It’s a postseason episode this week! Super Bowl LVI champion and Los Angeles Rams legend Andrew Whitworth joins Ricky Hollywood to discuss the push into the playoffs, what to expect against the Minnesota Vikings a second time around, and how exciting it is to have offensive lineman Rob Havenstein back!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You know, wine and football aren't that different. Sure they're complex,
but enjoying them should be easy. You don't need to
worry about complex formations and flavor profiles or which wine
pairs with what all that matters is together. Barefoot Wine
in the Rams are easy to enjoy, So let's enjoy ourselves.
Barefoot Wine the official wine sponsor of the NFL. What
(00:25):
is Up, Jammies, Welcome back to a postseason edition of
Ricky's Ramjam presented by Barefoot Wine. That the Rams and
Bikings are going to battle at Sofi Stadium on Monday
night to cap off wild Card weekend. This quote from
coach mcvay's Week eighteen postgame presser has been ringing through
my ears ever since he said we respect all and
(00:48):
fear none. That can be applied to more than just football.
A little bit different of a setup for me today.
My home studio Humble Brag for Ricky's Ramjam is in
my garage and in the LA area there's a severe
windstorm and there's fires, so I hope you guys are
safe if you are local. And I moved into my
(01:10):
guest bedroom for a little makeshift studio because I went
into record and the wind wouldn't have been the best
audio and video, and my Jammys deserve the best. Because
we have a big guest joining us today, Andrew Whitworth.
You may have heard of him. I would love to
get his insight ahead of today's game. So popped in
on inside and again, Jammies, if you are local to
(01:30):
LA I hope you are staying safe out there. Okay.
The Vikings are coming back to Los Angeles for round two.
We're gonna talk about that in a second, but first
we gotta do the coin toss. Okay. One of the
options for last week was a Blake Korum touchdown, and
unfortunately he left the game with a fractured forearm. We
are wishing Blake a speedy recovery. Okay. So here is
(01:53):
the wild card coin toss, the first inaugural playoff coin
toss in Ramjam history. We're taking part and history, Jammies. Okay.
Option one, the Week eight defense against the Vikings recorded
a game ceiling safety. How about defensive points again against
the Vikes. I like that Option one. Defensive points against
(02:16):
the Vikings. Option two. Matthew Stafford throws for over three
hundred yards. Very very very plausible both options. What are
you gonna choose Option one or Option two? Joining me
now is four time pro bowler, a Super Bowl champ,
the twenty twenty one Walter Payton Man of the Year,
(02:38):
the NFL analyst for Amazon Prime Video. Not to mention
the host of his own podcast, Fits and Wit, He's
Andrew Whitworth. Wow, those accolades they probably never get old.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Huh yeah, all except for the media ones. I didn't
see myself doing any of that, And I'm really still agitated.
Why wasn't that win Fits? I don't understand. In a
way this sounds like the bands already having inner fights.
But you know what, it's been a blast. It's a
lot of fun. Man, playing in the NFL as long
as I did, and then ending it and getting a
chance to stay really close working with Amazon and Thursday
(03:11):
Night Football, and then also now Fits and I getting
to spend some time, you know, just rambling about whatever
in the world it is we're rambling about every week.
It's been really fun and rewarding to end your career
and then get to stay so close and be a
part of the NFL still.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, and then the whole you know, Amazon, TNF experience
is so fun. But the Golden Globes were this past
weekend and Nicki Glazer, first of all, absolutely killed it.
I don't know if you saw her model she did.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
She did a great job, so great.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
What was that like being next to greatness on Thursday nights?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
She was a blast. I'll tell you what. She was
a great teammate all year long. You know, I think
she made five appearances for us. It was, you know,
on our nightcap show. She was a lot of fun
to be around. You know, I think our very first
time it was in New York early in the season,
and she actually snuck and took the deal the first
time we had dinner with her, and I was like,
all right, she gets it, like she's she does how
(04:07):
to be part of the team and just make sure
everyone knows she's in it for all of us. And
so it was really cool to see her have that moment,
and you know, she did a great job. And listen,
she's a riot. I just get nervous every time she
starts talking that she's gonna start talking about me. So
as long as it's somebody else, I'm all in.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
For the Let's talk about these twenty twenty four Rams.
Do you have a quick thought on them resting players
in week eighteen and the message that Sean sent to
his team that he believes they can beat anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yeah, I thought it was a great philosophy because to me,
it really comes down to when you're in this time
of year, people are going to try and look for
all the excuses of why they win or lose, and
the truth is you need to play your best football
in those three hour windows for the next four to
five weeks, and that's it. That's all that matters. And
so what gets you there. And to me, if your
(04:55):
division's locked up, the seeding doesn't matter in the sense
that you're not the number one seeds, you're not getting
a bye. What matters the most is that you have
a healthy roster and you've got some veteran players who
are a huge part of this team, and Matthew Stafford
and Cooper Cup and Rob Hannistein and others that need
to be healthy and they need to be rested up
(05:15):
and ready to go. And so I think that if
you look at this Rams team and how they're built,
you know them being rested up, ready to rod, and
everyone feeling a little healthier one week more. Do you
look at how they've handled the bye weeks over the
last two years and really how they've come out of
those bye weeks. I'll take Sean McVay and this roster
rested and ready to go against anybody, and so I
(05:38):
think it was the right decision and I look forward
to Monday night seeing how this team plays.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, it's going to be exciting. You played in fifteen
career playoff games, Like, can you describe to me who
hasn't played in any playoff games? What makes the postseason different?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I think when you really think about it, you know,
in the regular season them and you're out there and
just always say, I like to relate a lot of
things to golf. It's you know, it's it's like a
casual round with your friends that you want to win.
