Kyren Williams, Troy Reeder & Rams Coordinators On 53-Man Roster, Ernest Jones Trade, 2024 Outlook

Chris Shula well what we got um what were your conversations like with Ernest before you just just the appreciation and uh you know I talked to him on on the night it happened and you know just kind of went back that we'll be connected forever and we want a Super Bowl together my first year as an inside backers coach was his rookie year we drafted him and uh you know we'll be connected uh forever together and uh anything he needs down the line you know I'm always here for him obviously that changes things I imagine with the where the Green Dot now just how do you look at that as far as you know possible candidates to to fill that role yeah we'll probably keep it in the linebacker room but you know we're still looking at it and we're going to see um you know it's good to get out there today and and try it out and we'll see what happens is there something about the linebacker room that you feel like with that respons yeah typically you know just being in the middle the defense it's the easiest those the guys that are connected to the front you know on the both but we've had him you know had safey had it in the past JJ's actually I think had it before uh I know wed had it um so you know it's possibility so we'll see what is it um you seen from Troy Reader through the years I you've saw when he came in no doubt come back yeah he just a consistent guy um no matter what consistent demeanor um rarely makes a mistake very very smart very very above the neck it's like having a coach it's like having a coach on the field um so you know really enjoyed always enjoyed working with them and excited to continue to do that did you um he has been consistent but did you see him take like a step forward at all coming into this particular camp or is he he he had a good camp I I don't know if it was a step necessarily a step forward from uh how he's always played he wasn't here last year in Camp so he never necessarily you know he kind of started getting sprinkled in kind of throughout the season and stuff like that um but yeah he he had a good camp he played fast um you know he plays hard and and you know kind of the same as he's always been just like Gary said from a leadership standpoint were some of the guys you look to maybe particularly Quinton and Kobe guys who were to team captains yeah absolutely uh you pointed right at it to uh those two guys welld deserving um voted by the team as captains and uh you know I think they'll take that role very seriously and uh I think they're ready for that role and they've earned it um with their play on the field and just how they prepare themselves and uh who they are and what they bring to the locker room so really excited about those two besides those characteristics um you know what else stands out about just the leadership between the typ the types of people those guys are I mean Quint Lake I think about his rookie year I was actually uh a coaching defensive back that year and we drafted him and he he was injured and uh I don't know if he came back till he didn't do OTAs um didn't do training camp didn't come back till about week 10 that year but he was involved in the whole defense every meeting staying there late at night you know studying it making sure he was ready when his opportunity got called and uh you know Kobe since day since the day he's got here has been that consistent hardworking guy you know obviously he was kind of under ad's wing and uh now I think he's taken um that role to kind of Mentor the D line I think both those guys are kind of wise beyond their years every year is different but when you think back to the team that that lost in Detroit in that playoff game you guys are headed back there again is there anything that stands out to you about teams you know uh yeah you're right it is a different year you know um I think just like you said we're um no matter what whether we won or lost last year I think it would be a different year and I know it's the same for them you know so different team and uh there's going to be turnover on each team that's just the nature of this league and uh so you you got to prove yourself every year and uh we know that and they and they know that as well you some of the energy that we saw in the locker room at the end of last year carry on carry over into the season um there's really good energy and whether it's carried over or not um you know we'll see but uh you know it was definitely throughout camp and stuff there's definitely a bounce in the step um you know some of the young guys on defense I think kind of like to bring the juice every day obviously we got some new faces and stuff uh so yeah it's different but I I'd like to think they're still really good energy just like last year earlier this week Darius started working back in a little bit more um how is he looking so far and um you know what is it like to have him back it's it's great to have him back um just that veteran presence on the outside uh great demeanor about him um he's been he's been it feels like you know in the meeting rooms he's been so locked in so it's not like he hasn't been around at all but definitely good to see him move around a little bit out there what's it like for you as a coordinator to have verse and fist two young guys that are going to have big roles seems like from the outset you weren't able to see them in preseason games but now with the opener coming what's how are you processing yeah you got to trust the process G you know uh talking to him about it you know just talking to fist the other day uh he's ready to stop watching from the sideline ready to get out there and actually play and uh you know trust the process that you know we've done here really since uh I want to say 2018 uh when we've R um hadn't you know played our starters till that first game and you know that's what we use those joint practices for um we try to make it as realistic as possible when we go out to practice and get these guys ready to go and you'd like to think you know those guys up front um that's a little more realistic for them you know as far as a lot of the tackles that they make aren't necessarily in space and stuff like that so you know they're still wearing pads and having to get