March 26, 2025 • 23 mins
Ricky Hollywood is joined by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue to discuss moves made by the Los Angeles Rams in free agency, what this team still needs heading into the 2025 season, favorite sports moments & more!
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
What's up, jammies.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to another episode of Ricky's Ram Jam, presented
by Barefoot Wine. We are turning up the Club Barefoot
vibes today because twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Five is already off to a ram jamming start.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I hope everyone has been having a nice relaxing offseason
so far. Okay, the entire league has been making splashy
moves across free agency, but the Rams have signed and
re signed some key players and I need to celebrate
it with you and break it all down and joining
me to do so. In Club Barefoot. Is senior writer
for The Athletic. Jordan Rodrieg Hello is senior writer for
(00:38):
the Athletic. Jordan rodrig thank Welcome to the club. You
got vip baby.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I feel the vibe, feel the rhythm.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Let me pull the red carpet, the red h you
know whatever it is, bo table, What am I trying
to say? Rope, the red velvet road, the red table,
red velvet cake, you know all of that.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
And Jordan, welcome to Club Barefoot.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
You got You've added to the bottle collection behind you.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I always that I.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Love that I enjoy some wine on occasion. You know
some champagne. We all action. It's summer coming up, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Know, I know. So the new league year here we are.
We have arrived.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Okay, we did now, you and I we did it.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
We both did it. We did it.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You know, Rams fans I think are pretty happy overall
with with free agency. And this is our free agency frenzy.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
As we cap off free agency show, I want to
list some major signings and moves and then then we'll
dive into them deeper. Okay, so the Rams said goodbye
to Cooper Cup, but they re signed Matthew Stafford. We
can all sleep better now. They re signed Jimmy g
as backup, which I'm which I'm interested to hear your
thoughts because I'm actually very excited about that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
We resigned Tou.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Tou out Well, which when I saw that, I audibly
was like yes, which which is great.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Left tackle Alaric Jackson got his bag. We brought a
Kello Witherspoon back, who had a birthday earlier last week,
so happy birthday to him. We signed defensive tackle Poon Afford.
We brought back center Coleman Shelton, and there was another
receiver we signed. I don't remember where he plt What
(02:22):
was his name.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Oh, Davonte Adams.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, we signed Davante Adams. All right, So so there
obviously are there's a lot to talk about, and who
better than the beauty and brains of the athletic Jordan.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
The Rams have their quarterback. Let's exhale.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
How much stronger is this offense with number nine back
under center?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah? I mean it's it's almost a no brainer, right,
It's like this is the ape. This was the A
plus plan all along for this team. It was interesting
as all of that unfolded. Obviously, I was covering that
pretty close for the Athletic and once they were able
to come to an agreement for him coming back in
twenty twenty five on the adjusted contract, they were able
(03:12):
to then set in motion their A plus free agency plan.
So the impact of Matthew Stafford coming back wasn't just
that he quite obviously elevates this offense into elite level,
but also it has an impact on the entirety of
the team build overall, on the rest of the roster
(03:32):
because signing Matthew Stafford and not just you know, agreeing
to the adjusted contract, but knowing what the number was
then that allows you to give a definitive number to
Alerc Jackson's camp and extend him early in free agency
versus letting him hit the open market where I heard
he was going to have some competition, especially with Ronnie
(03:53):
Stanley coming going back to Baltimore, and you know, getting
your guys done early is is what good teams do.
And then it allowed you to give Punaford's camp once
the legal tampering window opened, like a definitive number, right,
It allowed you to basically do all of this roster
math and really understand how and who and the A
(04:15):
plus plan, especially with Alaric Davante and Poona being the
top targets of this team and the top deals that
they needed to get done. But they had to figure
out Matthew Stafford first, And so that was why not
just the timing of all of this was crucial, and
why that Friday morning meeting with Sean McVay and Kelly
Stafford was like so important with all of them together,
(04:36):
just like having this really good conversation about what the
year ahead was going to look like, what the plan was.
