Sean McVay, the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, as content as ever as he gets ready for yet another season in charge. Fans of the Rams and the NFL are probably aware that McVay previously voiced some ambiguity on his length of coaching tenure with the Rams. Though, as I recall, there were whispers not too long ago that he could take a vacation and move into the broadcast booth, McVay is still going strong in 2024. In fact, it’s interesting to me that McVay called this “Year 1.” Hopefully, this is excellent news for the Rams.
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“You know what’s cool? Being around this group, and especially even last year, it feels like it’s Year 1 again,” McVay recently told the official team website, via NFL.com. ”And I really mean that.”
This is quite the swing from McVay considering where the coach’s headspace was at not too long ago. After the team’s Super Bowl LVI championship, speculation grew about McVay possibly stepping away from the game altogether. However, McVay ultimately stuck around and has been able to help orchestrate a turnaround in L.A. that has the Rams on the cusp of again pushing for a deep playoff run, particularly after a 2023 season where they got back to the postseason as a wild-card entry following a 10-7 regular season.
“I feel like these last couple of years, there’s really just been a real renewed purpose and perspective that reminds you what a blessing this is,” McVay, who became a father last year, said. “You kind of had lost that a little bit in the midst of the journey, especially things going well and then obviously, the challenging year in ‘22.”
Sean McVay rejuvenated by youth of Rams entering 2024: ‘Feels like it’s Year 1 again’ (nfl.com)
“So far, McVay is checking all of the boxes. And instead of feeling the pressure of needing to deliver, he can once again enjoy coaching a potential-packed team without constantly carrying the weight of expectation.
That can change, of course, if the wins don’t follow. But as we near the peak of optimism season, McVay is near the top of the leaderboard when it comes to bringing the juice.”
Rather than swapping him out for a single man, they have added several parts to the puzzle. However, Gary Klein of The Los Angeles Times questions if this strategy will be successful given the group’s inexperience.
The key component that new defensive coordinator Chris Shula needs to replace the loss of the pillar that was Donald is second-year pro Kobie Turner. Seminoles lineman Braden Fiske was selected by the Rams in the second round, while Florida edge rusher Jared Verse was selected in the first. During training, the former teammates demonstrated familiarity and nonverbal connection, according to the coaches. Bobby Brown III, a nose tackle, is in his contract year but has not been consistent.
At running back, the 2024 draft class was comparatively weak. In the first two rounds, only one running back was selected, and to be honest, I felt he was overdrafted. Third off the board for RBs was Blake Corum. Braelon Allen, Ray Davis, Will Shipley, Bucky Irving, Jaylen Wright, and Isaac Guerendo were all selected in the lower half of the fourth round. A fifth-round selection was Audric Estime.
Tory Taylor, a punter who will be a rookie this season and who was selected just two spots later, was valued nearly as highly as Wright. This upcoming season, Ethan Evans will turn 23 years old, making him four years younger than Taylor. That, in essence, is how teams saw middle-tier RBs in 2024—roughly on par with an older punter.
Size: 210 pounds and 6 feet tall are listed. Draftscout, 6 1/4″ tall, 200 pounds, estimated 40 time: 4.48 seconds. DraftBuzz projected 40 time in 4.46 seconds. 205 pounds in 2022 and 200 pounds in 2023 were listed.
4-star recruit from Norco, CA in Riverside County. Black and Samoan heritage. Reserved and uncomfortable doing interviews. DJ Uiagalelei (FSU QB, formerly Clemson and Oregon State) and Solomon Tuliaupupu (USC DE) are both his cousins. Played FR and SR years in Norco. He said his family had to unexpectedly move to Las Vegas his SO year and he didn’t want to move, so he acted out and lost motivation. At football powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Vegas (one of his teammates was Rome Odunze), he split time with other RBs as a SO and only had 459 rushing yards, then was injured and didn’t play his JR year during an abbreviated covid season. Recruiting profile projected him to be a Day 3 draft pick. 114-1,140-17 rushing and 11-154 receiving as SR.”
