1 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: Welcome between the Horns, presented by your Southern California Toyota dealers. 2 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: I have Cameron Irwin alongside JB. Long and DeMarco far 3 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: in Thousand Oaks, and I was gonna say, uh, it's 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: been raining this morning. I was gonna ask about the 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: dust settling, but I think it's more about the rain settling. 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Now post draft, you don't care. 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 2: What was that song? It never rains in southern California. 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: They lied it dumped right on my head. How'd you 9 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: guys get dried? 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 3: I thought you were just nervous. 11 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: I'll stop already. Man, Oh my gosh, not even July yet. 12 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 2: Come on. 13 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 3: Good to see you though, Good to see you guys. 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 15 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: Well, now that we're officially post draft, I think we 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: have to take account of what the Los Angeles Rams 17 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: now have fourteen new editions in this draft, let alone 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: the twenty six undrafted free agents. I mean, give me 19 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: a thousand foot view. What's your impressions of this? 20 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: JB. 21 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: Long? 22 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 3: My impression is that everyone should be required to wear 23 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: name tags. Between now and training camp. You got a 24 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 3: lot of work to do. I mean, speaking for myself, 25 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 3: I still have a lot of learning to do. And 26 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,919 Speaker 3: I'm excited about it. I mean, half of this roster 27 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 3: is new. I think the only thing that gives me pause. 28 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 3: The only thing that I don't love about this draft 29 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 3: class is how much everyone seems to love this draft class. 30 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 2: You know what I mean? 31 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, you guys in retrospect, usually our first impression or 32 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 3: any graft rade. He's for me to say, draft grades 33 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 3: that might be out there, yeah, are almost always silly 34 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 3: when you look back at them a couple years from now. 35 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 2: Well, twenty six undrafted rookie free agents, you know that 36 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: makes me smile, Right, there's twenty five potential jobs out there. 37 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: At least guys get an opportunity. And Sean McVay said 38 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: it on draft Day. He drafted an entire team. He 39 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 2: was laughing about it. But it's fourteen guys. That's a 40 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: big draft. But I do like the draft. I thought 41 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: everywhere they picked and the people they picked fit your 42 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: need or where there's a I guess I wouldn't say 43 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: holes on the roster, but where there needs to be 44 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 2: spice in that room. Like you added a running back 45 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: that's used to be in the guy and in my opinion, 46 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: that job could be a little bit open. So that's 47 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 2: gonna be fun watching to see how you put Avila 48 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: into the lineup in the offensive line, that configuration, all 49 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: that Stuf's gonna be fun. So I thought they hit 50 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: on a lot of key areas in the draft. So 51 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: I do love this draft. 52 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 3: I thought it was the right mix of bold belief 53 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 3: like conviction in their process. And that's evidence by saying 54 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: maybe the willingness to hunt for an opportunity to trade 55 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 3: into a first round but also like a discipline humility 56 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 3: to know when to say when, and that the moment 57 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 3: wasn't right and that there wasn't gonna be a complete 58 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 3: solution in just one draft class. If this was an 59 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 3: important step, maybe the biggest step towards getting back to 60 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 3: where they want to go, but they couldn't do it 61 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: all on one weekend. But I want to circle back 62 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 3: to something you just said. They're the smile on your 63 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 3: face about all the college free agents, because this is 64 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 3: something that maybe we don't ask you about enough. But 65 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 3: was it ninety four ninety four? Yeah, yeah, all right, 66 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 3: So put yourself in the shoes of this giant group 67 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: of incoming undrafted free agents who see as much opportunity 68 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 3: on a Ram's roster as maybe we've ever encountered. 69 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: That's a lot of smoking, mad people coming into a 70 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: locker room. The first thing we said, when you had 71 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: that many undrafted rookie free agents coming in, it's gonna 72 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,119 Speaker 2: be a hot training camp. It's gonna be competitive, it's 73 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: gonna be bloody, it's gonna be fun. And that's what 74 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 2: you need to have, especially coming off a five to 75 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: one season. You're gonna need some of that competition. So 76 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 2: a lot of those guys aren't gonna make it here, 77 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: but they're gonna leave their mark here trying to make 78 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 2: it here, and that's gonna make the guys that do 79 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: stay here a lot better for So, yeah, when you 80 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: have that many undrafted guys coming to camp, it's going 81 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: to be competitive. 