How badly Sean McVay was made it clear like this
as he had the entire time, like, hey, we want
you to be our quarterback. We are better organizationally with
you as our quarterback. With the staffords here, we are
better organizationally. And so I think that that is that
(04:58):
was just something that set up the domino effect where
it's like you saw the impact right away, not just
what you're going to see on the on the field
this fall.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, it really he was the domino of that. Let
everything else fall. That's exactly where my mind went too. Uh,
Jimmy g locked in as backup. That was really fun
to see as well. Also, it was nice to see
you know. When he was speaking, was like when it
comes to organizations and places that I want to be,
like the RAMS is where I want to be.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So like I enjoyed reading that.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
You know what's kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I've got Mike Laflor vibes from that too, like, because
there's something to be said for being happy, you know,
Like I know that there's like a lot of bag
chasing that happens early. I know, right, tell me what,
there's a lot of bag chasing that happens early in
these players' careers. And sometimes you can go into these
directions or start taking these pads, and then you wake
(05:50):
up one day and you're like, well, what if I've
been doing like I'm not happy?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Like what is this?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And when talking to Jimmy about coming back to Los Angeles,
where he quite quite clearly was very happy. I mean,
that is an all vibe vis quarterback room with Dave Ragone,
with Mike Laflor, with Sean coming in and out of
the building, with Matthew Stafford coming in and out of
the room like you know, sets and Bennett like, it's
an all good vibes room. And I feel like that's
a scouting strategy we have to figure out if you're
(06:14):
less need, how to quantify is how can you just
concoct a room, a backup quarterbacks room with like immaculate
vibes and then you'll be successful and you'll keep the
guys on cheaper deals than they could have gotten elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So I feel like this is it's important.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
There's something to be said for being happy.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The reason I say I get Mike Laflor vibes is
because Michael Lafleur is a dang good coach.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And yet he's happy being in his position.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
He's happy being the offensive coordinator of the Rams. Jimmy
Garoppolo could have options elsewhere, but he's happy being.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
The backup quarterback of the Rams.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
So I think that there's something to be said for
reaching that level in your life, not just your career.
That's sort of refreshing, especially in this sort of like
churn and burn into that you just really have to
sit back and enjoy it for a second, that like
you're watching this guy like actually be happy and comfortable
where he's at without going out and getting more money.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, and at the end of last season, we really
saw the rams O line really kongeal and really start
to be this like really powerful line. How integral is
a part of resigning Alaric Jackson to a three year deal.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Well, it's huge.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I mean, if you look at their line in general,
it's like, so Rob Hanstein, who's been the stalwart of
that group for so many years, he's the only one
now entering the final year of his contract at his
age and at his tenure, that's sort of expected. But
everybody else is under contract for at least the next
two years. And you also have Steve Avula who is
(07:48):
playing still on his rookie deal and he will be
due for an early extension coming up here over the
next year or so to let me see over the
next year. And so I think that that is where
you really look at Okay, we know what the numbers
are going to be, but we also know what the
output and what the production and what the continuity is
going to look like on this offensive line. You know
Coleman Shelton on the two year deal, then Kevin Dotson
(08:11):
is entering year two of that three year extension he signed,
and then Alaric who has the three year extension. You know,
all of these guys are there, they're work, they're working
at continuity here, and it's a group that clicks.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
They vibe with each other.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Everybody sort of looks to Big Rob as the leader
and the captain.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
And but they all they all really vibe.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And I think that that's really important too, is to
like have that alignment not just you know, as a
continuity group that they know how to play together and
they like playing together, but also like contractually they are
all aligned, so the RAMS can know again what the
rest of their numbers look like elsewhere on the roster.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Yeah, let's dive into probably the biggest signing wide receiver
DeVante Adams, how does he change the dynamic of this
wide receiver room and the offense? And also can we
talk about coach McVay sending him narrated, highlighted videos as
part of the recruitment process.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, somehow the least surprising thing ever.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It's imagine being on vacation like in Japan, and you're like, oh, sorry, babe,
my phone keeps going off and he's like, hey, Duvante
Sean again here you see how like that would that
I would pay to see those videos?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well. I talked to Davante about this aside from his
press conference when he was in the building to sign
his contract, and it was so funny because he kept
refreshing his phone and like refreshing his WiFi because the
first video wouldn't load because.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
It was seven minutes long.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So he's thinking, like, something's wrong with my WiFi, maybe
I don't have a signal whatever, So he's like restarting
his phone whatever, and then finally when it loads, he's like, oh,
it's because it's seven freaking minutes long, and like, so
so funny, Right, So I feel like this is a
classic Sean McVay recruitment story. You hear so many of
these stories every single off season, every single free agency period.
(09:55):
But it's a bitter it's a bittersweet thing, right. Endings
and beginnings are so hard, and to have a beginning,
usually another person's ten year has to end. And like
so it's really hard for Rams fans, and I think
it's hard for everybody to not see Cooper Cup walking
around there anymore, to not he's just he was like
a catalyst for this franchise in so many ways, schematically
(10:17):
and on a personal level too.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
And then to have now this receiver's room now.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Being rebuilt and funneled through and ascending superstar in Pooka
and Akua, Well you could see from a schematic standpoint
what the vision was, and that is get another player.
First of all, speed threat to to at well, that's
your guy, and he already knows your system. And I
think every coach in that building, including Sean McVay, would
admit that he's been under utilized over the last several years.
(10:45):
And then you look at a guy who can not
only align from the slot. We know he can do that,
we know he gets open fast, we know he gets
open from a variety of alignments, including in the inside
where Pooka and Akua will We'll get a lot of
his work as well. But DeVante Adams is also a
quicknes central perimeter receiver too. He can he can basically
exploit every blade of grass, and you'll hear Sean mcfay
(11:06):
say that a lot when he's talking about DeVante Adams.