In the regular season, it means a lot and there's
some money on the line, and so there's a lot
of pride and you know a lot of things you
got to go through, right, But then when you get
(06:17):
to the playoffs, it's more like you got one shot,
how close can you hit it to the pen? And
there's there's anxiousness, there's a little bit of man, I'm
you know, it's been a long year, and I you
know what am I willing to put my body through?
What am I willing to give up and sacrifice this
entire week? And not only that, but the playoffs week
with the media and everything around, it goes so fast,
(06:39):
and so now you're in an air where like if
you didn't take advantage of every little moment leading up
to that game to get your body right, to get
mainly prepared, you get into the game and it's big.
There's playoff signs everywhere there on the field. You can
fill the energy of the stadium, you know, playing rams
games and a playoff game, the crowd's going to be
insane all of a sudd You're going to feel the energy.
(07:01):
And if you didn't take advantage of every moment to
get prepared for what it is to be in that
playoff game, you're going to have some of that anxiety,
You're going to have some of that Oh man, am
I ready? And so that's where that really prior performance
gets into being prepared for the moment. And so I
think that really when you talk about the playoffs, everything's
just turned up a notch. The fans are turned up,
(07:22):
The moments are turned up, every little detail and technique
that you need to have, and every play is turned
up because you're playing against the best of the best,
and so each little moment. If we said that a
game came down to five plays in the regular season,
it might just come down to one in the playoffs,
and so every play matters, and you got to have
(07:43):
experience in it, or you got to have a mentality
of I'm going to let it go and be at
my best in this moment. And that's what really you
see is successful in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And the Rams defeated the Vikings earlier this season. Can
you use any part of that blueprint or is it
a clean slate come playoff time?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Playoff time, unfortunately, is a clean slate, you know. But
I think what you can take from it is confidence,
and you can take what you learned in those moments
and what this team went through from the bye week
and honestly where they sat in the season at one
and four. The grit, the determination, the mentality it took
to rise back up and go win this division. Those
(08:23):
things mightter because those moments will show up in this game.
There'll be a moment in this game, it's gonna be
third and twelve. We're gonna need somebody who's tired, exhausted
receiver to go up and make a freaking play and
come down with the football. Whether it's getting their toes
down in bounds, whether it's coming up with a tough
catch in a crowd, whether it's a run where you
break one more tackle to get that first down, whether
(08:44):
it's Stafford using those old legs to find a way
to get a first down. That we've seen something this year,
whatever that moment may be, maybe it's defensively beaten a
really good player for a sack, or a pressure that
leads to a bad throw. Those moments will show themselves.
And what you've earned throughout the year coming back from
a one and four start is that you are built
of the right stuff because a lot of teams just
(09:04):
lay down, a lot of teams don't find a way
to fix it, and you got to take the season.
The last time you played this team is things that
give you confidence that if you go out and play
your best and you play with the energy and passion
it takes to win, you have a chance to win
yourself a playoff game and get that next opportunity that
you've earned that you got to go take advantage of.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, you said so many good things there. I don't
even know which point to go off of because it's
just getting me so hyped up. But let's let's talk
yours see, I know, let's go well, let's talk the
O line. Like they've done such a great job keeping
Stafford clean the last month or so. How impressed are
you with this sort of the groove that this this
(09:46):
group has come together, and basically how important is it
to keep him clean throughout the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, I mean you look at it. You know, the
injuries to start the season, how beat up they were
and lost some guys, and then you know the emergence
of even a young rookie and and different people who
have shown up throughout this season and had to play
up for them up front, and even with Pooka and
Cooper guys being out. I mean, all those things put
pressure on your offensive line, whether it be in the
run game or the pass game, to be a little
bit better, you know, in each moment, because maybe we're
(10:15):
missing some guys here or there. Maybe it's not the
starters that we plan to play the season with. And
so you look at really the job that win he's
done Ryan Windell. With this group, I mean, they've continued
to show up and as they've gotten healthier and gotten
guys back, they've continue to just perform better and better.
And you know, I think it's crazy because it's it's
not something you really talk about much this season, but
(10:35):
this group will really dictate the success they have in
this playoffs because their ability to possess the football and
run it well and protect Stafford is really what makes
this team's identity is this team this year has not
been some explosive offense. It's been one that when we
get on the football field, you better be down for eight, ten,
twelve plays. We're going to go the length of the field.