82 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 3: May not make the initial fifty three, but I think 83 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 3: the population that will kind of grow here in the 84 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 3: next couple of months will stick around. I think the 85 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: foundations of a practice squad are there too. 86 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: No doubt the undrafted guys, there's twenty five demented runts 87 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 2: coming in to take a spot, at least in their mind, 88 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: you know what I'm saying. So that's that's gonna be 89 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: fun to watch. 90 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: Well. You guys talked about some spicy competition coming into 91 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: training camp, and I think one of the areas that 92 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: that could come in terms of a massive impact is 93 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: actually the quarterback only because I think having the addition 94 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: of Stetson Bennett, Now, what is he going to be 95 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: able to provide in terms of somebody going up against 96 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford. Not necessarily to take the job by any means, 97 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: but more so in terms of building an offense to 98 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: go against a number one defense for the Los Angeles 99 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: Rams roster. 100 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 2: You guys know what the draft is, right, it's measurables 101 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: and how they stack you and rate you and then 102 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 2: how they want to pick you off the board. It 103 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,119 Speaker 2: doesn't mean you can't play ball. But when you've watched 104 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 2: him play college ball, tell me you haven't been like 105 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 2: thrilled to watch him or just excited have a lot 106 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: of fun. The guy's got shaken bake, he's got a cannon, 107 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: he can get it down the field, and he's competitive 108 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: and he's used to that environment. So put him in 109 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: that room with a legend. Wow, what a great place 110 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: to be with Sean McVeigh coaching you. So yeah, I 111 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 2: like the pick from the start. I don't know where 112 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: all the hubbub was about. 113 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 3: Did you get blown up with what a reach? Or 114 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 3: what are they doing? Or why so soon? Or this 115 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: guy might go undrafted? 116 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: Okay, the one that got me was he's not very tall, 117 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: and I'm like, were you watching the draft? Did you 118 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: see the guy that went number one? You know what 119 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: I mean? So ye like wow, But I mean, did 120 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: you turn on the film? The guy can obviously play. 121 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 2: That's a pretty good pick. 122 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 3: I would make the case there's no such thing as 123 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 3: a day three reach at quarterback, right It's the most 124 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 3: important position in sports, and so if the reporting is accurate, 125 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 3: and I believe it to be, that less need in 126 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 3: his staff thought that they needed to address that position 127 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: on day three, not sooner because of their other needs, 128 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 3: but on day three, and that Stetson Bennett was their 129 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: preferred QB two to come in here and learn. Then, 130 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 3: I don't think you can go too high to get 131 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: that individual, especially when we see now in retrospect the 132 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: run on quarterbacks on Day three at the draft. So 133 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: I like that move and I like the fact that 134 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: they created a pick to take Stetson Bennett there, like 135 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 3: that was a pick they didn't even have going into 136 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: the weekend. In fact, that was probably my favorite moment 137 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 3: or best move of the draft of the Rams was 138 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 3: Day two, after getting a Villa, they upgrade a six 139 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: round pick by almost a full round to a fifth, 140 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 3: and they added that fourth, which became Stetson Bennett while 141 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 3: addressing a priority with an edge along the way. So 142 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 3: I thought that was the moment of the draft for me. 143 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 3: And there were some near misses, right. I think the 144 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 3: story of any draft is the prospects you would have 145 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,799 Speaker 3: loved to have had, but someone jumped up and grabbed 146 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 3: them in front of you, or didn't quite fall to you. 147 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 3: And that's what I kind of mean about the disciplined 148 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 3: humility to like a prospect, but not to kind of 149 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 3: blow up your weekend chasing that individual, knowing that there's 150 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 3: comparable players or players with equivalent chances of success in 151 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 3: those same groupings. 152 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: Now, the woes of twenty twenty two in terms of 153 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: the offensive line were addressed very early that number thirty 154 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: six with Steve Avila, and not to mention Warren McLendon, 155 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: I know we caught up with Sean McVay. He was 156 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: thrilled to think about those two guys on the offensive line. 157 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: What could that look like in terms of an offense 158 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty three? 