September 9, 2025 • 20 mins
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Nate Landman discusses his peanut punch against the Houston Texans during Sunday's matchup, joining the Rams in free agency, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good to see everyone. JB. Long here to kick off
a new season of RAMS Revealed, and to do it
on a winning note after La takes down Houston at
SOFI Stadium and prepared to go to Nashville to challenge
the Titans next. As you can see, we've got a
new look here on the show, but the format is
going to be the same, helping you get to know
a lot of the men behind the helmets that we
see each Sunday. And what a way to start this
(00:22):
year with Nate Lanman, one of the heroes of that
Week one victory. Hope you enjoyed this conversation on RAMS Revealed.
I think my first question is Landman or land Man,
because depending on who's talking about you around this building,
(00:42):
the emphasis is different, and I like both.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, it's it's Landman. But when I first got here,
a few guys who said Landman or they called me
the land Man, and it just stuck. So I never
really corrected anybody. It just kind of grew and now people,
you know, people do know it's Landman, but they say
the Landman anyways, and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I'm great with it. No objection to either, no objection either.
I like that. Have you seen the Billy Bob Thornton Show.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I have, Yeah. I think the season two comes out
in November. You're a fan, I'm a fan, okay, So
quite a coincidence that in the peak of your football
prime there's this a show that carries the name.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Are you okay? If we do some like inside the
NBA type photo shopping to get you know, your face
on Billy Bob's Thornton, that's all right, we'll have to
check that out. I remember your college days when they
used to call you the Hammer. Though, to that nickname
carry through or is that a bygone era? It's by gone,
and I'm kind of glad that's not.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It was a great nickname for college, but not when
I wanted to carry on in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
But it hasn't. It hasn't come to come to the light.
And why didn't. Why'd you want to leave it behind?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I just think it was just starting fresh, starting new,
and it was a great college chapter. And you know,
shout out Rick Amboa, Colorado forgive that's a good callback.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And it's stuck days in Boulder, great days. Yeah, one
of the most beautiful places in college football. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And if I had the choice to go back and
do it again. I would do it all the same.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Good for you. Now you get to play at one
of the premier sports and entertainment venues in all the world,
Sofi Stadium, and your first regular season game was one
to remember. Let's go through the punch and you can
start with how you saw it developed from your lens.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yeah, I dropped into my hook. You know, I was
reading the qbis and they were an empty you know,
tank went to the three by side and I stuck
to the two by side, and you know, just re
reading the eyes of the queue and he he was
looking off and then he came late back to one.
I think the running back was at one and ran
(02:44):
a driver or a slam or whatever it was, and
the ball kind of just presented itself. We already had
the tackle West me and Achilo, and that's when you
could take your shots when those opportunity to rise, and
something we work on all the time. So it's just,
you know, practice, preparation meant the opportunity in the game,
and it came to light.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, beautifully described. You say you had to tackle Vice,
and I think what you mean there is I can
imagine you got a split second decision to make because
you can't wrap up and take your right hook at
the same time. But you felt good. I don't know
if it's a risk, but taking that shot in that moment, yeah,
it's a calculated risk.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
You know, you try to throw the punch and and
simultaneously wrap with the other arm. Obviously it's not as
secure as a tackle, but definitely a calculated risk. When
I saw Killo to the left of me and knew
that we had that the running back advice to that moment.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
As great as that play was, the recovery from Fisk
was every bit as good. I think when you spoke
with the media in the postgame locker room stunday, you
hadn't had like a full look at the replay yet
now you have. What do you make of it? Oh?
What an amazing I mean that was.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
That was equally as good a play, maybe even better play,
because you know, if you get the punch out without
the recovery, it means nothing, So all credit to that guy.
What an athletic play because the old line was right there,
ready ready to receive it, and he one hand pommed it,
stuck in his ground, brought it in and just an
incredible play, moving opposite direction of the ball.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah. I don't know if you ever played the game
Hungry Hungry Hippos as a kid, but it had that look.
It did have just just vacuumed it up. The celebration
was wild. I mean, I loving great defensive plays happen,
we all do, but when they happened in front of
your own sideline, it's a special dimension there. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, Like I said in the after, in the post game,
I kind of blacked out in that moment for whatever reason.
You know, I took my helmet off and just ran
straight to the guys celebrate with the team, and just
an awesome moment. You know, everybody was fired up. The
whole sideline came, came to celebrate. You know, staff was
you know, all the staff was in it too. Just
just a cool moment for the Rams.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
I timed it. I put the stopwatch to it. From
the moment you wound up to the moment Sean McVay
embraces you, only five seconds transpired. That's how fast it was.
So yeah, it's crazy. That's how fast the game goes.
