WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Coming off a Week 8 bye, the Rams are fully rested and ready for their Week 9 matchup against a Saints team that is making a quarterback change. Rookie Tyler Shough will start on Sunday for New Orleans, head coach Kellen Moore said, after Shough replaced Spencer Rattler in the middle of its Week 8 loss to Tampa Bay.
Ahead of the contest, head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams spoke with local media about the benefits of the bye week, their preparation for the Saints and trade deadline moves. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"I wouldn't say 'no' (to there being a chance of more roster moves before the trade deadline). It's not something that we've really talked about. I think, if certain opportunities arise that you feel like it gives you a chance to be able to significantly upgrade your football team. But I feel really good about our group and the growth that I still think can be had from us." - McVay
McVay didn't rule out the possibility of another trade prior to next Tuesday's deadline, but is happy with the move they already made, adding cornerback Roger McCreary from the Titans. His initial conversations with McCreary since he was acquired on Monday have been fairly limited, but McVay told him that he's respected his game "from afar" and he's excited to get him comfortable with his teammates and "get him up to speed as quickly as possible."
In terms of the Rams' status after the bye week, McVay said, "It's been a few years since we've had an enjoyable bye or good, positive momentum." Three of their next four games will be at home, which McVay acknowledged as an opportunity for players to get back to a normal rhythm after their hectic week-plus of travel in Baltimore and London.
However, L.A. did put speedy wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) on Injured Reserve earlier this week, but McVay said they expect him to return after the four-game minimum that he misses on IR. His role won't be filled by one person, but by a variety of playmakers including wide receivers Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield, who McVay described as one of their many "mature rookies" who can work edges and separate very well.
"(I feel) better (than I would after a game). Obviously, I didn't take any hits last week, so that definitely feels better. But to be honest with you, our guys have been doing such a great job of keeping me clean. I mean, I felt pretty good, knock on wood, most weeks coming into the week." - Stafford
Stafford spent the bye week relaxing with his family, but also making sure to stay active and not just laying on the couch. He also went away with his wife Kelly for around 24 hours and attended Monday night's Dodger game that lasted 18 innings, but only stayed for 10 of them. Through seven games, Stafford has been pressured at the fifth-lowest rate among qualified quarterbacks (28.5%) and his time to throw (2.69 seconds) is the sixth-fastest, which has helped him feel healthy all year long.
The back issues that kept Stafford out of the majority of training camp haven't flared up much, although he said he does "a lot" to make sure it stays that way, including daily maintenance. Stafford's 17-2 touchdown-interception ratio is among the best in the league, and he attributes the lack of turnovers to the trust he has in himself and his teammates. Even with Atwell out for at least the next four games, Stafford said, "He's like everybody else," and they will find ways to set other players up for success in his stead.
"Oh, hell yeah (I wanted to play again after scoring three touchdowns vs. Jacksonville). I told Sean, I was like, 'I wish we could keep rolling at this point.' And then the other part is seeing that people keep playing and then they keep doing this, and you're like, 'Damn, I just had to sit around for a week.' So, yeah, I mean, it's the mature thing to think is that you're going to appreciate (the bye) regardless, but the competitor in me wants to keep going sometimes, especially when the body feels good." - Adams
Regardless of his yearning to build off an excellent performance against the Jaguars in London, Adams had to take a week off. He did so in Cabo, where he played some golf, rested his body and felt "extremely relaxed." The bye week also came at a good time in the season, around the halfway mark, which is a luxury that Adams hasn't had in a few years.
Adams reiterated that his Rams tenure has included "a lot of positives," but he feels that they haven't been able to "maximize" the potential of the offense with his connection with Stafford. They took a step closer to that in Week 7, but Adams still feels that there's room for improvement. When asked if they found a spark in that game that wasn't there beforehand, Adams said, "Yeah. I mean, we'll see what the red zone targets look like this week, then we'll be able to fully tell you on that."
He echoed McVay's claim that the Rams will be able to plug players in for Atwell because they have "such a versatile group." He also said those same young receivers players motivate him to be better with their effort snap in and snap out, especially in the run game.
