January 2, 2025 • 37 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr, and Stu Jackson talk takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams clinching the NFC West, Wild Card scenarios, resting starters in Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's swag, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Well, Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to our first
show of twenty twenty five. It's Between the Horns, presented
about your Southern California Toyota Dealers, and it is home
to the twenty twenty four NSC West Champions with Stu
Jackson and DeMarco Farr. I am JB. Long, wishing you
a very safe, happy, prosperous new year. How you guys doing.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm good. I'd love that Division champs? Unbelievable? Can you?
Can you really believe it? We're sitting here as Division champs?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Unreal? Can you?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
It's quite the remarkable turnaround. I will say things were
looking tough at first. Ye never never count out this group,
specially Sean McVay.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And speaking of how about the fact that in his
eight seasons he's won the NFC West and half of them, like,
Sean McVay has won as many division titles as the
rest of the West combined since he showed up in
two thousand.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Wow, you know that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
One of the things we're going to talk about on
this show is like, what is the favorite season?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
How do we rank this one?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
His first year in twenty seventeen, still stands out as
the best because of the drought in between, how long
it took to get back to number one. And I
remember all the talk about him, he's too young, he's
to this, he's do that. But since then it's been
nothing but winning and nothing but great. So for Rams fans,
this is your best era of all time. This might
(01:30):
be your greatest coach of all time. So what he's
done this year nothing short of miraculous. But his whole
run has been unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
I love that you did that. There's no script to
this year, yea, you brought it up. Were going there
right now, Stu, what is Sean mcvay's best season?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I might put this one up there. I mean, again
from my experience, I've been with the team since twenty nineteen,
so that's really the point of reference I have as
far as like really closely following this team and whatnot.
But you know, for me, just thinking about the injuries
that this group had to overcome, that he and this
coaching staff had to overcome when they started one and four,
especially on the offensive line, especially for the extended stretch
(02:10):
that they were without Hookah and Cooper. Like, again, from
my frame of reference, like, I can't think of a
season other then again, kind of the twenty twenty two
year where there was just an unlucky rash of injuries,
where you deal with that many setbacks and still once
everybody gets back healthy and once you find a semblance
(02:30):
of continuity when nine of eleven five straight to become
division champions, Like, there's something to be said for that.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
We should stipulate that how this season will be remembered
is still to be determined, that this could elevate to
his best season.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In a hurry, I said, this is it's a good story.
One and four two division champs. You want to make
this story great. You want to make this song from
gold to platinum. You got to win in the playoffs. Yeah,
then you will never stop talking about this. Right now,
it's something that's fun. It's a blurb across the headline.
But if you win in the playoffs, boom, everybody will
be talking about.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So here's how I answered this question, and you pick
it apart twenty one best you got Colembardi right, most
impressive I was between twenty eighteen and last year in
terms of the rocket ship. That was the eighteen offense
and then just how unexpected and enjoyable what he did
with what was perceived to be so little last year. Yeah,
(03:26):
I would start for now as a placeholder by calling
twenty four his most complete season, where he became, you know,
a CEO like head coach. His imprint is on all
three phases of the organization, x's and o's leadership, staying
in the fight all that.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay, So eighteen was Super Bowl lost to New England, right,
I mean that team was fantastic. I mean, as a
old D lineman, that was my favorite year. That's Sue
and Donell on the same D line that was great.
Twenty twenty one, same thing. I mean this year, to
go from one to four, a young defense and with
an offensive line that you constantly had to fix and
(04:05):
change and rotate, and you're trying to figure out how
to get things done, to not let go of the rope,
and to because we do the coaches show well sometimes
me and him, we.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Miss you, buddy, I do miss you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But to sit here and listen to him every day
or during that one and four stretch, and even going
back to last season, just never let go of the rope,
not even seem like he got to the end.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Of the rope.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's just there's this relentless positivity or this relentless drive
towards winning. You knew he's gonna get it right. They're
gonna get it right. And I never thought it would
be this type of run five and zero or whatever.
But you knew this team was never gonna stop fighting,
and they keep finding ways to win. And it's all
because of that culture he's created when he got here
(04:46):
in the first place.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Let me ask you something, because I think fiery pregame
or halftime speeches are probably overrated in football lore. But
what I don't think is overrated is when you have
a man who can stand in front of a room
and say, you've got thirty nine days guaranteed left, what
do you want to make of them? Can I get
your buy in? And this happens, There's got to be
something to that, DeMarco. From your players standpoint, there's a.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Lot of rah rah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We've heard rarah. Guys come up with the great slogans
or whatever. They read it in some book and they
bring it to the team and it's yeah. But when
when a guy can look you in the eye and
look you right in the soul and take you back
to Pop Warner football, to why you're playing this game
in the first place. And it's not just bs, it's real.
I mean, this is how he feels about it, This
is how he feels about you. And this is why
(05:29):
we say, you know, the culture on winning teams is different.
It's because of coach McVeigh and guys like him so
and not just him, the entire coaching staff and the
players have bought in. So when we talk about not
letting go of the rope, it's everybody, but it starts
with him. And you can tell from every man on
this roster they're all pulling in the same direction. So
no shock to me that they wound up being division chance.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Well here's where I think it starts and ends with him.
It's remember two years ago, not even two full years ago,
and management pens an open letter to the fan base saying, hey,
we know what this has been. It's going to change.
We're gonna have to make some hard decisions. We got
to get our books in order. Bear with us. We
still want to be a competitive but it's gonna look
and feel different. Okay, Since that letter, Ten wins in
a playoff spot, ten, maybe eleven wins in a division title.
(06:12):
That's because of lots of things, but Sean mcvay' is
at the top of that list. And then I'll also say,
how about less need in his group to draft and develop?
How should we say at the last two and a
half defensive rookies of the year. I mean, like Kobe
Turner is going to go down in my memory bank
as the twenty three winner. Jared Verse, I think has
clinched this year's but his running mate Braid and Fisk
(06:33):
equally deserving.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, you think about, especially on the defensive side of
the ball, the production they've gotten from the rookies. This
was something I found the other day, but thirteen sacks
is the most by rookies of any team in the
league at least entering week eighteen. Eight interceptions, that's tied
for the most with Houston against specific to rookies, and
also entering week eighteen. So you know, from the standpoint
(06:55):
of no, you're not going to replace Aaron Donald, but
in the aggregate, you're gonna at least try like they've
they've done pretty well in that regard.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Another perfect name to drop in the midst of all
that you retired, They in franchise history, and Poku Nakua
set rookie records, and you got coaches hired and promoted
here and around the league. It's stunning. Let's get to
where the Rams are competitively as we both look ahead
to wild card weekend and look back on Week seventeen
(07:23):
and another gritty win against the Arizona Cardinals. DeMarco, you
steer here, tickets, anywhere you want to go in terms
of where your mind has wandered since the Rams clinched.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Gritty is a good word for that win. Wouldn't you
say gritty, tough or this season, the whole season, but
just that game. I guess in a microcosm Arizona's defense,
I dare you, let's watch that tape. Show me one
below average play on that defense. So there was tough
sledding out there and you had to make plays, you
had to have things happen. And Pokin Nakua continues to
(07:55):
come up big for this football team. And on the
other side, I'm glad you mentioned those three guys, Kobe
turned and Fisk and Verse. They're like termites out there.
I mean, they just drill into your offensive line and
they just destroy your foundation. Jared Verse to Mike count
has hurt people, not just quarterbacks. I'm talking the guys
that are blocking him. They get beat up playing against him.
(08:17):
And Fisk has been nothing but special. But Kobe Turner,
his rise into year two as not only a good
football player but also as one of these the team's
leaders on defense has been exemplary.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
So gritty.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You make plays when you have to, big plays when
you need to, and you do just enough to you know,
keep your team in the black. So it's a gritty victory.
I'm sure people want, you know, a more of a
style point win er. It's got to look a little pretty,
but I don't think this team cares. It's get the
W and move on to next week. So gritty win.
(08:51):
I think all this is gonna help you moving forward
going into the postseason.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
It's the tougher in yards from Kien Williams for me,
just the way they've been able to consistently lean on
him during the stretch and being able to stay ahead
of the chains, and in some cases when you know
they're not getting what they want to out of the
passing game or when other teams defenses are taking that away,
the teams that are you know, most successful and able
to make deep runs into the postseason, are able to
(09:15):
consistently rely on that ground game, and that's something that's
been a positive.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
How the heck does he not make the Pro Bowl?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Kiren?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yes, question, Please tell me. I asked you that when
you were on the show. He third best back in
the league?
