December 10, 2024 • 37 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr, and Stu Jackson talk takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams' Week 14 win over the Buffalo Bills, offensive explosion led by wide receiver Puka Nacua, impact of special teams, keys to victory against the San Francisco 49ers, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
All right, it's forty nine er week. It is Thursday
night football, and so we're here early a Tuesday edition
of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers.
I'm JB. Long with my longtime best friend Marco Farri, yes, sir,
and my new sworn enemy who I will not speak
to during this entire show, Jackson.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh my goodness, he's dead. Talk your trash.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Too, Come on, man, Oh Indiana the Dame of the College. Yeah,
he's not. Yes, Brandon. For me, I was just trying
to figure out. I'm like, oh im possibly miss like, oh,
that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome to the party. Yes, December twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
That's right. You want to go?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Why not? Let's do it?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You and me on the way to what the meadowlands?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yes, I mean perfect.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Just make a stop in Chicago, drive to south.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Why don't you think of that sooner?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I'm gonna check the weather first before I make good
on that invitation. But let's talk after the show. Even
though we're not talking. How you guys doing.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Good man psych stuff? Yeah? Psike, still buzzing off Sunday
and trying to get your mind right for Thursday. It
is forty nine er week. Like you said, it's it's
a lot at stake. Always when you play that team
up North, it's always gonna be something knock down, drag out.
But I mean, it just seems like this one has
a little bit more spice in it than normal. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yeah, we're gonna spend a lot of time on the
forty nine ers. Of course, this is a preview edition
of Week fifteen. We're gonna go inside the race for
the division, the NFC West. We're down to the final
four games. We'll look at remaining schedules, who's got the
best path. But that game was so good, so good
on Sunday that I think will devote a significant portion
looking back to Buffalo, not to bask in the win necessarily,
(01:50):
but to figure out what to take from it.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Why not basket, let's say, ante, I mean, it's a
short week, That's that's the worst thing about a short
week is we don't get the basket in that because
you just beat arguably the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So I texted you guys this morning to that point,
like there was so much good data to come out
of that, Like what was your favorite stat nugget?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Pull through.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Where does your mind go.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Well, mine's going to be very simple, but I went
to the one hundred and thirty seven rushing yards and
the rushing yards the Rams had one week thirteen against
the Saints, one thirty seven again against the Bills. Seen
the success the run games had and what that's meant
for play action and just this offense as a whole. Yeah,
I mean, like I said, simple but to me effective
and tells part of the story with why this offense
(02:36):
has been clicking last time.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
No desks. There's nine guys in the NFL right now
that have a thousand rushing yards and Kiren's one of them,
and he's got twelve rushing touchdowns. That's that's all. Anytime
you run the ball great. But from that game, my
favorite stat is a donut a zero zero sacks allowed.
I mean, you could say that on both sides. Both
quarterbacks were fantastic, but for this line, this quarterback, this
(02:58):
system to give up no sacks and I think it
was just three hurries. That's a great job by the
O line. Great job by Matthew Stafford keeping yourself upright
and protecting yourself. But great job by the old line
going nose to nose with a pretty good Buffalo defense
and coming away with zero sacks allowed. That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, there's no bad choices here. I went eleven for
fifteen on third down, the highest conversion rate of the
Sean McVay era. The Rams had really been struggling in
that regard, and even on their first possession right like
the Bills win the coin toss elected defer. I'm saying
great because there's only one path of victory here. It's
to win from in front. But if you don't convert
(03:34):
that first third down, we're probably not sitting here even
starting with this conversation.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
This is true.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, I think the other best stat is forty four
tell us more. That's the points. Yeah, that's the only
staff that matters, right, Yeah. Points.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I'm looking at my phone to make sure that I
can share our production staffs pick for this one.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Because Rudy and Bing and Fair and Tim, they do
such a great job. I want to give them a
voice here. They went with teams with at least six
touchdowns and zero giveaways in a game where two hundred
and forty five and oh in the Super Bowl era
before Week fourteen, it's so far no way and the
Wos beat the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Historic. How about that? Yeah? Historic, historic, unreal. I love
the way coach McVeigh put it. That guy was an
alien and you he was. You out that he was unreal,
and you outlasted him and you beat him. So that's
got to give you a lift going into Thursday.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, let's play fill in the blank. If I
said a sentence something the effect of, now that you
know the twenty twenty four Rams offense can do that,
finish that sentence.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Score forty four points.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, now that you know, Now that you know the
offense can do that.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Uh, let me see protect like that. I'll keep going
back to that is, if you can keep Stafford that
available in the pretty much every passing rep, then you
know who stops you. If Puka and Nakua can be,
you know, that dominant in the open field versus some
good corners, then who stops you? If you can run
the football in that situation, then who stops you? So
(05:05):
if you can protect like that, then yeah, the Rams
have a shot to be one of the more dangerous
teams down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I'll borrow from a piece of that and I'll say
if they can run the ball like that. I mean
that like like I mentioned earlier, I mean the way
that opened things up in the play action and just
the numbers you see with how lethal Matthew has been,
you know, when he's been able to work with that
and even and obviously McVeagh of course from a play
calling standpoint, I mean that's huge. You know, that helps
with the protection and you know, keeps them head of
(05:34):
the sticks. Goes back to the third down conversion rate. Sure,
you know it wasn't the most efficient day last week obviously,
but they ran the ball and were productive enough where
it was enough to keep the Bills honest and open
up that play action.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I know what you're gonna say, but go ahead call it. No,
go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I think fans of this show might remember me saying
in previous weeks that what I liked about where the
Rams were at this stage of the season is the
defense had set a foundation and floor with the way
they were playing. We just didn't know where the offense
was building the ceiling the roof. I'm gonna adjust that
a little bit. I think the floor is probably a
little bit lower now than it was a month ago.
(06:13):
The defense has some flaws they've come to the surface.
But thankfully that performance on Sunday makes me believe that
the twenty four Rams ultimately have become the team we
thought they could be way back this summer, which is
an offensive driven team, because in the end, I think
this team goes as far as Matthew Stafford takes them.
I believe that in my bones, and I think when
(06:35):
the pass rush for the Rams is not terminating, there's
some deficiencies behind it and the second and third levels
of the defense.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
If you weren't facing a Martian that's at least seven sacks.
I mean, you got to him. You touched him on
either solo rushes one on one guys, or you got
guys that got home. You just couldn't get him on
the ground. So I'm convinced that effort would stop most offenses.
It just didn't stop him. So I wouldn't say they
had a bad day. I would just say the guy
(07:02):
had a great day. But I thought you were going
to say end the rounds. That's what I thought you
were going to say that. If they can do that,
then so be it, because we've been begging for end
of rounds.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I'm gonna get to McVeigh in just a second. That's
part of my McVeigh monologue that's coming. But the reason
I bring up the defense is because you look at
what's left. Yeah, Purty and the Niners top ten offense,
and I think they're finding their best stride right now.
Say what you will about the Jets. I know they've
been a disaster, but if you get Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson,
DeVante Adams on the field at the same time, you're
(07:33):
gonna have your hands full. Kyler and the Cardinals still
a top ten offense. And then did you see what
Sharboney and the Seahawks did last week? Like again, there
is no easy week at the office, especially not on
defense the rest of the way. So I feel like,
why you don't need to score forty four per game?
You need more of that than what we saw on
the front half of this schedule.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Offense, Yeah, that was a buzzkill. There goes Buffalo right there.
But no, I mean San Francisco this offense this week,
they're timing their position, their precision. I mean, it doesn't
get any easy year and they can score on you.
So you don't get the rest just because you beat Buffalo,
you have to even take it up a notch. But
I do I agree with you one hundred percent. This
should be an offensive led football team. And if the
(08:12):
offense can score points, and let me add, if you
can continue to rush the passer like you are, if
you can continue to win your one on ones and
create those matchups, then you have a shot to be
I guess, reach your potential as a twenty twenty four
RAMS team.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
The other thing about the San Francisco offense too, is
they've been able to produce in this way despite not
having Brandon Aiyuk season ending knee injury in Week seven,
down Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason in the last game,
and you know, debo not producing at the level that
most people, I would say, are accustomed to. I mean
with the wait Kittle and Juwan Jennings didn't last week.
(08:46):
I mean they've been, you know, still able to have
some pretty good performances here.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Oh we know Jennings, yep, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
All right, mister talk radio. Oh whatever, Well, I know
that you've been battling, you've been finding a good fight.
