Tag: rams news

Sean McVay praises Tutu Atwell’s performance in win over 49ers

Tutu Atwell led the Rams in receptions and receiving yards on Sunday. Here’s what Sean McVay had to say about his performance.

Tutu Atwell had himself a game against the 49ers, hauling in four receptions for 93 yards. He also caused a defensive pass interference penalty that moved the ball 48 yards and led to points for the Rams. Atwell was living up to the promise that he once had when the Rams drafted him, and he quickly established himself as the team’s go-to receiver in the absence of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.

This fact was not lost on Sean McVay, who praised the receiver on Monday. McVay went deeper into his evaluation, recognizing how well Atwell played in key situations.

“He’s done a good job with that,” he said. “A couple of key third downs that he made catches on, obviously the deep ball on our sideline was a great track over his shoulder. I think he ended up with 93 yards on the day, but he had a 48-yard ‘PI’ that doesn’t go on the stats, but it moved our offense forward 48 yards that led to a scoring drive. There is a lot of trust. I think he and Matthew have a good trust. He did a lot of really good things for us last year and let’s see if we can build on that. Tutu made some big plays for us. He knew that he was going to get an opportunity and he delivered. Again, just happy for him and now let’s see how we move forward the right way.”

Matthew Stafford has had a go-to guy throughout his career. Whether it be Nacua or Kupp or even back to Calvin Johnson and Kenny Golladay, Stafford has the guy and Atwell is proving he can be that guy at the moment.

What separates Atwell from the rest of the receivers listed above is his quickness and lower center of gravity. Perhaps that will open up opportunities for big plays, especially with yards after catch. In the meantime, if Atwell continues his newly found level of play, the Rams’ season may just be getting started.

Sean McVay praises Chase Blackburn for Rams’ special teams turnaround

The Rams went from being terrible on special teams last season to reliable this year and that’s not lost on Sean McVay

Special teams was a focal point for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason after an abysmal 2023 season, with special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn drawing the bulk of the criticism in Year 1 of the role.

However, the narrative on the Rams’ special teams is much different in 2024 with Joshua Karty remaining perfect on the season, punter Ethan Evans continuing to improve with another impressive display on Sunday and Xavier Smith returning a punt 38 yards in the final minute of the game.

When asked about the amount of work the Rams put into their special teams unit, Sean McVay praised Blackburn for the job he’s done after a difficult first season.

“I think it’s being able to commit to a process,” he said. “We’ve got some better overall athleticism. I think Chase has done a great job bringing in Scott Frost to be able to help out, but we’ve got some continuity with the specialists, obviously adding Josh in the mix as a kicker. You’re looking at Ethan Evans taking a step as a punter and then obviously as a holder. I think getting Alex Ward back is big. We missed him towards the latter part of the year. It’s a big thing people don’t talk enough about, but really proud of Chase Blackburn’s leadership. He’s done an excellent job and that’s been a strength of ours through three weeks.”

Frost joined the Rams’ coaching staff this season after spending over 20-plus years in coaching. That was after a six-year career in the NFL where he primarily played on special teams. It seems like Frost’s inclusion and Blackburn’s perseverance had paid dividends as the special teams unit looks miles ahead of schedule.

In Sunday’s win, the special teams unit played a huge factor. Evans tipped the field position scale towards the Rams, Smith’s long return set up Karty’s game-winning field goal and the rookie kicker was perfect on the day, scoring eight points by himself.

Sean McVay is proud of Rams for rallying vs. 49ers despite growing adversity

Sean McVay’s Rams squad engineered a massive comeback win over the 49ers. Here’s how McVay instilled the confidence in his team.

The 0-2 Rams overcame immense adversity to defeat their rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, and notch their first win of the season. Despite a roster littered with injuries and “fringe” players elevated into starting roles, and despite being sizable home underdogs and falling behind 14-0, the Rams proved why labels are wrong. Situations are temporary and winning solves everything.

When asked about how he rallied the troops, Sean McVay talked about the role players who have stepped up and the improvements made on offense.

“Yeah, it was a big deal for today and we’ve got a lot of football left. I want to see us be able to move forward. I want to see us be able to hopefully have some continuity that we can build on,” McVay said. “You got some guys [like] Beaux Limmer making his second start as a center as a rookie, Logan Bruss made his first start as a left guard, getting Alaric Jackson back and having Rob Havenstein with his second start at the tackle position. Kevin Dotson’s really been the only one that’s been able to remain healthy of that group. I thought Colby [Parkinson] did a nice job. Hunter Long got some really good snaps. Demarcus Robinson came up big. Thought Jordan Whittington made a couple plays. Tyler Johnson had his contributions and then Tutu [Atwell] definitely made his presence felt [with] good aggressive hands. You talk about being able to track that ball when we had to be able to have it to end up tying it up at 24 to get us down in the tight red area on the 5-yard line. That was outstanding of him going by a premier player in this league.”