Happens split second. How about the defensive effort as a
who yesterday. It's your first chance with the Los Angeles
Rams to not allow a touchdown, to pitch a second
(05:05):
half shutout that Texans never got past your fifteen yard line.
How's that for a starting point in twenty five?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, what a great foundation for us to build off.
And you know, just seeing all our hard work, you know,
payoff on the field and a lot of room for
improvement stuff we can do, even better places for us
to grow in and just you know, other opportunities for
us to take advantage of. So you know, credit to
that to that team was a good team. It was
a good battle, good competitive battle, and proud of the
(05:34):
guys for how we stuck with it all four quarters.
Your play was a highlight.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Any other favorite plays from that matchup with Houston.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Had to Kobe's interception was insane?
Speaker 1 (05:43):
How did he get that? I have no clue.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I mean I was I was the hook player right
close to that side, so I watched it in full
in I didn't even know he came down with the
ball until until he stood up.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
One incredible play.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
A few of those sacks you know, b Y and
just you know to d line playing fast of the
out of the stack and some of the screens. Just
the effort they play was incredible. Young played a whale
of a game, didn't he. I mean he really brought
it against a talented Houston offense. Yep, yeah, I mean
speed off the ball, you know, the violence he plays
with his hands, and you know he plays the game
(06:18):
the right way. He plays with a chip on his
shoulder and you can feel out feel out there when
you're playing with him.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
If it's all right with you, I'm gonna play a
clip from the offensive side of the football with you,
because as an off ball linebacker yourself, who has to
play that that neck of the woods. You've referenced that
that hook coverage a few times, you have to read
quarterbacks eyes sometimes. Well, when you're playing across from Matthew Stafford,
you got to contend with this. Have you seen this play?
This forced down and throw up this seam to Pukainakua
(06:45):
And what's that like to be Henry Totoo and have
to contend with the eyes of Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I did see this play. You know Matt's looking off
that linebacker.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, you can. I would, I mean I would be
doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
You know, it's a certain type of quarterback can only
make that play, and Matt does this kind of stuff
in practice. You can see the linebacker moving with intention
on the QB's eyes, feeling the rap behind him, but
not knowing that it's bending back. Matt's doing a great
job moving in for him to even throw the ball,
you know, without his eyes locked on the receiver. It's
just an incredible talent. You know.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I know he wasn't live for most of the summer,
so you didn't kind of get that head to head
that you might have during training camp. But I wonder
if when you do duel with him, if you almost
treat him like you're playing liars dice or something like,
you know, his first look is not true.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Oh you have to you know, sometimes you got to
even just freeze your feet. That's kind of the best
thing you can do, because he'll mix it up to
where he'll keep his eyes front side, throw front side,
or keep his eyes front side and throw backside. So,
you know, tremendous credit to him to have a player,
and glad he's on our side, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Nate, We're glad you're here. Obviously making a tremendous first impression,
but I'm not even sure how you got here because
I thought you put some pretty good tape down in Atlanta.
Can you take us through your lens and the early
years of your professional career and how it came to
be that you are a.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Ramp Yeah, you know, coming to the league undrafted, balance
some injuries and fortunate enough to make the fifty three
my rookie year, and then ended up getting cut towards
the end of season. You know, kind of how the
league goes had to sign a guy and I was
kind of that bubble guy. Ended up signing back on
the futures deal, being able to start a lot of
(08:28):
that second year, I think fourteen or fifteen games and
carry that on to the third year. You know, with
the with the head coaching change. It was great to
have Ron there, and you know, you when you hit
that third year as undrafted guy, that can either tender
you or not. So just having that conversation with them,
they decided not to, and you know, obviously had Jimmy
(08:51):
Lake there, so you know, once once free agency hit,
having those conversations with Jimmy and my agent and we
just felt like this would be a great place. And
it's been awesome ever since, and you know what are blessing.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
To be here? Yeah, you mentioned a couple of the
key names. Obviously, Raheem Morris is close to this organization.
I saw Jimmy and the cafeteria and I said, thank
you for bringing for bringing Nate with He said, You're
someone who's always had a lot of appreciation for What
does that say about kind of the relationships driving this
league that your next opportunity comes from a good impression
you made with a coach you also journeys back to
(09:25):
LA Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, it's a conversation you have with a lot of
guys in the locker room, a lot of young guys
that you never know where your opportunity is going to
come come from, and who's going to be, you know,
on your corner.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Rooting for you.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So just showing up to every day with your best
foot forward and you never know that opportunity might be here,
might be elsewhere, but just showing up today, showing up
to work every day, you know, putting your best out there.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I hope you were confident that when you forced what
three fumbles in each of your first two full seasons,
that you're going to have some more work in your future.
But how much interest did you draw and how clear
a path was it to the Rams?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You know, not as much as you'd like, uh, you'd expect,
which is fine as the way the league goes, you know,
And but I think I'm right where I need to be.
