The Coach McVay ShowEp. 33: Sean McVay discusses matchup vs. Eagles, Cooper Kupp’s return & more
Hello, everyone, hope you're having a great evening. Thank you for spending part of it with us. Welcome to the Coach McVeigh Show, presented by Microsoft Surface. With the head coach of your Los Angeles Ram, Sean McVeigh. I'm JB. Long with my friend and colleague DeMarco Farr. All right, Sean, we know the Rams are not there yet, but there seems to be a very clear indication from your side of this table that you believe they can get to where they're destined to go this season.
I do you know, because I see the work that they put in day in and day out, JB. I also when you look at the tape and you see, hey, the margin Frere is really small. But have we made some of these plays that maybe we're missing in some of these critical moments. Do we have the ability to play off of one another a little bit better than what we've done in some of those games where we've come up just a little bit short, And you know, you feel good about that. You feel good about the ability to let's consistently play better through four quarters, not just one quarter to two quarters, but also being able to play better in the second half.
Is playing off one another one.
Somebody gets a turnover, we get scoring possession, and and so there's just a lot of things to be able to learn from. It's a long season. We're five games into this. I think we've learned a lot in these first five games, and I like the consistency at which this group approaches things, and I think that there is still a lot of growth to be had, and you know, I'm excited about pouring into them and uh and continue to move forward with the resilient mindset of mentality that we want to display, you know, for the fans and for this group that you care so much about.
Yeah. I think I've heard the word momentum my entire life, and I've heard it defined and what it means in a football game. But I think yesterday was like the truest example of momentum. You sees it, you have it, and then they come right back and take it from me, and you got to fight your way out of that bag again.
Yeah, and I think you just mentioned it. You know, they kind of took it and they did there. You know, you see why they've had as much success as they have over the last couple of seasons, you know, because in a moment, you know, where we end up taking the lead. They end up making enough plays to give themselves an opportunity to say, are we going to kick a field goal? Are we going to try to punch it? And as the half expires and they made those plays. And then there were some opportunities in the second half where I thought of Killo Witherspoon's turnover, I thought Duke Shelley's break up on the third down in the red area to keep it to a one possession game where it's a twenty to fourteen game late in the fourth quarter. And then there's some things where offensively that you know, I know that we're capable of executing at a higher level. We've got the guys that have done it at a high level before, and then it's just about being able to put all eleven on the same page at the right time. And there's been moments where we've done it, and then there's moments where you know we can collectively do a better job of it. But it's players and coaches in this together, and I think everybody looks inward first to be able to figure out how can they do their role at the highest level, How can they make sure that they're looking at themselves first and foremost, and if we keep that approach, then I just do believe that that good things are ahead, and I know there's a lot of growth to be.
Had offensively specific to the second half. Yeah, reference are there commonalities these last say four weeks since you came home from Sea out o where the disconnect seems to be for whatever reason after the halftime bridge.
You know, I think that for whatever reason, we haven't come out of that, you know, and and done some good things, but it's not the consistent same reasons why we're not. You know, there's that's why football is the greatest team sport. And you know this, JB as well as I do. You know, I could point out a couple instances of some critical and key factors or plays, you know, and there's certainly some decisions. You know, you got to always look at yourself first and foremost and say, okay, are we getting the intent? Are we allowing our guys to be able to get into a rhythm and a flow that's reflective of what we're hunting up and we got to be able to score the you know, score points by moving the football and so there were some instances where we had some chances to do that and some other times where you know, we didn't do a good enough job of putting it together at the right moment. So a long winded answer of saying, I don't think it's a consistent theme, But what you love about football is it's about continuing to figure out how do you play one snap at a time, how do you reset and refocus for the next snap, whether it was a good one or one that didn't go ideal on that previous snap.
One snap can change that whole narrative, like you hit too two down the seam, or if you get Cooper on one of those looks that I know you liked in the second half, we're not asking this question or having this.
And that's what's crazy about it.
But there's also some times where you know things might have worked out in our favor and we were able to get off the grass on third down when it didn't play out exactly like what we wanted, or we got away with something and so.