Now that Sean mcface got it and we know that
he still got it. How was your Monday Tuesday show?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Okay, so this was the funny one today. They thought
that Sean McVay like had unveiled some new playbook. I
don't think it's a new playbook. I think they're executing
better and they're getting better protection. So it looks like
there's a different offense. But some of their points they're
they're they're valid. We said this on game day when
two two's out there, it seems like good things happen.
(09:24):
DeMarcus Robinson's having a great year. It's not just Pooka
and Cooper Cup. There's a lot of guys having a
great year. But when you get that protection up front
and you're blocking the run, well you have the benefit
of play action. It looks like magic or looks like
something new, but it's the same plays. They're just being
run better.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, but when's the last time you saw ten personnel?
When's the last time?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Long time, in a long time.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
How about the struck a genius that we're gonna put
the Jets sweep on ice for about a month just
so we can break it out with pook against the
Buffalo Bills and save it.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yes, it works.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Point Yeah, twelve more runs than p Come on, come on,
that was the good stuff, right there.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
See that that's the stuff where like you think that
Sean McVay is just all passing, he's not. He likes
to run the football. You just have to be effective
doing it. So I think they're having success, which opens
everything up. But okay, ten personnel, you're right.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
He is a great volume shooter though, you know what
I mean, Like, yeah, yeah, he can be efficient too,
But Sean is at his best when you can get
that play count up. He saws the puzzle and he
just continues to twist the night.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
He was in his bag. Yep, you have to give
him a lot of.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
And even not just in that moment in time. But again,
let's appreciate this for what it is, because we talked
about it last week too. He got in front of
a one in fourteen and kept them bought in and
believing and dragged them all the way back to six
and six and now for the first time above five hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I mean, you were there. He talked about it on
the Coaches Show, how he had to get not more involved,
but just he was present in every drill, in every meeting,
and I keep telling you guys, man, when you're head
coach shows up in your meeting room and he's not
normally there, that changes you. That changes your attitude, That
changes everything. When he's coaching his butt off, you have
no choice but to play your butt off. So it's
(11:11):
buy in on every level, from the coaches on down.
And I think that's what the streak has been about.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You know, well still has it QB one, Oh yeah,
did you doubt it? It's more just I think you
were right to say last week, and you can articulate
this better than I recap your thought. But for the
Rams to finish this, to climb the mountain and get
to the finish line, he's got to be better than
what Josh Allen Brock Purty A rod Kyler gino. Yeah,
(11:38):
one down, four to go.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yeah, he just had to be better. Like going back
to New Orleans that when they had the ball for
one minute two seconds in the first quarter. One, that's
a defensive issue. You can't let New Orleans drag you
for an entire quarter. You got to get off the field.
But secondly, if he's a little more accurate on that
first drive, they're still on the field and we're not
talking about this, so I think that had been a
little bit of an issue, but he straightened it out
(12:01):
versus Buffalo when it mattered most. So there that guy,
that number nine is what you need from here on
out if you want to be a playoff or a
division winner.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think a big piece to that too, has been,
like we've talked about a lot already, just the protection
and especially that continuity up front. Just having that same
starting five on the offensive line. I mean, to me,
it's no coincidence that some of the best numbers that
he's put up over the last two games, over the
last four games have been just the health of that
group and the fact that he's had, especially the last
two games, that the same five to work with and
(12:31):
not having to worry about many moving parts in that group.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's why I give Kyron some dat on thousand yards
and this is what your fifth line that you had
to work with at least different at least and you're
still churning out some yards. So that has to affect
running game and passing game. But here we are at
seven and six. Stu.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You know where I see your point is in the
different ways that Matthew is willing and thriving and being
able to play. I still don't think his favorite thing
to do is to step under center and turn his
back to the line of scrimmage and play action. But
you look at his numbers. He's bawling in that regard.
And yet there were moments in that game against Buffalo
where he kind of got back to playing matt and
(13:10):
they went to empty. His number is an empty last week.
Seven for seven ninety seven yards, two touchdowns. Not bad, right,
That's like, we don't want him to fall in love
with that, right, there's some peril there, especially going to
San Francisco. We'll see what the weather has to do.
But knowing that you can win that way and that
you can get under center and pound the rock with
that offensive line back intact, It's not lost on me
(13:31):
that Puka and Cooper were inactive the last time they played.
These forty nine ers, like, those are all good things,
all right, at least one more game for you here
before we get onto.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The fort I don't mind him falling in love with
great stats. I really don't. Yeah, if it's working, fall
in love with it, let's let's go that.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Yeah, all right, filling this plank for me, Puka is
a top what receiver in the National Football League as
at this moment.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'll you go first, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I'm gonna say it. Top five.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That's where i am.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Top five receiver. Is that what you meant? Is he
a top five guy?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Or like, where do you draw the line?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Oh? I was gonna say he's.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Top is he top three? Is he all Pro? Is
he Pro Bowl?
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, this is funny. I was gonna say top one
of one guy, and we had this little mini discussion.
I think he is a better receiving version of a
Deebo Samuel. He's a bigger, physical guy. Now you can't
put him in the dot and have him take carries
like Debo. But I don't think Debo runs routes like Puka.
But they're both big, physical, the factor in the run game,
(14:35):
and he runs great routes and he makes great catches.
So I think he's one of the best one of
one guys that you have in the NFL. I think
the only thing that that might be missing is the
explosives to take the top off the defense. But he
flat kills you in from the middle of the field out,
So I mean, how do you guard that and if
(14:56):
he catches it and turns north and south and you're
a small corner like stut, you got problems.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, I mean there's still that shortlist. What you just referenced,
the chases that Jefferson's, the CDs, the AJ's like. But
after that, I'm gonna have the argument, no doubt. So
that's why I'm saying five, Like ste I think is
a pretty good place to draw the line. The way
he's playing right now because of all the things he
can do.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Got top three hair though top one hair, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
That's undisputed. I also want to talk Cooper Cup here
because I think in the same breath that we admire
where Puka has taken his game to in year two,
I don't want to get lost in the moment and
miss vintage Cooper Cup days like last Sunday at Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
In a movie about him, toy story. He's woody right now, Yeah,
buzz light years bawling, But what are you still your guy? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So you got a better depth of history in this
game than I do. Larry Fitzgerald is the name that's
kind of percolating right now really in terms of like
the way he reinvented himself, is too strong, But you
know how he matured, found new wrinkles, Yeah, extended his career.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I mean you would think it's a less of
a lesser role. Like if Pooka is number one, that
means Cooper is number two. But it's almost picking your
spots to kill you faster. So if you're having or
focusing a lot of your attention on Pooka Nakua, which
is probably what's going to happen from here on out,
then that means Cooper singled up. And if you think
(16:29):
he's lost a step, you've got issues. Well, that's the
same stuff we just said about him. We could say
about Cooper Cup.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
That's why I was careful to mention it now, because
he's coming off a game in which the Rams used
him to attack Buffalo vertically, right like they got after
it through the air with Cooper Cup, and then they said, hey,
can you make Von Miller disappear in your spare time?
Can you get the kickout block on the game clinching
touchdown that we throw to Pooka letter perfect? Do you
(16:55):
know that Cooper Cup has run almost a mile and
a half in pre snap motion. This shit year at
age thirty one. They're they're making him get cardio in
for pre snap reads and he's doing it as well
as ever. Like I don't know, my appreciation for him
continues to grow, continues to grow.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I mean, he's one of the smartest receivers in the
National Football League to me, if you're singling him up like,
he's going to find a way to make you pay.
And so good to have somebody like that out there
catching passes from Matthews.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Love it. Okay, So put your second best corner on
Cooper Cups, see what happens.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Good luck.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
That's good luck with that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, And the third on de Marcus and your fourth
on two.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Two, good luck with ride. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Don't want to look over the Rams special teams being
on a two game winning streak like as much as anything.
That's why the Rams are sitting here at seven and
six is because two games in a row they've been
better than their opponent in the third phase. Let's keep
that streak alive.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
The block was unreal, asked Humble about that, and the
the the stunt to get him free. They designed it.
It worked like a charm And I said, that's half
of it. When he took the ball off the punter's foot.
