October 1, 2025 • 36 mins
In this week's new episode of Between The Horns, Camryn Irwin sits down with J.B. Long and D'Marco Farr to preview the Los Angeles Rams' matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Watch the trio discuss wide receiver Puka Nacua's successful traits, advantages ahead of Thursdays matchup against the 49ers, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome back to Between the Horns, presented by your Southern
California Toyota Dealers. I'm feeling so stoked be sitting next
to this crew. We've got JV Long and DeMarco far
I'm Cameron Irwin and man going over there. I know
rehearsal were resting one. I'll be happy to be the
fourth man in this.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Absolutely, Cameron take the wheel.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yes, coming off the win against the Indianapolis Colts with
a quick turnaround short week, we've got the none other
forty nine ers coming into the Rams House. Before we
get into this, though, I feel like we got to
look back and celebrate the noise, the octave that was
hitting Sofi Stadium just a few days ago.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was superb, super loud in there. Rams fans should
be proud. And I was saying this to the fans
that were there early in the game. I said, you know,
the louder you get, the better Jared Verse and company
will play. Uh, you are a part of this as well,
and they played like Gangbusters. So it was super loud
down there. It was a very physical football game. It
was a heck of a win. But you have to
(01:06):
put all that aside because this is the only week
that matters, you know how I feel.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
But you're saying that for Jared to attack the center
the way that he did, Yes, that only happened when
you're in your home environment, when you.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Have crowd noise. This is like we said what you
did versus Philly, not to bring up old things. It
was the worst environment for you. They weren't for you. You're
on grass, you go home, you've got crowd noise on
your surface. You should get off. And that's exactly what
you saw. The crowd brought it. They brought it. Let's
keep bringing it o camera.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
My family, my friends, our guests, they all said that
was one of the loudest game day environments they had
been a part of. You're down there on the field.
Was that true to you too?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Without question? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
At one point, actually I have to wear double in
ears because it's so loud, and it didn't do enough
last week, and it was incredible. At one point I
took it out and I'm like, is this for real?
Like it was astonishing down there and it gave meat chills,
especially in the fourth quarter. You're sitting there going, oh,
this is what a home crowd environment feels.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Like, and it really paid dividends.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Say, the standard is the standard now, right, that's what
they gave us. That's what we're expecting now every week.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
There you go, yes, sir, love it well.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Heading into week five a couple things. Shout outs to
the offense and defensive side of the ball. Rams heading
with the highest graded offense into week five and the
second highest graded defense into week five. I mean, this
team is looking pretty solid.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I didn't know that the offense has gone up to
second highest rated offense in the league.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Wow. First defense is second man.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Well, I guess through. I look at things through a
defensive lens first and foremost, and to see them get
better week end and week out, and the communication is
getting the tackling was outstanding. That's the one thing. The
mark of a good defense is pursuit and tackling. When
you turn on that tape and you watch when there's
all out pursuit and when you stop it at the
end of the play, you'll see at least ten rams
(02:56):
surrounding the football within a yard and a half of it.
That's pursuit and they're all getting guys on the ground.
And then when it comes time to rush the passer.
They've got guys that can flat out. Just when Byron
Young is having a great year, Jared Versu is the
most physical edge player in the league, and he's turning
into one of the best down.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Linemen in the league. He can line up anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So when you see those guys continue to get better,
no shock that you're going to go up in the rankings.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Was pursuit the word that I just heard you use, pursuit.
How about Byron Young? I felt like I was watching
National Geographic the way that he changed Daniel.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yes day, oh man. I mean, look, okay, it was
the read that was phenomenal.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
The speed.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
We all know that he can run, since he was drafted.
We knew the guy could run. It was the read
and react. I know what you're doing. I've seen this
before and I'm going to beat you to the spot.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Daniel Jones can run and he flat got run down.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
So when you start seeing that stuff as an OC, okay, well,
we can't run this against this guy and unless we
set it up perfectly. So watching him get better is
like a microcosm for the rest of the defense. They
are growing up and they are ready for primetime.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I mean I just appreciate so much the physical sacrifice
that a lot of these guys are making, especially on
a short week. I think of two names in particular,
Jared Vers I think, dislocated a finger on his way
to stripsacking Daniel Jones to help the Rams clinch that
pop that thing back in there and was back out
there for the next rep. And we're to the point
with Puka Nakoua now where the game almost doesn't start
until he makes his first trip to the locker room
(04:25):
and comes back bigger, faster, and stronger. This weekend, I mean,
it is incredible, and I just I cannot articulate how
much I admire it and respect it. And yeah, the
Rams could very well be four and oh, but I
think three and oh is a very fair representation of
the way they played so far, and the opportunity in
front of them this week makes the hair on the
(04:46):
back of my next stand up Like it seems like
every time the Niners in the Rams get together, LA
has a chance to throw a little bit of dirt
on a fragile forty nine Ers team, and they're banged
up now and they're coming off their first loss of
the season. I also know that the schedule they have
is the easiest in the National Football League. So if
you let them get out of your place with a win,
(05:07):
they would be three and oh. Against the division they
be four and one. Overall, you cannot let that happen.
And that's kind of the backdrop that I take into
this Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I love his mentality. See it's everything. I don't care
how banged up they are. They're still great to me
until you beat them.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Without question.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I was going to say there is still danger anytime
you face the San Francisco forty nine ers, But thinking
on verse two, a season high six pressures, this is
what's wild, three of which came in under two.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
And a half seconds. That's just how quick you was moving.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I love the thing which you said about the finger
being popped back in because as it's happening, he's giving
his hand to the training staff to like, hey, fix
this thing, and he's continuing to watch what's going on
in the field. Are you done? Can I go back?
Speaker 5 (05:52):
Yes? Dude, I mean that's taking it to a whole
new level.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Yeah, there's some things that he needs to work out
discipline wise, But we said the same thing about another
certain someone that used to play here, we're number ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
He earned the right to freelance.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Production equal tolerance.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
So, I mean, he's got some of the best instincts
that we've seen, and he's absolutely physical as a player.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And the head to head with Trent Williams, yeah, one
of those matchups in professional football that I would pay
to see in person because it's not gonna last forever.
But this is another iteration of it, and it's gonna
be everything it's hyped up to do.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
I'm so glad you said that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So like the forty nine ers, and most of the
talk this week is who's not there, but let's talk
about who is.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
He is one of the best. He's still that guy.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So when I give Jared Vers props for being physical, well,
this is the other guy. His punch is second to none.
If he gets those paws on you, you're going to
react and it's not gonna feel good. So and for
a guy like Josiah Stewart, if you want to get
to where these other two guys are, this is what
they had to go through. You're gonna have to go through,
you know what to get to them. So when you
(06:57):
do load up and this is what every team has
done to stop McCaffrey, and you force brock Purty or
whoever's back there to throw the football. Yeah, I mean
that's a win for the defense, but you still got
to get around him.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
You still have to get around one of the best
in the business.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Over under one and a half penalties in the offensive
tackles for San Francisco this Thursday night. Some combination of
false start and holding. That's what I'm gonna have my
eye on. Much pressure can you put on them as
pass blockers, as pass protectors in your home stadium?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
You know, if if the Rams crowd and those edge
rushers force a false start, I may break character and
clap two.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
I mean that that says a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But holding almost to guarantee, with the way they're playing,
they're gonna have to reach out and grab one of
those guys.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
You guys are already unveiling with the forty nine ers matchup.
I feel like, do we take some time to at
least relive a little bit of Sunday before we look ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Welcome to your first between the horns, and we don't
stick to the script anymore. Yeah, at this point I
will respect, the fact that the paper is in your
hand this week and I'm playing left handed.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yes, I love it, I obviously love it.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I just feel like we have to give credit where
credit is due, and that's none other to Matthew Stafford.
Just another impressive fourth quarter comeback, his thirty ninth of
his career. You saw him three touchdowns, zero exceptions, a
QBR of one twenty three ish.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Just an impressive plan.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
To think he only had four passing yards in the
third quarter and still came away with three hundred and
seventy five yards. Just how clutch was Stafford on Sunday?
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Super clutch.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You know that's the not to before we get heap
on the praise, and he deserves all praise. He makes
game days so much easier, He makes Saturdays and Wednesdays
so much easier. You know, having a guy like that
on your football team, how special he is. But I
just I don't know what happened in that third quarter.
