Rams' Sean McVay 'Loves' Ernest Jones as 'Natural Leader'
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones achieved his dream of becoming a team captain shortly before the season kicked off. When Jones originally made his wish, he explained that he was "built for" the prestigious honor and hoped the players and coaches noticed.
Jones has taken his new role very seriously and his numbers in the first two games of the season are reflective of that, as he's led Los Angeles in tackles in both games. His 19 total tackles are tied for the 18th-most in the NFL thus far.
Rams coach Sean McVay believes his players made the right decision in declaring Jones as a captain.
“I think (Jones) is one of the most natural leaders that I've ever been around," McVay said during Monday's press conference. "He's got a great way about himself. He's got great standards for himself."
Jones is one of the few players who wear the green dot, which is a communication system put inside the helmet that allows him to be the defensive signal caller. McVay listed a few reasons why Jones is in the same conversation as former Rams green dot holders, including former safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Bobby Wagner.
"(Jones has) great command, great ownership, great pride in making sure that he gets things communicated to the first and third levels of the defense," McVay said. "He's got a magnetism and an authentic energy about himself that I absolutely love. He's got great coachability and accountability. If there's something that doesn't go down the way that we want, he's the first person to look inward, which is what I love."
McVay revealed even more reasons why he "loves" Jones.
"He is a mentally and physically tough guy and he's checking all the boxes for what we're looking for in a Ram," McVay said. "I love Ernest Jones and he's only going to continue to get better. He's done a really good job.”
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris stressed during training camp that he needs a young player to step up as a leader on his side of the ball. The 23-year-old might have emerged as the answer to Morris' prayers.
Now in his third NFL season after winning the Super Bowl in year one, then going 5-12 in year two, Jones learned from two of the best linebackers of the decade as leaders in Von Miller (2021) and Bobby Wagner (2022).
He finished with 114 tackles while playing 66 percent of snaps last season and only trailed Wagner for the most on the team. Wagner signed with the Seahawks and played against Jones and his former team in Week 1.
Jones utilized what Wagner and Miller taught him throughout the offseason which helped him gain even more recognition after Week 2's performance against the San Francisco 49ers.
