On this episode of the Coach McVay Show, general manager Les Snead joins J.B. Long and D’Marco Farr to reflect on Monday night's loss to the Miami Dolphins, discuss the importance of having young defensive pass rushers, evaluate undrafted free agents making an impact, react to seeing Aaron Donald back in SoFi Stadium, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to the Coach McVay Show,
presented by Microsoft Surface. I'm JB along with my friend
DeMarco Farr and the general manager of your Los Angeles Rams,
Less Need, is with us. On a short week. Week
eleven takes the Rams back to New England to take
on the Patriots. All right, let's start with reflections on
last night's lost to Miami. It's been three really good
steps forward for the Rams and now this one step
(00:27):
back that.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Says it all. Good thing. It's a short week, go
to New England, it's fall. Play some football, get the
bad taste out of our mouth. That's the only thing
we can do.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
What's the streak with Less now on the show?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Is he It ended abruptly?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
It ended, okay, so we're gonna get a new streak
started going to New England. And that's all you can
do is circle the wagons and get right back at it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
That's yes, they're not calling it off. It's the next round.
And really, from a macro standpoint, last night's very disappointing.
Not what we plan for, not what we envision. Now,
there were some good things. Last night was a little opposite.
It was a little more. Let's give it. Let's call
it like it is. A defense played five cy special
teams was good. We had plenty of opportunities on offense
(01:09):
and didn't take advantage of them to.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
What extent does last year let's provide maybe an emotional
backstop or maybe a blueprint to what might be possible
in the second half of this season.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I mean, I think every year is different, but that's
that's something let's call it. That's an experience that not
everyone in our locker room can can draw upon. But
I think whether it's the second half of the season,
whether it's November December football, whether it's just the next round,
there there is an element of everything that's been done before,
(01:41):
or all the results that's accumulated before this next week
that's over and done with. There's lessons to be learned
and then can we go apply into the second half.
And really it gets down to this from a macro standpoint, psychologically, right,
there's it's what the the NFL, the seventeen rounds that
we go through, it's over about six five or six months,
(02:04):
and there's gonna be ebbs and flows, and the whole
key is through all those ebbs and flows. Is staying steady,
not letting. Let's call it a yesterday's win actually right,
get us fat and happy and effect this week's preparation
or a yesterday's loss right bleed into the next week.
And that's really some version of ironclad emotional and control
(02:28):
to truly get through this marathon.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think I heard Jared Verse say the same thing.
You can't get two highs with the highs and two
lows with lows. You got to go back to work.
It's a short week.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's better.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
But about him, when you drafted him, talk to him,
talk to him about before you drafted him. Did you
sense that certain maturity about him? I know he jumps
off the tape on video, but when you talk to him,
there's like an old soul, like you've been in this
league already ten years. How do you get that from
day one?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You know what, there's probably many variables, right that come
into play in that, whether it's whether it's just mom, dad,
God given, genetics, sociology, right, how he was mentored, how
he behaves, the how he's matured based on his age
end of the day. I do know this. The if
you probably look back over the course of his college
(03:17):
career and in the now, like most of the things right,
most of the that's called it the action, he basically
the actions he goes through and the day to day
bab leads to right quality, right football that's tenacious, that's urgent,
that is actually contagious, and that's that's really been consistently
(03:39):
who he's been since we've started watching. Even when you
go back to Albany film.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I mean, even with Aaron it was immediate. But I've
never seen a rookie kind of pace the defense, pace
the team like he's done. Like it's like he's been
here for years and he just got here.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, I think, uh, Demarcy, you, let's go back to
when you were in locker room, and let's call it
young players that you saw come into the league. Some
of them aren't there yet, some of them are closer
to being there yet. For many reasons, he's someone that
probably right, let's just call it, he's not a finished
pro product, but he was right closer to there than
(04:15):
needing to be. Let's call it developed.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
We all think Kobe Turner should have won Defensive Rookie
the Year last season. How validating would it be to
see Jerry get that honor for the organization this year
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
From always from an individual standpoint, and it's interesting the
emotions that come through after a night like last night
were collectively right, we weren't up to the standards we
set out to be. Sometimes it's tough to talk about
individual on the lades, but anytime a rookie can come
(04:47):
in and again, he's not there yet. I mean, we're
halfway through this thing, so I would say, right, I'm
well aware he probably won a lot of defensive Rookie
of the let's call it Rookie of the Years, But
that's the midway point, and what all of our rookies
are about to grasp is it's a long season. Has
(05:08):
the college season winds down, right, we're just now right
getting into the halfway point, so it's it's a tough
marathon and they're about to go through it. But again, yes,
if he continues playing like he has, that will be
something he's definitely earned.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
The whole front include Michael Hoyt. But I think the
funny thing is I never thought we'd be talking about
a young defense as much as we are. I guess
that leads into kind of the disappointment part of last
night that you couldn't find a way to score points
to help win that game. And the defense were they
kept you in the game long enough.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Kept us in the game, and probably maybe even let's
call it kept us in the game a little longer
then then let's call it probably expected in terms of
the way the game was going. If you get in
the epas and some of that analytics, so give them credit.
That's the neat thing is what we're seeing occur and
(06:03):
evolve is as we said as one of the themes
coming into the season, how do you replace Aaron Donald?
No way you can replace Aaron Donald with one person.
