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Los Angeles Rams Transcripts - Head Coach
Sean McVay - Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Head Coach Sean McVay
(On if the way the season ended makes him more anxious to get started
again or if he takes this time to pause and reflect)
“No, I'm ready to go. Obviously I got a little sick. It's like your body is in constant
fight or flight mode, but no I'm more excited about the next season and really,
we weren't ready for the year to end. I don't think anybody anticipated or
expected that. I thought our guys were ready to go. It's really hard to get to
those points. I think what you appreciate the more experience you have it's
really difficult to even put yourself in a position to be one of those 14 teams in
the tournament. It went wire-to-wire just came up short, but we've got a lot of
continuity coming back and we'll have a lot of resources relative to draft capital
and even just some flexibility to be able to add some players or resign some
that wasn't afforded to us last year. I'm really excited and motivated and I think I
speak for our players and coaches, nobody was ready for the season to end.
But definitely an excitement and a motivation to move forward. These feelings
that you have from the other day will carry you to try to be better next year.”
(On if he’s expecting any potential coaching changes besides Defensive
Coordinator Raheem Morris if he gets a head coaching opportunity)
“If there are changes, it'll only be because of better opportunities. I feel really
good about our coaching staff. I think it was good to be able to have a lot of the
continuity. Obviously, there could be some chips that end up falling into place
relative to Raheem getting an opportunity to be a head coach. If that doesn't
occur and people don't get better opportunities, then we'll have the same group
back.”
(On if he can confirm the reports on TE Tyler Higbee tearing his ACL)
“Yeah, that's accurate. So you got that. He'll have that fixed. He is such a tough
stud and means so much to our team in so many different ways and it's
unfortunate, but he's got the right mindset and spirit. (RB) Kyren Williams was
able to get his hand fixed yesterday and it was a successful surgery and he’ll
be back on the mend and attacking that rehab the right way.”
(On if he expects anyone else besides Higbee and Williams to need
procedures during the offseason)
“There might be, but those things have not been communicated to me yet so I
don't have that information.”
(On if he has an early idea of what the team needs are moving into next
season)
“I think it's really early for that. I think there are so many emotions right after the
season and like I had mentioned to you guys when I spoke to you after the
game, a lot of appreciation for this group. There will obviously be changes like
there are every single year in the NFL. I think once you get a chance to step
back… I think it's really good to be able to give the coaches off until after the
Super Bowl. That allows some of the things with the coaching carousel to clear
up and then it allows us to be able to have a fresh set of eyes to evaluate the
tape, our players, and all the different things that we want to address to improve
our football team moving forward.”
(On the type of procedure Williams had)
“I'm not sure. Just a hand surgery to fix the broken bone that he had in that
hand. I don't know specifically exactly what it was other than he had a
successful surgery when I communicated with both he and (VP Sports
Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) yesterday on his hand.”
(On if there’s a timeline for Higbee with his knee injury)
“I don't know that exactly. Obviously when you get an ACL this late in the year,
I would be willing to bet you he'll be a candidate for PUP, but to put a timeline
on exactly… I think you have to get that surgery. The rehab ends up being
different based on what they end up really finding when you go in there and
how the recovery and the procedure ends up going to fix that. I would think at
the minimum, he’ll be a PUP guy.”
(On his reaction to Defensive Line Coach Eric Henderson’s new coaching
opportunity at USC and his thoughts on what he’s meant to the team)
“He's been awesome. Came here in 2019, basically established his own culture
within the defensive line room. He’s had a really good track record of
developing people, building relationships with our players. I think there's a
toughness, there's an identity that we played with on the defensive line that is a
real credit to him. It was a unique opportunity, and this was something that
came up a few weeks ago. Obviously, we love Eric Henderson and think the
world of him, but I think it was one of those opportunities where he got a
chance to work with some previous relationships.
Obviously, SC’s an incredible program. I think very highly of (USC Head Coach)
Lincoln (Riley) and what those guys will continue to do there. It was a good chance
for he and his family to do something that was in alignment with some of his goals.
Nothing but love on my side and we've got some capable guys. I thought
(Assistant Defensive Line Coach) AC Carter did a great job working alongside
him this year, but I think the appropriate direction to go is wait to see
what exactly happens with Raheem before I make any decisions as it
relates to any possible openings on the defensive side of the ball.”
(On his comment about how this team ‘helped him find his way this year’
and what it was about this group that he found so reinvigorating)
“I think their energy, their vibe, their relentless mental and physical toughness,
the stamina at which they just continued to come to work whether we were 3-6
or 7-1 at the end of the season, just the caliber of people. Like I mentioned to
you guys, everything is and always has been and always will be about people.