159 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 2: Possible starter and definite depth. I mean, immediately I think 160 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: McClendon right, Yeah, played right tackle, so I mean that's great. 161 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,719 Speaker 2: There's some rotation there. The Avila thing is going to 162 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 2: be to watch because he has played center. So is 163 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: he guard center or center guard. I think he starts 164 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 2: his career as a guard slash center and then maybe 165 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 2: flops to that spot for the long haul, but either way, 166 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: it is an upgrade. And I can remember we were 167 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 2: sitting in New Orleans, JB and Cam. We weren't sure 168 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: Matthew Stafford was gonna play. Remember when he came tropping 169 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 2: out and he was all psyched up and ready to go, yay, 170 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: this is great. And then on a third and eight 171 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: got knocked in and put in the tent and out 172 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 2: for the year. So at times the offensive line needed 173 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: to be great and it wasn't. So you knew change 174 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: was coming, and you already had a change in your 175 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: coaching staff. So I was not shocked when they went 176 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 2: here with their first pick in the draft. Now where 177 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: do you put him? What is your offensive line configuration? 178 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: How do you put in Joseph Noteboom and Lark Jackson? 179 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 2: Where do they fit into this with him? But I'm 180 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 2: expecting this guy to compete early for a job. Hopefully 181 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: that's the way it works out. 182 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 3: I'm surprised you remember anything about New Orleans. The only 183 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 3: thing I remember is that Gumbo place MJD. He took 184 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 3: us too in the bread putting us down and Wells touchdown, 185 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 3: which two two almost made a cameo right before we 186 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 3: started this podcast. He knocked on the door, wants to 187 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: to say hello. I think you're saying this, and maybe 188 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: I didn't catch it, or maybe you meant it, but 189 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 3: it was on my mind too. I think there are 190 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: more roster worthy candidates than fifty three man roster spots 191 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 3: on the offensive line right now, which is a great 192 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 3: place to be halfter the devastation we saw at that 193 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 3: position group last year. One other thing, the last two 194 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: picks that the Rams have made atop their drafts thinking 195 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: back both hulking guards. That tells me something. 196 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 2: Nice, doesn't it? Big time? 197 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 3: That tells me something about the wall they want to build, 198 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 3: the pocket they want Matthew Stafford to have. I said 199 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 3: it on draft night too. If you go guard there, 200 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 3: that to me is a vote of confidence in Matthew 201 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: Stafford's longevity as the quarterback of this franchise. 202 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 2: Well remember Tampa Bay as well, when videvea kind of 203 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: ate him up and that kind of shook him up, 204 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 2: and then three games later he's done so and that 205 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: all came between the tackle boxes. You've got to beef 206 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 2: up that spot. The one guy we haven't mentioned is 207 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 2: the one guy we don't know anything about, Logan Bruss. 208 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: Where does he fit into all this? So there's competition 209 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 2: for jobs between those tackles. We'll see how it shakes out. 210 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 3: Can I go back to the quarterback real quick before 211 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 3: we leave Stetson Bennett? I got more to say here, 212 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 3: and I'm gonna hang myself out to dry. This will 213 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 3: be the stupidest thing you hear anyone say about the 214 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 3: Rams draft class this entire off season. I promise you 215 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 3: don't ever make me look back on this clip right here. 216 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 3: But I watched a lot of him in college Shore 217 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 3: like you said, I watched even more this past week. 218 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 3: Do you know the name the comp I can't get 219 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 3: out of my head? Who Aaron Rodgers? 220 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 2: Wow, I'm not sas Bennett. 221 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 3: I'm not saying. I'm not saying he's the next Aaron Rodgers. 