December 19, 2024 • 34 mins
J.B. Long, Stu Jackson, and Maurice Jones-Drew talk takeaways from Week 15, Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee's return, preparing for a cold weather game, keys to victory against the New York Jets, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Wishing you a very happy holiday season. Welcome to a
new edition of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern
California at Toyota Dealers. It's Week sixteen. I'm JB. Long,
a very thin skin Californian, enjoying these seventy eight degree
temperatures midweek here in Woodland Hills. I know Maurice Jones
Drew feels the same way. But it's good to have
(00:30):
Stu Jackson here because he has earned his stripes in
the Midwest and he is ready. He is built for this,
this trip to the Meadowlands. Too good to see you, buddy.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to see you guys too.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Nice that at least the h this cold weather trip
was saved until December, up to October.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Game day high of twenty seven in the Meadowlands according
to my weather app.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So I don't think I have any cold weather gear.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I still have my winter coat that I brought when
I moved out here from the Midwest. I actually still
have my ice scraper, but that's my apartment, not my
car anymore, because too many people made fun of me
for having that in my trunk, because like obviously one
am I ever going to use that out.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Here, But I'm concerned. Now are you gonna have the
window open always? Oh? All right?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It is it Aaron Rodgers? Like whenever the Rams play Aaron?
Is it just that temperature?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Does it travel with him?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Did you bring Lambeau with him?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I have twenty seven? Oh I'm gonna have to rethink
this whole deal as we go through this this show because.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Have you been binge watching Enigma? By the way, how
well researched are you in the depths of Aaron Rodgers
right now?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Uh? Not that I guess I haven't dove into that yet.
I see the little clips on X or whatever it
may be. It's like whatever, But I'm still worried about
twenty seven degrees man like for personal issues. I know
the Rams would be prepared, ready to go, but Aaron
Rodgers and the cold, it just brings back some memories.
I don't like those.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Try and perse those memories right hey, before we begins
to will you prop those custom kicks up here on
the recent peanut butter cut for everybody to see. This
is why our audience is here. This is give the
people what.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
They want to.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I don't know if you can see that as I
kick JV's microphone, but.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It's all good. Yeah, a couple of Air Force ones.
Should we talk some football.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Let's take the time, let's go.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Am I wrong that this is the ultimate trap game.
I can't think recency buys. I can't think of another
trap game like this one for the Los Angeles Rams.
Why are you looking at.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Me like that?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
You don't think I don't think it is.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They're playing really good football right offensively they are, at
least you're.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Talking about the Jets. The Jets, Yeah we'll get there.
But like, okay, you beat your rival in Santa Clair,
you sweep the forty nine ers. You got a nice
long weekend to feel first place, to have all the
press clippings rained down. You know, you got two must
have division games at home on the backside, and here's
this trip to face a four win opponent.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I said, I don't see it that way. No, I
don't see it that way. I see it like, really,
the press clippings of being in first was more about
Seattle losing to Bay than it was the Rams earning
the right to be there. When you hear people talk
about that Thursday night game, they talk about the weather,
the rain, the Devondre Campbell situation. It was never the
(03:12):
Rams just went out there and dominated this offensive, this
offensive team from the line of scrimmage. Right, they don't
talk about that. And so to me, if I'm a player,
I'm like, yo, like, oh, so we got to show
you again how dominant we can be on both sides
of the ball, right, we like it doesn't seem like
there was enough respect there in this time. And I,
you know, I in the national media, I'm kind of like,
(03:32):
you know, the Rams were one in four and you
guys are burying them, and guys were heard and they
come roaring back. I see all your posts. They're also
I don't see many other riders. I see what you said.
There's not many other writers talking about the Rams. So
maybe this is one of those games where you got
to go make an example out of someone.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You don't think there's any human nature that they're battling
this week.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I don't know if there's human any human nature that
they're battling against, but I do think that, you know,
this is a different Jets team that I expected coming
into this week. I certainly didn't expect them to be
coming off a performance like they had last week against
the Jaguars, just with everything they that they've experienced this season,
all the all the changes on the coaching staff and
and everything else, to see that you know, Aaron Rodgers
(04:14):
and DeVante Adams are still playing at a high level
or still giving it. They're all essentially at this point
like it's a team not to be taken lightly. For
for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
This week, I am thankful for that because I was
watching Son and like, of course, of course they come
back in that second half and they turned back the
clock and they look like they did when they were
playing together in Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
They're fighting for they're fighting to be on the Jets again.
I feel like I think it's like Aaron Rodgers is
gonna do this whole thing in the off season, like
I don't know, I'm gonna go sit in darkness, I'm
gonna do all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Then I'm just saying quarterback, I'll mentor yeah, yeah, I'll.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Play another year. Why not? And Davante is over here
like I still got it. Garrett Wilson's like, throw me
the ball. Like there's so many different pieces on this team.
It's it's it's amazing to see they only have four
wins with all the offensive pieces. Again their offensive lines issue,
But like, I just don't see it, Like there's too
many good players on that team to say.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Like Hece Hall's knee is healed all of a.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Sudden, Yeah, everybody's right. When the Rams come to town.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Have you thought yet this week about that game at
Sofi Stadium against the Jets in twenty twenty, when I've
never seen a motivational mismatch like that one. Rams had
a chance to go win the division. Jets had every
reason to lose, including one big one named Trevor Lawrence.
You talk about any given Sunday from that moment forward,
(05:31):
I vowed to never not that I took that one
for granted, but I vowed never to take another NFL
game for granted after that happened.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Frank Gore's that's all I remember it was. It was
Frank Gord like, he's old, He's not supposed to be
doing this. He's breaking tackles, finds a way to get
in the end zone. I was like, what is going on?
I remember that the Jets.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
We owe them, Okay, we owe all right, We'll circle
back to them. By the end of this edition of
Between the horns before we put the two most recent
wins in our rear view mirror, though, do you want
to tell some takeaways both from San Francisco and I
think how it ties into the win over Buffalo in
terms of, you know, Sean mcvay's overriding point that that
stretch of five days to show that we can win
(06:10):
in different ways. How much do you think that impacts
what the Rams are capable of from this point forward.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I think there's something to be said about just being
able to have control in those situations or I guess
controlling the outcome. And what I mean by that is
you think about the ways that the Chiefs have won
some of their close calls. I mean, again still counts
the same as the rams wins, but especially as you
get closer to the playoffs, being able to, you know,
like I said, have control or be in control of
(06:38):
those outcomes and having it be more your responsibility than say,
you know, a botch snap or you know something that
what could maybe considered you know, rare unlucky working out
in your favor.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I think that boats really well for the Rams.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, I think one. I think the Rams have been lucky,
but I believe luck is preparation times talent what equals luck, right,
because you got guys that are in position to make plays,
and I think they're finding a way, right, And finding
a way is the scariest thing about it because you
start to believe this ball is going to have an opportunity.
If I'm like Darius Williams, right, he gave up a
(07:14):
post to George Kittle, he was nowhere near him and
then comes back in the same similar situation, they do
a double move on him. They try to throw it
to the ram killer Juwan Jennings, and he's right there
to make a play and pretty much steal the game.
And so when you have the thought process of find
a way, you don't allow little things that happened early
in the game to affect you. If you go back
to the Bills game, find a way, figure out a
(07:35):
way to close this game out however it needs to be.
You find a way to do it, and then they
do it. And so when you have that mentality in
that mindset, you practice a little bit different. The guys
focus and meetings are a little bit different because they
know any given play can be the one player that
will kind of break the Cambe's back, the stral that
breaks the Campbell's back, and guys are waiting for those moments,
and that's what you saw. And like we talked about
(07:55):
it on the broadcast, Sean was like, listen, we have
to run the football.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
That's my biggest takeaway is whether you're scoring forty four
or not scoring any touchdowns. In both games, he was
willing and determined to run it a dozen times more
than he threw it. I'm not sure if that's maturity
or what it is, but I don't think in an
earlier iteration of maybe his career, when you're struggling like
you are to throw the football on offense in that
first quarter at San Francisco, that he chills and doesn't
(08:22):
chase that game and just willing to embrace what that
moment was.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Those three points right before half were huge, and there
were straight runs like here you go, we're just gonna
get the field goal range. We'll figure it out, and
that again, that's the whole fighting away mentality, like Okay,
Matthew Safford, Yeah, we want to throw the football, but
right now the balls he can't grip it, he can't
throw it. And we talked about that when we interviewed
him about how wet it was. It was just wetter
than what they thought it was gonna be. And we
(08:47):
can't throw the football, so guess what was gonna turn
around a handed off. We're gonna get these three points.
