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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
***
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.”
Topic: tweets & other bits … 12/28
J.B. Long@JB_Long
Based on final Week 17 injury report, @RamsNFL are expected to start the same 5 offensive linemen in every meaningful regular season game for second year in a row (RG: Brown 2017, Blythe 2018). Remarkable continuity. Credit players, Coach Kromer, medical staff, and great fortune.Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
McVay on Gurley’s playoff availability: “I would think so. … Based on the information we’re getting, there’s no reason to push the panic button.”McVay said “I wouldn’t say I’m concerned” about Gurley’s knee beyond Sunday. Said Gurley is making progress. CJ Anderson will be the lead back, to no surprise.
Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
#Rams Gerald Everett had himself a day in run blocking against the #CardinalsDamien Woody@damienwoody
If I’m putting together a staff, the first hire after the HC is OL coach. Good ones are hard to come byGeoff Schwartz@geoffschwartz
And we know that OL coaches are typically tied to the head coach. Whenever a HC moves teams, he almost always tries to take his OL coach with him.Rams Striving to Remain Unbeaten in NFC West against Cardinals
Injury Report 12/19: McVay says Gurley Expected to Play on Sunday
https://www.therams.com/news/injury-report-12-19-mcvay-says-gurley-expected-to-play-on-sunday
Topic: tweets … 12/12
Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
Jared Goff, on if he’ll always be linked to Carson Wentz because of 2016 draft: “You know @LATimesKlein, I don’t write the storylines. So, I don’t know if it will be, it seems like it will be up to this point, and you may have better control of that than I do.”Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Rams held only a walk-through practice Wednesday but their injury report was blank.Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
“Detroit stole him from us and we got him back.” Aaron Kromer on Jamil Demby. Rams tried to sneak him on the practice squad.Downtown Rams@DowntownRams
#Rams made a mistake cutting Jamil Demby earlier in the year. Luckily the majority of the OL has stayed healthy enough to not need the depth. Today, Demby is coming back to LA after the team signed him off of the #Lions practice squad.==
.@robertwoods on hitting 1,000+ yards, facing the Eagles secondary + learning from last week. pic.twitter.com/77I3aQNGfl
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 13, 2018
Topic: tweets … 12/6
Chris Licata@Chris__Licata
With a win on Sunday night in Chicago, the #Rams would hold claim to the best record to start a season in franchise history (12-1). The 1969 Rams opened the season with 11 straight wins before dropping their final three regular season games.Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
Plan for Aqib Talib right now is full bore, no pitch count, according to #Rams HC Sean McVayLindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
“He’s playing the best he’s played since I’ve been here.” Wade Phillips on Aaron Donald.The Rams have nominated Andrew Whitworth as their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his actions in the community.
Sean McVay said Malcom Brown had his clavicle reset and it’s likely he’ll go to the IR. Recovery is expected to take 8-10 weeks
Sean McVay confirmed with reporters Monday that he did reach out to Kliff Kingsbury after he was fired at Texas Tech, but indicated the conversation was more than asking Kingsbury to serve as an offensive assistant/consultant for the remainder of the season. “The gist of the conversation was more along the lines of just a friend reaching out to another friend,” McVay said, adding later, “Those are things that when you have some rare friendships like I’ve been fortunate to form in this profession, you want to be able to, No. 1 be supportive of your buddy, but No. 2 if it’s something that can help you improve as a team, if somebody wanted to do that, we’re always looking for ways to do that.”
Myles Simmons@MylesASimmons
Trubisky was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Pairing that with this + comments made yesterday, it would be very surprising if Trubisky isn’t behind center on Sunday.FWIW, CB Marcus Peters (ankle) listed as a full participant on the #LARams Wednesday injury report. Not that it is an estimate, since the LA only has a walk-thru on Wednesdays. But that’s a good sign.