Do you know how hard that is to do to
block it that perfect with one hand, to take it
right off his foot and send it backwards. I mean,
most guys missing that, they panic and miss or rough
(18:10):
the guy. Great block and even better job by Hunter
long scooping that thing. It's great, he almost kicked it,
didn't he right? But settling yourself to scoop and score,
I mean, to me, that was the biggest play of
the game.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
And I mean special teams has been huge for this
team when you know, talking about complimentary performances as much
as you know, we've seen the offense and defense support
each other and some of them, you know, critical wins
that this team has gotten this season. What's really made
a difference is when special teams has been able to
come through and make plays like that, even even if
you know the blocks or whatever it may be don't
(18:43):
result in touchdowns, but that obviously, any any made field
goals like those have all been huge.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
And we see you Weddington, that's it. You're that close.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Kickoff returns, yeah one, you're that close to taking one.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I was surprised that Buffalo dared him to bring it
out after what he put on tape with that kick
return unit in New Orleans. But he got more opportunities
last week.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah, that might be your last. I mean, I wouldn't
want to give him an opportunity. Dude hit the gas
on that first one right and almost took one to
the house. If he keeps his feet, he is gone.
But I think at this point you're gonna respect him
a little bit and make him down it. You're gonna
have to. I mean, at some point watch, I think
he may wind up taking one back for the not
the distance, or at least have a big return that
(19:26):
flips field position like that, And it could happen on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
All right, last thing on Buffalo, and then we're going
to get to the division and the San Francisco forty
nine ers. But one of my lasting takeaways, you know,
those like grinch green cleats that Josh Allen was wearing.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, in the.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Game, my lasting visual is him lifting that cleat to
call for a silent count. Snap. Here's where I'm going.
Two road games followed by two gotta have at home games,
and so my appeal to our audience here is if
you are of means, and if you love the Rams,
can you please be there week seventeen and week eighteen
at Sofi Stadium Because what does it mean in terms
(20:00):
of that silent count environment. What if you are one
of the reasons the Rams are able to win this
NFC West and host Let's just say the Green Bay
Packers in a playoff game in January. That's the opportunity
in front of you Rams fans. Let me encourage you
to do it.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
How do I say this? So Jared Versu and Braden
Fisk are having great rookie seasons, right, Imagine how much
better they would be if there was crowd noise, lots
of it where you couldn't hear. I don't think you'd
block them. Think about that. You want to make the
playoffs show up? And so far help out Verse, Well,
he'll pay you back with a sack or two.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Well, when other teams, when the opponent gives him motivation,
it already takes his game up another level. Just think
of the Vikings game and the in the skull chap
that happened while a player was a teammate was the
field injured. Imagine if he had like the most if
he if he got support from the crowd or if
it was like crowd noise that really fired up him
(20:54):
up and added.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
To that, Wow, yeah, I'm with you. I'm glad you
said that. Yeah, real Rams fans, let's be there, yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
To the division. What a finish, What a setup by
the league schedule makers. See the Hawks on top at
eight and five, followed by the Rams at seven and six,
Niners in Cardinals City and at six and seven, Stu,
you want to take the baton here, you want to
lay this out. I know you were studying a little
bit before our show. What do you make of the
state of the NFC West as we hit the final month?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It's I mean, it's there for it's there for the
taking for anybody at this point, still as wide open
as it's been, and I mean those last four weeks.
I will say this, just looking ahead to some of
the other divisional opponents and you know who they have left,
it makes me glad that we got the NFC North
out of the way. Interesting because just seeing I want
(21:43):
to say, it's it's Seattle that still has Green Bay,
Minnesota left over.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
The next band Minnesota at Chicago before the finale.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
It's so far. Yeah, so yeah, and knowing how tough
that division has been, I'm very thankful that that's out
of the way, so up for grabs. And there's you know,
kind of like we were talking about earlier. I mean,
there's implications here that, you know, you win Thursday year,
you're in position to potentially get the three seater or
the four seat, depending on what happens this weekend, and
(22:11):
be firmly in the in the playoff seating here.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Wow, you know I'm only thinking of one team, right
I knew I wouldn't be able to get you past
one right now.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I mean, look about this. How much more would you
like to watch Red Zone and Sunday Night Football this
weekend coming off a win?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh god, that's what I'm hoping for. That's what we're
darn near praying for. But I mean, you got to
get by this football team. This is a big It
would be a big psychological jump for you if you
can get past San fran and then you bootstrap that
to what you did versus Buffalo. Come on, I mean,
you're flying high, and not only that, you send the
message to Arizona, to Seattle that this is a different
(22:48):
team than what you saw the first time. So yeah,
I mean, you get past san Fran, more people will
be talking about you. Then you get their best shot.
And like we said, if any team in the NA
Sea West is playing at their best outside of frame
when they're healthy, I still think you have the best
quarterback and the best roster. So if you're playing your best,
the best should win that game. So get past san
(23:10):
Fran and like I said, we'll see what happens after.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Just to tie it back to last week's show, what
we said is that beating Buffalo is not the game
the Rams had to have. Being Buffalo gave the Rams
margin for air. They earned themselves the mulligan. To use
my favorite sport, golf as the analogy, but when I play,
you can't take a mulligan to the eighteenth t You
got to use it, but you can't use it on eighteen.
The eighteenth is Seattle. You gotta win that one. Yeah,
(23:37):
that's the one you gotta win. As long as you
do that, you can afford to lose exactly as many
games as the Seahawks between now and then and be
NFC West champions.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
And I like the fact they have to come here. Yeah,
I love the fact that they have to come down here.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yes, all right, winning the West is the goal, but
I also want to focus on this moment. I know
we all do. I wait for this all year, don't
you what? Going to San fran When the schedule is
announced in early May and you see week fifteen Thursday
night football in San Jose Santa Clara. Didn't that keep
(24:12):
you up all night?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yes? Anytime, but yes, especially this year's schedule. Seeing where
they put this game, Yeah, it did raise an eyebrow,
but it is what it is. They're coming off a
short week two, so let's just get after it. It's
another matchup between awesome them and I can't wait to
get to it.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Well, and especially less season two. I mean, it feels
like it's at least the second straight year that you know,
the second matchup between these two teams has had some
sort of you know, meaningful implication in December or January,
which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
The only thing I dislike about the week is that
there's not enough days between Buffalo and the flight to
see prepare for it, right to talk about it, because again,
making the playoffs is the ultimate goal. But let's call
it what it is, beating the Niners and sweeping them
for the first time since twenty eighteen. That guarantees you
(25:07):
a good offseason, guarantees it eliminating your bitter rival as
a stepping stone potentially to winning your division.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'm trying not to smile, man.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I'm not sure anything shy of like an NFC championship
is going to hold a candle to that. That's the
opportunity in front of the Los Angeles Rams this.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Week, no doubt, the goal is Lombardy and to get
there you got to beat them. And to like you said,
to sweep them would be absolutely sweet because who knows,
I mean, their window, everybody's window is closing. Who knows
what that does to them? Which is awesome?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Am I the only one that feels that way? Though?
Like the schedule comes out and they're like, Okay, what's
your what game you're looking forward to most this year?
Without even pausing Week three, San Francisco at Sofar? Okay,
what's your second favorite game? Week fifteen, Thursday Night Football
at Levi's No doubt. Yep, here comes part two. I'll
say this though, expect the ringing NFC champions on Thursday?
(25:57):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Version of a shot. Did you watch you watch Chicago yet?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah? Yeah, you're gonna get their best shot. And they're
starting to click again. And I don't like the fact
that Deebo Samuel is starting to pop off now really,
so he's gonna get fed come Thursday, which is the
last thing you want to see.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
How you make him getting community.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
NOWE absolutely, when he starts chirping, that means he gets
the rock the next game out, so that means us
so let's have fun.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
That's like the the Marvin Harrison Cardinals week two. That's
a version of the San Francisco forty nine ers. I
wish he would have waited another week, but so be it.
I'll say this telling Nohufunga's back, Yeah, that's huge. I'm
expecting Trent Williams and Bosa and Greenlaw and Grenda. They're
all gonna play. It's proven otherwise. Brandon Auk might go,
(26:46):
I'm keeping Christian McCaffrey on my board.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
What you're expecting everybody? I like it.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Jerry Rice might make it cast. Oh, come on, I
watched Niners Bears this morning and it sent a cold
shiver down my spine. Did because you know what really
is back their screen game. Huh yards after catch? Yes,
George Kittle, like that was ridiculous. One week after whatever
that was in Buffalo that we watched on the plane
coming home from New Orleans, that team last week, i'llbe
(27:14):
it against the Bears looked like the reigning NFC champions.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
The Kittle is ridiculous what they can do with him,
But just that production and their precision, you can tell
they don't waste time at practice. They're very efficient at
what they do and it transfers to game day. I
don't know what was more impressive watching their offense or
their their pass rush. Watching Bosa good after you you know,
just watching tape of him is freaking scary to be honest.