We were talking about it during the game, like, how
did everything just all of a sudden come to a halt.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Thank players in both directions, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Both directions, right. It was just a weird thing. But
when it matters most, when you need a play. If
you give him too much time, same thing you say
about Mahomes or all the greatest quarterbacks in this league.
If you give Stafford enough time to beat you, he's
going to. Yeah, if you challenge him or talk trash
to the wrong guy, him in particular, he's going to
(09:09):
make you pay. He is as petty as any of
the great quarterbacks you've ever seen, and he's got arm
talent like you wouldn't believe. So played his butt off,
and I thought what he did against Lot too. You
may not talk about it. You can say that he
had a great game, but he did not let lot
to the fact that he was winning derail him. Okay,
(09:29):
you win here, I step here, you win there, I
step here. You may be winning, you may be in
on me, but you're not getting sacks. You're waisting rushes.
That is the most frustrating thing in the world. It
drives you crazy as a pass rusher. I'm winning, I'm winning,
I'm winning, and I've got almost nothing to show for it.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
It just burns you up.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm humble enough to know that no one would ever
want to clone me. But if that were to ever happen,
I hope that JB two point zero is everything that
Matthew Stafford two point zero has been so far this
season for the Los Angeles Rams. He is the best
corres back in the league through a month against pressure.
He's the best deep ball thrower in the league after
the month of September. And it's way too early for
(10:07):
individual award conversations on both sides of the ball. H
But if he has a Thursday night, like I know
he's capable of I'm gonna be back in this seat
or maybe that one next week saying some pretty crazy
things about Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Will promise you that three letters in particular.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Maybe yeah, without question.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
He's actually on pace to end the season in the
top five career passing yards category.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
That might just seal the deal.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh yeah, yeah, But throw all the numbers out, like yeah,
that was his longest touchdown pass to two two and
three seventy five was his most prolific passing game as
a Ram. But like, watch miked up, right, watch miked up.
Forget all the numbers, watch miked up. That's why that
guy's going to careful.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Who you talk to. You know, who you talk trash to?
He is him. He is he is that guy, Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Sir, another he is him coming out of this game
and actually throughout the season. Pokakua, and congratulations, Pookakua just
named the NFC off a Player of the Week and
not surprising, he had over one hundred yards before he
even got to half time. Like you want to talk
about some numbers for this guy leading the NFL and
receiving yards, receptions, yards per game. It just goes on
(11:14):
and on. But I want to go back to just
the competitive fire. I think you can see it with
certain athletes when you simply decide I am not losing
this game. And I feel like you saw that switch
skip flip for Puka Nakua. You think back to that
third and thirteen and then the fourth and two touchdown play,
he simply decided we're winning this game.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
The touchdown to me is what stands out. I mean
a lot of things stand out with him. He is
he's such a hammer, and there's so many things you
can do with him, and you've got problems before and
after the catch, and a physical price to pay when
you're bearing down on him. You know, depending on if
you're a safety or a corner coming on an angle
you better hit that thing right, you know what I mean?
If not, that could hurt a number two. He could
(11:56):
bounce off you and go. His confidence is growing and
it's fun to watch him grow as a player. So
he goes and he's the understudy, and now he's the
leading man, and now he knows he's the leading fricking man.
And it doesn't seem like he's looking to slow down
at any point. So I love the way they use him.
(12:17):
I love the way he plays the game. I thought
the touchdown was the one.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
It was.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
It was a physical style touchdown that gets everybody into
it and demoralizes them. If you can keep that up, yeah,
I think all the praise that he's getting is going
to be more than deserved.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I think the Rams became a more difficult team to
defend last Sunday, and Puka has been every part of
this offense so far this season. But when you can
cross face and win in the red zone and your
quarterback can put it on your face mask and you
know that you can win, that's the element that's been
lacking so far through four games. Finishing drives, finishing on
(12:54):
short fields, and when you have Puka Nakua and Matthew
Stafford knowing that that's available to them, and you have
DeVante on the other side who can win one on one,
and you know that you've got the sledgehammer and Kyron
Williams and we haven't felt the full force of that
short area run game yet. That's where I think they
can really blow the lid off of this thing. And
for all the great things that Pouka has done through
(13:16):
parts of three seasons, and they have been record setting,
he's not found the end zone much and that was
probably the biggest complaint for Rams fans and fantasy football
owners alike. He got in the box last week and
that wasn't by accident, and the fashion that he did that,
that's what I mean by I say I think defensive
coordinators are losing sleep this week because they've unlocked that
(13:37):
part of their offense.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
You talked about unlocking something and something of no. As
I'm listening to the radio broadcast, you guys mentioned just
the difficulty for pass catching from some of those tailbacks
against the Colts.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Why were they looking that direction?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And is that another maybe piece to this offense that
really can be a difference maker.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
The offense is going to grow right now, it's two
guys in the passing game and a hell of a
running games. I think, I hope it's a Sean McVay offense.
It's going to become more multiple, isn't it, Or can
it just run through two guys.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I think they're layering in tendencies. Yeah, I think they're
putting tape down that will be built off of week
after week and month, month after month from here on out.
Like they are dictating terms run in pass right now
in a way that Yeah, as they get deeper into
their game plan and their scheduling, I think they're only
going to have more levels to this thing. Yeah, But
like it's not just two to going for eighty eight.
(14:31):
It's too to just destroying Mike Hilton and earning a
pass interference. Like you have that dimension of your wide
receiver three, and you have Jordan Whittington shout out happy Birthday,
by the way, playing as a as an extra tight
end wide receiver three, and that all blends into the
efficiency of the running game, which is probably the most
underrated dimension of the rams so far, the way that
(14:54):
they've been able to get what they need on the ground.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Look, they have been running the football. The five guys
up front are doing a great job in their combo blocks.
I think the running backs, in particular Kyron and Blake Korn,
the way they're timing things up and setting things up
and the rhythm at which they start running.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Like you said, there's a lot of data they're.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Attacking defenses that gives Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay the
ability to throw off play action. But it's not like
you're forcing the ball to just DeVante and Pooka they're open.
If Davante Adams is open, that should be at the
top of your game plan. Get the ball to him,
get the ball to Puka Nakua. So I don't think
you're forcing it. I think they're just that good and
(15:35):
if you can somehow grow underneath and keep the running
game going, like you said, I agree with you, man,
you're going to keep some of these dcs up at
night trying to figure out I don't think we have
enough guys to cover what they can do.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Two quick follow ups on that. If you want target
share distributed to like your third and your fourth targets,
and you need the pass protection to allow Matthew Stafford
to get that deep in his progression. Every pass concept
is going to be one to Puka DeVante obvious reasons,
and I think the lack of pass pro so far
is why their target share looks the way that it does.
And then the other thing somewhat related is if you
(16:07):
want to know why Kyen Williams has been on the
field every single Sunday for just about every snap for
three years running, now go watch the way he passed
protected in that cold game. Yes, and why he has
the utmost trust and confidence of all of his coaches
in his quarterback.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
I love the way he plays the game. I really do.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Every team needs a kir and the dude plays with fire.
You've seen his hair, right, it does look like his
hair is on fire sometimes it really does.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Yeah, So that's the way he plays.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I mean that run where he crosses from what like
the left numbers all the way to the right side
of the field, gives the stiff arm and the point.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Like that is yeah, come on, now, that's what play
energy is. To me.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
We'll talk about Kien Williams play energy.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
That is.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
I want to see that as much as we saw
Squon jumping somebody backwards.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Right. Yeah, that's that was just as good.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Yes, I think that play has seen just as much
play on social media as a.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
And who he did it too.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
It was even Yeah, Oh it's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Maybe a position we could say is somewhat underserved in
terms of their targets this season. Maybe we don't really
need it quite yet. Is that tight end position just
something I noticed? Just four combined targets in the first
half for all tight ends, but then on that game
tying touchdown, four targets on that single drive alone. That
was a combo of Higbee Parkinson as well as Allan.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
It's coming.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
This is like the full back and a wishbone offense.
You have a function right now, we're banking it happen.
Your job is protection. But at some point we're going
to feed you a little bit that was not right now.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
That was the tempo drive. Yeahs, And they opened it
up and they got the tempo and they're being asked
to do different things in that schematic than they have
been for much of the first month of the year.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
M hm, yep, all right, Well, let's talk a little
offensive line. Will we see Steve? Will he be back
in the mix this week?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I believe full participant is what I saw on the
injury report as of yesterday.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Yeah, how does that change things?
Speaker 1 (17:55):
You know?