But what you what we are starting to feel is
the collective is doing their part in trying to replace
Aaron Donald and some of the havoc he did calls.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Speaking of the Goat, I saw you two had a
moment pre game. What was that like seeing him back
in the Rams house?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You know, it was really cool? The really I would
call it. The thing I remember most about last night
is is seeing that right, you could just feel that
he gave it as all and there's not necessarily a regret, uh,
And that that's the only DeMarco you can talk about
it right when when you when when the cliff is
(06:48):
here in your football career is over, there's probably a
subset of probably more than most where while that ended
a little quicker or sooner than later, and there's probably
that void that's tough to fill a little bit of
regret a little bit. Boy, I wish it could have
gone a little bit farther. You could tell. The neat
thing with him is there's an element of that part
of his life is fulfilled in his own to the
(07:11):
next chapter full speed.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I think the entire audience was hoping you would tell
a completely different story than the one you just did.
Though we're very happy for and his loved one is
his family.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
He did say he was enjoying, you know, seeing the gentleman.
We were just talking about that defensive front, that entire
defense play football. So there's probably a little bit of
a maybe a little bit of a jealous side, like
it'd be neat to play with that bunch.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But well to that point, if you can put like
your salary cap hat on, because for the last say
generation of football, we talked about how the cheat code
of the salary cap is having a quarterback who can
win you a title on a rookie contract. When I
think about the rest of this year and moving forward
for the ring our cheek.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Code could be a quarterback that can become a six
eligible and extend plays.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, there you go.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Defenses are designed to cover this thing for three seconds.
The next thing you know there at six seconds going
oh geez, But I didn't mean no, it's fine, yeah,
but both of them work. I would take I would
take number two over one.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
But where I was going with that is, given the
price of edge defenders and interior defensive linemen now to
have a group of four of them on rookie contracts,
how meaningful can that beat a roster construction for your
rams moving forward?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Really really good question. Probably haven't thought about it until
this moment, because what really the main thing that started
last let's call it the draft before this draft, but
over the last two drafts, has been to intentionally try
to begin right infusing young, disruptive talent amongst that defensive front.
(08:50):
So here's where I'll say this. It's right now. It
is fulfilling to see that some of what we envision
has actually come into life. And then that that point,
we can as as we get into the rest of
the season, into the offseason going okay, how can we,
as you said, use that as an edge to maybe
gain an edge up on it, you know, somewhere else
(09:10):
on the roster for seasons moving forward.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I know he's been there for a while, but I
thought Bobby Brown has really picked up his level a play.
He's We've set his name a lot in the last
couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, going back to not just shared the contageousness of
how that defense plays, there's an element right of of
we see it from from the opening game and even
the second game when when Arizona put up a lot
of points. But even in that game take the loss
(09:41):
out of it, you could feel our team disrupting Kyler Murray.
Now maybe they had not ever as a collective. Wow,
that's a fast that's a fast guy to try to corral.
And if you do not corral him and give him
those all of a sudden, that three second play turns
into It seems like in one of those plays in
that game, it may have been about nine seconds where wow,
(10:02):
what a play at the back of the enzel point
being is Even in that game you could feel them
coming along and then you could just feel the contagiousness
spread amongst all the defenders. Bobby Brown included with Hey,
we all want uh you know, it seems like they
all want to be a part of the the collective
that's disrupting and fuel and and each one of them
(10:23):
are fueling each other. It's and that's not anything that's
said in a huddle. That's not maybe a locker room speech.
That is that is an interesting Let's call it chemistry,
some version of physical energy that somehow evolves over the
course of a season. And it's cool to see.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I would want to give that the Chris sure that
he's brought that sort of energy that's sort of togetherness
to the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I hope it is. There's and a neat thing about
Chris is is let's call it being in the chair
for the first time, having the let's call it the
courage to put his fingerprints on it, and also go,
maybe my finger prints, maybe my DNA is doing this,
but we actually have a skill set that does this.
Maybe we should tilt toward that. And you're seeing us
(11:10):
play maybe a different solid defense right based on who
we have and what we're trying to become. So that's
always again when you look, when you take this thing
and breaking down the silos on a game like last
night where collectively we will lost that game. That's a
loss for the Rams. We're under five hundred now, But
there were also right individuals who are right maximizing their ops.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I got one more individual for you that I want
to ask about, and that's Darius Williams. I think the
inflection point to this turnaround defensively coincides perfectly when he
came off of injured reserve. Right, So, when you're evaluating
a thirty one year old corner, your background with Darius
and the film he put out as recently as last
year in Jacksonville, what made you feel good about bringing
him back to LA.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's interesting. Let's you mentioned thirty one. There's subjectively you
can watch the film and go while he does not
necessarily look like a thirty one year old corner, and
I say that in sometimes a thirty one year old
corner starts to look more like a safety while am
I saying that maybe maybe doesn't move as well. So interesting, right,
the genetics, his physical makeup, his you know, pathology and
(12:17):
addict he still plays and moves like a younger corner.
But with that being said, you can also notice that
he is thirty one, and maybe he is his experience
is more like a safety, so it just makes you,
let's call it him a wiser corner. So that was
one of the reasons we were able. You know, he
willed to bring him back hell of a tackler.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
How do you resist the urge? I guess when it
doesn't work out for you on either side of the ball,
And I'm glad you said that. You win and lose
as the team, but you start to separate offense, defense,
special teams. But how how do you resist the urge
to say, let's change everything if it doesn't work, versus
let's stay with the plan and get better moving into
next week.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think it at a macro level, higher level. We
know we're not going to all of a sudden, we're
not coming out next week and run in the option.
So that's a that's a drastic but that gives the example.