I'm so happy to be here. And uh, you know
that path was clear towards the end. It you know,
it wasn't muddy, it was you know, it was kind
(10:23):
of once the uh, the Rams came into conversation, it
was like, all right, this is the place I need
to be, this is this is a great, great fit.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Do you sign with the hope or even the expectation
that you would start though, yes, I think you have to.
I think you gotta sign.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You got you gotta have that chip on your shoulder,
that confidence to go in and be like, you know,
I'm gonna go try be the guy there. I'm gonna
go start. And that's why we're all playing, you know,
we all want to be on the field. So definitely
have that mindset of I want to go in there
and want to make an impact and.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
In turn then to have the green dot and to
run the defense. Given the position you play, if you're
gonna come here with that hope and that expectation, then
you want it all.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
You want it all exactly. Yeah, especially as the mic
or you know, inside backer. You want that responsibility. I
think it comes with the job. It's a great part
of the job. It's a part of the job I enjoy,
so definitely have that that expectation.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
To be a captain though, I mean I could see
you come into a new place, a pretty established roster,
a deep culture, and just trying to find your way
to blend in to be a part of it, but
maybe not taking a leadership role. What did it mean
to you to be voted a captain this summer?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
It's one of the It is the coolest thing that's
ever happened to me, and it's a you know, it's
a great honor and something I'm super proud of and
super grateful for that the guys trust me with that,
with that badge, you know, just coming to work every day,
being myself, not trying to do too much, just trying
to be the player that I am, trying to earn
their respect from day one, you know, not by talking anything,
(11:48):
just by you know, playing football in the field and
you know, creating those relationships with with all the guys
in the locker room, and I think it's been going
well and it's can continue to grow.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I remember your days in Boulder. I mean, you seem
to be a natural leader. Part of it the position
you play, the way you perform. But some of those attributes,
could you elaborate a bit more in terms of was
it an intentionality or was it just people gravitating to
you and saying, Hey, here's a guy who deserves to
be at the front of our defensive room.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I think it's both. I think it's intentionality. You know,
like you said, it comes with a position. You know,
as a as an inside backer, you're talking to the front,
you're talking to sarrea. You have a piece piece in
the whole defense. You know, you're part of the rush plan,
you're part of the coverage plan. So just having the
constant conversation with the guys up front, guys in the
back end, I think you're around the whole defense as
(12:37):
a whole, you know, barking out the calls given, given directions.
And I think it just comes naturally to guys that
are in you know, in the middle linebacker position, and
it gives you a lot of room to grow, you know,
like you said in college, now to the pros, you
grow every year, and that leadership quality just.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Grows everyone's circumstances. That off ball linebacker are not created
equally in this league. To play behind this defensive fronts,
how does that allow you to thrive?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Oh, I think that's why my game's elevated just in
the you know, short short months I've been here. My
confidence in my game's gone up because I'm playing behind
the guys up front and then even the guys behind
you know, Qla and Cam Curl and those guys are
so smart, so smart players. Makes my job easy and
a lot of time and practice. I'm untouched making plays
(13:27):
where it seems like I'm the one making the play.
But all the credit has to go to those guys
because you know, they're taking on double teams poon Afford,
you know, splitting double teams, just just you know, guys
going above and beyond playing their game, which makes my life,
my life easier.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
As than the linebacker. What's Omar like as a running
mate and how far forward can he progress in year two? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Is I would say the most complete linebacker, you know, physical,
great in the run, fluid fluid feet in the past
game Oh from OTAs till now, he's taking a huge
step and even just talking to you know, Money and
those guys who had him here last year. Similar story
me and him to where he came in undrafted and
(14:09):
then got his opportunity to play and took the most
out of it. So so much respect for Oh and
Sky's limit for um him. He's getting better every day
and our relationships is growing strong.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Do you feel like you're guiding him towards success? Are
you taking things off his plate as his kind of
sidekick there?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, I think we're guiding each other. You know, he
teaches me things and I teach him things and we
play off each other. Well. Super smart player, you know.
And I'm familiar with though from Morgans his Oregon State days,
so you know, been a fan of him from far
and now getting to play.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
With him is awesome. You talk about some of the
parallels in your path of the league. How about Sean Doolac,
because there's another one that we see a lot of similarities.
Prolific college player and Tackler has to make it as
a college free agent, but seems to be in the
right place given your room.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, I mean he fits in our room perfectly. Sean's
a great guy. We call him Dale, that's just his
rookie nickname. For now.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Do I want to ask, why is there any story?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Step brothers Dale Dobach, So we call him Dale Dolac.
