December 12, 2025 • 43 mins
On this episode of the Twentyman in the Huddle podcast presented by Copilot+ PC, Tim Twentyman is joined by Larry Lage, Jack Campbell and Jourdan Rodrigue previewing the Detroit Lions' Week 15 matchup vs. the Los Angeles Rams.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Prescott back and looking a lot of time throws Middle
caught fifteen and they've intercepted by the Lions. DJ Reed said,
I'll take it, and the Lions have it, and they've
got this game.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to the Twin the Huddle Podcast. And I can't
believe it is already Week fifteen of the NFL season.
This is flying by Larry Lashm Associated Press who's been
covering the Lions for I think probably longer than I
have there. How long have you been with the Associated Press?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Now, well, two thousand was when I started, So my
first season for the Associated Press was two thousand. Also
covered the team home games for a couple of years
in the Barry Sanders era when I was a freelancer
for the Lancey State Journal. So twenty eighth season overall,
and that's a long time for someone who's fifty two.
And I've seen it all from oh to sixteen to
(00:49):
you know up seventeen, third quarter NFC Championship game, about
to push the button on my Super Bowl flight to
Las Vegas. And this season has been as expected, topsy turvy.
I think everyone knew the schedule and the loss of coordinators,
it wasn't gonna be like last year. And I think
I had them at twelve and five before the season started,
(01:12):
and I think Lions fans hope I'm right so they
can get there. I mean, I might as well stick
with my pay you got it, you gotta stick with
it now.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
But Larry has set up a really fun December and
a nice last month. Coaches always talked about wine to
play meeting silver games in the month of December, and
it's gonna make Detroit have to play good football heading
into the playoffs if they're going to get there, Because
they got to put together some wins and put a
street together. They got one against Dallas that was it
wasn't a must win, but it was pretty close kind
(01:39):
of where they were or what did you like most
about that win over Dallas? You know last Thursday setting
up now a fun road trip to La this upcoming weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Well, I described it as a much needed win and
there was urgency in yes, without a doubt, and every
game really is going to be that way. I mean,
they've been in playoff mode here for a while and
it was it was a huge game. They really needed
to win this game, and I think from the Lion's perspective.
What I thought was a great sign of being adaptable
(02:10):
is they opened up the pass to open up everything
they threw. I think I didn't break down the numbers
or anything, but like eight of the night first nine
snaps for throws something like that. Don't quote me now,
it was five days ago. But the big thing is
this team needs to get the ball to Jamir Gibbs.
And it was against a stout run defense, and I
(02:32):
think Dan Campbell did a great job of getting the
ball to Gibbs in space. In the passing game. There
was one play on the first drive that was technically
a run because it was a lateral, but goff through
a long lateral to the left and I think it
was a nineteen yard gain. So Jamiir Gibbs, as the
Lions said when they got him, he's a dual threat player.
(02:56):
We don't see him as a running back, you know,
between the tackle about cow running back. He's a player
and certainly he's as electric as there is in the league.
And the Lions are lucky to have them and a
player that the Lions got out of the Stafford trade.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It means something this week, obviously, with the Lions going
back to La and seeing Stafford again. Lions have had
the upper hand in the last couple of those battles.
But to your point about Jamiir two seven catches seventy
seven yards in that game against Dallas, Larry's got fifty
eight catches on the year. He had fifty two in
each of his first two years, so he's already you
know Max now you know, maxed over those numbers and
(03:35):
we still got four games left, and so you know
they are trying to find ways to get him the ball.
Four games this year with seventy five plus receiving yards,
so you know, to your point that you know it's
really it's not about just handing it off to Jamiir.
They realized and I think once Sam Laporta went down,
they realized they needed kind of some more help in
another weapon in the past game, and Jamier's kind of
(03:56):
stepped in and ben that Frost touches.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And this was a different game statistically for the Lions.
It was the first game that Jamiir Gibbs was held
under second game the Lions are two and five when
Gibbs averages fewer than four yards of carry, and he
certainly did in this game. Yeah, when he's four and
a half yards of carry or more, they're undefeated. Of course,
(04:18):
if you run, you have a better chance. But again
to the point I made earlier, Dan Campbell knew he
needed to get the ball to Gibbs in the passing game,
and he said as much that you know, this was
gonna be a game that we were going to lean
on our passing game, and the offensive line, much maligned,
stepped up and gave Golf time. Golf had time unlike
(04:39):
the previous two or three games, frankly, and that sets
up everything. And you know, if the offensive line can
give Golf time, he's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I like the other side of the ball too, And
and the way they were able to generate pressure twenty
nine total pressures, nineteen quarterbackhur He's five sacks, three from
al Kady Muhammad. They've been looking for that guy to
step up, you know, opposite Aiden Hutchinson, and it was
El Kadan on Thursday, a leam stepped into and look
to your point of, you know, being able to run
the football and being able to get Jamier involved. When
(05:12):
you do that, you have a better chance of winning.
In Detroit Lions eight wins this year there they have
sixteen they're averaging twenty four total pressures and sixteen quarterback
hurries in their five losses. That goes down to only
thirteen pressures and nine quarterback hurries. So when they can
affect the quarterback, they have a better chance of obviously winning.
(05:35):
And I love to see that part of it Thursday too.
Let's hope they can take that into La.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, and just one more point about the defense. Three takeaways.
That was huge, and that has been something that had
been lacking in some recent weeks. And Nick Saban taught
me years ago when I covered him at Michigan State
for the Lancia State Journal, that you know, look at
the turnover margin and that'll usually tell.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
You who wins the game.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
And this one was three to zero in favor of
the Lions in terms of forcing turnovers and not giving
it up.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
And Dan talked about that on Monday too, that that's
got to be a trend that continues, especially Sunday in
Los Angeles. It's against a very good and very explosive
Rams team on both sides of the football. The Lions
lost Brian Branch to a torn achilles How much do
you expect that to affect them in the immediacy and
maybe even the long term.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think it's a huge hit. There's just not a
lot of hard hitting safeties who can cover, and Brian
Branch is one of them, particularly because the Lions have
been without Kirby Joseph for some time now. And I'm
going to make an early prediction that Kirby Joseph plays
some snaps in this game in Los Angeles. This is
not inside information. I just think it's time is I
(06:46):
think you know, he's going to have to deal with
some pain, and only Kirby knows how much pain he
has to deal with, but they really need him, and
I just am just gonna go out on a limb
and I say he gets some limited and if they
could get him playing center field against Stafford, that would
be huge. Again to the point, you just no one
(07:09):
has a backup Brian Branch, and you look at the
secondary now without three starters Kirby Joseph, Brian Branch, Terry
On Arnold, and yet a lot of the players have
have stepped up.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Harper will be a key one to watch.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Stealing concussion protocol but working his way through it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Right, and that'll be one to watch. You gotta think
that's gonna be one that goes down to the wire,
and of course they're going to air on the side
of caution with that. Maddox has been pretty good on
the backside, So even more snaps from him, and you know,
maybe some of these veteran corners can give you some
snaps in the deep middle and get creative.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We've seen Rockston do that in training camp. They've crossed
trained those. But I like when you brought up Avonte
Maddox too. I mean, that's a guy that's won Super
Bowl last year with Philadelphi's played a lot of good football.
I think he had eight tackles, a force fumble in
a pass defended when he stepped in and filled in
for Harper. So I think Brad Holmes has done a
really nice job of creating some depth in the secondary
and they've kind of weathered the storm. We talked, you
(08:13):
know about the legion of home back in Tampa Bay.
Those guys stepping in and filling in and playing big roles,
and Avante Maddox did that last week. So you know,
I obviously it's such a huge loss because he means
so much of your defense just with his versatility and
what he can do in terms of covering tight ends
and playing the nickel and playing the deep part of
(08:34):
the safety in the box and blitzing. But the fact
that you've got Avante Maddox, they are not a lot
of teams I don't think they're have that kind of
guy that can step in who's won a Super Bowl
and started a lot of games in this league. So
it's obviously a big blow. But it's nice to have
a guy like an Avante Maddox, you know, sitting back
there ready to step in if needed.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
And you know with the new practice squad set up,
you can keep veterans on the bench and that can
still help you. And I know Brad Holmes and his
team will be scouring every option in that regard as well.
So you know they've proven they are pretty good in
the transaction wire department, and this will be another opportunity
(09:16):
to show that.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
All Right, you set off the top, you're you're gonna
still go with the twelve boys. What do you think
takes it? How many wins will it take to get
into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I think twelve is the safe number, because I'm not
sure eleven does it now eleven does it? I think
if that win is includes Chicago. But you look at
you know, the NFC tie breakers that might work against
the Lions, you know, and I think of the four games,
this one in front of them is the toughest. I
(09:47):
think the odds makers would probably say the same. You
would think the Steelers at home is a very winnable
game at Minnesota. Of course they bounce back and blew
Washington with JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So already lost it once week nine, clearly.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You know, I just think that game in Chicago is
going to be for a lot something. It's gonna be
for a lot, But the Lions have to make it,
uh mean a lot and have a lot of stakes first,
you know, with a win at LA won't be easy,
of course, you know. And does eleven and six do it?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Uh? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Uh maybe not because gosh, you just look at the
NFC standings. There's so many teams with nine wins, and
it's gonna be you know, a log jam to get in.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
The saving grace is a lot of those teams with
nine wins, ten wins have to play each other yet,
and so they're going to drop back.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You know a little bit.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
I think eleven gets you in twelve. I think your
your certainty, but you're gonna have to win, in my opinion,
three of your last four games to get in, and
hopefully that's good enough.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Yeah, and uh, you know, obviously twelve. I'll stick with
my preseason prediction. I don't necessarily feel confident about.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
It this week. I'll tell you what, if they win
twelve games, that means they have won five straight going
into the playoffs. And how great of a position is
that going to be for this football team?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, I think a ton of momentum going in. They
had it last year too, and that didn't necessarily help him.