(27:42):
But yeah, this, like you said, you should expect the
best forty nine Ers squad that you've seen all year,
and I think they should expect the best Ram squad
they seem all year. So this is gonna be a
great Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
And your old friend Leonard Floyd too.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Man, you can't count him out. That dude is like
he's the best cleanup hitter I think I've seen in
a lot long time where he just knows where to
be and where to stand and also can beat you
one on one. So yeah, both sides, both tackles have
their hands full this week.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
There's that Juan Jennings problem too, going back to Week three,
I mean, they made him look like Ayuk as I
recall it. So if I stadium, he had another great
game against the Bears.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
To yees seven catches for ninety yards and a pair
of touchdowns, and yeah, I immediately got flashbacks to the
first matchup between these two teams and the production he had.
And so yeah, he's still very much a real threat,
and he feels like he's stepped up even with Ayuk
being out with that knee injury. And I'm hoping that,
you know, obviously it's a little bit you know different
(28:38):
this time. Hopefully there's been some lessons learned from you know,
that previous matchup in terms of finding ways to defend him.
You know, hopefully having Darius Williams in this matchup will
help a lot more given some of the ways they
were having to defend.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
A good point. Okay, so he was on injury reserve
in the first month of the season. That brings me
to this week's injury report, and I know there's more
mystery then clarity here as we gather on this Tuesday,
we won't hear from Sean mcvaig again until postgame correct
at LEVI. So what do we know about gosh, anyone
from say Kobe Durant to Tyler Higbee and the chances
(29:13):
that we could see the Rams at full strength Thursday.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, so those are these those are two of the
main ones. You know, Higbee, we'll see, is what Sean
McVay said as far as his availability for this week.
You know, last week he was pretty clear that, you know,
look at for however, Higbee has looked and you know
clips and whatever that's been out there from practice there,
they've still wanted to take their time with him. And
(29:36):
as the three of us know this, this training staff
and this coaching staff are always big on return to
play versus return to performance. Return to performance is always
the standard for yeah, finally putting someone back out there.
So we'll see if that's this week. Obviously it'd be
good to have him if he's available, but you know,
if not, you're going to be you know, looking at,
(29:57):
you know, asking more from obviously as you have already
you know, Kobe Parkinson, Harlong and Davis Allen and then
with Kobe Durant one contusion from the Bills game, and
so his status you know, is still to be determined
for Thursday. Was interesting that McBay mentioned that depending on
Kobe's availability, that could potentially impact Emmanuel Forbes and his
(30:21):
status or I should say him potentially making his Rams
debut as soon as this Thursday. So we'll see how
that shakes out.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
You know, at least we know what it looks like
without Tyler Higby because of the unfortunately large sample size
so far this season. But DeMarco, what if Durant can't go,
because I think he's become the Rams' best corner. He's
put together some really nice performances, especially in light of
this style offense you're about to face. How does that
impact what you're gonna do?
Speaker 2 (30:47):
If you're Chris Shula, I feel bad for him because
I think he's having a great season and he's been
a lot tougher against the run than he has been
in seasons past. But you do have some options behind.
You still have Kello Weatherspoon, you just had, you just
added Forbes, so there's some other guys that can step
in for you. But just as far as how he
was playing with Darius Williams. You hate it that Kobe
(31:09):
Durant got hurt for this one, and I hope he plays,
but if he doesn't, you have some guys that have
played this year, and you have, like you said, a
former first rounder you just picked up to go out
there and cover and play. But if you're Chris Shula,
I don't think you change anything. I think you keep
your foot on the gas and you call what you've
been calling, and it's been working. The communication in the
back end has been great. Safety to the corner to
(31:30):
linebacker to defensive front has been exemplary. They haven't made
a ton of mistakes. So I don't think this changes
Chris Shula at all. If you have to lose one
of your corners.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
What about keys to victory, then to beat the San
Francisco forty nine ers, to extend the winning streak, to
continue to control your NFC West destiny.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
Well, because I've been talking about running the ball so
much already, I'll just go with that only because you know,
you look back at those games against Buffalo and Green
Bay that San Francisco had again, health I would say
was a fat that in part, but the way the
Packers ran the ball against the Niners, the way the
Bills ran the ball against the Niners. Like again, the
(32:11):
Niners run defense was impacted in part by not having
a fully healthy group, but that was one of the
ways that they were those two teams were able to
separate from San Francisco in those matchups. Beyond that, to me,
if you can keep that momentum going from these last
two weeks, have like I talked about earlier, with just
again having those play action opportunities and keeping that pressure
(32:32):
off of Stafford being efficiently early downs to get those
third down conversions or make those more manageable. It starts
with that for me.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
Hmm, I think this is where we start talking about
off ball linebacker again because of what they do and
they're so good at like negating your front. Even when
Aaron was here, when they ran the football, it almost
negated his ability. So this is a linebacking game. So
I would say keys to victory for me. If Space
and Rose Boom are your leading tacklers, I think you're
(33:02):
doing pretty good. If safeties are your leading tacklers, I
think you might have some issues. So those two guys
and like you said the screen game, it's going to
be ultra important for them to read, diagnose, and then
get to the ball. And that's just half of it.
Now you've got to get them on the ground. So
those two off ball guys, I think we'll tell the
story of this game.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
So I'm gonna ask you to give us defending screen
game coaching points here in a second, I'll give you mine.
It's Quinton Lake if for some reason Durank can't go.
I think this is where having a chess piece like
Captain Q who can play in the slot if need be,
who can let you leverage your safety, depth and clarity
maybe to your advantage in a game like this, Who
can combat at George Kittle, who can hopefully diagnose and
(33:41):
defend screen I think he might be my most important
player on Thursday Night Football. But let's go back to that.
If you're coaching this front on screen defense against the
forty nine ers who can throw it to their receivers,
they can throw it to their backs, including use check.
I saw a lot of tight end to lay stuff
like Kitt'll just lingering around the line of screen image
coming free with blockers.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, uh, read and react. You got to read your keys,
and you got to have help from inside out so
as the front. And it was told to me when
I was a youngster, and I'm sure they're telling Verse
and Fisk and all the guys, even Kobe Turner. If
you're free in this league up front, you're free for
a reason. So if you think it was too easy
to get to brock Purty, it probably was turn around
and redirect and get back into pursuit because it's probably
(34:22):
going to be a screen. So those guys, those off
ball guys and Quentin Lake captain Q I love that
what you call them. Uh, they're going to be pursuing
over the top with blockers in front. So if they
can find a way to nuggy through and make a play,
that's half. You've got to have that inside outside pursuit.
So it's not just getting to the passer, it's redirecting,
getting downhill and getting that guy on the ground. It's
all eleven versus their screen game. They're that good at it,
(34:45):
so you need all eleven to stop it.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Final thoughts, I don't want to go. I want to well,
the one we avoided and we we keep avoiding it.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
As Sean McVay keeps avoidant field goals. It's stole an
issue and this could come down to a field goal.
This is how tight this game could be. So whatever
it is, you've got to find a way to make
that ball go through the uprights.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Well, two things, Cardi's a Niner killer, we know that
a yes. And two I love the identity that Sean
McVay put out there. I mean his game management, clock
management personnal. I thought that was just as good a
game as I've seen from him in a long time
against the Buffalo Bills, Like the six point lead is
the worst lead in late game situations in the National
(35:31):
Football League, to the fact that he had no interest
in going up six with the field goal there, that
he stepped on the gas and went for fourth down
against Allen and the Bills coming the other way, Like
that was I felt like progress. That felt like the
right answer. Glad it paid off.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
That's how you become great man. You got to hang
it all out there. Absolutely, yeah, I mean yeah, you
can tell when he's in his bag by the way
he strolls that sideline and he's got that look in
his eyes. So when he's ahead of you, as a
play caller on the other side, a DC, you've got problems.
The time you catch up, he's already to the counters.
So carry that to San Francisco and we'll see what.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
And from Cardi's standpoint, don't take it as an indictment
or any loss of confidence. I mean, maybe that's where
it started. But have you seen what Matthew Stafford is
doing lately. Again, Let's keep the keys in the Hall
of Fame quarterback's hands and take our chances as opposed
to rolling the dice, maybe in the rain on the
road with a rookie place game.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Amen. Yeah, bro, Yeah, Like I said, my favorite stat
zero no sacks. Keep that guy up, you got you
got stuff.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah, that was fun and I know there's even better
to come. Thank you, Stu, even though we're not really friends.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Talk man, get him. Look at you. Look at that.
That's that Indiana stare.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
That's a quiet confidence that makes me nervous that Sue's
got something up his sleeve for South Bend.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Demarko going to be with you always, man.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
All right, for these two and all the people who
make this show possible. Thank you for joining us for
a special Tuesday addition leading into Thursday Night football of
Between the Horns, still presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers,
All right, it's forty nine er week. It is Thursday
night football, and so we're here early a Tuesday edition
of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers.