J.B. Long@JB_Long
After rushing for two touchdowns last week in Detroit, now there are only three names left above Todd Gurley on the @RamsNFL career list for rushing TDs:58 – @marshallfaulk
56 – @sj39
56 – @EricDickerson
44 – @TG3IIRich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Wade Phillips said he doesn’t think NFL MVP will ever again go to a defensive player, but again was effusive with Aaron Donald praise: “We’re glad to have him. If Aaron gets it or Todd Gurley gets it, we really don’t care.”==
Topic: McVay … 11/17 … transcript
Rams Head Coach Sean McVay –November 17, 2018
(On how practice went at the Air Force Academy)
“It was good. Yeah, it was a great facility and guys did a nice job, they were moving around, it was crisp. Appreciative of the facilities for us.”
(On if he feels good about what’s been accomplished during preparation in Colorado Springs)
“Yeah, we do. We feel good, especially when you just compare it to the amount of work that we were able to get last week. We’re already ahead of the curve with that. I think our players have done a nice job just being able to handle a lot over the last couple weeks. I think the thing that we’ve talked about is just being able to prioritize what’s important – taking care of your families, making sure that all that stuff is good – but then it’s been very impressive with their ability when they come back to work, making sure that the other things are taken care of, to refocus, to gather themselves together and get ready to play a football game. They did that last week and we expect the same this week.”
(On if he anticipates every on the injury report will be available on Monday)
“We do.”
(On the exception WR Cooper Kupp being out)
“(WR) Cooper Kupp, I think that’s kind of understood right there, unless he’s a wolverine making that kind of recovery from surgery.”
(On WR Pharoh Cooper’s health status)
“(WR) Pharoh (Cooper) looked good. Pharoh did a good job. Today will be another good chance to be able to evaluate him and figure out exactly how we want to space out our 46 (active players) for gameday. But, it was good to get Pharoh back out there. He did a nice job.”
(On why Kupp hasn’t been moved to IR yet)
“I’m not sure. That’ll take place here soon. Probably just from a numbers standpoint, we haven’t had to make that move.”
(On if any players were fined during the game last week)
“That’s the leagues decision. I think there’s probably some things that – that’s between the league and those guys.”
(On if he’s aware of any fines and if he doesn’t want to reveal them)
“I am. Yeah, I’m aware. Well, I honestly haven’t had a chance to look through the 3,000 emails. I’m sure that usually about this time is when they start to notify guys if there was something. But, that can be any number of things – sometimes it’s uniform violations. So, haven’t had a chance to really get to look at what the specifics were with that yet.”
(On if he feels comfortable putting Pharoh Cooper back into his regular role if he’s fully healthy and ready to play on Monday)
“(WR) JoJo (Natson) is going to return punts. So, JoJo is going to return punts regardless of whether Pharoh goes or not. He’s done a nice job with that. Dependent upon his availability, you can see him return kicks. (DB) Blake’s (Countess) done a great job with that, but if Pharoh is able to go and that’s something we feel good about, then you can expect to potentially see him return kicks.”
(On if Pharoh Cooper will play as a receiver)
“He’ll spell guys. He’s going to get up to speed. But, got a lot of confidence in those top three guys that you’ve heard us talk about. (WR) KhaDarel (Hodge) has played some meaningful snaps. If Pharoh needs to get in there to do some things to continue to provide depth and play a role, then that’s something that he could do. But again, it’s all predicated on if he’s up or not.”
(On what he expects to take place for the team when they head back to L.A. prior to the game on Monday)
“We’re going to have practice today and then we’ll fly back tonight, let guys get settled. We’ll get back a little bit later in L.A. and then we’ll reconvene at the facilities tomorrow afternoon, do some meetings like we typically would on a normal Saturday morning for a Sunday game. Then, we’ll meet at the hotel tomorrow night. Those guys will get their rest and then we’ll kind of go through some meetings on Monday morning, just because you’re waiting around for a while, just not kicking off till 5:15 (p.m.). So, it’ll be somewhat similar, but guys will have a chance to go back and get at home and then we’ll regather on Sunday afternoon as a team.”
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