Sean McVay On The Power Duo Of Byron Young & Jared Verse, Tyler Higbee’s Energy & Prep For London

Sean McVay On The Power Duo Of Byron Young & Jared Verse, Tyler Higbee’s Energy & Prep For London

[Music] Microsoft Surface Co-Pilot Plus PC helping us take the Coach McVey Show on the road this week to Baltimore. Good to see you, coach. Congratulations on win number four. You and I were just chatting before we got started about how much times have changed. I’m old enough to remember a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars before you made a trip to London that maybe wasn’t your cleanest offensive day. Yes. And that infuriated you, but you’re smiling today. Oh, I I’m smiling. You know, you’re never taking things for granted. I think when you look at what a blessing it is, how hard it is to be able to get the result that guys in our collective group work so hard to try to achieve. Uh you don’t take it for granted. There’s always things that you want to be able to improve upon, but you always want to keep the right perspective, the right approach to move forward the right way. And um you said it, you know, I’d like to think you’re m that I’m maturing a little bit. You’re growing up and and you’re having an appreciation for the little things and found a way and uh and that was the most important goal coming out to Baltimore and now it’ll make for a much more enjoyable preparation leading into Jackson. Why can’t dominant defensive days be as uplifting as 40 point offensive day? And they are. I’m I’m you know, I think I’ve I’ve leaned into understanding the importance of team football. I thought we did play the game the way that we wanted to, especially after we were able to in a three-3 game. What a job by our defense getting that stop. And I know we’ll talk about it going into the half. But then when you talk about being able to take the opening drive offensively, go score, then get the quick turnover that leads to a two-playdown drive and now you’re up 17-3. Felt like you’re really in control of that game. And as long as we really played it smart, um you had respect for the opponent and I thought our defense controlled the way and and you know, we didn’t even attempt a pass in the fourth quarter offensively just based on how things unfolded. I’m good with starting at the end of the first half. What better place to jump off? Let me start by asking how you were conceptualizing your timeouts remaining there. Were you trying to maybe get an extra opportunity on offense or maybe just make sure your defense had the best? No, it the the first one that you use is really making sure that you get another chance to be able to get the ball back in a two-minute situation. Maybe you can double up knowing you’re getting it out of the half. Then once they were able to get, you know, the first down, you’re feeling like, okay, depending upon how this drive unfolds, you might have 40, you might have 50 seconds, you know, so then it’s really about just getting to that stop. Um, but then once we did a great job, you know, after Henry had a good run and a good surge to have two sneak attempts and then for them to basically try to run kind of a an open a lead play and and for what Jared Verse did in that play was unbelievable. I mean, that was that was Hulk type stuff. Um, you know, he really, you know, checked into grown man mode right there and did an amazing job. And I thought that catapulted just the momentum going into the half. It was a it was a really strange game the way that it all unfolded. Uh, but our team found a way and and I think being able to win different types of games can be a strength as we continue to move forward. Hulk’s a good description for it. You got a pulling guard, you got a lead blocker. If there’s a difference between an edge rusher and an edge defender, that clip right there is Jared Vern. That’s exactly right. You know, and he’s just a man doing grown man things right there. And um it was it was just such a big- time stop by our group as a whole and the collective responsibility on the second and third down stops to get him to a fourth down and then really it was it was a great example all around. But you know you could certainly feel Jared verse blew that play up at the point of attacker. Took 11 to get it done there. But big picture that felt like the Lman Lake game. I mean those two were special the other day. It was it was really cool to see both of those captains do their thing. Um, you know, Q’s a guy that his approach, his preparation, you know, things just have a way of working themselves out. And for him to get his first two turnovers, you know, great pick right there and then a great fumble recovery where he picks it up and runs with it, you know, he was outstanding. He’s been outstanding really throughout this year. And then Land Man’s been the same. You know, those guys have just been consistently really big- time productive performers for us. I didn’t realize until I saw the film and even some of the highlights last night that he forced that out on Flowers. Um, you know, and it’s it was another great job. I mean, but just the intentionality, the ball mindset that he has. What a freaking stud. 17 tackles, franchise record. That’s impressive in its own right. I know it got him a game ball, but how well