September 4, 2025 • 42 mins
The Between the Horns crew, J.B Long, D'Marco Farr and Maurice Jones-Drew, sits down to discuss standout players they expect to make big plays against the Houston Texans as well as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive strengths.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Well, today it's a good day because I am back
with my friends Maurice Jones, Drew and DeMarco. Far Good afternoon,
good evening, whenever you might be watching this, I'm JB.
Long and this is a new season of Between the Horns,
presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers. As you know,
a pair of division champs, the Texans and the Rams
to kick things off in week one. But first, it's
great to see you guys, our tenth year together. DeMarco
(00:29):
predates us with his Rams tenure. He's bringing that up,
your statesman.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That walking in the morning haircut. I cut the gray
out with me. Listen, come on, you want to know
what something funny you talk about? Gray hair? It's starting
to It's starting to come to me too. I feel terrible.
I'm gonna go baby face.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Soon, Jamie, A fresh cut through and some oh yeah,
I gotta hey, Rams kicks raid to roll nice, you know,
nice nice, ready to get get to step in.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I like it, you know you and I I
just haven't really sat down and talked Rams in a while.
So when I thought about an agenda for this show,
I wanted to keep it pretty open ended because we've
been pulled in so many different directions. Good directions is
preseason that since the roster was formulated. I just haven't
heard from mjd in to Marco about what you think.
What's what's got you excited about this season? What's got
(01:19):
you concerned? Losing sleep?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Where are we? Well?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I'm excited because I mean the team. I like the
way it's built. But like I said, when you roll
out of bed knowing that you have a quarterback, that
spot is filled with a quality athlete.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I feel comfortable.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
But the more I think about it, the more I
extrapolate out it's not the Johnny's and the Joe's on
the field, it's actually Sean McVay that makes me feel
so comfortable and calm. So this is another season for him.
It's another season with a top flight quarterback. With Matthew Stafford,
you've got a good young defense. So the way you
ended the season in Philadelphia, like you said, thirteen yards
(01:55):
short from shock in the world. So it was a
great a great cliffhanger. I can't wait to see how
they followed up this Sunday and so far. Yeah, I
gotta be where my feed are right. I got to
think of right now because it you kind of text
that question. I started thinking like December November, like what
are we gonna look like then?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Type of thing.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
But I'm super excited about what the Rams have done
throughout the off season, that the health of Matthew Stafford,
getting DeVante Adams. Not really worried about the kicking game,
special teams looking really well throughout preseason. Defensively, seeing though
the d linemen and that whole defense come together and
what they did, how they grew Lasher and what they
can become now and the new additions and in that part.
So to me, the biggest thing that I've my only
(02:36):
concern is health.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right. It's like, you have all the pieces to do
what you need to do.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yes, those guys have to play, but if you win
the injury report every week with which we know that's
Sean's thing, win the injury report, you have a great
chance of winning every game.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And so.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
The health and then the travel gets me too. It's
a lot of traveling. You know we're gonna We're gonna
do a little bit of traveling this year.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Second most in terms of miles in the league, and
the Chargers who are in Brazil right.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
And that it starts to take a toll as you
have older guys, it takes a toll on you as well,
on the flights and different things like that. I know
the RAMS do a great job of you know, sleep
and all the other things, which is awesome, but it's
gonna be important for guys to take care of themselves
and guys to perform when it's time to perform.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
A few things on the health front. They're gonna win
this week's injury report, which is great. Can't can't do
any better than the starting line. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess.
I want to ask you about Stafford and where you
are with his back in a second. But one of
the refrains i've heard several times from Sean McVay this
offseason is that the lessons of the last couple of
years have informed his thinking. Where you know, he's always said,
(03:38):
adversity is gonna hit, it's how you handle it. But
right now, more than ever, it feels like their ability
to withstand that adversity has become one of their attributes,
one of their superpowers, one of their competitive advantages. He's
now bracing for we know what's going to happen. We
don't know when, but now we know with this group
how we're going to respond, and I like that. Let's
(04:00):
hope that they don't have to withstand as much as
they have had to in previous years, especially not as early.
But when you go up against this defense, and we'll
talk plenty of about Houston, where are you with respect
to Matthew Stafford his back, he's talking a good game,
saying he's gonna play the way he's always played.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
But yeah, to me, you have to, right, you have
to go out there and be you. You can't be
anyone else. You can't go out there and shy away
from throwing the ball guys around. You have to play
your game because that's why you're Matthew Stafford. I do
think if you're Sean McVay, you're going to max protect
a little bit more. Right, We're not gonna have tight
ends blocking these defensive ends like we did against Chicago
(04:39):
last year. That we're not doing that right. We're gonna
make sure we have lineman on lineman and then back
chip help, tight end chip help, and then try to
get our guys open in space. Understanding that if you
can can. If you can handle those two d ns,
you have a great opportunity to really to have.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Some ops downfield with your receivers.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Now they do have a great corner and Derek extingly,
but I still think that you have the advantage of
that secondary. So my biggest thing if i'm it's not
it's not necessarily about Matthew Stafford. I need you to
be Matthew Stafford and play like him as the play caller, though,
I have to make sure that I'm calling the plays necessary.
When we do want to take shots, there's seven guys
blocking and two guys are on those d ns. For
(05:19):
the most part, we got four guys on two guys
and make sure that we can protect our quarterbacks.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Just having a guy who can win against any coverage
help in that philosophy. Like if you need to release
fewer into the pattern, oh for sure one of them
is DeVante. You're saying we'll take our chances.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Oh yes, yeah, oh yes, absolutely, yes, no doubt. Quarterbacks
can escape with their legs and escape through that guy
if he's always won and I know I can get
the ball out to him just to save me from
getting a hit, even if it's incomplete. It's in the area.
If I put it on him or near him, there's
a good chance he gets it. That's gonna help Matthew Stafford.
That's gonna help any offense. DeVante Adams being on the
(05:55):
football field will draw eyes and it will help you
big time. But I am so with you. Matthew Stafford
has to be Matthew Stafford. But for this week, even
with those defensive ends. And I was telling JB earlier,
I'm glad you're getting the Texans here and not there
because they don't have the benefit of crowd noise. And
I would absolutely try to bully them. They're fast, but
they're not very big. So another way to protect the
(06:16):
quarterback is to run the football, no question, be physical,
come off the rock. I would make them. I would
take them all the way back to week one training camp.
You're going to be hitting, blocking, sleds for the first quarter, absolutely,
and then if you get through that, let me see
if you can earn the right to get to Matthew
Stafford if you've got anything left. So I would definitely
slam my bigger line at your smaller D line and
(06:36):
try to stay out of those third and third and whatevers.
So first and ten the Rams are paying running backs again,
which is awesome. There's continuity there, so beautiful thing. I
would definitely try to slam the football at the Texans
and see if they can stop it.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You won't hold your breath the first time he gets hit,
though in a different way.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Than I've been doing that since he got here, especially
after the Super Bowl. Whenever Matthew Stafford takes one and
he's so confident and he will stand down the barrel
of a of a rush to deliver a football and
take a pop. Every time he gets hit, I wonder,
is this going to be the one? That's what happens
when you have a quarterback that's thirty seven years old.
(07:12):
But for the most part, the guy gets up and
he dusts himself off and plays the next nap.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
But it's not the.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Doubt about him dusting himself off, it's just that can
he be the Matthew Stafford that differentiates him from other quarterbacks,
which is hanging on to the bitter end, reading that
thing all the way through and beyond completion and still
being able to get a shot off, and especially with
I think Maurice always wants like more keeper game more
twenty seventeen eighteen offense. If he's feeling good and comfortable
(07:38):
and he can do that and flip his hips and
boot and waggle, great if they shy away from that,
is he the quarterback that we've come to know him?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Love?
Speaker 4 (07:45):
You mean boots right? You don't mean running him on
the option keeper game? No?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, oh my god, Okay, I'm playing whoa wha no plan. No.
I will say this. I think two things.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
First thing is because of his injury, I believe and
I feel in talking to Sean that they're super confident.
It comes with Jimmy Garoppolo run their offense. Unlet's remember
going back to last year Week eighteen, they put up
what twenty some odd points against the Seahawks and their starters, right,
So you feel comfortable in that aspect.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
He had the single game passing lead. Jimmy g you
did there you go not saying anyone wants to revisit that.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, you're comfortable in that situation. The reason I want
Sean to go back to twenty seventeen and eighteen is
it was very run heavy and it was very specific
pass plays that the ball You knew these plays were
coming right and they couldn't stop it. And so when
you're an offense that's clicking like that, when you have
specific plays that you know you can run three or
(08:39):
four times a game and that they're gonna be completions,
they're going to be this, then you take a lot
of the stress off the quarterback and the old line.
I just remember, was it eighteen where we used to
used to play fake girly Week and then whip around
and hit Cooks on the deep end, and it was
like literally like a handoff, like here, you can take
this right like every and not only. And so if
(08:59):
you can do that four or five times a game
with Davante and Matthew Stafford, all of a sudden, it's like, okay,
I can go down here and protect them, Like get
my guy in a rhythm, let him get going, let
him start feeling good.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
And the boots always work as well.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
So again what you said the running running game is
to me, it's this game is about Sean protecting Matthew,
not Matthew protecting Matthew wall.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I think the season could be said too, in terms
of how efficient and explosive can you be with your
running game That's a big talking point year over year
with respect to Kirroen, and I think league wide too.
I think explosive runs have become a key to success again.
And in this matchup, which offense are you more confident
in staying on or ahead of schedule with the running game?
I think that's maybe LA's biggest advantage. But zooming out
(09:41):
ma Reice, where are you with respect to Kiren both
in terms of ball security and explosive runs this year?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Ball security is one thing you have to work on,
and I've talked to coach Gould about it and they've
really harped on it. That they've done it before, but
this has been a very big emphasis this year, really
getting him the focus on to keep in the ball
in the outside hand, making sure he's protecting it because
I know they believe and I believe that if they
don't turn the ball over, they're a tough offense to stop.
(10:08):
Right explosive runs, I think Kyron, We're not expecting Kyroen
to break the sixty yarders, but to have twelve yard runs,
fifteen yard runs, twenty yard runs to a drive.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
That sets up play action pass, It sets up the.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Screen game that gets your offensive line going, and I
think he can do that.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
We saw.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
I mean, let's just look at what the Rams in
the preseason against starters, right with Blake Korum and Cody
Schrader and Dark Cords Hunter. Explosive run game is what
you saw. So imagine your starters in there doing that
against other starters. With your starting running.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Back, I think we should expect explosive runs to be
a part of this offense. What was your longest rush?
Eighty eighty?
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Come on, bro, I'm just asking, I mean, what's set
up that long? I know you're fast, but it was
what do you mean right when.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right before half and then came right out of half
and when eighty agather went the Tennessee Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Again, okay, but did you know before that this is
going to be a long one? No, Like I was.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I was upset because we went into that, We're going
into the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
In the secon quarter, I had two carries. I think
it was crazy. Oh different deal. Okay, yeah, let me
ask you something though.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Obviously that was your unique ability, But I bet if
we went back and checked the tape, you could point
to five six guys along the way that that set
that up for you, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It wasn't just you. No, no, no, no, that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I would suggest that too much of this offseason conversation
has fallen on Kyron's shoulders to be more explosive as
opposed to recreating the ecosystem in which you can have
an explosive running game. So part of that is your
offensive line having it back and healthy. Part of it
is the weapons you present to a defense. And I
would ask DeMarco from your defensive lens when you're breaking
(11:47):
the huddle this year with Davante and to two and
Puka and Tyler Higbee back and maybe Terrence Ferguson, how
does that change your math defensively, especially with how you
can get your box count organize.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I'm going to be a step late coming down with
a safety compared to.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Where you were in the middle and the end of
this season. I just don't think the Rams were truly
dictating and threatening to defenses last year with the way they.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Were going on.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
I feel like this for running backs, and this is
anybody in the National Football League. If you were my
lead back, if I get you one on one with anybody,
you should win.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah. If I get you into the open field.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
If you get a hat on the hat and I
leave you one guy to beat, you should be able
to beat that guy.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
And I think that's why I said, like twenty thirty
forty yard runs are good. When you get to the
eighty yarders, you have to have that speed to be
able to pull away.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Right. Our job, your.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Job offense, is to get you one on one with
a safety or a corner and you have to make
a miss. And let's go the way that happens, though,
and what the Rams have done really well, And on
the touchdown runs that I had, Tory Holt blocked like
a linebacker or a d N which is insane for
him to do it, but he was selfless enough to
go in and do it on a pitch play and
we're able to make a We're able to make a play.
And then the other time he blocked two guys on
a run downfield. And so that's how you have to
(12:58):
do it. And if you have the speed, you'll get
those eighty Kyro just doesn't have that speed to do it.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
And that's okay, you don't have to do that.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I mean, talking to coach Yarbs in Cleveland, he said,
what we we we be in the rams, we go
after quickness over speed. Oh yeah, we like quickness right,
and that getting in out of breaks make guys miss.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
We see Kyroen ducking it out of holes.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
And so to me, if I can get a twelve
to twenty yard run, that sets up later down the
road for those along the runs.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I have coach Yarps, quickness is a luxury. Speed. No,
quickness is a necessity. Speed is a luxury. There is
right there they were talking about that.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
I like what you said about Tori there because even
though I think this pass catching unit is significantly upgraded
from where they finished last year, I don't want to
discount the fact that for the last eight years we
have been spoiled by one of the smartest and most
willing blockers at the receiver position in Cooper Cup. And
we've seen moments and weeks where they have not had
(13:56):
Cooper Cup and how that impacts their running game. Now
it's life. Now, that's just the reality, and I don't
want to discount what that could mean.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We haven't talked Jarding Winnington either.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
If that takes a dip because of Davante, I don't
expect him to be a Cooper cup style blocker.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
No, No, that's not his style. I think he's gonna be
out there.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
But they have a culture, they have they have other
options that can do it, yes, and is part of that.
But Coop was special in that way, no question.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
A guy that can go in and block you, inserting
the big gap and block a linebacker and then inserting
the bigapp and running a corner round the house. Yeah,
like that's just a different type of deal. And again
all that we say all this is say, if you
have an explosive running game, what.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Do you think the passing game is going to look like?
And open wide up? And that's where I think them
understood after seeing Saquon Barkley and the Eagles right has
what for over fifty yard runs against the Rams and
then all of a sudden, now here comes a passing
game coming out because you gotta put more guys in
the box.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Should we flip sides to the ball there? You can
take whatever topic you want. Let's keep talking big picture,
But is there anything defensive that's on your mind.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
From the Rams? Defensively? Come on, man? What come on? Man?
Start it off? Well? Just thinking about the D line?
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Right, Jared Verse and you would think that he led
this team in sacks and he did not. Braden fisted.
Actually Byron Young had more sacks than he did. But
Jared Verse won Rookie of the Year. So this weekend
versus the Texans, and they're good. And I respect Nick Chubb,
I do. I'm assuming he's the Nick Chubb that was
in Cleveland. Until you prove otherwise.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I'm with you. I'm gonna respect him that way. And
I think C. J. Stroud is one of the best
young quarterbacks in the league.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Their offensive line is in flux, but this game is
built for Jared Verse to dominate. It's here. You've got
four new offensive linemen for the Texans. They're kind of
in flux there, so you should dominate this game.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
From the defensive front.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
I'm expecting Jared Verse to from last season get better
at not missing sacks. Not only when you do get sacks,
get the ball out, make game changing plays, change the math.
So take it up a step from what we saw
last season, and to bring guys with you. I think
POONA Ford is going to be a huge upgrade, a
huge upgrade.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
For this football team.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
He's like the Hoover dam Really he is that stubborn
and that solid that you can build cities behind him
and at some point he can straighten out and rush
the passers. So I think this defensive front has a
chance to be one of the best in football, and
you have a chance to prove that this Sunday versus
the Texans.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
So as I was doing my due diligence on the game,
I stumbled across to Miko Ryan's press conference where he
was talking about this game is going to be won
in the.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Trenches, and he didn't talk about the D line.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
He said, whoever's offensive line holds up the longest, that's
who's going to win this game. And then they got
me thinking, like, as I was going more, I was
on one of these social media and they were showing
all Jared versus rush plays, right, and I was like,
I just remember watching. I was like, I just remember
him bull rushing people. But then when you started to
really dive in all these lays, he had some stuff
(16:55):
with some stuff and if he can get better off
of that, and then you're adding all this other stuff
on the other.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Side, here's the crazy thing. Some of his best rushes
you missed. Yeah, that's the thing. You can't waste those
You can't waste those rushes. Now turn those in two sacks.
Every win that you had needs to turn into either
a pressure or a sack or get.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
The ball out.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I mean, I saw him do a push pull dip
rip like I'm like, I just used to seeing him
just bull guy's back Like, no, he has. He has
a repertoire of moves that he can use. Like you said,
when you use your mood, you gotta go. But the
other part is this, if you if you know the
Houston Texans, well, one, they have a double agent.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
We'll get to that later. They have a double agent.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
But you know this offense because it's a it's a
coach from here that's running it. You know, Demiko's Ryan's
what they're gonna do. So you have to go out
there and prepare. If you're the Rams defense saying, okay,
we know what they're gonna try to attack us with
because this is what we got in practice every day,
and you have to assume that that's gonna happen, and
you have to kind of show up those holes or
those those weak points you have in your defense. But
if your defensive line can take care of that offensive line.
(17:54):
It doesn't matter what they do.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
This is true. Who's secret scrorel? Who's the double agent?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Nick Haley?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah? The secret score? Okay, go ahead, Sorry.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
A couple follow ups. Who do you think, when all
is said and done, leads this team in sex?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I think Kobe Turner does. Oh, and I'm gonna tell
you why Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Is that what you thought? No?
Speaker 1 (18:11):
But it does remind me this is kind of the
twenty three Rookie of the Year revenge game. Yeah, Pooka
and Kobe both just missed because of some Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
But anyway, go ahead on the Kobe. I like.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
The reason why I say Kobe is because he's like
the one that no one's talked about.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Everyone's crazy, because I think he's got all pro upside.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Everyone's talked about Verse and Fisk and how fast Young
is and Poona Ford and for whatever reason, we just
haven't talked about the conductor. Right, It's just and that's
what happens. Right, You had a really good year, but
there's so many guys like somebody can't. Everybody can't. What's
the movie with the singers? And then they have the
least sing and they're beefing all the time. The Temptations,
(18:48):
Oh yeah, yeah, it's like they're beefing all the time
hard everybody.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
What's the guy? Oh can't sing like Eddie K? Yeah,
and everybody everybody Eddie K.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
You know what I mean. But those other guys put
in a lot of work.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
You know, I would not be surprised if Kobe Turner
leaves this theme to Sacks. I think, like you said,
he has all pro potential. But I mean we were
talking about this is gonna be an edge heavy team
and you are set to go. I haven't given up
on the Velociraptors. I still think they exist and they're
gonna get better. So it's coming off the edge here
and they're gonna get more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
But you gotta think they're gonna get double teamed right.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
When you go, Oh, trust me played against Dwight Freeney
and Robert mathis with double team on all day, right,
Chip help, you're gonna.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Have all given protect somebody.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Somebody get singled up. Okay, you don't think they're gonna
slide to fist. Of course.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
The one guy's gonna get singled up, I think is
Kobe Turner, and that's gonna be where he takes advantage.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Of it, and then when he gets going, guess what
someone else is gonna get singled up?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What about with respect to the run defense? And I
want to preface this by saying, big picture, the Rams
were not good enough against the run last year start
of the season, especially last game of the season, But
between the Saquon games they actually were much improved. And
I hope that's a sign of what's to come, especially
when you bring in Puna Ford and when you have
a full year of omar States and Nate Laman is
named a captain and came in and took the green
(20:07):
dot the moment he arrived. What is your level of
optimism that year two under Chrishula leads to a big
step forward in that regard and you can earn more
known passing situations for DeMarco's veloci rapis.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
You you beat me to it? Year two of Chrishula,
He's going to get better as a corter. I thought
they got better as he got better as.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
The season war on.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Towards the end of the year, when you had the
trust and everyone understood what this defense was about, they
turned into one of the best defenses. Had they got
past Philadelphia. I think they would have been rolling on
that side of the ball, so I think they hit
the ground rolling, So couldn't they be better stopping the run.
I think they ranked twenty two, so they're in the
bottom third of the league. But I think they need
(20:48):
to get more consistent. Just don't let these quarterbacks jump
out the window. That kind of change or skew your
rush defense numbers. Get those guys on the ground, be
better on third d get off the field when you
should and not have to defend those twelve to fifteen
extra rushing plays because you messed up on third down.
Be more consistent, get off the field your rushing numbers.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Well, I want to say this too, as a running back.
Having a running quarterback is like the cheat code. I
remember playing and David Garar was mobile, but he wasn't
Vince Young. And I remember when Chris John's arrested for
two thousands. I was jealous Chris. I was jealous because
Vince Young had two sets of eyes on him all time. Right,
And if you remember the last game against Philly, what
(21:32):
really sparked everything. It was a Jalen Hurts touchdown run
right for forty yards and now all of a sudden,
we have to worry about you right now. If you
don't have a running quarterback, I don't have to worry
about the quarterback, and I could play regular defense instead
of playing eleven on eleven football. So that's what makes
Philadelphia special. I think that's what where the ram struggled
is when they had those running Kyler Murray. They struggled
against Kyler because again, you have to have eyes on
(21:54):
that guy. And so once you figure out how to
play that type of football, I think the Rams, they've
had a whole year to kind of figure out how
we're going to play these mobile guys, you'll have a
better opportunity. But last year it was just I mean,
Jalen Hurds broke that run early in that game in
the divisional round, and then it was like I heard,
we got to focus on him, and now everyone's out
of gaps because you lost the gap to the front side.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
It's a math advantage.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
You have one extra guy you have to account for
in the run game, which is going to make you
short somewhere.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That's the problem with running quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
The only way to recreate that with a quarterback that
doesn't run is using a lot of twelve two tight ends.
It keeps the defense off balance, which leads us right
to back to the offense. With Tyler Higbee and Ferguson
on the field at the same time, that will create
the same sort of mathematical problem that a running quarterback
does because you don't know which way do you call
(22:47):
strength depending on who's out there right, Plus Puka and
DeVante Adams are still on the field, it creates a
lot of indecisions. So that's the way I would recreate that.
But running quarterbacks, it's all with their nightmare. The problem
is once you blunt the run attack, sometimes those guys
can't throw in the game is yours?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Well, that's the key stop to run, right.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
You know who else plays a role in stopping the
run though, And I want to bend this back to
the offense because the way that you can take an
opponent's running game away is by going up two scores.
And the Rams just simply did not do that enough
last season. They didn't start games well, they played a
lot of close games. They closed out a lot of
games with their defense. I think I speak for this
(23:25):
entire footprint, this entire building. It would be nice to
get back to putting up some points this year to
not be in the twenties in scoring offense, and I
think that'll change a lot of your defensive fortunes as well.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, I think it was.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
It's so funny when you go back to the years
whe the Rams were scoring thirty thirty five points a
game that all of a sudden the defense was really good.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah. Right, Aaron Donald had twenty. Right, Aaron Donald had
twenty And that's what happens. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
By the way, do you know who the biggest cap
hit on this defense is to this day?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Aaron Donald?
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Oh yeah, so it's a young assembly.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Yeah wow.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
But where are the resources on this team? Where does
this team need to be led from? I think it's
still an offensive driven team and as efficient as they
were last year, their next level metrics looked really good.
They look like a top ten offense. At times, it
did not translate to points because of turnovers at sometimes
because they did not finish drives well enough in the
red zone. That's one for me. I think red zone
(24:21):
offense is a huge step forward this ya.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
That was solved when they win and Gouty Davonte a.
I think that's one piece hope so.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
And the reason I'll tell you that is it goes
back to twenty twenty one when they went in and
signed Odell Beckham junior. He goes to Arizona, he's out
by hisself at a wide receiver. He runs a slant,
catches touchdown. The next week, fade right is those two
routes are those are the hardest routes to cover in
the tight red well.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Guess what does it all the time?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I just like their options down there better. I don't
know which one they'll choose. DeVante's clearly the leading one,
but Puka Nakua I think will finally crack the code.
Like for all he's done, he's not scored many touchdowns
for two years. I think they will run in pass
utilize them in that short red zone area. I think
Terrence Ferguson by year's end is going to be a
huge asset down there and finishing drives. And then Kyrin
(25:09):
Williams is that hammerhead shark that can still get in
from the five or inside the five.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I like going up by two scorers with this young
defensive line. You've if you just take the training wheels
off and just say light your hair on fire and
go get them.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
They'll win. Oh yeah, they'll win. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
If there's a scenario Sunday, but where chubbing the offensive
line are not manufacturing much by way of a running game,
and you go up ten points or fourteen points, that's
a game that I want to see in.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
The sun, no doubt. And you could. It's a possibility
that you could. You just have to get around that defense.
Let me say this for the Rams offense. Understand, when
you're playing the Houston Texans, they're slanting. They're the different
team than the Niners. Demgo with the Niners. Demgo just
let those guys go.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
This team.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
They're stunting and slanting every they know they can't hold
up against a run. So you just have to make
sure that you have your eyes where you need to
because those guys are wherever they start, they're not finishing.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
There is Coleman health.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Oh my gosh. But I'm just saying you're gonna have guys.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Well, we used to play teams and the only reason
I remember this is because I played against Amiko Ryans.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
If they're not big and stout, they're slanting guys.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Everybody's slanting, stunting, they're doing ET's or some type of
run slant to get your lineman so they can't get
to those linebackers. And those linebackers aren't big either. They're
smaller guys too that can run. And so if you can,
if you can zone that off or find a way
to get up on those backers with your lineman, you're
gonna have some run running lanes.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
They're gonna guess wrong at some point. Just be be there.
But I'm with you with the Coleman Shelton thing. It's
that's an experienced driver. You could take a nap if
you wanted to read a book. You don't have to
keep looking where he's looking.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
It takes a lot of pressure off Matthew Stafford. It
takes a lot of pressure off those two guards right
next to him and the whole offensive line. Just talking
to him about ball is like talking to a quarterback
the way he sees it.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
He can recognize coverage just by where you are. You
know you're not supposed to be there if he's going
to be there. A Matthew, watch this, you know what
I mean? Hey, we're gonna go this way. I thought,
I don't worry about it. We're going this way. He's
got that kind of cred So that's one thing you
lacked last year. Center was kind of in flux. It
was green until bow Lemmer kind of settled it down.
And he's green. Like you said, this is a whole
(27:18):
different animal, which should make your offense, your offensive line,
and your offense better.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Let's stick with Rams offense against Texans defense. As we
start to transition more into a Week one preview, you
mentioned Namiko Ryans has had some great success against Stafford
and McVeigh when he was with the Niners. You could
argue his personnel is as good or better right now
in different places, but as good or better.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
On defense.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
They got two elite corners. Yes, I think adding CJ
to their safety room is a big deal. That's a
huge Is there a better pass rushing tandem on the
edge in the league.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
I'm just saying Bosa was like during that time, was blockable, unblockable.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Let's agree to not argue about that and see the
fact that it's even a conversation means a good thing.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
He's got a talented defense defense.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, again, I I think two things I don't Fred
Warner roaming the middle of the field is a big
they don't have that.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
They're a guy that can run.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I think is that guy.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
He's good.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I think he's good. He's great, great, he's a good player.
But he's not running like Fred Warner. Like Fred Warner
would run through the middle of the field and that
would take away those digs. I don't see him doing that.
He's a physical guy, though, he's gonna come and he's
the one that again he brought him over because of
his physical presence. Right, Drake Greenland, Right, that's their dre Greenlaw.
I do believe that their dns are special, but the
(28:42):
d tackles are different.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Right, Those d tackles are different in San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Which I hope we feel that on Sunday, especially if
De Marco wants them to what do you say, go
up against the sleds?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I would like, I said, I would take them back
to early August. You have to sled for the first
quarter of the game. Yes, I want all that.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Yes I agree with kind of a downhill bullyball approach,
but I think I would just include in that run
game anything quick, quick game, perimeter throws, speed outs to
to two eye bubbles, anything horizontal that's fast and keeps
Matthew's time to throw down. I would I would consider
in that same section of the place sheet.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I think a screen to Pooka getting him running on
those dbs because they're they're they're really good. Make guys,
make them tackle the big your big back right uh.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I will say this the one the difference. Stingley's really good.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I just don't know how their safeties are though, And
I think that's where you're You're you'll be able to
take advantage a little bit with those tight splits. The
other thing is this too. And I actually Henry Tooto,
he's his dad. I coached with him at Dayla Soul.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
So I went to the linebacker linebacker, so I want
to go talk to his dad.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
And I was like, make sure you tell Henry you know,
he has to have his eyes right because there's gonna
be a lot of moving going on there and and
and I think that's where they're going to be able
to take advantage because this team flies around, they play fast.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
They do have a lot of eye violations or they're
out of position a lot.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
When you said they move and they stunt, that's the
only thing that screws that I've been in those defenses
where everything's a stunt, everything's moving, but when the offense
starts to move, we have to communicate, and that gives
that quarterback a lot of data before we even move
because we have to change everything. Which where are you going?
I thought I had to do this. Now they moved
over there. Which where are you going?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (30:25):
That gives you some sort of indication as to where
the pressures coming from.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
If I had to choose between elite edge rushers or
stout defensive tackles, I would prefer this matchup actually for
the McVeigh rams. Am I wrong in that regard? Like
I think back to Minnesota Thursday Night football, like going
up against Obrian Flora's defense and the way that this
building knows how to neutralize some of that compared to
(30:49):
when you're just outmatched in the middle. More of maybe
Miami game.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
From Fletcher Cox back in the day.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
But yes, you know what I'm saying though, If you're
saying that the strength of this Houston defense is not
down the spine of the field, then I'll take my
chances going into Sunday.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Yes, you're gonna get a lot of that coming down
the road, but this one here, like and Sean McVay
has been through this, Like you said, no matter what
the game plan is or what the complexion of the
game is, they he has found a way to adjust
to just about any plan. It's it's a rarity when
he gets run out of the gym or doesn't have answers,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Well, you've gone against Amika before, so you know what
he's gonna run and vice versus. So it's gonna literally
be what plays work for you and what plays work
for them.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Except other than when you had OBJ really going, I
don't know that you've seen a McVeigh offense with that,
you know, maybe in the height of Brandon Cook's power
or something.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I love. I love Brandon Cooks, I love the Archer,
But no, this is different.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
I do think you know what is this year nine
now for Sean, with all that his coaching tree has expanded,
it's tough to find that next iteration. And I don't
know that you can just do it on a whiteboard,
but you can do it with personnel. And my hope
for this season is that it does evolve and it
does look different and it does look prolific because Davante
(32:11):
is the most accomplished receiver he's ever.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Worked with, no question, And I think that's the difference. Right,
You're gonna they're gonna have to go one for one
or two for one on him, which is gonna open
up for everyone else guaranteed, Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Anything else on that side of the ball, or should
we flip it all right? Houston offensively, a reworked offensive
line isn't improved.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
We'll see.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
I mean, you talk about the comparative advantage that goes
to Demico's press conference. Yea, they've changed a lot up front,
but you have to give the edge to the Rams
offensive line going into Week.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
One, No, I think so.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
I mean, anytime you lose Laramie Tunsel, you trade your
guard who gets cut by the Eagles like your first run.
Like they have some issues, right and they and they
they made a decision because they couldn't run the ball
last year the way they wanted to write.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
So you know coming in they're gonna want to run
the football.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
It's going to be on this Rams deepense to shut
that run down early and often make sure Nick Chubb
And the thing about Nick Chubb terrific running back. If
you get him off his track, he struggles. If he
can stay on that track, oh he's a world beater.
So you got to make sure you make him stop
his feet and go sideways in that north and south
and you'll have a great opportunity there.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
How about starting a rookie left tackle on the road
in nursery against Jared Verse.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I told you earlier he should eat absolutely if Jared
Verse wants to take his place. And they're paying money
to top flight pass rushers now in the NFL, they
just started doing that. We see that now. I mean
the money is going up. You're getting quarterback.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
What thirty one teams are, Yes, there's one in Texas.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
If you want to get into that pay grade, then
you should eat this sort of situation up. If you
can go into Philly and you saw it, we were
all there and knock them around and talk trash to
them and their fans and back it up, you should
eat the rookie alive. This rookie should say years from now,
this was my welcome to the NFL moment.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Well that's what he did with the Dolphins left tackle
Toron Armstad made him retire.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
So now you're in year two.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Yeah, absolutely, are their defensive keys are the things that
you'll be watching.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You know, get off the field. C J.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Stroud is a guy that can run. He's the guy
that can jump out the window and pick up first downs.
He can get out of third and fourteen's if you're
not disciplined. So the last thing you want to do
is to have teams make you pay.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
For being aggressive.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Go from being aggressive to over aggressive, as in you're
wasting your gas and you keep giving them first downs
and you wear yourself out. So when you have a
chance to get off the field on third down, get
off the field, make the play, move on, get gator right,
and then come back.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
You can help yourself that way.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
It really is Nico Collins and then who else. I
think that's a question that remains to the answered. Christian
Kirk is on the injury report with that hamstring. He
was going to be their clear number two. We'll see
about his status of this week.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Coulton, Schultz, Shulder, he's solid starter.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
But they've only rostered too. They'll probably promote one from
the practice squad, but they're th at that position. And
then they got the two Iowa State rookies. We'll see
how much they give them early.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
But my biggest thing is is don't allow Nico Collins deep.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Force CJ.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Stroud to come off of that read right, because he's
always going to look at Nico Collins first.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
That's his guy.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Even when Stefan Diggs was there, they had all those guys.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
He looked at Nico first.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
If you force him to hold the ball and kind
of move his feet a little bit and slide in.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
The pocket, he's not as accurate.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
It's a little bit different when he has to move
and he's feeling things and his eyes are downfield. When
he can get back on that fifth step or seventh
step and Nico's striking down the field, he throws the
prettiest pass in the world.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
It's one. And that's what he did his rookie year.
That's what he did his rookie year. He was on fire.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Last year he struggled, and so I think a lot
of its people were are to realize Nico was out
for a couple of weeks. He started to struggle. They
started to take him away and they kind of do, well,
take Nico out of the pitcher, make him go somewhere else.
Make him have to play left handed, then you're good.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
I'm fascinated to see defensive back snap counts when we're
here next week.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Aren't you like?
Speaker 1 (36:01):
What does Emmanuel Forbes week one workload look like? How
do they platoon those safeties and where do they align?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I'm going to four of exactly how.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Many of those looks do they play against this Houston offense?
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Thirty percent? I'm thinking, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Uh Darius is going to start and play, uh as
he's going to play. He's a different guy. I hope
what we see out of that confidence with him, the
way he looks, in the way he's playing.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I hope that translates the game day. I really do.
I think all finished the year very strong.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
I hope he picks up finished, physical and not afraid
to make play getting in there. So I hope that
translates to something special a late bloomer. But then you
got to roll in the other guys. How do you
play Forbes? And the safeties too? And q Lake? I
think Qlake has done everything except make the wild plays.
I mean, really, when you think about where he is
in his career, year four right, this is big for.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Him, contract year for both your Nichols, yes, and Kobe
Durant big nickel and small nickel. I think they give
you a lot of optionality time.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
But the only thing that he hasn't done is make
a game changing play.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Yeah, Kobe Durant.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Has Yes, he's the DeMarco far this defense. In the
same game on Captain Q's first interception.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
It's coming, it's coming. He had a great training cramp
he really did.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah, quick run on special teams. You talked about it
early on. Feel good about the kicking game.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I think I'm comfortable with the kicking game, and I
think that's the mostion. That was one of the things
we've we having last year was kind of like yes, no,
and then it got going.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
I'm comfortable. And then the fact that you don't have
to worry about the kicking game.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
The punter can punt the ball out of you know,
to the form if you need him to, or you
can drop it inside the ten and your kicker is good.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
From I would say, what forty.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Against the Seahawks fifty five?
Speaker 2 (37:46):
You're you're confident in that.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
That's what you Last year is about, going from worse
to average in the kicking game. I wonder if you
can weaponize it this year. I wonder if you can
really tilt fuel position. Yeah, I'm confidence.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
The first preseason game he kicked like a seventy yard
or a missile.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Yeah. Should be a weapon, yes, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
And then the dynamic kickoff. I wonder what they choose
to do.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
Kick that thing out of the en zone. Yeah, get
anything out of the zone. We're not even don't be
scared of it.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Kick it out of there.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
I'm the team cardioff the tea. I think you get
that thing on the ground in the landing zone.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yeah, I'm I'm making kicked that thing throw.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
I think you're bigger and faster and deeper on your
special team's portion of the roster. I want to see
those guys go work. I want to see you want to.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Be on the field with the short field. Come on, shortie,
and if.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
You give away the thirty five, their two first downs
are a chunk play away from having three on the board.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Kick that thing, or you could do the dynamic kick
and the guy could be running down the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Because someone can take chances. Come on, you know, let's
make sure we do it the right way.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Last chance, last call, anything you want to say before
we break for the week.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
No, just I'm happy that the whole Matthew Stafford back
drama has kind of died down some. If he plays
well on Sunday, I think it goes away until it
comes back up again. But I have to give a
shout out to the quarterback room. I think this is
the healthiest that room has been and the most talented
it's been in a while. When you go out and
watch them practice, even Stetson Bennett, they are very athletic
(39:28):
and they're competitive. They compete with each other. It's not
just Matthew Stafford who is far and away the best.
Like over everyone everyone has something to say. So if
something bad does happen knock on Wood, it's not the
end of the world, although you'd rather have nine out there.
So I think that's the best thing you can say.
That's another thing that I woke up thinking. That is
something else that gives me calm about this year. Jimmy
(39:51):
Garoppolo and just the health of the quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
It's interesting you started by backing yourself out of December, Like,
I don't want to get to the end of the
journey until we take care of the front end. I'm
kind of the other way around where I came into
this thinking I'd like to see the twenty five Rams
compete for a one seed, oh no question, And like,
I think they've got that in them. And whether it's
Aler Jackson's deal or Stafford's deal or the Packers trading
(40:15):
for Micah Parsons, I'd still like to see that. But
that's not primary for me anymore. I think this group
is about just getting back in the dance and being
the tough out that they've always been. Stafford play seventeen
or not, Are you good to go come wild card
weekend or Division run weekend? If so, I like the
possibility of ending this season at Levice.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
I'll say this, Not many teams have a backup quarterback
that played in the Super Bowl started in the Super Bowl, right,
Not many teams have a quarterback that beat you six times, right, Like,
so you forget about that.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
I forget about those.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
How good Jimmy was when he played us, and so
that's what makes me sleep well at night. But to
be honest, I'm just happy football is back, yes, right,
Like I'm happy to be here and to talk about
the Rams and to have a game on Sunday, a
game tonight, a game Friday. I'm happy to see this
marathon again, you know, I know it's this not the
New York Marathon. It's bigger than that, right, And to
(41:12):
see how the the evan flows of the game. And
you know, being in Detroit a couple of years ago
and being on the tarmac for five hours, not even
have an idea that we're on the tarmac for five hours. You,
I mean, like all those things, That's what I love
about being here. That's what I love about this. It's
just so many different things that are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
I can't wait till he talk about bringing that up.
You can sleep on an airplane. I can sleep anyway
all over.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
And I always remember about that flight Aaron Donald knowing
he was done, Yes, Tyler Higbee's nicheh redded.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
Oh Man and MJD sleeping.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Sleeping the whole It was like ten hours have we landed? No,
we haven't left yet. Okay, No.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I woke up, like, why is a sunout? De Mark
goes like, what do you mean?
Speaker 1 (41:49):
The only thing we know for certain is that half
of what we said here today we will not want
to revisit in January because the twist and turns that
will go down throughout this journey are unpredictable, and the
rams are well equipped to hand them. The Rands are
well equipped to handle them. DeMarco far Maurice Jones, Drum JB. Long,
Glad that you can join us all season long right
here on between the horns presented by your Southern California
(42:09):
and tell you the dealers
Well, today it's a good day because I am back
with my friends Maurice Jones, Drew and DeMarco. Far Good afternoon,
good evening, whenever you might be watching this, I'm JB.
Long and this is a new season of Between the Horns,
presented by your Southern California Toyota Dealers. As you know,
a pair of division champs, the Texans and the Rams
to kick things off in week one. But first, it's
great to see you guys, our tenth year together. DeMarco
(00:29):
predates us with his Rams tenure. He's bringing that up,
your statesman.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That walking in the morning haircut. I cut the gray
out with me. Listen, come on, you want to know
what something funny you talk about? Gray hair? It's starting
to It's starting to come to me too. I feel terrible.
I'm gonna go baby face.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Soon, Jamie, A fresh cut through and some oh yeah,
I gotta hey, Rams kicks raid to roll nice, you know,
nice nice, ready to get get to step in.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, I like it, you know you and I I
just haven't really sat down and talked Rams in a while.
So when I thought about an agenda for this show,
I wanted to keep it pretty open ended because we've
been pulled in so many different directions. Good directions is
preseason that since the roster was formulated. I just haven't
heard from mjd in to Marco about what you think.
What's what's got you excited about this season? What's got
(01:19):
you concerned? Losing sleep?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Where are we? Well?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
I'm excited because I mean the team. I like the
way it's built. But like I said, when you roll
out of bed knowing that you have a quarterback, that
spot is filled with a quality athlete.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I feel comfortable.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
But the more I think about it, the more I
extrapolate out it's not the Johnny's and the Joe's on
the field, it's actually Sean McVay that makes me feel
so comfortable and calm. So this is another season for him.
It's another season with a top flight quarterback. With Matthew Stafford,
you've got a good young defense. So the way you
ended the season in Philadelphia, like you said, thirteen yards
(01:55):
short from shock in the world. So it was a
great a great cliffhanger. I can't wait to see how
they followed up this Sunday and so far. Yeah, I
gotta be where my feed are right. I got to
think of right now because it you kind of text
that question. I started thinking like December November, like what
are we gonna look like then?
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Type of thing.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
But I'm super excited about what the Rams have done
throughout the off season, that the health of Matthew Stafford,
getting DeVante Adams. Not really worried about the kicking game,
special teams looking really well throughout preseason. Defensively, seeing though
the d linemen and that whole defense come together and
what they did, how they grew Lasher and what they
can become now and the new additions and in that part.
So to me, the biggest thing that I've my only
(02:36):
concern is health.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right. It's like, you have all the pieces to do
what you need to do.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yes, those guys have to play, but if you win
the injury report every week with which we know that's
Sean's thing, win the injury report, you have a great
chance of winning every game.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And so.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
The health and then the travel gets me too. It's
a lot of traveling. You know we're gonna We're gonna
do a little bit of traveling this year.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Second most in terms of miles in the league, and
the Chargers who are in Brazil right.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
And that it starts to take a toll as you
have older guys, it takes a toll on you as well,
on the flights and different things like that. I know
the RAMS do a great job of you know, sleep
and all the other things, which is awesome, but it's
gonna be important for guys to take care of themselves
and guys to perform when it's time to perform.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
A few things on the health front. They're gonna win
this week's injury report, which is great. Can't can't do
any better than the starting line. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess.
I want to ask you about Stafford and where you
are with his back in a second. But one of
the refrains i've heard several times from Sean McVay this
offseason is that the lessons of the last couple of
years have informed his thinking. Where you know, he's always said,
(03:38):
adversity is gonna hit, it's how you handle it. But
right now, more than ever, it feels like their ability
to withstand that adversity has become one of their attributes,
one of their superpowers, one of their competitive advantages. He's
now bracing for we know what's going to happen. We
don't know when, but now we know with this group
how we're going to respond, and I like that. Let's
(04:00):
hope that they don't have to withstand as much as
they have had to in previous years, especially not as early.
But when you go up against this defense, and we'll
talk plenty of about Houston, where are you with respect
to Matthew Stafford his back, he's talking a good game,
saying he's gonna play the way he's always played.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
But yeah, to me, you have to, right, you have
to go out there and be you. You can't be
anyone else. You can't go out there and shy away
from throwing the ball guys around. You have to play
your game because that's why you're Matthew Stafford. I do
think if you're Sean McVay, you're going to max protect
a little bit more. Right, We're not gonna have tight
ends blocking these defensive ends like we did against Chicago
(04:39):
last year. That we're not doing that right. We're gonna
make sure we have lineman on lineman and then back
chip help, tight end chip help, and then try to
get our guys open in space. Understanding that if you
can can. If you can handle those two d ns,
you have a great opportunity to really to have.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Some ops downfield with your receivers.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Now they do have a great corner and Derek extingly,
but I still think that you have the advantage of
that secondary. So my biggest thing if i'm it's not
it's not necessarily about Matthew Stafford. I need you to
be Matthew Stafford and play like him as the play caller, though,
I have to make sure that I'm calling the plays necessary.
When we do want to take shots, there's seven guys
blocking and two guys are on those d ns. For
(05:19):
the most part, we got four guys on two guys
and make sure that we can protect our quarterbacks.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Just having a guy who can win against any coverage
help in that philosophy. Like if you need to release
fewer into the pattern, oh for sure one of them
is DeVante. You're saying we'll take our chances.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Oh yes, yeah, oh yes, absolutely, yes, no doubt. Quarterbacks
can escape with their legs and escape through that guy
if he's always won and I know I can get
the ball out to him just to save me from
getting a hit, even if it's incomplete. It's in the area.
If I put it on him or near him, there's
a good chance he gets it. That's gonna help Matthew Stafford.
That's gonna help any offense. DeVante Adams being on the
(05:55):
football field will draw eyes and it will help you
big time. But I am so with you. Matthew Stafford
has to be Matthew Stafford. But for this week, even
with those defensive ends. And I was telling JB earlier,
I'm glad you're getting the Texans here and not there
because they don't have the benefit of crowd noise. And
I would absolutely try to bully them. They're fast, but
they're not very big. So another way to protect the
(06:16):
quarterback is to run the football, no question, be physical,
come off the rock. I would make them. I would
take them all the way back to week one training camp.
You're going to be hitting, blocking, sleds for the first quarter, absolutely,
and then if you get through that, let me see
if you can earn the right to get to Matthew
Stafford if you've got anything left. So I would definitely
slam my bigger line at your smaller D line and
(06:36):
try to stay out of those third and third and whatevers.
So first and ten the Rams are paying running backs again,
which is awesome. There's continuity there, so beautiful thing. I
would definitely try to slam the football at the Texans
and see if they can stop it.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You won't hold your breath the first time he gets hit,
though in a different way.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Than I've been doing that since he got here, especially
after the Super Bowl. Whenever Matthew Stafford takes one and
he's so confident and he will stand down the barrel
of a of a rush to deliver a football and
take a pop. Every time he gets hit, I wonder,
is this going to be the one? That's what happens
when you have a quarterback that's thirty seven years old.
(07:12):
But for the most part, the guy gets up and
he dusts himself off and plays the next nap.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
But it's not the.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Doubt about him dusting himself off, it's just that can
he be the Matthew Stafford that differentiates him from other quarterbacks,
which is hanging on to the bitter end, reading that
thing all the way through and beyond completion and still
being able to get a shot off, and especially with
I think Maurice always wants like more keeper game more
twenty seventeen eighteen offense. If he's feeling good and comfortable
(07:38):
and he can do that and flip his hips and
boot and waggle, great if they shy away from that,
is he the quarterback that we've come to know him?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Love?
Speaker 4 (07:45):
You mean boots right? You don't mean running him on
the option keeper game? No?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, oh my god, Okay, I'm playing whoa wha no plan. No.
I will say this. I think two things.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
First thing is because of his injury, I believe and
I feel in talking to Sean that they're super confident.
It comes with Jimmy Garoppolo run their offense. Unlet's remember
going back to last year Week eighteen, they put up
what twenty some odd points against the Seahawks and their starters, right,
So you feel comfortable in that aspect.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
He had the single game passing lead. Jimmy g you
did there you go not saying anyone wants to revisit that.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah, you're comfortable in that situation. The reason I want
Sean to go back to twenty seventeen and eighteen is
it was very run heavy and it was very specific
pass plays that the ball You knew these plays were
coming right and they couldn't stop it. And so when
you're an offense that's clicking like that, when you have
specific plays that you know you can run three or
(08:39):
four times a game and that they're gonna be completions,
they're going to be this, then you take a lot
of the stress off the quarterback and the old line.
I just remember, was it eighteen where we used to
used to play fake girly Week and then whip around
and hit Cooks on the deep end, and it was
like literally like a handoff, like here, you can take
this right like every and not only. And so if
(08:59):
you can do that four or five times a game
with Davante and Matthew Stafford, all of a sudden, it's like, okay,
I can go down here and protect them, Like get
my guy in a rhythm, let him get going, let
him start feeling good.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
And the boots always work as well.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
So again what you said the running running game is
to me, it's this game is about Sean protecting Matthew,
not Matthew protecting Matthew wall.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
I think the season could be said too, in terms
of how efficient and explosive can you be with your
running game That's a big talking point year over year
with respect to Kirroen, and I think league wide too.
I think explosive runs have become a key to success again.
And in this matchup, which offense are you more confident
in staying on or ahead of schedule with the running game?
I think that's maybe LA's biggest advantage. But zooming out
(09:41):
ma Reice, where are you with respect to Kiren both
in terms of ball security and explosive runs this year?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Ball security is one thing you have to work on,
and I've talked to coach Gould about it and they've
really harped on it. That they've done it before, but
this has been a very big emphasis this year, really
getting him the focus on to keep in the ball
in the outside hand, making sure he's protecting it because
I know they believe and I believe that if they
don't turn the ball over, they're a tough offense to stop.
(10:08):
Right explosive runs, I think Kyron, We're not expecting Kyroen
to break the sixty yarders, but to have twelve yard runs,
fifteen yard runs, twenty yard runs to a drive.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
That sets up play action pass, It sets up the.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Screen game that gets your offensive line going, and I
think he can do that.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
We saw.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
I mean, let's just look at what the Rams in
the preseason against starters, right with Blake Korum and Cody
Schrader and Dark Cords Hunter. Explosive run game is what
you saw. So imagine your starters in there doing that
against other starters. With your starting running.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Back, I think we should expect explosive runs to be
a part of this offense. What was your longest rush?
Eighty eighty?
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Come on, bro, I'm just asking, I mean, what's set
up that long? I know you're fast, but it was
what do you mean right when.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Right before half and then came right out of half
and when eighty agather went the Tennessee Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Again, okay, but did you know before that this is
going to be a long one? No, Like I was.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I was upset because we went into that, We're going
into the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
In the secon quarter, I had two carries. I think
it was crazy. Oh different deal. Okay, yeah, let me
ask you something though.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Obviously that was your unique ability, But I bet if
we went back and checked the tape, you could point
to five six guys along the way that that set
that up for you, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It wasn't just you. No, no, no, no, that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
I would suggest that too much of this offseason conversation
has fallen on Kyron's shoulders to be more explosive as
opposed to recreating the ecosystem in which you can have
an explosive running game. So part of that is your
offensive line having it back and healthy. Part of it
is the weapons you present to a defense. And I
would ask DeMarco from your defensive lens when you're breaking
(11:47):
the huddle this year with Davante and to two and
Puka and Tyler Higbee back and maybe Terrence Ferguson, how
does that change your math defensively, especially with how you
can get your box count organize.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I'm going to be a step late coming down with
a safety compared to.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Where you were in the middle and the end of
this season. I just don't think the Rams were truly
dictating and threatening to defenses last year with the way they.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Were going on.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
I feel like this for running backs, and this is
anybody in the National Football League. If you were my
lead back, if I get you one on one with anybody,
you should win.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah. If I get you into the open field.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
If you get a hat on the hat and I
leave you one guy to beat, you should be able
to beat that guy.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
And I think that's why I said, like twenty thirty
forty yard runs are good. When you get to the
eighty yarders, you have to have that speed to be
able to pull away.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Right. Our job, your.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Job offense, is to get you one on one with
a safety or a corner and you have to make
a miss. And let's go the way that happens, though,
and what the Rams have done really well, And on
the touchdown runs that I had, Tory Holt blocked like
a linebacker or a d N which is insane for
him to do it, but he was selfless enough to
go in and do it on a pitch play and
we're able to make a We're able to make a play.
And then the other time he blocked two guys on
a run downfield. And so that's how you have to
(12:58):
do it. And if you have the speed, you'll get
those eighty Kyro just doesn't have that speed to do it.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
And that's okay, you don't have to do that.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I mean, talking to coach Yarbs in Cleveland, he said,
what we we we be in the rams, we go
after quickness over speed. Oh yeah, we like quickness right,
and that getting in out of breaks make guys miss.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
We see Kyroen ducking it out of holes.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
And so to me, if I can get a twelve
to twenty yard run, that sets up later down the
road for those along the runs.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
I have coach Yarps, quickness is a luxury. Speed. No,
quickness is a necessity. Speed is a luxury. There is
right there they were talking about that.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
I like what you said about Tori there because even
though I think this pass catching unit is significantly upgraded
from where they finished last year, I don't want to
discount the fact that for the last eight years we
have been spoiled by one of the smartest and most
willing blockers at the receiver position in Cooper Cup. And
we've seen moments and weeks where they have not had
(13:56):
Cooper Cup and how that impacts their running game. Now
it's life. Now, that's just the reality, and I don't
want to discount what that could mean.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
We haven't talked Jarding Winnington either.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
If that takes a dip because of Davante, I don't
expect him to be a Cooper cup style blocker.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
No, No, that's not his style. I think he's gonna be
out there.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
But they have a culture, they have they have other
options that can do it, yes, and is part of that.
But Coop was special in that way, no question.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
A guy that can go in and block you, inserting
the big gap and block a linebacker and then inserting
the bigapp and running a corner round the house. Yeah,
like that's just a different type of deal. And again
all that we say all this is say, if you
have an explosive running game, what.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Do you think the passing game is going to look like?
And open wide up? And that's where I think them
understood after seeing Saquon Barkley and the Eagles right has
what for over fifty yard runs against the Rams and
then all of a sudden, now here comes a passing
game coming out because you gotta put more guys in
the box.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Should we flip sides to the ball there? You can
take whatever topic you want. Let's keep talking big picture,
But is there anything defensive that's on your mind.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
From the Rams? Defensively? Come on, man? What come on? Man?
Start it off? Well? Just thinking about the D line?
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Right, Jared Verse and you would think that he led
this team in sacks and he did not. Braden fisted.
Actually Byron Young had more sacks than he did. But
Jared Verse won Rookie of the Year. So this weekend
versus the Texans, and they're good. And I respect Nick Chubb,
I do. I'm assuming he's the Nick Chubb that was
in Cleveland. Until you prove otherwise.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I'm with you. I'm gonna respect him that way. And
I think C. J. Stroud is one of the best
young quarterbacks in the league.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Their offensive line is in flux, but this game is
built for Jared Verse to dominate. It's here. You've got
four new offensive linemen for the Texans. They're kind of
in flux there, so you should dominate this game.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
From the defensive front.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
I'm expecting Jared Verse to from last season get better
at not missing sacks. Not only when you do get sacks,
get the ball out, make game changing plays, change the math.
So take it up a step from what we saw
last season, and to bring guys with you. I think
POONA Ford is going to be a huge upgrade, a
huge upgrade.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
For this football team.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
He's like the Hoover dam Really he is that stubborn
and that solid that you can build cities behind him
and at some point he can straighten out and rush
the passers. So I think this defensive front has a
chance to be one of the best in football, and
you have a chance to prove that this Sunday versus
the Texans.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
So as I was doing my due diligence on the game,
I stumbled across to Miko Ryan's press conference where he
was talking about this game is going to be won
in the.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Trenches, and he didn't talk about the D line.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
He said, whoever's offensive line holds up the longest, that's
who's going to win this game. And then they got
me thinking, like, as I was going more, I was
on one of these social media and they were showing
all Jared versus rush plays, right, and I was like,
I just remember watching. I was like, I just remember
him bull rushing people. But then when you started to
really dive in all these lays, he had some stuff
(16:55):
with some stuff and if he can get better off
of that, and then you're adding all this other stuff
on the other.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Side, here's the crazy thing. Some of his best rushes
you missed. Yeah, that's the thing. You can't waste those
You can't waste those rushes. Now turn those in two sacks.
Every win that you had needs to turn into either
a pressure or a sack or get.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
The ball out.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I mean, I saw him do a push pull dip
rip like I'm like, I just used to seeing him
just bull guy's back Like, no, he has. He has
a repertoire of moves that he can use. Like you said,
when you use your mood, you gotta go. But the
other part is this, if you if you know the
Houston Texans, well, one, they have a double agent.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
We'll get to that later. They have a double agent.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
But you know this offense because it's a it's a
coach from here that's running it. You know, Demiko's Ryan's
what they're gonna do. So you have to go out
there and prepare. If you're the Rams defense saying, okay,
we know what they're gonna try to attack us with
because this is what we got in practice every day,
and you have to assume that that's gonna happen, and
you have to kind of show up those holes or
those those weak points you have in your defense. But
if your defensive line can take care of that offensive line.
(17:54):
It doesn't matter what they do.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
This is true. Who's secret scrorel? Who's the double agent?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Nick Haley?
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah? The secret score? Okay, go ahead, Sorry.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
A couple follow ups. Who do you think, when all
is said and done, leads this team in sex?
Speaker 3 (18:06):
I think Kobe Turner does. Oh, and I'm gonna tell
you why Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Is that what you thought? No?
Speaker 1 (18:11):
But it does remind me this is kind of the
twenty three Rookie of the Year revenge game. Yeah, Pooka
and Kobe both just missed because of some Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
But anyway, go ahead on the Kobe. I like.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
The reason why I say Kobe is because he's like
the one that no one's talked about.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Everyone's crazy, because I think he's got all pro upside.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Everyone's talked about Verse and Fisk and how fast Young
is and Poona Ford and for whatever reason, we just
haven't talked about the conductor. Right, It's just and that's
what happens. Right, You had a really good year, but
there's so many guys like somebody can't. Everybody can't. What's
the movie with the singers? And then they have the
least sing and they're beefing all the time. The Temptations,
(18:48):
Oh yeah, yeah, it's like they're beefing all the time
hard everybody.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
What's the guy? Oh can't sing like Eddie K? Yeah,
and everybody everybody Eddie K.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
You know what I mean. But those other guys put
in a lot of work.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
You know, I would not be surprised if Kobe Turner
leaves this theme to Sacks. I think, like you said,
he has all pro potential. But I mean we were
talking about this is gonna be an edge heavy team
and you are set to go. I haven't given up
on the Velociraptors. I still think they exist and they're
gonna get better. So it's coming off the edge here
and they're gonna get more opportunities.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
But you gotta think they're gonna get double teamed right.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
When you go, Oh, trust me played against Dwight Freeney
and Robert mathis with double team on all day, right,
Chip help, you're gonna.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Have all given protect somebody.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Somebody get singled up. Okay, you don't think they're gonna
slide to fist. Of course.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
The one guy's gonna get singled up, I think is
Kobe Turner, and that's gonna be where he takes advantage.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Of it, and then when he gets going, guess what
someone else is gonna get singled up?
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What about with respect to the run defense? And I
want to preface this by saying, big picture, the Rams
were not good enough against the run last year start
of the season, especially last game of the season, But
between the Saquon games they actually were much improved. And
I hope that's a sign of what's to come, especially
when you bring in Puna Ford and when you have
a full year of omar States and Nate Laman is
named a captain and came in and took the green
(20:07):
dot the moment he arrived. What is your level of
optimism that year two under Chrishula leads to a big
step forward in that regard and you can earn more
known passing situations for DeMarco's veloci rapis.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
You you beat me to it? Year two of Chrishula,
He's going to get better as a corter. I thought
they got better as he got better as.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
The season war on.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Towards the end of the year, when you had the
trust and everyone understood what this defense was about, they
turned into one of the best defenses. Had they got
past Philadelphia. I think they would have been rolling on
that side of the ball, so I think they hit
the ground rolling, So couldn't they be better stopping the run.
