A New Chapter Begins | Behind The Grind Ep. 1

[Music] whose house good evening season ticket members and welcome back to Sofi Stadium to Englewood and here at YouTube theater I am JB long you know Andrew Whitworth so put your analyst hat on for a moment if you will and before we turn the page to 24 what' you make of the 23 season La hat you know I thought it was unbelievable to think last year at this time you know as we sat here and had a lot of questions that need to be answered of what this roster was going to look like how did you rebuild after a disappointing season the year before and I think with really the staff they were able to put together the decision of how they were going to go forward as an organization and then a lot of surprises from young players on this football team and a lot of the veterans that we always knew we could count on playing at a level and leading this team I think even though we didn't know what we were going to have and there was even some late roster editions even in training camp week one of the season they went to Seattle and they showed us who they were and what they were going to be about Rams Fans please welcome our head coach Sean [Applause] [Music] MC Sean last year we really loved bottled away and did that ever come to fruition on the field as you Vision cast for 2024 you take some time away what have you come up with so far what do you see in the year ahead for the Los Angeles Rams you know really you want to make sure that you're really intentional let's hire a great staff we had a lot of vacancies a lot of great coaches that we had to replace we just really finished that up and um that's been taking a majority of our time over the last couple weeks Les and his group have done a great job of getting ahead on the draft we're in the midst of free agency coming up here we were able to resign to Marcus Robinson which was a really good start after the way that he finished off last season and so got a little money to spend this the here we go we're talking to Tony tonight too don't worry hey we got a budget but whatever he tells you we got more than what he's come on how will you remember 2023 hell of a coaching job from where you started from the the court of public opinion most people had this team picking in the top five you turned the tide and you made a run at this thing I'm salty about it and I think it's okay to be salty and there's turn at the end of every season and we don't know who who those names are going to be yet but inevitably we've seen some Rams that we really come to know and love there's going to be change over but like you said youd hang on to the ones you can and you get to know the new ones that come in well one big piece of the puzzle that I think is going to inform a lot of the decisions the Rams make this offseason is what is Aaron Donald's future in football you sleep all last night no I didn't I was excited though it like I felt like it was a night before the game I laid down toss and turned until like at least 4:30 in the morning just thinking about everything I'm like I just I was excited more than anything so just ready to get it to the world now you know I know so I'm pumped up D it ain't s it's a celebration C it's a celebration how do you want to start that's what I was thinking how was you going to start I didn't know how you was going to start you you guys want to just like start off the room and like walk in and sit down and just kind of hop it it's your show it's you we can we can walk in and sit down okay with our mimosas all right say L I can put it this on the center table too if you want that way it's already sitting there you can grab it and like all right let's do this thing okay you want me go first since she so nervous I'm not nervous this is about you right now it's not about me so I'm going to go first lead the way hold on hold on [Music] are you comfortable feel great you ready are you ready yes let's get to work [Music] [Music] are you the greatest of all time I'm not the greatest of all time um 13 pick in the 2014 NFL draft Ram select Aaron Donald theive tackle Pittsburgh in my ER I would say yes Defensive Rookie of the Year he Defensive Player of the Year defensive player of the year is Aaron Donald Aaron Donald Aaron Donald we got guys that was great that I looked up to like Ray Lewis that was the greatest at his time paalu Pittsburgh guy Lawrence Taylor you know it's different areas that you know you can't it's hard to say that cuz the game changed so much so in the time I played I think I held my own and did what I did to you know help change the game normally when you talk about that stuff you normally say I play I'm actively doing this you just said I played I did everything I needed to do where are we now um 10 years a rookie of the year 10 Pro bowls eight all Pros three defensive player of the years the ball's knocked out Aaron Donald a strip sack three NFC West championships two NFC championships here we go again you got it where you wanted he spins out he's hit he's wrapped up he flipped it forward it's hit it's intercepted it's intercepted it's intercepted Aon Donald got pressure on G the two Super Bowls lost one New England has done it again 1-1 this is your time Aaron Don wanted that ring the football Gods only do this right they're going to give Aaron Don a chance to end this game to win a ring to submit his legacy ham creepy they Rush forward throw to he's hit he brings it away up fourth down Aaron Donald's got there Donald takes his helmet off in celebration he signals to his ring finger on his left hand so like it's nothing I didn't get to feel as an individual success to team success take it in World Champ I feel every low and every High I'm complete I'm full I'm at peace I knew I was going to retire after that Detroit game walking off the field you know I'm usually after a loss at playoff loss I'm usually guy that's gonna be mad don't talk to me don't look at me but I walked off