July 23, 2025 • 35 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr and Maurice Jones-Drew reunite for the start of Training Camp. Together they talk about current team injuries, running back Kyren Williams' future with the Los Angeles Rams, and an overview of the team's expectations heading into the season.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Between the Horns is back and as always, we are
presented by your Southern California Toyo to dealers. I'm JB.
Long with my friends DeMarco Farr, Maurice Jones Drew made it, respectively, Bigger, Faster,
and stronger. Yes, the twenty twenty five campaign. I'm stronger.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
No, you're doing a lot of walking, and I love
that you're posting on social media. I love watching that.
I don't know what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I love watching it gets me going to start walking
and doing more. Actually, yeah, I started running sore. I
keep seeing you walk through smoke and whatnot. You can
travel in the world. I did travel where I was
spreading the word about the rams in twenty twenty five
West met a lot of good folks.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
We're excited.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Why don't we start right there? I was gonna ask, like,
what's the most fun you've had since we last sat
down together? What's the summer summary? Go for me, go
for it. Well, wait a second, it's like what having
a mustache?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I still there. I just let it all grow in.
I'm going back. I haven't got a haircut in a while.
It's it's been hard man to bounce back. We went
to China, had a great time. Spent ten days in
China with the family, two days in Japan. I had
the mustache because I wanted the pictures and I'll show
you later to look like when I edited him to
look like.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I was like a.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Nineteen eight traveler, okay, researcher, whatever it may be. So
UH got you. Got to see the Great Wall, got
to see uh a bunch of other stuff. Went to Shanghai,
which is an awesome city. It was awesome. It was fun, hot, hot, nice,
and I just slept finally from like ten to five.
(01:32):
I'm kind of getting back on my sleeping patterns.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Two weeks ago when I got back ten to five, am.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Wow, poor guy. Yes, sir, you your summer summer a
lot of radio watching.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
My daughter she actually went out for a h the
the donkey part in truck and she got it. So
it's perfect for her. She caught the the acting bug.
Now I love that, I don't. Yeah, yes, now she
wants to do more stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
All right, So you have an actress and a college graduate.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Now, yes, do you have a college? Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
My way to go.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
The daughter graduating from Oregon State. Very happy? Now, yes,
where is she now? Is she back home? She is
getting ready to go to Spain. Good Man, So I
need all your advice. See, there you go, Yeah, there
you go.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
On that note, we want to be the first to
welcome you back to LMU. It's great to be here
in Westchester on the West Side once again, the site
for RAMS training camp, presented by Unifi Financial Credit Union. Uh.
The coaches have reported the players are here getting set
for their first workout. Sean McVay addressed the media yesterday. Guys,
so maybe we just open with some headlines. I'll drop
(02:33):
some names and some notes and dive in if you
want to react to anything. Otherwise, I'll just keep powering through.
But let's start with the senior Statesman. Right tackle Rob
Havenstein said he's cleared to be a full participant after
missing OTAs while getting those shoulders cleaned up.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Uh, how do you put him?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The heart and soul of the football team, the toughness
of it, the wisdom, the wisdom. He's the veteran guy,
he's the oak tree in the room. I mean, he's
got to be healthy. That's that's a good sign when
he's able to go out day and get some work done.
That sends a message to the rest of the team.
I thought that was huge.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
When we left you in Maui, it was the other tackle,
alert Jackson at left tackle that was a question mark.
He might remember he had the recurrence of the blood
clot issue. No public timetable for his participation in contact drills,
But I thought the tone yesterday was far more optimistic
than maybe the worst that I had feared. No pop list,
no NFI list. That has to mean better things than
(03:24):
maybe we had feared.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
No, that's huge. I think.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He is the key to this whole offensive line when
he's out there and you don't have to worry about
that blind side, which he's done a great job since
he was an undrafted rookie and stepped right in for
Joe Noboom like he has done an awesome job of stopping.
It reminds me of when he went against Miles Garrett
and he got his helmet cut in right, and he
was like, I didn't do anything, but Miles Garrett didn't
do anything either, right, and that's what you want. So
(03:48):
hopefully he's healthy, we can get him back going and
that'll really be the focal point of this offense.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Keeping that offensive line healthy. That should help keep Matthew
Stafford upright. And this just in quarterback is old and
he has an old man's back, which makes sense because
the I think plays in golf and has kids, and
that's how I wake up feeling every day. It checks
out totally.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
But it's a little worrisome when your quarterback's going into
year seventeen and he starts out camp with with something wrong.
I mean, I get it, he's earned it. It's probably nothing,
but it does concern you a little. Your earbud. Your
ears go up when you Matthew Stafford something's wrong.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I kind of think of it more of its like, hey,
seventeen years, take a week off, get you five to ten,
get you a good five to ten.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We'll ease you back in.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
He is here. There's no contract drama like maybe twelve
months ago when we got to LMU. He's gonna be
on the side for the acclamation period here. These first
few workouts, it sounds like when the ram's put the
pads on early next week, nine will be ready to rock.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
He doesn't need a ton of camp, but you'd like
the receivers to get used to him, especially one.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Well. I think that's where you value the DeVante work
that they got together in the spring. Certainly. Okay, the
other big one, and we'll land here, is the Kiren
extension or lack thereof. So far, both sides saying progress
has been made. The talks will continue this week with
his agent True Rosenhause. As you know, Kyroen's entering the
final year of his rookie deal. But also the RAMS
have drafted Blake krum in the third in Jarques Hunter
(05:11):
in the fourth in the two most recent drafts. Maurice,
why don't we kick on over to you for a
high level overview of Kyen's situation.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I think it's a very unique situation because he's been
very productive in this system. But at the same time,
the RAMS value certain positions certain ways, and they allocate
their resources certain ways. And I want to say the
last time was Todd Gurley, who was a great investment.
Kiren's done an awesome job, and I think as long
as they keep it, keep the communication going, you'll be fine.
(05:40):
Like when you're dealing with a situation like Terry McLaurin,
that's because they're not talking right. The talks broke off
the fact that they've made progress is big. The fact
that Kyroen here is huge because again we know what
the Rams are without Kiren and when they are with Kyroen.
As much as we want to talk about the other bats,
which we'll talk about later on, Kien is with that
offensive line. Kien's ability to run the football. It helps
(06:02):
you again the last two years down the stretch, Kira
rushing for one hundred yards or close to it, and
that opened up the passing game a ton for the
Rams offense.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
It's tough to be a running back these days. But
I'm glad he's here. I really am. And for what
you said, you've got competition in your own room. I
mean it's gonna be tough enough if you didn't have
the situation to stay ahead of them, two drafted guys,
So you have to come compete for your job.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now. As far as paying running backs, that's a hard one. Bro.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Running backs have been I guess for the work one, Well,
you pay special, right, but it seems like the average
running backs have a tough time getting what they think
they deserve. But I think you're exactly right. It's not contentious.
He's here, he's here to compete, so I think something
will happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I think to be fair to our audience and the
work that we've done this summer, I feel like I
have to say, like, as a GM or salary cap manager,
I don't think I could look at the data and
give number twenty three a rich contract extension unless it
benefited us in terms of some near terms salary cap
relief or something else that's just kind of in the
blocks and white. I'll say it the other way though,
(07:02):
as someone who eats and drinks and breeze rams football
every day, I absolutely understand the desire to have Kiraen
Williams with this team and in this facility beyond this season,
right because, like you said, there's something intangible different when
he plays and when he doesn't, and especially listening to
him speak to the media, and the fact that he's
here in the way that he spoke about his privilege
(07:25):
to provide for his loved ones and play football, Like
if NFL rules allowed for it, I'd be the first
in line to contribute to it. Gofund me to make
sure that Kyroen got all the money he needs to
play football here for the rest of his career. So
I'm not really coming down on either side of the line.
But I'm saying whatever McVeigh and snead and pastors and
demof and the Rams decide. With respect to Kyraron Williams,
(07:48):
I can get on.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Board for the most part. If it doesn't go south,
it's all. It's all good for the Rams. I like
when my running backs feel a little slighted because you
try to play your way out of it, which is
good for everyone.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
What I would tell you is this too. You.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
He has to be realistic as well, right, Christian McCaffrey,
Saquon Bark, those are the big guys. You gotta kind
of find your fit. I remember being that situation as well.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
And then literally when I got my deal done, Leon
Washington was next with the Jets, and he felt like
he should have got more just because he was next.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
That's different. This is not quarterback play. This is running backs.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
You gotta kind of find your slot and find that
happy medium and slide in there and then just keep
playing right because again, the longer you play, the more
opportunities you'll get to hit that that that check.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I think what he said yesterday and the fact that
he is here planning to practice and to go speaks
to the fact that he has that perspective. He gets it.
He just wants to have the opportunity to play for
the Rams beyond this year. And I think that's a
good thing. And hopefully we're all looking back at his
stats at the end of twenty five saying, man, we're
still giving him the.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Back back in July, right, that'd be great?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yes, all right, So this is normally the part of
the program here in mid July where I say to you, guys,
what are your hopes for this team? How will you
measure success for the twenty twenty five Rams. But I
think I speak for all of us when I say
it's nice to be back in these where it's a
super Bowl window for your Los Angeles Rams, and anything
shy of another Lombardi Trophy will feel like a bummer
(09:07):
in February? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I think there's a my I guess my take on
it to be health right, Yeah, Like, if you're healthy,
you have a chance to go and win against anybody.
