Rich Hammond: The full measure of Sean McVay as an NFL coach is about to be revealed

[fearsomefour]

The teams McVay is facing are coached by smart guys who know football inside and out and have talented players on their rosters.
Somehow the article is correlating “panic” with success vs Arizona. The opposite is true. McVay did what he has been criticized for much of the year. He didn’t run much and threw a lot. The difference? It worked.
He, like all play callers, attacks weaknesses. Sometimes that takes more risk, sometimes not.
In the next three of four games the Rams Face Seattle, Dallas, SF. Three very, very good rosters with, in two cases, head coaches that have excellent systems in place that maximize the talent.
It is very possible the Rams go 1-3 these last four games and finish 8-8.
That would be a disappointing year but not a disaster. Given the bad OL situation it may be one of his better coaching jobs if the team finishes, say, 10-6.
McVay isn’t going anywhere and is the long term answer.

 

[Ellard80]

My read on McVay - he is an offensive mastermind, and still believe that 100%. Everyone goes through lulls - football is so complex and strategic, that's why I think its the best game.

How he handles all other issues - who knows, we don't know what goes on behind close doors.

 

[Merlin]

This article kind of ripped McVay and Goff for not panicking before the AZ game.
Clearly he didn't know what he was talking about.

Yep. First chance for Hammond to deal with adversity as the team writer for the Athletic and he pi$$es his pants. Then the Rams come out focused and easily roll the Cards.

Hammond doesn't have perspective at all. That one game didn't mean squat. We won, now we need to win more. McVay didn't vindicate himself. Rest of this season doesn't stand as some metric that is crucial for Coach either; the team is flawed. Even if they go .500 the rest of the way my confidence in him is not shaken. In fact it hasn't changed...

He's a young coach who is learning on the job. But who is already on a pace to be one of the greatest ever. He's the full package.

Hammond needs to realize he isn't writing for the Times or Register here. He's got some goddamn big shoes to fill following Vinny.

 

[coconut]

If there is a boss and he has an assistant....the boss listens to the assistant and the assistant is a fool....what does that make the boss?

Thats harsh.

 

[fearsomefour]

Thats harsh.

I’m not saying that about McVay.
Just joking about the post about McVays assistant.
I would love for another offensive mind to come in however.

 

[coconut]

I’m not saying that about McVay.
Just joking about the post about McVays assistant.
I would love for another offensive mind to come in however.

This guy is available and he already owns the shirt.

 

[LesBaker]

Perennial decades-long loser and worst O in NFL transformed into Best O in NFL and playoff contender and Super Bowl appearance? Yeah he’s proved more than enough already.

A lot happened to make that turnaround work. McVay was a huge part but Snead did also with his redoing of the roster. It was a serious rebuild for just one offseason. That was a lot of change.

McVay is a more cerebral coach who values teamwork and meticulous preparation. Yelling at players and throwing stuff around just ain’t his thang.

I'll tell you something I learned a long time ago from a smart guy.

If you can measure it you can manage it.

I see McVay as that type. When things go wrong he looks the situation over, asks questions and decides what to do.

Although sometimes his plan may not work he does have an idea or plan.

 

[Merlin]

This guy is available and he already owns the shirt.

You think that shirt still fits?

 

[coconut]

You think that shirt still fits?

No I suppose it doesn't.

 

[fearsomefour]

This guy is available and he already owns the shirt.

Nice.
Would love him to work with Goff actually....but that’s all.

 

[Ramlock]

My read on McVay - he is an offensive mastermind, and still believe that 100%. Everyone goes through lulls - football is so complex and strategic, that's why I think its the best game.

How he handles all other issues - who knows, we don't know what goes on behind close doors.

My read: he is an exceptional leader of men and communicator that is an offensive coach, possibly not a mastermind but very, very, very good.

For this reason, those teams looking for the next McVay will be disappointed if they are looking for the next hot young offensive coordinator, the next McVay, unless those teams also vet the coordinator's leadership and communication skills.

 

[Karate61]

It ain't over...til it's over!

 

[Ram65]

This stood out to me as 100% true:

...and that started with McVay. In speaking this week about the upcoming games and the struggle the Rams face, he actually used the phrase “take it one game at a time.”

No. This requires more. There’s a difference between anger and panic, and the Rams need some anger right now, and it needs to start with their head coach. Where is the urgency? Again, perhaps that messaging is being delivered behind closed doors, but players also take their cues from what a coach says publicly, and this is not the time for “I’m OK, you’re OK” stuff from McVay.

I had the same thing quoted. I would like to see how McVay talks to the team and coaches. Maybe it would make me feel better but, I would like to see him express some emotion (get a little pissed off at some players). I would like to hear how he talks to players and coaches.

 

[Ram65]

Instead, McVay gave players the entire week off from practice — which seemed reasonable, given their recent travel and a growing list of injuries — and the Rams’ offense has been completely flat since the bye. The team scored 12 points against Pittsburgh, 17 against Chicago and 6 against Baltimore.

On Golic and Wingo they said it was mandatory to give players the week off. They always didn't use to get it but, now have too have it.

He now has Shane Waldron as pass-game coordinator and Aaron Kromer as run-game coordinator, but even those coaches have other responsibilities (quarterbacks and offensive linemen, respectively).

McVay gets help — former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch also is on the staff — but maybe it’s time for something more. If McVay doesn’t want to hand over play-calling duties, he can perhaps at least bring in a veteran coach for some guidance. Minnesota brought in Gary Kubiak as a consultant after last season. Is there a chance that Jay Gruden, one of McVay’s mentors, might be interested in a role?

Many have thought the play-calling has been poor. Whether it's the same plays being called or bad timing things haven't been working as well as in the past. Admittedly the execution has been poor. The offensive line has some ill-timed penalties and using Guley less has had an impact on results.
I think McVay gets too conservative when in FG range. It couldn't hurt to have an experienced consultant help evaluate the offense.

 

[LesBaker]

Nice.
Would love him to work with Goff actually....but that’s all.

I don't recall off the top of my head the QB coach that worked with Warner that went to KC with Vermiel that worked with Green.

OI'd like to see him work with Goff. I remember both Green and Warner talking about how great he was.

WTF was his name I can't recall now..........

 

[bwdenverram]

It's pretty obvious that this is the biggest game of the year. I for one want us to come in and knock that gum chewing mother and his squad square in the mouth and go on an undefeated run right into the playoffs.