January 27, 2025 • 45 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr, and Maurice Jones-Drew talk takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams' 2024 season, the bright future ahead for the young defense, re-signing pending free agents, potential breakout candidates, and more!
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Well, I guess we just can't quit you. Ramiley back
for one more episode here to wrap up the twenty
twenty four campaign and to look ahead to the twenty
five offseason with my friends and colleagues Maurice Jones, Drew
and Marco Farr. I'm JB. Long. This is between the Horns,
always presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers. We of
course want this to be forward looking as much as possible,
but I know we all have some lingering thoughts about
(00:27):
the season that was. I'm glad we took last week off, though,
I think, to let some time go by to compose ourselves.
Good to see you both.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good to see you. I can't believe we're not playing this.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Did you see that? Oh my god? No? Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Did it make you feel better or worse?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
It made me feel worse because I felt like if
the weather was the same as an NFC championship game,
it's a completely different outlook. I felt like the Rams
played better, they executed better, they were the better team,
just didn't handle the weather the best in that fourth quarter.
And granted, again, you know that's the game football, that's
what we have to do. But those two turnovers that
(01:03):
gave six points. That's the game, right, and so it sucks.
The only cool part was at the snow and then
and the way they viired the scene that it left beautiful, right,
that was awesome. But football wise, I just feel like
the best team didn't win that day, and that's what
that's what sucks about it.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You beat Buffalo there they were in the AFC Championship game,
and you took Philly to the wire and they stomped
the Commanders put fifty five on them. So you were
just there. So does it make you feel better? Maybe
a little bit, but still, I mean you were with
everyone else watching that and you had a chance to
move on. So yeah, it sucks, but there's there's there's
encouragement for the future, definitely.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You know, I think what Sean McVay said after that
loss has proven to be true that with each passing
day more the fond memories will take over, some of
the sting of that loss will pass. And so I
have kind of two twenty four questions for you guys. One,
how will you remember the season at large? And then
my fall up, which we can say for later, is
what was your favorite moment within the season, But big picture,
(02:05):
you know, how do you think a week, a month,
a year from now, you'll remember the twenty four Rams.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Do you want me to go first?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Go ahead?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, you know, I get motion sickness, and so to me,
it was a roller coaster, But it was one of
the more fun rides and satisfy, satisfying rides that I've
been on as a broadcaster and the radio guy for
the Rams, because to see just the expectation at the
beginning of the year was so high, and then to
hit that low of one and four and to see
(02:33):
the Rams and be here and to do these between
the horns and talk all the time and see them
fight and crawl their way back. And then you get
healthy against the Minnesota Bikers, who was a hot team,
and you win, and then you go out you beat Buffalo,
and it's just so many things and there are so
many parallels the last year. I'm getting goosebumps now. But
it's just like to see the way this team stuck together,
(02:54):
this coach and staff stuck together. To see the way
they were able to really get the most out of everybody,
and you had to make some decisions throughout this process.
See the way the defense played. The young guys played
to battle back to the fires, and they go to
Arizona and demolish the Minnesota Vikings, right, and then go
to Philly and literally, you misfit three runs and that's
(03:16):
the game, right, like intensively, Yeah, and other than that though,
you played like you gotta save. Like. There's just so
many things that they did throughout the course of the
season that was especially defensively. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So many guys, like you said, when you misfit the run,
some guys they give you the chance to run them down.
If you misfit him, he is gone, So you have
to give him his credit. He's so good. And like
you said, the roller coaster ride, I'm with you as
soon as you doc. I want to go again if
this ride is going to be that much fun. But
when I saw this and this is funny, you're gonna
think this took me a minute. The first thing that
(03:51):
came to my mind about how I would describe the
season is a rambling wreck. Remember that from Georgia Tech.
Do you guys know what the rambling wreck actually is?
You know, it's about a car. It's an engineering school
and how this car this first model T Model A
was put together by tractor parts, all this other stuff,
and it was held together by ingenuity and creativity. Doesn't
(04:11):
that kind of describe what went on this year with
this football team, A young defense, a seasoned offense, and
then you flop mid season. What's really driving this train?
Just amazing And you never gave up even when it
got at its toughest when you were one and four,
when the world said you can't come. You can't make
the playoffs from here. It's an eight percent chance, and
(04:33):
that never factored into this building. So roller coaster, rambling
wreck it was. It was all great to finish off
the way you did.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I love that because you didn't have your first choice
of every single piece on the assembly line. Is what
you're saying, right, right? And they achieved this year not
because so many things went right, but in spite of
so many things going wrong, like go back in time.
The free agent wagers that they made didn't exactly pan
out the way they had hoped. Right. I think we
all would liked more from Jonah Jackson and Trey White
(05:03):
and maybe Kolbe Parkinson. There were some hits like d
Will and Cam Curl and d Rob and Kadok great seasons,
but what they envisioned this team being and built over
seven months. Forget surviving first contact, they didn't even make
it to the starting line in Detroit, and all these
hiccups along the way, whether it's even Stafford's contracts stare down,
(05:23):
or the training camp injuries, or the September injuries, the
front loaded schedule, at each turn, they just kind of
persevered and found a way to stay in the fight.
And that's where I feel like your referenced. It was
so much like twenty three, right, It almost gave you goosebumps.
I agree, And it also had ingredients of twenty two.
It was almost like the perfect amalgamation of the scar
(05:45):
tissue they that they took on in twenty two, and
then the joy of seeing overachievement from young players in
twenty three thrown in the blender, and the institutional knowledge
that they built through those two post Super Bowl seasons
coming to Fruition in the second half of this year.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And coaching too. Yeah, I mean, you had no idea
and then you know, turns out he's he's a great
coach and he can really lead that group to get
better and better.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I'll say this too, like talking about like the Kansaity
Chiefs and their consistency in this dynasty. They've had the
same play caller, same voice in the offensive room. They've
lost a couple offensive coordinators, they've had the same decoord,
they've had the same special teams coach, and there's consistency
in that for what the Rams have done with losing
coach after coach after coach and possibly losing another coach, right,
(06:31):
It's it's like credit has to go to Sean McVay
keeping this this everything in house and really grooming guys
to be better coaches throughout. And again that's a testament
to this organization as a whole. You're losing personnel people
left and right, and to see other guys leaving flourish,
I think that's what that's what I got more of
(06:52):
this this this season. Yes, the young guys made plays,
but how many other coaches have left here and then
took this model and went somewhere else in one right, yeah, yeah,
And so it's just like this is special, and so
you want to try to hold on to this as
long as you can.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I'll use that as a jumping off point for our
twenty five preview in just a second. But I have
to do these year end awards, right, and one of
them is Moment of the Year. So if you could
help me, if if we could crowdsource this a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I got it already, you got one. I got it
right now.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I got too many.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Go ahead pick six against Seattle, Damn Kitchens turn the
season around. You had to go. You had to win
in Seattle. That was you. I talked to JB jab said,
this is a must win, must win. Yeah, yeah, that
that pick six more than anything, because you know Demark
always says catch the ball, take a knee, or don't
pick it out to be able to pick the ball
(07:41):
and then take it one hundred was one hundred and
six or hundred and three back later, bumble the ball,
then pick it up again to the wherewith all to
pick it up? Like to me that that that was
the turning point in the season.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Hold on, should we keep it regular season only? Because
I you can say scoop and score Jared versus a
wild card too, right, that would be anat.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The season that yeah, if you want, yeah, okay, the
entire season. What was the walkoff Stafford.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Two Denarcus same game, He's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
The same game. I mean that that will always stand
out because we were like, you fought back just to
get that, get back in the game, and then he
calls game on in one pass that that was amazing. Okay,
it's one. It doesn't have a stat attached to it.
It just made me laugh. It was when Philly came
to town and it's about Jared Verse when he absolutely
blew up my Lot. And the funny thing was he
(08:30):
was so unapologetic about it. He might have been off sides,
I get it, but he blows this big tackle up
the the meanest guy on the best old line in
the in the in the league, and the guy gets
up and runs through the official. I thought that was hilarious.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
That if you watch the second game he watched the
division round, Yes, my lot still had it, still had
it in his mind that like, yeah, you're cheating, this
is not this is not no, what you're doing is
not right.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
A do that big if you want to go talk trash.
Verse was standing right there. He wouldn't talk to the official,
like this is for real. And then Verse talked this
trash and went back in the Villy and did the
same thing to the other side exactly and had a
whale of a game. So that was like, this dude
is legit. He is for real and he's absolutely terrifying.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
No bad choices here. I like everything you said. I'll
throw a few more out to the group. Maybe the
common section will help us out a little bit. The
fake punt by Ronnie Rivers in the season Week three
season on the brink you could argue against the Niners.
And then the Cardi walk off winner. Yeah, two massive contributors.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Got the block punt, block punt that humbled along scoop
and score Yeph. There were a few Puka Nikou was
catching New England when he laid out.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I had Pook on the third and five screen against
Buffalo to put that game out of reach.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So many yeah, so many lay out.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
In New England. How about Stafford off schedule in that
Minnesota game, Duck in the rush kind of vintage nine
and die.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
If you want to go back, go to Seattle and
talk about the Stafford throw before the walk off touchdown
a little. It was like seventeen people right there and
it hits uh Johnson, Tyler Johnson right in the chest
on the on the over that that is on him.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, May wearing a hat same game as McVay wearing
a hat, hig becoming through rehab a game winner, a
Callow clinching the Arizona game. All right, let's get back
into the coaching continuity, because.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
How about Kiren's flip over. That's another good one.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I thought you'd throw that one out. Beating the Niners twice,
that's signature.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, Well while you're here on between the horns,
go watch what was that the pre Philadelphia trip we
talked a lot talked about and why the season was
a success no matter what happened. Let's start with the
head coach before we get into some of that coaching
continuity and combating the brain drain, which I think you
(10:45):
were right to bring up. We don't know what this
offseason is going to bring, clearly, we do know that
the Rams have one of the three four best head
coaches walking the planet right now, I think, and his
very existence means your floor were moving forward is going
to be pretty high. And so my starting point for
(11:05):
twenty twenty five is that when I hear him speak
in the aftermath of the loss of Philadelphia, he's still
both feed in. He's full steam ahead with the Los
Angeles Rams. I don't know there's a better place to start.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, I would say as long as he has the
energy and the and he's locked in, then that that's
that's where you have to start, right because he's the
the very the very beginning when he first got here
and he was what thirty years old, and he talked
about the weed, not me, and we were at OTA's
and I remember Andrew Whitworth, who was like four or
five years older, maybe six years older than Sean McVay
(11:37):
jumps off sides and mcveigh's like, get out right, and
and again, that's your captain, that's your leader of your team.
