Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, outside linebacker Jared Verse, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur, and special teams coordinator Chase blackburn preview Sunday's Week 15 matchup against the Detroit Lions and developments in their respective units.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kind of China just does this day's gonna's defense.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
I mean, uh, two of the two of the premiere
backs in the league.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Obviously Gibbs we all know how explosed to be is
what he can do.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I don't know if he gives enough credit for his vision,
you know, how he can run this stretch run game
and cut it back.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
He's heavy and youthink.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
And then Montgomery is uh, you know, obviously he's a
starting back for pretty much everybody in the league, and
they have a great one to two punch and not
to mention a great line and a great scheme that's
well coached, and it's gonna be a huge challenge.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
It was it like seeing na get that interception last week.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Oh, it was awesome. Uh, you know, he's just a stunt.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I mean, he's been forcing turnovers, making plays all year
and uh he's kind of been the linch pin and
the energy of the defense, and uh, you know, he's
the guy we look to if we're getting a little
old to kind of pick everybody up.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
And uh, it was cool to see him kind of
make the play.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You've seen Jared since he came into the league. What's
what's the difference between what you see now and maybe
what you saw back in sixteen.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, you're definitely seeing just some more mature, more experienced
version version of him. He was obviously a great player
when he was here, and uh, he's just continued to
ascend and build off that. And they've done such a
good job, you know, putting pieces around him where he's
comfortable and uh, you know, uh, getting to his strengths
and highlighting the receivers that they got, getting the ball
(01:16):
out of his hands, getting it to the playmakers around me.
Is a really good line, really good scheme, really well
coached and uh, he's just playing at a really high level.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
What do you think makes Nate Lambman such a good
fit on this team?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
He can he's really smart, he's tough, and he can
communicate and uh, you know those are the three things
usually when you can do that, and uh, you know,
we'll be able to make it work. And uh, you
know he I would say he's elite at those three things.
And you know, he's just a really good football player.
He's big, he's heavy, and uh, you know, we just
love having him.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Locations universas.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, you know, we're always it's to me, it's always
been a game by game thing. We know we have
we feel like we have four starting corners and uh,
you know, we feel confident with any of those guys,
and uh, you know, we're just rolling those guys through.
A Kello has been back, kind of getting his feedback
underneath him, getting going and uh, you know, just like
we said, we're we're lucky to have those guys and uh,
you know, based on the week, based on the matchup,
you know, we're gonna do whatever it takes a win
(02:10):
that week.
Speaker 7 (02:12):
How do you think Jared Burst has taken to just
the extra responsibility, just the extra tension he's getting.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
From offenses and what are some of the I guess ways.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
He's impacting the game that are as obvious to outside people,
like deal with the sector.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, you know, we we've been talking to him about,
you know, being in a great stance being one of eleven,
you know, not trying to do too much, you know,
not trying to be Superman every single play. And he's
done just that. He's affecting the game. He's affecting the
quarterback's he affects the game every single play. He's not
just one of those guys a one trippony that comes
in and rushes. He's a guy that offenses have to
account for him every play, and he's done just that
(02:46):
and it's not affecting you know, whether he's getting chipped
or all that type of stuff. It's not affecting his effort.
It's not as affecting his mentality throughout the game. And
he's done an awesome job this season's go ahead.
Speaker 8 (02:58):
What's your approach throughout the week? Just for getting with
your assistant coaches and you know their input on the
game plan and things like that.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah, you know, we have an unbelievable staff and I
really lean on them, and different portions of the game
plan and different coaches are responsible for for specific sex
And you know, Chris Peeke does an unbelievable job with
our red zone. You know, Aubrey does an awesome job
with the first second hal pass. You know, Drew and
Joe with the protections and our and our blitzes and
stuff like that, and GIF obviously with the run game
(03:27):
and and helping out with the front stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So I really lean on those.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It's a true collaboration kind of throughout the week to
get to the best place what it is. I'm just
kind of calling it in on Sunday, but it truly
is within specifics of the game plan. You segment it,
you know, and you lean on those coaches. Those coaches
are the exports within that portion of the game plan,
you know, and and we're just working together to put
our guys in the best position based on the week.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Does one Johnson got an opportunity seem like an expanded
one last week? What's kind of his outside linebacker D
line or what's how are you guys?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It kind of depends on the week, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
We we just like we've kind of always done with,
you know, whether it's Tank or Josh Wallace or guys
like that where you can move him around.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
He's a guy that you can move around.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So depending on the matchup that week, you know, we
see him as a guy that could play D line
for us, and but he's obviously athletic enough to play
on the edge, athletic enough to drop do different things. So, uh,
you know, he's a guy that has a really good
skill set and you know, and you saw get in
there last week and kind of get some action to
do a really good job.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
What if he made it.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
The way the Wants have used Jamison.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Williams kind of been very important.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Oh he's been great.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
You know, obviously he's a guy that you know, they
try to get up and whether it's one on one isolations,
getting him running, running across the field, throwing screens. He
can run the whole route, tree really good hands.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So he's just.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Playing at a really high level. And uh, you can
see they're trying to feature him and get.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Him the ball a lot.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
It's impressing most about the way the fire and Gun
has been able to impact defensively, not just from a
statistical standpoint, but what.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Else, what he's got to Well, it's like I was
talking with Verse, It's it's how we have every single play,
he's playing at a really high level.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
He's got the sack numbers.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
But he's playing at a really high level, probably the
best he's ever played, every single play, and we ask
a lot of him and he steps up to it
every single time.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And uh, you know, that group's just.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Kind of ascending as a whole, and you know he's
right there at the forefront of it.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Was a take it on at Refuiss.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Getting this last week with Sean Goods yeah, I mean
it was, uh, it was fun.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
You know there's ironic that I got asked this question
last week, and I was trying to be as truthful
as I could, because it is. It is a fun
three and a half hour window, watching the guys go
do their thing and you know, just having communication with
the quarterback. But like always, there's just total collaboration, you know,
and communication throughout our staff, you know, whether it's Sean
and I but but everyone's always involved on every single series,
(05:48):
particularly between the series.
Speaker 9 (05:49):
So it was cool.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
But what was more cool was watching the guys do
their thing and played a really high clip.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
Well you guys do that? Will you handle that again
this week? Or is the plan?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No?
Speaker 6 (05:59):
No, that was If you have saw him Friday or
Saturday morning, you totally understand why. So I think he's
been pretty pretty honest with you guys as well.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
This Detroit defense with Hutchinson back, how are they play?
Speaker 6 (06:18):
Yeah, they just they play so hard. I mean, they
take after their coach, they take after their city. They've
had a incredible foundation since Dan took over. Played them
late in the year in twenty two when I was
with the Jets and couldn't be more impressed with their
play style on both sides of the ball, and nothing's
dropped off. All they've done is just get better football
players in there each and every year. I mean they
(06:39):
are just loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
Hutch is an absolute freak, you know, in terms of
the way he plays on the edge. It's never been
different since the time, you know, dating back to obviously
his time at Michigan and all that. So now it's
it's that same Detroit every time you pop on the tape.
You know, you guys better strap up for you know,
sixty minutes, three and a half hours, whatever it's gonna take.
Speaker 9 (07:03):
Yeah, I mean he's a stud. You know, there's no doubt.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
But like we always say here and I know they're
saying the same thing, like all thirty two buildings, you know,
next man up and they're gonna whoever comes in there.
