Matthew Stafford & Davante Adams On Mini-Bye Week; Sean McVay Talks Puka Nacua’s Strengths & More

Matthew Stafford & Davante Adams On Mini-Bye Week; Sean McVay Talks Puka Nacua’s Strengths & More

Okay. I don’t know. Last time this team was in Baltimore, it was um you know, Puka and Davis had a number of impressive catches. Just what do you remember about I guess the plays and those catches that they made and and how that maybe helped them build their confidence as rookies? Yeah. Um we relied upon those guys a bunch that year. Um that was a great football game back and forth. obviously didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but um great battle. Um I imagine it’s going to be something something similar when we go back there. You know, it’s a tough place to play. Um they’ve got good football, you know, good good players, a good football team, and and uh you know, have been really good for a long time. So, I know we’ll get a you know, their best shot and and as far as those two guys, um Davis made a great catch on a seam ball. Um got in on a wide screen where he got his helmet turned all the way around and and almost ripped off. Puka made a number of great plays. Couple come to mind. Uh, you know, just the one crosser from left to right into a tough coverage. Um, made a great layout catch. It wasn’t an easy day to throw and catch with some of the weather. Um, so yeah, I mean, those guys have uh, you know, been great since they’ve been here and that was definitely a a highlight early for them in their in their careers. U you’re currently leading the NFL in passing yards and through a long career you’ve always were several times have been near the top but never finished at the very top. All right. Thank you. I was going to say does does that mean any anything to you? Would you would you like to add that to your resume which is obviously long and storied? Yeah. No, I I don’t I don’t think too much about that. I’m just trying to execute the plays that are called as best I can. Obviously, um you know, we’ve had some success through the air, um early on in the season, trying to do everything I can to just get the ball to the guys that make the plays and then if there’s opportunities for me to, you know, make a play, buy a little extra time, do something like that, throw something down the field, then then those have come to life. But, uh I’m not thinking about that uh surely at the moment and and maybe uh you know, some other time when I’m when I’m done playing this game. But, um no, I’m just trying to get us in the end zone and and score as many points as I can. Hey, Matthew, Devonte has obviously been a great player for so many years. Is there anything has surprised you now that you’ve had this amount of opportunity to work with him? Um, I mean, I don’t know, surprise. I just I just appreciate more and more every time, you know, we we get to work together. Um, I, you know, watched him a bunch of times, um, early on in my career when I was in Detroit and he was in Green Bay doing what he was doing and just had a ton of respect and admiration for his game. That hasn’t changed. It’s only grown since he’s been here. Um, you know, as good a player as he is, um, he’s, you know, an even better teammate, professional. the guys as prepared as they come. Um he’s doing everything he can to play at a high level every single week and lead that group which is which is awesome. Back to the 2022 season when Liam Cohen was here as the OC. Can you describe what he was like, what his temperament was like and how he was as a coach? Yeah, I mean I think he’s a pretty mildmannered guy. He obviously um you know he’s he’s passionate about the game of football, passionate about the guys that he’s coaching um and about executing at a high level which I respect. Um, I have nothing but great things and great memories, um, you know, of my time with Liam. Obviously, I didn’t get to finish the season. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to, but I think Liam’s a really sharp coach. Um, I think he’s showing that, um, you know, with what they’re able to do right now, but uh, no, I think, you know, my time with him was was great. I learned a lot from him and and, um, you know, still keep in touch with him a decent amount. said that the breakfast club has carried over to this year even if he’s not in quite as early as you and Cooper used to be like kind of what do those mornings look like this year? Um, you know, not too uh not too different than what they used to. Um, listen, doors always open in the quarterback room, so guys are popping in and out all the time and and uh, you know, Puk’s done a great job of, you know, being prepared and ready to go and, um, uh, it’s usually just eggs, bacon, a little bit of toast, um, and some football. How do you treat these, you know, mini buys in terms of your recovery, and how much of a boost do you feel like it it gives, uh, to have that extra time to recover? Um, yeah. I mean, I use them as best I can. Um, I make sure that when I’m at the soccer games for my girls, I’m sitting down and not up too much, trying to save my legs. Um, you know, if we’re painting pumpkins, trying to make sure my hands don’t get too dirty. No, I