does the front have to play for a linebacker to be that clean over the course of It does, you know, and and some of those I think the best part is the standards that our front really has. Some of those you’re saying we don’t want to have the leaky yards tackles on those earlier drives, but we settled in, made the adjustments, and ultimately, you know, coaches and players collaboration led to uh a performance that was, you know, a big part of why we won that football game. So, you know, really happy for those guys. You start Troy next to him. You also work Shawn in. How did he do in his first look as a defensive rookie? And what do you see that position looking like going into this week? Yeah, they both did a really good job. You know, I think, you know, Greg Williams, our linebacker coach, did an outstanding job of having all those guys ready. You know, Troy and Dolak both played about the same amount of snaps. Dolak got a little bit more because we let him kind of finish the game when they were in that two-minute mode towards the latter part where we got Landman and Troy off the grass. Really happy for those guys. Thought they did really well. Does look like it’s trending in a positive direction to get Omar Spates back this week. But, um, you know, to be able to have depth at that position, I think is key and critical. I thought Eli Neil did a nice job on teams even though we played a very minimal amount of snaps. You’ve been talking positively about Shawn since he arrived in Thousand Oaks, but to see him do it under the lights on an NFL Sunday for the first time, how much confidence does that build? It does give you confidence, JB, but that was what I would have expected. You know, he’s one of those guys and we’ve got a lot of guys on this football team that the moment’s just not too big for him. Um, you give them a greater role and they own it and they show why they’re capable and they’ve got the capacity and then the ability to be able to go execute. Um he’s made his presence felt on teams. He earned a right um as a guy coming in as an undrafted free agent to make the football team. Um not surprised but but happy for Shawn. So Byron Young goes back to back in closing time as he so often does. He’s got a streak of eight games going back to last season with a sack. He’s a half off the NFL lead. Um how impressive has he been in the first what six games? He’s been really impressive, but he’s been really consistent, you know, and I think really when you you I think he’s put together a really good string of weeks. I think Jared Verse really from the Philly game on has played outstanding as well. I think those two guys have been lynch pins. Give both those guys game balls. You’re seeing Josiah Stewart just continue to get better. Played a little under 25 snaps yesterday. But man, he’s making his presence felt. I really like what he’s about. Nick Hampton played, I think around 10 snaps. Um, but BY has been awesome. It’s really cool, too, you know, the way that they timed up when we had the Thursday game. We haven’t really talked, you know, a well-earned NFC defensive player of the month to open the season. And then whether you go to San Fran or yesterday, he’s just had two more good games since he’s been recognized. And uh love by he’s an easy guy to root for, man. Smart of you to give them both game balls because they are inseparable. I mean, they’re like the Bash brothers. They wander around the field together pregame halftime. They’re off in their own little world, aren’t they? They are. You know, those two guys, it’s it’s it’s a fun thing. They really love each other. Uh they support each other. They enjoy each other’s successes. I think they positively push one another. you know, Joe Kenigio just does such a great job with that, you know, the culture and the vibe of that room as a whole. And uh they’re they’re a fun couple guys to be around. Look, I get that that’s not the most potent passing attack you’ll face uh this season, but led by D will, it seemed like a good step forward for your second. Man, it was awesome. You know, I think uh you know, Aubrey and Beak, you know, they deserve a ton of credit. I think Aubry’s really leaned into challenging those guys and they responded. I thought D will outstanding. you mentioned, I thought, you know, Dacobe Durant was outstanding and I thought, you know, Emanuel Forbes, you know, those guys played all around the same amount of snaps right around 50. You know, I think D will had 53 and those other guys just right under 50. But they played really well. They played competitive. I thought they were in positions. They understood the coverage contours and uh it was a great step in the right direction for that group. And then our safeties played well again as as well. As we flip sides of the ball, I buried the lead a little bit here. Obviously, everyone wants to know about Puka, and you’re just a couple hours into his turn around, but what do you know so far? Yeah, you’re certainly uh, you know, going to leave all options on the table. He is sore, you know, got a good ankle sprain. I think the positive for both he and Blake Korm, they came back in the game and they did well. We were a little bit more limited in what we asked of Puka, you know, so we’ll take it a day at a time, but what we have to do