off blocks and things so hopefully that's able to translate for one moreen is quiet but uh seems like he a little bit of him him I notic in he was the one guy didn't go into the cold room I I did not know that so uh what is his toughed he he's yeah he definitely has an edge to him he's a tough guy um you know him and verse or you know both bring that you you saw it from his tape um you know you you see his personality when you watch this college tape you almost barely before you meet him you know exactly how he's going to be and uh you know he loves the game and uh he's passionate about it and shows up every day and plays really really hard and uh you know we love him for that awesome thanks appreciate you guys it's a little Mike LaFleur hotter out here um how's puka looking so far in his first week back good um he he came in such tremendous shape uh you know just going into his second year not taking the summer off came in such good shape as we've documented in the spring helped him get into the summer and he just never stopped you know so he was a leg up on a lot of guys you know cuz just how he works so him going down it's just going to get used to getting back into the swing of things but not worried about him at all he's too good of a competitor is he PR we we see only a portion of practice now is he practicing fully or expected to practice fully at some point this week yeah I mean I I don't know what his exact status is in terms of what the league knows and all that but uh you know I think he'll be good to go what's it like being in a new facility right before the first week of football it's uh you're seeing the same people you know so I mean that there's familiar familiarity in that you know obviously but it's it's good to be here it's I know a lot of guys the players and then everyone that put in a lot of work to get this thing going so it's uh it's Unique obviously doing it in August but hey we're here to work and get her get our job done offensive line injuries have been kind of a theme of game go in with eight guys on the uh active roster just how are you comfortable with that number going into week yeah I mean it is what it is it's you know I mean those things are going to happen and every year some group's going to get hit a little bit more on our Squad right now it's our corners and our in our o line so um everyone figures it out we'll figure it out you know and they got a lot of guys that wouldn't get all those reps that we you know talked about a month ago are getting those reps so uh you know we'll figure it out we'll be we'll be good to go you guys are starting your season in the same place last year Ed what's your remember from that game uh I've been told it was really loud up in the Box it was like like soundproof so I couldn't hear anything up there I was just watching you know what I thought was two really good teams competing against each other at the highest level you know and obviously they came out on top uh they're a good football team and uh and we were a good football team that day and they just ended up having a little bit more it's going to be a great atmosphere going back in there and uh I know our guys will be ready is there anything um obviously he's got a long resume of doing a lot but is there anything you'd like to see uh mat zaffer do this season that maybe we haven't seen before just enjoy it you know and he's always done that at a high level I hope just every year every game every minute he's out there he can just enjoy it a little bit more because what he's doing is so special at his age to be playing the way that he's playing uh in in the joy he brings to not just us as coaches but those other players um you know they feed off of that so I I hope for him he can just go do that because it is pretty special that he's out there doing what he's doing you've been here two years now what have you seen um in terms of starting to turn it around just continue to get better you know he he just hasn't stopped uh when it looked like it it maybe was not going to work out for him and he knows that uh he just kept pushing through and uh and that's those are the really cool ones right there where you just you're not sure um The Player's not sure which is never which you never want as as a coach to see a player you know have to go through that and for him to just keep battling last year behind the scenes um you know on the practice squad doing it you know in in the scout team fashion and then him to be able to get get his opportunities he's one that's really benefited from from the uh injuries we've had and it's and it's shown about halfway through this training camp walked out here and noticed he was like smiling laughing he looked like he felt good um at what point did you see that confidence F switch you know I don't know the exact Daye but I do I I know what you're saying because I saw it in his face as well back at uh you know at Loyola you know so it's um again you're you're you're happy for the guy and um at some point he's going to have his opportunity on the Sunday and he's put in the work and you know we have the confidence that he's going to be able to get that done what did you guys like about Cody Sher uh really liked him coming out uh he was extremely productive at Missouri for those two years I believe it was Truman State before that that D2 school and I think it's in Missouri and then to to you know transfer to the The Big Show if you will and and be as productive as he was I thought Les and and his team did a great job of just seeing the the talent right there and John McKay and Les seeing that yesterday that he hit the wire and you know anything we can do to improve the 53 they're going to do and and Kudos are those guys Sean told us yesterday that K's going to be returnings you guys this year any concern on your end about possible injury or anytime you can put the the ball on a guy's you know playmaker's hands you're going to be happy about it you know so uh 23 is touching the ball it's good for the Rams you don't hold your breath at all when that ball is in the air and I always hold my breath when the ball's in the air on a kickoff or punt no matter I mean I was with Deon h in 15 and you still did it but when it gets in their hands a lot of things you know a lot of good things can happen