August 26, 2025 • 27 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr and Stu Jackson react to the 53-Man roster on today's episode of Between The Horns. The trio break down each position group and discuss improvements heading into the regular season.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello everyone, and welcome to a special edition of Between
the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers. This
is a fifty three man roster reaction show with Stu
Jackson DeMarco far I am Jblong here with you every
week from now until February.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Let's say, right right the way through.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Yes, my favorite and worst part of the year, because
you know the roster. The bad part is some guys
aren't here anymore, some guys you might like, So it
is what it is.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
You can't keep everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, a lot of news today we'll introduce the fifty
three men roster. I have an idea for today's show
that I want to run past you. But there was
a lot of news out there today, right, and of
course we're talking about Kyraen Williams. Happy birthday, Hey, happy birthday. Yes,
and then some tied end from Kansas City and t
Swizzle trying to steal our thunder with an engagement announcement.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But that's a big ring where to go, big engagement,
that's huge.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Rams are out for even bigger ring here in twenty
twenty five. Oh yes, your attention. When the initial and
I stress initial because a lot can change between now
and Week one against the Houston Texans, it usually does,
And because fifty three is not the total number of
Rams are going to contribute this season, we know that
very well. I thought back to the Super Bowl season
of twenty one, when over seventy contributors were active at
(01:18):
some point during that year to win a championship. So
initial thoughts before we dive in anything.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I think you and I have talked about this, JB.
But just the amount of rookies that are on the
roster that made the initial fifty three, you had six
make it. Five of the six were draft picks and
we'll get a little bit more into that later, and
the other of the six obviously was undrafted free agent.
Just looking at that in general and seeing how deep
(01:47):
this roster has become, I suppose over the last two years,
based on you know, the way this team is drafted,
and also just some of the free agency pieces that
have been added in there too. You know, my initial
takeaway was it reflects very much how competitive and difficult
it was for some of these newer, younger guys to
make the roster, especially this year.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
I think he saw that coming back at the draft
right where the last couple of classes were outliers, they
kind of consolidated picks to take those half dozen. But
twenty three, I think the drafted class went fourteen for
fourteen making the initial roster, and then last year all
ten plus five college free agents. So by sheer number,
that was going to be difficult to replicate. DeMarco, what'stood
(02:28):
out to you?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well, I like what you said about that with the
young guys, because the culture is good and it's strong,
and it's thriving, so you can add young guys, so
there's a good environment here. And I also like what
you said about practice squad because you have to think macro.
Most people think practice practice squad is a cemetery. You
go there to die. No, this could actually be an
active thing. This is the way to expand your roster.
So there's a lot of good choices. I guess the
(02:50):
only surprise is and I would start by saying, I
don't think some people understand the value of a guy
like Troy Reader. I think he's the most talked about
RAM outside of this building. Maybe some hate there, but look,
he's a quality backup that can play both spots. I
get it. And he's quality depth behind what you've already done.
(03:11):
You've moved spates over, You've got Landman in. He's the
green dot. So it makes sense. So I guess that's
a long way of saying I'm surprised poop Pole didn't
make the opening day rosters, so to speak. So it's
not the end of the road. I hope we'll see,
but that was a little bit surprising.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, we'll see whether they were wrong or whether they
were just early with that poop Paul pick and where
he lands with his next opportunity. We could start to
meet some practice squad additions as early as tomorrow. We
need to change that name, by the way, practice squad.
It doesn't do it for me.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's not used to be taxi squads.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, descriptive enough. I think it needs to be revamped.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Right JV. No, that doesn't work that JB.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Maybe our listeners can help us come up with a
renamed ram practice squad, because I think that group of
sixteen not only has a chance to contribute, but has
a chance to be really impactful. And by the way,
you can sign off of anyone's practice squads. So whether
these young men who are waived today land back here
in Woodland Hills, are elsewhere around the league. The tape
that they've put down this summer will stick with Rams coaches.
(04:10):
All right, you want to hear my strange idea for
how we can go about breaking down the fifty four roster,
go for it. So if you take eleven position groups,
why don't we draft them with the premise of did
the Rams get better year over year?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And you can define year over year as since flying
back from Philadelphia or maybe where they were twelve months
ago at this time, getting ready to go play the
Detroit Lions. I'll leave that up to you. But if
we were to say, let's draft, and let's start with
the position group that you feel is most improver or
that you can say most confidently definitely got better. And
in terms of the coin toss, here it is. We'll
(04:44):
do it like we do at my house, oldest to youngest.
Oldest gets to eat first, gets to play a card, first,
gets to you're going to do that, say okay, what
the number was?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I'm just giving you the oldest.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I want to resist the urge to have fun as
in a radio guy and say quarterback because that's embedded
had a hell of a preseason, right, Jimmy Garoppolo got
a lot of reps. I'm assuming Matthew Stafford is going
to be Matthew Stafford, so that's three pretty good quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
But I won't go there.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Wait, you just gave your breakdown and didn't I'm just saying, okay, right,
I won't go down. I won't go there.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I won't go There is the low hanging fruit
wide receiver, and I'll tell you what this is during
the game. I don't know if that happened to you.
Somebody pointed to the field and said, is that weird?
And I didn't know what they were talking about. He
asked me three or four times, and I still didn't know.
He says, is it weird to see number ten down there?
I'm like, oh, I didn't even think about that. It's
weird because usually when you lose a guy like Cooper
(05:38):
Cup you get worse. With seventeen, you actually got better.
So I'd say wide receiver. I wanted to go O line,
but I think wide receiver Davante Adams with a healthy
Matthew Stafford and an old line that can protect him,
I think that's gonna.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
That's got to improve your receiver rooms. I'll go with
receiver plus Puock is healthy and Pooka is healthy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Of course, months ago he was not healthy. It's the
first time he gets to week one healthy and then
also with an all Pro next to him. Remember his
rookie season. We know Cooper wasn't All Pro, but he
wasn't there for the first month of Pooka's debut season.
So I'm with you there. I think this is as
good a pass catching group that the Rams have had
since they traded Brandon Cooks. Personally, I think they fit together.
(06:20):
They're deep. You go all the way down to wide
receiver six and Xavier Smith, who's your punt returner. He's
as good as any wide receiver six in the league.
You look at who they had to let go, right, Yeah,
some of the true Edwards and the Brandon Presley's that
they had to put on waivers today a testament to
their depth there. Okay, so DeMarco's taking the receiver. I
had six potential first round picks.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So that was one of the.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Stu I'm older than you. He was about to go.