But that's what football is.
That's where those margins are so small, and that's what you love, and that's what can also drive you crazy about it.
I heard al Pacino that movie. We're fighting for those engines.
He's right, it was any given Sunday. You just referenced that I did.
I kept hearing his voice with my heart.
The al Pacino there? What's the greater were given that? It wasn't your best effort.
I'm not that impersonation was terrible.
You know, tell me, what did you think of pass protection? From my eyes, this is how I judge it. Your quarterback didn't get murked. Yeah, he was playing a good game. So what did you think of past pro.
I thought there was some really good instances. I thought some of our tougher downs, I thought they did a good job. So I was pleased with that. There was a couple of times switching off some stuff and some movements we could have executed better, but there was a lot of examples of them doing it at a high level. I thought, you know, some of the times that we did get edged or when we had some chip help and we got to do a better job with overall execution and intent there. But I was pleased with those guys, and I think there were some instances, particularly in the second half, where you know, the flow, you know, could have been more reflective of not necessarily having so much strain on those guys, But I was pleased with them, especially versus the caliber of rush that you knew you were going against with with the way those guys have done an excellent job through four weeks, and a lot of those guys, you know, had a bunch of success last year with the same personnel as well.
Another fourth and twelve failed. Chip urged you a little bit to like isolate one instance there, but just for the purpose of coaching points like what should happen there? What you want to happen there between.
Mclall, Yeah, you don't want to just rick a sham up the field. You want to be able to slow the up the field rush and the speed rush that you know when Reddick ended up widening out his rush. You want to be able to funnel that thing you know inside. You don't want to basically ricochet him into an up the field you know position, And that's unfortunately what happened right there.
Yeah, it's one of those crazy things. That was the rookie tackle that was in there. It was it was Havenstein.
How is he doing that? He's good, He'll be okay.
You know, the medicals you know, they called in for him to take a break right there, and then by the time you know, he kind of gets cleared and checked out. You know, you're just saying the smart thing is is, uh, you know, let's let Warren finish out the game.
And we all, I guess we held our breath when they brought the caught up for Bobby Brown.
Is he going to be able? Yeah, Kalli, that that was scary.
You know where my lot ends up falling on his knee, you know, fortunately or unfortunately I you look at it, he is going to be out for a little bit of time, probably five to seven weeks with the MCL. But thank goodness, it wasn't his ACL as well, which we initially potentially feared. He'll attack as rehab the right way and it doesn't look like it's going to represent the conclusion of his season, which is a positive because that was, you know, initially what I thought was going to possibly be the case yesterday.
Sean. When you sort the ram roster and by weight, especially on the defensive side of the football, there's a long gap between Bobby Brown and like the next biggest interior defensive lineman. What do you do? We'll fill that vote.
Well, we'll figure though, you know, those are things that will immediately kind of start working on once we finish up here with you guys, whether there's opportunities elsewhere, whether we feel like there's somebody in house, those will be the things that, you know, we'll look in house first. We'll see if we feel good about that, and if not, then then we'll look elsewhere.
I know Coleman came back. He had what a hand or a finger?
He did?
He had his he dislocated his finger.
And then what do you think about Joe oapuhim this week? A chance he plays and where does he slay?
We'll see where he's at.
You know, you know Joe is he's really battled through a bunch of different little just kind of nagging injuries.
He's a tough competitor. I love Joe.
He's played at guard, he's played at tackle, as you guys know. So I think the first thing is let's see where his health is at. Reggie said he's making good progress with his groin. Whether or not that means he'll be able to play this week is still to be determined.
Puka straight up the sideline, Yeah, route, big ball, big boy time, that was big. Never saw that coming. I mean we pointed that out. That's without motion, that's without trying to get him open. That's just him versus that guy.
He wins.
Yeah, I thought Matthew made a great throw.
You know, you're in a situation at the end where you're really saying, okay, you know, got man coverage right there and did a great job of being able to win on his release. Matthew did a nice job of being able to keep the post safety in the middle of the field and got a ball up and down from twenty two yards out. And I thought it was a great connection by those.