222 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 3: I'm not saying he's a Hall of Famer. I'm not 223 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: saying he has Aaron Rodgers mind or arm. 224 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 2: But here because let me, let me, let me, you're 225 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 2: gonna have to explain this one. 226 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: I will. I will, because how many years in a 227 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 3: row now have we gone to lambeau Field and watch 228 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 3: that dude with his swagger just kind of float around 229 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 3: in the pocket and whether or not he has his 230 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 3: feet underneath him. Yes, he makes some big time throws 231 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 3: every year. He makes some downfield throws. But where he 232 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 3: kills you is paper cut after paper cut after paper cut, 233 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 3: where you think you've got him, you think you've taken 234 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 3: away every option, and then whether he's on balance or 235 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 3: his shoulders or square or feet or dug in or not, 236 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 3: he just does enough to get it on time, on 237 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 3: target to someone for a first down and you got 238 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 3: to play another three four reps. Bennett has his flaws, 239 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 3: don't get me wrong. Yeah, But when he's at his 240 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 3: best and when he's playing really good teams in really 241 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 3: big moments, I saw a lot of NFL type drive 242 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 3: extending first down getting throws. And I mean this in 243 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 3: terms of I didn't see him hit a lot of 244 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: checkdowns on the back knee that cost you three four 245 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: yards in a first down. I saw a lot of 246 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 3: front shoulder face mass throws into tight windows. Maybe when 247 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: he didn't have that as his initial reader, that wasn't 248 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 3: where he wanted to go. That encouraged me that if 249 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 3: he gets into an ecosystem where Sean McVay can build 250 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 3: around him, he can learn to play timing rhythm offense 251 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 3: the way that the Rams have so successfully over the 252 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 3: last seven years. There might be something here. I don't 253 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 3: know whether he's the next Kurt Warner or just the 254 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 3: next iteration taking the baton from John Wolford, but I'm saying, 255 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 3: after now watching him for a week, I can see it. 256 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 3: I'm not saying he's going to be it. I'm saying 257 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: I can see it. 258 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: I love where you're going. It's just there's no way 259 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,840 Speaker 2: we're not coming back to this in some point. 260 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, Like it will be blood dumbest thing that I 261 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 3: say or anyone says about this Rams draft class. But 262 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 3: I couldn't get that off my mind watching him well. 263 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: And there's no doubt that he already has encompassed a 264 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: Hollywood story worthy at least of a Hollywood story through 265 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: his career at Georgia. Now I'm looking at my notes 266 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: because there was one question that I really wanted to 267 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: ask in regards to this offense. Because as much as 268 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: we have to situate the offensive line, we found another 269 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: tight end or two here in the last little while. 270 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 1: Wide receiver health a question mark as well as well 271 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: as the running back room. We've got bulldogs in one 272 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: room alone. But how much will this offense potentially vary 273 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: from last season to this coming season? 274 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: Okay, watching Puka Nakua, when you watch his tape and 275 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: you look at his stats, who does he remind you 276 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: of Robert Woods? Absolutely? So I thought that's where he's 277 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: headed back to. I mean, here's a guy that can 278 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 2: take twenty five carries, guy that can run routes, he's 279 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: pretty big, he can play receiver, he can play running back. 280 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 2: So all this to help out and feature Cooper Cup, 281 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: but at least somebody is there to do the dirty 282 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 2: work for the offense and for Matthew Stafford and to 283 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 2: help out Sean McVay call an offense through Matthew Stafford. 284 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 3: That's where I was going with Logan Brust and Steve 285 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 3: Avila too in terms of what what did the picks 286 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 3: tell you? I think it tells you that not just 287 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 3: last season, but maybe the last five games of last season, 288 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 3: and in hiring Lafleur, et cetera, et cetera, that we 289 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 3: might be returning to the Rogers staffold twenty seventeen eighteen era, 290 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 3: upfront construction, run game design, run pass marriage, those types 291 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: of things. I think, at least in Shawn's eye, he 292 00:12:58,679 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 3: could see that's where this thing's going. 293 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: Well, you bring up Lafleur, and that reminds me because 294 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: just on Behind the Grind he was talking about Van 295 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: Jefferson and his ability to play and also to be 296 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 1: a threat at every single level. How might he be 297 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: utilized moving forward? And could he be utilized that much more? 298 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 3: Behind the Ground is awesome, by the way, it was amazing, 299 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 3: a terrific first episode. Kudos to everyone involved. 300 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 2: Wow, Yeah, it's beautiful. 301 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 3: The question was Van Jefferson right now? 302 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: Yes, he seemed very high on him in there. 303 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 3: And NKUPA two is interesting to me too, because I've 304 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 3: had days like even since this past weekend where I've thought, man, 305 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 3: I'm really intrigued to see this skill group and I 306 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 3: think a healthy receiving core here could really do some damage. 