Speaker 4 (17:56):
You did like Dtitschen there.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I love the I love the story, I really do.
He's undersized. He seems like a guy you just can't
get rid of. And I'm telling you from my perspective,
he's the worst type of dude to play against because
as a guard, you want him short and stocky, you
really do, and all they do is jump in your
chest and make life miserable for you. But I seen
Steve on on the bench, you know, fully padded, ready
(18:20):
to go. That's an encouraging sign. And when he's out there,
you're more physical. He's a bigger dude and he likes
to throw his body around. Cannot wait until he's reinserted
in the lineup. But like you said, when you're running
the football and you're having success, it's hard to make
a switch in there. But at some point it's inevitable.
He's one of the best o linemen you have. He'll
(18:40):
find his way to the football field.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Not my decision to make. My guess is probably no.
I don't think he messed with continuity, especially on a
short week dditch had his best game of the season.
And also, if he is still speaking of Steve less
than one hundred percent, if you're able to hold him
out on Thursday night and still get that win, he
gets an extra ten days to hopefully be one hundred
percent going to baltim More. I do think for the
Rams to be at their best, he needs to be
(19:04):
playing left guard, just like I feel like for the
Rams to reach their ceiling, Terrence Ferguson needs to be
active and have a part of the game plan. But
it's a long season and everyone who's been asked to
contribute will still be asked to contribute this Thursday and
moving down the line.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, to your point, that was his highest graded game
of seventy four of the stage played for DH. Yeah,
and he also this is the mark though that's even
more interesting. It was actually the highest graded offensive lineman
for the Rams one Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Okay, have you noticed the pattern, I'm always going to
root for the shortest guy.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Just a thing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well, we already dove into the defense just a bit
at the top of the show, so I'm going to
fast forward us. Let's talk a little bit more about
the run defense and what we've seen currently ranked tenth
against the run are the Los Angeles Rams, And correct
me if I'm wrong, But it feels like this is
a defense that's no longer willing to give up small cuts.
They're not willing to give up much of anything. I
(19:59):
feel like that I has or that mentality has somewhat shifted.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I think the front seven is as good as any
front seven we've seen for the Rams in I don't
know how long. And speaking of short guys, Punaford is
as good as advertised. He is just an absolute problem.
He is a tree stump in the middle of the
road that you just cannot move. And another guy who
needs to get more credit. And I have to do
(20:25):
a better job of this. Kobe Turner is playing great
football run in pass he is. He's a guy that
plays tough on those rundowns and he also straightens out
and could be a pass rusher in the middle if
they didn't grab him and hold him, or if he
didn't trip. He has at least two sacks that touchdown
that we talked about that wasn't on the touch back.
(20:45):
He is a breath away from hitting and sacking Daniel
Jones the ball just got out. So those two guys,
everybody in the middle, the defensive ends and tackles, the
guys that put their hand down primarily to stop the
run rush the past have been absolutely great. That's the
reason to me this defense has gotten so much better.
(21:05):
And the clean up guys, the linebackers, and the tackling
has been exemplary. Coming out of the back end, Cam
Curle coming up with two picks, I thought that was fantastic.
But just those guys in the middle being consistent, communicating
and trusting each other to stop the run and forcing
you to throw. That's how a defense gets better.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
DeMarco, let me ask you something. Because the Rams are
running the gauntlet right now. When you think about Saquon JT.
McCaffrey this week, Derrick Henry next week. But when I
look at the Niners, the laundry is the same, but
the impact in the scheme is different. Like, I cannot
believe that here in week five, you're hosting a San
Francisco team that has not rushed for a touchdown yet.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
It's weird.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
McCaffrey is paradoxically the healthiest forty nine er on offense,
but he has become a receiver aligning in the backfield.
So how does that change the math? How does that
stretch you as a defensive front when he's always been
able and willing to hit that a gap and they'll
run a full back right at you. I still think
they will, But right now they're putting him on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
This is how can I say this? This is going
from boxing the MMA. This guy can do everything. So
of all the guys that you just mentioned, including Saquon
and Jonathan Taylor, I think they are great backs, this
guy scares me more than all of them because he
can do everything.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
He can hit you up the gut with speed.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
He can run traps, he can run counter, he can
slow play you, he can beat you to the flag.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
He can also run routes.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
He can pick on certain people on your defense that
you don't want covering anybody and make that guy pay.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Now, that's not the fourth read in the progression.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
That is the play to take advantage of that guy,
and he's got a coach that knows how to make
that matchup happen. So of anybody that the Rams have faced,
and they've all been great dangerous guys, ambient players, this
guy scares me the most.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yeah, I don't know who's gonna play quarterback for them.
That might be another twenty four hours in the making.
But I do know that he has the ability to
cool off your pass rush, not just as a pass protector,
but because you have to respect him leaking out. He
is that ultimate safety valve that I think Perdy and
or Jones will rely upon heavily come Thursday.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yes, and anytime he gets it, it's a home run
waiting to happen. It's not just a release or let's
just get the ball out, you save the sack. If
it gets to him, you better make sure you get
him on the ground because he can go.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
You know, it's interesting you talked about the front seven,
but I feel like now looking at this Rams defense,
there's one name that has kind of changed some of
the identity, and it's at the second level, and I think.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
The Landman, Nate land Man.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Oh yeah, I feel as if he's changed my expectations
of how this Rams run defense and even maybe facing
off against c Mac is going to play on Thursday night,
because you look at the big plays he's come away with,
whether it was the peanut punch against Houston or some
of the recoveries he's had in the last two games.
I mean, he really has changed the complexion of the
(23:49):
Rams at the second level.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I agree, man, I guess it's funny we've been waiting on.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
You Jones, right. Yeah, having a dude at that spot.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
A dude at that spot that seems to get it
in totality.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
And make plays.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Yeah, he's a leader from day one. He's only about
this and he can make plays and not just like
picks or whatever. He is stout against the run. He
sticks his nose in there. He's Yeah, it's like we've
been waiting on you for a while.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I feel bad. It's been ten days since his last takeaway.
So I hope he's doing okay, and I hope he
can get to Thursday night because he's probably hungry.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
That's fair enough.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Well, let's dig into Thursday night a bit more. It's
the Rams' first primetime game of the season, and it
will be for the NFC West Division lead, and that's
just a bit more juice to this rivalry. You think back,
they're looking for their fourth straight win over the forty
nine ers, and what's wild is in the past three
is we have trailed in the fourth quarter, and all
(24:52):
three of those matchups, Rams have outscored in the fourth
quarter thirty to three. In those last three matchups.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
We're looking for four in a row.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Four in a row.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Yeah, okay, we're getting there. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
You kind of like that, don't you.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I do, because you've been a part of somean streaks to.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Mark seventeen in a row.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Yeah, I've been on the receiving end of a like
fourteen straight or whatever it was. So yeah, okay, we're
getting there. But it's fun. Like I said, you throw
it all out the window. No matter how you're playing,
or how you feel about yourself or what you think
about them, throw it out the window if you don't
have a reason that. I'll say this to every current
RAMS player, and I've said this before, there's one thing
that unites us all, no matter where you played for
(25:32):
the Rams or when. It's a hatred of them. And
if you don't have a healthy hatred of them, just
wait a while.
Speaker 5 (25:38):
It'll show up. It may show up this Thursday.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Absolutely, no matter how you feel about yourself or them,
this game means more than you know. So if you
thought you played a great game. More is required this
Thursday to beat them.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Fans of this show have heard this before, so apologies
for the redundancy, But I've been saying it since the
schedule came out in May. I said it during training camp.
I'll say it again right now. The forty nine Ers
have the softest schedule in the National Football League by
virtue of finishing last in the division last year and
the crossover matchups, they have the cakewalk of all the
thirty two teams in the National Football League. So my
(26:12):
point back in the spring, in the summer, and again
now is the Los Angeles Rams need to beat the
San Francisco forty nine Ers twice, period, point blank. If
they don't do it, there aren't a lot of other
teams out there to do it. So if the Rams
want to win this division, if they want to keep
San Francisco from winning double digit games or getting a
playoff spot, it is up to them and no one else.