That's the best part about this team, and that's a
super Bowl window. It's just keeping guys healthy as possible.
Last year you got hit with the injury bug. You
had to come clawing back. If you don't have to
deal with all those injuries like they did early in
the year, I think the Rams were probably been in
(09:31):
a better situation and so to me, super Bowl or bust,
no question. But my expectation is try to keep as
many guys as healthy as possible.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And I've been talking to as many people as possible
about this because I've been telling them how high morale
is around this football team. And there's nothing wrong with
saying Lombardi or bust, no, especially when you have a
team this loaded, this good, and this veteran, veteran lad.
But it does make me a little bit nervous when
you know morale is so high, you know what I mean, Like, it's.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Hard to get tough.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
It's hard to get good or to become better when
people are patting you on the back, at least from
my expectation, when you're trying to overcome naysayers, that's the
easy part. It's how do you become better when everyone's
telling you you're a Super Bowl contender before you've played
Game one. That's that's a rough environment.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
To be in. Well, I don't think they play this
show in the team meeting room, so we can go
ahead and pack them on the back like we don't
need to detail the reasons why the Rams might not
achieve their ultimate goal this season. We know what happens
over the course of an NFL schedule, But what is
it about the twenty twenty five Rams that inspires confidence,
that makes you set that bar so high?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Year one and two jumps, the jump from year one
to two, the jump from year two to three class
I think the draft classes the last two of what
really get me excited.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I think for me again, I said it and I'll
say it again.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
With this team, it's about health right, keeping these these
big guys, helping keep keeping your quarterback upright, keeping that
balanced offensive tack and then allowing those guys on the
defensive side to get after it, which I think is
your strugg That is your Your strong part of your
team is your defensive blind And anytime your defensive line
is a strong part of the team, you got a
chance to win a Super Bowl every year.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And they're young and they don't cost a lot. That's
what I do.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Look, DeMarco, I don't want to interrupt.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
You.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Show me the hair. Please show me the hair. That's
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
There's my answer right there, when he shows up to
camp with rams horns in his hair. That's that's why
I'm so confident right there. But now, the two things
that come to mind. Number one, uh, Sean McVay is
your head coach. He's one of the best in the league.
We know this, and I think the environment I just created,
when everybody's patting you on the back, I'm sure he's
gonna show his team or tell them the opposite. He's
gonna make them work for it. So he's great at that.
(11:43):
The other thing is you've got one of the best
quarterbacks in the league. That makes everything easier. And you've
supplemented that with DeVante Adams, and you have Poking Poka
Nakula coming back, and like we said with k Kyron Williams,
you have competition at running back and your offensive line
seems it will be I guess it's get healthy once
you get Jackson back out there. So there's a lot
to like. And your defense is young and ascending, and
(12:05):
I think they got better towards the end, and they
went nose to nose with Philly. They were getting pretty good.
If they got past Philly. I think they might have
locked down whoever else they played. That's what That's how
hot Scott had. Their confidence was so uh the way
it ended who you lost to and what you have
coming back. Yeah, you should be excited about this year.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And I I anytime your trenches, like, there's teams that
if you don't believe in your O line and D line,
you're gonna struggle. Right, you could have the quarterback, you
could have the wide receivers, But to me, the ramsh
what was like four or five years Agore really invested
in that offensive line, that defensive line. Now the dividends
are being paid forward here for this, this this run today. Right,
your O line's good, Uh, your D line is good.
(12:45):
Those guys are gonna get better in training camp. You
want to talk about battles, I mean Havenstein and Verse
and all these guys and buying are they're gonna get
after it. And that's where you're gonna get better by
going after it here when you have two of your
when you're really good in the trenches, when you get
to week one, all that hard work that you've put in,
I'll just say this. I was watching online about the
Chargers and they were doing one on ones and Joel
(13:07):
was going against Khalil Mack. Yeah, and then he went
against bud Dupree. That's only gonna make him better, right
and yeah, right, But here you have that across the board,
which is what you want, because now, as long as
you're good in the trenches, you'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I was reflecting earlier today that none of us know
what's around the next corner, right, It's so unpredictable. It
can take so many different pathways. But I do appreciate
and want to rest in this moment that rewind time
four years and everyone was saying the Rams mortgage their
future to get that championship, and it turns out here
we are in the summer of twenty twenty five and
the only thing that mortgage has done is build one
(13:41):
of the nicest houses on the block. Like they're set
up for success right now and I think for many
more years to come, especially when you consider what they
did on draft day stocking up some extra capital in
twenty twenty six. All right, should we go to offense first?
You want to take like a tree top level view
of kind of each unit, and the Rams offense does
seem primed I think for a Angels step forward, I
(14:01):
think there was more there last year. I think we
could probably say they achieved as a collective while being
underwhelming offensively. Some of the underlying metrics were great, but
the point production just wasn't. So why don't we start
with the newest weapon and DeVante Adams and how you
think he will or won't unlock where the Rams are
trying to go offensively?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Well, it reminds me of drafted node or not drafted
with getting O'Dell Beckham Junior here right, a guy that
can line up an X and win on a slant
in the fade. That opened up our offense so much
more right because now we get in the tight reds
on which the Rams struggled in when they weren't able
to run the ball and be successful.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
When I can put three guys on one side and
him on the other side and you have to.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Either double him to stop him, which opens up this
other side or the running game, or you single him
up and we know we have an eighty to twenty
chance to complete a pass to me. That just gives
your quarterback and your play callers so much more confidence
to make a call plays and make things out.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
That's an interesting callback because I had written down I
think if he and Matthew get to play, you pick
a number thirteen to fourteen, at least fifteen together, whatever
it ends up being, I think this will end up
being the best offense since the championship season. And I
think this is the best group of past catchers they've
assembled since OBJ crumpled to the turf at so far. Yeah,
that's what it feels, agreed.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes, And he's gonna help you on third down. I
don't have the numbers in front of me, but since
twenty twelve, I think he has the first fourth most
third down targets, the most third down yardage, and the
most third down touchdown. So that's where I wish the Rams.
You said they left a lot, a lot of meat
on the bone last year getting off the field on
third down.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
They weren't very good at that.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
DeVante Adams is gonna help you there to stay on
the field and then big plays will happen. But this
is the one back. One thing I love about the
position I played. I'm not quarterback dependent now receivers are.
So when you say, well, Devonte Adams isn't what he
used to be well, look at who's throwing to him,
Terry McLaurin the same thing. Well, his numbers don't really
show Well, look who's throwing this actly. He's quarterback dependent.
(15:55):
That's all about to change when Davonte Adams and Matthew
Stafford go on the field at same time.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Again, I just when you have a guy that can
beat one on one I play with Justin Blackman. It
is so crazy when you have a guy that could
be one on one your quarterback is awesome. Yeah, because
he knows he can scan the fit like, Okay, I
got one on one.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Here we go. I'm not even worried about over.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And we've seen Matthew Stafford do that a ton, right
when you had Cooper Cup and OBJ was like, you
pick your poison, Cooper, you name it?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, how do you? How do you?
Speaker 3 (16:23):
So when you have that type of person, it just
opens up so much more then, like you said, third down,
red zone, I just think that those things, those those
situations are are gonna be in heightened a little bit
more over the Rams.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Gold to Go, you were great. Red zone not so much.
It's just weird.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
One of the things I'll be watching you guys can
color in between the lines here is how much or
how little Davante's in motion at the snap right like
pre snap motion. Motion at the snap has become such
an attribute of this offense. If Davante is standing still,
I'm gonna take that as a good sign because that
means what you're saying is true. He's gonna win. We
can put he can change math himself.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
You don't have.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
To create anything for him. And since you can only
have one guy in motion at the snap at a time,
guess what. If he's winning from the line of scrimmage,
then Puka can become a chess piece. Then to two
can come flaming across the line of scrimmage. There's a
lot of other good things that I think can happen
if Davante is just Davante.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I wonder what the metrics are the numbers are when
the rams don't motion anyone how successful they are, because.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I feel like they're very successful. They get up and
the ball.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
You'd have to go look at their August stats because
that's the only time they're standing still.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Run up to the line and they'll just snap the
ball and guys are just wide up because everyone's ready
for the motion.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
So I think it's going to be exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The other element of that is, if you were to
pick a position group that has to improve the most
this season, I would make a strong case it's the
tight end room. I was as optimistic as any of us,
as anyone in the Ramley about the tight end group
that the Rams had assembled, even with an injured Tyler
Higby last season. I was wrong when he came back,
you felt that difference. Oh yeah, well he's good to go,
(17:56):
and they drafted a rookie as well. I think that
group takes a big step forward.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I hope.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
So I was about as bullish as you were last year,
and I'm surprised it didn't work out or it took
so long to get going. But when Higbee came back,
I mean, he's a team leader. You remember when he scored,
everybody was completely bonkers. But it changed the offense some.
