October 31, 2024 • 48 mins
Camryn Irwin, J.B. Long, and Maurice Jones-Drew talk about the impact of wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua's return on Thursday Night Football, success of the offensive line, how a win against the Seattle Seahawks can change the outlook of the NFC West, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hi everyone, and welcome to Between the Horns. It's a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Spooky addition, and actually we have a lot to celebrate
today as there's also a new World Series Champion in
the city of la But of course this Between the
Horns is presented by our Southern California at Toyota Dealers.
Cameron went alongside my good friends Jav Long and Maurice Jones.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Drew. We're coming off some big wins here in this
city as well.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But any special plans for Halloween. I know Jav's not
the biggest fan.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Look at the side. I already not a Halloween guy.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
You know this about me.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
I thought you'd get into it for the kids, though,
now you've dressed up before.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Before, not a long time. I'm not here to dampen
anyone's holiday. Just please get up early tomorrow morning and
clean up all your decorations because it's November. It's Thanksgiving time.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Oh oh, that's what you're waiting for. I get it.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I thought he was talking about the parade that's probably
take in place tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
No, that's true, Yes, that's true.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Yeah, I enjoy that. I'm a big Halloween guy.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
I don't know, I won't be able to celebrate this
year because I'll be working, but like in spirit, I'll
be dressed up in whatever the hottest thing is right now.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, in fairness, I don't like scary movies. I
don't like chocolate. It's just not tailored to me.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I'm not a chocolate guy either. Scary movies I'm a
little wonky with.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
But some I think some scary movies I've actually gone
back and watched them from like in the past, and
they're funny because it's like like, come on, like E
really scared people.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
But you know, neither here nor.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
This whole season though, especially during the World Series, I'm
trying to, Like, my kids want to watch baseball, I'm
there with them, and then every commercial break I'll be like,
close your eyes, look away. It's all the scary movies.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Oh is it?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Oh yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
My life was ruined by the movie Birds. Let's just
put it that way. I watched that at far too
young of an age, and it has completely shifted my.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
My personal space.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Walking down the street I live on, there are crows
that come at me and I swear they dive bomb.
It's a very dangerous dangerous street I live on, but
we'll get rid of the scary because there's anything but
scariness happening right here in the Los Angeles Rams franchise.
Two wins in five days. We got to go all
the way back to Thursday night. I think we should
relive this one a little while long. QUESHI, guys, I
(02:13):
have to ask, how do you quantify this win? Because
it was massive. We saw the return of both Puka
and Cooper, and Matthew Stafford was just simply lights out.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Yeah, I think you know.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
JB kind of brought it to a tension A couple
between the Horns ago about like these two games are
the most important games determines the fate of your franchise.
Do you go garage sale right if the season's kind
of gotten away from you, or do you win these
both and now you have a chance you're fighting for something.
To me, the offense, the team, everything just looks so
(02:45):
different with Cooper, Cup and pukin the cou out there,
it was it was a completely different team. And it
reminds me of your guys. Your guys are your guys
for a reason, and when you're out there, you don't
have those guys, not even the skinsically, I'm just talking
about players playing like Matthew Stafford getting out of that sack.
He would have never did that if those two guys
(03:06):
weren't out there, because again, it was just different. It
was just a different type of energy that was out there.
And so to me, well, I can't say he would
have never done it. He would have tried it, but
I don't know if he'd have been successful. But to me,
it was just like certain things like Sean lining up
and going forward on fourth down and.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Not motioning or shifting right.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
That's something we haven't seen and I don't know how
many years, And so it was just everyone was playing
with a different type of energy. Everyone was playing with
a different sense of urgency and a focus. And when
you have the guys out there and they're not even completely
healthy yet, if they can get obviously you get Steve
Agula back or Jonah Jackson or Joe Nobleman, did you
(03:43):
get those guys.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Back, Now you're really playing with house money.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
And so to me, I just think when you quantified
it's the health of your team really showed how explosive
you could be.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Can't remember a couple of shows ago when we were
talking about feeling the strain that some of the losses
had put on this ross, Like you were having starters
being asked to play starring roles and reserves being asked
to play starting reps and it just wasn't working. And
then you have Darius Williams come back, I would say,
on defense, but then Pooka and Cooper come back, and
it's like everything slotted back into place and it felt right.
(04:17):
It felt more like the design I was having a
pregame conversation with someone near and dear to the show
about whether this person should put Pokinakua into his fantasy
football lineup right a lot of people were dealing.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
With everyone else.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I was like, maybe, but you know who you should
probably play as a surprise starters to Marcus Robinson tonight
because that guy is going back to where he was
in December of last year. Why because he's meant to
kill it on the backside of progressions And when your
eyes are here as a defense on Cooper one, Pooka two,
or vice versa, then you see Harrison Smith getting worked
(04:53):
over by DeMarcus Robinson in a drop eight situation in
the red zone. Like those things clearly could not and
were not ha happening as recently as two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Well, and it really does feel like there was a
trickling down effect, right And I took a couple notes
down in notables because immediately with what I called it,
Cooper Naku or Puka Cup, whatever you want to say,
in the combination of the two. But the run blocking
was immediately felt. Pooka run blocking grade of eighty. DeMarcus Robinson.
You mentioned what he was able to do, that was
only three targets, he had two catches. Obviously, that explosive
(05:23):
touchdown the longest touchdown for the Los Angeles Rams this season.
And then you also think about what they were able
to do with the offensive line, because it all starts
with the offensive production. They were dropping guys back into
coverage and it completely changed the game. It was impressive
the Vikings in terms of their blitz rate down ten
percent from what they were doing this season. What did
(05:44):
you see from the offensive line, especially against the Vikings,
because it really was a full trickle down effect.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Well, one, when you're playing in the Minnesota Vikings, if
you can get run game going all of a sudden,
they can't do these exotic blitzes and put guys on
the ball and do all that, and the Rams were
running at a great clip. I mean they were getting five,
six seven yards to start that game, which was like,
oh wow, okay, this is gonna be an interesting game.
But we always talk about it when when Cooper Cup
and Pukinaku insert on those safeties or they crack a
(06:11):
safety or whatever may be, that takes football out of
those guys, and then that safety now is looking at
the running game expecting, you know, this receiver to crack him.
Then all of a sudden, the receiver runs a route
and breaks out. And I thought what uh JB said
best was the offensive line has.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Played lights out.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
And you talked about DeMarcus Robinson on the backside of
those progressions, Well how.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Does he get there? Right?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
You have to you have to be able to attack
that zero coverage blitz. You have to have answers for
all those things. And then when you get those answers,
they drop back in coverage and now your line holds up.
And I thought, Bolimmer's done a great job since he's
been in But then also, uh, the kid that went
to the other school, I don't want to say the
school's name. Yeah, I don't want to say the other
school's name. He's playing lights out right. He Oh, he's
(06:57):
took for a guy to come in undrafted to He
had one holding penalty, but I'm okay with that, and like,
you haven't given up a sack.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
You're doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
There was some stuff in the Running Game where you
saw him struggle a little bit, but that's to happen
right again, to come in as an undrafted free agent,
to go out there and play like this.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
They're playing really well.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Let me ask you something. If you were Sean mcvayh
right now and I injected you a true serm okay,
And I was like, how many plays did you run
against the Vikings that were on your play sheet week
one in Detroit? Remember how we talked about like at
halftime in Detroit, he could have ceremonially lit that thing
on fire because it didn't apply anymore. I think about
Puca's first catch, he drops the first one, they go
right back to him, and yes, the Running game was effective,
(07:39):
but the screen game is an extension of that running game,
and it's been sorely lacking. But they motion cooper in
orbit to quads right and throw a one player screen
out to Puka and Alaric Jackson gets that block, it
goes for thirteen and boom, you're off and running again.
That is simply not a play that you can run,
even as recently as the Sunday prior against the Raiders.
(08:01):
There's just no reason to. You don't have the guys,
it doesn't work. But Cooper draws those eyes and you
got your Clydesdale out there, who can catch him run
for thirteen? Like that play, to me, I'm guessing was
not a three day install. That was a play that
they put in during the spring. Yeah, during training camp
in the Detroit Lions game plan, and all of a sudden,
(08:21):
shown's like, oh, I've got this laundry list of plays
that i can run again because this is how we
built it for six months.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Well think about this too.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Pookinakoup allows your screen game to come open because he's
bigger than every running back that you have if you
think about it, right, he's the biggest running back you have.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
On your roster.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So the screen game from a receiver standpoint, you throw
that quick screen out there, he's one on one with
a safety. Harrison Smith does want to tackle Pooka Nakoua.
Then you run back with the play action screen back
to him where he has two or three guys in front,
and you watch how guys are like trying to like,
I just don't want to get ran over, but I
want to be in position to make the playoff. I
have to again having it. I'm gonna say a name
(08:58):
is old David Boss. You remember Dave Boston from the Chargers.
He's like a two hundred and forty pound receiver. Some
people say sixty receivers. Dbs don't want to tackle that
all the time. And when you have right, when you
have the ability to throw screens with guys in front,
with a bigger tie size receiver that's running on corners
and safeties, that's gonna wear down guys.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
There's just a swagger in all three phases that they
played with against the Vikings that to me screamed the
players want to take this season and in turn, this
era as far as they possibly can, which was refreshing.
It was exhilarating the feel. And why not because when
Stafford and kyn and Cupp and Pook are all together,
they legitimately have been the best offense in the National
(09:42):
Football League. Now you could argue that Detroit is gaining
ground and taking over that title, and that's fine. But
it's cool because the same pundits who left the Rams
for dead at their bye are now saying, you know what,
they might be the most likely to challenge Detroit in
the end coming out of the NFC, And the truth
is probably somewhere in between, but it's going to be
a lot of fun to find out.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
The Rams are now nine to one in all games
played after the buy from a combination of both twenty
twenty three and twenty twenty four, and it is insane.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
JB.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
We were discussing this a little bit off camera as well,
but just the immense pressure going into this game and
consideration to Cooper Cup and the conversations that were swirling
around him. I mean, this could really change and be
an inflection point for this franchise in terms of the
offensive production for the rest of this season. The conversation
(10:31):
has shifted now, has it not.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I mean you could probably answer that better having been
in those locker rooms. If you're playing for each other,
if you're playing for someone's future with your franchise, did
you feel that the other night.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
I you know, it's always tough, like when when you
hear about one of your better players being on the
trade block. See, this is completely different than when I
used to like social media has put this thing out
because you would hear rumors, but like literally so all
of social media going up to the Vikings game was
you know, Stafford is going to go on the plane
with the Vikings and if they lose this and.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Cup is going to Pittsburgh, and so.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
As a team one, as a coach, you have to
knock those down and say that's not true, or you
have to say, you know, you have to be honest
with your players. But I felt, like I said, like
the energy felt like no, you're with us, Like we're
not letting you go anywhere else. We're gonna come back here.
We're gonna make plays, We're gonna find a way to win.
I mean, just you can see the effort and the
(11:23):
energy on.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Special teams was insane. Some of those punts, right, like.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
All those different things were big time plays. And then
again the blocking by the receivers and to two out
well coming in and making a big time play, as
we talked about before, like it's just guys are starting
to get into their spots and when you have that,
you can open up your offense. And everyone was more
excited about it. And I think, you know, this team
(11:50):
is closer than a lot a lot of people believe
outside of here. Because if I'm if your selfish too
too out, was gonna be like, well, why am I not?
I've been doing all this work. I need to get
back in. He was like, oh, okay, this is my op.
