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Rams QB Jared Goff – Press Conference – August 29, 2017**

(On this week of practice without preparing for a game)
"It's been good. Try to approach it just like any other week – try to look at Indy a little bit, get started on them a little bit, so we have an idea of what we're doing heading into next week and get a head start on it. It's been good, just going about our business every day."

(On where he feels this team is right now compared to where it needs to get to)
"I feel like we're in a good spot, but with that being said, we've got some work to do and we've got some stuff we need to clean up and continue to keep getting better. I don't think that's not obvious to anybody, I think we all know that and we all need to keep better. We're pleased with what we did in the preseason, a lot of the stuff we did was really good and a lot of the stuff we can learn from. We're in a good spot though right now."

(On if he saw anything from the film from the Chargers game that was better or worse than initially thought)
"No. I think there was a couple plays in there that that I'd like to have back, everything else I felt pretty good about. I watched the film and obviously every time you watch, there's stuff you like and stuff you don't like no matter how it goes. Just like any other game that was the case with that one."

(On making defenders miss and avoiding a sack and if he would have made that play a year ago or if plays like that come from experience)
"Yeah, I think so. I think it was just a pretty natural play, just avoided the rush and tried to get it out to (RB) Malcolm (Brown)."

(On how much progress he's made with WR Sammy Watkins)
"A lot, a lot – just getting to talk to him and getting to communicate with him – understanding the type of receiver he is, the type of routes that he's good at and the type of routes he may not like so much, the type of ball he likes, different stuff like that you can get to know. I don't think you can replace anything with reps. I think reps are the most important thing. The past few weeks have been good with him."

(On how Watkins compares to other receivers that he's worked with)
"He's been great so far. He's done a great job, he's picked up the offense extremely fast. I think the best part about him is his communication – he just keeps telling me what he likes and what he doesn't like, that's only going to get us where we want to be faster."

(On if he's got a sense of Watkins' talent and ability to change the game and why he was such a high draft pick)
"Yeah, no doubt. He's a tremendous player and someone who's going to make a difference for us for sure."

(On if he's got a chance to work with WR Tavon Austin and if he has an idea on how Austin will fit in this offense)
"Yeah, Tavon just got back out here this week and it's good to see. Having a guy like that, especially with the energy that he brings and everything that comes along with him is really important for our team. I had a good talk with him about ways we would love to use him and I'm not coaching by any means, but we'd love to get him out there and hopefully get some plays with him involved."

(On how important it is for Goff to make Austin feel involved)
"I think he does. I don't think I need to do anything extra, I think he does. He's obviously a big part of our team and going to be a big part of our offense this year. I don't think he needs to be told that too much, he knows. He knows how much we're going to need him and how much he's going to make a difference."

(On how different it is going into the year as a starter compared to last year)
"I've gone into every year but last year with that mentality. So, it'll be more like anything than less like something."

(On what it entails being the starting quarterback Week 1)
"Yeah, I think so. I think anytime you're in the first game it's obviously always a lot of energy, a lot of speed – people are moving around probably a little bit faster than they will be halfway through the year, so you have to expect that a little bit, expect that on the first two drives that it might be a little bit faster than it normally would be. But besides that, I think it's pretty much like any other game, you just got to be ready and come out with a good game plan and do the best we can."

(On if this is a tough day with it being the last practice with a 90-man roster)
"Yeah, you don't really think about that too much when you're out here, honestly. There's a bunch of guys that – obviously we have 90 out here and we're going to finish with 53 and then practice squad guys, so mathematically, we're going to lose some guys. It sucks, but at the same time, it happens every year. You try to get used to it, but you don't really. You get attached to some of these guys, so it does suck, but at the same time you understand it is part of the game."

(On the talent level with the wide receivers compared to a year ago)
"I think with the stuff we've done, with the addition that we've made, I feel really good about it. I think adding guys like (WR) Cooper (Kupp) and (WR) Josh Reynolds and (TE) Gerald Everett and (WR) Robert Woods and now (WR) Sammy (Watkins) – it's been great working with those guys and getting a chance to get them the ball. Just get the ball to the play makers' hands and let them work. It's been a lot of fun."