(26:33):
Thank you Jacksonville and Liam Cohen for that gift, right,
But again I go back to this is still a
three and one nine Er team, and if they get
to four and one, they won't just be atop the
NFC West they'll have the head to head on all
the other three division runners. So it's a big, big
deal Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
And it's unique too when you look at the Los
Angeles Rams schedule because their next divisual matchup isn't till
Week ten and it's right back against the forty nine ers.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
It's you got a long span, man.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I guess the schedule makers were saying that they don't
see this division coming down necessarily to La and San Francisco. Yeah,
it's incumbent upon Los Angeles to make them right.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Absolutely, Yes, continue get better. Yes.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Where do you see the advantage for the Los Angeles
Rams apart from the health side of this matchup?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Stafford, I think there's your advantage there and the way
you're running the football and the fact that you're at
home and your defense is coming off hell of a game,
a win. So I wish and that we were talking
about this earlier. I wish you had full rest for
this game. I wish you had a chance to recover
from such a physical game, you know, from Sunday to Sunday.
(27:39):
But they're going through the same thing you are, so
that's the benefit of it. And they're coming off a loss.
So I think the key is definitely going to be
Matthew Stafford finding those connections, getting better, just cleaning up
in between the the moments of greatness like how he
finished finishing up like not having that same or similar
(27:59):
third quartergainst the Niners.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Don't give them any life.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
When you seize control of the game, refuse to give
it back, keep building upon it, make the game, make
the fourth quarter easy. If you can do that, like
this is how you turn into one of the best
teams in the in the NFC, if not already.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Biggest mismatch I see is Puka Nakua against a rookie
in the slot up in Stout is going to be
a good player. I think he's already put some good
tape down, but he was seen as probably a reach
in the draft at five eight, five nine on a
good day, one hundred and eighty something pounds matched up
against Puka, who's been playing in the slot more than
any other. How do you think San Francisco and Robert
Sala handle that me?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
My guess is I think they do exactly what they
do and don't change and say make Poka, make Pooka.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Prove it to me that day. Really that seems to
be his mL right, and then adjust off it.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Because what's interesting about the blender that the Rams offense
puts you in is so far four teams have put
their best corner on Devonte Adams right, makes sense, right,
especially because where he aligns at some point? Do you
have to change to account for pookin Akua being the
most prolific receiver in the league. Well, when he's playing
(29:09):
all over the formation and when he's inserting into your
run surface, do you burn a lugarious sneed traveling with
pooku Akua? Is that even possible?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
I don't think that's the Yeah, I wouldn't do.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That, Okay, Yeah, So that's the strain that I think
the Rams offensively are really presenting to their opponents is, Yeah,
we've got the number one receiver in football, but he's
basically a mobile tight end. So how do you cover him?
Especially if you're built to have a small slot corner
like the forty nine ers have right now a rookie?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
So do you change the target share?
Speaker 1 (29:40):
I mean, that's been a big conversation throughout a fantasy
football fans.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Every week in.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Week out, I have people asking me, I mean you
have DeVante and you got Puku Nakua that the reality
is you still have two two. You've got tight ends.
But I'm going you're winning games with those two guys,
and then you have that third additional threat of two
two clearly down the field when.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
You need I don't have you.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Can you remember an instance where you thought they were
forcing the football to one or two guys?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
I mean I felt like they were forcing the football
at the end of last season. This feels like, yes,
what timing rhythm. This schematic makes a ton of sense.
Now you look at the share and the Rams are
slanted towards two players more than anyone else in the
National Football League, and I think Kiren is their third
larges target share. Let's give it another month to smooth out.
(30:26):
But I meant what I said when the Rams have
become a more difficult team to prepare for offensively based
on the way they beat the Colts, because I do
think you have to respect Jordan Whittington to two at well.
They continue to try and get Knate Mumfield targets and
I think his time is coming. And the tight end element.
Higbee had a big catch, Colby had some big catches.
Davis Allen has two touches, So I think it's more
(30:47):
about playoffs. I think it's running up your play account
and things will will smooth out. But if opposing defenses
don't change the way they're playing you, and you can
get the football into Pooka and DeVante's hands twenty times
per game.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
See in the playoffs, Yes, Mumfield was that close to
making swecast right there.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Yeah, to Marco, how challenging is it to face a
team like the San Francisco forty nine ers when you
really don't know who's going to be out there, especially
on a short week considering the number of injuries. I mean,
we could list them, but it's far too long.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
On their offense.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I mean, look the way they do things, it's it's
rhythm anyway. So you're going to be practicing reps and
getting to spots faster, you're going to be playing schemes,
So it really doesn't matter who's actually doing it, you
know what I'm saying. I mean, I think that's what
McCaffrey does. He's so good at doing it, and then
he has the other gear to make you pay, make
you miss, and make you go. But Yeah, when you're
(31:39):
preparing for the forty nine ers, you are preparing for
McCaffrey and everyone else, you're really preparing for Shanahan. You
got to beat him to the thing, because as we
give McVeigh credit, you can give him the same credit.
He will find a way to run the football. He
will find a way to exploit your rules on defense
and use them against you. He's great at it. So
it almost does matter who's carrying the rock. It's just
(32:01):
you better beat them to the spot before they get there.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
What do you think it's going to be like seeing
DeMarcus Robinson in some different colors.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Who I mean no disrespect to him, but like if
if he is getting a lot of burn for them,
that means that their top end guys aren't going. And
we'll see about Pearsall, We'll see about Jenny's. We know
Iyuke's on ir, we know Kittle's not going to go. Like,
I mean, thank you to Marcus Robinson for everything you
meant to this franchise for multiple years. But if they
(32:31):
have to lean heavily on him Thursday night, that means
that some of their top options are not going to
be dressed or able to go you put.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
On a red I don't know you. I'll know you
after the game.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
I got you. Okay, we've gone through several of the
keys to victory.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Do you have any final thoughts on this matchup in
terms of keys to victory?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Dare I say we still haven't seen the best game
just yet? Or all three phases coming together? This couldn't close.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Wouldn't you say, don't touch my third face because that's
my Oh darn it, that was mine.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
That's ours.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Okay, Okay, then I'll lean on defense and running the football.
I think that's been the thing that has stood out
the most to me, or has made the biggest like
improvement from one season to the next. They're running the football,
Maury said it. It's the keda football. Sometimes running the
football is violence. They're running with violence, they're running with authority,
(33:26):
and they're stopping the run the same way. It's not
just guys, like you said, getting lucky to the football
or a bunch of gaps and stunt switches. These are
guys that are facing people up, two hands to the chest,
driving you backwards and making plays. So running the football,
controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides. I think
has been the Rams calling card. It's got to be
(33:47):
the same thing on Thursday night versus San fran If
you want to win this football game.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
You bring it home.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Not serious.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
I've talked about it, Okay.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I was gonna say we got to give some love
to special teams, especially after the response against Philly, and
I'm gonna go with what they've been able to do
penning teams deep.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
It's the second.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Best mark in the NFL currently and conversely the opposite
side the forty nine ers worst. I'm going to say
we're winning that phase come Thursday night. That's you got
any others?
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Why did the Niners finish last in the division last season?
Injury misfortune? Sure, but special teams has been a grease
fire up there. They let a punt back a big
time kick return back last week. They've already changed kickers.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
The biggest strategic advantage in this game I think is
in the kicking phase. But I say this with a
huge grain of salt and a huge level of concern
and respect, because when you face a team that doesn't
have a pick yet, that hasn't rushed for a touchdown yet,
you have to keep an ailing team sick. Do not
let this week be the one where the forty nine
(34:47):
ers get healthy and get off the hook and get
hot and go on a run. Because we've seen that
movie before. I don't want to see it again in
twenty five.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
I love you over there, I really do.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I think there's a focus in this that is very
aware of the danger that exists facing off against a
rivalry on a short week, and even that that is injured.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
One last thing, real quick. My friend and my counterpart,
Greg Papa for the San Francisco forty nine Ers, is
on injured reserve this season. Oh he's sick. He's back
on the radio. He's not going to be broadcasting this game.
So for any forty nine Ers fans who made it
this deep in between the horns for Greg, love you man,
thinking about you. If there's going to be any contingent
(35:27):
of red and gold inside Sofi Stadium tomorrow night, I
live with it. If you are going to be one
of them, I'm sorry that you're not, but cannot wait
to see again for rams and nine or soon.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Well said Jbi Long for Jbi Long, DeMarco far I'm
camer murder when this has been another edition of Between
the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyta Dealers.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
We can't wait to see.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
You and so by tomorrow night it will be on
Amazon Prime Prime Time and so FI five fifteen.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
We can't wait to see that.