That's the guy that's gonna like really permeate your your
your foundation and your views through the through the locker room.
That's that that's where it started. And to have that
type of respect early on shows again is that's where
(11:59):
it is. And then, like you said before, to lose
offensive coach after offensive coach after defensive coach after defensive coach,
these guys are all becoming head coaches and still to
put a product on the field that competes to win
a championship. Almost every year is very unique Marco.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
It feels like he's entered a next phase of his
career too, whether it's kind of coaching the entire facility,
being involved on defense and special teams, whether it's embracing
the defensive identity of this group, even though that wasn't
the archetype, that wasn't the plan. I think his game
management decisions took a nice step forward this year.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I thought wearing the hat was, you know, sign of growth.
I told you, guys laughed at me. You can't out
dress the head coach because he's coaching you to ignore weather.
If he goes out there in a parka you know,
how do you coach to be tough? So him wear
in a hat. I thought that was smart. But yeah,
I think this is headed towards a Lombardi or at
least a Super Bowl berth. Because if you go back
to the year after the Super Bowl and then we
(12:57):
all thought he was leaving, and then you fought your
way back after that season, and then you you had
the one in four and you you finished off this
year in the playoffs. I think this ends somewhere in
a super Bowl at some point. That's the way he's
got this thing going. The way he looked when he
got his energy back, and the way he's been coaching
this year all over the place. He has embraced the job,
(13:17):
the total job of being a head coach. You need
to show up in every single meeting room and in
every single drill to keep these guys going, because that's
what that's what it takes this football season. So he
has been spectacular, and I'm glad, I'm with you. That
is the number one thing. Number two would be your quarterback.
Number one, Your head coach is firmly planted in Los Angeles.
That's not going to change.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Good.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Start the ball rowing. Now, move on to step two.
Make sure that guy doesn't leave the building as well.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
All right, let's go there. There's a lot of good
going into this offseason. Sounds like you're healthy. Doesn't sound
like Bradon fists injury is going to prevent him from,
you know, being ready for training camp. Won't miss any games.
That's great. No other Tyler Higbee like injuries that we're
aware of. So the offseason program has a chance to
be a really good one, a really productive one, especially
you're not onboarding new coordinators and teaching your culture and
(14:03):
your system to your coaching staff and then in turn
your players. But to mark you hint at it, I
think this is a fascinating offseason setup and it all
starts with QB one because I think the majority of
our audience, I could be wrong, is kind of in
this camp. The Rams are a couple pieces away, one
or two on offense, one or two on defense from
(14:24):
being a Super Bowl favorite again with Stafford at the
switch or And I'm not necessarily inclined to go this direction,
but I could, I could hear the case that maybe
this is the perfect juncture to start a new chapter.
Maybe not, but you could go out on a high
note with a feel good season. So take it from there.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
So I'm driving into that, I'm talking to my youngest son,
and I'm about to pull into one of the parking
spots and I like, as I pull in, I was like, oh,
this is number ten, Matthew Stafford captain on it. And
it's like Cooper gotting. All the captains have their own
part right now, like, oh, let me not go there,
let me kind of back in, And to me, that's
a sign of respect that he has, right that he's
earned here in this at this franchise, and I think
(15:04):
if you want to win, and you believe that you
have a chance to win, you have to lock him in. Right,
He just gives you a different dynamic. I know he's
getting older, but what he was able to do, and
really what I gained the most respect, was the one
and four. Right. I've seen quarterbacks older one and four
kind of turn it down a little bit, not stand
(15:26):
in the fire, not make throws that need to be thrown,
turn it away all. He never did that. He never
wants through his guys under the bus. He never wants.
He always talked about getting better, And to me, that's
very rare in this day and age when guys were
making so much money and guys, you know, we're trying
to battle that. I know he has a contract situation,
(15:46):
but I think it's best if you're the rams to
figure out a way to make it work for everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I hope so man. As far as arm, talent, quarterbacking, leadership, everything,
I've never seen anything like that up close. Of course,
I've seen la Young all these guys from Afar, but
never up close. And when it's legit, the guy can
just will you to victory. He is that good. He
inspires people, He scares the crap out of his old line.
If you make a protection issue or faux pas. That's
(16:15):
what quarterbacks should be.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I remember when I realized that this is a business too.
I was in my second year and Sean Gilbert was
telling me he's leaving next year, and I started crying
on the bus because I thought this D line would
be together together forever. That's how it used to be.
That's high school college. Yeah, we're there forever. Wait a minute,
you can leave. Yeah, this is a business. So I
hope that the business doesn't get in the way of
something special. Because if you can run this back and
(16:39):
you can fix a few things and your luck changes
a little bit. On your O line in particular, you're
probably not playing that playoff game in Philly. You're probably
playing it right here in Los Angeles. And all that
starts with number nine. So look, I'm not saying anything
that we don't know, or the coaches don't know, or
the fan base doesn't know. But this is a business,
and sometimes business dictates where guys go, and sometimes they're
(17:02):
not here.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
This is the thing, ye, and that's what sucks about it.
I'll be the devil's advocate to it. If it is
a business and he does leave, I'm still confident in
the Rams offense being able to put up points. I'm
confident because I've seen Baker Mayfield come off of a
two day two days and put up thirty points. I've
seen it. I've seen Baker Mayfield run this exact offense
in Tampa and scored have over forty touchdown passes. Right,
(17:25):
So I'm it's yes, the best thing is I want
Stafford here, But if he's not here, I'm comfortable with
option two.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Part of me going bonkers week eighteen about Garoppolo, I
wanted to see what it looked like with someone else
under center. He looked okay, he looked pretty good. I
mean with more time, more and some weapons. Yeah. Well,
you can teach an offense, definitely. But I'm just you're
talking about the guy that's probably gonna end his career
and walk straight into Canton five years later. Those guys
don't grow on trees. So if you can find a
(17:54):
way to keep him in the fold, so be it.
But I get it, it's business.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
I think you have to look at two things. The second,
which I'll get to is the schedule in twenty five,
the first of which is the division in your place
in it, because I think we know now more than
ever that if you can be better than three teams
and you catch a home playoff game, you're in the bracket.
And McVeigh and Stafford are going to be a tough,
tough out last two years four and one against the
(18:17):
NFC West before having the privilege arresting your starters. In
week eighteen, Seahawks are gonna have a new offensive coordinator.
They hired Clint Kubiak. They're sticking with Gino until total
Arizona's Arizona, and the Niners have a new defensive coordinator.
They get Robert solid back. They're set to pay party.
(18:37):
It has like a last dance type of feel for
some of their aging offensive stars. But if you have
Stafford back at the switch, I think you're either the
twenty five favorite or the one B in the NFC West.
Am I wrong? No?
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I think you're right. Like I said, I think we're
saying everything.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I think you're the favorite. I don't really think that
you're the one B because of the way your defense
is right and how young they are and to be honest,
if you really look at the NFC West and how
its structured, the team that's always dominated was the Niners.
They were so physical, right they defense will beat you up.
Well that's the Rams. Now the Rams are the more
physical team. They've shown that this year. So Stafford comes back.
(19:14):
I think you are the favorite right away.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
The twenty five schedule has the NFC South and the
AFC South. Looks good on paper. It's January, and then
the first place crossovers are daunting. Though you host the Lions,
you go to Philly and Baltimore. The question is are
you a Brandon Cooks or a Jalen Ramsey away from
being right there with the chance to win double digit
(19:38):
games and get back to the postseason.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I think you're there now. I mean yeah, if you
add people so bid, if you get a little more
explosive on offense, so bit. I think that might be
the offseason game plan outside of Stafford finding out to
get a little bit faster. But I thought you were there.
You took Philly to the wire, You have a chance
to beat Detroit in Week one. It was right there
for you. The games I keep coming back to for
twenty twenty four, when you said like my memories or
actually Chicago and Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I was gonna say Chicago is behind.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Imagine if you got those two and then you finished
off the way you finished off. Oh my god, this
whole season is different. So yeah, like I said, I
if you can find a way to run it back
with the guys you have and add a little bit more,
I think you are the favorite in this division, possibly
more going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Or forget trading for a veteran, Like just for the
sake of argument, let's take pick twenty six and this
past class, the likes of Brian Thomas or Save You're
Worthy or Lad McConkie or Keon Coleman, like those were
all weapons, like you're talking about available at or around
or after that pickpoint.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean if you go get a lockdown corner
at that part part right, like you can enough good corner.
And to me, I think it's it's less about going
to get vets. I think it's more about keeping this
group is close as much as much as you can
to get. If you look at the Philadelphia Eagles and
the Can Stay Chiefs, want to say the Chiefs have
eighteen guys they were on that last Super Bowl team
(20:57):
two years ago that that played and then the Eagles
twelve right, and so they were able to keep a
nucleus of guys there, which is important, Like we talk
about it all the time. The more that you could
hear the same word, you can see the same people,
you could walk the same halls. The more comfortable you are,
the less you have to think, the more you can
react and go and play.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I hear what you said about wanting to get more
explosive on offense. Who can you break the huddle with?
Who tilts the math in your favor? It reminds me
of the twenty one offseason. You remember the Rams not
only signed to Sean Jackson I do after the Stafford trade,
of course, but then also drafted to two out. Well,
that's an interesting data point in terms of what did
you learn from that experience? How will it inform your
(21:35):
steps this offseason as you try and chase down I
think a similar goal, similar goal.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Not to step on anybody's toes. But maybe your speed
or explosiveness doesn't have to be at receiver running back?
Speaker 3 (21:48):
All right?
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Can I play something from you? Because the closest thing
we have to tea leaves right now, is this comment
from Sean may Face kind of season closing press conference
about how he wants to be more versatile on offense
and how they'll spend this offseason. Going about that.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
The easy answer is to complain about the injuries that
we have that threw off the continuity. And while that
might be true, you can't allow that to inhibit us
the way that it did, you know, And that's nobody's responsibility,
but my own, I think more fully functional. I think
even our teaching progressions for the totality of the group,
How do you utilize the offseason, how are you making
(22:25):
yourself more versatile from a personnel perspective, from just a
run variety perspective, And those are the things that I'm
excited to be able to dive into. But you know,
I was talking to Liam Cohen the other day and
one of the coolest things that I think is reflected
about what a great job he did was you know,
you've got a background, and then when you watch them
and what they evolved to with Bucky Irving and the
(22:47):
way they ran the football and some of the variety
and personnel groupings, I thought that was a cool reflection of, Hey,
maybe we think We're gonna do that, and then what
you evolved into if you're able to understand a the
best coaches adjust to their players, and that's what we've
got to do a good job of as it moves forward,
and what it looks like from our offensive line, from
the surrounding parts with our backs. But I think, you know,
(23:10):
I could go on and on about the variety of
things that I'm excited about attacking to hopefully avoid some
of the pitfalls that we had throughout the year, to
ultimately lead to more consistent production and play regardless of
whatever our injury situation is.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
After hearing that and then kind of looking at this,
this it's so funny. Last year free agency was the
freegency of running backs.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Right.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We saw the way running backs were able to try
A teams shout out to the Giants for ruining the NFC, Right, yea,
how many teams wish they would have signed, say Kwan Barkley, right,
knowing that you would have had this type of deal.
