October 23, 2024 • 37 mins
Camryn Irwin, J.B. Long, and Maurice Jones-Drew chat about the looming trade deadline, success from a young Rams defense, how wide receiver Cooper Kupp's return impacts the Minnesota Vikings defensive game plan, and more!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California
Toyota dealers. Cameron or went alongside my very good friends JV.
Long and Maurice Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Drew.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
We are getting ready for Thursday night football, little primetime
action for the Los Angeles Rams this week. Short week?
How are you guys feeling on this short one?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I love short weeks. I think you have offensive explosion
all short weeks. It's easier to really game plan and
kind of attack people where defensively it's like we don't
know we're gonna do, so we have to say a
little vanilla. I am concerned though this week that the
Minnesota defense is going to do the opposite and not
be vanilla, but be super aggressive and try to send
the house on the Rams. So we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
You know, I've been saying all season, I thought the
first month of the year is gonna be really tough
the Rams. We're gonna take some body blows. But I
had this little two home games in five day grouping
circle because it was the key to last season. I
think getting those two wins against the Commanders and the Saints.
I didn't know the Vikings would be coming in with
only one loss, but nonetheless one down against the Raiders,
one to go, and I think it changes the course
(01:09):
of your whole year.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, it's also been a really nice week in Los Angeles.
You consider what's happening with the Dodgers. They have their
what game one of the World Series come Friday. It
feels like there's some good energy. Do you think that's
gonna help us going into Thursday night?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
You know, first shout out to Lebron James and bronni
for doing something historical, which I think every NFL player,
every athlete would love to do, is to play with
their child man or woman, And so that was awesome.
That was great energy. Was awesome to see that last night.
Obviously the Dodgers, even though I'm a Bay Area guy,
the Dodgers, you know, which I heard is gonna be crazy.
But I think I think there is a lot of
(01:41):
energy around the city, and if the Rams are able
to pull this one off on Thursday, I think it'd
really be a springboard for them to get going forward.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
What high school classes, deuce, Yeah, it would never it
wouldn He's twenty seven, all right, so maybe like the
twenty thirty one NFL Draft. Yeah, whatever team he goes to,
just a one week contry.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Give me, give me a day.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Lined up in the eye. You can just lead the way.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I got one carry, one carry, and then I'm gonna
fall out because I'm probably gonna break everything in my
body if I go out there and try to hit anyone.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I was gonna say, I thought at times you had
hopped into practice. Is that not true?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (02:18):
For little kids?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, when they're like thirteen fourteen years old, I don't
have they don't know what they're doing, and you're out
here with these pros.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Man, I'm not gonna lie. We're at the facility. I
walk around and I'm like, I can't believe I played
with some.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Of these big giant dudes. Like how did this work out?
I must have been crazy? And now like I'm coming
back to being, you know, saying.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Again you were born like one generation too early because
you would have crushed the nil scene.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Oh man, I can't. We'll talk about that.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
There's a lot of exactly treatment and the recovery these days.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Nutrician, you'se got no wonder I'm this. We didn't have
any of that. We didn't have any of that, So
I guess I just didn't get it. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
The Rams coming off a win over the Raiders, it
was a fantastic way to done. It was a defensive
performance for takeaways on that side of the ball. However,
there is a bit of levity coming into this Thursday
Night football considering where the Rams now sit in the
NFC West and just the general picture of the National
Football League. The trade deadline is just around the corner.
(03:17):
With this win, how does that maybe change the reflection
of what the Rams might do.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think gives them the right to play these next
two games out, and I mean that win or lose
tomorrow night, because you got a chance to take a
big swing at the Seahawks right now, they're the only
team in the division with less than four losses, and
you got two games head to head against them. In
terms of how they played against the Raiders, it didn't
do much for me. It didn't inspire a ton of confidence.
(03:44):
But in terms of the implications of what that win
did this week and beyond immensely significant, I.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Agree with you.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
We were just texting the other night about it. It
was kind of like you've given yourself an opportunity to
play the next two games to kind of see what
you want to do with your roster, right.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
And that's what wins do. Wins give you. They kind
of kick the can down the road a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And so you have an opportunity now to go against
one of the top contending teams in the NFC and
not in the NFL, in the Minnesota Vikings, and if
you're able to find a way to win this one,
all of a sudden, you have a little momentum going
into Seattle. You've played well against Seattle. So if you
have that opportunity, you go and do it. If not,
it may be wholesale. And that's kind of what you're
(04:28):
hearing in the national media circuit is you know, teams
are caught contacted from all over the place trying to
get Stafford Cup and whoever else is available, because there
are there's still really good players on this roster that
teams that are contending want.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And I understand some of the national media and what
we've seen in terms of the conversation leading up for
this Thursday night football game in terms of the offensive production. However,
I'm going to say there's no buds about it, because
when I watch that game. I know it is frustrating.
We still pick up the win. However, I had a
blast watching this defense go to wor and so I'm
going with the no buds about it because I'm sorry
(05:02):
if you're looking at a guy like Jalen McColough, I mean,
we're talking about an undrafted free agent that has put
together two performances back to back, three interceptions or what
Kobe Durant has done on the backside of the ball.
After that Raiders game, as a Rams fan, I understand
there's some frustration on the offense, but the defense performed
(05:23):
and it's something that this young defense that we've been
looking for. They're currently growing. What were some of your
biggest takeaways watching this defense play out.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, not just the offense, but the kicking game is
wobbly again too. I mean, the defense won that game.
The other two units did not perform. And look, that
was probably the worst team the Rams are going to
face this year. Like they got the Raiders at the
right time. And make no apologies because that matters in
the league who you play and when they play them
for takeaway gain. Great for a team that I think
(05:51):
had that many in the previous games before the buy combined.
You'll take it, no excuses, but I also know that
three of those were pretty much gifts like one you
really earned this coop and score you really earn the
other ones kind of minch you mania for me?
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I guess how my glass half full kind of guy.
Because going into the season, the question mark was what
is this defense gonna be, How is Chris Shula going
to be the d as a DC.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
What's gonna go on?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
The offense is gonna need to carry him? And the
first since the start of the season, it has been the opposite.
The defense has been making plays, they've been finding ways
to get off the field to create turnovers, and now
they win you a game. Now, you don't want to
live this way in the world of the NFL with
all the different rules, But if this is a confidence
for them to continue to build off that, it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
And then we've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I haven't seen a tackle block Jared Verse yet, and
he's went against some of the top guys in the NFL,
and yet he continues to dominate, which is a consistent
piece that you're looking for. Offensively, Like I said, you
just have to get healthy like you're playing, you're really
playing with one hand tie.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Behind your back.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
In this situation with so many guys being out and
then the kicking game, it's I don't know a lot
of times rookies, I've been a part of rookie kickers.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
A lot of time. Rookies need that they like it's weird.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Sometimes they need like a year off like or sometimes
they just need like just a feel good about themselves.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
And it seems like once.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Cardi missed that first one, it was kind of like downhill, downhill, downhill.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
He started thinking about it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
You kind of have to be like water off a
duck's back a little bit in that situation because that
swing of the leg is all that matters.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I don't want to diminish what the defense did because
there were a lot of ingredients that I think you
can build from. We talked about this with less need
on Monday to be months removed from Aaron Donald, like
fresh into this post Aaron Donald universe, and if be
generating more pressure without him than you did with him
as recently is a year ago, it's a big deal.
(07:46):
Darius Ones has put things right in the secondary. You
could do a lot worse with your trio of corners
than Darius, Kobe and Akello. And then the way the
safeties are playing, like that red zone tackle that Quinton
Lake made on Bowers, that was as good a play
as I this season. Cam Curl coming off his best
game as a ramp for all the grief, and I
know that it's been here in this common section that
(08:07):
the inside linebackers have taken this season. Go back and
watch what Chris Shula and his defensive staff did in
that bye week, the roles that they played, what they
asked them to do and win, and then when they
took them off the field and who they replaced them with.
There was a lot of creativity. There was a lot
of problem solving in that win defensively that was earned.
Despite my previous comment.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
On defense, a couple more silver linings for you defensively.
Jared Versus, who you mentioned nine pressures on thirty six
pass rushes. He actually tied for the most for a
rookie this season. He's also leading the league right now
at twenty three point six percent from a pressure rate
through Week seven, so to your point, he's doing some damage.
And also Chris Shula walking all away with a game ball.
(08:50):
I thought that was really fitting in those moments.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And congratulations to the land Shark, right, he's the defensive
player of the Week this week. Well deserved. That one
was a well time pressure got the hit on Menshee
to have a sack and a pick. That's DeMarco Farr
stuff or on the short list of rands who've ever
done that in the same.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, and again, you know, I thought, I thought the
defense at the end of the day, they needed to
show up because of the way the offense was struggling.
We knew there was gonna be some concerns and protection
and they were able to find a way. And anytime
you can score on defense as much.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Needed, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
This week's challenge is just completely different.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Completely different.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, there's no question about it. And just in terms
of having a little fun here on between the horns,
I mean, what was better.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Than between the horns?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We'll always have fun on between the horns, But what
was better Kobe Durant celebration or the rowrow row your boat?