We'll go in the half, we'll make our adjustments, will
come out, and we do what we have to do.
Rain stops. There you go.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You just made me think similarly to the end of
the first half against Buffalo too, there was a chance
to put your foot on the accelerator and go there,
and not that he played it conservatively. They took a look,
it wasn't necessarily in the making, so they said let's
get to the half. Let's come out and get that
first possession.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Afterwards, Oldashan would have tried to take a shot there
taking shots.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
So before we leave behind, I'll say this, I think
the forty nine ers played badly. I don't care one bit,
doesn't undermind anything that the Rams did, but I think
they played a bad game on Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think Drake Greenlow going out his achilles tightening up
on him played a huge role.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Completely different and to all.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
The Rams fans out there, like Fred Warner is awesome
and Bosa. None of that works unless you have Drake
Greenlaw out there. We saw that in the first half.
He had ten tackles in the first half, Like he
is literally the heart and soul of this team. When
he goes down, that defense looks completely different. Hu Funga
didn't know what he was doing. Guys are all like,
it's just it's crazy to see one guy and that's
(09:53):
not the guy that gets paid right, he's up for
a contract. He goes out and the defenses goes with him.
H it's bad. And then you have the guy leaving
at third quarter, which is to say, made me feel
so much better. Just won. There's disarray in the Niners organization.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Can I just say something. I know you well enough
to know you liked beating the forty nine ers without
a touchdown. That was you could not have drawn that
up any better for your text threads up there in
Northern California.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Could you have guys don't even respond anymore. Just I
just you know, when the Rams won the game, I
just sent the demon emoji smile face, just so you know,
like this, no matter what, we got.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You a muddy run, first field goal driven.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That's what you guys want. You guys want to be physical, tough.
Here you go. We could do it too.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
All right, three games to go. I wonder from your
guys perspective, in what ways do the Rams look playoff ready?
And then my follow up will be what do they
still need to improve on? But let's start with in
what ways do you feel like the Rams are equipped
for the postseason based on their record currently?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Well, going back to the discussion we're having about being
able to run the football and kind of the ability
to do that, even if it means exceeding pass attempts, Like,
really the execution there is the biggest thing for me,
because you need to be able to control time and
possession in the playoffs, especially as you get deeper and
deeper into the postseason, and just the way that it's
opening up the offense and you know, maybe even taking
(11:20):
off some pressure on the some pressure off of the defense.
You know, the teams that have in the past that
have made those deep runs, I feel like have been
able to be efficient in the run game, get the
most out of their run game. Even if it's not
something that's an out of this world performance, it's still
been enough to you know, sustain those drives and keep
(11:40):
the offense ahead of the sticks and like I said,
just take some pressure off of their defense and keep
those other teams at bay.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, for me, it's two things. One, making the necessary
adjustments regardless of contract, how you're feeling. Putting Bowlimmeer at center.
That lets me know that you're ready to go to
the playoffs and make a run. Because you're putting the
guy that plays the best, right, and he goes in
after that Miami Dolphins game, you put him back in
offensive line is kind of set in what they need
to be and then they're healthy. Right, Like at the
(12:08):
end of the day, you're looking we look at Detroit.
I know we're gonna talk about a little bit, like
you're out there with dues that weren't even on your
roster in week five starting right, it's hard to combat
that and you know, and so for me, being able
to make the necessary adjustments both personnel wise and play
call wise are huge, Right, Willing to run the ball
(12:29):
when when you want to throw in those type of things,
but also having a healthy team. It's gonna be huge
going into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
What about early down run success on defense? Because since
they got wiped at home, right Saekwon Barkley had that day,
there's been a good track record of success now, like
going to New Orleans, limiting that game to what they
did coming home and making the Bills one dimensional, and
even in San Francisco, like I I get it, like
(12:58):
Deebo Samuel helped tackle that run as much as the
Rams did. I'm not undermining that, But at the same time,
I think a three game sample size might be indicative
of some improvements, adjustments that the Rams have made that
could play well down the stretch here.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
I feel like Kobe Turner is kind of the cog
to that though. Okay, he's done a great job of
taking on double teams and winning his one on one
blocks more than anyone. I think that on that defensive line,
right if we ever called we're calling the game, it's
like Kobe Turner right there with a tackle first down,
right then he's able to then flip around and come
back on third down and get pressure on the quarterback.
(13:32):
He's playing some of his best football, but they're they're
playing off of his energy. Bobby Brown in certain situations
has been a dominant guy to the to the at
the attack of a point right or the point of
attack excuse me right where he's going on a tackle
and a tight end or a tackle in the guard.
He's pushing those guys back. Just the just the ability
(13:53):
to be able to stop the run on the early downs.
And it's funny when you have older guys. The saying is,
you work early so you can have fun late, right,
So you want to stop on early down so you
could rush the passer. But Bobby Brown does never get
to rush the passer, right. But he's bought into what
his role is, and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
One of the great things about winning last Thursday and
having the mini buys it sets you up stue for
a great week of practice and the time on task
I think has been the biggest driver of success here
in the second half of the season for the Los
Angeles Rams. Where can they still grow to not just
get in the dance, but maybe do some damage once
they do.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Yeah, I think it's just making sure that they continue
to have that momentum with the run game like we
talked about, and just maintaining that continuity that you know
we were talking about with health and whatnot, but really
just continuing to make sure you have that marriage to
the run in the past, because as we've talked about,
and as we've heard McVeigh talk about, you know, for
(14:50):
this offense to operate at its peak, if you don't
have that, then you know, it becomes one dimensional. And
you know, see we see some of the performances like
we saw earlier in the season, and so I think
if you see more of that, maybe there's room to
grow there a little bit. But to me, like we've
talked about, I think it's trending in the right direction
where you know, we're starting to see that come to
(15:13):
life more like we've been accustomed to.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
To me, I think it's coverage on the back end
more consistent. Right. We saw Cam Curl take a big
step on Thursday Night covering George Kittle. Awesome, But then
we've also seen guys running wide open, Right, So having
more consistent coverage and I guess a closer proximity to
the targeted receiver would be something that's going to be
needed as you get to the playoffs, right, because let's
(15:37):
just say you're playing in Minnesota Vikings, who are you know,
they're hot? They could be your first round pick. Play
for you right here in so far they have guys
that are moving right now. T J. Hawkinson's back, he
wasn't here when you played last. Addison's playing well obviously,
justin Jefferson like, you got to have stick your coverage.
I feel like when once you get to the playoffs,
(15:57):
and that's what the Rams had when they won the
Super Bowl. It was just your overall guys were like
when the ball's in there, there was a guy on
that guy right. It wasn't like a big space of
what we've seen, and it hasn't been a lot of it.
I just need more. You just want more consistency of
guys being closer to the to the receiver when thrown.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Too, I would say too, especially because while it doesn't
seem like it's been as big of an issue as
it was earlier in the season, there's still some explosive
plays in the past game that have you know, surfaced
or crept up and you know, hurt the Rams defense
in that secondary. So trying to avoid those as much
as possible, i'd say, is also part of that.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Do you remember about a month ago when you were
in that seat and we said coach mjd solved the
red zone for us, right, and you gave some helpful
pointers to help turn the Rams season around on short fields.