But Dale's awesome. I mean he came in from day one,
just a grinder, worked hard, understood the position. Now he
was in, you know, fortunate to have you know, me,
Omar and Troy through have similar circumstances to be able
to help him through the process. And you know, nothing
(15:26):
was given to him all, it was all earned, earned
by him. So super proud of him. And sky's a
limit for him as well. You know, a complete backer,
who can who can do it all.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Sure we won't be the first to tell your your story,
your background, but it is so unique in the context
of what we do. So can we kind of follow
the path from Zimbabwe to Northern California to Boulder And
it starts with your parents. As I understand, your dad
was an international rugby player.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, so he he played for the Zimbabwe national
team after playing at the University of Cape Town in
South Africa. And then post post professional rugby career, he
became an engineer for a multi national company that had
a bunch offices in San Francisco, and so he would
be flying back and forth from Zimbabwe to San Francisco
(16:12):
months on a time, and eventually they brought him the
opportunity to move his family out and he jumped on it. So,
you know, just with the thought in mind to give
his his kids and his family, you know, a greater
chance at a better future in the States. And so
you know what a study is to bring his family
here and my mom as well, you know, taking care
(16:34):
of four kids. They were young when when we moved here,
and so you know, all credits to them, they're they're amazing.
And so moved to San Francisco and then lived throughout
the Northern Bay area, East Bay and then ended up
at Colorado.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
So you and your what the youngest are for I
am you and all of your siblings were born in Africa.
Guess yes, correct, but you don't have any memories, at
least youth memory until you're more recent adult. Visit Zimbabwe.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, yeah, we we went back and we saw my
family that lives in Arari, which is great you know,
seeing my cousins and my uncles that I hadn't seen
since I was three and a half four years old.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So that's awesome. And you say that your siblings are
super successful. I read that in an article about you.
What has you know professionally? Had they found success in? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
My my brother was a was a D one football player,
and my sister was a D one swimmer. And then
my other brother is an academic and so he was
on scholarships for academics. And my two brothers are in
the first film I one's a firefighter and one's a cop.
And then my sister is a ceover owned company. She
(17:46):
had creates two or three apps and she's she's a
trainer nutritionists.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Out of those two or three apps. Her name is
Ocean Trail. It is tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yes, her name is she's my she's my half sister,
so she has a different last name. But yeah, Ocean Trail.
How cool the name is that. That's pretty unique. And
she was a swimmer. You said she was a swimmer. Oh,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
And your brother played what Arizona State you did? Okay,
we use a tight end. Have any family members been
able to come to sofa yet see you play.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
My parents were at this last game, and you know,
now being back on the West Coast, my siblings will
be at a lot more games.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And I understand you where your history on your sleeve
quite literally? Right? What did your tattoo art say about
your backstory?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I think it just you know, reminds me of where
I came from. You know, a bunch of Africa themed tattoos.
And then I have the dates of my family's birthdays here.
You know, just things that are important to me, my culture,
my heritage, and my family.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Very cool. And you wear the Zimbabwaighan flag on your helmet.
I do. Yeah, that's pretty unique. That's pretty special. Yeah,
it's something that I'm proud of. Very cool. All right.
We spent it forward to a week two and I
know it's early in your week of preparation, so you
have not had a deep dive on the Titans yet,
but you probably know they got the number one overall
pick at quarterback and that means you only have a
one game sample size of film on camboard. So how
(19:02):
do you approach this week to be ready for what
you're going to see in Nashville?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Yeah, I think we treat it like we treated the
last week with the Texans, where you know, we're going
off minimal preseason tape and you know you kind of
watch what they did last year a little bit, but
you know, new regime in their new offensive coordinator, so
not focusing too much on what they're doing and focusing
more on on what we're doing, playing our you know,
our base stuff, the stuff we're good at making them
(19:26):
react to us. You know, with the young quarterback, obviously
it is tremendous talent being the first overall pick, our
strong arm, smart kid, but you still don't have that
NFL experience, you know, so trying to keep them on
his toes, show multiple looks, and you know, find other
ways we can, you know, get them uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
If that football cliche is true that teams make the
greatest leap one to two, expect more from the Titans, certainly,
But how about the Rams as good at performance as
that one was against Houston, what are some of the
areas that you guys are going to try and clean up?
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, I think we just build off each other, start
playing more. You know, we played complimentary football to where
you know, offense need us to step in or we
needed them to step up at the last drive to
not put us back on the field. Just continue in
that process to build each other, build off each other
in the kicking game as well. And you know, I
think we had a complete win that last game. Obviously
(20:17):
there's improvements to be made and corrections be made, so
learning from those. And it's not it's an imperfect game,
but it's the greatest team sport. So just playing playing
off each other and playing you know, cohesive complimentary football.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Awesome. All right, Landman the Sun land Man to others, Nate,
We're just glad to have you here in Los Angeles.
Thanks for helping us get to know you a little
bit better. Congrats on a victory Monday. And here's him anymore.