It's just like San Franz losing Fred. They're playing good
defense over there in San Francisco, you know, because there
is a culture, there's a standard. You know what Brian
branch is gonna be missed on the field, like you know,
he's taught through the way he plays and his actions
(07:28):
whoever that next guy is, you know. So yeah, there's
no doubt about he's one of the best in this league.
You miss guys like that. But again, the standards of
standard there, so there's gonna be no drop off.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Obviously there's been a lot of talks about Bert Horn
over the last couple of weeks, but kind of going
back to last year and now, where have you seen
the biggest shift for him?
Speaker 9 (07:46):
That's a lot of coaching.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yeah, I think it's just again the comfort level. You know,
in terms of just being a year two. Kyron got
the fair shares is well documented and noted, but you know,
having this last off, see, you could just see him
just getting more and more comfortable.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Like it's not as easy as just.
Speaker 6 (08:04):
Standing back seven and a half yards behind the quarterback
and getting a handoff right or left. You know, there's
a lot of intricacies with it, not that he was
behind it all, it's just he was a rookie, you know.
And so again that you can just see the comfort level,
and with the comfort level comes confidence.
Speaker 9 (08:17):
With the confidence comes the what you guys are seeing
on Sundays.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
So it's not shocking to me that he's producing at
that level. Again, it's a credit to the other ten
guys on the field at all times, but there's no
doubt he's playing at a high cliff.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
What he takes a step forward like that?
Speaker 7 (08:31):
What do you feel like that does for Kyra and
Williams to be able to have you know, another guy
that take the.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Yeah, I mean it's you know, again that running backs.
I don't know how close you guys have been down
to the field when there's an actual game going on,
but it's like a car wreck every time someone's getting
hit in the backs.
Speaker 9 (08:47):
Obviously touched the ball more than anyone.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
So anytime that you can take a little bit off
their load, it's just going to help them in the
long run, you know. And freak things do happen by
the play, I get that, but you know, through time,
if they stay healthy, you just naturally you're gonna be
a little bit fresher, you know. So again, I think
you'd have to ask highering that and how he feels.
I know from my vantage point, he looks like it's
weak one to me, you know, and in both mind
(09:12):
and spear and body, you know. So it's it's been
a cool little deal that they both have their little
change ups, but I think they fit well off each other.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
How does that put pressure on.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Defense dream the tail to some bays and pressure back.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah, I think it's just that, you know, I mean,
you know, the fresher you're going to be, the better
you would think you're going to be, you know, So
I think that's probably what you know, the pressure is
on the defense.
Speaker 8 (09:36):
There's been more explosive runs, you know, this year than
last year. Is that something that you guys focus on
trying to improve or is that just kind of come
naturally with you know, with the success of the run game.
Speaker 9 (09:46):
I think there's there's a lot of factors to it.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
I think part of it's what we were just saying
in the last two questions in terms of guys maybe
just being a tick fresher, not just throughout a game,
but throughout a week. I think our offensive line is
playing at a high clip right now, creating a lot
of space, but or there's touch at the second level.
I think our receivers are doing a great job of
getting connected on the second level and continuing to strain.
I think our tight ends, you know, one, two or
three of them are doing a great job.
Speaker 9 (10:10):
And what we're asking them to do.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
I think Matthew's doing a great job of getting us
in the right play, and I think the backs when
they get to the free hitter, you know, the scholarship
player for you, well, I think they're doing a good
job of making them miss, you.
Speaker 9 (10:19):
Know, not every time. I mean, it's the league game.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
Mean the defense as a saying it too, but anytime
you run the ball, as I just kind of stated
right there, it takes all eleven guys and whatever we're
asking schematically, it really doesn't matter unless they're making it
come to life, and you know, right now they are.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Sean said that two to two is going to be
up this week, and so how as the offense has
evolved when he's been on ir how do you work him,
you know, back into the scheme our problem?
Speaker 6 (10:49):
And that's a good problem, right There's a lot of
guys that you want to get out on that field.
Speaker 9 (10:54):
There's a lot of guys that deserve to touch the football.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
But ultimately there's only one football, and there's only five
eligibles we can put out there at the time.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:01):
So I know Matthew considers himself ineligible, but we'll let
him stand back there and just do what he does.
So uh no, it's you know, we'll we'll, we'll see.
I mean a lot of times this stuff organically works
its way out.
Speaker 9 (11:13):
It's just good to have him back out.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
There and and have the availability to, you know, do
what we need to do with him.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
But I just feel like it's gonna has helped those
kind of orsistam period the last two years.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
What he thought about these plays, he's a potter.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
I think it's somewhat of the same answer as Quorum
in terms of, you know, the more he's been out there,
the more confident he's been, The more confident he's been,
I think, the better the performer he's. Uh, he's just
touching the surface. In my opinion, Steven Villa, it can
be as good as he wants to be, period. And
I think you see that when you pop on the
tape on Sunday, So you know, it's uh, it's it's
(11:49):
fun to watch him. He's he's such a likable dude,
and you can't mistake his kindness for weakness by any means.
But as he's just can continue to figure this thing out.
You know, I think he's realizing, you know, the sky's
the limit for him.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
His ceilings high.
Speaker 11 (12:04):
Time talking to this since Jake and Harrison got into
the operation.
Speaker 12 (12:08):
Yeah, yeah, I think the combination has been really good
for us. I think obviously we've made our kicks, knock
on wood, and that's the most important thing.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Our operation has been really smooth.
Speaker 12 (12:19):
Ethan has done a great job holding and just continue
to continue to stack days being successful together, getting more
comfortable in the operation and continue to grow from there.
Speaker 7 (12:29):
What is it about Harrison that you've noticed. It's let
him just step on a new new team, but he's
never kicked.
Speaker 12 (12:34):
In the NFL and handle his Yeah, I think his
his success in the UFL, that's one of the main things,
you know, having confidence in yourself and then having an
operation as fast as his helps operate, helps all the
protection everything. Being able to be quick, be smooth, get
out on the field quickly, and and you know, I
think his mentality is like put the ball down, we'll go.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know.
Speaker 12 (12:54):
I just what I've noticed since day one with him
being here is get it down. It's my job to
make the kick. And I think everyone really appreciates that
and and been smooth.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Talked to him a.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Sign Tim about the consistency things operation as he's apt
to launch.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yep.
Speaker 11 (13:11):
What allows him to so consistent in those tis.
Speaker 12 (13:15):
The time you're when he leaves, he's shorter, he's quicker
to the ball, and that's that's one of the main things.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
So he can leave at it.
Speaker 12 (13:21):
He can see the snap kind of go and the
hand come up and then take off regardless of anything else,
whatever happens, if there's any delay on a snap or
if there's any any hiccups in the operation, he leaves
at the same time and he keeps it really consistent.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
How do you how do you manage the situation with
Cardi on practice squad and released and brought back? I
mean as a coordinator, how are you? How are you
dealing with him?
Speaker 9 (13:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 12 (13:44):
I think it's it's a great opportunity for all of us.
I mean, I think we all have a lot of
belief in what Josh is. His ability is talent level.
He's continued to work in reps every every day that
we go out and kick and in front of the
team with everybody the live operations and just continue to
have success. I mean, his talent's there, he knows it,
he understands a couple of the mechanical things that he's
got to continue to improve upon that can make him
(14:05):
be more successful and not have any of his success
depend on others.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
And I think that's one of the things as a kicker.
