As a heat June breeze blew in off the Pacific Ocean, Rams staff president Kevin Demoff stepped as much as a microphone at a complicated oceanfront resort in Maui to handle gamers, coaches and company at a celebratory luau.
The Rams had traveled to Hawaii to finish offseason exercises — and to kick off a drive they goal to finish with one other Tremendous Bowl title.
“This is truly your time to come celebrate, enjoy, reflect and get ready for what’s going to be an amazing adventure,” Demoff informed the gang.
The Rams, with a proficient and deep roster led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, are primed for a attainable run to a 3rd Tremendous Bowl beneath ninth-year coach Sean McVay.
In 2018, in his second season, McVay led the Rams to Tremendous Bowl LIII. Three years later, the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals to win Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
This season’s Tremendous Bowl will probably be performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, house of the rival San Francisco 49ers.
The stadium contains a tribute to John McVay, Sean’s late grandfather, who helped the 49ers win 5 Tremendous Bowl titles as a staff govt.
“That would be special,” McVay informed The Occasions when requested if he might envision profitable a Tremendous Bowl at Levi’s Stadium. “That would mean a lot.”
With Stafford coming into his seventeenth NFL season, and the addition of three-time All-Professional receiver Davante Adams to a roster that options star receiver Puka Nacua, operating again Kyren Williams and defensive stars reminiscent of Kobie Turner and Jared Verse, McVay is assured the Rams can have a particular season in the event that they climate adversity, keep away from key accidents and “hit their stride” on the proper time.
“I do have a lot of belief,” he stated. “Expectations are the great killer, though. We don’t talk about those. … There’s a lot of reasons why I feel there’s a chance for us to do some cool stuff.”
Begin with Stafford.
The highest choose within the 2009 NFL draft has seemingly recovered from a again concern that sidelined him for all of coaching camp and several other weeks of preseason practices.
Stafford has seemed sharp, and he informed reporters this week that he was prepared for a season that begins on Sunday when the Rams play host to the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford places on his helmet throughout the NFC divisional playoffs towards the Eagles in January.
(Derik Hamilton / Related Press)
Does Stafford, 37, take into consideration taking hits?
“I’m going to go play the game,” he stated. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m playing like I always play.”
Nacua benefited from Stafford’s expertise and expertise throughout Nacua’s record-setting rookie season in 2023. Final season, Nacua amassed practically 1,000 yards receiving, regardless of enjoying in solely 11 video games due to a knee damage and McVay’s resolution to relaxation starters within the regular-season finale.
Now Adams, who performed with future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and New York Jets, will get the chance to play with Stafford.
“The conversations that we have are smart,” Stafford stated. “They’re on the point … and it’s been great to work with him. So far, I’ve had a blast and can’t wait to get out there and play on Sunday.”
Mentioned Adams: “For a new player coming to a new team like this it’s just a clean slate. You can’t really ask for much more than that.”
McVay is keen to see what the veterans can do collectively.
“The best teams are the ones that have player ownership and autonomy,” McVay informed reporters. “These guys have earned the right to be able to have that. … There’s a beauty in what these guys can do.”
Edge rusher Verse, the 2024 NFL rookie defensive participant of the 12 months, leads a protection that options linemen Turner, Braden Fiske and new addition Poona Ford amongst others. The entrance and move rush is anticipated to assist create turnover alternatives for a secondary that added no new gamers throughout the offseason.
Final season, the Rams superior to the NFC divisional spherical earlier than shedding to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Monetary Subject.
The Rams return to Philadelphia in Week 3 to play the Eagles and nemesis Saquon Barkley.
In every of the earlier two seasons, the Rams fought again from poor begins and made the playoffs.
In 2023, they’d a 3-6 report at midseason — and completed 10-7. Final season, they had been 1-4 however then got here collectively and completed 10-7.
McVay was requested if he thought that the Rams’ preseason method — he doesn’t play starters and different vital contributors in preseason video games — affected these begins.
“I don’t, but I can see why it would be a convenient narrative,” he stated, including: “I totally understand where people would question it based on starting 3-6 or 1-4.
“I’m always going to try to make the decisions, and we are always going to try to make the decisions that we feel like are best for the collective and for our football team. I understand that it’s not for everybody, but there’s a lot of thought that goes into what we think is best.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll start the right way.”
And end even higher.