Did you guys see those?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I like the pure prime high step from Cam Croullo.
That was smooth.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, I'm a I'm a team guy.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I just thought we could have did a better than
rowrow row your boat.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I think there's a lot, there's a there's I mean,
come on, that's like in the eighties.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
We gotta we gotta pick it up.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Let's do it together, but let's be a little bit
more hip to it, like we should be doing a
TikTok dance together or something out there.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I think that would I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Back to that ni own money, that's where it would
have been clutched.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
No question, Ritty's coming in next. Yeah, yeah, you've got
a game up.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
You gotta do the gritty now because you know this
is all he's going to do if he scores.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
So I was a little more concerned as to who
was the coxin in that rowboat because there were oars
flying right and lab. The rhythm was little.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
That's the thing.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I don't know if they you know here in La
we have rotae, right, so you know all the little
the little positions. There was no one in there leading yelling,
row back and forth. There's just a bunch of guys
rowing where are we going? When are we stopping?
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Where?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Like it was just chaos La twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
They were not okay, Well, let's switch it up a
little bit. We talked a bit about the offensive side
of ball. There was a bright spot obviously, Kraen Williams
nine consecutive games with a touchdown. That's longest active streak
in the NFL. He's just one of two guys right
now with a touchdown in every game. Derick Henry the other.
I mean from the opposite side, Lake Quorum. Maybe not
(10:56):
as in the mix in this last one. Whittington was
still dealing with some stuff, only played nine snaps. Where
can they kind of look as you reflect against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I think the Rams have been at their best when
they've been under center offensively, which is great because Stafford
has actually thrived and especially for Kiren, that's when they've
been able to be most efficient. They've been better running
the football than they have passing, as we know. Unfortunately,
this week's opponent, Minnesota, is really good against you under center. Looks.
They specialize in all sorts of things, but among them
(11:29):
is matching your eleven personnel with their dime defense and
still being able to stop the run out of it.
So it's going to be difficult to have early down
success unless unless you get your chest piece back in
Cooper Cup and maybe pukin Nakua. And I think that
has the power to set a lot of things right
because I do know about you. But what I noticed
the Rams miss most against the Las Vegas Raiders. They
(11:51):
knew that you knew that, they knew that it was
going to have to be a certain style of game
and you couldn't do anything about it. And they were
They were throwing a lot at you, and they were
hitting iron in the backfield with run blitzers. And to me,
that's like, oh, that's normally where Cooper Cup is taking
care of that. That's normally where Jordan Winnington is folding
into your surface or pookin Nakua and making sure that
(12:12):
that guy doesn't get a hit on your running back.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, we call that a level three.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
When they know that, you know that they know it's
a problem. To me, I think the biggest thing in
this and this comes from a buddy of mine who's
the safety coach for the Minnesota Vikings, and I got
a chance to talk to him in London.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
He came to see our high school play and he
was saying that.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
We earn the right to do all these exotic looks
because we have to be able to stop the run.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
If you can't stop the run, then it doesn't give
us a chance to be in these exotic looks, to
do these different blizzes to run you know, cover zero
or cover two, And that's kind of what they do.
They're gonna put all these guys up at the line
of scrimmage and they're gonna drop out in the cover
two or they're gonna send everyone. And to me, you
have to you can't live in the third and long.
You can't live in the second and long. You have
(12:57):
to be efficient in this game. That's the most. When
you watch the Detroit Lions, they were efficient. They were
never in third and ten. When they were, they had
a plan for it. And so you have to have
a plan if you get put in that situation. And
and again you just want to make sure because these
are confusing defenses. We've seen this with the Dolphins and
the Rams in twenty twenty. I've actually played against these
(13:19):
type of defenses in my time in the NFL. And
if you don't pick it up right or identify it right,
my goodness, I mean, they can come from everywhere. And
so you want to make sure that as you're getting
guys back, you're protecting your quarterback as well.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
What's crazy, though, is because it's World Series time, like
they pitch backwards. What I mean by that is in
baseball sometimes you throw an off speed pitch to steal
an early strike. That's part of what Brian Flores and
these Vikings have done. Like they present the two high shells.
They've got great safeties, but they'll blitch you on first
and second down, get you in trouble, and then they'll
play coverage on third down, like they'll just play vanilla,
(13:53):
make you throw it shy at the sticks and tackle
and be done with it. So when you see that
from an offensive lens, like, what is your answer? Like,
I know you study what the lines said too, and yeah,
being explosive on early down runs is a secret sauce.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
It is again like I said, this is coming from them,
like they're they're so nervous when they run those, like
it's a gamble. We're gonna put all these guys in
the line of scrimmage hoping that you don't get in.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
We get there before you can figure out the answer.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The key is when they do that to hit them
early with it right to get a big play or
to get a first down, or to be successful, because
now he's gonna be like, all right, they have a plan.
We'll try one more time if it does. If it
doesn't work, we'll back off. So you have to answer it.
The answer really to me is downhill runs because you're
gonna have linebackers lined up over guards or safeties lined
up over guards. Push those guys out the way, and
(14:43):
then you have to start trying to find a way
to insert those receivers and to help with that protection
as well. If you're throwing the ball, you're gonna have
to go on one to two guy routes and then
hopefully you can get a guy beat man to man.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, if you have to do that, then what a
week to have. Cooper like, Yeah, if you're gonna try
and beat with a hot answer or one guy nine
and dime, is that answer right?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
It has to be.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
It has to be kind of like whoever the quarterback
was and brock Bauers on third day, like whoever they're
gonna play a quarterback, We're gonna get the ball to
eighty nine as much as we can in this game.
And I think that's what if you're gonna be the Rams,
you have to get that nine and nine, that third
and Cup, That's what it has to be for you
in those crucial situations.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Because Cameron, what's terrifying about this defense is they get
pressure from everywhere, Like all these pre snap sims and stuff.
A lot of times they will play coverage. A lot
of times they will blitz the living daylights out of you.
A lot of times you don't know where it's coming
from preer, post snap, and so as a result, there's
a whole bunch of guys on all three levels of
their defense that have hits and sacks on the opposing quarterback.
(15:39):
Those of us who watch the Rams down and down
out what's been the big issue this year in pass protection, coverage, breakdowns,
free runners at your quarterback and so if that is
is your raw nerve, this is the defense, more so
than any other in the league that can really make
you feel it.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You mentioned Cooper Cup potentially coming back, Well, Joe Noteboom
might be one of those guys that can maybe make
a difference here if he makes his return. We will
dig into the Minnesota defense even further. But I love
the breakdown from the two of you, it's fantastic. Let's
talk a little bit more about the NFC West because
this is still something that's up for grabs, and it
(16:14):
was a conversation last week with US Maurice in terms
of where we sat and the strength of schedule remaining.
This is up for grabs. We still have the Seahawks twice.
We already have to win over the forty nine ers.
What do the Rams have to do this week? Do
they have to find this win in order to find
the top of the NFC West.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I don't know if they do or they don't. I
was last week. I was like, all right, Seattle's going
to go to Atlanta and lose because Atlanta was like hot.
It was like, oh, and then Seattle found a way
to win, which was insane. Now they have DK Metcalf
who's a little banged up. But the team that scares
me more than anyone is Arizona. Like, I don't know
how Arizona's finding these ways to win games all of
(16:55):
a sudden, Like they go on these kids and you
beat the Chargers on Monday night in a close battle.
It's tough. The Niners, they're just like us. They may
be even worse, right, like you just lost Ayuk Deebo
was out sick. They're hoping to get CMC back like
they got a whole bunch of other stuff going on.
So to me, if you're the Rams, yes you would
(17:16):
like to win this game, but if you don't, you
have a game next week that or in two weeks
that are gonna be that's gonna be pretty big for you,
right to go up to Seattle and find a way
to get that victory. If you can get that win
in Seattle, then that really puts you or where you
need to be down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
We have not seen the best football anywhere close to
it from the twenty twenty four Rams, but I know
for a fact that their best is good enough to
win this division now that I've seen it, and so
it would be a real shame, and I think I
speak for Rams fans here to not take your best
swing at the Seahawks, to not have your best roster
on the field and then see what the dust settles
(17:53):
like on that Monday after the trip to Seattle and
the trade deadline. Because the Seahawks got that win in Atlanta,
but they're home Buffalo this week. It's gonna be a
good game to watch on your couch. The forty nine
Ers host the Cowboys, and I know Dallas is in disarray,
but they're also desperate and coming off of bye. It's
another good game to watch on your couch. Win or lose.
This week, the Cardinals are going to Miami.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I think, yeah, with two of coming back.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And I hear what you're saying about Arizona, but Arizona
is a twenty twenty five problem for me. It's a
long time since you have until you have to worry
about the Cardinals. Okay, so I'll let some water go
into the bridge before I give them any mind. But
my point is beating the Raiders I think gives you
the margin to play this as a two game stretch.
Now that being said, if you can't get this one
on Thursday night, it's gonna be a long, uncomfortable wait
(18:35):
for that trip to Seattle. And I get that. I'm
sensitive to that, which is why I say, get greedy,
get on a winning streak, and then go to Seattle
and take your big swing.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, we do have to talk about your greediness here
in a little bit, So I respect that, and I
understand that I always Again, when you're where the Rams are,
it's a one game season. Every every game is like
the you can't overlook you right now. It's a one
game season on a short week, a tough opponent. But
remember they're coming from far away on a short week.
