November 14, 2024 • 45 mins
On this episode of Between the Horns, Camryn Irwin, J.B. Long, and Maurice Jones-Drew sit down to talk Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. Together they discuss struggles on the offense, how the defense has been stacking strong performances, and how the Rams can reset now midway through the 2024 season.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to between the Horns as we get set for
well hopefully a rebound. I'm cameroner went alongside JV. Long
and Maury stones Drew, of course, presented by your Southern
California Toyo to dealers. We've got some smiles on our faces,
but I think we got to air a couple of
things out coming off the loss to the Dolphins on
Monday Night football. JB. Long, it's a short week. How
(00:30):
you feel.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Met JD you go first.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I think there was a lot of new and I
don't want to say I got exposed, but when you
don't work in a live game for nine weeks together,
you kind of saw that happening. There was a lot
of and this is just specifically the offensive line play.
There were a lot of stunts that weren't passed off.
(00:57):
There were a ton of pressures off a simple things
that you could have communicated a little bit better. But
that's going to be part of it though, right Like
you brought all these guys back at once, no Boom,
Ivola Jackson, but they haven't played together, and so that
that there's a thing. You know, if one day I
(01:19):
have to work without JB. I'm going to struggle because
I know who he is and how he pauses and
certain things where I can jump in. Then you have
to learn each other, if that makes sense, and I
just feel like they haven't had that chance to really
get to learn.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I just like that he's jumping straight to the I
was going, how are you feeling? And we went straight
We like, how was your flight this morning?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And eything going on in life? Now let's talk offensive line.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Man. I feel like you just have to go right
in and say, what's the elf in the room.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I'll come back to the offensive line in a second.
There's a lot to dig into there, but I think
my high level thought is the Rams picked a bad
night to have a bad night. And in this league
it matters who you play and more when you play them,
and they got Miami at the wrong time. And I
know that to be true because not only did Obj
(02:07):
catch that third down and six to basically clinch the game,
but he did it at about the same time that
Bitcoin hit an all time high. So what's that tell you?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yeah, he's winning, He's living right in many ways.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, it was tough to see him on the opposite
side along with Jalen Ramsey I was going, oh, that
hurts a little bit because he was nasty goal against
as well.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But in all seriousness, the Dolphins are good. That was
the best two and six roster I think I've ever
seen on an opposing sideline. They're playing better than their numbers.
Kalaias Campbell is playing like a top five defensive lineman
right now. Getting Sealer back was just bad luck for
the Rams because he was a force. So I think
what's easy to say is that the Rams should have
(02:47):
just left well Enough alone, stuck with the status quote
because it was working. But what I don't necessarily believe
to be true is that Bo Limmer and Justin Deeditch,
a Day three rookie and a college free agent, would
have stopped the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. That's an
easy argument to make. It's tough to prove. Maybe they
would have, maybe the results would have been even worse.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, I think what you said best was, you know,
the Dolphins are two and six because they had been
banged up. I mean they're still not healthy. They don't
have Chubb, they lost their other first round Jalen Phillips
outside linebacker. They had Siler out, you had or seeler out.
You had two out for a while, right, So they
have a roster that can compete and win in the AFC.
(03:31):
We just just so happened that they got healthy for
Monday night. This is how it goes, right.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
They were two and six for the same reason the
Rams were one and four.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah. Absolutely, So you guys have already started in on
the offensive line conversation and some of the words that
have been tossed around this week cohesion, inconsistent, and that's
in regards to the offense in general, though, But I
feel like we would be remiss to not actually dissect
some of these situations, and especially considering the offensive line.
Was the offensive struggles? Was it so the offensive line?
(04:01):
Were there other aspects that you guys were looking to
How did this really play out? Because I think it
left a lot of people's head kind of or left
a lot of people scratching their head coming out of it.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah. I think the offensive line is the engine of
the offense, right, Like, no matter how good your quarterback
is or how great your old receivers are, you're running back.
If you can't block the guys up front, you're gonna
have trouble and I think that's what you saw on
on Monday was it was there's a ton of pressure.
Stafford didn't have time to get the ball down the
(04:33):
field to get to his progressions. On certain situations, one
guy would penetrate the offensive line and then like Kalays,
Campbell just be sitting there waiting like he was like, oh,
I'm not rushing. I decided not to rush all this
play because I know we're gonna get penetration.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The deflections were almost as harmful as the pass rushes,
were they not. Yeah, let me ask you something, because
I've read about and studied that the offensive line as
a position group is like a weakest link unit. That
you're only as good as your weakest link. And that
may not be true other places on the roster or
other sports, But has that been your experience, Like, Yeah,
you can have four guys do the right thing, one
guy bust and it looks really bad.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, when you're you know, they have to work as
a as a chain, right, like they're moving together. You
have to move as one. When one doesn't step the
right way. If it's a run play, we're all going
left and one takes a bad step left or he
steps right, there comes a gaping hole. And so getting
those guys on the same page, on the in the
same book really and just understanding this is how it goes.
(05:28):
And it takes time. To be honest, it took me
when I played. It took me like three or four
weeks to kind of get used to how they blocked
and then them used to how I run right. Uh,
it gets them. It takes them time because it's five guys.
How do we protect right? Pass protection?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
If there's a guy sliding out? What is your kickstep?
Is it two yards? That way is is vertical?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Like?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
How are we moving? So I know where to place myself?
And so all those things it takes time. And again
one of my you know, the blessing in disguise that
I was talking about a couple of weeks ago, was
that you had these young guys get in and get
these reps. The problem with that blessing is the guys
that you wanted to play weren't getting those reps, right,
those guys, they weren't learning each other. And so how
(06:10):
do you go health over experience or health over guys
that have gotten those snaps? And I think that was
the question you asked like, would have been better with
bo Limmer And indeed it's played like I don't know.
I don't know, but you know, it's just hard when
you when you when you learn each other.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Here's the problem though, what you said is true. It
takes time. What do the Rams not have the luxury
of anymore time? Yeah, And so it was a reminder
that return to play is not necessarily return to performance.
I know you're gonna ask like, okay, so what do
you do going to New England? And we'll get to
that and due time. But what Sean said yesterday really
caught my year. And I'll just read the quote because
(06:50):
I felt the tension and what he said. You look
at it and you say, all right, well, we have
eight games remaining, but you also have a responsibility to say, well,
let's do what we think is best for the upcoming game.
My read on that is there's a tension between what's
the best bet for Sunday and I don't have those answers,
and what has the most upside for the rest of
(07:10):
the season. And because Sunday is a must win, it
has to be prioritized over everything else that you just said.
I think, right experience contracts, what might be the best
lineup in December, because if you aren't better immediately on Sunday,
there might not be a rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, I think winning matters, right, and especially we're into
the part of the season where good teams separate themselves
from bad teams and great teams separates themselves from good teams.
Last year, the Rams became a really good team, borderline
great team as they made that run. And so if
you're the Rams, you know that this is a very
(07:49):
important time to start playing your best type of football
do so the question is, like you said, is it
do you go back to what you felt worked or
do you go you think will work going down the line,
And if Sunday is a must win game, then you
go with what works, what you believe in your heart
works right, what you know works. That's what I would do.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
It's going to be a tough balancing act and a
question I'm glad I don't have to answer, but I'll
give you a few numbers because going into that game,
the Rams had only allowed one sack in the past
three and that was a stark difference. I mean, the
past protection really broke down for Stafford in this matchup,
it's going to have to be there, and there are
some questions because as we head into this next matchup,
(08:32):
there's also some struggles on the health front again to
the offensive line. So where do you kind of expect
that to be in terms of starting positions for these
guys Havenstein dealing with angle as well as Noteboom.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Yeah, I'd like to not give up on Havenside's chances
for Week eleven just yet. It's only Thursday morning as
we sit here, and I hope that maybe there's a
ray of sunshine still to come, even though yesterday it
sounded more pessimistic than optimistic. So maybe that solves for
itself in terms of war. Mc clinton is going to
be that guy at right tackle anyway, But I don't
necessarily feel like that's the crux of the matter.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
No, it's interior.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's interior.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, interiors your issue.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And I'm not going to pretend to know. You know,
Ryan Wendell's business is Cromer's business or McVeigh or Laffur's business.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Our job to make it to kind of go out
on a lemon and say, like this is what you've seen, right,
Like the issue is this, and and am I and
what I've what I saw, and what I believe the
issue to be is there's there's been a lot of
leakage between center and left guard. That was what it
was this weekend. Then there was leakage right tackle to
(09:44):
right guard right, So the the right, the center and
the right guard, we're fine. But it was the note
Boom getting picked on a couple of plays and then
Dotson not seeing it or Noteboom giving up the inside
and Dotson not being able to see it or communicate
it and then then being able to kind of slide
that way. And the Dolphins took advantage of that. They
just took advantage of whatever that issue might have been.
(10:05):
And so the think about the NFL that you always
hear is no one cares about your problems. You have
to fix these issues.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And that's where the weakest link question that I ask
you comes in is because when you have to be
good with five or six seven, including a running back
against a team like the Dolphins, if you're not, they're
gonna find that week we can exploit it.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And then this week going back, understand that the Patriot
are going to run the exact same thing. That the
dolphins ran. That's that's what happens in the leak. We
got to make sure you did you did you kind
of sure this up? Did you put that what's that
tape they have on the on the they have on
like the infomercials where the boat like you could put
the tape and ride the boat. Did you put that
on it? Or did you really like fix this thing
and is locked in, because we're going to test it
(10:47):
and make sure that your protection in your running game
is going the right way.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But this is the week to put that special table.
If you have some of that laying around. No leaks
this week, no matter what, no leaks, tape, bubblegum, whatever it.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Is, figure it out, because if it happens again this week,
then I think you're going to be Now, there's gonna
be a long road going down the end the season.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well before I promise we will get to some bright
spots and we talk about the response that we hope
to see against the Patriots, we do have to talk
about a little bit of red zone struggles. Los Angeles
rams were not able to find the end zone and
it really was difficult. And I'll give you a little
reference because as I'm sitting on the sidelines listening to
you guys call the game, I'm going, man, just where
(11:27):
is the golden snitch? I felt like we were so close.
We kept finding ways to at least put the ball
through the uprights, but we just could not find a
way to get into the end zone.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
It was zero for three.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
How do they fix some of these red zone qualms?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
JB Can I actually like throw a wrench in the proceeding,
because that's a totally valid question, and I'm really curious
to see what MJD has to say about red zone.