mean, I I I rest as much as I can, but uh it’s a full-time full-time deal on the weekends when I get home. But I do, you know, do appreciate them, especially, you know, as I get um older and longer in my career. It’s it’s important to uh to try to use those times whenever you can to try and feel as good as you possibly can. and I did that as best I could and feel refreshed and ready to come back out and and uh you know try to get this thing rolling again. For as for as much as you guys have your routines, you know, in terms of when you’re home or getting ready for road games, when you go on a trip like this where you’re going to be out of town, you know, for an extended time, how does that affect your, you know, your your weekly routine in terms of whatever body work and all that different kind of stuff? I mean, it’ll change it some obviously. Um, you know, won’t be sleeping in my own bed, won’t be doing some of the things that I’m accustomed to doing. Um, maybe might just change location really, you know, like what I would do. Maybe at home I’ll do wherever our setup is um when we stay there. Um so maybe just a little bit more of that. But as far as the the things that I get in in a normal week compared to what I feel like I’ll be able to get in there, I don’t think that’s going to change much. It might just change location or time or when we do something. Um but I mean biggest thing is, you know, not being in your own house, not having uh your family around, all that kind of stuff. But um as far as the football stuff goes, getting ready to go play, we’ll we’ll be just fine. It’s time. Real quick, a couple questions about, you know, you guys had a couple of tough games, uh, tough losses. For you, how would you say adversity reveals something about a player that maybe success can’t? And then for you personally, how do you try to reset after a tough? Yeah, I think you learn most about players, teams, um, all of that yourself, uh, when you go through tough times and you realize, you know, what are you going to be about after that? Is it going to be fingerpointing and all that kind of stuff? Or is it going to be hey rallying the troops and and looking inward trying to figure out how you can help the team be better? I feel like we have a locker room full of those guys starting with our head coach and and uh you know everybody down through the locker room. So I feel good about that. Um you know as far as resetting for me the time off was nice a couple days to get to hang out with my girls and my family and do all that and come back refreshed and feel ready to go. said that when he first had a throwing session with you after he got drafted, he was really nervous and felt like he had ruined the relationship by calling you sir. Like what what do you remember about those like early workouts with him? Um I don’t remember him ruining him. Um but uh I remember him being nervous. He might have thrown up a couple times uh here or there after after some routes, but uh I remember being impressed, you know, at the same time of just how he moved, how he caught the football, how you could tell the physicality was going to come out once the pads came on, even with, you know, nothing on, just like no pads, nothing, just running shorts and a t-shirt. I mean, it was it was evident. So, uh there was a willingness to learn. Um the same personality you guys get to see and talk to every single week. So, um an infectious guy to be around and fun guy to be around. So, um, I was, you know, pleasantly surprised with the late round draft pick that we had that seemed like he was going to be, uh, you know, pretty decent players. Has turned into a good one. You’ve played with a lot of star receivers in your career. They’ve all had unique traits that have made them who they are. What would you say is Puka’s superpower? Um, you know, I think his I mean, trying to trying to put one on it, I think if I can’t then it’s got to be versatility, right? you know, if it’s like, hey, if I can’t say he’s 6’5, 250 pounds and runs 43 like Calvin did or whatever. It was like, I think it’s just his versatility, right? If you’re a defense and you’re going up against him and and really not unlike a lot of guys on our team, but um you know, you got to defend all the blades of grass. Are we going to hand it to him? Are we going to throw it to him? Is he going to lead block for us in a run play or is he going to slip out into the flat, catch it, and run for another 15? So, um, you know, I think it’s it’s his versatility, his ability to, uh, affect the game in in a nu number of different ways and and help our team. Thanks. Okay guys, um, as far as practice for today, guys that will be limited, Colobby Parkinson, Cam Kitchens, Nate Landman, um, Omar Spates, Tyler Higgby, and Rob Havenstein will be DNPs. Uh, no, not right now. We haven’t talked about that. Uh, Cam, you know, so with with Nate, you know, just some soreness from his ankle and then Cam some soreness with his knee. I think he’s playing really well, Gary. You know, I I like I would tell you, I don’t I don’t care about stats. I care about the efficiency, snap in and snap out. U we want to be able to move the ball, score points. Um and I think he’s