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Fair enough?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
When they talk about those other two, those other two starbacks,
his face is right there.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
How does he not make the answer?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Then? And my answer now is there aren't three backs
that I love more for the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
But it's funny how it moves, right. So the other
backs they're more flashy long runs. Okay, so let's go
back to DTS. Doesn't Fisk have more sacks than almost
every Pro bowler out there? So does Kobe Turner. So
flashy matters here, but not there.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
So at the end of the show, we're going to
talk about our fondest Sorry, keep the soap o, that's
what this show is for. But at the end of
the show, we'll talk about our fondest memories of twenty
four in some New Year's resolutions for the Rams in
twenty five, Kyraen's a top that list for me, we
know his injury pass has been checkered. This guy played
(10:13):
every game and took over three hundred carries. Whether or
not it comes with the accolades, I think that is
an unbelievable individual and organizational accomplishment that I'll remember fondly
from this season. It goes kind of hand in hand
with I feel about this team, though, which is I
know a lot of our audience is frustrated with the
lack of offensive production down the stretch. I'm right there
with you. I had to remind myself in preparation for
(10:36):
this show in this week. Analytically, this is still a
top ten offense in the National Football League. The team
that played against Buffalo is still in there. Sean McVay
sat in that seat and said the best is yet
to come from this offense earlier this week. But I
also think it's okay to embrace the fact that this
is a defensive driven team. Whereas the offense is top
ten statistically, defense is only top twenty. But they have
(10:59):
been there in the critical moments. They have made the
winning plays that have allowed this to be an NFC
West champion. I think what we all feel is that
there's just not a ton of margin for air. At
least in the regular season version of the twenty four RAMS.
Eight of their ten wins have been by one possession.
Five of those wins have featured multiple takeaways. That's hard
to do. Three of their wins have included a non
(11:20):
offensive touchdown. That's why they're here. It's not necessarily theup
the blueprint for where they want to go. Oh does
that make it totally total?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
That's why I'm so glad they wrapped it up.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Or you know when Washington won, when you won in
the vision, you can take this week off, so to speak,
or rest your starters, and rest one starter in particular,
Matthew Stafford. This is the reason. This is the everything.
This is the most paramount guy that you have to
have ready for the postseason. So if I could change
one thing or point to one thing to say why
(11:53):
the offense has been struggling, you'd have to go back
to Sometimes he's inaccurate early, but he does warm up
and get going, and that tells me that he may
need some time to rest a little bit.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
This might be perfect for him.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So uh, if you get him back and gunning and
he can find Cooper Cup and he can find everyone
else like he finds Pooka Nakua. You'll see that buffalo
style offense again. Right now, it's a tough, gritty run
it with Kiren do enough. But at some point, if
you can find a way to make your quarterback a
little more accurate, maybe that means rest a little bit
more rest, I think you'll see that offensive explosion that
(12:28):
people are looking for.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
He's not just a super Bowl champion, he is the
human segue DeMarco taking this right to this week, which
is the privilege they've earned the opportunity to rest, either deactivate,
or pull snap count back from starters. We know that
Jimmy Garoppolo is gonna goest do what else do we
know as we anticipate the Seahawks.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Yeah, they're still working through exactly who's going to rest
and who's not. I mean, we do know that you know,
Rob Havenstein won't play, but again because of his shoulder injury.
It sounds like that's a you know, a blessing in
this guy's just being able to you know, have him
not play anyway, but should be ready for the for
the wild card round, which is a positive. And so
(13:09):
you know, we'll still see what that looks like. I mean, again,
going back to the Coach of Ray show earlier this week,
it sounds like we'll see more of Blake Koram, which
is good. Yeah, and then beyond that again, who knows.
I'm sure there's probably a little bit of you know,
gamesmanship to that maybe. But the other thing I'll say
too is it's tricky with the roster math if you will,
(13:31):
you know, when people are trying to figure out, okay,
like who's gonna rest who's not, Like you can't see
as many people as you can the preseason, for one,
because you have a game day forty eight as far
like forty eight is the size of the game day
roster versus obviously the ninety man roster that you have
to work with in the preseason, where you know, the
preseason finale were used to you know, some of those
decisions being a little bit easier in terms of having
(13:53):
a little bit deeper of a depth chart. So just
some roster math like that to work through. But that's
where right right now.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I mean, when you look at the relative age and
experience difference on offense and defense, I think you can
connect some dots in terms of who is and who
isn't going to go, and we'll talk about who we're
looking forward to seeing against the Seahawks coming up here
in just a bit.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
But boom.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Did anybody catch noteboom doing the two small thing on
the end of the screen.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I saw that. I see you know, boom, go ahead.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Well, I was going to say, I want to honor
and acknowledge and respect the portion of our audience that
doesn't like the concept of resting starters, and that would
probably point to the playoff games the Rams have lost
against the Falcons and seventeen and the Lions in twenty
three as those being the years when the Rams had
this luxury, picked this path and it didn't work out
necessarily in the preseason, I got a lot to say
(14:40):
about that. But DeMarco Yugo, first, as the former player, Now,
in the construct of a seventeen game season, where are
you at with respect to resting guys.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
This is a smart time to rest some guys on offense.
You're an older team at some positions and some frankly,
some guys need a week off and to heal up.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
And there's some.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Younger players that can play and like, let Garoppolo take
some snaps.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Why not? I get both sides.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
If you're an offense that's clicking and you're rolling, and
you want to roll into the playoffs, it makes no
sense to set your players down if they're playing well.
But if you're a team that needs to take a
week and get guys back, then it's smart to rest
your guys. Why risk them? And does it really matter
going from three to four? I guess we'll get to
that later. Not another human segue, but I mean you've
(15:27):
already locked up the division. Take the rest. This is
a bye week built in going into the playoffs. I
think it's perfect well.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
And Sean McVay said the other day too that you know,
seating really didn't have much to do with these decisions
or wasn't going to be a factor. They just know
that they're going to get a quality opponent regardless based
on all of those scenarios that are at play. And
so for the way I look at as well, as
you know, with all the lessons learned in continuity this
season and some of the health challenges you faced already,
(15:56):
the best thing for the team's continuity and keeping that
streat going as a lot of goal as it may
kind of sound, is preserving the health as much as
you ostensibly can before the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The three seed absolutely matters. It has built in advantages.
We've seen that in recent years. It just doesn't matter
enough to prioritize it over the risk of losing a
piece that can help you beat any other team in
the field. And so I think the best way to
maximize your winning percentage in the wild card round is
to have as many of your top line guys available
to minimize your injury report. And I also want to
(16:27):
say it's not like DeMarco helped me out here. The
Rams aren't practicing like Stafford and Kiren aren't and Cabo
here working out. They're gearing their bandwidth towards whoever's coming
here on wild card weekend, rather than burning it on
a game plan against the Seahawks that doesn't move the
needle for the team physically.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You get the week off.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
On game day, you're still going to practice, but mentally,
you just you have that little bit of a break
to think of Matthew Stafford. Everything revolves around him. He's
involved in every single meeting. You get the week off,
let Garoppolo take it so I can just have that
mental vacation and that physical vacation and then but you're
still on the building, You're still helping you become.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
The backup quarterback, So I can't.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
It's it's nothing but positive at this point for this
football team taking that week versus the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I think it also matters that the buye was back
in Week six. The Rams would not be here. I
think we can all agree if they weren't fortunate enough
to catch the earliest buye of the Sean McVay era.
But the shadow side of that is they've been going
for eleven straight weeks. Like this is a well deserved
respite for some key pieces, and I would put Sean
mcfah at the top of that list. To like, if
he is outsourcing any part of this game plan or
(17:34):
play calling on Sunday to the against the Seattle Seahawks,
if he's rejuvenated, if he's devoting more time and energy
to self scouting and preparing his game plan for what's
going to take to work on wild Card weekend, I
think that's a major attribute too.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Absolutely, And like versus Arizona, and like it was versus
the Jets, it's it's really hard when you know you're
probably there's a good chance when you're you left New York,
good chance we're going to make the postseason. When you're
in Arizona, if we win this, good chance for going
to the postseason. So you don't want to give away
too much offensively, Well, I mean, I'm sure Arizona would
know that, and Buddha Baker was everywhere, and you can't
(18:09):
tell me that guy wasn't dialed into all the base
stuff you were doing. So but if this was a
playoff game, I bet it would have been a little
bit tougher on them to dial in on what you
were trying to do. So yeah, I mean even for
Sean McVay, like you said, to have another week to
game plan, to not show anything, to keep every team
guessing that you're going to face into the postseason.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
That's hard to do.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
And you get the week to kind of dial it
back or to get ahead going on to your next
four opponents who that might be. I think it's so important,
like you said, to take a step back when you
have the opportunity versus let's just plow ahead, try to
keep the three seed.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
If that's what we need.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yet they're not naive to where their deficiencies lie. They
just want to go to work on them, be in
the lab here in Woodland Hills, rather than putting it
on display at SOFI Stadium against the Seahawks for their
wild card opponent to see. All right, we don't know
who next week's opponent is going to be. We have
a pretty short list though, and as we get to
Week eighteen and getting ready for the postseason, here are
(19:03):
a few things I think bear watching. First. If Washington
wins the Packers result does not matter, the Commanders are
going to be the sixth, the Packers the seven, So
Green Bay needs a Washington loss and a green Bay
win of the Bears to flip that six seven seeding.