(10:57):
We're going to possess the football and we're going to
try to punch it in at the end. And that's
really how we're going to beat you, is that we're
going to give your offense limited ops. Our young defense
is going to get after you, and we're going to
possess the football on offense. And so this line, it's
going to be really important their ability to control this
game and in the playoffs weekend and week out, be
ready for the battle. Is going to be important to
(11:20):
this group and they wouldn't be where they are right
now if it wasn't for the way this group has
responded throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, Big Rob is expected to be back for Monday
night's game. Like, what does he mean to this line
and to the team both on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
He means everything. I mean. Rob is not only a
tremendous human a great football player, but he is the
leader of this group. And you can see, honestly how
they gel, how they work, and the run game and
everything else. It just shows up when he's on the
football field because you can tell that there's a calmness,
there's a presence he brings to their group that they
(11:55):
all feel, really, I think, an extra level of confidence
in themselves and really what their capabilities are as a
group when he's on the football field. So I'm as
happy as anybody see Big Rob back out there. I
get nervous anytime he gets banged up, but I'm looking forward.
Like I said, to this group, I think it's going
to be fun to watch them with an opportunity to say, hey,
you know what, A lot of people counted us out
(12:16):
early in the season we were one and four. We
had guys banged up all over the place, but we're
still standing here. And when you're in a big fight
and somebody lands a shot early in the fight and
they can't put you to bed, and you're still standing
on your two feet saying, you know what, there's a
lot of rounds left. That's where the rams are standing.
Teams had their shot and they didn't knock them out.
You're still standing up, and now it's your time to
(12:39):
throw the shots and can this team do it and
put it together? Because this is the best part of
the playoffs. All you got to do is win each window.
That's it. You don't have to have a River season record.
You don't need a division tiebreaker, you don't need any
of that mess. We don't need any maths. We got
to win the three hour windows. And if they can
go do that, they'll keep moving on.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
You've seen Stafford and clutch performances and how they go
hand in hand. I mean, what makes Matthew Stafford thrive
in this type of scenario.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, I think it's just his personality that you know, really,
he doesn't get rattled by things and big moments and
if anything, it almost brings out his best, like he
loves the challenge of showing me something I can't do.
Say I can't hit this shot, I can't throw this ball,
you know in this spot, I can't accomplish this golf shot.
I've seen him on the golf course as well. It
(13:30):
just almost brings out that smile and that wink and
his whole personality of just watch this, you know. And
I think that's why you see and be at his
best in these moments. And the month of December is
I called him on TNF mister December his record and
the performance he's had. And then in January even with
us the year we made our run to the super Bowl,
you just see that he's one of those guys that epitomizes. Man.
(13:53):
If you have that characteristic to be at your best
when your best is needed, you are rare and you
are special. And he has it and some and so
I think this group is excited as an offensive group
because you know, to get a week where they can
kind of take a breath, to get themselves healthy and
then to go out there and protect Matthew Stafford and
(14:13):
see what they can do with this running game. I
think this offense has got to be excited for the
potential that's in front of them.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah, what are you most excited about Monday night's matchup
between the Vikings and the Rams.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, I think you know, you look at it, there's
a clear, you know cutway that obviously the Rams. You know,
you look at the first matchup with this team, you
beat him already in a primetime setting on Thursday Night football,
So it's definitely a big game that you beat him in.
There's a big moment you can you can break some
confidence from You've overcome a lot of things, like I
said earlier, and then here we are in a moment
where you've got a quarterback and a lot of players
(14:46):
who have been in this moment before. You know, You've
got a Cooper Cup and Matthew Stafford who and Rob
Hims who can say, hey man, we've been down this road.
We know what it takes. You know. I love Tyler
Higby being back, seeing his energy, his passion is bouncing aroun.
I mean I've shared some of those moments here recently,
Like he's a guy that he brings the emotion and
passion to this team, Like when they look in that
(15:08):
huddle and they see Tyler Higbee. Every time I ever
looked at Higgs in a huddle, just the smile that
you just hits you, Like, Dude, I'm so glad this
guy's on my team. So when I think about this game,
I think about the kind of human beings that got
sitting in that huddle. And when you can look across
and make eye contact with some guys that you go
you know what, I know Pukinnaku is ready to ride.
I know Karen Williams is ready to ride. You know,
(15:30):
I know these veteran guys are ready to go get
it this weekend. Like, I think that that brings an
energy and passion to you. And that's what they got
a rally on, is that we got a bunch of
guys that are down to get after it and let's
go out Monday night and do something special.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, are you texting coach and just being like, hey,
what are you thinking? Like, let me get some of
the are you dying to get in there? Just be
a fly on the wall for that game plan.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Uh. You know what, I'm no better than to tex
Sean McVay in a big week all right, Listen, I'm
a lot smarter than that. He knows he's good, and
damn well, I'm not gonna hit him up until after
the game, and I'm gonna GETI a hug in pregame
and that's it. Yeah, I'm staying out of the way
because I'm not getting yelled at and I'm not getting
in trouble, all right, So I keep my distance. I
do that with the guys too. I mean, I am
(16:13):
somebody I believe and letting guys do their thing. I
try to send an encouraging message when I can, but
I try to stay out of the way during the
regular season and just let guys do them. But they
know I'm here if they need me. But I'm excited.