Uh catch right, Oh this is my op. I bleue
by them. I'm wide open, right.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
But I think Lafleur and Sean and others did a
great job platooning personnel in a way that they haven't
for the last seven and a half years. And I'm
sure some of that was to make sure there's tread
on Poka and Cooper's tires. But I like the fact
that they got in twelve and thirteen sometimes. I like
the fact that they use to to strategically, and Tyler
Johnson as well, like I think that that play is
(12:28):
moving forward. I think ten and seventeen are going to
take more and more.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I don't think they need to, though, to be honest,
I mean, I felt like they came out and was it.
It was Tyler Johnson and two to atwell or Tyler
Johnson and DeMarcus Robinson a ton in those twelve packages
and they are run run round, one run, and then
in the third and fourth quarter, all of a sudden,
here comes to play action pass off of it. Right,
So they set you up, They baited you to believe, hey,
when these two receivers are in, we're doing these things.
(12:53):
That's coaching, right, But it also gives your guys a
break too. I don't need you out there all the time,
but that's because what we talked about over the last
couple week, those guys have earned the right to be
out there to play in both the running game and
the passing game.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, I think the way to beat the Vikings is
either with your fastball you got to be able to
throw one hundred past them, or so many changeups that
they just couldn't really get a grasp on what you
were trying to do, like normally when you huddle and
they can lock and load like that can be a
dangerous formula. But it felt like Minnesota was kind of
playing on its heels, not just because they're down in distance,
(13:25):
but because of all those changes but look, the Rams
got a scheduling gift, right. They played two games in
basically three weeks, right, I think it's twenty seven days,
and it saved their season, it saved their roster, it's
saved their season, or at least the chance to save
their season. I think the moment we have to embrace
right now is this week is the last time that
you're going to benefit from that. So you got to
(13:46):
go cash it in. The extra rest, the extra preparation.
You got to go three for three, get a winning streak,
maybe throw some dirt on Seattle, which we'll talk about
because the next ten weeks are going to be a
gauntlet and you're not going to have that to fall
back on.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yeah. I like the next ten weeks, so I like
kind of where they sit.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I'm just saying rest, no rest.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
But you know what the best thing about no rest
is is two things. One you can get in a
rhythm and get hot, and two you have the ability
now to kind of start to employ like Blake Krum,
get him going. You can get some other guys going,
which I think will help in the long run.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Yeah, there's trust in that depth. You're right.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I was going to say and that depth was created
at the beginning of this season. I want to go
through at least one more. Let's revel a little bit longer.
What would you say was the most impactful moment of
this week's game against Minnesota and JB.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I think you may have mentioned.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yours already, but just something that in your eyes either
was impactful or told the story.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
It's the throw with the last drive.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
And I think it was like third and ten and
it was like, man, do we run the ball, make
him burn the timeout.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Or do you go for the throat?
Speaker 4 (14:57):
And Sean calling that play where it was like a
fake screen to Puka and Cooper Cup runs up the
sidelines and they had and you throw it and you
make a play like that's the old Rams that we remember.
They don't, we don't they're not conservative, and that, to me,
it reminded me of what we've been accusin to for
so long, so many times I remember it is it
brought me back to this play, which is is gonna
(15:18):
blow your mind. But Houston at the Coliseum backed up
and they throw a post that goes like ninety eight
yards or whatever it was golf the woods, like there's
no way you call that play down there. But you're
so confident in what you're doing and what you believe.
You're like, this is, this is We're gonna win this game.
This's gonna remind me of the Super Bowl win where
he tells Matthew like, this is this is your touchdown.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Play to win the Super Bowl. Throw the ball to
cup right, Like those are. When you're playing like that
and that confidence, that's tough to be.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I would say that I give you. Yeah. Sean mentioned
this on Monday, and I think it really hit me
how impactful it was. It happened so quickly and dawn
on me in real time. But when Justin Jefferson makes
that incredible catch against like sticky Darius Williams coverage and
they want to go quickly and punch it in there
(16:10):
in an angle situation, Darius rallies for a tackle for
loss immediately on that next play, and it's a four
point play. It's a four point tackle because instead of
a touchdown off the back of that, they settle for
a field goal. So that was one. And then if
I'm if I'm being a little cheeky, I would say
that the play that sticks with me is the referees
clearly missed an obvious face mask, and if they throw
(16:32):
that flag, the game ends differently. And of course I'm
talking about Kyrien Williams having his face hold with less
than two minutes to go, because if that's a free
first down, it's victory formation, it's game over.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
And you know, you know I've been fighting that Quin city.
You know I've been fighting forever.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
They Oh, listen, they missed two calls on that, on
that in that sequence.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
We're not gonna get We're not gonna go a little.
The game is the game, all right.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, I have a really cool seat in the house,
and as I'm sitting on the field, I actually got
a chance to listen to you guys call in the game,
and it.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Is no, it's one of the greatest things.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
It's so enjoyable, and your call to the Cooper Cup
touchdown is one that will stick with me.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
And I loved it.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
The ever elusive Matthew Stafford long Live nine and time,
and I think it was probably one of the best
calls just considering what Cooper Cup had kind of dealt
with that whole week leading up to it. He had
his family on the field, the return He's playing alongside
Pooka the echoes of Coop on the touchdown like there
(17:39):
was under under the lights of Sofi Stadium in primetime.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Here comes Cup in motion to balance it out to
you by two, Stafford has his nap four man rush
pressure in his face, goes out the left side, ducks
the rush foot for the end zone.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Cut cut Cooper Cup from Nephew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
What prime time edition.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Of nine and dime.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Oh, the ever elusive Matthew Stafford ducking the rush of
the Vikings and finding his favorite targets. Welcome back Cooper Cup. Touchdown, La.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That is a moment that I will not forget, and
especially with your guys' voices in the background.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Well, look, if things go well this week and for
the rest of the season, he's gonna be the clear
cut third best receiver in Rams franchise history. Like catches touchdowns,
it's gonna be the should be two Hall of Famers
Isaac Tory, hopefully sooner rather than later in Cooper and
that feels appropriate.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it. All Right, guys, we
have to talk a little bit about rookie standouts. You
mentioned a couple of them, already in bo Limmer, but
let's dig in Jared Verse. You had an incredible conversation
with him this week.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
What a character.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
His micd up was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
He's gone viral and to that point, my mother is
the one that sent it to me.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Mom's ever.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I'm just saying, this guy is hilarious, so fun. I
think we need T shirts that just read I'm in
your head or a hat. I'm not sure which, But
how fun has that got to watch?
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Well, it's funny because you know when you're watching the
game and we're calling it, I'm like they're double teaming
them every play and he's getting like knocked down and
he gets up, he's barking. I can kind of figure
out what he's saying, like you need two or three
to block me? You need two or three to block me?
And then to hear him say that on the micd
up was like, oh yeah, he just talks. But I
remember OTA's JB. We were sitting out there and and
(19:29):
he was going at it, and he was going at
it with one of the tight ends, and like Sean
was like, hey, you gotta calm down, and I was like.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
That's who he is.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
You gotta let him play like and it's shown that
that mindset and the trash talk is what gets him
going more and more. And then when he got this
act to do, the skull channel was even better. Right,
Like he's just he's a troll and you love that
about him.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, I think you can tell the story of the
Rams turnaround on the defensive side of the ball almost
threw Jared as a proxy for the entire defense. The
whole first month we were like, Oh, he's getting pressures,
but gosh, he's missing so many opportunities. I think it
was eleven mistackles in the rams first four games, many
(20:12):
of which could have been like game changing sacks. One
since one mistackle since for Jared Verse. The other thing
is he is the only first rounder playing on that
entire defense. The Rams played twenty guys on defense against
the Vikings. I broke it down this way. Jared is
the only first rounder. Six others were Day two selections
either second or third, five were Day three picks, eight
(20:36):
were college free agents. Eight undrafted's contributed to that win
on defense. And there's only more coming for players like
Omar Spates and Jalen McCullough and Josh Wallace. Because they're
earning it, right, Because they're earning it, and so early
in this season we're like, hey, you got to give
this defense time. Like the Rams are spending the least
amount of resources of any team in the National Football
League on that side of the ball. Well, now all
of a sudden, it's like, if they're going to be
(20:57):
doing this, the ceiling for this twenty before a group
gets higher and higher.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Well, it was funny, Like you said, I think everyone
was kind of like, all right, we'll see what this
defense can do.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
But they've been the ones that have been doing everything.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I mean, if you look at Detroit, if you go
back to Detroit, they just got tired in that overtime game.
In that overtime, like they were just worn down, but
they were getting after Detroit. I mean, they were the
most physical team during that side of the ball. Like
they were way more physical than Detroit's defense, more physical
than the Detroit's offense in those four quarters. And so
that's what we saw in preseason, and this carried over throughout,
(21:30):
like they dominated a lot of teams that you wouldn't expect.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I love this matchup this week too, because Charles Cross
at left tackle I think is the best part of
Seattle's offensive line, and that's normally where Jared aligns. So
a Verse goes up against him, that'll be a great
battle to watch. If they flip Jared and Byron, that'll
be telling. And if not, then this feels like an
Agent zero go get yours and maybe some Kobe turn
(21:53):
or two, because the right side of the Seahawks offensive
line is not as strong as middle to left.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And it's crest to think Verse Turner Young getting a
half sacks combined the season three three sack performance though
against Minnesota this week.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Well, I think we should talk about that being the constant,
like the pass rush, the Young pass rush, and what
that means for this season and beyond.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
If you put it this way, you have four guys
that can get after the quarterback right, and I think
Fist doesn't get enough credit for his penetration and getting
Donald off his spot right like.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
He through a back injury.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Yeah, Like he's up there. Donald has to slide.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
When you slide, now you're a second late to throw
the ball. You're allowing the covers to kind of settle
in a little bit more, and then you get the
other guys coming out of everywhere.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
It seems like it was like dudes coming all over
the place. And to me, I thought Kobe.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Turner last year learned a ton right and I thought
he played exceptionally well.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
But this year you're seeing he's the one taking all
the double teams.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He's the one doing all the dirty work, where last
year was Donald that was getting all the you know,
and he's still finding ways to get to the quarterback,
which is allowing all these young guys to go out
and make plays.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
I also think we have every right to believe the
best is yet to come. And here's why is because
until two weeks ago, the Rams' largest lead in the
entire season was six points. These last two games, their
last two wins, we've seen the Rams play with multi score,
double digit leads, however you want to frame it. If
this defense gets a chance to pin their ears back
to play true Russian coverage, I think there's something going
(23:23):
on there. And I hesitate to even say this because
I have no interest in talking about twenty twenty five yet,
except in one regard. I think the biggest need or
opportunity for this team going into next year is a
top tier corner. Yeah, wrong, Like, imagine what Jalen Ramsey
would do to this pass rush over the next couple
(23:43):
of years while they're still on rookie contracts, et cetera.
And then I got to thinking, well, what if everything
goes perfectly this weekend and you beat the brakes off
the Seahawks, and Chicago goes and knocks off Arizona and
you moved to number one? Do you want to finish
that sentence for me?
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Why wait?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Ohthough, now you're gonna get somebody? Why wait?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
You have until November fifth.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
Who do you go get though? Who's a biling Yeah?
And that's the question.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
It takes two to go. I get it.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
But I mean you, this is the thing I in NFC.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
I don't really see you win against the best in
the NFC already and justin Jefferson, that's the best receiver
that you're gonna see, right, And he made a couple
of plays, but he had to be the best to
make those plays. I think you have what you need here.