Welcome back to Between the Horns, presented by your Southern
California Toyota Dealers. I'm feeling so stoked be sitting next
to this crew. We've got JV Long and DeMarco far
I'm Cameron Irwin and man going over there. I know
rehearsal were resting one. I'll be happy to be the
fourth man in this.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Absolutely, Cameron take the wheel.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Yes, coming off the win against the Indianapolis Colts with
a quick turnaround short week, we've got the none other
forty nine ers coming into the Rams House. Before we
get into this, though, I feel like we got to
look back and celebrate the noise, the octave that was
hitting Sofi Stadium just a few days ago.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It was superb, super loud in there. Rams fans should
be proud. And I was saying this to the fans
that were there early in the game. I said, you know,
the louder you get, the better Jared Verse and company
will play. Uh, you are a part of this as well,
and they played like Gangbusters. So it was super loud
down there. It was a very physical football game. It
was a heck of a win. But you have to
(01:06):
put all that aside because this is the only week
that matters, you know how I feel.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
But you're saying that for Jared to attack the center
the way that he did, Yes, that only happened when
you're in your home environment, when you.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Have crowd noise. This is like we said what you
did versus Philly, not to bring up old things. It
was the worst environment for you. They weren't for you. You're
on grass, you go home, you've got crowd noise on
your surface. You should get off. And that's exactly what
you saw. The crowd brought it. They brought it. Let's
keep bringing it o camera.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
My family, my friends, our guests, they all said that
was one of the loudest game day environments they had
been a part of. You're down there on the field.
Was that true to you too?
Speaker 4 (01:44):
Without question? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
At one point, actually I have to wear double in
ears because it's so loud, and it didn't do enough
last week, and it was incredible. At one point I
took it out and I'm like, is this for real?
Like it was astonishing down there and it gave meat chills,
especially in the fourth quarter. You're sitting there going, oh,
this is what a home crowd environment feels.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Like, and it really paid dividends.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Say, the standard is the standard now, right, that's what
they gave us. That's what we're expecting now every week.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
There you go, yes, sir, love it well.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Heading into week five a couple things. Shout outs to
the offense and defensive side of the ball. Rams heading
with the highest graded offense into week five and the
second highest graded defense into week five. I mean, this
team is looking pretty solid.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I didn't know that the offense has gone up to
second highest rated offense in the league.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Wow. First defense is second man.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Well, I guess through. I look at things through a
defensive lens first and foremost, and to see them get
better week end and week out, and the communication is
getting the tackling was outstanding. That's the one thing. The
mark of a good defense is pursuit and tackling. When
you turn on that tape and you watch when there's
all out pursuit and when you stop it at the
end of the play, you'll see at least ten rams
(02:56):
surrounding the football within a yard and a half of it.
That's pursuit and they're all getting guys on the ground.
And then when it comes time to rush the passer.
They've got guys that can flat out. Just when Byron
Young is having a great year, Jared Versu is the
most physical edge player in the league, and he's turning
into one of the best down.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Linemen in the league. He can line up anywhere.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So when you see those guys continue to get better,
no shock that you're going to go up in the rankings.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Was pursuit the word that I just heard you use, pursuit.
How about Byron Young? I felt like I was watching
National Geographic the way that he changed Daniel.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yes day, oh man. I mean, look, okay, it was
the read that was phenomenal.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
The speed.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
We all know that he can run, since he was drafted.
We knew the guy could run. It was the read
and react. I know what you're doing. I've seen this
before and I'm going to beat you to the spot.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Daniel Jones can run and he flat got run down.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
So when you start seeing that stuff as an OC, okay, well,
we can't run this against this guy and unless we
set it up perfectly. So watching him get better is
like a microcosm for the rest of the defense. They
are growing up and they are ready for primetime.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I mean I just appreciate so much the physical sacrifice
that a lot of these guys are making, especially on
a short week. I think of two names in particular,
Jared Vers I think, dislocated a finger on his way
to stripsacking Daniel Jones to help the Rams clinch that
pop that thing back in there and was back out
there for the next rep. And we're to the point
with Puka Nakoua now where the game almost doesn't start
until he makes his first trip to the locker room
(04:25):
and comes back bigger, faster, and stronger. This weekend, I mean,
it is incredible, and I just I cannot articulate how
much I admire it and respect it. And yeah, the
Rams could very well be four and oh, but I
think three and oh is a very fair representation of
the way they played so far, and the opportunity in
front of them this week makes the hair on the
(04:46):
back of my next stand up Like it seems like
every time the Niners in the Rams get together, LA
has a chance to throw a little bit of dirt
on a fragile forty nine Ers team, and they're banged
up now and they're coming off their first loss of
the season. I also know that the schedule they have
is the easiest in the National Football League. So if
you let them get out of your place with a win,
(05:07):
they would be three and oh. Against the division they
be four and one. Overall, you cannot let that happen.
And that's kind of the backdrop that I take into
this Thursday night.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I love his mentality. See it's everything. I don't care
how banged up they are. They're still great to me
until you beat them.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Without question.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I was going to say there is still danger anytime
you face the San Francisco forty nine ers, But thinking
on verse two, a season high six pressures, this is
what's wild, three of which came in under two.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
And a half seconds. That's just how quick you was moving.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I love the thing which you said about the finger
being popped back in because as it's happening, he's giving
his hand to the training staff to like, hey, fix
this thing, and he's continuing to watch what's going on
in the field. Are you done? Can I go back?
Speaker 5 (05:52):
Yes? Dude, I mean that's taking it to a whole
new level.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Yeah, there's some things that he needs to work out
discipline wise, But we said the same thing about another
certain someone that used to play here, we're number ninety nine.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
He earned the right to freelance.
Speaker 5 (06:07):
Production equal tolerance.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
So, I mean, he's got some of the best instincts
that we've seen, and he's absolutely physical as a player.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And the head to head with Trent Williams, yeah, one
of those matchups in professional football that I would pay
to see in person because it's not gonna last forever.
But this is another iteration of it, and it's gonna
be everything it's hyped up to do.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
I'm so glad you said that.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
So like the forty nine ers, and most of the
talk this week is who's not there, but let's talk
about who is.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
He is one of the best. He's still that guy.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So when I give Jared Vers props for being physical, well,
this is the other guy. His punch is second to none.
If he gets those paws on you, you're going to
react and it's not gonna feel good. So and for
a guy like Josiah Stewart, if you want to get
to where these other two guys are, this is what
they had to go through. You're gonna have to go through,
you know what to get to them. So when you
(06:57):
do load up and this is what every team has
done to stop McCaffrey, and you force brock Purty or
whoever's back there to throw the football. Yeah, I mean
that's a win for the defense, but you still got
to get around him.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
You still have to get around one of the best
in the business.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Over under one and a half penalties in the offensive
tackles for San Francisco this Thursday night. Some combination of
false start and holding. That's what I'm gonna have my
eye on. Much pressure can you put on them as
pass blockers, as pass protectors in your home stadium?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
You know, if if the Rams crowd and those edge
rushers force a false start, I may break character and
clap two.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
I mean that that says a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
But holding almost to guarantee, with the way they're playing,
they're gonna have to reach out and grab one of
those guys.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
You guys are already unveiling with the forty nine ers matchup.
I feel like, do we take some time to at
least relive a little bit of Sunday before we look ahead.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Welcome to your first between the horns, and we don't
stick to the script anymore. Yeah, at this point I
will respect, the fact that the paper is in your
hand this week and I'm playing left handed.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
Yes, I love it, I obviously love it.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I just feel like we have to give credit where
credit is due, and that's none other to Matthew Stafford.
Just another impressive fourth quarter comeback, his thirty ninth of
his career. You saw him three touchdowns, zero exceptions, a
QBR of one twenty three ish.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Just an impressive plan.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
To think he only had four passing yards in the
third quarter and still came away with three hundred and
seventy five yards. Just how clutch was Stafford on Sunday?
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Super clutch.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You know that's the not to before we get heap
on the praise, and he deserves all praise. He makes
game days so much easier, He makes Saturdays and Wednesdays
so much easier. You know, having a guy like that
on your football team, how special he is. But I
just I don't know what happened in that third quarter.
We were talking about it during the game, like, how
did everything just all of a sudden come to a halt.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Thank players in both directions, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Both directions, right. It was just a weird thing. But
when it matters most, when you need a play. If
you give him too much time, same thing you say
about Mahomes or all the greatest quarterbacks in this league.