You can't you can't really just change who you are
now what what? And there's so many variables going on
on offense. I always go, they're not excuses, their reasons, Uh,
(13:22):
and at the end of the day, how do you
use those reasons to write, take it one step a
time and just try to do our best right for
who we are, who we have back, how cohesive we are,
those type of things to score more points than New
England in the in this case, so it's not necessarily okay,
obviously we're not playing like we have played before on
(13:46):
offense or how we envision playing. Still doesn't mean we
can't just score one more point than the opponent. And
that's what you're trying to do in terms of the
micro of the changes you're gonna make, but you can't
change a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
A cohesiveness, continuity. Those seem to be the buzzwords right now,
and I get it because Sunday could be the first day.
Correct me if I'm wrong that you can start the
five offensive lineman. You thought you were going to start
Week one in Detroit when you broke camp. Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
That is true? And the toughest thing we're going through
now is we get these guys back based on where
we are in the season, the amount of padded practices
we can have. There is not a lot of time
right to engineer continuity on the practice field in terms
of playing together, playing against right, the speed of a defense,
(14:37):
an NFL defense that it's not week one, it's not
week two, it's these defenses have now evolved to week eight, nine,
and ten into the league, so that it is a
conundrum that we're going to have moving forward. We felt
it a little bit last night. Is okay, you're getting
It's call it what we would envision day one first
(15:00):
print flip card starters back, but they haven't been practicing football.
They've been in the training room. And the offensive line
in terms of a group that's really got to play collectively.
Each position group's got to pay. The back ends got
to pay collectively. You know, things like that offensive line
might be number one in terms of importance of cohesion
(15:24):
and collectiveness, but there's a lot of units that have
to play together. But if we were going to wag them,
offensive line would be up there. Hard part about this
part of the schedule is training camp's over. There's no
preseason games, there's no practices with other opponents. We're playing
games a count and they're keeping score in the standings and.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
You can't really jump start it. You just have to
take the reps and take the steps.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
We got to figure that out.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Ye, but you got nine bodies in that room with
starting experience. Now, there's probably a lot of gms in
the league that would gladly trade problems with you.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It was interesting, we talked about it. The nice thing.
What makes it a conundrum is if, as an example,
we started one and four, we won three straight. If
we hadn't a one three straight, it wouldn't have been
a conundrum, right. What we always envisioned and wanted was, okay,
when everyone gets back. If it's a conundrum, that means, wow,
(16:15):
we're playing relatively solid over here, but we're now getting
these players back, how do you implement them and keep
let's call it the momentum going right, that's the conundrum.
We're on it, and here we are. Might have taken
a step back a little bit last night based on
trying to, you know, figure out that algorithm.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It's Tuesday, so Monday just happened and we were just talking.
The season is not dead.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You still have opportunities, you know, we're really I mean
at halftime of that game the other night, we were
halfway through the season, so it yes, really the season
is just getting started. Probably in your day some of
the legends who's coach Star Game and probably should take
the moment to as a lot of people have nice
John Robinson, but some of those legends probably John includes
(17:03):
said some of your most important football is going to
be played in November and December. So here we are. So, yes,
the seasons far from over.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Do you allow the standings to color your thinking in
this case, to keep you optimistic about the fact that
the division's right there, Arizona leading at six and four.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Here's the neat thing where we're at now, is we're
fortunate that the division no one, let's call it, took
a big lead. Now I think our paradigm is, okay,
you can't. We're fortunate, but at the end of the day,
you can't just rely on the division coming back to
you per se. So now it's a little bit in
(17:41):
our hands. I think the I think all of us
in the NFC West, right, it's within striking distance for
all of us, and we'll see who who goes and
grabs it, you know what I mean, and not necessarily
who falls back.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
So it's all about, like you said, getting better incrementally,
And yeah, I just it's so nice to talk about
football with about people that are saying that you should
fire a head coach because he kicked the field goal
on third down.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You know what I'm saying, you don't know you're talking
to tomorrow, just.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
People on the radio. It's just funny. But it's you're
doing everything you can to win a football game. I mean,
it's tough.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
That does seem like an overreaction. I can understand someone saying, hey, mate,
why did you call that? But I mean, hey, you
can tell the listener slightly reaction.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
They even brought up like the old Super Bowl stuff.
I'm like, you forgot the one that he won in
l A. Just I'm just saying, I mean, you could
talk to him for me. Maybe they'll listen to you.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know what I do think. I do think probably
your show is it allows like all of us, we
need to vent. Everyone's frustrated about last night. So there's
you know, you're providing our passionate fans.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yes, I'm happy to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I don't mind saying that maybe a bit of an overreaction.
Not certain that I could change that person's I would
even bet the under that I could change that person's mind,
and probably wouldn't try.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
To anyone looking to sell shares in McVeigh Stafford Cup,
nikoua Kiren offensive line the way it's currently constituted, you
let me know, Oh buy, I've got some right there.
Liquidity burning a hole in my pocket. I would like to.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Sign up for.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's what's going on in the draft calendar, kind of
away from the facility as we hit the holidays here.
You mentioned the college season winding down in your neck
of the woods.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
You should prepare for. It's getting crunched down. A lot
of college games have been played as a as kind
of the way we structure it as kind of our
top tier group. We still probably have a couple of
positions to evaluate in terms of our initial fall evaluations
and meetings. I do feel, uh, let's call it sorry
(19:50):
for the position we're going to do this week, because
we're going to probably grade that or evaluate that position
group like that fan evaluated. Oh yes, okay, And we
actually do some surveys on where's our mood at so
that how come we actually, let's just say we usually
we try to take the top fifteen to twenty players
(20:10):
during the week of the position group. Right, there's some
surveys to go Okay, what kind of mood where we're in,
because it's like, wow, let's hey, we took this position group,
and boy, we did not like any of them, and
maybe it was coming off a tough loss and interested.
