Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Sean McVay wants star-studded Rams to 'wipe the slate clean'

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The "We Not Me" mantra has evolved.

The slogan Sean McVay carried into last year's offseason program as a rookie head coach is now stationed in the middle of what looks like a simplified version of John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success," emblazoned on the back of new T-shirts worn by Los Angeles Rams players, coaches and staff members. Within that pyramid are words like "character, connected, consistency, communication, process, standards, poise and confidence," all proverbial building blocks to achieve "competitive greatness," which is stationed at the top.

Messages like these are commonplace throughout NFL locker rooms. But the intent here is interesting, because it encompasses the start of McVay's quest to convince his players that this newfound hype isn't real.

The Rams enter the 2018 season with lofty expectations and significant fanfare, a stark departure from the vibe that surrounded them at this time last year. They went from 10 consecutive losing seasons to an 11-5 record and a division title, then added four stars in wide receiver Brandin Cooks, interior lineman Ndamukong Suh, and cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.

Privately, McVay has talked about out how the Rams lost key players -- namely Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree -- and will face challenges integrating new ones. Publicly, he'll happily speak in generalities about how nothing is promised.

"We're excited about it; we're optimistic," McVay said of his roster. "But we know that it's a process, and that process is one day at a time."

The process, really, began this week, with Phase I of the offseason program, which consists mostly of on-field strength and conditioning.

Aaron Donald wasn't present, but everybody else was. Cooks was there to join what quickly became a high-powered offense, one that helped the Rams lead the NFL in points last season. Suh was there, waiting on Donald so he can eventually be part of what might be the greatest defensive-tackle pairing in NFL history. Talib and Peters were there, key parts of a secondary that looks devastating when you also factor in Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson and Nickell Robey-Coleman.

Expectations, however, remained tempered.

"We look good on paper," Rams wide receiver Robert Woods said, "but we've got to look good on the field."

"I don't want to make it bigger than it is," said Michael Brockers, the Rams' third starting down lineman. "We've brought in tremendous talents, but at the same time, we still have to put the work in. We can't fall into the hype. We just have to put our heads down and continue to grind."

The Rams were a motivated team when they began last year's offseason program. They were tired of losing and eager for a new direction. They bought into McVay's message, which prioritized the process over the results. And they wound up making one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history.

They're probably better now, but they'll also play a first-place schedule, against teams that are now a lot more familiar with their schemes under McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

"What we did last year, really, you have to wipe the slate clean," McVay said. "We have to earn it every single day. There's a confidence that exists from having some previous experience where you were able to obtain a little bit of success. But this league is too competitive; the players are too good. You'll get humbled very quickly if you kind of just rest on your laurels."

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