I know Sean's excited. They're excited for the opportunity. But
I don't doubt that coach is gonna have some good
stuff dialed up for this week and Chris Hulo as well,
(16:34):
and a tremendous job he's done the way that defense
closed the season. I'm looking forward to this RAM staff
and what they've got on hand for Monday night. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Lastly, before I ask you my ram jam questions, is
there a text between you and Aaron Donald, like should
we like how we feel.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
It, you know what. I actually think I might have
sent him a text a couple of weeks ago when
it was looking like they had a chance to go
get it. We need to just start loosening up. But
I think we together decided that it's the best. We
just enjoy our couches for this one. So we'll be watching.
We'll be believed, you know what. Listen, Him and I
are both very fashionate about this team and this group.
(17:14):
We love them all to death, and we want nothing
more than the Rams and go out and get it done.
But I think they're better served in my old butt
sitting down in a chair somewhere just cheering for them,
which is actually a lot because I don't sit down either.
You know, I pace the entire games. Yeah, I've still
stressed out when I watch the games, but I can't
wait to watch them do their thing. Money Dick, It's.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Going to be so exciting. Before I let you go,
I ask my guests the same three questions every showscribe
to me your perfect day, Like what's a perfect day
for Andrew Whitworth.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Perfect day for me is definitely gonna involve the early
morning coffee and sunrise a workout, a good sweat either
like either maybe a little boxing workout or maybe some
cardio work, a little bit of a lift or something.
Get a good sweat in, that's for sure. Probably dropping
the kids off at school, heading straight to the golf course,
(18:06):
hitting some golf balls, sitting down at lunch, having me
a nice sparkling water, say I'm very California these days,
and then I'll probably go back out and hit some
more golf balls. That'd be a perfect day. Maybe a
little afternoon I don't know, like a cold one, maybe
a good beer, maybe a good white wine or something,
you know, meet a couple people out for dinner, and
(18:28):
you know, that's probably it. An end my day sitting
by a fire pit, staring at the stars. That would
be like if I could draw up a day. I
don't know if that day's ever happened for me, but
if I could draw a day that's it, that would be.
That would be ideal.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
That feels like that should go on your goal planning,
like twenty twenty five off days, Like you should plan
that day. That day sounds awesome.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Did you notice that the only part of that day
that involved my kids was dropping them off at school, right.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Okay, yes, yeah, and then just someone else could pick
them up.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I don't know what happened with them after school, but
you know.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
What, right it is as long as they're they're safe
and that's all that matter.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Which celebrity would you like to switch lives with for
one day?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And why oh man, that's a really good one. You
only get one celebrity one day. Man, you know, honestly,
just because of my passion for golf, it would probably
be somebody like Tiger Woods or like uh you know, man,
one of these like top PGA golfers. Right now, if
(19:31):
it's you know, I have a good buddy, Sam Burns
of plays and Scottie Scheffler. I think of this guy like,
I would love to be awesome, be number one player
in the world at golf, and you know, you're playing
a great golf course, you're taking your little private jet
to the next golf course. You know, what a life.
I just think, you know, being great at golf and
I'd be extremely hard. But being one of the top
(19:53):
ten players in the world at golf, what a life?
I mean, you go to beautiful places, you play golf
all day. Hey, you don't you're not like exhausted, so
you still get to go to dinner. You know, you
take your little flight for the next city. I think
it'd be a wonderful life.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I just I'm jealous studying tape.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
There's no meeting time. Ye. Meeting time is hey, go
to this beautiful place and chip and punt.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You know, it's like, oh man, man, I'm really tired too.
Horrific lastly iced coffee on a snowy day or hot
coffee in a heat wave.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Oh man, I'm gonna go iced coffee on a snowy
day only because I love coffee so much. I could
have it any time. But you know, in the offensive
line room, the rookie o'liman would tell you this, and
I hope Rob's carried this on very serious subject. So
you have to know the temperature every day when you
show up, because don't bring me a hot coffee when
(20:50):
it's above seventy something degrees right like that, I don't
want a hot coffee. So you need to know the temperature.
You need to know whether I want an ice coffee
or a hot coffee. So you can do your rookie
duties career directly based off the temperture, so you need
to be checking the weather channel, and don't bring me
an iced coffee on a cold day that I'm gonna
get living. I'm probably gonna throw in the trash can
and you're gonna have to go back and get the
(21:10):
coffee again, all right, So you got to make sure
as a young old lineman, you know the temperature of
the day if you're the coffee geinner.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
I love that. I really hope we'll have to check
in and see if that's it. Better be still happening,
I mean, that's oday.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Rob's kind of just too much of a sweet teddy bear.
I don't know. He might not be doing it, you know,
Sully John Sullivan is really good at being the angry,
mean guy, so right, you know, he could put on
a good face for that. I don't know if Rob's
got that. He probably just tells them they could bring
it or not. It's just stup to them, right right right.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Awesome, Wait, I know how busy you are. Thank you
so much for hanging out. It was really great for
your insight and I'm looking forward to seeing you on
Monday night.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Appreciate it. I can't wait. Let's go there.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
He goes Nothing gets me as fired up as listening
to Andrew Whitworth pump up these Rams, except maybe our
playoff trailer that dropped yesterday, because that had me ready
to run through a wall. All Right, you guys, Monday
Night football and the Wildcard Round are right around the corner.