If New Orleans upsets Tampa Bay, the Rams will be
locked into the three seed before they even kick off
(19:25):
at SOFI Stadium, and we'll know their opponent either Washington
or Green Bay. Otherwise, the Bucks are in line to
clinch the South and will force the Rams to either
win in order to get the three seed or on
you go.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Can't get rid of Baker, can we? He's still there?
Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Pro Bowl snub Baker?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, tough kid.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Yeah, yeah, But basically the Rams currently own the three,
and they will be the three with a win against
Seattle or a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans. Hopes
that that helps. I don't know, Stu, take it away.
You've studied this a lot. What do you think do
you have any lean in terms of which opponent would
be good, bad, or otherwise for the Rams?
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, the way Jayden Daniels has been playing of late,
that Washington offense scares me a little bit at least
just again and seeing, you know, some of the challenges
that that's presented this defense in terms of those types
of quarterbacks, the way they can run and challenge you know,
those you know, rush lane integrities, especially like they worry me,
especially I think what Green Bay found in their run
(20:23):
game of late. I mean again, who knows if that
identity is going to carry over into the playoffs or
if that's just Matt Laford knowing that this is what
works and this is what's carrying us, has been mostly
carrying us to wins and you know, switching so that
he can switch things up and save something for some
of the playoffs. Who knows, But any of the NFC
(20:44):
North teams honestly are going to be a challenge.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And you get the NFC North opponent. If you're the four,
then you get the loser of Sunday Nights Finale. If
you're the three, either the Commanders or the Packers.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm with you on Jayden Daniels, fantastic year, Mobile quarterbacks
of giving. This league fits, this defense definitely fits this year.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
So that would be fun.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I mean, you're not scared of anybody, but that would
be your least favorite matchup. Green Bay and the Rams.
You just again, neck and neck. They're always there with you.
Go back to last year, something happened in that game.
Both teams switched. Jordan Love went to a whole new level.
Here they are again. You may see them, you know
the game I'm hoping for. I hope you get that.
(21:27):
Of course, that would be so much fun because going
back there twice was fun and that was about as
rack as of an atmosphere as I've ever been around.
So I would like them to experience that here and
so far if that's if that's possible, But you know
who cares, three or four, whoever you match up with,
just make sure you're playing your best football when you
do kick off in the way.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I like the Jayden Daniels point you make talk about
a wild card. On the one hand, to host a
rookie quarterback in the playoffs, that's about as good as
you can hope for. On the other hand, it's been
the rost of raw nerves for this LA team mobile
quarterbacks all season. So you're saying, right, for a guy
who's basically a third of his production has come via
scramble this season, here's something else to watch Sunday. We know,
by virtue of winning the West, the Rams are going
(22:08):
to catch a first place schedule next year, right, So
that means we already know it comes with a trip
to Philadelphia to face the NFC East champion Eagles. It's
going to require a trip to face the AFC North winner.
We'll find out Saturday if that's Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
You laugh, because go in to Philly and then you
got to go take on the North. Okay, yeah, that's fun.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Yeah, and then come into games coming to Sofi will
be the NFC North winner to be decided on Sunday
night football, Right, So if I have that correct, it's
very possible that the final game of the NFL regular season.
This weekend is going to have these implications for your rams.
The loser of that game could come to SOFI for
a wild card next week. The winner of that game
(22:52):
will come to SOFI next year for regular season.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Should think it easier if you win the division? Shouldn't
you can be easier schedule?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
You want me to really ruin your day? Wow, I'm
gonna ruin your dad. Oh, the twenty twenty five San
Francisco forty nine er is gonna play a fourth place schedule.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Yeah. I just ain't right. I just ain't right.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
This is why we can't have nights.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Oh my god. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I think Jimmy Garoppolo deserves his own portion of the conversation,
don't you think we? I think we've been pleased, privileged
not to have to see Jimmy Garoppolo yet as a RAM.
But the time has come and it comes in the
right context. Do you got to talk to him yesterday
a little bit?
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Yeah, he met with the media and got the chance to,
you know, learn a little bit about just what his
role behind the scenes essentially has been, like, you know,
for this team this season, and you know, the scout
team role is something he's really embraced. It's been you know,
it seemed like it's been a really positive I almost,
I guess, for lack of a better term, reset year
for him in terms of just being able to be
(23:50):
in that quarterback room with Matthew Stafford and all those coaches,
which is something he talked about in their process, the
way Sean McVeigh teaches this offense. All of those things
have made or a really positive experience for him. And
you know, he's obviously looking forward to having the chance
on Sunday to you know, show what he's learned and
what he's been able to provide this team. But now
in a live game, action setting.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I can't wait. The dude's got unbelievable swag. It's just
funny watching him, like, you know, get off the bus
going to the stadium. He looks like a starter. Where
were you on Garoppolo before he came here? Because I
know we have respect because all he did when he
was other places was beat the Rams. I thought he
was a pretty good starter. I thought he was one
of the better starters in the league.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 1 (24:33):
I did not like being on the defensive side of
third and long when Jimmy Garoppolo was on the field. Yeah, say,
for one key exception when Aaron Donald put him in
the spin cycle, he was a thorn in the Rams side.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
He just couldn't get rid of him. So yeah, I
can't wait to see him go. You know, we saw
guys Carson Wentz came through here, Baker Mayfield came through here,
and Baker Mayfield is you know, doing well in Tampa.
So maybe for Garoppolo, you get your start, you show
and improved, you may be in the mix or who knows,
But I just can't wait to see him go. I
was always a fan from Afar. Now I get to
(25:04):
see him up close, so this will be fun.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Who else? Who else are you looking forward to seeing,
either for the first time or in a larger role
than we're used to for the Rams.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Well, Blake Korm, if he gets extended run, that's gonna
be fun. And you know we were talking about this
with about Kyron and how he serfs the hole in
his football IQ. Blake Korm has that stuff that can
make something out of nothing. He can bump off here,
bump this guy and keep running. So I'd like to
see him with extended reps. More Joe Oapeboom, like I
(25:33):
said when he gave the too small thing on the screen,
it's so funny, it's so funny. But just watching him
get better, like you have another week to prove yourself
again to this team, to this league, to everyone. It's
another starter's opportunity. So same with Garoppolo, Boom, Korum, the
young defensive players. I don't think Fisk and Verse get
(25:56):
the week off, right, they're too young. I think that's right,
even if you're a Pro Bowl or you gotta go. Well,
it goes to Stu's point. You only have so many inactives, right,
and as vital as they are to your operation in
terms of seniority and bumps and bruises and yeah, tread
on tires, I don't think they rate.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You gotta play.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
So some other guys that you know, possibly haven't played
that much, can't wait. But just those two guys Boom, Garoppolo, Kreham,
let me let me see what you got on game day.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I'm gonna go with Jordan Waittington again. We not exactly
the same as Blake Krham situation, where we he did
get a little bit of extended run around mill early
part of the season when Cooper and and Puka were
both hurt and show a little bit of what he
can do. So we have an idea. But just between
what he's been able to do on special teams and
perhaps maybe getting the chance to, you know, show more
(26:42):
offensively at least as a more regular part of the
wide receiver rotation. I think it's something I'm looking forward to.
And then maybe even if any of the younger corners
get a chance. I mean again, because of that roster
math that we've been talking about, Well, we'll see what
that looks like as far as you know who's up
and who's not for the secondary, but if any of
those guys get a chance, like I'd be curious to
(27:02):
see how that depth looks right now, I'll.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Go back to that in a second. I agree with
your picks, Blake korhum Jordan. I'd add to to two
to that mix. I would love to see Tyler Higbee
get like five catches a touchdown in the second half
off like I'd like to see him play some full speed,
smash mouth football. Whatever rust is left over. I want
him feeling fully integrated and back for the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
If Stafford hits him, here in that little leakout. Yea,
if he turns up, yeah, that's a problem. There's one
guy out there.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
He's running to the endo.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
It don't that's big time. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
So I kind of broke this up into two categories.
You guys have touched on the ones that I feel
like can impact this postseason. I also have an eye
towards next season. This Sunday and the name that I'm
thinking of his former first round pick, Emmanuel Forbes, because
not that you can have a one game audition, but
the Seattle Seahawks are going to be playing full speed
on Sunday, and so if you can leave Englewood this
(27:56):
weekend having a better sense of what Forbes again, DK
Metcalf looks like. I think that's informative. I think that's
worth something going into your offseason program. And I feel
a bit of the same way you mentioned the young corners.