And we've always said about a McVeigh offense, and maybe
it does change with Devonte Adams. But if you could
make the Pro Bowl at tight end in this offense,
you are the man because of what they ask you
(18:22):
block like a tackle, run routes like a receiver, and
all of a sudden switch on the fly when Stafford
feels like it, and you're gonna be the move guy
most more often than not. So there's a lot left there,
a lot to be done on offense. But I'm excited
about Ferguson and what he can do down the middle
of the field. Or maybe you might be able to
use the back pylon in the end zone, in the
red zone at some point with a big receiver that
(18:43):
can go up and get it. So I'm with you
if you can find a way to maximize that position.
In this offense, There's almost not much you can do
as a free safety.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You can't cover them all up. He reminds me of
the young Tyler Higby, though.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
He reminds me of that blanket that Jared Golf had
when you drafted Tyler Higby. That guy he can go
to throw a quick flat two, and the guy can
make you miss. He'll get you twelve fifteen yards and extend.
I think the biggest thing is going to be the
physicality that you need in the red zone of the
tight ends. I think that was what was missing more
than anything when you look at Stafford trying to fit
the ball in a lot of the receiver or tight
ends were like they weren't physical at contact. When you're
(19:17):
not pushing off a lineback, you're not creating space. In
the red zone. It's about creating space and if you
really all the all the additions offensively, it's about red
zone if you notice it right, It's a receiver that
can win one on one in the red zone, a
tight end that can run option routes and create space,
and athletic enough to catch the ball and do things.
That's what he did at Oregon. So I'm excited to
(19:38):
kind of see that this red the red zone numbers
as the rams are really good from twenty to twenty,
but what are they going.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
To do in the red zone.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I got more thoughts on t Fergan a little bit
when we talk rookies, But let's transition to that offensive
line and especially the center Coleman Shelton, Because why do
I believe in Stafford at age thirty seven. Why am
I betting on Devonte at thirty three and Higbee at
thirty two? Why do I think there are career years
available for Pooka in year three and two to two.
I think it's because of Coleman Shelton. I think he's
a force multiplier. I think he fixes a lot of
(20:07):
what prevented the Rams from attaining their highest level last year,
including in the final few reps at that season. He
might be one of the most undervalued offensive players in
the NFC.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
And he's walking out right now. There is right there,
nice big dude.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
You know it's He's a veteran center, So number One's
same thing with offense defense. As many times asf you've
been through it, you're gonna see things, yes, before they happen.
I look, they're giving me this. I know they're about
to do that. Tell that to your quarterback, tell that
to your guards. So he's a veteran guy, and he's
tough as nails too so and that just takes more
pressure off Matthew Stafford, who seemed like he had to
(20:42):
do a lot more.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Preventing the worst from happening, preventing the negatives that derailed
some of the positives that were readily apparent. You just
could never really seem to harness.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I thought Bolmmer did an awesome job. I just thought
it was tough. His communication nothing right, and that's nothing
at right.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
They got way more where would the rams have been
without him?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Way more than what do you expected. But communication at
that position is key. That is the most important thing
at the center position, to be able to communicate down
the line to your backs and to your quarterback to
protect and pass the situations you talked about those last
two snaps, there was miscommunication and so again they got
into the red zone. They stalled, right, So you bring
back your old center that communicated and made sure that
(21:23):
everybody was on the same page and understood, and you
talked about it the snaps and the reps and seeing everything,
so now I know what's going on. Hey this guy,
yeah know what he's gonna do. This is what, this
is how we're gonna do this. And I think that's
what was missed. Especially in an offense in which there's
so much verbiage and so many things going on in
checks and moves and this, your center has to be
able to understand here one two words and then be
(21:43):
able to communicate and get everybody on the same page.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Let's flip the defense and the guy he's gonna be
sweating on for the next two weeks. That's poone afford
because if getting Coleman back in this building was one
way to address maybe the most raw nerve that was
bothering the Rams offense. I feel like poon Afford is
that for this defense, showing up the biggest deficiency so
that what you've built can be great.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
You know what's funny.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
You've watching all the players walk down the field, right, Yeah,
what have you noticed about all of them? They're all smiling.
This is the first day of training camp. You're not
supposed to be smiling. I always smile at training camp.
You don't have me train hack.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, I'm getting ready to get beat up to two hours.
To be honest, training camp for me was so much
fun because I got to go home.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
And you don't get hit, right, don't hit Marie, No,
come on all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
That's why you didn't know. I wish what was the
question again? I'm sorry, I'm gone you Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So I think I think the Rams, if you look
at their defense, it was obviously giving up big run
plays right, and it was really be gap to be gap.
What Puna Ford can do is control that control b
gap to be gap because you get here. I've talked
to multiple centers around the league just about him and
other coaches and they're like, that may be the sign
of free agents.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Oh my god. Yes, his ability to control.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Those gaps and still get pass rush out of that
as well is gonna collapse pockets.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
And again it's gonna allow the other guys to be
able to do what they want.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
That makes everybody. Or if you can hold that a gap,
the backside, the front side, what have you. He's he's
a good reader of blocks. He can shoot in there
to the backfield and be a disruptor. He can hold
the point. He's he's the perfect nose tackle. He's the
perfect height, long arms, same everything.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
And he could care less if he makes the player
or not, just as long as the ball carrier goes down.
So he's unselfish. And I like what you said. In
an obvious passing situation or if it goes from from
run to pass, he can straighten out. He's got some wiggle. No,
he can win one on one.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And he can put his hands in your chest and
run you into quarterly.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
So like, what are you going to do when you
have these guys winning so fast on the edge, right,
and then you got a guy caving down the pocket?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Well, how many ops do they get? I feel like
if I could pay to see one end of your
stat for twenty twenty five, it might be the opposing
offense's average yards left on second down. Like if you
show me that number.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Average yards left on second down.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Basically like, do you stop h if that trends in
a healthy direction. I have no doubt that Chris Shuling
Company are going to make strides this year. And it's
not just I mean shout out to Tyler Davis entering
year two draft ty Hamilton. I think the Rams collectively
are more stout up front, and I think that's gonna
be great things for Kobe Turner.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, not to go old man.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
On the dais please, I think he may be the
best true nose tackle the Rams have had in twenty years.
Not just the guy you put there because there's no
other spot for him, right, or he's not a good
enough three technique, or Aaron's not giving this guy enough run.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
This is a true nose tackle. This is what he does.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
I lock this down like a small refrigerator, Yes he does,
like the one you bring to college, right, Yes, college refrigeration.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
He's got long arms, Yes, we're talking about you.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Linebacker position now has spates as a sophomore, Nate Lammon
and free agency, a drafted rookie and Poop Paul and
an undrafted named Sean Dolac, who I'm gonna try and
name drop every day on this set because I think
he's a fan favorite already.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Well, I'll say this JB about the linebackers. You're gonna
learn a lot about them in the preseason. Oh yeah,
we learned a lot about Omar Spates in preseason. Remember
that first game. Oh, I was like, dude, he was
playing with an intent to be violent. Yeah, And I
remember what we were talking about. I was like, if
you can get him on the field on first and
second down, he'll be okay. And that's what he was.
(25:06):
He was awesome on first and second down. We talked
about those jumps from year one to year two. He
has to take a huge step to be able to
come in on that third down, to be that that
nickel or dime linebacker. We don't have to put a
safety in the box right right, And then you know
you're going against the Eagles and they're running the ball
at your safeties. You don't want that. You don't want
Saquon Barkley and lineman running up on safeties. No, you
have to be that guy to be able to cover
(25:27):
and go. So it's gonna be a huge jump for him.
And then Nate Nate Landman is from the from the crib.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
He will hit you. He's from the crib, He's from Danville,
he went to Monavasa High School. We'll hit you.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
He finds the ball, he just turnovers. He just when
you watch his tape, it's like, why is this guy always.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Around the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And some people just have a knack for being where
the ball is supposed to be. He's one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And so to me, you have a guy that can
be forceful against the run, and then the guy that
can find the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You're good.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Omar Space I thought had his best game the last
game of the season against Philadelphia, had a sack, he
was all over the place. Had a few games where
he had ten tackles more. You could just tell the
confidence was growing again your second time through where you've
seen the same offense or the same approach, you know
how they're trying to get you. That's only gonna make
you a little bit faster. So I think what sixty
tackles in eleven games something like that.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
That'll project over seventeen in a way that you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Like he'll be up in the upper hundreds as far
as tackles, as long as he stays healthy and could
actually have a career year or he will have because
of guess what's in front of him, Poona Ford. Yeah,
there won't be free runners coming to that middle linebacker anymore.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
All right, quick word on the secondary. I think the
safety trio of Kinchin's, Curl and Lake might be vastly unheralded,
especially when you mix in McCullough and the biggest bet
that Rams placed on themselves this offseason has to be
in the secondary. You got a thirty two year old
corner in d will a thirty year old in Akello,
a fourth year pro, and Kobe Durant. I believe it's
got a shot to work out well and even if
it breaks down somewhere, come on, Emmanuel Forbes, Darien Kendrick,
(26:56):
Josh Wallace, Charles Woods. They got optionality there, They got
numbers to throw at the problem.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
But this is the thing, though, you have pass rush
me and me and DeMarco get out there, jab go
going get some safety when the quarterback has three seconds
to get to the get the ball off. That's what
That's what you're looking for, right, That's that fords you
to do that in the secondary, to have some older
veteran players at study and understand. I still remember uh
Darius Williams pick against Seattle. Oh yeah, right, he still
(27:20):
has that play to pick against the Niners.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
To sell it. Uh.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
So you when you get pass rush and you force
that ball out quickly, allows these these older guys that
that are smart and understanding can play and still can run,
to play a little bit longer than what you want. Now,
if there's a guy then if you don't have pass rush,
can had these these you gotta have?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Yeah, you have.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Let's land this playing With a few final questions, which
rookie are you looking forward to seeing the most out
here in the coming weeks?