So but that's that's a little bit where we're at now,
which which is is always a fun, fun place to
(20:31):
be as you you see the entirety of the board
began to set itself, especially in some of those early portions,
and you still have some of the let's call it
the day later, day two three portions to come, but
then it's now it's who stays who doesn't, uh, And
then it's also also moving back to going back, reviewing, refining,
(20:56):
and then there's our area scouts are going to provide
us some players here that, let's call it, weren't necessary
in the top ten to twenty before the season started,
but have earned that with their play this fall and
over the next I think that's usually in December we
start circling back to some of the guys who rose
into that portion of the draft for us. So it's
(21:19):
always a fun part. But I'm glad you asked because
I've been jokingly saying, wow, I feel sorry for this
position this week. I won't name that position group that room,
but I.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Do once we're done here, I do think we're going
to be a little hard on that group. Part of
the reason I asked is I had a chance to
sit with Omar States today, and if you were to
rewind time, he's kind of in the middle of his
LSU season this time last year, playing with an eventual
Heisman winner, And I wonder how valuable it can be
to organization building when you find maybe a future starter
in those post draft hours like he might be for
(21:53):
your team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That's goes back to what you mentioned with the a
little bit the edge with a it's called a rookie
deal or QB. It's an extra draft pick. It's a
bonus when when someone like that earns a starting job
and actually becomes a little bit of a long term starter,
and and and and even if they earn a role
right and as a contributor. So it's always an extra
(22:16):
it's always an extra draft pick that you weren't necessarily
expecting for. But I what I like to say is everyone,
every team, not just us, is intentionally trying to is
intentionally trying to identify players after the draft that can
help us based only because it happens every year, and
and and especially with the the element of the COVID
(22:40):
and the six year eligibilities and some of the let's
call it, if we call it n I l now
a players staying longer because they may get painted. There
there is an el where there's been a let's call
it a flux or maybe a little more players that
are draft eligible right over this subset of years. He's
(23:00):
probably one of them, right being able to transfer to
the PAC twelve, to the to the SEC and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So I did get a question, not from a listener,
this was from a football fan. Omar states starting. Was
that a speed thing because of how fast Miami is
and how how they run their offense? Or did he
earn that spot? I said, I think he might have
earned that spot.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Well, he did. He earned the spot when Troy were
on the start, when Troy went down with his hamstreak
hamstring energy, I mean injury. You know, he was definitely
going to be one of the second linebackers to Rose
Boom in certain packages last week, he would have played
a lot more. I know our defense was expecting Seattle
(23:46):
to do a little more. Too tight end offense, they
went a little more eleven, so he didn't play as
much this week because of that. They probably trained him
in eleven and twelve and twenty one and things like
that in base. So again we'll probably moving forward. When
there's one linebacker on the field, it will still be
Christian Rose Boom. And then when there's two, there's there's him.
(24:07):
What he had, what he did show uh in the preseason,
dating back to probably Oregon State LSU. Two things range
side to side, but also, uh, he doesn't mind right
when he goes in and arrives, there's an element of
thump and feel and knock back in his game.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I think he led in tackles right off the top.
I think I believe he was the leader in tackles.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, so you know, it's interesting. I remember if we
go back to l m U, you go to your
first practice, all of that first and pads, and it's
the what we determine what our developmental period right after practice,
right the first ones and twos, they're done and all
of a sudden, over here on this field it's called
(24:51):
our threes are actually doing live scrimmage tackle, bring people
down to the ground. Usual only about five or six plays,
maybe eight plays. But I remember watching our first developmental
period practice whatever we call it at LMU, and you
just there was Omar being Omar, like, wow, he is
(25:13):
because remember when you practice, you're not tackling. All of
a sudden you go to tackling, and then you go
to tackling and someone arriving kind of with an at
tude when they tackle you. That's you notice that kickoff
in preseason.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Yeah, boy, that's an undrafted free agent running next to him.
Christian Roseman. Last night wasn't bad either, Yes, could have
had to.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Had the hair flowing.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah, Demarka buys me a drink every time I mentioned
a college free agent. By the way, you dang right, Yes, sir,
that's our lifelong agreement. Anything else, no, just moving on
to next week.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
And like you said, I'm glad that you said that
and put it out there in the universe that this
is a team thing. You win and lose as a team,
because you know what happens when you lose a game.
They were great, they were bad. That's the reason, YadA, YadA.
And that's the last thing you want mid season or
anytime in the season.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I think that's fair to say, fair to say, and
that's in and again we've it's a team thing. Last night,
the defense did their part in keeping us in it
and we were close, right, And I'm not if we
could have come back and won the game, I'm not
saying that the world would have said, okay, you from
start to finish. Wow, I hate to say it. You
deserve that game. Now it'd been a win. Neat thing
(26:23):
about team sports is right if if in a game
there's an element of lopsided this defense playing better than offense,
the defense can keeps you in it and keeps you
within two even when they got eleven. I was thinking, hey,
you know what, it might take two straight touchdown drives
and you win by three points or one and it's
a walk off kind of win. Might not have let's
(26:45):
call it deserved it from start to finish, but because
of it is a team sport, one side of the
ball can keep you in it most of the game
and the other side can have one or two good
series is and there's your w doesn't mean I can
say this, as Nick Saban would say, doubt the defense
is going to listen to this show. But if you
listen to this show, and you think you've arribbed that
(27:06):
can be rat poison and you know what next thing?
You know, So it's but you got to call spade
a spade and.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Keep winning three out of four and I think this
thing will end the way that we all hope it will.