But I think that defense was so banged up last
year and it is again.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
But if Kirby.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Joseph can come back, you know, crazier things have happened,
But they just got to get in and they'll have
an opportunity to play their way in over the next month.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ask the New York Giants about just getting in. What
that can do? You know, you just got to be
the wild card. Get in there. And we've seen teams
go before on the road and make runs. All right,
what's the biggest key to Larry Lage for the Detroit
Lions to win Sunday in La.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Matthew Stafford, they have to slow him down, bring him
somewhere close to earth. He has thirty five touchdowns, four interceptions,
having an MVP like season, maybe the best season of
his career, and anyone listening or watching this has seen
him play a lot of great games, including me. And
with a shorthanded secondary, that's gonna be tough. I think
(12:12):
the big key for the Lions is to generate pressure
like they did last week. They have to get home.
They have to affect Stafford pressures and sacks. You know,
they've got to flush him out of the pocket and
you know, maybe get one of his gun slinger heaves
that Kirby Joseph picks off over the deep middle.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I can see it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Now, so it's manifesting it.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I'll enjoy watching from home in an arbor, and I'll
be reading your coverage later in the evening.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
No, I think it's a good point by you. The
pressure is gonna be key, and the pressure is then
limiting the big plays, and I think that's gonna be
a big one in this one. Detroit Lions have given
up forty seven completions of twenty plus yards. That's the
most in the NFL. Well there, I guess which team
has the most twenty yard completions in the NFL. Yeah,
with fifty. So look now Detroit's got forty seven too
under offensively. So I think it's two teams that are
(13:05):
really explosive generating those big plays in the passing game,
and who can do it more because I think both
teams are. I think it's going to be a little
bit harder for both teams to run the football. I
think both teams and both defenses know that that's where
it starts. With both teams with the rams and some
of their twelve and thirteen personnel that they're doing now too,
and that Blake Korum from Michigan had one hundred yards
(13:27):
last week. They have a nice combo there. Obviously we
know Detroit's got a nice combo. I think both defenses
going to that game saying, look, you're gonna have to
earn it in the pass game. We're not going to
let you run the football, set up the play action.
That's going to be the focus. Now, which team can
hit more of those big plays in the passing game.
I think that's gonna be a big difference. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I think my second key would be the offense possessing
the ball and keeping Stafford and company off the field.
Extending drives. Third down conversions hasn't been a strength this year.
Needs to be a Sunday afternoon all right.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Last one, the matchup you're looking forward to the most.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I think it's gonna be Stafford against the secondary. I
think that's where it's gonna come down. And this banged up,
shorthanded secondary has been pretty solid this year, but they're
gonna have to be spectacular, just low down Stafford, who
as I mentioned, is having an MVP like season and
has really good options in the passing game. So I
(14:23):
think that's what it's gonna come down to. And it's
gonna be fun to watch. I'm not playing or coordinating
or anything, so I get to just enjoy it. Should
be a good one. And you know, as you mentioned,
December is what you remember, and there are a lot
of Lions fans that have been following this team that
never experienced Decembers like this, and now this is three
(14:46):
or four in a row. When you consider when this
run started, which I believe is a twenty twenty two season,
when they close and we're playing for a lot and
ended Aaron Rodgers' career. I mean, you think back to
that and what this team teams record is, it's pretty impressive.
And I think the Lions are the most popular team
in this sports crazed state and it's been pretty good
(15:09):
for Lions fans. But obviously the bar is high, and
they've got to get in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
To get in the playoffs, according to you, they got
to win twelve games to do it, so that starts
this week. They got to get it done in LA.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You don't want to be sitting at eleven saying we
should get in, kind of like Notre Dame and the.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
College football playoffs, right, So.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
That's that's their best bet for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Well, Lays, you've been around for a long time. Appreciate
you taking the time. I think it's first time on
the podcast. It won't be the last. I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
All right, thank you, Welcome back to this one podcast
present of my microsoft Jack Campbell, linebacker, number one player
on the Pro Bowl voting right now for inside linebackers.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Just when you.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
See that stuff, like, I know you're focused on the
last four games in the football season, but when you
see something like that, just that that that you get
that fan vote that you're the leading inside linebacker for
the Pro Board. Now what would what would that mean?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Yeah, I mean I really do appreciate it, and it's
like it's just very humbling to hear. I don't know
when you when you play football, and I guess when
I came into the NFL, came from Iowa. I guess
everything you kind of just think about is like the team.
So then like when these individual things start to come out,
and I dealt with that in college too, Like I won,
(16:28):
there was a couple of things that I won, but
like yeah, like so like just stuff like that, so
like just really focus on what really matters, and that's
like just you gotta play good each week to be
able to put yourself in position to do that.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So that's what I kind of focused on. But it's
just very humbling, and.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
I feel like like the Lord's provided for me every
single step of the way. And I feel like my
family and my my wife obviously have been so huge
for me just every single week, just pushing me to
be better. And yeah, I would say that, and I
feel like also I'm just I guess like when I
got here, just like taking steps for improvement, and I
feel like that's what I've been doing.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I just need to continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
So where do you think you've taken that biggest leap?
Speaker 6 (17:10):
I would say just like playing like kind of like
just going out there and playing and not trying to
like be perfect on everything. That's what I really I
feel like I'm just stepping out there and I'm just
like letting instincts go.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Now, like I'm not worried.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
About all I got to do this, this this ron,
doing this, this past, doing this, this on this bootz,
I got to read all this and like, nah, I
just am going and uh playing fast.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
But I'm I mean, I'm I'm studying.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
And trying to be smart about it, but at the
same time like just going and playing and like with
the flow of the game.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
So you're taking the good with the bad.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right, I've heard this about you, just that that sometimes
you know, like you're super focused on ways you can improve,
but you gotta sometimes take a look at some of
the good stuff too, right, Jack, And you know, be
proud of of kind of some of the things.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
That you're doing.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
Yeah, no doubt and I've feel like that's like a
step I feel like I've taken this year is like
after games, not just like looking at all the plays
that I could have been better, but also like looking
at some plays where like I did, like I did
my job, I took advantage of an opportunity, like I
made a good play, and then just like just reminded
myself like I belong here. And I feel like, just
(18:22):
keep playing at a high level. And That's what I'm
trying to do. And I feel like also just trying
to like show people that like it doesn't matter, like
I guess where you're, like you come from, and like
how many offers you have out of high school, Like
you just stick to it and stick to the process
and do all these little things right and it just
adds up. And I guess that's what I'm most proud
(18:44):
of too, is that a lot of people said that
I couldn't do a lot of things, so just like
keep going.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I guess I know one thing I appreciate about you,
and I'm sure you're proud of to is the salute
to service. Now, yeah, father, that served. So I'm curious
just what that meant to you. I know, that's that's
a big part of of your life outside of football.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
So I got so many family members in the military.
I got a lot of grandparents, like I got, I
got step parents, and so I got four parents. So
my stepdad served, my step sister served right now, and
she's in the Air Force. I got my step brother,
(19:30):
he's serving, he's in the Navy. And then I have
so many uncles, grand Grandpa, yeah, Grandpa's uncles. I can't
even like, I'm not even gonna try to name them
because I miss someone and I know I am, and
I don't want to like leave.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
No one out because I'm not. I'm not thinking on
the fire right now.
Speaker 6 (19:49):
But yeah, no, I just I feel like I've seen
it firsthand, especially like like my stepbrother stepsister and not
being home on like the holiday or like when I
was in high school, like when I was back home.
So just seeing like all the sacrifices they make being
out of the country, being on a ship for however
long they are, being away from family, like just all
(20:12):
the sacrifices that they make to just protect us and
give us these allow us to do these things that.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We're doing right now.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
So I just feel like anytime that I can get
back to that community, I try to take advantage of it.
And I feel like, also it's just like a great
reminder too, Like in the middle of the season, you
can kind of get tossing and turning and focusing on
this week to that week and this week you don't
even know what day it is, and it's like when
(20:40):
the opportunity comes up, like you can go here, do this,
or you can go meet these people, It's like it's
just a great minder to slow down and be grateful
for what I have. And I feel like, obviously the
Solutive Service Award is a byproduct of that, but like
that's not why people do things.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I feel like you just do it out of the
goodness your heart.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So who to see you and congratulations and funny one
for sure. All Right, you're getting ready for a huge
game on Sunday with huge playoff division implications. Everything's online
going into these last four weeks. What jumps out about
LA when you watch and prepare them on tape.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
I mean, they're playing at a super high level. They
got and I'm gonna speak offensively other offense. They have
obviously a quarterback who's been in the league about as
long as I've been alive. Probably I don't even know
you've been in it for a long time. I remember
growing up little watching him throw to Calvin Johnson.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
He started he was drafted here when I started covering
the team, and so that was seventeen years ago, so
he's been around lone. There's nothing you guys.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Are going to do covering exactly.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
So we're playing one of the most experienced quarterbacks in
the NFL. I feel like he's playing like him in
the pocket.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
He's unbelievable, So I'll give him.
Speaker 6 (21:55):
Credit there too, like his ability to put balls on strings,
the no looks, stuff like, So we're gonna have our
hands full.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
And then you add in.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
I feel like their offenseive line does a good job
and and they execute at a high level within their scheme.