I got another challenge for you, Okay, okay, help the
Rams turn around their first quarter. Help the Rams get
off to faster starts. Because what was at the ninth
scoreless first quarter of the season for the Rams in
(16:51):
Santa Clara last week. They're a bottom five team in
the NFL in terms of first quarter production. That's living dangerously.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, that's that's definitely tough.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Let's see because it goes into the trap game theme
that I presented earlier too, Like what's the easiest way
to avoid a trap game in New York? Can never
really throttle them early, make them disinterested in playing in
twenty five degree weather.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, I think the first thing is getting your tight
ends more involved in the passing game. The boot game
should be big. We talked about that on Thursday night.
We didn't see the boot game until it was needed
in the in the fourth quarter. Starting fast starts with
the first play. Whatever the first play is. You want
to get four yards, right, and you're supposed to pick
your best play to get four yards or more on
(17:39):
your first play. What are the Rams average on the
boot game. I feel like starting the game with that
getting the ball out quick and man, it might have
been Minnesota they did that where they started the game
with a quick boot, easy throw, just get the ball
out to the flat.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think that and Buffalo are the only two first
drive touchdowns of this season.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah, and so to me, that's if that's where we
have to be regards if they know it, we have
to figure out a way to get plus four just
to get to get in front of the change so many times,
or a hitch topooka right that hits he caught against
Ward was amazing, right, even though it was good coverage,
he was able to make a play. Anything that gets
you ahead of the change on your first down, that's
(18:17):
going to start the drive. So the first play is
the most important. And well I'll make sure we harp
on that this week when we call the game. But
if you can get four more on the first play,
a little conv okay, you know, now second down its
third and manageable. We're able to kind of get a
first down. Then we just we kind of get in
a rhythm. But if it's second and ten, second and eight,
(18:38):
now it's like, oh we got it. It's a more
uphill battle. So that first play, if you want to
start faster and score points, it's all about that first play.
Whatever play you decide that's going to get you four
yards or more, we'll get you going.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Cannot stress this enough. The Los Angeles Rams are not
overlooking Week sixteen. Neither are we not that it matters,
but we do owe it to our audience. A talk
playoff picture. I know, Stu, you kind of did a
deep dive this week. You want to lay out the
circumstances for us. With the Rams leading the way at
eight and six, they control their own destiny. Seahawks also
eight and six, they too, control their own destiny. Cardinal's
(19:11):
still a factor. At seven and seven, they need the
Seahawks to lose, but they still have a path.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yeah, there's there's still very much up for grabs, not
only in the division, but just in the playoff picture.
And again a loss of the Jets doesn't completely eliminate
those chances for the Rams obviously in terms of winning
the NFC West and ultimately getting into the playoffs. But
you know, I go back to what McVeigh said, where
you know, ultimately, like winning is what allows them to
(19:37):
continue to control their playoff fate. And so yeah, you know,
you get a win over the Jets, and you get
some help from the Vikings and get some help from
the Panthers. The Vikings play the Seahawks, the Panthers play
the Cardinals. That sets you up and puts you in
a really good position next week. And then obviously keeping
on an eye on Buccaneers and Cowboys as well, because
(20:00):
because again with the Buccaneers being the three seed, you
know that depending on how they do in that game,
that could potentially impact, you know, some movement for the Rams,
depending on how things go for them this week.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
It's a good point because if you're like, oh, what
are the chances the two is going to lose at
home to the seven in the playoffs, I'll rewind time
one year and think about what the Packers did in
Dallas last year, Like, there is real value to potentially
earning that three seed. I see kind of three brackets
in the NFC picture. There's the race for the number
one seed, right Detroit, Philly, Minnesota, all with twelve wins.
(20:32):
Let's start there. Who do you like to prevail in
that battle for the one seed?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
It looks like Philly. I think Philly will probably get
the one seed the way they're playing, the way their
schedule kind of plans out. But Minnesota, man, Like, it's
hard for me not to talk about them and feel
like they don't have a chance because they're playing some
of the best football. Sam Darnald, I mean, I'm a
Sam Darnald hater. He chose to go to the other school.
He didn't start well in his career, and I guess
(20:59):
most people used to tell me flowers bloom at their
own time, with Sam's starting to bloom. He's playing some
of the best football that we've seen, and he has
this team believing in them right, like for them to
go beat Chicago the way they beat Chicago, and they
have Seattle like they're ready to go. They're primed and
ready to go. And O'Connell's doing a great job with
(21:21):
all the guys that he has, getting guys motioned, and
I mean, they're just they're good. I will say Philly
because Philly's more talented, but I wouldn't be surprised if
Minnesota wins it.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Philly has the easier path at Washington home to Dallas,
home to New York as opposed to Minnesota motivated going
to Seattle, which is really important for the Rams chances
Green Bay at Detroit is how they finish. Who do
you think wins the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I think the Vikings have a real shot. I mean,
as surprising as that may seem to some, it's I
just look at I mean we were talking about this
before the show, like the amount of injuries that Detroit
has piling up right now defensively and then also now
just this past week with David Montgomery. I just don't
know how sustainable that is. I don't count them out,
(22:09):
because again, Dan Campbell really has a good pulse of
that team and how to keep it motivated. But it's
I mean, they've been in some they've they've been in
some shootouts offensively or with some of these games recently,
and I just don't know, because of the health of
that defense, like how much longer they can, like I said,
(22:31):
sustain those performances and ultimately overcome that. Whereas the Vikings
I feel like have a healthier defense, and between the
two of them, I think are a little bit better
positioned because of that health to potentially win that division.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
So mentioned those three brackets, we talked about the top one.
In the six to seventh spot, you got Green Bay
with ten wins, and on a roll, you got Washington
with nine wins in that seventh spot. And then we
get to that middle mix, and this is where the
Rams are with Tampa Bay and Yattle eight wins apiece
in Arizona, who we mentioned. Here's what I find interesting.
The Seahawks play on Thursday in Chicago, the day after Christmas,
(23:08):
on a short week seventeen, so the Rams will know
the score well in advance of what we now know
is a Saturday night primetime game at SOFI Stadium. I'll
pause here to say, get your tickets Saturday night Cardinals
and Rams in a massive week seventeen showdown. But that's
a really interesting shape to that week because you'll know
what the Seahawks outcomes are, not just this Sunday, but
(23:29):
again next week before the Rams play again.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it could potentially set up a clinching scenario for
the Rams. Says as soon as next week, again depending
on how everything this week shakes out, but especially with
that Thursday night game, who knows what we could be
looking at on that Saturday night game.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Can I say that I'm still scared of Arizona.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
You should be.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, Like they're physical and Connor's running well, Kyler's playing
some of the best ball that he's been playing for
a while. He's taking shots now. The Patriots did a
great job of clothes like shutting down Marvin Harrison Junior,
but he's still a playmaker. Like Arizona is sneaky, and
I think the only reason that I feel like this
would be a trap game is because of how good
(24:10):
they are, what they've been doing kind of in the desert.
No one's really talked about them, and you're like, we
got to get prepared for that and this. That'd be
the only reason I could call this a trap game.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Yeah, I mean it's a nice revenge opportunity and we
hope that it carries the biggest stakes of the season.
Let's talk some personnel for the Rams, because we haven't
touched on Tyler Higbee's expected return. I think that's big
for this time, this team, in this moment. What do
you think he adds to an already built out tight
end room that I think statistically is probably underachieved, but
(24:40):
came up clutch most recently at San Francisco.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Well, I think it gives him. One, you get a
guy that's been there before, that's confident in what this
system is, has been around the longest tenure ram which
means a lot. But two, I think again, if you
can get him going, his ability to be to catch
the football, a lot of those we talked about start fast, Right,
How many times have we seen Matthew Safage whip out
an arrow route to him but he gets seven, eight yards? Like,
(25:05):
we just haven't had that ability yet. And I don't
know why it hasn't been there, but just that alone,
where you can throw a two yard route, it can go,
he can turn it up for six or six or
eight more. It just helps you start faster so that
there's a lot And I think also in the blocking game,
like he's big enough, strong enough to block some of
these guys in the run game, they create a little
(25:26):
bit more removed than what they've been getting to open
up bigger holes.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
What are some of the things that Sean Matthew were
saying this week in anticipation of Higbee's return.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah, just that it's going to be a big boost,
you know, personality, energy, whatever you want to say about him.