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Ferguson me too, Yeah, hell come, just because of what
he might bring to this offense and what we think
this offense can be with some I guess fresh blood
at that spot. No diss to too big rig to
Tyler Higbee, but I'm very excited to see what they
do and possibly on the field at the same time.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
You know why, I think it's so important not just
to this team, but to the future of Rams football.
Is because I think one of the last remaining salary
cap cheek codes is having a pass catching tight end,
either on a rookie deal or that you can extend
for less than a premium wide receiver. And when you
see the extensions coming down the pike for these Los
Angeles Rams, you're gonna have to pay Pooka and Kobe
and Ovula and verse right for that to work.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Gotta take it from somewhere.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I think it's essential to have a productive, cost controlled
tight end, and he's kind of someone that the Rams
have been chasing, I think since the first pick of
the Sean McVay era being drilled Everett.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Right, yeah, well I'll piggyback on that because I think
he's gonna be the one that has the greatest chance
to play fast enough. But remember twelve personnel, Well, yeah,
that's what you actually have two tight ends. How the
Rams actually did that? How crazy that was and it
was throwing teams off and they were running like crazy.
They play action pass was awesome a couple of years ago.
Maybe that maybe that as another version of it is.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Well, that's what's different too, is in the post Cooper
and we mentioned his name here in minute thirty whatever.
They were playing eleven and a half person out right,
especially once Pooh can play twelve out of eleven. And
so there's gonna be different versions of this offense, and
I think to replace that factor, maybe you do plug
in a different tight end as opposed to a third
third receiver. Other names that interest you, name drop someone
(29:14):
that doesn't have to be a rookie that you're gonna
be watching closely, either an individual or team behind me.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Let me see where he is.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
You mentioned Pooh, right, a new line poop pol another linebacker.
Now I have to say this with all due respect,
can you be the one that basically puts Reader on
the bench? Can you be that linebacker? Can you beat
him out? You've got the ability, That's that's a great
question you're saying. It's pointing the readers here. He's the
base line to beat.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You should be chasing him down. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
If you want to earn a job in the NFL,
you got to run somebody down, right.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Can you be that guy? Can you be that third linebacker?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
At some point if you play Baltimore or Philadelphia, if
you have designs on winning the Lombardi, you're gonna have
to face teams that do play twelve or twenty one.
You're gonna have to go out there with three linebackers.
Do you have him right now? We're gonna find out.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
To me, it's gonna be the interior O line. I
think that's gonna be the biggest thing and how important.
I want to see the jump from those three Like
they did a really good job. We talked about the communication,
but can they become more dominant?
Speaker 1 (30:12):
So plug calming back in and see what it means
to the two guards.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Okay, if those guys can be dominant there and you're
running that downhill running game and then that play action
pass and all those things that come out of that,
that to me, I think is gonna really Again, I
don't know. When I look at the Rams, I look
at him and hey, we want to score as many
points and let our.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Pass runers find their ears back.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Well, those three guys inside have to be dominant order
for that to happen, because one, you got to create
lanes in the running game. Then two you gotta allow
Safford Will to step up and make some throws.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
I picked Jordan Winnington, who I think is a bit
of a forgotten man as we prepare for this season,
in part because of the impact he made on special
teams at the end of last season. I hope he
can continue to be that guy for this edition of
the Rams. But a little pop quiz here for our
first between the Horns of the season. Other than Puka Nakua,
who is pro football focuses number one ungraded wide receiver.
Do you know the only other Ram who was top
(31:03):
twenty five? It was Whittington. It was Whittington in his
start six catches for sixty two, seven for eighty nine,
three for eighty six. In a post Cooper Cup world,
I think Jordan Whittington, who broke out last preseason, can
really be a factor.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
I know how we couched him or or kind of
described him. I think he has something different in mind.
We were thinking special team or part time receiver. He
may be thinking something opposite. Question, give me an opportunity
on offense and don't let me show you what happens, and.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
I'll end it with this JB.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I'm still hoping that two to owl continues to have
the seventeen yards of separation.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
He's in a different category.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, oh, we talked about all these people yet two
two owl. Every time he gets anop in the Eagles game,
he comes off the sideline, runs a deep comeback, catches
the ball goes back to the sideline, Like, how does
that happen? I remember coming off the sideline in the
cold being tight. Right, Yeah, don't this don't feel good?
He comes off, gets separated, catches the ball, gets the
ball here, go back.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
We're good.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
He's proven to be more complete than any might have
given him credit for it. But I still think he's
in a separate seat in the wide receiver room because
of his superpower, right. I mean, he brings something to
the table that only one of them have, and I
think all the other pieces together make a lot of sense.
I think this receiver group fits together really well. And
you've got some some depth there. Yeah, you do big time.
Want to drop a position battle on the way out here.
(32:20):
You kind of said into your offensive line, but that's
not really a battle.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
That give me your top four corners right now.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Okay, so you're rounding out your corner depth chart, Yes.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Okay, give me your top four right now.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
I don't really I think it's the top three, and
I think Forbes, Yeah, Forbes has to be one of them.
He is going to make some noise before this camp's over.
The dude's got so much talent. If you can get
over how skinny he is, the guy can absolutely.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Put a little muscle on this off season. I really
think that the battles are going to be linebacker, off ball, linebacker,
and corner.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I could get you to say running back, Huh, you
don't think anyone's coming for Kiren snaps?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Oh yeah, listen, I just I just saw Kyroen come
out here and then not yet.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Not even for his ben.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
I think Kien has an uncanny ability to make people
miss in a in a phone booth.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
And I've watched Blake Korum. He doesn't have that. He's
more explosive, but he doesn't have that ability to make
a guy miss and then hit the whole.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
The only thing that Karen doesn't have what he's been
working on, actually uh, is just that long speed. And
as long as he keeps working on that long speed,
I think it gonna work out. And protecting the ball,
don't get me wrong, that's always that's number one. But
his ability to make someone miss, or a linebacker to miss,
his ability to pass block, the.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Way he does.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Those those things to me, like, I just I don't
I don't see it's hard to replace that.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
Yeah, I was thinking swing tackle, running back, linebacker, and
tight end as.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
Fo tackles good, that's gonna be a good battle.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
I mean, you hope that your starters are there, but
I think we were kind of put on notice early
this offseason that you're gonna need more depth there than
maybe you've had in the past. But I settled on
special teams, which is kind of a lame, you know,
finishing note. But like roster spots fifty one, fifty two,
fifty three, that's what this month is all about to me.
And I'm curious whether an extra safety like Malik Dicks
(34:07):
and Williams undrafted out of Yukon, or an undrafted linebacker
like Jamil Mohammed or Josh Pearcy or Sean Dolak, or
even a tight end like Torres or Redmond could make
a case on teams to deserve a helmet on game day.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
There's gonna be, there's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
That's how you get on the field, and and most
of these teams they're kind of set offensively what they want.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Like, I bet you get asked McVeigh, do you know
who your game day, you know whatever are on offense?
And he's like plus or.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Minus reasonably Yeah, yeah, yeah, added like you probably maybe
two of most right, yeah, on both sides of the ball.
But special teams is where you always make the team.
I mean I did it. That's what I did in
the NFL. Yeah, I had to make it special teams
and then I got a chance to play running backshurning
or were you going down and covered?
Speaker 4 (34:49):
I did both? See I did. Covering is making on
special teams.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Listen, I covered kickoffs and punt I was just give
Maurice another touch on I was. I was the gunner
and then they threw me out of bounds and I
was like, put me back inside.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
That over there. That over there is not for everybody.
That's two guys. Yeah, that's not fair.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Well, like you, I love traveling, and a little bit
like you, I love drama and performance. I love golf,
but there's nothing I love more than talking rams football.
And this is the best time year. I'm glad the
calendar has finally tilted in our favor, and I know
that you, our audience, are too. Thanks for watching our
inaugural training camp kickoff episode of Between the Horns, presented
by your Southern California. To you the Dealers, Come join
(35:26):
us here at l MU for m J D. DeMarco Farr.
I'm JB. Long. We'll talk to you soon.