(19:04):
So again, there's things that you can do that you
may I believe there's things that the Rams can do
to really put themselves in position to win this game.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
All right, well let's dig into some of those. We
already talked a little bit about nine and time and
the potential return for Cooper Cup. Everyone's pointing to the
direction that, yeah, he's going to be out there in
prime time. How much will they actually utilize him.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I don't think he'll come off the field.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
If he's out there like you're fresh, go like, don't
even look.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I had a Okay, I gotta tell this story. I
had a coach one time.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
We're in preseason, and he gave us all a quarter
and he was like, in this quarter, don't look to
the sidelines.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
I don't care if you're tired. You could be on
a twenty play drive. You have the whole drive.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
So I was like, oh, whatever, well, well, just my luck.
I have the second quarter run a fifteen play drive.
I'm exhausted, so I looked at the coach to tap
to come out, and he turns his back on me.
That's what I would do to Cooper Cup if he
tried to come out. I'm just gonna turn my back
and say, look, don't even look over here. You know
where you're out there, don't even look.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Thanks Stafford's passer rating, it's like some twenty points higher
in his tenure as a RAM when Cooper's out there
when he's not like, that's what you should be banking
on as a Rams fan here in these next twenty
four hours. You got the right to play chess again
this week. It's been a long time since you've been
able to play anything but checkers. This is a defense
where you need your best game plan and execution, and
(20:22):
finally you're getting closer to having the right pieces in
place to do exactly that. I'm not saying you spam
them like you did in that second half against Detroit,
but if you need to, and if that's your path
the victory, at least you have that option, right I agree.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Another good news too, since we're already talking about wide receivers.
Poka Nakula has been designated to open his practice windows,
so there's potential, maybe, I say, with inflection in my voice, Yeah,
who knows.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I'll say it again because it really felt it against
the Raiders. And I'll ad Jordan Whittington this conversation too,
because in a couple of months he's he's filled those
shoes admirably. Like to play offense the way this team
was built to play off you need those hybrid receiver
tight ends. And I love our other receivers, you know
from what's the end of the show. I'm as a
big A two two fan as there is. DeMarcus Robinson
(21:08):
is my guy. Tyler Johnson another great play against the Raiders.
But their skill set and their body types are not
what you have in Cooper and Pooka and Jordan, and
that's why the Rams have been special with those guys.
The more of them, and all three of them are
kind of in that category, the more of them you
can get reps on Thursday and again next week against Seattle,
the more real this push I think becomes.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
If you get a chance to get pookin Nakua back
on Thursday, that change the whole dynamic of this game.
I think the game now is completely changed. Even with
the offensive line woes and issues you have there, the
game is different now because when you looked at the Raiders,
they were like, look, we're going to force you to
throw the ball to these dudes and tight covers and
they have to make they have to make these tough catches. Well,
(21:52):
if you have your guys now, all of a sudden,
if Pookina Koua actually he's blocking the linebacker goes out
to a route, there's that's an easy throw, easy pitch
and catch, and so it opens up for everybody, but
all the tight ends that play.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
It opens up the running game.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
It opens up everything because now you have to worry
about other pieces.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Where a lot of guys.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
And it's not saying that two too at well and
the other receivers can't do it. It's just like you said,
their body types doesn't allow you to put two two
in there to dig out a linebacker.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Why would I put him in there to do that? Right?
His job is to stretch the field vertically.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
And so if you can figure out what if you
can get these guys back, that puts more pressure on
Brian Floores that have to really account for those guys.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
When this offense is at its best, run looks like pass, pass,
looks like run pre snap. You can't tell post snap.
Sometimes you can't tell. When's the last time that it's
looked like that?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Man, a little bit in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I was about to say, yeah, same thing.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
So that's why again, I'm not giving up on this offense.
I'm not giving up on this season until I see
that again because I know that's how this organization was
built to play.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Let's move forward, because you guys have already been talking
so much about the vikings. You guys have flipped the page,
and I'm not surprised because this task is right in
front of us. I'm curious with all this conversation about
the defense from Minnesota and what Brian Flores has been
able to do, where does it really lie in terms
of the pressure. Is it on Stafford, is it on McVeigh,
(23:10):
Is it on play design? Is it on read? Because
I know there's so much deception in their defense.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, I think you have to have a plan for it,
meaning you have to have a package. And that's what
scares me on a short week, right, that you don't.
You have to have a plan. If we see this
front and this look, we have to get the ball
out wide. It can't be too like a slant inside
because that's where they drop guys out and pick the
ball off. That ball has to go out towards the
sidelines because then you're you're more protected instead of Stafford
(23:40):
throwing her across the middle. This is the thing. He
runs a very simple defense. It's very simple. It's not
complex at all. Either they're gonna run too high shale
or they're gonna put everybody on the line of scrimmage
and make you think that they're assimilate blitz or not.
And you just have to have answers for it. And
again that that is in the plan, and then that's
on the players execute and said plan. I go back
(24:02):
to the Dolphins. I go back to the Dolphins game
in twenty twenty when they had a plan but it
wasn't executed right, and I go down to this one.
Like we've seen Aaron Rodgers get messed up by it.
We've seen Sam Darnold and the Niners get messed up
by this plan. You have to figure out a way
and understand there's someone is going to tell you what's
going on.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
If it's a safety're a linebacker, someone.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Has to tell you, and you have to be able
to believe that and trust that and then get to
your your answer zone for every defense.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Their scheme has been so good and so well executed
this season they haven't even needed their first round edge rusher. Insane, Like,
is that not a humble brag?
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Like?
Speaker 3 (24:39):
They're Jared Verse right, Dallas Turner, who they traded a
whole boatload of capital to go get. He's playing twenty
percent of snaps. Can you imagine the Rams right now
playing Jared Verse twenty percent of snaps? But like Van
Ginkel and Grenard and Patrick Jones, their off ball linebackers
have a bunch of QB hits. They've got their Ferrari
in the garage.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
That's wild.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Dan Harrison's Smith is playing like he's twenty again, which
was just crazy. They've done a great job. And again
this is coming from a buddy of mine that I
went to high school with. It's simple to them, but
it looks complicated to the offense, which that's normally what
Sean mcvay's offense is. Right, It's simple to us but
(25:20):
it looks complicated to you guys with all the motion
and ships.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
And you tell me if I'm wrong. To defeat it,
you've got to be cerebral enough and gutsy enough to
attack it. And I know a guy, yeah right, you.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Know, I know a guy that knows a guy.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I know two guys. Just to give you some context too.
Just from the blitz ray, that's forty two percent. They're
currently leading the league. Also leading the league in pressures
at eighty nine and hurries at thirty four, So definitely
going to be a bit of a task to take on.
Let's switch it over though, to the offensive side. For Minnesota.
Sam Darnold is in charge of this offensive attack. What
(25:56):
have you seen from him this season?
Speaker 3 (25:59):
I don't mean to belittle him or his performance, but
probably no better than league average quarterback play, which, given
the skill around him in the NFL's best defense is plenty,
they don't need much more than that. But he's been
sacked a ton, he's fumbled a lot, and that's probably
LA's clearest path to victory for me, because their offensive
line's been pretty good. Their tackles have had great seasons.
(26:21):
Guard to guard, they've been a little shaky. But if
I'm Kevin O'Connell, one of my main questions this week
is how much am I willing to leave Sam Darnold
back at seven in the pocket. Because if there's a
way to disrupt this offense, if there's a way to
keep it out of Justin Jefferson's hand, it's with your
pass rush. And so the Rams, that's my sweet spot,
that's my wheelhouse. I can get pressure guard to guard,
I can puncture your pocket early. I can pull a
(26:43):
quarterback's eyes down. Now, whether I can finish those rushes
remains to be seen, but that, to me is the
path to victory for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
To me, when you look at their offenses, really run
run through Aaron Jones.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
He's the guy. He's the key.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Like as much as we love Justin Jefferson and what
he's able to do in the passing game, last year
they were a terrible offense with a better quarterback because
they didn't have a running back that garnered all the
respect that Aaron Jones has. Aaron Jones has the ability
to take a handoff and go sixty. He could catch
the while out of the backfield. He could run receiver routes,
(27:16):
and it really simplifies things for Sam Darnold. Right, if
I put a lot, If I put Aaron Jones out
at wide receiver on the far outside, and I have
a receiver on the slot and there's a linebacker out there,
guess what it is.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It's man, It's simple.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Or I can turn around and you know, do the
playfake again running similar of what the Rams run. Do
a play action pass and now I have a half
field read right.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
And so.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
The biggest thing is for the Rams is they have
to nullify Aaron Jones, meaning no explosive plays from him,
and then force him to have to drop back and
throw the ball. And again, I go back to their
their their last game, which is their only loss.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Detroit did that right.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
When Detroit stopped the run finally and they were able
to play their coverage. Brian Branch was all over the
place getting picks left and right, and it seemed like
Sam really didn't have an idea what they were doing.
