Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Warren McClendon talks about offensive lineman Rob Havenstein’s mentorship, his college career at the University of Georgia, and the fraternity within the 2023 draft class.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, one thing I know we're all grateful for this
holiday season is the depth of the twenty twenty five
Los Angeles Rams players like Josh Wallace, Davis Allen, and
Warren McClendon stepping into larger roles with some key starters
on injured reserve. I want to wish you all a
very happy Thanksgiving. Please enjoy this conversation with Warren McClendon
as we look forward.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
To a trip to Carolina.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Well, great to sit down with you on a winning
streak and coming off a primetime victory. What was Sunday
Night football at so F I like.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
For you, it was fun.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
You know, anytime I'm able to get out there and play,
it's always fun. So just being out there and playing
with the guys, it was pretty fun.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Cool night to be a starter too. I understand your
cousin is part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, it was pretty cool to see him. I
haven't seen him since I left Georgia actually, but it
was pretty cool to see him. Got to talk to
him before a game and after the game, so it
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So that's Brian who played at Georgia and for the
Bears and it's currently the Tampa Bay Wide receivers.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And then his father, your uncle, Willie also played at
Georgia in the league.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
What about Warren mcclennen senior.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
What's he like?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
H he's cool. I mean, he's a laid back guy.
He just kind of just goes with the flow. And
he should have played football, but he wanted to be
a hooper, so he chose the basketball route and went
and played college basketball.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
How's your jumper? It's getting there. Oh, you're still working
on it.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, I'm still working on I was my back to
the goal type of guy. I like the post up,
but football is always your path.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah for the most part. Yeah. Right.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You've got to play what four games as a starter
this year? One of them was in primetime on Thursday
Night Football against the Niners. What's different about playing under
the lights in this league?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's just it's just a different feeling, you know, those
butterflies before the game and then running out the tunnel
and then it's just just need the first snap. Once
you get that first snap out of the way, and
it's like smooth selling from their own But it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
How do you feel you performed.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I think I played all right. You know, a couple
of players I want back, but I think I played
all right.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
That's the case in any game, right, Have you ever
played a perfect game or you're like I got every
single one?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
What was it like to spike Colbe Parkinson's touchdown?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
It was pretty cool. I was hoping I had a
better spike. It went straightforward, I hope, and you know,
I got a little height on it. But I actually
my dad I was talking to him. He was like,
you got to spike the ball. I was like, I
don't know, but it was pretty cool that he was
able to come to the game and I was able
to spike it.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
That's awesome. Was it planned or it was planned?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Literally, the drive before I was we were sitting on
the bench. I looked over. I was like, hey, if
you score, you gotta let me spike it. To Kobe
specific yeah to him. And then he scored and he
dropped the ball and I was like, it's all good,
it's all good. And he ran over there and grabbed
it for me and let me spike it. So it
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
One that's good foresight by you, because he's now scored
in three straight games, so you're playing the odds correctly.
And then for those who haven't seen this, go check
the TV copy because Warren's right like Colby Shirley like
gets lost in the moment. I'm not sure what happens
to the football, but at the tail end of that celebration,
he goes and retrieves it to you to make good
on that prob Oh, yeah, would you try Davante ever
or is Kolby?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
You're safe for bet?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I was just sitting next to him him though, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Tell us about the way to filling in for Rob Havenstein.
And part of this for our benefit for the audience
is like he's the elder statesman on this roster, right,
the captain. He's the only Saint Louis ram left. So
what does that mean for you in terms of its gravity?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
You know, he's played a lot of football, so like
just learn from him and just all the tips and
tricks that he's learned and able to pass down to me,
and just little things like meeting with me before the
week and like during the game, just giving me like
little hints like hey, your set was a little off
right there. You know, you got a little too deep
here there, you know, just use your hands and stuff
like that. So having him on the sideline and then definitely,
(03:40):
like in practice.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Okay, so that's not just in preparation of the course
of the week. It's on a series by series basis,
on the sideline.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
After every series he'll come up to me and be like, hey,
good series there, or hey, I saw this so very nice.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What's it like being in a huddle with Matthew Stafford
right now?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It's pretty cool, you know. Just the way that he
thinks about the game is just it's crazy to see
and just being a part of that is it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Here.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
He's got a pretty good sense of humor. Does that
come out on game day in those moments.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
A little bit?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
A little bit, But for the most part, he's really serious. Yeah,
locked in and he's pretty locked in. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And not just his most recent game, but also that
three game sample size back in October. Did that give
you the confidence maybe that you belong in this league,
that you can be a starting caliber right tackle?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Oh yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You know, just getting those game reps always helps build
the confidence a little bit. So just having those reps
definitely help.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, a friend of ours and a colleague, DeMarco
Farres on the broadcast team, says, you look the part too,
like you're conducting yourself like a starter, the way that
you go about your business. Does that resonate to have
any idea what he's talking about, what he's observing there,
And I.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Just kind of just do what I do. I just
I try to stay out the way and just go
to work.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, some of it could just be settling into this environment, right, Yeah,
I mean feeling like this is home and that you belong.
