Ram Rookie Credits McVay and Staff

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Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

With out a number one pick RAMS GM Les Snead  put together one of the best rookie classes in team history. It   was headlined by receiver Puka Nacua, who found immediate success on his way  to the greatest rookie receiving season in recent memory.

Defensive standouts in the trenches stole much of the attention that Nacua didn’t, but rookie left guard Steve Avila had a strong debut season, too.

“You always hear about good coaches – Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, Sean McVay – and I know he’s a younger coach so it can be easier to relate to him, but as soon as I got here, the way he does things and the way he commands a room was encouraging for a rookie,” Avila told ESPN.. “He knew we had a young team and I feel the way he navigated the season helped us develop into what we were.

“So he definitely made it a safe space to be better and learn. It was a learning process for all of us. I always tell people, if I was anywhere else, I don’t think I’d be as good as I am.”

Avila didn’t grade out as elite by any means0 According to Pro football Focus he is 30th-best offensive grade among 58 qualified guards – but there’s little argument about this year being a success. The second-rounder was an average starter in his first year and created a foundation that can only grow in the future.. The biggest thing  was the 6-3,330pounder Avila committed just two penalties all season, an impressive standard for a new lineman in the NFL.