I mean all those things beyond just the tangibles that
he brings and the traits that brings as a player
are ultimately what he's really gonna be providing this team.
I mean, even out in practice, like that energy has
been really noticeable and you know, infectious with the rest
of the group. And you know, like we talked about
(25:59):
that familiar with the offense, you can't discount that either,
And so I mean you look at that collectively, I
feel like it's going to be really really huge.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Never hurts to have the most prolific tight end in
Rams franchise history joining your group for the final three
games of the regular season. I just want to speak
something into existence here. Tyler Higbee, the way that he's rehabbed,
deserves a rematch against the Detroit Lions in January. I
hope that comes to fruition here or there, however it
plays out. I want to see Higbee against the Lions
(26:30):
next month.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I like that you talked about the energy, you know,
big rig Higg, Like that's what you need. You need
a guy that's gonna drag guys and carry guys. We
were talking about that Jets game. There was a highlight
that was on X and it was higby like catching
the ball, spinning off three four guys and running the
extra twenty yards like that was.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
The longest catching run of his career, forty four yards.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Where's that been?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Got a touchdown in that game too, right, Where's that been?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Right? So having that energy back is going to be huge.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
What about Kobe Durant.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Yeah, so he was medically cleared to return, he was,
he was limited in practice on Wednesday, and so trending
into positive directions what Vey had said Monday about his
availability for not only practice, but you know, being active
and playing against the Jets, which again you know, like
we've talked about with Rogers and Adams, but really you know,
(27:20):
when you're going against a duo like DeVante Adams and
Garrett Wilson, you're gonna need somebody like Kobe Durant to
you know, pair up with Darius Williams to try to
counter those guys. So all signs, you know, again trending
in the right direction positive for for Kobe to be
available on Sunday, which which will be as good as
(27:42):
a Kello I should say, played last week. It will
still be still be good to have Kobe out there.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
I would say, no one benefits more from the mini
by than Kyron Williams, the Rams running back with nearly
sixty carries in a five day window, beating the Bills
and the forty nine ers. How is he set up
for success in this closing stretch.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
You know, first and foremost, as a running back, you
want to be sore, right, I want to go into
a game knowing that I played the game Kyroen has
not only probably should be sore, but the way he's played,
with the physicality, the breaking of the tackles, the energy
that he's been showing over the last couple of weeks.
This bye week is gonna allow him to recover and
be able to go. But then I think, I think
(28:22):
they're gonna if they lean on him the way they've
done it and Blake Korum. They lean on both those guys,
that's gonna be the key to their success throughout the
next three weeks, right controlling the clock, controlling the line
of scrimmage, setting up play action, pass, taking your shots.
But he should be ready to go. He should be.
I mean, this is what you do. All that training.
He trains where I used to train too, So he's
he should be ready to roll. Down this stretch with
(28:44):
the way he works out, And I talked to the guy,
said he's been this offseason. He was, he was in
there getting it in, so his body should be ready.
And I'm excited to see him go.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Yeah, he's gonna be so inspired by the Friday night
playoff win in South Bend too, from the fighting irish
that I think he'll.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Be no question.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Oh, I'm sorry, I'll bookmark this part of the show. Okay,
I'll keep this in mind.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Yeah, do we have like a push up deal going?
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Have you seen this guy's work out.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
That's come on?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Let's talk Jets picked as a contender. They've been one
of the most disappointing teams in the National Football League
four intent and yet, and yet, even though their defense
is taken a dive, they've got enough firepower on offense
to be a problem. I don't like that. Sigh.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I don't neither. Sometimes if you get just a little
glimpse of hope, and it's like that little spark starts
a wildfire. And that's what I'm scared of. What happened
in Jacksonville, to be honest with you, is that all
of a sudden, Aaron Rodgers is moving out of the pocket,
throwing the ball deep. Deavante Adams is running past guys
like he's healthy.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Isn't that the biggest thing? Like Aaron Rodgers looks healthy.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
He hasn't looked healthy either until literally Jacksonville. So that's
the scary part. Now they do have some turmoil going
on because Garrett Wilson's very frustrat there and so don't
be surprised if you see him get targets early in
the game. But if they can get those two guys going,
that's gonna be an issue. Right, They're not the running
the football is something that they're still trying to work on.
Offensive line is kind of in disarrayed. Guys are banged
(30:14):
up and hurting. All that stuff. They got a young
guy started, the kid from Penn State. But if you
want to really, if you want to stop the Jets,
you have to corral Aaron Rodgers early, Like you have
to get to Aaron Rodgers early and have him start
doing the you know, his little antics, the sad face,
the throwing the ball down.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
I think that's right. I think incompletions like dirt balls
from Aaron Rodgers will be a sign of early success.
Because you don't get to him like. He's as good
as I've ever seen at protecting himself. They've invested in
their offensive line. I get it, but it's not like
their offensive line has been world beating. He just knows.
He knows what you're throwing at him. He knows when
the down is up, he knows when to get rid
of it.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I have to tell you this story. So James Jones,
a good friend of mine. It was when the no
fly zone in Denver was going on, and they have
been practicing all week and they're all excited, and James said,
they're going out right before the game. They're like, go
out and play after the warm ups. He was like, hey, look,
I've been watching them. If your route is supposed to
be a ten yards, making it eight because the ball
(31:13):
has to come out like And that's the kind of
stuff that he's gonna tell. If you start getting to
him early, he's gonna have those guys cut their routes
off because he has to get the ball out quick.
And so to me, again, if the Rams defensive line
can really that's gonna be the key to this game.
If they can get around Rogers and get him frustrated
because the receivers are already kind of starting to DeVante's
already barked a little bit. Gary Wilson's now barking. If
(31:35):
you can make that whole offense frustrated, you have a
great chance.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Look, when you face a team that's already fired a
general manager, a head coach, a play caller, there's gonna
be some volatility there. The upside volatility stew can be dangerous.
But the downside volatility, whether it's an inability to run
the football, whether it's their defense giving up twenty five
points a week, like, that's there too, and it's there
for the Rams to take advantage of.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Absolutely, And that's that's why I was going to say
two with just getting to the offense and creating that
frustration early, because they haven't had the complimentary performances from
the defense to match some of those performances by the
offense this year. And you know that defense has shown
some vulnerabilities, especially against the runs. So if you if
you can get to that offense early and like like
(32:20):
we were saying, get them frustrated, I think that makes
it easier to again take advantage of that defense that's
had its fair share of challenges this season?
Speaker 1 (32:28):
What else, what do we miss? Other keys of the game,
other things you want to get off your chest before
we go.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
I'm excited to see how this team plays in the cold,
even though I know Detroit's in a dome. But if
you have to go to Philly, it's gonna be cold, right,
everyone else is kind of domeed.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
But so checking another weather box.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Yeah, just so, just like if you get into the playoffs,
you just never know what happens. You may have to
end up going somewhere you don't want to go.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Do you remember being in the meadowlands last year? Rams
coming away with a narrow victory, and then we get
on the plane and we wait and we wait, and
a good outcome lands from Loomenfield in Seattle. It was
Pittsburgh last year. Maybe it's Minnesota this year. I love
when history repeats itself.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It's been doing that a lot this year, hasn't it history? Yes,
at least last year. I don't know if that's history, Bud.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Yeah, the second half run certainly feels familiar.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
So I'm done.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
You're done, Ready to go? Go? Rams?
Speaker 1 (33:20):
All right, go pack, go shopping, bundle up.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
I don't know, man, I may be whining this game.
I can feel it. I can just feel it, you
know how you can feel that. I think I'm gonna be.
I would be tough, though, I'll tough it out right on.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
See you in South Bend. Kind of sorry, good luck
you guys deserve. It's been a good season for the Hoosiers,
for m j D, for Stud Jackson. I'm JB.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Long.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Thanks for being here for this edition and Between the
Horns presented by your Southern California Toyo to Deals
Speaker 3 (34:00):
If you get it.
