The Los Angeles Rams were met with both skepticism and intrigue when they hired Sean McVay as their head coach on Jan. 12, at the ripe old age of 30.
McVay became the youngest head coach in NFL history, and many believed he would be overwhelmed in his new position, solely based off his age. To league-wide surprise, the Rams have looked better than anticipated through their first two games, routing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, while dropping a close decision to the Washington Redskins in Week 2.
However, is McVay getting the credit he deserves through Week 2? If he were a wunderkind as a player and submitted an excellent debut, McVay would be atop national headlines everywhere - look no further than Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Kareem Hunt dominating the water cooler discussion. Head coaches seldom get name brand recognition, but McVay already may be the Rams' best asset.
Todd Gurley entered the year as one of the NFL's most polarizing players, taking the league by storm during his Pro Bowl rookie year in 2015, while faltering miserably last season. Gurley looks completely reinvigorated under his new head coach's tutelage, scoring touchdowns in consecutive games. With eight receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, Gurley is on pace to obliterate his previous-best receiving totals, a sign that points to McVay getting the most out of his mercurial talent. At 23, Gurley could reenter the conversation surrounding the NFL's best running back and he would be remiss to forget McVay if he helps actualize his potential.
McVay has proven deft in dealing with the egos and portentous demands of the modern athlete in his short tenure. Aaron Donald, the Rams' best defensive player by a gargantuan margin, held out through the summer while demanding a new contract. It's a scenario that could've rattled the resolve of veteran head coaches, but McVay calmly stood his ground, winning a game of chicken with the three-time Pro Bowler. Donald missed the team's opener after returning days before the season, but is now back with the team without further incident. Relative youth alone doesn't connote an inability to make tough decisions.
Former Rams head coach Mike Martz made waves when he insinuated that McVay's hiring was only to appease Jared Goff, arguing that the young quarterback needed a buddy, in diametric opposition to Jeff Fisher, who was fired before the end of the 2016 campaign. McVay shook the criticism off politely and kept marching forward, once again starkly contrasting the feud Fisher was embroiled in with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson last year. Under the bright lights of Hollywood, McVay is blocking out all distractions like a seasoned pro.
Don't look now, but the Rams are in prime position to capitalize on an NFC West that is weaker than it has been in nearly a decade. Russell Wilson is running for dear life behind a dreadful Seahawks' offensive line, the 49ers are still in the elementary stages of a full-scale rebuild, while the Cardinals appear miles away from the team that went to the 2015 NFC title game.
McVay is a phenom and it's worth celebrating his positive effects on a scrappy Rams team that could very well be atop the division by end of year.
