DC Chris Shula & OC Mike LaFleur On Player Preparation At Training Camp Leading Up To 2024 Season

really impressed with the group um you know we we thought we had a really strong OTAs and it seems like we kind of we challenged them to uh come in here and kind of pick up the ground running cuz OTAs you think about it you have about five weeks to build up to that first practice we're here you know you really got one day of meetings and then the next day we're practicing so really impressed with how they're doing obviously not where we need to be but uh really good start what was your message um to your group um know a couple of heart injuries so far at corner what was the message to the group and and how will you try to kind of build the pieces back around yeah you know it's funny um we talked to Trey white about it and and he just talked about first of all you got to be thankful every time you walk off the field healthy and um so nothing take nothing for granted and everybody's got to be ready all the time and and that's the stuff we got to preach and uh obviously we lost a couple really good players and uh some guys got to step up what does it mean having white in that room kind of that voice of it's huge um it's huge especially for those guys there's some younger guys in that room and he's been in the league since 2017 and done it at a high level and he's just a special person you know he really is um when he came on his visit I remember talking with him um Aubrey and Sean for about five hours and we talked football for a couple hours and then it was just about leadership and stuff he actually want to get his master's degree in a leadership course so he's uh he's a real special person and uh it's a blessing to coach him how do and f look out there for you ear they're looking good looking good a long way to go we got we got a lot of stuff to clean up with them but you see a a lot of the flashes you see the aggression you see the attacking mindset um you see the style of play that they had at Florida State and exactly why we picked them where we did it seems like has really stepped into a leadership role is that your impression as well uh I mean I think in that room I would say you know as far as the outside backers I would say Mike Ho's a leader but I think he he's a leader in in in the sense of how he plays I think guys you know he plays tough you know he plays fast he plays very hard you know so I think guys want to follow him in that sense bringing Johnson back what went into that he the secondary yeah you know we always kind of had it um in the back of our minds I think and you know he's a guy that we know very well that's very familiar with the system and uh you know obviously he was here the first year we got with the Rams and we drafted him in 2017 so uh you know somebody that was with us the last game of the year it kind of feels like he's been with us since you know can you give us an update on Darius Chris can you us update on What's happen with him we'll give uh coach mcve when he addresses you guys tomorrow let him do that but he wasn't out not just held out today or he yeah he was he was out today and then Coach MC will talk to you guys about it tomorrow it seems like range can really also unlock a lot of The Versatile stuff that quent can do what has it been like working with those two so far as partners and then um how does it sort of help broaden out yeah cam curl has been a uh um really awesome coach he has been really good just like you said in the Deep part of the field he can do a lot of things and he's been great with his communication um especially coming in here you would never know um this is his first year in this defense just by how well he's communicated he's so calm out there and yeah you're exactly right um we see the same thing as you as far as how we can play in the Deep part of the field and you know it's a good Quint lake is a guy that can do a lot of different things so uh we're always going to try to find the best 11 to put out there and we'll see what we do how much is that is your system Chris the same as as it was last year and how much did you tweet I think every year you're always going to watch stuff around the league and I think from you know my perspective you're always kind you've worked under some great coordinators just in the past so you know you're always going to put your personality on the defense obviously I can't be Raheem Morris I couldn't even try to be R moris I don't think anybody could but uh you know I'm going to try to take aspects just from my past and stuff I believed in and uh stuff also it's about the players so it's really finding out what these guys can do and what these guys are good at and then kind of molding it to that is Aaron completely out of mind or do you ever you had been around him so long you ever catch yourself looking up and going 99 he's on our cut-ups all the time so uh I don't know if that'll ever you know so um we see him all the time on tape and uh and yeah you know we talk about it a lot uh but obviously we're moving forward with the the guys we had here and trying to build the best defense we can Chris what you need to see taking another step forward and really occy that just keep doing what he's doing um you know we don't want him to try to do anything more than he is we thought he played really well last year and just be available and in good shape and be able to play multiple plays in a row and uh you know we think as long as he keeps just putting these good days together um the sky's the limit for him how about Kobe Turner I know he's been hasn't been able to fully participate but uh what do you want to see from him oh exactly the same he does he's not doesn't have to replace Aaron Donald he doesn't have to be Aaron Donald he just needs to be Kobe Turner and we know um if Kobe Turner is the best version of himself that is that is awesome that is awesome for us and we know he's a really really good player in this league and he proved that last year if relief is the right word how much of a relief was it to get the Stafford situation handled and then see him out here right away U and how does he look to you yeah like I like I said back in the spring it's I'm glad I don't have to be a part of any of that stuff for any of these guys right I just get to come out here and you know pour everything I I can into these guys just like all the other coaches to and uh but yeah particularly for him anytime you have number nine you're in the fight in practice in a game um he's such a joy to be around and and I don't I'm not just saying that I mean it's it's awesome being with this guy and trying to do everything you can to help him in any way that he needs you know like I said he helps me as much as he helps me a lot more than I help him you know so uh no it's it's been a joy and he looks like number nine you know he looks like he go as long as he wants so hopefully that's a long time and it looks like you know Demarcus is getting a lot of work in here at the number three spot for the receivers what's your thoughts on how he performed so far yeah he's done a great job you know Demarcus got here later last year right whether I I think it was probably even in June so he missed all OTAs and you're kind of already in the you know behind