If you give Stafford enough time to beat you, he's
going to. Yeah, if you challenge him or talk trash
to the wrong guy, him in particular, he's going to
(09:09):
make you pay. He is as petty as any of
the great quarterbacks you've ever seen, and he's got arm
talent like you wouldn't believe. So played his butt off,
and I thought what he did against Lot too. You
may not talk about it. You can say that he
had a great game, but he did not let lot
to the fact that he was winning derail him. Okay,
(09:29):
you win here, I step here, you win there, I
step here. You may be winning, you may be in
on me, but you're not getting sacks. You're waisting rushes.
That is the most frustrating thing in the world. It
drives you crazy as a pass rusher. I'm winning, I'm winning,
I'm winning, and I've got almost nothing to show for it.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
It just burns you up.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm humble enough to know that no one would ever
want to clone me. But if that were to ever happen,
I hope that JB two point zero is everything that
Matthew Stafford two point zero has been so far this
season for the Los Angeles Rams. He is the best
corres back in the league through a month against pressure.
He's the best deep ball thrower in the league after
the month of September. And it's way too early for
(10:07):
individual award conversations on both sides of the ball. H
But if he has a Thursday night, like I know
he's capable of I'm gonna be back in this seat
or maybe that one next week saying some pretty crazy
things about Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Will promise you that three letters in particular.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Maybe yeah, without question.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
He's actually on pace to end the season in the
top five career passing yards category.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
That might just seal the deal.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh yeah, yeah, But throw all the numbers out, like yeah,
that was his longest touchdown pass to two two and
three seventy five was his most prolific passing game as
a Ram. But like, watch miked up, right, watch miked up.
Forget all the numbers, watch miked up. That's why that
guy's going to careful.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
Who you talk to. You know, who you talk trash to?
He is him. He is he is that guy, Yes.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Sir, another he is him coming out of this game
and actually throughout the season. Pokakua, and congratulations, Pookakua just
named the NFC off a Player of the Week and
not surprising, he had over one hundred yards before he
even got to half time. Like you want to talk
about some numbers for this guy leading the NFL and
receiving yards, receptions, yards per game. It just goes on
(11:14):
and on. But I want to go back to just
the competitive fire. I think you can see it with
certain athletes when you simply decide I am not losing
this game. And I feel like you saw that switch
skip flip for Puka Nakua. You think back to that
third and thirteen and then the fourth and two touchdown play,
he simply decided we're winning this game.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
The touchdown to me is what stands out. I mean
a lot of things stand out with him. He is
he's such a hammer, and there's so many things you
can do with him, and you've got problems before and
after the catch, and a physical price to pay when
you're bearing down on him. You know, depending on if
you're a safety or a corner coming on an angle
you better hit that thing right, you know what I mean?
If not, that could hurt a number two. He could
(11:56):
bounce off you and go. His confidence is growing and
it's fun to watch him grow as a player. So
he goes and he's the understudy, and now he's the
leading man, and now he knows he's the leading fricking man.
And it doesn't seem like he's looking to slow down
at any point. So I love the way they use him.
(12:17):
I love the way he plays the game. I thought
the touchdown was the one.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
It was.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
It was a physical style touchdown that gets everybody into
it and demoralizes them. If you can keep that up, yeah,
I think all the praise that he's getting is going
to be more than deserved.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I think the Rams became a more difficult team to
defend last Sunday, and Puka has been every part of
this offense so far this season. But when you can
cross face and win in the red zone and your
quarterback can put it on your face mask and you
know that you can win, that's the element that's been
lacking so far through four games. Finishing drives, finishing on
(12:54):
short fields, and when you have Puka Nakua and Matthew
Stafford knowing that that's available to them, and you have
DeVante on the other side who can win one on one,
and you know that you've got the sledgehammer and Kyron
Williams and we haven't felt the full force of that
short area run game yet. That's where I think they
can really blow the lid off of this thing. And
for all the great things that Pouka has done through
(13:16):
parts of three seasons, and they have been record setting,
he's not found the end zone much and that was
probably the biggest complaint for Rams fans and fantasy football
owners alike. He got in the box last week and
that wasn't by accident, and the fashion that he did that,
that's what I mean by I say I think defensive
coordinators are losing sleep this week because they've unlocked that
(13:37):
part of their offense.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
You talked about unlocking something and something of no. As
I'm listening to the radio broadcast, you guys mentioned just
the difficulty for pass catching from some of those tailbacks
against the Colts.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Why were they looking that direction?
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And is that another maybe piece to this offense that
really can be a difference maker.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
The offense is going to grow right now, it's two
guys in the passing game and a hell of a
running games. I think, I hope it's a Sean McVay offense.
It's going to become more multiple, isn't it, Or can
it just run through two guys.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I think they're layering in tendencies. Yeah, I think they're
putting tape down that will be built off of week
after week and month, month after month from here on out.
Like they are dictating terms run in pass right now
in a way that Yeah, as they get deeper into
their game plan and their scheduling, I think they're only
going to have more levels to this thing. Yeah, But
like it's not just two to going for eighty eight.
(14:31):
It's too to just destroying Mike Hilton and earning a
pass interference. Like you have that dimension of your wide
receiver three, and you have Jordan Whittington shout out happy Birthday,
by the way, playing as a as an extra tight
end wide receiver three, and that all blends into the
efficiency of the running game, which is probably the most
underrated dimension of the rams so far, the way that
(14:54):
they've been able to get what they need on the ground.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Look, they have been running the football. The five guys
up front are doing a great job in their combo blocks.
I think the running backs, in particular Kyron and Blake Korn,
the way they're timing things up and setting things up
and the rhythm at which they start running.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Like you said, there's a lot of data they're.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Attacking defenses that gives Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay the
ability to throw off play action. But it's not like
you're forcing the ball to just DeVante and Pooka they're open.
If Davante Adams is open, that should be at the
top of your game plan. Get the ball to him,
get the ball to Puka Nakua. So I don't think
you're forcing it. I think they're just that good and
(15:35):
if you can somehow grow underneath and keep the running
game going, like you said, I agree with you, man,
you're going to keep some of these dcs up at
night trying to figure out I don't think we have
enough guys to cover what they can do.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Two quick follow ups on that. If you want target
share distributed to like your third and your fourth targets,
and you need the pass protection to allow Matthew Stafford
to get that deep in his progression. Every pass concept
is going to be one to Puka DeVante obvious reasons,
and I think the lack of pass pro so far
is why their target share looks the way that it does.
And then the other thing somewhat related is if you
(16:07):
want to know why Kyen Williams has been on the
field every single Sunday for just about every snap for
three years running, now go watch the way he passed
protected in that cold game. Yes, and why he has
the utmost trust and confidence of all of his coaches
in his quarterback.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
I love the way he plays the game. I really do.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Every team needs a kir and the dude plays with fire.
You've seen his hair, right, it does look like his
hair is on fire sometimes it really does.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Yeah, So that's the way he plays.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I mean that run where he crosses from what like
the left numbers all the way to the right side
of the field, gives the stiff arm and the point.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
Like that is yeah, come on, now, that's what play
energy is. To me.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
We'll talk about Kien Williams play energy.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
That is.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
I want to see that as much as we saw
Squon jumping somebody backwards.
Speaker 5 (16:51):
Right. Yeah, that's that was just as good.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Yes, I think that play has seen just as much
play on social media as a.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
And who he did it too.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
It was even Yeah, Oh it's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Maybe a position we could say is somewhat underserved in
terms of their targets this season. Maybe we don't really
need it quite yet. Is that tight end position just
something I noticed? Just four combined targets in the first
half for all tight ends, but then on that game
tying touchdown, four targets on that single drive alone. That
was a combo of Higbee Parkinson as well as Allan.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
It's coming.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
This is like the full back and a wishbone offense.
You have a function right now, we're banking it happen.
Your job is protection. But at some point we're going
to feed you a little bit that was not right now.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
That was the tempo drive. Yeahs, And they opened it
up and they got the tempo and they're being asked
to do different things in that schematic than they have
been for much of the first month of the year.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
M hm, yep, all right, Well, let's talk a little
offensive line. Will we see Steve? Will he be back
in the mix this week?
Speaker 1 (17:50):
I believe full participant is what I saw on the
injury report as of yesterday.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Yeah, how does that change things?
Speaker 1 (17:55):
You know?
Speaker 4 (17:56):
You did like Dtitschen there.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
I love the I love the story, I really do.