But this draft is the draft of the running back
and of the explosive. The thing is, can you find
a back that has the football IQ to handle what
(23:54):
you're gonna throw at them? I feel like this year
Blake Korum struggled a little bit of getting on the
field because they weren't comfortable enough. We'll putting him in
some of those situations, and then obviously New Orleans comes in,
he plays a little bit that he breaks his arm
at the end of the year as forearms.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
So is that a comment about the offensive line as
much as the running back? When you talk about the
running game again, it all starts with who your quarterback
is gonna because I think if it's Matthew Stafford, that
colors you're thinking on Okay, what do we do with
the answers we need to find at left tackle, at
right tackle, at center?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, I think I think when you we know which
way they want to go, they have an identity offensive
line wise, what they want to have. They want to
be bigger, they want to be Maler's right. So that
tells me, Okay, we'll have some outside zone stuff, but
we need guys that can break a tackle, run through
some guys, and still have the ability to go score.
And that's what you're gonna have to look for. We've
(24:48):
always talked about a kien Has does such a great
job of manipulating backers and guys in the box. The
one downfalls is his long speed. He doesn't have that
long speed. And when you go against a guy that
has a long speed and you see that and how
easy it is to call a play and he can
go seventy with It's like, I don't have to call
have a next play ready when you're going with guys
like that. And so I think when you see that
(25:09):
you play against that, it's kind of very similar, like
I need that. I want that in my offense because
that'll make us way more explosive. You brought it up
throughout the season about being more explosive offensively.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I want to talk offensive line one more time. Yeah,
but let me get to Puka next. Okay, if Puka
is grading out as one of, if not the best
receivers in the game, if he's your wide receiver one
moving forward into year three, how do you compliment him?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
What are you.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Looking to stack and bunch him with or to put
opposite him to bring out his best and to stress defenses.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Most I would anybody that could beat one on one
coverage on the back side, a burner down the field
or something like that. It's funny talking about korm and
protection issues and whatnot. Why aren't you playing korm more
It's because maybe he's not well versed in protection. Kyron
is better at pass protection. Well, then the question can
well change your offense? Well that's not so easy, but
(26:01):
I understand where he's coming from. Pare it down. If
you need to get more out of some younger guys,
I would love a loose play guy, A guy that
can come in at receiver, running back, what have you,
that could create something out of nothing. Make it so
you don't have to dial up or schedule fourteen plays
just to move the ball down the field. It's kind
of rough to do. That puts a lot in your quarterback,
a lot in your offensive line. It definitely helps when
you have that explosiveness, but o line wise, I mean, look,
(26:24):
I thought it left tackle. I thought when Lallar Jackson
came back, that changed a lot. How many times did
you guys say his name during the game?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Never?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Not that much, right, I mean I think your left
your answer to left tackles already in house. Everything else
that that transpired when you made switches right before week
one and you had to sub guys because guys got hurt.
I thought the old line did a fantastic job of regrouping.
But if we're trying to come into the draft and
you're looking for somebody who is fast or explosive, and
(26:55):
there's also an offensive lineman that's sitting there at that
same spot, I might go towards that guy, especially if
Stafford is your quarterback, because that is job number one.
And look, the easy way to get more explosive in
today's NFL is find a quarterback that runs. That ain't
going to be you if you signed Stafford, So what's
the best way to make him better protection or find
(27:16):
somebody that can run down the field.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
To that end, would you consider going all in on
Jonah Jackson again this offseason that hoping that ain't done
with him, that a healthy offseason program, whether he's your
full time center or someone else's and he slides in
that guard, that that's worth considering given the financial investment
you've made.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yeah, for sure, you have to you have to do that. Obviously,
we talked about the blessing and his guys aving bo
Limmer being able to step in and play some very
pivotal snaps after what he did in the preseason. But
Jonah Jackson, to me, you have to figure out a
way to see if it works right. I think DeMarco
hit on the head when he said, if there's a
(27:52):
right tackle or a tackle and an explosive player, you
take the tackle every time because you can go find
Antonio Brown the fifth round. Seen this over and over again,
explosive players, Pookin Naku in the fifth round, right, like,
you can go find guys that go. Now, I will
tell you this, I wouldn't go get an explosive just
a guy that can run down the field. We've tried
that already. It didn't work out. Give me another Pukah.
(28:13):
Give me another guy that I could put on the
other side and he could bully the other guy if
need be. Now Stafford has two guys he can go
to in critical situations. Give me a guy with run
after catch that I could get you the ball quickly
and you can make a guy miss and go. That's
what I want because that's what your offense is. And
then when we need to take a shot, we have
a receiver coach that can train you how to get
down the field and make those things go. But what
it's hard to teach is a guy that you can
(28:34):
throw a hitch to. He can make a guy missing
go and that's what we saw Pooka do multiple times,
and that's where he's special.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Maybe Jay wits that guy. Maybe he's already here going
into year two. All right, let's switch over to some defense.
And I think it's amazing that the Rams did not
score on defense from Christmas of twenty two until Week
five of this year, and then the defense ripped off
four straight games scoring points. They scored the longest defensive
touchdown in franchise history, and they scored on special teams
(29:01):
seven games overall, including playoffs with non offensive scores. Like
here's one of my biggest takeaways from twenty four. Chris
Youula is a dude, and he's got some dudes, and
I think that opens up a whole new chapter of
Rams football.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
No doubt. And can I just clarify if you're if
the ball comes out and you're in a scrum, fall
on it, if it's on the edge, scoop and gone.
I want to clarify what Maurice said. I'm all in
favor of when you can if it's their fall on it.
But I thought Chris Youula got nothing but better every
single day, every single week and it's it's look, he's
(29:39):
new and these players are young, so you don't they
don't know him, you don't know them.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
But as he.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Started to figure out what he could do and they
could handle more, they could be more aggressive in the
back end, which means you can be more aggressive in
the front end going after quarterbacks. Once you married those two,
the voice and the and the talent, the defense took
off and then it started to grow beyond even his control.
The they were they were super aggressive. I think Jared Verse,
(30:05):
the thing that impressed me most about him coming into
this year is, uh, you know how well he just
took to that leadership role like that and he never
stopped talking day one. He's talking trash to his own teammates.
He's talking trash to them, and he also backed it
up with this play. I think that was reflective of
Chris Shula. Let these guys go. I'll correct you when
(30:25):
you're wrong, but I'm not gonna let you take smoke
off your rush at all.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I think you have to talk about Sean McVay when
you talk about the defense. It would have it would
have been human nature to kind of say and let
me go over and kind of micro manage his defense
a little bit. Again. I go back to OTAs when
Jared Versu was getting into it with the tight ends
and he's like control aggression, control aggression, and versus like,
(30:48):
I'll take all you guys on, I don't care whatever
he wants, right, But then to see that and that's
what you wanted and that's why you drafted him, right,
and then to allow that to grow naturally organically, and
then to see Byron Young play with that type of edge.
You see Kobe Turner play with that type of edge, right,
to see Roseboom start playing with that type of edge
(31:08):
throughout the season. Then you make the big, the big
move to bring Spates in, which that was huge. We
saw that in preseason his physicality, and then to see
the back end kind of start to shape out in
the middle of the season, I thought, you know, those
are some tough decisions, man, Like the land shark is
starting at one point and then he kind of gets
banged up, and then a Keller Witherspoon has like four
(31:30):
games in a row where you're like, can't get him
off the field? Ye like, and you're never supposed to
lose your job to injury. But he's hot, I gotta
play him deep. Will yeah, d Will coming in and
really solidifying the side of the ball as well, Like
they just did so many great things. And then the
way you utilize the captain Quentin Lake both at the
slot to trust him to play man to man but
(31:50):
also come down and some of the tackles and the blitzes.
And again it's just it became about the players and
not the scheme. And I felt like when that happened,
you start to see this thing just go.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
So let me compare those two conversations on offense, where saying, well,
he can't really decide until we know who's at quarterback.
On defense, your quarterback is the fearsome twenty twenty foursome
and you know you have the answers now. So DeMarco,
what's the next step to building this defense?
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (32:16):
From being like timely and optortunistic and clutch to being okay,
lights out.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
What was your first thought when I say a Kellow
Wetherspoon about his demeanor, how he plays, how would you describe.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
As well, I'll tell you this, I didn't know he's
gonna hit like that.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
That's what I was gonna say, dude, got fined for
a hit at the end of the year. That guy.
That's the progression, that's the attitude. That's what this defense brings.
So if you're asking me, how do you make this
defense better? If we go back to that same draft conversation,
this is where Chris Shuwill and the defense would stand up.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
If there's a.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Tackle, a loose, play fast guy and a top flight corner,
I may be going for that guy. If you can
find a way to lock up the other team's best
receiver with one guy and free your safeties up to
rome and just be ballhawks, you'll be better.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I hear that, But I could I also make the
same argument given what you just said that because of
the pressure and the diversity of pressure, you may you
may continue to cut a corner at corner and throw
numbers at the problem with maybe Morricelo, maybe Derrian Kendrick
coming back. Do you will you know.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Maybe there's a corner that gets cut and you were
able to go, So find the guy.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Kind of college free agents from last year that you
like that you rostered grow into year two.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I think there's the if you got a chance, if
you've got a one cent a generation type dude, that's
a corner.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
And they're saying, now, but now you're going back to
the you know, to the other draft. No.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
No, if you get one of them kool aids or sauces,
you know.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Make that quarterback pat the football.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Just one little bit that gives Verse, that gives Fisk
an extra beat to get there.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
So be it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Yes, uh, special teams got to have a mention here
because I think one of the greatest things that the
Rams have coming out of this season is maybe their
next zer line Hecker combination. Like it's been a while
since Rams fans have been able to go into January
February knowing who their specialists are going to be the
next fall, and I think there's a chance to believe
(34:08):
that these guys could become Pro Bowlers.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Oh yeah, right there. I think Evans Evans. And it's
funny because as much as we didn't think we would
call his name, we call his name a ton early
throughout the season. And those reps of punting the ball,
pinning guys in the corner, and you know, kicking at
fifty yards to the sideline, all those things came up
huge late in the years because yeah, you needed some
of those critical punting situations against the Jets where you
(34:31):
pin them even though they went ninety nine. But you
pinned him at.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
The one Rizona too. Just dropping lawn dark down.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
The Philly I mean, when you're backed up in Philly
the playoff game and it's bombs away time, he gives
you that flip field when the end zone is in play,
when you cross the fifty, now you've got to keep
it out of the end zone. No touchbacks. That's a
guy that got better as we went on, and I'm
glad the Rams resisted the urge to do something that
placekicker when he was when the whole operation was struggling,
and we blamed it on Cardi.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
That's kind of what I meant in terms of like
the scar tissue less learned from this era of Rams football.