the eightball when it comes to training camp particularly with you know um just the injuries of Matthew and Cooper from that 22 years so we had a lot of things that we were working through last training camp a lot of unknowns and for him to be able to have you know the back half of the year that he had um have OTAs and and just come into Camp knowing exactly what we're trying to get done it's been awesome and he's he's like Matthew he's a joy to be around he has such great energy he has such great Vibes even when he wasn't playing uh he just did whatever we asked from him and he was a great teammate he was great in the locker room and now it's you know uh carrying through with him with a guy like P you know after a great rookie season um it looks like you know out here like I told Coach yesterday like he's he's lighting it up like which ways have you guys seen him improve from even what the Year got last yeah I was joking around with him last year he wore a long t-shirt uh you know and this year after working out with Cooper off se he wants to show off his washboard a little bit you know so his um no his his body's right his mind's right he he's he's he's not content with his rookie here you know and he's again he's around with this locker room and being around a guy like Cooper cup he'll never be content he's going to keep pushing forward because you know there's there's more out there for him as an offense what's it been what's the teaching process been like with continuing to get Steve back in the gro yeah I mean it's uh you know that that was a big change for him uh and he got to learn from two of the best in uh col M Shelton and Brian Allen last year in terms of just how to conduct yourself as a center what you're looking for all that um you know he was swimming in his guard but he he got pretty comfortable swimming there for a while obviously and played some really good ball we asked him to move over to Center he's got a great coach in Ryan Wendell again not just saying that there's a reason he was Tom Brady Center for such a long time uh and so he can he can those centers they they speak a different language to each other you know so um he's getting more more comfortable and again like I said back in the spring he's not in this alone you know he's got great guards and tackles and that room around him windy all of his coaches are here to support him what's that like for for you to have a fully healthy Cooper cup and now knowing what cooka is capable of as you kind of prepare for the season yeah it's awesome I mean it's you know it's uh and it's it's more awesome for those guys uh particular let just Todd Cooper um you know he wasn't he wasn't as healthy as he wanted to be last year and that and he couldn't control that Cooper wants so much control in all facets of his life what he puts in his body how he's physically and preparing for the season the offseason all that and he feels great right now and again he he'll never get too high he'll never get too low he's just trying to take this thing one day at a time we got a long way before we play that first game and he's just trying to get himself as good uh as prepared as he can be but for you specifically in and Sean in terms of Designing the offense knowing you know there there at least right now there aren't those questions about what what is can puka really do is Cooper going to recover if you're if they hit the ground running as a season begins how much yeah you got you got a ton you know and especially with d Robin I mean those those three played a lot of football in the back half the year together with number nine so there's a lot of continuity there you know the the balance that we got to have as an offense between Shawn and I and the coaches is getting still not taking for granted what we did well last year and continue to build on that but then also you know what are we going to adjust what are we going to change how are we going to keep evolving make sure that no one can catch up to us so there's that fine balance between trying new things and and uh and again perfecting what you do wellis we know that for so many years this has been such an personel team because of what the receivers can do in the blocking surface as well not subbing and all of those things but when you have two tight end who look like they could really be have very positive contributors to this roster how do you balance sort of mixing and matching those things understanding what the foundation laid by Shan for seven years at this point has been yeah no I mean it's anytime you can be uh more versatile within your players within your scheme within your personnel groups it's just going to you know put more pressure on a defense you know so again there's that balance we're not out here like 30 years ago running 150 plays so you got to be very selective you know what you're doing out here we do get a lot of walkth through and stuff like that where again that's that's bigger than people understand in terms of uh the mental reps and and what you can get done there so uh no doubt that tight end room um there's some weapons in there both in the Run game and the pass game and uh you know we'll see how organically it all kind of shapes out when we get closer to the season where is Davis entering like all rookies and and he's a very very smart mature guy but you're still a rookie and you're getting used to not just the physical but the mental aspect of it from a schematic standpoint and oh my gosh it's three preseason games Long training camp and 17 regular season that that can look big if if you're notth where your feet are you know I'm not saying his weren't but uh he's uh he's a year into this thing he knows this system Nick kayy does a great job with all those guys and you know he's just getting more and more comfortable coach with you your running back room last year coming into you know trainy camper is a big question Mar now you have K's the number one guy draft how how good has the running back look is p is puka around right now um no it's uh it's it's awesome you know I mean again it's just it's just great to have piron um healthy going into this you know this training camp he brings such a great energy and Vibe you know to our offense not just from that running back room I mean he his his Vibe and energy spreads to all of us as coaches as teammates all that qums fit of of that same mold I mean it's all 32 teams knew what kind of guy corm was in terms of just how mature uh he was the production he had at Michigan um you know and again I don't put predictions or anything on that I just know that mentally he'll be prepared to play uh it won't be too big for him Ken's an exessive interest in being involved in the passing game more is that in the plans for this season yeah I mean again we'll see we got a lot of guys that can do a lot with the ball in their hands and he's certainly one of them so yeah I mean everyone knows we're going to turn around and hand him the ball but any way that we can get him the ball and and all these Playmakers the ball again there's only one ball and a lot of these guys deserve to touch it cool part is they're all made of the right stuff and they know we're going to do whatever we can do you know for the team to be successful thanks guys good seeing y'all