But I'm actually of the belief that the red zone
woes are a symptom, not an illness. Like I think
they are a result of underlying issues about the often
and I think what they're actually doing is masking a
(12:04):
larger problem, which is that the Rams cannot score from
outside the red zone, that they're not explosive enough. Oh
La has four explosive touchdowns this season, but not really
because two of them are on defense. The only offensive
touchdowns Rams have scored this season outside that twenty yard
line area that gobal to Marcus against the Vikings and
(12:26):
the walk off to the Marcus in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
That feels like a much larger problem to overcome maybe
than the inside the twenty stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I agree. I think we were kind of talking before
the show about you know, I listened to like all
these different talking heads and how you just want to
make sure that your eyes and your brain is working
and somewhat similar to others. But like Danie Rolowski said
this about the Chicago Bears, and he said, the problem
(12:58):
with the Chicago Bears they're not taking enough shot down
the field. And what happens is when you don't take
enough shots down the field, you don't even have to
like convert them, just throw it down because you want
to back off the coverage to open up everything else.
The Rams haven't had that ability, and so the coverage
keeps getting tighter and tighter and tighter, and so that
makes the windows that Stafford has to throw in smaller,
(13:19):
that makes the margin for error smaller, and so now
you're dinking and dunking down the field, or you're getting
explosive plays, whether they're off of screen passes or poking
the cool brakes and tackle on an over route or
you know, and those are explosive plays. But where's the
shot down the field that we used to see? Right?
We talked about Robert Woods and Brandon Cooks earlier about
how those guys. You see those guys getting down the
(13:40):
field again, it reminds me of the Houston, the Houston
game from the ninety five yard or ninety seven yard
that they threw to Robert Woods, like taking those shots
down the field. And I don't know if it's age.
I don't know, if it's a lack of speed with
your starting guys, if it's protection or protection don't, I don't,
I don't know what it is, right, but that a
bill has to happen because I remember when Stafford first
(14:02):
got here against the Bears in so far, he threw
a post to Cooper Cup probably like fifty sixty yards
down the field and he was by hisself, And but
what would that do to the Chicago Bears? It forced
them the backup? Then they came back and threw another
pass to Van Jefferson down the field. And what that
make up? Do you have to back up?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I can just do all this stuff I want to
do inside, and it allows you to really put stress
on the defense where I don't see the rams offense
stretching the defense vertically as much as they used to.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Yeah, if the red zone in finishing drives is the problem,
and I'm not denying that it is, the quickest solution
is well, score before you hit the twenty.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Yeah, let's not get there.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Okay, So now let me turn it over to you,
because I can't design a red zone play to save
my life. If you were brought in as an offensive
consultant this week, Yeah, what are some of your recommendations?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Simple, very simple. I think speed outs to Cooper Cup,
option rouse to Cooper Cupp are huge, big body slants
to pookin the cool When you get into the tight
red zone, I think Kobe Parkinson at tight end throwing
a fade to him. Wouild just help out. It just
a tax to defense or the taxi defense in different ways.
(15:09):
And I get to explain, to explain kind of the
red zone thought process of an offensive coordinator. You have
six areas that you want to hit. You have the
front of the pylon right, the front pilons, you have
the back pylons, and then you have the goal the
field goal post right, that's the area they throw a
high ball going across. I think we've seen a couple
of those passes caught. I think DeMarcus Robinson had one.
(15:32):
A couple guys have made those throws. Those are the
six areas that you want to hit in the red zone.
It's howard. How do you layer those areas?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Though?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Do you use play action pass to get a linebacker
to step up? Do you get a guy crossing to
come across? If you remember Minnesota, they ran to the
front left pylon like every time they got the red
zone early in that game, because that's what they were doing.
They were running guys around the back this way, and
they'd have a guy coming from right to left this
way and a guy going from left to right over
the back, and it just messages with your coverage. I
don't really see as much of that, And so I
(16:00):
think that because of the protection possibly and you have
Matthew Stafford and you could do so many complex things
that maybe you just simplify it, right, And maybe it's just, hey,
if we get Kobe Parkson out wide on a shorter
corner through the faith.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I don't know you're talking about simplifying. And I just
think about the streak that Kyra and Williams had finding
the end zone to start the season as well.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Just keep giving it to them over and over and over.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And they found him on a receiving What was that
two games? Agom, same thing they tried.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I think they tried it against the Dolphin. They tried
to run against a Dolphins. Yeah, but it wasn't So I.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Don't know if this is running against the grain to
what you just said, but kind I just offered anyways,
trying to be like solution oriented here. Again, shoot this
down if it doesn't make sense, But I was trying
to draw inspiration from what some other recent teams have
done against the Rams in the red zone. And you
mentioned what the Vikings did. How about the names that
have scored red zone touchdowns against the Rams recently, Malik Washington,
(16:53):
Trent Sherfield, Josh Oliver. I don't think those are on
many fantasy football teams. So is it like find a
new target, try something different, running gadget play like the
Vikings and Dolphins have done against the Rams. Is it
use your stars as decoys and go somewhere else or
is that just not helpful? No?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
I think it is. You. I mean, you want to
You're willing to try anything at this point, right, And
you know, talking to Sean after the game, you could
tell he's like his brain was racking, And I get it.
I look, I've been there, my little kids. We lost
on Saturday. I was devastating.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Sometimes that's when he's at his best. Thing.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, it forces you to kind of go back and
self scout and say, what can I have done better?
What can we do? How can I get my guys
in a better position? What where did I mess up
to not put them in position to be successful?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Right?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
And I think that's when you get in the red
zone sometimes, And it kind of goes back to Detroit
last year. It was like ever since Detroit slowed them down,
it was like they couldn't necessarily get the red zone
going again like it used to be.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I want to think back because I actually went back
and watched the broadcast and I saw Sean's halftime interview
and talked about just some self inflicted wounds. And I
think there are two specific moments for me looking back
to this matchup with the Dolphins that I felt like
the tone could have been set, and each time it
went the direction of Miami. And it's the first drive
(18:15):
for Miami because you think about what they were able
to do. They got them in second and fifteen, then
that turns into third and thirteen, two escapes and then
finds waddle for thirty three yards that next play touchdown.
Where's the second point of adjustments halftime? Right, it's the
second time you can make a massive shift in momentum.
And I think about what the Rams were able to
do coming back out. They tried to establish the run.
(18:36):
Things were looking great, and then next thing you know,
all of a sudden, you have the highest snap, things
get rough, CARDI kick, you have a false start, misses
the fifty seven yarder, so instead of ten nine, it's
now ten to six, and a complete shift in momentum
when you have control, just in terms of the environment
heading into those two situations, I think if the Rams
(18:58):
kind of turn both of those the opposite direction, we
would be sitting and having a very different conversation at
this juncture.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's the agony of being your own worst enemy. Is
the good news is it's within your control. The bad
news is you had it under control.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
It's in your control.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And I think about the two losses that right now
I think are real raw nerves for Rams fans. They're
both at SOFI Stadium, Packers and Dolphins. Let's not lose
sight of the fact that the Rams outplayed both of
those teams. They didn't win, but the outplayed them more
first downs, more yards, more yards per play. But a
Stafford pick and a Chiren fumble and plus territory to
(19:32):
add to what you just laid out there, Cameron, and
it goes against you. And now your margin for air
is shrinking. For a team that already didn't have a
big margin for air, now it's probably down to its
last breath.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I will say this, I love the scheme of the
defense going into the Dolphins game. Right they were showing
different looks and running cover two, which was awesome. But
when that's not who you are, that's not what you
do all the time, you're going to have mistakes. The
play where you talked about where two a tungue, about
those kind of slow up and find Jaylen Waddle, they
were in cover too, and Tyreek was running streaking down
the field. He was covered by I forget what safety
(20:07):
it was. One of the safety's had him, but so
did Kobe Durant, who was supposed to be covering Dayalen
Wallow and yeah, Daylan wall on the other side. So
it was like, I see Tyrek streaking, I want to
cover him, but my guy's over here. And so when
you kind of mix up and you switch your your
scheme week to week, you'll have those kind of snaf foos.
(20:27):
Now that's where we talked about the second half adjustments.
The Rams did a great job. They were coming down,
running downhill, they were mixing things up, they were getting
after it, and then it was just like an Aaron
snap right. And again that's just from not playing when
you have a guy right in front of it. And
I've talked to a lot of centers about it. When
you have a guy in front of you or there's
a guy to your left, you have to reach them.
(20:49):
Like the last thing you're worried about is snapping this
ball back, like to get to the quarterback safely. Like
you're like, I got to snap and step I gotta
snap and do this. I gotta get there. And that's
when you have a lot of Aaron and so again
I think that's just not having a lot of reps
at that throughout the season that kind of get you there.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Well, we are at the halfway point. So to my
own point, we're going to actually change this toat a
little bit here and shift because you mentioned the defense
for the Los Angeles Rams, and I think that was
a bright spot coming out, especially when you consider going
into the fourth quarter. They held them to what seventeen points,
like they put themselves in a great position defensively. What
(21:27):
have you seen from them in the last four or
so games, because it feels like things are not just
trending the right direction, but they are currently stacking performances.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I think it's a real testament to Chris Shulin company.
And I know that folks thought I was being a
little bit negative on the show last week because I
was wary of that Seattle win. I didn't love the
fact that there were some talking heads out there suddenly
picking the Rams to win the West. I was not
trying to be a wet blanket. I was trying to
be sober. I was trying to be honest, and what
we flagged last week as concerning definitely came to bear
(22:00):
on Monday night. But I will own this. I was
wrong about the fact that I didn't think the Dolphins
would let the Rams tee off on Tua and they did.
They wreck shop again, and I think Monday Night showed
they're more than just a pass rush, tip, drill, takeaway unit.
Like Jared Verse has become appointment television in the National
(22:21):
Football League. He gives you that Aaron Donald like anticipation
of what might he do this week?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, I think it's it's funny because it's not just
him either. Like Kobe Turner was lights out in this game,
Bobby Brown was amazing in the running game. Like it's
the energy that he brings that reminds me of Aaron
that kind of permeates through that offensive that defensive line, right,
and now it's starting to get to the linebackers into
(22:48):
the safeties and you're seeing guys play with that confidence
and that swagger. I mean, just the the fact that
he ran through uh Tron Armstead, hit hit to a
and then recovered the fumble after all that, and to
be honest, he didn't recover the fumble, he took it
from the old lineman who had it and came out
(23:10):
with it. Like that type of effort and energy and scrappiness.
That's what you see from this team right in both
the running game and the passing game. Rose Boom finds
a play and you see everyone turn around and go
get blocked, and how excited they were to go get blocks.