I'm JB. Long with my longtime best friend Marco Farri, yes, sir,
and my new sworn enemy who I will not speak
to during this entire show, Jackson.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh my goodness, he's dead. Talk your trash.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Too, Come on, man, Oh Indiana the Dame of the College. Yeah,
he's not. Yes, Brandon. For me, I was just trying
to figure out. I'm like, oh im possibly miss like, oh,
that's right.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Welcome to the party. Yes, December twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
That's right. You want to go?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Why not? Let's do it?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You and me on the way to what the meadowlands?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yes, I mean perfect.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Just make a stop in Chicago, drive to south.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Why don't you think of that sooner?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
I'm gonna check the weather first before I make good
on that invitation. But let's talk after the show. Even
though we're not talking. How you guys doing.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Good man psych stuff? Yeah? Psike, still buzzing off Sunday
and trying to get your mind right for Thursday. It
is forty nine er week. Like you said, it's it's
a lot at stake. Always when you play that team
up North, it's always gonna be something knock down, drag out.
But I mean, it just seems like this one has
a little bit more spice in it than normal. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yeah, we're gonna spend a lot of time on the
forty nine ers. Of course, this is a preview edition
of Week fifteen. We're gonna go inside the race for
the division, the NFC West. We're down to the final
four games. We'll look at remaining schedules, who's got the
best path. But that game was so good, so good
on Sunday that I think will devote a significant portion
looking back to Buffalo, not to bask in the win necessarily,
(01:50):
but to figure out what to take from it.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Why not basket, let's say, ante, I mean, it's a
short week, That's that's the worst thing about a short
week is we don't get the basket in that because
you just beat arguably the best team in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
So I texted you guys this morning to that point,
like there was so much good data to come out
of that, Like what was your favorite stat nugget?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Pull through.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Where does your mind go.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Well, mine's going to be very simple, but I went
to the one hundred and thirty seven rushing yards and
the rushing yards the Rams had one week thirteen against
the Saints, one thirty seven again against the Bills. Seen
the success the run games had and what that's meant
for play action and just this offense as a whole. Yeah,
I mean, like I said, simple but to me effective
and tells part of the story with why this offense
(02:36):
has been clicking last time.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
No desks. There's nine guys in the NFL right now
that have a thousand rushing yards and Kiren's one of them,
and he's got twelve rushing touchdowns. That's that's all. Anytime
you run the ball great. But from that game, my
favorite stat is a donut a zero zero sacks allowed.
I mean, you could say that on both sides. Both
quarterbacks were fantastic, but for this line, this quarterback, this
(02:58):
system to give up no sacks and I think it
was just three hurries. That's a great job by the
O line. Great job by Matthew Stafford keeping yourself upright
and protecting yourself. But great job by the old line
going nose to nose with a pretty good Buffalo defense
and coming away with zero sacks allowed. That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, there's no bad choices here. I went eleven for
fifteen on third down, the highest conversion rate of the
Sean McVay era. The Rams had really been struggling in
that regard, and even on their first possession right like
the Bills win the coin toss elected defer. I'm saying
great because there's only one path of victory here. It's
to win from in front. But if you don't convert
(03:34):
that first third down, we're probably not sitting here even
starting with this conversation.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
This is true.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, I think the other best stat is forty four
tell us more. That's the points. Yeah, that's the only
staff that matters, right, Yeah. Points.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
I'm looking at my phone to make sure that I
can share our production staffs pick for this one.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Because Rudy and Bing and Fair and Tim, they do
such a great job. I want to give them a
voice here. They went with teams with at least six
touchdowns and zero giveaways in a game where two hundred
and forty five and oh in the Super Bowl era
before Week fourteen, it's so far no way and the
Wos beat the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Historic. How about that? Yeah? Historic, historic, unreal. I love
the way coach McVeigh put it. That guy was an
alien and you he was. You out that he was unreal,
and you outlasted him and you beat him. So that's
got to give you a lift going into Thursday.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, let's play fill in the blank. If I
said a sentence something the effect of, now that you
know the twenty twenty four Rams offense can do that,
finish that sentence.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Score forty four points.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, now that you know, Now that you know the
offense can do that.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Uh, let me see protect like that. I'll keep going
back to that is, if you can keep Stafford that
available in the pretty much every passing rep, then you
know who stops you. If Puka and Nakua can be,
you know, that dominant in the open field versus some
good corners, then who stops you? If you can run
the football in that situation, then who stops you? So
(05:05):
if you can protect like that, then yeah, the Rams
have a shot to be one of the more dangerous
teams down the stretch.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I'll borrow from a piece of that and I'll say
if they can run the ball like that. I mean
that like like I mentioned earlier, I mean the way
that opened things up in the play action and just
the numbers you see with how lethal Matthew has been,
you know, when he's been able to work with that
and even and obviously McVeagh of course from a play
calling standpoint, I mean that's huge. You know, that helps
with the protection and you know, keeps them head of
(05:34):
the sticks. Goes back to the third down conversion rate. Sure,
you know it wasn't the most efficient day last week obviously,
but they ran the ball and were productive enough where
it was enough to keep the Bills honest and open
up that play action.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I know what you're gonna say, but go ahead call it. No,
go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I think fans of this show might remember me saying
in previous weeks that what I liked about where the
Rams were at this stage of the season is the
defense had set a foundation and floor with the way
they were playing. We just didn't know where the offense
was building the ceiling the roof. I'm gonna adjust that
a little bit. I think the floor is probably a
little bit lower now than it was a month ago.
(06:13):
The defense has some flaws they've come to the surface.
But thankfully that performance on Sunday makes me believe that
the twenty four Rams ultimately have become the team we
thought they could be way back this summer, which is
an offensive driven team, because in the end, I think
this team goes as far as Matthew Stafford takes them.
I believe that in my bones, and I think when
(06:35):
the pass rush for the Rams is not terminating, there's
some deficiencies behind it and the second and third levels
of the defense.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
If you weren't facing a Martian that's at least seven sacks.
I mean, you got to him. You touched him on
either solo rushes one on one guys, or you got
guys that got home. You just couldn't get him on
the ground. So I'm convinced that effort would stop most offenses.
It just didn't stop him. So I wouldn't say they
had a bad day. I would just say the guy
(07:02):
had a great day. But I thought you were going
to say end the rounds. That's what I thought you
were going to say that. If they can do that,
then so be it, because we've been begging for end
of rounds.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I'm gonna get to McVeigh in just a second. That's
part of my McVeigh monologue that's coming. But the reason
I bring up the defense is because you look at
what's left. Yeah, Purty and the Niners top ten offense,
and I think they're finding their best stride right now.
Say what you will about the Jets. I know they've
been a disaster, but if you get Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson,
DeVante Adams on the field at the same time, you're
(07:33):
gonna have your hands full. Kyler and the Cardinals still
a top ten offense. And then did you see what
Sharboney and the Seahawks did last week? Like again, there
is no easy week at the office, especially not on
defense the rest of the way. So I feel like,
why you don't need to score forty four per game?
You need more of that than what we saw on
the front half of this schedule.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Offense, Yeah, that was a buzzkill. There goes Buffalo right there.
But no, I mean San Francisco this offense this week,
they're timing their position, their precision. I mean, it doesn't
get any easy year and they can score on you.
So you don't get the rest just because you beat Buffalo,
you have to even take it up a notch. But
I do I agree with you one hundred percent. This
should be an offensive led football team. And if the
(08:12):
offense can score points, and let me add, if you
can continue to rush the passer like you are, if
you can continue to win your one on ones and
create those matchups, then you have a shot to be
I guess, reach your potential as a twenty twenty four
RAMS team.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
The other thing about the San Francisco offense too, is
they've been able to produce in this way despite not
having Brandon Aiyuk season ending knee injury in Week seven,
down Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason in the last game,
and you know, debo not producing at the level that
most people, I would say, are accustomed to. I mean
with the wait Kittle and Juwan Jennings didn't last week.
(08:46):
I mean they've been, you know, still able to have
some pretty good performances here.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Oh we know Jennings, yep, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
All right, mister talk radio. Oh whatever, Well, I know
that you've been battling, you've been finding a good fight.
Now that Sean mcface got it and we know that
he still got it. How was your Monday Tuesday show?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Okay, so this was the funny one today. They thought
that Sean McVay like had unveiled some new playbook. I
don't think it's a new playbook. I think they're executing
better and they're getting better protection. So it looks like
there's a different offense. But some of their points they're
they're they're valid. We said this on game day when
two two's out there, it seems like good things happen.