Between the Horns is back and as always, we are
presented by your Southern California Toyo to dealers. I'm JB.
Long with my friends DeMarco Farr, Maurice Jones Drew made it, respectively, Bigger, Faster,
and stronger. Yes, the twenty twenty five campaign. I'm stronger.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
No, you're doing a lot of walking, and I love
that you're posting on social media. I love watching that.
I don't know what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
I love watching it gets me going to start walking
and doing more. Actually, yeah, I started running sore. I
keep seeing you walk through smoke and whatnot. You can
travel in the world. I did travel where I was
spreading the word about the rams in twenty twenty five
West met a lot of good folks.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
We're excited.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Why don't we start right there? I was gonna ask, like,
what's the most fun you've had since we last sat
down together? What's the summer summary? Go for me, go
for it. Well, wait a second, it's like what having
a mustache?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
I still there. I just let it all grow in.
I'm going back. I haven't got a haircut in a while.
It's it's been hard man to bounce back. We went
to China, had a great time. Spent ten days in
China with the family, two days in Japan. I had
the mustache because I wanted the pictures and I'll show
you later to look like when I edited him to
look like.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I was like a.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Nineteen eight traveler, okay, researcher, whatever it may be. So
UH got you. Got to see the Great Wall, got
to see uh a bunch of other stuff. Went to Shanghai,
which is an awesome city. It was awesome. It was fun, hot, hot, nice,
and I just slept finally from like ten to five.
(01:32):
I'm kind of getting back on my sleeping patterns.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Two weeks ago when I got back ten to five, am.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Wow, poor guy. Yes, sir, you your summer summer a
lot of radio watching.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
My daughter she actually went out for a h the
the donkey part in truck and she got it. So
it's perfect for her. She caught the the acting bug.
Now I love that, I don't. Yeah, yes, now she
wants to do more stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
All right, So you have an actress and a college graduate.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Now, yes, do you have a college? Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
My way to go.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
The daughter graduating from Oregon State. Very happy? Now, yes,
where is she now? Is she back home? She is
getting ready to go to Spain. Good Man, So I
need all your advice. See, there you go, Yeah, there
you go.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
On that note, we want to be the first to
welcome you back to LMU. It's great to be here
in Westchester on the West Side once again, the site
for RAMS training camp, presented by Unifi Financial Credit Union. Uh.
The coaches have reported the players are here getting set
for their first workout. Sean McVay addressed the media yesterday. Guys,
so maybe we just open with some headlines. I'll drop
(02:33):
some names and some notes and dive in if you
want to react to anything. Otherwise, I'll just keep powering through.
But let's start with the senior Statesman. Right tackle Rob
Havenstein said he's cleared to be a full participant after
missing OTAs while getting those shoulders cleaned up.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Uh, how do you put him?
Speaker 4 (02:49):
The heart and soul of the football team, the toughness
of it, the wisdom, the wisdom. He's the veteran guy,
he's the oak tree in the room. I mean, he's
got to be healthy. That's that's a good sign when
he's able to go out day and get some work done.
That sends a message to the rest of the team.
I thought that was huge.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
When we left you in Maui, it was the other tackle,
alert Jackson at left tackle that was a question mark.
He might remember he had the recurrence of the blood
clot issue. No public timetable for his participation in contact drills,
But I thought the tone yesterday was far more optimistic
than maybe the worst that I had feared. No pop list,
no NFI list. That has to mean better things than
(03:24):
maybe we had feared.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
No, that's huge. I think.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
He is the key to this whole offensive line when
he's out there and you don't have to worry about
that blind side, which he's done a great job since
he was an undrafted rookie and stepped right in for
Joe Noboom like he has done an awesome job of stopping.
It reminds me of when he went against Miles Garrett
and he got his helmet cut in right, and he
was like, I didn't do anything, but Miles Garrett didn't
do anything either, right, and that's what you want. So
(03:48):
hopefully he's healthy, we can get him back going and
that'll really be the focal point of this offense.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Keeping that offensive line healthy. That should help keep Matthew
Stafford upright. And this just in quarterback is old and
he has an old man's back, which makes sense because
the I think plays in golf and has kids, and
that's how I wake up feeling every day. It checks
out totally.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
But it's a little worrisome when your quarterback's going into
year seventeen and he starts out camp with with something wrong.
I mean, I get it, he's earned it. It's probably nothing,
but it does concern you a little. Your earbud. Your
ears go up when you Matthew Stafford something's wrong.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I kind of think of it more of its like, hey,
seventeen years, take a week off, get you five to ten,
get you a good five to ten.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We'll ease you back in.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
He is here. There's no contract drama like maybe twelve
months ago when we got to LMU. He's gonna be
on the side for the acclamation period here. These first
few workouts, it sounds like when the ram's put the
pads on early next week, nine will be ready to rock.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
He doesn't need a ton of camp, but you'd like
the receivers to get used to him, especially one.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Well. I think that's where you value the DeVante work
that they got together in the spring. Certainly. Okay, the
other big one, and we'll land here, is the Kiren
extension or lack thereof. So far, both sides saying progress
has been made. The talks will continue this week with
his agent True Rosenhause. As you know, Kyroen's entering the
final year of his rookie deal. But also the RAMS
have drafted Blake krum in the third in Jarques Hunter
(05:11):
in the fourth in the two most recent drafts. Maurice,
why don't we kick on over to you for a
high level overview of Kyen's situation.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
I think it's a very unique situation because he's been
very productive in this system. But at the same time,
the RAMS value certain positions certain ways, and they allocate
their resources certain ways. And I want to say the
last time was Todd Gurley, who was a great investment.
Kiren's done an awesome job, and I think as long
as they keep it, keep the communication going, you'll be fine.
(05:40):
Like when you're dealing with a situation like Terry McLaurin,
that's because they're not talking right. The talks broke off
the fact that they've made progress is big. The fact
that Kyroen here is huge because again we know what
the Rams are without Kiren and when they are with Kyroen.
As much as we want to talk about the other bats,
which we'll talk about later on, Kien is with that
offensive line. Kien's ability to run the football. It helps
(06:02):
you again the last two years down the stretch, Kira
rushing for one hundred yards or close to it, and
that opened up the passing game a ton for the
Rams offense.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
It's tough to be a running back these days. But
I'm glad he's here. I really am. And for what
you said, you've got competition in your own room. I
mean it's gonna be tough enough if you didn't have
the situation to stay ahead of them, two drafted guys,
So you have to come compete for your job.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now. As far as paying running backs, that's a hard one. Bro.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Running backs have been I guess for the work one, Well,
you pay special, right, but it seems like the average
running backs have a tough time getting what they think
they deserve. But I think you're exactly right. It's not contentious.
He's here, he's here to compete, so I think something
will happen.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I think to be fair to our audience and the
work that we've done this summer, I feel like I
have to say, like, as a GM or salary cap manager,
I don't think I could look at the data and
give number twenty three a rich contract extension unless it
benefited us in terms of some near terms salary cap
relief or something else that's just kind of in the
blocks and white. I'll say it the other way though,
(07:02):
as someone who eats and drinks and breeze rams football
every day, I absolutely understand the desire to have Kiraen
Williams with this team and in this facility beyond this season,
right because, like you said, there's something intangible different when
he plays and when he doesn't, and especially listening to
him speak to the media, and the fact that he's
here in the way that he spoke about his privilege
(07:25):
to provide for his loved ones and play football, Like
if NFL rules allowed for it, I'd be the first
in line to contribute to it. Gofund me to make
sure that Kyroen got all the money he needs to
play football here for the rest of his career. So
I'm not really coming down on either side of the line.
But I'm saying whatever McVeigh and snead and pastors and
demof and the Rams decide. With respect to Kyraron Williams,
(07:48):
I can get on.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Board for the most part. If it doesn't go south,
it's all. It's all good for the Rams. I like
when my running backs feel a little slighted because you
try to play your way out of it, which is
good for everyone.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
What I would tell you is this too. You.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
He has to be realistic as well, right, Christian McCaffrey,
Saquon Bark, those are the big guys. You gotta kind
of find your fit. I remember being that situation as well.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
And then literally when I got my deal done, Leon
Washington was next with the Jets, and he felt like
he should have got more just because he was next.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
That's different. This is not quarterback play. This is running backs.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
You gotta kind of find your slot and find that
happy medium and slide in there and then just keep
playing right because again, the longer you play, the more
opportunities you'll get to hit that that that check.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I think what he said yesterday and the fact that
he is here planning to practice and to go speaks
to the fact that he has that perspective. He gets it.
He just wants to have the opportunity to play for
the Rams beyond this year. And I think that's a
good thing. And hopefully we're all looking back at his
stats at the end of twenty five saying, man, we're
still giving him the.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Back back in July, right, that'd be great?
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yes, all right, So this is normally the part of
the program here in mid July where I say to you, guys,
what are your hopes for this team? How will you
measure success for the twenty twenty five Rams. But I
think I speak for all of us when I say
it's nice to be back in these where it's a
super Bowl window for your Los Angeles Rams, and anything
shy of another Lombardi Trophy will feel like a bummer
(09:07):
in February? Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
I think there's a my I guess my take on
it to be health right, Yeah, Like, if you're healthy,
you have a chance to go and win against anybody.