But the good news is this is a snake draft,
so you get picks three and four, excellent. I am
going to go tight end. Okay, I'll go tight end. Yeah,
two reasons healthy Tyler Higbee. You talk about low hanging fruit.
I mean that's obvious. You felt how he rejuvenated this
(07:06):
group when he came back last December, and then your
first pick of this class, and what I've been this
confident and this assured before I saw that slot fade
in Cleveland. Terrence Ferguson. Maybe maybe not, but this was
the most underperforming tight end unit in the league last season,
and I think it's the most improved unit on the
team this year.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I couldn't get my phone out. I was trying to
text you during the game after that slot fade.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Well did you see that?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I love how they missed it the first time. They
were like, wait, we really need to lay this down.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Let's do that again.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So that we caused some defensive coordinator some sleep between.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Now and it all goes together. Receiver tight end.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So you've got Davonte Puoka, then you've got whatever slot
receiver you want to use plus him in twelve. There's
so many ways to attack.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So right there with you, Yeah, there is a cynical
take to be had. Wait a second, the Rams kept
four tight ends and they only play one at a time.
How's that going to work? But let's with all judgment
and so we see it on the y.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And one more thing I've lost at all the t
ferguson hype. And I told him this when I saw
him in Cleveland. Davis Allen got better in this offseason.
He really got better through last season. He got better
in this offseason. I'm expecting a lot from.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Him as well.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
That's another reason why I say so improved year over years,
because he was not feeling good this time last year. Right,
And kudos to him for taking what you could see
as a challenge new position coach. Yes, drafted first pick
behind you in your room. Usually as professional, that means trouble.
He was stood.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
He told me he's playing at peace. That's what you
want to.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Hearnet Love that, all right, dude. The next two are yours, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
For the first one, I'll go with the defensive line.
I'm sure that's an easy one, but for one big reason, Poonaford,
just do you think about some of the struggles that
that group had, or really the defense as a whole
had against the run. Especially late in the year and
what Poona can offer in that phase and also just
even the upside he has as a pass rusher too.
But the way he addresses what was one of the
(08:59):
biggest is they quite frankly needed to address based off
of last year and how last year ended. I'm really
excited about that group. On top of just you know,
the experience that you know, Brandon Fisk gained and that
you know, Kobe Turner continued to gain. It's a group
that I'm very, very excited about.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
And we heard all training camp about how underrated Tyler
Davis was right and how much that his position group
valued him. Fisk was among those to really sing his praises.
So excited for his year two.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Pooniford is the best nose tackle the Rams have had
and since forever.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
He's what we helped.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
The way he plays and how he plays it, he's
the way we hoped guys would get to at some
point and never did. So he's coming in from some
other team already better, and like you said, he makes
an entire defense better. He takes heat off the linebackers,
he takes heat off Fisk verse everyone. He can straighten
out in a pass rush and make something happen. He's
(09:57):
got some wiggle there, So I that was my next thing.
I'm glad you took it. I'm glad you talked about
it because I'm sick of talking about the D line.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So through one round were unanimous wide receiver, tight end,
defensive line all markedly improves. All right, it snakes to uset.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
To all right for the next group, I'll go inside linebacker,
sticking with the defensive front as much of a time
topic of conversation. Excuse me that it's you know, already
been with the you know, initial fifty three minute roster announcement.
I do still think it is one of the most
improved groups. Just again focusing on the new addition to
the group, in particular, Nate Landman, like I really really
(10:34):
like what I've seen from him in training camp, his
ability to create takeaways, just his vocal leadership, the way
guys have rallied around him. You know, it's it's almost
like a multiplying factor alongside verse in terms of just
the attitude that he plays with and the way that
gets other guys fired up. You know, some of the
run stops that he was able to make so coupling
(10:56):
that with you know what Puna should be able to do,
and the provement there along the defensive line inside linebacker
for me is where I'm going to go next.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Look, you said it a little bit earlier too, and
I just want to amplify this point. You can disagree
with the decision they made. That's fine, that's part of
being a fan. But I hope that we can all
appreciate being fans of a coaching staff and an organization
that isn't going to double down on a mistake just
because they spent draft capital on it. Right, Like, over
the last four months whatever it's been, Sean Dolac went
(11:26):
and won a job in a group that's going to
be entirely undrafted, all four of them undrafted. He came
in and beat out someone drafted in the fifth round.
And for this coaching staff to say, when we practice
what we preach, we think that elevates our whole building.
If you perform, you're going to have a role here.
That's meaningful for Sean Dolac. I think it's meaningful for
the other fifty three people that have helmets for practice.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
All day, no doubt. The first thing I heard about
Dolac is that he could teach the defense already. I
didn't hear that about anyone else, so that says a lot.
And then he went out and backed it up in
the game and just you know, made tackle after tackle.
So no shock there. I that's interesting that you went linebacker.
I thought you would go. I thought you would go
big boys there, really do so you have another pick right?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
No?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
No, he got it. That was it.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
That was That was my second.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That was your second inside linebacker. And we stitched together
nicely because I think an improved defensive line is gonna
make the linebackers look bad.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
So I get the old line got it? Oh good.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
So with the addition of Coleman Shelton, same with Pun't
a forward. He's gonna help so much. When you think
about the most important play of last season, what was it?
It was that last shot in Philadelphia and what happened
there was a protection issue.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
With Coleman Shelton.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
He takes the pressure off Stafford, he takes the pressure
off the other four up front. He's a smart guy
and they trust his voice. So I think Kevin Dodson
can play the Larry Allen roll of the masher. I
think Steve Avila can come along and play that athletic guy,
the guy that can pull, and he's got the energy. Plus,
if you keep those two tackles upright and healthy, easier
said than done. I'm glad you kept a surplus of
(12:54):
tackles and you're playing for the injury because you want
all your guys to be up for seventeen weeks. But
we know that's hard to do, so keep quality depth there.
With the addition of Coleman Sheldon, I think it takes
that whole group to a whole new level.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
You touch on center this time. You don't think anyone
felt great about what was going on at the center
position for the Los Angeles Rams. That continue to be
a work in progress until what They went back to
Jonah Jackson and lost to Miami, and then they flipped
the switch back to bow What about it? Tackle? Anyone
remember what the tackle situation felt like in Detroit before
Week one kicking off against the Lions. To have Alaric
(13:27):
Jackson and Rob Hanstein in line to start against Houston,
I feel much better this time of year.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You could tell me and refresh my memory, but I
don't remember who started because I think I was angry
that AJ wasn't there, that's all, And I remember it
was it Dennis Gardeck. Is that his name from Arizona
and Arizona Okay, if he's there, we probably don't hear
his name. So happy he's up. I hope he's healthy
and stays that way. Both tackles. But I like that edition.