And I got a lot of respect for both their backs.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
The same thing that they operate at a high level.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
They're hard runners, they're always falling forward, they're always fine
for extra yards. And then you get to the receivers
and the tight ends. And I'll start the receiver. The
receivers you got to arguable, arguably, yeah, two number ones
on one team. And then I feel like the other
guys that that fill in there do a really good
job at what they do. So just in like the
slot and just went in there one on ones because
(22:36):
you know people are gonna double the twelve and seventeen,
so when they get a one on one, they like
to win. And then the quarterback puts the ball in
a perfect place. And then the tight ends. I feel
like the tight ends do a good job. Their big bodies,
they're long. They got the young guy, I feel like
he's more of the receiver shifty, and then they got
eighty four and eighty seven, and I feel like they
(22:58):
both do just a good job. And the quarterback really
trusts all those guys and that's like his safe I
feel like his safety valve.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
So it's why they play a lot of thirteen personnel
ya too, because they trust those guys to be on
the field and they could run different stuff out of
the pass or.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Run exactly and that's I feel like that like that's
a thing when you get into thirteen personnel, I feel
like it kind of a shrinks the playshoot on the
as a defender, so they kind of can dictate kind
of what you're in. So that will be something that's
interesting to see how they try to attack us this week. Yeah, yeah,
I mean, hats off to then. They're just all playing
at a high level and I can't give them enough credit. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
They're head coach, the offensive guy, and he does a
good job as all.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
So I know you've got meetings come up, just a
couple more for it. Look, you guys are fifteen and
two last year, right, I mean you had already clinched
the playoff spot at this point. It was the division
was still you know, you still had some things to
play for, but you knew you were headed to the
playoffs and you were gonna play January football. Sitting at
eight and five certainly different situation. You still control your
own destiny. But Jack, we've heard the word urgent and
(24:00):
see around here over the last week. Can can a
team be dangerous sometimes when when they're eight and five
and you guys got to play good football to end
the year to get into the playoffs and if you do,
you know you're playing good football. Can a team like this,
with so much on the line and having to win,
can it ultimately be a dangerous football team?
Speaker 6 (24:18):
I feel like you can anything. Can happen when you
put your mind to it. And I feel like you
got to get right hot at the right time, And
I feel like we'll see where these next few weeks trend.
But I feel like we're kind of on the uptick,
so just need to continue to improve. But anything's possible,
and I feel like I'm really excited, and I'm really
excited about the group we have in the locker room
because we have the right guys.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
There's not one guy that's ever going to give up.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
So when you got that going for you, you got
the organization and all the coaches that believe in you
and put together really good plans. Like anything's possible. So
I always got to take it one game at a
time and see where it takes us. But I will
say getting getting hot at the right time is huge,
especially having that when I'm going into playoffs, it'll be huge.
(25:02):
So you just need to continue to win games and
take it one game at time. And the Rams are
the first, the first team I guess on that journey.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Punch the ball out you become. That's kind of been
one of your things. And when did the emphasis I mean,
creating turnovers has always been a big emphasis but you
really seem to be attacking the football more than you
ever have. Was that just a point of emphasis this offseason?
Was it something that that kind of schep brought up
to you? Where did that come from? Because you were
really attacking the football.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
I feel like I've really been just developing it ever
since I got here, So my rookie year, it's been
like three my third year. So yeah, two and a half,
three years in the in the working, and I mean
it's it's starting to pay off a little bit.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'd like to get some more. But yeah, I just
would like you to get some more.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
It's really just it's all a timing thing and you
got to like be smart about when you do it
because sometimes if you go for the ball, it can
allow like mistackle or like and you can't really have that,
so just like being smart and I don't know, it's
just like I can't even explain it to you.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
It's like tackling and exactly it's like when it happens,
it's like slow motion, like you just see the ball
and like you see when the space is created, and
like just like the trying to like I've been really trying,
like and this is like three years and this is
just like bro, ask anybody, Like I've.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Pumped so many people, just like the stomach I've missed
so many times. So like just having that like being
able to like sit and put it right on the ball,
like when everything's happening like that, Like I feel like
it's something that I've really worked on and it's showing up.
So I seem to continue to do that, continue to
hump the ball, but do it at the right times
and take advantage of the opportunities.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Or anything like that. No, not really, maybe I should
get into that.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
And last one, obviously it's Christmas time, you know, it's
this spirit of giving. Yeah, do you think you owe
me Robert and something?
Speaker 4 (27:01):
That's a great idea. What do you think I should?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
I don't know, because I have been up there. You've
hit him pretty and then look, it's a violent game,
a violent and it just seems to me that like
a Meek, it's the one guy that's in the bad.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
That's a great idea. Okay, I'm gonna get him a
Christmas gift now.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I think I think there has to be and it
just has a bowl and it's just sorry for the violence.
And that's all, it's got to be just something small
because that guy's for his size, no doubt.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
I mean, I can't say enough good things about that guy.
He just comes to work every single day, compete, and
I just have so much respect for him and and
all the secondary that's done.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Just such a good job.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
He's great at punching that ball out.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Yeah, you two together, but you you you've he's gotten
in the way of you a couple of times.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
I'm gonna get him something good too. It can't be nothing.
I gotta get him something good.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
All right, we will update everybody. What what did Jack
Campbell to meet robertson Presidents? But hey, you're playing great
football right now and you can need another one on Sunday,
good UK against the Rams.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Thank you so, I appreciate you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Welcome back to the Twin in the Huddle podcast. Very
happy to welcome in. Jordan Rodrigue does a great job
as the senior NFL writer for the Athletic but she's
kind of my go to for the Rams too. She's
got a pulse on the Rams and the entire league. Jordan,
how you doing. Thanks for joining me.
Speaker 8 (28:27):
As always, I'm great thanks for having me.
Speaker 9 (28:30):
I I was telling you I was gonna my feelings
were going to be hurt if you didn't bring me
back on for Rams week, because this is our tradition
at this point.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Yes, this is starting to become a tradition, going from
the playoffs in twenty three to Week one and now Jordan,
we've got another big one here in week What are
we at Week fifteen? Now, I'm just curious from your
perspective and talking with the players and coaches them in LA.
Some of the Lines players and including Jared Goffer, said
(28:57):
this week that this is a measuring stick game for us,
the aid the number one seed. You know, we're not
where we were last year. We are are battling. We've
got a fight to get into the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (29:06):
Now.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Detroit still controls their own playoff destiny and their destiny
in the division, but they're viewing this as a measuring
stick game, having to go to LA and play a
RAMS team that's playing really, really well. I'm curious what
if the Rams players and coaches said from their perspective
of this matchup.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
Well, first of all, they know how well coached and
you know, well thought out the game plan will be
for the Lions. They know how they know this team, right,
you see that maybe different versions of it over the
last couple of years, but this is a team where
the players and the coaches, they are very familiar with
each other. This is one of the most important games
(29:42):
I think for both teams all year, regardless of whether
or not there are playoff stakes, and certainly for both
teams there are. And obviously, as you know, the Rams
can clinch a playoff spot if they win this week,
so all of those things are are significant. But they
know that any given time you play the Lions, you're
going to get a really physical game, You're gonna get
a really thoughtful, thoughtfully planned game, and you're gonna get
(30:05):
a battle in all three phases, and I think vice versa.
The Rams are a team that are a lot more complete,
perhaps than they have been in previous seasons. They were
in a rebuild in twenty three when they sort of
magically got into the wild card and I think gave
the Lions everything they had in that building. That was
so much fun to be there covering that, And then
again the following season when they were a little bit
(30:27):
more complete, and then another version of this Rams scene. Now,
this is a Rams team that's got its eyes set
on the Super Bowl, but they certainly know that they're
gonna get everything that the Lions got physically and mentally.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
If the Rams are gonna get to the super Bowl,
they're gonna need to get continued terrific play from Matthew
Stafford Lions fans. I obviously know Matthew very very well,
but are you surprised at all, Jordan that this season
he's having, at thirty seven years old, I mean, thirty
five touchdowns leads the NFL. I think it's it's leading
by nine touchdowns. He's only got four picks and he's
(30:59):
playing really great football right now. Is he the MVP
in your book?
Speaker 8 (31:03):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (31:04):
Yeah, I mean I'm biased, but yeah, yeah. And you
know what, Tim, it's so funny. You could probably tell me.
Matthew could probably tell me that he had just sprouted
a pair of wings in his back and he's gonna
fly to Mars and it still would not surprise me
at this point, because really, nothing this.
Speaker 8 (31:19):
Guy does should shock any of us.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
I think the thing that might have been the best
thing that could have ever happened to him ahead of
this year, you know, your aches and pains, and you're
in your you know, late late thirties, and you're thinking about,
you know, your career and your legacy, and you're on
a year to year deal essentially with the Rams at
this point, and then your back goes out, right. And
what Matthew told me is that he had time to
(31:42):
miss it, like he had a chance to miss football
because he missed so much of training camp. And my
point to that being, you know, Sean mcfay used to
joke that, like to really get the soul stealer out
of Matthew Stafford, to really get that like sort of
killer out of him, he would joke he'd like he
needs to take a big hit, or maybe I should
un him in the stomach at halftime, or you know,
(32:02):
like let's play Jimmy Garoppolo in Week eighteen and get
him really pissed off before the playoffs, right, And like
it's it's tongue in cheek, but really it Matthew, there's
another level to him that I think he can access
really well. Now it's sustained the entire season, which is
something that you know, you guys have seen it for
you had seen.
Speaker 8 (32:21):
It for years.
Speaker 9 (32:22):
I think Rams fans are reminded of twenty twenty one
playoff Matthew Stafford or start to season Matthew Stafford, except
this guy has not left the building. This guy has
been there all season long at this point, and yes,
I do think he is the MVP.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Has what difference has Blake Korum kind of taken a
little bit more of the load off Williams and then
obviously Devonte Adams? What are those those two guys especially
meant to that offense into Matthew.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Yeah, it's huge.
Speaker 9 (32:49):
It gives the Rams another layer that I think has
been an unexpected matchup for teams or something that is
a little bit less scouted than in previous seasons with
what Sean McVay has liked to do with two sort
of f type receivers where they can play tight end,
they could play receiver. Technically they're in the receiver position
group listing on the roster, but they're doing everything and
they're interchangeable in that way.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
Well, now you've.