Two and watching Cooper Cup come back and work himself into the offense early.
I mean immediately.
Yeah, see the impact. No, he did a good job.
He had some critical catches on that first drive, big fourth down conversion, big third down and four conversion ended up getting him activated and involved a little bit in some of our empty stuff. And so it was good to be able to get his feet wet. And you know, it's always great to be able to add great players back.
Yesterday's opponent and kind of game circumstance may not have allowed for this, but I know We're both very optimistic about what Cooper Cup brings back to your running game, the way that he can amplify some things, given what Pook has kind of done the first month of the season. Do you see it playing out that way long term?
Absolutely? Yeah.
I think the way the game unfolded, you know, I mean, it was just such a it was a very strange game, you know, and you credit them for being able to kind of shorten it. I mean where you talk about eight possessions each side, and really, you know, through six possessions you're talking about you get yourself laid into the fourth quarter and you know, just the flow and some of the different things that they were activating, and then we were in some two minute situations in our third drive. So the answer is yes, it do feel good about both of those guys' ability to contribute to the run game and be able to have some things on the early downs that are more reflective of what we were hunting up and kind of what the intent is. And yesterday went a little bit differently than than you know, I don't want to say according to plan, but the circumstances of the game, you know, altered our approach and we felt like it was the best one, and I think it gave us a chance, you know, all the way to the bitter end against a really good team.
Speaking of hunting, Jalen hurts. Good guy, that's that's big game hunting. I mean, what can't that guy do. People were saying like, wow, you guys don't have enough pass us. I'm like, wait, that's not the first time he's done that. Yeah, that's the type of quarterback he is. He's a full time problem for anybody's defense.
No, he is.
I mean, and you look at the production that Swift had and he had a couple of good hits at the end of the game. But I thought we were able to be pretty successful in some of the early down stuff. And then you know, yeah, I want to say Jalen ended up with about seventeen carries, but a lot of those were some off schedule plays. And then they did have some quarterback design runs that they haven't been activating quite as much in the earlier parts of the season. But he's he's a great player. They do an excellent job of putting him in those spots.
And then I.
Think I saw my lot of said, you know, in some instances he ended up, you know, being able to extend the plays and I don't want to say bail out is the right word, but he ended up being able to win just you know, by making some plays when you know, we had some things defended well and he was just able to break some tackles that extended and kind of create on his own.
What a signing to Keller Witherspoon. I mean, his last three weeks seemingly getting the key play that kept you in or helped you win a game.
Yeah, he's he's done a great job. I've been really pleased with him. Super coachable, He's obviously got great ability. I even like the way that he started out with their first play of the game. They throw out a bubble screen, he ends up shedding the you know, the outside blocker ends up making a good, violent tackle and so he's just continuing up his game. Aubrey does such a great job with those guys, and the Kello's you know, really shined over the last few weeks.
So drag Swag that was awesome. That was awesome. It was a huge play.
I mean, you know, and that those are the types of things that I talk about and I referenced it a little bit earlier when you get that turnover, when they've got a chance to go up nine points right there, even if they just get a field goal, and for him to keep it to a six point game where you know, a touchdown and an extra point allows you to be able to take the lead. Those were big opportunities that that gave us a chance. And we need to consistently make more plays like that, you know, in all those phases. But he's been he's been a real bright spot.
Here's what's funny about your corners. I know what DK sounds like. I can hear it. I don't think I've ever heard Witherspoon say a word. Really yeah, super quiet guy but goes about.
His business super you know, he's he's always he's very interested. He's got a great you know, inquisitiveness about him. He's you know, he's a great listener. He's really coachable. It's one of those guys that in these meeting settings he is totally locked in. He asked unbelievable questions afterwards, which lets you know he doesn't miss a beat. But sometimes those people that speak the least, you know, end up taking in the most and then when they do speak. You know, there's some real, some real value to what they're adding and h and he strikes me as one of those guys in my interactions I've had with him.