And if you haven't purchased your tickets already, go to
the rams dot com slash tickets. Make sure you are
(22:11):
in the Rams house, jammies. I can't wait to see you.
And if you're in the LA area, stay safe, have
a great rest of your week, and we'll see you Monday.
Let's ram it
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Barefoot Wine the official wine sponsor of the NFL. What
(00:25):
is Up, Jammies, Welcome back to a postseason edition of
Ricky's Ramjam presented by Barefoot Wine. That the Rams and
Bikings are going to battle at Sofi Stadium on Monday
night to cap off wild Card weekend. This quote from
coach mcvay's Week eighteen postgame presser has been ringing through
my ears ever since he said we respect all and
(00:48):
fear none. That can be applied to more than just football.
A little bit different of a setup for me today.
My home studio Humble Brag for Ricky's Ramjam is in
my garage and in the LA area there's a severe
windstorm and there's fires, so I hope you guys are
safe if you are local. And I moved into my
(01:10):
guest bedroom for a little makeshift studio because I went
into record and the wind wouldn't have been the best
audio and video, and my Jammys deserve the best. Because
we have a big guest joining us today, Andrew Whitworth.
You may have heard of him. I would love to
get his insight ahead of today's game. So popped in
on inside and again, Jammies, if you are local to
(01:30):
LA I hope you are staying safe out there. Okay.
The Vikings are coming back to Los Angeles for round two.
We're gonna talk about that in a second, but first
we gotta do the coin toss. Okay. One of the
options for last week was a Blake Korum touchdown, and
unfortunately he left the game with a fractured forearm. We
are wishing Blake a speedy recovery. Okay. So here is
(01:53):
the wild card coin toss, the first inaugural playoff coin
toss in Ramjam history. We're taking part and history, Jammies. Okay.
Option one, the Week eight defense against the Vikings recorded
a game ceiling safety. How about defensive points again against
the Vikes. I like that Option one. Defensive points against
(02:16):
the Vikings. Option two. Matthew Stafford throws for over three
hundred yards. Very very very plausible both options. What are
you gonna choose Option one or Option two? Joining me
now is four time pro bowler, a Super Bowl champ,
the twenty twenty one Walter Payton Man of the Year,
(02:38):
the NFL analyst for Amazon Prime Video. Not to mention
the host of his own podcast, Fits and Wit, He's
Andrew Whitworth. Wow, those accolades they probably never get old.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Huh yeah, all except for the media ones. I didn't
see myself doing any of that, And I'm really still agitated.
Why wasn't that win Fits? I don't understand. In a
way this sounds like the bands already having inner fights.
But you know what, it's been a blast. It's a
lot of fun. Man, playing in the NFL as long
as I did, and then ending it and getting a
chance to stay really close working with Amazon and Thursday
(03:11):
Night Football, and then also now Fits and I getting
to spend some time, you know, just rambling about whatever
in the world it is we're rambling about every week.
It's been really fun and rewarding to end your career
and then get to stay so close and be a
part of the NFL still.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, and then the whole you know, Amazon, TNF experience
is so fun. But the Golden Globes were this past
weekend and Nicki Glazer, first of all, absolutely killed it.
I don't know if you saw her model she did.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
She did a great job, so great.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
What was that like being next to greatness on Thursday nights?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
She was a blast. I'll tell you what. She was
a great teammate all year long. You know, I think
she made five appearances for us. It was, you know,
on our nightcap show. She was a lot of fun
to be around. You know, I think our very first
time it was in New York early in the season,
and she actually snuck and took the deal the first
time we had dinner with her, and I was like,
all right, she gets it, like she's she does how
(04:07):
to be part of the team and just make sure
everyone knows she's in it for all of us. And
so it was really cool to see her have that moment,
and you know, she did a great job. And listen,
she's a riot. I just get nervous every time she
starts talking that she's gonna start talking about me. So
as long as it's somebody else, I'm all in.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
For the Let's talk about these twenty twenty four Rams.
Do you have a quick thought on them resting players
in week eighteen and the message that Sean sent to
his team that he believes they can beat anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yeah, I thought it was a great philosophy because to me,
it really comes down to when you're in this time
of year, people are going to try and look for
all the excuses of why they win or lose, and
the truth is you need to play your best football
in those three hour windows for the next four to
five weeks, and that's it. That's all that matters. And
so what gets you there. And to me, if your
(04:55):
division's locked up, the seeding doesn't matter in the sense
that you're not the number one seeds, you're not getting
a bye. What matters the most is that you have
a healthy roster and you've got some veteran players who
are a huge part of this team, and Matthew Stafford
and Cooper Cup and Rob Hannistein and others that need
to be healthy and they need to be rested up
(05:15):
and ready to go. And so I think that if
you look at this Rams team and how they're built,
you know them being rested up, ready to rod, and
everyone feeling a little healthier one week more. Do you
look at how they've handled the bye weeks over the
last two years and really how they've come out of
those bye weeks. I'll take Sean McVay and this roster
rested and ready to go against anybody, and so I
(05:38):
think it was the right decision and I look forward
to Monday night seeing how this team plays.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, it's going to be exciting. You played in fifteen
career playoff games, Like, can you describe to me who
hasn't played in any playoff games? What makes the postseason different?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I think when you really think about it, you know,
in the regular season them and you're out there and
just always say, I like to relate a lot of
things to golf. It's you know, it's it's like a
casual round with your friends that you want to win.