I think you're talking about like Josh Wallace, Charles Woods,
a couple of undrafted rookie corners, maybe Tyler Davis and
Brendon Jackson, a couple drafted members of this defense stepping
(28:18):
into larger rules. But as much as anything, if you
threw a dart on that waiver wire claim of Forbes. Well,
let's start to kind of see how close to the
bullseye you might have been against a team that you're
gonna try and beat twice next year with or without.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Him, mister Forbes, meet Smith and Jigba.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Yeah, lill JSN in the slot too, follow.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Him around as much as you can. You know, I
assume that the starters are going to play at corner
for a little while, right m h I hope they play.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
I hope Akello keeps playing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
I hope Darius keeps playing at least for a half,
and then rotate guys in.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
You can also have some guys who will have a
helmet because that's how the math works out. But they're
kind of break glass in case of emergency only type
act is.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Yeah, because like you said, Seatle's going to be going
full speed. They're going to be trying to win.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
What about these Seahawks, They got a first year head coach.
They'd like to get to ten wins. It feels like
the Rams are playing against next year's twenty twenty five Seahawks.
And also Gino Smith's pocketbook, he stands to make a
lot of money this weekend.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Six million bucks, right, incentives, he's going to go. I
think ten wins is always the goal, that's the benchmark
of every coach. So if you're that coach, I'm sure
you're going to be putting your you know, pedal to
the metal trying to get there, and it sets you
up for next season. So it would be fun if
you could go out against one of your biggest rivals
(29:39):
with a backup quarterback and keep them from ten wins.
But if I'm them, I'm definitely trying to get that
victory down here to set myself up for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I will say with those incentives to play for it
sets up a good opportunity for a lot of those
younger players or other players who are in who are
in small roles and maybe haven't seen as much playing time.
Like if if you want to show what you can
do well an offense that's you know, not going to
pull any punches and try to go for everything you know,
and his incentives and also just with that team as
a whole, trying to get that tenth win.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Doesn't this Sunday make you realize how razor thin the
margin in the NFL really is I mean, what's separating
these two teams, one eliminated the other clinched is short
yardage defense, a fourth down stop in overtime, and a
thirty nine yard walk off winner. I mean, that's the
difference right now between the Seattle Sea and the Los Angeles.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Rams, and the strength of victory tiebreaker.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
And then a fifth tiebreaker strength of victory. But even
that flips significantly if that game goes the other direction. Wow,
all right, we teased earlier. Let's finish with a few
calendar turning reflections and projections best memories of twenty twenty four.
Feel free to take this in any direction, Like it
doesn't even have to be football if you had something
personal that you want tout go for. But I'm thinking
(30:52):
individual or collective twenty four fondest memories RAM specific.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
I'll start with Tyler Higbee. I mean, yeah, I know
that's that's a pretty easy one. But you know, you
think torny ACL torn mc L meniscus off season shoulder
surgery like that could not have been a fun rehab experience,
especially when he brings up that some days it was
(31:18):
just him and and and Byron Cunningham at the facility
back at in thousand Oaks at CLU when there are
moving boxes and there's like just enough for them to
basically do the rehab. Like that's a that's a really
tough deal. So for him to not only like come
back from that, but score the go ahead touchdown against
the Jets like that, that was really special to me,
(31:41):
just seeing him triumph over that and put himself back
and sn't be a contributor for this football team. The
other thing I would say, too, is just even getting
more opportunities to be on the show, Like that's been
a lot of fun for me. I appreciate both of
you guys and you know, being able to do this
more often, and it's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Say Indiana Football stop, and I thought he was, you're
gonna give me that.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Specific curve ballad? Uh?
Speaker 3 (32:12):
You know, I I guess it was.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
H was it back in O t A's or mini
camp and we were marveling at number one Jared Verse,
that's what a first round in looks like because we
had forgotten, right, my god, this dude is huge.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
He talks, he.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Looks the part, He is the part, even going back
to draft day when he called Fisk, Wow, this is
gonna be something special and then jumped to now he's
in the Pro Bowl. So but I do remember that
first day We're watching Fisk practice and I'm like, look
at all the grass he's tearing up.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
This kid is going to be something special. He's got
eighty sacks now, uh.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
And I do remember the first day, this is so funny,
And I said, Michael Hoyd is going to be so
good for Verse because he's going to push him. That
first day when they were battling to be first in
the agility drills, so Hoyt's always first. Verse walked in
front of him and Hoyt didn't move. This is gonna
be fun and sure enough, they're both leaders and they're
both making plays. So just that first day watching those
(33:04):
three guys go at it, and then seeing where they
are now in the going into the playoffs and one's
going to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Yeah, wow, unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Not just the Pro Bowl. But I think we can
safely say, safely assume defensive Rookie of the Year. Now
I think he's clinched his case. We better not have
to retract that statement. So, if I'm not wrong, that
means the last two first round members of the Rams
defensive front have been defensive rookie of the year, right, Yes,
Aaron Donald decade long gap, Jared Y Yes, and Kobe
(33:34):
Turner not first rounder, but I Kobe turn I'm with you, yes,
let me see. I want to mention Kyron he did it,
ye first, you guys got it, Higbee, I'm with you.
I'll throw the CARDI walk off in Week three against
the Niners. There the block punt against Buffalo and Pokus
toadrag swag against the Buffalo. Those are two of my
(33:54):
fonder individual moments. How about New Year's resolutions for the
Rams personal? Are you guys new Year's resolutions? People? New
Year's resume because you crushed it in twenty four by
the way I did. Yeah, everyone in my life has
commented on just how physically fit you are and what
a great year you had and.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Really yeah smoking mirrors man.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Yeah, you put in you keep it going.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Resolutions for this for this football team.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Yeah, go for it, twenty twenty five resolution resolutions.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
But I'm starting to rethink this whole not playing guys
in preseason stuff.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
After eight years.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Up for debate, I know, I'm just saying up for debate,
let's let's let's let's re let's reevaluate that whole situation there.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah, you want to play starters next offense? Is that
what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Let's just have a conversation about it. Yeah, let's just
talk about billion.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Years what I have picked that. Okay, you'll have to
explain more next STU and your.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Resolutions, keeping with continuity.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Keeping with continuity?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
What does that mean?
Speaker 1 (34:52):
So I feel like you feel like this is an
offensive line comment, well or a little bit Yeah, coaching staff, Well,
it could be both coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
I know, don't get me wrong. It's it's as fun
as it is writing about the you know, fifty to
seventy five percent turned over staff every obi.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
More with the offensive line or even just the secondary,
but just you know, some of the lessons learned there
in terms of you know, the I give credit to
the coaching staff when you know, especially you look at
like the center position especially and figuring out, yeah, okay,
like what's going to put this team in the best
position to win moving forward? Same same with the secondary.
I mean, even for as well as Kobe was playing
(35:32):
and when he got healthy, stuck with a Kello opposite
Darius at corner. So just sticking with that, which I
mean again, they've they've already kind of applied and learned
that lesson, it feels like. But even just keeping that
as a resolution for twenty twenty five I think would
be beneficial.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
So you're telling me you'd love to write the article
that Chris Shula is the next head coach of the
fill in the blank. You selfishly prefer to write the
headline Chris Shula returns for second year as.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Selfishly prefer that it would just be a copy and
paste situation where there's no staff turnover.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Yeah, yeah, I think I told you earlier this week.
I've had a lot of people ask me, I'm sure
you have to, like, is there any way you can
keep Chris Shule's name out of the headlines? Like don't
mention him? Like, guys, for all the coaches the Rams
have lost in the last eight years, the one guy
you weren't going to be able to hide within your
four walls is the guy with the last name.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, yeah, there's no there's no who's that.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I actually didn't look any farther into the future than
just this playoff run for my New Year's resolution. Which is,
score a first quarter touchdown in all four postseason games.
Score a first quarter touchdown in all four.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Postseason games in all four postseason game.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
That's my resolution for the twenty You have been dropping.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Bars all seasons. See these subliminal shots all four postseason games.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
I heard you there.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Yeah, I'm asking a reprieve to save chocolate for next week,
just in case anyone is wondering. I feel like I think,
I feel like I have to do that in front
of m JD. You want to grab me like a
chocolate pretzel or something, I'll do, Okay. I don't want
to think anyone to think I'm dodging it, But.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
I got a box of Seas candy coming. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Seas is pretty mild, but right, Yeah, its depends on
what you get in the box. Okay, next time.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
That was because the Rams have earned the right to
clinch before Week eighteen. That'll do it for our Week
eighteen edition of Between the Horns, always presented by your
Southern California at Toyota Dealers. We do hope to see
you this weekend at SOFI Stadium and definitely wild Card
weekend at the Rams House. Opponents kickoff all to be determined,
but we will be here to cover at every step
(37:36):
of the postseason for Stu Jackson, DeMarco Farr, I'm JB Long.
Let's go big in twenty twenty five.