Speaker 9 (33:10):
Got a player in Devonte Adams who is a true
red zone threat who kind of reminds the Rams of
what they were able to do with Odell Beckham junior
that one game against the San Francisco forty nine ers
when everybody was at full cylinders, and then the first
half of that Super Bowl against the Bengals and then
poor O'Dell's knee went out.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
But it's similar to that.
Speaker 9 (33:29):
It's getting leverages and different coverages tilted in different directions
to either free up Puka Akua or to free up
Davonte Adams. And it's kind of a similar thought process
with Blake Koram. You know, I feel like I it's
a broken record hearing Sean McVay over the last several
years saying we're gonna play both running backs, We're gonna
(33:50):
play two running backs, We're gonna get two running backs
into the equation.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
Well, now they're finally doing it.
Speaker 9 (33:55):
And with Blake Korum, it just gives defense as a
different type of player to think about. I know they
see very similar, but Blake Coorum has a little bit
of second level burst.
Speaker 8 (34:04):
That's just a little bit different than Kyen.
Speaker 9 (34:06):
Kyen will always hit you doubles and get you touchdowns.
Blake Korum might be able to turn on that extra
gear if he gets past the first layer of layer
of a defense. And you saw it with some of
the explosive runs that he had against the Cardinals, and
it's a change up pitch that this offense had kind
of been lacking prior. And so that's part of why
I say it's one of the most complete teams I've
(34:27):
ever seen, because they have the main scheme right, and
then they've got different layers.
Speaker 8 (34:32):
And permutations built into.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
What I think everybody had typically come to know as
the McVeigh system. Now it's very different, but it's also
quite the same. It's just all of it at once.
It's all different versions of McVeigh. It's all coming out
in this season.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yeah. One of those kind of new wrinkles Jordan has
been the thirteen personnel that they've been featuring. I think
it was about sixty percent last week. They started it
kind of week six against Baltimore. They've built it in.
McVeigh talk this week about how fun that's been kind
of created and developing that on the fly of a season.
But it takes a ton of versatility to do something
(35:06):
like that. What is why has has McVeigh really liked
that personnel grouping? What does it give in this offense
that that maybe they like and gives defenses problems to scout.
Speaker 9 (35:18):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I'm annoyed because finally I've
been screaming about this for years and I leave the
beat and finally they do it right.
Speaker 8 (35:24):
So it's like, come on, guys, really no.
Speaker 9 (35:27):
But it's great because what it what it is is
he can he can mess with the different mathematical equations
defense has tried to build against them. So obviously, when
they're an eleven personnel, defenses are going to be in
a smaller version of nickel because they need to be
fast enough to match up with their receivers. Well, when
you play more tight ends, as you know very well, tim,
(35:48):
then you have to start getting a little bit bigger
on defense, and you have to try to figure out
which type of player, whether it's a very very fast
they hope linebacker tight ends, probably still faster than most
inside linebackers, or you have a big safety that you're
pulling down into sort of your hybrid slot corner position
to try to defend those players. Okay, well, what do
you do if that starts to work against you? You
(36:09):
go right back to eleven personnel and in this case
with thirteen personnel and eleven personnel for the viewers and listeners.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
The one common denominator.
Speaker 9 (36:18):
Is it is three potential pass catchers on the field
at any given time. So if you look at the
route combinations that they run when they are an eleven personnel,
they basically match a lot of those things right into
their thirteen personal packages because they have pass catching tight ends.
They have guys who can catch the ball and run
routes like receivers for the most part, Colby Parkinson might
(36:40):
want a word, but for the most part, they can
do these things. So you skip right over two tight
ends to twelve personnel and go right from eleven to
thirteen because you're not changing your playbook. You're just changing
the size and ability of the bodies on the field,
and it keeps things very simple and fast for the
offense while still adding hillacious layer for the defense.
Speaker 8 (37:01):
It's very hard to defend.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Yeah, very hard to defend. Detroit will have to do
it without Brian Branch, one of their most versatile defenders
in the back end. But Jordan, the Lions do play
the most base defense of any team in the league.
They like the way they get those three linebackers on
how they can cover, So I think that'll be an
interesting dynamic Sunday is how much LA thinks they they
(37:23):
can do it and how Detroit decides to stop it.
Our injury wise with the Rams, are they looking pretty
good heading into into Sunday.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
Yeah, the same guys who have been hurt are still hurt.
So no, Rob Havenstein war Mclendon's been playing pretty well.
I am very fascinated because Aiden Hutchinson lines up, as
you guys see every week on both sides and on
third down he loads up over the right tackle a lot.
Speaker 8 (37:46):
War McLendon is playing right tackle.
Speaker 9 (37:48):
He is very young, but playing very well in replacement
for him right now, I think only giving up four
pressures so far in six games, So that's going to
be a real hinge point, I think in terms of
getting some of those those pass plays developed, and so
that's an injury to watch, but it's kind of been
They've they've gotten him repped in a little bit for
Rob so far this season.
Speaker 8 (38:08):
Tyler Higbee obviously know to to out well, is going
to be back activated.
Speaker 9 (38:12):
So that's to me, that's some gamesmanship, right because we
talk about those three great linebackers and we talk about
how versatile Detroit can be. And by the way, I'm
a huge fan of what Kelvin Shepherd has done this year.
I think it is one of the best jobs in
coaching all season. I hope he is getting talked about
in these league cycles as they come up, and he
deserves it. And it is fascinating because when you say publicly, hey,
(38:35):
we're gonna get to to out well our speed thread,
our deep threat guy activated, what do you think, Oh
my god, where are my fast Nichols? You know, like,
where where are those guys? So I think it's a
little gamesmanship as well. But at the same time, that
is that is definitely someone to watch this week. Otherwise,
you know, the same guys that have been out are
still out and DeVante Adams will be.
Speaker 8 (38:55):
On the injury report this week, but he should be
good to go.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
I want to ask you this one too, is is
you've got a pulse around everything NFL wise. I'm curious.
You looked a couple of years ago, the Lions were
twelve and five and at this point had looked like,
you know, they had pretty much wrapped it up. They
were still fighting for a division with Minnesota. Last year
they win fifteen games. They knew they were in the
playoffs at this point, it's just kind of where it
(39:18):
was gonna be. Now you sit at eight and five
and you've got to fight and you've got to claw
your way in. Now they control their own destiny, but
they've got to win games and they know it. Can
sometimes that be a dangerous point. Can that be a
good thing for a team sometimes? Jordan, especially a Dan
Campbell led team with the grit and everything else, that
(39:38):
they know they've got to play their best football heading
into the playoffs to get into the playoffs, and teams
always talk about, you know, we want to be playing
our best football in December and January. Well, Detroit's got
to do it or they're gonna be sitting home in January.
So if they're in the playoffs in January, can that
be something you know that's galvanizing for this team, knowing
(40:00):
that they had to win games and they're playing pretty
good football heading into a playoffs where they haven't had
a lot of success the last couple of years, just
in terms of you know, obviously the loss in the
second half in the NFC Champions Champ of twenty three
and then the upset last year to Washington. A little
different setup could be a good thing for Detroit.
Speaker 8 (40:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (40:19):
I love that question because I feel like there are
two types of resilience for teams, and one type we've
seen it demonstrated by the entire Lions organization, which is
getting good from being bad.
Speaker 8 (40:31):
Right.
Speaker 9 (40:32):
Okay, So they got good and they scratched, bit kneecaps
and clawed their way to getting good. Right, Okay, So
now they're a good football team. They're a great organization
and a really really good football team. So there's the
other type of resilience, which is staying good when bad
stuff happens to you, right, And so I think that's
(40:53):
it is. It is uncanny in some ways because it
does remind me a little bit of that twenty twenty
one RAM Super Bowl team. I think a lot of
people see the confetti falling from the ceiling and they
forgot how terrible they were in November and how many
injuries they endured, and how they had to overhaul their
entire run system just for that month only in order
(41:13):
to kind of limp into the postseason and then start
putting those wins together. I can tell you this, No
NFL team wants to play the Lions in the postseason.
Not only because, like I said, they are good at
this point, this is the new Detroit Lions, and they
are physical and they are a tough matchup team regardless
of what the regular season look like. And so it
(41:34):
really is about how do you put enough pieces together
to finish this season strong, but also to build resilience
along the way so you can play true matchup football
and kind of, I guess, play a little freer because
maybe if the weight of expectations are off of you
a little bit because all of its house money, once
(41:55):
you get to the playoffs, then there's a vibe, there's
an energy, and I do think once the Lions got
as good as they are, man, everybody's waiting on them, right,
everybody's waiting. Everybody's got their breath held, like, Okay, this
is the year, this is the year. Well what if
the year you don't expect it to be the year
becomes the year? It's because you make it that way.
(42:16):
And that's where I think this could be a little
bit of a maybe a more freeing experience and a
run to the playoffs with them.
Speaker 8 (42:22):
Certainly it'll teach them a lot.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Well, that run is it's an important stop in La
on Sunday. If they are going to run themselves to
the playoffs, it should be a great game. I myself
am excited about seventy degrees mean that we just had
six inches of snow and ice here in Detroit. I
think everybody's excited about getting to California for a couple
(42:46):
of days. But it's going to be a great football game. Jordan,
and I appreciate you take the time. As always. Jordan
does a great job catch all her stuff on the athletics.
She's the senior writer for the NFL, and she knows
a little bit about the rams too, so you can
catch her if both of your things are your fancy.
So Jordan, I appreciate you taking the time as always.
We will see you Sunday and have.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
A good week.
Speaker 8 (43:09):
Thanks. Tim really appreciate it. Always such a pleasure.