In the regular season, it means a lot and there's
some money on the line, and so there's a lot
of pride and you know a lot of things you
got to go through, right, But then when you get
(06:17):
to the playoffs, it's more like you got one shot,
how close can you hit it to the pen? And
there's there's anxiousness, there's a little bit of man, I'm
you know, it's been a long year, and I you
know what am I willing to put my body through?
What am I willing to give up and sacrifice this
entire week? And not only that, but the playoffs week
with the media and everything around, it goes so fast,
(06:39):
and so now you're in an air where like if
you didn't take advantage of every little moment leading up
to that game to get your body right, to get
mainly prepared, you get into the game and it's big.
There's playoff signs everywhere there on the field. You can
fill the energy of the stadium, you know, playing rams
games and a playoff game, the crowd's going to be
insane all of a sudd You're going to feel the energy.
(07:01):
And if you didn't take advantage of every moment to
get prepared for what it is to be in that
playoff game, you're going to have some of that anxiety,
You're going to have some of that Oh man, am
I ready? And so that's where that really prior performance
gets into being prepared for the moment. And so I
think that really when you talk about the playoffs, everything's
just turned up a notch. The fans are turned up,
(07:22):
The moments are turned up, every little detail and technique
that you need to have, and every play is turned
up because you're playing against the best of the best,
and so each little moment. If we said that a
game came down to five plays in the regular season,
it might just come down to one in the playoffs,
and so every play matters, and you got to have
(07:43):
experience in it, or you got to have a mentality
of I'm going to let it go and be at
my best in this moment. And that's what really you
see is successful in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
And the Rams defeated the Vikings earlier this season. Can
you use any part of that blueprint or is it
a clean slate come playoff time?
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Playoff time, unfortunately, is a clean slate, you know. But
I think what you can take from it is confidence,
and you can take what you learned in those moments
and what this team went through from the bye week
and honestly where they sat in the season at one
and four. The grit, the determination, the mentality it took
to rise back up and go win this division. Those
(08:23):
things mightter because those moments will show up in this game.
There'll be a moment in this game, it's gonna be
third and twelve. We're gonna need somebody who's tired, exhausted
receiver to go up and make a freaking play and
come down with the football. Whether it's getting their toes
down in bounds, whether it's coming up with a tough
catch in a crowd, whether it's a run where you
break one more tackle to get that first down, whether
(08:44):
it's Stafford using those old legs to find a way
to get a first down. That we've seen something this year,
whatever that moment may be, maybe it's defensively beaten a
really good player for a sack, or a pressure that
leads to a bad throw. Those moments will show themselves.
And what you've earned throughout the year coming back from
a one and four start is that you are built
of the right stuff because a lot of teams just
(09:04):
lay down, a lot of teams don't find a way
to fix it, and you got to take the season.
The last time you played this team is things that
give you confidence that if you go out and play
your best and you play with the energy and passion
it takes to win, you have a chance to win
yourself a playoff game and get that next opportunity that
you've earned that you got to go take advantage of.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, you said so many good things there. I don't
even know which point to go off of because it's
just getting me so hyped up. But let's let's talk
yours see, I know, let's go well, let's talk the
O line. Like they've done such a great job keeping
Stafford clean the last month or so. How impressed are
you with this sort of the groove that this this
(09:46):
group has come together, and basically how important is it
to keep him clean throughout the playoffs?
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yeah, I mean you look at it. You know, the
injuries to start the season, how beat up they were
and lost some guys, and then you know the emergence
of even a young rookie and and different people who
have shown up throughout this season and had to play
up for them up front, and even with Pooka and
Cooper guys being out. I mean, all those things put
pressure on your offensive line, whether it be in the
run game or the pass game, to be a little
bit better, you know, in each moment, because maybe we're
(10:15):
missing some guys here or there. Maybe it's not the
starters that we plan to play the season with. And
so you look at really the job that win he's
done Ryan Windell. With this group, I mean, they've continued
to show up and as they've gotten healthier and gotten
guys back, they've continue to just perform better and better.
And you know, I think it's crazy because it's it's
not something you really talk about much this season, but
(10:35):
this group will really dictate the success they have in
this playoffs because their ability to possess the football and
run it well and protect Stafford is really what makes
this team's identity is this team this year has not
been some explosive offense. It's been one that when we
get on the football field, you better be down for eight, ten,
twelve plays. We're going to go the length of the field.
(10:57):
We're going to possess the football and we're going to
try to punch it in at the end. And that's
really how we're going to beat you, is that we're
going to give your offense limited ops. Our young defense
is going to get after you, and we're going to
possess the football on offense. And so this line, it's
going to be really important their ability to control this
game and in the playoffs weekend and week out, be
ready for the battle. Is going to be important to
(11:20):
this group and they wouldn't be where they are right
now if it wasn't for the way this group has
responded throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, Big Rob is expected to be back for Monday
night's game. Like, what does he mean to this line
and to the team both on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
He means everything. I mean. Rob is not only a
tremendous human a great football player, but he is the
leader of this group. And you can see, honestly how
they gel, how they work, and the run game and
everything else. It just shows up when he's on the
football field because you can tell that there's a calmness,
there's a presence he brings to their group that they
(11:55):
all feel, really, I think, an extra level of confidence
in themselves and really what their capabilities are as a
group when he's on the football field. So I'm as
happy as anybody see Big Rob back out there. I
get nervous anytime he gets banged up, but I'm looking forward.