When you're surrounded by coaches and players you love and that you don't
want to let down, you're reminded of that really quickly. I think a lot of those
things were on display. I think part of the journey gave the appreciation that
much more because of all the different things that we had to navigate through
and just the steadiness and the consistency at which these players handled
everything.”
(On if the ACL is the extent of Higbee's injury)
“I think it was the ACL and MCL.”
(On the decision-making sequence after the third-and-four got pushed
back to a third-and-fourteen whether he considered that a two-down
situation)
“Yeah, there really was and those are things that… absolutely. But we got the
exact coverage that I wanted on third and fourteen. The backside window was
there for that dig route. And it didn't go down for us. In hindsight, do you go for
it? Yeah. In the moment I felt like let's punt it away.
I still felt like with four minutes left… and I'm going to be the first to look at all the decisions and I'm
really excited about looking back and saying, ‘Where can you learn? Where can
you grow?’ I do think you take things with a grain of salt because had we gotten
that stop and then we end up going and winning that game with a field goal…
But I do think that relative to how you call that two-play sequence when you
know you're probably going to go for it, if it's anything eight or under and really
probably 10 or under in that matter, certainly those are things that you talk
about. However, in the moment I felt really decisive about the call, got the exact
coverage that I was hunting up, and it just didn't go down for us. Now what I
have given (QB) Matthew (Stafford) another shot in hindsight? I probably
would. And so those are the things that you can't neglect to acknowledge and
make sure that as these decisions and situations continue to come up, you're
better equipped with the full gamut of knowledge. I do think that there's a lot of
layers that aren't necessarily taken into account with 22 moving parts, the feel
for the flow of the game. That is a very real thing that a lot of those percentages
are not in tune with.”
(On if the team is committed to having Stafford back next year)
“A hundred percent, absolutely. Unequivocally, yes. Yes, I totally understand it.
But, oh man, that would be a good way to get me really riled up. No, we're
ready to go. He's ready to go and couldn't be more committed to having him
lead us next year.”
(On how he feels having OLB Byron Young and NT Kobie Turner on the
defensive front)
“I'm really excited about them. I just think two guys that did a great job for us,
really coachable, very much in alignment with the things that we hunt up make
up wise. I thought Kobie was excellent. He's mature beyond his years and I
thought Byron got better as the season progressed. But these guys are going to
have a full offseason. They're very mature for rookies. I think they understand
how important their role and the leadership that will be expected of them as
they move forward. We're excited to really get to work with that. This is a
special group of young players on this team, but those two in particular were
really bright spots and really pleased with them.”
(On the turning point for the defensive unit after the bye week)
“I thought they played consistently well throughout the season. I thought we
played better complimentary football after the bye and I thought our offense
really played at a different level. But I thought our defense did a much better job
of getting some takeaways. I thought some of the ways that we started games
were key and critical to really pull away. And then in some of the games that we
didn't, I was really pleased with the overall adjustments and feel for in-game
things and I thought that was on display the other night. But I think just the
overall ability to play with one another, continue to get more and more
comfortable. I thought our defensive coaches did a great job of utilizing all the
guys that we had up and active. And when you look at all the moving parts,
especially on the back end, I thought (Defensive Backs Coach) Aubrey
(Pleasant), (Secondary Coach) Coach (Chris) Beake, (Defensive Asst.) Mike
Harris, and (Defensive Coordinator) Raheem (Morris) did a great job of
maximizing that room and getting a lot out of a lot of different guys and they
were really in it together. It was a really special group. I loved the leadership
from (LB) Ernest Jones and then I thought we saw a lot of really good things
from those young guys up front. Guys like (OLB) Michael Hoecht and (DE)
Jonah Williams took steps in the right direction, guys like (NT) Bobby Brown,
and then obviously (DT) Aaron (Donald) always makes his presence felt.”
(On not having to rebuild the coaching staff this offseason like he did last
offseason and the difference that makes)
“It'll make my wife a lot happier, I do know that, where you get a little bit more
time. But I think the best thing is that there was a very diligent and thorough
process and it really ran counterintuitive to a lot of my nature in terms of the
patience but I thought that really paid off. We got a bunch of great people in this
building, a bunch of great teachers, great men, that did a great job of helping
these players just continue to grow throughout the season. And you could tell
they really cared about this group and those players felt that as well and that's
what we'll consistently look for. And that's where, man, it'd be so bittersweet
because he is such a special leader and so deserving of an opportunity to lead
a team, but if we do lose Raheem, there'll be a very patient, thorough and
deliberate process in the same manner that was reflected last year. We got
guys in-house. And then obviously, by nature of the rules, you need to interview
external candidates as well. But it is a good thing. I feel really good about the
offensive side of the ball and then there might be some changes if Raheem
gets an opportunity that I think is well deserved and long overdue.”