You did play at the highest level, you won champion
ships at Georgia. Yeah, what was the leap like? Doing
it there in the SEC on a championship stage and
then elevating to the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Definitely going to Georgia kind of made it easier for that,
you know, jump from Georgia to Hair, but definitely still
had to learn a lot once I got here. You know,
the pace of play was definitely a little bit faster.
You know, just the scheme of things too was a
little bit different. So just trying to not get it
all at once, but just take a little sample size
(05:32):
and just learn as I go.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Do you feel like you got to that point where
you're no longer thinking about it. You're definitely play in
the way that you're comfortable. Yeah, what about that red
shirt year in college, right you started with a red
shirt year as a freshman. Was that a similar experience
here or you kind of come in and get your
feet wet and you know the pacing of it that
it may not be your time right from the jump.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Definitely, you know, coming in, I had a knee injury,
and then Rob was rolling, so I was like, yeah,
probably going to you know, just be that swing tackle.
When we had Joe here too, so he was the
swing tackle when I was just kind of just sitting
back learning from those guys. And then the next year
I had to play and then, you know, just get
my feet wet a little bit.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So definitely did it feel like the proper pacing or
we are there moments where you're getting impatient, like, I
know I can do this.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I want it to be my time.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You know, definitely get a little impatient, but you know
you just have to you know, this is just my
role and I have to buy into my role to
help the team. So just you know, doing what I
can to prepare myself, you know, just in case my
name is called.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
You're what twenty four years twenty four, so I mean
you're pretty young coming into this league too. Do you
feel like you physically matured into an offensive lineman?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh yeah, definitely. You know, love has definitely helped me
a lot, you know, getting a little extra work. You know,
Alex is always in there getting extra work, so I
try to hop in there sometimes when I had me
to get attle extra work, even if it's on the
bike and verse at the practice.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So I was gonna say, what does extra work.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Look like a lot of arms corps?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
We mentioned those championships at Georgia, So you've been in
locker rooms where you feel like you've got the people
to do something special. It seems like this is shaping
up to be that kind of group. Do you see similarities?
Do you sense similarities?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Definitely?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Since it you know, that team at Georgia was definitely
a tight knit group and the brotherhood there was really close,
and I'm I could feel that here.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
You don't say, yeah, we've got high end talent, We've
got dudes that can go win on the perimeter. It's
more the intangible stuff like the cohesiveness.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Oh yeah, definitely, Where.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Did that come from for this group specifically? Like do
you think the trip to Maui made any difference or
being on campus at LMU for training camp?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think all of it. You know, definitely being in
Maui was nice. You know, all of us being on
one resort, kind of just stuck with each other and
we just kind of had to jail and then playing
golf and Maui and then definitely at camp. We're there
for two three weeks, so I mean just being there
you kind of have to, you know, jail a little bit.
So it was pretty nice.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Is that the farthest west you've ever traveled? You've been
there before, Okay, so you got to show some people
around there like that.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
I want to know about the fraternity of this draft
class of twenty twenty three Rams fans know this was essential, right,
this is what got us to this chapter of Rams football.
Let me just go down the list a little bit.
Steve second round pick, He's a starter, Byron starter, Kobe starter,
Stetson preseason sensation every summer, Nick Hampton, rotational pass rusher,
(08:16):
Davis Allen rotational tight end Puka Nakua. We lost track
of him, but we hope life worked out. Okay, seemed
like a nice guy. Ethan Evans and Dez still part
of this fifty three man roster. Like that's a long list,
that's a massive draft class. Ye, you guys feel that fraternity.