They've seen good kickers get out of here and then
find a second chance and make the most of it
with another organization. Yeah, they let cardi second chance be
right here in La and he finishes with sixteen in
a row. He closed.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
The outside says, when you miss a field goal, blame
the place kicker. I'm glad on the inside you can
look and see maybe it wasn't just him. Yeah, maybe
it was snap, maybe it was how maybe it was
the hole. Maybe it was a lot to the operation.
But just letting that settle itself down, the guy became
a weapon for you later on in the year and
into the postings.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Just like we're I guess we're saying the Rams are
mature through all these experiences they've had. Right with the
kicking situation with different special teams coordinators. Uh, the way
the special teams flew around and made plays, right, guys
are flying down making big time tackles. And I'll say
this Ethan Nevians did the leaf punt again in the
in the in the divisional round against You know, Cooper
(35:52):
dejin is a secure catcher of the football. That leaf
punk caught him off guard and you had an opportunity
to get the ball. The same thing against. Uh, there's
the Cardinals where you have Jordan Winington flying down, jumping
on the ball. Like, was that the Cardinals or that
the Vikings? Was the Vikings the Jets?
Speaker 1 (36:06):
The Jets is where he covered the muff? Is that
what you're talking about?
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Yeah? The was it the muff? Okay? There they're all
kind of rolling together at this point. But yeah, but
I'm just like, all these different moments happened because you
were mature enough to say, I want to give this
special Teams coach another chance.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
True?
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Right, Like? And then again you talked about those experiences
from different seasons with different coaches, different players, moving on,
you learn, and it's the maturity of Sean McVay in
this organization that's really allowed them to be where they
are now.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
So who do you think is a breakout star candidate
for next year? Because I think Cardi and Evans are
both on that list, even though you know special teams
players probably you know they got to be special don't
drive ratings.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
But breakout for special teams or no.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
No, no, Just who do you whether it's a year
two guy or someone ready to step into his own next.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Season breakout star for next season?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (36:55):
You know? Okay, the easy one, Blake Corum would be.
I was so geeked for him to go, and I
was so sad when he broke the arm and on
the run where he broke his arm, he ran the
guy over and almost knocked him out. So imagine if
you get twenty five carries of that, depending on what happens.
But yeah, Blake Korn might be a guy look at
(37:16):
and circle and say this might be the next star.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Wow, it's a tough one. See I want to say
I want to say DeMarcus Robinson. I want to say
that because I think he can be that.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
So he's a priority free agent for you.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
And he's a guy that I would out for sure
to bring back. I would, I was for sure bring back.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But but the all the guys that would circle for
breakouts broke out this year.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
States was on my short list. Cam Kinchen's too.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Yeah, I see. I think Kim Kitchen to me, yeah,
I think the sky broke out or broke out of right.
And that's why I felt like Space is the guy
I want to go with, just because he came in
and said you, I mean, it just reminds me of
the Jets when they're about to run with Breese Hall
and he shoots gap.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, just again that the reps, the meaningful reps that
he got this year, they're only gonna make him better.
And the rams, I don't think they have to go
out and add at that position.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Well, if he gets Kitchens, then let me get fisked.
Then there there's a breakout verse, even though he already
broke out right.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
So my next question is gonna be which Ram's free
agent do you want to sign. I was gonna guess
that yours was gonna be Alerc Jackson because what you
said on this shows Robinson is right there.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
If I wand have to pick one, I will give
you the left tackle.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Okay, let me guess one for DeMarco.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Wait, gotta have back. Hoyt got fined twenty three thousand
or something, whatever it was.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Why, being too smart, trash talking, and I don't know,
but I think he is great for this team. I
think he is great for this defense. And he's also
great for Jared Vie.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
He was Jared Verse unlocked something in him that I
haven't seen this whole time.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
The other way he lets Verse be verse.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
No, No, I'm talking about just the way he was talking. Yes,
his his mannerisms, how he was like he was so
confident knowing what he was doing. Yeah, he was like
barking at the other side, like lighting up. You know
how they'll get the talk a little bit, he'll drop out,
he'll rush like again to see we've saw him, We've
talked about this, like do you let versus just give
it to Verse or do you let Verse earning from Hoyt.
(39:16):
They found a way for both of them to co exists,
and you you got another edge rusher in that situation.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Our audience won't be surprised to hear me say this.
I promise it's the last time I'll say it, and
then I'll let it go. But if the goal is
to get more explosive this offseason, then how can you
let your fastest player get too?
Speaker 3 (39:32):
Oh? Come on, man, he's always open to Like JB.
He goes into the divisional round runs, it has ten
yards of separation to catch the ball in front out.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I'm your choir, right, yes, sir, twenty five game on
the schedule. You're looking forward to most?
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Oh Jacksonville, Oh the Liam come on, we gotta go back,
just just because of how that whole thing. We gotta
come come on home?
Speaker 1 (39:55):
Is that more about you and Jacksonville?
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Jacksonville?
Speaker 3 (39:58):
It's in Jacksonville. He's there, he's your offense.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Is there more so than the Raheem Bowl in Atlanta,
rematch in Philly or hosting Detroit.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
That's the one I can't wait for I'm.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
A pretty good schedule. If I give you four options
and none of them.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Are I'm past Detroit. Are you really if it's me
if we're going a team, because I'm thinking I was
thinking more of like a coach that was here, offensive guy.
You got your you're running the show. Now, let's see
how you do it right. You're kind of the O
C and Tampa you were. But if we're going to
go a team, oh give me Philly, Okay, need it.
(40:33):
You don't know why, DeMarco, because you don't know one
more time. Let me tell you something once.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Don't turn it over.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
That's going there the next two years this year as
a like place finisher next year based on the division schedule.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
We're calling the game. When the Rams are doing well,
they're they're sitting on their hands, but as soon as
one thing happens, they turn around start barking. And it
took and it reminded me of the guy at the bus.
It took so much for me not to say anything
as we're on air, but like the competitor me came out.
I feel like I can play that day.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
That's where you've grown as a broadcaster over now, you
didn't get it.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I was right.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
I was writing, we dropped you into that game in
your rookie season as a broadcast might suit it up.
You might not have made it to year two.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
I would have made it. Hop through the thing.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yeah, winding it down your best. Guess what the Rams
do with the twenty sixth overall pick.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
To keep it?
Speaker 1 (41:26):
You think keep it, keep it? I would say that's
the least likely. I think they move back up, trade it.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
I think they trade up.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
I think picking at twenty six is But but.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
There's a lot that goes into that. There's a lot
that goes into that. It's not like this is not
like a team where it's just like, hey, we're like,
you gotta it's your quarterback back. Do you bring your
tackle back? Who do you bring back? And then that
kind of determines and then you know, I gotta do
the scout thing. I got to see who's out there
to figure it out. Get ready to go.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
It's a running back class, though we've heard it.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Is it's like twenty five over that class. Yeah, it's
not a quarterback class for sure.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Do you have a Super Bowl prediction?
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Give me the chiefs man.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
You hate even saying that I know it's hard to
pick against Mahomes, but I would say this man and
this run and comparing him to Brady or whatever. Uh,
you go three in a row and you beat that
Philadelphia squad who's probably the best rushing team we've seen
in forever since Newt Rockney roam the Earth. If you
(42:24):
go through them to win three in a row, Kansas.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
City, who's Newt Rockney.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
I'll tell you after the show.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Yeah, old school, yeah, before this like back before the
forward pass when everybody.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Before you took your recruiting visit today and trust me,
But if.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
You go through them and win a Super Bowl, Look, okay,
might be the best run and he may be the best.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Quarter three peak going through the top three MVP candidates. Yes, right,
if you get Lamar, Josh and Saquon, be cool. If
the Rams are the last n SC team to win
it still too, right, Yeah, that could be something worth you.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
This is the thing. When you look at Kansas City,
they just find a way and they disfigure it. They
just figure out how to do it. But second half
adjustment of his critical moments of his first starting fast,
they just figure out how to do it. And then
when I look at the Eagles, and I don't want
to sound like a hater, but I just feel like
if they can't run the football, putting that put all
that pressure on HRS to throw the ball to win.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
I've been saying that all year, and I'm going to
find a way to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yeah, they had seven Russian touchdowns yesterday.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Here's my rooting interest for the Super Bowl week, Tory
Holt Hall of Famer. Yes, about time we all agree
on that.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
And then lock the doors for ten years.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
Yes, that'll make it a lot easy.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
No more receivers get locked the door for ten years.
Let him and that's it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
I guess that's a wrap on this season Between the
Horns presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers. As hard
as it is to step aside, we do need to
put some time in distance between this season and what
will be free agency. Will have the draft covered for
you OTA's and mini camp. We do have some thank
yous to offer, not just my friends MJD and DeMarco
of course, but Stu made awesome contributions to this show
(44:02):
this year. Cameron Kirsten, this was our best season of
Between the Horns yet. I hope you guys felt that
we enjoyed that. And if I can ask like our
studio crew to kind of filling around, come on, come
back a cando here bing Rudy. I'm guessing jury won't
cut Jory probably left you go Mark, but come make.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
A little bit to go.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Don't comb the hair, come on, bing my man. Won't
you ever change being?
Speaker 1 (44:32):
Part of what makes this show awesome is the ability
to talk about the team and the franchise that we
all love, and to do it with friends and people
who really pour into the product. So thank you for
being a part of this show start to finish. We
can't wait to bring you more. Twenty twenty five editions
for all of us here at between the Horns and
the Los Angeles Rams. Thank you for a great memorable season.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
Who's House, Crams House?
