About half-hour had handed after the Rams survived the 49ers within the NFC Championship recreation Sunday night time to advance to Tremendous Bowl LVI, and reporters have been packed into an interview room at area stage inside SoFi Stadium, ready for Rams head coach Sean McVay to look for his postgame press convention.
On the left facet of the interview room was a door to the Rams’ locker room, the place music was thumping at a decibel stage that might make the DJ at one of many hottest L.A. nightclubs blush.
Alas, McVay, who at age 36 is in his fifth 12 months because the Rams’ head coach and about to teach in his second Tremendous Bowl, emerged.
5 questions into his press convention, McVay addressed the elephant within the room — the wild celebration on the opposite facet of that door.
“How about this music?’’ McVay stated, beaming. “Let’s maintain it fast. I bought to get in there.’’
McVay, so younger and energetic, regarded like he ought to have been again inside that locker room partying together with his gamers, as a result of he’s one in all them. That’s what makes him so particular at what he does.
It, too, is a part of what separates his Tremendous Bowl counterpart, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who at age 38 is in his third season in Cincinnati.
Taylor was a Rams assistant receivers coach in 2017, McVay’s first season with the group, and in 2018, he was Los Angeles’ quarterbacks coach. He’s one in all a number of former assistants from the McVay teaching tree to make his mark together with his personal group as a head coach working his personal store.
Taylor received two video games his first season, 4 final season and has received 13 and counting this season, together with the postseason.
“The joke is when you've got a cup of espresso with Sean McVay, you’re going to be a head coach within the NFL,’’ Taylor joked not too long ago. “There’s lots of fact to that.”
There positive is. Brandon Staley was McVay’s defensive coordinator in 2020 and have become the Chargers’ head coach final season.
Matt LaFleur was McVay’s offensive coordinator in 2017 and have become the Packers’ head coach in 2018.
McVay’s offensive coordinator of the previous two seasons, Kevin O’Connell, is reportedly about to be employed by the Vikings to be their head coach, as soon as the Tremendous Bowl is full.
Taylor known as working with McVay “the very best two years of my life,’’ including, “He’s actually confirmed lots of us younger guys you are able to do it your personal approach.”
One in all McVay’s virtues as a head coach is his deflection of reward. When requested on Thursday concerning the spectacular teaching tree that has grown from his management, he stated, “I nearly suppose it’s a little bit ridiculous once you discuss concerning the tree, as a result of these guys are co-workers the place we positively pour into each other.
“I simply occur to be within the position that I’m in. However whether or not it’s Kevin, Branden Staley, Zac Taylor, Matt LaFleur, I discovered extra from them than these guys have from me.’’
McVay described Taylor’s time period with the Rams as “two nice years,’’ including, “He’s a particular coach, an ideal competitor. He’s bought a good way about himself with the gamers. His even-keel demeanor and disposition actually exhibits with the best way his group performs.’’
McVay known as himself “the least stunned particular person’’ when Taylor was employed by the Bengals.
“There are particular folks once you’re round them they’re simply so comfy in their very own pores and skin, so humble, however there’s a confidence that you understand is there,’’ he stated. “He had nice command of the sport. He did an ideal job of no matter position was requested of him, he owned it and he made it even higher than what you had requested, redefined the position.’’
Similarities between the 2?
“We each go about it the identical approach when it comes to we’re actually aggressive, however he’s in all probability extra calm than I'm,’’ McVay stated. “He’s bought excessive character. Gamers love him. I really like Zac. I’m so glad for him. I’m glad we’re going towards one another, however we’re going to do the whole lot in our energy to attempt to end this off.’’
Rams pass-rusher Von Miller, who was acquired in a commerce in November and goes to his third Tremendous Bowl, is simply three years youthful than McVay.
“You simply relate a little bit bit extra to guys you’re nearer in age to,” Miller stated Thursday. “Coach McVay, he simply has that vitality, he has that management spark about him. He will get the very best out of his gamers.
“Once you really feel like a coach loves you and appreciates you, it makes you need to play a little bit bit more durable.’’
That seems to have been happening for each the Rams and Bengals — with a standard denominator.
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