done an excellent job of putting us in good positions. I think he’s recognizing coverage. Um you know, reading with his feet. I think he’s throwing the ball with accuracy and anticipation and he’s playing the way that we believe he’s capable of. Um you know, and and he’ll be the first to tell you that, you know, he’s he’s his biggest critic, which is also what makes him great. Um but been really pleased with him. feel really fortunate to have him leading the way and you know we got a we got a great opportunity this week and looking forward to attacking the prep the right way. Are you talking offenses in general around the league or um Go ahead, ask your question again. just what do you think? Well, I I just think, you know, when you can try to be able to create that little bit of hesitation, you know, the the more that you can make the defense, you know, when so much of what their rules, roles, and responsibilities are reactionary, um especially in a lot of those down and distances that you’re talking about where some of the play actions can be activated, you can cause a little bit of hesitation. And um you know, that’s kind of some of the things where we just talk about being able to marry looks together. And so that’s kind of been uh you know, the gist of it. You know, I don’t know exactly what, you know, the numbers are in terms of some of the analytics, but we’re always going to do what we think is best relative to different situations. I think for us, I think it’s about doing the next right thing. And uh you know, the first thing is is are we giving clarity as coaches to techniques, fundamentals, um the timing, the trajectory of the kick, the protection, the snap. You know, there’s there’s a lot of layers to it. Um if it was one thing, you know, I think it’d be a little bit easier. There’s been a couple different things and um you know, we have an idea of what we think we need to be able to improve without u you know, putting too much out there publicly. And I don’t mean to not answer your question, but um you know, it’s all hands- on deck. And and to answer your question, it starts with clarity from us, techniques, fundamentals, what’s required, getting the right guys on there, and then everybody doing their 111th. Um, and until we get that fixed, there’s going to be a continued emphasis of if I was on the opposing team, I would be attacking that phase um of our kicking game. That’s what’s been reflected. And um if you don’t get things things fixed in this league, um the bleeding won’t stop. But we expect to stop that bleeding. he’s gone through the I think when you’ve gone through experiences where you’ve come out on the right end and you’ve really grown through some of the you know challenging moments I think that can be used as a confidence that have been here before um I can respond again I think you know it’s first and foremost starts with mental toughness and resilience and then a security within yourself to acknowledge where can I improve to ultimately help the collective which that’s what football is the greatest team sport that there is um I think he’s accountable. I think he understands what his role is within the framework of what we’re looking for. Um and that’s the kind of guys that we want on our football team. The only team that’s still kicks from Yeah, it’s a good question. I I think that you know once you start to see some successful outcomes well then people try to be able to replicate it and um there’s been a couple different issues or reasons for it but um I think these you know rush units are doing an excellent job of of being able to identify where are some of those you know holes and and and weaknesses and so um I think that’s such a a big picture thing that you’ve seen more of it. Uh, I think you’re seeing teams, you know, rush a little bit harder and like you’ve seen when you see that that can be something that you can attack, man, it it feels like, all right, hey, here we go and we better be able to get it fixed otherwise that’s going to be something that people keep leaning into. But, you know, we’ve we try to have a big picture perspective on the landscape of the league and it and it has seemed like there’s more of an uptick. Um, you know, what are the reasons for it? I can’t say other than the specific areas that you know you give credit to some of the field goal block units uh some of the specific personnel the different matchups and the timing at which they’re able to you know attack whether that’s internally or off the edges. You know I I I think you know when we tried to get a bunch of different people involved. But I think what was good about the game the other day, I think the ball got spread around. You know, he is obviously a big focal point of our offense and it’s not exclusive to when the ball’s in his hands. But, um, when he can do some really unique things as a receiver, when he can contribute in the run game and then you can also give him touches through the run game, that is a valuable thing. But, um, you know, we want to be able to get all of our eligibles involved. I think that’s when we’re at our best. I think that’s when you’re the most difficult to be able to defend. But, he’s done a phenomenal