I don't think you need to go get a top
tier guy because that's not the way this defense is played.
Like in the past, you had Jayalen Ramsey because Aaron
Donald was getting pressuring. You wanted to shut one side
(24:36):
the field down and run zone cover the other side.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You don't want to do that for the second half
of this year and all of next year and all
of twenty six.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
I just don't think. I don't think that's what the
way this defense is built.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
That's how I think they're building more of a team defense,
Like everyone plays a role. We don't have one guy
that's covering Julio Jones the whole time like they did.
You know, like when Wade Phillips, it was like you
got Julio Jones were playing man the man. That's not
how they play. They're more of a schematic. They brought
a couple of weeks ago. They got Kobe Durant to
hit the like, that's a different type of thing that
(25:05):
we've seen from the Rams.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So would you go out and get a different position
if they pick it up and move from four to one.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
I would, but I know they wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
I think off ball linebackers a position that you have
to address eventually. I don't know where you address it,
you address it now or later, But I think off
ball linebackers a position that you have to address. I
believe you still have the pieces because again John Johnson
comes back right. That's another addition to safety that that
helps you. Like I said, they have a it's a
(25:38):
it's an advantage that have a no name defense, if
that makes sense. It's an advantage because they can't key
on one guy. Guys are moving all over the place.
And so I believe off ball linebackers position they need
to address either in the draft and not high, but
somewhere to get those you know, to fix those pieces.
Speaker 5 (25:55):
Up a little bit.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
That make that is that Okay is coming Omar, Hey, listen,
get out the way because he was hidden.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
He made some big tackles in that game. And I
love the wire reference. I watched that again.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Ohmar, Well, let's dig into the NFC West a bit
more because we've already laid it out just a little
bit for you. But there is a chance this week
that we could go from four to one. Arizona loses
to the Bears potentially in Week nine, and the winner
of this between Los Angeles and Seattle will then move
up into first place. We are the only division the
(26:30):
NFC West that is decided right now by just one game,
and obviously us coming off the buy, everyone else sitting
at four and for us at three and four. You
mentioned it too. We've faced the NFC North at this point.
The remaining schedule for the other teams in the NFC
West is not as easy JB.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, but I do think the forty nine ers are
going to come back from this bio with a vengeance.
Are you laughing at me or are you agreeing?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
I've agreed, okay, because they are not happy right now.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
We have a lot going on over there.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Yeah, but they linked into that buy and getting that
win over Dallas and surviving that I think sets them
up for second as although I will say after this buy,
their next five opponents between now and Thursday Night Football
against the Rams are all against teams at are above
five hundred, and they continue to have a rest disadvantage
after this buy in terms of playing teams with extra rest.
The Cardinals, though, despite what I may have said last week,
(27:23):
are quickly becoming a problem. Kyler Murray is playing really well.
Their schedule is actually favorable. And how about their four wins,
three game winning field goals and a blowout of the Rams.
I would say this, if you don't have holiday plans,
maybe consider grabbing a ticket to Week seventeen at sofar
promo code treat I think it is at the Rams
(27:43):
dot com because that is shaping up to be a
pretty consequential game.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
No, I agree.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I think when you look at it the air, when
the Cardinals is shocked to everyone, I mean there's always
a team that goes from worse to first. I think
the Cardinals are kind of playing thirteen Personnel, mixing Personnel's
version with the Rams of done, they found something right
and then Kyler, I mean watching that Dolphins game, there's
some of the pass he threw to Marvin like over
Jalen Ramsey right, like they're attacking guys and they're kind
(28:11):
of hitting their stride. To me with the Rams is
when you're playing the Seattle Seahawks one, they have their
own issues, right, Guys are fighting on the sideline. They
got other stuff going on over there. They got to
figure out. And they're just coming off of Shelacken like
Buffalo was not. They're not playing any games. So if
you're going up there, you have to go up to
(28:31):
understand that they're gonna They're they're trying to get some
confidence back and trying to get their swagger back, and
they're gonna throw a lot at you, but I just
don't know if they have the pieces defensively to handle
what the Rams are gonna do.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Last week, and a wise man quoted another wise man
by saying, you only get one shot, miss your chance
to play. And that's kind of what I feel like.
This weekend is for the for the Rams because put
let's put ourselves in the Seahawks shoes here, right, They've
lost four out of five, they've lost three in a
row on their home field, that got the open date
next week on the other side of the bye is
(29:03):
a trip to San Francisco. In fact, five of their
remaining eight after this week are on the road. So
that's why I feel like this is a separation Sunday
opportunity to kind of thin out the herd in the
NFC West, because if you send a message this weekend,
then maybe Seattle realizes, you know what this this is
in our year. Conversely, if you let them kind of
(29:26):
do what San Francisco just did, which is limp into
the bye with a win and a winning record, then
suddenly the Seahawks are probably going to be at Sofi
Stadium in Week eighteen with at least a real playoff scenario,
if not, like playing for bigger steaks.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
So to your point, this is a huge, huge matchup,
and it actually makes me think as we dive into
this one, the Week one win at Seattle last year,
and I know, JV you want to talk about this,
but it's wild to think that was the season opener
for the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
We were still figuring.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Out who Puka was, who Kyne was, who Kobe was,
and all this Saiden, It's been a year and they
are now household names. When you think back to that matchup, JB,
what are your first thoughts.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
I'm sure Maurice predicted it, but nobody else did run the.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Ball that was That was a good one.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I I they ran the ball forty times that game, right,
It was like unpressing what we were used to. And
I think that's what you have to go up there
and do whatever they think you're gonna do, you have
to do the opposite.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Yeah, it's kind of like the premise of our trailer
this week is when they landed in Seattle last year.
Kyron Williams had not scored an NFL touchdown since he's
scored more touchdowns than anyone else in the sport, and
he's taken five weeks off. Puka and Akua went from
a you know, an unknown to a household name. And
(30:45):
this time they're bringing the next wave with them, right,
They're bringing the fifth, They're bringing the verse. How about
the fact that Cooper Cup has only played eighteen snaps
against the Seahawks in the two years since his triple crowncy. Yeah,
I knew that, I felt that, I lived that, but
it hadn't really hit home that he's basically been sidelined
(31:08):
for all four of the most recent Seahawks games.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
And then let's not forget Darius Williams pick six a
couple of years ago. Like he's he plays exceptionally well
up there. Again, I think the Rams. It goes back
to I don't I forget the year. But when the
Rams went up there and blew out the Seahawks se Gurley.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
They don't officially clinch it. They had to wait till Tennessee.
But that was when you knew that they had taken
the torch.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
And from that point forward, it's always kind of been
like their their their their second home or not.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
One said that like they're safe haven, Like they can
go up there and get right.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And they've always kind of gotten right against the Seahawks,
and it was the Seahawks and the Cardinals that they've
they've had some chances. Well, this is a chance for
you to go up there and stay right right. You
have two games, you're hot, You're you're probably the most
balanced offense that I've seen in the NFL, where like
you're throwing the and running the ball at an efficient clip.
(32:02):
If you look at the Baltimore Ravens, they score a
lot of points, but they're not as efficient per play,
if that makes sense. Like they'll get into third and
long and then Lamar will make a crazy play, or
they'll be in second and five and darre Hear to
break off a eighty yard or play. But the Rams
per play, they're able to be fishing.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
I think that's what they have to go up there
and do.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
We must all be mine melding together because I know
the next matchup that we want to talk about is
a look back to Week fourteen.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
It was perfect the overtimes.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Think a career in television.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Oh to the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Last year we put up thirty one points and over
four hundred yards of offense against Mike McDonald led defense,
obviously now the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks. And
by the way, that is also the only loss that
the Rams have had in two years after the buye.
So what do you think Sean McVay is gonna be
able to die out up against.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
This That was the last game Karen didn't score a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
By the way, that's also true.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
All right, this is like red meat to mjd right here,
we got we got to give him this opportunity. Put
it on a t for them. Remember they ran at
nine straight I wasn't gonna tell the rest of this story.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, go ahead, Okay.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
They stalled out in the red zone, but remember they
ran at nine straight times. They rush for one on
the day, more than all but one Raven's opponent last season.
So Kirn's been unstoppable ever since. Seattle. Maurice has allowed
seven rushing touchdowns since Week four. And if I remember correctly,
(33:40):
part of that game plan was like justin, Mattabuka fashions
himself as the next Aaron Donald, and they got the
linebackers and they got the pass rush. We're gonna cool
them off. We're gonna keep Stafford out of harm's way,
We're gonna play into the conditions. Does this game not
set up similarly or am I just drawing too much
between like Cameron said, Mike McDonald got highed by Seattle.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
No, No, I think it does because you have guys
like Byron Murphy who they drafted, who's very similar to
Aaron Donald, who a lot of people, even our DeMarco
far said, like he's the closest thing to it. When
you go back to that Baltimore Ravens game, they ran
right at Ata Bouquez, right at him, because again, that's
how you cool off a guy that's rushing the passer
at a high level.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
You run at him.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Now, to me, if you're the Rams, you go in
you're saying, look, we have to go right at this
defense again, and like everything, it kind of allows our
offense to be the best. We can run the ball
at a like getting It doesn't have to be big gangs,
but four yards. If you get four yards, you get
four yards, you keep getting four then all of a
sudden you have a play action pass or you have
(34:40):
a quick pass out to the flat it just puts
so much stress on the defense. But you have to
attack them the middle of their defense because that's where
they pride themselves off.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
And cooper ate that night, and so did Pooka and
Davis Allen, like there were other stars in that game.
But just in terms of the structure of the premise.
And it's not just Biron Murphy, who, by the way,
like a because he's a rookie, because he was taking
a few picks ahead of herse like he bears mentioning here.
And I think this is a big game for the
the inexperienced guys up the middle that you mentioned earlier,
(35:09):
Limmer and die Ditsch, Like I could give you Dtish
just pff grade, or we could talk about the fact
that he hasn't allowed pressures or but like the real
indication of how the Rams will feel about Dietitsch is
Joe Nopum is out there practicing fully this week. If
you're saying we're gonna go with the twenty four year
old undrafted playing against this front because the interior is strength, Yeah,
(35:30):
and look out for Ernest Jones too, because we we
know he likes to play on both sides of scrimmage.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Oh my god, I forgot it's a revenge game and
we haven't revenge game. Revenge game. They found a way back. Look,
you know, Sean knows Ernest Jones. Sean understands how to
attack this this these there's personnel pieces right, How to
attack Woolan, how to attack their other corner from Illinois
(35:54):
whose name slipped my mind, but spoon, Spoon, Yeah, with
this one. How to attack those guys. But the most
important thing is going to be that front. Like we
talked about, how do you are you comfortable with the
guys that are there now or do you have to
add pieces there? And like I said, the healthier the
Rams get to get to that offensive line that you
had projected on your depth chart early in the season,
(36:18):
I wouldn't be concerned. But this team here in front,
they have some guys. Seahawks have some guys that can
get to the quarterback in.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
The middle of the dach Aaron Reid, Leonard Williams, a
couple other number names that I wrote down.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
There's yeah, it's it's gonna be interesting from that side
of the ball. But I'm also curious too, because there's
a big question mark that could really change the complexion
of this matchup. And a guy's name is DK Metcalf.