I mean, it was just there were so many different
things that happened in that game. I mean, Kobe Turner,
(23:33):
what made me so excited about what they're doing to
see him making tackles down the field on receiver screens. Right,
Normally d lineman don't make those type of plays. But
that energy that he was bringing to go and get that,
it just shows how like, that's that's who they are,
that's what they've become.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I'm glad you said rose Boom there too, because one
of my main takeaways from that game is good on
the linebackers. I hope that's a confidence builder for those
off ball linebackers because rose Boom could have should have
had two picks. And if he and Omar Space can
do that against that Dolphins roster, then that's going to
play again against New England and Philadelphia and New Orleans beyond. Like,
(24:09):
I think that was a real step forward. We talked
about how the front has kind of been insulating and
elevating the next two levels of the defense. I think
the linebackers are coming along too.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
There are so many jumping off points from some of
the topics you guys discussing, and I think especially your
conversation with Less this week, and the word he used
is a contagious chemistry in regards to that defense and
especially Jared Verse, and I think there is something to that,
like building alongside one another. And also to your point
on Kobe Turner, he had a season high grade at
(24:39):
ninety point eight. Turner, Young, and Verse all with a
sack in this matchup versus the Dolphins, and I mean
versus numbers. They just continue to climb. He's now leading
the NFL in terms of pressure percentage at nineteen point seven.
So he's not just good for a rookie anymore. He's
good amongst the rest of the herd.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I mean, I think he's closer to Defensive Player of
the Year than any other rookie is to NFL Rookie
of the Year on defense.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Well, I'll say this, the Byron Young sack right that
he got was more of a cleanup, right because Jared
Verst came in and then turned they all like running
after him, and then like he's running around and then
here comes Byron Young getting off a block and then
accelerating like they they can play off each other well,
which is funny because you normally don't see that with
a young group. Young groups don't know how to play
off each other. They just kind of play and then
(25:24):
you just fall in and stuff. But these guys are
some one play maybe Byron Young with a pressure and
then verse comes in or fist comes in or turner
or like the way Bobby Brown Man handled them dudes
in the running game, like that's what it should have been.
That's what it should be all the time. He was
just throwing guys all around. When you have a five
guys that can play like that, Like we talked about
(25:45):
the offensive line being the weakest link, your defensive line
can be a strength. It could be something that can
really take your defense to the next level.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I started this week by saying that my Monday night
takeaway is that the defense continues to build the foundation
and raise the floor for this year's team. That I
think even after a loss, it's higher for me because
of what the defense showed me against the Dolphins. We
just don't know where the offense is capable of building
that ceiling yet, and it's time to find out because
(26:13):
time is not running short.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Before we head on to just a little bit of
a mid season reset. I also want to give you
your flowers because you might have the best line. Oh,
come on now, one of the best lines.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
It's weird to do this. I don't even know what
she's saying.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
You had me dying on the sidelines, and I'm sure
you did as well. Talking about Christian Roseman, Yes, he
came up with the interception, but on that near second
one follicles on fire JV Long and he's got let
us coming out the back of his helmet. I'm sitting there,
I'm like, man, how did you come up with that?
That was too good?
Speaker 2 (26:44):
When you're green with envy, it's not fair that she
has us in her ears during the game, and our
ears have noise canceling headphones that block her out.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
That's probably a good thing for you guys.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
No, not at all, because we don't get to come
in here and embarrass her on Thursdays. Well, that was
an amazing line.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
I was done.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I will say sometimes when you go on the big
screen Jbill talking to him, and I'll kind of be
looking trying to read your lips. And then I'm like, oh,
let me go back over here.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
You know what's really funny. The folks in here behind
the cameras have something for you, maybe not this episode,
but on a future episode. There's a screen grab of
the two of us. I think it was in Seattle,
and I'm doing my normal thing, going ballistic, and you
are as stoic as ever, Like I was just as
chill as you can be.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
It was cold, and guess what, it's going to be
cold again this week.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
The audience compare and contrast the emotional roller coaster that
I go through on Sundays.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
I did, and then just the steady the weather, the weather.
If it's if it's a great day, I'll go with you.
But if it's one of those cold days, and just.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Be roller right now and show you sorry for that sidebark.
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
I can't wait to see it all right, guys, a
little bit of a mid season reset. As we look
to the midway point, Los Angeles Rams are kind of
of looking to their history and hoping they can replicate
it from last year to this year. They won seven
of the eight after Week ten last season. I'm looking
through our remaining schedule. Guys, we got eight left. How
(28:13):
many do we need? We have four of the next
six on the road, two trips east, one trip south.
This is a a tough remaining schedule.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah, but I would say relative to last year, right now,
they're closer to the division lead, they're closer to a
playoff spot with a better record, And I would argue
with a healthier, deeper, more proven roster, like the Rams
roster is better now than it was when they left
for Detroit, when they broke camp. I think, And the
only reason I stopped saying stopped short of saying, like,
(28:44):
it's definitely better than last year is because there's a
first bout Hall of Famer who's missing. But like, statistically, defensively,
they're better than last year's group shoots special teams. I mean,
it's not even close. My goodness, it's not even close.
And I had to remind myself that win. Was it
that last year's group locked in and really found their
true offensive identity? Do you remember Week twelve at Arizona?
(29:08):
That's when it happened. So we're not even there yet.
Last year's group had one thirty point performance before that
trip to the desert.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Last year.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
So my takeaway I guess, if I'm a hope merchant,
is it's not too late. So long as you win
this Sunday.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Yeah, I think again. You know, you played a playoff
caliber team in Miami, and to be honest, like you said,
you you you really man handled that game. You just
gave it away. I felt like there are opportunities there
that you could have taken advantage of that you didn't,
and that I don't want to call it a moral victory,
but again learning understanding who you are, Like, Okay, we
(29:43):
can go out here and play. It's not like Miami
came in here and just dominated this game.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
No.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Defensively, you did your part offensively, had you had some
plays that you left out there? You have some we
call it self inflicted wounds going down this stretch. You're
going to play some playoff teams Philly.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Right, Buffalo, San Francis.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
San Francisco, all right, so you you you have a
chance to go in and really boost your confidence if
you can come out out of this game here with
the victory on the road. Like, let's be honest, is
New England's playing really good football right now and it's
not what I mean by good football is I know
it's not scoring thirty points, but if you don't play
(30:24):
your best football, they'll beat you. Let's remember they took Seattle,
went to overtime with them early in the game with
job Jacobe Prissett there. They went to Chicago and manhandled
the Bears like they're They're just a team that if
you allow them to hang around it you don't play
your best football, it could get ugly in Boston or
in Foxboro wherever they are.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
All right, go ahead, no, No, I was just gonna say,
we're going to look to the NFC West, but if
you got a follow up from there.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
One more thing on last year, because the big difference
that I see, the one thing that's not in the
Rams favor right now is I remember to stinkly early
on last season, hold the phone. Matthew Stafford's playing like
an MVP, and nobody's talking about right, and the results
just hadn't quite caught up to his performance. That's not
the case right now. Let's just call it what it
is like. That's not where we are in this year.
(31:13):
There's been some mean regression, and especially when it comes
to his production when he's under pressure and so I
think the big question is whether or not what we
believe is going to be the case is proven, which
is that his best reps, his best ball is still
to come in the second half of the season. Because
I get at the microscope right now like that lens
(31:34):
does not look very good. But trust me when I say,
if you zoom out a little bit and you get
one more win this weekend and you look at the telescope,
we're going to be sitting in these same chairs next
week saying the Rams have won four of their last
five games. And there are not many teams in the
league that can say that. And that's good work in
this sport, no matter which team you are or what
(31:54):
schedule you're playing.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
No, you're exactly right. I'll end it with this, November
and December football are where you make your biggest strides
because again, if you can win two or three four
in November, what it was a couple of years ago
the Rams won none in November.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Right, No win November to fet of December, and that's
what that's.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
What happens like every now and then, like you get
these two months, you can make up a ton of
ground on everything that's went on throughout the season, So
if you can play your best now, it's definitely needed.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
All right, Well, we have to take a little bit
of a peek into the NFC West. I know we've
been talking about potentials in playoffs, but are the forty
nine ers still the team to be from your perspective?
Cardinals going into a bye week right now, but forty
nine Ers are now hosting the Seahawks on Sunday, coming
off too straight.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I think they're the team to be. I think you
get I think you get Christian McCaffrey back, and they're
they're dangerous. I mean, they did their wins are Cowboys
and Bucks over the last two weeks. So you know.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
You want to start with Arizona.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I'm terrified Airs because why they're physical. That's the one
thing that Arizona has never been. When the Cliff Kingsburgers there,
it was all like high flying four wise, three wise,
we're gonna do. They'll come out in thirteen person, I
remember when you brought that up. And they'll run James
Connor and they'll play physical football. And then when they
get down to the red zone, Kyler's legs coming to
(33:18):
play and Marvin Harrison to the like. It just it's
just there's when you have to stop the run in
Arizona and he can pull the ball and run down
the He's still probably the fastest guy on the football
field and run like. I'd love to see him in
Lamar Jackson Race because that would be a really good
race for me, because I think those probably are and
then Tyreek coun throw Tyrek in there too. Those are
probably the three fastest guys that we you know, we
(33:40):
don't ever talk about how fast Kyler is, but what
they did to the New York Jets and what they've
done to everyone that's coming into Arizona has been insane.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I think their pole position is real. It has to
be acknowledged now because they have six wins, they're idle,
they're open, and they also have games against the Patriots
and Panthers still to come, plus two against the Seahawks,
so they may not have to beat the Rams or
the Niners to win this division. That's what's scary too.
I think, however, I will say this, their next three
(34:10):
games will tell us everything we need to know about
Arizona at Seattle at Minnesota home to Seattle, like Kyler
and the Cardinals. They've put together some good front Nines,
but winning that green jacket something different.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
It is.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
They do play well in the beginning, for sure, but
them being able to come out in thirteen person will
be physical tells me that they can play later in
the year.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
And to your point about the Niners, I don't think
you're wrong. I probably tend to agree with you, but
I'm going to withhold judgment until their road trips to
Green Bay and Buffalo the next couple of weekends. And also,
don't forget San Francisco's playing a record number of teams
coming off their buys, and another reminder of that is
this weekend against Seattle. Paradoxically, the Rams better hope they
(34:54):
didn't break Seattle, right.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
DK doesn't think so well, Go DK right, he wasn't
there right, So hopefully he goes out of the.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Rams rooting interests. We need them, That's all I'm saying.