A veteran presence, a Rob Havenstein type at center who's
(13:55):
been through it all, sees it all, and now is
in charge of calling protections. That's great for Stafford and
the rest of the line.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I would say from a depth and experience standpoint too,
I'm glad you hit on that because it feels to
me like that group, for those reasons alone, has already
much improved and just in terms of having those contingency
plans after what they dealt with from a health and
injury standpoint last year. That's like one of the biggest
reasons I feel a lot better about that group that.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
You should have picked them. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, I had six that I felt really strongly about.
The others we can debate. The six is a little
bit of a cheat because it's the same group back
from last year and it's a specialist special teams at large.
I think the way that Ethan Evans punted in the
back half of last season. I think the way that
the Rams covered kicks and return kicks in the back
half of last season. I think the way Joshuacarty finished
(14:42):
on that seventeen make streak. The fact that there was
no kicking competition this summer makes me feel great about
where special teams is and because of the overall depth
of this roster, I think inevitably that competition is going
to lead to better kicking units. Am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
No?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I think you're ready.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Look at the athleticism and the depth in all of
these rooms. Where is that really going to be born
out on game day? Hopefully on special.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Teams guys that can go down and cover. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Coach Blackburn, I thought has done a great job and
settled the ship and they were actually getting better. I
thought josh Carty's last kickoff on that dynamic kickoff, which
still blows.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
My mind, was his best in Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
In Cleveland where he dropped it and it moved a
little bit. That ball manipulation on that is going to
be huge. Anybody who catches that thing on a dead run.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's a problem.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So you don't think they're gonna just boot it out
the back of the end zone and surrender the thirty
five yard line.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
This year, I thought they showed both. So you've got
Ethan Evans. If you want to just cannon it down.
If you need some artwork, let CARDI try.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
That's my feeling too. I'll be curious to see. You know,
they and the Niners and some others were the least
interested team in the National Football League in kicking off
last year. They said, we're gonna punt, excuse the punt
until But here they are, and I think that's too
much to give a team starting field position at the
thirty five. It feels like the Rams are thinking that
way too, And.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Don't kick it out of bounds. Don't do that. That's
the whoa.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And when you've got kickers that are making seventy yard
field goals, I mean, if you're giving them the thirty
five in some cases, like totally, those guys are points
pretty close in range already.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Here's where I think the real debates can begin. I'm
between running back and probably edge defender. Okay, I'll go
running back. I'll make the case running back, because there's
a new addition to that improved improved. Yeah, and I'll
take this specifically through the lens of since Philadelphia, right,
(16:30):
Kyraen Williams as motivated as he's ever been in that
saying something. Blake Korum back from an injury that kept
him out of the last postseason, and now there's a
third drafted tailback in this room. The fact that they
have those three and are rolling with those three, I
take as a healthy sign for the portfolio backs.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I like that running improving.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
I mean, I guess that all starts with Kyron improving
some and I heard he has. He's changed his diet,
He's really worked on his burst, and it showed in
practice he's a little bit different. So let's see if
that translates the more Blake Korum hungry and you know
he wants it bad, which is good for me.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
That pushes the starter. That's great.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
And we keep hearing great things about the rookie Hunter
from Hunter from the coaching staff and what he can
do and the plans they have for him.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So I wanted to it just seemed like it didn't.
The names didn't change.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
So it's hard to pick them but if they improve,
then the position improves.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
What the goal is to be more ball secure, I
think they can do it and more explosive. I think
they've put themselves in position to do it, either through
more reps for a Hunter, a more balanced distribution and
fresher running backs, and or just the the memo to
Kyrien that that he knows what he needs to do
and he's gonna be going behind an improved offensive line.
At least so we said earlier in this show.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I also like the running style that Jock Wes Hunter
brings to that group. It's one that I don't know.
Maybe you guys disagree, but at least for me, I haven't.
I haven't seen in recent years, nothing against you know,
Kyrin or Blake obviously, it's just in a good way,
like a different element that I think compliments what those
two guys do.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Oh dude, he's looking for the home run. I love it.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
I love the way he stays tight and he's waiting
to crease you. So it's going to be there.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I'm with you, DeMarco. It's your selection. Here are the
groups that I have left. I have four remaining Edge yep, Safety, Okay,
Corner or qb.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Okay safety stayed basically the same corner. I would love
to say corner because of the addition of Forbes, but
he was here last year and I think he's going
to play a major role at some point. The dude
is a pure covered dude and he's getting bigger and stronger. So,
but Edge is very interesting outside of verse and young.
(18:39):
Who do you bring off the bench that can bring
the funk? It was going to be Kiara Thomas. Now
he got banged up, and you told me right before
the game that they were going to stand as one
up and I'm like, and you said, can he do it?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I'm like, absolutely. The dude is a baller. He can.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
You can line him up anywhere and teach him the
position and then once the ball stapp he's gonna And
I think that's how he played. So I think it
might be a diamond and a rough. But I will
go with the outside backers the edge guys as improving
slightly because I think you're gonna get a better verse anyway.
Numbers wise, agreed. I think the lessons he learned last
(19:16):
year he'll implement early and those numbers will pile up.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
You layer in a top one hundred pick and Josiah
Stewart off.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
The edge in a blink. Again, another guy, Look, this
is all you do. You just rushed the passer.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Nick Hampton still only twenty five. Yes, and he's gonna
be part of that group. And if you're saying who's
the Hoyt like factor there, maybe that's des one. I
don't know. But at least Dez I think has showed
up in games that matter through his first couple of seasons,
and he gives you almost like a two for one element. Yes, right,
if you want to put him out there in a
specific package, specific role on the edge, great, if something
happens on the interior and you need him to reverse
(19:49):
slide back and see him do it at the professional level.
So I think he'll save you a roster spot.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
That's a matchup problem waiting to happen. And all this
shardor nonsense. Right when they said like he wasn't out
there with anyone, I said, well, actual Dez was out there.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
There's a real guy.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
So there's something to your you know, your side, But yeah,
I mean absolutely, he's a guy that has versatility that
plays in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I actually did have DeMarco mentioned and Shador Sanders on
my Bingo.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Horn.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Come on, why not there we go? Stu your choice
safety quarterback corner.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I'm gonna go quarterback and kind of similar to safety.
Even though year to year at May on the surface
seemed like nothing's changed. I wrote this in my you know,
fifty three man roster article. You have Jimmy Garoppolo backs
as a veteran backup to Stafford, who has a year
of experience in this offense. I mean when he got here,
there was some carryover in terms of the terminology from
(20:43):
some of the other systems he's been in. But you know,
just having that year under his belt and being back again,
I think is you know, an element of that improvement.