So you just have to figure out a way to
really get pressure on him. But you have to stop
the run. First, stop Aaron Jones, and then let allow
Sam Darld to beat you.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
He's been a head eight for years. The laundry is
different this year. But he's like pro Football focus is
number three back. He's having a great season and he's
given the Rams and fits. And what's troublesome to me
is he's doing it against base defenses like they've been
getting explosive runs. Because it's Kevin O'Connell and I see
he's having a great year. I go in think into
my study. Okay, he's probably getting light boxes, right, they're
(28:33):
matching eleven personnel the defenses are and he's having success
in fable run situations. Oh no, No, he's getting explosives
off against bas defense, which is super impressive. And I
know this is not the premise of this conversation, but
if they get TJ. Hawkinson back, and I don't know,
we won't know until later today, that is a major
issue for a team right now. The Rams defense that
struggled to defend a posing tight ends. He levels up
(28:56):
that room in a big way if he plays.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
I mean, Hawkinson accounted for I think about sixteen percent
of their offense in twenty twenty three at nine hundred
and sixty yards, and that was just behind Jefferson at
one thousand and seventy four. And to your point about
Aaron Jones too, he's top ten right now in scrimmage
yards in the NFL, half of those coming through a
receiving ed and four hundred and forty three on the
(29:18):
opposite side on the ground. I mean, he is a
dual threat. There's no questions.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
He's always been that way.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I remember him coming out of UTEP and I was
shocked that he failed to the fifth round. I was like,
this kid has game, Like he did everything Christian McCaffrey did,
but he was at UTAP and then he goes to
Green Bay and he doesn't get the same respect. And
now all of a sudden, he has this team up
and running so very again defensively, you have your hands
full for sure on a short week.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I just kind of dawned on me though, like that's
why I love this game right now. Like, if we're
sitting here talking about the Rams making a playoff push,
maybe winning the NFCU West, what are you talking about
the right to play a home game in the postseason
against a wild card opponent that probably looks a lot
like the Minnesota Vikings. So you get it right now
before a hal I mean this is great. Go make
the most of it.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Well and Jab we were chatting a little bit last
night too in terms of what's regularly scheduled for the
RAMS and remaining give us a little breakdown because there
could be some added pressure for Los Angeles Rams in
the remaining schedule.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, shout out ten behind the scenes for pulling this out.
But like, you're going to go on the road and
play some really tough environments, and you're going to play
in primetime at SOFI Stadium, Like, this is the portion
of your schedule where it's your time to shine. If
you're ready for it, you'll stay right there and play
those games. If you're not, you might get that that
reverse flex action.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Yeah, we don't want that.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
We don't want that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
No, no, we don't. Before we jump into our final
Keys to Victory, I'm curious whether you guys think that
this is possible or not. And I tend to think
that maybe there's something to what I'm just about to
bring up because it tends in our favor. The Lions hangover.
Have you heard anything about this.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I've experienced it exactly twice in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Well, we were the first so teams that have faced
the Lions and taken a loss end up losing the
next game. It was the it was the Bucks. Uh.
They lost to the Broncos the week after, The Cardinals
lost the Commanders the week after, The Seahawks lost to
the Giants the week after. And now could Minnesota be
the next victium especially on a short week.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You know that used to be the Niners thing. That
used to be the Niners deal. When you play the
Niners they were so physical that you lose the next week.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I'd love for that. I mean, that's I'd love for
that trend to keep going, right. Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I just think this when you do play Detroit, they
played such a physical style of ball that you know
that physicality travels, and they it showed on Sunday, like
Detroit was way more physical in both the running game
and on defense than I've ever Like, I was like, oh,
they're they're they're kind of starting to get in their
their their rhythm a little bit, and you got to
(31:47):
be prepared for that. I I just I just think
the travel that game, and the travel is going to
add a little bit to this game a little bit.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
You're like trying to convince us that the lines are
the service Academy of the National Football League. You know
in college football, all you like, you like, pour into
that preparation. It's completely different than what you do. You
take all those bumps and bruises, and then the next
team on your schedule get you exactly.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Hey, if it works in our favor, I'll get the.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Ras are that next team on their schedule.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
So all right, guys, just some final keys to victory JB.
I will start with you.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Don't start with me because I got the dumbest one of.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
The starting because we had this conversation. You guys were
already chirping about it. So let's hear always.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
I feel like we've covered like some of the technical
elements of this game, so I can go down this road.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Fair, let's go.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I am so done with deferring what that is?
Speaker 4 (32:37):
That is you're supposed to do. You get the ball?
Why because you get the ball the second half at
least you have to do something with it. At least
you get an operation.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
That's you got to do something with it. And the
Rams don't control this because they're the home team, But
like am I kind of rooting for the Vikings to
win the coin toss? And defer a little bit. You
know why, because the Rams have not scored a first
drive touchdown all season. They haven't scored a first quarter
touchdown all season, and this is the game to do it.
Because the Vikings have outscored their opponents fifty eight to
(33:07):
three in the first quarter. That is not a typo
plus fifty five their margin. They gave up a field
goal to the Giants in week one. They've outscored opponents
in the first frame fifty eight to zero. Since that
is no way to live against the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
You know, it's funny every time a person leaves his
Rams offense and they go somewhere else, it seems like
that offense is explodes.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Every time. I feel like it's just Lafloor leaves. He's
in great.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
This is all over the place, right, what is it like?
Because why don't we have that right because we're not leaving. Yeah,
we're just staying here, right. We don't get that. I
do understand that. But in this game, I feel like
we want the ball in the second half so at
least we know where we are and I want to
right on the jump because if we get it right
(33:53):
from the jump and we go three and out. Then
now we're really backed. We're swimming. Now we're they're trying
to water.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Here's the other thing with the new kickoff. With all
these touchbacks, you're getting the ball in the thirty you're
like one explosive player, like three first rounds from being
in field goal range to begin with shock the system,
like if you're getting the guys back and you feel
like this is your time to come alive on offense.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
So so Stafford goes out there, they win the tass
He goes, we want the ball.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
You're gonna be excited again. It's they don't get that
they're the home team, so they don't get to call it.
It's not there. Vikings lose it. Yes, I want to
say we want the ball and we're going to score.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
Oh, coach Long, Matt Hasselbeck, we want the ball, We're
going to score. Wow.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
If not now when it's week eight.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
I don't know. I feel like we're almost at the halfway.
We have the halfway points.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
If you want to shift some of the dynamics that
we just spent a half an hour talking about.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Like you score early, put a lot of pressure, it
looks different. Yeah, no, I agree.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
All right, MJD. We're getting the wrap it up finger.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Like I think I've harped on it enough. Is that
whatever the package is for that cover zero.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It's offensively you have to execute that. I've seen that.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Destroy so many different teams. It's just like you have
to have a plan for it. If you have a plan,
I think it'll be awesome. Again, I think Brian Flores
a lot of people want him to be a head coach.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
I think he's a terrific DC. I don't know how
good he is as.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
A head coach, but I think he's probably the top
DC in the game, and that may be where he
stays because what he's able to do to offenses both
stop and the run in exotic looks and creating pressure
and simulating pressure really puts it puts tough on offenses.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
So to me, how you handle that zero package?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I was up last night thinking about it, like, we
can't have a twenty twenty Dolphins. You can't have that
where your defense does all this great stuff and then
you give up two or three touchdowns on offense, Like.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
You can't do that.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
And Van Gingkles still there, right, didn't he score against
the the Rams in twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Yep, why you were waking up with cold sweatsman?
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Like this dude is all over.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
He just had a pick six in London. So again,
they have pieces. You just have to be able to
have a planet.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Excuse that plan, right, It's it's the National Football League.
It's Thursday night football. Weird things happen. Yeah, And so
as as dim as some of this looks from a
matchup standpoint, I embrace it all because wouldn't it be
something if the Rams have their best offensive night of
the season against the best defense they're gonna face all season,
(36:27):
and they do it on a short week.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
It reminds me of Pac twelve after dark. Some of
your best games happened in there, we called it. We
called a couple of those. Uh yeah, I think my
best game was Packed twelve after It was against Cal
at nighttime.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Wild things happened.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Wild things happened on the West coast at night. That
is true.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
My last and final key. We're gonna move over here.
Uh and I'm actually gonna go the opposite direction because
I'm gonna ask the secondary to rise to the challenge.
We really didn't even discuss Justin Jefferson, who is, by
the way, the number one threat for the Minnesota Vikings.
So I like what I saw from this young defense.
I want to see them get after it. Can they
stack their performance? I know the Raiders were a different tests, however,
(37:07):
build that confidence going into this matchup. But everything's prettier
under the lights and Sofi Stadium, that's for sure. And
Thursday night is going to be the place to be.
And I'll leave you with this too. The streak starts
at one, the words of Chris Shula after the win
over the Raiders, let's get to number two. I'm feeling it.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
You're here.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Thanks for joining us so much. On Between the Horns
presented by your Southern California Toyta Dealers cameraonor when J. B.
Long and Maurice Jones drew We'll see you in Sofi
on Thursday
Welcome to Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California
Toyota dealers. Cameron or went alongside my very good friends JV.