job. Um, obviously he’s gotten a bunch of recognition for the production he’s had. Uh, we want to continue to see that, you know, s sustain and um and continue to improve throughout. But I love what he’s been about. Uh, you know what, we we’ll probably give you know, you’ll you’ll see Troy and um and Dolak be able to kind of split up split up those reps. game just looking at the how do you feel your team has kind of respond I I have you know I think it’s about you know doing the next right thing I love the resilience I love the mindset of this group um I think we have to be honest with ourselves in terms of the totality of the five games where can we improve where are the things that we’re doing at a really high clip um unfortunately we didn’t finish that the other day but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t some positive takeaways but you know you lean into the things that you say hey let’s not run away from some of the things that we all can do a a little bit better and hopefully contribute to the collective outcome that we’re hunting up. And you know, and what I’ve seen from these guys coming back on Monday, uh the mindset and mentality today, I love where we’re at and you know, we got a great opportunity to be able to go attack the Ravens this week. I think Liam’s a great leader. He’s a great communicator. He sees the game through a big picture lens. Um, I thought he got some really valuable experience. Um, you know, when he went to Kentucky, did an excellent job of leading their offense, being able to put his identity on it. Then he comes here and, you know, he and I talk about it all the time. That was a challenging year for us, but man, there was a lot of growth that occurred. Um, you know, in the midst of a uniquely challenging year, I think there was a lot of growth for us personally, professionally. Uh, I think he’s used that, you know, to be able to use some of those scars, if you will, uh, to be stronger. and and I mean I think you look at the way that his team’s played through five weeks. Um it’s fun to be able to watch him. I’m I’m happy for him except for when we see them in a few weeks. How would you describe his energy? I think it’s authentic. You know, I think he’s passionate. Um I think he’s got that, you know, you could see that that quarterback background. He’s fiery, but he also knows when to be able to stay steady, and I think he picks and chooses his spots accordingly. But I think uh the most important thing is authenticity, and that’s exactly what he’s been. Okay. Thanks guys. Too much. First day back on the field after last week’s loss. What did you think of the energy concentration for the team? I mean, I feel like we we came out and did what we supposed to do after, you know, a loss like that or just a game like that in general? I mean, if if we would have won a game, I would expect us to come out and have a good practice. So, the intensity and the the intentionality was there. It was a good practice. had the situation where you’re going to play a game and then stay in the where you’re at and then travel to London. Have you done that? No, I’ve never done anything like that. I played in New Orleans and then traveled to Sarasota to play the Jags and we stayed there for the week, but that was the closest thing to it. What challenge is it if at all for especially guy veterans who have routines in terms of how you take care of your body and everything else when you’re what do you anticipate anyway going on a trip like that? How for me I got a lot of different checkpoints and things throughout the week that I do locally. So it’s going to be different for me for sure. And I mean the main thing for me is just being away from my kids honestly more than anything like that. That’s a big part of my healing process you know mental throughout the week just resetting going home spending time with them and and my wife. So, not having that element, but I mean, we’ll get through it. It’s I’ve been I’ve been away from him for a week or, you know, so before that, so it’s it’s not the end of the world. But, you know, if I was drawing it up, I’d love to have my my fam with me, but um yeah, I mean, it’s it’s a week that’ll be a little bit different from what we normally do, but we we’ll be able to get through it. How important is it to have that by week after when you guys come home? Yeah, I think that’s important. I I wasn’t even thinking of it like that, but um you know, being off I’m sure there’s more than just me that have a certain regiment that they go through throughout the week, but having to be off of that for a little bit and then going on the road and traveling and then coming back, it’ll be good to you know, kind of rest up and um get the mind off football, everything at that at that point. What are the parts of the regimen that are like localized that would be hard to replicate? Body work from different people that it’s not as easy to fly them out to London as it is to fly them from the Bay Area or Vegas to to come and work on me in in Southern California. So, um a little bit longer trip even going to Baltimore, but I’m sure they’ll have different things set up for us, massages and stuff like that. But, you know, 12 years