so you know and ky's a guy that this whole organization can trust you know and that's such a trustworthy position to be a punt returner or a kick returner but really a punt returner and uh you know so you do that for the betterment of this organization you have two number ones in Cooper and paa but both of them being healthy how much of a boon is it to the offense yeah it's I mean they're like you just said they're ones twos threes whatever I mean they're they're just really productive when they're on the field and they're productive because they're really good receivers they know how to separate within their own body but they uh they also compete at the highest level you know and and and again that's the way they compete brings everyone else along so just having those guys on the field makes every single person better because you know they don't want to let those guys down as much as you want to maximize TI touches how much if at all does that impact you know the way you want to use him knowing that he also going to be out yeah I mean I think that organically just kind of play itself out you know who knows how many hopefully it is a lot of punt returns out obviously when we get out there on Sunday but you never know and you never know how the the guy's going to kick him so I I think that's just an organic thing Kiron knows his body Ron does an amazing job of subing these guys in and out when they need a breather so I think we'll we'll kind of be able to answer that question as we you know get a little bit more data with it K you Kyren Williams Burg onto the scene last year uh now you get to return punts as a playmaker what excites you about being able to be the punt return being who I am like you just said I get to make more plays um and so I feel like that's um just going to be able to to show everybody else what I what more I can do for in this game of football you know being able to play in a lot of green grass and have a lot of space and you know get good blocks from my Jammers up front you know to get those get those punts started but you know I'm excited um to be able just to be able to show another phase of football that I can play what what's sparked this was it was it you wanting the opportunity was it a coach's how how did this sort of come about uh I think it was a coach's decision um mostly because you know I remember at the beginning of Camp coach McVey came up to me and said like make sure you're catching punts you know you if it comes down to it I want you being a guy and so that's what he told me from the beginning of camp and so that's is my my I knew I already kind of in a way that I there could be a chance that I do this and then you know when the 53 came out and the coaches made the decision that you know I was going to be the starter um it wasn't it was it wasn't a surprise to me what was it like kind of going through the whole process of learning this learning to catch well I mean I've been catching punts you know I feel like that's something I do naturally um I you know I played baseball as a young kid so that's tracking the ball in the Flight of the air um that's not really difficult to me or catching the ball anything like that so it's just I guess getting more reps at it you know being able just to see the game um see the the ball the the ball off the punter's foot and I did a little bit of it last year too at the beginning of the year so you know I have some experience in NFL as well doing it so you know I'm just excited to be able to make more plays you've also been working on kickoff for turn two how different does that look you know when you're back there and seeing that play develop in front of you um it's like more of like a run play you know if it's like your alignment out in front of you blocking um you know it's not really you don't really see many people penetrators and stuff like that cuz they're you know they're in that five yards distance so um I feel like it's more just reading holes and being on pressing cut and you know seeing the game like that but there's nothing different from running like a mid zone or outside Zone besides the baseball background you're obviously also have a background as a wide receiver in your past um you know how did do those two things as well as obviously your skill set background with what you've done at running back how's that translate in health with return duties as well I think this just I don't I think they all kind contributes all into one you know I don't really know how specifically as a running back or as a receiver or as a baseball player that helps me be a better opponent return I just feel like that all just kind of enhances all in one you know I got to be able to catch the ball like a receiver and then when I catch the ball be able to run the ball like a running back you know so that's just U my focus you know it's just getting that first first down honestly get 10 yards if I get more by the grace of God thank you but you know I'm going for 10 that's about it when you you guys ended last season Detroit same place you're going to start this year when you think back to that loss what comes tonight man for me it was it's like a anger and a disappointment into myself because I didn't get to finish the game you know I was I felt like I was just getting hot as offense we were just getting hot especially in the Run game um we were able to open it up in the fourth quarter and so we were we were really starting to roll um and I wasn't able to finish that game so for me it's it's just a little bit of all the mixed emotions you know I'm excited to get back to be able to prove to them um what I can do but also what you know what we um we weren't able to do you know last year and that's out that's to come out with a on top like we uh we supposed to last year's but for me personally it's just being able to get back and just being able to you know go to work a couple more guys the kind of the shiting philosophy that you guys made in terms of the running game last year the second half of this season how conscious of were you of this is might be a little bit different and how did you Embrace that as far as what just running in I mean just going at people yeah uh oh I guess you mean okay the Duos and whatnot but no I feel like that's for me that's like a tone Setter