I gotcha.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
The Seahawks have lost too straight to your point, so
let's see if they can rebound.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I think guys, it's time for us to look ahead
to our next opponent. You've already broken it down just
a bit MJD. But the Patriots, and this is the
first time the Los Angeles Rams are heading back that
direction to New England since twoenty sixteen. You better have
your warm weather gear ready to go.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I already looked at it. It's like forty two.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
It's like a lower forty better than that.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Forty two in Boston is like it's like twenty here.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I agree with what you said, though, right opponent, right
time for the Rams, because I think there's just enough resistance.
I know I gave you like a shock face when
you said they're playing cabal, but there's just enough resistance
at some key areas to test the Rams progress on
a short week, but hopefully not enough like firepower to
beat you, so long as you don't beat.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Yourself, right, I agree. I think each week is a
different challenge, right, and we got you just got put
in a situation where this defensive line is going to
challenge your offensive line, very similar to what the Miami
Dolphins did. So you get a repeat test.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's kind of like school when you have a test
and the teacher goes here, I want you to do
it over again and take it back, like, well, you
better hope you've learned from those those mistakes so that
you can go And I think that's what this week is.
Can you really whatever line you put out there or
whatever goes you put out there, can they protect your quarterback?
Can you run the football? Because that's what the New
England Pagers do. They stop the run and they get
(36:35):
after the quarterback. Offensively, you're gonna deal with a different offense.
But defensive I feel like they're still playing at such
a high level you don't have to worry about it
right now. The concern is the offense scoring explosive touchdowns
and running the football.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
So make sure Remandra Stevenson in the running game, don't
get started. Hunter Henry is their top target. And then
what make Drake May as a rookie beat you from
a hot pocket?
Speaker 3 (36:58):
That's what it has to be.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I was just about to ask you the challenge of
containing Drake may Have you noticed anything film wise about
where he likes to escape and what he might be
able to do just as a dual threat.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
He's not afraid to run. But the problem with him
running is he'll take hits. And that's the difference where
most of these quarterbacks that'll scrimming, they'll get out of bounds,
will slide. He likes to slide late, so he'll scramble
left right up the middle. He'll figure out where to
go because if it breaks down, he's going to get
his that's the other kicker. He's young, so when it
breaks down, his eyes go down. They don't they don't
(37:29):
stay down the field like a Russell Wilson used to like.
He scrambled looking to throw the football. Once his eyes
go down, he's looking to take off and run and
get yards. And so if you're the Rams, that's what
you want, right. I don't want you looking down the field.
I want you to look at this pass rusher, what's
going on. I want you to hear these voices, and
then we'll always have someone there to help you. I
would always have someone stunting around or waiting for him.
(37:50):
Kind of what the Dolphins did to Stafford when they
ran their stunts. They didn't go up the field the
guy that penetrated that there was one guy that would penetrate.
The other guy would kind of loop around it and
waited to line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
I'll be honest, I violated the twenty four hour rule.
You can find me if necessary, I couldn't get around
to the Patriots here by Thursday morning, I was watching
too much Dolphins Rams. Still, Yeah, no, I don't. I
don't believe that's tonight's task. Or maybe save it for
the plan on Saturday. That's what I'll do. My Drake
may study.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
It's okay. I got in there for you. Don't worry
about it.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
Oh it's pretty funny too, because I watching back the
Rams and Dolphins, I was like, I feel like I
need to exercise while watching this. So like the treadmill
was turned up to seven, and as the game continued on,
it just kept getting faster and faster, and yeah, got
a little frustration out in that.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
Regardless strategy, every strategy I've never thought about that just
start lifting.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Everyone on the show last week it was stewed.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
Yea lifted. Goodness. I got to get back to it.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Well, I can tell you one thing. The Patriots have
been struggling versus the run this season. They actually look
to establish their own run game. It hasn't been that
strong thus far, however, it was a point of emphasis
in their last matchup versus the Bears. Uh for the Rams,
how do they get their own run game going? You've
got some big names between Kirra and Korum and then
of course Revers. But can they do it against this team?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
I mean, I think that's the challenge right. You're you're
playing an AFC opponent, and the AFCs normally has bigger players.
It's weird if you ever look at how they play.
They're bigger guys. You remember Baltimore last year, bigger linemen.
It's just a different brand of football the AFC plays
in the NFC, and so this is a great opportunity
to go out there and see if you're running game
and your techniques and your players are where they need
(39:27):
to be to be able to make a run. And
again I talked about the test just like it was
in past protection, it's the same thing here against New
England in a run game where they're gonna be a
three to four front, they're gonna they're gonna put big
dudes in the middle and they're gonna hold up. How
are you? How are you going to attack this team?
As you get going forward?
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Another anecdote from this past weekend, the Pats were able
to get home at nine times against Caleb Williams. So
it's going to be important again looking back to this
Rams offensive line got a.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Coordinator tired.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
Out of there right test number two.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Time will tell if that was more about Caleb and
the Bears or more about what this emerging Patriots team
is doing.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
All right, guys, before we wrap up, we've got just
a few minutes left, Let's dig into some keys to victory.
JV and MJD. I'm looking to you who wants to
start this week? You always toss it back my way,
but yeah, Cameron has to go first, you know, I
after watching the last matchup with the Bears, I just
was really impressed with the arm strength of Drake May.
I think he's really athletic, and I think our ability
(40:34):
to contain him is going to be critical. Can we
make him wildly uncomfortable? So that's going to be my
key to victory, and especially I just am replaying to
a little bit on that first touchdown, and so I
would really like to see us have the ability to
kind of slow Drake May down in a very very
slow and.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Steady I'll take your cue on first touchdown because that
was top of mine. First. I'll say short weeks have
been Sean mcvay's special time and early alarm kickoffs have
been good to Sean mcfay's Rams over the year too.
So you're going short week, early time zone, rise and shine,
and so I'm kind of thinking, like my key is
start and finish, Start and finish for once, build a
(41:14):
lead for once, put an opponent away. You know, if
you were listening that we were talking about this on
Monday night. The Rams have been held completely scoreless in
six of their nine first quarters. Yikes. And to the
point about finishing, they have four wins, right, but like
two have been walkoffs San Francisco and Seattle, and then
(41:35):
the other two have been saved by the defense at
the end because the offense couldn't deliver that dagger Las
Vegas and Minnesota. So again, I'm continuing to lower the
floor with like least insightful key to victory in between
the Horns history. But take the lead and extend the lead. Yeah, no, duh,
that's it for me.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
Yeah, I think I'm gonna kind of piggyback that on
that a little bit. I think getting the first first
down on your first drive to start the game was huge,
and I think scoring on your first drive is huge.
But I also think coming out of half if we
if we do win the toss and you defer scoring
then because those that's how you start fast. And I
(42:12):
thought the Rams were on their way to doing that.
I was gonna like rag on you too, like in
the broadcast, like, ah, here we go, jab they did
it right. I was ready to go. But taking advantage
of those opportunities to start the game fast is gonna
be very important for the Rams offensively because if you notice,
like they'll if they don't start fast, it's kind of like, oh,
then it takes a little while for them to get going.
But if they do start fast, you get that first
(42:33):
down early, you kind of get in a rhythm a
little bit. You either kick a field goal early on
or you score a touchdown. When they're upbeat, they can go.
And so it's just about getting that momentum going. So
I'm gonna piggyback with you and say scoring in the
first first drive of the of the game and then
whatever if it's coming out of half having the ball.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
And if the offense needs a mulligan, like, look, the
one thing I think the defense can and will do
better is like beat the opponent script right like Vikings
went right down a couple of times Miami did it too.
As great as they've been, and let me say it again,
they have been an elite defense now like this is
a defense driven team until proven otherwise. And there's nothing
wrong with that except for our summer preconceptions. But maybe
(43:14):
another step forward for them this week defeat that Patriots script.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
I like it. I'll give you a couple of anecdotes
to close this thing out. The Patriots O line has
had some issues healthwise that might be good for the
Rams pass thrush. They've got ten different starters on this season,
eleven different combinations. And I also feel like we just
need to give a big star on the homework of
Cardi the kicker.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
Oh yeah, I could call out Yeah, I mean five
really should have been six?
Speaker 2 (43:40):
Yeah, I should have been The fifty two is good
with plenty of spare, right, but when it turned into
fifty seven, all right, he gets What about where the
folks can can buy the jacket that you're wearing? Because
I know that comment is coming.
Speaker 1 (43:51):
How about a yeah, yeah, it's coming. I believe you
can buy this on ramsfl dot com, so c along
those lines. I don't have the exact I'm sorry, fan
shop there you go. Yeah, how sweet is this? I'll
give you a guice, it'll turn around pretty sweet.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
Which collection is that?
Speaker 1 (44:07):
I believe this is from Russell Westbrook?
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Correct well, russ Go Bruins.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Shout out to our marketing game.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
They turned it around.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
Huh forgetting the hook?
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Okay, listen, man, there's great things can happen in the
month of November. We're just excited to be able to
play another game. I didn't know who were playing this week.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Do you know? Uh?
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Yeah, you're on the Friday night road at Washington Is
this the robbery game?
Speaker 3 (44:32):
I am a fan, but I have, like I got
a lot going on.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yeah, I mean, is it Sean you know? Is your
candidate he should be?
Speaker 3 (44:40):
Is it really?
Speaker 1 (44:41):
You know?
Speaker 3 (44:41):
I never lost to Washington College. I don't know what
that rivalry is, like, I.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Never Okay, if Cameron's Coogs beat the Dogs and your
Bruins beat you dub in the same season tomorrow, will
never live it down.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
I won't even bring it up. I'll just look at him.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
I can't wait to hang it over. He said.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
He's doing great. By the way, Demark is doing au.
He's here on Monday with less. He's just he's got
a morning talk show.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
Now. Yes, I know there were some comments. We we
also we love to Marco, loved to Marco. Don't don't,
don't go wrong on that side. All right, I'm getting
the wrap up. I see Jory in the backdrop going
all right, Cam, because we definitely I told him I
wasn't gonna go along, and here we are forty five
minutes later. I'm so sorry, but hey, we're.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Soot I did. It was just so subtle.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
We got it was the golden snitch. I was talking.
I was going to talk about quaffles, but then I
just got a little aggressive. Somebody got the Harry Potter reference.
Yes I'm a total nerd, but hey, thanks so much
for joining us on this episode of Between the Horns,
brought to you by our Southern California tour, the Dealers,
Cameron Irwin, m J D, and of course J B.