Speaker 2 (45:00):
You keep ret
Well, I guess we just can't quit you. Ramiley back
for one more episode here to wrap up the twenty
twenty four campaign and to look ahead to the twenty
five offseason with my friends and colleagues Maurice Jones, Drew
and Marco Farr. I'm JB. Long. This is between the Horns,
always presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers. We of
course want this to be forward looking as much as possible,
but I know we all have some lingering thoughts about
(00:27):
the season that was. I'm glad we took last week off, though,
I think, to let some time go by to compose ourselves.
Good to see you both.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Good to see you. I can't believe we're not playing this.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Did you see that? Oh my god? No? Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Did it make you feel better or worse?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
It made me feel worse because I felt like if
the weather was the same as an NFC championship game,
it's a completely different outlook. I felt like the Rams
played better, they executed better, they were the better team,
just didn't handle the weather the best in that fourth quarter.
And granted, again, you know that's the game football, that's
what we have to do. But those two turnovers that
(01:03):
gave six points. That's the game, right, and so it sucks.
The only cool part was at the snow and then
and the way they viired the scene that it left beautiful, right,
that was awesome. But football wise, I just feel like
the best team didn't win that day, and that's what
that's what sucks about it.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You beat Buffalo there they were in the AFC Championship game,
and you took Philly to the wire and they stomped
the Commanders put fifty five on them. So you were
just there. So does it make you feel better? Maybe
a little bit, but still, I mean you were with
everyone else watching that and you had a chance to
move on. So yeah, it sucks, but there's there's there's
encouragement for the future, definitely.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You know, I think what Sean McVay said after that
loss has proven to be true that with each passing
day more the fond memories will take over, some of
the sting of that loss will pass. And so I
have kind of two twenty four questions for you guys. One,
how will you remember the season at large? And then
my fall up, which we can say for later, is
what was your favorite moment within the season, But big picture,
(02:05):
you know, how do you think a week, a month,
a year from now, you'll remember the twenty four Rams.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Do you want me to go first?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Go ahead?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, you know, I get motion sickness, and so to me,
it was a roller coaster, But it was one of
the more fun rides and satisfy, satisfying rides that I've
been on as a broadcaster and the radio guy for
the Rams, because to see just the expectation at the
beginning of the year was so high, and then to
hit that low of one and four and to see
(02:33):
the Rams and be here and to do these between
the horns and talk all the time and see them
fight and crawl their way back. And then you get
healthy against the Minnesota Bikers, who was a hot team,
and you win, and then you go out you beat Buffalo,
and it's just so many things and there are so
many parallels the last year. I'm getting goosebumps now. But
it's just like to see the way this team stuck together,
(02:54):
this coach and staff stuck together. To see the way
they were able to really get the most out of everybody,
and you had to make some decisions throughout this process.
See the way the defense played. The young guys played
to battle back to the fires, and they go to
Arizona and demolish the Minnesota Vikings, right, and then go
to Philly and literally, you misfit three runs and that's
(03:16):
the game, right, like intensively, Yeah, and other than that though,
you played like you gotta save. Like. There's just so
many things that they did throughout the course of the
season that was especially defensively. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So many guys, like you said, when you misfit the run,
some guys they give you the chance to run them down.
If you misfit him, he is gone, So you have
to give him his credit. He's so good. And like
you said, the roller coaster ride, I'm with you as
soon as you doc. I want to go again if
this ride is going to be that much fun. But
when I saw this and this is funny, you're gonna
think this took me a minute. The first thing that
(03:51):
came to my mind about how I would describe the
season is a rambling wreck. Remember that from Georgia Tech.
Do you guys know what the rambling wreck actually is?
You know, it's about a car. It's an engineering school
and how this car this first model T Model A
was put together by tractor parts, all this other stuff,
and it was held together by ingenuity and creativity. Doesn't
(04:11):
that kind of describe what went on this year with
this football team, A young defense, a seasoned offense, and
then you flop mid season. What's really driving this train?
Just amazing And you never gave up even when it
got at its toughest when you were one and four,
when the world said you can't come. You can't make
the playoffs from here. It's an eight percent chance, and
(04:33):
that never factored into this building. So roller coaster, rambling
wreck it was. It was all great to finish off
the way you did.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
I love that because you didn't have your first choice
of every single piece on the assembly line. Is what
you're saying, right, right? And they achieved this year not
because so many things went right, but in spite of
so many things going wrong, like go back in time.
The free agent wagers that they made didn't exactly pan
out the way they had hoped. Right. I think we
all would liked more from Jonah Jackson and Trey White
(05:03):
and maybe Kolbe Parkinson. There were some hits like d
Will and Cam Curl and d Rob and Kadok great seasons,
but what they envisioned this team being and built over
seven months. Forget surviving first contact, they didn't even make
it to the starting line in Detroit, and all these
hiccups along the way, whether it's even Stafford's contracts stare down,
(05:23):
or the training camp injuries, or the September injuries, the
front loaded schedule, at each turn, they just kind of
persevered and found a way to stay in the fight.
And that's where I feel like your referenced. It was
so much like twenty three, right, It almost gave you goosebumps.
I agree, And it also had ingredients of twenty two.
It was almost like the perfect amalgamation of the scar
(05:45):
tissue they that they took on in twenty two, and
then the joy of seeing overachievement from young players in
twenty three thrown in the blender, and the institutional knowledge
that they built through those two post Super Bowl seasons
coming to Fruition in the second half of this year.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And coaching too. Yeah, I mean, you had no idea
and then you know, turns out he's he's a great
coach and he can really lead that group to get
better and better.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I'll say this too, like talking about like the Kansaity
Chiefs and their consistency in this dynasty. They've had the
same play caller, same voice in the offensive room. They've
lost a couple offensive coordinators, they've had the same decoord,
they've had the same special teams coach, and there's consistency
in that for what the Rams have done with losing
coach after coach after coach and possibly losing another coach, right,
(06:31):
It's it's like credit has to go to Sean McVay
keeping this this everything in house and really grooming guys
to be better coaches throughout. And again that's a testament
to this organization as a whole. You're losing personnel people
left and right, and to see other guys leaving flourish,
I think that's what that's what I got more of
(06:52):
this this this season. Yes, the young guys made plays,
but how many other coaches have left here and then
took this model and went somewhere else in one right, yeah, yeah,
And so it's just like this is special, and so
you want to try to hold on to this as
long as you can.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
I'll use that as a jumping off point for our
twenty five preview in just a second. But I have
to do these year end awards, right, and one of
them is Moment of the Year. So if you could
help me, if if we could crowdsource this a little bit.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I got it already, you got one. I got it
right now.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I got too many.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Go ahead pick six against Seattle, Damn Kitchens turn the
season around. You had to go. You had to win
in Seattle. That was you. I talked to JB jab said,
this is a must win, must win. Yeah, yeah, that
that pick six more than anything, because you know Demark
always says catch the ball, take a knee, or don't
pick it out to be able to pick the ball
(07:41):
and then take it one hundred was one hundred and
six or hundred and three back later, bumble the ball,
then pick it up again to the wherewith all to
pick it up? Like to me that that that was
the turning point in the season.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Hold on, should we keep it regular season only? Because
I you can say scoop and score Jared versus a
wild card too, right, that would be anat.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The season that yeah, if you want, yeah, okay, the
entire season. What was the walkoff Stafford.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Two Denarcus same game, He's.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
The same game. I mean that that will always stand
out because we were like, you fought back just to
get that, get back in the game, and then he
calls game on in one pass that that was amazing. Okay,
it's one. It doesn't have a stat attached to it.
It just made me laugh. It was when Philly came
to town and it's about Jared Verse when he absolutely
blew up my Lot. And the funny thing was he
(08:30):
was so unapologetic about it. He might have been off sides,
I get it, but he blows this big tackle up
the the meanest guy on the best old line in
the in the in the league, and the guy gets
up and runs through the official. I thought that was hilarious.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
That if you watch the second game he watched the
division round, Yes, my lot still had it, still had
it in his mind that like, yeah, you're cheating, this
is not this is not no, what you're doing is
not right.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
A do that big if you want to go talk trash.
Verse was standing right there. He wouldn't talk to the official,
like this is for real. And then Verse talked this
trash and went back in the Villy and did the
same thing to the other side exactly and had a
whale of a game. So that was like, this dude
is legit. He is for real and he's absolutely terrifying.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
No bad choices here. I like everything you said. I'll
throw a few more out to the group. Maybe the
common section will help us out a little bit. The
fake punt by Ronnie Rivers in the season Week three
season on the brink you could argue against the Niners.
And then the Cardi walk off winner. Yeah, two massive contributors.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Got the block punt, block punt that humbled along scoop
and score Yeph. There were a few Puka Nikou was
catching New England when he laid out.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I had Pook on the third and five screen against
Buffalo to put that game out of reach.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So many yeah, so many lay out.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
In New England. How about Stafford off schedule in that
Minnesota game, Duck in the rush kind of vintage nine
and die.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
If you want to go back, go to Seattle and
talk about the Stafford throw before the walk off touchdown
a little. It was like seventeen people right there and
it hits uh Johnson, Tyler Johnson right in the chest
on the on the over that that is on him.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, May wearing a hat same game as McVay wearing
a hat, hig becoming through rehab a game winner, a
Callow clinching the Arizona game. All right, let's get back
into the coaching continuity, because.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
How about Kiren's flip over. That's another good one.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I thought you'd throw that one out. Beating the Niners twice,
that's signature.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, Well while you're here on between the horns,
go watch what was that the pre Philadelphia trip we
talked a lot talked about and why the season was
a success no matter what happened. Let's start with the
head coach before we get into some of that coaching
continuity and combating the brain drain, which I think you
(10:45):
were right to bring up. We don't know what this
offseason is going to bring, clearly, we do know that
the Rams have one of the three four best head
coaches walking the planet right now, I think, and his
very existence means your floor were moving forward is going
to be pretty high. And so my starting point for
(11:05):
twenty twenty five is that when I hear him speak
in the aftermath of the loss of Philadelphia, he's still
both feed in. He's full steam ahead with the Los
Angeles Rams. I don't know there's a better place to start.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Yeah, I would say as long as he has the
energy and the and he's locked in, then that that's
that's where you have to start, right because he's the
the very the very beginning when he first got here
and he was what thirty years old, and he talked
about the weed, not me, and we were at OTA's
and I remember Andrew Whitworth, who was like four or
five years older, maybe six years older than Sean McVay
(11:37):
jumps off sides and mcveigh's like, get out right, and
and again, that's your captain, that's your leader of your team.
That's the guy that's gonna like really permeate your your
your foundation and your views through the through the locker room.