Do you feel like you've kind of come through together?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Oh yeah, definitely, And especially you know us coming in
and having like the group of vets that we had,
you know, and kind of just told us the way
to work and definitely help.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
One of those vets was there the other night in
Aaron Donald right at SOFI Stadium. We talked last week
going in the game about how his legacy, his ability
to kind of pass that torch is still sensed by
the likes of Kobe Turner and Byron Young. Did you
observe that. Do you have any perspective on that, like
the way that he influenced the culture in this place?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Oh yeah, definitely, just for the one year that I
was here with him, just seeing how he worked with
those guys and you know, his preparation, you know, day
in and day out, was it was cool to see.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Did you get a bibblehead my parents got three of them.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, good, Yeah, so I didn't get one. Yeah, not
one of theirs. I want I want them to have it.
Being drafted three picks ahead of Pooka. That's a pretty
good claim to fame. Yeah, you'll be able to tell
grandkids about that. Yeah, I like that one pick before
Davis Allen too.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I hope you rubed that in every now and again.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
No, actually I didn't realize that to me, and Puka
was actually talking about that the other day, which was
pretty I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Just kind of reliving the that fifth round win. It
was all meant to be. The tight Ends are having
a moment right now. Oh the Rams, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
What's it?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
What's it like being next to that position group and
Higgs on IR but Colby and Davis and Terrence.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
It's pretty cool, you know those guys, the way they work,
it's cool to see. And then they're just all really talented,
you know, so just being part of being able to
play next to him is pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So we talked about that stretch in October where you
jumped in for Rob the first time around. There weren't
two and maybe even three tight Ends sitting next to
you on that offensive line back then. Now, all of
a sudden, that's an option that that Sean McVay and
Micha Lafleur have at their disposal. What does that look
like from your perspective? And what kind of stress does
it put on defenses?
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Definitely?
Speaker 3 (10:16):
You know, when you put three tight ends out there
that can put run block and pass blocks, it's pretty
you know, it's dangerous and especially with their athleticism that
be able to you know, run routes and catch the
ball is you know, it's nice.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Warren.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
What's it like working next to Kevin Dotson?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
It's funny, you know. He he's just a character man. Yeah,
you just have to kind of be next to him.
He's a goofy guy but serious in the right moments.
But he's just an awesome gut to be.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Around, nice to have on your left shoulder.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I bet that oh yeah, oh yeah, takes a lot
of stress off I.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Was gonna say, what makes you react like that? The
way that he gets off the ball, the way that
he takes stress off you, is what I think I
heard you say.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Yeah, just you know, sometimes in certain pass reps, you know,
if they're like in a certain front, he'll like they're
running a game, he'll just not to finish together, and
I'm like, my job's done. You know, I didn't have
to do anything. He just kind of just threw them together.
So things like that. And in the run game, he's
just workhorse, you know, he's just driving people off the ball,
and I just fit in and you know, just makes
(11:15):
it easier on me.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Sure, what's one thing that you would like to do
better as soon as this Sunday in Carolina?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Probably just you know, keeping my focus, you know, throughout
the whole game. You know, my strength throughout throughout the
whole game is getting in better shape, getting in better
you know, game shape.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
That's just tough to simulate this time of year, to
simulate playing I don't know, fifty sixty snaps in the game.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, you just have to after practice, you know,
getting the cardio you know, on the bike versus and
just do more of that.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
All right, So it's an endurance test.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
The Panthers have a rookie I was telling you a
little bit before we got started here, Nick Gorton needs
the second round pick. He's got three sacks on the season.
I know you haven't gotten into your prep specific to
the Panthers yet, but I wonder if you can give
us kind of like the map of your week as
you do start to turn your attention towards that next opponent,
how much of it is focused on like their overall scheme.
How much of it is studying tendencies of a guy
(12:10):
who may be rushing against you next week?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, definitely, you know, geting Wednesday, we'll get you know,
the depth chart, and then we'll you know, start watching
film and then later that night I'll get robbed and
we'll go through and watch the pass rush tape. You know,
try to look for little things, see what they're good at,
you know, see what their you know, dominant move is
what they like to go to. And then you know,
later that night, I like to go through and watch
the flow of a game and see how they play
(12:32):
throughout the flow of a game.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Things like that in terms of down and distances.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, down in distances, you know, because it's different when
you're watching you know, their best pass rush tapes, you know,
to see what they're good at, and it's different, you know,
when you go and watch a game and see how
how they play through the fold game.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It must be such a chess match at that position
because you know that he's studying you equally.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
He's coming through your tape too. Brunswick, Georgia. Is that
the hometown Georgia you list? Okay, so I have that
as about a five to six hour drive from Charlotte,
So we're kind of heading in your direction. But I
understand your family has already come out to Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, they came out for Thanksgiving, which I'm pretty pretty
stoked about.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
That's great. They got to see you play in the
primetime lights. And then what do you planning in terms
of a family feast? How's that going to go down?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Mom's cooking, She's going to throw down. So I'm excited.