Speaker 12 (14:12):
You you know a lot of it all depends on
a lot of things around you. But he also got
to have take kind of ability or ownership for it
and what you can take out of any room for
air out And that's something he's done a great job
with and makes it really easy with his personality and
who he is and his compete levels, and I mean
that's that's the most key and critical who the person is.
I mean there's not everyone that you could just put
(14:33):
back on the Prictate squad and continue to develop and
help improve, but his ability to take ownership and accountability
and press on, press forward because of the competitor that
he is, and he knows he's talented.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
One those lens.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Why was it important for you guys to bring him
back in some capacity and continue working with them on
his development.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, I think you talent. I mean there's a guy
that it's got a lot.
Speaker 12 (14:51):
I mean he's got a lot, He's got a lot
of leg strength, it's a great high ball.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
You know, things that have continued to improve.
Speaker 12 (14:57):
Upon trajectory wise as well as the operational times.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
That's that's the key and critical parts of success.
Speaker 12 (15:04):
To success, it's not necessarily his ability to kick football,
it's his ability to do the things otherwise.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
What mechanically do you think he needs to get better
out in some business?
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, just being more consistent with the operations.
Speaker 12 (15:14):
You know, when you're depending upon a certain rhythm and
timing of everything, and you know, he had a jab
in there. We've been trying to take out. We've we
got that out. That that slows everything down a little bit,
and so now you're having to leave at a different
time where you're kind of guessing upon the snap count
as opposed to seeing the hand come up the ball
being delivered and you're attacking the ball. And so those
(15:35):
are those are some of the things that we've been
talking to him about and being in control of his
own his own success.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Move Before when we were talking to Sean about to
two situation, he was alluding to the fact that roster management,
forty eight special teams and whatnot. What are those conversations
like with you and Sean and the other coaches when
you're putting together that group, I mean, are you standing
on the on the desk and saying, I need these
guys have to have That's a great question.
Speaker 12 (16:01):
I think everyone has, you know, their own personal interests
in mine right, we all have to fight for our
guys and do different things. But it's also about what's
best for the Rams and how do we win football games?
And you know, if there's certain things that we can
do to manipulate the roster to help offense or defense
or teams, and you know, we got to be able
to do that and adapt and over That's that's the
job of speash teams coaches to be able to adapt
and overcome on all things. Midstream adjust you have one
(16:23):
plan going in, something goes different, somebody goes down. How
do you make the adjustment and put the guys in
position to have success? And that's our whole goal as
the team is to put the best forty eight every
out every day out there.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
On game day.
Speaker 7 (16:34):
We put Josh to do pick props and how where
is your clients that frecking Harrison to do that?
Speaker 12 (16:40):
Donagt Well, yeah, I think you know there's that's a
great question. I got to completely answer that for obvious
obvious reasons. But obviously you saw Ethan with some success
last week getting the ball on the ground a couple
of times. And we could pick and choose our spots
with these guys and when we want to do it,
and or do we want to kick away from certain
people or do we wanna you know, there's a lot
of elements that go into where you want to place
(17:00):
the ball. How much hangtime? Do you want to push
it shorter? Do you want to push it deeper? And
you're trying to bring him, bait him to bring it
out of the end zone?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Do you try to get the ball on the ground.
Speaker 12 (17:08):
There's there's a lot of different elements and I think
it all plays hand in hand of how you attack
not just each.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Game, but each individual play.
Speaker 12 (17:15):
Because if they start cheating up, you want to kick
it over there, they start cheating together, you want to
kick it to the corner, you want to you know,
there's just a lot that goes into it, that ball delivery.
And they both handled it very well about what they've
what we've.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Asked them to do.
Speaker 12 (17:27):
Continue to grow in that aspect, and I think I
think we can continue to get better in it.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
What skins that you've got, the impact that firing, you
understand the season.
Speaker 11 (17:37):
That's just a testament to the work things put it.
I mean, you know, I know everybody only sees like
what happens on the field and everything like that, or
you might see like a little like video that somebody
posts on this story. But the amount of work that
you watched with the in the off season, like is unprecedented.
Like that's something I have to credit him completely too,
Like that's just what happens when you call that weak.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah, oh, it's a challenge stopping their running back do
over the Marine Gibbs.
Speaker 11 (18:00):
I mean they both have their own things. I mean,
gives a hard running Yeah, gives a like hard fast
running back. He can bounce on the edge, you can
take it inside if he gets free. He's a very
fast bag. He's very quick. And Montgommery post is very
much the same challenges. He's just a bigger back and
he's hard hitting. So, you know, being able to stop them,
being able to know which ones in what's their strengths are,
what their weaknesses are, being able to mentally like process,
that's probably the biggest issue.
Speaker 10 (18:21):
Jored the defense has come out very strong, very fast
in many games this season.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What's kind of.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Led up to that?
Speaker 11 (18:27):
For you guys, it's just like the idea that everyone's
gotta do a one of eleven. You don't got to
do more than what your capable. Love, you don't gotta
do more than what your told. When your play comes,
you have to make it. If the ball bounces outside
of you know, me, outside of b Y, outside of
stew outside of desk, and you know it's one of
the DB's players to make it's e Man's plays, Kobe's play.
They gotta make that play. That's their job. Is just
doing your one of eleven? Just make sure the ball
gets to the ground.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Sure, How do you evaluate how.
Speaker 7 (18:50):
Your second years collars to the expectitions you have to issue.
Speaker 11 (18:55):
I think I'm just doing what I have to. I
don't have any expectations. I never put myself in a
position to have expectations. Just do what I have to do.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
This week.
Speaker 11 (19:02):
I have to stop, you know, Gibbs and Montgummy. You
have to get to a golf That's just my job.
It's nothing to focus anything on expectations anything like that.
Speaker 13 (19:09):
I know.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I mean, you're impact of the game pressures and hurries.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
We talked earlier year about how like one of the
next steps to beat a great pass rushers beating the
doubletons sometimes, So how have you kind of just managed
getting that attention and just how he played with him?
Speaker 11 (19:26):
Now I'm trying to take a step by step, you know.
Right now I'm focused on the chips. How do you
beat chips? Been watching a lot of you know, Miles,
a lot of Mica, a lot of Crosby, a lot
of eight Hunchesson. I'm watching a lot of these guys
to see how do they beat the chips when they,
you know, do get the chips versus when I'm just
getting a three one on one and I know what
I'm gonna work.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Last time you played these guys, I think it was
your first game. It's pro right, So how are you
a different player than when you mindset wise going into
this one than you were last year?
Speaker 11 (19:52):
I think mentally, I'm just a lot wiser.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
I know a lot more.
Speaker 11 (19:54):
I can see, you know, kind of Oh, he's stepping down,
he's doing this with his hand. All his steps are
like this. I'm reading backfield. It's eleven personnel gun near
a why the why is off?
Speaker 9 (20:04):
Like?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
How do I got to handle all that?
Speaker 11 (20:05):
I'm noticing what their plays are before they running get
I feel like that was the biggest step I needed
to take from year one year.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Two you mentioned Hutchinson. What is there kind of a
mutual respect there with edge guys coming off the edge
good pass pressures.
Speaker 11 (20:19):
I mean, yeah, when you see somebody like that, like
I'm able to, you know, humble myself and.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Know, okay, this is my strength.