Long and Maurice Jones.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Drew.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
We are getting ready for Thursday night football, little primetime
action for the Los Angeles Rams this week. Short week?
How are you guys feeling on this short one?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I love short weeks. I think you have offensive explosion
all short weeks. It's easier to really game plan and
kind of attack people where defensively it's like we don't
know we're gonna do, so we have to say a
little vanilla. I am concerned though this week that the
Minnesota defense is going to do the opposite and not
be vanilla, but be super aggressive and try to send
the house on the Rams. So we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
You know, I've been saying all season, I thought the
first month of the year is gonna be really tough
the Rams. We're gonna take some body blows. But I
had this little two home games in five day grouping
circle because it was the key to last season. I
think getting those two wins against the Commanders and the Saints.
I didn't know the Vikings would be coming in with
only one loss, but nonetheless one down against the Raiders,
one to go, and I think it changes the course
(01:09):
of your whole year.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, it's also been a really nice week in Los Angeles.
You consider what's happening with the Dodgers. They have their
what game one of the World Series come Friday. It
feels like there's some good energy. Do you think that's
gonna help us going into Thursday night?
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
You know, first shout out to Lebron James and bronni
for doing something historical, which I think every NFL player,
every athlete would love to do, is to play with
their child man or woman, And so that was awesome.
That was great energy. Was awesome to see that last night.
Obviously the Dodgers, even though I'm a Bay Area guy,
the Dodgers, you know, which I heard is gonna be crazy.
But I think I think there is a lot of
(01:41):
energy around the city, and if the Rams are able
to pull this one off on Thursday, I think it'd
really be a springboard for them to get going forward.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
What high school classes, deuce, Yeah, it would never it
wouldn He's twenty seven, all right, so maybe like the
twenty thirty one NFL Draft. Yeah, whatever team he goes to,
just a one week contry.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Give me, give me a day.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Lined up in the eye. You can just lead the way.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I got one carry, one carry, and then I'm gonna
fall out because I'm probably gonna break everything in my
body if I go out there and try to hit anyone.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I was gonna say, I thought at times you had
hopped into practice. Is that not true?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (02:18):
For little kids?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, when they're like thirteen fourteen years old, I don't
have they don't know what they're doing, and you're out
here with these pros.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Man, I'm not gonna lie. We're at the facility. I
walk around and I'm like, I can't believe I played
with some.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Of these big giant dudes. Like how did this work out?
I must have been crazy? And now like I'm coming
back to being, you know, saying.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Again you were born like one generation too early because
you would have crushed the nil scene.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Oh man, I can't. We'll talk about that.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
There's a lot of exactly treatment and the recovery these days.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Nutrician, you'se got no wonder I'm this. We didn't have
any of that. We didn't have any of that, So
I guess I just didn't get it. Well.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
The Rams coming off a win over the Raiders, it
was a fantastic way to done. It was a defensive
performance for takeaways on that side of the ball. However,
there is a bit of levity coming into this Thursday
Night football considering where the Rams now sit in the
NFC West and just the general picture of the National
Football League. The trade deadline is just around the corner.
(03:17):
With this win, how does that maybe change the reflection
of what the Rams might do.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think gives them the right to play these next
two games out, and I mean that win or lose
tomorrow night, because you got a chance to take a
big swing at the Seahawks right now, they're the only
team in the division with less than four losses, and
you got two games head to head against them. In
terms of how they played against the Raiders, it didn't
do much for me. It didn't inspire a ton of confidence.
(03:44):
But in terms of the implications of what that win
did this week and beyond immensely significant, I.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
Agree with you.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
We were just texting the other night about it. It
was kind of like you've given yourself an opportunity to
play the next two games to kind of see what
you want to do with your roster, right.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
And that's what wins do. Wins give you. They kind
of kick the can down the road a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And so you have an opportunity now to go against
one of the top contending teams in the NFC and
not in the NFL, in the Minnesota Vikings, and if
you're able to find a way to win this one,
all of a sudden, you have a little momentum going
into Seattle. You've played well against Seattle. So if you
have that opportunity, you go and do it. If not,
it may be wholesale. And that's kind of what you're
(04:28):
hearing in the national media circuit is you know, teams
are caught contacted from all over the place trying to
get Stafford Cup and whoever else is available, because there
are there's still really good players on this roster that
teams that are contending want.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And I understand some of the national media and what
we've seen in terms of the conversation leading up for
this Thursday night football game in terms of the offensive production. However,
I'm going to say there's no buds about it, because
when I watch that game. I know it is frustrating.
We still pick up the win. However, I had a
blast watching this defense go to wor and so I'm
going with the no buds about it because I'm sorry
(05:02):
if you're looking at a guy like Jalen McColough, I mean,
we're talking about an undrafted free agent that has put
together two performances back to back, three interceptions or what
Kobe Durant has done on the backside of the ball.
After that Raiders game, as a Rams fan, I understand
there's some frustration on the offense, but the defense performed
(05:23):
and it's something that this young defense that we've been
looking for. They're currently growing. What were some of your
biggest takeaways watching this defense play out.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, not just the offense, but the kicking game is
wobbly again too. I mean, the defense won that game.
The other two units did not perform. And look, that
was probably the worst team the Rams are going to
face this year. Like they got the Raiders at the
right time. And make no apologies because that matters in
the league who you play and when they play them
for takeaway gain. Great for a team that I think
(05:51):
had that many in the previous games before the buy combined.
You'll take it, no excuses, but I also know that
three of those were pretty much gifts like one you
really earned this coop and score you really earn the
other ones kind of minch you mania for me?
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I guess how my glass half full kind of guy.
Because going into the season, the question mark was what
is this defense gonna be, How is Chris Shula going
to be the d as a DC.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
What's gonna go on?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
The offense is gonna need to carry him? And the
first since the start of the season, it has been the opposite.
The defense has been making plays, they've been finding ways
to get off the field to create turnovers, and now
they win you a game. Now, you don't want to
live this way in the world of the NFL with
all the different rules, But if this is a confidence
for them to continue to build off that, it's awesome.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
And then we've talked about it.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I haven't seen a tackle block Jared Verse yet, and
he's went against some of the top guys in the NFL,
and yet he continues to dominate, which is a consistent
piece that you're looking for. Offensively, Like I said, you
just have to get healthy like you're playing, you're really
playing with one hand tie.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Behind your back.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
In this situation with so many guys being out and
then the kicking game, it's I don't know a lot
of times rookies, I've been a part of rookie kickers.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
A lot of time. Rookies need that they like it's weird.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Sometimes they need like a year off like or sometimes
they just need like just a feel good about themselves.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
And it seems like once.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Cardi missed that first one, it was kind of like downhill, downhill, downhill.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
He started thinking about it.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
You kind of have to be like water off a
duck's back a little bit in that situation because that
swing of the leg is all that matters.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I don't want to diminish what the defense did because
there were a lot of ingredients that I think you
can build from. We talked about this with less need
on Monday to be months removed from Aaron Donald, like
fresh into this post Aaron Donald universe, and if be
generating more pressure without him than you did with him
as recently is a year ago, it's a big deal.
(07:46):
Darius Ones has put things right in the secondary. You
could do a lot worse with your trio of corners
than Darius, Kobe and Akello. And then the way the
safeties are playing, like that red zone tackle that Quinton
Lake made on Bowers, that was as good a play
as I this season. Cam Curl coming off his best
game as a ramp for all the grief, and I
know that it's been here in this common section that
(08:07):
the inside linebackers have taken this season. Go back and
watch what Chris Shula and his defensive staff did in
that bye week, the roles that they played, what they
asked them to do and win, and then when they
took them off the field and who they replaced them with.
There was a lot of creativity. There was a lot
of problem solving in that win defensively that was earned.
Despite my previous comment.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
On defense, a couple more silver linings for you defensively.
Jared Versus, who you mentioned nine pressures on thirty six
pass rushes. He actually tied for the most for a
rookie this season. He's also leading the league right now
at twenty three point six percent from a pressure rate
through Week seven, so to your point, he's doing some damage.
And also Chris Shula walking all away with a game ball.
(08:50):
I thought that was really fitting in those moments.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
And congratulations to the land Shark, right, he's the defensive
player of the Week this week. Well deserved. That one
was a well time pressure got the hit on Menshee
to have a sack and a pick. That's DeMarco Farr
stuff or on the short list of rands who've ever
done that in the same.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yeah, and again, you know, I thought, I thought the
defense at the end of the day, they needed to
show up because of the way the offense was struggling.
We knew there was gonna be some concerns and protection
and they were able to find a way. And anytime
you can score on defense as much.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Needed, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
This week's challenge is just completely different.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Completely different.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Yeah, there's no question about it. And just in terms
of having a little fun here on between the horns,
I mean, what was better.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Than between the horns?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We'll always have fun on between the horns, But what
was better Kobe Durant celebration or the rowrow row your boat?
Did you guys see those?
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I like the pure prime high step from Cam Croullo.