Prescott back and looking a lot of time throws Middle
caught fifteen and they've intercepted by the Lions. DJ Reed said,
I'll take it, and the Lions have it, and they've
got this game.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to the Twin the Huddle Podcast. And I can't
believe it is already Week fifteen of the NFL season.
This is flying by Larry Lashm Associated Press who's been
covering the Lions for I think probably longer than I
have there. How long have you been with the Associated Press?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Now, well, two thousand was when I started, So my
first season for the Associated Press was two thousand. Also
covered the team home games for a couple of years
in the Barry Sanders era when I was a freelancer
for the Lancey State Journal. So twenty eighth season overall,
and that's a long time for someone who's fifty two.
And I've seen it all from oh to sixteen to
(00:49):
you know up seventeen, third quarter NFC Championship game, about
to push the button on my Super Bowl flight to
Las Vegas. And this season has been as expected, topsy turvy.
I think everyone knew the schedule and the loss of coordinators,
it wasn't gonna be like last year. And I think
I had them at twelve and five before the season started,
(01:12):
and I think Lions fans hope I'm right so they
can get there. I mean, I might as well stick
with my pay you got it, you gotta stick with
it now.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
But Larry has set up a really fun December and
a nice last month. Coaches always talked about wine to
play meeting silver games in the month of December, and
it's gonna make Detroit have to play good football heading
into the playoffs if they're going to get there, Because
they got to put together some wins and put a
street together. They got one against Dallas that was it
wasn't a must win, but it was pretty close kind
(01:39):
of where they were or what did you like most
about that win over Dallas? You know last Thursday setting
up now a fun road trip to La this upcoming weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Well, I described it as a much needed win and
there was urgency in yes, without a doubt, and every
game really is going to be that way. I mean,
they've been in playoff mode here for a while and
it was it was a huge game. They really needed
to win this game, and I think from the Lion's perspective.
What I thought was a great sign of being adaptable
(02:10):
is they opened up the pass to open up everything
they threw. I think I didn't break down the numbers
or anything, but like eight of the night first nine
snaps for throws something like that. Don't quote me now,
it was five days ago. But the big thing is
this team needs to get the ball to Jamir Gibbs.
And it was against a stout run defense, and I
(02:32):
think Dan Campbell did a great job of getting the
ball to Gibbs in space. In the passing game. There
was one play on the first drive that was technically
a run because it was a lateral, but goff through
a long lateral to the left and I think it
was a nineteen yard gain. So Jamiir Gibbs, as the
Lions said when they got him, he's a dual threat player.
(02:56):
We don't see him as a running back, you know,
between the tackle about cow running back. He's a player
and certainly he's as electric as there is in the league.
And the Lions are lucky to have them and a
player that the Lions got out of the Stafford trade.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
It means something this week, obviously, with the Lions going
back to La and seeing Stafford again. Lions have had
the upper hand in the last couple of those battles.
But to your point about Jamiir two seven catches seventy
seven yards in that game against Dallas, Larry's got fifty
eight catches on the year. He had fifty two in
each of his first two years, so he's already you
know Max now you know, maxed over those numbers and
(03:35):
we still got four games left, and so you know
they are trying to find ways to get him the ball.
Four games this year with seventy five plus receiving yards,
so you know, to your point that you know it's
really it's not about just handing it off to Jamiir.
They realized and I think once Sam Laporta went down,
they realized they needed kind of some more help in
another weapon in the past game, and Jamier's kind of
(03:56):
stepped in and ben that Frost touches.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
And this was a different game statistically for the Lions.
It was the first game that Jamiir Gibbs was held
under second game the Lions are two and five when
Gibbs averages fewer than four yards of carry, and he
certainly did in this game. Yeah, when he's four and
a half yards of carry or more, they're undefeated. Of course,
(04:18):
if you run, you have a better chance. But again
to the point I made earlier, Dan Campbell knew he
needed to get the ball to Gibbs in the passing game,
and he said as much that you know, this was
gonna be a game that we were going to lean
on our passing game, and the offensive line, much maligned,
stepped up and gave Golf time. Golf had time unlike
(04:39):
the previous two or three games, frankly, and that sets
up everything. And you know, if the offensive line can
give Golf time, he's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I like the other side of the ball too, And
and the way they were able to generate pressure twenty
nine total pressures, nineteen quarterbackhur He's five sacks, three from
al Kady Muhammad. They've been looking for that guy to
step up, you know, opposite Aiden Hutchinson, and it was
El Kadan on Thursday, a leam stepped into and look
to your point of, you know, being able to run
the football and being able to get Jamier involved. When
(05:12):
you do that, you have a better chance of winning.
In Detroit Lions eight wins this year there they have
sixteen they're averaging twenty four total pressures and sixteen quarterback
hurries in their five losses. That goes down to only
thirteen pressures and nine quarterback hurries. So when they can
affect the quarterback, they have a better chance of obviously winning.
(05:35):
And I love to see that part of it Thursday too.
Let's hope they can take that into La.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, and just one more point about the defense. Three takeaways.
That was huge, and that has been something that had
been lacking in some recent weeks. And Nick Saban taught
me years ago when I covered him at Michigan State
for the Lancia State Journal, that you know, look at
the turnover margin and that'll usually tell.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
You who wins the game.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
And this one was three to zero in favor of
the Lions in terms of forcing turnovers and not giving
it up.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
And Dan talked about that on Monday too, that that's
got to be a trend that continues, especially Sunday in
Los Angeles. It's against a very good and very explosive
Rams team on both sides of the football. The Lions
lost Brian Branch to a torn achilles How much do
you expect that to affect them in the immediacy and
maybe even the long term.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
I think it's a huge hit. There's just not a
lot of hard hitting safeties who can cover, and Brian
Branch is one of them, particularly because the Lions have
been without Kirby Joseph for some time now. And I'm
going to make an early prediction that Kirby Joseph plays
some snaps in this game in Los Angeles. This is
not inside information. I just think it's time is I
(06:46):
think you know, he's going to have to deal with
some pain, and only Kirby knows how much pain he
has to deal with, but they really need him, and
I just am just gonna go out on a limb
and I say he gets some limited and if they
could get him playing center field against Stafford, that would
be huge. Again to the point, you just no one
(07:09):
has a backup Brian Branch, and you look at the
secondary now without three starters Kirby Joseph, Brian Branch, Terry
On Arnold, and yet a lot of the players have
have stepped up.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Harper will be a key one to watch.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Stealing concussion protocol but working his way through it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Right, and that'll be one to watch. You gotta think
that's gonna be one that goes down to the wire,
and of course they're going to air on the side
of caution with that. Maddox has been pretty good on
the backside, So even more snaps from him, and you know,
maybe some of these veteran corners can give you some
snaps in the deep middle and get creative.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
We've seen Rockston do that in training camp. They've crossed
trained those. But I like when you brought up Avonte
Maddox too. I mean, that's a guy that's won Super
Bowl last year with Philadelphi's played a lot of good football.
I think he had eight tackles, a force fumble in
a pass defended when he stepped in and filled in
for Harper. So I think Brad Holmes has done a
really nice job of creating some depth in the secondary
and they've kind of weathered the storm. We talked, you
(08:13):
know about the legion of home back in Tampa Bay.
Those guys stepping in and filling in and playing big roles,
and Avante Maddox did that last week. So you know,
I obviously it's such a huge loss because he means
so much of your defense just with his versatility and
what he can do in terms of covering tight ends
and playing the nickel and playing the deep part of
(08:34):
the safety in the box and blitzing. But the fact
that you've got Avante Maddox, they are not a lot
of teams I don't think they're have that kind of
guy that can step in who's won a Super Bowl
and started a lot of games in this league. So
it's obviously a big blow. But it's nice to have
a guy like an Avante Maddox, you know, sitting back
there ready to step in if needed.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
And you know with the new practice squad set up,
you can keep veterans on the bench and that can
still help you. And I know Brad Holmes and his
team will be scouring every option in that regard as well.
So you know they've proven they are pretty good in
the transaction wire department, and this will be another opportunity
(09:16):
to show that.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
All Right, you set off the top, you're you're gonna
still go with the twelve boys. What do you think
takes it? How many wins will it take to get
into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I think twelve is the safe number, because I'm not
sure eleven does it now eleven does it? I think
if that win is includes Chicago. But you look at
you know, the NFC tie breakers that might work against
the Lions, you know, and I think of the four games,
this one in front of them is the toughest. I
(09:47):
think the odds makers would probably say the same. You
would think the Steelers at home is a very winnable
game at Minnesota. Of course they bounce back and blew
Washington with JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So already lost it once week nine, clearly.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
You know, I just think that game in Chicago is
going to be for a lot something. It's gonna be
for a lot, But the Lions have to make it,
uh mean a lot and have a lot of stakes first,
you know, with a win at LA won't be easy,
of course, you know. And does eleven and six do it?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Uh? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Uh maybe not because gosh, you just look at the
NFC standings. There's so many teams with nine wins, and
it's gonna be you know, a log jam to get in.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
The saving grace is a lot of those teams with
nine wins, ten wins have to play each other yet,
and so they're going to drop back.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
You know a little bit.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
I think eleven gets you in twelve. I think your
your certainty, but you're gonna have to win, in my opinion,
three of your last four games to get in, and
hopefully that's good enough.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Yeah, and uh, you know, obviously twelve. I'll stick with
my preseason prediction. I don't necessarily feel confident about.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
It this week. I'll tell you what, if they win
twelve games, that means they have won five straight going
into the playoffs. And how great of a position is
that going to be for this football team?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah, I think a ton of momentum going in. They
had it last year too, and that didn't necessarily help him.