Wishing you a very happy holiday season. Welcome to a
new edition of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern
California at Toyota Dealers. It's Week sixteen. I'm JB. Long,
a very thin skin Californian, enjoying these seventy eight degree
temperatures midweek here in Woodland Hills. I know Maurice Jones
Drew feels the same way. But it's good to have
(00:30):
Stu Jackson here because he has earned his stripes in
the Midwest and he is ready. He is built for this,
this trip to the Meadowlands. Too good to see you, buddy.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to see you guys too.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Nice that at least the h this cold weather trip
was saved until December, up to October.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Game day high of twenty seven in the Meadowlands according
to my weather app.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
So I don't think I have any cold weather gear.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I still have my winter coat that I brought when
I moved out here from the Midwest. I actually still
have my ice scraper, but that's my apartment, not my
car anymore, because too many people made fun of me
for having that in my trunk, because like obviously one
am I ever going to use that out.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Here, But I'm concerned. Now are you gonna have the
window open always? Oh? All right?
Speaker 1 (01:13):
It is it Aaron Rodgers? Like whenever the Rams play Aaron?
Is it just that temperature?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Does it travel with him?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Like?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Did you bring Lambeau with him?
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I have twenty seven? Oh I'm gonna have to rethink
this whole deal as we go through this this show because.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Have you been binge watching Enigma? By the way, how
well researched are you in the depths of Aaron Rodgers
right now?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Uh? Not that I guess I haven't dove into that yet.
I see the little clips on X or whatever it
may be. It's like whatever, But I'm still worried about
twenty seven degrees man like for personal issues. I know
the Rams would be prepared, ready to go, but Aaron
Rodgers and the cold, it just brings back some memories.
I don't like those.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Try and perse those memories right hey, before we begins
to will you prop those custom kicks up here on
the recent peanut butter cut for everybody to see. This
is why our audience is here. This is give the
people what.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
They want to.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I don't know if you can see that as I
kick JV's microphone, but.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It's all good. Yeah, a couple of Air Force ones.
Should we talk some football.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Let's take the time, let's go.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Am I wrong that this is the ultimate trap game.
I can't think recency buys. I can't think of another
trap game like this one for the Los Angeles Rams.
Why are you looking at.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Me like that?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
You don't think I don't think it is.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
They're playing really good football right offensively they are, at
least you're.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Talking about the Jets. The Jets, Yeah we'll get there.
But like, okay, you beat your rival in Santa Clair,
you sweep the forty nine ers. You got a nice
long weekend to feel first place, to have all the
press clippings rained down. You know, you got two must
have division games at home on the backside, and here's
this trip to face a four win opponent.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I said, I don't see it that way. No, I
don't see it that way. I see it like, really,
the press clippings of being in first was more about
Seattle losing to Bay than it was the Rams earning
the right to be there. When you hear people talk
about that Thursday night game, they talk about the weather,
the rain, the Devondre Campbell situation. It was never the
(03:12):
Rams just went out there and dominated this offensive, this
offensive team from the line of scrimmage. Right, they don't
talk about that. And so to me, if I'm a player,
I'm like, yo, like, oh, so we got to show
you again how dominant we can be on both sides
of the ball, right, we like it doesn't seem like
there was enough respect there in this time. And I,
you know, I in the national media, I'm kind of like,
(03:32):
you know, the Rams were one in four and you
guys are burying them, and guys were heard and they
come roaring back. I see all your posts. They're also
I don't see many other riders. I see what you said.
There's not many other writers talking about the Rams. So
maybe this is one of those games where you got
to go make an example out of someone.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You don't think there's any human nature that they're battling
this week.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
I don't know if there's human any human nature that
they're battling against, but I do think that, you know,
this is a different Jets team that I expected coming
into this week. I certainly didn't expect them to be
coming off a performance like they had last week against
the Jaguars, just with everything they that they've experienced this season,
all the all the changes on the coaching staff and
and everything else, to see that you know, Aaron Rodgers
(04:14):
and DeVante Adams are still playing at a high level
or still giving it. They're all essentially at this point
like it's a team not to be taken lightly. For
for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
This week, I am thankful for that because I was
watching Son and like, of course, of course they come
back in that second half and they turned back the
clock and they look like they did when they were
playing together in Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
They're fighting for they're fighting to be on the Jets again.
I feel like I think it's like Aaron Rodgers is
gonna do this whole thing in the off season, like
I don't know, I'm gonna go sit in darkness, I'm
gonna do all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Then I'm just saying quarterback, I'll mentor yeah, yeah, I'll.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Play another year. Why not? And Davante is over here
like I still got it. Garrett Wilson's like, throw me
the ball. Like there's so many different pieces on this team.
It's it's it's amazing to see they only have four
wins with all the offensive pieces. Again their offensive lines issue,
But like, I just don't see it, Like there's too
many good players on that team to say.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Like Hece Hall's knee is healed all of a.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Sudden, Yeah, everybody's right. When the Rams come to town.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Have you thought yet this week about that game at
Sofi Stadium against the Jets in twenty twenty, when I've
never seen a motivational mismatch like that one. Rams had
a chance to go win the division. Jets had every
reason to lose, including one big one named Trevor Lawrence.
You talk about any given Sunday from that moment forward,
(05:31):
I vowed to never not that I took that one
for granted, but I vowed never to take another NFL
game for granted after that happened.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Frank Gore's that's all I remember it was. It was
Frank Gord like, he's old, He's not supposed to be
doing this. He's breaking tackles, finds a way to get
in the end zone. I was like, what is going on?
I remember that the Jets.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
We owe them, Okay, we owe all right, We'll circle
back to them. By the end of this edition of
Between the horns before we put the two most recent
wins in our rear view mirror, though, do you want
to tell some takeaways both from San Francisco and I
think how it ties into the win over Buffalo in
terms of, you know, Sean mcvay's overriding point that that
stretch of five days to show that we can win
(06:10):
in different ways. How much do you think that impacts
what the Rams are capable of from this point forward.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I think there's something to be said about just being
able to have control in those situations or I guess
controlling the outcome. And what I mean by that is
you think about the ways that the Chiefs have won
some of their close calls. I mean, again still counts
the same as the rams wins, but especially as you
get closer to the playoffs, being able to, you know,
like I said, have control or be in control of
(06:38):
those outcomes and having it be more your responsibility than say,
you know, a botch snap or you know something that
what could maybe considered you know, rare unlucky working out
in your favor.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
I think that boats really well for the Rams.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, I think one. I think the Rams have been lucky,
but I believe luck is preparation times talent what equals luck, right,
because you got guys that are in position to make plays,
and I think they're finding a way, right, And finding
a way is the scariest thing about it because you
start to believe this ball is going to have an opportunity.
If I'm like Darius Williams, right, he gave up a
(07:14):
post to George Kittle, he was nowhere near him and
then comes back in the same similar situation, they do
a double move on him. They try to throw it
to the ram killer Juwan Jennings, and he's right there
to make a play and pretty much steal the game.
And so when you have the thought process of find
a way, you don't allow little things that happened early
in the game to affect you. If you go back
to the Bills game, find a way, figure out a
(07:35):
way to close this game out however it needs to be.
You find a way to do it, and then they
do it. And so when you have that mentality in
that mindset, you practice a little bit different. The guys
focus and meetings are a little bit different because they
know any given play can be the one player that
will kind of break the Cambe's back, the stral that
breaks the Campbell's back, and guys are waiting for those moments,
and that's what you saw. And like we talked about
(07:55):
it on the broadcast, Sean was like, listen, we have
to run the football.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
That's my biggest takeaway is whether you're scoring forty four
or not scoring any touchdowns. In both games, he was
willing and determined to run it a dozen times more
than he threw it. I'm not sure if that's maturity
or what it is, but I don't think in an
earlier iteration of maybe his career, when you're struggling like
you are to throw the football on offense in that
first quarter at San Francisco, that he chills and doesn't
(08:22):
chase that game and just willing to embrace what that
moment was.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Those three points right before half were huge, and there
were straight runs like here you go, we're just gonna
get the field goal range. We'll figure it out, and
that again, that's the whole fighting away mentality, like Okay,
Matthew Safford, Yeah, we want to throw the football, but
right now the balls he can't grip it, he can't
throw it. And we talked about that when we interviewed
him about how wet it was. It was just wetter
than what they thought it was gonna be. And we
(08:47):
can't throw the football, so guess what was gonna turn
around a handed off. We're gonna get these three points.