He can exploit every blade of grass on the field,
and he can tilt coverages in different directions because of
his presence and his ability and his trustworthiness, you know,
coming off a fourth consecutive thousand yard season despite all
of the chaos that he experienced last year, and he's
a culture fit.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
He is a really.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Just just really extraordinary football mind. Like he's a big
dork when it comes to talking football, when it comes
to light, talking life, really connecting with the people that
he's with, connecting with Sean McVay already. I have no
doubt that he and Matthew Stafford will get along great.
And so it's a bittersweet thing, right because to have
(11:50):
this exciting new idea and to know that you're on
the cusp of your scheme, Sean mcfay's scheme really moving
into its fourth iteration. It's fourth era, if you will,
since his tenure in Los Angeles. Now that's coming with
different people than what it was before, and it's a
hard thing to see if you're a fan. It's a
hard thing to experience for anybody in the building, especially
(12:10):
if it's happening to you. But I do think that
it is a signal that this RAMS offense is going
to look the same but very different at the same time.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, and Puka changed from you know, number seventeen, which
Deavante will will take to number twelve, a number that
has a very special family meeting meaning. And if you
haven't seen it, the RAMS did a really cool feature
on Puka and the meaning of twelve to him and
that it was really awesome, So if you haven't seen it,
you should definitely check it out. And I'm excited to
(12:43):
watch defenses trying to stop DeVante and Puka with Tutu
and that speed threat. So Jordan Whittington had a great
year too, Like there's a lot and I've been seeing
him working out with Puka and some of those guys
and it's it's going to be a really fun on
the defensive side. Okay, we brought in defensive tackle Poona Ford.
(13:05):
What do you think he'll bring to this young and
exciting d line and maybe also some untapped potential as
a pass rusher.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Yeah, I think so. I mean that's what the Rams
think of him. They've been admirers of Poona forever. I mean,
he was one of the undrafted free agents that they
were targeting but could not get right way back in
the day. And so this is one of those things
where this defense you could already see where it is
going to be supremely talented for several years to come.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And that's in the pass rush.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
And that's some of the safety play that we're seeing
out of these really young and really Ballhowking type of
safeties that they brought in. And they've got steadiness at cornerback,
bringing back a Kellow to make sure that they're not
like going hungry in the draft when they like look
at the position of the cornerback position. That's very important, right,
And he's got this steadiness alongside Darius Williams. But the
(13:57):
one thing that just they were missing to the point
of being among the worst in the league last year,
it was defending the run, and it would kill them
in these moments where I think you could see in
a couple of different phases where they identified very specific
issues and then this is this is a team that
knows it's very close to getting back to the super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Is basically my point.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
They identified very specific detail issues and went about fixing
that issue. That's what teams who don't have a lot
more to do do, right, And so that was a
signal to me of them being like, hey, we're close.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We just got to fix these two little things.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And one was getting Coleman Shelton back for communication along
the offensive line, and then the other was Poon Afford
and getting somebody who will get in the way and
stay in the way. And they don't want to substitute
as much. I think that was at their detriment a
little bit last year, was the amount of substitution that
they did to just keep certain guys fresh. And they
(14:59):
had a lot young guys who are growing up in
real time and like all of this stuff. And Kobe
Turner was really the one who played the majority of
the snaps. Will you want to make sure that he
can be freed up to pass rush as well? He
could be really dynamic still at nose, or he could
be a super dynamic three tech or shift him out
into and if they play an even front in some
in some pass rush situations, you can kick him wherever
(15:21):
you want to go. You can put Braden Fisk wherever
you want him to go. You can put Jared Verse
wherever you could put Byron Young as like the speed
and power, like attack off the edge. But you have
to have somebody anchoring everything on a on a snap
to snap basis, particularly shoring up those rundowns, those early
downs so that then you can free up your guys
(15:41):
to go rush the passer.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
So I think that that.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Is where Poona Ford, who is one of the best
run defenders in the entire NFL. It's not a knock
on anybody else, but it is just them saying, Okay,
we this is a problem.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
We've lost.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
We've lost multiple games specifically because of this, where we
would have been closer, had a chance otherwise. And I
think back to that first overtime loss in Detroit where
like Matthew Stafford didn't even get a chance to get
the ball at the end of the game. You sign
a guy like Poona Ford so that Matthew Stafford has
a chance to get the ball back at the end
of the game. You signed Coleman Shelton, so that you
(16:18):
know there's in the most crucial of moments, there are
veterans everywhere instead of you know, really promising and very talented,
bright young rookies. But you want to make sure that
you're not getting some of these veteran moves pulled on
you at the very end of these games. And so
I think that that's the sign overall of a team
that knows how close it is.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, and we signed interior linebacker Nate Lanman from from Atlanta,
which is great and like you said, a Kello Weatherspoon
back there. Now that the bulk of free agency is over,
what do you think the Rams are in most need
of heading into the draft.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, I think depth at every position is going to
be something that now they've set the table for themselves
in the draft where they could really go and pick
at premium positions with their with their early picks like corner.