(09:24):
DeMarcus Robinson's having a great year. It's not just Pooka
and Cooper Cup. There's a lot of guys having a
great year. But when you get that protection up front
and you're blocking the run, well you have the benefit
of play action. It looks like magic or looks like
something new, but it's the same plays. They're just being
run better.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Yeah, but when's the last time you saw ten personnel?
When's the last time?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Long time, in a long time.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
How about the struck a genius that we're gonna put
the Jets sweep on ice for about a month just
so we can break it out with pook against the
Buffalo Bills and save it.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yes, it works.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Point Yeah, twelve more runs than p Come on, come on,
that was the good stuff, right there.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
See that that's the stuff where like you think that
Sean McVay is just all passing, he's not. He likes
to run the football. You just have to be effective
doing it. So I think they're having success, which opens
everything up. But okay, ten personnel, you're right.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
He is a great volume shooter though, you know what
I mean, Like, yeah, yeah, he can be efficient too,
But Sean is at his best when you can get
that play count up. He saws the puzzle and he
just continues to twist the night.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
He was in his bag. Yep, you have to give
him a lot of.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
And even not just in that moment in time. But again,
let's appreciate this for what it is, because we talked
about it last week too. He got in front of
a one in fourteen and kept them bought in and
believing and dragged them all the way back to six
and six and now for the first time above five hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I mean, you were there. He talked about it on
the Coaches Show, how he had to get not more involved,
but just he was present in every drill, in every meeting,
and I keep telling you guys, man, when you're head
coach shows up in your meeting room and he's not
normally there, that changes you. That changes your attitude, That
changes everything. When he's coaching his butt off, you have
no choice but to play your butt off. So it's
(11:11):
buy in on every level, from the coaches on down.
And I think that's what the streak has been about.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You know, well still has it QB one, Oh yeah,
did you doubt it? It's more just I think you
were right to say last week, and you can articulate
this better than I recap your thought. But for the
Rams to finish this, to climb the mountain and get
to the finish line, he's got to be better than
what Josh Allen Brock Purty A rod Kyler gino. Yeah,
(11:38):
one down, four to go.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yeah, he just had to be better. Like going back
to New Orleans that when they had the ball for
one minute two seconds in the first quarter. One, that's
a defensive issue. You can't let New Orleans drag you
for an entire quarter. You got to get off the field.
But secondly, if he's a little more accurate on that
first drive, they're still on the field and we're not
talking about this, so I think that had been a
little bit of an issue, but he straightened it out
(12:01):
versus Buffalo when it mattered most. So there that guy,
that number nine is what you need from here on
out if you want to be a playoff or a
division winner.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think a big piece to that too, has been,
like we've talked about a lot already, just the protection
and especially that continuity up front. Just having that same
starting five on the offensive line. I mean, to me,
it's no coincidence that some of the best numbers that
he's put up over the last two games, over the
last four games have been just the health of that
group and the fact that he's had, especially the last
two games, that the same five to work with and
(12:31):
not having to worry about many moving parts in that group.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's why I give Kyron some dat on thousand yards
and this is what your fifth line that you had
to work with at least different at least and you're
still churning out some yards. So that has to affect
running game and passing game. But here we are at
seven and six. Stu.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
You know where I see your point is in the
different ways that Matthew is willing and thriving and being
able to play. I still don't think his favorite thing
to do is to step under center and turn his
back to the line of scrimmage and play action. But
you look at his numbers. He's bawling in that regard.
And yet there were moments in that game against Buffalo
where he kind of got back to playing matt and
(13:10):
they went to empty. His number is an empty last week.
Seven for seven ninety seven yards, two touchdowns. Not bad, right,
That's like, we don't want him to fall in love
with that, right, there's some peril there, especially going to
San Francisco. We'll see what the weather has to do.
But knowing that you can win that way and that
you can get under center and pound the rock with
that offensive line back intact, It's not lost on me
(13:31):
that Puka and Cooper were inactive the last time they played.
These forty nine ers, like, those are all good things,
all right, at least one more game for you here
before we get onto.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
The fort I don't mind him falling in love with
great stats. I really don't. Yeah, if it's working, fall
in love with it, let's let's go that.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Yeah, all right, filling this plank for me, Puka is
a top what receiver in the National Football League as
at this moment.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I'll you go first, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I'm gonna say it. Top five.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That's where i am.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Top five receiver. Is that what you meant? Is he
a top five guy?
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Or like, where do you draw the line?
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Oh? I was gonna say he's.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Top is he top three? Is he all Pro? Is
he Pro Bowl?
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Okay, this is funny. I was gonna say top one
of one guy, and we had this little mini discussion.
I think he is a better receiving version of a
Deebo Samuel. He's a bigger, physical guy. Now you can't
put him in the dot and have him take carries
like Debo. But I don't think Debo runs routes like Puka.
But they're both big, physical, the factor in the run game,
(14:35):
and he runs great routes and he makes great catches.
So I think he's one of the best one of
one guys that you have in the NFL. I think
the only thing that that might be missing is the
explosives to take the top off the defense. But he
flat kills you in from the middle of the field out,
So I mean, how do you guard that and if
(14:56):
he catches it and turns north and south and you're
a small corner like stut, you got problems.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah, I mean there's still that shortlist. What you just referenced,
the chases that Jefferson's, the CDs, the AJ's like. But
after that, I'm gonna have the argument, no doubt. So
that's why I'm saying five, Like ste I think is
a pretty good place to draw the line. The way
he's playing right now because of all the things he
can do.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Got top three hair though top one hair, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
That's undisputed. I also want to talk Cooper Cup here
because I think in the same breath that we admire
where Puka has taken his game to in year two,
I don't want to get lost in the moment and
miss vintage Cooper Cup days like last Sunday at Sofi Stadium.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
In a movie about him, toy story. He's woody right now, Yeah,
buzz light years bawling, But what are you still your guy? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So you got a better depth of history in this
game than I do. Larry Fitzgerald is the name that's
kind of percolating right now really in terms of like
the way he reinvented himself, is too strong, But you
know how he matured, found new wrinkles, Yeah, extended his career.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I mean you would think it's a less of
a lesser role. Like if Pooka is number one, that
means Cooper is number two. But it's almost picking your
spots to kill you faster. So if you're having or
focusing a lot of your attention on Pooka Nakua, which
is probably what's going to happen from here on out,
then that means Cooper singled up. And if you think
(16:29):
he's lost a step, you've got issues. Well, that's the
same stuff we just said about him. We could say
about Cooper Cup.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
That's why I was careful to mention it now, because
he's coming off a game in which the Rams used
him to attack Buffalo vertically, right like they got after
it through the air with Cooper Cup, and then they said, hey,
can you make Von Miller disappear in your spare time?
Can you get the kickout block on the game clinching
touchdown that we throw to Pooka letter perfect? Do you
(16:55):
know that Cooper Cup has run almost a mile and
a half in pre snap motion. This shit year at
age thirty one. They're they're making him get cardio in
for pre snap reads and he's doing it as well
as ever. Like I don't know, my appreciation for him
continues to grow, continues to grow.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I mean, he's one of the smartest receivers in the
National Football League to me, if you're singling him up like,
he's going to find a way to make you pay.
And so good to have somebody like that out there
catching passes from Matthews.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Love it. Okay, So put your second best corner on
Cooper Cups, see what happens.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Good luck.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
That's good luck with that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, And the third on de Marcus and your fourth
on two.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Two, good luck with ride. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Don't want to look over the Rams special teams being
on a two game winning streak like as much as anything.
That's why the Rams are sitting here at seven and
six is because two games in a row they've been
better than their opponent in the third phase. Let's keep
that streak alive.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
The block was unreal, asked Humble about that, and the
the the stunt to get him free. They designed it.
It worked like a charm And I said, that's half
of it. When he took the ball off the punter's foot.
Do you know how hard that is to do to
block it that perfect with one hand, to take it
right off his foot and send it backwards. I mean,
most guys missing that, they panic and miss or rough
(18:10):
the guy. Great block and even better job by Hunter
long scooping that thing. It's great, he almost kicked it,
didn't he right? But settling yourself to scoop and score,
I mean, to me, that was the biggest play of
the game.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
And I mean special teams has been huge for this
team when you know, talking about complimentary performances as much
as you know, we've seen the offense and defense support
each other and some of them, you know, critical wins
that this team has gotten this season. What's really made
a difference is when special teams has been able to
come through and make plays like that, even even if
you know the blocks or whatever it may be don't
(18:43):
result in touchdowns, but that obviously, any any made field
goals like those have all been huge.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
And we see you Weddington, that's it. You're that close.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Kickoff returns, yeah one, you're that close to taking one.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I was surprised that Buffalo dared him to bring it
out after what he put on tape with that kick
return unit in New Orleans. But he got more opportunities
last week.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah, that might be your last. I mean, I wouldn't
want to give him an opportunity. Dude hit the gas
on that first one right and almost took one to
the house. If he keeps his feet, he is gone.