Thank you so much,
Good to see everyone. JB. Long here to kick off
a new season of RAMS Revealed, and to do it
on a winning note after La takes down Houston at
SOFI Stadium and prepared to go to Nashville to challenge
the Titans next. As you can see, we've got a
new look here on the show, but the format is
going to be the same, helping you get to know
a lot of the men behind the helmets that we
see each Sunday. And what a way to start this
(00:22):
year with Nate Lanman, one of the heroes of that
Week one victory. Hope you enjoyed this conversation on RAMS Revealed.
I think my first question is Landman or land Man,
because depending on who's talking about you around this building,
(00:42):
the emphasis is different, and I like both.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Yeah, it's it's Landman. But when I first got here,
a few guys who said Landman or they called me
the land Man, and it just stuck. So I never
really corrected anybody. It just kind of grew and now people,
you know, people do know it's Landman, but they say
the Landman anyways, and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I'm great with it. No objection to either, no objection either.
I like that. Have you seen the Billy Bob Thornton Show.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I have, Yeah. I think the season two comes out
in November. You're a fan, I'm a fan, okay, So
quite a coincidence that in the peak of your football
prime there's this a show that carries the name.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Are you okay? If we do some like inside the
NBA type photo shopping to get you know, your face
on Billy Bob's Thornton, that's all right, we'll have to
check that out. I remember your college days when they
used to call you the Hammer. Though, to that nickname
carry through or is that a bygone era? It's by gone,
and I'm kind of glad that's not.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
It was a great nickname for college, but not when
I wanted to carry on in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
But it hasn't. It hasn't come to come to the light.
And why didn't. Why'd you want to leave it behind?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I just think it was just starting fresh, starting new,
and it was a great college chapter. And you know,
shout out Rick Amboa, Colorado forgive that's a good callback.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And it's stuck days in Boulder, great days. Yeah, one
of the most beautiful places in college football. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
And if I had the choice to go back and
do it again. I would do it all the same.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Good for you. Now you get to play at one
of the premier sports and entertainment venues in all the world,
Sofi Stadium, and your first regular season game was one
to remember. Let's go through the punch and you can
start with how you saw it developed from your lens.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yeah, I dropped into my hook. You know, I was
reading the qbis and they were an empty you know,
tank went to the three by side and I stuck
to the two by side, and you know, just re
reading the eyes of the queue and he he was
looking off and then he came late back to one.
I think the running back was at one and ran
(02:44):
a driver or a slam or whatever it was, and
the ball kind of just presented itself. We already had
the tackle West me and Achilo, and that's when you
could take your shots when those opportunity to rise, and
something we work on all the time. So it's just,
you know, practice, preparation meant the opportunity in the game,
and it came to light.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, beautifully described. You say you had to tackle Vice,
and I think what you mean there is I can
imagine you got a split second decision to make because
you can't wrap up and take your right hook at
the same time. But you felt good. I don't know
if it's a risk, but taking that shot in that moment, yeah,
it's a calculated risk.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
You know, you try to throw the punch and and
simultaneously wrap with the other arm. Obviously it's not as
secure as a tackle, but definitely a calculated risk. When
I saw Killo to the left of me and knew
that we had that the running back advice to that moment.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
As great as that play was, the recovery from Fisk
was every bit as good. I think when you spoke
with the media in the postgame locker room stunday, you
hadn't had like a full look at the replay yet
now you have. What do you make of it? Oh?
What an amazing I mean that was.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
That was equally as good a play, maybe even better play,
because you know, if you get the punch out without
the recovery, it means nothing, So all credit to that guy.
What an athletic play because the old line was right there,
ready ready to receive it, and he one hand pommed it,
stuck in his ground, brought it in and just an
incredible play, moving opposite direction of the ball.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah. I don't know if you ever played the game
Hungry Hungry Hippos as a kid, but it had that look.
It did have just just vacuumed it up. The celebration
was wild. I mean, I loving great defensive plays happen,
we all do, but when they happened in front of
your own sideline, it's a special dimension there. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, Like I said in the after, in the post game,
I kind of blacked out in that moment for whatever reason.
You know, I took my helmet off and just ran
straight to the guys celebrate with the team, and just
an awesome moment. You know, everybody was fired up. The
whole sideline came, came to celebrate. You know, staff was
you know, all the staff was in it too. Just
just a cool moment for the Rams.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
I timed it. I put the stopwatch to it. From
the moment you wound up to the moment Sean McVay
embraces you, only five seconds transpired. That's how fast it was.
So yeah, it's crazy. That's how fast the game goes.
Happens split second. How about the defensive effort as a
who yesterday. It's your first chance with the Los Angeles
Rams to not allow a touchdown, to pitch a second
(05:05):
half shutout that Texans never got past your fifteen yard line.