you know like we got to a mentality to where uh we're going to run the ball you might know where we're going to run the ball but we're still going to run the ball and so that's is the mentality that we kind of developed over uh the course of last year you know going on throughout the season I feel like that we're still we're still working on we're still getting to that point now but you know it's it's it's fun when it's like that you know when when we control um the controllables and you know we're able to play on our terms like to start the season a new home oh it's awesome you know this is I mean I say I've been waiting for two years but everybody else has been everybody else has been waiting for8 years so um you know I'm excited you know I live right down the street so this for me is it's an easy friendly commute I don't got to see much traffic anymore thank goodness um but you know it's fun it's cool and it's you know I'm excited does the heat make a difference n even know if we Nah if you play ball you play ball and if it's cold hot warm sunny don't matter um two more guys K Sean spoke earlier in Camp about how impress he was with you know they draft a running back and you come in and you're showing him the ropes while also you know they're figuring out what the workload is going to look like with you as a starter and and all of that um how's it been for you um embracing and and being in that role as well as pushing yourself to reach another step this year yeah it's fun you know cuz you it's it's a challenge you know I haven't I haven't faced in the NFL you know maybe I faced it in college one once or twice but in the NFL I haven't faced it you know I was able to get my opportunity last year you know I was able to do what I do but then now I'm I would say I had to but you know I'm able to get to you know share those opportunities with other guys who are just as good you know if not better than what do you know and so I'm I'm excited for that you know I'm excited to you know get to work um with those guys be able to show them the ways because you know I got a I got a good feel for this game I know this game I have I I say that confidently that I you know I'm a football player like I I know what to do I know how to do this and so for me it's just like giving back in a way you know somebody you know somebody did that for me so why not do that for them you know and it's you know we're creating a bond while doing that so it makes it much more fun when you know big big plays happen you know you get more excited for somebody when you're closer with them do you think you do you think you will feel the coach talked about like sometimes they have to save you from yourself because you want to go so hard all the time and do so much extra um do you think as time passes you might feel a difference in your body for the positive of being protected from yourself a little bit I mean that's the idea of it yeah for sure um but again I think still think we're playing football you know so those things just come along but you know I mean I feel like I would hope that um that it works out to be that way you know her works out to you know allows us to we're all to keep fresh you know we're all able to hit it going full speed but you know um we'll see as the season go goes on the off uh you know have some uncertainty on it does that change anything for you as a running back no heck no I got confidence in all my guys I don't know I don't care who it is up front the starters the non-starters undrafted the drafted it don't matter we're going to get to work you know we're going to along the way we're going to get better um even if it's not there where it is right now we're going to get there we're going to have the confidence belief to get there so heck no I like I like bringing people along like that uh I like it down here Troy Reeder it's a little toastier but it's all good speaking of changes um what uh what' you learn if anything from nnest and it looks like you're kind of the next guy up to take that spot how does that feel to kind of step into that role yeah I mean we're going to miss e um was one of my best buddies on the team and uh just kind of trus in and the the process and how things unfold every year and that uh you know coach is going to do the right thing that puts us in the best position to win uh week in and week out and ultimately have the best team by the end of the year so um going to miss him a lot uh learned a lot from him leadership wise and you know we have different play Styles but I think there was a lot of fun we had especially real early on with Ernest as a rookie and me and my third year was you know we were just bouncing things off of each other there were things he did well coming in that I was like man like I can learn a little bit from him and then he was learning stuff from me just as a three-year vet with a lot of experience and uh when I was able to come back last year was kind of just picked up where we left off and had a lot of fun in our room we got a great room of of just human beings in general um and you know we're we're going to miss him a lot what do you think five years in now what do you think you bring to this role maybe the biggest role going season that you've had yeah I mean six six for me so can't Short change it yeah it's hard enough to get one man um you know honestly I I joked when I came back last year was um you know i' learned so much when I was here in my first three years and then uh moving on is is difficult you know it's it was exciting and um you know there it was a good opportunity at the time but like this is you know kind of the place that raised me and uh learned a lot when I was here but I joked as I came back that it felt almost like I had traveled studied abroad and you know got this I got to play for Coach Staley again and um who was a great d-coordinator and had put new twists and turns on on the defense than we had had in 2020 and then uh went to Minnesota and played for a really great de coordinator in Brian Flores and completely different flipped 180 degrees in the opposite direction and uh got to learn a lot from him too and so I feel like you know just as a player it gave me perspective on a lot of things and um taught me a lot about you know what what works versus different