We'll go in the half, we'll make our adjustments, will
come out, and we do what we have to do.
Rain stops. There you go.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
You just made me think similarly to the end of
the first half against Buffalo too, there was a chance
to put your foot on the accelerator and go there,
and not that he played it conservatively. They took a look,
it wasn't necessarily in the making, so they said let's
get to the half. Let's come out and get that
first possession.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Afterwards, Oldashan would have tried to take a shot there
taking shots.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
So before we leave behind, I'll say this, I think
the forty nine ers played badly. I don't care one bit,
doesn't undermind anything that the Rams did, but I think
they played a bad game on Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I think Drake Greenlow going out his achilles tightening up
on him played a huge role.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Completely different and to all.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
The Rams fans out there, like Fred Warner is awesome
and Bosa. None of that works unless you have Drake
Greenlaw out there. We saw that in the first half.
He had ten tackles in the first half, Like he
is literally the heart and soul of this team. When
he goes down, that defense looks completely different. Hu Funga
didn't know what he was doing. Guys are all like,
it's just it's crazy to see one guy and that's
(09:53):
not the guy that gets paid right, he's up for
a contract. He goes out and the defenses goes with him.
H it's bad. And then you have the guy leaving
at third quarter, which is to say, made me feel
so much better. Just won. There's disarray in the Niners organization.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Can I just say something. I know you well enough
to know you liked beating the forty nine ers without
a touchdown. That was you could not have drawn that
up any better for your text threads up there in
Northern California.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Could you have guys don't even respond anymore. Just I
just you know, when the Rams won the game, I
just sent the demon emoji smile face, just so you know,
like this, no matter what, we got.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
You a muddy run, first field goal driven.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That's what you guys want. You guys want to be physical, tough.
Here you go. We could do it too.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
All right, three games to go. I wonder from your
guys perspective, in what ways do the Rams look playoff ready?
And then my follow up will be what do they
still need to improve on? But let's start with in
what ways do you feel like the Rams are equipped
for the postseason based on their record currently?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Well, going back to the discussion we're having about being
able to run the football and kind of the ability
to do that, even if it means exceeding pass attempts, Like,
really the execution there is the biggest thing for me,
because you need to be able to control time and
possession in the playoffs, especially as you get deeper and
deeper into the postseason, and just the way that it's
opening up the offense and you know, maybe even taking
(11:20):
off some pressure on the some pressure off of the defense.
You know, the teams that have in the past that
have made those deep runs, I feel like have been
able to be efficient in the run game, get the
most out of their run game. Even if it's not
something that's an out of this world performance, it's still
been enough to you know, sustain those drives and keep
(11:40):
the offense ahead of the sticks and like I said,
just take some pressure off of their defense and keep
those other teams at bay.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, for me, it's two things. One, making the necessary
adjustments regardless of contract, how you're feeling. Putting Bowlimmeer at center.
That lets me know that you're ready to go to
the playoffs and make a run. Because you're putting the
guy that plays the best, right, and he goes in
after that Miami Dolphins game, you put him back in
offensive line is kind of set in what they need
to be and then they're healthy. Right, Like at the
(12:08):
end of the day, you're looking we look at Detroit.
I know we're gonna talk about a little bit, like
you're out there with dues that weren't even on your
roster in week five starting right, it's hard to combat
that and you know, and so for me, being able
to make the necessary adjustments both personnel wise and play
call wise are huge, Right, Willing to run the ball
(12:29):
when when you want to throw in those type of things,
but also having a healthy team. It's gonna be huge
going into the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
What about early down run success on defense? Because since
they got wiped at home, right Saekwon Barkley had that day,
there's been a good track record of success now, like
going to New Orleans, limiting that game to what they
did coming home and making the Bills one dimensional, and
even in San Francisco, like I I get it, like
(12:58):
Deebo Samuel helped tackle that run as much as the
Rams did. I'm not undermining that, But at the same time,
I think a three game sample size might be indicative
of some improvements, adjustments that the Rams have made that
could play well down the stretch here.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
I feel like Kobe Turner is kind of the cog
to that though. Okay, he's done a great job of
taking on double teams and winning his one on one
blocks more than anyone. I think that on that defensive line,
right if we ever called we're calling the game, it's
like Kobe Turner right there with a tackle first down,
right then he's able to then flip around and come
back on third down and get pressure on the quarterback.
(13:32):
He's playing some of his best football, but they're they're
playing off of his energy. Bobby Brown in certain situations
has been a dominant guy to the to the at
the attack of a point right or the point of
attack excuse me right where he's going on a tackle
and a tight end or a tackle in the guard.
He's pushing those guys back. Just the just the ability
(13:53):
to be able to stop the run on the early downs.
And it's funny when you have older guys. The saying is,
you work early so you can have fun late, right,
So you want to stop on early down so you
could rush the passer. But Bobby Brown does never get
to rush the passer, right. But he's bought into what
his role is, and I think that's important.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
One of the great things about winning last Thursday and
having the mini buys it sets you up stue for
a great week of practice and the time on task
I think has been the biggest driver of success here
in the second half of the season for the Los
Angeles Rams. Where can they still grow to not just
get in the dance, but maybe do some damage once
they do.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Yeah, I think it's just making sure that they continue
to have that momentum with the run game like we
talked about, and just maintaining that continuity that you know
we were talking about with health and whatnot, but really
just continuing to make sure you have that marriage to
the run in the past, because as we've talked about,
and as we've heard McVeigh talk about, you know, for
(14:50):
this offense to operate at its peak, if you don't
have that, then you know, it becomes one dimensional. And
you know, see we see some of the performances like
we saw earlier in the season, and so I think
if you see more of that, maybe there's room to
grow there a little bit. But to me, like we've
talked about, I think it's trending in the right direction
where you know, we're starting to see that come to
(15:13):
life more like we've been accustomed to.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
To me, I think it's coverage on the back end
more consistent. Right. We saw Cam Curl take a big
step on Thursday Night covering George Kittle. Awesome, But then
we've also seen guys running wide open, Right, So having
more consistent coverage and I guess a closer proximity to
the targeted receiver would be something that's going to be
needed as you get to the playoffs, right, because let's
(15:37):
just say you're playing in Minnesota Vikings, who are you know,
they're hot? They could be your first round pick. Play
for you right here in so far they have guys
that are moving right now. T J. Hawkinson's back, he
wasn't here when you played last. Addison's playing well obviously,
justin Jefferson like, you got to have stick your coverage.
I feel like when once you get to the playoffs,
(15:57):
and that's what the Rams had when they won the
Super Bowl. It was just your overall guys were like
when the ball's in there, there was a guy on
that guy right. It wasn't like a big space of
what we've seen, and it hasn't been a lot of it.
I just need more. You just want more consistency of
guys being closer to the to the receiver when thrown.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Too, I would say too, especially because while it doesn't
seem like it's been as big of an issue as
it was earlier in the season, there's still some explosive
plays in the past game that have you know, surfaced
or crept up and you know, hurt the Rams defense
in that secondary. So trying to avoid those as much
as possible, i'd say, is also part of that.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Do you remember about a month ago when you were
in that seat and we said coach mjd solved the
red zone for us, right, and you gave some helpful
pointers to help turn the Rams season around on short fields.
I got another challenge for you, Okay, okay, help the
Rams turn around their first quarter. Help the Rams get
off to faster starts. Because what was at the ninth
scoreless first quarter of the season for the Rams in
(16:51):
Santa Clara last week. They're a bottom five team in
the NFL in terms of first quarter production. That's living dangerously.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Yeah, that's that's definitely tough.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Let's see because it goes into the trap game theme
that I presented earlier too, Like what's the easiest way
to avoid a trap game in New York? Can never
really throttle them early, make them disinterested in playing in
twenty five degree weather.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Well, I think the first thing is getting your tight
ends more involved in the passing game. The boot game
should be big. We talked about that on Thursday night.