But I think that defense was so banged up last
year and it is again.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
But if Kirby.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Joseph can come back, you know, crazier things have happened,
But they just got to get in and they'll have
an opportunity to play their way in over the next month.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ask the New York Giants about just getting in. What
that can do? You know, you just got to be
the wild card. Get in there. And we've seen teams
go before on the road and make runs. All right,
what's the biggest key to Larry Lage for the Detroit
Lions to win Sunday in La.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Matthew Stafford, they have to slow him down, bring him
somewhere close to earth. He has thirty five touchdowns, four interceptions,
having an MVP like season, maybe the best season of
his career, and anyone listening or watching this has seen
him play a lot of great games, including me. And
with a shorthanded secondary, that's gonna be tough. I think
(12:12):
the big key for the Lions is to generate pressure
like they did last week. They have to get home.
They have to affect Stafford pressures and sacks. You know,
they've got to flush him out of the pocket and
you know, maybe get one of his gun slinger heaves
that Kirby Joseph picks off over the deep middle.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I can see it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Now, so it's manifesting it.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I'll enjoy watching from home in an arbor, and I'll
be reading your coverage later in the evening.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
No, I think it's a good point by you. The
pressure is gonna be key, and the pressure is then
limiting the big plays, and I think that's gonna be
a big one in this one. Detroit Lions have given
up forty seven completions of twenty plus yards. That's the
most in the NFL. Well there, I guess which team
has the most twenty yard completions in the NFL. Yeah,
with fifty. So look now Detroit's got forty seven too
under offensively. So I think it's two teams that are
(13:05):
really explosive generating those big plays in the passing game,
and who can do it more because I think both
teams are. I think it's going to be a little
bit harder for both teams to run the football. I
think both teams and both defenses know that that's where
it starts. With both teams with the rams and some
of their twelve and thirteen personnel that they're doing now too,
and that Blake Korum from Michigan had one hundred yards
(13:27):
last week. They have a nice combo there. Obviously we
know Detroit's got a nice combo. I think both defenses
going to that game saying, look, you're gonna have to
earn it in the pass game. We're not going to
let you run the football, set up the play action.
That's going to be the focus. Now, which team can
hit more of those big plays in the passing game.
I think that's gonna be a big difference. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
I think my second key would be the offense possessing
the ball and keeping Stafford and company off the field.
Extending drives. Third down conversions hasn't been a strength this year.
Needs to be a Sunday afternoon all right.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Last one, the matchup you're looking forward to the most.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
I think it's gonna be Stafford against the secondary. I
think that's where it's gonna come down. And this banged up,
shorthanded secondary has been pretty solid this year, but they're
gonna have to be spectacular, just low down Stafford, who
as I mentioned, is having an MVP like season and
has really good options in the passing game. So I
(14:23):
think that's what it's gonna come down to. And it's
gonna be fun to watch. I'm not playing or coordinating
or anything, so I get to just enjoy it. Should
be a good one. And you know, as you mentioned,
December is what you remember, and there are a lot
of Lions fans that have been following this team that
never experienced Decembers like this, and now this is three
(14:46):
or four in a row. When you consider when this
run started, which I believe is a twenty twenty two season,
when they close and we're playing for a lot and
ended Aaron Rodgers' career. I mean, you think back to
that and what this team teams record is, it's pretty impressive.
And I think the Lions are the most popular team
in this sports crazed state and it's been pretty good
(15:09):
for Lions fans. But obviously the bar is high, and
they've got to get in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
To get in the playoffs, according to you, they got
to win twelve games to do it, so that starts
this week. They got to get it done in LA.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
You don't want to be sitting at eleven saying we
should get in, kind of like Notre Dame and the.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
College football playoffs, right, So.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
That's that's their best bet for sure.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Well, Lays, you've been around for a long time. Appreciate
you taking the time. I think it's first time on
the podcast. It won't be the last. I appreciate you.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
All right, thank you, Welcome back to this one podcast
present of my microsoft Jack Campbell, linebacker, number one player
on the Pro Bowl voting right now for inside linebackers.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Just when you.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
See that stuff, like, I know you're focused on the
last four games in the football season, but when you
see something like that, just that that that you get
that fan vote that you're the leading inside linebacker for
the Pro Board. Now what would what would that mean?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Yeah, I mean I really do appreciate it, and it's
like it's just very humbling to hear. I don't know
when you when you play football, and I guess when
I came into the NFL, came from Iowa. I guess
everything you kind of just think about is like the team.
So then like when these individual things start to come out,
and I dealt with that in college too, Like I won,
(16:28):
there was a couple of things that I won, but
like yeah, like so like just stuff like that, so
like just really focus on what really matters, and that's
like just you gotta play good each week to be
able to put yourself in position to do that.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So that's what I kind of focused on. But it's
just very humbling, and.
Speaker 6 (16:44):
I feel like like the Lord's provided for me every
single step of the way. And I feel like my
family and my my wife obviously have been so huge
for me just every single week, just pushing me to
be better. And yeah, I would say that, and I
feel like also I'm just I guess like when I
got here, just like taking steps for improvement, and I
feel like that's what I've been doing.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
I just need to continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
So where do you think you've taken that biggest leap?
Speaker 6 (17:10):
I would say just like playing like kind of like
just going out there and playing and not trying to
like be perfect on everything. That's what I really I
feel like I'm just stepping out there and I'm just
like letting instincts go.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Now, like I'm not worried.
Speaker 6 (17:23):
About all I got to do this, this this ron,
doing this, this past, doing this, this on this bootz,
I got to read all this and like, nah, I
just am going and uh playing fast.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
But I'm I mean, I'm I'm studying.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
And trying to be smart about it, but at the
same time like just going and playing and like with
the flow of the game.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
So you're taking the good with the bad.
Speaker 4 (17:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right, I've heard this about you, just that that sometimes
you know, like you're super focused on ways you can improve,
but you gotta sometimes take a look at some of
the good stuff too, right, Jack, And you know, be
proud of of kind of some of the things.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
That you're doing.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
Yeah, no doubt and I've feel like that's like a
step I feel like I've taken this year is like
after games, not just like looking at all the plays
that I could have been better, but also like looking
at some plays where like I did, like I did
my job, I took advantage of an opportunity, like I
made a good play, and then just like just reminded
myself like I belong here. And I feel like, just
(18:22):
keep playing at a high level. And That's what I'm
trying to do. And I feel like also just trying
to like show people that like it doesn't matter, like
I guess where you're, like you come from, and like
how many offers you have out of high school, Like
you just stick to it and stick to the process
and do all these little things right and it just
adds up. And I guess that's what I'm most proud
(18:44):
of too, is that a lot of people said that
I couldn't do a lot of things, so just like
keep going.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I guess I know one thing I appreciate about you,
and I'm sure you're proud of to is the salute
to service. Now, yeah, father, that served. So I'm curious
just what that meant to you. I know, that's that's
a big part of of your life outside of football.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
So I got so many family members in the military.
I got a lot of grandparents, like I got, I
got step parents, and so I got four parents. So
my stepdad served, my step sister served right now, and
she's in the Air Force. I got my step brother,
(19:30):
he's serving, he's in the Navy. And then I have
so many uncles, grand Grandpa, yeah, Grandpa's uncles. I can't
even like, I'm not even gonna try to name them
because I miss someone and I know I am, and
I don't want to like leave.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
No one out because I'm not. I'm not thinking on
the fire right now.
Speaker 6 (19:49):
But yeah, no, I just I feel like I've seen
it firsthand, especially like like my stepbrother stepsister and not
being home on like the holiday or like when I
was in high school, like when I was back home.
So just seeing like all the sacrifices they make being
out of the country, being on a ship for however
long they are, being away from family, like just all
(20:12):
the sacrifices that they make to just protect us and
give us these allow us to do these things that.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
We're doing right now.
Speaker 6 (20:19):
So I just feel like anytime that I can get
back to that community, I try to take advantage of it.
And I feel like, also it's just like a great
reminder too, Like in the middle of the season, you
can kind of get tossing and turning and focusing on
this week to that week and this week you don't
even know what day it is, and it's like when
(20:40):
the opportunity comes up, like you can go here, do this,
or you can go meet these people, It's like it's
just a great minder to slow down and be grateful
for what I have. And I feel like, obviously the
Solutive Service Award is a byproduct of that, but like
that's not why people do things.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
I feel like you just do it out of the
goodness your heart.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So who to see you and congratulations and funny one
for sure. All Right, you're getting ready for a huge
game on Sunday with huge playoff division implications. Everything's online
going into these last four weeks. What jumps out about
LA when you watch and prepare them on tape.
Speaker 6 (21:17):
I mean, they're playing at a super high level. They
got and I'm gonna speak offensively other offense. They have
obviously a quarterback who's been in the league about as
long as I've been alive. Probably I don't even know
you've been in it for a long time. I remember
growing up little watching him throw to Calvin Johnson.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
He started he was drafted here when I started covering
the team, and so that was seventeen years ago, so
he's been around lone. There's nothing you guys.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Are going to do covering exactly.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
So we're playing one of the most experienced quarterbacks in
the NFL. I feel like he's playing like him in
the pocket.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
He's unbelievable, So I'll give him.
Speaker 6 (21:55):
Credit there too, like his ability to put balls on strings,
the no looks, stuff like, So we're gonna have our
hands full.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
And then you add in.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
I feel like their offenseive line does a good job
and and they execute at a high level within their scheme.
And I got a lot of respect for both their backs.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
The same thing that they operate at a high level.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
They're hard runners, they're always falling forward, they're always fine
for extra yards. And then you get to the receivers
and the tight ends. And I'll start the receiver. The
receivers you got to arguable, arguably, yeah, two number ones
on one team. And then I feel like the other
guys that that fill in there do a really good
job at what they do. So just in like the
slot and just went in there one on ones because
(22:36):
you know people are gonna double the twelve and seventeen,
so when they get a one on one, they like
to win. And then the quarterback puts the ball in
a perfect place. And then the tight ends. I feel
like the tight ends do a good job. Their big bodies,
they're long. They got the young guy, I feel like
he's more of the receiver shifty, and then they got
eighty four and eighty seven, and I feel like they
(22:58):
both do just a good job. And the quarterback really
trusts all those guys and that's like his safe I
feel like his safety valve.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
So it's why they play a lot of thirteen personnel
ya too, because they trust those guys to be on
the field and they could run different stuff out of
the pass or.