the field with a smile on my face like just taking it all in I remember waving at you blowing kisses at y'all it just was one of them things where you just know but I was proud how them guys played I was proud how this last season even came to fruition I didn't even expect us to be the team he was I had a fun year I got tojoy every moment watch the young guys grow and become the guys that the team and have success and talked to a lot of the young guys and I talked to them a million times and told them that it's your time now he said the we dominate we win from a team that went four games to a team that won a Super Bowl to become a team that is a respected team in this league and I felt like I'm leaving um at peace um on my own terms when I want to leave on top I think it's time for me to at 32 years old to retire from football and you know jump into to the next step of my career in my life and and that's it's time to move [Music] on toal hour 10 that was really you want me to keep going foot notes and everything I love you man hell I love you Mama going love this whip you just throw it on nice crispy just confirm the purchase of a brand new car for Mama AA and Mama AA is in route she has no idea so it'll be exciting when I was younger my mom had to be the strength for us when my father had passed away there was never a moment where we couldn't rely on my mom being there for us it's a dream come true all the times we used to go to those road trips going out to those camps and we were sleeping inside the rent cars that we were at not getting into our hotels and stuff like that all the Mis flights and the long nights at the airports I don't really have uh not too many words because I know there's still so much more to give but my mom is full sawo and so there was always the respect to the elders but also in the Polynesian culture treat everybody with love and respect we gave rides to the kids who didn't have rides at home when we were eating and there were other kids they they came to eat with us just the inclusion of everybody around you it was something that was instilled in as a little kid I'm so excited they had a bow my my dad bought my mom a car when we were little it was parked in our in our neighbors driveway with the big red bow and I remember like my mom come like man did you guys see the new car and then my next time my mom came outside my dad had reversed it it was parked in our driveway and then that was the that was the show of her new car so hopefully this will be a good fit for her and she can ride it out I'm scared I think they're in it hi hi M sorry I scare you bought you this car Mom this is your brand new car this is yours really yeah for me for you your car thank you P really this so [Laughter] beautiful wow oh my gosh I haven't had a new car since Dad bought me a car I [Music] no this is so nice of you thank you thank you son I love you I know you worked hard this is so nice I know when had the red bow I that's why I was literally I was like this is just like when D I mean yeah you had the red bow on your suburban the red Suburban love you [Music] Mama wow oh this car is sweet when my older brother Kai had started his first year at BYU our family had moved to Utah and just being able to watch my brother succeed in what they were doing gave me so much confidence and hope of like this is what I want to do and I've been seeing the people in front of me succeed to to very high levels so why why can't I succeed that far as well he set State records for Touchdown catches in the season receiving yards on the season career receiving yards career touchdown catches wherever you end up you're going to do well congratulations on an incredible career the greatest receiver in Utah high school football history puka nuu be able to come back and finish my cause career at BYU on the Jet Sweep puka nula with space Kua breaking away a dream start it was just the perfect ending to kind of just end it back home with my family and to be in the state where I love to and I get to call that place home it was sweet thank you very all right all right let's get up on stage you guys we know what we're saying right that's what you're saying oh I'm going to I'm a triple say it now this year's professional Ma athlete is no stranger to the state of sport stage in 2019 he was here as the high school male athlete of the Year 5 years ago he was headed to college with the dream of someday playing in the National Football League well that dream has come true Big Time lobs the ball down the right side diving catch made PUK on got to catch them all he's had so many good ones leaping catch got it PUK you a new superstar in town this kid is legit it's puka to the end zone a walkoff winner in the pregame I specifically came out in the the ski mask I knew everybody are you going to break the records I and we're going to get it done has it play fixed H Thea great record for most receiving yards in a debut season to break two records in One Day More catches and more yards than any first year Pro I remember just laying on the field an emotional way of kind of overcame me then to share that ball with my mom and now the all [Applause] time it's been such a journey this is just the first year of me getting to play in the NFL the sweet blessing that has been to have the success I couldn't have write it in my journal any better congratulations to this year's professional male athlete of the Year puka nkua yes that mentality of the family has been never to let a moment past without being showing appreciation and excitement for Life seeing him tonight was just another example of I mean when we embrace it's like we haven't been a part I wish him all the success and I'm glad he's getting it cuzz nobody deserves it more than him thank you to to this guy back here coach Kanani and coach fessie for believing in me and allowing me to grow into the person that I was able to become and uh you see so much success from him and you