He's undersized. He seems like a guy you just can't
get rid of. And I'm telling you from my perspective,
he's the worst type of dude to play against because
as a guard, you want him short and stocky, you
really do, and all they do is jump in your
chest and make life miserable for you. But I seen
Steve on on the bench, you know, fully padded, ready
(18:20):
to go. That's an encouraging sign. And when he's out there,
you're more physical. He's a bigger dude and he likes
to throw his body around. Cannot wait until he's reinserted
in the lineup. But like you said, when you're running
the football and you're having success, it's hard to make
a switch in there. But at some point it's inevitable.
He's one of the best o linemen you have. He'll
(18:40):
find his way to the football field.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Not my decision to make. My guess is probably no.
I don't think he messed with continuity, especially on a
short week dditch had his best game of the season.
And also, if he is still speaking of Steve less
than one hundred percent, if you're able to hold him
out on Thursday night and still get that win, he
gets an extra ten days to hopefully be one hundred
percent going to baltim More. I do think for the
Rams to be at their best, he needs to be
(19:04):
playing left guard, just like I feel like for the
Rams to reach their ceiling, Terrence Ferguson needs to be
active and have a part of the game plan. But
it's a long season and everyone who's been asked to
contribute will still be asked to contribute this Thursday and
moving down the line.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, to your point, that was his highest graded game
of seventy four of the stage played for DH. Yeah,
and he also this is the mark though that's even
more interesting. It was actually the highest graded offensive lineman
for the Rams one Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Okay, have you noticed the pattern, I'm always going to
root for the shortest guy.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Just a thing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Well, we already dove into the defense just a bit
at the top of the show, so I'm going to
fast forward us. Let's talk a little bit more about
the run defense and what we've seen currently ranked tenth
against the run are the Los Angeles Rams, And correct
me if I'm wrong, But it feels like this is
a defense that's no longer willing to give up small cuts.
They're not willing to give up much of anything. I
(19:59):
feel like that I has or that mentality has somewhat shifted.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I think the front seven is as good as any
front seven we've seen for the Rams in I don't
know how long. And speaking of short guys, Punaford is
as good as advertised. He is just an absolute problem.
He is a tree stump in the middle of the
road that you just cannot move. And another guy who
needs to get more credit. And I have to do
(20:25):
a better job of this. Kobe Turner is playing great
football run in pass he is. He's a guy that
plays tough on those rundowns and he also straightens out
and could be a pass rusher in the middle if
they didn't grab him and hold him, or if he
didn't trip. He has at least two sacks that touchdown
that we talked about that wasn't on the touch back.
(20:45):
He is a breath away from hitting and sacking Daniel
Jones the ball just got out. So those two guys,
everybody in the middle, the defensive ends and tackles, the
guys that put their hand down primarily to stop the
run rush the past have been absolutely great. That's the
reason to me this defense has gotten so much better.
(21:05):
And the clean up guys, the linebackers, and the tackling
has been exemplary. Coming out of the back end, Cam
Curle coming up with two picks, I thought that was fantastic.
But just those guys in the middle being consistent, communicating
and trusting each other to stop the run and forcing
you to throw. That's how a defense gets better.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
DeMarco, let me ask you something. Because the Rams are
running the gauntlet right now. When you think about Saquon JT.
McCaffrey this week, Derrick Henry next week. But when I
look at the Niners, the laundry is the same, but
the impact in the scheme is different. Like, I cannot
believe that here in week five, you're hosting a San
Francisco team that has not rushed for a touchdown yet.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
It's weird.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
McCaffrey is paradoxically the healthiest forty nine er on offense,
but he has become a receiver aligning in the backfield.
So how does that change the math? How does that
stretch you as a defensive front when he's always been
able and willing to hit that a gap and they'll
run a full back right at you. I still think
they will, But right now they're putting him on the perimeter.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
This is how can I say this? This is going
from boxing the MMA. This guy can do everything. So
of all the guys that you just mentioned, including Saquon
and Jonathan Taylor, I think they are great backs, this
guy scares me more than all of them because he
can do everything.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
He can hit you up the gut with speed.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
He can run traps, he can run counter, he can
slow play you, he can beat you to the flag.
Speaker 5 (22:26):
He can also run routes.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
He can pick on certain people on your defense that
you don't want covering anybody and make that guy pay.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Now, that's not the fourth read in the progression.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
That is the play to take advantage of that guy,
and he's got a coach that knows how to make
that matchup happen. So of anybody that the Rams have faced,
and they've all been great dangerous guys, ambient players, this
guy scares me the most.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yeah, I don't know who's gonna play quarterback for them.
That might be another twenty four hours in the making.
But I do know that he has the ability to
cool off your pass rush, not just as a pass protector,
but because you have to respect him leaking out. He
is that ultimate safety valve that I think Perdy and
or Jones will rely upon heavily come Thursday.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yes, and anytime he gets it, it's a home run
waiting to happen. It's not just a release or let's
just get the ball out, you save the sack. If
it gets to him, you better make sure you get
him on the ground because he can go.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
You know, it's interesting you talked about the front seven,
but I feel like now looking at this Rams defense,
there's one name that has kind of changed some of
the identity, and it's at the second level, and I think.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
The Landman, Nate land Man.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Oh yeah, I feel as if he's changed my expectations
of how this Rams run defense and even maybe facing
off against c Mac is going to play on Thursday night,
because you look at the big plays he's come away with,
whether it was the peanut punch against Houston or some
of the recoveries he's had in the last two games.
I mean, he really has changed the complexion of the
(23:49):
Rams at the second level.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I agree, man, I guess it's funny we've been waiting on.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
You Jones, right. Yeah, having a dude at that spot.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
A dude at that spot that seems to get it
in totality.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
And make plays.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Yeah, he's a leader from day one. He's only about
this and he can make plays and not just like
picks or whatever. He is stout against the run. He
sticks his nose in there. He's Yeah, it's like we've
been waiting on you for a while.
Speaker 5 (24:23):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
I feel bad. It's been ten days since his last takeaway.
So I hope he's doing okay, and I hope he
can get to Thursday night because he's probably hungry.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
That's fair enough.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Well, let's dig into Thursday night a bit more. It's
the Rams' first primetime game of the season, and it
will be for the NFC West Division lead, and that's
just a bit more juice to this rivalry. You think back,
they're looking for their fourth straight win over the forty
nine ers, and what's wild is in the past three
is we have trailed in the fourth quarter, and all
(24:52):
three of those matchups, Rams have outscored in the fourth
quarter thirty to three. In those last three matchups.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
We're looking for four in a row.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Four in a row.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
Yeah, okay, we're getting there. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
You kind of like that, don't you.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I do, because you've been a part of somean streaks to.
Speaker 5 (25:09):
Mark seventeen in a row.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Yeah, I've been on the receiving end of a like
fourteen straight or whatever it was. So yeah, okay, we're
getting there. But it's fun. Like I said, you throw
it all out the window. No matter how you're playing,
or how you feel about yourself or what you think
about them, throw it out the window if you don't
have a reason that. I'll say this to every current
RAMS player, and I've said this before, there's one thing
that unites us all, no matter where you played for
(25:32):
the Rams or when. It's a hatred of them. And
if you don't have a healthy hatred of them, just
wait a while.
Speaker 5 (25:38):
It'll show up. It may show up this Thursday.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Absolutely, no matter how you feel about yourself or them,
this game means more than you know. So if you
thought you played a great game. More is required this
Thursday to beat them.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Fans of this show have heard this before, so apologies
for the redundancy, But I've been saying it since the
schedule came out in May. I said it during training camp.
I'll say it again right now. The forty nine Ers
have the softest schedule in the National Football League by
virtue of finishing last in the division last year and
the crossover matchups, they have the cakewalk of all the
thirty two teams in the National Football League. So my
(26:12):
point back in the spring, in the summer, and again
now is the Los Angeles Rams need to beat the
San Francisco forty nine Ers twice, period, point blank. If
they don't do it, there aren't a lot of other
teams out there to do it. So if the Rams
want to win this division, if they want to keep
San Francisco from winning double digit games or getting a
playoff spot, it is up to them and no one else.
(26:33):
Thank you Jacksonville and Liam Cohen for that gift, right,
But again I go back to this is still a
three and one nine Er team, and if they get
to four and one, they won't just be atop the
NFC West they'll have the head to head on all
the other three division runners. So it's a big, big
deal Thursday night.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
And it's unique too when you look at the Los
Angeles Rams schedule because their next divisual matchup isn't till
Week ten and it's right back against the forty nine ers.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
It's you got a long span, man.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
I guess the schedule makers were saying that they don't
see this division coming down necessarily to La and San Francisco. Yeah,
it's incumbent upon Los Angeles to make them right.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Absolutely, Yes, continue get better. Yes.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Where do you see the advantage for the Los Angeles
Rams apart from the health side of this matchup?