He was out last week. We saw what happened with
their not just explosive plays, but also their run game
faltered significantly against the Bills. There's potential he's coming back
(36:52):
in this matchup, he's gonna play.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
How is that going to change the game? And so
what's the point of reference.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Is it against the Falcons or their matchup against the
Falcons or is it so much against the Bills.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I think this is where Jaylen Ramsey was like most
important because he canceled him out right, Like this is
where you have that top tier corner to cancel a
guy like that out. And it is a little nerve
racking to have DK out there, because again, what he
did against Atlanta, he's what he's done this whole season.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
He's kind of been their guy.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
But the pressure is what's gonna change everything, Right, Like
if Geno Smith can sit back in the pocket, just
throw the ball and it's seven on seven, he'll he'll
tear you up. But what the Bills were able to do,
they got pressure from everywhere and he couldn't sit in
the pocket. He couldn't do all the things that he
wanted to do and have all the time to throw
regards with DK was out there or not, so to me,
it's it's gonna be on that front that we talked
(37:43):
about early in the show is can you get pressure
on Gino to get him to get off his first
read quickly? Can you throw some different coverages at him
so that he has to pump fake to let those
guys get to It's gonna be more of a chess
match this game than it's ever been, just because they're
gonna run this high flying offense, these three receivers and
then yeah, Kenneth Walker, who can catch them all at
the backfield, who's having a heck of a year right now.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
I just I think it relies on that d line.
If that d lin can get to Gino, I think
you're fine.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
It's still disputed whether Gino was the one who said, omg,
where Aaron Donalds coming at him? He said it, but
we know Aaron's not gonna be there. And yet you're
saying there's still the pieces to make Gino Smith feel OMG.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
If not say it, yeah, I know he's gonna feel it.
I think I mean that was just a unique player
was a great stunt that hit. But I think again,
if you just want him to slide and move in
the pocket as much as you can, He's not one
of those guys that, like Kyler, can slide in the pocket.
So I was downfield and throw the ball Gino. When
he slides, his eyes come down and so if you
can get him to move, he's gonna look to run,
(38:46):
which is gonna take obviously off the big plays on
the field.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
I just love the scheduled progression. Like the Raiders win
was probably the best get right opportunity you'll see all season.
They had just traded away their best receiver, one of
the best receivers. Then you went toe to toe with
the best receiver in Jefferson last week, and now you
get a portfolio, a collection of receivers that I think
when their rider are as good as any in the league,
(39:10):
like Gino's leading this league and passing in part because
he has to, in part because he has JSN and
Tyler Lockett in DK.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
I was just about to ask the question too, because
when you look at the numbers for the last we'll
say four games, even for Walker, they've actually been relatively
diminished significantly diminished.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
So yeah, question will have fourteen guys in the bar exactly.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
That was my next question.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
So do the numbers really tell the story, not just
for Walker but even for this offense for Seattle. Where
is the cause for concern?
Speaker 4 (39:38):
Well, again, I think when you look at Kenneth Walker
and what he's been able to do, they don't like
they don't utilize him as much as I thought they
would like. Against Atlanta they kind of let him go
and he did his thing. But when they play, if
you stopped their run game early, they'll abandon it quickly.
They will, Hey, we're got to throw the ball. And
so to me, Buffalo was like, we're gonna force you
(40:00):
to throw the ball, and we're gonna force you to
throw in a tight coverage and you don't have your
big receiver here to make those plays. So for us,
I think if I look at that from a RAMS standpoint, yes,
stop of the run is always first, and you got to.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
Make sure you do that.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
But the next best thing is you gotta win your
one on somebody's gonna get double team and whoever's one
on one you gotta win. You gotta find a way
to win and get there. If that's Michael Hoyd. Uh
if that is Jonah Williams, whoever's in there, that they're
gonna one on one, you.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
Have to win.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
All right, Well that's a perfect jumping off point. Should
we jump into our keys to victory here? So is
stopping the run your key to victory or what would
you stop that?
Speaker 4 (40:36):
He's like, Uh, yeah, forty we gotta get to the
number forty forty plus runs.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
If you can get to forty plus.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Runs like you did last year in Week one, that
means you have control of the game, that means you
are and let's let's remember Phoka had one hundred plus.
Speaker 5 (40:51):
You have what fourteen catches.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
You're still throwing the ball to to as well. Yeah,
you're just you just want to get to that. You
want to get to those high numbers thirty five to
forty and run. If you can get to that, that
means this game is in the way you want to play.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
It real quick too, because the untold story of that
win and the second half shutout is both of their
tackles were lost to injury in that game, so that
that changed the protection plan and capability. And that's still
an open ending question for me going into this game
with Seattle is they've been trading off at right guard.
It seems like they've come to a solution, but I
don't know if it's a final one and then they're
(41:26):
down there starting right tackle. They've been playing a rookie
in that place. Whether that holds this week or whether
they get somebody back, it's tough to know how the
Seahawks are going to play this one and in turn,
how the Rams are going to have to win it
without knowing what that looks like. So still days to go.
But the good news is right now, the Rams injury
report looks much better than Seattle's.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
That is very true. And to your point too about
stopping the run this or excuse me, running the ball.
The Seahawks are allowing the most yards per play right
now at six and a half and the NFL since
Week four, so that might be where I'm looking to
the start.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Your key, Yeah, it's my key, she leads off, leading
the charge.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
What's your key to victory? What do you got? JB me.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Yeah, I'm in a crowdsource mind per usual, I got
a few. So the Ram checked a big box last week,
which was they scored a first quarter touchdown for the
first time all season. Here's my challenge this week, opening
drive third quarter touchdown? Please, opening drive third quarter has
been a problem. Three points all season on the first
(42:30):
possession coming out of halftime, two turnovers, four punts. Three
of those were three and outs. So when I say
last week, defer for what kind of what I'm talking about?
Turnover free game. It's only happened once the Rams have
gotten away with it in their last couple But this
feels like a you'd be very well served to protect
(42:51):
all of your possessions, make sure they all end in
the kick.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
Isn't that what you say?
Speaker 3 (42:55):
But here's what I settled on, because this one is
better for conversation, Like those two are obvious. How about
the key of the game being Kiren against Ernest. I've
already heard this week like Matthew against Ernest, which is
a good one. But the way the Rams play, the
way they run it, isn't it kind of like Kyen
against Ernest? And then also Jones are gonna blitz.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
He's gonna cos that's what he's the most.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Dangerous, and so Kirroen stick in his face in the
fan and making sure that Matthew's pocket is clean, feels
like a good way to decide this game.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
I wonder who used to win those those one on
ones when they do one on one blitz pick up.
Speaker 5 (43:30):
We have to have to talk to coach Gould about that.
Speaker 4 (43:32):
This SEU who wins so we can have it on there,
because that's if I'm Seattle, I'm like, yo, we're gonna
anytime we think it is a pass situation, you're blitz
in the back because that's who won the Super Bowl.
To be honest, remember how many sacks, crucial sacks he
had laid in that game rushing on Joe Mixon.
Speaker 5 (43:46):
Was able to go.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
Then Joe Maxon's not in the game because he can't
pick up the blitz. They put somemaj p Ryan who
falls and gets it to third and one or fourth
and one and doesn't get the first down and then you.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
Get the sack.
Speaker 4 (43:57):
So Ernest Jones, his blitzing is going to be a problem.
And that's going to be again. That's why I say
forty plus runs, we can get all that blitzing out
that we don't need you blitzing. We need to we
need to have control of this game.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
And look, I think only four pressures on Matthew know
sacks against the Vikings like that was the stat of
the game on Thursday, And the offensive line deserves a
lot of credit. The tackles in particular are having nice seasons,
but it's not just them. It's Matthew protecting himself, the
communication being better, fewer silent count opportunities, and then how
about the backs and the tight ends doing their par
(44:28):
like that's that's really what I felt, all right?
Speaker 1 (44:29):
He crowdsourced for his what's your key to victory?
Speaker 5 (44:33):
Oh? I told you was simple.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
This is forty plus forty plus forty plus we get
if you can run the ball. It eliminates a lot
of issues with the blitzing the different Again, Seattle's going
to try to blitz if they can't get pressure right away.
Part of trading for Ernest Jones was the fact that
he's more physical than as jer Own Baker who they
traded away. He can come downhill. They wanted to be
more of a physical defense. If you can eliminate that,
(44:58):
that helps.
Speaker 5 (44:59):
Them with a lot of stuff going on.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
I just don't want to see Ernest Jones like getting
a sack because that's going to be crazy.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That's yeah, we'll feel that, but I'll give you one
more too. Just in terms of Geno Smith's he has
been sacked twenty one times. I think we can get
some more pressure on him. Obviously, Rams are tied for
third highest pressure rate in the NFL this season.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
I think the rate there is important because yes, he
has been hitt and sacked, but on a per drop
back basis, Seattle's actually done okay to protect him. Like
his sacked raw number is there, but his sack rate
compared to some of the other major passers in this
league not so bad. And I don't know this is
the game to go do it for sure.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
I also want to think back one more time to
what Jared first said to you, because when you mentioned
some of those maybe miss tackles or missed opportunities, like
he owned that conversation and said absolutely, and he immediately
kind of changed his tune in terms of like it
was something that he was not just locked in on
but ready to perform, and he's completely changed that storyline.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
I love it. I thought it was great.
Speaker 4 (45:57):
I will say the one thing I loved that he
was like my pass rus was very simp I'm gonna
run through you that's it.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
I'm gonna go through you and get to the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
And it's funny because if you look at Florida State now,
their guys go around guys, and again, it's a different mindset.
Speaker 5 (46:10):
It's a it's a different mentality.
Speaker 4 (46:12):
We talked about if you're gonna beat the Niners, how
do you beat them?
Speaker 5 (46:16):
Right?
Speaker 4 (46:16):
You gotta be more physical, you gotta be more rough.
The Rams have changed the way they've played football in
the last couple of years, both by size but also
mindset of players, like your adverse being physical and running
through guys every play, I'm gonna come back.
Speaker 5 (46:31):
I'm gonna do it again, and you just keep doing that.
Speaker 4 (46:34):
That is that is like I've been in there with
linemen that have been like, yo, help me, yep, this
is this is not what I want. And so uh
that that mindset. You can see kind of how that's
going through the team a little bit.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
It allows him to play every down too, because he
plays run down and he takes pride and run down.
And that's also an inside storyline on this game is
the Seahawks have struggled lately because their early down efficiency
on both sides of the football has been bad. Their
opponents have had short yardage third downs and they've had
third in a mile to go. That's something to keep
an eye on, like average third down distance on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
And I'll fest up a little bit too. I just
wanted to find a way to bring up Jared Verse
because I also thank your best Halloween costume for this evening,
Little Tomato Juice will V eight action.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
Come on, I got that spider versus graphic that RAM
Social put out this morning. That was pretty sweet.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:24):
I might have to adopt a new nickname there for.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Rip them Picks.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
I like that the gravestone. Well, the guys, this has
been a fun episode. We've definitely gone over time limit.
I wasn't even looking at the clock because I'm too
scared too, but it was deservedly so. This week nine
matchup is going to be a good one between the
Los Angeles Rams and of course the Seattle Seahawks on
the road. Thanks so much for joining us on this
edition of Between the Horns presented by your Southern at
(47:47):
California Tour with dealers Cameron are When jab Long and
Maurice Jones, Drew Caty, Trick or Treat
Hi everyone, and welcome to Between the Horns. It's a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Spooky addition, and actually we have a lot to celebrate
today as there's also a new World Series Champion in
the city of la But of course this Between the
Horns is presented by our Southern California at Toyota Dealers.
