Mcvay excited for Rams’ future after opener
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams owner Stan Kroenke presented the game ball to Sean Mcvay during the postgame celebration of Los Angeles’ seasonopening blowout win over Indianapolis.
The 31-year-old coach knows exactly where he plans to store the ball: in the family room of his new home.
Just don’t call it the trophy room. Mcvay knows the Rams haven’t earned any of those yet.
“My grandpa (former 49ers executive John Mcvay) always jokes, because he’s got all these accolades and things he’s accomplished, but he’s one of the more humble guys you’ll ever meet, he says he’s got an ‘I Love Me’ room,” Mcvay said Monday. “We’ll see if I can get enough stuff to (fill a room) like my grandpa did.”
Mcvay knows it’s wise for the Rams to stay humble, since a long season still looms ahead for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004 and isn’t widely expected to end that drought this fall.
Still, the Rams’ 46-9 victory over the shorthanded Colts was a surprise, and it energized a franchise in competition with the Chargers for Los Angeles’ hearts and eyeballs.
“I don’t think you ever envision those types of games, but I think you felt like your team was focused and ready to go,” Mcvay said. “I think they had a good feel even in the pregame (and) in the week of preparation, but in this league, you just never know. It’s a credit to the players.”
Jared Goff’s offense compiled 373 yards, which is more than the Rams managed in 15 of their 16 games last season while fielding the worst offense in the NFL for the second straight year. The Rams also hadn’t scored that many points since November 2014.
The Rams’ defense under new coordinator Wade Phillips not only allowed just nine points, but it scored 16 on a safety and two interception returns for touchdowns, becoming the first team in NFL history to do all three of those things in a season opener. The defense also didn’t allow the Colts to convert on any of their 10 third downs or one fourth down.
“I think we have a whole new character around this team,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers said. “We don’t care about having the youngest (roster). We don’t care about having the youngest coach. We just care about winning games. ... When you’ve got all three sides of the ball going and we’re flying around, it gives you that confidence, and you can feel it growing.”