Well, Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to our first
show of twenty twenty five. It's Between the Horns, presented
about your Southern California Toyota Dealers, and it is home
to the twenty twenty four NSC West Champions with Stu
Jackson and DeMarco Farr. I am JB. Long, wishing you
a very safe, happy, prosperous new year. How you guys doing.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I'm good. I'd love that Division champs? Unbelievable? Can you?
Can you really believe it? We're sitting here as Division champs?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Unreal? Can you?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
It's quite the remarkable turnaround. I will say things were
looking tough at first. Ye never never count out this group,
specially Sean McVay.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And speaking of how about the fact that in his
eight seasons he's won the NFC West and half of them, like,
Sean McVay has won as many division titles as the
rest of the West combined since he showed up in
two thousand.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Wow, you know that's so funny.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
One of the things we're going to talk about on
this show is like, what is the favorite season?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
How do we rank this one?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
His first year in twenty seventeen, still stands out as
the best because of the drought in between, how long
it took to get back to number one. And I
remember all the talk about him, he's too young, he's
to this, he's do that. But since then it's been
nothing but winning and nothing but great. So for Rams fans,
this is your best era of all time. This might
(01:30):
be your greatest coach of all time. So what he's
done this year nothing short of miraculous. But his whole
run has been unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
I love that you did that. There's no script to
this year, yea, you brought it up. Were going there
right now, Stu, what is Sean mcvay's best season?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I might put this one up there. I mean, again
from my experience, I've been with the team since twenty nineteen,
so that's really the point of reference I have as
far as like really closely following this team and whatnot.
But you know, for me, just thinking about the injuries
that this group had to overcome, that he and this
coaching staff had to overcome when they started one and four,
especially on the offensive line, especially for the extended stretch
(02:10):
that they were without Hookah and Cooper. Like, again, from
my frame of reference, like, I can't think of a
season other then again, kind of the twenty twenty two
year where there was just an unlucky rash of injuries,
where you deal with that many setbacks and still once
everybody gets back healthy and once you find a semblance
(02:30):
of continuity when nine of eleven five straight to become
division champions, Like, there's something to be said for that.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
We should stipulate that how this season will be remembered
is still to be determined, that this could elevate to
his best season.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
In a hurry, I said, this is it's a good story.
One and four two division champs. You want to make
this story great. You want to make this song from
gold to platinum. You got to win in the playoffs. Yeah,
then you will never stop talking about this. Right now,
it's something that's fun. It's a blurb across the headline.
But if you win in the playoffs, boom, everybody will
be talking about.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
So here's how I answered this question, and you pick
it apart twenty one best you got Colembardi right, most
impressive I was between twenty eighteen and last year in
terms of the rocket ship. That was the eighteen offense
and then just how unexpected and enjoyable what he did
with what was perceived to be so little last year. Yeah,
(03:26):
I would start for now as a placeholder by calling
twenty four his most complete season, where he became, you know,
a CEO like head coach. His imprint is on all
three phases of the organization, x's and o's leadership, staying
in the fight all that.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay, So eighteen was Super Bowl lost to New England, right,
I mean that team was fantastic. I mean, as a
old D lineman, that was my favorite year. That's Sue
and Donell on the same D line that was great.
Twenty twenty one, same thing. I mean this year, to
go from one to four, a young defense and with
an offensive line that you constantly had to fix and
(04:05):
change and rotate, and you're trying to figure out how
to get things done, to not let go of the rope,
and to because we do the coaches show well sometimes
me and him, we.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Miss you, buddy, I do miss you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
But to sit here and listen to him every day
or during that one and four stretch, and even going
back to last season, just never let go of the rope,
not even seem like he got to the end.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Of the rope.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's just there's this relentless positivity or this relentless drive
towards winning. You knew he's gonna get it right. They're
gonna get it right. And I never thought it would
be this type of run five and zero or whatever.
But you knew this team was never gonna stop fighting,
and they keep finding ways to win. And it's all
because of that culture he's created when he got here
(04:46):
in the first place.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Let me ask you something, because I think fiery pregame
or halftime speeches are probably overrated in football lore. But
what I don't think is overrated is when you have
a man who can stand in front of a room
and say, you've got thirty nine days guaranteed left, what
do you want to make of them? Can I get
your buy in? And this happens, There's got to be
something to that, DeMarco. From your players standpoint, there's a.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Lot of rah rah.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We've heard rarah. Guys come up with the great slogans
or whatever. They read it in some book and they
bring it to the team and it's yeah. But when
when a guy can look you in the eye and
look you right in the soul and take you back
to Pop Warner football, to why you're playing this game
in the first place. And it's not just bs, it's real.
I mean, this is how he feels about it, This
is how he feels about you. And this is why
(05:29):
we say, you know, the culture on winning teams is different.
It's because of coach McVeigh and guys like him so
and not just him, the entire coaching staff and the
players have bought in. So when we talk about not
letting go of the rope, it's everybody, but it starts
with him. And you can tell from every man on
this roster they're all pulling in the same direction. So
no shock to me that they wound up being division chance.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Well here's where I think it starts and ends with him.
It's remember two years ago, not even two full years ago,
and management pens an open letter to the fan base saying, hey,
we know what this has been. It's going to change.
We're gonna have to make some hard decisions. We got
to get our books in order. Bear with us. We
still want to be a competitive but it's gonna look
and feel different. Okay, Since that letter, Ten wins in
a playoff spot, ten, maybe eleven wins in a division title.
(06:12):
That's because of lots of things, but Sean mcvay' is
at the top of that list. And then I'll also say,
how about less need in his group to draft and develop?
How should we say at the last two and a
half defensive rookies of the year. I mean, like Kobe
Turner is going to go down in my memory bank
as the twenty three winner. Jared Verse, I think has
clinched this year's but his running mate Braid and Fisk
(06:33):
equally deserving.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, you think about, especially on the defensive side of
the ball, the production they've gotten from the rookies. This
was something I found the other day, but thirteen sacks
is the most by rookies of any team in the
league at least entering week eighteen. Eight interceptions, that's tied
for the most with Houston against specific to rookies, and
also entering week eighteen. So you know, from the standpoint
(06:55):
of no, you're not going to replace Aaron Donald, but
in the aggregate, you're gonna at least try like they've
they've done pretty well in that regard.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Another perfect name to drop in the midst of all
that you retired, They in franchise history, and Poku Nakua
set rookie records, and you got coaches hired and promoted
here and around the league. It's stunning. Let's get to
where the Rams are competitively as we both look ahead
to wild card weekend and look back on Week seventeen
(07:23):
and another gritty win against the Arizona Cardinals. DeMarco, you
steer here, tickets, anywhere you want to go in terms
of where your mind has wandered since the Rams clinched.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Gritty is a good word for that win. Wouldn't you
say gritty, tough or this season, the whole season, but
just that game. I guess in a microcosm Arizona's defense,
I dare you, let's watch that tape. Show me one
below average play on that defense. So there was tough
sledding out there and you had to make plays, you
had to have things happen. And Pokin Nakua continues to
(07:55):
come up big for this football team. And on the
other side, I'm glad you mentioned those three guys, Kobe
turned and Fisk and Verse. They're like termites out there.
I mean, they just drill into your offensive line and
they just destroy your foundation. Jared Verse to Mike count
has hurt people, not just quarterbacks. I'm talking the guys
that are blocking him. They get beat up playing against him.
(08:17):
And Fisk has been nothing but special. But Kobe Turner,
his rise into year two as not only a good
football player but also as one of these the team's
leaders on defense has been exemplary.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
So gritty.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You make plays when you have to, big plays when
you need to, and you do just enough to you know,
keep your team in the black. So it's a gritty victory.
I'm sure people want, you know, a more of a
style point win er. It's got to look a little pretty,
but I don't think this team cares. It's get the
W and move on to next week. So gritty win.
(08:51):
I think all this is gonna help you moving forward
going into the postseason.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
It's the tougher in yards from Kien Williams for me,
just the way they've been able to consistently lean on
him during the stretch and being able to stay ahead
of the chains, and in some cases when you know
they're not getting what they want to out of the
passing game or when other teams defenses are taking that away,
the teams that are you know, most successful and able
to make deep runs into the postseason, are able to
(09:15):
consistently rely on that ground game, and that's something that's
been a positive.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
How the heck does he not make the Pro Bowl?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Kiren?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Yes, question, Please tell me. I asked you that when
you were on the show. He third best back in
the league?
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Fair enough?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
When they talk about those other two, those other two starbacks,
his face is right there.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
How does he not make the answer?