Did Duke Shelley's first defensive snaps as a ram leave you want him more? Look?
Did a good job? You know, he's a good competitor, JB. I really like him. I like his demeanor. I like his competitiveness and his spirit. Thought that red zone breakup that he had on the third down and eight or seven or whatever it was was a huge play. And I keep alluding to just keeping it to a one possession game that ended up four in a field goal right there where it's a seventeen to fourteen game at that point, and that you know, forced them to kick the field goal to go up twenty to fourteen. But I like the way that he plays this game. I like what he's done on special teams. I was pleased with.
Duke Kired Williams. I more possessions, more carries for going.
Yeah, I think that's you know, it's it's the way that the run game, you know, kind of unfolded, and then I thought there was some meat on the bone for us to be able to take advantage of them, not exclusively to Kyraen, but being able to finish on you know, some of our combinations and some of the different things, whether it even be our receivers on the perimeter, and and that's where we'll you know, we'll look to improve. And then I think there's an element of some more opportunities like you mentioned that I can certainly help with.
I just want to call something out that I think is indicative of good discipline and good coaching that I've been tracking. A lack of pre snap penalties. I've got you for a false start on Zach Thomas at Cincinnati who did not start that game, and one delay of game at Seattle. Yeah, that's it in terms of and you've been on silent count five weeks in a row.
Five weeks in a row. Yeah, crazy.
Is that not a testament to the work they put in?
It is?
You know, it's a real credit to Matthew's command, to Coleman Shelton's command, even when Brian Allen had to come in for a handful of snaps yesterday and then the other nine guys around them. So I have been pleased with that. That's been a real positive and you know that that's a good thing. We want to keep that rolling and hopefully we won't be on our silnce this one.
Well, that's kind of I mean, I think this will be the week where Matthew gets to manipulate it a little bit more. Maybe we hear the turbos that ring through there, you go, ring through? So far? Does he get as much protection in the pocket as he deserves based on his reputation in this league?
I think you ask me the question, you know probably how I feel about it.
He was asking me that you can't answer that. Yeah, yeah, I think the air Come on, he doesn't get there, Come on, come on, you're not supposed to be able to slam quarterbacks.
Yeah, I said that, that's great.
Okay, go ahead, or face mask.
Or face mask or grounding. What the heck wasn't Cooper cup standing right there? Oh my bad, that's sorry, coach? Never mind.
Should we get to the Cardinals and let coach get on his on his was.
Going to bring up the punter, but I know how much he hates talking about that.
But no, he did a good job.
I thought ethan that one that was like a great chip shot where lands on the two and then bounces out so Ethan and I thought alex Ward did a nice job with some of the situations that we had him in, you know, protection wise, And those are two young guys that have continued to just get better and better, and those are positions that you certainly don't take for granted.
What a coincidental scheduling stretch with like the Philadelphia coaching tree, going from the Colts to the Eagles to now the Cardinals in different phases, different parts of Yeah, I never thought of it that way. Jonathan Gannon taking over in the Desert gives you a new look this week as you face your division rival.
Yeah, they've done a great job.
You know, we're just getting into the early parts of the film and just watching them from afar. The way that they've got those guys playing, you know, it's going to be high level ball, good designs on both sides and really on teams as well. And so I'm looking forward to diving into this tape and it's going to be a great challenge.
You know.
You see them have a big time winning against the Cowboys, and they've done an excellent job of being able to, you know, play people tight seems like Josh Dobbs is playing at a really high level for those guys, and so again, like anything else, looking forward to diving into the preparation when we finish this up, and I'll have a better feel as the week progresses.
I was hoping we can play them on Tuesday. Let's just get right back at it.
I would like that to start up.
Let's get it all right. We'll let him study the film and we'll let you watch some more al Pacino.
I'm not doing an al Pacino.
Need better from you, Sean. Thank you for your time on this guy. Tonight, I'm going to be with you. DeMarco, thanks as always for joining us for the Coach mcfay Show, presented by Microsoft Surface