Let's need DeMarco far jb Long. Thank you for being
with us tonight for the Coach mcvaigh Show with our
special guest. As always presented by Microsoft Surface
Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to the Coach McVay Show,
presented by Microsoft Surface. I'm JB along with my friend
DeMarco Farr and the general manager of your Los Angeles Rams,
Less Need, is with us. On a short week. Week
eleven takes the Rams back to New England to take
on the Patriots. All right, let's start with reflections on
last night's lost to Miami. It's been three really good
steps forward for the Rams and now this one step
(00:27):
back that.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Says it all. Good thing. It's a short week, go
to New England, it's fall. Play some football, get the
bad taste out of our mouth. That's the only thing
we can do.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
What's the streak with Less now on the show?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Is he It ended abruptly?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
It ended, okay, so we're gonna get a new streak
started going to New England. And that's all you can
do is circle the wagons and get right back at it.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
That's yes, they're not calling it off. It's the next round.
And really, from a macro standpoint, last night's very disappointing.
Not what we plan for, not what we envision. Now,
there were some good things. Last night was a little opposite.
It was a little more. Let's give it. Let's call
it like it is. A defense played five cy special
teams was good. We had plenty of opportunities on offense
(01:09):
and didn't take advantage of them to.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
What extent does last year let's provide maybe an emotional
backstop or maybe a blueprint to what might be possible
in the second half of this season.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I mean, I think every year is different, but that's
that's something let's call it. That's an experience that not
everyone in our locker room can can draw upon. But
I think whether it's the second half of the season,
whether it's November December football, whether it's just the next round,
there there is an element of everything that's been done before,
(01:41):
or all the results that's accumulated before this next week
that's over and done with. There's lessons to be learned
and then can we go apply into the second half.
And really it gets down to this from a macro standpoint, psychologically, right,
there's it's what the the NFL, the seventeen rounds that
we go through, it's over about six five or six months,
(02:04):
and there's gonna be ebbs and flows, and the whole
key is through all those ebbs and flows. Is staying steady,
not letting. Let's call it a yesterday's win actually right,
get us fat and happy and effect this week's preparation
or a yesterday's loss right bleed into the next week.
And that's really some version of ironclad emotional and control
(02:28):
to truly get through this marathon.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I think I heard Jared Verse say the same thing.
You can't get two highs with the highs and two
lows with lows. You got to go back to work.
It's a short week.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's better.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
But about him, when you drafted him, talk to him,
talk to him about before you drafted him. Did you
sense that certain maturity about him? I know he jumps
off the tape on video, but when you talk to him,
there's like an old soul, like you've been in this
league already ten years. How do you get that from
day one?
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You know what, there's probably many variables, right that come
into play in that, whether it's whether it's just mom, dad,
God given, genetics, sociology, right, how he was mentored, how
he behaves, the how he's matured based on his age
end of the day. I do know this. The if
you probably look back over the course of his college
(03:17):
career and in the now, like most of the things right,
most of the that's called it the action, he basically
the actions he goes through and the day to day
bab leads to right quality, right football that's tenacious, that's urgent,
that is actually contagious, and that's that's really been consistently
(03:39):
who he's been since we've started watching. Even when you
go back to Albany film.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
I mean, even with Aaron it was immediate. But I've
never seen a rookie kind of pace the defense, pace
the team like he's done. Like it's like he's been
here for years and he just got here.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, I think, uh, Demarcy, you, let's go back to
when you were in locker room, and let's call it
young players that you saw come into the league. Some
of them aren't there yet, some of them are closer
to being there yet. For many reasons, he's someone that
probably right, let's just call it, he's not a finished
pro product, but he was right closer to there than
(04:15):
needing to be. Let's call it developed.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
We all think Kobe Turner should have won Defensive Rookie
the Year last season. How validating would it be to
see Jerry get that honor for the organization this year
in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
From always from an individual standpoint, and it's interesting the
emotions that come through after a night like last night
were collectively right, we weren't up to the standards we
set out to be. Sometimes it's tough to talk about
individual on the lades, but anytime a rookie can come
(04:47):
in and again, he's not there yet. I mean, we're
halfway through this thing, so I would say, right, I'm
well aware he probably won a lot of defensive Rookie
of the let's call it Rookie of the Years, But
that's the midway point, and what all of our rookies
are about to grasp is it's a long season. Has
(05:08):
the college season winds down, right, we're just now right
getting into the halfway point, so it's it's a tough
marathon and they're about to go through it. But again, yes,
if he continues playing like he has, that will be
something he's definitely earned.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
The whole front include Michael Hoyt. But I think the
funny thing is I never thought we'd be talking about
a young defense as much as we are. I guess
that leads into kind of the disappointment part of last
night that you couldn't find a way to score points
to help win that game. And the defense were they
kept you in the game long enough.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Kept us in the game, and probably maybe even let's
call it kept us in the game a little longer
then then let's call it probably expected in terms of
the way the game was going. If you get in
the epas and some of that analytics, so give them credit.
That's the neat thing is what we're seeing occur and
(06:03):
evolve is as we said as one of the themes
coming into the season, how do you replace Aaron Donald?
No way you can replace Aaron Donald with one person.
But what you what we are starting to feel is
the collective is doing their part in trying to replace
Aaron Donald and some of the havoc he did calls.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Speaking of the Goat, I saw you two had a
moment pre game. What was that like seeing him back
in the Rams house?