307 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:38,599 Speaker 3: And I've had other days where I've wondered, do the 308 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 3: Rams have enough weapons outside to contend against the Seattle 309 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 3: Seahawks and what they've done at corner and some other 310 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 3: things which we can talk about. I'm not sure where 311 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,959 Speaker 3: I land on that, but I think that's probably one 312 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 3: of my main questions this summer is is weather with 313 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 3: Cooper Cup leading the way with two two out well 314 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 3: hopefully taking the next step with some rookies in the mix, 315 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 3: some up and coming challengers. Van Jefferson this is his year, 316 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 3: whether that's going to be enough. 317 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 2: Van is definitely my two guard in the offense. Like 318 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 2: you got a specific role, I'm going to use you 319 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 2: for a vertical. I'm going to stretch the defense with 320 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 2: you that big, long body, long striterer type. Cooper Cup 321 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 2: does what Cooper Cup does, what you needed and what 322 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 2: you didn't have. I think you tried it with two 323 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 2: to two out, well it works to some degree, but 324 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 2: he's not very big. So I think if you with him, 325 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 2: theoretically you added some toughness to that receiver room in 326 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 2: the running game that will help out. So how do 327 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: you use a Van Jefferson straight to his strengths and 328 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 2: let him do what Van Jefferson does and not ask 329 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 2: him to do what he doesn't need to be doing. 330 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: Does that make sense? Now everybody plays their role? 331 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 3: Does It also depends how much eleven you play, because 332 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 3: the other direction you could go is now that you 333 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 3: have some new found fresh tight end depth and that 334 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 3: Tyler Higbee is a tight end not the tight end. 335 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 3: It's a big distinction in my mind. There might be 336 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 3: some more optionality there, which reminds me of something else too, 337 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 3: which is there was reporting out there that the ram 338 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 3: were chasing a high end tight end right early in 339 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 3: the draft, and this was a historically good tight end class. 340 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 3: But what I like is that when they didn't hit 341 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 3: on that opportunity, they didn't then just take the next 342 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 3: one on their list. And I have to be honest, 343 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 3: I forgot about Hunter Long in this whole mix too. 344 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 3: If you had a third round grader projection a Hunter Long, 345 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 3: then okay, you got that back from Miami and the 346 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 3: Jalen Ramsey trade. You got to let that play out like, 347 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 3: if that's your belief, then maybe you don't have to 348 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 3: reach for that mid round tight end. You can supplement 349 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 3: with some depth and see whether long is that guy 350 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: you thought he was a couple drafts ago. 351 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 2: I called Higbee Rambo and they thought I was dissing him. No, 352 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 2: I meant the eighties version of Rambo. Tough that guy. 353 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 3: I think we all want to see Tyler Higbe where 354 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 3: he's playing sixty to seventy percent yea of eighty to 355 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 3: ninety five in. 356 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: Terms of production. I think it was his second best 357 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: career season with the Los Angeles Rams. This last year. 358 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: I mean, just lights out. But let's move to the defense. 359 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: We've only got a few more minutes to go. So 360 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: I know it's crazy we've we got stuck on offense. 361 00:15:57,560 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: But JB, you can the. 362 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 2: Okay, sorry, never mind, Okay, go ahead. JB. 363 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: You've continued to talk about how the draft can be 364 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 1: a good indicator in terms of the direction the Los 365 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: Angeles Rams want to go. But I think where some 366 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: of the biggest questions in lias on the defensive side 367 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: of the ball. So what did this draft tell you? 368 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: And I'll start with you DeMarco, Actually, what did This 369 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: draft tell you about the direction on defense the Rams 370 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: are looking to go. 371 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 2: It tells us our eyes work because they went heavy 372 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 2: on edge. Yeah right, I mean they needed it. They 373 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 2: needed to revamp that room. And this is funny. I got, 374 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 2: I got a little gripe. So there's a lot of 375 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 2: people out there, and this is why I don't engage 376 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 2: on certain social media things. But they'll give Michael Hoyt 377 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 2: a lot of credit for coming out of nowhere, right, 378 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 2: but they won't give Rahee Morris credit for finding that guy, 379 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 2: for finding ways to make something happen when you don't 380 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: have anything. So and I loved Leonard Floyd, but he 381 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: was about as streaky as they came, you know what 382 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 2: I mean. So here the Aaron Donald effect. You're going 383 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 2: to feel Aaron Donald's effect on every play, every series, 384 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: every quarter, every game. Right, There'd be quarters, games or 385 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: weeks that went by when you didn't really feel Leonard 386 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 2: Floyd's presence, but then you did, and he came out 387 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,200 Speaker 2: in Gangbusters. But that's not good enough versus the guys 388 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 2: that we were talking about, like Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers, 389 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 2: the guys that if you let get in a rhythm 390 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: it's over, so you needed to revamp that room. So 391 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: it tells us that we were right and how we 392 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 2: thought they were thinking, and they did. They went heavy there. 