What are you excited about? I could see the light
in your eye there, Ham Mac and cheese dressing, Call
of Greens, she's gonna throw out.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Awesome. That's great.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Where does Thanksgiving sit in your holiday power rankings?
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Top two?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Wanted to I haven't figured it out, but it's top
two for.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Sure, running next to Chris Christmas. Yeah, okay, so we're
in your wheelhouse. This is your time of year on
and off the field.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That way.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Oh yeah, what is the ideal time to serve a
Thanksgiving meal? And the reason I asked this because my
family was always late in the seven o'clock hour and
not driven me nuts, and I understand more people like
to earlier there.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, I would say, like three, okay, what the Mason
what is the Macy Day paride?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah? When does that normally end around? I don't know,
by the time the Lions kick off, I.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Guess, yeah, So whenever that ends normally, that's when food's
ready to go.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Okay, so nice and early. So you're going for seconds
and thursds over the course of the day.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
I was going to ask whether the best serving is
that first one on Thursday or the leftovers on Friday?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
The leftovers? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Any concerns about your Georgia Bulldogs this week, not at all.
They got Georgia Tech. Okay, they're going to be a
playoff team. Yeah, they're gonna be SEC champions.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I hope, So, I hope.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
So there's good Georgia vibes in this locker room here
in Los Angeles. So the Georgia Bulldogs have been great,
see the La Rams, and we're glad to have you
on the field. We wish Rob han steinwell, can't wait
to see him get back to full health. Of us,
as you know, there's another starter behind him. Enjoy your
Thanksgiving feast with your family and go get the Carolina Panthers.
Well, one thing I know we're all grateful for this
holiday season is the depth of the twenty twenty five
Los Angeles Rams players like Josh Wallace, Davis Allen, and
Warren McClendon stepping into larger roles with some key starters
on injured reserve. I want to wish you all a
very happy Thanksgiving. Please enjoy this conversation with Warren McClendon
as we look forward.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
To a trip to Carolina.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Well, great to sit down with you on a winning
streak and coming off a primetime victory. What was Sunday
Night football at so F I like.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
For you, it was fun.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
You know, anytime I'm able to get out there and play,
it's always fun. So just being out there and playing
with the guys, it was pretty fun.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Cool night to be a starter too. I understand your
cousin is part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, yeah, it was pretty cool to see him. I
haven't seen him since I left Georgia actually, but it
was pretty cool to see him. Got to talk to
him before a game and after the game, so it
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
So that's Brian who played at Georgia and for the
Bears and it's currently the Tampa Bay Wide receivers.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
And then his father, your uncle, Willie also played at
Georgia in the league.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Wow. Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
What about Warren mcclennen senior.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
What's he like?
Speaker 3 (01:09):
H he's cool. I mean, he's a laid back guy.
He just kind of just goes with the flow. And
he should have played football, but he wanted to be
a hooper, so he chose the basketball route and went
and played college basketball.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
How's your jumper? It's getting there. Oh, you're still working
on it.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, I'm still working on I was my back to
the goal type of guy. I like the post up,
but football is always your path.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah for the most part. Yeah. Right.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You've got to play what four games as a starter
this year? One of them was in primetime on Thursday
Night Football against the Niners. What's different about playing under
the lights in this league?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
It's just it's just a different feeling, you know, those
butterflies before the game and then running out the tunnel
and then it's just just need the first snap. Once
you get that first snap out of the way, and
it's like smooth selling from their own But it's pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
How do you feel you performed.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I think I played all right. You know, a couple
of players I want back, but I think I played
all right.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
That's the case in any game, right, Have you ever
played a perfect game or you're like I got every
single one?