Speaker 2 (45:44):
Long.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
We can't wait to see you
Welcome to between the Horns as we get set for
well hopefully a rebound. I'm cameroner went alongside JV. Long
and Maury stones Drew, of course, presented by your Southern
California Toyo to dealers. We've got some smiles on our faces,
but I think we got to air a couple of
things out coming off the loss to the Dolphins on
Monday Night football. JB. Long, it's a short week. How
(00:30):
you feel.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Met JD you go first.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I think there was a lot of new and I
don't want to say I got exposed, but when you
don't work in a live game for nine weeks together,
you kind of saw that happening. There was a lot
of and this is just specifically the offensive line play.
There were a lot of stunts that weren't passed off.
(00:57):
There were a ton of pressures off a simple things
that you could have communicated a little bit better. But
that's going to be part of it though, right Like
you brought all these guys back at once, no Boom,
Ivola Jackson, but they haven't played together, and so that
that there's a thing. You know, if one day I
(01:19):
have to work without JB. I'm going to struggle because
I know who he is and how he pauses and
certain things where I can jump in. Then you have
to learn each other, if that makes sense, and I
just feel like they haven't had that chance to really
get to learn.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I just like that he's jumping straight to the I
was going, how are you feeling? And we went straight
We like, how was your flight this morning?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And eything going on in life? Now let's talk offensive line.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Man. I feel like you just have to go right
in and say, what's the elf in the room.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I'll come back to the offensive line in a second.
There's a lot to dig into there, but I think
my high level thought is the Rams picked a bad
night to have a bad night. And in this league
it matters who you play and more when you play them,
and they got Miami at the wrong time. And I
know that to be true because not only did Obj
(02:07):
catch that third down and six to basically clinch the game,
but he did it at about the same time that
Bitcoin hit an all time high. So what's that tell you?
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yeah, he's winning, He's living right in many ways.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, it was tough to see him on the opposite
side along with Jalen Ramsey I was going, oh, that
hurts a little bit because he was nasty goal against
as well.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But in all seriousness, the Dolphins are good. That was
the best two and six roster I think I've ever
seen on an opposing sideline. They're playing better than their numbers.
Kalaias Campbell is playing like a top five defensive lineman
right now. Getting Sealer back was just bad luck for
the Rams because he was a force. So I think
what's easy to say is that the Rams should have
(02:47):
just left well Enough alone, stuck with the status quote
because it was working. But what I don't necessarily believe
to be true is that Bo Limmer and Justin Deeditch,
a Day three rookie and a college free agent, would
have stopped the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. That's an
easy argument to make. It's tough to prove. Maybe they
would have, maybe the results would have been even worse.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, I think what you said best was, you know,
the Dolphins are two and six because they had been
banged up. I mean they're still not healthy. They don't
have Chubb, they lost their other first round Jalen Phillips
outside linebacker. They had Siler out, you had or seeler out.
You had two out for a while, right, So they
have a roster that can compete and win in the AFC.
(03:31):
We just just so happened that they got healthy for
Monday night. This is how it goes, right.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
They were two and six for the same reason the
Rams were one and four.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Yeah. Absolutely, So you guys have already started in on
the offensive line conversation and some of the words that
have been tossed around this week cohesion, inconsistent, and that's
in regards to the offense in general, though, But I
feel like we would be remiss to not actually dissect
some of these situations, and especially considering the offensive line.
Was the offensive struggles? Was it so the offensive line?
(04:01):
Were there other aspects that you guys were looking to
How did this really play out? Because I think it
left a lot of people's head kind of or left
a lot of people scratching their head coming out of it.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah. I think the offensive line is the engine of
the offense, right, Like, no matter how good your quarterback
is or how great your old receivers are, you're running back.
If you can't block the guys up front, you're gonna
have trouble and I think that's what you saw on
on Monday was it was there's a ton of pressure.
Stafford didn't have time to get the ball down the
(04:33):
field to get to his progressions. On certain situations, one
guy would penetrate the offensive line and then like Kalays,
Campbell just be sitting there waiting like he was like, oh,
I'm not rushing. I decided not to rush all this
play because I know we're gonna get penetration.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
The deflections were almost as harmful as the pass rushes,
were they not. Yeah, let me ask you something, because
I've read about and studied that the offensive line as
a position group is like a weakest link unit. That
you're only as good as your weakest link. And that
may not be true other places on the roster or
other sports, But has that been your experience, Like, Yeah,
you can have four guys do the right thing, one
guy bust and it looks really bad.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, when you're you know, they have to work as
a as a chain, right, like they're moving together. You
have to move as one. When one doesn't step the
right way. If it's a run play, we're all going
left and one takes a bad step left or he
steps right, there comes a gaping hole. And so getting
those guys on the same page, on the in the
same book really and just understanding this is how it goes.
(05:28):
And it takes time. To be honest, it took me
when I played. It took me like three or four
weeks to kind of get used to how they blocked
and then them used to how I run right. Uh,
it gets them. It takes them time because it's five guys.
How do we protect right? Pass protection?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
If there's a guy sliding out? What is your kickstep?
Is it two yards? That way is is vertical?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Like?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
How are we moving? So I know where to place myself?
And so all those things it takes time. And again
one of my you know, the blessing in disguise that
I was talking about a couple of weeks ago, was
that you had these young guys get in and get
these reps. The problem with that blessing is the guys
that you wanted to play weren't getting those reps, right,
those guys, they weren't learning each other. And so how
(06:10):
do you go health over experience or health over guys
that have gotten those snaps? And I think that was
the question you asked like, would have been better with
bo Limmer And indeed it's played like I don't know.
I don't know, but you know, it's just hard when
you when you when you learn each other.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Here's the problem though, what you said is true. It
takes time. What do the Rams not have the luxury
of anymore time? Yeah, And so it was a reminder
that return to play is not necessarily return to performance.
I know you're gonna ask like, okay, so what do
you do going to New England? And we'll get to
that and due time. But what Sean said yesterday really
caught my year. And I'll just read the quote because
(06:50):
I felt the tension and what he said. You look
at it and you say, all right, well, we have
eight games remaining, but you also have a responsibility to say, well,
let's do what we think is best for the upcoming game.
My read on that is there's a tension between what's
the best bet for Sunday and I don't have those answers,
and what has the most upside for the rest of
(07:10):
the season. And because Sunday is a must win, it
has to be prioritized over everything else that you just said.
I think, right experience contracts, what might be the best
lineup in December, because if you aren't better immediately on Sunday,
there might not be a rest of the season.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, I think winning matters, right, and especially we're into
the part of the season where good teams separate themselves
from bad teams and great teams separates themselves from good teams.
Last year, the Rams became a really good team, borderline
great team as they made that run. And so if
you're the Rams, you know that this is a very
(07:49):
important time to start playing your best type of football
do so the question is, like you said, is it
do you go back to what you felt worked or
do you go you think will work going down the line,
And if Sunday is a must win game, then you
go with what works, what you believe in your heart
works right, what you know works. That's what I would do.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
It's going to be a tough balancing act and a
question I'm glad I don't have to answer, but I'll
give you a few numbers because going into that game,
the Rams had only allowed one sack in the past
three and that was a stark difference. I mean, the
past protection really broke down for Stafford in this matchup,
it's going to have to be there, and there are
some questions because as we head into this next matchup,
(08:32):
there's also some struggles on the health front again to
the offensive line. So where do you kind of expect
that to be in terms of starting positions for these
guys Havenstein dealing with angle as well as Noteboom.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Yeah, I'd like to not give up on Havenside's chances
for Week eleven just yet. It's only Thursday morning as
we sit here, and I hope that maybe there's a
ray of sunshine still to come, even though yesterday it
sounded more pessimistic than optimistic. So maybe that solves for
itself in terms of war. Mc clinton is going to
be that guy at right tackle anyway, But I don't
necessarily feel like that's the crux of the matter.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
No, it's interior.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
It's interior.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, interiors your issue.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And I'm not going to pretend to know. You know,
Ryan Wendell's business is Cromer's business or McVeigh or Laffur's business.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Our job to make it to kind of go out
on a lemon and say, like this is what you've seen, right,
Like the issue is this, and and am I and
what I've what I saw, and what I believe the
issue to be is there's there's been a lot of
leakage between center and left guard. That was what it
was this weekend. Then there was leakage right tackle to
(09:44):
right guard right, So the the right, the center and
the right guard, we're fine. But it was the note
Boom getting picked on a couple of plays and then
Dotson not seeing it or Noteboom giving up the inside
and Dotson not being able to see it or communicate
it and then then being able to kind of slide
that way. And the Dolphins took advantage of that. They
just took advantage of whatever that issue might have been.
(10:05):
And so the think about the NFL that you always
hear is no one cares about your problems. You have
to fix these issues.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And that's where the weakest link question that I ask
you comes in is because when you have to be
good with five or six seven, including a running back
against a team like the Dolphins, if you're not, they're
gonna find that week we can exploit it.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
And then this week going back, understand that the Patriot
are going to run the exact same thing. That the
dolphins ran. That's that's what happens in the leak. We
got to make sure you did you did you kind
of sure this up? Did you put that what's that
tape they have on the on the they have on
like the infomercials where the boat like you could put
the tape and ride the boat. Did you put that
on it? Or did you really like fix this thing
and is locked in, because we're going to test it
(10:47):
and make sure that your protection in your running game
is going the right way.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
But this is the week to put that special table.
If you have some of that laying around. No leaks
this week, no matter what, no leaks, tape, bubblegum, whatever it.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Is, figure it out, because if it happens again this week,
then I think you're going to be Now, there's gonna
be a long road going down the end the season.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Well before I promise we will get to some bright
spots and we talk about the response that we hope
to see against the Patriots, we do have to talk
about a little bit of red zone struggles. Los Angeles
rams were not able to find the end zone and
it really was difficult. And I'll give you a little
reference because as I'm sitting on the sidelines listening to
you guys call the game, I'm going, man, just where
(11:27):
is the golden snitch? I felt like we were so close.
We kept finding ways to at least put the ball
through the uprights, but we just could not find a
way to get into the end zone.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
It was zero for three.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
How do they fix some of these red zone qualms?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
JB Can I actually like throw a wrench in the proceeding,
because that's a totally valid question, and I'm really curious
to see what MJD has to say about red zone.