Like I said, to this group, I think it's going
to be fun to watch them with an opportunity to say, hey,
you know what, A lot of people counted us out
(12:16):
early in the season we were one and four. We
had guys banged up all over the place, but we're
still standing here. And when you're in a big fight
and somebody lands a shot early in the fight and
they can't put you to bed, and you're still standing
on your two feet saying, you know what, there's a
lot of rounds left. That's where the rams are standing.
Teams had their shot and they didn't knock them out.
You're still standing up, and now it's your time to
(12:39):
throw the shots and can this team do it and
put it together? Because this is the best part of
the playoffs. All you got to do is win each window.
That's it. You don't have to have a River season record.
You don't need a division tiebreaker, you don't need any
of that mess. We don't need any maths. We got
to win the three hour windows. And if they can
go do that, they'll keep moving on.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
You've seen Stafford and clutch performances and how they go
hand in hand. I mean, what makes Matthew Stafford thrive
in this type of scenario.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Well, I think it's just his personality that you know, really,
he doesn't get rattled by things and big moments and
if anything, it almost brings out his best, like he
loves the challenge of showing me something I can't do.
Say I can't hit this shot, I can't throw this ball,
you know in this spot, I can't accomplish this golf shot.
I've seen him on the golf course as well. It
(13:30):
just almost brings out that smile and that wink and
his whole personality of just watch this, you know. And
I think that's why you see and be at his
best in these moments. And the month of December is
I called him on TNF mister December his record and
the performance he's had. And then in January even with
us the year we made our run to the super Bowl,
you just see that he's one of those guys that epitomizes. Man.
(13:53):
If you have that characteristic to be at your best
when your best is needed, you are rare and you
are special. And he has it and some and so
I think this group is excited as an offensive group
because you know, to get a week where they can
kind of take a breath, to get themselves healthy and
then to go out there and protect Matthew Stafford and
(14:13):
see what they can do with this running game. I
think this offense has got to be excited for the
potential that's in front of them.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah, what are you most excited about Monday night's matchup
between the Vikings and the Rams.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Well, I think you know, you look at it, there's
a clear, you know cutway that obviously the Rams. You know,
you look at the first matchup with this team, you
beat him already in a primetime setting on Thursday Night football,
So it's definitely a big game that you beat him in.
There's a big moment you can you can break some
confidence from You've overcome a lot of things, like I
said earlier, and then here we are in a moment
where you've got a quarterback and a lot of players
(14:46):
who have been in this moment before. You know, You've
got a Cooper Cup and Matthew Stafford who and Rob
Hims who can say, hey man, we've been down this road.
We know what it takes. You know. I love Tyler
Higby being back, seeing his energy, his passion is bouncing aroun.
I mean I've shared some of those moments here recently,
Like he's a guy that he brings the emotion and
passion to this team, Like when they look in that
(15:08):
huddle and they see Tyler Higbee. Every time I ever
looked at Higgs in a huddle, just the smile that
you just hits you, Like, Dude, I'm so glad this
guy's on my team. So when I think about this game,
I think about the kind of human beings that got
sitting in that huddle. And when you can look across
and make eye contact with some guys that you go
you know what, I know Pukinnaku is ready to ride.
I know Karen Williams is ready to ride. You know,
(15:30):
I know these veteran guys are ready to go get
it this weekend. Like, I think that that brings an
energy and passion to you. And that's what they got
a rally on, is that we got a bunch of
guys that are down to get after it and let's
go out Monday night and do something special.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, are you texting coach and just being like, hey,
what are you thinking? Like, let me get some of
the are you dying to get in there? Just be
a fly on the wall for that game plan.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Uh. You know what, I'm no better than to tex
Sean McVay in a big week all right, Listen, I'm
a lot smarter than that. He knows he's good, and
damn well, I'm not gonna hit him up until after
the game, and I'm gonna GETI a hug in pregame
and that's it. Yeah, I'm staying out of the way
because I'm not getting yelled at and I'm not getting
in trouble, all right, So I keep my distance. I
do that with the guys too. I mean, I am
(16:13):
somebody I believe and letting guys do their thing. I
try to send an encouraging message when I can, but
I try to stay out of the way during the
regular season and just let guys do them. But they
know I'm here if they need me. But I'm excited.
I know Sean's excited. They're excited for the opportunity. But
I don't doubt that coach is gonna have some good
stuff dialed up for this week and Chris Hulo as well,
(16:34):
and a tremendous job he's done the way that defense
closed the season. I'm looking forward to this RAM staff
and what they've got on hand for Monday night. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Lastly, before I ask you my ram jam questions, is
there a text between you and Aaron Donald, like should
we like how we feel.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
It, you know what. I actually think I might have
sent him a text a couple of weeks ago when
it was looking like they had a chance to go
get it. We need to just start loosening up. But
I think we together decided that it's the best. We
just enjoy our couches for this one. So we'll be watching.