But I think at this point you're gonna respect him
a little bit and make him down it. You're gonna
have to. I mean, at some point watch, I think
he may wind up taking one back for the not
the distance, or at least have a big return that
(19:26):
flips field position like that, And it could happen on Thursday.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
All right, last thing on Buffalo, and then we're going
to get to the division and the San Francisco forty
nine ers. But one of my lasting takeaways, you know,
those like grinch green cleats that Josh Allen was wearing.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, in the.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Game, my lasting visual is him lifting that cleat to
call for a silent count. Snap. Here's where I'm going.
Two road games followed by two gotta have at home games,
and so my appeal to our audience here is if
you are of means, and if you love the Rams,
can you please be there week seventeen and week eighteen
at Sofi Stadium Because what does it mean in terms
(20:00):
of that silent count environment. What if you are one
of the reasons the Rams are able to win this
NFC West and host Let's just say the Green Bay
Packers in a playoff game in January. That's the opportunity
in front of you Rams fans. Let me encourage you
to do it.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
How do I say this? So Jared Versu and Braden
Fisk are having great rookie seasons, right, Imagine how much
better they would be if there was crowd noise, lots
of it where you couldn't hear. I don't think you'd
block them. Think about that. You want to make the
playoffs show up? And so far help out Verse, Well,
he'll pay you back with a sack or two.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Well, when other teams, when the opponent gives him motivation,
it already takes his game up another level. Just think
of the Vikings game and the in the skull chap
that happened while a player was a teammate was the
field injured. Imagine if he had like the most if
he if he got support from the crowd or if
it was like crowd noise that really fired up him
(20:54):
up and added.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
To that, Wow, yeah, I'm with you. I'm glad you
said that. Yeah, real Rams fans, let's be there, yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
To the division. What a finish, What a setup by
the league schedule makers. See the Hawks on top at
eight and five, followed by the Rams at seven and six,
Niners in Cardinals City and at six and seven, Stu,
you want to take the baton here, you want to
lay this out. I know you were studying a little
bit before our show. What do you make of the
state of the NFC West as we hit the final month?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
It's I mean, it's there for it's there for the
taking for anybody at this point, still as wide open
as it's been, and I mean those last four weeks.
I will say this, just looking ahead to some of
the other divisional opponents and you know who they have left,
it makes me glad that we got the NFC North
out of the way. Interesting because just seeing I want
(21:43):
to say, it's it's Seattle that still has Green Bay,
Minnesota left over.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
The next band Minnesota at Chicago before the finale.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
It's so far. Yeah, so yeah, and knowing how tough
that division has been, I'm very thankful that that's out
of the way, so up for grabs. And there's you know,
kind of like we were talking about earlier. I mean,
there's implications here that, you know, you win Thursday year,
you're in position to potentially get the three seater or
the four seat, depending on what happens this weekend, and
(22:11):
be firmly in the in the playoff seating here.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Wow, you know I'm only thinking of one team, right
I knew I wouldn't be able to get you past
one right now.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
I mean, look about this. How much more would you
like to watch Red Zone and Sunday Night Football this
weekend coming off a win?
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh god, that's what I'm hoping for. That's what we're
darn near praying for. But I mean, you got to
get by this football team. This is a big It
would be a big psychological jump for you if you
can get past San fran and then you bootstrap that
to what you did versus Buffalo. Come on, I mean,
you're flying high, and not only that, you send the
message to Arizona, to Seattle that this is a different
(22:48):
team than what you saw the first time. So yeah,
I mean, you get past san Fran, more people will
be talking about you. Then you get their best shot.
And like we said, if any team in the NA
Sea West is playing at their best outside of frame
when they're healthy, I still think you have the best
quarterback and the best roster. So if you're playing your best,
the best should win that game. So get past san
(23:10):
Fran and like I said, we'll see what happens after.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Just to tie it back to last week's show, what
we said is that beating Buffalo is not the game
the Rams had to have. Being Buffalo gave the Rams
margin for air. They earned themselves the mulligan. To use
my favorite sport, golf as the analogy, but when I play,
you can't take a mulligan to the eighteenth t You
got to use it, but you can't use it on eighteen.
The eighteenth is Seattle. You gotta win that one. Yeah,
(23:37):
that's the one you gotta win. As long as you
do that, you can afford to lose exactly as many
games as the Seahawks between now and then and be
NFC West champions.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
And I like the fact they have to come here. Yeah,
I love the fact that they have to come down here.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Yes, all right, winning the West is the goal, but
I also want to focus on this moment. I know
we all do. I wait for this all year, don't
you what? Going to San fran When the schedule is
announced in early May and you see week fifteen Thursday
night football in San Jose Santa Clara. Didn't that keep
(24:12):
you up all night?
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yes? Anytime, but yes, especially this year's schedule. Seeing where
they put this game, Yeah, it did raise an eyebrow,
but it is what it is. They're coming off a
short week two, so let's just get after it. It's
another matchup between awesome them and I can't wait to
get to it.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Well, and especially less season two. I mean, it feels
like it's at least the second straight year that you know,
the second matchup between these two teams has had some
sort of you know, meaningful implication in December or January,
which is awesome.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
The only thing I dislike about the week is that
there's not enough days between Buffalo and the flight to
see prepare for it, right to talk about it, because again,
making the playoffs is the ultimate goal. But let's call
it what it is, beating the Niners and sweeping them
for the first time since twenty eighteen. That guarantees you
(25:07):
a good offseason, guarantees it eliminating your bitter rival as
a stepping stone potentially to winning your division.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'm trying not to smile, man.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I'm not sure anything shy of like an NFC championship
is going to hold a candle to that. That's the
opportunity in front of the Los Angeles Rams this.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Week, no doubt, the goal is Lombardy and to get
there you got to beat them. And to like you said,
to sweep them would be absolutely sweet because who knows,
I mean, their window, everybody's window is closing. Who knows
what that does to them? Which is awesome?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Am I the only one that feels that way? Though?
Like the schedule comes out and they're like, Okay, what's
your what game you're looking forward to most this year?
Without even pausing Week three, San Francisco at Sofar? Okay,
what's your second favorite game? Week fifteen, Thursday Night Football
at Levi's No doubt. Yep, here comes part two. I'll
say this though, expect the ringing NFC champions on Thursday?
(25:57):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Version of a shot. Did you watch you watch Chicago yet?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah? Yeah, you're gonna get their best shot. And they're
starting to click again. And I don't like the fact
that Deebo Samuel is starting to pop off now really,
so he's gonna get fed come Thursday, which is the
last thing you want to see.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
How you make him getting community.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
NOWE absolutely, when he starts chirping, that means he gets
the rock the next game out, so that means us
so let's have fun.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
That's like the the Marvin Harrison Cardinals week two. That's
a version of the San Francisco forty nine ers. I
wish he would have waited another week, but so be it.
I'll say this telling Nohufunga's back, Yeah, that's huge. I'm
expecting Trent Williams and Bosa and Greenlaw and Grenda. They're
all gonna play. It's proven otherwise. Brandon Auk might go,
(26:46):
I'm keeping Christian McCaffrey on my board.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
What you're expecting everybody? I like it.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Jerry Rice might make it cast. Oh, come on, I
watched Niners Bears this morning and it sent a cold
shiver down my spine. Did because you know what really
is back their screen game. Huh yards after catch? Yes,
George Kittle, like that was ridiculous. One week after whatever
that was in Buffalo that we watched on the plane
coming home from New Orleans, that team last week, i'llbe
(27:14):
it against the Bears looked like the reigning NFC champions.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
The Kittle is ridiculous what they can do with him,
But just that production and their precision, you can tell
they don't waste time at practice. They're very efficient at
what they do and it transfers to game day. I
don't know what was more impressive watching their offense or
their their pass rush. Watching Bosa good after you you know,
just watching tape of him is freaking scary to be honest.