You know, I actually wouldn't be surprised. It's a pretty
solid class in a couple of different positions, where like
you could get a right tackle to eventually train up
(17:15):
under Rob Havenstein who could eventually maybe be a starter
on this offensive line in the future, you probably think
really hard about going to get a quarterback, a young quarterback,
you know less Snead was and Sean McVay were both
pretty open when I asked them earlier this year about
how they really would like to get a young, starting,
potential quarterback to learn from Matthew Stafford and like the
(17:39):
encyclopedic amount of knowledge that he has about football in
that like good ViBe's only quarterbacks room, right, And I
think that that's something that could be something to really
keep an eye on, especially in the second and third
round for the Rams this year, I think they need
to get a corner. That's my personal opinion. I think
they need to keep infusing youth and athleticism and speed
(18:00):
into that room. And I think that you know, they're
always going to be looking at running backs. It's a
really good class running backs. They're always going to be
looking at running backs, even though Kyraen Williams is their guy.
That's just a position that they're always going to be
looking to restock. And I don't think they're done at
receiver either. But I think that when you extend to
to out well, not only are you making it clear
to him that you are going to get him on
(18:21):
the field and get him more of a target share,
utilize him in different ways instead of him kind of
just being kind of lost in the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
You also are.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Making it clear that you could get a receiver anywhere.
You're not necessarily reaching for one in the first round.
You're not necessarily sticking at a point that less Need
likes to call no man's.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Land or purgatory.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
With that pickpoint that they're at right now, you can
move around a little bit. You can add picks, you
can make some trades. I think that doing everything they
did in free agency, not only like I said, just
addressed a couple of final issues they think they have
and they were able to stay in there a plus
plan because of Matthew Stafford coming back.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
And now you can look at depth and.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Like twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven with this draft class,
which is how you want to do it if you're
a good team.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Absolutely, Jordan, Before I let you go, it's time for
the ram jam. It's the twenty twenty five season, so
we're going to refresh the question.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I always forget that this is coming for something I
know I.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Know, same premise, but different questions. Jordan, what is a
red flag about you?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I work too much?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
That is? Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Not even don't even need to think, don't even need
to think. That's what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Yeah, Okay, if you weren't doing this job, where would
you be right now? Uh?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
In a van somewhere.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Like traveling or just chilling in event.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Just chilling, like maybe in a mountain somewhere, like, Okay,
I weren't doing this, I would like a van. I
would one million, one eighty, Like I would want eighties
so hard. If I weren't like constantly going, if I
just took a second and my stuffed and I just
was like, oh maybe I'll ta a year off or whatever,
I would revert so like I would go full Like
(20:06):
New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Somewhere, she's in a van.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You cannot reach her, like she's her hair is now
down to her knees, like like we can't tell, we
can't tell where the hair on her head begins.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Like yeah, it's just like it's like it would be gnarly. Yeah,
it would be. I would I have to work, Erica,
I have to I would.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Pay to see that.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Uh, what is your favorite sports moment of all time?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Oh, that's really hard. That's good though, Luis Gonzales little
uh blue pit to help the Diamondbacks win the World Series.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Okay, okay, do you know.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Actually too, Like, do you remember a couple of years
ago when after the Super Bowl Van Jefferson his wife
had gone into labor.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
And he ran off. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
So I was like, you can't see it in the video,
but I was like off to the side kind of
like I saw everything happen, and I was like, that
was so.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Powerful to me, and I was like, what else is
gonna happen to this team this year?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Like so many things happened in that Super Bowl year
that I was sitting there, and I'm like and then also,
one of my favorite sports moments ever. I know, I'm
giving you three, you just can't pick one of it
when uh actually my first time standing in the back
of the end zone when I saw for the first
time Matthew Stafford throw a no look past to Cooper
(21:29):
Cup and Jalen Ramsey was in coverage, and.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I yelled.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Like seven swear words and I'd never seen anything like
that in person before.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
It was just so cool, and so it was like
a brain.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
My brain broke a little bit in that moment, so
I was like, Okay, I'm gonna remember that forever.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
I love that And Jammi's if you're following along on YouTube,
let us know in the comments what your favorite sports
moment of all time is?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
You see that? See that? Like engagement? Jordan?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Anything Simone Biles done? Also that too, That's a pro.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
That's bro. Jordan, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
As always, Rams, fans are so lucky to have you
covering this team. You are so knowledgeable and such a
breath of fresh air. And thank you for joining me
on the Free Agency Frenzy Show anytime.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
You're lucky you caught me before I go into my van,
So yeah, exactly. You guys.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
If you never hear from Jordan again, we know where
to go first. Awesome, Jordan, thank you so much. That
does it for this week's Ricky's Ram. Jam thank you
so much for hanging out with us, and thank you Jordan.