know everyone's giving him this all this attention that you know he he deserves I just know deep in his heart that that the reason it's full is cuz uh um he's able to to take care of his family and represent them I'm blessed to say that I I represent Utah I love being here and thank you all so much and you guys have a great night [Applause] stay low there for a second and cuz I want to get like just your pose and like the the logo and we'll be kind of good after that so that's nice right there that's cool give me like an actual full swing yeah man these are looking sick so we're shooting the partnership between Malin Golf and the LA Rams we have a really cool collaboration coming up with them buch of really cool apparel kind of celebrating the culture between the two brands are you that guy oh no as a matter of fact when I hit you should look away please you heard me say that please I would I would love that when's the last time you golf about two days ago oh yeah so okay Mr coming prepared well no I just had to I didn't want to straight out embarrass myself okay but I'll probably will go ah you go scared to hit the ball today there definitely a way I can get away from football and not have to you know focus on it and just being able to you know take your mind away from you know the the glit and glamour of being a Los Angeles ramp getting out here being able to compete perfect your game on the golf course there's nothing like it get up [Applause] there it's fun seeing all the new people that have come in golf so the people from the different cultures and we got professional skateboarder Justin alich out here today Ernest Jones Aaron Lim roess a lot of really cool personalities from different worlds and different cultures coming together for this which is super cool to see get in the whole you play haven't yet but that's bucket list that one's dope they said it's nice it's dope nice oo that looked really good that's going to hit [Music] Valencia that get in the hole oh Ernest is amazing coming from being a professional athlete and then meeting someone like him it's just rad to share the bond you know when you're on the golf course you're the same person yeah slow down doesn't matter where you came from or what you've done before who you are really that's going to if it goes you guys share a bond which is Golf and it's very humbling oh that's crazy it's just a great experience so it's fun to just meet different people like Ernest see how cool they are [Music] did that go in the bunker I didn't see it I heard something hit crazy how the game of golf has brought me to places like this get to do a Content shoot from Malone has just been was awesome getting out there getting the good photos getting the looks and just having fun with everybody that was here that's the one take that one that's the one so what's right now you like chilling if we get back you know just working out getting back into it but we uh don't get back kicking to the 15th of April oh okay cool [Music] Stafford ready he surveys he sends Ben scaron in motion right side play fake roll left Stafford Clips his hips Wings one middle bobbled and cut down Tyler higgy a dangerous play Stafford was not happy about the Celebration by Curt Joseph either that's a good hit that's a good hit you dirty you know it you're dirty Kirby Joseph goes low and Higg is hurts oh an ugly scene here at Ford Field with 5 minutes left in regulation higgy took it on the right knee you hope that he's okay all right go ahead and hit the timer there we go first round of the playoffs got KNE cooked pretty good injury was uh ACL MCL meniscus [Music] oh yeah yeah always that first one we ran a keeper I end up getting out coming across I thought got a chance ball was coming and [Applause] then I remember my head bouncing off Turf and I remember sitting there and I just felt claustrophobic I didn't necessarily know how serious it was and I remember walking out the field going in there and getting in the tent and Neil elage testing the knee and I remember him just kind of telling me like yeah it's it's ACL I've been through a good amount of injuries in my football career I almost kind of knew it to expect coming into the rehab process I think it starts with the mental part of it you have a good mindset coming in from day one which I've had I think it's helped a lot the little progressions the Little Steps 3 weeks ago I wasn't able to do this you know it's like 3 weeks ago I wasn't able to stand up on my toes I feel like in this job to test your patients you don't want to do you tired mentally physically but yeah you got to get up and go cuz it's a job interview every day we're in a good place and it's actually going pretty well for me good with this type of injury knees tend to get stiff so um we want to make sure we reestablish his r range of motion because if we don't reestablish his range of motion then he'll never regain a proper strength probably one of the rougher things that we do in rehab it hurts it can be pretty gnarly it can be pretty painful especially the postsurgery the bending part of it getting that Mobility back that was a good rep yeah I think that's one of the biggest challenges with a knee surgery and I think it's just taking a day at time and seeing where it goes you know I'm feeling solid little stiff in the knee yesterday coming in and feel a little bit better today moving around after yesterday getting some exercises and stuff how much Bend you get on that how what how much Bend like did you think we got yeah uh I would probably say that was probably about 120 so that's pretty good then that's great I thought I was just kind of no that's great barely touching 90 I'd like to be back as soon as possible but not necessarily just about getting out there and playing but make sure that I am able to get back to to Peak Performance getting out there and being a vital part of helping this team win games better than yesterday yeah I'm almost feel