It appears reenforcing the confidence of his offensive line was priority number one and it seems like it resulted in an infectious energy that permeated throughout the team, especially as the game wore on.

Always complimentary of his Rams, McVay’s vigor with the youngster on the team should give fans more confidence as the team navigates through some massive growing pains.

Matthew Stafford expresses confidence in rookie Beaux Limmer at center

Matthew Stafford spoke publicly about his rookie center, expressing confidence in Beaux Limmer

The Rams have had to shake up their offensive line after two weeks filled with injuries and a suspension.

While players like Beaux Limmer have benefited from opportunities, Matthew Stafford has had to bear the growing pains of such a process.

Stafford has worked closely with Limmer in the last two weeks following the injury to Steve Avila, essentially running him through a speed course of the proper checks, protections and assignments needed to be called out and understood by a center at the NFL level.

However, Stafford hasn’t had to hold Limmer’s hand with the rookie center quickly grasping and then implementing said lessons. When it comes to Limmer’s ability to identify protections, Stafford had positive things to say about the sixth-round rookie.

“I think the biggest thing is trying to lean on keeping it as simple as you possibly can [and] keep it in boxes for those guys,” Stafford said Wednesday. “He does that. I feel like it’s a little bit of everything. It’s a little bit of communication with me. It’s a little bit of [the] game plan. It’s a little bit of everything.”

Stafford also spoke about having such a drastic change with the center position and how Limmer has handled it so far.

“I think the biggest thing is, number one, getting snaps [and] getting used to that,” he added. “The worst thing you can do is sit there thinking about where the snap is going to be or how it goes. I think that’s the biggest thing and then just communication. Hopefully, he feels like he can lean on me to get us pointed in the right direction and then let him try to take things off of his plate. He’s played with some veteran guards on each side the last couple weeks so that helps, but I think he’s doing a really good job. As far as my work with him, it’s just trying to get us in and out of the right place, making sure he’s tied into why we’re doing certain things and then where we’re going to go with protections.”

A rookie center’s best friend is a veteran QB, which can help make up for the pitfalls that come with youth. As Stafford’s bond with Limmer continues to grow, Limmer himself should establish a voice in this league and for an offensive line in need of a shot caller, Limmer’s proving he’s well on the way to being that man.

Jared Verse’s hot start to his rookie season has impressed Sean McVay

Jared Verse has been one of the lone bright spots on defense during the Rams’ 0-2 start

It’s always a nerve-racking time when the promise of a first-round pick meets the harsh reality of the NFL gridiron but for outside linebacker Jared Verse, it’s been business as usual for the former Florida State Seminole.

In two games, Verse has eight tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. A firecracker coming off the edge, Verse’s natural explosiveness and bend on the edge give him the pass-rushing tools only known by the best to play the game.

When asked about his hot start, Sean McVay praised the rookie edge rusher, while also recognizing there’s room for improvement.

“He’s been active. I thought he played really hard. I thought he made some really good plays and I think there are still opportunities for him to continue to grow and learn,” McVay said. “He’s really coachable. [OLBs coach] Joe [Coniglio] does a great job with that group, understanding exactly where all those play opportunities fall within the framework of some of the different calls and what the offense presents. But you talk about a guy who played disruptive, I love the fumble that he forced and it was unfortunate that they ended up recovering it for a touchdown, but you feel him. You guys have heard me mention that. I like the way this guy plays the game.”

While there are some clear shortfalls in Verse’s game, those flaws are primarily due to a college body playing in the NFL. Given the fact that Verse spent this past offseason preparing for the draft, he had limited time to dedicate to his physique.

Once Verse is able to have a true offseason spent on strength and conditioning, expect what has already been an explosive start to turn into high levels of consistent play, especially in the run game.

Cooper Kupp (ankle) in a walking boot after Rams’ loss to Cardinals

Sean McVay doesn’t know the severity of Cooper Kupp’s ankle injury but the Rams WR was in a walking boot after Sunday’s loss

The Rams’ injury issues became even more worrisome after star wide receiver Cooper Kupp went out of Sunday’s game due to injury. Kupp was spotted limping into the locker room at halftime and he remained out for the rest of the game with what the Rams called an ankle injury.

While Sean McVay didn’t have an update on the severity of Kupp’s injury, the situation turned negative when Kupp was spotted leaving the locker room with a walking boot on his left foot.

Kupp has had to deal with lower body injuries throughout his career, most recently missing the first four games of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury. He also missed half of the 2022 season with an ankle injury.

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We’ll wait for further news on Kupp’s injury, but it’s just the latest blow to a Rams offense that’s already missing Puka Nacua for at least the next three games. If Kupp misses extended time, Xavier Smith on the practice squad could be due for a promotion.