Time moves so quickly and we'll be back soon with
the draft preview.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Did you guys know the draft is a month away,
by the way, like what is happening?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
As well as a draft recap episode ton of amazing
content coming your way. I'm so pumped up going into
this season, and I hope you are too. Jammies, but
until next time. From twenty twenty five, let's ram it
Speaker 3 (22:58):
For you,
What's up, jammies.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to another episode of Ricky's Ram Jam, presented
by Barefoot Wine. We are turning up the Club Barefoot
vibes today because twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Five is already off to a ram jamming start.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I hope everyone has been having a nice relaxing offseason
so far. Okay, the entire league has been making splashy
moves across free agency, but the Rams have signed and
re signed some key players and I need to celebrate
it with you and break it all down and joining
me to do so. In Club Barefoot. Is senior writer
for The Athletic. Jordan Rodrieg Hello is senior writer for
(00:38):
the Athletic. Jordan rodrig thank Welcome to the club. You
got vip baby.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I feel the vibe, feel the rhythm.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Let me pull the red carpet, the red h you
know whatever it is, bo table, What am I trying
to say? Rope, the red velvet road, the red table,
red velvet cake, you know all of that.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
And Jordan, welcome to Club Barefoot.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
You got You've added to the bottle collection behind you.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I always that I.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Love that I enjoy some wine on occasion. You know
some champagne. We all action. It's summer coming up, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Know, I know. So the new league year here we are.
We have arrived.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Okay, we did now, you and I we did it.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
We both did it. We did it.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You know, Rams fans I think are pretty happy overall
with with free agency. And this is our free agency frenzy.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
As we cap off free agency show, I want to
list some major signings and moves and then then we'll
dive into them deeper. Okay, so the Rams said goodbye
to Cooper Cup, but they re signed Matthew Stafford. We
can all sleep better now. They re signed Jimmy g
as backup, which I'm which I'm interested to hear your
thoughts because I'm actually very excited about that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
We resigned Tou.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Tou out Well, which when I saw that, I audibly
was like yes, which which is great.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Left tackle Alaric Jackson got his bag. We brought a
Kello Witherspoon back, who had a birthday earlier last week,
so happy birthday to him. We signed defensive tackle Poon Afford.
We brought back center Coleman Shelton, and there was another
receiver we signed. I don't remember where he plt What
(02:22):
was his name.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Oh, Davonte Adams.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, we signed Davante Adams. All right, So so there
obviously are there's a lot to talk about, and who
better than the beauty and brains of the athletic Jordan.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
The Rams have their quarterback. Let's exhale.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
How much stronger is this offense with number nine back
under center?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah? I mean it's it's almost a no brainer, right,
It's like this is the ape. This was the A
plus plan all along for this team. It was interesting
as all of that unfolded. Obviously, I was covering that
pretty close for the Athletic and once they were able
to come to an agreement for him coming back in
twenty twenty five on the adjusted contract, they were able
(03:12):
to then set in motion their A plus free agency plan.
So the impact of Matthew Stafford coming back wasn't just
that he quite obviously elevates this offense into elite level,
but also it has an impact on the entirety of
the team build overall, on the rest of the roster
(03:32):
because signing Matthew Stafford and not just you know, agreeing
to the adjusted contract, but knowing what the number was
then that allows you to give a definitive number to
Alerc Jackson's camp and extend him early in free agency
versus letting him hit the open market where I heard
he was going to have some competition, especially with Ronnie
(03:53):
Stanley coming going back to Baltimore, and you know, getting
your guys done early is is what good teams do.
And then it allowed you to give Punaford's camp once
the legal tampering window opened, like a definitive number, right,
It allowed you to basically do all of this roster
math and really understand how and who and the A
(04:15):
plus plan, especially with Alaric Davante and Poona being the
top targets of this team and the top deals that
they needed to get done. But they had to figure
out Matthew Stafford first, And so that was why not
just the timing of all of this was crucial, and
why that Friday morning meeting with Sean McVay and Kelly
Stafford was like so important with all of them together,
(04:36):
just like having this really good conversation about what the
year ahead was going to look like, what the plan was.
How badly Sean McVay was made it clear like this
as he had the entire time, like, hey, we want
you to be our quarterback. We are better organizationally with
you as our quarterback. With the staffords here, we are
better organizationally. And so I think that that is that
(04:58):
was just something that set up the domino effect where
it's like you saw the impact right away, not just
what you're going to see on the on the field
this fall.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Yeah, it really he was the domino of that. Let
everything else fall. That's exactly where my mind went too. Uh,
Jimmy g locked in as backup. That was really fun
to see as well. Also, it was nice to see
you know. When he was speaking, was like when it
comes to organizations and places that I want to be,
like the RAMS is where I want to be.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So like I enjoyed reading that.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
You know what's kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I've got Mike Laflor vibes from that too, like, because
there's something to be said for being happy, you know,
Like I know that there's like a lot of bag
chasing that happens early. I know, right, tell me what,
there's a lot of bag chasing that happens early in
these players' careers. And sometimes you can go into these
directions or start taking these pads, and then you wake
(05:50):
up one day and you're like, well, what if I've
been doing like I'm not happy?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Like what is this?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
And when talking to Jimmy about coming back to Los Angeles,
where he quite quite clearly was very happy. I mean,
that is an all vibe vis quarterback room with Dave Ragone,
with Mike Laflor, with Sean coming in and out of
the building, with Matthew Stafford coming in and out of
the room like you know, sets and Bennett like, it's
an all good vibes room. And I feel like that's
a scouting strategy we have to figure out if you're
(06:14):
less need, how to quantify is how can you just
concoct a room, a backup quarterbacks room with like immaculate
vibes and then you'll be successful and you'll keep the
guys on cheaper deals than they could have gotten elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So I feel like this is it's important.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
There's something to be said for being happy.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
The reason I say I get Mike Laflor vibes is
because Michael Lafleur is a dang good coach.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And yet he's happy being in his position.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
He's happy being the offensive coordinator of the Rams. Jimmy
Garoppolo could have options elsewhere, but he's happy being.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
The backup quarterback of the Rams.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
So I think that there's something to be said for
reaching that level in your life, not just your career.
