• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

LA Sports Today

Los Angeles Sports News continuously updated

  • Football
    • Chargers
    • Rams
    • Wildcats
  • Baseball
    • Angels
    • Dodgers
  • Basketball
    • Clippers
    • Lakers
    • Sparks
  • Hockey
    • Ducks
    • Kings
  • Soccer
    • Angel City FC
    • Galaxy
    • Galaxy 2
    • LA FC
    • Orange County FC
  • College
    • UCLA
    • USC

Sean McVay Takes Blame For Rams’ Red Zone Woes

December 20, 2023 by Rams Nation

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Washington Commanders in Week 15 to improve to 7-7 on the season, putting themselves right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Despite the win though, there were some things to clean up for L.A. On offense, the team struggled in the red zone, finding pay dirt in just one of three attempts in goal-to-go situations.

Overall on the season the Rams have been pretty good in the red zone, ranking 10th in the NFL in red zone touchdown finding the end zone 60.5% of the time.

The last couple weeks have been a struggle though and head coach Sean McVay took the blame for his play-calling.

“Yeah, the main thing that I was really pissed off about myself was the first down and five call on the first drive of the game,” McVay said. “There are always going to be some things that you can get into, but we had run it really well on the previous play. We had run it really well on that drive. When you take a negative right there, didn’t need to do that. I thought that was a really poor play call that set us behind the sticks. There are a lot of instances of things that you can always do better, but I thought that first sequence in particular that we ended up having to settle for a field goal, the way that our guys were playing, the way we were able to run it, the way (QB) Matthew (Stafford) was seeing the field, thought it was a much better opportunity to… I could have put them in a better spot that I think would’ve led to seven instead of three.”

In the Rams’ final three red zone trips, McVay called nine pass plays and zero runs despite having one of the best goal line running backs in Kyren Williams.

McVay was impressed when a reporter pointed out that stat and discussed what he could change moving forward.

“Where’d you get that? That’s a good little stat right there, I like it. No, each play, each section is kind of its own entity. But there is no doubt about it that yesterday, that one in particular could have been better. I think there were some different reasons for some of the Baltimore things that I don’t want to get too much into, but ultimately it’s my job and our job as coaches to try to do as good a job as we can putting our guys in the right situations to thrive and succeed. I’m never going to shy away from the times that I can be better. Certainly, those instances that you’re talking about, I take full ownership and accountability for and that is where you go back to work and you try to make sure not to repeat those mistakes.

“That one yesterday was why I was so pissed off because that’s almost… you’re being a little hypocritical and you kind of got away from some of your foundational beliefs, especially with the way that our guys were playing and try to pride yourself in having a good feel for the flow of the game. In that drive, in particular in that first down and five call, I thought that was something that hurt us and look to improve and that is something I’ll try to do for Thursday.”

Overall though, McVay is pleased with how the team has played in the red zone this season.

“We’ve been pretty good in the red zone overall. There’s been a heightened awareness especially the last couple weeks because of the way that we went right down the field in both our opening drives and had to settle for a field goal, which like I said, I got to do better for our guys. But we’ve been pretty good in the red area. I think that’s a tribute to all 11. Everything starts with (QB) Matthew (Stafford), but I think we’ve been able to run the ball effectively and then once we do get in the tight red area, we’ve been consistent in making those kicks. And so that’s a credit to the teams, to offense, but ultimately you want to come away with touchdowns. I think there’s been a heightened awareness which you have to acknowledge those things because it’s always about what have you done lately and being able to continue to take steps.

“But we’ve been pretty good in the red area. And then you give credit to the defenses. There was some stuff that they didn’t have a whole lot of inventory, especially with (Commanders Head Coach) Ron (Rivera) only calling one game against Miami. And then Baltimore is as good a defense as it gets in this league. And so no excuses, I’ve got to be better. But overall, I think we’ve been pretty good in the red area and I just haven’t done a good enough job for us, particularly these last two weeks on those opening drives is what’s really stood out.”

If the Rams want to do any damage in the postseason then they will need to finish drives with touchdowns, so look for this to continue to be an emphasis the rest of the year.

The post Sean McVay Takes Blame For Rams’ Red Zone Woes appeared first on Rams Newswire.

Filed Under: Rams

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Clippers to waive Drew Eubanks, who plans to sign with Kings
  • NHL free agency: Gavrikov leaves Kings to sign a long-term deal with Rangers
  • Where does Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s new mega-deal rank among all-time sports contracts?
  • Less than 24 hours left! Here’s who’s leading Phase 2 of All-Star voting
  • Lakers’ Dalton Knecht reflects on rookie season, goals for summer league

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • Bleacher Report
  • LA Sports Hub
  • Los Angeles Daily News
  • Los Angeles Times
  • Los Angeles Sports Nation
  • Orange County Register
  • OurSports Central
  • The Sports Daily
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • The Spun
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • MLB.com - Dodgers
  • MLB.com - Angels
  • Dodger Blue
  • Dodger Insider
  • Dodgers Nation
  • Dodgers Way
  • Halo Hangout
  • Halos Heaven
  • Last Word On Baseball - Angels
  • Last Word On Baseball - Dodgers
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Angels
  • MLB Trade Rumors - Dodgers
  • Think Blue LA
  • Think Blue PC
  • True Blue LA

Basketball

  • NBA.com - Clippers
  • NBA.com - Lakers
  • Amico Hoops - Clippers
  • Amico Hoops - Lakers
  • 213 Hoops
  • Clipperholics
  • Clips Nation
  • Forum Blue And Gold
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype - Clippers
  • Hoops Hype - Lakers
  • Hoops Rumors - Clippers
  • Hoops Rumors - Lakers
  • Lake Show Life
  • Lakers Nation
  • Lakers Outsiders
  • Lakerholics.net
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Clippers
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball - Lakers
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Clippers
  • Pro Basketball Talk - Lakers
  • Real GM - Clippers
  • Real GM - Lakers
  • Silver Screen And Roll

Football

  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Bolt Beat
  • Bolts From The Blue
  • Chargers Gab
  • Chargers Wire
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Chargers
  • Last Word On Pro Football - Rams
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Chargers
  • NFL Trade Rumors - Rams
  • Our Turf Football - Chargers
  • Our Turf Football - Rams
  • Pro Football Focus - Chargers
  • Pro Football Focus - Rams
  • Pro Football Rumors - Chargers
  • Pro Football Rumors - Rams
  • Pro Football Talk - Chargers
  • Pro Football Talk - Rams
  • Ramblin Fan
  • Rams Gab
  • Rams Nation
  • Rams Wire
  • Turf Show Times

Hockey

  • Anaheim Calling
  • Elite Prospects - Ducks
  • Elite Prospects - Kings
  • Jewels From The Crown
  • Last Word On Hockey - Ducks
  • Last Word On Hockey - Kings
  • My NHL Trade Rumors - Anaheim Ducks
  • My NHL Trade Rumors - LA Kings
  • Pro Hockey Rumors - Ducks
  • Pro Hockey Rumors - Kings
  • Pro Hockey Talk - Ducks
  • Pro Hockey Talk - Kings
  • Pucks Of A Feather
  • Rink Royalty
  • The Hockey Writers - Ducks
  • The Hockey Writers - Kings

Soccer

  • Angels On Parade
  • LAG Confidential
  • Last Word On Soccer - LA Galaxy
  • Last Word On Soccer - Los Angeles FC
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • Bruins Nation
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Conquest Chronicles
  • Go Joe Bruin
  • Last Word On College Football - UCLA
  • Last Word On College Football - USC
  • Reign Of Troy
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in