(27:42):
But yeah, this, like you said, you should expect the
best forty nine Ers squad that you've seen all year,
and I think they should expect the best Ram squad
they seem all year. So this is gonna be a
great Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
And your old friend Leonard Floyd too.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Man, you can't count him out. That dude is like
he's the best cleanup hitter I think I've seen in
a lot long time where he just knows where to
be and where to stand and also can beat you
one on one. So yeah, both sides, both tackles have
their hands full this week.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
There's that Juan Jennings problem too, going back to Week three,
I mean, they made him look like Ayuk as I
recall it. So if I stadium, he had another great
game against the Bears.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
To yees seven catches for ninety yards and a pair
of touchdowns, and yeah, I immediately got flashbacks to the
first matchup between these two teams and the production he had.
And so yeah, he's still very much a real threat,
and he feels like he's stepped up even with Ayuk
being out with that knee injury. And I'm hoping that,
you know, obviously it's a little bit you know different
(28:38):
this time. Hopefully there's been some lessons learned from you know,
that previous matchup in terms of finding ways to defend him.
You know, hopefully having Darius Williams in this matchup will
help a lot more given some of the ways they
were having to defend.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
A good point. Okay, so he was on injury reserve
in the first month of the season. That brings me
to this week's injury report, and I know there's more
mystery then clarity here as we gather on this Tuesday,
we won't hear from Sean mcvaig again until postgame correct
at LEVI. So what do we know about gosh, anyone
from say Kobe Durant to Tyler Higbee and the chances
(29:13):
that we could see the Rams at full strength Thursday.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
Yeah, so those are these those are two of the
main ones. You know, Higbee, we'll see, is what Sean
McVay said as far as his availability for this week.
You know, last week he was pretty clear that, you know,
look at for however, Higbee has looked and you know
clips and whatever that's been out there from practice there,
they've still wanted to take their time with him. And
(29:36):
as the three of us know this, this training staff
and this coaching staff are always big on return to
play versus return to performance. Return to performance is always
the standard for yeah, finally putting someone back out there.
So we'll see if that's this week. Obviously it'd be
good to have him if he's available, but you know,
if not, you're going to be you know, looking at,
(29:57):
you know, asking more from obviously as you have already
you know, Kobe Parkinson, Harlong and Davis Allen and then
with Kobe Durant one contusion from the Bills game, and
so his status you know, is still to be determined
for Thursday. Was interesting that McBay mentioned that depending on
Kobe's availability, that could potentially impact Emmanuel Forbes and his
(30:21):
status or I should say him potentially making his Rams
debut as soon as this Thursday. So we'll see how
that shakes out.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
You know, at least we know what it looks like
without Tyler Higby because of the unfortunately large sample size
so far this season. But DeMarco, what if Durant can't go,
because I think he's become the Rams' best corner. He's
put together some really nice performances, especially in light of
this style offense you're about to face. How does that
impact what you're gonna do?
Speaker 2 (30:47):
If you're Chris Shula, I feel bad for him because
I think he's having a great season and he's been
a lot tougher against the run than he has been
in seasons past. But you do have some options behind.
You still have Kello Weatherspoon, you just had, you just
added Forbes, so there's some other guys that can step
in for you. But just as far as how he
was playing with Darius Williams. You hate it that Kobe
(31:09):
Durant got hurt for this one, and I hope he plays,
but if he doesn't, you have some guys that have
played this year, and you have, like you said, a
former first rounder you just picked up to go out
there and cover and play. But if you're Chris Shula,
I don't think you change anything. I think you keep
your foot on the gas and you call what you've
been calling, and it's been working. The communication in the
back end has been great. Safety to the corner to
(31:30):
linebacker to defensive front has been exemplary. They haven't made
a ton of mistakes. So I don't think this changes
Chris Shula at all. If you have to lose one
of your corners.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
What about keys to victory, then to beat the San
Francisco forty nine ers, to extend the winning streak, to
continue to control your NFC West destiny.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
Well, because I've been talking about running the ball so
much already, I'll just go with that only because you know,
you look back at those games against Buffalo and Green
Bay that San Francisco had again, health I would say
was a fat that in part, but the way the
Packers ran the ball against the Niners, the way the
Bills ran the ball against the Niners. Like again, the
(32:11):
Niners run defense was impacted in part by not having
a fully healthy group, but that was one of the
ways that they were those two teams were able to
separate from San Francisco in those matchups. Beyond that, to me,
if you can keep that momentum going from these last
two weeks, have like I talked about earlier, with just
again having those play action opportunities and keeping that pressure
(32:32):
off of Stafford being efficiently early downs to get those
third down conversions or make those more manageable. It starts
with that for me.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
Hmm, I think this is where we start talking about
off ball linebacker again because of what they do and
they're so good at like negating your front. Even when
Aaron was here, when they ran the football, it almost
negated his ability. So this is a linebacking game. So
I would say keys to victory for me. If Space
and Rose Boom are your leading tacklers, I think you're
(33:02):
doing pretty good. If safeties are your leading tacklers, I
think you might have some issues. So those two guys
and like you said the screen game, it's going to
be ultra important for them to read, diagnose, and then
get to the ball. And that's just half of it.
Now you've got to get them on the ground. So
those two off ball guys, I think we'll tell the
story of this game.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
So I'm gonna ask you to give us defending screen
game coaching points here in a second, I'll give you mine.
It's Quinton Lake if for some reason Durank can't go.
I think this is where having a chess piece like
Captain Q who can play in the slot if need be,
who can let you leverage your safety, depth and clarity
maybe to your advantage in a game like this, Who
can combat at George Kittle, who can hopefully diagnose and
(33:41):
defend screen I think he might be my most important
player on Thursday Night Football. But let's go back to that.
If you're coaching this front on screen defense against the
forty nine ers who can throw it to their receivers,
they can throw it to their backs, including use check.
I saw a lot of tight end to lay stuff
like Kitt'll just lingering around the line of screen image
coming free with blockers.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Yeah, uh, read and react. You got to read your keys,
and you got to have help from inside out so
as the front. And it was told to me when
I was a youngster, and I'm sure they're telling Verse
and Fisk and all the guys, even Kobe Turner. If
you're free in this league up front, you're free for
a reason. So if you think it was too easy
to get to brock Purty, it probably was turn around
and redirect and get back into pursuit because it's probably
(34:22):
going to be a screen. So those guys, those off
ball guys and Quentin Lake captain Q I love that
what you call them. Uh, they're going to be pursuing
over the top with blockers in front. So if they
can find a way to nuggy through and make a play,
that's half. You've got to have that inside outside pursuit.
So it's not just getting to the passer, it's redirecting,
getting downhill and getting that guy on the ground. It's
all eleven versus their screen game. They're that good at it,
(34:45):
so you need all eleven to stop it.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Final thoughts, I don't want to go. I want to well,
the one we avoided and we we keep avoiding it.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
As Sean McVay keeps avoidant field goals. It's stole an
issue and this could come down to a field goal.
This is how tight this game could be. So whatever
it is, you've got to find a way to make
that ball go through the uprights.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Well, two things, Cardi's a Niner killer, we know that
a yes. And two I love the identity that Sean
McVay put out there. I mean his game management, clock
management personnal. I thought that was just as good a
game as I've seen from him in a long time
against the Buffalo Bills, Like the six point lead is
the worst lead in late game situations in the National
(35:31):
Football League, to the fact that he had no interest
in going up six with the field goal there, that
he stepped on the gas and went for fourth down
against Allen and the Bills coming the other way, Like
that was I felt like progress. That felt like the
right answer. Glad it paid off.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
That's how you become great man. You got to hang
it all out there. Absolutely, yeah, I mean yeah, you
can tell when he's in his bag by the way
he strolls that sideline and he's got that look in
his eyes. So when he's ahead of you, as a
play caller on the other side, a DC, you've got problems.
The time you catch up, he's already to the counters.
So carry that to San Francisco and we'll see what.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
And from Cardi's standpoint, don't take it as an indictment
or any loss of confidence. I mean, maybe that's where
it started. But have you seen what Matthew Stafford is
doing lately. Again, Let's keep the keys in the Hall
of Fame quarterback's hands and take our chances as opposed
to rolling the dice, maybe in the rain on the
road with a rookie place game.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Amen. Yeah, bro, Yeah, Like I said, my favorite stat
zero no sacks. Keep that guy up, you got you
got stuff.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah, that was fun and I know there's even better
to come. Thank you, Stu, even though we're not really friends.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Talk man, get him. Look at you. Look at that.
That's that Indiana stare.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
That's a quiet confidence that makes me nervous that Sue's
got something up his sleeve for South Bend.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Demarko going to be with you always, man.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
All right, for these two and all the people who
make this show possible. Thank you for joining us for
a special Tuesday addition leading into Thursday Night football of
Between the Horns, still presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers,
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