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Then? And my answer now is there aren't three backs
that I love more for the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
But it's funny how it moves, right. So the other
backs they're more flashy long runs. Okay, so let's go
back to DTS. Doesn't Fisk have more sacks than almost
every Pro bowler out there? So does Kobe Turner. So
flashy matters here, but not there.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
So at the end of the show, we're going to
talk about our fondest Sorry, keep the soap o, that's
what this show is for. But at the end of
the show, we'll talk about our fondest memories of twenty
four in some New Year's resolutions for the Rams in
twenty five, Kyraen's a top that list for me, we
know his injury pass has been checkered. This guy played
(10:13):
every game and took over three hundred carries. Whether or
not it comes with the accolades, I think that is
an unbelievable individual and organizational accomplishment that I'll remember fondly
from this season. It goes kind of hand in hand
with I feel about this team, though, which is I
know a lot of our audience is frustrated with the
lack of offensive production down the stretch. I'm right there
with you. I had to remind myself in preparation for
(10:36):
this show in this week. Analytically, this is still a
top ten offense in the National Football League. The team
that played against Buffalo is still in there. Sean McVay
sat in that seat and said the best is yet
to come from this offense earlier this week. But I
also think it's okay to embrace the fact that this
is a defensive driven team. Whereas the offense is top
ten statistically, defense is only top twenty. But they have
(10:59):
been there in the critical moments. They have made the
winning plays that have allowed this to be an NFC
West champion. I think what we all feel is that
there's just not a ton of margin for air. At
least in the regular season version of the twenty four RAMS.
Eight of their ten wins have been by one possession.
Five of those wins have featured multiple takeaways. That's hard
to do. Three of their wins have included a non
(11:20):
offensive touchdown. That's why they're here. It's not necessarily theup
the blueprint for where they want to go. Oh does
that make it totally total?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
That's why I'm so glad they wrapped it up.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Or you know when Washington won, when you won in
the vision, you can take this week off, so to speak,
or rest your starters, and rest one starter in particular,
Matthew Stafford. This is the reason. This is the everything.
This is the most paramount guy that you have to
have ready for the postseason. So if I could change
one thing or point to one thing to say why
(11:53):
the offense has been struggling, you'd have to go back
to Sometimes he's inaccurate early, but he does warm up
and get going, and that tells me that he may
need some time to rest a little bit.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
This might be perfect for him.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
So uh, if you get him back and gunning and
he can find Cooper Cup and he can find everyone
else like he finds Pooka Nakua. You'll see that buffalo
style offense again. Right now, it's a tough, gritty run
it with Kiren do enough. But at some point, if
you can find a way to make your quarterback a
little more accurate, maybe that means rest a little bit
more rest, I think you'll see that offensive explosion that
(12:28):
people are looking for.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
He's not just a super Bowl champion, he is the
human segue DeMarco taking this right to this week, which
is the privilege they've earned the opportunity to rest, either deactivate,
or pull snap count back from starters. We know that
Jimmy Garoppolo is gonna goest do what else do we
know as we anticipate the Seahawks.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Yeah, they're still working through exactly who's going to rest
and who's not. I mean, we do know that you know,
Rob Havenstein won't play, but again because of his shoulder injury.
It sounds like that's a you know, a blessing in
this guy's just being able to you know, have him
not play anyway, but should be ready for the for
the wild card round, which is a positive. And so
(13:09):
you know, we'll still see what that looks like. I mean, again,
going back to the Coach of Ray show earlier this week,
it sounds like we'll see more of Blake Koram, which
is good. Yeah, and then beyond that again, who knows.
I'm sure there's probably a little bit of you know,
gamesmanship to that maybe. But the other thing I'll say
too is it's tricky with the roster math if you will,
(13:31):
you know, when people are trying to figure out, okay,
like who's gonna rest who's not, Like you can't see
as many people as you can the preseason, for one,
because you have a game day forty eight as far
like forty eight is the size of the game day
roster versus obviously the ninety man roster that you have
to work with in the preseason, where you know, the
preseason finale were used to you know, some of those
decisions being a little bit easier in terms of having
(13:53):
a little bit deeper of a depth chart. So just
some roster math like that to work through. But that's
where right right now.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I mean, when you look at the relative age and
experience difference on offense and defense, I think you can
connect some dots in terms of who is and who
isn't going to go, and we'll talk about who we're
looking forward to seeing against the Seahawks coming up here
in just a bit.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
But boom.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Did anybody catch noteboom doing the two small thing on
the end of the screen.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I saw that. I see you know, boom, go ahead.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Well, I was going to say, I want to honor
and acknowledge and respect the portion of our audience that
doesn't like the concept of resting starters, and that would
probably point to the playoff games the Rams have lost
against the Falcons and seventeen and the Lions in twenty
three as those being the years when the Rams had
this luxury, picked this path and it didn't work out
necessarily in the preseason, I got a lot to say
(14:40):
about that. But DeMarco Yugo, first, as the former player, Now,
in the construct of a seventeen game season, where are
you at with respect to resting guys.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
This is a smart time to rest some guys on offense.
You're an older team at some positions and some frankly,
some guys need a week off and to heal up.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
And there's some.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Younger players that can play and like, let Garoppolo take
some snaps.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Why not? I get both sides.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
If you're an offense that's clicking and you're rolling, and
you want to roll into the playoffs, it makes no
sense to set your players down if they're playing well.
But if you're a team that needs to take a
week and get guys back, then it's smart to rest
your guys. Why risk them? And does it really matter
going from three to four? I guess we'll get to
that later. Not another human segue, but I mean you've
(15:27):
already locked up the division. Take the rest. This is
a bye week built in going into the playoffs. I
think it's perfect well.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
And Sean McVay said the other day too that you know,
seating really didn't have much to do with these decisions
or wasn't going to be a factor. They just know
that they're going to get a quality opponent regardless based
on all of those scenarios that are at play. And
so for the way I look at as well, as
you know, with all the lessons learned in continuity this
season and some of the health challenges you faced already,
(15:56):
the best thing for the team's continuity and keeping that
streat going as a lot of goal as it may
kind of sound, is preserving the health as much as
you ostensibly can before the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The three seed absolutely matters. It has built in advantages.
We've seen that in recent years. It just doesn't matter
enough to prioritize it over the risk of losing a
piece that can help you beat any other team in
the field. And so I think the best way to
maximize your winning percentage in the wild card round is
to have as many of your top line guys available
to minimize your injury report. And I also want to
(16:27):
say it's not like DeMarco helped me out here. The
Rams aren't practicing like Stafford and Kiren aren't and Cabo
here working out. They're gearing their bandwidth towards whoever's coming
here on wild card weekend, rather than burning it on
a game plan against the Seahawks that doesn't move the
needle for the team physically.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You get the week off.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
On game day, you're still going to practice, but mentally,
you just you have that little bit of a break
to think of Matthew Stafford. Everything revolves around him. He's
involved in every single meeting. You get the week off,
let Garoppolo take it so I can just have that
mental vacation and that physical vacation and then but you're
still on the building, You're still helping you become.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
The backup quarterback, So I can't.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
It's it's nothing but positive at this point for this
football team taking that week versus the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
I think it also matters that the buye was back
in Week six. The Rams would not be here. I
think we can all agree if they weren't fortunate enough
to catch the earliest buye of the Sean McVay era.
But the shadow side of that is they've been going
for eleven straight weeks. Like this is a well deserved
respite for some key pieces, and I would put Sean
mcfah at the top of that list. To like, if
he is outsourcing any part of this game plan or
(17:34):
play calling on Sunday to the against the Seattle Seahawks,
if he's rejuvenated, if he's devoting more time and energy
to self scouting and preparing his game plan for what's
going to take to work on wild Card weekend, I
think that's a major attribute too.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Absolutely, And like versus Arizona, and like it was versus
the Jets, it's it's really hard when you know you're
probably there's a good chance when you're you left New York,
good chance we're going to make the postseason. When you're
in Arizona, if we win this, good chance for going
to the postseason. So you don't want to give away
too much offensively, Well, I mean, I'm sure Arizona would
know that, and Buddha Baker was everywhere, and you can't
(18:09):
tell me that guy wasn't dialed into all the base
stuff you were doing. So but if this was a
playoff game, I bet it would have been a little
bit tougher on them to dial in on what you
were trying to do. So yeah, I mean even for
Sean McVay, like you said, to have another week to
game plan, to not show anything, to keep every team
guessing that you're going to face into the postseason.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
That's hard to do.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
And you get the week to kind of dial it
back or to get ahead going on to your next
four opponents who that might be. I think it's so important,
like you said, to take a step back when you
have the opportunity versus let's just plow ahead, try to
keep the three seed.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
If that's what we need.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yet they're not naive to where their deficiencies lie. They
just want to go to work on them, be in
the lab here in Woodland Hills, rather than putting it
on display at SOFI Stadium against the Seahawks for their
wild card opponent to see. All right, we don't know
who next week's opponent is going to be. We have
a pretty short list though, and as we get to
Week eighteen and getting ready for the postseason, here are
(19:03):
a few things I think bear watching. First. If Washington
wins the Packers result does not matter, the Commanders are
going to be the sixth, the Packers the seven, So
Green Bay needs a Washington loss and a green Bay
win of the Bears to flip that six seven seeding.