Cameron went alongside my good friends Jav Long and Maurice Jones.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Drew. We're coming off some big wins here in this
city as well.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
But any special plans for Halloween. I know Jav's not
the biggest fan.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Look at the side. I already not a Halloween guy.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
You know this about me.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
I thought you'd get into it for the kids, though,
now you've dressed up before.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Before, not a long time. I'm not here to dampen
anyone's holiday. Just please get up early tomorrow morning and
clean up all your decorations because it's November. It's Thanksgiving time.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
Oh oh, that's what you're waiting for. I get it.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I thought he was talking about the parade that's probably
take in place tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
No, that's true, Yes, that's true.
Speaker 5 (01:03):
Yeah, I enjoy that. I'm a big Halloween guy.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
I don't know, I won't be able to celebrate this
year because I'll be working, but like in spirit, I'll
be dressed up in whatever the hottest thing is right now.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
I don't know what it is.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I mean, in fairness, I don't like scary movies. I
don't like chocolate. It's just not tailored to me.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I'm not a chocolate guy either. Scary movies I'm a
little wonky with.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
But some I think some scary movies I've actually gone
back and watched them from like in the past, and
they're funny because it's like like, come on, like E
really scared people.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
But you know, neither here nor.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
This whole season though, especially during the World Series, I'm
trying to, Like, my kids want to watch baseball, I'm
there with them, and then every commercial break I'll be like,
close your eyes, look away. It's all the scary movies.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Oh is it?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Oh yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
My life was ruined by the movie Birds. Let's just
put it that way. I watched that at far too
young of an age, and it has completely shifted my.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
My personal space.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Walking down the street I live on, there are crows
that come at me and I swear they dive bomb.
It's a very dangerous dangerous street I live on, but
we'll get rid of the scary because there's anything but
scariness happening right here in the Los Angeles Rams franchise.
Two wins in five days. We got to go all
the way back to Thursday night. I think we should
relive this one a little while long. QUESHI, guys, I
(02:13):
have to ask, how do you quantify this win? Because
it was massive. We saw the return of both Puka
and Cooper, and Matthew Stafford was just simply lights out.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Yeah, I think you know.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
JB kind of brought it to a tension A couple
between the Horns ago about like these two games are
the most important games determines the fate of your franchise.
Do you go garage sale right if the season's kind
of gotten away from you, or do you win these
both and now you have a chance you're fighting for something.
To me, the offense, the team, everything just looks so
(02:45):
different with Cooper, Cup and pukin the cou out there,
it was it was a completely different team. And it
reminds me of your guys. Your guys are your guys
for a reason, and when you're out there, you don't
have those guys, not even the skinsically, I'm just talking
about players playing like Matthew Stafford getting out of that sack.
He would have never did that if those two guys
(03:06):
weren't out there, because again, it was just different. It
was just a different type of energy that was out there.
And so to me, well, I can't say he would
have never done it. He would have tried it, but
I don't know if he'd have been successful. But to me,
it was just like certain things like Sean lining up
and going forward on fourth down and.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
Not motioning or shifting right.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
That's something we haven't seen and I don't know how
many years, And so it was just everyone was playing
with a different type of energy. Everyone was playing with
a different sense of urgency and a focus. And when
you have the guys out there and they're not even completely
healthy yet, if they can get obviously you get Steve
Agula back or Jonah Jackson or Joe Nobleman, did you
(03:43):
get those guys.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
Back, Now you're really playing with house money.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
And so to me, I just think when you quantified
it's the health of your team really showed how explosive
you could be.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Can't remember a couple of shows ago when we were
talking about feeling the strain that some of the losses
had put on this ross, Like you were having starters
being asked to play starring roles and reserves being asked
to play starting reps and it just wasn't working. And
then you have Darius Williams come back, I would say,
on defense, but then Pooka and Cooper come back, and
it's like everything slotted back into place and it felt right.
(04:17):
It felt more like the design I was having a
pregame conversation with someone near and dear to the show
about whether this person should put Pokinakua into his fantasy
football lineup right a lot of people were dealing.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
With everyone else.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
I was like, maybe, but you know who you should
probably play as a surprise starters to Marcus Robinson tonight
because that guy is going back to where he was
in December of last year. Why because he's meant to
kill it on the backside of progressions And when your
eyes are here as a defense on Cooper one, Pooka two,
or vice versa, then you see Harrison Smith getting worked
(04:53):
over by DeMarcus Robinson in a drop eight situation in
the red zone. Like those things clearly could not and
were not ha happening as recently as two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Well, and it really does feel like there was a
trickling down effect, right And I took a couple notes
down in notables because immediately with what I called it,
Cooper Naku or Puka Cup, whatever you want to say,
in the combination of the two. But the run blocking
was immediately felt. Pooka run blocking grade of eighty. DeMarcus Robinson.
You mentioned what he was able to do, that was
only three targets, he had two catches. Obviously, that explosive
(05:23):
touchdown the longest touchdown for the Los Angeles Rams this season.
And then you also think about what they were able
to do with the offensive line, because it all starts
with the offensive production. They were dropping guys back into
coverage and it completely changed the game. It was impressive
the Vikings in terms of their blitz rate down ten
percent from what they were doing this season. What did
(05:44):
you see from the offensive line, especially against the Vikings,
because it really was a full trickle down effect.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Well, one, when you're playing in the Minnesota Vikings, if
you can get run game going all of a sudden,
they can't do these exotic blitzes and put guys on
the ball and do all that, and the Rams were
running at a great clip. I mean they were getting five,
six seven yards to start that game, which was like,
oh wow, okay, this is gonna be an interesting game.
But we always talk about it when when Cooper Cup
and Pukinaku insert on those safeties or they crack a
(06:11):
safety or whatever may be, that takes football out of
those guys, and then that safety now is looking at
the running game expecting, you know, this receiver to crack him.
Then all of a sudden, the receiver runs a route
and breaks out. And I thought what uh JB said
best was the offensive line has.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Played lights out.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
And you talked about DeMarcus Robinson on the backside of
those progressions, Well how.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
Does he get there? Right?
Speaker 4 (06:32):
You have to you have to be able to attack
that zero coverage blitz. You have to have answers for
all those things. And then when you get those answers,
they drop back in coverage and now your line holds up.
And I thought, Bolimmer's done a great job since he's
been in But then also, uh, the kid that went
to the other school, I don't want to say the
school's name. Yeah, I don't want to say the other
school's name. He's playing lights out right. He Oh, he's
(06:57):
took for a guy to come in undrafted to He
had one holding penalty, but I'm okay with that, and like,
you haven't given up a sack.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
You're doing a great job.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
There was some stuff in the Running Game where you
saw him struggle a little bit, but that's to happen
right again, to come in as an undrafted free agent,
to go out there and play like this.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
They're playing really well.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Let me ask you something. If you were Sean mcvayh
right now and I injected you a true serm okay,
And I was like, how many plays did you run
against the Vikings that were on your play sheet week
one in Detroit? Remember how we talked about like at
halftime in Detroit, he could have ceremonially lit that thing
on fire because it didn't apply anymore. I think about
Puca's first catch, he drops the first one, they go
right back to him, and yes, the Running game was effective,
(07:39):
but the screen game is an extension of that running game,
and it's been sorely lacking. But they motion cooper in
orbit to quads right and throw a one player screen
out to Puka and Alaric Jackson gets that block, it
goes for thirteen and boom, you're off and running again.
That is simply not a play that you can run,
even as recently as the Sunday prior against the Raiders.
(08:01):
There's just no reason to. You don't have the guys,
it doesn't work. But Cooper draws those eyes and you
got your Clydesdale out there, who can catch him run
for thirteen? Like that play, to me, I'm guessing was
not a three day install. That was a play that
they put in during the spring. Yeah, during training camp
in the Detroit Lions game plan, and all of a sudden,
(08:21):
shown's like, oh, I've got this laundry list of plays
that i can run again because this is how we
built it for six months.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Well think about this too.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Pookinakoup allows your screen game to come open because he's
bigger than every running back that you have if you
think about it, right, he's the biggest running back you have.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
On your roster.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
So the screen game from a receiver standpoint, you throw
that quick screen out there, he's one on one with
a safety. Harrison Smith does want to tackle Pooka Nakoua.
Then you run back with the play action screen back
to him where he has two or three guys in front,
and you watch how guys are like trying to like,
I just don't want to get ran over, but I
want to be in position to make the playoff. I
have to again having it. I'm gonna say a name
(08:58):
is old David Boss. You remember Dave Boston from the Chargers.
He's like a two hundred and forty pound receiver. Some
people say sixty receivers. Dbs don't want to tackle that
all the time. And when you have right, when you
have the ability to throw screens with guys in front,
with a bigger tie size receiver that's running on corners
and safeties, that's gonna wear down guys.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
There's just a swagger in all three phases that they
played with against the Vikings that to me screamed the
players want to take this season and in turn, this
era as far as they possibly can, which was refreshing.
It was exhilarating the feel. And why not because when
Stafford and kyn and Cupp and Pook are all together,
they legitimately have been the best offense in the National
(09:42):
Football League. Now you could argue that Detroit is gaining
ground and taking over that title, and that's fine. But
it's cool because the same pundits who left the Rams
for dead at their bye are now saying, you know what,
they might be the most likely to challenge Detroit in
the end coming out of the NFC, And the truth
is probably somewhere in between, but it's going to be
a lot of fun to find out.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
The Rams are now nine to one in all games
played after the buy from a combination of both twenty
twenty three and twenty twenty four, and it is insane.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
JB.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
We were discussing this a little bit off camera as well,
but just the immense pressure going into this game and
consideration to Cooper Cup and the conversations that were swirling
around him. I mean, this could really change and be
an inflection point for this franchise in terms of the
offensive production for the rest of this season. The conversation
(10:31):
has shifted now, has it not.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I mean you could probably answer that better having been
in those locker rooms. If you're playing for each other,
if you're playing for someone's future with your franchise, did
you feel that the other night.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
I you know, it's always tough, like when when you
hear about one of your better players being on the
trade block. See, this is completely different than when I
used to like social media has put this thing out
because you would hear rumors, but like literally so all
of social media going up to the Vikings game was
you know, Stafford is going to go on the plane
with the Vikings and if they lose this and.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Cup is going to Pittsburgh, and so.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
As a team one, as a coach, you have to
knock those down and say that's not true, or you
have to say, you know, you have to be honest
with your players. But I felt, like I said, like
the energy felt like no, you're with us, Like we're
not letting you go anywhere else. We're gonna come back here.
We're gonna make plays, We're gonna find a way to win.
I mean, just you can see the effort and the
(11:23):
energy on.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Special teams was insane. Some of those punts, right, like.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
All those different things were big time plays. And then
again the blocking by the receivers and to two out
well coming in and making a big time play, as
we talked about before, like it's just guys are starting
to get into their spots and when you have that,
you can open up your offense. And everyone was more
excited about it. And I think, you know, this team
(11:50):
is closer than a lot a lot of people believe
outside of here. Because if I'm if your selfish too
too out, was gonna be like, well, why am I not?
I've been doing all this work. I need to get
back in. He was like, oh, okay, this is my op.
Uh catch right, Oh this is my op. I bleue
by them. I'm wide open, right.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
But I think Lafleur and Sean and others did a
great job platooning personnel in a way that they haven't
for the last seven and a half years. And I'm
sure some of that was to make sure there's tread
on Poka and Cooper's tires. But I like the fact
that they got in twelve and thirteen sometimes. I like
the fact that they use to to strategically, and Tyler
Johnson as well, like I think that that play is
(12:28):
moving forward. I think ten and seventeen are going to
take more and more.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I don't think they need to, though, to be honest,
I mean, I felt like they came out and was it.