And also to just the reps that both him and
Stetson Bennett got across training camp and the preseason, those
joint practices. While you know, if there was a silver
lining to you know, Matthew Stafford, you know, unfortunately having
(21:06):
to deal with his back injury, it was all the
reps that those guys got, and so just that added
I guess depth and experience in terms of returning players,
and also the opportunities they got, you know, behind Stafford
is one of the biggest reasons for me.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, I don't think any question about QB two or
QB three. It's maybe as solid as the Rams have
ever been. It's all about QB one. And can we
in good conscience say that, at age thirty seven and
with the back that he's going to be as good
or better than he was a year ago. I don't know.
Can you make that case?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Spit and glue man, let's go. Yeah, it is what
it is.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I will say this, though, I can argue that his
circumstances are better.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
If we just named all of his other offensive position
groups and they're all improved, then there's no reason that
Stafford's outcomes can't be better than they were in twenty
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
I think the group around him is very good, and
but it all depends on how he feels. If he's special,
the team will be special. But if he's not, I
still think the team has a chance to be very
very good.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Okay, so we're down to safety and corner. The defensive
backs is where we finish.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Okay, here tell me something. How does Q Lake make
the Pro Bowl? How does Cam Curl make the Pro Bowl?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
You know what's interesting about those guys, But they're so
overdue for picks. Didn't Curl have three as.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
A rookie and one interceptions?
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Okay, Quentin Lake has done just about everything on defense
except take it away.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Okay, we're on the same page. Then they do a
great job of getting lined up being the last line
of defense. That's what a safety A true nafty nature
of a safety is to make sure that the guy
gets on the ground before he crosses the end zone.
But at some point, you'd like those guys to be playmakers.
Come up with something big, get one tip, one pick,
one run, one back.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
You had a few.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I like to see more out of those guys if
they do, and this defensive line takes off like well
you think it would. I mean, those are the guys
that would be in line for honors if you make
plays behind that stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
It seems like Quinton Lake would be due for that too.
He got a few in training camp.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Well, here's the thing is which room are you classifying
Captain Q in? Because I think it's an easier case
to make for safety or corner if you're roping Quinton
Lake into your room.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
dB is what I call.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, I think the case for corner is pretty straightforward,
especially if you go back to this time last year, right,
because Darius Williams had the hamstring, right, Akello was not
yet back with the organization. That's different this summer, Right,
d will feels great. Akello was an early edition in
free agents.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Is different.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
He's different this year because you could tell you that
you could smell that confidence just dripping off him, like
the light has come on.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Yeah, the difference of being with the team for an
entire offseason.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I've been through this enough, Like if there's a point
in every pro when the game just slows down and
you can tell and he's a different cat this year,
and I could care less about his age by the
way he's playing, you could consider him a four year guy. Like,
he's different this year, so we might see something more
(23:59):
and special.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And Kobe Durantz in a contract year, set up big
in year four. And it kind of all rides on
the slim frame of Emmanuel Forbes.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
The case for whether or not the Rams improved at
the cornerback position by basically standing patt It was the
pocision group everyone expected them to address in the draft.
They didn't they're basically rolling with the same group they
came home from Philadelphia with.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
I like Forbes every time I see him outside of
you know, when you get over the initial shock of
how like, wow, dude, you really but then you watch
him play and it does not the same with the
Remember Sean McVay. Oh he's the youngest coach in the league,
and then you meet him, it's like, I don't matter
no more that dude's his legs aren't very big. But
when you watch him, dude, he can get around, he
can cover, he knows where the ball is, he knows
(24:39):
how to run routes for guys. I think he is
going to play major snaps with his football team.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
And what if he marries with a pass rush that
gives him a lot of ball hockeying opportunities.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Oh let's go, yes, sir so.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Of those eleven groups, I don't know if we can
say were on eleven for eleven, did they improve everywhere?
We'd probably be accused of being a little homersh if
we say so.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
I don't think they went backwards anywhere, and.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
The vast the majority there's a clear case to improvement.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah, I don't think they went backwards in any area.
So that's that's that's not being home er, that's just
being realistic.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Which is a great sign because it's gonna be tougher
this year. I think it'll be harder to get the
double digit wins and win the division and get your
playoff spot because you finished first last year.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
So you get.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
The Eagles and the Lions and the Ravens right as
your crossover opponents, while your rival up north gets the
Browns and the Bears and the Giants right, like, the
division got better and win.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Me the challenge?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah, you give me the challenge on Yes, you better
be better this year to get the same results or more,
which is what the RAM is going for. Closing thoughts
before we spin it ahead to next week.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I would say, like from the off season end, like
considering how the season ended in Philadelphia, from that day
to this point, it has been a rousing success for
Sean McVay and this group. You got through all of
training camp outside of Matthew Stafford in the back, and
that kind of came out of nowhere.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
But you got through.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Camp without any major injuries knock on wood, and I
think you could probably pick this fifty three that we
just talked about going into the first preseason game and
it held you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
All Right, So the continuity both in terms of roster
and coaching, the good vibes leads you to be optimistic.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Absolutely, So from the vibes to this Yeah, the vibes
were real, and I think this team and the way
it's constructed has a chance to really, you know, contend.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Let's see if it translates in the starting fast So
that's definitely the order of business this year in twenty
twenty five. Can you get more wins in the front
half of your schedule so you don't have to dig
out of three games below five hundred like the last
two years.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Pretty similar thoughts to DeMarco. Just the connectedness of this group.
It's something that Sean mcvays talked about a lot, just
the college like camaraderie, high school like camaraderie around the building.
You know, that's been exciting to see and watch throughout
the year. And I think that's something that, you know,
as cliche as something like chemistry might be, it's not
(26:55):
something that you can discount, especially when it comes to
the role that plays the team's success. And you know,
just how well everybuddy gets along and all of those things.
So I'm looking forward to seeing how that connectedness shows
up on the field. And I already kind of talked
about a little bit earlier with like kind of the
attitude that some of the guys on the defensive front
pit play with, especially just all those kinds of things.
(27:17):
I'm really looking forward to seeing stud.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Great to have you along for the ride here and
Between the Horns again in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
DeMarco.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
We'll pick it up next Thursday absolutely to preview the Texans.
