Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay changing culture won’t be easy
New head coach Sean McVay is hoping to change the culture for the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s already proving to be a difficult task
Changing the Los Angeles Rams culture is one of the primary objectives for 31-year old new head coach Sean McVay. However, the culture change is proving to be slow, even for wundercoach McVay.
According to a tweet from the Orange County Register‘s Rich Hammond (h/t Turf Show Times), starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson did not attend a voluntary practice session Tuesday.
Rams' OTA practice has wrapped up. Trumaine Johnson not present, though it might not be contract related. No Aaron Donald.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) May 30, 2017
Johnson’s absence without explanation is problematic and symptomatic of the Rams woes and challenges McVay faces during his inaugural season.
Before Los Angeles handed the reins to McVay, who may age at an accelerated rate during his first season at age 31, it had players displaying a “me-first” attitude. Greg Robinson started at left tackle for the Rams since the team took him No. 2 overall in the 2014 draft. He has not embraced the position, having suffered a temporary benching last season. Speculation began to surface before McVay arrived that Robinson could expect a position change in 2017
The lineman indicated he’d be okay with a move to right tackle, but wasn’t willing to consider a change to guard, as ESPN.com reported in January.
“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about it,” Robinson said, speaking the day after the Rams’ season finale. “If that’s the discussion with whoever comes in, wherever I’m at, that’s going to be the deal. But it’s not really something that I’m just going to accept, because I’m so used to playing tackle.”
To be fair, Robinson did add that he would adjust if asked. But why he didn’t say that in the first place is example of that questionable Rams culture.
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In a related note, Robinson on Tuesday practiced with the second-team offense as the Rams let Jamon Brown test the waters with the first team. McVay still may be trying to grasp the depths of the current Rams culture before fully implementing change. However, the mess he’s taking occupancy over will throw several speed bumps in front of him along the way, which we’re already seeing.