That's sort of refreshing, especially in this sort of like
churn and burn into that you just really have to
sit back and enjoy it for a second, that like
you're watching this guy like actually be happy and comfortable
where he's at without going out and getting more money.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Yeah, and at the end of last season, we really
saw the rams O line really kongeal and really start
to be this like really powerful line. How integral is
a part of resigning Alaric Jackson to a three year deal.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Well, it's huge.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I mean, if you look at their line in general,
it's like, so Rob Hanstein, who's been the stalwart of
that group for so many years, he's the only one
now entering the final year of his contract at his
age and at his tenure, that's sort of expected. But
everybody else is under contract for at least the next
two years. And you also have Steve Avula who is
(07:48):
playing still on his rookie deal and he will be
due for an early extension coming up here over the
next year or so to let me see over the
next year. And so I think that that is where
you really look at Okay, we know what the numbers
are going to be, but we also know what the
output and what the production and what the continuity is
going to look like on this offensive line. You know
Coleman Shelton on the two year deal, then Kevin Dotson
(08:11):
is entering year two of that three year extension he signed,
and then Alaric who has the three year extension. You know,
all of these guys are there, they're work, they're working
at continuity here, and it's a group that clicks.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
They vibe with each other.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Everybody sort of looks to Big Rob as the leader
and the captain.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
And but they all they all really vibe.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And I think that that's really important too, is to
like have that alignment not just you know, as a
continuity group that they know how to play together and
they like playing together, but also like contractually they are
all aligned, so the RAMS can know again what the
rest of their numbers look like elsewhere on the roster.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Yeah, let's dive into probably the biggest signing wide receiver
DeVante Adams, how does he change the dynamic of this
wide receiver room and the offense? And also can we
talk about coach McVay sending him narrated, highlighted videos as
part of the recruitment process.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah, somehow the least surprising thing ever.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
It's imagine being on vacation like in Japan, and you're like, oh, sorry, babe,
my phone keeps going off and he's like, hey, Duvante
Sean again here you see how like that would that
I would pay to see those videos?
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well. I talked to Davante about this aside from his
press conference when he was in the building to sign
his contract, and it was so funny because he kept
refreshing his phone and like refreshing his WiFi because the
first video wouldn't load because.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
It was seven minutes long.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
So he's thinking, like, something's wrong with my WiFi, maybe
I don't have a signal whatever, So he's like restarting
his phone whatever, and then finally when it loads, he's like, oh,
it's because it's seven freaking minutes long, and like, so
so funny, Right, So I feel like this is a
classic Sean McVay recruitment story. You hear so many of
these stories every single off season, every single free agency period.
(09:55):
But it's a bitter it's a bittersweet thing, right. Endings
and beginnings are so hard, and to have a beginning,
usually another person's ten year has to end. And like
so it's really hard for Rams fans, and I think
it's hard for everybody to not see Cooper Cup walking
around there anymore, to not he's just he was like
a catalyst for this franchise in so many ways, schematically
(10:17):
and on a personal level too.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
And then to have now this receiver's room now.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Being rebuilt and funneled through and ascending superstar in Pooka
and Akua, Well you could see from a schematic standpoint
what the vision was, and that is get another player.
First of all, speed threat to to at well, that's
your guy, and he already knows your system. And I
think every coach in that building, including Sean McVay, would
admit that he's been under utilized over the last several years.
(10:45):
And then you look at a guy who can not
only align from the slot. We know he can do that,
we know he gets open fast, we know he gets
open from a variety of alignments, including in the inside
where Pooka and Akua will We'll get a lot of
his work as well. But DeVante Adams is also a
quicknes central perimeter receiver too. He can he can basically
exploit every blade of grass, and you'll hear Sean mcfay
(11:06):
say that a lot when he's talking about DeVante Adams.
He can exploit every blade of grass on the field,
and he can tilt coverages in different directions because of
his presence and his ability and his trustworthiness, you know,
coming off a fourth consecutive thousand yard season despite all
of the chaos that he experienced last year, and he's
a culture fit.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
He is a really.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Just just really extraordinary football mind. Like he's a big
dork when it comes to talking football, when it comes
to light, talking life, really connecting with the people that
he's with, connecting with Sean McVay already. I have no
doubt that he and Matthew Stafford will get along great.