How's that for a starting point in twenty five?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah, what a great foundation for us to build off.
And you know, just seeing all our hard work, you know,
payoff on the field and a lot of room for
improvement stuff we can do, even better places for us
to grow in and just you know, other opportunities for
us to take advantage of. So you know, credit to
that to that team was a good team. It was
a good battle, good competitive battle, and proud of the
(05:34):
guys for how we stuck with it all four quarters.
Your play was a highlight.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Any other favorite plays from that matchup with Houston.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Had to Kobe's interception was insane?
Speaker 1 (05:43):
How did he get that? I have no clue.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
I mean I was I was the hook player right
close to that side, so I watched it in full
in I didn't even know he came down with the
ball until until he stood up.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
One incredible play.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
A few of those sacks you know, b Y and
just you know to d line playing fast of the
out of the stack and some of the screens. Just
the effort they play was incredible. Young played a whale
of a game, didn't he. I mean he really brought
it against a talented Houston offense. Yep, yeah, I mean
speed off the ball, you know, the violence he plays
with his hands, and you know he plays the game
(06:18):
the right way. He plays with a chip on his
shoulder and you can feel out feel out there when
you're playing with him.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
If it's all right with you, I'm gonna play a
clip from the offensive side of the football with you,
because as an off ball linebacker yourself, who has to
play that that neck of the woods. You've referenced that
that hook coverage a few times, you have to read
quarterbacks eyes sometimes. Well, when you're playing across from Matthew Stafford,
you got to contend with this. Have you seen this play?
This forced down and throw up this seam to Pukainakua
(06:45):
And what's that like to be Henry Totoo and have
to contend with the eyes of Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I did see this play. You know Matt's looking off
that linebacker.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Yeah, you can. I would, I mean I would be
doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
You know, it's a certain type of quarterback can only
make that play, and Matt does this kind of stuff
in practice. You can see the linebacker moving with intention
on the QB's eyes, feeling the rap behind him, but
not knowing that it's bending back. Matt's doing a great
job moving in for him to even throw the ball,
you know, without his eyes locked on the receiver. It's
just an incredible talent. You know.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I know he wasn't live for most of the summer,
so you didn't kind of get that head to head
that you might have during training camp. But I wonder
if when you do duel with him, if you almost
treat him like you're playing liars dice or something like,
you know, his first look is not true.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Oh you have to you know, sometimes you got to
even just freeze your feet. That's kind of the best
thing you can do, because he'll mix it up to
where he'll keep his eyes front side, throw front side,
or keep his eyes front side and throw backside. So,
you know, tremendous credit to him to have a player,
and glad he's on our side, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Nate, We're glad you're here. Obviously making a tremendous first impression,
but I'm not even sure how you got here because
I thought you put some pretty good tape down in Atlanta.
Can you take us through your lens and the early
years of your professional career and how it came to
be that you are a.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Ramp Yeah, you know, coming to the league undrafted, balance
some injuries and fortunate enough to make the fifty three
my rookie year, and then ended up getting cut towards
the end of season. You know, kind of how the
league goes had to sign a guy and I was
kind of that bubble guy. Ended up signing back on
the futures deal, being able to start a lot of
(08:28):
that second year, I think fourteen or fifteen games and
carry that on to the third year. You know, with
the with the head coaching change. It was great to
have Ron there, and you know, you when you hit
that third year as undrafted guy, that can either tender
you or not. So just having that conversation with them,
they decided not to, and you know, obviously had Jimmy
(08:51):
Lake there, so you know, once once free agency hit,
having those conversations with Jimmy and my agent and we
just felt like this would be a great place. And
it's been awesome ever since, and you know what are blessing.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
To be here? Yeah, you mentioned a couple of the
key names. Obviously, Raheem Morris is close to this organization.
I saw Jimmy and the cafeteria and I said, thank
you for bringing for bringing Nate with He said, You're
someone who's always had a lot of appreciation for What
does that say about kind of the relationships driving this
league that your next opportunity comes from a good impression
you made with a coach you also journeys back to
(09:25):
LA Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, it's a conversation you have with a lot of
guys in the locker room, a lot of young guys
that you never know where your opportunity is going to
come come from, and who's going to be, you know,
on your corner.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Rooting for you.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
So just showing up to every day with your best
foot forward and you never know that opportunity might be here,
might be elsewhere, but just showing up today, showing up
to work every day, you know, putting your best out there.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I hope you were confident that when you forced what
three fumbles in each of your first two full seasons,
that you're going to have some more work in your future.
But how much interest did you draw and how clear
a path was it to the Rams?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
You know, not as much as you'd like, uh, you'd expect,
which is fine as the way the league goes, you know,
And but I think I'm right where I need to be.