Speaker 6 (23:12):
Run exactly and that's I feel like that like that's
a thing when you get into thirteen personnel, I feel
like it kind of a shrinks the playshoot on the
as a defender, so they kind of can dictate kind
of what you're in. So that will be something that's
interesting to see how they try to attack us this week. Yeah, yeah,
I mean, hats off to then. They're just all playing
at a high level and I can't give them enough credit. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
They're head coach, the offensive guy, and he does a
good job as all.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
So I know you've got meetings come up, just a
couple more for it. Look, you guys are fifteen and
two last year, right, I mean you had already clinched
the playoff spot at this point. It was the division
was still you know, you still had some things to
play for, but you knew you were headed to the
playoffs and you were gonna play January football. Sitting at
eight and five certainly different situation. You still control your
own destiny. But Jack, we've heard the word urgent and
(24:00):
see around here over the last week. Can can a
team be dangerous sometimes when when they're eight and five
and you guys got to play good football to end
the year to get into the playoffs and if you do,
you know you're playing good football. Can a team like this,
with so much on the line and having to win,
can it ultimately be a dangerous football team?
Speaker 6 (24:18):
I feel like you can anything. Can happen when you
put your mind to it. And I feel like you
got to get right hot at the right time, And
I feel like we'll see where these next few weeks trend.
But I feel like we're kind of on the uptick,
so just need to continue to improve. But anything's possible,
and I feel like I'm really excited, and I'm really
excited about the group we have in the locker room
because we have the right guys.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
There's not one guy that's ever going to give up.
Speaker 6 (24:40):
So when you got that going for you, you got
the organization and all the coaches that believe in you
and put together really good plans. Like anything's possible. So
I always got to take it one game at a
time and see where it takes us. But I will
say getting getting hot at the right time is huge,
especially having that when I'm going into playoffs, it'll be huge.
(25:02):
So you just need to continue to win games and
take it one game at time. And the Rams are
the first, the first team I guess on that journey.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Punch the ball out you become. That's kind of been
one of your things. And when did the emphasis I mean,
creating turnovers has always been a big emphasis but you
really seem to be attacking the football more than you
ever have. Was that just a point of emphasis this offseason?
Was it something that that kind of schep brought up
to you? Where did that come from? Because you were
really attacking the football.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
I feel like I've really been just developing it ever
since I got here, So my rookie year, it's been
like three my third year. So yeah, two and a half,
three years in the in the working, and I mean
it's it's starting to pay off a little bit.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
I'd like to get some more. But yeah, I just
would like you to get some more.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
It's really just it's all a timing thing and you
got to like be smart about when you do it
because sometimes if you go for the ball, it can
allow like mistackle or like and you can't really have that,
so just like being smart and I don't know, it's
just like I can't even explain it to you.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
It's like tackling and exactly it's like when it happens,
it's like slow motion, like you just see the ball
and like you see when the space is created, and
like just like the trying to like I've been really trying,
like and this is like three years and this is
just like bro, ask anybody, Like I've.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
Pumped so many people, just like the stomach I've missed
so many times. So like just having that like being
able to like sit and put it right on the ball,
like when everything's happening like that, Like I feel like
it's something that I've really worked on and it's showing up.
So I seem to continue to do that, continue to
hump the ball, but do it at the right times
and take advantage of the opportunities.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
Or anything like that. No, not really, maybe I should
get into that.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
And last one, obviously it's Christmas time, you know, it's
this spirit of giving. Yeah, do you think you owe
me Robert and something?
Speaker 4 (27:01):
That's a great idea. What do you think I should?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
I don't know, because I have been up there. You've
hit him pretty and then look, it's a violent game,
a violent and it just seems to me that like
a Meek, it's the one guy that's in the bad.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
That's a great idea. Okay, I'm gonna get him a
Christmas gift now.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I think I think there has to be and it
just has a bowl and it's just sorry for the violence.
And that's all, it's got to be just something small
because that guy's for his size, no doubt.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
I mean, I can't say enough good things about that guy.
He just comes to work every single day, compete, and
I just have so much respect for him and and
all the secondary that's done.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Just such a good job.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
He's great at punching that ball out.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Yeah, you two together, but you you you've he's gotten
in the way of you a couple of times.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
I'm gonna get him something good too. It can't be nothing.
I gotta get him something good.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
All right, we will update everybody. What what did Jack
Campbell to meet robertson Presidents? But hey, you're playing great
football right now and you can need another one on Sunday,
good UK against the Rams.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Thank you so, I appreciate you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Welcome back to the Twin in the Huddle podcast. Very
happy to welcome in. Jordan Rodrigue does a great job
as the senior NFL writer for the Athletic but she's
kind of my go to for the Rams too. She's
got a pulse on the Rams and the entire league. Jordan,
how you doing. Thanks for joining me.
Speaker 8 (28:27):
As always, I'm great thanks for having me.
Speaker 9 (28:30):
I I was telling you I was gonna my feelings
were going to be hurt if you didn't bring me
back on for Rams week, because this is our tradition
at this point.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Yes, this is starting to become a tradition, going from
the playoffs in twenty three to Week one and now Jordan,
we've got another big one here in week What are
we at Week fifteen? Now, I'm just curious from your
perspective and talking with the players and coaches them in LA.
Some of the Lines players and including Jared Goffer, said
(28:57):
this week that this is a measuring stick game for us,
the aid the number one seed. You know, we're not
where we were last year. We are are battling. We've
got a fight to get into the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (29:06):
Now.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Detroit still controls their own playoff destiny and their destiny
in the division, but they're viewing this as a measuring
stick game, having to go to LA and play a
RAMS team that's playing really, really well. I'm curious what
if the Rams players and coaches said from their perspective
of this matchup.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
Well, first of all, they know how well coached and
you know, well thought out the game plan will be
for the Lions. They know how they know this team, right,
you see that maybe different versions of it over the
last couple of years, but this is a team where
the players and the coaches, they are very familiar with
each other. This is one of the most important games
(29:42):
I think for both teams all year, regardless of whether
or not there are playoff stakes, and certainly for both
teams there are. And obviously, as you know, the Rams
can clinch a playoff spot if they win this week,
so all of those things are are significant. But they
know that any given time you play the Lions, you're
going to get a really physical game, You're gonna get
a really thoughtful, thoughtfully planned game, and you're gonna get
(30:05):
a battle in all three phases, and I think vice versa.
The Rams are a team that are a lot more complete,
perhaps than they have been in previous seasons. They were
in a rebuild in twenty three when they sort of
magically got into the wild card and I think gave
the Lions everything they had in that building. That was
so much fun to be there covering that, And then
again the following season when they were a little bit
(30:27):
more complete, and then another version of this Rams scene. Now,
this is a Rams team that's got its eyes set
on the Super Bowl, but they certainly know that they're
gonna get everything that the Lions got physically and mentally.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
If the Rams are gonna get to the super Bowl,
they're gonna need to get continued terrific play from Matthew
Stafford Lions fans. I obviously know Matthew very very well,
but are you surprised at all, Jordan that this season
he's having, at thirty seven years old, I mean, thirty
five touchdowns leads the NFL. I think it's it's leading
by nine touchdowns. He's only got four picks and he's
(30:59):
playing really great football right now. Is he the MVP
in your book?
Speaker 8 (31:03):
Oh?
Speaker 9 (31:04):
Yeah, I mean I'm biased, but yeah, yeah. And you
know what, Tim, it's so funny. You could probably tell me.
Matthew could probably tell me that he had just sprouted
a pair of wings in his back and he's gonna
fly to Mars and it still would not surprise me
at this point, because really, nothing this.
Speaker 8 (31:19):
Guy does should shock any of us.
Speaker 9 (31:21):
I think the thing that might have been the best
thing that could have ever happened to him ahead of
this year, you know, your aches and pains, and you're
in your you know, late late thirties, and you're thinking about,
you know, your career and your legacy, and you're on
a year to year deal essentially with the Rams at
this point, and then your back goes out, right. And
what Matthew told me is that he had time to
(31:42):
miss it, like he had a chance to miss football
because he missed so much of training camp. And my
point to that being, you know, Sean mcfay used to
joke that, like to really get the soul stealer out
of Matthew Stafford, to really get that like sort of
killer out of him, he would joke he'd like he
needs to take a big hit, or maybe I should
un him in the stomach at halftime, or you know,
(32:02):
like let's play Jimmy Garoppolo in Week eighteen and get
him really pissed off before the playoffs, right, And like
it's it's tongue in cheek, but really it Matthew, there's
another level to him that I think he can access
really well. Now it's sustained the entire season, which is
something that you know, you guys have seen it for
you had seen.
Speaker 8 (32:21):
It for years.
Speaker 9 (32:22):
I think Rams fans are reminded of twenty twenty one
playoff Matthew Stafford or start to season Matthew Stafford, except
this guy has not left the building. This guy has
been there all season long at this point, and yes,
I do think he is the MVP.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
Has what difference has Blake Korum kind of taken a
little bit more of the load off Williams and then
obviously Devonte Adams? What are those those two guys especially
meant to that offense into Matthew.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
Yeah, it's huge.
Speaker 9 (32:49):
It gives the Rams another layer that I think has
been an unexpected matchup for teams or something that is
a little bit less scouted than in previous seasons with
what Sean McVay has liked to do with two sort
of f type receivers where they can play tight end,
they could play receiver. Technically they're in the receiver position
group listing on the roster, but they're doing everything and
they're interchangeable in that way.