Speaker 11 (20:24):
Is what a lot of people look at me for
and how do I how they can take away from
my game? But I'm know, Okay, this guy's really good
at that. This guy's really good at this and be
able to look at these other guys and be like
all right, like I need to be able to copy this.
How does he do it? What's his first step looking like?
How's his hand looking like a lot of the best
pass rushes, a lot of great pass rushes, you know,
they're kind of in their three point stances. I got
away from that, you know, so I'm like, okay, like
what's the difference between the three point and two points?
So I'm doing a lot more research on stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
How must the.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Money game over the past.
Speaker 10 (20:52):
I mean, there's no there's no way to set the
trenches better than that to get for those guys to
fire off in the run game and then for allow
of them for the defense to be playing off their heels.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That's how we want to play offense.
Speaker 10 (21:03):
We want to be attacking, and we want to be
on the attack at all times. And when you run
the ball, it allows for the that front line to
have an easier down than a normal pass down when
they're expecting it on the third down or no one
passing down. So it makes it my job a lot
easier when we're running ball very effective.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
At what point in the Lebron James career highlights pre
game did you stop at before you.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Had million want adlsu there?
Speaker 4 (21:26):
Oh?
Speaker 10 (21:27):
I was actually I actually went through the whole twenty
sixteen Finals run I started for the NBA has the
full game one highlights. I I watched the heartbreak of
game one through four or five, whatever it was, and
then I watched the both drop forty two and I
was like, man, what a performance.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And then he does for forty two and I.
Speaker 10 (21:45):
Was like, all right, I probably got like right before
we went out there, I was like probably first half
of Game seven. There are a couple of Kyrie transition
baskets where I'm like, oh, if I could do that,
that would be a great Sunday.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I'm a football player.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Are you more motivated you think by other athletes and
other sports or football?
Speaker 10 (22:05):
I think of the football stables that I've had in
my life of being like being at the first bart
I played as a young kid. I know there's a
point of my career where watching my brother's highlights was it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Was as a pregame routine for me.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
And uh, I know, if if I'm ever feeling that
like I'm not connected with them, or that there's some
some of my brothers missed the family FaceTime in.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
The morning, uh, they'll they'll get thrown on the highlight tape.
Speaker 10 (22:24):
But I know my dad always used to show me
Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Taylor highlights and Walter Payne and some
of the physicality and some of those guys are getting
hit back in the day, and You're like, wow, that
one would put me out for a couple of weeks.
And so it gives me motivation, like, man, I could
go out there and hit somebody.
Speaker 13 (22:39):
Okay, how how important is to have that that mean time,
like going through the games, you know, outside football, you know,
just getting a little bit away for just for the season.
Speaker 10 (22:49):
During the season, I think it's been some find kind
of those sweet moments where I enjoy it, especially in
the in the in where we are playing football. I
think there has been a dull moment for us out here.
There's been the ebbs and flows, like coach always says,
but it has been so exciting this year all the
different challenges that this year is presented of being out
there with Davante.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I'm like, in our in our.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Pregame walkout, now it's it's just me and him that.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Go out there. And I told him we were just
talking about this last time, like yo, I can't.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
I'm like, I FaceTime my friends back in Utah and
they can't believe that. I'm like, I used to wear
ankle socks because of you, and now I'm like we're
walking out on pregame together. And like the photos and
the videos, there's one, two and one seven.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
So I'm continually blessed. It keeps me going.
Speaker 10 (23:27):
Going back to the run game, There's been a lot
said about your physicality and your willingness to run, block,
and do it well kind of why.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Is that important to you and what do you think
about you? Allows you to thrive in that aspect.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
I think the little brother and me definitely allows me
to thrive in that role.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
All the times where.
Speaker 10 (23:45):
I tried my hardest and it just wasn't good enough
Chris because they were bigger. He could stick his arm
out and palm my head and I was straggling to
try to get some type of movement. So the ability
to hunker down and to think of the guy behind
me and our running backs round the ball as that
that's my little brother.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I have that opportunity to protect him.
Speaker 10 (24:01):
I take that with great pride and it just makes
it fun. I think the physicality and the game of
football it is in the run game, and there's no
better form of it.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
When it's it's.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
Right there and everybody knows how this play is about
to get drawn up, and it's that guy in front
of you and who's going to a bout out first
and we take it pred and being able.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
To be the one that moves forward.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
What makes Matthew so valuable to you guys as a
teammate beyond just done field production.
Speaker 10 (24:24):
I know something for me from the moment I walked
into this, uh this building, being able to meet with him,
and the constant communication that he always took the time
and the opportunity to tell me in the run game,
this is who we're id and this is how we're
going to or in the past game, Hey, I liked
what you did here. And it started from when I
first walked in so and to the conversations we have
now in the mornings being the father and a new
(24:46):
father that I am, and that some of the conversations
are about ball and some of the things of like, man,
how do I get this baby to fall asleep? So,
just the genuine person that he is, and it bleeds
into who he is as a football player. But I
think the genuine care that he has definitely is felt.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
How about just to be recognized as the NFC Offensive
Player of the Week. Do you do you put much
stock in that? Do you do you enjoy the moment
or how do you kind of process that.
Speaker 10 (25:12):
I think enjoy the moment? I think in some I've
heard Matthew say it in some of these awards.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I just like we're kind of talking about in the
run game, it is a.
Speaker 10 (25:19):
Process to get to get to the past game, and
it isn't just we line up there and it's it's
a premier look to go out there. So I think
of the opportunities to share those those opportunities with.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
The linemen and especially Number nine.
Speaker 10 (25:29):
Obviously the connection we're able to have out there, I
don't take that for granted. To be on the same
page as it's it's hard to do. So I enjoy
those moments and I feel like it's an award for
both of us. But it makes it fun because then
the standard has risen for for myself and then also
for our unit.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So I think it's fun.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
You want the lord and you run the build for
less than having staff have been using three tight ends
so much?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Do you feel pressured?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
You've noticed that the plug you can fit on the
bield out here that with bunches.
Speaker 10 (25:55):
I definitely, definitely, So I think it's fun. We're talking
about the run game, so it's fun. It's fun to
see out those boys. And when I get to go
out there and there are thirteen person now I feel
like I'm like, this is just all tight ends out here,
and I'm like, this is fun. We get to go
out here, and that they know we're getting ready to
mash Someboddy. So it's been fun for our offense to
go out there and exec and every personnel group that
we have. But it's also nice to come out here
and be like, all right, I'm fresh to run these routes.
Speaker 8 (26:17):
What kind of challenges just Detroit offer.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
To you guys.
Speaker 10 (26:21):
I think in their front obviously they have some great
rushes on the edge, and then their secondary and the
ability to play man. I'm like, they're going to be
up in your front their physical outfit. So I think
in some of the teams that we played, you look
in some of the tape, especially early in the season
when we got a chance to play the Texans, and
you play the egos and you watch on tape and
how they rally to the football. I think it is
something that is clear and evident on the tape, and
(26:43):
it's going to be a challenge for us to continue
Speaker 2 (26:44):
To do what we do at a high level.