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Stafford, I think there's your advantage there and the way
you're running the football and the fact that you're at
home and your defense is coming off hell of a game,
a win. So I wish and that we were talking
about this earlier. I wish you had full rest for
this game. I wish you had a chance to recover
from such a physical game, you know, from Sunday to Sunday.
(27:39):
But they're going through the same thing you are, so
that's the benefit of it. And they're coming off a loss.
So I think the key is definitely going to be
Matthew Stafford finding those connections, getting better, just cleaning up
in between the the moments of greatness like how he
finished finishing up like not having that same or similar
(27:59):
third quartergainst the Niners.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Don't give them any life.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
When you seize control of the game, refuse to give
it back, keep building upon it, make the game, make
the fourth quarter easy. If you can do that, like
this is how you turn into one of the best
teams in the in the NFC, if not already.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Biggest mismatch I see is Puka Nakua against a rookie
in the slot up in Stout is going to be
a good player. I think he's already put some good
tape down, but he was seen as probably a reach
in the draft at five eight, five nine on a
good day, one hundred and eighty something pounds matched up
against Puka, who's been playing in the slot more than
any other. How do you think San Francisco and Robert
Sala handle that me?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
My guess is I think they do exactly what they
do and don't change and say make Poka, make Pooka.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Prove it to me that day. Really that seems to
be his mL right, and then adjust off it.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Because what's interesting about the blender that the Rams offense
puts you in is so far four teams have put
their best corner on Devonte Adams right, makes sense, right,
especially because where he aligns at some point? Do you
have to change to account for pookin Akua being the
most prolific receiver in the league. Well, when he's playing
(29:09):
all over the formation and when he's inserting into your
run surface, do you burn a lugarious sneed traveling with
pooku Akua? Is that even possible?
Speaker 5 (29:18):
I don't think that's the Yeah, I wouldn't do.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
That, Okay, Yeah, So that's the strain that I think
the Rams offensively are really presenting to their opponents is, Yeah,
we've got the number one receiver in football, but he's
basically a mobile tight end. So how do you cover him?
Especially if you're built to have a small slot corner
like the forty nine ers have right now a rookie?
Speaker 4 (29:38):
So do you change the target share?
Speaker 1 (29:40):
I mean, that's been a big conversation throughout a fantasy
football fans.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Every week in.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Week out, I have people asking me, I mean you
have DeVante and you got Puku Nakua that the reality
is you still have two two. You've got tight ends.
But I'm going you're winning games with those two guys,
and then you have that third additional threat of two
two clearly down the field when.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
You need I don't have you.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Can you remember an instance where you thought they were
forcing the football to one or two guys?
Speaker 2 (30:06):
I mean I felt like they were forcing the football
at the end of last season. This feels like, yes,
what timing rhythm. This schematic makes a ton of sense.
Now you look at the share and the Rams are
slanted towards two players more than anyone else in the
National Football League, and I think Kiren is their third
larges target share. Let's give it another month to smooth out.
(30:26):
But I meant what I said when the Rams have
become a more difficult team to prepare for offensively based
on the way they beat the Colts, because I do
think you have to respect Jordan Whittington to two at well.
They continue to try and get Knate Mumfield targets and
I think his time is coming. And the tight end element.
Higbee had a big catch, Colby had some big catches.
Davis Allen has two touches, So I think it's more
(30:47):
about playoffs. I think it's running up your play account
and things will will smooth out. But if opposing defenses
don't change the way they're playing you, and you can
get the football into Pooka and DeVante's hands twenty times
per game.
Speaker 5 (30:59):
Thank you?
Speaker 3 (31:00):
See in the playoffs, Yes, Mumfield was that close to
making swecast right there.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Yeah, to Marco, how challenging is it to face a
team like the San Francisco forty nine ers when you
really don't know who's going to be out there, especially
on a short week considering the number of injuries. I mean,
we could list them, but it's far too long.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
On their offense.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I mean, look the way they do things, it's it's
rhythm anyway. So you're going to be practicing reps and
getting to spots faster, you're going to be playing schemes,
So it really doesn't matter who's actually doing it, you
know what I'm saying. I mean, I think that's what
McCaffrey does. He's so good at doing it, and then
he has the other gear to make you pay, make
you miss, and make you go. But Yeah, when you're
(31:39):
preparing for the forty nine ers, you are preparing for
McCaffrey and everyone else, you're really preparing for Shanahan. You
got to beat him to the thing, because as we
give McVeigh credit, you can give him the same credit.
He will find a way to run the football. He
will find a way to exploit your rules on defense
and use them against you. He's great at it. So
it almost does matter who's carrying the rock. It's just
(32:01):
you better beat them to the spot before they get there.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
What do you think it's going to be like seeing
DeMarcus Robinson in some different colors.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Who I mean no disrespect to him, but like if
if he is getting a lot of burn for them,
that means that their top end guys aren't going. And
we'll see about Pearsall, We'll see about Jenny's. We know
Iyuke's on ir, we know Kittle's not going to go. Like,
I mean, thank you to Marcus Robinson for everything you
meant to this franchise for multiple years. But if they
(32:31):
have to lean heavily on him Thursday night, that means
that some of their top options are not going to
be dressed or able to go you put.
Speaker 5 (32:38):
On a red I don't know you. I'll know you
after the game.
Speaker 4 (32:42):
I got you. Okay, we've gone through several of the
keys to victory.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Do you have any final thoughts on this matchup in
terms of keys to victory?
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Dare I say we still haven't seen the best game
just yet? Or all three phases coming together? This couldn't close.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Wouldn't you say, don't touch my third face because that's
my Oh darn it, that was mine.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
That's ours.
Speaker 3 (33:03):
Okay, Okay, then I'll lean on defense and running the football.
I think that's been the thing that has stood out
the most to me, or has made the biggest like
improvement from one season to the next. They're running the football,
Maury said it. It's the keda football. Sometimes running the
football is violence. They're running with violence, they're running with authority,
(33:26):
and they're stopping the run the same way. It's not
just guys, like you said, getting lucky to the football
or a bunch of gaps and stunt switches. These are
guys that are facing people up, two hands to the chest,
driving you backwards and making plays. So running the football,
controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides. I think
has been the Rams calling card. It's got to be
(33:47):
the same thing on Thursday night versus San fran If
you want to win this football game.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
You bring it home.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Not serious.
Speaker 4 (33:52):
I've talked about it, Okay.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I was gonna say we got to give some love
to special teams, especially after the response against Philly, and
I'm gonna go with what they've been able to do
penning teams deep.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
It's the second.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Best mark in the NFL currently and conversely the opposite
side the forty nine ers worst. I'm going to say
we're winning that phase come Thursday night. That's you got
any others?
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Why did the Niners finish last in the division last season?
Injury misfortune? Sure, but special teams has been a grease
fire up there. They let a punt back a big
time kick return back last week. They've already changed kickers.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
The biggest strategic advantage in this game I think is
in the kicking phase. But I say this with a
huge grain of salt and a huge level of concern
and respect, because when you face a team that doesn't
have a pick yet, that hasn't rushed for a touchdown yet,
you have to keep an ailing team sick. Do not
let this week be the one where the forty nine
(34:47):
ers get healthy and get off the hook and get
hot and go on a run. Because we've seen that
movie before. I don't want to see it again in
twenty five.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
I love you over there, I really do.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
I think there's a focus in this that is very
aware of the danger that exists facing off against a
rivalry on a short week, and even that that is injured.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
One last thing, real quick. My friend and my counterpart,
Greg Papa for the San Francisco forty nine Ers, is
on injured reserve this season. Oh he's sick. He's back
on the radio. He's not going to be broadcasting this game.
So for any forty nine Ers fans who made it
this deep in between the horns for Greg, love you man,
thinking about you. If there's going to be any contingent
(35:27):
of red and gold inside Sofi Stadium tomorrow night, I
live with it. If you are going to be one
of them, I'm sorry that you're not, but cannot wait
to see again for rams and nine or soon.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Well said Jbi Long for Jbi Long, DeMarco far I'm
camer murder when this has been another edition of Between
the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyta Dealers.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
We can't wait to see.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
You and so by tomorrow night it will be on
Amazon Prime Prime Time and so FI five fifteen.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
We can't wait to see that.
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