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You know, it was really cool? The really I would
call it. The thing I remember most about last night
is is seeing that right, you could just feel that
he gave it as all and there's not necessarily a regret, uh,
And that that's the only DeMarco you can talk about
it right when when you when when the cliff is
(06:48):
here in your football career is over, there's probably a
subset of probably more than most where while that ended
a little quicker or sooner than later, and there's probably
that void that's tough to fill a little bit of
regret a little bit. Boy, I wish it could have
gone a little bit farther. You could tell. The neat
thing with him is there's an element of that part
of his life is fulfilled in his own to the
(07:11):
next chapter full speed.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I think the entire audience was hoping you would tell
a completely different story than the one you just did.
Though we're very happy for and his loved one is
his family.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
He did say he was enjoying, you know, seeing the gentleman.
We were just talking about that defensive front, that entire
defense play football. So there's probably a little bit of
a maybe a little bit of a jealous side, like
it'd be neat to play with that bunch.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But well to that point, if you can put like
your salary cap hat on, because for the last say
generation of football, we talked about how the cheat code
of the salary cap is having a quarterback who can
win you a title on a rookie contract. When I
think about the rest of this year and moving forward
for the ring our cheek.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Code could be a quarterback that can become a six
eligible and extend plays.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, there you go.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Defenses are designed to cover this thing for three seconds.
The next thing you know there at six seconds going
oh geez, But I didn't mean no, it's fine, yeah,
but both of them work. I would take I would
take number two over one.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
But where I was going with that is, given the
price of edge defenders and interior defensive linemen now to
have a group of four of them on rookie contracts,
how meaningful can that beat a roster construction for your
rams moving forward?
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Really really good question. Probably haven't thought about it until
this moment, because what really the main thing that started
last let's call it the draft before this draft, but
over the last two drafts, has been to intentionally try
to begin right infusing young, disruptive talent amongst that defensive front.
(08:50):
So here's where I'll say this. It's right now. It
is fulfilling to see that some of what we envision
has actually come into life. And then that that point,
we can as as we get into the rest of
the season, into the offseason going okay, how can we,
as you said, use that as an edge to maybe
gain an edge up on it, you know, somewhere else
(09:10):
on the roster for seasons moving forward.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I know he's been there for a while, but I
thought Bobby Brown has really picked up his level a play.
He's We've set his name a lot in the last
couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Yeah, going back to not just shared the contageousness of
how that defense plays, there's an element right of of
we see it from from the opening game and even
the second game when when Arizona put up a lot
of points. But even in that game take the loss
(09:41):
out of it, you could feel our team disrupting Kyler Murray.
Now maybe they had not ever as a collective. Wow,
that's a fast that's a fast guy to try to corral.
And if you do not corral him and give him
those all of a sudden, that three second play turns
into It seems like in one of those plays in
that game, it may have been about nine seconds where wow,
(10:02):
what a play at the back of the enzel point
being is Even in that game you could feel them
coming along and then you could just feel the contagiousness
spread amongst all the defenders. Bobby Brown included with Hey,
we all want uh you know, it seems like they
all want to be a part of the the collective
that's disrupting and fuel and and each one of them
(10:23):
are fueling each other. It's and that's not anything that's
said in a huddle. That's not maybe a locker room speech.
That is that is an interesting Let's call it chemistry,
some version of physical energy that somehow evolves over the
course of a season. And it's cool to see.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I would want to give that the Chris sure that
he's brought that sort of energy that's sort of togetherness
to the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I hope it is. There's and a neat thing about
Chris is is let's call it being in the chair
for the first time, having the let's call it the
courage to put his fingerprints on it, and also go,
maybe my finger prints, maybe my DNA is doing this,
but we actually have a skill set that does this.
Maybe we should tilt toward that. And you're seeing us
(11:10):
play maybe a different solid defense right based on who
we have and what we're trying to become. So that's
always again when you look, when you take this thing
and breaking down the silos on a game like last
night where collectively we will lost that game. That's a
loss for the Rams. We're under five hundred now, But
there were also right individuals who are right maximizing their ops.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I got one more individual for you that I want
to ask about, and that's Darius Williams. I think the
inflection point to this turnaround defensively coincides perfectly when he
came off of injured reserve. Right, So, when you're evaluating
a thirty one year old corner, your background with Darius
and the film he put out as recently as last
year in Jacksonville, what made you feel good about bringing
him back to LA.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
It's interesting. Let's you mentioned thirty one. There's subjectively you
can watch the film and go while he does not
necessarily look like a thirty one year old corner, and
I say that in sometimes a thirty one year old
corner starts to look more like a safety while am
I saying that maybe maybe doesn't move as well. So interesting, right,
the genetics, his physical makeup, his you know, pathology and
(12:17):
addict he still plays and moves like a younger corner.
But with that being said, you can also notice that
he is thirty one, and maybe he is his experience
is more like a safety, so it just makes you,
let's call it him a wiser corner. So that was
one of the reasons we were able. You know, he
willed to bring him back hell of a tackler.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
How do you resist the urge? I guess when it
doesn't work out for you on either side of the ball,
And I'm glad you said that. You win and lose
as the team, but you start to separate offense, defense,
special teams. But how how do you resist the urge
to say, let's change everything if it doesn't work, versus
let's stay with the plan and get better moving into
next week.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think it at a macro level, higher level. We
know we're not going to all of a sudden, we're
not coming out next week and run in the option.
So that's a that's a drastic but that gives the example.
You can't you can't really just change who you are
now what what? And there's so many variables going on
on offense. I always go, they're not excuses, their reasons, Uh,
(13:22):
and at the end of the day, how do you
use those reasons to write, take it one step a
time and just try to do our best right for
who we are, who we have back, how cohesive we are,
those type of things to score more points than New
England in the in this case, so it's not necessarily okay,
obviously we're not playing like we have played before on
(13:46):
offense or how we envision playing. Still doesn't mean we
can't just score one more point than the opponent. And
that's what you're trying to do in terms of the
micro of the changes you're gonna make, but you can't
change a lot.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
A cohesiveness, continuity. Those seem to be the buzzwords right now,
and I get it because Sunday could be the first day.