(On what it means to the organization to have Eric Dickerson retiring a Ram)
"It's awesome, man. Having a guy like that, especially with what he did here and how special of a player he was, to get him officially a Ram, getting him retired is awesome. It's a good day."

Rams RB Todd Gurley – Press Conference – August 29, 2017

(On not playing in the final preseason game and preparing for Week 1 of the regular season)
"Yeah, just trying to get those reps and try and go as hard as you can in practice while you can because you know you've got to get ready for Week 1. That first game gets real."

(On if he wishes the preseason was shorter than four games)
"Oh yeah, most definitely. We'll get that changed, sooner or later (laughs)."

(On how many preseason games would be enough to prepare for the regular season without being worn down in an ideal world)
"Maybe two, if none."

(On why he thinks the NFL sets the preseason at four games and if he thinks he needs any games at all)
"Technically, some teams get more than four games if you practice against about four other teams. By the time you get ready for the season, you're on your eighth game, kind of sort of. Don't know. I guess it's always been that way. It does play a role, just as far as tiring guys, and guys get new coaches so, shoot, some guys will be out there the whole game. So you never know. You hate to see a guy get hurt during the preseason, which is bound to happen. Somebody's going to get hurt every year. That's just playing this sport."

(On playing more in the preseason compared to last year and how he feels coming out of it this time around)
"I feel good. (Head) Coach (Sean McVay) has been doing a great job, (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach) Ted (Rath) and (Director of Sports Performance) Reggie (Scott), just the whole staff. We've been doing a great job communicating with them and they've been doing a great job of just helping us out. The days we do work, we want to make sure that we're out there getting work in and not 'half-assing' it or anything because you don't want a coach to be looking out for you and you're up here jogging around and not going hard. So, just the main focus is just making sure we're all on the same page."

(On if he thinks DT Aaron Donald can be ready for the start of the regular season despite not playing in the preseason considering his personal philosophy of not needing a lot of preseason games)
"Oh no, he's going to be hurting (laughs). It doesn't matter. I work out three times a day during the offseason and you come back that first day of practice, it is what it is. That's just football for you. It takes some time, but I'm pretty sure he's grinding. It's definitely different just playing in a game."

(On the importance of needing to get practice before the first regular season game with respect to Donald)
"Even practice doesn't even work half the time. You just have to suck it up in the game."

(On if the team is getting concerned that Donald is still not here with the regular season approaching)
"I control what I can control. I'm here trying to get better with the offense. We miss him. Hopefully he's back, but it's out of my control."

(On what a day like today is like considering the fact that it may be the last practice for some players who do not make the final roster and his roster spot is guaranteed)
"It's the NFL, nothing is guaranteed. You see what they're doing up there in Buffalo (laughs). It's cool being in the position that I am. But at the end of the day, these young guys, they're trying to make this team and take my spot. You've got to help those guys out, we're all a team at the end of the day. But my thing is setting the tempo and showing everybody, this is how it's done, this is how you work. So, just trying to make sure I'm right on that."

(On Hall of Fame RB Eric Dickerson officially retiring as a Ram today)
"That's about 20 years too late, they should have already done that (laughs). It's cool. I didn't know. I thought he had been retired as a Ram. It's pretty cool. Congratulations to him. Obviously, everybody knows him from playing for the Rams – and he only played with what two teams? Them and the Colts. It's good for him. And we're back in L.A., so I guess it does make a little more sense."

(On the running backs room potentially getting smaller as final cuts approach and how he thinks the other backs have performed thus far in the preseason)
"I hope it doesn't get any smaller than it is now. There's only about three or four guys in there (laughs). They cut De'Mard (Llorens) last week. It's always tough just seeing all those guys go. Everything's going to work out for everybody, just keep working hard. Most guys don't even get cut just because they didn't have a good preseason, it's just a numbers game. So, you know try to make sure you talk to those guys, keep in touch with them and just tell them, 'Just keep grinding, keep working.'"

(On if any of the other running backs have surprised him since training camp and the preseason)
"No. They've been doing their thing. Everybody was one of the best players that was on their team in college, so they're here for a reason. They've been doing a great job."