That's the best part about this team, and that's a
super Bowl window. It's just keeping guys healthy as possible.
Last year you got hit with the injury bug. You
had to come clawing back. If you don't have to
deal with all those injuries like they did early in
the year, I think the Rams were probably been in
(09:31):
a better situation and so to me, super Bowl or bust,
no question. But my expectation is try to keep as
many guys as healthy as possible.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
And I've been talking to as many people as possible
about this because I've been telling them how high morale
is around this football team. And there's nothing wrong with
saying Lombardi or bust, no, especially when you have a
team this loaded, this good, and this veteran, veteran lad.
But it does make me a little bit nervous when
you know morale is so high, you know what I mean, Like, it's.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Hard to get tough.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
It's hard to get good or to become better when
people are patting you on the back, at least from
my expectation, when you're trying to overcome naysayers, that's the
easy part. It's how do you become better when everyone's
telling you you're a Super Bowl contender before you've played
Game one. That's that's a rough environment.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
To be in. Well, I don't think they play this
show in the team meeting room, so we can go
ahead and pack them on the back like we don't
need to detail the reasons why the Rams might not
achieve their ultimate goal this season. We know what happens
over the course of an NFL schedule, But what is
it about the twenty twenty five Rams that inspires confidence,
that makes you set that bar so high?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Year one and two jumps, the jump from year one
to two, the jump from year two to three class
I think the draft classes the last two of what
really get me excited.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
I think for me again, I said it and I'll
say it again.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
With this team, it's about health right, keeping these these
big guys, helping keep keeping your quarterback upright, keeping that
balanced offensive tack and then allowing those guys on the
defensive side to get after it, which I think is
your strugg That is your Your strong part of your
team is your defensive blind And anytime your defensive line
is a strong part of the team, you got a
chance to win a Super Bowl every year.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
And they're young and they don't cost a lot. That's
what I do.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Look, DeMarco, I don't want to interrupt.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
You.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Show me the hair. Please show me the hair. That's
what I'm talking about.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
There's my answer right there, when he shows up to
camp with rams horns in his hair. That's that's why
I'm so confident right there. But now, the two things
that come to mind. Number one, uh, Sean McVay is
your head coach. He's one of the best in the league.
We know this, and I think the environment I just created,
when everybody's patting you on the back, I'm sure he's
gonna show his team or tell them the opposite. He's
gonna make them work for it. So he's great at that.
(11:43):
The other thing is you've got one of the best
quarterbacks in the league. That makes everything easier. And you've
supplemented that with DeVante Adams, and you have Poking Poka
Nakula coming back, and like we said with k Kyron Williams,
you have competition at running back and your offensive line
seems it will be I guess it's get healthy once
you get Jackson back out there. So there's a lot
to like. And your defense is young and ascending, and
(12:05):
I think they got better towards the end, and they
went nose to nose with Philly. They were getting pretty good.
If they got past Philly. I think they might have
locked down whoever else they played. That's what That's how
hot Scott had. Their confidence was so uh the way
it ended who you lost to and what you have
coming back. Yeah, you should be excited about this year.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
And I I anytime your trenches, like, there's teams that
if you don't believe in your O line and D line,
you're gonna struggle. Right, you could have the quarterback, you
could have the wide receivers, But to me, the ramsh
what was like four or five years Agore really invested
in that offensive line, that defensive line. Now the dividends
are being paid forward here for this, this this run today. Right,
your O line's good, Uh, your D line is good.
(12:45):
Those guys are gonna get better in training camp. You
want to talk about battles, I mean Havenstein and Verse
and all these guys and buying are they're gonna get
after it. And that's where you're gonna get better by
going after it here when you have two of your
when you're really good in the trenches, when you get
to week one, all that hard work that you've put in,
I'll just say this. I was watching online about the
Chargers and they were doing one on ones and Joel
(13:07):
was going against Khalil Mack. Yeah, and then he went
against bud Dupree. That's only gonna make him better, right
and yeah, right, But here you have that across the board,
which is what you want, because now, as long as
you're good in the trenches, you'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I was reflecting earlier today that none of us know
what's around the next corner, right, It's so unpredictable. It
can take so many different pathways. But I do appreciate
and want to rest in this moment that rewind time
four years and everyone was saying the Rams mortgage their
future to get that championship, and it turns out here
we are in the summer of twenty twenty five and
the only thing that mortgage has done is build one
(13:41):
of the nicest houses on the block. Like they're set
up for success right now and I think for many
more years to come, especially when you consider what they
did on draft day stocking up some extra capital in
twenty twenty six. All right, should we go to offense first?
You want to take like a tree top level view
of kind of each unit, and the Rams offense does
seem primed I think for a Angels step forward, I
(14:01):
think there was more there last year. I think we
could probably say they achieved as a collective while being
underwhelming offensively. Some of the underlying metrics were great, but
the point production just wasn't. So why don't we start
with the newest weapon and DeVante Adams and how you
think he will or won't unlock where the Rams are
trying to go offensively?
Speaker 3 (14:20):
Well, it reminds me of drafted node or not drafted
with getting O'Dell Beckham Junior here right, a guy that
can line up an X and win on a slant
in the fade. That opened up our offense so much
more right because now we get in the tight reds
on which the Rams struggled in when they weren't able
to run the ball and be successful.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
When I can put three guys on one side and
him on the other side and you have to.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Either double him to stop him, which opens up this
other side or the running game, or you single him
up and we know we have an eighty to twenty
chance to complete a pass to me. That just gives
your quarterback and your play callers so much more confidence
to make a call plays and make things out.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
That's an interesting callback because I had written down I
think if he and Matthew get to play, you pick
a number thirteen to fourteen, at least fifteen together, whatever
it ends up being, I think this will end up
being the best offense since the championship season. And I
think this is the best group of past catchers they've
assembled since OBJ crumpled to the turf at so far. Yeah,
that's what it feels, agreed.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes, And he's gonna help you on third down. I
don't have the numbers in front of me, but since
twenty twelve, I think he has the first fourth most
third down targets, the most third down yardage, and the
most third down touchdown. So that's where I wish the Rams.
You said they left a lot, a lot of meat
on the bone last year getting off the field on
third down.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
They weren't very good at that.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
DeVante Adams is gonna help you there to stay on
the field and then big plays will happen. But this
is the one back. One thing I love about the
position I played. I'm not quarterback dependent now receivers are.
So when you say, well, Devonte Adams isn't what he
used to be well, look at who's throwing to him,
Terry McLaurin the same thing. Well, his numbers don't really
show Well, look who's throwing this actly. He's quarterback dependent.
(15:55):
That's all about to change when Davonte Adams and Matthew
Stafford go on the field at same time.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Again, I just when you have a guy that can
beat one on one I play with Justin Blackman. It
is so crazy when you have a guy that could
be one on one your quarterback is awesome. Yeah, because
he knows he can scan the fit like, Okay, I
got one on one.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Here we go. I'm not even worried about over.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And we've seen Matthew Stafford do that a ton, right
when you had Cooper Cup and OBJ was like, you
pick your poison, Cooper, you name it?
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Yeah, how do you? How do you?
Speaker 3 (16:23):
So when you have that type of person, it just
opens up so much more then, like you said, third down,
red zone, I just think that those things, those those
situations are are gonna be in heightened a little bit
more over the Rams.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Gold to Go, you were great. Red zone not so much.
It's just weird.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
One of the things I'll be watching you guys can
color in between the lines here is how much or
how little Davante's in motion at the snap right like
pre snap motion. Motion at the snap has become such
an attribute of this offense. If Davante is standing still,
I'm gonna take that as a good sign because that
means what you're saying is true. He's gonna win. We
can put he can change math himself.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
You don't have.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
To create anything for him. And since you can only
have one guy in motion at the snap at a time,
guess what. If he's winning from the line of scrimmage,
then Puka can become a chess piece. Then to two
can come flaming across the line of scrimmage. There's a
lot of other good things that I think can happen
if Davante is just Davante.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I wonder what the metrics are the numbers are when
the rams don't motion anyone how successful they are, because.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I feel like they're very successful. They get up and
the ball.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
You'd have to go look at their August stats because
that's the only time they're standing still.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Run up to the line and they'll just snap the
ball and guys are just wide up because everyone's ready
for the motion.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
So I think it's going to be exciting.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
The other element of that is, if you were to
pick a position group that has to improve the most
this season, I would make a strong case it's the
tight end room. I was as optimistic as any of us,
as anyone in the Ramley about the tight end group
that the Rams had assembled, even with an injured Tyler
Higby last season. I was wrong when he came back,
you felt that difference. Oh yeah, well he's good to go,
(17:56):
and they drafted a rookie as well. I think that
group takes a big step forward.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I hope.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
So I was about as bullish as you were last year,
and I'm surprised it didn't work out or it took
so long to get going. But when Higbee came back,
I mean, he's a team leader. You remember when he scored,
everybody was completely bonkers. But it changed the offense some.