And so it's a bittersweet thing, right because to have
(11:50):
this exciting new idea and to know that you're on
the cusp of your scheme, Sean mcfay's scheme really moving
into its fourth iteration. It's fourth era, if you will,
since his tenure in Los Angeles. Now that's coming with
different people than what it was before, and it's a
hard thing to see if you're a fan. It's a
hard thing to experience for anybody in the building, especially
(12:10):
if it's happening to you. But I do think that
it is a signal that this RAMS offense is going
to look the same but very different at the same time.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah, and Puka changed from you know, number seventeen, which
Deavante will will take to number twelve, a number that
has a very special family meeting meaning. And if you
haven't seen it, the RAMS did a really cool feature
on Puka and the meaning of twelve to him and
that it was really awesome, So if you haven't seen it,
you should definitely check it out. And I'm excited to
(12:43):
watch defenses trying to stop DeVante and Puka with Tutu
and that speed threat. So Jordan Whittington had a great
year too, Like there's a lot and I've been seeing
him working out with Puka and some of those guys
and it's it's going to be a really fun on
the defensive side. Okay, we brought in defensive tackle Poona Ford.
(13:05):
What do you think he'll bring to this young and
exciting d line and maybe also some untapped potential as
a pass rusher.
Speaker 4 (13:13):
Yeah, I think so. I mean that's what the Rams
think of him. They've been admirers of Poona forever. I mean,
he was one of the undrafted free agents that they
were targeting but could not get right way back in
the day. And so this is one of those things
where this defense you could already see where it is
going to be supremely talented for several years to come.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And that's in the pass rush.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
And that's some of the safety play that we're seeing
out of these really young and really Ballhowking type of
safeties that they brought in. And they've got steadiness at cornerback,
bringing back a Kellow to make sure that they're not
like going hungry in the draft when they like look
at the position of the cornerback position. That's very important, right,
And he's got this steadiness alongside Darius Williams. But the
(13:57):
one thing that just they were missing to the point
of being among the worst in the league last year,
it was defending the run, and it would kill them
in these moments where I think you could see in
a couple of different phases where they identified very specific
issues and then this is this is a team that
knows it's very close to getting back to the super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Is basically my point.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
They identified very specific detail issues and went about fixing
that issue. That's what teams who don't have a lot
more to do do, right, And so that was a
signal to me of them being like, hey, we're close.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
We just got to fix these two little things.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And one was getting Coleman Shelton back for communication along
the offensive line, and then the other was Poon Afford
and getting somebody who will get in the way and
stay in the way. And they don't want to substitute
as much. I think that was at their detriment a
little bit last year, was the amount of substitution that
they did to just keep certain guys fresh. And they
(14:59):
had a lot young guys who are growing up in
real time and like all of this stuff. And Kobe
Turner was really the one who played the majority of
the snaps. Will you want to make sure that he
can be freed up to pass rush as well? He
could be really dynamic still at nose, or he could
be a super dynamic three tech or shift him out
into and if they play an even front in some
in some pass rush situations, you can kick him wherever
(15:21):
you want to go. You can put Braden Fisk wherever
you want him to go. You can put Jared Verse
wherever you could put Byron Young as like the speed
and power, like attack off the edge. But you have
to have somebody anchoring everything on a on a snap
to snap basis, particularly shoring up those rundowns, those early
downs so that then you can free up your guys
(15:41):
to go rush the passer.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
So I think that that.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
Is where Poona Ford, who is one of the best
run defenders in the entire NFL. It's not a knock
on anybody else, but it is just them saying, Okay,
we this is a problem.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
We've lost.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
We've lost multiple games specifically because of this, where we
would have been closer, had a chance otherwise. And I
think back to that first overtime loss in Detroit where
like Matthew Stafford didn't even get a chance to get
the ball at the end of the game. You sign
a guy like Poona Ford so that Matthew Stafford has
a chance to get the ball back at the end
of the game. You signed Coleman Shelton, so that you
(16:18):
know there's in the most crucial of moments, there are
veterans everywhere instead of you know, really promising and very talented,
bright young rookies. But you want to make sure that
you're not getting some of these veteran moves pulled on
you at the very end of these games. And so
I think that that's the sign overall of a team
that knows how close it is.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Yeah, and we signed interior linebacker Nate Lanman from from Atlanta,
which is great and like you said, a Kello Weatherspoon
back there. Now that the bulk of free agency is over,
what do you think the Rams are in most need
of heading into the draft.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, I think depth at every position is going to
be something that now they've set the table for themselves
in the draft where they could really go and pick
at premium positions with their with their early picks like corner.