That was smooth.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, I'm a I'm a team guy.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I just thought we could have did a better than
rowrow row your boat.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I think there's a lot, there's a there's I mean,
come on, that's like in the eighties.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
We gotta we gotta pick it up.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Let's do it together, but let's be a little bit
more hip to it, like we should be doing a
TikTok dance together or something out there.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
I think that would I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Back to that ni own money, that's where it would
have been clutched.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
No question, Ritty's coming in next. Yeah, yeah, you've got
a game up.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
You gotta do the gritty now because you know this
is all he's going to do if he scores.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
So I was a little more concerned as to who
was the coxin in that rowboat because there were oars
flying right and lab. The rhythm was little.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
That's the thing.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I don't know if they you know here in La
we have rotae, right, so you know all the little
the little positions. There was no one in there leading yelling,
row back and forth. There's just a bunch of guys
rowing where are we going? When are we stopping?
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Where?
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Like it was just chaos La twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
They were not okay, Well, let's switch it up a
little bit. We talked a bit about the offensive side
of ball. There was a bright spot obviously, Kraen Williams
nine consecutive games with a touchdown. That's longest active streak
in the NFL. He's just one of two guys right
now with a touchdown in every game. Derick Henry the other.
I mean from the opposite side, Lake Quorum. Maybe not
(10:56):
as in the mix in this last one. Whittington was
still dealing with some stuff, only played nine snaps. Where
can they kind of look as you reflect against the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I think the Rams have been at their best when
they've been under center offensively, which is great because Stafford
has actually thrived and especially for Kiren, that's when they've
been able to be most efficient. They've been better running
the football than they have passing, as we know. Unfortunately,
this week's opponent, Minnesota, is really good against you under center. Looks.
They specialize in all sorts of things, but among them
(11:29):
is matching your eleven personnel with their dime defense and
still being able to stop the run out of it.
So it's going to be difficult to have early down
success unless unless you get your chest piece back in
Cooper Cup and maybe pukin Nakua. And I think that
has the power to set a lot of things right
because I do know about you. But what I noticed
the Rams miss most against the Las Vegas Raiders. They
(11:51):
knew that you knew that, they knew that it was
going to have to be a certain style of game
and you couldn't do anything about it. And they were
They were throwing a lot at you, and they were
hitting iron in the backfield with run blitzers. And to me,
that's like, oh, that's normally where Cooper Cup is taking
care of that. That's normally where Jordan Winnington is folding
into your surface or pookin Nakua and making sure that
(12:12):
that guy doesn't get a hit on your running back.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, we call that a level three.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
When they know that, you know that they know it's
a problem. To me, I think the biggest thing in
this and this comes from a buddy of mine who's
the safety coach for the Minnesota Vikings, and I got
a chance to talk to him in London.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
He came to see our high school play and he
was saying that.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
We earn the right to do all these exotic looks
because we have to be able to stop the run.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
If you can't stop the run, then it doesn't give
us a chance to be in these exotic looks, to
do these different blizzes to run you know, cover zero
or cover two, And that's kind of what they do.
They're gonna put all these guys up at the line
of scrimmage and they're gonna drop out in the cover
two or they're gonna send everyone. And to me, you
have to you can't live in the third and long.
You can't live in the second and long. You have
(12:57):
to be efficient in this game. That's the most. When
you watch the Detroit Lions, they were efficient. They were
never in third and ten. When they were, they had
a plan for it. And so you have to have
a plan if you get put in that situation. And
and again you just want to make sure because these
are confusing defenses. We've seen this with the Dolphins and
the Rams in twenty twenty. I've actually played against these
(13:19):
type of defenses in my time in the NFL. And
if you don't pick it up right or identify it right,
my goodness, I mean, they can come from everywhere. And
so you want to make sure that as you're getting
guys back, you're protecting your quarterback as well.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
What's crazy, though, is because it's World Series time, like
they pitch backwards. What I mean by that is in
baseball sometimes you throw an off speed pitch to steal
an early strike. That's part of what Brian Flores and
these Vikings have done. Like they present the two high shells.
They've got great safeties, but they'll blitch you on first
and second down, get you in trouble, and then they'll
play coverage on third down, like they'll just play vanilla,
(13:53):
make you throw it shy at the sticks and tackle
and be done with it. So when you see that
from an offensive lens, like, what is your answer? Like,
I know you study what the lines said too, and yeah,
being explosive on early down runs is a secret sauce.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
It is again like I said, this is coming from them,
like they're they're so nervous when they run those, like
it's a gamble. We're gonna put all these guys in
the line of scrimmage hoping that you don't get in.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
We get there before you can figure out the answer.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The key is when they do that to hit them
early with it right to get a big play or
to get a first down, or to be successful, because
now he's gonna be like, all right, they have a plan.
We'll try one more time if it does. If it
doesn't work, we'll back off. So you have to answer it.
The answer really to me is downhill runs because you're
gonna have linebackers lined up over guards or safeties lined
up over guards. Push those guys out the way, and
(14:43):
then you have to start trying to find a way
to insert those receivers and to help with that protection
as well. If you're throwing the ball, you're gonna have
to go on one to two guy routes and then
hopefully you can get a guy beat man to man.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Well, if you have to do that, then what a
week to have. Cooper like, Yeah, if you're gonna try
and beat with a hot answer or one guy nine
and dime, is that answer right?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
It has to be.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
It has to be kind of like whoever the quarterback
was and brock Bauers on third day, like whoever they're
gonna play a quarterback, We're gonna get the ball to
eighty nine as much as we can in this game.
And I think that's what if you're gonna be the Rams,
you have to get that nine and nine, that third
and Cup, That's what it has to be for you
in those crucial situations.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
Because Cameron, what's terrifying about this defense is they get
pressure from everywhere, Like all these pre snap sims and stuff.
A lot of times they will play coverage. A lot
of times they will blitz the living daylights out of you.
A lot of times you don't know where it's coming
from preer, post snap, and so as a result, there's
a whole bunch of guys on all three levels of
their defense that have hits and sacks on the opposing quarterback.
(15:39):
Those of us who watch the Rams down and down
out what's been the big issue this year in pass protection, coverage, breakdowns,
free runners at your quarterback and so if that is
is your raw nerve, this is the defense, more so
than any other in the league that can really make
you feel it.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
You mentioned Cooper Cup potentially coming back, Well, Joe Noteboom
might be one of those guys that can maybe make
a difference here if he makes his return. We will
dig into the Minnesota defense even further. But I love
the breakdown from the two of you, it's fantastic. Let's
talk a little bit more about the NFC West because
this is still something that's up for grabs, and it
(16:14):
was a conversation last week with US Maurice in terms
of where we sat and the strength of schedule remaining.
This is up for grabs. We still have the Seahawks twice.
We already have to win over the forty nine ers.
What do the Rams have to do this week? Do
they have to find this win in order to find
the top of the NFC West.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I don't know if they do or they don't. I
was last week. I was like, all right, Seattle's going
to go to Atlanta and lose because Atlanta was like hot.
It was like, oh, and then Seattle found a way
to win, which was insane. Now they have DK Metcalf
who's a little banged up. But the team that scares
me more than anyone is Arizona. Like, I don't know
how Arizona's finding these ways to win games all of
(16:55):
a sudden, Like they go on these kids and you
beat the Chargers on Monday night in a close battle.
It's tough. The Niners, they're just like us. They may
be even worse, right, like you just lost Ayuk Deebo
was out sick. They're hoping to get CMC back like
they got a whole bunch of other stuff going on.
So to me, if you're the Rams, yes you would
(17:16):
like to win this game, but if you don't, you
have a game next week that or in two weeks
that are gonna be that's gonna be pretty big for you,
right to go up to Seattle and find a way
to get that victory. If you can get that win
in Seattle, then that really puts you or where you
need to be down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
We have not seen the best football anywhere close to
it from the twenty twenty four Rams, but I know
for a fact that their best is good enough to
win this division now that I've seen it, and so
it would be a real shame, and I think I
speak for Rams fans here to not take your best
swing at the Seahawks, to not have your best roster
on the field and then see what the dust settles
(17:53):
like on that Monday after the trip to Seattle and
the trade deadline. Because the Seahawks got that win in Atlanta,
but they're home Buffalo this week. It's gonna be a
good game to watch on your couch. The forty nine
Ers host the Cowboys, and I know Dallas is in disarray,
but they're also desperate and coming off of bye. It's
another good game to watch on your couch. Win or lose.
This week, the Cardinals are going to Miami.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
I think, yeah, with two of coming back.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And I hear what you're saying about Arizona, but Arizona
is a twenty twenty five problem for me. It's a
long time since you have until you have to worry
about the Cardinals. Okay, so I'll let some water go
into the bridge before I give them any mind. But
my point is beating the Raiders I think gives you
the margin to play this as a two game stretch.
Now that being said, if you can't get this one
on Thursday night, it's gonna be a long, uncomfortable wait
(18:35):
for that trip to Seattle. And I get that. I'm
sensitive to that, which is why I say, get greedy,
get on a winning streak, and then go to Seattle
and take your big swing.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, we do have to talk about your greediness here
in a little bit, So I respect that, and I
understand that I always Again, when you're where the Rams are,
it's a one game season. Every every game is like
the you can't overlook you right now. It's a one
game season on a short week, a tough opponent. But
remember they're coming from far away on a short week.