But I'm actually of the belief that the red zone
woes are a symptom, not an illness. Like I think
they are a result of underlying issues about the often
and I think what they're actually doing is masking a
(12:04):
larger problem, which is that the Rams cannot score from
outside the red zone, that they're not explosive enough. Oh
La has four explosive touchdowns this season, but not really
because two of them are on defense. The only offensive
touchdowns Rams have scored this season outside that twenty yard
line area that gobal to Marcus against the Vikings and
(12:26):
the walk off to the Marcus in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
That feels like a much larger problem to overcome maybe
than the inside the twenty stuff.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
I agree. I think we were kind of talking before
the show about you know, I listened to like all
these different talking heads and how you just want to
make sure that your eyes and your brain is working
and somewhat similar to others. But like Danie Rolowski said
this about the Chicago Bears, and he said, the problem
(12:58):
with the Chicago Bears they're not taking enough shot down
the field. And what happens is when you don't take
enough shots down the field, you don't even have to
like convert them, just throw it down because you want
to back off the coverage to open up everything else.
The Rams haven't had that ability, and so the coverage
keeps getting tighter and tighter and tighter, and so that
makes the windows that Stafford has to throw in smaller,
(13:19):
that makes the margin for error smaller, and so now
you're dinking and dunking down the field, or you're getting
explosive plays, whether they're off of screen passes or poking
the cool brakes and tackle on an over route or
you know, and those are explosive plays. But where's the
shot down the field that we used to see? Right?
We talked about Robert Woods and Brandon Cooks earlier about
how those guys. You see those guys getting down the
(13:40):
field again, it reminds me of the Houston, the Houston
game from the ninety five yard or ninety seven yard
that they threw to Robert Woods, like taking those shots
down the field. And I don't know if it's age.
I don't know, if it's a lack of speed with
your starting guys, if it's protection or protection don't, I don't,
I don't know what it is, right, but that a
bill has to happen because I remember when Stafford first
(14:02):
got here against the Bears in so far, he threw
a post to Cooper Cup probably like fifty sixty yards
down the field and he was by hisself, And but
what would that do to the Chicago Bears? It forced
them the backup? Then they came back and threw another
pass to Van Jefferson down the field. And what that
make up? Do you have to back up?
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Now?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I can just do all this stuff I want to
do inside, and it allows you to really put stress
on the defense where I don't see the rams offense
stretching the defense vertically as much as they used to.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Yeah, if the red zone in finishing drives is the problem,
and I'm not denying that it is, the quickest solution
is well, score before you hit the twenty.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Yeah, let's not get there.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Okay, So now let me turn it over to you,
because I can't design a red zone play to save
my life. If you were brought in as an offensive
consultant this week, Yeah, what are some of your recommendations?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Simple, very simple. I think speed outs to Cooper Cup,
option rouse to Cooper Cupp are huge, big body slants
to pookin the cool When you get into the tight
red zone, I think Kobe Parkinson at tight end throwing
a fade to him. Wouild just help out. It just
a tax to defense or the taxi defense in different ways.
(15:09):
And I get to explain, to explain kind of the
red zone thought process of an offensive coordinator. You have
six areas that you want to hit. You have the
front of the pylon right, the front pilons, you have
the back pylons, and then you have the goal the
field goal post right, that's the area they throw a
high ball going across. I think we've seen a couple
of those passes caught. I think DeMarcus Robinson had one.
(15:32):
A couple guys have made those throws. Those are the
six areas that you want to hit in the red zone.
It's howard. How do you layer those areas?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Though?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Do you use play action pass to get a linebacker
to step up? Do you get a guy crossing to
come across? If you remember Minnesota, they ran to the
front left pylon like every time they got the red
zone early in that game, because that's what they were doing.
They were running guys around the back this way, and
they'd have a guy coming from right to left this
way and a guy going from left to right over
the back, and it just messages with your coverage. I
don't really see as much of that, And so I
(16:00):
think that because of the protection possibly and you have
Matthew Stafford and you could do so many complex things
that maybe you just simplify it, right, And maybe it's just, hey,
if we get Kobe Parkson out wide on a shorter
corner through the faith.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I don't know you're talking about simplifying. And I just
think about the streak that Kyra and Williams had finding
the end zone to start the season as well.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Just keep giving it to them over and over and over.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And they found him on a receiving What was that
two games? Agom, same thing they tried.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I think they tried it against the Dolphin. They tried
to run against a Dolphins. Yeah, but it wasn't So I.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Don't know if this is running against the grain to
what you just said, but kind I just offered anyways,
trying to be like solution oriented here. Again, shoot this
down if it doesn't make sense, But I was trying
to draw inspiration from what some other recent teams have
done against the Rams in the red zone. And you
mentioned what the Vikings did. How about the names that
have scored red zone touchdowns against the Rams recently, Malik Washington,
(16:53):
Trent Sherfield, Josh Oliver. I don't think those are on
many fantasy football teams. So is it like find a
new target, try something different, running gadget play like the
Vikings and Dolphins have done against the Rams. Is it
use your stars as decoys and go somewhere else or
is that just not helpful? No?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
I think it is. You. I mean, you want to
You're willing to try anything at this point, right, And
you know, talking to Sean after the game, you could
tell he's like his brain was racking, And I get it.
I look, I've been there, my little kids. We lost
on Saturday. I was devastating.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Sometimes that's when he's at his best. Thing.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, it forces you to kind of go back and
self scout and say, what can I have done better?
What can we do? How can I get my guys
in a better position? What where did I mess up
to not put them in position to be successful?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Right?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
And I think that's when you get in the red
zone sometimes, And it kind of goes back to Detroit
last year. It was like ever since Detroit slowed them down,
it was like they couldn't necessarily get the red zone
going again like it used to be.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I want to think back because I actually went back
and watched the broadcast and I saw Sean's halftime interview
and talked about just some self inflicted wounds. And I
think there are two specific moments for me looking back
to this matchup with the Dolphins that I felt like
the tone could have been set, and each time it
went the direction of Miami. And it's the first drive
(18:15):
for Miami because you think about what they were able
to do. They got them in second and fifteen, then
that turns into third and thirteen, two escapes and then
finds waddle for thirty three yards that next play touchdown.
Where's the second point of adjustments halftime? Right, it's the
second time you can make a massive shift in momentum.
And I think about what the Rams were able to
do coming back out. They tried to establish the run.
(18:36):
Things were looking great, and then next thing you know,
all of a sudden, you have the highest snap, things
get rough, CARDI kick, you have a false start, misses
the fifty seven yarder, so instead of ten nine, it's
now ten to six, and a complete shift in momentum
when you have control, just in terms of the environment
heading into those two situations, I think if the Rams
(18:58):
kind of turn both of those the opposite direction, we
would be sitting and having a very different conversation at
this juncture.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
That's the agony of being your own worst enemy. Is
the good news is it's within your control. The bad
news is you had it under control.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
It's in your control.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And I think about the two losses that right now
I think are real raw nerves for Rams fans. They're
both at SOFI Stadium, Packers and Dolphins. Let's not lose
sight of the fact that the Rams outplayed both of
those teams. They didn't win, but the outplayed them more
first downs, more yards, more yards per play. But a
Stafford pick and a Chiren fumble and plus territory to
(19:32):
add to what you just laid out there, Cameron, and
it goes against you. And now your margin for air
is shrinking. For a team that already didn't have a
big margin for air, now it's probably down to its
last breath.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I will say this, I love the scheme of the
defense going into the Dolphins game. Right they were showing
different looks and running cover two, which was awesome. But
when that's not who you are, that's not what you
do all the time, you're going to have mistakes. The
play where you talked about where two a tungue, about
those kind of slow up and find Jaylen Waddle, they
were in cover too, and Tyreek was running streaking down
the field. He was covered by I forget what safety
(20:07):
it was. One of the safety's had him, but so
did Kobe Durant, who was supposed to be covering Dayalen
Wallow and yeah, Daylan wall on the other side. So
it was like, I see Tyrek streaking, I want to
cover him, but my guy's over here. And so when
you kind of mix up and you switch your your
scheme week to week, you'll have those kind of snaf foos.
(20:27):
Now that's where we talked about the second half adjustments.
The Rams did a great job. They were coming down,
running downhill, they were mixing things up, they were getting
after it, and then it was just like an Aaron
snap right. And again that's just from not playing when
you have a guy right in front of it. And
I've talked to a lot of centers about it. When
you have a guy in front of you or there's
a guy to your left, you have to reach them.
(20:49):
Like the last thing you're worried about is snapping this
ball back, like to get to the quarterback safely. Like
you're like, I got to snap and step I gotta
snap and do this. I gotta get there. And that's
when you have a lot of Aaron and so again
I think that's just not having a lot of reps
at that throughout the season that kind of get you there.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Well, we are at the halfway point. So to my
own point, we're going to actually change this toat a
little bit here and shift because you mentioned the defense
for the Los Angeles Rams, and I think that was
a bright spot coming out, especially when you consider going
into the fourth quarter. They held them to what seventeen points,
like they put themselves in a great position defensively. What
(21:27):
have you seen from them in the last four or
so games, because it feels like things are not just
trending the right direction, but they are currently stacking performances.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I think it's a real testament to Chris Shulin company.
And I know that folks thought I was being a
little bit negative on the show last week because I
was wary of that Seattle win. I didn't love the
fact that there were some talking heads out there suddenly
picking the Rams to win the West. I was not
trying to be a wet blanket. I was trying to
be sober. I was trying to be honest, and what
we flagged last week as concerning definitely came to bear
(22:00):
on Monday night. But I will own this. I was
wrong about the fact that I didn't think the Dolphins
would let the Rams tee off on Tua and they did.
They wreck shop again, and I think Monday Night showed
they're more than just a pass rush, tip, drill, takeaway unit.
Like Jared Verse has become appointment television in the National
(22:21):
Football League. He gives you that Aaron Donald like anticipation
of what might he do this week?
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, I think it's it's funny because it's not just
him either. Like Kobe Turner was lights out in this game,
Bobby Brown was amazing in the running game. Like it's
the energy that he brings that reminds me of Aaron
that kind of permeates through that offensive that defensive line, right,
and now it's starting to get to the linebackers into
(22:48):
the safeties and you're seeing guys play with that confidence
and that swagger. I mean, just the the fact that
he ran through uh Tron Armstead, hit hit to a
and then recovered the fumble after all that, and to
be honest, he didn't recover the fumble, he took it
from the old lineman who had it and came out
(23:10):
with it. Like that type of effort and energy and scrappiness.
That's what you see from this team right in both
the running game and the passing game. Rose Boom finds
a play and you see everyone turn around and go
get blocked, and how excited they were to go get blocks.