things that maybe we don't have here and uh how we can implement it or how I can just implement it in my own game and um in the process I played with really good players um different guys at different positions that uh I was able to take things from their game and different things like that that when I was able to come back I just I felt like it was a great opportunity to you know restart here and uh with a whole new perspective on things having seen multiple other places and uh you know now in this in this role now which I've been here before um I'm excited for the opportunity and uh I'm excited about this team and and what we're going to be able to do this year what excites you about getting that bow of Confidence from the organization yeah I mean I I think one thing for me and uh it's kind of how I've approached my entire career was you know every Camp I come in like you know there's there's really no guarantees for anything you know whether you're starter backup Punk guard or or on the team and uh I just approach every day like it's an opportunity to get better a little bit better every single day and and I just you know I have so much trust in Shawn and coach schula and uh Chase Blackburn and uh you know that they're going to do what's best for this team and um ultimately I think winning a Super Bowl in in whatever capacity you play is the most fun I've ever had in in a sports season and and honestly one of the highlights of my entire life so you know ultimately like now in my sixth year that's kind of all I think about is is getting back to that point and uh you know I I just every day I come out and whatever is going to help this team get to that point whether it's starting and playing every snap or uh being the best Punk gter tackle and rusher in in the league that's that's my uh that's my goal every day do coming back to Los Angeles feel like a like a homecoming yeah it has um you know so much familiarity teams changed a lot but what's really cool is they uh give these guys a lot of credit they bring in the same type of guys here so you know it's different faces but it's the same culture and uh in my opinion culture comes first and then you get the wins and and all the success that comes with that tro excuse me I'm sorry um you've done a You' had six camps and a lot of experience um it it did seem like this year Watching The Joint practices and all of that you were really pushing to maybe Advance take another step in a variety of ways did you set that upon yourself to try to do that even in you know as as much tenure as you have and and how did you do that if so yeah I mean this is uh she probably the healthiest all off season I've had since uh really the 2020 off season or 2021 off season leading into the Super Bowl season and uh you know that Super Bowl year is you play a lot of games and like that's I think you maybe saw it with the team that year and I wasn't here but was almost going through a similar thing personally where it was you know I felt like I wasn't the player I I quite could be and you know how can I get back to that point and what can I do and I was able to get back to that point probably right right around the time that I started playing some defense last year around the biwe where it was like the first time in really a year and a half that I was like you know they track our velocities and our different things that were like hey like you are kind of where you were in 2021 and it was ironic but it was also when I started feeling really good back out on the field and and in everything you do and uh you know when you're when you're healthy and have a full off season to prepare and uh train you know you're able to come back back in shape and with a body of work in Camp and um yeah like I said nothing nothing's really changed besides just attacking every day with that in mind understanding maybe some of the mixed emotions that come with stepping into a role like this um when you factor that in as well as just your journey that you kind of talked about earlier over the last couple of Seasons you know how do you process that as you steep into this Ro yeah um you know it's funny I just it was really nice just coming home last night and uh you know I have a son now and uh my wife were just home and we just sat down had a nice normal dinner and it it just felt like because of how they train you here and that you're ready for whatever opportunity you get um whether it's mid-season the end of the season or um right right now before the season starts so um you know just the perspective in life I think is something that the older you get you kind of just feel that you know there's there's so many bigger than just football um but at the same time you're like this is this is your family too and and it's a really big honor to be able to be out there with those guys and and try and be a leader the best you can be for them and and play to the best of your ability so um yeah I'm excited for it and uh I think the guys around here are just excited to play against somebody other than ourselves so how how has your uh how has becoming a father influence your approach towards the G I mean it's it's crazy because you just really feel like you're you're doing it every single day for somebody other than yourself and you know I felt that way with my wife before we had a son but you know every day just kind of think yeah this is you know my son's going to go back and watch these games one day and uh you know he's going to tell his friends that you know this is what your dad didn't just give him something that uh my father gave me which was that you know that you can do anything thing through hard work and and dedication no matter where you start in life um you're able to reach anything you can and uh you don't have to be the most talented or um most gifted person is but the hardest workers and hard work pays off so Chris was saying that he you know expects to keep the Green Dot in the linebacker and what would be your comfort level with that responsibility yeah um you know I've done it a lot before uh I carried it for several games in the playoffs and uh 2023 20 22 uh playoffs and uh yeah I mean I do it every day in practice and uh I I think I can communicate at the highest level possible and uh I'd appreciate that uh confidence in me