LOS ANGELES _ It's mostly been compliments for Sean McVay since the Los Angeles Rams made him the youngest coach in modern NFL history.
Team executives rave about the 31-year-old's football knowledge. Players and personnel throughout the organization laud his leadership, teaching skills and presence.
McVay has also been the target of skepticism and doubt.
For example, former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz recently caused a stir when he questioned McVay's expertise as an offensive guru in published comments he made to the author of a forthcoming book.
Through it all, McVay maintains the same self-deprecating attitude. He shakes off the praise and politely accepts the shots.
"We haven't won a game," he says repeatedly. "I haven't done anything."
McVay knows the real evaluation begins Sept. 10, when the Rams play the Indianapolis Colts in their opener at the Coliseum.
That will be the first opportunity to see how the Washington Redskins' former offensive coordinator transitions to the full responsibilities of a head coach when it counts.
McVay, who will call plays, took over a Rams team that finished 4-12 last season under former coach Jeff Fisher and interim coach John Fassel.
McVay hired Wade Phillips, 70, as defensive coordinator. The 40th-year NFL coaching veteran has installed the 3-4 defensive scheme that helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl in the 2015 season.
Fassel was retained as special teams coordinator.
The Rams' schedule includes games against four playoff teams from last season: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks.
Last season, the Rams traveled 35,266 air miles, most in the NFL. This season, they will travel a league-high 32,600 miles, including another trip to London, where they will be the home team at Twickenham Stadium for a Week 7 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
That will be only one of the challenges for McVay as he tries to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that has not had a winning season since 2003, not made the playoffs since 2004 and not finished at least .500 since 2006.
McVay knows that questions about his age and ability to lead the Rams will continue until he proves otherwise.
"We know that it is a production-based business," McVay said. "We've got a great challenge ahead of us, but what you feel good about are the coaches and players that we're going to go on this journey with, these are the types of guys that you want to do that with. You feel like you have a chance to accomplish some things together and work through some adversity that we will inevitably face."