a good job of is planning for with him or without him. And, uh, obviously we know what a big instrumental piece to our offense he is. Um, if he’s not able to go, we’re going to be smart with him. I think it’ll be big getting 22 Atwell back. That was a subtle thing that you really miss. And um and then if you do have the ability to be able to plan for either or I think that gives guys if he’s not able to go a chance to be ready in his absence, but we’re certainly I know he’s going to give it every chance he can and and we’re certainly going to leave those uh opportunities open as well. Make the Jags practice for either or as well. Uh, one thing that we talked about last week, not you and I, but behind the scenes with our group was Puka’s improvement. And because he set such a high bar with a record- setting rookie campaign, I don’t think he gets enough credit for the ways he has made leaps in year two and year three. Can can you articulate a little bit some of the things he’s doing better now than he ever has before? Yeah, I think, you know, everybody wants to first look at the stats and, you know, he’s like Pac-Man where he just eats up catches and yards, you know, and that’s what he’s really done through the first couple years of his career. But I think when you talk about the efficiency within the opportunities, he’s so efficient. There’s such a special rapport. He’s catching the ball so clean and so grounded where now he might catch a quick route but then he’s getting vertical for a play that typically would go for three or four yards and then it’s 13 14 yards. Um he competes without the ball and that opens him up in other opportunities. Our run game is better. He’s a huge part of that because of what he’s able to do in terms of digging out safeties, getting hat placement, creating removal if he’s at the point of attack. Um, you know, he’s so special. But I think it’s the efficiency at which he’s playing, the intentionality at which he’s focused on areas of improvement and those metrics. You know, I know there’s a lot of analytical stuff out there, but the efficiency of catches to targets ratio, uh, what he’s doing after the catch, you know, just the consistency of catching the football and then the rapport that he has and then what he’ll do without the football. He’s so valuable to us. Um, you know, which was obviously on display yesterday. Uh, but there’s a lot of confidence I have in other guys, not exclusive to Puka. Yeah, sure. And good to see you guys put it in the box a couple of times without him at full capacity going to London. Now, let me circle back to Blake for a second. if for some reason he can’t go this week, how much of an insurance policy is it to have a veteran like Ronnie Rivers if necessary or are you ready to turn the keys over? Probably, you know, we’re probably going to see, you know, I I think I think the first part that you mentioned is big and and Jarquz is going to be a really good football player for us. There’s a difference between being ready to go with all the different things that we’re asking of guys and he’s doing his part. Um, you know, but those first two guys have earned the right to have a lot of trust. talking about Kairen and Blake and Ronnie is a guy that I have a ton of trust in and J is doing what he can to approach the game the right way. Um he is going to he’s he’s the same guy that we love coming out of Auburn. He’s continuing to learn and grow. Ron’s working great with him. He’s doing what he can control, but there’s no way of of being able to simulate some of the different things that we ask of guys, particularly in real game settings. And Ronnie does offer a good uh you know, I don’t want to say insurance, but we’re fortunate to have Ronnie. Before we get to Kairen’s game yesterday, I don’t know how much you noticed his teammates rallying around him, supporting him privately, for sure, but publicly as well. Yeah. Does that matter? Does does that lead to a day like yesterday when your teammates have your back? I I think I think feeling supported and and making sure you’re never alone in this. Of course, I think it matters. Um Kiran is a resilient, mentally tough, strong dude. Uh he knows that he’s got a lot of love from me, from his coaches, and from his teammates. I don’t see all the things publicly, but it’s what I expect. That’s the type of team. That’s the kind of atmosphere. Those are the human beings that we have in our locker room with how they act, interact, and respond most importantly to each other, particularly in the moments where, hey, you’re never alone, man. And uh and he’s an easy guy to want to be able to root for. Loved his response. Not at all surprised. Uh but the intentionality, the focus and concentration that’s required as a ball carrier or somebody handling the ball in this league has got to be super heightened because defenses are doing a better job than ever at attacking the football. the catch he made and I think about what does it take to take the Rams from a good offense to the one I know you’re capable of becoming making plays beyond the scheme and what he did yesterday to set up his own touchdown I think was and that was such a big play you know fourth down and two um you know had our opportunities on the previous one but all that matters is being in that