Sean McVay shares what he appreciates about Jimmy Garoppolo

Sean McVay took time to shine attention on what Jimmy Garoppolo has done for the Rams and how they’ve benefitted from his presence,

Oftentimes, the backup quarterback is a forgotten figure in football. A shadow in the open, fans and the media typically do not show love to the backup quarterback but their contributions to the success of the starter and subsequently the team can not be understated.

This sentiment was expressed by Sean McVay when he was asked if anything about Jimmy Garoppolo stood out to him. McVay had this to say about his backup QB.

“I think his consistency is something that I’ve really appreciated,” McVay said. “He’s so locked in. He is a veteran player. I think some of the traits that I’ve always admired from afar, the ability to be able to speed it up, he can make quick decisions, he can get through things quickly. He just has a really nice way about himself. You can see why all of his teammates have enjoyed him. I’m sure when you guys have gotten a chance to talk to him, he’s a great dude. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s used it the right way, but he’s got a refreshing humility about himself, as well, where he can just be one of the guys. I’ve loved being around Jimmy and it’s good to have him back in the building.”

Garoppolo’s suspension expires after Week 2. He will then step into the Rams’ backup role, a role which in the past has garnered him a ton of success. Garoppolo has spent time with the Patriots, 49ers and Raiders throughout his 12-year NFL career. His four playoff wins rank him tied for eighth among active quarterbacks.

Ironically enough, he’s tied with Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy in that stat category.

Sean McVay says Kyler Murray keeps getting ‘better and better’

Sean McVay was asked about Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Friday. Hear what he had to say.

Since 2019, Kyler Murray has been the starting quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals and thus, he has had multiple opportunities to play the Rams. Despite a 1-7 record against Los Angeles, the dual-threat gunslinger from Oklahoma remains at the forefront of the Rams’ mind and their gameplan.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Rams head coach Sean McVay was asked about his team’s plan to stop Murray. Not wanting to reveal too much about their battleplan, McVay focused on what Murray has done in NFL and how he has hurt opposing defenses in the past.

“He’s continuing to get better and better, but the challenge is that he’s a threat to be able to create and extend plays as well as anybody in this league,” McVay said. “You look at it, if you look at the shot clock on some plays that he’s extended over the course of his career, you look at the athleticism. I think he has the ability to beat you in the pocket [and] out of the pocket, keeping his eyes down field as a thrower, and then obviously being able to beat you as a runner. Like I mentioned earlier, he is a nightmare to prepare for. You have to do a great job playing ’11 as one.’ We’ll have our work cut out for us but that’s what you love about this league.”

A matchup nightmare, Murray’s abilities will allow fans to get a deeper look into the mind of Chris Shula. Murray played the Rams only once last season due to injury. In that game, Murray went 27-for-45 with 256 passing yards and one passing touchdown.

They also limited Murray to one carry for 2 yards. Unfortunately, that went for a touchdown. The Rams won 37-14.

 

Christian McCaffrey to miss Week 3 vs. Rams after landing on IR

No Christian McCaffrey for the 49ers against the Rams next week

Christian McCaffrey, the San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back, will miss the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year suffered another setback to his 2024 season on Saturday by being placed on injured reserve, automatically ruling him ineligible for the next four games.

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McCaffrey has been suffering from calf tightness and Achilles tendinitis, injuries that have keep him out of the majority of the 49ers training camp activities. Backup Jordan Mason is expected to get the start.

Against the Jets last week, Mason had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. McCaffrey in 2023 led the league in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. With Mason’s recent production, what should’ve been a massive loss for the Niners may be much more tolerable to swallow.

The Rams host the 49ers at SoFi Stadium on September 22.

Sean McVay is confident Eric Yarber will have Rams’ WRs ready with Puka Nacua out

Sean McVay is confident Rams WRs coach Eric Yarber will have his guys ready to fill the void of Puka Nacua

With the injury to Puka Nacua, Sean McVay and his staff have got their work cut out for them in order to prepare the receiver room for Arizona. With Nacua out, the Rams are relying on the rest of the receivers to step up and make plays under the pressure of new responsibilities.

When asked about the quality of his staff and the process WRs coach Eric Yarber and the Rams’ offensive staff will undertake with the receivers, Sean McVay had this to say.

“I think it’s the clarity that he provides. Coach Yarber, we’ve been together. This is our eighth year. He’s an excellent coach. He’s connected with his guys. They know how much he cares about them first and foremost as a person. I think Nate Scheelhaase and Rob Calabrese do a great job. ‘TJ’ (Tyler Johnson) ultimately delivered. I thought the shallow cross that he converted to a 60-plus yard gain was big. He made a handful of other plays, did some good things without the ball. It’s always about making sure that you’re ready for those opportunities if some unforeseen circumstances arise. I thought ‘TJ’ did a great job of being able to maximize the time that Puka was out to be able to get better and to get a lot more reps than he would’ve gotten otherwise. I thought it showed the way he played.”

Yarber has nearly 30 years of coaching experience. Before joining the Rams in 2017, he was UCLA’s wide receivers coach from 2012-2016.