And we've always said about a McVeigh offense, and maybe
it does change with Devonte Adams. But if you could
make the Pro Bowl at tight end in this offense,
you are the man because of what they ask you
(18:22):
block like a tackle, run routes like a receiver, and
all of a sudden switch on the fly when Stafford
feels like it, and you're gonna be the move guy
most more often than not. So there's a lot left there,
a lot to be done on offense. But I'm excited
about Ferguson and what he can do down the middle
of the field. Or maybe you might be able to
use the back pylon in the end zone, in the
red zone at some point with a big receiver that
(18:43):
can go up and get it. So I'm with you
if you can find a way to maximize that position.
In this offense, There's almost not much you can do
as a free safety.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
You can't cover them all up. He reminds me of
the young Tyler Higby, though.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
He reminds me of that blanket that Jared Golf had
when you drafted Tyler Higby. That guy he can go
to throw a quick flat two, and the guy can
make you miss. He'll get you twelve fifteen yards and extend.
I think the biggest thing is going to be the
physicality that you need in the red zone of the
tight ends. I think that was what was missing more
than anything when you look at Stafford trying to fit
the ball in a lot of the receiver or tight
ends were like they weren't physical at contact. When you're
(19:17):
not pushing off a lineback, you're not creating space. In
the red zone. It's about creating space and if you
really all the all the additions offensively, it's about red
zone if you notice it right, It's a receiver that
can win one on one in the red zone, a
tight end that can run option routes and create space,
and athletic enough to catch the ball and do things.
That's what he did at Oregon. So I'm excited to
(19:38):
kind of see that this red the red zone numbers
as the rams are really good from twenty to twenty,
but what are they going.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
To do in the red zone.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I got more thoughts on t Fergan a little bit
when we talk rookies, But let's transition to that offensive
line and especially the center Coleman Shelton, Because why do
I believe in Stafford at age thirty seven. Why am
I betting on Devonte at thirty three and Higbee at
thirty two? Why do I think there are career years
available for Pooka in year three and two to two.
I think it's because of Coleman Shelton. I think he's
a force multiplier. I think he fixes a lot of
(20:07):
what prevented the Rams from attaining their highest level last year,
including in the final few reps at that season. He
might be one of the most undervalued offensive players in
the NFC.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
And he's walking out right now. There is right there,
nice big dude.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
You know it's He's a veteran center, So number One's
same thing with offense defense. As many times asf you've
been through it, you're gonna see things, yes, before they happen.
I look, they're giving me this. I know they're about
to do that. Tell that to your quarterback, tell that
to your guards. So he's a veteran guy, and he's
tough as nails too so and that just takes more
pressure off Matthew Stafford, who seemed like he had to
(20:42):
do a lot more.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Preventing the worst from happening, preventing the negatives that derailed
some of the positives that were readily apparent. You just
could never really seem to harness.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I thought Bolmmer did an awesome job. I just thought
it was tough. His communication nothing right, and that's nothing
at right.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
They got way more where would the rams have been
without him?
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Way more than what do you expected. But communication at
that position is key. That is the most important thing
at the center position, to be able to communicate down
the line to your backs and to your quarterback to
protect and pass the situations you talked about those last
two snaps, there was miscommunication and so again they got
into the red zone. They stalled, right, So you bring
back your old center that communicated and made sure that
(21:23):
everybody was on the same page and understood, and you
talked about it the snaps and the reps and seeing everything,
so now I know what's going on. Hey this guy,
yeah know what he's gonna do. This is what, this
is how we're gonna do this. And I think that's
what was missed. Especially in an offense in which there's
so much verbiage and so many things going on in
checks and moves and this, your center has to be
able to understand here one two words and then be
(21:43):
able to communicate and get everybody on the same page.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Let's flip the defense and the guy he's gonna be
sweating on for the next two weeks. That's poone afford
because if getting Coleman back in this building was one
way to address maybe the most raw nerve that was
bothering the Rams offense. I feel like poon Afford is
that for this defense, showing up the biggest deficiency so
that what you've built can be great.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
You know what's funny.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
You've watching all the players walk down the field, right, Yeah,
what have you noticed about all of them? They're all smiling.
This is the first day of training camp. You're not
supposed to be smiling. I always smile at training camp.
You don't have me train hack.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
No, I'm getting ready to get beat up to two hours.
To be honest, training camp for me was so much
fun because I got to go home.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
And you don't get hit, right, don't hit Marie, No,
come on all the time.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
That's why you didn't know. I wish what was the
question again? I'm sorry, I'm gone you Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
So I think I think the Rams, if you look
at their defense, it was obviously giving up big run
plays right, and it was really be gap to be gap.
What Puna Ford can do is control that control b
gap to be gap because you get here. I've talked
to multiple centers around the league just about him and
other coaches and they're like, that may be the sign
of free agents.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Oh my god. Yes, his ability to control.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Those gaps and still get pass rush out of that
as well is gonna collapse pockets.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
And again it's gonna allow the other guys to be
able to do what they want.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
That makes everybody. Or if you can hold that a gap,
the backside, the front side, what have you. He's he's
a good reader of blocks. He can shoot in there
to the backfield and be a disruptor. He can hold
the point. He's he's the perfect nose tackle. He's the
perfect height, long arms, same everything.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:13):
And he could care less if he makes the player
or not, just as long as the ball carrier goes down.
So he's unselfish. And I like what you said. In
an obvious passing situation or if it goes from from
run to pass, he can straighten out. He's got some wiggle. No,
he can win one on one.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
And he can put his hands in your chest and
run you into quarterly.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
So like, what are you going to do when you
have these guys winning so fast on the edge, right,
and then you got a guy caving down the pocket?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Well, how many ops do they get? I feel like
if I could pay to see one end of your
stat for twenty twenty five, it might be the opposing
offense's average yards left on second down. Like if you
show me that number.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Average yards left on second down.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Basically like, do you stop h if that trends in
a healthy direction. I have no doubt that Chris Shuling
Company are going to make strides this year. And it's
not just I mean shout out to Tyler Davis entering
year two draft ty Hamilton. I think the Rams collectively
are more stout up front, and I think that's gonna
be great things for Kobe Turner.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, not to go old man.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
On the dais please, I think he may be the
best true nose tackle the Rams have had in twenty years.
Not just the guy you put there because there's no
other spot for him, right, or he's not a good
enough three technique, or Aaron's not giving this guy enough run.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
This is a true nose tackle. This is what he does.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
I lock this down like a small refrigerator, Yes he does,
like the one you bring to college, right, Yes, college refrigeration.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
He's got long arms, Yes, we're talking about you.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Linebacker position now has spates as a sophomore, Nate Lammon
and free agency, a drafted rookie and Poop Paul and
an undrafted named Sean Dolac, who I'm gonna try and
name drop every day on this set because I think
he's a fan favorite already.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Well, I'll say this JB about the linebackers. You're gonna
learn a lot about them in the preseason. Oh yeah,
we learned a lot about Omar Spates in preseason. Remember
that first game. Oh, I was like, dude, he was
playing with an intent to be violent. Yeah, And I
remember what we were talking about. I was like, if
you can get him on the field on first and
second down, he'll be okay. And that's what he was.
(25:06):
He was awesome on first and second down. We talked
about those jumps from year one to year two. He
has to take a huge step to be able to
come in on that third down, to be that that
nickel or dime linebacker. We don't have to put a
safety in the box right right, And then you know
you're going against the Eagles and they're running the ball
at your safeties. You don't want that. You don't want
Saquon Barkley and lineman running up on safeties. No, you
have to be that guy to be able to cover
(25:27):
and go. So it's gonna be a huge jump for him.
And then Nate Nate Landman is from the from the crib.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
He will hit you. He's from the crib, He's from Danville,
he went to Monavasa High School. We'll hit you.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
He finds the ball, he just turnovers. He just when
you watch his tape, it's like, why is this guy always.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Around the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And some people just have a knack for being where
the ball is supposed to be. He's one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And so to me, you have a guy that can
be forceful against the run, and then the guy that
can find the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You're good.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Omar Space I thought had his best game the last
game of the season against Philadelphia, had a sack, he
was all over the place. Had a few games where
he had ten tackles more. You could just tell the
confidence was growing again your second time through where you've
seen the same offense or the same approach, you know
how they're trying to get you. That's only gonna make
you a little bit faster. So I think what sixty
tackles in eleven games something like that.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
That'll project over seventeen in a way that you're gonna.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
Like he'll be up in the upper hundreds as far
as tackles, as long as he stays healthy and could
actually have a career year or he will have because
of guess what's in front of him, Poona Ford. Yeah,
there won't be free runners coming to that middle linebacker anymore.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
All right, quick word on the secondary. I think the
safety trio of Kinchin's, Curl and Lake might be vastly unheralded,
especially when you mix in McCullough and the biggest bet
that Rams placed on themselves this offseason has to be
in the secondary. You got a thirty two year old
corner in d will a thirty year old in Akello,
a fourth year pro, and Kobe Durant. I believe it's
got a shot to work out well and even if
it breaks down somewhere, come on, Emmanuel Forbes, Darien Kendrick,
(26:56):
Josh Wallace, Charles Woods. They got optionality there, They got
numbers to throw at the problem.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
But this is the thing, though, you have pass rush
me and me and DeMarco get out there, jab go
going get some safety when the quarterback has three seconds
to get to the get the ball off. That's what
That's what you're looking for, right, That's that fords you
to do that in the secondary, to have some older
veteran players at study and understand. I still remember uh
Darius Williams pick against Seattle. Oh yeah, right, he still
(27:20):
has that play to pick against the Niners.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
To sell it. Uh.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
So you when you get pass rush and you force
that ball out quickly, allows these these older guys that
that are smart and understanding can play and still can run,
to play a little bit longer than what you want. Now,
if there's a guy then if you don't have pass rush,
can had these these you gotta have?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Yeah, you have.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Let's land this playing With a few final questions, which
rookie are you looking forward to seeing the most out
here in the coming weeks?