I mean, it was just there were so many different
things that happened in that game. I mean, Kobe Turner,
(23:33):
what made me so excited about what they're doing to
see him making tackles down the field on receiver screens. Right,
Normally d lineman don't make those type of plays. But
that energy that he was bringing to go and get that,
it just shows how like, that's that's who they are,
that's what they've become.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I'm glad you said rose Boom there too, because one
of my main takeaways from that game is good on
the linebackers. I hope that's a confidence builder for those
off ball linebackers because rose Boom could have should have
had two picks. And if he and Omar Space can
do that against that Dolphins roster, then that's going to
play again against New England and Philadelphia and New Orleans beyond. Like,
(24:09):
I think that was a real step forward. We talked
about how the front has kind of been insulating and
elevating the next two levels of the defense. I think
the linebackers are coming along too.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
There are so many jumping off points from some of
the topics you guys discussing, and I think especially your
conversation with Less this week, and the word he used
is a contagious chemistry in regards to that defense and
especially Jared Verse, and I think there is something to that,
like building alongside one another. And also to your point
on Kobe Turner, he had a season high grade at
(24:39):
ninety point eight. Turner, Young, and Verse all with a
sack in this matchup versus the Dolphins, and I mean
versus numbers. They just continue to climb. He's now leading
the NFL in terms of pressure percentage at nineteen point seven.
So he's not just good for a rookie anymore. He's
good amongst the rest of the herd.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I mean, I think he's closer to Defensive Player of
the Year than any other rookie is to NFL Rookie
of the Year on defense.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
Well, I'll say this, the Byron Young sack right that
he got was more of a cleanup, right because Jared
Verst came in and then turned they all like running
after him, and then like he's running around and then
here comes Byron Young getting off a block and then
accelerating like they they can play off each other well,
which is funny because you normally don't see that with
a young group. Young groups don't know how to play
off each other. They just kind of play and then
(25:24):
you just fall in and stuff. But these guys are
some one play maybe Byron Young with a pressure and
then verse comes in or fist comes in or turner
or like the way Bobby Brown Man handled them dudes
in the running game, like that's what it should have been.
That's what it should be all the time. He was
just throwing guys all around. When you have a five
guys that can play like that, Like we talked about
(25:45):
the offensive line being the weakest link, your defensive line
can be a strength. It could be something that can
really take your defense to the next level.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
I started this week by saying that my Monday night
takeaway is that the defense continues to build the foundation
and raise the floor for this year's team. That I
think even after a loss, it's higher for me because
of what the defense showed me against the Dolphins. We
just don't know where the offense is capable of building
that ceiling yet, and it's time to find out because
(26:13):
time is not running short.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Before we head on to just a little bit of
a mid season reset. I also want to give you
your flowers because you might have the best line. Oh,
come on now, one of the best lines.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
It's weird to do this. I don't even know what
she's saying.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
You had me dying on the sidelines, and I'm sure
you did as well. Talking about Christian Roseman, Yes, he
came up with the interception, but on that near second
one follicles on fire JV Long and he's got let
us coming out the back of his helmet. I'm sitting there,
I'm like, man, how did you come up with that?
That was too good?
Speaker 2 (26:44):
When you're green with envy, it's not fair that she
has us in her ears during the game, and our
ears have noise canceling headphones that block her out.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
That's probably a good thing for you guys.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
No, not at all, because we don't get to come
in here and embarrass her on Thursdays. Well, that was
an amazing line.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
I was done.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
I will say sometimes when you go on the big
screen Jbill talking to him, and I'll kind of be
looking trying to read your lips. And then I'm like, oh,
let me go back over here.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
You know what's really funny. The folks in here behind
the cameras have something for you, maybe not this episode,
but on a future episode. There's a screen grab of
the two of us. I think it was in Seattle,
and I'm doing my normal thing, going ballistic, and you
are as stoic as ever, Like I was just as
chill as you can be.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
It was cold, and guess what, it's going to be
cold again this week.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
The audience compare and contrast the emotional roller coaster that
I go through on Sundays.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
I did, and then just the steady the weather, the weather.
If it's if it's a great day, I'll go with you.
But if it's one of those cold days, and just.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Be roller right now and show you sorry for that sidebark.
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
I can't wait to see it all right, guys, a
little bit of a mid season reset. As we look
to the midway point, Los Angeles Rams are kind of
of looking to their history and hoping they can replicate
it from last year to this year. They won seven
of the eight after Week ten last season. I'm looking
through our remaining schedule. Guys, we got eight left. How
(28:13):
many do we need? We have four of the next
six on the road, two trips east, one trip south.
This is a a tough remaining schedule.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Yeah, but I would say relative to last year, right now,
they're closer to the division lead, they're closer to a
playoff spot with a better record, And I would argue
with a healthier, deeper, more proven roster, like the Rams
roster is better now than it was when they left
for Detroit, when they broke camp. I think, And the
only reason I stopped saying stopped short of saying, like,
(28:44):
it's definitely better than last year is because there's a
first bout Hall of Famer who's missing. But like, statistically, defensively,
they're better than last year's group shoots special teams. I mean,
it's not even close. My goodness, it's not even close.
And I had to remind myself that win. Was it
that last year's group locked in and really found their
true offensive identity? Do you remember Week twelve at Arizona?
(29:08):
That's when it happened. So we're not even there yet.
Last year's group had one thirty point performance before that
trip to the desert.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Last year.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
So my takeaway I guess, if I'm a hope merchant,
is it's not too late. So long as you win
this Sunday.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Yeah, I think again. You know, you played a playoff
caliber team in Miami, and to be honest, like you said,
you you you really man handled that game. You just
gave it away. I felt like there are opportunities there
that you could have taken advantage of that you didn't,
and that I don't want to call it a moral victory,
but again learning understanding who you are, Like, Okay, we
(29:43):
can go out here and play. It's not like Miami
came in here and just dominated this game.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
No.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Defensively, you did your part offensively, had you had some
plays that you left out there? You have some we
call it self inflicted wounds going down this stretch. You're
going to play some playoff teams Philly.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Right, Buffalo, San Francis.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
San Francisco, all right, so you you you have a
chance to go in and really boost your confidence if
you can come out out of this game here with
the victory on the road. Like, let's be honest, is
New England's playing really good football right now and it's
not what I mean by good football is I know
it's not scoring thirty points, but if you don't play
(30:24):
your best football, they'll beat you. Let's remember they took Seattle,
went to overtime with them early in the game with
job Jacobe Prissett there. They went to Chicago and manhandled
the Bears like they're They're just a team that if
you allow them to hang around it you don't play
your best football, it could get ugly in Boston or
in Foxboro wherever they are.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
All right, go ahead, no, No, I was just gonna say,
we're going to look to the NFC West, but if
you got a follow up from there.
Speaker 2 (30:51):
One more thing on last year, because the big difference
that I see, the one thing that's not in the
Rams favor right now is I remember to stinkly early
on last season, hold the phone. Matthew Stafford's playing like
an MVP, and nobody's talking about right, and the results
just hadn't quite caught up to his performance. That's not
the case right now. Let's just call it what it
is like. That's not where we are in this year.
(31:13):
There's been some mean regression, and especially when it comes
to his production when he's under pressure and so I
think the big question is whether or not what we
believe is going to be the case is proven, which
is that his best reps, his best ball is still
to come in the second half of the season. Because
I get at the microscope right now like that lens
(31:34):
does not look very good. But trust me when I say,
if you zoom out a little bit and you get
one more win this weekend and you look at the telescope,
we're going to be sitting in these same chairs next
week saying the Rams have won four of their last
five games. And there are not many teams in the
league that can say that. And that's good work in
this sport, no matter which team you are or what
(31:54):
schedule you're playing.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
No, you're exactly right. I'll end it with this, November
and December football are where you make your biggest strides
because again, if you can win two or three four
in November, what it was a couple of years ago
the Rams won none in November.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Right, No win November to fet of December, and that's
what that's.
Speaker 3 (32:15):
What happens like every now and then, like you get
these two months, you can make up a ton of
ground on everything that's went on throughout the season, So
if you can play your best now, it's definitely needed.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
All right, Well, we have to take a little bit
of a peek into the NFC West. I know we've
been talking about potentials in playoffs, but are the forty
nine ers still the team to be from your perspective?
Cardinals going into a bye week right now, but forty
nine Ers are now hosting the Seahawks on Sunday, coming
off too straight.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I think they're the team to be. I think you
get I think you get Christian McCaffrey back, and they're
they're dangerous. I mean, they did their wins are Cowboys
and Bucks over the last two weeks. So you know.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
You want to start with Arizona.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
I'm terrified Airs because why they're physical. That's the one
thing that Arizona has never been. When the Cliff Kingsburgers there,
it was all like high flying four wise, three wise,
we're gonna do. They'll come out in thirteen person, I
remember when you brought that up. And they'll run James
Connor and they'll play physical football. And then when they
get down to the red zone, Kyler's legs coming to
(33:18):
play and Marvin Harrison to the like. It just it's
just there's when you have to stop the run in
Arizona and he can pull the ball and run down
the He's still probably the fastest guy on the football
field and run like. I'd love to see him in
Lamar Jackson Race because that would be a really good
race for me, because I think those probably are and
then Tyreek coun throw Tyrek in there too. Those are
probably the three fastest guys that we you know, we
(33:40):
don't ever talk about how fast Kyler is, but what
they did to the New York Jets and what they've
done to everyone that's coming into Arizona has been insane.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
I think their pole position is real. It has to
be acknowledged now because they have six wins, they're idle,
they're open, and they also have games against the Patriots
and Panthers still to come, plus two against the Seahawks,
so they may not have to beat the Rams or
the Niners to win this division. That's what's scary too.
I think, however, I will say this, their next three
(34:10):
games will tell us everything we need to know about
Arizona at Seattle at Minnesota home to Seattle, like Kyler
and the Cardinals. They've put together some good front Nines,
but winning that green jacket something different.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
It is.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
They do play well in the beginning, for sure, but
them being able to come out in thirteen person will
be physical tells me that they can play later in
the year.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
And to your point about the Niners, I don't think
you're wrong. I probably tend to agree with you, but
I'm going to withhold judgment until their road trips to
Green Bay and Buffalo the next couple of weekends. And also,
don't forget San Francisco's playing a record number of teams
coming off their buys, and another reminder of that is
this weekend against Seattle. Paradoxically, the Rams better hope they
(34:54):
didn't break Seattle, right.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
DK doesn't think so well, Go DK right, he wasn't
there right, So hopefully he goes out of the.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Rams rooting interests. We need them, That's all I'm saying.
I gotcha.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
The Seahawks have lost too straight to your point, so
let's see if they can rebound.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I think guys, it's time for us to look ahead
to our next opponent. You've already broken it down just
a bit MJD. But the Patriots, and this is the
first time the Los Angeles Rams are heading back that
direction to New England since twoenty sixteen. You better have
your warm weather gear ready to go.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I already looked at it. It's like forty two.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
It's like a lower forty better than that.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Forty two in Boston is like it's like twenty here.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I agree with what you said, though, right opponent, right
time for the Rams, because I think there's just enough resistance.