like I can't even go no more yeah the table no that's really good so that's good especially too just the way it was feeling yeah from walking B and not getting that being tight back in here and St cool appreciate you be yeah good work bro yep I uh tomorrow y another good day about 9 o' again tomorrow I'm a lift yeah okay y before yep yep I got you we have some breaking news the Rams have found their defensive coordinator They are promoting from within they're hiring Chris schula he has paid his dues he's been with the Ramson 2017 I like the move I like the continuity I like the fact they're going to run it back with the same system and not only does he know the schemes he knows how sha McVey likes to run things so I give this my stamp of approval I'm lucky we've had three great de coordinators since I've been here that I've been able to work under all in different capacities we had Wade Phillips first he kept it simple he let the guys play fast and he let his coaches coach when Brandon Staley came in he was always studying the game and he was very Innovative and we were always trying new things and he wanted to challenge the players and do different stuff so it was almost like a different aspect where you saw two different ways but they both worked and then obviously Raheem great relationship person awesome yeah this what I've been waiting for that's what I've been waiting for loves football great teacher and somebody you just want to be around all day really I take stuff from all three of them I like to think I'm a combination of all three you know it's only been a few months so we'll see where it goes football as a coach really is your life I love the game planning aspect of it I love the teaching aspect of it I love the relationships with the players my belief is you get what you emphasize and you know with us it's killing blocks it's tackling it's takeaways and it's pursuit to the ball stop the sneak play we use Kobe Turner as an example all the time uh he's a guy that plays with great effort so that pursuit to the ball R Young's another guy that I would say plays that way Ernest Jones also so a great tackler so we're lucky that we have a lot of good young players back that provided some great examples for us to learn from you know thinking about bringing on free agents or even the draft if they work hard and love football we'll make it work here we've obviously addressed the secondary we saw some opportunity where we had some guys with some different sales sets that we thought would fit Darius he's a guy that's got a well-rounded game he can play on he can play off from Virgin to man intercepted Dar is in Jacksonville he a lot of different stuff where he can play some Zone and play some Vision stuff and now seeing him two years later watching his tape it's just interesting to see how he's evolved as player those core fundamentals we were talking about he's got all that getting to the ball tackling he's going to be a guy that brings guys with him on the field he's got a great play energy about him looks like he got it back cam curl knocked it Loose safety in this defense can be a playmaker that's what we see him as when Trey came in for his visit spent about three or four hours with him watching tape and really just talking about leadership and and his journey and where he's at and he's at a place where he feels like a lot of guys helped him along the way and now he feels like he can pass that knowledge along he's just a complete player even growing up with some NFL roots and you know my dad my grandpa mono I still kind of pinch myself you know when I walk in the building sometimes definitely don't take it for granted cuz there was definitely a Time you know you couldn't get a job if you would have said 10 years ago be in this position now you know i' think i''d be pretty happy all right all right morning guys happy birthday Dan deet [Applause] all right a couple things we got a lot of new faces in here it's great to be able to see you guys again want to just be able to get a couple things off most importantly got a couple great additions Jonah Jackson this guy looks like he will you up man all right hey glad to be able to have Jonah with us all right watch the athleticism on the perimeter he's pulling from this position here fourth and one [Applause] smooth get out the club right there glad to be able to have Jonah Jackson Give It Up to Jonah Jackson awesome stuff all right phase one emphasis I think it's been pretty self-explanatory we got 2 weeks 8 days of phase one we want to set foundations you don't just show up and get going you build foundations so that you can be strong you can be sturdy you can be resilient that's physically that's mentally and that's culturally day one let's go and really that's who we want to be that's what this focus is on over the next couple weeks I'm excited to get back with you guys for those guys that were here last year that was as enjoyable and as fun of a journey where you really got tested in a lot of ways we all know this is a Brand New Year got a lot of guys that are here let's reset our foundations the right way let's enjoy this journey man we're going to push each other in a positive manner there's going to be an urgency there's going to be an enjoyment this is what we do for a living what a blessing I'm so excited to start this journey with you guys hey let's get this thing going the right way man it's great to see you guys let's have a hell of a time [Music] a decade plus into being a GM I I do think it's really really really neat you're at the start of when a player gets a call that player at that moment realizing probably a dream he's had his entire life the Rams are going to choose a first round player for the first time since 2016 hey Jared yes sir we got the 19th pick here we're about to pick you and you're going to be a Los Angeles ramp [Applause] R thanks for watching make sure to like And subscribe so you don't miss out on our videos