Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay
(On C John Sullivan getting hit in practice)
“Yeah, you know what? I’m not really sure yet. (Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) seemed to think he just got his arm banged up a little bit. I think he’s going to be okay though, but haven’t gotten inside yet to really find out. Reggie didn’t seem to be too concerned about it.”
(On how he thought the first day in pads went overall)
“I thought just like anything else, it was a back and forth. I thought the defense did a great job, came out with good energy, matched a lot of our concepts, played the run really well, and the offense found a way to have a little bit of success. It’s like anything else in football, a lot of back and forth and it’s going to be about our ability to kind of respond to the good and the bad. Fortunately, everybody came out of this clean. We’ll find out about (C) John (Sullivan), but I think he’s going to be okay. For the first day, the biggest thing is great energy. Guys were competing but doing it in a smart way and that’s what we like.”
(On the length of today’s practice)
“No. It went a little bit longer. I think what (Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and (Director of Strength Training and Performance) Ted (Rath) do a good job of is we’ve got our players monitored in terms of their workload. We knew just based on this being day four – tomorrow is day five and then we’ll have a day off after that – we wanted to be able to push them a little bit. We might tone it down a tick, but we’ll still have the pads on tomorrow so that they can really get a good kind of day and a half, if you will, of rest and then be ready to come back after that first day off ready to go.”
(On CB Sam Shields)
“He’s doing a great job. He’s one of those guys you talk about a lot of the big-time guys that we’ve signed, but I think people forget what a productive player Sam’s (Shields) been in this league. Elite man-to-man skills, unbelievable lateral agility and just short space quickness. He’s a great guy. Really been impressed with the way he’s been receptive to (Cornerbacks Coach) Aubrey (Pleasant) and (Safeties Coach) ‘E’ (Ejiro Evero) in terms of coaching him up on some nuances and maybe some fundamentals that he hasn’t worked on when he was in Green Bay. But, really impressive. He’s an elite-type player with elite skills and really happy for him. We’re hoping he’s able to stay healthy.”
(On if anyone has stepped up at linebacker in the absence of Mark Barron)
“You know, we’ve got a lot of confidence in Mark (Barron) and he’s been able to get a lot of mental reps in the morning walk-thrus and different things like that. We anticipate him coming back ready to go Week 1 against the Raiders. I think in the meantime you’ve seen a lot of good things. (LB) Cory Littleton is playing the ‘Mike’ linebacker position, but he’s really stepped up having played ‘Mo’ last year. I think you’re seeing (LB) Ramik Wilson do a lot of nice things. (LB) Bryce Hager has been really consistent. Then some of these younger linebackers, whether it’s (LB) Micah Kiser, (LB Travin) ‘T’ Howard, you’re seeing these guys kind of show up, get more and more comfortable with what we’re asking them to do. But, I think (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach) Joe Barry does an excellent job with those guys. Being able to give them the confidence, knowing what to do and then how to react and play confident.”
(On QB Jared Goff squeezing more passes into tighter throwing windows so far this training camp)
“Well, I think it’s just him getting more and more comfortable and confident. I think those windows close up a little bit faster with some of those guys that are on defense. We always talk about reading with your feet and sometimes it’s appropriate to be able to try to fit those in those tight windows and sometimes the coverage dictates, we need to progress and do it a little bit faster manner. But, what he’s done such a good job of is being receptive where he’s able to kind of – he’s seeing it real well right now. Even whether it be good or bad he’s able to kind of correct himself immediately after. That’s one of the things – whether it’s with (Quarterbacks Coach) Zac Taylor or myself – that he’s done a really good job of is being able to echo and articulate what he saw, why he made a decision. When you’re looking at 11 bodies on defense, rush is coming at you, different coverages – it’s a lot for a quarterback. I think, really, our group as a whole has done a nice job, but always, always striving to improve.”
(On if he makes it a point to interact with the defense to emphasize that he’s their coach too)
“It is. It’s very hard sometimes when we get competitive (laughs). No, I’ll tell you what, it’s exciting because at the end of the day you get competitive and naturally just being an offensive background. But, I think having a little bit more of an understanding, spending a little bit more time with the defense, you get excited to see these guys make plays. Our coaches are doing a great job having these guys ready to go, knowing what to do. I think it’s really just about our team as a whole, but it certainly gets you excited when our defense is playing like they were today.”