We'll be believed, you know what. Listen, Him and I
are both very fashionate about this team and this group.
(17:14):
We love them all to death, and we want nothing
more than the Rams and go out and get it done.
But I think they're better served in my old butt
sitting down in a chair somewhere just cheering for them,
which is actually a lot because I don't sit down either.
You know, I pace the entire games. Yeah, I've still
stressed out when I watch the games, but I can't
wait to watch them do their thing. Money Dick, It's.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Going to be so exciting. Before I let you go,
I ask my guests the same three questions every showscribe
to me your perfect day, Like what's a perfect day
for Andrew Whitworth.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Perfect day for me is definitely gonna involve the early
morning coffee and sunrise a workout, a good sweat either
like either maybe a little boxing workout or maybe some
cardio work, a little bit of a lift or something.
Get a good sweat in, that's for sure. Probably dropping
the kids off at school, heading straight to the golf course,
(18:06):
hitting some golf balls, sitting down at lunch, having me
a nice sparkling water, say I'm very California these days,
and then I'll probably go back out and hit some
more golf balls. That'd be a perfect day. Maybe a
little afternoon I don't know, like a cold one, maybe
a good beer, maybe a good white wine or something,
you know, meet a couple people out for dinner, and
(18:28):
you know, that's probably it. An end my day sitting
by a fire pit, staring at the stars. That would
be like if I could draw up a day. I
don't know if that day's ever happened for me, but
if I could draw a day that's it, that would be.
That would be ideal.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
That feels like that should go on your goal planning,
like twenty twenty five off days, Like you should plan
that day. That day sounds awesome.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Did you notice that the only part of that day
that involved my kids was dropping them off at school, right.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Okay, yes, yeah, and then just someone else could pick
them up.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
I don't know what happened with them after school, but
you know.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
What, right it is as long as they're they're safe
and that's all that matter.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Which celebrity would you like to switch lives with for
one day?
Speaker 2 (19:08):
And why oh man, that's a really good one. You
only get one celebrity one day. Man, you know, honestly,
just because of my passion for golf, it would probably
be somebody like Tiger Woods or like uh you know, man,
one of these like top PGA golfers. Right now, if
(19:31):
it's you know, I have a good buddy, Sam Burns
of plays and Scottie Scheffler. I think of this guy like,
I would love to be awesome, be number one player
in the world at golf, and you know, you're playing
a great golf course, you're taking your little private jet
to the next golf course. You know, what a life.
I just think, you know, being great at golf and
I'd be extremely hard. But being one of the top
(19:53):
ten players in the world at golf, what a life?
I mean, you go to beautiful places, you play golf
all day. Hey, you don't you're not like exhausted, so
you still get to go to dinner. You know, you
take your little flight for the next city. I think
it'd be a wonderful life.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I just I'm jealous studying tape.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
There's no meeting time. Ye. Meeting time is hey, go
to this beautiful place and chip and punt.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
You know, it's like, oh man, man, I'm really tired too.
Horrific lastly iced coffee on a snowy day or hot
coffee in a heat wave.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Oh man, I'm gonna go iced coffee on a snowy
day only because I love coffee so much. I could
have it any time. But you know, in the offensive
line room, the rookie o'liman would tell you this, and
I hope Rob's carried this on very serious subject. So
you have to know the temperature every day when you
show up, because don't bring me a hot coffee when
(20:50):
it's above seventy something degrees right like that, I don't
want a hot coffee. So you need to know the temperature.
You need to know whether I want an ice coffee
or a hot coffee. So you can do your rookie
duties career directly based off the temperture, so you need
to be checking the weather channel, and don't bring me
an iced coffee on a cold day that I'm gonna
get living. I'm probably gonna throw in the trash can
and you're gonna have to go back and get the
(21:10):
coffee again, all right, So you got to make sure
as a young old lineman, you know the temperature of
the day if you're the coffee geinner.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
I love that. I really hope we'll have to check
in and see if that's it. Better be still happening,
I mean, that's oday.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Rob's kind of just too much of a sweet teddy bear.
I don't know. He might not be doing it, you know,
Sully John Sullivan is really good at being the angry,
mean guy, so right, you know, he could put on
a good face for that. I don't know if Rob's
got that. He probably just tells them they could bring
it or not. It's just stup to them, right right right.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Awesome, Wait, I know how busy you are. Thank you
so much for hanging out. It was really great for
your insight and I'm looking forward to seeing you on
Monday night.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Appreciate it. I can't wait. Let's go there.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
He goes Nothing gets me as fired up as listening
to Andrew Whitworth pump up these Rams, except maybe our
playoff trailer that dropped yesterday, because that had me ready
to run through a wall. All Right, you guys, Monday
Night football and the Wildcard Round are right around the corner.
And if you haven't purchased your tickets already, go to
the rams dot com slash tickets. Make sure you are
(22:11):
in the Rams house, jammies. I can't wait to see you.
And if you're in the LA area, stay safe, have
a great rest of your week, and we'll see you Monday.
Let's ram it
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