealing with the noise)
“I think that chemistry is a big part of the O-line. We’ve been doing that week-in and week-out. It’s been great to see guys step up in many different games, different weeks and now that we’re all jelling together, we’re firing on all five cylinders – because five linemen. I think that it’s just great that we’ve been together this whole time and it makes it easier to be able to play in the noise, when you know exactly what your guy does and how he thinks.”
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