We didn't see the boot game until it was needed
in the in the fourth quarter. Starting fast starts with
the first play. Whatever the first play is. You want
to get four yards, right, and you're supposed to pick
your best play to get four yards or more on
(17:39):
your first play. What are the Rams average on the
boot game. I feel like starting the game with that
getting the ball out quick and man, it might have
been Minnesota they did that where they started the game
with a quick boot, easy throw, just get the ball
out to the flat.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I think that and Buffalo are the only two first
drive touchdowns of this season.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah, and so to me, that's if that's where we
have to be regards if they know it, we have
to figure out a way to get plus four just
to get to get in front of the change so many times,
or a hitch topooka right that hits he caught against
Ward was amazing, right, even though it was good coverage,
he was able to make a play. Anything that gets
you ahead of the change on your first down, that's
(18:17):
going to start the drive. So the first play is
the most important. And well I'll make sure we harp
on that this week when we call the game. But
if you can get four more on the first play,
a little conv okay, you know, now second down its
third and manageable. We're able to kind of get a
first down. Then we just we kind of get in
a rhythm. But if it's second and ten, second and eight,
(18:38):
now it's like, oh we got it. It's a more
uphill battle. So that first play, if you want to
start faster and score points, it's all about that first play.
Whatever play you decide that's going to get you four
yards or more, we'll get you going.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Cannot stress this enough. The Los Angeles Rams are not
overlooking Week sixteen. Neither are we not that it matters,
but we do owe it to our audience. A talk
playoff picture. I know, Stu, you kind of did a
deep dive this week. You want to lay out the
circumstances for us. With the Rams leading the way at
eight and six, they control their own destiny. Seahawks also
eight and six, they too, control their own destiny. Cardinal's
(19:11):
still a factor. At seven and seven, they need the
Seahawks to lose, but they still have a path.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Yeah, there's there's still very much up for grabs, not
only in the division, but just in the playoff picture.
And again a loss of the Jets doesn't completely eliminate
those chances for the Rams obviously in terms of winning
the NFC West and ultimately getting into the playoffs. But
you know, I go back to what McVeigh said, where
you know, ultimately, like winning is what allows them to
(19:37):
continue to control their playoff fate. And so yeah, you know,
you get a win over the Jets, and you get
some help from the Vikings and get some help from
the Panthers. The Vikings play the Seahawks, the Panthers play
the Cardinals. That sets you up and puts you in
a really good position next week. And then obviously keeping
on an eye on Buccaneers and Cowboys as well, because
(20:00):
because again with the Buccaneers being the three seed, you
know that depending on how they do in that game,
that could potentially impact, you know, some movement for the Rams,
depending on how things go for them this week.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
It's a good point because if you're like, oh, what
are the chances the two is going to lose at
home to the seven in the playoffs, I'll rewind time
one year and think about what the Packers did in
Dallas last year, Like, there is real value to potentially
earning that three seed. I see kind of three brackets
in the NFC picture. There's the race for the number
one seed, right Detroit, Philly, Minnesota, all with twelve wins.
(20:32):
Let's start there. Who do you like to prevail in
that battle for the one seed?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
It looks like Philly. I think Philly will probably get
the one seed the way they're playing, the way their
schedule kind of plans out. But Minnesota, man, Like, it's
hard for me not to talk about them and feel
like they don't have a chance because they're playing some
of the best football. Sam Darnald, I mean, I'm a
Sam Darnald hater. He chose to go to the other school.
He didn't start well in his career, and I guess
(20:59):
most people used to tell me flowers bloom at their
own time, with Sam's starting to bloom. He's playing some
of the best football that we've seen, and he has
this team believing in them right, like for them to
go beat Chicago the way they beat Chicago, and they
have Seattle like they're ready to go. They're primed and
ready to go. And O'Connell's doing a great job with
(21:21):
all the guys that he has, getting guys motioned, and
I mean, they're just they're good. I will say Philly
because Philly's more talented, but I wouldn't be surprised if
Minnesota wins it.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Philly has the easier path at Washington home to Dallas,
home to New York as opposed to Minnesota motivated going
to Seattle, which is really important for the Rams chances
Green Bay at Detroit is how they finish. Who do
you think wins the NFC North.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I think the Vikings have a real shot. I mean,
as surprising as that may seem to some, it's I
just look at I mean we were talking about this
before the show, like the amount of injuries that Detroit
has piling up right now defensively and then also now
just this past week with David Montgomery. I just don't
know how sustainable that is. I don't count them out,
(22:09):
because again, Dan Campbell really has a good pulse of
that team and how to keep it motivated. But it's
I mean, they've been in some they've they've been in
some shootouts offensively or with some of these games recently,
and I just don't know, because of the health of
that defense, like how much longer they can, like I said,
(22:31):
sustain those performances and ultimately overcome that. Whereas the Vikings
I feel like have a healthier defense, and between the
two of them, I think are a little bit better
positioned because of that health to potentially win that division.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
So mentioned those three brackets, we talked about the top one.
In the six to seventh spot, you got Green Bay
with ten wins, and on a roll, you got Washington
with nine wins in that seventh spot. And then we
get to that middle mix, and this is where the
Rams are with Tampa Bay and Yattle eight wins apiece
in Arizona, who we mentioned. Here's what I find interesting.
The Seahawks play on Thursday in Chicago, the day after Christmas,
(23:08):
on a short week seventeen, so the Rams will know
the score well in advance of what we now know
is a Saturday night primetime game at SOFI Stadium. I'll
pause here to say, get your tickets Saturday night Cardinals
and Rams in a massive week seventeen showdown. But that's
a really interesting shape to that week because you'll know
what the Seahawks outcomes are, not just this Sunday, but
(23:29):
again next week before the Rams play again.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Yeah, it could potentially set up a clinching scenario for
the Rams. Says as soon as next week, again depending
on how everything this week shakes out, but especially with
that Thursday night game, who knows what we could be
looking at on that Saturday night game.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Can I say that I'm still scared of Arizona.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
You should be.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Yeah, Like they're physical and Connor's running well, Kyler's playing
some of the best ball that he's been playing for
a while. He's taking shots now. The Patriots did a
great job of clothes like shutting down Marvin Harrison Junior,
but he's still a playmaker. Like Arizona is sneaky, and
I think the only reason that I feel like this
would be a trap game is because of how good
(24:10):
they are, what they've been doing kind of in the desert.
No one's really talked about them, and you're like, we
got to get prepared for that and this. That'd be
the only reason I could call this a trap game.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Yeah, I mean it's a nice revenge opportunity and we
hope that it carries the biggest stakes of the season.
Let's talk some personnel for the Rams, because we haven't
touched on Tyler Higbee's expected return. I think that's big
for this time, this team, in this moment. What do
you think he adds to an already built out tight
end room that I think statistically is probably underachieved, but
(24:40):
came up clutch most recently at San Francisco.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Well, I think it gives him. One, you get a
guy that's been there before, that's confident in what this
system is, has been around the longest tenure ram which
means a lot. But two, I think again, if you
can get him going, his ability to be to catch
the football, a lot of those we talked about start fast, Right,
How many times have we seen Matthew Safage whip out
an arrow route to him but he gets seven, eight yards? Like,
(25:05):
we just haven't had that ability yet. And I don't
know why it hasn't been there, but just that alone,
where you can throw a two yard route, it can go,
he can turn it up for six or six or
eight more. It just helps you start faster so that
there's a lot And I think also in the blocking game,
like he's big enough, strong enough to block some of
these guys in the run game, they create a little
(25:26):
bit more removed than what they've been getting to open
up bigger holes.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
What are some of the things that Sean Matthew were
saying this week in anticipation of Higbee's return.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah, just that it's going to be a big boost,
you know, personality, energy, whatever you want to say about him.