Kind of China just does this day's gonna's defense.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It's tough.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
I mean, uh, two of the two of the premiere
backs in the league.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Obviously Gibbs we all know how explosed to be is
what he can do.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I don't know if he gives enough credit for his vision,
you know, how he can run this stretch run game
and cut it back.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
He's heavy and youthink.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
And then Montgomery is uh, you know, obviously he's a
starting back for pretty much everybody in the league, and
they have a great one to two punch and not
to mention a great line and a great scheme that's
well coached, and it's gonna be a huge challenge.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
It was it like seeing na get that interception last week.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Oh, it was awesome. Uh, you know, he's just a stunt.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I mean, he's been forcing turnovers, making plays all year
and uh he's kind of been the linch pin and
the energy of the defense, and uh, you know, he's
the guy we look to if we're getting a little
old to kind of pick everybody up.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
And uh, it was cool to see him kind of
make the play.
Speaker 5 (00:48):
You've seen Jared since he came into the league. What's
what's the difference between what you see now and maybe
what you saw back in sixteen.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, you're definitely seeing just some more mature, more experienced
version version of him. He was obviously a great player
when he was here, and uh, he's just continued to
ascend and build off that. And they've done such a
good job, you know, putting pieces around him where he's
comfortable and uh, you know, uh, getting to his strengths
and highlighting the receivers that they got, getting the ball
(01:16):
out of his hands, getting it to the playmakers around me.
Is a really good line, really good scheme, really well
coached and uh, he's just playing at a really high level.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
What do you think makes Nate Lambman such a good
fit on this team?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
He can he's really smart, he's tough, and he can
communicate and uh, you know those are the three things
usually when you can do that, and uh, you know,
we'll be able to make it work. And uh, you
know he I would say he's elite at those three things.
And you know, he's just a really good football player.
He's big, he's heavy, and uh, you know, we just
love having him.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Locations universas.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, you know, we're always it's to me, it's always
been a game by game thing. We know we have
we feel like we have four starting corners and uh,
you know, we feel confident with any of those guys,
and uh, you know, we're just rolling those guys through.
A Kello has been back, kind of getting his feedback
underneath him, getting going and uh, you know, just like
we said, we're we're lucky to have those guys and uh,
you know, based on the week, based on the matchup,
you know, we're gonna do whatever it takes a win
(02:10):
that week.
Speaker 7 (02:12):
How do you think Jared Burst has taken to just
the extra responsibility, just the extra tension he's getting.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
From offenses and what are some of the I guess ways.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
He's impacting the game that are as obvious to outside people,
like deal with the sector.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, you know, we we've been talking to him about,
you know, being in a great stance being one of eleven,
you know, not trying to do too much, you know,
not trying to be Superman every single play. And he's
done just that. He's affecting the game. He's affecting the
quarterback's he affects the game every single play. He's not
just one of those guys a one trippony that comes
in and rushes. He's a guy that offenses have to
account for him every play, and he's done just that
(02:46):
and it's not affecting you know, whether he's getting chipped
or all that type of stuff. It's not affecting his effort.
It's not as affecting his mentality throughout the game. And
he's done an awesome job this season's go ahead.
Speaker 8 (02:58):
What's your approach throughout the week? Just for getting with
your assistant coaches and you know their input on the
game plan and things like that.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah, you know, we have an unbelievable staff and I
really lean on them, and different portions of the game
plan and different coaches are responsible for for specific sex
And you know, Chris Peeke does an unbelievable job with
our red zone. You know, Aubrey does an awesome job
with the first second hal pass. You know, Drew and
Joe with the protections and our and our blitzes and
stuff like that, and GIF obviously with the run game
(03:27):
and and helping out with the front stuff.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So I really lean on those.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
It's a true collaboration kind of throughout the week to
get to the best place what it is. I'm just
kind of calling it in on Sunday, but it truly
is within specifics of the game plan. You segment it,
you know, and you lean on those coaches. Those coaches
are the exports within that portion of the game plan,
you know, and and we're just working together to put
our guys in the best position based on the week.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
Does one Johnson got an opportunity seem like an expanded
one last week? What's kind of his outside linebacker D
line or what's how are you guys?
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It kind of depends on the week, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
We we just like we've kind of always done with,
you know, whether it's Tank or Josh Wallace or guys
like that where you can move him around.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
He's a guy that you can move around.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So depending on the matchup that week, you know, we
see him as a guy that could play D line
for us, and but he's obviously athletic enough to play
on the edge, athletic enough to drop do different things. So, uh,
you know, he's a guy that has a really good
skill set and you know, and you saw get in
there last week and kind of get some action to
do a really good job.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
What if he made it.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
The way the Wants have used Jamison.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Williams kind of been very important.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Oh he's been great.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
You know, obviously he's a guy that you know, they
try to get up and whether it's one on one isolations,
getting him running, running across the field, throwing screens. He
can run the whole route, tree really good hands.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So he's just.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Playing at a really high level. And uh, you can
see they're trying to feature him and get.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Him the ball a lot.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
It's impressing most about the way the fire and Gun
has been able to impact defensively, not just from a
statistical standpoint, but what.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Else, what he's got to Well, it's like I was
talking with Verse, It's it's how we have every single play,
he's playing at a really high level.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
He's got the sack numbers.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
But he's playing at a really high level, probably the
best he's ever played, every single play, and we ask
a lot of him and he steps up to it
every single time.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And uh, you know, that group's just.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Kind of ascending as a whole, and you know he's
right there at the forefront of it.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Was a take it on at Refuiss.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Getting this last week with Sean Goods yeah, I mean
it was, uh, it was fun.
Speaker 8 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
You know there's ironic that I got asked this question
last week, and I was trying to be as truthful
as I could, because it is. It is a fun
three and a half hour window, watching the guys go
do their thing and you know, just having communication with
the quarterback. But like always, there's just total collaboration, you know,
and communication throughout our staff, you know, whether it's Sean
and I but but everyone's always involved on every single series,
(05:48):
particularly between the series.
Speaker 9 (05:49):
So it was cool.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
But what was more cool was watching the guys do
their thing and played a really high clip.
Speaker 5 (05:55):
Well you guys do that? Will you handle that again
this week? Or is the plan?
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No?
Speaker 6 (05:59):
No, that was If you have saw him Friday or
Saturday morning, you totally understand why. So I think he's
been pretty pretty honest with you guys as well.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
This Detroit defense with Hutchinson back, how are they play?
Speaker 6 (06:18):
Yeah, they just they play so hard. I mean, they
take after their coach, they take after their city. They've
had a incredible foundation since Dan took over. Played them
late in the year in twenty two when I was
with the Jets and couldn't be more impressed with their
play style on both sides of the ball, and nothing's
dropped off. All they've done is just get better football
players in there each and every year. I mean they
(06:39):
are just loaded with talent on both sides of the ball.
Hutch is an absolute freak, you know, in terms of
the way he plays on the edge. It's never been
different since the time, you know, dating back to obviously
his time at Michigan and all that. So now it's
it's that same Detroit every time you pop on the tape.
You know, you guys better strap up for you know,
sixty minutes, three and a half hours, whatever it's gonna take.
Speaker 9 (07:03):
Yeah, I mean he's a stud. You know, there's no doubt.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
But like we always say here and I know they're
saying the same thing, like all thirty two buildings, you know,
next man up and they're gonna whoever comes in there.
It's just like San Franz losing Fred. They're playing good
defense over there in San Francisco, you know, because there
is a culture, there's a standard. You know what Brian
branch is gonna be missed on the field, like you know,
he's taught through the way he plays and his actions
(07:28):
whoever that next guy is, you know. So yeah, there's
no doubt about he's one of the best in this league.