(On if he expects QB Stetson Bennett to be with the team next year)
“You know I don’t know that. I think that's a conversation for another time. I
think he's doing better, but I wouldn't be in a position to answer that accurately
right now. That's probably a long way away from me being able to answer that.”
(On if he’s concerned that DT Aaron Donald won’t return now that Eric
Henderson is leaving and potentially Defensive Coordinator Raheem
Morris taking a head coaching job)
“I think those conversations occur at the appropriate time. There's so much
emotion that takes place right after a game and after a season that I think…And
even I was reading earlier, you see (Eagles Center) Jason Kelce, there's all
these assumptions and things like that and so I think you give guys the chance
to really just digest the season, coaches and players alike, and then we'll
address all those things at the right time.”
(On some things that stood out to him about the team that lets him know
there’s something special to continue to build on)
“The consistency throughout regardless of whether we were getting the results
we want, the consistency in their ability to come in with the right spirit, the right
energy, I think the improvement that I saw. What I think is always a key and
critical factor in good teams is do you improve throughout the season? And I
think our guys definitely did that. And there's a lot of young guys that hey, work
works, and if you continue to do that and you have a growth mindset, then I do
believe that good things are in store and you're only going to continue to get
better. With the foundation of that locker room, some of the players that I know
we‘ll be able to add, whether it be through the draft, free agency, or guys that
we'll be able to resign and continue to work with, I'm super excited and
optimistic about what we got to earn but I think the motivation and the way that
this season ended will kick us into gear the right way as we attack the
offseason and then leading into training camp and the regular season, which
it's going to be a long wait but we're excited to attack it the right way.”
(On how he’s balanced being a head coach and father and how this
season will prepare him mentally to be a better coach in the 2024 season)
“Well, I was certainly hoping to work for a few more weeks and then of course,
you're excited. You're saying, ‘Alright, well the only positive is you get a little bit
of a chance to spend some time with little man,’ and then I can't get close to
him because I don't want to get him sick so hopefully this will pass. But
perspective, like anything, is such a powerful thing, and so what a blessing
that's been in my life. I think I've kind of mentioned it to you guys a couple
times, the things that I would get upset about, you come home and you see this
little guy starting to smile at you and know what the heck's going on, and things
don't seem like they're as big of a deal as what you make them sometimes.”
(On if he thinks this offseason feels a lot like the 2017-2018 offseason in
terms of laying a foundation and making the playoffs)
“I think it's a good parallel, I do. I think it's a good parallel. If you're going to
compare it to any previous years, in my mind, it's funny you asked that, you say
it did feel a lot like that now. There were a couple differences but yes, in terms
of a lot of the young guys getting…It does feel like this was kind of a new start
to the journey that we're on and so I get what you're asking, and I did feel a
similar sentiment but you got to do it. And there's one thing that I've learned in
these seven years, it's every single year is a new year. As you continue to
accumulate experiences, you learn how to try to best navigate it whether it be
your decision making or your onboarding and I do feel like we have a much
better idea of the types of people and players and coaches that we want with all
the turnover and some of the different things that we've experienced I think will
serve us well because of the approach that we'll be able to take. But this league
is tough and we all know that, but I'm sure as hell excited to get back and
compete and attack it with these coaches and players next year. That's a cool
place to be in too, relative to all the different things that you guys have seen us
go through and the gratitude and the perspective is very different and for that,
I'm very happy.”
(On how he’s grown this season and the takeaways he intends to bring
into the next season)
“I think like anything else, you have your principles and values that try to guide
you but I think I've grown in terms of being able to lean on people a lot more
and acknowledge your insecurities or your shortcomings and not feel like you
have to be perfect in every step of the way, but be a real human being that
feels the different emotions but also has a better perspective on the platform
that you have and how you want to positively influence and effect, whether
that's positive change or people that you're around. I think there was a step in
the right direction. I don't take lightly the opportunity that being an NFL head
coach affords in terms of the people you're around and the daily interactions
and so I always want to make sure that you're doing it in a manner that's
reflective of respect for the people you're around and honoring the people that
came before you, but also still being a human being. There were some things
that occurred really quickly for me and I think you lose perspective of what it’s
about and I think I've got a better grasp of that while certainly there's always
going to be growth that needs to occur. Those would be the biggest things is
just being better equipped to be the person that you want to be for the people
that you love and care about.”