That's that that's where it started. And to have that
type of respect early on shows again is that's where
(11:59):
it is. And then, like you said before, to lose
offensive coach after offensive coach after defensive coach after defensive coach,
these guys are all becoming head coaches and still to
put a product on the field that competes to win
a championship. Almost every year is very unique Marco.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
It feels like he's entered a next phase of his
career too, whether it's kind of coaching the entire facility,
being involved on defense and special teams, whether it's embracing
the defensive identity of this group, even though that wasn't
the archetype, that wasn't the plan. I think his game
management decisions took a nice step forward this year.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I thought wearing the hat was, you know, sign of growth.
I told you, guys laughed at me. You can't out
dress the head coach because he's coaching you to ignore weather.
If he goes out there in a parka you know,
how do you coach to be tough? So him wear
in a hat. I thought that was smart. But yeah,
I think this is headed towards a Lombardi or at
least a Super Bowl berth. Because if you go back
to the year after the Super Bowl and then we
(12:57):
all thought he was leaving, and then you fought your
way back after that season, and then you you had
the one in four and you you finished off this
year in the playoffs. I think this ends somewhere in
a super Bowl at some point. That's the way he's
got this thing going. The way he looked when he
got his energy back, and the way he's been coaching
this year all over the place. He has embraced the job,
(13:17):
the total job of being a head coach. You need
to show up in every single meeting room and in
every single drill to keep these guys going, because that's
what that's what it takes this football season. So he
has been spectacular, and I'm glad, I'm with you. That
is the number one thing. Number two would be your quarterback.
Number one, Your head coach is firmly planted in Los Angeles.
That's not going to change.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
Good.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Start the ball rowing. Now, move on to step two.
Make sure that guy doesn't leave the building as well.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
All right, let's go there. There's a lot of good
going into this offseason. Sounds like you're healthy. Doesn't sound
like Bradon fists injury is going to prevent him from,
you know, being ready for training camp. Won't miss any games.
That's great. No other Tyler Higbee like injuries that we're
aware of. So the offseason program has a chance to
be a really good one, a really productive one, especially
you're not onboarding new coordinators and teaching your culture and
(14:03):
your system to your coaching staff and then in turn
your players. But to mark you hint at it, I
think this is a fascinating offseason setup and it all
starts with QB one because I think the majority of
our audience, I could be wrong, is kind of in
this camp. The Rams are a couple pieces away, one
or two on offense, one or two on defense from
(14:24):
being a Super Bowl favorite again with Stafford at the
switch or And I'm not necessarily inclined to go this direction,
but I could, I could hear the case that maybe
this is the perfect juncture to start a new chapter.
Maybe not, but you could go out on a high
note with a feel good season. So take it from there.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
So I'm driving into that, I'm talking to my youngest son,
and I'm about to pull into one of the parking
spots and I like, as I pull in, I was like, oh,
this is number ten, Matthew Stafford captain on it. And
it's like Cooper gotting. All the captains have their own
part right now, like, oh, let me not go there,
let me kind of back in, And to me, that's
a sign of respect that he has, right that he's
earned here in this at this franchise, and I think
(15:04):
if you want to win, and you believe that you
have a chance to win, you have to lock him in. Right,
He just gives you a different dynamic. I know he's
getting older, but what he was able to do, and
really what I gained the most respect, was the one
and four. Right. I've seen quarterbacks older one and four
kind of turn it down a little bit, not stand
(15:26):
in the fire, not make throws that need to be thrown,
turn it away all. He never did that. He never
wants through his guys under the bus. He never wants.
He always talked about getting better, And to me, that's
very rare in this day and age when guys were
making so much money and guys, you know, we're trying
to battle that. I know he has a contract situation,
(15:46):
but I think it's best if you're the rams to
figure out a way to make it work for everybody.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I hope so man. As far as arm, talent, quarterbacking, leadership, everything,
I've never seen anything like that up close. Of course,
I've seen la Young all these guys from Afar, but
never up close. And when it's legit, the guy can
just will you to victory. He is that good. He
inspires people, He scares the crap out of his old line.
If you make a protection issue or faux pas. That's
(16:15):
what quarterbacks should be.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Now.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I remember when I realized that this is a business too.
I was in my second year and Sean Gilbert was
telling me he's leaving next year, and I started crying
on the bus because I thought this D line would
be together together forever. That's how it used to be.
That's high school college. Yeah, we're there forever. Wait a minute,
you can leave. Yeah, this is a business. So I
hope that the business doesn't get in the way of
something special. Because if you can run this back and
(16:39):
you can fix a few things and your luck changes
a little bit. On your O line in particular, you're
probably not playing that playoff game in Philly. You're probably
playing it right here in Los Angeles. And all that
starts with number nine. So look, I'm not saying anything
that we don't know, or the coaches don't know, or
the fan base doesn't know. But this is a business,
and sometimes business dictates where guys go, and sometimes they're
(17:02):
not here.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
This is the thing, ye, and that's what sucks about it.
I'll be the devil's advocate to it. If it is
a business and he does leave, I'm still confident in
the Rams offense being able to put up points. I'm
confident because I've seen Baker Mayfield come off of a
two day two days and put up thirty points. I've
seen it. I've seen Baker Mayfield run this exact offense
in Tampa and scored have over forty touchdown passes. Right,
(17:25):
So I'm it's yes, the best thing is I want
Stafford here, But if he's not here, I'm comfortable with
option two.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Part of me going bonkers week eighteen about Garoppolo, I
wanted to see what it looked like with someone else
under center. He looked okay, he looked pretty good. I
mean with more time, more and some weapons. Yeah. Well,
you can teach an offense, definitely. But I'm just you're
talking about the guy that's probably gonna end his career
and walk straight into Canton five years later. Those guys
don't grow on trees. So if you can find a
(17:54):
way to keep him in the fold, so be it.
But I get it, it's business.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
I think you have to look at two things. The second,
which I'll get to is the schedule in twenty five,
the first of which is the division in your place
in it, because I think we know now more than
ever that if you can be better than three teams
and you catch a home playoff game, you're in the bracket.
And McVeigh and Stafford are going to be a tough,
tough out last two years four and one against the
(18:17):
NFC West before having the privilege arresting your starters. In
week eighteen, Seahawks are gonna have a new offensive coordinator.
They hired Clint Kubiak. They're sticking with Gino until total
Arizona's Arizona, and the Niners have a new defensive coordinator.
They get Robert solid back. They're set to pay party.
(18:37):
It has like a last dance type of feel for
some of their aging offensive stars. But if you have
Stafford back at the switch, I think you're either the
twenty five favorite or the one B in the NFC West.
Am I wrong? No?
Speaker 2 (18:49):
I think you're right. Like I said, I think we're
saying everything.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I think you're the favorite. I don't really think that
you're the one B because of the way your defense
is right and how young they are and to be honest,
if you really look at the NFC West and how
its structured, the team that's always dominated was the Niners.
They were so physical, right they defense will beat you up.
Well that's the Rams. Now the Rams are the more
physical team. They've shown that this year. So Stafford comes back.
(19:14):
I think you are the favorite right away.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
The twenty five schedule has the NFC South and the
AFC South. Looks good on paper. It's January, and then
the first place crossovers are daunting. Though you host the Lions,
you go to Philly and Baltimore. The question is are
you a Brandon Cooks or a Jalen Ramsey away from
being right there with the chance to win double digit
(19:38):
games and get back to the postseason.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
I think you're there now. I mean yeah, if you
add people so bid, if you get a little more
explosive on offense, so bit. I think that might be
the offseason game plan outside of Stafford finding out to
get a little bit faster. But I thought you were there.
You took Philly to the wire, You have a chance
to beat Detroit in Week one. It was right there
for you. The games I keep coming back to for
twenty twenty four, when you said like my memories or
actually Chicago and Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I was gonna say Chicago is behind.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Imagine if you got those two and then you finished
off the way you finished off. Oh my god, this
whole season is different. So yeah, like I said, I
if you can find a way to run it back
with the guys you have and add a little bit more,
I think you are the favorite in this division, possibly
more going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Or forget trading for a veteran, Like just for the
sake of argument, let's take pick twenty six and this
past class, the likes of Brian Thomas or Save You're
Worthy or Lad McConkie or Keon Coleman, like those were
all weapons, like you're talking about available at or around
or after that pickpoint.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Yeah, I mean if you go get a lockdown corner
at that part part right, like you can enough good corner.
And to me, I think it's it's less about going
to get vets. I think it's more about keeping this
group is close as much as much as you can
to get. If you look at the Philadelphia Eagles and
the Can Stay Chiefs, want to say the Chiefs have
eighteen guys they were on that last Super Bowl team
(20:57):
two years ago that that played and then the Eagles
twelve right, and so they were able to keep a
nucleus of guys there, which is important, Like we talk
about it all the time. The more that you could
hear the same word, you can see the same people,
you could walk the same halls. The more comfortable you are,
the less you have to think, the more you can
react and go and play.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I hear what you said about wanting to get more
explosive on offense. Who can you break the huddle with?
Who tilts the math in your favor? It reminds me
of the twenty one offseason. You remember the Rams not
only signed to Sean Jackson I do after the Stafford trade,
of course, but then also drafted to two out. Well,
that's an interesting data point in terms of what did
you learn from that experience? How will it inform your
(21:35):
steps this offseason as you try and chase down I
think a similar goal, similar goal.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Not to step on anybody's toes. But maybe your speed
or explosiveness doesn't have to be at receiver running back?
Speaker 3 (21:48):
All right?
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Can I play something from you? Because the closest thing
we have to tea leaves right now, is this comment
from Sean may Face kind of season closing press conference
about how he wants to be more versatile on offense
and how they'll spend this offseason. Going about that.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
The easy answer is to complain about the injuries that
we have that threw off the continuity. And while that
might be true, you can't allow that to inhibit us
the way that it did, you know, And that's nobody's responsibility,
but my own, I think more fully functional. I think
even our teaching progressions for the totality of the group,
How do you utilize the offseason, how are you making
(22:25):
yourself more versatile from a personnel perspective, from just a
run variety perspective, And those are the things that I'm
excited to be able to dive into. But you know,
I was talking to Liam Cohen the other day and
one of the coolest things that I think is reflected
about what a great job he did was you know,
you've got a background, and then when you watch them
and what they evolved to with Bucky Irving and the
(22:47):
way they ran the football and some of the variety
and personnel groupings, I thought that was a cool reflection of, Hey,
maybe we think We're gonna do that, and then what
you evolved into if you're able to understand a the
best coaches adjust to their players, and that's what we've
got to do a good job of as it moves forward,
and what it looks like from our offensive line, from
the surrounding parts with our backs. But I think, you know,
(23:10):
I could go on and on about the variety of
things that I'm excited about attacking to hopefully avoid some
of the pitfalls that we had throughout the year, to
ultimately lead to more consistent production and play regardless of
whatever our injury situation is.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
After hearing that and then kind of looking at this,
this it's so funny. Last year free agency was the
freegency of running backs.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Right.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We saw the way running backs were able to try
A teams shout out to the Giants for ruining the NFC, Right, yea,
how many teams wish they would have signed, say Kwan Barkley, right,
knowing that you would have had this type of deal.