You miss guys like that. But again, the standards of
standard there, so there's gonna be no drop off.
Speaker 10 (07:37):
Obviously there's been a lot of talks about Bert Horn
over the last couple of weeks, but kind of going
back to last year and now, where have you seen
the biggest shift for him?
Speaker 9 (07:46):
That's a lot of coaching.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yeah, I think it's just again the comfort level. You know,
in terms of just being a year two. Kyron got
the fair shares is well documented and noted, but you know,
having this last off, see, you could just see him
just getting more and more comfortable.
Speaker 9 (08:02):
Like it's not as easy as just.
Speaker 6 (08:04):
Standing back seven and a half yards behind the quarterback
and getting a handoff right or left. You know, there's
a lot of intricacies with it, not that he was
behind it all, it's just he was a rookie, you know.
And so again that you can just see the comfort level,
and with the comfort level comes confidence.
Speaker 9 (08:17):
With the confidence comes the what you guys are seeing
on Sundays.
Speaker 6 (08:20):
So it's not shocking to me that he's producing at
that level. Again, it's a credit to the other ten
guys on the field at all times, but there's no
doubt he's playing at a high cliff.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
What he takes a step forward like that?
Speaker 7 (08:31):
What do you feel like that does for Kyra and
Williams to be able to have you know, another guy
that take the.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
Yeah, I mean it's you know, again that running backs.
I don't know how close you guys have been down
to the field when there's an actual game going on,
but it's like a car wreck every time someone's getting
hit in the backs.
Speaker 9 (08:47):
Obviously touched the ball more than anyone.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
So anytime that you can take a little bit off
their load, it's just going to help them in the
long run, you know. And freak things do happen by
the play, I get that, but you know, through time,
if they stay healthy, you just naturally you're gonna be
a little bit fresher, you know. So again, I think
you'd have to ask highering that and how he feels.
I know from my vantage point, he looks like it's
weak one to me, you know, and in both mind
(09:12):
and spear and body, you know. So it's it's been
a cool little deal that they both have their little
change ups, but I think they fit well off each other.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
How does that put pressure on.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Defense dream the tail to some bays and pressure back.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah, I think it's just that, you know, I mean,
you know, the fresher you're going to be, the better
you would think you're going to be, you know, So
I think that's probably what you know, the pressure is
on the defense.
Speaker 8 (09:36):
There's been more explosive runs, you know, this year than
last year. Is that something that you guys focus on
trying to improve or is that just kind of come
naturally with you know, with the success of the run game.
Speaker 9 (09:46):
I think there's there's a lot of factors to it.
Speaker 6 (09:48):
I think part of it's what we were just saying
in the last two questions in terms of guys maybe
just being a tick fresher, not just throughout a game,
but throughout a week. I think our offensive line is
playing at a high clip right now, creating a lot
of space, but or there's touch at the second level.
I think our receivers are doing a great job of
getting connected on the second level and continuing to strain.
I think our tight ends, you know, one, two or
three of them are doing a great job.
Speaker 9 (10:10):
And what we're asking them to do.
Speaker 6 (10:11):
I think Matthew's doing a great job of getting us
in the right play, and I think the backs when
they get to the free hitter, you know, the scholarship
player for you, well, I think they're doing a good
job of making them miss, you.
Speaker 9 (10:19):
Know, not every time. I mean, it's the league game.
Speaker 6 (10:21):
Mean the defense as a saying it too, but anytime
you run the ball, as I just kind of stated
right there, it takes all eleven guys and whatever we're
asking schematically, it really doesn't matter unless they're making it
come to life, and you know, right now they are.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Sean said that two to two is going to be
up this week, and so how as the offense has
evolved when he's been on ir how do you work him,
you know, back into the scheme our problem?
Speaker 6 (10:49):
And that's a good problem, right There's a lot of
guys that you want to get out on that field.
Speaker 9 (10:54):
There's a lot of guys that deserve to touch the football.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
But ultimately there's only one football, and there's only five
eligibles we can put out there at the time.
Speaker 9 (11:00):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:01):
So I know Matthew considers himself ineligible, but we'll let
him stand back there and just do what he does.
So uh no, it's you know, we'll we'll, we'll see.
I mean a lot of times this stuff organically works
its way out.
Speaker 9 (11:13):
It's just good to have him back out.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
There and and have the availability to, you know, do
what we need to do with him.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
But I just feel like it's gonna has helped those
kind of orsistam period the last two years.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
What he thought about these plays, he's a potter.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
I think it's somewhat of the same answer as Quorum
in terms of, you know, the more he's been out there,
the more confident he's been, The more confident he's been,
I think, the better the performer he's. Uh, he's just
touching the surface. In my opinion, Steven Villa, it can
be as good as he wants to be, period. And
I think you see that when you pop on the
tape on Sunday, So you know, it's uh, it's it's
(11:49):
fun to watch him. He's he's such a likable dude,
and you can't mistake his kindness for weakness by any means.
But as he's just can continue to figure this thing out.
You know, I think he's realizing, you know, the sky's
the limit for him.
Speaker 9 (12:02):
His ceilings high.
Speaker 11 (12:04):
Time talking to this since Jake and Harrison got into
the operation.
Speaker 12 (12:08):
Yeah, yeah, I think the combination has been really good
for us. I think obviously we've made our kicks, knock
on wood, and that's the most important thing.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Our operation has been really smooth.
Speaker 12 (12:19):
Ethan has done a great job holding and just continue
to continue to stack days being successful together, getting more
comfortable in the operation and continue to grow from there.
Speaker 7 (12:29):
What is it about Harrison that you've noticed. It's let
him just step on a new new team, but he's
never kicked.
Speaker 12 (12:34):
In the NFL and handle his Yeah, I think his
his success in the UFL, that's one of the main things,
you know, having confidence in yourself and then having an
operation as fast as his helps operate, helps all the
protection everything. Being able to be quick, be smooth, get
out on the field quickly, and and you know, I
think his mentality is like put the ball down, we'll go.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
You know.
Speaker 12 (12:54):
I just what I've noticed since day one with him
being here is get it down. It's my job to
make the kick. And I think everyone really appreciates that
and and been smooth.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
Talked to him a.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Sign Tim about the consistency things operation as he's apt
to launch.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yep.
Speaker 11 (13:11):
What allows him to so consistent in those tis.
Speaker 12 (13:15):
The time you're when he leaves, he's shorter, he's quicker
to the ball, and that's that's one of the main things.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
So he can leave at it.
Speaker 12 (13:21):
He can see the snap kind of go and the
hand come up and then take off regardless of anything else,
whatever happens, if there's any delay on a snap or
if there's any any hiccups in the operation, he leaves
at the same time and he keeps it really consistent.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
How do you how do you manage the situation with
Cardi on practice squad and released and brought back? I
mean as a coordinator, how are you? How are you
dealing with him?
Speaker 9 (13:44):
Yeah?
Speaker 12 (13:44):
I think it's it's a great opportunity for all of us.
I mean, I think we all have a lot of
belief in what Josh is. His ability is talent level.
He's continued to work in reps every every day that
we go out and kick and in front of the
team with everybody the live operations and just continue to
have success. I mean, his talent's there, he knows it,
he understands a couple of the mechanical things that he's
got to continue to improve upon that can make him
(14:05):
be more successful and not have any of his success
depend on others.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
And I think that's one of the things as a kicker.