(19:04):
So again, there's things that you can do that you
may I believe there's things that the Rams can do
to really put themselves in position to win this game.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
All right, well let's dig into some of those. We
already talked a little bit about nine and time and
the potential return for Cooper Cup. Everyone's pointing to the
direction that, yeah, he's going to be out there in
prime time. How much will they actually utilize him.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
I don't think he'll come off the field.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
If he's out there like you're fresh, go like, don't
even look.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I had a Okay, I gotta tell this story. I
had a coach one time.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
We're in preseason, and he gave us all a quarter
and he was like, in this quarter, don't look to
the sidelines.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
I don't care if you're tired. You could be on
a twenty play drive. You have the whole drive.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
So I was like, oh, whatever, well, well, just my luck.
I have the second quarter run a fifteen play drive.
I'm exhausted, so I looked at the coach to tap
to come out, and he turns his back on me.
That's what I would do to Cooper Cup if he
tried to come out. I'm just gonna turn my back
and say, look, don't even look over here. You know
where you're out there, don't even look.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Thanks Stafford's passer rating, it's like some twenty points higher
in his tenure as a RAM when Cooper's out there
when he's not like, that's what you should be banking
on as a Rams fan here in these next twenty
four hours. You got the right to play chess again
this week. It's been a long time since you've been
able to play anything but checkers. This is a defense
where you need your best game plan and execution, and
(20:22):
finally you're getting closer to having the right pieces in
place to do exactly that. I'm not saying you spam
them like you did in that second half against Detroit,
but if you need to, and if that's your path
the victory, at least you have that option, right I agree.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Another good news too, since we're already talking about wide receivers.
Poka Nakula has been designated to open his practice windows,
so there's potential, maybe, I say, with inflection in my voice, Yeah,
who knows.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I'll say it again because it really felt it against
the Raiders. And I'll ad Jordan Whittington this conversation too,
because in a couple of months he's he's filled those
shoes admirably. Like to play offense the way this team
was built to play off you need those hybrid receiver
tight ends. And I love our other receivers, you know
from what's the end of the show. I'm as a
big A two two fan as there is. DeMarcus Robinson
(21:08):
is my guy. Tyler Johnson another great play against the Raiders.
But their skill set and their body types are not
what you have in Cooper and Pooka and Jordan, and
that's why the Rams have been special with those guys.
The more of them, and all three of them are
kind of in that category, the more of them you
can get reps on Thursday and again next week against Seattle,
the more real this push I think becomes.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Yeah, I completely agree.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
If you get a chance to get pookin Nakua back
on Thursday, that change the whole dynamic of this game.
I think the game now is completely changed. Even with
the offensive line woes and issues you have there, the
game is different now because when you looked at the Raiders,
they were like, look, we're going to force you to
throw the ball to these dudes and tight covers and
they have to make they have to make these tough catches. Well,
(21:52):
if you have your guys now, all of a sudden,
if Pookina Koua actually he's blocking the linebacker goes out
to a route, there's that's an easy throw, easy pitch
and catch, and so it opens up for everybody, but
all the tight ends that play.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
It opens up the running game.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
It opens up everything because now you have to worry
about other pieces.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Where a lot of guys.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
And it's not saying that two too at well and
the other receivers can't do it. It's just like you said,
their body types doesn't allow you to put two two
in there to dig out a linebacker.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Why would I put him in there to do that? Right?
His job is to stretch the field vertically.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
And so if you can figure out what if you
can get these guys back, that puts more pressure on
Brian Floores that have to really account for those guys.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
When this offense is at its best, run looks like pass, pass,
looks like run pre snap. You can't tell post snap.
Sometimes you can't tell. When's the last time that it's
looked like that?
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Man, a little bit in Detroit.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I was about to say, yeah, same thing.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
So that's why again, I'm not giving up on this offense.
I'm not giving up on this season until I see
that again because I know that's how this organization was
built to play.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Let's move forward, because you guys have already been talking
so much about the vikings. You guys have flipped the page,
and I'm not surprised because this task is right in
front of us. I'm curious with all this conversation about
the defense from Minnesota and what Brian Flores has been
able to do, where does it really lie in terms
of the pressure. Is it on Stafford, is it on McVeigh,
(23:10):
Is it on play design? Is it on read? Because
I know there's so much deception in their defense.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
Yeah, I think you have to have a plan for it,
meaning you have to have a package. And that's what
scares me on a short week, right, that you don't.
You have to have a plan. If we see this
front and this look, we have to get the ball
out wide. It can't be too like a slant inside
because that's where they drop guys out and pick the
ball off. That ball has to go out towards the
sidelines because then you're you're more protected instead of Stafford
(23:40):
throwing her across the middle. This is the thing. He
runs a very simple defense. It's very simple. It's not
complex at all. Either they're gonna run too high shale
or they're gonna put everybody on the line of scrimmage
and make you think that they're assimilate blitz or not.
And you just have to have answers for it. And
again that that is in the plan, and then that's
on the players execute and said plan. I go back
(24:02):
to the Dolphins. I go back to the Dolphins game
in twenty twenty when they had a plan but it
wasn't executed right, and I go down to this one.
Like we've seen Aaron Rodgers get messed up by it.
We've seen Sam Darnold and the Niners get messed up
by this plan. You have to figure out a way
and understand there's someone is going to tell you what's
going on.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
If it's a safety're a linebacker, someone.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Has to tell you, and you have to be able
to believe that and trust that and then get to
your your answer zone for every defense.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Their scheme has been so good and so well executed
this season they haven't even needed their first round edge rusher. Insane, Like,
is that not a humble brag?
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Like?
Speaker 3 (24:39):
They're Jared Verse right, Dallas Turner, who they traded a
whole boatload of capital to go get. He's playing twenty
percent of snaps. Can you imagine the Rams right now
playing Jared Verse twenty percent of snaps? But like Van
Ginkel and Grenard and Patrick Jones, their off ball linebackers
have a bunch of QB hits. They've got their Ferrari
in the garage.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
That's wild.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Dan Harrison's Smith is playing like he's twenty again, which
was just crazy. They've done a great job. And again
this is coming from a buddy of mine that I
went to high school with. It's simple to them, but
it looks complicated to the offense, which that's normally what
Sean mcvay's offense is. Right, It's simple to us but
(25:20):
it looks complicated to you guys with all the motion
and ships.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
And you tell me if I'm wrong. To defeat it,
you've got to be cerebral enough and gutsy enough to
attack it. And I know a guy, yeah right, you.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Know, I know a guy that knows a guy.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
I know two guys. Just to give you some context too.
Just from the blitz ray, that's forty two percent. They're
currently leading the league. Also leading the league in pressures
at eighty nine and hurries at thirty four, So definitely
going to be a bit of a task to take on.
Let's switch it over though, to the offensive side. For Minnesota.
Sam Darnold is in charge of this offensive attack. What
(25:56):
have you seen from him this season?
Speaker 3 (25:59):
I don't mean to belittle him or his performance, but
probably no better than league average quarterback play, which, given
the skill around him in the NFL's best defense is plenty,
they don't need much more than that. But he's been
sacked a ton, he's fumbled a lot, and that's probably
LA's clearest path to victory for me, because their offensive
line's been pretty good. Their tackles have had great seasons.
(26:21):
Guard to guard, they've been a little shaky. But if
I'm Kevin O'Connell, one of my main questions this week
is how much am I willing to leave Sam Darnold
back at seven in the pocket. Because if there's a
way to disrupt this offense, if there's a way to
keep it out of Justin Jefferson's hand, it's with your
pass rush. And so the Rams, that's my sweet spot,
that's my wheelhouse. I can get pressure guard to guard,
I can puncture your pocket early. I can pull a
(26:43):
quarterback's eyes down. Now, whether I can finish those rushes
remains to be seen, but that, to me is the
path to victory for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
To me, when you look at their offenses, really run
run through Aaron Jones.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
He's the guy. He's the key.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Like as much as we love Justin Jefferson and what
he's able to do in the passing game, last year
they were a terrible offense with a better quarterback because
they didn't have a running back that garnered all the
respect that Aaron Jones has. Aaron Jones has the ability
to take a handoff and go sixty. He could catch
the while out of the backfield. He could run receiver routes,
(27:16):
and it really simplifies things for Sam Darnold. Right, if
I put a lot, If I put Aaron Jones out
at wide receiver on the far outside, and I have
a receiver on the slot and there's a linebacker out there,
guess what it is.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
It's man, It's simple.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Or I can turn around and you know, do the
playfake again running similar of what the Rams run. Do
a play action pass and now I have a half
field read right.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
And so.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
The biggest thing is for the Rams is they have
to nullify Aaron Jones, meaning no explosive plays from him,
and then force him to have to drop back and
throw the ball. And again, I go back to their
their their last game, which is their only loss.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Detroit did that right.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
When Detroit stopped the run finally and they were able
to play their coverage. Brian Branch was all over the
place getting picks left and right, and it seemed like
Sam really didn't have an idea what they were doing.