It was Tyler Johnson and two to atwell or Tyler
Johnson and DeMarcus Robinson a ton in those twelve packages
and they are run run round, one run, and then
in the third and fourth quarter, all of a sudden,
here comes to play action pass off of it. Right,
So they set you up, They baited you to believe, hey,
when these two receivers are in, we're doing these things.
(12:53):
That's coaching, right, But it also gives your guys a
break too. I don't need you out there all the time,
but that's because what we talked about over the last
couple week, those guys have earned the right to be
out there to play in both the running game and
the passing game.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Yeah, I think the way to beat the Vikings is
either with your fastball you got to be able to
throw one hundred past them, or so many changeups that
they just couldn't really get a grasp on what you
were trying to do, like normally when you huddle and
they can lock and load like that can be a
dangerous formula. But it felt like Minnesota was kind of
playing on its heels, not just because they're down in distance,
(13:25):
but because of all those changes but look, the Rams
got a scheduling gift, right. They played two games in
basically three weeks, right, I think it's twenty seven days,
and it saved their season, it saved their roster, it's
saved their season, or at least the chance to save
their season. I think the moment we have to embrace
right now is this week is the last time that
you're going to benefit from that. So you got to
(13:46):
go cash it in. The extra rest, the extra preparation.
You got to go three for three, get a winning streak,
maybe throw some dirt on Seattle, which we'll talk about
because the next ten weeks are going to be a
gauntlet and you're not going to have that to fall
back on.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
Yeah. I like the next ten weeks, so I like
kind of where they sit.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I'm just saying rest, no rest.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
But you know what the best thing about no rest
is is two things. One you can get in a
rhythm and get hot, and two you have the ability
now to kind of start to employ like Blake Krum,
get him going. You can get some other guys going,
which I think will help in the long run.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Yeah, there's trust in that depth. You're right.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I was going to say and that depth was created
at the beginning of this season. I want to go
through at least one more. Let's revel a little bit longer.
What would you say was the most impactful moment of
this week's game against Minnesota and JB.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I think you may have mentioned.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yours already, but just something that in your eyes either
was impactful or told the story.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
It's the throw with the last drive.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
And I think it was like third and ten and
it was like, man, do we run the ball, make
him burn the timeout.
Speaker 5 (14:55):
Or do you go for the throat?
Speaker 4 (14:57):
And Sean calling that play where it was like a
fake screen to Puka and Cooper Cup runs up the
sidelines and they had and you throw it and you
make a play like that's the old Rams that we remember.
They don't, we don't they're not conservative, and that, to me,
it reminded me of what we've been accusin to for
so long, so many times I remember it is it
brought me back to this play, which is is gonna
(15:18):
blow your mind. But Houston at the Coliseum backed up
and they throw a post that goes like ninety eight
yards or whatever it was golf the woods, like there's
no way you call that play down there. But you're
so confident in what you're doing and what you believe.
You're like, this is, this is We're gonna win this game.
This's gonna remind me of the Super Bowl win where
he tells Matthew like, this is this is your touchdown.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
Play to win the Super Bowl. Throw the ball to
cup right, Like those are. When you're playing like that
and that confidence, that's tough to be.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
I would say that I give you. Yeah. Sean mentioned
this on Monday, and I think it really hit me
how impactful it was. It happened so quickly and dawn
on me in real time. But when Justin Jefferson makes
that incredible catch against like sticky Darius Williams coverage and
they want to go quickly and punch it in there
(16:10):
in an angle situation, Darius rallies for a tackle for
loss immediately on that next play, and it's a four
point play. It's a four point tackle because instead of
a touchdown off the back of that, they settle for
a field goal. So that was one. And then if
I'm if I'm being a little cheeky, I would say
that the play that sticks with me is the referees
clearly missed an obvious face mask, and if they throw
(16:32):
that flag, the game ends differently. And of course I'm
talking about Kyrien Williams having his face hold with less
than two minutes to go, because if that's a free
first down, it's victory formation, it's game over.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
And you know, you know I've been fighting that Quin city.
You know I've been fighting forever.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
They Oh, listen, they missed two calls on that, on
that in that sequence.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
We're not gonna get We're not gonna go a little.
The game is the game, all right.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Well, I have a really cool seat in the house,
and as I'm sitting on the field, I actually got
a chance to listen to you guys call in the game,
and it.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Is no, it's one of the greatest things.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
It's so enjoyable, and your call to the Cooper Cup
touchdown is one that will stick with me.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
And I loved it.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
The ever elusive Matthew Stafford long Live nine and time,
and I think it was probably one of the best
calls just considering what Cooper Cup had kind of dealt
with that whole week leading up to it. He had
his family on the field, the return He's playing alongside
Pooka the echoes of Coop on the touchdown like there
(17:39):
was under under the lights of Sofi Stadium in primetime.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Here comes Cup in motion to balance it out to
you by two, Stafford has his nap four man rush
pressure in his face, goes out the left side, ducks
the rush foot for the end zone.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Cut cut Cooper Cup from Nephew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
What prime time edition.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
Of nine and dime.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Oh, the ever elusive Matthew Stafford ducking the rush of
the Vikings and finding his favorite targets. Welcome back Cooper Cup. Touchdown, La.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
That is a moment that I will not forget, and
especially with your guys' voices in the background.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Well, look, if things go well this week and for
the rest of the season, he's gonna be the clear
cut third best receiver in Rams franchise history. Like catches touchdowns,
it's gonna be the should be two Hall of Famers
Isaac Tory, hopefully sooner rather than later in Cooper and
that feels appropriate.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it. All Right, guys, we
have to talk a little bit about rookie standouts. You
mentioned a couple of them, already in bo Limmer, but
let's dig in Jared Verse. You had an incredible conversation
with him this week.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
What a character.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
His micd up was phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
He's gone viral and to that point, my mother is
the one that sent it to me.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
Mom's ever.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I'm just saying, this guy is hilarious, so fun. I
think we need T shirts that just read I'm in
your head or a hat. I'm not sure which, But
how fun has that got to watch?
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Well, it's funny because you know when you're watching the
game and we're calling it, I'm like they're double teaming
them every play and he's getting like knocked down and
he gets up, he's barking. I can kind of figure
out what he's saying, like you need two or three
to block me? You need two or three to block me?
And then to hear him say that on the micd
up was like, oh yeah, he just talks. But I
remember OTA's JB. We were sitting out there and and
(19:29):
he was going at it, and he was going at
it with one of the tight ends, and like Sean
was like, hey, you gotta calm down, and I was like.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
That's who he is.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
You gotta let him play like and it's shown that
that mindset and the trash talk is what gets him
going more and more. And then when he got this
act to do, the skull channel was even better. Right,
Like he's just he's a troll and you love that
about him.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Yeah, I think you can tell the story of the
Rams turnaround on the defensive side of the ball almost
threw Jared as a proxy for the entire defense. The
whole first month we were like, Oh, he's getting pressures,
but gosh, he's missing so many opportunities. I think it
was eleven mistackles in the rams first four games, many
(20:12):
of which could have been like game changing sacks. One
since one mistackle since for Jared Verse. The other thing
is he is the only first rounder playing on that
entire defense. The Rams played twenty guys on defense against
the Vikings. I broke it down this way. Jared is
the only first rounder. Six others were Day two selections
either second or third, five were Day three picks, eight
(20:36):
were college free agents. Eight undrafted's contributed to that win
on defense. And there's only more coming for players like
Omar Spates and Jalen McCullough and Josh Wallace. Because they're
earning it, right, Because they're earning it, and so early
in this season we're like, hey, you got to give
this defense time. Like the Rams are spending the least
amount of resources of any team in the National Football
League on that side of the ball. Well, now all
of a sudden, it's like, if they're going to be
(20:57):
doing this, the ceiling for this twenty before a group
gets higher and higher.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Well, it was funny, Like you said, I think everyone
was kind of like, all right, we'll see what this
defense can do.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
But they've been the ones that have been doing everything.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I mean, if you look at Detroit, if you go
back to Detroit, they just got tired in that overtime game.
In that overtime, like they were just worn down, but
they were getting after Detroit. I mean, they were the
most physical team during that side of the ball. Like
they were way more physical than Detroit's defense, more physical
than the Detroit's offense in those four quarters. And so
that's what we saw in preseason, and this carried over throughout,
(21:30):
like they dominated a lot of teams that you wouldn't expect.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
I love this matchup this week too, because Charles Cross
at left tackle I think is the best part of
Seattle's offensive line, and that's normally where Jared aligns. So
a Verse goes up against him, that'll be a great
battle to watch. If they flip Jared and Byron, that'll
be telling. And if not, then this feels like an
Agent zero go get yours and maybe some Kobe turn
(21:53):
or two, because the right side of the Seahawks offensive
line is not as strong as middle to left.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
And it's crest to think Verse Turner Young getting a
half sacks combined the season three three sack performance though
against Minnesota this week.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Well, I think we should talk about that being the constant,
like the pass rush, the Young pass rush, and what
that means for this season and beyond.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
If you put it this way, you have four guys
that can get after the quarterback right, and I think
Fist doesn't get enough credit for his penetration and getting
Donald off his spot right like.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
He through a back injury.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
Yeah, Like he's up there. Donald has to slide.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
When you slide, now you're a second late to throw
the ball. You're allowing the covers to kind of settle
in a little bit more, and then you get the
other guys coming out of everywhere.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
It seems like it was like dudes coming all over
the place. And to me, I thought Kobe.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
Turner last year learned a ton right and I thought
he played exceptionally well.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
But this year you're seeing he's the one taking all
the double teams.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He's the one doing all the dirty work, where last
year was Donald that was getting all the you know,
and he's still finding ways to get to the quarterback,
which is allowing all these young guys to go out
and make plays.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
I also think we have every right to believe the
best is yet to come. And here's why is because
until two weeks ago, the Rams' largest lead in the
entire season was six points. These last two games, their
last two wins, we've seen the Rams play with multi score,
double digit leads, however you want to frame it. If
this defense gets a chance to pin their ears back
to play true Russian coverage, I think there's something going
(23:23):
on there. And I hesitate to even say this because
I have no interest in talking about twenty twenty five yet,
except in one regard. I think the biggest need or
opportunity for this team going into next year is a
top tier corner. Yeah, wrong, Like, imagine what Jalen Ramsey
would do to this pass rush over the next couple
(23:43):
of years while they're still on rookie contracts, et cetera.
And then I got to thinking, well, what if everything
goes perfectly this weekend and you beat the brakes off
the Seahawks, and Chicago goes and knocks off Arizona and
you moved to number one? Do you want to finish
that sentence for me?
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Why wait?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
Ohthough, now you're gonna get somebody? Why wait?
Speaker 1 (24:03):
You have until November fifth.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
Who do you go get though? Who's a biling Yeah?
And that's the question.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
It takes two to go. I get it.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
But I mean you, this is the thing I in NFC.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
I don't really see you win against the best in
the NFC already and justin Jefferson, that's the best receiver
that you're gonna see, right, And he made a couple
of plays, but he had to be the best to
make those plays. I think you have what you need here.
I don't think you need to go get a top
tier guy because that's not the way this defense is played.
