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TRANSCRIPT: McVay, LaFleur Press Conference 11/10

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Head Coach Sean McVay – Media Availability – November 10, 2017**

(Opening remarks)

"Good day to wrap up the week for us. We'll have a walk-thru tomorrow and then hopefully be ready to go on Sunday at One O'clock. From an injury standpoint, (RB) Malcolm Brown, he was out again today. He'll be out for the game. And then you look at (TE) Derek Carrier and (OLB) Robert Quinn, they were both out as well and they'll be doubtful for the game. Everybody else will be good to go."

(On the status of RB Lance Dunbar)

"Lance has had a good week. It looks like right we're going to try to find a way to get Lance up, activate him and he'll be a guy that we're counting on, on Sunday unless something changes in the meantime. But, it was good to get Lance back out there. He's been practicing for the last couple weeks and now this will offer and opportunity for us to see him on Sunday."

(On if the success up to this point has surprised him or if this is what he expected)

"It's a good question. I think when you look at it, we're just halfway through and we're doing a lot of good things right now. I think it's a credit to our players and the coaches have done a good job of putting them in good spots. But, we've got the right guys in that locker room. I think what they understand is that each week is its own entity and while we've done some good things up to this points, another great opportunity, great challenge for us against a Houston Texans team that has won the division the last couple of years. If you're not ready to go against any opponent, especially one like this, you get humbled very quickly, so I think the guys have the right focus and concentration that's needed to hopefully give us a chance to compete on Sunday."

(On how different this Texans team is without QB Deshaun Watson)

"I think to Deshaun's credit, when you look at what he was able to do when he did play, he played at an extremely high level. You see why he's a special leader, special person – going back to his career at Clemson and the way that he picked people up around him, he was having that same influence and effect on those guys. Creating with his legs, creating with his arms, guys are making plays and certainly you appreciate and respect what he brings to that football team and I think his future is extremely bright. That being said, (Texans QB) Tom Savage is a very capable quarterback. When he gets into a rhythm, he's got a great weapons at his disposal. I think when you look at that pair of receivers with (Texans WR DeAndre) Hopkins and what (Texans WR Will) Fuller (V) is able to do down the field – really, he's catching stuff over the middle, he's a complete receiver as well. So, they've got two great weapons on the perimeter. I think (Texans RBs) Lamar Miller and (D'Onta) Foreman are a nice compliment to each other, so it's going to be a good challenge for us. Whether it's with Tom or whether it's with Deshaun, it's a very good offense that we have to be ready to go against."

(On if any of his players bring him plays that they saw and ask to implement in the offense)

"Some of the guys do. I think for the most part though we've got such a good coaching staff that we try to get a pulse around the league and that was a specific play that kind of fit within the framework of what we want to do. You're not too proud to admit that there's other good coaches in this league that have great ideas. Certainly our players did a good job of executing it. I think there's always kind of that back and forth communication between our players and our coaches – they might mention that there was a play. But, I would say the quarterbacks kind of see some different things just with their pulse and (WR) Cooper Kupp has mentioned a couple things to me before. But, really it's just mostly coaches that are kind of giving that input and those suggestions."

(On if he senses any doubt with the players when he introduces new concepts)

"Yeah, maybe because he's rolling his eyes and…no I'm just kidding (laughs). No, (RB) Todd's (Gurley II) been great and really so have all of our players. But, a lot of times too if we put in a little wrinkle and you get a great opportunity to really test it out and you try to get true looks when you're running it against whether it be the scout team or the competitive period. Sometimes you say, 'What was I thinking?' And other times you say that you feel confident and that it's going to work. But, the players have just done a good job of executing and it's good that sometimes if he doesn't feel confident and its worked out then that gives you a little bit of credibility. But, those guys have done a great job and they've been great to work with."