MJD will be here, Cameron Irwin will be in this
seat quite a bit this season as well. We're so
glad to be back with Between the Horns, presented by
your Southern California Toyota Dealers, all those shoes,
Hello everyone, and welcome to a special edition of Between
the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers. This
is a fifty three man roster reaction show with Stu
Jackson DeMarco far I am Jblong here with you every
week from now until February.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Let's say, right right the way through.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Yes, my favorite and worst part of the year, because
you know the roster. The bad part is some guys
aren't here anymore, some guys you might like, So it
is what it is.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
You can't keep everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, a lot of news today we'll introduce the fifty
three men roster. I have an idea for today's show
that I want to run past you. But there was
a lot of news out there today, right, and of
course we're talking about Kyraen Williams. Happy birthday, Hey, happy birthday. Yes,
and then some tied end from Kansas City and t
Swizzle trying to steal our thunder with an engagement announcement.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But that's a big ring where to go, big engagement,
that's huge.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Rams are out for even bigger ring here in twenty
twenty five. Oh yes, your attention. When the initial and
I stress initial because a lot can change between now
and Week one against the Houston Texans, it usually does,
And because fifty three is not the total number of
Rams are going to contribute this season, we know that
very well. I thought back to the Super Bowl season
of twenty one, when over seventy contributors were active at
(01:18):
some point during that year to win a championship. So
initial thoughts before we dive in anything.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I think you and I have talked about this, JB.
But just the amount of rookies that are on the
roster that made the initial fifty three, you had six
make it. Five of the six were draft picks and
we'll get a little bit more into that later, and
the other of the six obviously was undrafted free agent.
Just looking at that in general and seeing how deep
(01:47):
this roster has become, I suppose over the last two years,
based on you know, the way this team is drafted,
and also just some of the free agency pieces that
have been added in there too. You know, my initial
takeaway was it reflects very much how competitive and difficult
it was for some of these newer, younger guys to
make the roster, especially this year.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
I think he saw that coming back at the draft
right where the last couple of classes were outliers, they
kind of consolidated picks to take those half dozen. But
twenty three, I think the drafted class went fourteen for
fourteen making the initial roster, and then last year all
ten plus five college free agents. So by sheer number,
that was going to be difficult to replicate. DeMarco, what'stood
(02:28):
out to you?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Well, I like what you said about that with the
young guys, because the culture is good and it's strong,
and it's thriving, so you can add young guys, so
there's a good environment here. And I also like what
you said about practice squad because you have to think macro.
Most people think practice practice squad is a cemetery. You
go there to die. No, this could actually be an
active thing. This is the way to expand your roster.
So there's a lot of good choices. I guess the
(02:50):
only surprise is and I would start by saying, I
don't think some people understand the value of a guy
like Troy Reader. I think he's the most talked about
RAM outside of this building. Maybe some hate there, but look,
he's a quality backup that can play both spots. I
get it. And he's quality depth behind what you've already done.
(03:11):
You've moved spates over, You've got Landman in. He's the
green dot. So it makes sense. So I guess that's
a long way of saying I'm surprised poop Pole didn't
make the opening day rosters, so to speak. So it's
not the end of the road. I hope we'll see,
but that was a little bit surprising.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Yeah, we'll see whether they were wrong or whether they
were just early with that poop Paul pick and where
he lands with his next opportunity. We could start to
meet some practice squad additions as early as tomorrow. We
need to change that name, by the way, practice squad.
It doesn't do it for me.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
It's not used to be taxi squads.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, descriptive enough. I think it needs to be revamped.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Right JV. No, that doesn't work that JB.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Maybe our listeners can help us come up with a
renamed ram practice squad, because I think that group of
sixteen not only has a chance to contribute, but has
a chance to be really impactful. And by the way,
you can sign off of anyone's practice squads. So whether
these young men who are waived today land back here
in Woodland Hills, are elsewhere around the league. The tape
that they've put down this summer will stick with Rams coaches.
(04:10):
All right, you want to hear my strange idea for
how we can go about breaking down the fifty four roster,
go for it. So if you take eleven position groups,
why don't we draft them with the premise of did
the Rams get better year over year?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (04:22):
And you can define year over year as since flying
back from Philadelphia or maybe where they were twelve months
ago at this time, getting ready to go play the
Detroit Lions. I'll leave that up to you. But if
we were to say, let's draft, and let's start with
the position group that you feel is most improver or
that you can say most confidently definitely got better. And
in terms of the coin toss, here it is. We'll
(04:44):
do it like we do at my house, oldest to youngest.
Oldest gets to eat first, gets to play a card, first,
gets to you're going to do that, say okay, what
the number was?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I'm just giving you the oldest.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I want to resist the urge to have fun as
in a radio guy and say quarterback because that's embedded
had a hell of a preseason, right, Jimmy Garoppolo got
a lot of reps. I'm assuming Matthew Stafford is going
to be Matthew Stafford, so that's three pretty good quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
But I won't go there.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Wait, you just gave your breakdown and didn't I'm just saying, okay, right,
I won't go down. I won't go there.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Yeah, I won't go There is the low hanging fruit
wide receiver, and I'll tell you what this is during
the game. I don't know if that happened to you.
Somebody pointed to the field and said, is that weird?
And I didn't know what they were talking about. He
asked me three or four times, and I still didn't know.
He says, is it weird to see number ten down there?
I'm like, oh, I didn't even think about that. It's
weird because usually when you lose a guy like Cooper
(05:38):
Cup you get worse. With seventeen, you actually got better.
So I'd say wide receiver. I wanted to go O line,
but I think wide receiver Davante Adams with a healthy
Matthew Stafford and an old line that can protect him,
I think that's gonna.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
That's got to improve your receiver rooms. I'll go with
receiver plus Puock is healthy and Pooka is healthy.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Of course, months ago he was not healthy. It's the
first time he gets to week one healthy and then
also with an all Pro next to him. Remember his
rookie season. We know Cooper wasn't All Pro, but he
wasn't there for the first month of Pooka's debut season.
So I'm with you there. I think this is as
good a pass catching group that the Rams have had
since they traded Brandon Cooks. Personally, I think they fit together.
(06:20):
They're deep. You go all the way down to wide
receiver six and Xavier Smith, who's your punt returner. He's
as good as any wide receiver six in the league.
You look at who they had to let go, right, Yeah,
some of the true Edwards and the Brandon Presley's that
they had to put on waivers today a testament to
their depth there. Okay, so DeMarco's taking the receiver. I
had six potential first round picks.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So that was one of the.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Stu I'm older than you. He was about to go.
But the good news is this is a snake draft,
so you get picks three and four, excellent. I am
going to go tight end. Okay, I'll go tight end. Yeah,
two reasons healthy Tyler Higbee. You talk about low hanging fruit.