Like in the past, you had Jayalen Ramsey because Aaron
Donald was getting pressuring. You wanted to shut one side
(24:36):
the field down and run zone cover the other side.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You don't want to do that for the second half
of this year and all of next year and all
of twenty six.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
I just don't think. I don't think that's what the
way this defense is built.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
That's how I think they're building more of a team defense,
Like everyone plays a role. We don't have one guy
that's covering Julio Jones the whole time like they did.
You know, like when Wade Phillips, it was like you
got Julio Jones were playing man the man. That's not
how they play. They're more of a schematic. They brought
a couple of weeks ago. They got Kobe Durant to
hit the like, that's a different type of thing that
(25:05):
we've seen from the Rams.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So would you go out and get a different position
if they pick it up and move from four to one.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
I would, but I know they wouldn't.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
I think off ball linebackers a position that you have
to address eventually. I don't know where you address it,
you address it now or later, But I think off
ball linebackers a position that you have to address. I
believe you still have the pieces because again John Johnson
comes back right. That's another addition to safety that that
helps you. Like I said, they have a it's a
(25:38):
it's an advantage that have a no name defense, if
that makes sense. It's an advantage because they can't key
on one guy. Guys are moving all over the place.
And so I believe off ball linebackers position they need
to address either in the draft and not high, but
somewhere to get those you know, to fix those pieces.
Speaker 5 (25:55):
Up a little bit.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
That make that is that Okay is coming Omar, Hey, listen,
get out the way because he was hidden.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
He made some big tackles in that game. And I
love the wire reference. I watched that again.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Ohmar, Well, let's dig into the NFC West a bit
more because we've already laid it out just a little
bit for you. But there is a chance this week
that we could go from four to one. Arizona loses
to the Bears potentially in Week nine, and the winner
of this between Los Angeles and Seattle will then move
up into first place. We are the only division the
(26:30):
NFC West that is decided right now by just one game,
and obviously us coming off the buy, everyone else sitting
at four and for us at three and four. You
mentioned it too. We've faced the NFC North at this point.
The remaining schedule for the other teams in the NFC
West is not as easy JB.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, but I do think the forty nine ers are
going to come back from this bio with a vengeance.
Are you laughing at me or are you agreeing?
Speaker 4 (26:55):
I've agreed, okay, because they are not happy right now.
Speaker 5 (27:00):
We have a lot going on over there.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Yeah, but they linked into that buy and getting that
win over Dallas and surviving that I think sets them
up for second as although I will say after this buy,
their next five opponents between now and Thursday Night Football
against the Rams are all against teams at are above
five hundred, and they continue to have a rest disadvantage
after this buy in terms of playing teams with extra rest.
The Cardinals, though, despite what I may have said last week,
(27:23):
are quickly becoming a problem. Kyler Murray is playing really well.
Their schedule is actually favorable. And how about their four wins,
three game winning field goals and a blowout of the Rams.
I would say this, if you don't have holiday plans,
maybe consider grabbing a ticket to Week seventeen at sofar
promo code treat I think it is at the Rams
(27:43):
dot com because that is shaping up to be a
pretty consequential game.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
No, I agree.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
I think when you look at it the air, when
the Cardinals is shocked to everyone, I mean there's always
a team that goes from worse to first. I think
the Cardinals are kind of playing thirteen Personnel, mixing Personnel's
version with the Rams of done, they found something right
and then Kyler, I mean watching that Dolphins game, there's
some of the pass he threw to Marvin like over
Jalen Ramsey right, like they're attacking guys and they're kind
(28:11):
of hitting their stride. To me with the Rams is
when you're playing the Seattle Seahawks one, they have their
own issues, right, Guys are fighting on the sideline. They
got other stuff going on over there. They got to
figure out. And they're just coming off of Shelacken like
Buffalo was not. They're not playing any games. So if
you're going up there, you have to go up to
(28:31):
understand that they're gonna They're they're trying to get some
confidence back and trying to get their swagger back, and
they're gonna throw a lot at you, but I just
don't know if they have the pieces defensively to handle
what the Rams are gonna do.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Last week, and a wise man quoted another wise man
by saying, you only get one shot, miss your chance
to play. And that's kind of what I feel like.
This weekend is for the for the Rams because put
let's put ourselves in the Seahawks shoes here, right, They've
lost four out of five, they've lost three in a
row on their home field, that got the open date
next week on the other side of the bye is
(29:03):
a trip to San Francisco. In fact, five of their
remaining eight after this week are on the road. So
that's why I feel like this is a separation Sunday
opportunity to kind of thin out the herd in the
NFC West, because if you send a message this weekend,
then maybe Seattle realizes, you know what this this is
in our year. Conversely, if you let them kind of
(29:26):
do what San Francisco just did, which is limp into
the bye with a win and a winning record, then
suddenly the Seahawks are probably going to be at Sofi
Stadium in Week eighteen with at least a real playoff scenario,
if not, like playing for bigger steaks.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
So to your point, this is a huge, huge matchup,
and it actually makes me think as we dive into
this one, the Week one win at Seattle last year,
and I know, JV you want to talk about this,
but it's wild to think that was the season opener
for the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
We were still figuring.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Out who Puka was, who Kyne was, who Kobe was,
and all this Saiden, It's been a year and they
are now household names. When you think back to that matchup, JB,
what are your first thoughts.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
I'm sure Maurice predicted it, but nobody else did run the.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Ball that was That was a good one.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I I they ran the ball forty times that game, right,
It was like unpressing what we were used to. And
I think that's what you have to go up there
and do whatever they think you're gonna do, you have
to do the opposite.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Yeah, it's kind of like the premise of our trailer
this week is when they landed in Seattle last year.
Kyron Williams had not scored an NFL touchdown since he's
scored more touchdowns than anyone else in the sport, and
he's taken five weeks off. Puka and Akua went from
a you know, an unknown to a household name. And
(30:45):
this time they're bringing the next wave with them, right,
They're bringing the fifth, They're bringing the verse. How about
the fact that Cooper Cup has only played eighteen snaps
against the Seahawks in the two years since his triple crowncy. Yeah,
I knew that, I felt that, I lived that, but
it hadn't really hit home that he's basically been sidelined
(31:08):
for all four of the most recent Seahawks games.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
And then let's not forget Darius Williams pick six a
couple of years ago. Like he's he plays exceptionally well
up there. Again, I think the Rams. It goes back
to I don't I forget the year. But when the
Rams went up there and blew out the Seahawks se Gurley.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
They don't officially clinch it. They had to wait till Tennessee.
But that was when you knew that they had taken
the torch.
Speaker 4 (31:32):
And from that point forward, it's always kind of been
like their their their their second home or not.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
One said that like they're safe haven, Like they can
go up there and get right.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And they've always kind of gotten right against the Seahawks,
and it was the Seahawks and the Cardinals that they've
they've had some chances. Well, this is a chance for
you to go up there and stay right right. You
have two games, you're hot, You're you're probably the most
balanced offense that I've seen in the NFL, where like
you're throwing the and running the ball at an efficient clip.
(32:02):
If you look at the Baltimore Ravens, they score a
lot of points, but they're not as efficient per play,
if that makes sense. Like they'll get into third and
long and then Lamar will make a crazy play, or
they'll be in second and five and darre Hear to
break off a eighty yard or play. But the Rams
per play, they're able to be fishing.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
I think that's what they have to go up there
and do.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
We must all be mine melding together because I know
the next matchup that we want to talk about is
a look back to Week fourteen.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
It was perfect the overtimes.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Think a career in television.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Oh to the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Last year we put up thirty one points and over
four hundred yards of offense against Mike McDonald led defense,
obviously now the head coach for the Seattle Seahawks. And
by the way, that is also the only loss that
the Rams have had in two years after the buye.
So what do you think Sean McVay is gonna be
able to die out up against.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
This That was the last game Karen didn't score a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
By the way, that's also true.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
All right, this is like red meat to mjd right here,
we got we got to give him this opportunity. Put
it on a t for them. Remember they ran at
nine straight I wasn't gonna tell the rest of this story.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Yeah, go ahead, Okay.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
They stalled out in the red zone, but remember they
ran at nine straight times. They rush for one on
the day, more than all but one Raven's opponent last season.
So Kirn's been unstoppable ever since. Seattle. Maurice has allowed
seven rushing touchdowns since Week four. And if I remember correctly,
(33:40):
part of that game plan was like justin, Mattabuka fashions
himself as the next Aaron Donald, and they got the
linebackers and they got the pass rush. We're gonna cool
them off. We're gonna keep Stafford out of harm's way,
We're gonna play into the conditions. Does this game not
set up similarly or am I just drawing too much
between like Cameron said, Mike McDonald got highed by Seattle.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
No, No, I think it does because you have guys
like Byron Murphy who they drafted, who's very similar to
Aaron Donald, who a lot of people, even our DeMarco
far said, like he's the closest thing to it. When
you go back to that Baltimore Ravens game, they ran
right at Ata Bouquez, right at him, because again, that's
how you cool off a guy that's rushing the passer
at a high level.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
You run at him.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Now, to me, if you're the Rams, you go in
you're saying, look, we have to go right at this
defense again, and like everything, it kind of allows our
offense to be the best. We can run the ball
at a like getting It doesn't have to be big gangs,
but four yards. If you get four yards, you get
four yards, you keep getting four then all of a
sudden you have a play action pass or you have
(34:40):
a quick pass out to the flat it just puts
so much stress on the defense. But you have to
attack them the middle of their defense because that's where
they pride themselves off.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
And cooper ate that night, and so did Pooka and
Davis Allen, like there were other stars in that game.
But just in terms of the structure of the premise.
And it's not just Biron Murphy, who, by the way,
like a because he's a rookie, because he was taking
a few picks ahead of herse like he bears mentioning here.
And I think this is a big game for the
the inexperienced guys up the middle that you mentioned earlier,
(35:09):
Limmer and die Ditsch, Like I could give you Dtish
just pff grade, or we could talk about the fact
that he hasn't allowed pressures or but like the real
indication of how the Rams will feel about Dietitsch is
Joe Nopum is out there practicing fully this week. If
you're saying we're gonna go with the twenty four year
old undrafted playing against this front because the interior is strength, Yeah,
(35:30):
and look out for Ernest Jones too, because we we
know he likes to play on both sides of scrimmage.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
Oh my god, I forgot it's a revenge game and
we haven't revenge game. Revenge game. They found a way back. Look,
you know, Sean knows Ernest Jones. Sean understands how to
attack this this these there's personnel pieces right, How to
attack Woolan, how to attack their other corner from Illinois
(35:54):
whose name slipped my mind, but spoon, Spoon, Yeah, with
this one. How to attack those guys. But the most
important thing is going to be that front. Like we
talked about, how do you are you comfortable with the
guys that are there now or do you have to
add pieces there? And like I said, the healthier the
Rams get to get to that offensive line that you
had projected on your depth chart early in the season,
(36:18):
I wouldn't be concerned. But this team here in front,
they have some guys. Seahawks have some guys that can
get to the quarterback in.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
The middle of the dach Aaron Reid, Leonard Williams, a
couple other number names that I wrote down.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
There's yeah, it's it's gonna be interesting from that side
of the ball. But I'm also curious too, because there's
a big question mark that could really change the complexion
of this matchup. And a guy's name is DK Metcalf.
He was out last week. We saw what happened with
their not just explosive plays, but also their run game
faltered significantly against the Bills. There's potential he's coming back
(36:52):
in this matchup, he's gonna play.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
How is that going to change the game? And so
what's the point of reference.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Is it against the Falcons or their matchup against the
Falcons or is it so much against the Bills.