So you just have to figure out a way to
really get pressure on him. But you have to stop
the run. First, stop Aaron Jones, and then let allow
Sam Darld to beat you.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
He's been a head eight for years. The laundry is
different this year. But he's like pro Football focus is
number three back. He's having a great season and he's
given the Rams and fits. And what's troublesome to me
is he's doing it against base defenses like they've been
getting explosive runs. Because it's Kevin O'Connell and I see
he's having a great year. I go in think into
my study. Okay, he's probably getting light boxes, right, they're
(28:33):
matching eleven personnel the defenses are and he's having success
in fable run situations. Oh no, No, he's getting explosives
off against bas defense, which is super impressive. And I
know this is not the premise of this conversation, but
if they get TJ. Hawkinson back, and I don't know,
we won't know until later today, that is a major
issue for a team right now. The Rams defense that
struggled to defend a posing tight ends. He levels up
(28:56):
that room in a big way if he plays.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
I mean, Hawkinson accounted for I think about sixteen percent
of their offense in twenty twenty three at nine hundred
and sixty yards, and that was just behind Jefferson at
one thousand and seventy four. And to your point about
Aaron Jones too, he's top ten right now in scrimmage
yards in the NFL, half of those coming through a
receiving ed and four hundred and forty three on the
(29:18):
opposite side on the ground. I mean, he is a
dual threat. There's no questions.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
He's always been that way.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
I remember him coming out of UTEP and I was
shocked that he failed to the fifth round. I was like,
this kid has game, Like he did everything Christian McCaffrey did,
but he was at UTAP and then he goes to
Green Bay and he doesn't get the same respect. And
now all of a sudden, he has this team up
and running so very again defensively, you have your hands
full for sure on a short week.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I just kind of dawned on me though, like that's
why I love this game right now. Like, if we're
sitting here talking about the Rams making a playoff push,
maybe winning the NFCU West, what are you talking about
the right to play a home game in the postseason
against a wild card opponent that probably looks a lot
like the Minnesota Vikings. So you get it right now
before a hal I mean this is great. Go make
the most of it.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Well and Jab we were chatting a little bit last
night too in terms of what's regularly scheduled for the
RAMS and remaining give us a little breakdown because there
could be some added pressure for Los Angeles Rams in
the remaining schedule.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Yeah, shout out ten behind the scenes for pulling this out.
But like, you're going to go on the road and
play some really tough environments, and you're going to play
in primetime at SOFI Stadium, Like, this is the portion
of your schedule where it's your time to shine. If
you're ready for it, you'll stay right there and play
those games. If you're not, you might get that that
reverse flex action.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Yeah, we don't want that.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
We don't want that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
No, no, we don't. Before we jump into our final
Keys to Victory, I'm curious whether you guys think that
this is possible or not. And I tend to think
that maybe there's something to what I'm just about to
bring up because it tends in our favor. The Lions hangover.
Have you heard anything about this.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
I've experienced it exactly twice in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Well, we were the first so teams that have faced
the Lions and taken a loss end up losing the
next game. It was the it was the Bucks. Uh.
They lost to the Broncos the week after, The Cardinals
lost the Commanders the week after, The Seahawks lost to
the Giants the week after. And now could Minnesota be
the next victium especially on a short week.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You know that used to be the Niners thing. That
used to be the Niners deal. When you play the
Niners they were so physical that you lose the next week.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
I'd love for that. I mean, that's I'd love for
that trend to keep going, right. Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I just think this when you do play Detroit, they
played such a physical style of ball that you know
that physicality travels, and they it showed on Sunday, like
Detroit was way more physical in both the running game
and on defense than I've ever Like, I was like, oh,
they're they're they're kind of starting to get in their
their their rhythm a little bit, and you got to
(31:47):
be prepared for that. I I just I just think
the travel that game, and the travel is going to
add a little bit to this game a little bit.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
You're like trying to convince us that the lines are
the service Academy of the National Football League. You know
in college football, all you like, you like, pour into
that preparation. It's completely different than what you do. You
take all those bumps and bruises, and then the next
team on your schedule get you exactly.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
Hey, if it works in our favor, I'll get the.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Ras are that next team on their schedule.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
So all right, guys, just some final keys to victory JB.
I will start with you.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Don't start with me because I got the dumbest one of.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
The starting because we had this conversation. You guys were
already chirping about it. So let's hear always.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
I feel like we've covered like some of the technical
elements of this game, so I can go down this road.
Speaker 4 (32:32):
Fair, let's go.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
I am so done with deferring what that is?
Speaker 4 (32:37):
That is you're supposed to do. You get the ball?
Why because you get the ball the second half at
least you have to do something with it. At least
you get an operation.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
That's you got to do something with it. And the
Rams don't control this because they're the home team, But
like am I kind of rooting for the Vikings to
win the coin toss? And defer a little bit. You
know why, because the Rams have not scored a first
drive touchdown all season. They haven't scored a first quarter
touchdown all season, and this is the game to do it.
Because the Vikings have outscored their opponents fifty eight to
(33:07):
three in the first quarter. That is not a typo
plus fifty five their margin. They gave up a field
goal to the Giants in week one. They've outscored opponents
in the first frame fifty eight to zero. Since that
is no way to live against the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
You know, it's funny every time a person leaves his
Rams offense and they go somewhere else, it seems like
that offense is explodes.
Speaker 4 (33:28):
Every time. I feel like it's just Lafloor leaves. He's
in great.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
This is all over the place, right, what is it like?
Because why don't we have that right because we're not leaving. Yeah,
we're just staying here, right. We don't get that. I
do understand that. But in this game, I feel like
we want the ball in the second half so at
least we know where we are and I want to
right on the jump because if we get it right
(33:53):
from the jump and we go three and out. Then
now we're really backed. We're swimming. Now we're they're trying
to water.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Here's the other thing with the new kickoff. With all
these touchbacks, you're getting the ball in the thirty you're
like one explosive player, like three first rounds from being
in field goal range to begin with shock the system,
like if you're getting the guys back and you feel
like this is your time to come alive on offense.
Speaker 2 (34:14):
So so Stafford goes out there, they win the tass
He goes, we want the ball.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
You're gonna be excited again. It's they don't get that
they're the home team, so they don't get to call it.
It's not there. Vikings lose it. Yes, I want to
say we want the ball and we're going to score.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
Oh, coach Long, Matt Hasselbeck, we want the ball, We're
going to score. Wow.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
If not now when it's week eight.
Speaker 4 (34:38):
I don't know. I feel like we're almost at the halfway.
We have the halfway points.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
If you want to shift some of the dynamics that
we just spent a half an hour talking about.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Like you score early, put a lot of pressure, it
looks different. Yeah, no, I agree.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
All right, MJD. We're getting the wrap it up finger.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Like I think I've harped on it enough. Is that
whatever the package is for that cover zero.
Speaker 4 (35:00):
It's offensively you have to execute that. I've seen that.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Destroy so many different teams. It's just like you have
to have a plan for it. If you have a plan,
I think it'll be awesome. Again, I think Brian Flores
a lot of people want him to be a head coach.
Speaker 4 (35:16):
I think he's a terrific DC. I don't know how
good he is as.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
A head coach, but I think he's probably the top
DC in the game, and that may be where he
stays because what he's able to do to offenses both
stop and the run in exotic looks and creating pressure
and simulating pressure really puts it puts tough on offenses.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
So to me, how you handle that zero package?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I was up last night thinking about it, like, we
can't have a twenty twenty Dolphins. You can't have that
where your defense does all this great stuff and then
you give up two or three touchdowns on offense, Like.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
You can't do that.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
And Van Gingkles still there, right, didn't he score against
the the Rams in twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Yep, why you were waking up with cold sweatsman?
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Like this dude is all over.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
He just had a pick six in London. So again,
they have pieces. You just have to be able to
have a planet.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Excuse that plan, right, It's it's the National Football League.
It's Thursday night football. Weird things happen. Yeah, And so
as as dim as some of this looks from a
matchup standpoint, I embrace it all because wouldn't it be
something if the Rams have their best offensive night of
the season against the best defense they're gonna face all season,
(36:27):
and they do it on a short week.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
It reminds me of Pac twelve after dark. Some of
your best games happened in there, we called it. We
called a couple of those. Uh yeah, I think my
best game was Packed twelve after It was against Cal
at nighttime.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Wild things happened.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Wild things happened on the West coast at night. That
is true.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
My last and final key. We're gonna move over here.
Uh and I'm actually gonna go the opposite direction because
I'm gonna ask the secondary to rise to the challenge.
We really didn't even discuss Justin Jefferson, who is, by
the way, the number one threat for the Minnesota Vikings.
So I like what I saw from this young defense.
I want to see them get after it. Can they
stack their performance? I know the Raiders were a different tests, however,
(37:07):
build that confidence going into this matchup. But everything's prettier
under the lights and Sofi Stadium, that's for sure. And
Thursday night is going to be the place to be.
And I'll leave you with this too. The streak starts
at one, the words of Chris Shula after the win
over the Raiders, let's get to number two. I'm feeling it.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
You're here.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Thanks for joining us so much. On Between the Horns
presented by your Southern California Toyta Dealers cameraonor when J. B.
Long and Maurice Jones drew We'll see you in Sofi
on Thursday
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com