Speaker 2 (02:07):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:08):
What was it like to spike Colbe Parkinson's touchdown?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
It was pretty cool. I was hoping I had a
better spike. It went straightforward, I hope, and you know,
I got a little height on it. But I actually
my dad I was talking to him. He was like,
you got to spike the ball. I was like, I
don't know, but it was pretty cool that he was
able to come to the game and I was able
to spike it.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
That's awesome. Was it planned or it was planned?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Literally, the drive before I was we were sitting on
the bench. I looked over. I was like, hey, if
you score, you gotta let me spike it. To Kobe
specific yeah to him. And then he scored and he
dropped the ball and I was like, it's all good,
it's all good. And he ran over there and grabbed
it for me and let me spike it. So it
was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
One that's good foresight by you, because he's now scored
in three straight games, so you're playing the odds correctly.
And then for those who haven't seen this, go check
the TV copy because Warren's right like Colby Shirley like
gets lost in the moment. I'm not sure what happens
to the football, but at the tail end of that celebration,
he goes and retrieves it to you to make good
on that prob Oh, yeah, would you try Davante ever
or is Kolby?
Speaker 2 (03:03):
You're safe for bet?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I was just sitting next to him him though, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Tell us about the way to filling in for Rob Havenstein.
And part of this for our benefit for the audience
is like he's the elder statesman on this roster, right,
the captain. He's the only Saint Louis ram left. So
what does that mean for you in terms of its gravity?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
You know, he's played a lot of football, so like
just learn from him and just all the tips and
tricks that he's learned and able to pass down to me,
and just little things like meeting with me before the
week and like during the game, just giving me like
little hints like hey, your set was a little off
right there. You know, you got a little too deep
here there, you know, just use your hands and stuff
like that. So having him on the sideline and then definitely,
(03:40):
like in practice.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Helps a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Okay, so that's not just in preparation of the course
of the week. It's on a series by series basis,
on the sideline.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
After every series he'll come up to me and be like, hey,
good series there, or hey, I saw this so very nice.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What's it like being in a huddle with Matthew Stafford
right now?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
It's pretty cool, you know. Just the way that he
thinks about the game is just it's crazy to see
and just being a part of that is it's awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Here.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
He's got a pretty good sense of humor. Does that
come out on game day in those moments.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
A little bit?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
A little bit, But for the most part, he's really serious. Yeah,
locked in and he's pretty locked in. That's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
And not just his most recent game, but also that
three game sample size back in October. Did that give
you the confidence maybe that you belong in this league,
that you can be a starting caliber right tackle?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Oh yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You know, just getting those game reps always helps build
the confidence a little bit. So just having those reps
definitely help.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You know, a friend of ours and a colleague, DeMarco
Farres on the broadcast team, says, you look the part too,
like you're conducting yourself like a starter, the way that
you go about your business. Does that resonate to have
any idea what he's talking about, what he's observing there,
And I.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Just kind of just do what I do. I just
I try to stay out the way and just go
to work.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, some of it could just be settling into this environment, right, Yeah,
I mean feeling like this is home and that you belong.
You did play at the highest level, you won champion
ships at Georgia. Yeah, what was the leap like? Doing
it there in the SEC on a championship stage and
then elevating to the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Definitely going to Georgia kind of made it easier for that,
you know, jump from Georgia to Hair, but definitely still
had to learn a lot once I got here. You know,
the pace of play was definitely a little bit faster.
You know, just the scheme of things too was a
little bit different. So just trying to not get it
all at once, but just take a little sample size
(05:32):
and just learn as I go.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Do you feel like you got to that point where
you're no longer thinking about it. You're definitely play in
the way that you're comfortable. Yeah, what about that red
shirt year in college, right you started with a red
shirt year as a freshman. Was that a similar experience
here or you kind of come in and get your
feet wet and you know the pacing of it that
it may not be your time right from the jump.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Definitely, you know, coming in, I had a knee injury,
and then Rob was rolling, so I was like, yeah,
probably going to you know, just be that swing tackle.
When we had Joe here too, so he was the
swing tackle when I was just kind of just sitting
back learning from those guys. And then the next year
I had to play and then, you know, just get
my feet wet a little bit.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So definitely did it feel like the proper pacing or
we are there moments where you're getting impatient, like, I
know I can do this.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I want it to be my time.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You know, definitely get a little impatient, but you know
you just have to you know, this is just my
role and I have to buy into my role to
help the team. So just you know, doing what I
can to prepare myself, you know, just in case my
name is called.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
You're what twenty four years twenty four, so I mean
you're pretty young coming into this league too. Do you
feel like you physically matured into an offensive lineman?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Oh yeah, definitely. You know, love has definitely helped me
a lot, you know, getting a little extra work. You know,
Alex is always in there getting extra work, so I
try to hop in there sometimes when I had me
to get attle extra work, even if it's on the
bike and verse at the practice.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So I was gonna say, what does extra work.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Look like a lot of arms corps?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
We mentioned those championships at Georgia, So you've been in
locker rooms where you feel like you've got the people
to do something special. It seems like this is shaping
up to be that kind of group. Do you see similarities?