I know I gave you like a shock face when
you said they're playing cabal, but there's just enough resistance
at some key areas to test the Rams progress on
a short week, but hopefully not enough like firepower to
beat you, so long as you don't beat.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Yourself, right, I agree. I think each week is a
different challenge, right, and we got you just got put
in a situation where this defensive line is going to
challenge your offensive line, very similar to what the Miami
Dolphins did. So you get a repeat test.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
It's kind of like school when you have a test
and the teacher goes here, I want you to do
it over again and take it back, like, well, you
better hope you've learned from those those mistakes so that
you can go And I think that's what this week is.
Can you really whatever line you put out there or
whatever goes you put out there, can they protect your quarterback?
Can you run the football? Because that's what the New
England Pagers do. They stop the run and they get
(36:35):
after the quarterback. Offensively, you're gonna deal with a different offense.
But defensive I feel like they're still playing at such
a high level you don't have to worry about it
right now. The concern is the offense scoring explosive touchdowns
and running the football.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
So make sure Remandra Stevenson in the running game, don't
get started. Hunter Henry is their top target. And then
what make Drake May as a rookie beat you from
a hot pocket?
Speaker 3 (36:58):
That's what it has to be.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I was just about to ask you the challenge of
containing Drake may Have you noticed anything film wise about
where he likes to escape and what he might be
able to do just as a dual threat.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
He's not afraid to run. But the problem with him
running is he'll take hits. And that's the difference where
most of these quarterbacks that'll scrimming, they'll get out of bounds,
will slide. He likes to slide late, so he'll scramble
left right up the middle. He'll figure out where to
go because if it breaks down, he's going to get
his that's the other kicker. He's young, so when it
breaks down, his eyes go down. They don't they don't
(37:29):
stay down the field like a Russell Wilson used to like.
He scrambled looking to throw the football. Once his eyes
go down, he's looking to take off and run and
get yards. And so if you're the Rams, that's what
you want, right. I don't want you looking down the field.
I want you to look at this pass rusher, what's
going on. I want you to hear these voices, and
then we'll always have someone there to help you. I
would always have someone stunting around or waiting for him.
(37:50):
Kind of what the Dolphins did to Stafford when they
ran their stunts. They didn't go up the field the
guy that penetrated that there was one guy that would penetrate.
The other guy would kind of loop around it and
waited to line of scrimmage.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
I'll be honest, I violated the twenty four hour rule.
You can find me if necessary, I couldn't get around
to the Patriots here by Thursday morning, I was watching
too much Dolphins Rams. Still, Yeah, no, I don't. I
don't believe that's tonight's task. Or maybe save it for
the plan on Saturday. That's what I'll do. My Drake
may study.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
It's okay. I got in there for you. Don't worry
about it.
Speaker 1 (38:18):
Oh it's pretty funny too, because I watching back the
Rams and Dolphins, I was like, I feel like I
need to exercise while watching this. So like the treadmill
was turned up to seven, and as the game continued on,
it just kept getting faster and faster, and yeah, got
a little frustration out in that.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
Regardless strategy, every strategy I've never thought about that just
start lifting.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Everyone on the show last week it was stewed.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
Yea lifted. Goodness. I got to get back to it.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Well, I can tell you one thing. The Patriots have
been struggling versus the run this season. They actually look
to establish their own run game. It hasn't been that
strong thus far, however, it was a point of emphasis
in their last matchup versus the Bears. Uh for the Rams,
how do they get their own run game going? You've
got some big names between Kirra and Korum and then
of course Revers. But can they do it against this team?
Speaker 3 (39:05):
I mean, I think that's the challenge right. You're you're
playing an AFC opponent, and the AFCs normally has bigger players.
It's weird if you ever look at how they play.
They're bigger guys. You remember Baltimore last year, bigger linemen.
It's just a different brand of football the AFC plays
in the NFC, and so this is a great opportunity
to go out there and see if you're running game
and your techniques and your players are where they need
(39:27):
to be to be able to make a run. And
again I talked about the test just like it was
in past protection, it's the same thing here against New
England in a run game where they're gonna be a
three to four front, they're gonna they're gonna put big
dudes in the middle and they're gonna hold up. How
are you? How are you going to attack this team?
As you get going forward?
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Another anecdote from this past weekend, the Pats were able
to get home at nine times against Caleb Williams. So
it's going to be important again looking back to this
Rams offensive line got a.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Coordinator tired.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
Out of there right test number two.
Speaker 2 (40:05):
Time will tell if that was more about Caleb and
the Bears or more about what this emerging Patriots team
is doing.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
All right, guys, before we wrap up, we've got just
a few minutes left, Let's dig into some keys to victory.
JV and MJD. I'm looking to you who wants to
start this week? You always toss it back my way,
but yeah, Cameron has to go first, you know, I
after watching the last matchup with the Bears, I just
was really impressed with the arm strength of Drake May.
I think he's really athletic, and I think our ability
(40:34):
to contain him is going to be critical. Can we
make him wildly uncomfortable? So that's going to be my
key to victory, and especially I just am replaying to
a little bit on that first touchdown, and so I
would really like to see us have the ability to
kind of slow Drake May down in a very very
slow and.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Steady I'll take your cue on first touchdown because that
was top of mine. First. I'll say short weeks have
been Sean mcvay's special time and early alarm kickoffs have
been good to Sean mcfay's Rams over the year too.
So you're going short week, early time zone, rise and shine,
and so I'm kind of thinking, like my key is
start and finish, Start and finish for once, build a
(41:14):
lead for once, put an opponent away. You know, if
you were listening that we were talking about this on
Monday night. The Rams have been held completely scoreless in
six of their nine first quarters. Yikes. And to the
point about finishing, they have four wins, right, but like
two have been walkoffs San Francisco and Seattle, and then
(41:35):
the other two have been saved by the defense at
the end because the offense couldn't deliver that dagger Las
Vegas and Minnesota. So again, I'm continuing to lower the
floor with like least insightful key to victory in between
the Horns history. But take the lead and extend the lead. Yeah, no, duh,
that's it for me.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
Yeah, I think I'm gonna kind of piggyback that on
that a little bit. I think getting the first first
down on your first drive to start the game was huge,
and I think scoring on your first drive is huge.
But I also think coming out of half if we
if we do win the toss and you defer scoring
then because those that's how you start fast. And I
(42:12):
thought the Rams were on their way to doing that.
I was gonna like rag on you too, like in
the broadcast, like, ah, here we go, jab they did
it right. I was ready to go. But taking advantage
of those opportunities to start the game fast is gonna
be very important for the Rams offensively because if you notice,
like they'll if they don't start fast, it's kind of like, oh,
then it takes a little while for them to get going.
But if they do start fast, you get that first
(42:33):
down early, you kind of get in a rhythm a
little bit. You either kick a field goal early on
or you score a touchdown. When they're upbeat, they can go.
And so it's just about getting that momentum going. So
I'm gonna piggyback with you and say scoring in the
first first drive of the of the game and then
whatever if it's coming out of half having the ball.
Speaker 2 (42:52):
And if the offense needs a mulligan, like, look, the
one thing I think the defense can and will do
better is like beat the opponent script right like Vikings
went right down a couple of times Miami did it too.
As great as they've been, and let me say it again,
they have been an elite defense now like this is
a defense driven team until proven otherwise. And there's nothing
wrong with that except for our summer preconceptions. But maybe
(43:14):
another step forward for them this week defeat that Patriots script.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
I like it. I'll give you a couple of anecdotes
to close this thing out. The Patriots O line has
had some issues healthwise that might be good for the
Rams pass thrush. They've got ten different starters on this season,
eleven different combinations. And I also feel like we just
need to give a big star on the homework of
Cardi the kicker.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
Oh yeah, I could call out Yeah, I mean five
really should have been six?
Speaker 2 (43:40):
Yeah, I should have been The fifty two is good
with plenty of spare, right, but when it turned into
fifty seven, all right, he gets What about where the
folks can can buy the jacket that you're wearing? Because
I know that comment is coming.
Speaker 1 (43:51):
How about a yeah, yeah, it's coming. I believe you
can buy this on ramsfl dot com, so c along
those lines. I don't have the exact I'm sorry, fan
shop there you go. Yeah, how sweet is this? I'll
give you a guice, it'll turn around pretty sweet.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
Which collection is that?
Speaker 1 (44:07):
I believe this is from Russell Westbrook?
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Correct well, russ Go Bruins.
Speaker 1 (44:13):
Shout out to our marketing game.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
They turned it around.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
Huh forgetting the hook?
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Okay, listen, man, there's great things can happen in the
month of November. We're just excited to be able to
play another game. I didn't know who were playing this week.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
Do you know? Uh?
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Yeah, you're on the Friday night road at Washington Is
this the robbery game?
Speaker 3 (44:32):
I am a fan, but I have, like I got
a lot going on.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yeah, I mean, is it Sean you know? Is your
candidate he should be?
Speaker 3 (44:40):
Is it really?
Speaker 1 (44:41):
You know?
Speaker 3 (44:41):
I never lost to Washington College. I don't know what
that rivalry is, like, I.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
Never Okay, if Cameron's Coogs beat the Dogs and your
Bruins beat you dub in the same season tomorrow, will
never live it down.
Speaker 3 (44:54):
I won't even bring it up. I'll just look at him.
Speaker 1 (44:56):
I can't wait to hang it over. He said.
Speaker 2 (44:58):
He's doing great. By the way, Demark is doing au.
He's here on Monday with less. He's just he's got
a morning talk show.
Speaker 1 (45:04):
Now. Yes, I know there were some comments. We we
also we love to Marco, loved to Marco. Don't don't,
don't go wrong on that side. All right, I'm getting
the wrap up. I see Jory in the backdrop going
all right, Cam, because we definitely I told him I
wasn't gonna go along, and here we are forty five
minutes later. I'm so sorry, but hey, we're.
Speaker 2 (45:20):
Soot I did. It was just so subtle.
Speaker 1 (45:23):
We got it was the golden snitch. I was talking.
I was going to talk about quaffles, but then I
just got a little aggressive. Somebody got the Harry Potter reference.
Yes I'm a total nerd, but hey, thanks so much
for joining us on this episode of Between the Horns,
brought to you by our Southern California tour, the Dealers,
Cameron Irwin, m J D, and of course J B.
Speaker 2 (45:44):
Long.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
We can't wait to see you
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