But this draft is the draft of the running back
and of the explosive. The thing is, can you find
a back that has the football IQ to handle what
(23:54):
you're gonna throw at them? I feel like this year
Blake Korum struggled a little bit of getting on the
field because they weren't comfortable enough. We'll putting him in
some of those situations, and then obviously New Orleans comes in,
he plays a little bit that he breaks his arm
at the end of the year as forearms.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
So is that a comment about the offensive line as
much as the running back? When you talk about the
running game again, it all starts with who your quarterback
is gonna because I think if it's Matthew Stafford, that
colors you're thinking on Okay, what do we do with
the answers we need to find at left tackle, at
right tackle, at center?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
Yeah, I think I think when you we know which
way they want to go, they have an identity offensive
line wise, what they want to have. They want to
be bigger, they want to be Maler's right. So that
tells me, Okay, we'll have some outside zone stuff, but
we need guys that can break a tackle, run through
some guys, and still have the ability to go score.
And that's what you're gonna have to look for. We've
(24:48):
always talked about a kien Has does such a great
job of manipulating backers and guys in the box. The
one downfalls is his long speed. He doesn't have that
long speed. And when you go against a guy that
has a long speed and you see that and how
easy it is to call a play and he can
go seventy with It's like, I don't have to call
have a next play ready when you're going with guys
like that. And so I think when you see that
(25:09):
you play against that, it's kind of very similar, like
I need that. I want that in my offense because
that'll make us way more explosive. You brought it up
throughout the season about being more explosive offensively.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
I want to talk offensive line one more time. Yeah,
but let me get to Puka next. Okay, if Puka
is grading out as one of, if not the best
receivers in the game, if he's your wide receiver one
moving forward into year three, how do you compliment him?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
What are you.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Looking to stack and bunch him with or to put
opposite him to bring out his best and to stress defenses.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Most I would anybody that could beat one on one
coverage on the back side, a burner down the field
or something like that. It's funny talking about korm and
protection issues and whatnot. Why aren't you playing korm more
It's because maybe he's not well versed in protection. Kyron
is better at pass protection. Well, then the question can
well change your offense? Well that's not so easy, but
(26:01):
I understand where he's coming from. Pare it down. If
you need to get more out of some younger guys,
I would love a loose play guy, A guy that
can come in at receiver, running back, what have you,
that could create something out of nothing. Make it so
you don't have to dial up or schedule fourteen plays
just to move the ball down the field. It's kind
of rough to do. That puts a lot in your quarterback,
a lot in your offensive line. It definitely helps when
you have that explosiveness, but o line wise, I mean, look,
(26:24):
I thought it left tackle. I thought when Lallar Jackson
came back, that changed a lot. How many times did
you guys say his name during the game?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Never?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Not that much, right, I mean I think your left
your answer to left tackles already in house. Everything else
that that transpired when you made switches right before week
one and you had to sub guys because guys got hurt.
I thought the old line did a fantastic job of regrouping.
But if we're trying to come into the draft and
you're looking for somebody who is fast or explosive, and
(26:55):
there's also an offensive lineman that's sitting there at that
same spot, I might go towards that guy, especially if
Stafford is your quarterback, because that is job number one.
And look, the easy way to get more explosive in
today's NFL is find a quarterback that runs. That ain't
going to be you if you signed Stafford, So what's
the best way to make him better protection or find
(27:16):
somebody that can run down the field.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
To that end, would you consider going all in on
Jonah Jackson again this offseason that hoping that ain't done
with him, that a healthy offseason program, whether he's your
full time center or someone else's and he slides in
that guard, that that's worth considering given the financial investment
you've made.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Yeah, for sure, you have to you have to do that. Obviously,
we talked about the blessing and his guys aving bo
Limmer being able to step in and play some very
pivotal snaps after what he did in the preseason. But
Jonah Jackson, to me, you have to figure out a
way to see if it works right. I think DeMarco
hit on the head when he said, if there's a
(27:52):
right tackle or a tackle and an explosive player, you
take the tackle every time because you can go find
Antonio Brown the fifth round. Seen this over and over again,
explosive players, Pookin Naku in the fifth round, right, like,
you can go find guys that go. Now, I will
tell you this, I wouldn't go get an explosive just
a guy that can run down the field. We've tried
that already. It didn't work out. Give me another Pukah.
(28:13):
Give me another guy that I could put on the
other side and he could bully the other guy if
need be. Now Stafford has two guys he can go
to in critical situations. Give me a guy with run
after catch that I could get you the ball quickly
and you can make a guy miss and go. That's
what I want because that's what your offense is. And
then when we need to take a shot, we have
a receiver coach that can train you how to get
down the field and make those things go. But what
it's hard to teach is a guy that you can
(28:34):
throw a hitch to. He can make a guy missing
go and that's what we saw Pooka do multiple times,
and that's where he's special.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Maybe Jay wits that guy. Maybe he's already here going
into year two. All right, let's switch over to some defense.
And I think it's amazing that the Rams did not
score on defense from Christmas of twenty two until Week
five of this year, and then the defense ripped off
four straight games scoring points. They scored the longest defensive
touchdown in franchise history, and they scored on special teams
(29:01):
seven games overall, including playoffs with non offensive scores. Like
here's one of my biggest takeaways from twenty four. Chris
Youula is a dude, and he's got some dudes, and
I think that opens up a whole new chapter of
Rams football.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
No doubt. And can I just clarify if you're if
the ball comes out and you're in a scrum, fall
on it, if it's on the edge, scoop and gone.
I want to clarify what Maurice said. I'm all in
favor of when you can if it's their fall on it.
But I thought Chris Youula got nothing but better every
single day, every single week and it's it's look, he's
(29:39):
new and these players are young, so you don't they
don't know him, you don't know them.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
But as he.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Started to figure out what he could do and they
could handle more, they could be more aggressive in the
back end, which means you can be more aggressive in
the front end going after quarterbacks. Once you married those two,
the voice and the and the talent, the defense took
off and then it started to grow beyond even his control.
The they were they were super aggressive. I think Jared Verse,
(30:05):
the thing that impressed me most about him coming into
this year is, uh, you know how well he just
took to that leadership role like that and he never
stopped talking day one. He's talking trash to his own teammates.
He's talking trash to them, and he also backed it
up with this play. I think that was reflective of
Chris Shula. Let these guys go. I'll correct you when
(30:25):
you're wrong, but I'm not gonna let you take smoke
off your rush at all.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I think you have to talk about Sean McVay when
you talk about the defense. It would have it would
have been human nature to kind of say and let
me go over and kind of micro manage his defense
a little bit. Again. I go back to OTAs when
Jared Versu was getting into it with the tight ends
and he's like control aggression, control aggression, and versus like,
(30:48):
I'll take all you guys on, I don't care whatever
he wants, right, But then to see that and that's
what you wanted and that's why you drafted him, right,
and then to allow that to grow naturally organically, and
then to see Byron Young play with that type of edge.
You see Kobe Turner play with that type of edge, right,
to see Roseboom start playing with that type of edge
(31:08):
throughout the season. Then you make the big, the big
move to bring Spates in, which that was huge. We
saw that in preseason his physicality, and then to see
the back end kind of start to shape out in
the middle of the season, I thought, you know, those
are some tough decisions, man, Like the land shark is
starting at one point and then he kind of gets
banged up, and then a Keller Witherspoon has like four
(31:30):
games in a row where you're like, can't get him
off the field? Ye like, and you're never supposed to
lose your job to injury. But he's hot, I gotta
play him deep. Will yeah, d Will coming in and
really solidifying the side of the ball as well, Like
they just did so many great things. And then the
way you utilize the captain Quentin Lake both at the
slot to trust him to play man to man but
(31:50):
also come down and some of the tackles and the blitzes.
And again it's just it became about the players and
not the scheme. And I felt like when that happened,
you start to see this thing just go.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
So let me compare those two conversations on offense, where saying, well,
he can't really decide until we know who's at quarterback.
On defense, your quarterback is the fearsome twenty twenty foursome
and you know you have the answers now. So DeMarco,
what's the next step to building this defense?
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (32:16):
From being like timely and optortunistic and clutch to being okay,
lights out.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
What was your first thought when I say a Kellow
Wetherspoon about his demeanor, how he plays, how would you describe.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
As well, I'll tell you this, I didn't know he's
gonna hit like that.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
That's what I was gonna say, dude, got fined for
a hit at the end of the year. That guy.
That's the progression, that's the attitude. That's what this defense brings.
So if you're asking me, how do you make this
defense better? If we go back to that same draft conversation,
this is where Chris Shuwill and the defense would stand up.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
If there's a.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Tackle, a loose, play fast guy and a top flight corner,
I may be going for that guy. If you can
find a way to lock up the other team's best
receiver with one guy and free your safeties up to
rome and just be ballhawks, you'll be better.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I hear that, But I could I also make the
same argument given what you just said that because of
the pressure and the diversity of pressure, you may you
may continue to cut a corner at corner and throw
numbers at the problem with maybe Morricelo, maybe Derrian Kendrick
coming back. Do you will you know.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Maybe there's a corner that gets cut and you were
able to go, So find the guy.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Kind of college free agents from last year that you
like that you rostered grow into year two.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I think there's the if you got a chance, if
you've got a one cent a generation type dude, that's
a corner.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
And they're saying, now, but now you're going back to
the you know, to the other draft. No.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
No, if you get one of them kool aids or sauces,
you know.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Make that quarterback pat the football.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Just one little bit that gives Verse, that gives Fisk
an extra beat to get there.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
So be it.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Yes, uh, special teams got to have a mention here
because I think one of the greatest things that the
Rams have coming out of this season is maybe their
next zer line Hecker combination. Like it's been a while
since Rams fans have been able to go into January
February knowing who their specialists are going to be the
next fall, and I think there's a chance to believe
(34:08):
that these guys could become Pro Bowlers.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
Oh yeah, right there. I think Evans Evans. And it's
funny because as much as we didn't think we would
call his name, we call his name a ton early
throughout the season. And those reps of punting the ball,
pinning guys in the corner, and you know, kicking at
fifty yards to the sideline, all those things came up
huge late in the years because yeah, you needed some
of those critical punting situations against the Jets where you
(34:31):
pin them even though they went ninety nine. But you
pinned him at.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
The one Rizona too. Just dropping lawn dark down.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
The Philly I mean, when you're backed up in Philly
the playoff game and it's bombs away time, he gives
you that flip field when the end zone is in play,
when you cross the fifty, now you've got to keep
it out of the end zone. No touchbacks. That's a
guy that got better as we went on, and I'm
glad the Rams resisted the urge to do something that
placekicker when he was when the whole operation was struggling,
and we blamed it on Cardi.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
That's kind of what I meant in terms of like
the scar tissue less learned from this era of Rams football.
