INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After an overtime loss to Seattle on Thursday Night Football last week, the Rams had a mini bye ahead of Week 17, when the Rams will face the Falcons on Monday Night Football. This week, the Rams are scheduled to have two of their practices to SoFi Stadium due to inclement weather affecting the fields at their facility.
Ahead of the matchup, Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford spoke with local media about their week of preparation. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"(Practicing at SoFi) hasn't changed anything. It'll just make the day a little bit longer. Fortunately for us, we'll be able to give the guys off (playing on Monday) tomorrow for Christmas, be with their family and their loved ones. But we'll get our work in today, and I think coming off the Thursday game, there was some time off. We need to be able to get that work. Typically, this time of the year, you're usually using what's reserved for your Wednesday prep for walkthroughs, things of that nature. But because of where our Thursday game was situated, we're able to get good workload." - McVay
Having 11 days between games gave the Rams some flexibility with their practice schedule, despite the change of venue. At this point in the season, when players' bodies are beat down, McVay said the practices "won't be anything too crazy," but it will be good to move around. He added that they will "probably" practice at SoFi on Friday, but likely will be back at the facility on Saturday.
Four Rams were named to the Pro Bowl, including Stafford, wide receiver Puka Nacua and outside linebackers Jared Verse and Byron Young, along with a handful of alternates. McVay said that he was "happy for those guys" but also said that some who weren't are "very well-deserving" of that honor. This is only Stafford's fourth Pro Bowl nod in 17 seasons, something that McVay said is surprising, but added that there are "a lot of layers" to the Pro Bowl voting process. "You talk to the real football people, I don't think he's seen that way," McVay said. "I think he's seen as a guy that's one of the best to ever do it."
McVay also praised Stafford's ability to lift up his teammates and the team at large in situations where they need a boost. "I say he's a coach on the field, but I think that's almost minimizing it," McVay said. "I mean, he just gives everybody a calm." He is able to give coaching points and get in and out of calls at the line of scrimmage because of his knowledge of defenses and what the Rams want to achieve offensively, elevating everyone around him.
"It's a great honor to get (voted into the Pro Bowl)... I appreciate it. Obviously, (I) play this game to try to play at a high level and get respect from the people that you do it with and play against. So that part of it is really cool. Are there instances (of being overlooked)? I mean, 2011 I thought I had a chance. Wasn't even close. So at that point, I kind of reserved myself to just go play, have fun, whatever happens, happens. But it is cool to be a part of it." - Stafford
Stafford is certainly having fun this season, and while he's honored to be voted a Pro Bowler, Stafford is hoping he won't play in the game and that the Rams will be preparing for the Super Bowl. His fellow Pro Bowler, Nacua, has three-straight games with over 160 receiving yards, and Stafford said that production was not just a product of volume, but of Nacua doing what he's done all season. "(He) runs great routes, plays really tough with and without the football," Stafford said.
In terms of the change of practice venue, Stafford said it's "a little bit different" practicing at the stadium, just in terms of their commute. However, the Rams were forced to practice at SoFi a few years ago because of inclement weather, so it's not an entirely new experience for him. Despite the longer rest period between games, Stafford said the page is still turned "pretty quick(ly)," but the long weekend provides a delay that allows players to take their mind off of football for a short spell.