If New Orleans upsets Tampa Bay, the Rams will be
locked into the three seed before they even kick off
(19:25):
at SOFI Stadium, and we'll know their opponent either Washington
or Green Bay. Otherwise, the Bucks are in line to
clinch the South and will force the Rams to either
win in order to get the three seed or on
you go.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Can't get rid of Baker, can we? He's still there?
Oh my god?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Pro Bowl snub Baker?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Yeah, tough kid.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Yeah, yeah, But basically the Rams currently own the three,
and they will be the three with a win against
Seattle or a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans. Hopes
that that helps. I don't know, Stu, take it away.
You've studied this a lot. What do you think do
you have any lean in terms of which opponent would
be good, bad, or otherwise for the Rams?
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Well, the way Jayden Daniels has been playing of late,
that Washington offense scares me a little bit at least
just again and seeing, you know, some of the challenges
that that's presented this defense in terms of those types
of quarterbacks, the way they can run and challenge you know,
those you know, rush lane integrities, especially like they worry me,
especially I think what Green Bay found in their run
(20:23):
game of late. I mean again, who knows if that
identity is going to carry over into the playoffs or
if that's just Matt Laford knowing that this is what
works and this is what's carrying us, has been mostly
carrying us to wins and you know, switching so that
he can switch things up and save something for some
of the playoffs. Who knows, But any of the NFC
(20:44):
North teams honestly are going to be a challenge.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And you get the NFC North opponent. If you're the four,
then you get the loser of Sunday Nights Finale. If
you're the three, either the Commanders or the Packers.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm with you on Jayden Daniels, fantastic year, Mobile quarterbacks
of giving. This league fits, this defense definitely fits this year.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
So that would be fun.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I mean, you're not scared of anybody, but that would
be your least favorite matchup. Green Bay and the Rams.
You just again, neck and neck. They're always there with you.
Go back to last year, something happened in that game.
Both teams switched. Jordan Love went to a whole new level.
Here they are again. You may see them, you know
the game I'm hoping for. I hope you get that.
(21:27):
Of course, that would be so much fun because going
back there twice was fun and that was about as
rack as of an atmosphere as I've ever been around.
So I would like them to experience that here and
so far if that's if that's possible, But you know
who cares, three or four, whoever you match up with,
just make sure you're playing your best football when you
do kick off in the way.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I like the Jayden Daniels point you make talk about
a wild card. On the one hand, to host a
rookie quarterback in the playoffs, that's about as good as
you can hope for. On the other hand, it's been
the rost of raw nerves for this LA team mobile
quarterbacks all season. So you're saying, right, for a guy
who's basically a third of his production has come via
scramble this season, here's something else to watch Sunday. We know,
by virtue of winning the West, the Rams are going
(22:08):
to catch a first place schedule next year, right, So
that means we already know it comes with a trip
to Philadelphia to face the NFC East champion Eagles. It's
going to require a trip to face the AFC North winner.
We'll find out Saturday if that's Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
You laugh, because go in to Philly and then you
got to go take on the North. Okay, yeah, that's fun.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Yeah, and then come into games coming to Sofi will
be the NFC North winner to be decided on Sunday
night football, Right, So if I have that correct, it's
very possible that the final game of the NFL regular season.
This weekend is going to have these implications for your rams.
The loser of that game could come to SOFI for
a wild card next week. The winner of that game
(22:52):
will come to SOFI next year for regular season.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Should think it easier if you win the division? Shouldn't
you can be easier schedule?
Speaker 1 (23:00):
You want me to really ruin your day? Wow, I'm
gonna ruin your dad. Oh, the twenty twenty five San
Francisco forty nine er is gonna play a fourth place schedule.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Yeah. I just ain't right. I just ain't right.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
This is why we can't have nights.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Oh my god. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
I think Jimmy Garoppolo deserves his own portion of the conversation,
don't you think we? I think we've been pleased, privileged
not to have to see Jimmy Garoppolo yet as a RAM.
But the time has come and it comes in the
right context. Do you got to talk to him yesterday
a little bit?
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Yeah, he met with the media and got the chance to,
you know, learn a little bit about just what his
role behind the scenes essentially has been, like, you know,
for this team this season, and you know, the scout
team role is something he's really embraced. It's been you know,
it seemed like it's been a really positive I almost,
I guess, for lack of a better term, reset year
for him in terms of just being able to be
(23:50):
in that quarterback room with Matthew Stafford and all those coaches,
which is something he talked about in their process, the
way Sean McVeigh teaches this offense. All of those things
have made or a really positive experience for him. And
you know, he's obviously looking forward to having the chance
on Sunday to you know, show what he's learned and
what he's been able to provide this team. But now
in a live game, action setting.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I can't wait. The dude's got unbelievable swag. It's just
funny watching him, like, you know, get off the bus
going to the stadium. He looks like a starter. Where
were you on Garoppolo before he came here? Because I
know we have respect because all he did when he
was other places was beat the Rams. I thought he
was a pretty good starter. I thought he was one
of the better starters in the league.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 1 (24:33):
I did not like being on the defensive side of
third and long when Jimmy Garoppolo was on the field. Yeah, say,
for one key exception when Aaron Donald put him in
the spin cycle, he was a thorn in the Rams side.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
He just couldn't get rid of him. So yeah, I
can't wait to see him go. You know, we saw
guys Carson Wentz came through here, Baker Mayfield came through here,
and Baker Mayfield is you know, doing well in Tampa.
So maybe for Garoppolo, you get your start, you show
and improved, you may be in the mix or who knows,
But I just can't wait to see him go. I
was always a fan from Afar. Now I get to
(25:04):
see him up close, so this will be fun.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Who else? Who else are you looking forward to seeing,
either for the first time or in a larger role
than we're used to for the Rams.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Well, Blake Korm, if he gets extended run, that's gonna
be fun. And you know we were talking about this
with about Kyron and how he serfs the hole in
his football IQ. Blake Korm has that stuff that can
make something out of nothing. He can bump off here,
bump this guy and keep running. So I'd like to
see him with extended reps. More Joe Oapeboom, like I
(25:33):
said when he gave the too small thing on the screen,
it's so funny, it's so funny. But just watching him
get better, like you have another week to prove yourself
again to this team, to this league, to everyone. It's
another starter's opportunity. So same with Garoppolo, Boom, Korum, the
young defensive players. I don't think Fisk and Verse get
(25:56):
the week off, right, they're too young. I think that's right,
even if you're a Pro Bowl or you gotta go. Well,
it goes to Stu's point. You only have so many inactives, right,
and as vital as they are to your operation in
terms of seniority and bumps and bruises and yeah, tread
on tires, I don't think they rate.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You gotta play.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
So some other guys that you know, possibly haven't played
that much, can't wait. But just those two guys Boom, Garoppolo, Kreham,
let me let me see what you got on game day.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I'm gonna go with Jordan Waittington again. We not exactly
the same as Blake Krham situation, where we he did
get a little bit of extended run around mill early
part of the season when Cooper and and Puka were
both hurt and show a little bit of what he
can do. So we have an idea. But just between
what he's been able to do on special teams and
perhaps maybe getting the chance to, you know, show more
(26:42):
offensively at least as a more regular part of the
wide receiver rotation. I think it's something I'm looking forward to.
And then maybe even if any of the younger corners
get a chance. I mean again, because of that roster
math that we've been talking about, Well, we'll see what
that looks like as far as you know who's up
and who's not for the secondary, but if any of
those guys get a chance, like I'd be curious to
(27:02):
see how that depth looks right now, I'll.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Go back to that in a second. I agree with
your picks, Blake korhum Jordan. I'd add to to two
to that mix. I would love to see Tyler Higbee
get like five catches a touchdown in the second half
off like I'd like to see him play some full speed,
smash mouth football. Whatever rust is left over. I want
him feeling fully integrated and back for the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
If Stafford hits him, here in that little leakout. Yea,
if he turns up, yeah, that's a problem. There's one
guy out there.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
He's running to the endo.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
It don't that's big time. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
So I kind of broke this up into two categories.
You guys have touched on the ones that I feel
like can impact this postseason. I also have an eye
towards next season. This Sunday and the name that I'm
thinking of his former first round pick, Emmanuel Forbes, because
not that you can have a one game audition, but
the Seattle Seahawks are going to be playing full speed
on Sunday, and so if you can leave Englewood this
(27:56):
weekend having a better sense of what Forbes again, DK
Metcalf looks like. I think that's informative. I think that's
worth something going into your offseason program. And I feel
a bit of the same way you mentioned the young corners.