Do you sense similarities?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Definitely?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Since it you know, that team at Georgia was definitely
a tight knit group and the brotherhood there was really close,
and I'm I could feel that here.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
So that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
You don't say, yeah, we've got high end talent, We've
got dudes that can go win on the perimeter. It's
more the intangible stuff like the cohesiveness.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Oh yeah, definitely, Where.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
Did that come from for this group specifically? Like do
you think the trip to Maui made any difference or
being on campus at LMU for training camp?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think all of it. You know, definitely being in
Maui was nice. You know, all of us being on
one resort, kind of just stuck with each other and
we just kind of had to jail and then playing
golf and Maui and then definitely at camp. We're there
for two three weeks, so I mean just being there
you kind of have to, you know, jail a little bit.
So it was pretty nice.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Is that the farthest west you've ever traveled? You've been
there before, Okay, so you got to show some people
around there like that.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
I want to know about the fraternity of this draft
class of twenty twenty three Rams fans know this was essential, right,
this is what got us to this chapter of Rams football.
Let me just go down the list a little bit.
Steve second round pick, He's a starter, Byron starter, Kobe starter,
Stetson preseason sensation every summer, Nick Hampton, rotational pass rusher,
(08:16):
Davis Allen rotational tight end Puka Nakua. We lost track
of him, but we hope life worked out. Okay, seemed
like a nice guy. Ethan Evans and Dez still part
of this fifty three man roster. Like that's a long list,
that's a massive draft class. Ye, you guys feel that fraternity.
Do you feel like you've kind of come through together?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Oh yeah, definitely, And especially you know us coming in
and having like the group of vets that we had,
you know, and kind of just told us the way
to work and definitely help.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
One of those vets was there the other night in
Aaron Donald right at SOFI Stadium. We talked last week
going in the game about how his legacy, his ability
to kind of pass that torch is still sensed by
the likes of Kobe Turner and Byron Young. Did you
observe that. Do you have any perspective on that, like
the way that he influenced the culture in this place?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Oh yeah, definitely, just for the one year that I
was here with him, just seeing how he worked with
those guys and you know, his preparation, you know, day
in and day out, was it was cool to see.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Did you get a bibblehead my parents got three of them.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Okay, good, Yeah, so I didn't get one. Yeah, not
one of theirs. I want I want them to have it.
Being drafted three picks ahead of Pooka. That's a pretty
good claim to fame. Yeah, you'll be able to tell
grandkids about that. Yeah, I like that one pick before
Davis Allen too.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
I hope you rubed that in every now and again.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
No, actually I didn't realize that to me, and Puka
was actually talking about that the other day, which was
pretty I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Just kind of reliving the that fifth round win. It
was all meant to be. The tight Ends are having
a moment right now. Oh the Rams, aren't they?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
What's it?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
What's it like being next to that position group and
Higgs on IR but Colby and Davis and Terrence.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
It's pretty cool, you know those guys, the way they work,
it's cool to see. And then they're just all really talented,
you know, so just being part of being able to
play next to him is pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
So we talked about that stretch in October where you
jumped in for Rob the first time around. There weren't
two and maybe even three tight Ends sitting next to
you on that offensive line back then. Now, all of
a sudden, that's an option that that Sean McVay and
Micha Lafleur have at their disposal. What does that look
like from your perspective? And what kind of stress does
it put on defenses?
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Definitely?
Speaker 3 (10:16):
You know, when you put three tight ends out there
that can put run block and pass blocks, it's pretty
you know, it's dangerous and especially with their athleticism that
be able to you know, run routes and catch the
ball is you know, it's nice.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Warren.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
What's it like working next to Kevin Dotson?
Speaker 3 (10:31):
It's funny, you know. He he's just a character man. Yeah,
you just have to kind of be next to him.
He's a goofy guy but serious in the right moments.