I mean that's obvious. You felt how he rejuvenated this
(07:06):
group when he came back last December, and then your
first pick of this class, and what I've been this
confident and this assured before I saw that slot fade
in Cleveland. Terrence Ferguson. Maybe maybe not, but this was
the most underperforming tight end unit in the league last season,
and I think it's the most improved unit on the
team this year.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I couldn't get my phone out. I was trying to
text you during the game after that slot fade.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Well did you see that?
Speaker 1 (07:30):
I love how they missed it the first time. They
were like, wait, we really need to lay this down.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Let's do that again.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
So that we caused some defensive coordinator some sleep between.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Now and it all goes together. Receiver tight end.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So you've got Davonte Puoka, then you've got whatever slot
receiver you want to use plus him in twelve. There's
so many ways to attack.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
So right there with you, Yeah, there is a cynical
take to be had. Wait a second, the Rams kept
four tight ends and they only play one at a time.
How's that going to work? But let's with all judgment
and so we see it on the y.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And one more thing I've lost at all the t
ferguson hype. And I told him this when I saw
him in Cleveland. Davis Allen got better in this offseason.
He really got better through last season. He got better
in this offseason. I'm expecting a lot from.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Him as well.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
That's another reason why I say so improved year over years,
because he was not feeling good this time last year. Right,
And kudos to him for taking what you could see
as a challenge new position coach. Yes, drafted first pick
behind you in your room. Usually as professional, that means trouble.
He was stood.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
He told me he's playing at peace. That's what you
want to.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Hearnet Love that, all right, dude. The next two are yours, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
For the first one, I'll go with the defensive line.
I'm sure that's an easy one, but for one big reason, Poonaford,
just do you think about some of the struggles that
that group had, or really the defense as a whole
had against the run. Especially late in the year and
what Poona can offer in that phase and also just
even the upside he has as a pass rusher too.
But the way he addresses what was one of the
(08:59):
biggest is they quite frankly needed to address based off
of last year and how last year ended. I'm really
excited about that group. On top of just you know,
the experience that you know, Brandon Fisk gained and that
you know, Kobe Turner continued to gain. It's a group
that I'm very, very excited about.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
And we heard all training camp about how underrated Tyler
Davis was right and how much that his position group
valued him. Fisk was among those to really sing his praises.
So excited for his year two.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Pooniford is the best nose tackle the Rams have had
and since forever.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
He's what we helped.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
The way he plays and how he plays it, he's
the way we hoped guys would get to at some
point and never did. So he's coming in from some
other team already better, and like you said, he makes
an entire defense better. He takes heat off the linebackers,
he takes heat off Fisk verse everyone. He can straighten
out in a pass rush and make something happen. He's
(09:57):
got some wiggle there, So I that was my next thing.
I'm glad you took it. I'm glad you talked about
it because I'm sick of talking about the D line.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
So through one round were unanimous wide receiver, tight end,
defensive line all markedly improves. All right, it snakes to uset.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
To all right for the next group, I'll go inside linebacker,
sticking with the defensive front as much of a time
topic of conversation. Excuse me that it's you know, already
been with the you know, initial fifty three minute roster announcement.
I do still think it is one of the most
improved groups. Just again focusing on the new addition to
the group, in particular, Nate Landman, like I really really
(10:34):
like what I've seen from him in training camp, his
ability to create takeaways, just his vocal leadership, the way
guys have rallied around him. You know, it's it's almost
like a multiplying factor alongside verse in terms of just
the attitude that he plays with and the way that
gets other guys fired up. You know, some of the
run stops that he was able to make so coupling
(10:56):
that with you know what Puna should be able to do,
and the provement there along the defensive line inside linebacker
for me is where I'm going to go next.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Look, you said it a little bit earlier too, and
I just want to amplify this point. You can disagree
with the decision they made. That's fine, that's part of
being a fan. But I hope that we can all
appreciate being fans of a coaching staff and an organization
that isn't going to double down on a mistake just
because they spent draft capital on it. Right, Like, over
the last four months whatever it's been, Sean Dolac went
(11:26):
and won a job in a group that's going to
be entirely undrafted, all four of them undrafted. He came
in and beat out someone drafted in the fifth round.
And for this coaching staff to say, when we practice
what we preach, we think that elevates our whole building.
If you perform, you're going to have a role here.
That's meaningful for Sean Dolac. I think it's meaningful for
the other fifty three people that have helmets for practice.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
All day, no doubt. The first thing I heard about
Dolac is that he could teach the defense already. I
didn't hear that about anyone else, so that says a lot.
And then he went out and backed it up in
the game and just you know, made tackle after tackle.
So no shock there. I that's interesting that you went linebacker.
I thought you would go. I thought you would go
big boys there, really do so you have another pick right?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
No?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
No, he got it. That was it.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
That was That was my second.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That was your second inside linebacker. And we stitched together
nicely because I think an improved defensive line is gonna
make the linebackers look bad.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
So I get the old line got it? Oh good.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
So with the addition of Coleman Shelton, same with Pun't
a forward. He's gonna help so much. When you think
about the most important play of last season, what was it?
It was that last shot in Philadelphia and what happened
there was a protection issue.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
With Coleman Shelton.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
He takes the pressure off Stafford, he takes the pressure
off the other four up front. He's a smart guy
and they trust his voice. So I think Kevin Dodson
can play the Larry Allen roll of the masher. I
think Steve Avila can come along and play that athletic guy,
the guy that can pull, and he's got the energy. Plus,
if you keep those two tackles upright and healthy, easier
said than done. I'm glad you kept a surplus of
(12:54):
tackles and you're playing for the injury because you want
all your guys to be up for seventeen weeks. But
we know that's hard to do, so keep quality depth there.
With the addition of Coleman Sheldon, I think it takes
that whole group to a whole new level.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
You touch on center this time. You don't think anyone
felt great about what was going on at the center
position for the Los Angeles Rams. That continue to be
a work in progress until what They went back to
Jonah Jackson and lost to Miami, and then they flipped
the switch back to bow What about it? Tackle? Anyone
remember what the tackle situation felt like in Detroit before
Week one kicking off against the Lions. To have Alaric
(13:27):
Jackson and Rob Hanstein in line to start against Houston,
I feel much better this time of year.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You could tell me and refresh my memory, but I
don't remember who started because I think I was angry
that AJ wasn't there, that's all, And I remember it
was it Dennis Gardeck. Is that his name from Arizona
and Arizona Okay, if he's there, we probably don't hear
his name. So happy he's up. I hope he's healthy
and stays that way. Both tackles. But I like that edition.