I think you're talking about like Josh Wallace, Charles Woods,
a couple of undrafted rookie corners, maybe Tyler Davis and
Brendon Jackson, a couple drafted members of this defense stepping
(28:18):
into larger rules. But as much as anything, if you
threw a dart on that waiver wire claim of Forbes. Well,
let's start to kind of see how close to the
bullseye you might have been against a team that you're
gonna try and beat twice next year with or without.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Him, mister Forbes, meet Smith and Jigba.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
Yeah, lill JSN in the slot too, follow.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Him around as much as you can. You know, I
assume that the starters are going to play at corner
for a little while, right m h I hope they play.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
I hope Akello keeps playing.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
I hope Darius keeps playing at least for a half,
and then rotate guys in.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
You can also have some guys who will have a
helmet because that's how the math works out. But they're
kind of break glass in case of emergency only type
act is.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Yeah, because like you said, Seatle's going to be going
full speed. They're going to be trying to win.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
What about these Seahawks, They got a first year head coach.
They'd like to get to ten wins. It feels like
the Rams are playing against next year's twenty twenty five Seahawks.
And also Gino Smith's pocketbook, he stands to make a
lot of money this weekend.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Six million bucks, right, incentives, he's going to go. I
think ten wins is always the goal, that's the benchmark
of every coach. So if you're that coach, I'm sure
you're going to be putting your you know, pedal to
the metal trying to get there, and it sets you
up for next season. So it would be fun if
you could go out against one of your biggest rivals
(29:39):
with a backup quarterback and keep them from ten wins.
But if I'm them, I'm definitely trying to get that
victory down here to set myself up for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
I will say with those incentives to play for it
sets up a good opportunity for a lot of those
younger players or other players who are in who are
in small roles and maybe haven't seen as much playing time.
Like if if you want to show what you can
do well an offense that's you know, not going to
pull any punches and try to go for everything you know,
and his incentives and also just with that team as
a whole, trying to get that tenth win.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Doesn't this Sunday make you realize how razor thin the
margin in the NFL really is I mean, what's separating
these two teams, one eliminated the other clinched is short
yardage defense, a fourth down stop in overtime, and a
thirty nine yard walk off winner. I mean, that's the
difference right now between the Seattle Sea and the Los Angeles.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Rams, and the strength of victory tiebreaker.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
And then a fifth tiebreaker strength of victory. But even
that flips significantly if that game goes the other direction. Wow,
all right, we teased earlier. Let's finish with a few
calendar turning reflections and projections best memories of twenty twenty four.
Feel free to take this in any direction, Like it
doesn't even have to be football if you had something
personal that you want tout go for. But I'm thinking
(30:52):
individual or collective twenty four fondest memories RAM specific.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
I'll start with Tyler Higbee. I mean, yeah, I know
that's that's a pretty easy one. But you know, you
think torny ACL torn mc L meniscus off season shoulder
surgery like that could not have been a fun rehab experience,
especially when he brings up that some days it was
(31:18):
just him and and and Byron Cunningham at the facility
back at in thousand Oaks at CLU when there are
moving boxes and there's like just enough for them to
basically do the rehab. Like that's a that's a really
tough deal. So for him to not only like come
back from that, but score the go ahead touchdown against
the Jets like that, that was really special to me,
(31:41):
just seeing him triumph over that and put himself back
and sn't be a contributor for this football team. The
other thing I would say, too, is just even getting
more opportunities to be on the show, Like that's been
a lot of fun for me. I appreciate both of
you guys and you know, being able to do this
more often, and it's been a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Say Indiana Football stop, and I thought he was, you're
gonna give me that.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Specific curve ballad? Uh?
Speaker 3 (32:12):
You know, I I guess it was.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
H was it back in O t A's or mini
camp and we were marveling at number one Jared Verse,
that's what a first round in looks like because we
had forgotten, right, my god, this dude is huge.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
He talks, he.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Looks the part, He is the part, even going back
to draft day when he called Fisk, Wow, this is
gonna be something special and then jumped to now he's
in the Pro Bowl. So but I do remember that
first day We're watching Fisk practice and I'm like, look
at all the grass he's tearing up.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
This kid is going to be something special. He's got
eighty sacks now, uh.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
And I do remember the first day, this is so funny,
And I said, Michael Hoyd is going to be so
good for Verse because he's going to push him. That
first day when they were battling to be first in
the agility drills, so Hoyt's always first. Verse walked in
front of him and Hoyt didn't move. This is gonna
be fun and sure enough, they're both leaders and they're
both making plays. So just that first day watching those
(33:04):
three guys go at it, and then seeing where they
are now in the going into the playoffs and one's
going to the Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Yeah, wow, unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
Not just the Pro Bowl. But I think we can
safely say, safely assume defensive Rookie of the Year. Now
I think he's clinched his case. We better not have
to retract that statement. So, if I'm not wrong, that
means the last two first round members of the Rams
defensive front have been defensive rookie of the year, right, Yes,
Aaron Donald decade long gap, Jared Y Yes, and Kobe
(33:34):
Turner not first rounder, but I Kobe turn I'm with you, yes,
let me see. I want to mention Kyron he did it,
ye first, you guys got it, Higbee, I'm with you.
I'll throw the CARDI walk off in Week three against
the Niners. There the block punt against Buffalo and Pokus
toadrag swag against the Buffalo. Those are two of my
(33:54):
fonder individual moments. How about New Year's resolutions for the
Rams personal? Are you guys new Year's resolutions? People? New
Year's resume because you crushed it in twenty four by
the way I did. Yeah, everyone in my life has
commented on just how physically fit you are and what
a great year you had and.
Speaker 3 (34:11):
Really yeah smoking mirrors man.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Yeah, you put in you keep it going.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Resolutions for this for this football team.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Yeah, go for it, twenty twenty five resolution resolutions.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
But I'm starting to rethink this whole not playing guys
in preseason stuff.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
After eight years.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Up for debate, I know, I'm just saying up for debate,
let's let's let's let's re let's reevaluate that whole situation there.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah, you want to play starters next offense? Is that
what you're saying.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Let's just have a conversation about it. Yeah, let's just
talk about billion.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Years what I have picked that. Okay, you'll have to
explain more next STU and your.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Resolutions, keeping with continuity.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Keeping with continuity?
Speaker 3 (34:52):
What does that mean?
Speaker 1 (34:52):
So I feel like you feel like this is an
offensive line comment, well or a little bit Yeah, coaching staff, Well,
it could be both coaching staff.
Speaker 4 (35:02):
I know, don't get me wrong. It's it's as fun
as it is writing about the you know, fifty to
seventy five percent turned over staff every obi.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
More with the offensive line or even just the secondary,
but just you know, some of the lessons learned there
in terms of you know, the I give credit to
the coaching staff when you know, especially you look at
like the center position especially and figuring out, yeah, okay,
like what's going to put this team in the best
position to win moving forward? Same same with the secondary.
I mean, even for as well as Kobe was playing
(35:32):
and when he got healthy, stuck with a Kello opposite
Darius at corner. So just sticking with that, which I
mean again, they've they've already kind of applied and learned
that lesson, it feels like. But even just keeping that
as a resolution for twenty twenty five I think would
be beneficial.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
So you're telling me you'd love to write the article
that Chris Shula is the next head coach of the
fill in the blank. You selfishly prefer to write the
headline Chris Shula returns for second year as.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Selfishly prefer that it would just be a copy and
paste situation where there's no staff turnover.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Yeah, yeah, I think I told you earlier this week.
I've had a lot of people ask me, I'm sure
you have to, like, is there any way you can
keep Chris Shule's name out of the headlines? Like don't
mention him? Like, guys, for all the coaches the Rams
have lost in the last eight years, the one guy
you weren't going to be able to hide within your
four walls is the guy with the last name.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Yeah, yeah, there's no there's no who's that.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
I actually didn't look any farther into the future than
just this playoff run for my New Year's resolution. Which is,
score a first quarter touchdown in all four postseason games.
Score a first quarter touchdown in all four.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Postseason games in all four postseason game.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
That's my resolution for the twenty You have been dropping.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Bars all seasons. See these subliminal shots all four postseason games.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
I heard you there.
Speaker 1 (36:49):
Yeah, I'm asking a reprieve to save chocolate for next week,
just in case anyone is wondering. I feel like I think,
I feel like I have to do that in front
of m JD. You want to grab me like a
chocolate pretzel or something, I'll do, Okay. I don't want
to think anyone to think I'm dodging it, But.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
I got a box of Seas candy coming. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Seas is pretty mild, but right, Yeah, its depends on
what you get in the box. Okay, next time.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
That was because the Rams have earned the right to
clinch before Week eighteen. That'll do it for our Week
eighteen edition of Between the Horns, always presented by your
Southern California at Toyota Dealers. We do hope to see
you this weekend at SOFI Stadium and definitely wild Card
weekend at the Rams House. Opponents kickoff all to be determined,
but we will be here to cover at every step
(37:36):
of the postseason for Stu Jackson, DeMarco Farr, I'm JB Long.
Let's go big in twenty twenty five.
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