Speaker 4 (27:45):
Ferguson me too, Yeah, hell come, just because of what
he might bring to this offense and what we think
this offense can be with some I guess fresh blood
at that spot. No diss to too big rig to
Tyler Higbee, but I'm very excited to see what they
do and possibly on the field at the same time.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
You know why, I think it's so important not just
to this team, but to the future of Rams football.
Is because I think one of the last remaining salary
cap cheek codes is having a pass catching tight end,
either on a rookie deal or that you can extend
for less than a premium wide receiver. And when you
see the extensions coming down the pike for these Los
Angeles Rams, you're gonna have to pay Pooka and Kobe
and Ovula and verse right for that to work.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Gotta take it from somewhere.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
I think it's essential to have a productive, cost controlled
tight end, and he's kind of someone that the Rams
have been chasing, I think since the first pick of
the Sean McVay era being drilled Everett.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Right, yeah, well I'll piggyback on that because I think
he's gonna be the one that has the greatest chance
to play fast enough. But remember twelve personnel, Well, yeah,
that's what you actually have two tight ends. How the
Rams actually did that? How crazy that was and it
was throwing teams off and they were running like crazy.
They play action pass was awesome a couple of years ago.
Maybe that maybe that as another version of it is.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Well, that's what's different too, is in the post Cooper
and we mentioned his name here in minute thirty whatever.
They were playing eleven and a half person out right,
especially once Pooh can play twelve out of eleven. And
so there's gonna be different versions of this offense, and
I think to replace that factor, maybe you do plug
in a different tight end as opposed to a third
third receiver. Other names that interest you, name drop someone
(29:14):
that doesn't have to be a rookie that you're gonna
be watching closely, either an individual or team behind me.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Let me see where he is.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
You mentioned Pooh, right, a new line poop pol another linebacker.
Now I have to say this with all due respect,
can you be the one that basically puts Reader on
the bench? Can you be that linebacker? Can you beat
him out? You've got the ability, That's that's a great
question you're saying. It's pointing the readers here. He's the
base line to beat.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You should be chasing him down. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
If you want to earn a job in the NFL,
you got to run somebody down, right.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Can you be that guy? Can you be that third linebacker?
Speaker 4 (29:48):
At some point if you play Baltimore or Philadelphia, if
you have designs on winning the Lombardi, you're gonna have
to face teams that do play twelve or twenty one.
You're gonna have to go out there with three linebackers.
Do you have him right now? We're gonna find out.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
To me, it's gonna be the interior O line. I
think that's gonna be the biggest thing and how important.
I want to see the jump from those three Like
they did a really good job. We talked about the communication,
but can they become more dominant?
Speaker 1 (30:12):
So plug calming back in and see what it means
to the two guards.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Okay, if those guys can be dominant there and you're
running that downhill running game and then that play action
pass and all those things that come out of that,
that to me, I think is gonna really Again, I
don't know. When I look at the Rams, I look
at him and hey, we want to score as many
points and let our.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Pass runers find their ears back.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Well, those three guys inside have to be dominant order
for that to happen, because one, you got to create
lanes in the running game. Then two you gotta allow
Safford Will to step up and make some throws.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
I picked Jordan Winnington, who I think is a bit
of a forgotten man as we prepare for this season,
in part because of the impact he made on special
teams at the end of last season. I hope he
can continue to be that guy for this edition of
the Rams. But a little pop quiz here for our
first between the Horns of the season. Other than Puka Nakua,
who is pro football focuses number one ungraded wide receiver.
Do you know the only other Ram who was top
(31:03):
twenty five? It was Whittington. It was Whittington in his
start six catches for sixty two, seven for eighty nine,
three for eighty six. In a post Cooper Cup world,
I think Jordan Whittington, who broke out last preseason, can
really be a factor.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
I know how we couched him or or kind of
described him. I think he has something different in mind.
We were thinking special team or part time receiver. He
may be thinking something opposite. Question, give me an opportunity
on offense and don't let me show you what happens, and.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
I'll end it with this JB.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I'm still hoping that two to owl continues to have
the seventeen yards of separation.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
He's in a different category.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeah, oh, we talked about all these people yet two
two owl. Every time he gets anop in the Eagles game,
he comes off the sideline, runs a deep comeback, catches
the ball goes back to the sideline, Like, how does
that happen? I remember coming off the sideline in the
cold being tight. Right, Yeah, don't this don't feel good?
He comes off, gets separated, catches the ball, gets the
ball here, go back.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
We're good.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
He's proven to be more complete than any might have
given him credit for it. But I still think he's
in a separate seat in the wide receiver room because
of his superpower, right. I mean, he brings something to
the table that only one of them have, and I
think all the other pieces together make a lot of sense.
I think this receiver group fits together really well. And
you've got some some depth there. Yeah, you do big time.
Want to drop a position battle on the way out here.
(32:20):
You kind of said into your offensive line, but that's
not really a battle.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
That give me your top four corners right now.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Okay, so you're rounding out your corner depth chart, Yes.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Okay, give me your top four right now.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
I don't really I think it's the top three, and
I think Forbes, Yeah, Forbes has to be one of them.
He is going to make some noise before this camp's over.
The dude's got so much talent. If you can get
over how skinny he is, the guy can absolutely.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Put a little muscle on this off season. I really
think that the battles are going to be linebacker, off ball, linebacker,
and corner.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I could get you to say running back, Huh, you
don't think anyone's coming for Kiren snaps?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Oh yeah, listen, I just I just saw Kyroen come
out here and then not yet.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Not even for his ben.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
I think Kien has an uncanny ability to make people
miss in a in a phone booth.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
And I've watched Blake Korum. He doesn't have that. He's
more explosive, but he doesn't have that ability to make
a guy miss and then hit the whole.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
The only thing that Karen doesn't have what he's been
working on, actually uh, is just that long speed. And
as long as he keeps working on that long speed,
I think it gonna work out. And protecting the ball,
don't get me wrong, that's always that's number one. But
his ability to make someone miss, or a linebacker to miss,
his ability to pass block, the.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Way he does.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Those those things to me, like, I just I don't
I don't see it's hard to replace that.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
Yeah, I was thinking swing tackle, running back, linebacker, and
tight end as.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
Fo tackles good, that's gonna be a good battle.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
I mean, you hope that your starters are there, but
I think we were kind of put on notice early
this offseason that you're gonna need more depth there than
maybe you've had in the past. But I settled on
special teams, which is kind of a lame, you know,
finishing note. But like roster spots fifty one, fifty two,
fifty three, that's what this month is all about to me.
And I'm curious whether an extra safety like Malik Dicks
(34:07):
and Williams undrafted out of Yukon, or an undrafted linebacker
like Jamil Mohammed or Josh Pearcy or Sean Dolak, or
even a tight end like Torres or Redmond could make
a case on teams to deserve a helmet on game day.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
There's gonna be, there's gonna be.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
That's how you get on the field, and and most
of these teams they're kind of set offensively what they want.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Like, I bet you get asked McVeigh, do you know
who your game day, you know whatever are on offense?
And he's like plus or.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Minus reasonably Yeah, yeah, yeah, added like you probably maybe
two of most right, yeah, on both sides of the ball.
But special teams is where you always make the team.
I mean I did it. That's what I did in
the NFL. Yeah, I had to make it special teams
and then I got a chance to play running backshurning
or were you going down and covered?
Speaker 4 (34:49):
I did both? See I did. Covering is making on
special teams.
Speaker 3 (34:52):
Listen, I covered kickoffs and punt I was just give
Maurice another touch on I was. I was the gunner
and then they threw me out of bounds and I
was like, put me back inside.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
That over there. That over there is not for everybody.
That's two guys. Yeah, that's not fair.
Speaker 1 (35:06):
Well, like you, I love traveling, and a little bit
like you, I love drama and performance. I love golf,
but there's nothing I love more than talking rams football.
And this is the best time year. I'm glad the
calendar has finally tilted in our favor, and I know
that you, our audience, are too. Thanks for watching our
inaugural training camp kickoff episode of Between the Horns, presented
by your Southern California. To you the Dealers, Come join
(35:26):
us here at l MU for m J D. DeMarco Farr.
I'm JB. Long. We'll talk to you soon.
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