Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay
(On the purpose of the halftime simulation during today’s practice)
“Yeah, really we had done something similar last year, that when we had returned to Cal Lu and this is really something that’s probably a little bit more conducive for truly simulating the halftime going into the locker room, coming out. Think it was good for a lot of our guys that might not get that simulation where you’re actually playing a half and then having to work through coming out with that 12-minute break that you get, you know, trying just getting started in the second half and that was kind of the intent. I thought the guys handled it well, got a lot of different situations kind of a scrimmage type setting that we set up today. It seemed like we’ll have a lot of good film to evaluate from it.”
(On if it is a little strange playing the Raiders this weekend when you have to face them again in a few short weeks)
“Yeah it really is. It’s definitely a very different scenario than anything that I’ve dealt with as a coach and a lot of guys on our staff that we’ve talked about. It’s going to be an interesting way just to kind of see how the rest of the week unfolds for how we approach Saturday, but we’ll figure that out a little bit later on in the week and it’s definitely a different scenario for sure.”
(On if he’s anticipating his meeting with Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden)
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it. I think everybody that knows (Raiders Head) Coach (Jon) Gruden knows what a great thing it is to have him back in coaching and what he’s meant to me and how influential he’s been. It’s certainly a special experience just because of what that family and specifically Jon’s meant for me.”
(On if he’s decided on whether starters will play this week)
“Yeah, we’re still figuring it out. We’re still looking just later on in the week. We’ll get a chance to look at this tape and kind of figure out exactly how we’ll handle that.”
(On if he’s game planning for this game or if he’s still trying to feel out what the team can do)
“It’s going to be a very different approach than what we’d take in the regular season as far as the game plan is concerned, specifically just because we open with this team. So, I think it’s another really good opportunity for us to evaluate a lot of guys, kind of continuing to have that long-term mindset of figuring out our 53 (man roster) and who those guys will potentially be as far as out active roster on game day. But, it’ll be a great opportunity for us to evaluate guys and we’ll see how that goes.”
(On S Marqui Christian during training camp)
“Yeah, he’s done a great job. I think really, he’s playing some safety – he’s done some different things – playing a dime linebacker spot. You see the athleticism, you see the burst – the suddenness shows up. I think he’s getting more and more comfortable with the different things. I think (Safeties) Coach ‘E’ (Ejiro Evero) has done an excellent job and really been impressed with (S) Marqui (Christian). He’s shown up a lot lately.”
(On RB John Kelly’s ceiling and his potential role on the team)
“I think he’s continuing to carve that out. I think you look at our running back roster right now, we feel really good obviously with (RB) Todd (Gurley II). We know that (RB) Malcolm (Brown) is a steady player that’s very reliable and you win with guys like that. So, I think both he and (RB) Justin (Davis) have shown really positive, encouraging signs early on. I think you see some of the things that were so intriguing about him in (University of) Tennessee – just with the ball in his hands and how explosive he is and I think (Running Backs Coach) Skip (Peete) is doing a great job of kind of getting him more and more comfortable. Justin got a little hamstring the other day, so we’ll see if he’s going to be ready for Saturday or not. If he’s not, then that’ll give us a chance to really get a lot of work for John on Saturday.”
(On his thoughts of this past week as training camp comes to an end)
“I think we’ve gotten a lot of good work in. I think – we were just talking to the team about it just now – we’ve gotten a lot of good work in, but there’s still a lot of work that we need to get done before we’re truly ready to go when that September 10 date comes around. I think the guys have done a really good job of just taking it one day at a time right now. Really when you look at it, today will give us a chance to look at a lot of different plays, a lot of different scenarios. These things are just as good for coaches as well – kind of thinking through different things and how we would handle it if it really did come up. So, so far so good, but certainly a lot of work to be done.”
(On if he was holding his breath when OLB Samson Ebukam was pushing T Andrew Whitworth into QB Jared Goff)
“Absolutely. Those are the thing that – gosh. It was purely and accident. Those things can happen. To say I was holding my breath, I think it would be probably a little bit more than that (laughs).”
(On how many plays the team ran today)
“I think we got close to 100 in today. Close to 100, a lot of different things. Got a lot of good special teams snaps too. Kicked a lot of field goals, got some punt work, got some backed-up situations. So really, kind of everything that we wanted to hit it seems like we got. And again, there’ll be a lot of things that we can look at kind of just being able to step back and watch today a little bit was a different perspective and something that was good.”
(On what kind of atmosphere he’s anticipating against the Raiders this weekend)
“I think it’ll be fun. I think we expect a lot of our fans to show up and be excited and we all know how well the Raiders travel. So, it should be a good atmosphere on Saturday.”
(On any update on DT Aaron Donald)
“No update on (DT) Aaron (Donald). Haven’t heard anything. Haven’t had a chance to talk to (General Manager) Les (Snead) and those guys yet within the last day or so. So, as far as I know, no updates on that one.”
(On whether tomorrow is a full day for the team)
“Tomorrow will be – we’ve got practice in the morning. It’ll be a little bit modified compared to what you guys are typically accustomed to seeing as far as a two-hour window. Probably be closer to an hour and a half.”