Texans 17, Rams 15
SEAN McVAY: It's been a really fun group that's kind of come together over the last few months. We obviously have some tough decisions to make over the next handful of days. But there is some things that are starting to come into clarity for us. Feel good about this group. We'll hopefully get some guys back from injury that have been out the last couple weeks over these next two weeks, getting ready for Detroit, and we're certainly excited but more than anything grateful for the group of men and the efforts, the way that they've worked and the consistency at which they worked, and I think there was major progress throughout the off-season and then into training camp.
Q. In terms of clarity, you spoke about one of the things you mentioned pregame on the broadcast was Stetson Bennett getting QB2. What did you see from him that ultimately led to that decision?
SEAN McVAY: I think he did a good job. I think he got a body of work in terms of both of those games going from wire to wire. I think he's done really well in some of the practice settings. When you do look at it, you're obviously very fortunate to have Jimmy that will be coming back on week 3.
But he's done enough that we feel good about him for those first couple weeks.
Q. Along the same lines, Omar Speights made the 53 or secured a role. Along the same lines, what have you seen from him and how did he earn that?
SEAN McVAY: He's a guy that's come in -- I've mentioned to you guys before, I think a handful of these rookies, best way you can describe them, mature men. That's what he is. He got better and better. He's got the ability to contribute defensively but also on special teams. He'll have a major role on special teams. He's really done a great job with Chase, Chili and Stretch of earning their trust, and I think he's gotten better and better in these games that you saw. Obviously he didn't play today, but the previous two games, you felt him out there, and he was able to have good communication. I thought he was productive in the run and defending the pass, concept recognition. Excited about him. He did a really good job throughout camp.
Q. Your thoughts on Dresser Winn getting reps today?
SEAN McVAY: Yeah, I was happy for him. I thought it was great on the first touchdown great to be able to start off with the completion, he got into a rhythm, made a couple plays with his legs right there, and then we were able to punch it in. I was really happy for Dresser. He's been a guy that's been such a great guy to be around. I know the quarterbacks love him. Dave Ragone and Mike LaFleur, they think so highly of him, and I certainly have really enjoyed being around him over these last couple years, as well. I think he's gotten better, and I thought he did a nice job today.
Q. As you guys fly home now, do you kind of know your 48 to 53? How much discussion will that be? Will it be into Monday and Tuesday?
SEAN McVAY: Yeah, we have a pretty good idea. There's always a couple little things in regard to, all right, your 53, then your 48. There's some semantics in terms of maybe some injuries and being able to navigate that within the confines of how everything is structured.
But we do have a pretty good idea of what that's going to look like.
Q. With Alaric suspended and Garoppolo, does that change? Does that help you?
SEAN McVAY: It helps you get a couple extra spots that you wouldn't get otherwise. Obviously you want those guys to be available. We anticipate those guys being factors for our football team, and they'll be back in week 3.
But in the meantime it does give us two extra spots that we'll look at.
It's a good thing. I do feel really good about this team. I'm excited to be able to get back some of those guys that have missed some time due to injury, and I think that'll be a real benefit for our football team where those guys will give us a good lift.
Q. Xavier Smith, what's your thoughts on his preseason?
SEAN McVAY: I thought he did a really good job. I thought that was a big 3rd down conversion that he had, a little option route and took the out break, ended up creating after the catch. He had a handful of jet sweeps today. Even the one punt return where he ended up, went into the sideline, you could see he's fielded the ball well, he's made good decisions. He's another guy -- I think the consistent thing I'm seeing is all these guys have progressed. You look at him from last year to this year, it's awesome to see the growth, the maturation. His teammates love him. He was a captain today for the game. Was really pleased with Xavier.
Q. Zach Evans being able to finish the preseason, scoring a couple of touchdowns, what did you make of his performance?
SEAN McVAY: I thought that was great for him, especially being back at home. I thought he ran hard, leveled off some of those runs. I thought we were able to get pretty good removal on some of those drives. Obviously we came up short on the two-point play, but the guys were able to really get good knock-back, reset the line of scrimmage, and I thought he was able to press it outside in one gap at a time, and he ended up really doing a nice job as a slash runner today.
Q. As you guys have these conversations and get the roster trimmed down, how do you handle that process as far as feedback and the way that that conversation goes with those players?
SEAN McVAY: Just appreciation. I think most important thing when you go through the season, they're never easy conversations, especially when it means a guy is not going to be here. But you want to give them honest feedback. If you care about them enough, and I think there's an empathy, there's a love, but there's an honesty that they deserve so that when they do move forward, if it ends up not being here, what are those things that can help them change the narrative and get an opportunity.
I just said that in the locker room; there's going to be some tough decisions because that's the truth.
What's nice about expanding your practice squad, I do look at it is we really have 67 guys on our football team. Even if a guy might not be on that active roster but he's on the practice squad, I see those guys as still part of this football team. So you'll see a lot of these guys that will still be here and there will be a handful that will be tough to be able to part ways with. But they've been awesome and they're a part of this team, as well.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports