October 22, 2024 • 19 mins
On this episode of Rams Revealed, Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl talks about his Oklahoma roots, first season in LA so far, his defensive mindset on a short week, pride he takes in being defensively versatile, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hello everyone, and welcome back to RAMS Reveal presented by
Sleep number of the RAMS Sleep and Wellness partner. I
am your host, JB. Long, and our guest this week
is a first year Ram coming off his second career
NFL touchdown. Cameron Curl is with us. Good to see
you and thank you for some of your time for
having The Rams just picked up their second win. The
Vikings are in town next. It's a short week, so
(00:31):
we're gonna try to be efficient on this edition, knowing
that your time is precious and the words of the
immortal John wouldn't be quick, but don't hurry. Sound good?
First things first, for our YouTube audience, you could see
Cam is abiding by our hoodie policy here at the
RAMS facility. Really appreciate that. Should I throw it up.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
To you as well?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Does that look exclusive?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I'm not anybody can do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Let's go. Let's go and see how see My wife
and kids think Cam scoring on defense like that's gotta
be one of the great great joys of football. It
happens all too infrequently. Your unit's now done at two
games in a row. Tell us about what that felt
like at so Fight Stadium in weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Uh, you know, just that's how you change the game
for really, you know what I'm saying, just change the
momentum and just trying to put a team out. You know,
anytime you score on defense, like you can really take
the air out of the offense for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I mentioned you have scored in this league before. It's
back as a rookie. Had three picks as a rookie,
including a pick six with Washington. Tell us about yesterday's
thirty three yards scoop and score relivid if you can.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It was just in a certain type of blitz. You know,
I had the bat come block me. I was going
for like the PBu. But I've seen Kobe he like
flashed in my face and I seen him knocked the
ball out, and I just you know, followed the ball.
You like the dog following the squirrel. You know what
I'm saying is follow the ball, got a clean scoop
and got into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Have you had a chance to watch it back on
film since like Monday before a short week, do you
even go back in? Okay, yesterday's take.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I watched it last night when I got home.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Okay, any keys to the play that you picked up
on seeing it from different vantage points.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Oh, it was just Cobe came through the blitch, real clean, untouched,
and he did a great job of hitting the ball,
you know what I'm saying, Like it looked like a
d Linan for real hit the ball. And I was
there for the school. It was just really a good,
good play by the defense.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I mean that was important. But the most important component
of the play was you high stepping like prime? Where
did that come from?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't know that was you know, that's the classic,
Like that's the first celebration you learned when you're playing
football when you're young as a kid, you learned the
high star. That's the first celebration. So I ain't really
have a playing I ain't know I was gonna score.
So it's just, you know, went back to the classic
high stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
But you do have an offensive background, like you're used
to having the football in your hand. Running back, was
it your offensive experience?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, running back in my first position, I used to
watch a bunch of Reggie Bush and Agent Pierson highlights,
you know what I'm saying, Just try to be like them.
And I played receiver in high school, so I had
I had a few deal office receiver. I could have
went a couple of plays for receiver, but I feel
like dB. I was better at dB for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
All Right, we'll get into your prep days and your
college days and Faetteville as well in just a moment.
But let's transition from the individual selly, which was solid,
like no worse than B plus that was impromptum. But
what about the team celebration?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Oh yeah, A ro your boat. That's qlake though, that's
Captain Q. He came to me before the game and
he's like, if we get a pit, you know, hit
the boat. I'm like, all right, I really forgot because
I was I was finna run to the sideline. You
can see it run up to me like he was
whispering to hit it. I'm like, all right, bit so
we went and got it. It was like it was
a little a little unorganized because we was the only
two that know we was gonna do it. But I
(03:41):
feel like it came out so just you and Q.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Everybody else who jumped on that boat was yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
It was just like, oh, now they're doing to row
the boat. So we fine of how boom?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Well I gotta thank you because the defense continues to
outperform the offense when it comes to celebrations, like the
Rams have at times put up tons of points in
the Sean mcvaarry, but celebrations never necessarily there strong suit
and the defense gets its turn. You guys maximize it
because you know it comes. It's rare. It's rare, so
we gotta make it and make it look good. Maybe
game ball is not as rare in your career.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
But what did it mean to catch one from Sean
McVay after the Rams second victory?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Oh? It felt good, you know what I'm saying. It
was my first one this year, so it felt good
to get that, you know what I'm saying, Just some
acknowledgement and showing that we're making plays on the defensive side. Now,
you know what I'm saying. Before this game, we weren't
creating that many turnovers, and like, we put an emphasis
on that during the week and it showed and we
just got to keep building on it.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, to that point, the final score is low, right,
it's twenty to fifteen. Raiders not playing great, Rams don't
score in the fourth quarter, not much offense to speak of,
miskicks not to dwell on that, but it's described as
like an ugly win or people feel like saying, ah,
that that wasn't the way we drew it up. I'm like,
wait a second, wait a second, how about we look
at this through a defensive lens. That was a thing
(04:55):
of beauty. Yeah, facts, I mean, tell us about what
it means when the other a of the team maybe
aren't performing up to their standard and you can still
find a way to get to the finish line.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I mean, first of all, there's no such thing as
win in the league. It's too hard to get wins
in the league, you know what I'm saying. Anyway you
can come out with the dub, that's good. But yeah,
a low scoring game like that, that's that's what we want.
You know what I'm saying. The other team scores fifteen points,
I feel like if our offense scores seven, then we
can win because it's our job to go out there
and stop and not let them get any points, you
(05:25):
know what I'm saying. So I don't care about what
the win looks like. As long as our offense scores
one point, I feel like we have the chance to
win the game.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
You know, your touching on was the highlight. But I
thought an underrated moment early in that game was your
rush on Aidan O'Connell too. I know you're not trying
to hurt the guy or any guy, but you do
execute the pass rush. You get up and kind of
collide hand to hand. I guess maybe did his finger there.
That's a you can test early in the game and look,
if you have to make them go deeper on their
depth chart, that's a win for the Rams said, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I wasn't trying to. I didn't know I had seen
he went out after the play. I ain't know what
happened though, but yeah, coming through trying to hit the ball,
I hit his hand and I'm glad my hand.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Okay, me too, me too. I want to give you
a chance to brag on some of your teammate Should
we start with Jalen Yeah, Jayleen McCullough to be doing
this as an undrafted rookie. Some of its right place,
right time, right. You can't control tip drill, But three
interceptions in his last thirty three defensive snaps. That's why
what context can you give us on the month that
he's having.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
He's living right, you know what I'm saying, the ball.
You know, the ball comes to him. He's a ball magnet,
and I love it, you know what I'm saying. Like
you said, undrafted rookie. You know what I'm saying, coming
in and just making plays and helping the team win,
like it just feels great. Like it kind of reminds
me of my rookie I was seventh round, got my
chance and was making plays. So like, I'm so happy
for him, you know what I'm saying, because the way
he attexts. I can just watch him during the week,
(06:46):
you know what I'm saying, the meeting room, he's writing
those down. He's locked in, like you know, he's doing
everything right, and you know when you do that, you
get rewarded.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I'm glad you mentioned that Day three pick, seventh round.
Going back in your history, that feels like a more
secure foothold in the National Football League. But it's probably
really not. Like there's not much difference.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I guess now they're like anything after the fifth round.
It's hard. It's hard to stay in the league.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
For any I mean, all the more reason to celebrate
your second contract, right. I don't know what the exact
percentage is, but probably not many day three much less
seven round picks, get a second deal, get a chance
to come out here to California.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, yeah, especially out here in La Man living in
the Great Web and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Good for you. How about Quentin like yesterday, just how
good was he? Especially that third down red zone tackle
on rock Bowers may have been the underrated game saving play.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, yeah, it's Captain q Man. Like he's another one
of the guys who who comes to tax every day,
does everything right, you know what I'm saying. That's why
he's a captain. You know, he leads by example a lot,
and you know he's a real good vocal leader and
just the way he plays is a real smart player,
and he's real versatile because you know, you see him
at the start, you see him in safety and to
be able to be able to do that and not
(07:57):
make mistakes and still be locked in, that's that's a
really hard.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
He covered a lot of ground on that play too,
if you kind of.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Like, yeah, yeah, see him, like I was watching the film,
Like his eyes was great on that play. He's seen
the tight end sifting bat. You know, he got over
topped the corner, came downhill, made the play. That's a
really great play.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
For it, all right, So you're touting his versatility, can
we talk about yours? Because I did a deep dive
this morning. Look at all the places that you lined
up yesterday this season, but especially yesterday, left outside outside linebacker,
check right edge, check in the box for about twenty one,
snaps in the slot for nineteen, free safety for thirty four.
But here's what I find interesting. And tell me if
(08:36):
this is a big deal or no deal. Normally you're
aligned as kind of the.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Left safety and too high.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yesterday against the Raiders almost exclusively, right, Does that matter?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I mean, you know this is a little switch up.
You know what I'm saying. Coach beat but this is
a little switch just keeping the office on his toes, all.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Right, So you want to play it close to the best,
and I get that. Yeah, Like just in case the
vikings are big reveals fans or anything. But suffice it
to say, the defensive staff got in the and the bye.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah for sure, Yeah we got we got great coaches.
You know what I'm saying. They did some self scouting,
you know what I'm saying. Like I said, I just
wanted to give a little switch up to the offense
just in case, you know, there were banking on me
being on the left side and just trying to scheme
things up or something like that. So just you know,
give them a different look.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
But what about the stress that place is on you.
It's hard enough to know one position really well in
this league, to do everything that I just described and
know your role and responsibility on each one of those reps.
That's a lot on your plate.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yeah, but you know it's our job. You know what
I'm saying is what we do. You know, coach asked
me to do it, and I flack and do it.
I'm gonna do it. You know, I always want to
be available to do whatever I can on the field
because you know, the best ability is availability.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I remember that was one of the things Washington liked
about you too, right, your versatility speaking of you face
the Rams last year when they were kind of humming
on offense. Want to kind of get your perspective on this.
The threat of Cooper Cup just being on the field
and we all hope that's going to be the case
on Thursday from a defensive vantage point, how much does
that change thing? Not just dealing with him individually, but
(10:03):
the impact he has on the entire elevel picture.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, for sure. Anytime Cubs on the figure, I know
where he is. You know what I'm saying, He's another
one of those smart players that he's a receiver, but
like he has like a quarterback man. You know what
I'm saying that he knows everything. He knows how to
run his rites, he knows how to how to manipulate
your leverage and use it against you. So anytime he's
on the field, it's a real big threat.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
I went and watched his sixty two yard touchdown in
that game again this morning. Why are you laughing?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Because it was just you know, it is what it is.
That wasn't it wouldn't me. I'm not gonna put anybody
in the blessed, but nah, it wasn't my fault.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I mean, you're in the picture, you're on the field,
but I'm not. I'm not putting. The Rams lost a
couple of fumbles in that game. Yeah I had, and
uh they're looking to do the same thing. Like just
to go back in time. That Washington game was a
Sunday afternoon contest, the first of two games in five
days at Sofi Stadium. Rams when that one came back
in primetime beat the Saints really changed the course of
(10:59):
last year. That's the same formula you're hoping to implement
here in twenty twenty four. Can you compare and contrast
a franchise. It's just a little bit like, I'm not
here to make you say anything bad about the team
that drafted you. That's not my intention. But now that
you've seen a different place in the National Football League,
what stands out to you about being here with the
Rams and how they operate.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Honestly, it is eye opening, you know what I'm saying.
Just the way they do things, you know what I'm saying,
conduct things around here like it's I love it. It's
real great. You know. The way they take care of
the players. You know what I'm saying. Sean McVay, he's
a freaking football genius, you know what I'm saying. The
energy he brings in the team meetings and all types
(11:37):
of stuff, Like, it's a lot of fun around here.
You know what I'm saying. It's really big, family oriented,
you know what I'm saying, Even the stuff without the
feel like what they do, how they take care of
your family and stuff like that. With me being like
a new dad, you know what I'm saying. So that
really opening to me and I'm really appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Congratulations. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Thank you Tank out your family. I got one year old,
one year old little girl. Her name is Khalia. You know,
changed my life.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Oh congratulations. Is she local? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yeah, she'd be at the games.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I say how she likes. She love it. She was
just on the field yesterday with the cheerleaders and stuff.
She was loving it.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Congratulations. I was surprised to realize this morning, or be reminded.
You're only twenty five years old, so you're you're super young.
There's rookies who are older than last. In fact, you're
nine months older than Brayden fists. I don't know if
you knew that, but like you, guys are basically temporaries.
So you started as a true freshman in Fayetteville, right,
(12:37):
and then you left your last year of eligibility right
before the pandemic kind of got out of ji year.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah, I left my junior year. It was I wasn't supposedly,
but you know it was, I was betting on myself
kind of you know what I'm saying. I just feel
like I can get to the league and make a team.
And then I ended up hearing my name name Carl durnd.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I like that. We're kind of leaning into our razorback
identity here on RAMS. We had bow Limmer last week. Yeah, now,
checking in with you, but that wasn't your only kind
of career family stop. You actually have a tied to California.
How brief was that moment in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I had stayed in San Diego for about ten years.
I was born in Scugy, Oklahoma. Before I turned one,
we moved to San Diego because that's where my mom
and my dad had met, so that's what they were staying.
My mom is from out here, from San Diego, my
dad from Oklahoma, so we was out here. I went
to school out here till I was like ten. That's
(13:31):
where this is where I started playing football out here,
and then after ten we moved back to you know,
take care of my dad's side of the family and
stuff like that, and we just stayed out there.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Scogi's a cool player, so I told you before we
got started here. I actually lived in Tulsa for a while,
used to cover some football in that area. Maybe people's
perception or stereotypes. It doesn't really meet reality. Green Country
is in Oklahoma, does it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
No, Yeah, it's a different type of football too. You
know what I'm saying. It's big dudes in Oklahoma. You
know what I'm saying. It's different like out here playing
It's like a lot of speed, you know what I'm saying,
skilled players and you get the Oklahoma's the cornbread fit
guys like you know, real linebackers and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
And the good news is going to Fadevielle. It's a
short drive. Your family was able to follow your college
career pretty closely. It's terrific, all right. So we're looking
ahead to a short week. Do you want to get
a quick profile on the Vikings if you can? I
know you're like early in your preparation, but you know
the names right justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones. What's
it going to take to replicate the defensive performance like
you had Sunday against a more high octane offense on Thursday?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Us gonna take turnovers like you did this past game.
It will take turnovers, you know, getting off the field
and keeping the offense on the field. You know, so
they can score points and keeping the vikings off the board.
You know what I'm saying, keeping the cap on justin Jefferson,
you know, tackling Aaron Jones and just getting the ball
as many times as we can.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
One other parallel that I wanted to draw, And this
is a bit of a stretch, but I think it
makes sense to tie this together. History has not been
kind to teams that start one and four, but there
are a small handful of instances where teams have rallied
to make the postseason. And the most recent one. You
were on the Washington team as a rookie in twenty twenty. Right,
it was one and four and then ultimately one in
five h And I get at the NFC East was
(15:13):
not great that year, Like no one is really touting
like making the playoffs or winning your division at seven
and nine. Seven and nine probably not gonna cut it
in the NFC West this year. I get all that,
But were there any takeaways from that early rookie experience
in Washington that you think apply to LA this time around?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Uh? Just you know, knowing it's a long season, you
know what I'm saying, And you know, any given Sunday.
You know, just show up every Sunday trying to go
on and know every week, you know, anything can happen.
You know what I'm saying. It's the NFL. Every team
has great players, you know, So it's just about being
the best team that day, you know what I'm saying,
making your players that you need to make on that day,
(15:52):
and so dominating your one on one METSA.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Apologize for cutting you off there, especially given you know
how many division games especially are still left in front
of it. Right, want to stay in this fight long
enough to make that trip to Seattle play the Seahawks,
get the Niners again. All right, Cam, It's time for
the wind Down. This is a weekly segment presented by
Sleep Number. Each week here on Rams Revealed, we get
insight into how sleep and recovery impacts performance in the
(16:15):
National Football League. More important this week than ever because
it's Thursday night football, only three days between your two games.
I'm curious, what have you learned in your career about
these short weeks in terms of how to optimize your opportunity.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Uh, Usually you gotta fight for your recovery. You know
what I'm saying. It's not gonna come natural like a
wood on, like a seven day break, you know what
I'm saying. But you gotta fight for your recovery, get more,
fight for your film. You know what I'm saying. It's
just doing more because the game is right, you know,
it's right around the corner, you know what I'm saying.
So just doing more off the field, doing more at
(16:51):
home to take care of everybody and get your mind
right for the game.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
But you're feeling okay at the start of the week, Yeah,
got a good chance for Thursday to be right. Good
for you. A couple quick things and then we'll get
you back to that recovery process. And these are real stretches, Okay,
so no expectations here. Feel free to tell me. Like, dude,
you're too old to be bothering me with that question.
But if I asked you which famous actor went to
your high school, would you have any idea who mister
(17:15):
Brady is?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Mister Brady Yeah in my high school.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, I didn't think you would. No worries like from
the Brady Bunch that the patriarch from that family to
show the Brady Bunch.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yeah, he went to my high school for real. Yeah,
I did not know the.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Late Robert Reid.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
There's a shot.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I gotta go do some research.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
What about that Merle Haggard song? Have you heard that
one from?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yeah, you know the big speaking around the whole town.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
We pretty much expected to probably more likely to have
heard the song than the show. And then I was
hoping you might bring that that nice necklace.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That that's Monday at the facility the Sundays.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
It's so fun. I mean, can you tell me what
the BAM collection is or what that or would I
get that?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I mean it was it's like a nickname cam Bawm.
You know what I'm saying. I got it in high school,
you know, just abound some older girls. They started economy
cam Bown, so you know it kind of stud with me.
But yeah, I just got it and I got to
the league. And you know it is my Instagram name too,
so you know I was getting the chain. I was.
(18:19):
I ain't want to put my name like cam one.
I just wanting BAM good.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
I like that and like the three, like the Jersey
three kind of fits with the be It's that's good stuff,
all right. I got a long way to go, clearly
to keep up with Cam Curl but maybe the hoodie
naw yeah, the hoodie looking that's okay. I'm happy to
make a fool of myself. It's better of Rams revealed.
Thanks for getting to know you a little bit better.
It's a short week. I know you got a lot
to do, but the Rams happy to have you and
(18:43):
wish all the best Thursday night football and the rest
of your time here in La.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Well, thank you. I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
All right, coming off that touchdown, that defensive driven win.
Curl in the Rams back at Sofi Stadium Thursday night
to take on the Vikings. Hope you can join us then.
I'm JB.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Long.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Thank you also for listening and watching to Rands Revealed,
presented by Sleeper h
Hello everyone, and welcome back to RAMS Reveal presented by
Sleep number of the RAMS Sleep and Wellness partner. I
am your host, JB. Long, and our guest this week
is a first year Ram coming off his second career
NFL touchdown. Cameron Curl is with us. Good to see
you and thank you for some of your time for
having The Rams just picked up their second win. The
Vikings are in town next. It's a short week, so
(00:31):
we're gonna try to be efficient on this edition, knowing
that your time is precious and the words of the
immortal John wouldn't be quick, but don't hurry. Sound good?
First things first, for our YouTube audience, you could see
Cam is abiding by our hoodie policy here at the
RAMS facility. Really appreciate that. Should I throw it up.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
To you as well?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Does that look exclusive?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I'm not anybody can do it. Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Let's go. Let's go and see how see My wife
and kids think Cam scoring on defense like that's gotta
be one of the great great joys of football. It
happens all too infrequently. Your unit's now done at two
games in a row. Tell us about what that felt
like at so Fight Stadium in weeks.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Uh, you know, just that's how you change the game
for really, you know what I'm saying, just change the
momentum and just trying to put a team out. You know,
anytime you score on defense, like you can really take
the air out of the offense for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
I mentioned you have scored in this league before. It's
back as a rookie. Had three picks as a rookie,
including a pick six with Washington. Tell us about yesterday's
thirty three yards scoop and score relivid if you can.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It was just in a certain type of blitz. You know,
I had the bat come block me. I was going
for like the PBu. But I've seen Kobe he like
flashed in my face and I seen him knocked the
ball out, and I just you know, followed the ball.
You like the dog following the squirrel. You know what
I'm saying is follow the ball, got a clean scoop
and got into the end zone.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Have you had a chance to watch it back on
film since like Monday before a short week, do you
even go back in? Okay, yesterday's take.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I watched it last night when I got home.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Okay, any keys to the play that you picked up
on seeing it from different vantage points.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Oh, it was just Cobe came through the blitch, real clean, untouched,
and he did a great job of hitting the ball,
you know what I'm saying, Like it looked like a
d Linan for real hit the ball. And I was
there for the school. It was just really a good,
good play by the defense.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I mean that was important. But the most important component
of the play was you high stepping like prime? Where
did that come from?
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I don't know that was you know, that's the classic,
Like that's the first celebration you learned when you're playing
football when you're young as a kid, you learned the
high star. That's the first celebration. So I ain't really
have a playing I ain't know I was gonna score.
So it's just, you know, went back to the classic
high stuff.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
But you do have an offensive background, like you're used
to having the football in your hand. Running back, was
it your offensive experience?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, running back in my first position, I used to
watch a bunch of Reggie Bush and Agent Pierson highlights,
you know what I'm saying, Just try to be like them.
And I played receiver in high school, so I had
I had a few deal office receiver. I could have
went a couple of plays for receiver, but I feel
like dB. I was better at dB for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
All Right, we'll get into your prep days and your
college days and Faetteville as well in just a moment.
But let's transition from the individual selly, which was solid,
like no worse than B plus that was impromptum. But
what about the team celebration?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Oh yeah, A ro your boat. That's qlake though, that's
Captain Q. He came to me before the game and
he's like, if we get a pit, you know, hit
the boat. I'm like, all right, I really forgot because
I was I was finna run to the sideline. You
can see it run up to me like he was
whispering to hit it. I'm like, all right, bit so
we went and got it. It was like it was
a little a little unorganized because we was the only
two that know we was gonna do it. But I
(03:41):
feel like it came out so just you and Q.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Everybody else who jumped on that boat was yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
It was just like, oh, now they're doing to row
the boat. So we fine of how boom?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Well I gotta thank you because the defense continues to
outperform the offense when it comes to celebrations, like the
Rams have at times put up tons of points in
the Sean mcvaarry, but celebrations never necessarily there strong suit
and the defense gets its turn. You guys maximize it
because you know it comes. It's rare. It's rare, so
we gotta make it and make it look good. Maybe
game ball is not as rare in your career.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
But what did it mean to catch one from Sean
McVay after the Rams second victory?
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Oh? It felt good, you know what I'm saying. It
was my first one this year, so it felt good
to get that, you know what I'm saying, Just some
acknowledgement and showing that we're making plays on the defensive side. Now,
you know what I'm saying. Before this game, we weren't
creating that many turnovers, and like, we put an emphasis
on that during the week and it showed and we
just got to keep building on it.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, to that point, the final score is low, right,
it's twenty to fifteen. Raiders not playing great, Rams don't
score in the fourth quarter, not much offense to speak of,
miskicks not to dwell on that, but it's described as
like an ugly win or people feel like saying, ah,
that that wasn't the way we drew it up. I'm like,
wait a second, wait a second, how about we look
at this through a defensive lens. That was a thing
(04:55):
of beauty. Yeah, facts, I mean, tell us about what
it means when the other a of the team maybe
aren't performing up to their standard and you can still
find a way to get to the finish line.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I mean, first of all, there's no such thing as
win in the league. It's too hard to get wins
in the league, you know what I'm saying. Anyway you
can come out with the dub, that's good. But yeah,
a low scoring game like that, that's that's what we want.
You know what I'm saying. The other team scores fifteen points,
I feel like if our offense scores seven, then we
can win because it's our job to go out there
and stop and not let them get any points, you
(05:25):
know what I'm saying. So I don't care about what
the win looks like. As long as our offense scores
one point, I feel like we have the chance to
win the game.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
You know, your touching on was the highlight. But I
thought an underrated moment early in that game was your
rush on Aidan O'Connell too. I know you're not trying
to hurt the guy or any guy, but you do
execute the pass rush. You get up and kind of
collide hand to hand. I guess maybe did his finger there.
That's a you can test early in the game and look,
if you have to make them go deeper on their
depth chart, that's a win for the Rams said, yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I wasn't trying to. I didn't know I had seen
he went out after the play. I ain't know what
happened though, but yeah, coming through trying to hit the ball,
I hit his hand and I'm glad my hand.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Okay, me too, me too. I want to give you
a chance to brag on some of your teammate Should
we start with Jalen Yeah, Jayleen McCullough to be doing
this as an undrafted rookie. Some of its right place,
right time, right. You can't control tip drill, But three
interceptions in his last thirty three defensive snaps. That's why
what context can you give us on the month that
he's having.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
He's living right, you know what I'm saying, the ball.
You know, the ball comes to him. He's a ball magnet,
and I love it, you know what I'm saying. Like
you said, undrafted rookie. You know what I'm saying, coming
in and just making plays and helping the team win,
like it just feels great. Like it kind of reminds
me of my rookie I was seventh round, got my
chance and was making plays. So like, I'm so happy
for him, you know what I'm saying, because the way
he attexts. I can just watch him during the week,
(06:46):
you know what I'm saying, the meeting room, he's writing
those down. He's locked in, like you know, he's doing
everything right, and you know when you do that, you
get rewarded.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I'm glad you mentioned that Day three pick, seventh round.
Going back in your history, that feels like a more
secure foothold in the National Football League. But it's probably
really not. Like there's not much difference.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
I guess now they're like anything after the fifth round.
It's hard. It's hard to stay in the league.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
For any I mean, all the more reason to celebrate
your second contract, right. I don't know what the exact
percentage is, but probably not many day three much less
seven round picks, get a second deal, get a chance
to come out here to California.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
No, yeah, especially out here in La Man living in
the Great Web and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Good for you. How about Quentin like yesterday, just how
good was he? Especially that third down red zone tackle
on rock Bowers may have been the underrated game saving play.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, yeah, it's Captain q Man. Like he's another one
of the guys who who comes to tax every day,
does everything right, you know what I'm saying. That's why
he's a captain. You know, he leads by example a lot,
and you know he's a real good vocal leader and
just the way he plays is a real smart player,
and he's real versatile because you know, you see him
at the start, you see him in safety and to
be able to be able to do that and not
(07:57):
make mistakes and still be locked in, that's that's a
really hard.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
He covered a lot of ground on that play too,
if you kind of.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Like, yeah, yeah, see him, like I was watching the film,
Like his eyes was great on that play. He's seen
the tight end sifting bat. You know, he got over
topped the corner, came downhill, made the play. That's a
really great play.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
For it, all right, So you're touting his versatility, can
we talk about yours? Because I did a deep dive
this morning. Look at all the places that you lined
up yesterday this season, but especially yesterday, left outside outside linebacker,
check right edge, check in the box for about twenty one,
snaps in the slot for nineteen, free safety for thirty four.
But here's what I find interesting. And tell me if
(08:36):
this is a big deal or no deal. Normally you're
aligned as kind of the.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Left safety and too high.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Yesterday against the Raiders almost exclusively, right, Does that matter?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I mean, you know this is a little switch up.
You know what I'm saying. Coach beat but this is
a little switch just keeping the office on his toes, all.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Right, So you want to play it close to the best,
and I get that. Yeah, Like just in case the
vikings are big reveals fans or anything. But suffice it
to say, the defensive staff got in the and the bye.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Yeah for sure, Yeah we got we got great coaches.
You know what I'm saying. They did some self scouting,
you know what I'm saying. Like I said, I just
wanted to give a little switch up to the offense
just in case, you know, there were banking on me
being on the left side and just trying to scheme
things up or something like that. So just you know,
give them a different look.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
But what about the stress that place is on you.
It's hard enough to know one position really well in
this league, to do everything that I just described and
know your role and responsibility on each one of those reps.
That's a lot on your plate.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Yeah, but you know it's our job. You know what
I'm saying is what we do. You know, coach asked
me to do it, and I flack and do it.
I'm gonna do it. You know, I always want to
be available to do whatever I can on the field
because you know, the best ability is availability.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
I remember that was one of the things Washington liked
about you too, right, your versatility speaking of you face
the Rams last year when they were kind of humming
on offense. Want to kind of get your perspective on this.
The threat of Cooper Cup just being on the field
and we all hope that's going to be the case
on Thursday from a defensive vantage point, how much does
that change thing? Not just dealing with him individually, but
(10:03):
the impact he has on the entire elevel picture.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, for sure. Anytime Cubs on the figure, I know
where he is. You know what I'm saying, He's another
one of those smart players that he's a receiver, but
like he has like a quarterback man. You know what
I'm saying that he knows everything. He knows how to
run his rites, he knows how to how to manipulate
your leverage and use it against you. So anytime he's
on the field, it's a real big threat.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
I went and watched his sixty two yard touchdown in
that game again this morning. Why are you laughing?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Because it was just you know, it is what it is.
That wasn't it wouldn't me. I'm not gonna put anybody
in the blessed, but nah, it wasn't my fault.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
I mean, you're in the picture, you're on the field,
but I'm not. I'm not putting. The Rams lost a
couple of fumbles in that game. Yeah I had, and
uh they're looking to do the same thing. Like just
to go back in time. That Washington game was a
Sunday afternoon contest, the first of two games in five
days at Sofi Stadium. Rams when that one came back
in primetime beat the Saints really changed the course of
(10:59):
last year. That's the same formula you're hoping to implement
here in twenty twenty four. Can you compare and contrast
a franchise. It's just a little bit like, I'm not
here to make you say anything bad about the team
that drafted you. That's not my intention. But now that
you've seen a different place in the National Football League,
what stands out to you about being here with the
Rams and how they operate.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Honestly, it is eye opening, you know what I'm saying.
Just the way they do things, you know what I'm saying,
conduct things around here like it's I love it. It's
real great. You know. The way they take care of
the players. You know what I'm saying. Sean McVay, he's
a freaking football genius, you know what I'm saying. The
energy he brings in the team meetings and all types
(11:37):
of stuff, Like, it's a lot of fun around here.
You know what I'm saying. It's really big, family oriented,
you know what I'm saying, Even the stuff without the
feel like what they do, how they take care of
your family and stuff like that. With me being like
a new dad, you know what I'm saying. So that
really opening to me and I'm really appreciated that.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Congratulations. I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Thank you Tank out your family. I got one year old,
one year old little girl. Her name is Khalia. You know,
changed my life.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Oh congratulations. Is she local? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yeah, she'd be at the games.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I say how she likes. She love it. She was
just on the field yesterday with the cheerleaders and stuff.
She was loving it.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Congratulations. I was surprised to realize this morning, or be reminded.
You're only twenty five years old, so you're you're super young.
There's rookies who are older than last. In fact, you're
nine months older than Brayden fists. I don't know if
you knew that, but like you, guys are basically temporaries.
So you started as a true freshman in Fayetteville, right,
(12:37):
and then you left your last year of eligibility right
before the pandemic kind of got out of ji year.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah, I left my junior year. It was I wasn't supposedly,
but you know it was, I was betting on myself
kind of you know what I'm saying. I just feel
like I can get to the league and make a team.
And then I ended up hearing my name name Carl durnd.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I like that. We're kind of leaning into our razorback
identity here on RAMS. We had bow Limmer last week. Yeah, now,
checking in with you, but that wasn't your only kind
of career family stop. You actually have a tied to California.
How brief was that moment in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I had stayed in San Diego for about ten years.
I was born in Scugy, Oklahoma. Before I turned one,
we moved to San Diego because that's where my mom
and my dad had met, so that's what they were staying.
My mom is from out here, from San Diego, my
dad from Oklahoma, so we was out here. I went
to school out here till I was like ten. That's
(13:31):
where this is where I started playing football out here,
and then after ten we moved back to you know,
take care of my dad's side of the family and
stuff like that, and we just stayed out there.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Scogi's a cool player, so I told you before we
got started here. I actually lived in Tulsa for a while,
used to cover some football in that area. Maybe people's
perception or stereotypes. It doesn't really meet reality. Green Country
is in Oklahoma, does it.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
No, Yeah, it's a different type of football too. You
know what I'm saying. It's big dudes in Oklahoma. You
know what I'm saying. It's different like out here playing
It's like a lot of speed, you know what I'm saying,
skilled players and you get the Oklahoma's the cornbread fit
guys like you know, real linebackers and stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
And the good news is going to Fadevielle. It's a
short drive. Your family was able to follow your college
career pretty closely. It's terrific, all right. So we're looking
ahead to a short week. Do you want to get
a quick profile on the Vikings if you can? I
know you're like early in your preparation, but you know
the names right justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones. What's
it going to take to replicate the defensive performance like
you had Sunday against a more high octane offense on Thursday?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Us gonna take turnovers like you did this past game.
It will take turnovers, you know, getting off the field
and keeping the offense on the field. You know, so
they can score points and keeping the vikings off the board.
You know what I'm saying, keeping the cap on justin Jefferson,
you know, tackling Aaron Jones and just getting the ball
as many times as we can.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
One other parallel that I wanted to draw, And this
is a bit of a stretch, but I think it
makes sense to tie this together. History has not been
kind to teams that start one and four, but there
are a small handful of instances where teams have rallied
to make the postseason. And the most recent one. You
were on the Washington team as a rookie in twenty twenty. Right,
it was one and four and then ultimately one in
five h And I get at the NFC East was
(15:13):
not great that year, Like no one is really touting
like making the playoffs or winning your division at seven
and nine. Seven and nine probably not gonna cut it
in the NFC West this year. I get all that,
But were there any takeaways from that early rookie experience
in Washington that you think apply to LA this time around?
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Uh? Just you know, knowing it's a long season, you
know what I'm saying, And you know, any given Sunday.
You know, just show up every Sunday trying to go
on and know every week, you know, anything can happen.
You know what I'm saying. It's the NFL. Every team
has great players, you know, So it's just about being
the best team that day, you know what I'm saying,
making your players that you need to make on that day,
(15:52):
and so dominating your one on one METSA.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Apologize for cutting you off there, especially given you know
how many division games especially are still left in front
of it. Right, want to stay in this fight long
enough to make that trip to Seattle play the Seahawks,
get the Niners again. All right, Cam, It's time for
the wind Down. This is a weekly segment presented by
Sleep Number. Each week here on Rams Revealed, we get
insight into how sleep and recovery impacts performance in the
(16:15):
National Football League. More important this week than ever because
it's Thursday night football, only three days between your two games.
I'm curious, what have you learned in your career about
these short weeks in terms of how to optimize your opportunity.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Uh, Usually you gotta fight for your recovery. You know
what I'm saying. It's not gonna come natural like a
wood on, like a seven day break, you know what
I'm saying. But you gotta fight for your recovery, get more,
fight for your film. You know what I'm saying. It's
just doing more because the game is right, you know,
it's right around the corner, you know what I'm saying.
So just doing more off the field, doing more at
(16:51):
home to take care of everybody and get your mind
right for the game.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
But you're feeling okay at the start of the week, Yeah,
got a good chance for Thursday to be right. Good
for you. A couple quick things and then we'll get
you back to that recovery process. And these are real stretches, Okay,
so no expectations here. Feel free to tell me. Like, dude,
you're too old to be bothering me with that question.
But if I asked you which famous actor went to
your high school, would you have any idea who mister
(17:15):
Brady is?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Mister Brady Yeah in my high school.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Yeah, I didn't think you would. No worries like from
the Brady Bunch that the patriarch from that family to
show the Brady Bunch.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Yeah, he went to my high school for real. Yeah,
I did not know the.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Late Robert Reid.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
That's crazy.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
There's a shot.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I gotta go do some research.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
What about that Merle Haggard song? Have you heard that
one from?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yeah, you know the big speaking around the whole town.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
We pretty much expected to probably more likely to have
heard the song than the show. And then I was
hoping you might bring that that nice necklace.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That that's Monday at the facility the Sundays.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
It's so fun. I mean, can you tell me what
the BAM collection is or what that or would I
get that?
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I mean it was it's like a nickname cam Bawm.
You know what I'm saying. I got it in high school,
you know, just abound some older girls. They started economy
cam Bown, so you know it kind of stud with me.
But yeah, I just got it and I got to
the league. And you know it is my Instagram name too,
so you know I was getting the chain. I was.
(18:19):
I ain't want to put my name like cam one.
I just wanting BAM good.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
I like that and like the three, like the Jersey
three kind of fits with the be It's that's good stuff,
all right. I got a long way to go, clearly
to keep up with Cam Curl but maybe the hoodie
naw yeah, the hoodie looking that's okay. I'm happy to
make a fool of myself. It's better of Rams revealed.
Thanks for getting to know you a little bit better.
It's a short week. I know you got a lot
to do, but the Rams happy to have you and
(18:43):
wish all the best Thursday night football and the rest
of your time here in La.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Well, thank you. I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
All right, coming off that touchdown, that defensive driven win.
Curl in the Rams back at Sofi Stadium Thursday night
to take on the Vikings. Hope you can join us then.
I'm JB.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Long.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Thank you also for listening and watching to Rands Revealed,
presented by Sleeper h
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