But he's just an awesome gut to be.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Around, nice to have on your left shoulder.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I bet that oh yeah, oh yeah, takes a lot
of stress off I.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Was gonna say, what makes you react like that? The
way that he gets off the ball, the way that
he takes stress off you, is what I think I
heard you say.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Yeah, just you know, sometimes in certain pass reps, you know,
if they're like in a certain front, he'll like they're
running a game, he'll just not to finish together, and
I'm like, my job's done. You know, I didn't have
to do anything. He just kind of just threw them together.
So things like that. And in the run game, he's
just workhorse, you know, he's just driving people off the ball,
and I just fit in and you know, just makes
(11:15):
it easier on me.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Sure, what's one thing that you would like to do
better as soon as this Sunday in Carolina?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Probably just you know, keeping my focus, you know, throughout
the whole game. You know, my strength throughout throughout the
whole game is getting in better shape, getting in better
you know, game shape.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
That's just tough to simulate this time of year, to
simulate playing I don't know, fifty sixty snaps in the game.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Yeah, yeah, you just have to after practice, you know,
getting the cardio you know, on the bike versus and
just do more of that.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
All right, So it's an endurance test.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
The Panthers have a rookie I was telling you a
little bit before we got started here, Nick Gorton needs
the second round pick. He's got three sacks on the season.
I know you haven't gotten into your prep specific to
the Panthers yet, but I wonder if you can give
us kind of like the map of your week as
you do start to turn your attention towards that next opponent,
how much of it is focused on like their overall scheme.
How much of it is studying tendencies of a guy
(12:10):
who may be rushing against you next week?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, definitely, you know, geting Wednesday, we'll get you know,
the depth chart, and then we'll you know, start watching
film and then later that night I'll get robbed and
we'll go through and watch the pass rush tape. You know,
try to look for little things, see what they're good at,
you know, see what their you know, dominant move is
what they like to go to. And then you know,
later that night, I like to go through and watch
the flow of a game and see how they play
(12:32):
throughout the flow of a game.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Things like that in terms of down and distances.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, down in distances, you know, because it's different when
you're watching you know, their best pass rush tapes, you know,
to see what they're good at, and it's different, you know,
when you go and watch a game and see how
how they play through the fold game.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It must be such a chess match at that position
because you know that he's studying you equally.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
He's coming through your tape too. Brunswick, Georgia. Is that
the hometown Georgia you list? Okay, so I have that
as about a five to six hour drive from Charlotte,
So we're kind of heading in your direction. But I
understand your family has already come out to Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
Yeah, they came out for Thanksgiving, which I'm pretty pretty
stoked about.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
That's great. They got to see you play in the
primetime lights. And then what do you planning in terms
of a family feast? How's that going to go down?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Mom's cooking, She's going to throw down. So I'm excited.
What are you excited about? I could see the light
in your eye there, Ham Mac and cheese dressing, Call
of Greens, she's gonna throw out.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Awesome. That's great.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Where does Thanksgiving sit in your holiday power rankings?
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Top two?
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Wanted to I haven't figured it out, but it's top
two for.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Sure, running next to Chris Christmas. Yeah, okay, so we're
in your wheelhouse. This is your time of year on
and off the field.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That way.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Oh yeah, what is the ideal time to serve a
Thanksgiving meal? And the reason I asked this because my
family was always late in the seven o'clock hour and
not driven me nuts, and I understand more people like
to earlier there.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, I would say, like three, okay, what the Mason
what is the Macy Day paride?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yeah? When does that normally end around? I don't know,
by the time the Lions kick off, I.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Guess, yeah, So whenever that ends normally, that's when food's
ready to go.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Okay, so nice and early. So you're going for seconds
and thursds over the course of the day.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
I was going to ask whether the best serving is
that first one on Thursday or the leftovers on Friday?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
The leftovers? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Any concerns about your Georgia Bulldogs this week, not at all.
They got Georgia Tech. Okay, they're going to be a
playoff team. Yeah, they're gonna be SEC champions.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I hope, So, I hope.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
So there's good Georgia vibes in this locker room here
in Los Angeles. So the Georgia Bulldogs have been great,
see the La Rams, and we're glad to have you
on the field. We wish Rob han steinwell, can't wait
to see him get back to full health. Of us,
as you know, there's another starter behind him. Enjoy your
Thanksgiving feast with your family and go get the Carolina Panthers.
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