Correct me if I'm wrong that you can start the
five offensive lineman. You thought you were going to start
Week one in Detroit when you broke camp. Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
That is true? And the toughest thing we're going through
now is we get these guys back based on where
we are in the season, the amount of padded practices
we can have. There is not a lot of time
right to engineer continuity on the practice field in terms
of playing together, playing against right, the speed of a defense,
(14:37):
an NFL defense that it's not week one, it's not
week two, it's these defenses have now evolved to week eight, nine,
and ten into the league, so that it is a
conundrum that we're going to have moving forward. We felt
it a little bit last night. Is okay, you're getting
It's call it what we would envision day one first
(15:00):
print flip card starters back, but they haven't been practicing football.
They've been in the training room. And the offensive line
in terms of a group that's really got to play collectively.
Each position group's got to pay. The back ends got
to pay collectively. You know, things like that offensive line
might be number one in terms of importance of cohesion
(15:24):
and collectiveness, but there's a lot of units that have
to play together. But if we were going to wag them,
offensive line would be up there. Hard part about this
part of the schedule is training camp's over. There's no
preseason games, there's no practices with other opponents. We're playing
games a count and they're keeping score in the standings and.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
You can't really jump start it. You just have to
take the reps and take the steps.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
We got to figure that out.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Ye, but you got nine bodies in that room with
starting experience. Now, there's probably a lot of gms in
the league that would gladly trade problems with you.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It was interesting, we talked about it. The nice thing.
What makes it a conundrum is if, as an example,
we started one and four, we won three straight. If
we hadn't a one three straight, it wouldn't have been
a conundrum, right. What we always envisioned and wanted was, okay,
when everyone gets back. If it's a conundrum, that means, wow,
(16:15):
we're playing relatively solid over here, but we're now getting
these players back, how do you implement them and keep
let's call it the momentum going right, that's the conundrum.
We're on it, and here we are. Might have taken
a step back a little bit last night based on
trying to, you know, figure out that algorithm.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
It's Tuesday, so Monday just happened and we were just talking.
The season is not dead.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You still have opportunities, you know, we're really I mean
at halftime of that game the other night, we were
halfway through the season, so it yes, really the season
is just getting started. Probably in your day some of
the legends who's coach Star Game and probably should take
the moment to as a lot of people have nice
John Robinson, but some of those legends probably John includes
(17:03):
said some of your most important football is going to
be played in November and December. So here we are. So, yes,
the seasons far from over.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Do you allow the standings to color your thinking in
this case, to keep you optimistic about the fact that
the division's right there, Arizona leading at six and four.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Here's the neat thing where we're at now, is we're
fortunate that the division no one, let's call it, took
a big lead. Now I think our paradigm is, okay,
you can't. We're fortunate, but at the end of the day,
you can't just rely on the division coming back to
you per se. So now it's a little bit in
(17:41):
our hands. I think the I think all of us
in the NFC West, right, it's within striking distance for
all of us, and we'll see who who goes and
grabs it, you know what I mean, and not necessarily
who falls back.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
So it's all about, like you said, getting better incrementally,
And yeah, I just it's so nice to talk about
football with about people that are saying that you should
fire a head coach because he kicked the field goal
on third down.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You know what I'm saying, you don't know you're talking
to tomorrow, just.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
People on the radio. It's just funny. But it's you're
doing everything you can to win a football game. I mean,
it's tough.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
That does seem like an overreaction. I can understand someone saying, hey, mate,
why did you call that? But I mean, hey, you
can tell the listener slightly reaction.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
They even brought up like the old Super Bowl stuff.
I'm like, you forgot the one that he won in
l A. Just I'm just saying, I mean, you could
talk to him for me. Maybe they'll listen to you.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know what I do think. I do think probably
your show is it allows like all of us, we
need to vent. Everyone's frustrated about last night. So there's
you know, you're providing our passionate fans.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
Yes, I'm happy to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I don't mind saying that maybe a bit of an overreaction.
Not certain that I could change that person's I would
even bet the under that I could change that person's mind,
and probably wouldn't try.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
To anyone looking to sell shares in McVeigh Stafford Cup,
nikoua Kiren offensive line the way it's currently constituted, you
let me know, Oh buy, I've got some right there.
Liquidity burning a hole in my pocket. I would like to.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Sign up for.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's what's going on in the draft calendar, kind of
away from the facility as we hit the holidays here.
You mentioned the college season winding down in your neck
of the woods.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
You should prepare for. It's getting crunched down. A lot
of college games have been played as a as kind
of the way we structure it as kind of our
top tier group. We still probably have a couple of
positions to evaluate in terms of our initial fall evaluations
and meetings. I do feel, uh, let's call it sorry
(19:50):
for the position we're going to do this week, because
we're going to probably grade that or evaluate that position
group like that fan evaluated. Oh yes, okay, And we
actually do some surveys on where's our mood at so
that how come we actually, let's just say we usually
we try to take the top fifteen to twenty players
(20:10):
during the week of the position group. Right, there's some
surveys to go Okay, what kind of mood where we're in,
because it's like, wow, let's hey, we took this position group,
and boy, we did not like any of them, and
maybe it was coming off a tough loss and interested.