moment what a great job by he and Matthew to be able to make an off schedule play still makes the catch even when he draws the flag and you just said it you know it’s like sometimes you know we want to try to do as good a job as we can of being able to set things up. Uh, but the best groups that I’ve been a part of, you know, they they they make it even better than what you’re planning on and and that was an instance right there where two great players made a great play. Similarly, of all the concerns that we may have had this summer, I did not think that a future Hall of Fame receiver having the lowest catch rate of his career would be something we’re talking about here in the middle of October. What’s going on there? Yeah, we’re we’re going to work through that. You know, I mean, it’s just one of those deals that uh you got two great players, want to be able to get them on the same page. We will. Um, and I think the best part is is the accountability that they both have terms of just wanting to be able to make it right. Both is the is the right term there cuz I listen to Matthew at the podium. I’m like, “Okay, that helps me exhale because he’s not white knuckling this thing. He’s so nonchalant about the fact that, hey, you know what? I can put balls on frame better. Don’t even blame Devonte.” Yep. And I think and I think Devonte would tell you the same thing in terms of being able to make those plays. And those are the conversations I have with those guys. Those are the ones they have with each other. And I think it’s almost kind of let’s just take an exhale and let’s do what we’ve done at a high clip and and then ultimately being able to have that communication, that rapport that, you know, repetition is the mother of learning, but um you know there there’s too many good things these guys have done to to not feel like it’s it’s not going to turn in a positive way. Say for a couple of reps it looked like a pretty clean day in the pocket. How did Steve do at his return? He did great. I was really pleased with Steve. I was pleased with our offensive line as a whole. There was a couple issues uh that we had some miscommunication on plays that didn’t work out, particularly the fourth down and three and then when we ended up having the uh turnover, you know, where we get the turnover from Q on the interception and then we turn it right back over. But, you know, not a whole lot of opportunities that we had. It was a unique game when you just go drive through drive in terms of how things unfolded, but the line played winning football. I was really pleased with them. I thought, you know, the tight ends did a nice job at the line of scrimmage and um, you know, I thought Steve had a good energy and if you watch him after Higgby’s touchdown, you could see he was enjoying himself having some fun and I love seeing that. But let’s go to Higs touchdown. I don’t know whether we should ban this hamstring celebration or I just need to anticipate. You just know he’s like the boy who cried wolf. But man, is he fun. He’s just got such a cool way about himself that even last night cuz I didn’t see that. That was obviously a big play those guys made to be able to go up 14 in that moment or to go up 13 and then you tack on the extra point to go up 14. But when I saw that I I got a text from Raheem Morris talking about Higgby has so much swag. I said he must have done a cool celebration. So I Googled it and you could see it pops up on the SY you know deal and he’s awesome. Couple notes there. He passes Robert Woods uh in franchise history for eighth in terms of total catches. Stafford goes past Marino for passing yards. Devonte passes Randy Moss in NFL history for career receptions. So, just continuing to pile up uh the milestones. What about at right tackle? Warren McClendon seems to have had a light come on. Yeah, he’s done great. I think first of all, really happy for Warren. You know, you talk about a guy that’s just continued to work, continue to get better, u earn the right to be able to have that confidence come through from the work, not any words you say. Rob Havenstein’s really lean into him and put his arm around him as well as Ryan Wendell. And so, I’ve been really happy with him the last two games. Quick thought on tempo. It seems to have worked really well for you the last couple of weeks, but when you’re a pitcher, you can’t just throw a hundred all the time, right? It only works in conjunction with some of your other cadence. That’s right. Yeah. I think for us, you know, I think you want to be able to mix and match. You know, you want to be able to do that to where, you know, you look at the best, you know, analogy you can make is like Greg Maddox. You know, he had about four to five pitches that he could mix up and match up and it made and always kept like he was, you know, in control and and the batter was always on his toes, you know, or always on his heels, if you will, excuse me. Uh that’s what we want to be able to try to have defenses. But if you go all of it, you know, then then it’s like you’re anticipating it. And so it’s being able to do uh and utilize the one thing that we have at our disposal to our advantage offensively. We decide when the ball snapped within the 40 or the 25se second play clock. And that’s got to be a weapon for