I think they ranked twenty two, so they're in the
bottom third of the league. But I think they need
(20:48):
to get more consistent. Just don't let these quarterbacks jump
out the window. That kind of change or skew your
rush defense numbers. Get those guys on the ground, be
better on third d get off the field when you
should and not have to defend those twelve to fifteen
extra rushing plays because you messed up on third down.
Be more consistent, get off the field your rushing numbers.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Well, I want to say this too, as a running back.
Having a running quarterback is like the cheat code. I
remember playing and David Garar was mobile, but he wasn't
Vince Young. And I remember when Chris John's arrested for
two thousands. I was jealous Chris. I was jealous because
Vince Young had two sets of eyes on him all time. Right,
And if you remember the last game against Philly, what
(21:32):
really sparked everything. It was a Jalen Hurts touchdown run
right for forty yards and now all of a sudden,
we have to worry about you right now. If you
don't have a running quarterback, I don't have to worry
about the quarterback, and I could play regular defense instead
of playing eleven on eleven football. So that's what makes
Philadelphia special. I think that's what where the ram struggled
is when they had those running Kyler Murray. They struggled
against Kyler because again, you have to have eyes on
(21:54):
that guy. And so once you figure out how to
play that type of football, I think the Rams, they've
had a whole year to kind of figure out how
we're going to play these mobile guys, you'll have a
better opportunity. But last year it was just I mean,
Jalen Hurds broke that run early in that game in
the divisional round, and then it was like I heard,
we got to focus on him, and now everyone's out
of gaps because you lost the gap to the front side.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
It's a math advantage.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
You have one extra guy you have to account for
in the run game, which is going to make you
short somewhere.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
That's the problem with running quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
The only way to recreate that with a quarterback that
doesn't run is using a lot of twelve two tight ends.
It keeps the defense off balance, which leads us right
to back to the offense. With Tyler Higbee and Ferguson
on the field at the same time, that will create
the same sort of mathematical problem that a running quarterback
does because you don't know which way do you call
(22:47):
strength depending on who's out there right, Plus Puka and
DeVante Adams are still on the field, it creates a
lot of indecisions. So that's the way I would recreate that.
But running quarterbacks, it's all with their nightmare. The problem
is once you blunt the run attack, sometimes those guys
can't throw in the game is yours?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Well, that's the key stop to run, right.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
You know who else plays a role in stopping the
run though, And I want to bend this back to
the offense because the way that you can take an
opponent's running game away is by going up two scores.
And the Rams just simply did not do that enough
last season. They didn't start games well, they played a
lot of close games. They closed out a lot of
games with their defense. I think I speak for this
(23:25):
entire footprint, this entire building. It would be nice to
get back to putting up some points this year to
not be in the twenties in scoring offense, and I
think that'll change a lot of your defensive fortunes as well.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, I think it was.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
It's so funny when you go back to the years
whe the Rams were scoring thirty thirty five points a
game that all of a sudden the defense was really good.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah. Right, Aaron Donald had twenty. Right, Aaron Donald had
twenty And that's what happens. Right.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
By the way, do you know who the biggest cap
hit on this defense is to this day?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Aaron Donald?
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Oh yeah, so it's a young assembly.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Yeah wow.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
But where are the resources on this team? Where does
this team need to be led from? I think it's
still an offensive driven team and as efficient as they
were last year, their next level metrics looked really good.
They look like a top ten offense. At times, it
did not translate to points because of turnovers at sometimes
because they did not finish drives well enough in the
red zone. That's one for me. I think red zone
(24:21):
offense is a huge step forward this ya.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
That was solved when they win and Gouty Davonte a.
I think that's one piece hope so.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
And the reason I'll tell you that is it goes
back to twenty twenty one when they went in and
signed Odell Beckham junior. He goes to Arizona, he's out
by hisself at a wide receiver. He runs a slant,
catches touchdown. The next week, fade right is those two
routes are those are the hardest routes to cover in
the tight red well.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Guess what does it all the time?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
I just like their options down there better. I don't
know which one they'll choose. DeVante's clearly the leading one,
but Puka Nakua I think will finally crack the code.
Like for all he's done, he's not scored many touchdowns
for two years. I think they will run in pass
utilize them in that short red zone area. I think
Terrence Ferguson by year's end is going to be a
huge asset down there and finishing drives. And then Kyrin
(25:09):
Williams is that hammerhead shark that can still get in
from the five or inside the five.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I like going up by two scorers with this young
defensive line. You've if you just take the training wheels
off and just say light your hair on fire and
go get them.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
They'll win. Oh yeah, they'll win. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
If there's a scenario Sunday, but where chubbing the offensive
line are not manufacturing much by way of a running game,
and you go up ten points or fourteen points, that's
a game that I want to see in.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
The sun, no doubt. And you could. It's a possibility
that you could. You just have to get around that defense.
Let me say this for the Rams offense. Understand, when
you're playing the Houston Texans, they're slanting. They're the different
team than the Niners. Demgo with the Niners. Demgo just
let those guys go.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
This team.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
They're stunting and slanting every they know they can't hold
up against a run. So you just have to make
sure that you have your eyes where you need to
because those guys are wherever they start, they're not finishing.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
There is Coleman health.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Oh my gosh. But I'm just saying you're gonna have guys.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Well, we used to play teams and the only reason
I remember this is because I played against Amiko Ryans.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
If they're not big and stout, they're slanting guys.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Everybody's slanting, stunting, they're doing ET's or some type of
run slant to get your lineman so they can't get
to those linebackers. And those linebackers aren't big either. They're
smaller guys too that can run. And so if you can,
if you can zone that off or find a way
to get up on those backers with your lineman, you're
gonna have some run running lanes.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
They're gonna guess wrong at some point. Just be be there.
But I'm with you with the Coleman Shelton thing. It's
that's an experienced driver. You could take a nap if
you wanted to read a book. You don't have to
keep looking where he's looking.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
It takes a lot of pressure off Matthew Stafford. It
takes a lot of pressure off those two guards right
next to him and the whole offensive line. Just talking
to him about ball is like talking to a quarterback
the way he sees it.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
He can recognize coverage just by where you are. You
know you're not supposed to be there if he's going
to be there. A Matthew, watch this, you know what
I mean? Hey, we're gonna go this way. I thought,
I don't worry about it. We're going this way. He's
got that kind of cred So that's one thing you
lacked last year. Center was kind of in flux. It
was green until bow Lemmer kind of settled it down.
And he's green. Like you said, this is a whole
(27:18):
different animal, which should make your offense, your offensive line,
and your offense better.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
Let's stick with Rams offense against Texans defense. As we
start to transition more into a Week one preview, you
mentioned Namiko Ryans has had some great success against Stafford
and McVeigh when he was with the Niners. You could
argue his personnel is as good or better right now
in different places, but as good or better.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
On defense.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
They got two elite corners. Yes, I think adding CJ
to their safety room is a big deal. That's a
huge Is there a better pass rushing tandem on the
edge in the league.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
I'm just saying Bosa was like during that time, was blockable, unblockable.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Let's agree to not argue about that and see the
fact that it's even a conversation means a good thing.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
He's got a talented defense defense.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Yes, again, I I think two things I don't Fred
Warner roaming the middle of the field is a big
they don't have that.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
They're a guy that can run.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I think is that guy.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
He's good.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
I think he's good. He's great, great, he's a good player.
But he's not running like Fred Warner. Like Fred Warner
would run through the middle of the field and that
would take away those digs. I don't see him doing that.
He's a physical guy, though, he's gonna come and he's
the one that again he brought him over because of
his physical presence. Right, Drake Greenland, Right, that's their dre Greenlaw.
I do believe that their dns are special, but the
(28:42):
d tackles are different.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Right, Those d tackles are different in San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
Which I hope we feel that on Sunday, especially if
De Marco wants them to what do you say, go
up against the sleds?
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I would like, I said, I would take them back
to early August. You have to sled for the first
quarter of the game. Yes, I want all that.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Yes I agree with kind of a downhill bullyball approach,
but I think I would just include in that run
game anything quick, quick game, perimeter throws, speed outs to
to two eye bubbles, anything horizontal that's fast and keeps
Matthew's time to throw down. I would I would consider
in that same section of the place sheet.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I think a screen to Pooka getting him running on
those dbs because they're they're they're really good. Make guys,
make them tackle the big your big back right uh.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
I will say this the one the difference. Stingley's really good.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I just don't know how their safeties are though, And
I think that's where you're You're you'll be able to
take advantage a little bit with those tight splits. The
other thing is this too. And I actually Henry Tooto,
he's his dad. I coached with him at Dayla Soul.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
So I went to the linebacker linebacker, so I want
to go talk to his dad.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
And I was like, make sure you tell Henry you know,
he has to have his eyes right because there's gonna
be a lot of moving going on there and and
and I think that's where they're going to be able
to take advantage because this team flies around, they play fast.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
They do have a lot of eye violations or they're
out of position a lot.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
When you said they move and they stunt, that's the
only thing that screws that I've been in those defenses
where everything's a stunt, everything's moving, but when the offense
starts to move, we have to communicate, and that gives
that quarterback a lot of data before we even move
because we have to change everything. Which where are you going?
I thought I had to do this. Now they moved
over there. Which where are you going?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (30:25):
That gives you some sort of indication as to where
the pressures coming from.