They've seen good kickers get out of here and then
find a second chance and make the most of it
with another organization. Yeah, they let cardi second chance be
right here in La and he finishes with sixteen in
a row. He closed.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
The outside says, when you miss a field goal, blame
the place kicker. I'm glad on the inside you can
look and see maybe it wasn't just him. Yeah, maybe
it was snap, maybe it was how maybe it was
the hole. Maybe it was a lot to the operation.
But just letting that settle itself down, the guy became
a weapon for you later on in the year and
into the postings.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Just like we're I guess we're saying the Rams are
mature through all these experiences they've had. Right with the
kicking situation with different special teams coordinators. Uh, the way
the special teams flew around and made plays, right, guys
are flying down making big time tackles. And I'll say
this Ethan Nevians did the leaf punt again in the
in the in the divisional round against You know, Cooper
(35:52):
dejin is a secure catcher of the football. That leaf
punk caught him off guard and you had an opportunity
to get the ball. The same thing against. Uh, there's
the Cardinals where you have Jordan Winington flying down, jumping
on the ball. Like, was that the Cardinals or that
the Vikings? Was the Vikings the Jets?
Speaker 1 (36:06):
The Jets is where he covered the muff? Is that
what you're talking about?
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Yeah? The was it the muff? Okay? There they're all
kind of rolling together at this point. But yeah, but
I'm just like, all these different moments happened because you
were mature enough to say, I want to give this
special Teams coach another chance.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
True?
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Right, Like? And then again you talked about those experiences
from different seasons with different coaches, different players, moving on,
you learn, and it's the maturity of Sean McVay in
this organization that's really allowed them to be where they
are now.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
So who do you think is a breakout star candidate
for next year? Because I think Cardi and Evans are
both on that list, even though you know special teams
players probably you know they got to be special don't
drive ratings.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
But breakout for special teams or no.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
No, no, Just who do you whether it's a year
two guy or someone ready to step into his own next.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Season breakout star for next season?
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (36:55):
You know? Okay, the easy one, Blake Corum would be.
I was so geeked for him to go, and I
was so sad when he broke the arm and on
the run where he broke his arm, he ran the
guy over and almost knocked him out. So imagine if
you get twenty five carries of that, depending on what happens.
But yeah, Blake Korn might be a guy look at
(37:16):
and circle and say this might be the next star.
Speaker 3 (37:18):
Wow, it's a tough one. See I want to say
I want to say DeMarcus Robinson. I want to say
that because I think he can be that.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
So he's a priority free agent for you.
Speaker 3 (37:32):
And he's a guy that I would out for sure
to bring back. I would, I was for sure bring back.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
But but the all the guys that would circle for
breakouts broke out this year.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
States was on my short list. Cam Kinchen's too.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Yeah, I see. I think Kim Kitchen to me, yeah,
I think the sky broke out or broke out of right.
And that's why I felt like Space is the guy
I want to go with, just because he came in
and said you, I mean, it just reminds me of
the Jets when they're about to run with Breese Hall
and he shoots gap.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, just again that the reps, the meaningful reps that
he got this year, they're only gonna make him better.
And the rams, I don't think they have to go
out and add at that position.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Well, if he gets Kitchens, then let me get fisked.
Then there there's a breakout verse, even though he already
broke out right.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
So my next question is gonna be which Ram's free
agent do you want to sign. I was gonna guess
that yours was gonna be Alerc Jackson because what you
said on this shows Robinson is right there.
Speaker 3 (38:25):
If I wand have to pick one, I will give
you the left tackle.
Speaker 1 (38:28):
Okay, let me guess one for DeMarco.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Wait, gotta have back. Hoyt got fined twenty three thousand
or something, whatever it was.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Why, being too smart, trash talking, and I don't know,
but I think he is great for this team. I
think he is great for this defense. And he's also
great for Jared Vie.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
He was Jared Verse unlocked something in him that I
haven't seen this whole time.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
The other way he lets Verse be verse.
Speaker 3 (38:55):
No, No, I'm talking about just the way he was talking. Yes,
his his mannerisms, how he was like he was so
confident knowing what he was doing. Yeah, he was like
barking at the other side, like lighting up. You know
how they'll get the talk a little bit, he'll drop out,
he'll rush like again to see we've saw him, We've
talked about this, like do you let versus just give
it to Verse or do you let Verse earning from Hoyt.
(39:16):
They found a way for both of them to co exists,
and you you got another edge rusher in that situation.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Our audience won't be surprised to hear me say this.
I promise it's the last time I'll say it, and
then I'll let it go. But if the goal is
to get more explosive this offseason, then how can you
let your fastest player get too?
Speaker 3 (39:32):
Oh? Come on, man, he's always open to Like JB.
He goes into the divisional round runs, it has ten
yards of separation to catch the ball in front out.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I'm your choir, right, yes, sir, twenty five game on
the schedule. You're looking forward to most?
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Oh Jacksonville, Oh the Liam come on, we gotta go back,
just just because of how that whole thing. We gotta
come come on home?
Speaker 1 (39:55):
Is that more about you and Jacksonville?
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Jacksonville?
Speaker 3 (39:58):
It's in Jacksonville. He's there, he's your offense.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
Is there more so than the Raheem Bowl in Atlanta,
rematch in Philly or hosting Detroit.
Speaker 2 (40:08):
That's the one I can't wait for I'm.
Speaker 1 (40:10):
A pretty good schedule. If I give you four options
and none of them.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Are I'm past Detroit. Are you really if it's me
if we're going a team, because I'm thinking I was
thinking more of like a coach that was here, offensive guy.
You got your you're running the show. Now, let's see
how you do it right. You're kind of the O
C and Tampa you were. But if we're going to
go a team, oh give me Philly, Okay, need it.
(40:33):
You don't know why, DeMarco, because you don't know one
more time. Let me tell you something once.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Don't turn it over.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
That's going there the next two years this year as
a like place finisher next year based on the division schedule.
Speaker 3 (40:45):
We're calling the game. When the Rams are doing well,
they're they're sitting on their hands, but as soon as
one thing happens, they turn around start barking. And it
took and it reminded me of the guy at the bus.
It took so much for me not to say anything
as we're on air, but like the competitor me came out.
I feel like I can play that day.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
That's where you've grown as a broadcaster over now, you
didn't get it.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I was right.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
I was writing, we dropped you into that game in
your rookie season as a broadcast might suit it up.
You might not have made it to year two.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
I would have made it. Hop through the thing.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yeah, winding it down your best. Guess what the Rams
do with the twenty sixth overall pick.
Speaker 2 (41:25):
To keep it?
Speaker 1 (41:26):
You think keep it, keep it? I would say that's
the least likely. I think they move back up, trade it.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
I think they trade up.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
I think picking at twenty six is But but.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
There's a lot that goes into that. There's a lot
that goes into that. It's not like this is not
like a team where it's just like, hey, we're like,
you gotta it's your quarterback back. Do you bring your
tackle back? Who do you bring back? And then that
kind of determines and then you know, I gotta do
the scout thing. I got to see who's out there
to figure it out. Get ready to go.
Speaker 1 (41:54):
It's a running back class, though we've heard it.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
Is it's like twenty five over that class. Yeah, it's
not a quarterback class for sure.
Speaker 1 (42:00):
Do you have a Super Bowl prediction?
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Give me the chiefs man.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
You hate even saying that I know it's hard to
pick against Mahomes, but I would say this man and
this run and comparing him to Brady or whatever. Uh,
you go three in a row and you beat that
Philadelphia squad who's probably the best rushing team we've seen
in forever since Newt Rockney roam the Earth. If you
(42:24):
go through them to win three in a row, Kansas.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
City, who's Newt Rockney.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
I'll tell you after the show.
Speaker 2 (42:29):
Yeah, old school, yeah, before this like back before the
forward pass when everybody.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Before you took your recruiting visit today and trust me,
But if.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
You go through them and win a Super Bowl, Look, okay,
might be the best run and he may be the best.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
Quarter three peak going through the top three MVP candidates. Yes, right,
if you get Lamar, Josh and Saquon, be cool. If
the Rams are the last n SC team to win
it still too, right, Yeah, that could be something worth you.
Speaker 3 (42:56):
This is the thing. When you look at Kansas City,
they just find a way and they disfigure it. They
just figure out how to do it. But second half
adjustment of his critical moments of his first starting fast,
they just figure out how to do it. And then
when I look at the Eagles, and I don't want
to sound like a hater, but I just feel like
if they can't run the football, putting that put all
that pressure on HRS to throw the ball to win.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
I've been saying that all year, and I'm going to
find a way to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Yeah, they had seven Russian touchdowns yesterday.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Here's my rooting interest for the Super Bowl week, Tory
Holt Hall of Famer. Yes, about time we all agree
on that.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
And then lock the doors for ten years.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
Yes, that'll make it a lot easy.
Speaker 2 (43:35):
No more receivers get locked the door for ten years.
Let him and that's it. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
I guess that's a wrap on this season Between the
Horns presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers. As hard
as it is to step aside, we do need to
put some time in distance between this season and what
will be free agency. Will have the draft covered for
you OTA's and mini camp. We do have some thank
yous to offer, not just my friends MJD and DeMarco
of course, but Stu made awesome contributions to this show
(44:02):
this year. Cameron Kirsten, this was our best season of
Between the Horns yet. I hope you guys felt that
we enjoyed that. And if I can ask like our
studio crew to kind of filling around, come on, come
back a cando here bing Rudy. I'm guessing jury won't
cut Jory probably left you go Mark, but come make.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
A little bit to go.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Don't comb the hair, come on, bing my man. Won't
you ever change being?
Speaker 1 (44:32):
Part of what makes this show awesome is the ability
to talk about the team and the franchise that we
all love, and to do it with friends and people
who really pour into the product. So thank you for
being a part of this show start to finish. We
can't wait to bring you more. Twenty twenty five editions
for all of us here at between the Horns and
the Los Angeles Rams. Thank you for a great memorable season.
Speaker 3 (44:52):
Who's House, Crams House?
Speaker 2 (45:00):
You keep ret
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