WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Los Angeles is half a game back of first place in a wide-open NFC West in the midst of a three-game win streak. And reinforcements are on the way. Offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila had their 21-day practice windows opened this week and could return from Injured Reserve (IR) ahead of this week's Monday Night Football game against Miami.
On Thursday, head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford spoke with the media about the team's offensive execution, the impact of the team's improving health and their upcoming matchup with the Dolphins. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua also spoke with the media on Friday.
Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from the press conferences, which can be viewed below:
"There's a definite difference in terms of when (quarterback Tua Tagovailoa) is in there (versus when he's not). You still see some parts of their offense and some of the things that (Dolphins head coach) Mike (McDaniel) will activate, but there's a difference when they've got their guy at the switch in there and so you're aware of that, but you can't ignore the other things that are part of the evaluation process... It's a different vibe, without a doubt, when he's in there." - McVay
The Dolphins' 2-6 record isn't a reflection of the team's talent. Tagovailoa has only played in four games this season, and exited one of them early with a concussion. Miami has scored at least 20 points in three of those four games, and McVay acknowledged that this offense presents a much more real threat with Tagovailoa under center.
On the other side of the ball, some of the longer-tenured Rams players and coaches will go against a familiar face in star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was with the team from mid-2019 through 2022. McVay said that he is "one of those players that's so disruptive" that can impact the game as a blitzer, in man coverage and in zone coverage. His physicality and versatility also make him "a great player" who still has many of the traits that McVay prized in him as a Ram.
After watching the offensive film from last week's nail-biter in Seattle, McVay said their biggest issue right now is execution. He said "our best runs all got called back by things that didn't need to occur." McVay acknowledged that they were correct calls, but those actions didn't affect the play in a meaningful way and were unnecessary. McVay knows the team is "better than that," and will show that once they are able to address those controllable aspects of offensive execution.
"I have so much respect for who (Ramsey) is as a player, teammate, he affects the game in so many different ways even if, you know, like a lot of times guys are staying away from him, that's basically a one-for-one that he's taking away out there. So, he's doing a heck of a job like he always does... He's doing all the things you want from Jalen Ramsey... (I) had an amazing time playing with him as a teammate." - Stafford
Ramsey's athleticism still "jumps off the tape" at 30 years old, Stafford said. He can make an impact at any level of the defense and Stafford thinks "he's still got all the tools you want in a corner," and will be a challenge to prepare for.
Stafford said it was "great to have" Jackson and Avila back at practice, adding that "any time you get more really good football players out on our field in our offensive group, the better." Avila (knee) has been on IR since Week 2, while Jackson (shoulder) joined him after Week 2. Both interior linemen returned to practice this week and could be ready to play against the Dolphins on Monday.
Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who has caught four touchdowns from Stafford over the past two weeks, also received some high praise from his quarterback. Stafford said "for a guy his size, (Robinson) is sudden and explosive." Stafford said he "has a great feel for what's going to get him open," and that's been on display recently.
"(The offense is) still a work in progress. I mean, we're just trying to build to consistency because there's been times where it's been really good and there's times where we just need improvement across the board, coaches, players, everybody. Every position group's got their hand in it, but when it's going, it's going." - LaFleur
The Rams' offense has shown spurts of excellence, but has failed to sustain that over extended periods. LaFleur said they are confident in their personnel and they just have to "continue to build... continuity" in order to build on the success they've achieved. He said "it looks like we are getting close to that."
Miami's biggest defensive threat, Ramsey, also got some high praise from LaFleur, even though he's never coached him. He said that "he's a stud, nothing's changed," and LaFleur "hated playing him" when he was with the 49ers. Miami's defense plays hard and LaFleur said he "love(s) their scheme" and the players have taken on the identity of defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who LaFleur worked with before and has "a ton of respect for."
It's been "a weekly deal" for the offense to get players back from injury, and this week LaFleur is "happy for" Jackson and Avila to get back on the practice field.
"(Miami is) an extremely tough offense to defend as really anyone can see... It's my first time coaching against them since Mike's been there as coach, and it's the speed, it's the physicality they play with, the o-line runs off the ball and it's a running offense, they want to establish the run... and they do a great job utilizing their personnel with their fullbacks and tight ends. Obviously, they have elite speed, and elite talent... at every skill position." - Shula
The Dolphins' wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is arguably the fastest in the NFL. They also have one of the faster tight ends, Jonnu Smith, and some of the quickest running backs, De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, in the league. Shula said the secondary must have "great effort (and) great pursuit to the ball" in order to combat that, as "any one-on-one tackle in space against any of those guys will be tough."
Defensive end Braden Fiske, who enjoyed a breakout game with two sacks in Week 9, "has been creating a lot of pressure since the start (of the season)," Shula said. He added that having someone like outside linebacker Jared Verse next to him, who demands attention and has experience playing with Fiske at Florida State, "definitely helps."
"I learn from the all-father, (my toughness) comes (wide receivers coach Eric Yarber) and Coop, it makes me super excited to see like, man, they see the work that we've been putting in and feel the threat of all of us and it also makes me super excited because man we're not mentioning the guy coming off four touchdowns in two weeks." - Nacua
Weaver said earlier this week that Nacua and Kupp are too of the toughest receivers in the league. The above quote was Nacua's response. Nacua loves to "bring it with the physicality every single play," and that can put a target on his back.
Nacua said that his ejection last game came as a result of "a natural reaction" and he was "reacting over responding." He wants to learn from that experience but also acknowledges that he comes from "a tough background" and "if somebody's trying to enforce their will outside the whistle, I'm gonna to make sure I stand my ground."
Nacua said the ejection won't stop him from being aggressive, but will be cognizant of his actions after the play moving forward.
"It was always challenging (to go against Ramsey in practice)... (He's) a unicorn of a football player... My first memory of him was he came in, we were playing against Atlanta and he had just come into the building... and (the coaches) were basically just like, 'you're guarding Julio (Jones) the whole game.' And he came in not knowing any of this stuff and just locked down Julio man-to-man. I mean, it was unbelievable." - Kupp
Five years later, Ramsey still has that same swagger and ability. Kupp said there "was something about the way he prepared" that made him special come game day.
In terms of the toughness that Weaver sees in Kupp and Nacua, Kupp said "if you want to be on the field, you have to be willing to block" in McVay's offense. It's a point of pride for everyone in that position group. Part of that commitment to blocking encapsulates the Rams playing "for the guys around you," which makes things fun when they all come to fruition.