in, you you find a way to, you know, keep it working for you. And I’ve found my way. And like I said, it’ll just be a week, but it I’d rather have him with me. Can you when you see it, you know, 12 years in, I mean, can you can you believe it’s been that long since you were coming out of college? And I mean, it feels it feels like it flies by, but when it’s time to heal after some games, you get reminded that you’ve been around a while. So, I guess how did the uh did the mini bye-week help with that or how how do you look at kind of how that fits in? No, it did for sure. just having those few days off um to decompress a little bit. It helps with the mental kind of having some time some most times after games like that I don’t like watching football. So I made sure I watch as much as I could to just put myself through that pain a little bit and then get over it and then you come back in for a week like this. You feel like you kind of removed from it. You know we would have a game tomorrow, you know, off of the the the week schedule, the normal week schedule. So to have a few extra days um mentally and physically is good. How does your mindset after games like that um change since your rookie year as you experience more of them maybe? As far as what like a tough loss and then having the many by you talk about not wanting to watch football but making yourself do it. Yeah. Well, I mean part of it is just cuz I love ball just wanting to see good football and see guys make plays. Um uh but but when you’re younger obviously it’s a little little different. I feel like mentally you don’t have as good of a grasp on things and and just the mental resiliency to to be able to power through a loss like that, especially a game where, you know, we were anticipating coming out and playing a lot better than than what we did. Um, so yeah, being a vet is just it’s just different mentally now. You can kind of shrug it off a little bit better. It’s it definitely stings still, but it’s it’s a little easier to shake it off and and move forward. What makes Kyle Hamilton unique at the safety position? Um, I mean, he’s just he’s just a football player. He’s he’s one of those guys that’s a football player. He’s like he’s like Ky Puka is like it’s hard to really look at his 40, look at, you know, how high he jumps, all of that stuff. Just having a real feel for the game, understanding his role and, you know, they they obviously put a lot on him and you can see it in the way that he plays. Um, but but yeah, Rangy obviously long and uh, you know, tall tall type dude. It’s it’s it’s a lot different than what you normally see at the safety position. So, a lot of challenges presented. He’s a He’s a good football player for sure. Know you guys are all pros. Everyone in the league is a pro, but is it hard for you guys when you’re facing a team that has a lot of injured starters out? Um to put that out of your mind, I mean, does that creep after last week? That’s for sure. I mean, we we don’t we didn’t take the Niners light. I mean, it’s just a a game of execution. That’s what it comes down to. Like, football is not the best team that wins. It’s the you got to play the best. So, it’s not the NBA you go out there the worst team in the league versus the best team. Like, I guarantee you 90% of the time the better team is going to win, but in in in football, you know, it’s you might off a couple plays have it be a 14-point swing and and and we know how hard it is to overcome stuff like that. And you working against the clock, you can change up coverages and make it difficult for the team to, you know, expeditiously come back from from, you know, being in the hole. So, it’s not the same as just going on a 20-point run where you, you know, you run off some buckets and knock down a couple threes. Like, it’s a little bit different than that. So, um, we, uh, we we got a nice challenge in front of us, but it’s it’s it’ll be a fun one. All right. Thanks,

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams talk about their recuperating process from their mini bye-week, while head coach Sean McVay talks about wide receiver Puka Nacua’s standout qualities.

0:00 Last year’s matchup vs. Ravens
1:18 Leading the NFL in passing yards
2:12 Working with Davante Adams
2:51 Liam Coen as a coach
3:32 Offensive room
4:04 Mini bi-week recovery
4:48 Weekly routines on the road
5:43 Overcoming adversity
6:29 Early workouts with Puka Nacua
7:25 Puka Nacua’s superpower

8:15 Sean McVay on injury updates
8:47 Strong statistical start to the season
9:34 Causing hesitation on defenses
10:24 Kicking game
11:28 Acknowledging needed improvements
12:08 Replicating successful outcomes
13:15 Puka Nacua unique qualities as a receiver
14:13 Inside linebacker position
14:23 Team’s response after 49ers loss
15:07 Liam Coen as a leader
15:56 Liam Coen’s energy

16:17 Davante Adams on first day back on the field
16:45 Traveling for the next 2 weeks
17:03 Resetting before the Rams’ big trip
17:49 Bye Week
18:12 Localized regimen
19:00 Mini bye week helping him
19:31 Reseting mindsets
20:18 Kyle Hamilton at the safety position
20:52 Going against teams with injured starters

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