I'm so happy to be here. And uh, you know
that path was clear towards the end. It you know,
it wasn't muddy, it was you know, it was kind
(10:23):
of once the uh, the Rams came into conversation, it
was like, all right, this is the place I need
to be, this is this is a great, great fit.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Do you sign with the hope or even the expectation
that you would start though, yes, I think you have to.
I think you gotta sign.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
You got you gotta have that chip on your shoulder,
that confidence to go in and be like, you know,
I'm gonna go try be the guy there. I'm gonna
go start. And that's why we're all playing, you know,
we all want to be on the field. So definitely
have that mindset of I want to go in there
and want to make an impact and.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
In turn then to have the green dot and to
run the defense. Given the position you play, if you're
gonna come here with that hope and that expectation, then
you want it all.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
You want it all exactly. Yeah, especially as the mic
or you know, inside backer. You want that responsibility. I
think it comes with the job. It's a great part
of the job. It's a part of the job I enjoy,
so definitely have that that expectation.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
To be a captain though, I mean I could see
you come into a new place, a pretty established roster,
a deep culture, and just trying to find your way
to blend in to be a part of it, but
maybe not taking a leadership role. What did it mean
to you to be voted a captain this summer?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
It's one of the It is the coolest thing that's
ever happened to me, and it's a you know, it's
a great honor and something I'm super proud of and
super grateful for that the guys trust me with that,
with that badge, you know, just coming to work every day,
being myself, not trying to do too much, just trying
to be the player that I am, trying to earn
their respect from day one, you know, not by talking anything,
(11:48):
just by you know, playing football in the field and
you know, creating those relationships with with all the guys
in the locker room, and I think it's been going
well and it's can continue to grow.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
I remember your days in Boulder. I mean, you seem
to be a natural leader. Part of it the position
you play, the way you perform. But some of those attributes,
could you elaborate a bit more in terms of was
it an intentionality or was it just people gravitating to
you and saying, Hey, here's a guy who deserves to
be at the front of our defensive room.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I think it's both. I think it's intentionality. You know,
like you said, it comes with a position. You know,
as a as an inside backer, you're talking to the front,
you're talking to sarrea. You have a piece piece in
the whole defense. You know, you're part of the rush plan,
you're part of the coverage plan. So just having the
constant conversation with the guys up front, guys in the
back end, I think you're around the whole defense as
(12:37):
a whole, you know, barking out the calls given, given directions.
And I think it just comes naturally to guys that
are in you know, in the middle linebacker position, and
it gives you a lot of room to grow, you know,
like you said in college, now to the pros, you
grow every year, and that leadership quality just.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Grows everyone's circumstances. That off ball linebacker are not created
equally in this league. To play behind this defensive fronts,
how does that allow you to thrive?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Oh, I think that's why my game's elevated just in
the you know, short short months I've been here. My
confidence in my game's gone up because I'm playing behind
the guys up front and then even the guys behind
you know, Qla and Cam Curl and those guys are
so smart, so smart players. Makes my job easy and
a lot of time and practice. I'm untouched making plays
(13:27):
where it seems like I'm the one making the play.
But all the credit has to go to those guys
because you know, they're taking on double teams poon Afford,
you know, splitting double teams, just just you know, guys
going above and beyond playing their game, which makes my life,
my life easier.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
As than the linebacker. What's Omar like as a running
mate and how far forward can he progress in year two? Oh?
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Is I would say the most complete linebacker, you know, physical,
great in the run, fluid fluid feet in the past
game Oh from OTAs till now, he's taking a huge
step and even just talking to you know, Money and
those guys who had him here last year. Similar story
me and him to where he came in undrafted and
(14:09):
then got his opportunity to play and took the most
out of it. So so much respect for Oh and
Sky's limit for um him. He's getting better every day
and our relationships is growing strong.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Do you feel like you're guiding him towards success? Are
you taking things off his plate as his kind of
sidekick there?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, I think we're guiding each other. You know, he
teaches me things and I teach him things and we
play off each other. Well. Super smart player, you know.
And I'm familiar with though from Morgans his Oregon State days,
so you know, been a fan of him from far
and now getting to play.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
With him is awesome. You talk about some of the
parallels in your path of the league. How about Sean Doolac,
because there's another one that we see a lot of similarities.
Prolific college player and Tackler has to make it as
a college free agent, but seems to be in the
right place given your room.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, I mean he fits in our room perfectly. Sean's
a great guy. We call him Dale, that's just his
rookie nickname. For now.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Do I want to ask, why is there any story?
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Step brothers Dale Dobach, So we call him Dale Dolac.