(On the play of the offensive line)

"They've been outstanding. I think they're doing such a good job. Fortunately, for the most part with the exception of a couple games where (C) John (Sullivan) has had to come out and (C) Austin Blythe has done a nice job stepping in, we've been able to keep some continuity up front. I think when you have that, you talk about the veteran leadership that we really have on the left side of the line when you look at (T) Andrew (Whitworth), John and then (G) Rodger (Saffold), they've been great. I think they're helping bring (G) Jamon (Brown) and (T) Rob (Havenstein) along. Those guys continue to improve week-in and week-out under (Offensive Line) Coach (Aaron) Kromer's guidance and leadership. You can see a lot of improvement taking place and it's not exclusive to the run game, the pass game – they're playing well as a unit as a whole and I think they're giving us a chance offensively to be efficient in both phases, whether they're protecting or whether they're run blocking and that's extremely important. Everything starts up front and those guys giving us time to throw the football in the protection game and then also being able to create some holes and some space and getting things targeted the right way up front has been instrumental with some of the things that we've been able to do decently so far."* *

(On if he has given any thought to the idea of beating the Houston Texans as being revenge for the Astros beating the Dodgers in the World Series)

"I didn't think about that until you brought it up. Congratulations to Houston (Astros) for being able to do that – it was a great series. I've gotten to be close with (Dodgers Manager) Coach (David) Roberts and really respect the way that he leads and watching the way that that team competed throughout the season. I'm a huge Dodger fan moving forward now and I know that they'll respond the right way. But, it's a great challenge against (Texans Head) Coach (Bill) O'Brien and the Texans coming in here and I think our guys have the right mindset and mentality. But, I didn't think of it like that – our goal is to figure out a way to try to get to our seventh win, it's going to be a great challenge and seeing if we can put together a good performance in front of our home fans back in L.A."

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Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur – Media Availability – November 10, 2017 **

(On what RB Lance Dunbar can bring to this offense)

"I think part of the reason we brought him here is he's a pretty versatile guy out the backfield. He's got very good receiving skills. He's a guy that's been in the league for six years, so he's got that veteran experience as well."

(On the play of the offensive line)

"I think first and foremost those guys have stayed healthy, which has been a huge help to our team. But, again you got some veteran guys, obviously adding 'Sully' (C John Sullivan) and 'Big Whit' (T Andrew Whitworth) in the offseason has made a huge difference for us and I think the more they play together, the better they're getting. So, we're just really excited with how they've been playing and just want to keep that going up front."

(On the similarities that he sees between the Rams offense this season and the Atlanta Falcons offense last season)

"I think the similarities are this – that I think it comes back to a lot of our football philosophy with having a strong marriage with your run game and pass game. So, we want to give the defense similar looks but different plays out of those. Just kind of keep those guys off balance and then just like we did in Atlanta, we've got some pretty good players here and those guys have done a great job, especially in this last game making plays with the ball in their hands."* *

(On how much of play calling is staying one step ahead of the opposing defense)

"I think you're constantly looking at yourself and what you're putting tape and understanding what the defense is trying to stop each and every week. We're always trying to add to what we're going to do and how we're going to attack the defense."

(On how he went about identifying TE Gerald Everett's skillset and how he has executed)

"I think it goes back to just like our scouting department did a great job evaluating him coming out and we liked what we saw. We worked him out and we saw a versatile guy that can makes plays with the ball in his hands. He's got great athleticism and that gives us the versatility to kind of move him around and put him in spots where we think can be successful."

(On how excited he is to wake up on Sunday and work his dream job)

"I think that's what we've worked so hard for everyday. We put a lot of hours in and really you're only guaranteed 16 opportunities a year and you know that you can never miss on one of those 'opps' (opportunities). The goal for every team in this league is to finish on top and you got to get a chance to play into the postseason. So we know that every game is so valuable for us to reach out ultimate goal." 

(On if he's had any moments with QB Jared Goff where he saw him grasp a concept he remembered talking to him about)

"Yeah, I think every week we kind of see that a little bit. There's some plays where you're like, 'Wow.' When he hit Gerald Everett last week versus the palms look on a go-ball. The ball hit (WR) Sammy Watkins on the double move where he threw it 62-yards in the air, you know. And he did it effortlessly and that's not something that we've always seen, but I'll tell you what, I can't say enough just about him and the way he goes about his business each and every week. I think he's becoming a true professional and really excited to see where he could go in the future."

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