393 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 2: There's going to be competition there. It's going to be 394 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 2: my second best camp battle outside of running backs. This 395 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 2: is going to be fun on the edge, on the 396 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 2: edge and the little guy Tomlinson corner. So let's just 397 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: pretend we're playing Seattle this week. Last year DK metcalf 398 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 2: wasn't an issue because of Jalen Ramsey, but who was Lockett? 399 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 2: Now this reverses it, So let's see if you can 400 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 2: shake this little dude. But now you've got to figure 401 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 2: out how to cover up a DK metcalf. 402 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, we do a whole nother podcast and 403 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 3: more on this. I think the Rams are throwing like 404 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 3: more darts than Ted Lasso at the defensive side of 405 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 3: the football. 406 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 2: Yeah yeah, yeah. 407 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 3: I don't know who's going to be a bullseye, who's 408 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 3: going to miss the target, and who's going to be 409 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 3: on the practice squad. But what they did, especially with 410 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 3: hyper athleticism on the edge, and I think this was 411 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 3: kind of true across the board on the Rams weekend, 412 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,760 Speaker 3: but it feels like their prospects fall into three categories 413 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 3: like either championship caliber and award winning but missing like 414 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 3: one key attribute that would have prevented them from going 415 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 3: higher or humble beginnings with nice upside. And there's some 416 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,719 Speaker 3: really nice stories there, and I think that that narrative 417 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 3: is compelling, but ultimately they picked these individuals because what 418 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 3: they did on the grass, not because of their stories 419 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 3: and then athletic freaks. And I think you're counting on 420 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 3: one or more of those per position hopefully panning out. 421 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 3: But I will be curious to see to what extent, 422 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:42,360 Speaker 3: if any, they supplement with veteran free agents. Like, now 423 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 3: that we're through that window where it impacts your comp formula, 424 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 3: are there gaps in this defense that they can layer 425 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 3: in with. I'm not saying like bring Leonard Floyd back necessarily, 426 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 3: but you know what I'm saying, like, is there a 427 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 3: Troy Hill role to be played, etc. From internally or 428 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 3: externally now that you know what you have? Or do 429 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 3: you just leave that open canvas for this group to 430 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 3: grow into and wait until later in training camp or 431 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 3: even roster cutdowns to solve for that. 432 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 2: Safety comes to mind for some reason, John Johnson, the third, 433 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 2: I'm just saying, maybe safety comes to mind. Corner. I 434 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 2: think you might be good with the young talent outside. 435 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 2: I think you might have enough to find a three safety. 436 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 3: Maybe you're gonna have to play corner different this year. 437 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 3: Then true, because very true. I mean you don't have 438 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 3: that Jenga piece anymore. 439 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 2: No, no, no, you're gonna have to scheme it. Yeah, yeah, 440 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,920 Speaker 2: you don't have that guy anymore. Right, one hundred. 441 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 3: Unless Robert Rochelle is that guy at it. You know, 442 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: he was the cop all along. This is he? To me, 443 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 3: it's kind of like that Van Jefferson of the defense, 444 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 3: Like he can take you from good to great really quick. 445 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: To your ability. Son, he's got everything, He's got all 446 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 2: the tools. Yep. 447 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: Now we have talked multiple times about training camp because 448 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: you're not gonna want to miss it. Just look at 449 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: the numbers. I mean, forty four players were under contract 450 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: before the draft, fourteen players drafted, twenty six undrafted rookies, 451 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: currently six open roster positions. To find that ninety point total, 452 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: you're going to want to see all of them come 453 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: to life at training camp. JB. DeMarco, thanks so much 454 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: for joining us, and of course to all of you 455 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: here on between the horns presented by your Southern California 456 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: Toyota dealers,