But Dale's awesome. I mean he came in from day one,
just a grinder, worked hard, understood the position. Now he
was in, you know, fortunate to have you know, me,
Omar and Troy through have similar circumstances to be able
to help him through the process. And you know, nothing
(15:26):
was given to him all, it was all earned, earned
by him. So super proud of him. And sky's a
limit for him as well. You know, a complete backer,
who can who can do it all.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Sure we won't be the first to tell your your story,
your background, but it is so unique in the context
of what we do. So can we kind of follow
the path from Zimbabwe to Northern California to Boulder And
it starts with your parents. As I understand, your dad
was an international rugby player.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, yeah, so he he played for the Zimbabwe national
team after playing at the University of Cape Town in
South Africa. And then post post professional rugby career, he
became an engineer for a multi national company that had
a bunch offices in San Francisco, and so he would
be flying back and forth from Zimbabwe to San Francisco
(16:12):
months on a time, and eventually they brought him the
opportunity to move his family out and he jumped on it. So,
you know, just with the thought in mind to give
his his kids and his family, you know, a greater
chance at a better future in the States. And so
you know what a study is to bring his family
here and my mom as well, you know, taking care
(16:34):
of four kids. They were young when when we moved here,
and so you know, all credits to them, they're they're amazing.
And so moved to San Francisco and then lived throughout
the Northern Bay area, East Bay and then ended up
at Colorado.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
So you and your what the youngest are for I
am you and all of your siblings were born in Africa.
Guess yes, correct, but you don't have any memories, at
least youth memory until you're more recent adult. Visit Zimbabwe.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Yeah, yeah, we we went back and we saw my
family that lives in Arari, which is great you know,
seeing my cousins and my uncles that I hadn't seen
since I was three and a half four years old.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So that's awesome. And you say that your siblings are
super successful. I read that in an article about you.
What has you know professionally? Had they found success in? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (17:24):
My my brother was a was a D one football player,
and my sister was a D one swimmer. And then
my other brother is an academic and so he was
on scholarships for academics. And my two brothers are in
the first film I one's a firefighter and one's a cop.
And then my sister is a ceover owned company. She
(17:46):
had creates two or three apps and she's she's a
trainer nutritionists.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Out of those two or three apps. Her name is
Ocean Trail. It is tell us about that.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yes, her name is she's my she's my half sister,
so she has a different last name. But yeah, Ocean Trail.
How cool the name is that. That's pretty unique. And
she was a swimmer. You said she was a swimmer. Oh,
that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
And your brother played what Arizona State you did? Okay,
we use a tight end. Have any family members been
able to come to sofa yet see you play.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
My parents were at this last game, and you know,
now being back on the West Coast, my siblings will
be at a lot more games.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And I understand you where your history on your sleeve
quite literally? Right? What did your tattoo art say about
your backstory?
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I think it just you know, reminds me of where
I came from. You know, a bunch of Africa themed tattoos.
And then I have the dates of my family's birthdays here.
You know, just things that are important to me, my culture,
my heritage, and my family.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Very cool. And you wear the Zimbabwaighan flag on your helmet.
I do. Yeah, that's pretty unique. That's pretty special. Yeah,
it's something that I'm proud of. Very cool. All right.
We spent it forward to a week two and I
know it's early in your week of preparation, so you
have not had a deep dive on the Titans yet,
but you probably know they got the number one overall
pick at quarterback and that means you only have a
one game sample size of film on camboard. So how
(19:02):
do you approach this week to be ready for what
you're going to see in Nashville?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Yeah, I think we treat it like we treated the
last week with the Texans, where you know, we're going
off minimal preseason tape and you know you kind of
watch what they did last year a little bit, but
you know, new regime in their new offensive coordinator, so
not focusing too much on what they're doing and focusing
more on on what we're doing, playing our you know,
our base stuff, the stuff we're good at making them
(19:26):
react to us. You know, with the young quarterback, obviously
it is tremendous talent being the first overall pick, our
strong arm, smart kid, but you still don't have that
NFL experience, you know, so trying to keep them on
his toes, show multiple looks, and you know, find other
ways we can, you know, get them uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
If that football cliche is true that teams make the
greatest leap one to two, expect more from the Titans, certainly,
But how about the Rams as good at performance as
that one was against Houston, what are some of the
areas that you guys are going to try and clean up?
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Yeah, I think we just build off each other, start
playing more. You know, we played complimentary football to where
you know, offense need us to step in or we
needed them to step up at the last drive to
not put us back on the field. Just continue in
that process to build each other, build off each other
in the kicking game as well. And you know, I
think we had a complete win that last game. Obviously
(20:17):
there's improvements to be made and corrections be made, so
learning from those. And it's not it's an imperfect game,
but it's the greatest team sport. So just playing playing
off each other and playing you know, cohesive complimentary football.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Awesome. All right, Landman the Sun land Man to others, Nate,
We're just glad to have you here in Los Angeles.
Thanks for helping us get to know you a little
bit better. Congrats on a victory Monday. And here's him anymore.
Thank you so much,
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