A veteran presence, a Rob Havenstein type at center who's
(13:55):
been through it all, sees it all, and now is
in charge of calling protections. That's great for Stafford and
the rest of the line.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
I would say from a depth and experience standpoint too,
I'm glad you hit on that because it feels to
me like that group, for those reasons alone, has already
much improved and just in terms of having those contingency
plans after what they dealt with from a health and
injury standpoint last year. That's like one of the biggest
reasons I feel a lot better about that group that.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
You should have picked them. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, I had six that I felt really strongly about.
The others we can debate. The six is a little
bit of a cheat because it's the same group back
from last year and it's a specialist special teams at large.
I think the way that Ethan Evans punted in the
back half of last season. I think the way that
the Rams covered kicks and return kicks in the back
half of last season. I think the way Joshuacarty finished
(14:42):
on that seventeen make streak. The fact that there was
no kicking competition this summer makes me feel great about
where special teams is and because of the overall depth
of this roster, I think inevitably that competition is going
to lead to better kicking units. Am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (14:58):
No?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I think you're ready.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Look at the athleticism and the depth in all of
these rooms. Where is that really going to be born
out on game day? Hopefully on special.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Teams guys that can go down and cover. Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Coach Blackburn, I thought has done a great job and
settled the ship and they were actually getting better. I
thought josh Carty's last kickoff on that dynamic kickoff, which
still blows.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
My mind, was his best in Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
In Cleveland where he dropped it and it moved a
little bit. That ball manipulation on that is going to
be huge. Anybody who catches that thing on a dead run.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
That's a problem.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
So you don't think they're gonna just boot it out
the back of the end zone and surrender the thirty
five yard line.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
This year, I thought they showed both. So you've got
Ethan Evans. If you want to just cannon it down.
If you need some artwork, let CARDI try.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
That's my feeling too. I'll be curious to see. You know,
they and the Niners and some others were the least
interested team in the National Football League in kicking off
last year. They said, we're gonna punt, excuse the punt
until But here they are, and I think that's too
much to give a team starting field position at the
thirty five. It feels like the Rams are thinking that
way too, And.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Don't kick it out of bounds. Don't do that. That's
the whoa.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
And when you've got kickers that are making seventy yard
field goals, I mean, if you're giving them the thirty
five in some cases, like totally, those guys are points
pretty close in range already.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Here's where I think the real debates can begin. I'm
between running back and probably edge defender. Okay, I'll go
running back. I'll make the case running back, because there's
a new addition to that improved improved. Yeah, and I'll
take this specifically through the lens of since Philadelphia, right,
(16:30):
Kyraen Williams as motivated as he's ever been in that
saying something. Blake Korum back from an injury that kept
him out of the last postseason, and now there's a
third drafted tailback in this room. The fact that they
have those three and are rolling with those three, I
take as a healthy sign for the portfolio backs.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I like that running improving.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
I mean, I guess that all starts with Kyron improving
some and I heard he has. He's changed his diet,
He's really worked on his burst, and it showed in
practice he's a little bit different. So let's see if
that translates the more Blake Korum hungry and you know
he wants it bad, which is good for me.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
That pushes the starter. That's great.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
And we keep hearing great things about the rookie Hunter
from Hunter from the coaching staff and what he can
do and the plans they have for him.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
So I wanted to it just seemed like it didn't.
The names didn't change.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
So it's hard to pick them but if they improve,
then the position improves.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
What the goal is to be more ball secure, I
think they can do it and more explosive. I think
they've put themselves in position to do it, either through
more reps for a Hunter, a more balanced distribution and
fresher running backs, and or just the the memo to
Kyrien that that he knows what he needs to do
and he's gonna be going behind an improved offensive line.
At least so we said earlier in this show.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I also like the running style that Jock Wes Hunter
brings to that group. It's one that I don't know.
Maybe you guys disagree, but at least for me, I haven't.
I haven't seen in recent years, nothing against you know,
Kyrin or Blake obviously, it's just in a good way,
like a different element that I think compliments what those
two guys do.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Oh dude, he's looking for the home run. I love it.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
I love the way he stays tight and he's waiting
to crease you. So it's going to be there.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
I'm with you, DeMarco. It's your selection. Here are the
groups that I have left. I have four remaining Edge yep, Safety, Okay,
Corner or qb.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Okay safety stayed basically the same corner. I would love
to say corner because of the addition of Forbes, but
he was here last year and I think he's going
to play a major role at some point. The dude
is a pure covered dude and he's getting bigger and stronger. So,
but Edge is very interesting outside of verse and young.
(18:39):
Who do you bring off the bench that can bring
the funk? It was going to be Kiara Thomas. Now
he got banged up, and you told me right before
the game that they were going to stand as one
up and I'm like, and you said, can he do it?
Speaker 2 (18:51):
I'm like, absolutely. The dude is a baller. He can.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
You can line him up anywhere and teach him the
position and then once the ball stapp he's gonna And
I think that's how he played. So I think it
might be a diamond and a rough. But I will
go with the outside backers the edge guys as improving
slightly because I think you're gonna get a better verse anyway.
Numbers wise, agreed. I think the lessons he learned last
(19:16):
year he'll implement early and those numbers will pile up.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
You layer in a top one hundred pick and Josiah
Stewart off.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
The edge in a blink. Again, another guy, Look, this
is all you do. You just rushed the passer.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Nick Hampton still only twenty five. Yes, and he's gonna
be part of that group. And if you're saying who's
the Hoyt like factor there, maybe that's des one. I
don't know. But at least Dez I think has showed
up in games that matter through his first couple of seasons,
and he gives you almost like a two for one element. Yes, right,
if you want to put him out there in a
specific package, specific role on the edge, great, if something
happens on the interior and you need him to reverse
(19:49):
slide back and see him do it at the professional level.
So I think he'll save you a roster spot.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
That's a matchup problem waiting to happen. And all this
shardor nonsense. Right when they said like he wasn't out
there with anyone, I said, well, actual Dez was out there.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
There's a real guy.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
So there's something to your you know, your side, But yeah,
I mean absolutely, he's a guy that has versatility that
plays in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I actually did have DeMarco mentioned and Shador Sanders on
my Bingo.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Horn.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Come on, why not there we go? Stu your choice
safety quarterback corner.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
I'm gonna go quarterback and kind of similar to safety.
Even though year to year at May on the surface
seemed like nothing's changed. I wrote this in my you know,
fifty three man roster article. You have Jimmy Garoppolo backs
as a veteran backup to Stafford, who has a year
of experience in this offense. I mean when he got here,
there was some carryover in terms of the terminology from
(20:43):
some of the other systems he's been in. But you know,
just having that year under his belt and being back again,
I think is you know, an element of that improvement.