us. Before I ask you about the kicking game, how about the protection? Because that seemed to be the positive and an otherwise shaking. It was and and I appreciate that too because you know you look at it football is the greatest team sport there is and you know we’ve had there’s different reasons for why things haven’t gone down uh yesterday there was a real intentionality and I think really the you know the Indianapolis game you know our protection did a good job um we need the timing the trajectory snap hold kick you know we need those things as part of it uh it’s 11 as one uh but that those uh those eight guys did a nice job yesterday I think the natural question when we see you shy away from kicking three to go up three possessions. Is is Sean anticipating a change or thinking about making a change? I think you can read into that. I think, you know, we really felt I should have used the timeout on that fourth down and I would have gone forward again. Um felt like the way our defense was playing, you know, to be able to go up 24 to three and could you say the smart play is to go up three possessions? Yes. Um you know, but it didn’t really have anything to do with the kicking as much as just kind of the feel for the flow of the game and trying to be able to just really end it. and worst case scenario, you’re putting them really in a backed up situation to still have to get two touchdowns to even tie that game up. Um, but I felt like we had a good we had some opportunities to execute earlier on that drive, that last one. That’s that’s that’s on me and um, you know, should have taken a timeout right there and those will be great learning ops, but we’re all on this thing together. I should have taken your Maddox transition to Camden Yards. That’s where you guys are going to practice and lift and train this week before London. Yeah, it’ll be how that come about. Uh really I give a lot of credit to you know uh our operations group you know Carter Crutchfield you know um you know Brendan Burgerer they do so much for us but they were working in coordination in collaboration you know with Reggie with Tony Pastors um you know with our ops crew and so to be able to kind of figure out what’s going to be best for our group and there were some different locations that we looked at but we’ve had successful outcomes having an east coast game staying on the east coast to get our preparation uh ready to go whether it was to play the Bengals in London or whether it was to play the Cardinals in London our first year and so hoping for the same this week. You know, other narratives will be this is another Shawn McFaching Tree game with Liam. I’m going to go in a different direction. How about Lesne and his staff kind of growing some branches into Jacksonville and I know that James Gladstone special to you, likewise Jake Tammy. I’d love to just hear you brag on the time those guys had with you and and what you think. I think just like a lot of these coaches, you know, whether it’s Liam, Kevin O, you know, these guys when you really talk about James and Jake instrumental in a lot of good things. Brian Xanders is there. Um, you know, and so I I have a lot of love and appreciation for a lot of good memories and a lot of respect that I have for uh the work that these guys put in, the nuanced understanding, the big picture capacity, um, and then ultimately just their overall ability to work um, and be instrumental parts of a lot of good things, you know, and so happy for those guys. We’re going to try to get after them just like they’re going to try to be able to do for us. And um, it’ll be a great challenge, but they’ve done a hell of a job. You know, I’ve I’ve kept in touch obviously with Liam and texted here and there with James, but really impressed with the overall body of work that they have through their first six games and not surprised but happy for those guys. Well, have a great second training camp of sorts on the road here in Baltimore and we’ll see you across the pond. Thank you Sean for joining us and thank you for being with us as always for the Coach Mc Show presented by Microsoft Surface Co-Pilot Plus PC.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks about the friendship between outside linebackers Jared Verse and Byron Young, tight end Tyler Higbee’s infectious energy, and more following Sunday’s win against the Baltimore Ravens.

0:00 Intro
0:20 Improving upon certain things
1:07 Importance of team football
1:50 Conceptualizing time with timeouts
2:52 Jared Verse & defense performance
4:06 Defensive standards
4:33 Shaun Dolac & Troy Reeder’s performance
5:14 Shaun Dolac’s development
5:48 Byron Young’s impressive 6 games
6:42 Byron Young & Jared Verse’s dynamic
7:09 Step forward for the secondary
7:48 Puka Nacua update
8:38 Puka Nacua’s year 2 growth
10:14 Running back room depth
11:08 Teammate support
12:04 Kyren Williams’ 30-yard catch
12:42 Davante Adams & Matthew Stafford’s performance
13:42 Clean performance in the pocket
14:25 Tyler Higbee’s energy on the field
14:57 Rams reaching milestone
15:14 Warren McClendon Jr.’s performance
15:34 Changing tempo
16:19 Protection in the kicking game
16:50 Kicking game
17:40 Training in Baltimore
18:22 Growing branches in Jacksonville

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