So but that's that's a little bit where we're at now,
which which is is always a fun, fun place to
(20:31):
be as you you see the entirety of the board
began to set itself, especially in some of those early portions,
and you still have some of the let's call it
the day later, day two three portions to come, but
then it's now it's who stays who doesn't, uh, And
then it's also also moving back to going back, reviewing, refining,
(20:56):
and then there's our area scouts are going to provide
us some players here that, let's call it, weren't necessary
in the top ten to twenty before the season started,
but have earned that with their play this fall and
over the next I think that's usually in December we
start circling back to some of the guys who rose
into that portion of the draft for us. So it's
(21:19):
always a fun part. But I'm glad you asked because
I've been jokingly saying, wow, I feel sorry for this
position this week. I won't name that position group that room,
but I.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Do once we're done here, I do think we're going
to be a little hard on that group. Part of
the reason I asked is I had a chance to
sit with Omar States today, and if you were to
rewind time, he's kind of in the middle of his
LSU season this time last year, playing with an eventual
Heisman winner, And I wonder how valuable it can be
to organization building when you find maybe a future starter
in those post draft hours like he might be for
(21:53):
your team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
That's goes back to what you mentioned with the a
little bit the edge with a it's called a rookie
deal or QB. It's an extra draft pick. It's a
bonus when when someone like that earns a starting job
and actually becomes a little bit of a long term starter,
and and and and even if they earn a role
right and as a contributor. So it's always an extra
(22:16):
it's always an extra draft pick that you weren't necessarily
expecting for. But I what I like to say is everyone,
every team, not just us, is intentionally trying to is
intentionally trying to identify players after the draft that can
help us based only because it happens every year, and
and and especially with the the element of the COVID
(22:40):
and the six year eligibilities and some of the let's
call it, if we call it n I l now
a players staying longer because they may get painted. There
there is an el where there's been a let's call
it a flux or maybe a little more players that
are draft eligible right over this subset of years. He's
(23:00):
probably one of them, right being able to transfer to
the PAC twelve, to the to the SEC and things
like that.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
So I did get a question, not from a listener,
this was from a football fan. Omar states starting. Was
that a speed thing because of how fast Miami is
and how how they run their offense? Or did he
earn that spot? I said, I think he might have
earned that spot.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Well, he did. He earned the spot when Troy were
on the start, when Troy went down with his hamstreak
hamstring energy, I mean injury. You know, he was definitely
going to be one of the second linebackers to Rose
Boom in certain packages last week, he would have played
a lot more. I know our defense was expecting Seattle
(23:46):
to do a little more. Too tight end offense, they
went a little more eleven, so he didn't play as
much this week because of that. They probably trained him
in eleven and twelve and twenty one and things like
that in base. So again we'll probably moving forward. When
there's one linebacker on the field, it will still be
Christian Rose Boom. And then when there's two, there's there's him.
(24:07):
What he had, what he did show uh in the preseason,
dating back to probably Oregon State LSU. Two things range
side to side, but also, uh, he doesn't mind right
when he goes in and arrives, there's an element of
thump and feel and knock back in his game.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I think he led in tackles right off the top.
I think I believe he was the leader in tackles.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Yeah, so you know, it's interesting. I remember if we
go back to l m U, you go to your
first practice, all of that first and pads, and it's
the what we determine what our developmental period right after practice,
right the first ones and twos, they're done and all
of a sudden, over here on this field it's called
(24:51):
our threes are actually doing live scrimmage tackle, bring people
down to the ground. Usual only about five or six plays,
maybe eight plays. But I remember watching our first developmental
period practice whatever we call it at LMU, and you
just there was Omar being Omar, like, wow, he is
(25:13):
because remember when you practice, you're not tackling. All of
a sudden you go to tackling, and then you go
to tackling and someone arriving kind of with an at
tude when they tackle you. That's you notice that kickoff
in preseason.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Yeah, boy, that's an undrafted free agent running next to him.
Christian Roseman. Last night wasn't bad either, Yes, could have
had to.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Had the hair flowing.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah, Demarka buys me a drink every time I mentioned
a college free agent. By the way, you dang right, Yes, sir,
that's our lifelong agreement. Anything else, no, just moving on
to next week.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
And like you said, I'm glad that you said that
and put it out there in the universe that this
is a team thing. You win and lose as a team,
because you know what happens when you lose a game.
They were great, they were bad. That's the reason, YadA, YadA.
And that's the last thing you want mid season or
anytime in the season.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I think that's fair to say, fair to say, and
that's in and again we've it's a team thing. Last night,
the defense did their part in keeping us in it
and we were close, right, And I'm not if we
could have come back and won the game, I'm not
saying that the world would have said, okay, you from
start to finish. Wow, I hate to say it. You
deserve that game. Now it'd been a win. Neat thing
(26:23):
about team sports is right if if in a game
there's an element of lopsided this defense playing better than offense,
the defense can keeps you in it and keeps you
within two even when they got eleven. I was thinking, hey,
you know what, it might take two straight touchdown drives
and you win by three points or one and it's
a walk off kind of win. Might not have let's
(26:45):
call it deserved it from start to finish, but because
of it is a team sport, one side of the
ball can keep you in it most of the game
and the other side can have one or two good
series is and there's your w doesn't mean I can
say this, as Nick Saban would say, doubt the defense
is going to listen to this show. But if you
listen to this show, and you think you've arribbed that
(27:06):
can be rat poison and you know what next thing?
You know, So it's but you got to call spade
a spade and.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Keep winning three out of four and I think this
thing will end the way that we all hope it will.
Let's need DeMarco far jb Long. Thank you for being
with us tonight for the Coach mcvaigh Show with our
special guest. As always presented by Microsoft Surface
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