WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Though the Rams are his new team, there's many things about the environment and the city of Los Angeles that feel familiar for cornerback Roger McCreary.
He was coached by assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant in the Senior Bowl in January 2022, when Pleasant was on the Lions' coaching staff, and knew fellow Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. from the two of them overlapping in the SEC in college while he was at Auburn and Forbes at Mississippi State.
McCreary is still getting used to the city itself, though, especially on an unseasonably warm fall day even by L.A. standards. His first time in L.A. was in January.
"Traffic is crazy," McCreary said after Wednesday's practice. "First day it is hot. It's cold in Nashville, so getting used to it. Sweating now, it's so hot. But I mean, December, that's gonna be the shocker. Christmas, I'm ready to get cold on Christmas, so it's going to be different for me in December."
McCreary said he knew a trade was a possibility, so he wasn't completely shocked by the news on Monday.
"Really excited about it," McCreary said. "I'm in a great place with a great team."
Even with the pre-existing connections, McCreary already had a positive impression of the Rams from when they played his former team, the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, from their style of play and how much fun they were having.
"They played tough," McCreary said. "Guys, they were having fun beating us and stuff. I see it in person now, still having fun. Guys joke, (but know when it's) time to get serious. You can tell that they trust and have fun with each other, and I'm comfortable with them already. Just excited to see how it goes from here on out."
McCreary played almost exclusively in the slot in the Titans' secondary, though Rams head coach Sean McVay on Monday said he has the versatility to play inside or outside. McCreary said he played outside his first two years in the NFL, but he's ready to play whatever position he's needed at.
"I feel like I can play inside and outside, and they said they would need me in those spots," McCreary said. "Basically they gave me the main role I'm going to be at, but I know they want me to help right away. I feel like that's my mindset, just improve and learn and just be where my feet are."
While the traffic may take some getting used to, the Rams are trying to to get McCreary up to speed on the playbook as fast as possible so he can contribute on Sunday against the Saints.
"I think, more than anything it was just saying, 'Hey, respected your game from afar,'" McVay said of his initial conversations with McCreary. "It's cool. Aubrey has some experience with him, coaching him when he was coaching the Senior Bowl, and Roger was coming out of Auburn, and really just excited to get him comfortable with his teammates and just where to go. Was talking to him a little bit, before the special teams walkthrough. And so we're excited to be able to have him and to continue to get to know him. But I think more anything, (we want to) put our arm around him, and try to be able to get him up to speed as quickly as possible, with the expectation that he'll help in some form or fashion this week."