(On what LB Mark Barron brings to the team and why he flies under the radar)
“He does. I think he flies under the radar maybe publicly, but I think if you asked any of his teammates about (LB) Mark Barron, he’s got their respect. One thing you know about Mark Barron is he quietly goes about his business, but when he puts that helmet and shoulder pads on, he’s going to compete and he’s going to be ready to go. You know that you can count on him during those games and really with what he can control. He does a great job. If you could see the way that he focuses and concentrates when he’s out here taking his mental reps from a walk-thru standpoint. I’ve always been impressed with Mark and the way that he’s carried himself. But, I think because of that quiet confidence and that demeanor, sometimes you take it for granted. But, I certainly know that locker room respects and appreciates what Mark brings to our team.”
(On how much importance is placed on LB Mark Barron since he has so much experience)
“He does. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s had a lot of success in this league and we’re going to lean on him heavily to provide that veteran leadership, but he was really that last year as well. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for (Former Rams LB) Alec Ogletree and losing him to the (New York) Giants is something that we’ve got have guys step-up and I think (LB) Cory Littleton has done an excellent job of that. But (LB) Mark (Barron) is going to be a key part of our defense and we know that he’s going to do a great job for us.”
(On if there’s something he wants to see LB Cory Littleton calling the defense for the first time in training camp)
“I think it’s just about that continued communication, both verbal and visually, making sure that everybody’s on the screws with their adjustments. What are you responsible for communicating? Really getting the call in. As a signal caller, it’s extremely important to get that thing echoed to the back-end. With formation, recognition, all the different things that our defense entails, it’s a reactionary deal and you got to understand what to do and you’ve got to be decisive with it. I think so far, you can really appreciate how smart he is. He’s a great blitzer. I think you see why he’s been able to block so many punts. You got a great feel for working edges on people and like what’s been consistent with (Defensive Coordinator) Wade (Phillips) throughout the course of his coaching career, he finds out what guys do best and accentuates their skillset and looking forward to seeing how he utilizes Cory.”
(On what’s the purpose of the replay board)
“What it’s good for – we got to figure out exactly where to put it because you sometimes forget. But it’s really good because, if you think about how you learn, that immediate feedback that you can provide and being able to look at it right away as opposed to waiting a couple hours to go watch the film. That’s really the intent of it, for a teaching tool. That’s something that I’ve got to get more comfortable remembering that it’s out here.”
(On if he had any initial reaction to DT Ndamukong Suh in pads for the first time)
“Well, he sure looks good when he comes out in pads. Until you go back and look at the tape, there’s so many different things going on. But, I think (DT) Ndamukong’s (Suh) had a good start to training camp. I was talking to him today before we came out and you could just see he’s getting more and more comfortable with understanding the intricacies of the defense, where he fits, what his role is within the framework of what personnel grouping we’re operating out of. Been really pleased with Ndamukong so far. But, it’s day four camp and like anything else, I think he’s a smart veteran, knows how to get himself ready to go and kind of work himself into his rhythm.”
(On if there’s anything on DT Aaron Donald)
“No, nothing new on (DT) Aaron (Donald). No news. Unless I go inside and Twitter is blowing up my phone.”
(On if he’s on Twitter on a secret account)
“What do you think? I don’t have a burner account.”
(On how he has seen DL Michael Brockers adjust and get used to being a 5-technique in that role)
“I think since we moved him to that spot, going back to last year’s Dallas (Cowboys) game. It’s been instrumental in a lot of this success. I think you realize what a special player he is in the run. Clearly, you look at just the production on his career, where he can work edges on people, rush the passer and you’ve also seen him step into a leadership role. He’s one of those guys that he always has a great way about himself where he can’t help but be in a good mood. He’s always having fun, enjoying himself. But make no mistake about it, when it’s time to lock in, he’s ready to go. I think he’s doing an excellent job of just kind of being himself but being a natural leader where guys kind of want to follow him. He’s got something about him that’s special.”
(On if he talks to the players about the pitfalls and benefits of social media)
“You know what, I really don’t. I think we just talk about being smart. Trusting them. We’ve got a lot of respect for our guys the way they handle themselves. I think they know how to handle that accordingly. But, really, haven’t had to go too much into that.”