Speaker 1 (30:29):
If I had to choose between elite edge rushers or
stout defensive tackles, I would prefer this matchup actually for
the McVeigh rams. Am I wrong in that regard? Like
I think back to Minnesota Thursday Night football, like going
up against Obrian Flora's defense and the way that this
building knows how to neutralize some of that compared to
(30:49):
when you're just outmatched in the middle. More of maybe
Miami game.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
From Fletcher Cox back in the day.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
But yes, you know what I'm saying though, If you're
saying that the strength of this Houston defense is not
down the spine of the field, then I'll take my
chances going into Sunday.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Yes, you're gonna get a lot of that coming down
the road, but this one here, like and Sean McVay
has been through this, Like you said, no matter what
the game plan is or what the complexion of the
game is, they he has found a way to adjust
to just about any plan. It's it's a rarity when
he gets run out of the gym or doesn't have answers,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Well, you've gone against Amika before, so you know what
he's gonna run and vice versus. So it's gonna literally
be what plays work for you and what plays work
for them.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Except other than when you had OBJ really going, I
don't know that you've seen a McVeigh offense with that,
you know, maybe in the height of Brandon Cook's power
or something.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
I love. I love Brandon Cooks, I love the Archer,
But no, this is different.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
I do think you know what is this year nine
now for Sean, with all that his coaching tree has expanded,
it's tough to find that next iteration. And I don't
know that you can just do it on a whiteboard,
but you can do it with personnel. And my hope
for this season is that it does evolve and it
does look different and it does look prolific because Davante
(32:11):
is the most accomplished receiver he's ever.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Worked with, no question, And I think that's the difference. Right,
You're gonna they're gonna have to go one for one
or two for one on him, which is gonna open
up for everyone else guaranteed, Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Anything else on that side of the ball, or should
we flip it all right? Houston offensively, a reworked offensive
line isn't improved.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
We'll see.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
I mean, you talk about the comparative advantage that goes
to Demico's press conference. Yea, they've changed a lot up front,
but you have to give the edge to the Rams
offensive line going into Week.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
One, No, I think so.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
I mean, anytime you lose Laramie Tunsel, you trade your
guard who gets cut by the Eagles like your first run.
Like they have some issues, right and they and they
they made a decision because they couldn't run the ball
last year the way they wanted to write.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
So you know coming in they're gonna want to run
the football.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
It's going to be on this Rams deepense to shut
that run down early and often make sure Nick Chubb
And the thing about Nick Chubb terrific running back. If
you get him off his track, he struggles. If he
can stay on that track, oh he's a world beater.
So you got to make sure you make him stop
his feet and go sideways in that north and south
and you'll have a great opportunity there.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
How about starting a rookie left tackle on the road
in nursery against Jared Verse.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
I told you earlier he should eat absolutely if Jared
Verse wants to take his place. And they're paying money
to top flight pass rushers now in the NFL, they
just started doing that. We see that now. I mean
the money is going up. You're getting quarterback.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
What thirty one teams are, Yes, there's one in Texas.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
If you want to get into that pay grade, then
you should eat this sort of situation up. If you
can go into Philly and you saw it, we were
all there and knock them around and talk trash to
them and their fans and back it up, you should
eat the rookie alive. This rookie should say years from now,
this was my welcome to the NFL moment.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Well that's what he did with the Dolphins left tackle
Toron Armstad made him retire.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
So now you're in year two.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Yeah, absolutely, are their defensive keys are the things that
you'll be watching.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You know, get off the field. C J.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Stroud is a guy that can run. He's the guy
that can jump out the window and pick up first downs.
He can get out of third and fourteen's if you're
not disciplined. So the last thing you want to do
is to have teams make you pay.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
For being aggressive.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Go from being aggressive to over aggressive, as in you're
wasting your gas and you keep giving them first downs
and you wear yourself out. So when you have a
chance to get off the field on third down, get
off the field, make the play, move on, get gator right,
and then come back.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
You can help yourself that way.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
It really is Nico Collins and then who else. I
think that's a question that remains to the answered. Christian
Kirk is on the injury report with that hamstring. He
was going to be their clear number two. We'll see
about his status of this week.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Coulton, Schultz, Shulder, he's solid starter.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
But they've only rostered too. They'll probably promote one from
the practice squad, but they're th at that position. And
then they got the two Iowa State rookies. We'll see
how much they give them early.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
But my biggest thing is is don't allow Nico Collins deep.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Force CJ.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Stroud to come off of that read right, because he's
always going to look at Nico Collins first.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
That's his guy.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Even when Stefan Diggs was there, they had all those guys.
Speaker 2 (35:17):
He looked at Nico first.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
If you force him to hold the ball and kind
of move his feet a little bit and slide in.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
The pocket, he's not as accurate.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
It's a little bit different when he has to move
and he's feeling things and his eyes are downfield. When
he can get back on that fifth step or seventh
step and Nico's striking down the field, he throws the
prettiest pass in the world.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
It's one. And that's what he did his rookie year.
That's what he did his rookie year. He was on fire.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
Last year he struggled, and so I think a lot
of its people were are to realize Nico was out
for a couple of weeks. He started to struggle. They
started to take him away and they kind of do, well,
take Nico out of the pitcher, make him go somewhere else.
Make him have to play left handed, then you're good.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
I'm fascinated to see defensive back snap counts when we're
here next week.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Aren't you like?
Speaker 1 (36:01):
What does Emmanuel Forbes week one workload look like? How
do they platoon those safeties and where do they align?
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I'm going to four of exactly how.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Many of those looks do they play against this Houston offense?
Speaker 2 (36:15):
Thirty percent? I'm thinking, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (36:17):
Uh Darius is going to start and play, uh as
he's going to play. He's a different guy. I hope
what we see out of that confidence with him, the
way he looks, in the way he's playing.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
I hope that translates the game day. I really do.
I think all finished the year very strong.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
I hope he picks up finished, physical and not afraid
to make play getting in there. So I hope that
translates to something special a late bloomer. But then you
got to roll in the other guys. How do you
play Forbes? And the safeties too? And q Lake? I
think Qlake has done everything except make the wild plays.
I mean, really, when you think about where he is
in his career, year four right, this is big for.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Him, contract year for both your Nichols, yes, and Kobe
Durant big nickel and small nickel. I think they give
you a lot of optionality time.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
But the only thing that he hasn't done is make
a game changing play.
Speaker 2 (37:02):
Yeah, Kobe Durant.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
Has Yes, he's the DeMarco far this defense. In the
same game on Captain Q's first interception.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
It's coming, it's coming. He had a great training cramp
he really did.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Yeah, quick run on special teams. You talked about it
early on. Feel good about the kicking game.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I think I'm comfortable with the kicking game, and I
think that's the mostion. That was one of the things
we've we having last year was kind of like yes, no,
and then it got going.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
I'm comfortable. And then the fact that you don't have
to worry about the kicking game.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
The punter can punt the ball out of you know,
to the form if you need him to, or you
can drop it inside the ten and your kicker is good.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
From I would say, what forty.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Against the Seahawks fifty five?
Speaker 2 (37:46):
You're you're confident in that.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
That's what you Last year is about, going from worse
to average in the kicking game. I wonder if you
can weaponize it this year. I wonder if you can
really tilt fuel position. Yeah, I'm confidence.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
The first preseason game he kicked like a seventy yard
or a missile.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Yeah. Should be a weapon, yes, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
And then the dynamic kickoff. I wonder what they choose
to do.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
Kick that thing out of the en zone. Yeah, get
anything out of the zone. We're not even don't be
scared of it.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Kick it out of there.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
I'm the team cardioff the tea. I think you get
that thing on the ground in the landing zone.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yeah, I'm I'm making kicked that thing throw.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
I think you're bigger and faster and deeper on your
special team's portion of the roster. I want to see
those guys go work. I want to see you want to.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Be on the field with the short field. Come on, shortie,
and if.
Speaker 1 (38:45):
You give away the thirty five, their two first downs
are a chunk play away from having three on the board.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Kick that thing, or you could do the dynamic kick
and the guy could be running down the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Because someone can take chances. Come on, you know, let's
make sure we do it the right way.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Last chance, last call, anything you want to say before
we break for the week.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
No, just I'm happy that the whole Matthew Stafford back
drama has kind of died down some. If he plays
well on Sunday, I think it goes away until it
comes back up again. But I have to give a
shout out to the quarterback room. I think this is
the healthiest that room has been and the most talented
it's been in a while. When you go out and
watch them practice, even Stetson Bennett, they are very athletic
(39:28):
and they're competitive. They compete with each other. It's not
just Matthew Stafford who is far and away the best.
Like over everyone everyone has something to say. So if
something bad does happen knock on Wood, it's not the
end of the world, although you'd rather have nine out there.
So I think that's the best thing you can say.
That's another thing that I woke up thinking. That is
something else that gives me calm about this year. Jimmy
(39:51):
Garoppolo and just the health of the quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
It's interesting you started by backing yourself out of December, Like,
I don't want to get to the end of the
journey until we take care of the front end. I'm
kind of the other way around where I came into
this thinking I'd like to see the twenty five Rams
compete for a one seed, oh no question, And like,
I think they've got that in them. And whether it's
Aler Jackson's deal or Stafford's deal or the Packers trading
(40:15):
for Micah Parsons, I'd still like to see that. But
that's not primary for me anymore. I think this group
is about just getting back in the dance and being
the tough out that they've always been. Stafford play seventeen
or not, Are you good to go come wild card
weekend or Division run weekend? If so, I like the
possibility of ending this season at Levice.
Speaker 3 (40:35):
I'll say this, Not many teams have a backup quarterback
that played in the Super Bowl started in the Super Bowl, right,
Not many teams have a quarterback that beat you six times, right, Like,
so you forget about that.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
I forget about those.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
How good Jimmy was when he played us, and so
that's what makes me sleep well at night. But to
be honest, I'm just happy football is back, yes, right,
Like I'm happy to be here and to talk about
the Rams and to have a game on Sunday, a
game tonight, a game Friday. I'm happy to see this
marathon again, you know, I know it's this not the
New York Marathon. It's bigger than that, right, And to
(41:12):
see how the the evan flows of the game. And
you know, being in Detroit a couple of years ago
and being on the tarmac for five hours, not even
have an idea that we're on the tarmac for five hours. You,
I mean, like all those things, That's what I love
about being here. That's what I love about this. It's
just so many different things that are going to happen.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
I can't wait till he talk about bringing that up.
You can sleep on an airplane. I can sleep anyway
all over.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
And I always remember about that flight Aaron Donald knowing
he was done, Yes, Tyler Higbee's nicheh redded.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
Oh Man and MJD sleeping.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
Sleeping the whole It was like ten hours have we landed? No,
we haven't left yet. Okay, No.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I woke up, like, why is a sunout? De Mark
goes like, what do you mean?
Speaker 1 (41:49):
The only thing we know for certain is that half
of what we said here today we will not want
to revisit in January because the twist and turns that
will go down throughout this journey are unpredictable, and the
rams are well equipped to hand them. The Rands are
well equipped to handle them. DeMarco far Maurice Jones, Drum JB. Long,
Glad that you can join us all season long right
here on between the horns presented by your Southern California
(42:09):
and tell you the dealers
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