You know, I actually wouldn't be surprised. It's a pretty
solid class in a couple of different positions, where like
you could get a right tackle to eventually train up
(17:15):
under Rob Havenstein who could eventually maybe be a starter
on this offensive line in the future, you probably think
really hard about going to get a quarterback, a young quarterback,
you know less Snead was and Sean McVay were both
pretty open when I asked them earlier this year about
how they really would like to get a young, starting,
potential quarterback to learn from Matthew Stafford and like the
(17:39):
encyclopedic amount of knowledge that he has about football in
that like good ViBe's only quarterbacks room, right, And I
think that that's something that could be something to really
keep an eye on, especially in the second and third
round for the Rams this year, I think they need
to get a corner. That's my personal opinion. I think
they need to keep infusing youth and athleticism and speed
(18:00):
into that room. And I think that you know, they're
always going to be looking at running backs. It's a
really good class running backs. They're always going to be
looking at running backs, even though Kyraen Williams is their guy.
That's just a position that they're always going to be
looking to restock. And I don't think they're done at
receiver either. But I think that when you extend to
to out well, not only are you making it clear
to him that you are going to get him on
(18:21):
the field and get him more of a target share,
utilize him in different ways instead of him kind of
just being kind of lost in the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
You also are.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
Making it clear that you could get a receiver anywhere.
You're not necessarily reaching for one in the first round.
You're not necessarily sticking at a point that less Need
likes to call no man's.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Land or purgatory.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
With that pickpoint that they're at right now, you can
move around a little bit. You can add picks, you
can make some trades. I think that doing everything they
did in free agency, not only like I said, just
addressed a couple of final issues they think they have
and they were able to stay in there a plus
plan because of Matthew Stafford coming back.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
And now you can look at depth and.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Like twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven with this draft class,
which is how you want to do it if you're
a good team.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Absolutely, Jordan, Before I let you go, it's time for
the ram jam. It's the twenty twenty five season, so
we're going to refresh the question.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
I always forget that this is coming for something I
know I.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Know, same premise, but different questions. Jordan, what is a
red flag about you?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I work too much?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
That is? Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Not even don't even need to think, don't even need
to think. That's what it is.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Yeah, Okay, if you weren't doing this job, where would
you be right now? Uh?
Speaker 3 (19:39):
In a van somewhere.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Like traveling or just chilling in event.
Speaker 4 (19:46):
Just chilling, like maybe in a mountain somewhere, like, Okay,
I weren't doing this, I would like a van. I
would one million, one eighty, Like I would want eighties
so hard. If I weren't like constantly going, if I
just took a second and my stuffed and I just
was like, oh maybe I'll ta a year off or whatever,
I would revert so like I would go full Like
(20:06):
New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Somewhere, she's in a van.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
You cannot reach her, like she's her hair is now
down to her knees, like like we can't tell, we
can't tell where the hair on her head begins.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Like yeah, it's just like it's like it would be gnarly. Yeah,
it would be. I would I have to work, Erica,
I have to I would.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Pay to see that.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Uh, what is your favorite sports moment of all time?
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Oh, that's really hard. That's good though, Luis Gonzales little
uh blue pit to help the Diamondbacks win the World Series.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Okay, okay, do you know.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Actually too, Like, do you remember a couple of years
ago when after the Super Bowl Van Jefferson his wife
had gone into labor.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
And he ran off. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:57):
So I was like, you can't see it in the video,
but I was like off to the side kind of
like I saw everything happen, and I was like, that
was so.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Powerful to me, and I was like, what else is
gonna happen to this team this year?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
Like so many things happened in that Super Bowl year
that I was sitting there, and I'm like and then also,
one of my favorite sports moments ever. I know, I'm
giving you three, you just can't pick one of it
when uh actually my first time standing in the back
of the end zone when I saw for the first
time Matthew Stafford throw a no look past to Cooper
(21:29):
Cup and Jalen Ramsey was in coverage, and.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I yelled.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Like seven swear words and I'd never seen anything like
that in person before.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
It was just so cool, and so it was like
a brain.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
My brain broke a little bit in that moment, so
I was like, Okay, I'm gonna remember that forever.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
I love that And Jammi's if you're following along on YouTube,
let us know in the comments what your favorite sports
moment of all time is?
Speaker 1 (21:55):
You see that? See that? Like engagement? Jordan?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Anything Simone Biles done? Also that too, That's a pro.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
That's bro. Jordan, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
As always, Rams, fans are so lucky to have you
covering this team. You are so knowledgeable and such a
breath of fresh air. And thank you for joining me
on the Free Agency Frenzy Show anytime.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
You're lucky you caught me before I go into my van,
So yeah, exactly. You guys.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
If you never hear from Jordan again, we know where
to go first. Awesome, Jordan, thank you so much. That
does it for this week's Ricky's Ram. Jam thank you
so much for hanging out with us, and thank you Jordan.
Time moves so quickly and we'll be back soon with
the draft preview.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Did you guys know the draft is a month away,
by the way, like what is happening?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
As well as a draft recap episode ton of amazing
content coming your way. I'm so pumped up going into
this season, and I hope you are too. Jammies, but
until next time. From twenty twenty five, let's ram it
Speaker 3 (22:58):
For you,
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