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Sean McVay talks X's and O's, football philosophies

Candid Sean McVay talks X's and O's, football philosophies with HS coaches

Like all coaches, Sean McVay is somewhat guarded in interviews so as not to tip his hand and give away pertinent information. Whether it’s keeping details about the Rams’ scheme to himself or not divulging too much about Todd Gurley’s knee the last couple of years, McVay is proficient in coach speak.

But there have also been plenty of candid moments with the coach during his time with the Rams. This week, McVay hosted a conference call with more than 200 high school coaches in Southern California, talking to them about X’s and O’s, as well as coaching philosophies and how he worked during the coronavirus pandemic.

It was an enlightening hour of conversation between McVay, Rams announcer J.B. Long and the high school coaches. McVay answered questions about blocking schemes, the best drills for quarterbacks and linemen, and what running plays are best to use against an even front (4-3).

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It’s worth listening to the entire conference call because it gives you an idea of how McVay thinks as a coach, and some of his strategies when it comes to game planning against a defense. This question about quarterbacks’ reads on the field and going through progressions was especially good, which elicited a great response from McVay.

“What we try to do is try to have, for the most part, most of our reads entail the pure progression where I’m starting here and I’m sweeping across the board. And I think that enables Jared (Goff) and our quarterback to play through the down quickly. But you’ve got to have a starting point.

“You definitely have some plays where you’re saying it’s a Cover 2 defense, so I’m going to work the two-man combination on my right, and I’ll work the two-man combination on my left if it’s a single-high structure. We do have some coverage reads, but for the most part, we try to establish these all-purpose, pure progression plays and then the quarterbacks are then taught to exhaust their progressions or get off one faster based on wherever that area is that we’re trying to get to. … I think that’s the easiest way.”

Hearing McVay talk about strategy and game planning in an extensive interview is a treat, which is why the hour-long call above is worth checking out.

Rams rookie LB Clay Johnston hunting for starting role

Wade never played Young instead he tried to use Reeder who played poorly because of how he was used. So to say Young hasn't shown anything isn't really accurate. I can't believe that a guy that played 36% of defensive snaps in 2018 had 51 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, 13 QB pressures, and one pass defense hasn't shown anything. That was the biggest criticism of Wade is not playing his young guys. He loved the old washed up guys like Mathews and Weddle. He played Clay Mathews ahead of Ebukam (sending him to the bench!!). Ebukam is a legit proven impact player. So just because Young wasn't a Wade favorite doesn't mean he can't play. His time in Baltimore says differently. In fact, Young is the most experienced of all the ILBs.

Kiser, Young, and Howard are the core of the ILBs IMO. Reeder looked like a 2 down ILB last year. Not a bad thing but definitely needs work. Both Snead and McVay targeted the acquisition of Young. He was not an afterthought. It has been reported that Peter's trade doesn't happen without Young. I trust they see something in him as they saw in Corbett who has shown himself to be the best OG they have right now.

It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Right tackle imperative to Rams O-line success in 2020

My below Apr 26, 2020 post provides some small amount of information on the injury that Rob may have experienced in 2019.

With the conclusion of the Rams draft & the majority of the UDFA's being signed......we can NOW get a clearer ideal as to how our Rams Org. will move forward with its collected OL cadre as it relates to the RT post.

One very important question lingering since last season involved Veteran starting RT Rob Havenstein. Recently some elements have taken place. 1st-Early this past week Hav agreed to a reworked of his contract for the benefit of the Rams' salary cap issues. 2nd- This weekend the Rams did not draft an NFL OT. 3rd- Rams have not signed any UDFA OT.

It's evident as far as I am concerned now, based on all that has occurred with Hav's 2019 performance that @ some point unknown he incurred damage to his knee diagnosed as a torn Meniscus. It could have occurred in game 1, its just not known. NFL starting players do play with this injury but it will affect their performance due to the pain. Most OL'ers are not 6-8 330 plus pounds either. I would think all the extra lbs that he came into TC/ preseason did not help with this injury. That was clearly & fully on Hav.:mad:(n)

It was during the Steelers gm. that he must have incurred more damage to that area that took him out for a series. I have commented on this before the Rams did not go into the Steelers' gm with a reserve OT. Hav's starting spot was filled by center Coleman Shelton. Hav did return for a series but was obvious Hav was in great pain & incapable of performing his duties. Hav was never seen again in the Ram OL for 2019.

Rams, now a 1/2 yr later are calculating & trusting on Hav to return to his pre 2019 performance & be in his best playing condition & fully healed as their starting RT for one more season. If Hav fails in this task then Snead under his management three 2nd yr OL'ers Bobby Evans, David Edwards & Chandler Brewer all standing by to take over the RT post. Here @ this 1 of 5 OL posts the Rams have this!