And also to just the reps that both him and
Stetson Bennett got across training camp and the preseason, those
joint practices. While you know, if there was a silver
lining to you know, Matthew Stafford, you know, unfortunately having
(21:06):
to deal with his back injury, it was all the
reps that those guys got, and so just that added
I guess depth and experience in terms of returning players,
and also the opportunities they got, you know, behind Stafford
is one of the biggest reasons for me.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Yeah, I don't think any question about QB two or
QB three. It's maybe as solid as the Rams have
ever been. It's all about QB one. And can we
in good conscience say that, at age thirty seven and
with the back that he's going to be as good
or better than he was a year ago. I don't know.
Can you make that case?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Spit and glue man, let's go. Yeah, it is what
it is.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I will say this, though, I can argue that his
circumstances are better.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
If we just named all of his other offensive position
groups and they're all improved, then there's no reason that
Stafford's outcomes can't be better than they were in twenty
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
I think the group around him is very good, and
but it all depends on how he feels. If he's special,
the team will be special. But if he's not, I
still think the team has a chance to be very
very good.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Okay, so we're down to safety and corner. The defensive
backs is where we finish.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Okay, here tell me something. How does Q Lake make
the Pro Bowl? How does Cam Curl make the Pro Bowl?
Speaker 1 (22:13):
You know what's interesting about those guys, But they're so
overdue for picks. Didn't Curl have three as.
Speaker 2 (22:18):
A rookie and one interceptions?
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Okay, Quentin Lake has done just about everything on defense
except take it away.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Okay, we're on the same page. Then they do a
great job of getting lined up being the last line
of defense. That's what a safety A true nafty nature
of a safety is to make sure that the guy
gets on the ground before he crosses the end zone.
But at some point, you'd like those guys to be playmakers.
Come up with something big, get one tip, one pick,
one run, one back.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
You had a few.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I like to see more out of those guys if
they do, and this defensive line takes off like well
you think it would. I mean, those are the guys
that would be in line for honors if you make
plays behind that stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
It seems like Quinton Lake would be due for that too.
He got a few in training camp.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Well, here's the thing is which room are you classifying
Captain Q in? Because I think it's an easier case
to make for safety or corner if you're roping Quinton
Lake into your room.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
dB is what I call.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, I think the case for corner is pretty straightforward,
especially if you go back to this time last year, right,
because Darius Williams had the hamstring, right, Akello was not
yet back with the organization. That's different this summer, Right,
d will feels great. Akello was an early edition in
free agents.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Is different.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
He's different this year because you could tell you that
you could smell that confidence just dripping off him, like
the light has come on.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
Yeah, the difference of being with the team for an
entire offseason.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
I've been through this enough, Like if there's a point
in every pro when the game just slows down and
you can tell and he's a different cat this year,
and I could care less about his age by the
way he's playing, you could consider him a four year guy. Like,
he's different this year, so we might see something more
(23:59):
and special.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And Kobe Durantz in a contract year, set up big
in year four. And it kind of all rides on
the slim frame of Emmanuel Forbes.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
The case for whether or not the Rams improved at
the cornerback position by basically standing patt It was the
pocision group everyone expected them to address in the draft.
They didn't they're basically rolling with the same group they
came home from Philadelphia with.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
I like Forbes every time I see him outside of
you know, when you get over the initial shock of
how like, wow, dude, you really but then you watch
him play and it does not the same with the
Remember Sean McVay. Oh he's the youngest coach in the league,
and then you meet him, it's like, I don't matter
no more that dude's his legs aren't very big. But
when you watch him, dude, he can get around, he
can cover, he knows where the ball is, he knows
(24:39):
how to run routes for guys. I think he is
going to play major snaps with his football team.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
And what if he marries with a pass rush that
gives him a lot of ball hockeying opportunities.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Oh let's go, yes, sir so.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Of those eleven groups, I don't know if we can
say were on eleven for eleven, did they improve everywhere?
We'd probably be accused of being a little homersh if
we say so.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
I don't think they went backwards anywhere, and.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
The vast the majority there's a clear case to improvement.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah, I don't think they went backwards in any area.
So that's that's that's not being home er, that's just
being realistic.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Which is a great sign because it's gonna be tougher
this year. I think it'll be harder to get the
double digit wins and win the division and get your
playoff spot because you finished first last year.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
So you get.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
The Eagles and the Lions and the Ravens right as
your crossover opponents, while your rival up north gets the
Browns and the Bears and the Giants right, like, the
division got better and win.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Me the challenge?
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah, you give me the challenge on Yes, you better
be better this year to get the same results or more,
which is what the RAM is going for. Closing thoughts
before we spin it ahead to next week.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
I would say, like from the off season end, like
considering how the season ended in Philadelphia, from that day
to this point, it has been a rousing success for
Sean McVay and this group. You got through all of
training camp outside of Matthew Stafford in the back, and
that kind of came out of nowhere.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
But you got through.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Camp without any major injuries knock on wood, and I
think you could probably pick this fifty three that we
just talked about going into the first preseason game and
it held you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
All Right, So the continuity both in terms of roster
and coaching, the good vibes leads you to be optimistic.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Absolutely, So from the vibes to this Yeah, the vibes
were real, and I think this team and the way
it's constructed has a chance to really, you know, contend.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Let's see if it translates in the starting fast So
that's definitely the order of business this year in twenty
twenty five. Can you get more wins in the front
half of your schedule so you don't have to dig
out of three games below five hundred like the last
two years.
Speaker 4 (26:35):
Pretty similar thoughts to DeMarco. Just the connectedness of this group.
It's something that Sean mcvays talked about a lot, just
the college like camaraderie, high school like camaraderie around the building.
You know, that's been exciting to see and watch throughout
the year. And I think that's something that, you know,
as cliche as something like chemistry might be, it's not
(26:55):
something that you can discount, especially when it comes to
the role that plays the team's success. And you know,
just how well everybuddy gets along and all of those things.
So I'm looking forward to seeing how that connectedness shows
up on the field. And I already kind of talked
about a little bit earlier with like kind of the
attitude that some of the guys on the defensive front
pit play with, especially just all those kinds of things.
(27:17):
I'm really looking forward to seeing stud.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Great to have you along for the ride here and
Between the Horns again in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
DeMarco.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
We'll pick it up next Thursday absolutely to preview the Texans.
MJD will be here, Cameron Irwin will be in this
seat quite a bit this season as well. We're so
glad to be back with Between the Horns, presented by
your Southern California Toyota Dealers, all those shoes,
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