Speaker 8 (33:09):
Well, now you've.
Speaker 9 (33:10):
Got a player in Devonte Adams who is a true
red zone threat who kind of reminds the Rams of
what they were able to do with Odell Beckham junior
that one game against the San Francisco forty nine ers
when everybody was at full cylinders, and then the first
half of that Super Bowl against the Bengals and then
poor O'Dell's knee went out.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
But it's similar to that.
Speaker 9 (33:29):
It's getting leverages and different coverages tilted in different directions
to either free up Puka Akua or to free up
Davonte Adams. And it's kind of a similar thought process
with Blake Koram. You know, I feel like I it's
a broken record hearing Sean McVay over the last several
years saying we're gonna play both running backs, We're gonna
(33:50):
play two running backs, We're gonna get two running backs
into the equation.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
Well, now they're finally doing it.
Speaker 9 (33:55):
And with Blake Korum, it just gives defense as a
different type of player to think about. I know they
see very similar, but Blake Coorum has a little bit
of second level burst.
Speaker 8 (34:04):
That's just a little bit different than Kyen.
Speaker 9 (34:06):
Kyen will always hit you doubles and get you touchdowns.
Blake Korum might be able to turn on that extra
gear if he gets past the first layer of layer
of a defense. And you saw it with some of
the explosive runs that he had against the Cardinals, and
it's a change up pitch that this offense had kind
of been lacking prior. And so that's part of why
I say it's one of the most complete teams I've
(34:27):
ever seen, because they have the main scheme right, and
then they've got different layers.
Speaker 8 (34:32):
And permutations built into.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
What I think everybody had typically come to know as
the McVeigh system. Now it's very different, but it's also
quite the same. It's just all of it at once.
It's all different versions of McVeigh. It's all coming out
in this season.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Yeah. One of those kind of new wrinkles Jordan has
been the thirteen personnel that they've been featuring. I think
it was about sixty percent last week. They started it
kind of week six against Baltimore. They've built it in.
McVeigh talk this week about how fun that's been kind
of created and developing that on the fly of a season.
But it takes a ton of versatility to do something
(35:06):
like that. What is why has has McVeigh really liked
that personnel grouping? What does it give in this offense
that that maybe they like and gives defenses problems to scout.
Speaker 9 (35:18):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I'm annoyed because finally I've
been screaming about this for years and I leave the
beat and finally they do it right.
Speaker 8 (35:24):
So it's like, come on, guys, really no.
Speaker 9 (35:27):
But it's great because what it what it is is
he can he can mess with the different mathematical equations
defense has tried to build against them. So obviously, when
they're an eleven personnel, defenses are going to be in
a smaller version of nickel because they need to be
fast enough to match up with their receivers. Well, when
you play more tight ends, as you know very well, tim,
(35:48):
then you have to start getting a little bit bigger
on defense, and you have to try to figure out
which type of player, whether it's a very very fast
they hope linebacker tight ends, probably still faster than most
inside linebackers, or you have a big safety that you're
pulling down into sort of your hybrid slot corner position
to try to defend those players. Okay, well, what do
you do if that starts to work against you? You
(36:09):
go right back to eleven personnel and in this case
with thirteen personnel and eleven personnel for the viewers and listeners.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
The one common denominator.
Speaker 9 (36:18):
Is it is three potential pass catchers on the field
at any given time. So if you look at the
route combinations that they run when they are an eleven personnel,
they basically match a lot of those things right into
their thirteen personal packages because they have pass catching tight ends.
They have guys who can catch the ball and run
routes like receivers for the most part, Colby Parkinson might
(36:40):
want a word, but for the most part, they can
do these things. So you skip right over two tight
ends to twelve personnel and go right from eleven to
thirteen because you're not changing your playbook. You're just changing
the size and ability of the bodies on the field,
and it keeps things very simple and fast for the
offense while still adding hillacious layer for the defense.
Speaker 8 (37:01):
It's very hard to defend.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Yeah, very hard to defend. Detroit will have to do
it without Brian Branch, one of their most versatile defenders
in the back end. But Jordan, the Lions do play
the most base defense of any team in the league.
They like the way they get those three linebackers on
how they can cover, So I think that'll be an
interesting dynamic Sunday is how much LA thinks they they
(37:23):
can do it and how Detroit decides to stop it.
Our injury wise with the Rams, are they looking pretty
good heading into into Sunday.
Speaker 9 (37:33):
Yeah, the same guys who have been hurt are still hurt.
So no, Rob Havenstein war Mclendon's been playing pretty well.
I am very fascinated because Aiden Hutchinson lines up, as
you guys see every week on both sides and on
third down he loads up over the right tackle a lot.
Speaker 8 (37:46):
War McLendon is playing right tackle.
Speaker 9 (37:48):
He is very young, but playing very well in replacement
for him right now, I think only giving up four
pressures so far in six games, So that's going to
be a real hinge point, I think in terms of
getting some of those those pass plays developed, and so
that's an injury to watch, but it's kind of been
They've they've gotten him repped in a little bit for
Rob so far this season.
Speaker 8 (38:08):
Tyler Higbee obviously know to to out well, is going
to be back activated.
Speaker 9 (38:12):
So that's to me, that's some gamesmanship, right because we
talk about those three great linebackers and we talk about
how versatile Detroit can be. And by the way, I'm
a huge fan of what Kelvin Shepherd has done this year.
I think it is one of the best jobs in
coaching all season. I hope he is getting talked about
in these league cycles as they come up, and he
deserves it. And it is fascinating because when you say publicly, hey,
(38:35):
we're gonna get to to out well our speed thread,
our deep threat guy activated, what do you think, Oh
my god, where are my fast Nichols? You know, like,
where where are those guys? So I think it's a
little gamesmanship as well. But at the same time, that
is that is definitely someone to watch this week. Otherwise,
you know, the same guys that have been out are
still out and DeVante Adams will be.
Speaker 8 (38:55):
On the injury report this week, but he should be
good to go.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
I want to ask you this one too, is is
you've got a pulse around everything NFL wise. I'm curious.
You looked a couple of years ago, the Lions were
twelve and five and at this point had looked like,
you know, they had pretty much wrapped it up. They
were still fighting for a division with Minnesota. Last year
they win fifteen games. They knew they were in the
playoffs at this point, it's just kind of where it
(39:18):
was gonna be. Now you sit at eight and five
and you've got to fight and you've got to claw
your way in. Now they control their own destiny, but
they've got to win games and they know it. Can
sometimes that be a dangerous point. Can that be a
good thing for a team sometimes? Jordan, especially a Dan
Campbell led team with the grit and everything else, that
(39:38):
they know they've got to play their best football heading
into the playoffs to get into the playoffs, and teams
always talk about, you know, we want to be playing
our best football in December and January. Well, Detroit's got
to do it or they're gonna be sitting home in January.
So if they're in the playoffs in January, can that
be something you know that's galvanizing for this team, knowing
(40:00):
that they had to win games and they're playing pretty
good football heading into a playoffs where they haven't had
a lot of success the last couple of years, just
in terms of you know, obviously the loss in the
second half in the NFC Champions Champ of twenty three
and then the upset last year to Washington. A little
different setup could be a good thing for Detroit.
Speaker 8 (40:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (40:19):
I love that question because I feel like there are
two types of resilience for teams, and one type we've
seen it demonstrated by the entire Lions organization, which is
getting good from being bad.
Speaker 8 (40:31):
Right.
Speaker 9 (40:32):
Okay, So they got good and they scratched, bit kneecaps
and clawed their way to getting good. Right, Okay, So
now they're a good football team. They're a great organization
and a really really good football team. So there's the
other type of resilience, which is staying good when bad
stuff happens to you, right, And so I think that's
(40:53):
it is. It is uncanny in some ways because it
does remind me a little bit of that twenty twenty
one RAM Super Bowl team. I think a lot of
people see the confetti falling from the ceiling and they
forgot how terrible they were in November and how many
injuries they endured, and how they had to overhaul their
entire run system just for that month only in order
(41:13):
to kind of limp into the postseason and then start
putting those wins together. I can tell you this, No
NFL team wants to play the Lions in the postseason.
Not only because, like I said, they are good at
this point, this is the new Detroit Lions, and they
are physical and they are a tough matchup team regardless
of what the regular season look like. And so it
(41:34):
really is about how do you put enough pieces together
to finish this season strong, but also to build resilience
along the way so you can play true matchup football
and kind of, I guess, play a little freer because
maybe if the weight of expectations are off of you
a little bit because all of its house money, once
(41:55):
you get to the playoffs, then there's a vibe, there's
an energy, and I do think once the Lions got
as good as they are, man, everybody's waiting on them, right,
everybody's waiting. Everybody's got their breath held, like, Okay, this
is the year, this is the year. Well what if
the year you don't expect it to be the year
becomes the year? It's because you make it that way.
(42:16):
And that's where I think this could be a little
bit of a maybe a more freeing experience and a
run to the playoffs with them.
Speaker 8 (42:22):
Certainly it'll teach them a lot.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Well, that run is it's an important stop in La
on Sunday. If they are going to run themselves to
the playoffs, it should be a great game. I myself
am excited about seventy degrees mean that we just had
six inches of snow and ice here in Detroit. I
think everybody's excited about getting to California for a couple
(42:46):
of days. But it's going to be a great football game. Jordan,
and I appreciate you take the time. As always. Jordan
does a great job catch all her stuff on the athletics.
She's the senior writer for the NFL, and she knows
a little bit about the rams too, so you can
catch her if both of your things are your fancy.
So Jordan, I appreciate you taking the time as always.
We will see you Sunday and have.
Speaker 4 (43:08):
A good week.
Speaker 8 (43:09):
Thanks. Tim really appreciate it. Always such a pleasure.
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