Speaker 12 (14:12):
You you know a lot of it all depends on
a lot of things around you. But he also got
to have take kind of ability or ownership for it
and what you can take out of any room for
air out And that's something he's done a great job
with and makes it really easy with his personality and
who he is and his compete levels, and I mean
that's that's the most key and critical who the person is.
I mean there's not everyone that you could just put
(14:33):
back on the Prictate squad and continue to develop and
help improve, but his ability to take ownership and accountability
and press on, press forward because of the competitor that
he is, and he knows he's talented.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
One those lens.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Why was it important for you guys to bring him
back in some capacity and continue working with them on
his development.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yeah, I think you talent. I mean there's a guy
that it's got a lot.
Speaker 12 (14:51):
I mean he's got a lot, He's got a lot
of leg strength, it's a great high ball.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
You know, things that have continued to improve.
Speaker 12 (14:57):
Upon trajectory wise as well as the operational times.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
That's that's the key and critical parts of success.
Speaker 12 (15:04):
To success, it's not necessarily his ability to kick football,
it's his ability to do the things otherwise.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
What mechanically do you think he needs to get better
out in some business?
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, just being more consistent with the operations.
Speaker 12 (15:14):
You know, when you're depending upon a certain rhythm and
timing of everything, and you know, he had a jab
in there. We've been trying to take out. We've we
got that out. That that slows everything down a little bit,
and so now you're having to leave at a different
time where you're kind of guessing upon the snap count
as opposed to seeing the hand come up the ball
being delivered and you're attacking the ball. And so those
(15:35):
are those are some of the things that we've been
talking to him about and being in control of his
own his own success.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Move Before when we were talking to Sean about to
two situation, he was alluding to the fact that roster management,
forty eight special teams and whatnot. What are those conversations
like with you and Sean and the other coaches when
you're putting together that group, I mean, are you standing
on the on the desk and saying, I need these
guys have to have That's a great question.
Speaker 12 (16:01):
I think everyone has, you know, their own personal interests
in mine right, we all have to fight for our
guys and do different things. But it's also about what's
best for the Rams and how do we win football games?
And you know, if there's certain things that we can
do to manipulate the roster to help offense or defense
or teams, and you know, we got to be able
to do that and adapt and over That's that's the
job of speash teams coaches to be able to adapt
and overcome on all things. Midstream adjust you have one
(16:23):
plan going in, something goes different, somebody goes down. How
do you make the adjustment and put the guys in
position to have success? And that's our whole goal as
the team is to put the best forty eight every
out every day out there.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
On game day.
Speaker 7 (16:34):
We put Josh to do pick props and how where
is your clients that frecking Harrison to do that?
Speaker 12 (16:40):
Donagt Well, yeah, I think you know there's that's a
great question. I got to completely answer that for obvious
obvious reasons. But obviously you saw Ethan with some success
last week getting the ball on the ground a couple
of times. And we could pick and choose our spots
with these guys and when we want to do it,
and or do we want to kick away from certain
people or do we wanna you know, there's a lot
of elements that go into where you want to place
(17:00):
the ball. How much hangtime? Do you want to push
it shorter? Do you want to push it deeper? And
you're trying to bring him, bait him to bring it
out of the end zone?
Speaker 6 (17:06):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Do you try to get the ball on the ground.
Speaker 12 (17:08):
There's there's a lot of different elements and I think
it all plays hand in hand of how you attack
not just each.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Game, but each individual play.
Speaker 12 (17:15):
Because if they start cheating up, you want to kick
it over there, they start cheating together, you want to
kick it to the corner, you want to you know,
there's just a lot that goes into it, that ball delivery.
And they both handled it very well about what they've
what we've.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Asked them to do.
Speaker 12 (17:27):
Continue to grow in that aspect, and I think I
think we can continue to get better in it.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
What skins that you've got, the impact that firing, you
understand the season.
Speaker 11 (17:37):
That's just a testament to the work things put it.
I mean, you know, I know everybody only sees like
what happens on the field and everything like that, or
you might see like a little like video that somebody
posts on this story. But the amount of work that
you watched with the in the off season, like is unprecedented.
Like that's something I have to credit him completely too,
Like that's just what happens when you call that weak.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
Yeah, oh, it's a challenge stopping their running back do
over the Marine Gibbs.
Speaker 11 (18:00):
I mean they both have their own things. I mean,
gives a hard running Yeah, gives a like hard fast
running back. He can bounce on the edge, you can
take it inside if he gets free. He's a very
fast bag. He's very quick. And Montgommery post is very
much the same challenges. He's just a bigger back and
he's hard hitting. So, you know, being able to stop them,
being able to know which ones in what's their strengths are,
what their weaknesses are, being able to mentally like process,
that's probably the biggest issue.
Speaker 10 (18:21):
Jored the defense has come out very strong, very fast
in many games this season.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
What's kind of.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Led up to that?
Speaker 11 (18:27):
For you guys, it's just like the idea that everyone's
gotta do a one of eleven. You don't got to
do more than what your capable. Love, you don't gotta
do more than what your told. When your play comes,
you have to make it. If the ball bounces outside
of you know, me, outside of b Y, outside of
stew outside of desk, and you know it's one of
the DB's players to make it's e Man's plays, Kobe's play.
They gotta make that play. That's their job. Is just
doing your one of eleven? Just make sure the ball
gets to the ground.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Sure, How do you evaluate how.
Speaker 7 (18:50):
Your second years collars to the expectitions you have to issue.
Speaker 11 (18:55):
I think I'm just doing what I have to. I
don't have any expectations. I never put myself in a
position to have expectations. Just do what I have to do.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
This week.
Speaker 11 (19:02):
I have to stop, you know, Gibbs and Montgummy. You
have to get to a golf That's just my job.
It's nothing to focus anything on expectations anything like that.
Speaker 13 (19:09):
I know.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
I mean, you're impact of the game pressures and hurries.
Speaker 7 (19:13):
We talked earlier year about how like one of the
next steps to beat a great pass rushers beating the
doubletons sometimes, So how have you kind of just managed
getting that attention and just how he played with him?
Speaker 11 (19:26):
Now I'm trying to take a step by step, you know.
Right now I'm focused on the chips. How do you
beat chips? Been watching a lot of you know, Miles,
a lot of Mica, a lot of Crosby, a lot
of eight Hunchesson. I'm watching a lot of these guys
to see how do they beat the chips when they,
you know, do get the chips versus when I'm just
getting a three one on one and I know what
I'm gonna work.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Last time you played these guys, I think it was
your first game. It's pro right, So how are you
a different player than when you mindset wise going into
this one than you were last year?
Speaker 11 (19:52):
I think mentally, I'm just a lot wiser.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
I know a lot more.
Speaker 11 (19:54):
I can see, you know, kind of Oh, he's stepping down,
he's doing this with his hand. All his steps are
like this. I'm reading backfield. It's eleven personnel gun near
a why the why is off?
Speaker 9 (20:04):
Like?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
How do I got to handle all that?
Speaker 11 (20:05):
I'm noticing what their plays are before they running get
I feel like that was the biggest step I needed
to take from year one year.
Speaker 5 (20:10):
Two you mentioned Hutchinson. What is there kind of a
mutual respect there with edge guys coming off the edge
good pass pressures.