Speaker 4 (37:03):
I think this is where Jaylen Ramsey was like most
important because he canceled him out right, Like this is
where you have that top tier corner to cancel a
guy like that out. And it is a little nerve
racking to have DK out there, because again, what he
did against Atlanta, he's what he's done this whole season.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
He's kind of been their guy.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
But the pressure is what's gonna change everything, Right, Like
if Geno Smith can sit back in the pocket, just
throw the ball and it's seven on seven, he'll he'll
tear you up. But what the Bills were able to do,
they got pressure from everywhere and he couldn't sit in
the pocket. He couldn't do all the things that he
wanted to do and have all the time to throw
regards with DK was out there or not, so to me,
it's it's gonna be on that front that we talked
(37:43):
about early in the show is can you get pressure
on Gino to get him to get off his first
read quickly? Can you throw some different coverages at him
so that he has to pump fake to let those
guys get to It's gonna be more of a chess
match this game than it's ever been, just because they're
gonna run this high flying offense, these three receivers and
then yeah, Kenneth Walker, who can catch them all at
the backfield, who's having a heck of a year right now.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
I just I think it relies on that d line.
If that d lin can get to Gino, I think
you're fine.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
It's still disputed whether Gino was the one who said, omg,
where Aaron Donalds coming at him? He said it, but
we know Aaron's not gonna be there. And yet you're
saying there's still the pieces to make Gino Smith feel OMG.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
If not say it, yeah, I know he's gonna feel it.
I think I mean that was just a unique player
was a great stunt that hit. But I think again,
if you just want him to slide and move in
the pocket as much as you can, He's not one
of those guys that, like Kyler, can slide in the pocket.
So I was downfield and throw the ball Gino. When
he slides, his eyes come down and so if you
can get him to move, he's gonna look to run,
(38:46):
which is gonna take obviously off the big plays on
the field.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
I just love the scheduled progression. Like the Raiders win
was probably the best get right opportunity you'll see all season.
They had just traded away their best receiver, one of
the best receivers. Then you went toe to toe with
the best receiver in Jefferson last week, and now you
get a portfolio, a collection of receivers that I think
when their rider are as good as any in the league,
(39:10):
like Gino's leading this league and passing in part because
he has to, in part because he has JSN and
Tyler Lockett in DK.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
I was just about to ask the question too, because
when you look at the numbers for the last we'll
say four games, even for Walker, they've actually been relatively
diminished significantly diminished.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
So yeah, question will have fourteen guys in the bar exactly.
Speaker 1 (39:30):
That was my next question.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
So do the numbers really tell the story, not just
for Walker but even for this offense for Seattle. Where
is the cause for concern?
Speaker 4 (39:38):
Well, again, I think when you look at Kenneth Walker
and what he's been able to do, they don't like
they don't utilize him as much as I thought they
would like. Against Atlanta they kind of let him go
and he did his thing. But when they play, if
you stopped their run game early, they'll abandon it quickly.
They will, Hey, we're got to throw the ball. And
so to me, Buffalo was like, we're gonna force you
(40:00):
to throw the ball, and we're gonna force you to
throw in a tight coverage and you don't have your
big receiver here to make those plays. So for us,
I think if I look at that from a RAMS standpoint, yes,
stop of the run is always first, and you got to.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
Make sure you do that.
Speaker 4 (40:12):
But the next best thing is you gotta win your
one on somebody's gonna get double team and whoever's one
on one you gotta win. You gotta find a way
to win and get there. If that's Michael Hoyd. Uh
if that is Jonah Williams, whoever's in there, that they're
gonna one on one, you.
Speaker 5 (40:26):
Have to win.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
All right, Well that's a perfect jumping off point. Should
we jump into our keys to victory here? So is
stopping the run your key to victory or what would
you stop that?
Speaker 4 (40:36):
He's like, Uh, yeah, forty we gotta get to the
number forty forty plus runs.
Speaker 5 (40:42):
If you can get to forty plus.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
Runs like you did last year in Week one, that
means you have control of the game, that means you
are and let's let's remember Phoka had one hundred plus.
Speaker 5 (40:51):
You have what fourteen catches.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
You're still throwing the ball to to as well. Yeah,
you're just you just want to get to that. You
want to get to those high numbers thirty five to
forty and run. If you can get to that, that
means this game is in the way you want to play.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
It real quick too, because the untold story of that
win and the second half shutout is both of their
tackles were lost to injury in that game, so that
that changed the protection plan and capability. And that's still
an open ending question for me going into this game
with Seattle is they've been trading off at right guard.
It seems like they've come to a solution, but I
don't know if it's a final one and then they're
(41:26):
down there starting right tackle. They've been playing a rookie
in that place. Whether that holds this week or whether
they get somebody back, it's tough to know how the
Seahawks are going to play this one and in turn,
how the Rams are going to have to win it
without knowing what that looks like. So still days to go.
But the good news is right now, the Rams injury
report looks much better than Seattle's.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
That is very true. And to your point too about
stopping the run this or excuse me, running the ball.
The Seahawks are allowing the most yards per play right
now at six and a half and the NFL since
Week four, so that might be where I'm looking to
the start.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Your key, Yeah, it's my key, she leads off, leading
the charge.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
What's your key to victory? What do you got? JB me.
Speaker 3 (42:09):
Yeah, I'm in a crowdsource mind per usual, I got
a few. So the Ram checked a big box last week,
which was they scored a first quarter touchdown for the
first time all season. Here's my challenge this week, opening
drive third quarter touchdown? Please, opening drive third quarter has
been a problem. Three points all season on the first
(42:30):
possession coming out of halftime, two turnovers, four punts. Three
of those were three and outs. So when I say
last week, defer for what kind of what I'm talking about?
Turnover free game. It's only happened once the Rams have
gotten away with it in their last couple But this
feels like a you'd be very well served to protect
(42:51):
all of your possessions, make sure they all end in
the kick.
Speaker 5 (42:53):
Isn't that what you say?
Speaker 3 (42:55):
But here's what I settled on, because this one is
better for conversation, Like those two are obvious. How about
the key of the game being Kiren against Ernest. I've
already heard this week like Matthew against Ernest, which is
a good one. But the way the Rams play, the
way they run it, isn't it kind of like Kyen
against Ernest? And then also Jones are gonna blitz.
Speaker 5 (43:15):
He's gonna cos that's what he's the most.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
Dangerous, and so Kirroen stick in his face in the
fan and making sure that Matthew's pocket is clean, feels
like a good way to decide this game.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
I wonder who used to win those those one on
ones when they do one on one blitz pick up.
Speaker 5 (43:30):
We have to have to talk to coach Gould about that.
Speaker 4 (43:32):
This SEU who wins so we can have it on there,
because that's if I'm Seattle, I'm like, yo, we're gonna
anytime we think it is a pass situation, you're blitz
in the back because that's who won the Super Bowl.
To be honest, remember how many sacks, crucial sacks he
had laid in that game rushing on Joe Mixon.
Speaker 5 (43:46):
Was able to go.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
Then Joe Maxon's not in the game because he can't
pick up the blitz. They put somemaj p Ryan who
falls and gets it to third and one or fourth
and one and doesn't get the first down and then you.
Speaker 5 (43:56):
Get the sack.
Speaker 4 (43:57):
So Ernest Jones, his blitzing is going to be a problem.
And that's going to be again. That's why I say
forty plus runs, we can get all that blitzing out
that we don't need you blitzing. We need to we
need to have control of this game.
Speaker 3 (44:08):
And look, I think only four pressures on Matthew know
sacks against the Vikings like that was the stat of
the game on Thursday, And the offensive line deserves a
lot of credit. The tackles in particular are having nice seasons,
but it's not just them. It's Matthew protecting himself, the
communication being better, fewer silent count opportunities, and then how
about the backs and the tight ends doing their par
(44:28):
like that's that's really what I felt, all right?
Speaker 1 (44:29):
He crowdsourced for his what's your key to victory?
Speaker 5 (44:33):
Oh? I told you was simple.
Speaker 4 (44:34):
This is forty plus forty plus forty plus we get
if you can run the ball. It eliminates a lot
of issues with the blitzing the different Again, Seattle's going
to try to blitz if they can't get pressure right away.
Part of trading for Ernest Jones was the fact that
he's more physical than as jer Own Baker who they
traded away. He can come downhill. They wanted to be
more of a physical defense. If you can eliminate that,
(44:58):
that helps.
Speaker 5 (44:59):
Them with a lot of stuff going on.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
I just don't want to see Ernest Jones like getting
a sack because that's going to be crazy.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
That's yeah, we'll feel that, but I'll give you one
more too. Just in terms of Geno Smith's he has
been sacked twenty one times. I think we can get
some more pressure on him. Obviously, Rams are tied for
third highest pressure rate in the NFL this season.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
I think the rate there is important because yes, he
has been hitt and sacked, but on a per drop
back basis, Seattle's actually done okay to protect him. Like
his sacked raw number is there, but his sack rate
compared to some of the other major passers in this
league not so bad. And I don't know this is
the game to go do it for sure.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
I also want to think back one more time to
what Jared first said to you, because when you mentioned
some of those maybe miss tackles or missed opportunities, like
he owned that conversation and said absolutely, and he immediately
kind of changed his tune in terms of like it
was something that he was not just locked in on
but ready to perform, and he's completely changed that storyline.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
I love it. I thought it was great.
Speaker 4 (45:57):
I will say the one thing I loved that he
was like my pass rus was very simp I'm gonna
run through you that's it.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
I'm gonna go through you and get to the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (46:05):
And it's funny because if you look at Florida State now,
their guys go around guys, and again, it's a different mindset.
Speaker 5 (46:10):
It's a it's a different mentality.
Speaker 4 (46:12):
We talked about if you're gonna beat the Niners, how
do you beat them?
Speaker 5 (46:16):
Right?
Speaker 4 (46:16):
You gotta be more physical, you gotta be more rough.
The Rams have changed the way they've played football in
the last couple of years, both by size but also
mindset of players, like your adverse being physical and running
through guys every play, I'm gonna come back.
Speaker 5 (46:31):
I'm gonna do it again, and you just keep doing that.
Speaker 4 (46:34):
That is that is like I've been in there with
linemen that have been like, yo, help me, yep, this
is this is not what I want. And so uh
that that mindset. You can see kind of how that's
going through the team a little bit.
Speaker 3 (46:45):
It allows him to play every down too, because he
plays run down and he takes pride and run down.
And that's also an inside storyline on this game is
the Seahawks have struggled lately because their early down efficiency
on both sides of the football has been bad. Their
opponents have had short yardage third downs and they've had
third in a mile to go. That's something to keep
an eye on, like average third down distance on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
And I'll fest up a little bit too. I just
wanted to find a way to bring up Jared Verse
because I also thank your best Halloween costume for this evening,
Little Tomato Juice will V eight action.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
Come on, I got that spider versus graphic that RAM
Social put out this morning. That was pretty sweet.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (47:24):
I might have to adopt a new nickname there for.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Rip them Picks.
Speaker 2 (47:27):
I like that the gravestone. Well, the guys, this has
been a fun episode. We've definitely gone over time limit.
I wasn't even looking at the clock because I'm too
scared too, but it was deservedly so. This week nine
matchup is going to be a good one between the
Los Angeles Rams and of course the Seattle Seahawks on
the road. Thanks so much for joining us on this
edition of Between the Horns presented by your Southern at
(47:47):
California Tour with dealers Cameron are When jab Long and
Maurice Jones, Drew Caty, Trick or Treat
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