I mean all those things beyond just the tangibles that
he brings and the traits that brings as a player
are ultimately what he's really gonna be providing this team.
I mean, even out in practice, like that energy has
been really noticeable and you know, infectious with the rest
of the group. And you know, like we talked about
(25:59):
that familiar with the offense, you can't discount that either,
And so I mean you look at that collectively, I
feel like it's going to be really really huge.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Never hurts to have the most prolific tight end in
Rams franchise history joining your group for the final three
games of the regular season. I just want to speak
something into existence here. Tyler Higbee, the way that he's rehabbed,
deserves a rematch against the Detroit Lions in January. I
hope that comes to fruition here or there, however it
plays out. I want to see Higbee against the Lions
(26:30):
next month.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I like that you talked about the energy, you know,
big rig Higg, Like that's what you need. You need
a guy that's gonna drag guys and carry guys. We
were talking about that Jets game. There was a highlight
that was on X and it was higby like catching
the ball, spinning off three four guys and running the
extra twenty yards like that was.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
The longest catching run of his career, forty four yards.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Where's that been?
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Got a touchdown in that game too, right, Where's that been?
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Right? So having that energy back is going to be huge.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
What about Kobe Durant.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Yeah, so he was medically cleared to return, he was,
he was limited in practice on Wednesday, and so trending
into positive directions what Vey had said Monday about his
availability for not only practice, but you know, being active
and playing against the Jets, which again you know, like
we've talked about with Rogers and Adams, but really you know,
(27:20):
when you're going against a duo like DeVante Adams and
Garrett Wilson, you're gonna need somebody like Kobe Durant to
you know, pair up with Darius Williams to try to
counter those guys. So all signs, you know, again trending
in the right direction positive for for Kobe to be
available on Sunday, which which will be as good as
(27:42):
a Kello I should say, played last week. It will
still be still be good to have Kobe out there.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
I would say, no one benefits more from the mini
by than Kyron Williams, the Rams running back with nearly
sixty carries in a five day window, beating the Bills
and the forty nine ers. How is he set up
for success in this closing stretch.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
You know, first and foremost, as a running back, you
want to be sore, right, I want to go into
a game knowing that I played the game Kyroen has
not only probably should be sore, but the way he's played,
with the physicality, the breaking of the tackles, the energy
that he's been showing over the last couple of weeks.
This bye week is gonna allow him to recover and
be able to go. But then I think, I think
(28:22):
they're gonna if they lean on him the way they've
done it and Blake Korum. They lean on both those guys,
that's gonna be the key to their success throughout the
next three weeks, right controlling the clock, controlling the line
of scrimmage, setting up play action, pass, taking your shots.
But he should be ready to go. He should be.
I mean, this is what you do. All that training.
He trains where I used to train too, So he's
he should be ready to roll. Down this stretch with
(28:44):
the way he works out, And I talked to the guy,
said he's been this offseason. He was, he was in
there getting it in, so his body should be ready.
And I'm excited to see him go.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
Yeah, he's gonna be so inspired by the Friday night
playoff win in South Bend too, from the fighting irish
that I think he'll.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Be no question.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Oh, I'm sorry, I'll bookmark this part of the show. Okay,
I'll keep this in mind.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Yeah, do we have like a push up deal going?
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Have you seen this guy's work out.
Speaker 3 (29:10):
That's come on?
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Let's talk Jets picked as a contender. They've been one
of the most disappointing teams in the National Football League
four intent and yet, and yet, even though their defense
is taken a dive, they've got enough firepower on offense
to be a problem. I don't like that. Sigh.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I don't neither. Sometimes if you get just a little
glimpse of hope, and it's like that little spark starts
a wildfire. And that's what I'm scared of. What happened
in Jacksonville, to be honest with you, is that all
of a sudden, Aaron Rodgers is moving out of the pocket,
throwing the ball deep. Deavante Adams is running past guys
like he's healthy.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Isn't that the biggest thing? Like Aaron Rodgers looks healthy.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
He hasn't looked healthy either until literally Jacksonville. So that's
the scary part. Now they do have some turmoil going
on because Garrett Wilson's very frustrat there and so don't
be surprised if you see him get targets early in
the game. But if they can get those two guys going,
that's gonna be an issue. Right, They're not the running
the football is something that they're still trying to work on.
Offensive line is kind of in disarrayed. Guys are banged
(30:14):
up and hurting. All that stuff. They got a young
guy started, the kid from Penn State. But if you
want to really, if you want to stop the Jets,
you have to corral Aaron Rodgers early, Like you have
to get to Aaron Rodgers early and have him start
doing the you know, his little antics, the sad face,
the throwing the ball down.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
I think that's right. I think incompletions like dirt balls
from Aaron Rodgers will be a sign of early success.
Because you don't get to him like. He's as good
as I've ever seen at protecting himself. They've invested in
their offensive line. I get it, but it's not like
their offensive line has been world beating. He just knows.
He knows what you're throwing at him. He knows when
the down is up, he knows when to get rid
of it.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I have to tell you this story. So James Jones,
a good friend of mine. It was when the no
fly zone in Denver was going on, and they have
been practicing all week and they're all excited, and James said,
they're going out right before the game. They're like, go
out and play after the warm ups. He was like, hey, look,
I've been watching them. If your route is supposed to
be a ten yards, making it eight because the ball
(31:13):
has to come out like And that's the kind of
stuff that he's gonna tell. If you start getting to
him early, he's gonna have those guys cut their routes
off because he has to get the ball out quick.
And so to me, again, if the Rams defensive line
can really that's gonna be the key to this game.
If they can get around Rogers and get him frustrated
because the receivers are already kind of starting to DeVante's
already barked a little bit. Gary Wilson's now barking. If
(31:35):
you can make that whole offense frustrated, you have a
great chance.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Look, when you face a team that's already fired a
general manager, a head coach, a play caller, there's gonna
be some volatility there. The upside volatility stew can be dangerous.
But the downside volatility, whether it's an inability to run
the football, whether it's their defense giving up twenty five
points a week, like, that's there too, and it's there
for the Rams to take advantage of.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Absolutely, And that's that's why I was going to say
two with just getting to the offense and creating that
frustration early, because they haven't had the complimentary performances from
the defense to match some of those performances by the
offense this year. And you know that defense has shown
some vulnerabilities, especially against the runs. So if you if
you can get to that offense early and like like
(32:20):
we were saying, get them frustrated, I think that makes
it easier to again take advantage of that defense that's
had its fair share of challenges this season?
Speaker 1 (32:28):
What else, what do we miss? Other keys of the game,
other things you want to get off your chest before
we go.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
I'm excited to see how this team plays in the cold,
even though I know Detroit's in a dome. But if
you have to go to Philly, it's gonna be cold, right,
everyone else is kind of domeed.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
But so checking another weather box.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Yeah, just so, just like if you get into the playoffs,
you just never know what happens. You may have to
end up going somewhere you don't want to go.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Do you remember being in the meadowlands last year? Rams
coming away with a narrow victory, and then we get
on the plane and we wait and we wait, and
a good outcome lands from Loomenfield in Seattle. It was
Pittsburgh last year. Maybe it's Minnesota this year. I love
when history repeats itself.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It's been doing that a lot this year, hasn't it history? Yes,
at least last year. I don't know if that's history, Bud.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
Yeah, the second half run certainly feels familiar.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
So I'm done.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
You're done, Ready to go? Go? Rams?
Speaker 1 (33:20):
All right, go pack, go shopping, bundle up.
Speaker 3 (33:27):
I don't know, man, I may be whining this game.
I can feel it. I can just feel it, you
know how you can feel that. I think I'm gonna be.
I would be tough, though, I'll tough it out right on.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
See you in South Bend. Kind of sorry, good luck
you guys deserve. It's been a good season for the Hoosiers,
for m j D, for Stud Jackson. I'm JB.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Long.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Thanks for being here for this edition and Between the
Horns presented by your Southern California Toyo to Deals
Speaker 3 (34:00):
If you get it.
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