Speaker 11 (20:19):
I mean, yeah, when you see somebody like that, like
I'm able to, you know, humble myself and.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Know, okay, this is my strength.
Speaker 11 (20:24):
Is what a lot of people look at me for
and how do I how they can take away from
my game? But I'm know, Okay, this guy's really good
at that. This guy's really good at this and be
able to look at these other guys and be like
all right, like I need to be able to copy this.
How does he do it? What's his first step looking like?
How's his hand looking like a lot of the best
pass rushes, a lot of great pass rushes, you know,
they're kind of in their three point stances. I got
away from that, you know, so I'm like, okay, like
what's the difference between the three point and two points?
So I'm doing a lot more research on stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
How must the.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Money game over the past.
Speaker 10 (20:52):
I mean, there's no there's no way to set the
trenches better than that to get for those guys to
fire off in the run game and then for allow
of them for the defense to be playing off their heels.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That's how we want to play offense.
Speaker 10 (21:03):
We want to be attacking, and we want to be
on the attack at all times. And when you run
the ball, it allows for the that front line to
have an easier down than a normal pass down when
they're expecting it on the third down or no one
passing down. So it makes it my job a lot
easier when we're running ball very effective.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
At what point in the Lebron James career highlights pre
game did you stop at before you.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Had million want adlsu there?
Speaker 4 (21:26):
Oh?
Speaker 10 (21:27):
I was actually I actually went through the whole twenty
sixteen Finals run I started for the NBA has the
full game one highlights. I I watched the heartbreak of
game one through four or five, whatever it was, and
then I watched the both drop forty two and I
was like, man, what a performance.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And then he does for forty two and I.
Speaker 10 (21:45):
Was like, all right, I probably got like right before
we went out there, I was like probably first half
of Game seven. There are a couple of Kyrie transition
baskets where I'm like, oh, if I could do that,
that would be a great Sunday.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
I'm a football player.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
Are you more motivated you think by other athletes and
other sports or football?
Speaker 10 (22:05):
I think of the football stables that I've had in
my life of being like being at the first bart
I played as a young kid. I know there's a
point of my career where watching my brother's highlights was it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Was as a pregame routine for me.
Speaker 10 (22:15):
And uh, I know, if if I'm ever feeling that
like I'm not connected with them, or that there's some
some of my brothers missed the family FaceTime in.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
The morning, uh, they'll they'll get thrown on the highlight tape.
Speaker 10 (22:24):
But I know my dad always used to show me
Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Taylor highlights and Walter Payne and some
of the physicality and some of those guys are getting
hit back in the day, and You're like, wow, that
one would put me out for a couple of weeks.
And so it gives me motivation, like, man, I could
go out there and hit somebody.
Speaker 13 (22:39):
Okay, how how important is to have that that mean time,
like going through the games, you know, outside football, you know,
just getting a little bit away for just for the season.
Speaker 10 (22:49):
During the season, I think it's been some find kind
of those sweet moments where I enjoy it, especially in
the in the in where we are playing football. I
think there has been a dull moment for us out here.
There's been the ebbs and flows, like coach always says,
but it has been so exciting this year all the
different challenges that this year is presented of being out
there with Davante.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I'm like, in our in our.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Pregame walkout, now it's it's just me and him that.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Go out there. And I told him we were just
talking about this last time, like yo, I can't.
Speaker 10 (23:14):
I'm like, I FaceTime my friends back in Utah and
they can't believe that. I'm like, I used to wear
ankle socks because of you, and now I'm like we're
walking out on pregame together. And like the photos and
the videos, there's one, two and one seven.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
So I'm continually blessed. It keeps me going.
Speaker 10 (23:27):
Going back to the run game, There's been a lot
said about your physicality and your willingness to run, block,
and do it well kind of why.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Is that important to you and what do you think
about you? Allows you to thrive in that aspect.
Speaker 10 (23:38):
I think the little brother and me definitely allows me
to thrive in that role.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
All the times where.
Speaker 10 (23:45):
I tried my hardest and it just wasn't good enough
Chris because they were bigger. He could stick his arm
out and palm my head and I was straggling to
try to get some type of movement. So the ability
to hunker down and to think of the guy behind
me and our running backs round the ball as that
that's my little brother.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I have that opportunity to protect him.
Speaker 10 (24:01):
I take that with great pride and it just makes
it fun. I think the physicality and the game of
football it is in the run game, and there's no
better form of it.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
When it's it's.
Speaker 10 (24:09):
Right there and everybody knows how this play is about
to get drawn up, and it's that guy in front
of you and who's going to a bout out first
and we take it pred and being able.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
To be the one that moves forward.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
What makes Matthew so valuable to you guys as a
teammate beyond just done field production.
Speaker 10 (24:24):
I know something for me from the moment I walked
into this, uh this building, being able to meet with him,
and the constant communication that he always took the time
and the opportunity to tell me in the run game,
this is who we're id and this is how we're
going to or in the past game, Hey, I liked
what you did here. And it started from when I
first walked in so and to the conversations we have
now in the mornings being the father and a new
(24:46):
father that I am, and that some of the conversations
are about ball and some of the things of like, man,
how do I get this baby to fall asleep? So,
just the genuine person that he is, and it bleeds
into who he is as a football player. But I
think the genuine care that he has definitely is felt.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
How about just to be recognized as the NFC Offensive
Player of the Week. Do you do you put much
stock in that? Do you do you enjoy the moment
or how do you kind of process that.
Speaker 10 (25:12):
I think enjoy the moment? I think in some I've
heard Matthew say it in some of these awards.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I just like we're kind of talking about in the
run game, it is a.
Speaker 10 (25:19):
Process to get to get to the past game, and
it isn't just we line up there and it's it's
a premier look to go out there. So I think
of the opportunities to share those those opportunities with.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
The linemen and especially Number nine.
Speaker 10 (25:29):
Obviously the connection we're able to have out there, I
don't take that for granted. To be on the same
page as it's it's hard to do. So I enjoy
those moments and I feel like it's an award for
both of us. But it makes it fun because then
the standard has risen for for myself and then also
for our unit.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So I think it's fun.
Speaker 7 (25:45):
You want the lord and you run the build for
less than having staff have been using three tight ends
so much?
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Do you feel pressured?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
You've noticed that the plug you can fit on the
bield out here that with bunches.
Speaker 10 (25:55):
I definitely, definitely, So I think it's fun. We're talking
about the run game, so it's fun. It's fun to
see out those boys. And when I get to go
out there and there are thirteen person now I feel
like I'm like, this is just all tight ends out here,
and I'm like, this is fun. We get to go
out here, and that they know we're getting ready to
mash Someboddy. So it's been fun for our offense to
go out there and exec and every personnel group that
we have. But it's also nice to come out here
and be like, all right, I'm fresh to run these routes.
Speaker 8 (26:17):
What kind of challenges just Detroit offer.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
To you guys.
Speaker 10 (26:21):
I think in their front obviously they have some great
rushes on the edge, and then their secondary and the
ability to play man. I'm like, they're going to be
up in your front their physical outfit. So I think
in some of the teams that we played, you look
in some of the tape, especially early in the season
when we got a chance to play the Texans, and
you play the egos and you watch on tape and
how they rally to the football. I think it is
something that is clear and evident on the tape, and
(26:43):
it's going to be a challenge for us to continue
Speaker 2 (26:44):
To do what we do at a high level.
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