My thoughts on the subject of Havenstein's returning to previous playing form was not based primarily on his health or his removal from active playing status @ RT, but on his serious degrading lack of pass blocking skills & abilities going into his 6th season as a starting RT in the NFL.
Thanks

1967 - The Year of the Ram | LA Rams Yearbook

I went with my brother to his future in-laws home and got to watch the game in color. We didn't have color TV back then.:) I use Ram65 as that's when I started to follow the Dodgers and my first thought about being a Rams fan. My Brother was a Packers fan and watching the game in color was my first big memorable Rams moment. I would see the Fearsome Foursome on TV singing. I later read that Merlin Olsen had no rhythm and it was hard for him to move with the music. This 1965 video. He is a little signing and some lights.

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Ranking NFL's 7 Most Likely Quarterbacks to Lose Their Job in 2020

LOL yeah, this is the guy evaluating QBs? He can't even handle practice pressure. Mayfield and Murray are one read and panic QBs yet he has them rated over Goff? I don't think Jimmy G is a bad QB just overrated. Can he carry a team? That really has yet TBD.

Once the Rams get their running game going it's going to take a lot of pressure off Goff. Last year without a run attack Goff carried the offense behind a suspect o-line. That alone should rank him much higher than most. With the 3 deep WR corps, the Rams have, once they get a strong inside run game going that play-action game will return. Staying with the 11 personnel, Goff will have as many as 5 receiving options. Teams will be trying to stop the inside run game with a 6 man front something most teams will have difficulty in doing if the o-line executes their blocks.

What are these guys going to say when the 2018 version of Goff returns? Coupled with a much-improved defense, Goff won't have to carry the team alone. This defense will not only keep them in games but can dominate a lot of teams. I don't see a lot of shootouts this year. A few close games perhaps but this defense will be too good for teams to score on at will. If the Rams get ahead early their opposition will struggle to keep pace. IMO as long as the Rams don't make costly mistakes, they can beat anyone.

The NFL is a team sport and a QB on a good team simply has to not lose the game. The Rams are a complete team and are led by a QB with elite-level talent who has only scratched the surface of what he can do.

5 Rams who could be surprise starters in 2020

How can you NOT be excited about LB Clay Johnston??? IF he can just stay HEALTHY(!), I really do think he will eventually win a starting MLB spot for the Rams and be a Team Leader (Love his Energy and Enthusiasm!) for many seasons!
If you've seen him play and you think he's an instant average or above average starter then you're excited. Those of us, (myself included), who haven't seen him play are looking at the physical details and stat lines and thinking: small, slow, doesn't create turnovers, and can't stay on the field. He's the player you expect to wear down and be out of the league by year 4, so he's better be good early on. Obviously this comes from the ignorance of not watching college football but long-time Rams fans are used to a dozen such players coming into camp every year. 1 or 2 make the roster initially but more often than not they're 'just' a Nelson Spruce or Danario Alexander.

Who will return kicks and punts for the Rams?

Earnest Edwards is my choice for both kick and punt returns. He was absolutely dynamic on kick returns; he had four touchdowns last year alone. And I think that given the opportunity, he could be an excellent punt returner as well.

It's possible, but I'm going with Brandon Polk and that 4.28 speed of his.

We Polked you in '44, We shall Pierce you in '52
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2020 or bust for 5 Ram defenders

I don't think anyone's afraid of Rapp after the 9er game. If anything, I expect teams to try to look him off and throw his way.

that wasn't a case of the qb looking him off, he over pursued the play and left the inside open. it looked like a panic play from him. hopefully he never forgets the play and adjusts his thought process the next time he finds himself in the same situation.

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Kaeperdick Could be Playing at SoFi in 2020

He stunk the last 2 times I saw him play vs the Rams at candlestick. We were just a bad team then. Sitting in the stands and watching his mechanics as the play developed was eye opening. You could actually predict which plays he'd make and which throws he couldn't.

He lost his job to blaine gabbert! The 9ers were trying to dump him and he wanted out. Nobody was gonna give much up to take him off of their hands.
...THEN he grew a social conscience--not when he was a SB QB landing a huge contract. I guess everything was more tolerable then.

Let me be clear--I support the ideas behind the movement that has been growing since, but I do not view krapernick as anything special. He went out and landed a big Nike contract for himself, but I didn't see him doing much else about anything.
And in the end, he left the game as a lousy QB. If he was any good, he would have been picked up back then.

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