1 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Welcome back to you between the Horns. Everyone. Glad you're 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: with us, whether you're following live on social and digital 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,079 Speaker 1: or you downloaded the podcast, hope you're Week thirteen is 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: off to a great start. I'm JB along with me 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: as team reporter Serena Morales and our friend Maurice Jones Drew. 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Good morning everyone, Howard thinks, good morning, cheers, got mcffee right, 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: here's no coffee, just high off life right now and 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: your TI over here. We've got we've got a preschool 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: talent show underway over at the Long Household. So if 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: you catch a little twinkle twinkle little star, that's uh, 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: that's what's going on in the background. But the Rams 12 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: of five regular season games left, win out and they 13 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: win the West. That's their sole focus right now. And 14 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: before we break down Rams Cardinals in Week thirteen, the 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: first of two meetings here down the stretch between those 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: NFC West foes, let's rehash that loss to Sam Franciscos Arena. Yeah, JB, 17 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: All right, So the Rams dropped their first game at 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: SOFI Stadium against and Nick Mullins led forty nine ers. 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: So we know that the Rams have struggled to get things. 20 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: Going to turn the ball over four times, you don't 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 1: want to do that. But JD was that the sole 22 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: reason for the Rams losing, Like, was it just because 23 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: of turnovers? A turner was played a big part in it. 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: I felt like they just guys weren't getting open. Jared 25 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: kind of got a little flustered in the pocket. And 26 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: even with the Rams not playing the best on offense, 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: if you don't turn the ball over, your defense has 28 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: played so lights out this season that you probably would 29 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: have won that game by fourteen points if you'd just 30 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: punted the ball. Aways had to turn the ball over, 31 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: giving them a short field. So I truly believe that offensively, 32 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: they just got to get back in rhythm. And I 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: don't know what it is, what's going on, what the 34 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: issue has been. Maybe it's just that the Niners know 35 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: them and they know what they try to do, and 36 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: they play You play each other twice and they're built 37 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: to beat you and you're built to beat them. But 38 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: the Rams, you know, you have to execute at a 39 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: higher level. I think Sean McBay would said it best. 40 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: When you just can't turn the ball from we have 41 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: to execute better offense with the defense scores a touchdown 42 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: and they cause three turnovers as well. You just have 43 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: to give your defense an opportunity to continue to help 44 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: you win games for sure. And it's interesting I put 45 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: this from next Gen Stats, but like golf, sufficiency on 46 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: play action passes has dropped significantly since the Rams week nine. 47 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: By one through eight, you know, golf has six passing touchdowns, 48 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: zero interceptions, a one hundred and fifteen point seven passer rating, 49 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: and then you kind of go into week ten and forward, 50 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: no passing touchdowns, three interceptions, a very drop, a big 51 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: drop in the passer reading. So sort of a head scratcher. 52 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: That being said, you spoke about defense, JB. I mean, 53 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: it seems like at least the defense has carried this team. 54 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: But can they keep that going for the next five games? 55 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: No question, the big ship worthy they can take this 56 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: team all the way to the Super Bowl. I think 57 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: we know that they've been phenomenal, and they hope they 58 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: don't have to see Deebo Samuel and the Niners again 59 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,119 Speaker 1: because honestly, that's kind of been the key to unlocking 60 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: them defensively. So if they don't have to navigate that 61 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: matchup again, I think they're in great shape. I'm curious 62 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: to see how they match up with Arizona. They've had 63 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: some historical success. I think they're uniquely equipped to take 64 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: on Kyler and to take on Nuke. I know we're 65 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: going to talk about that matchup a little bit later on, 66 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: but I think last week was maybe an example of 67 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: trusting your defense or asking too much of your defense 68 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: one too many times, sooner or later, no matter how 69 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: good they are, that's going to come back to bite you. 70 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: But it wasn't just the turnovers. In fact, the turnover strange. 71 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: They weren't as costly against the Niners as you might 72 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: have expected. To Pick six was the exception to that rule. 73 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: But certainly, if you punted a little bit better before 74 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: that last drive, if you match up and tackle a 75 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: little bit better on that last defensive drive, you still 76 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: might have a path to victory. So I know where 77 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: the focus is this week. I'm not blind to that, 78 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: but I think it's right to look more holistically at 79 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: what every group can do better to beat the Cardinals 80 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: and to rip off a little five game winning street 81 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: here down the stretch. Yeah, I felt like they were 82 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: in that game till the end too. I mean, they 83 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: lost by three so and also significant ad Obo is 84 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: expected to be back this weekend to play and add 85 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: to the defense. So that's a kind of good positive 86 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: note there. Yeah, on the edge, you're going without Terrell Lewis. 87 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 1: We'll see whether or not that's the case again this week. 88 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: But having Ocronquo, who was one of their best pass 89 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: rushers when he suffered that elbow injury at Washington as 90 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: a big lift. See what Derrek Rivers offers them a 91 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: waiver claim from New England with the Patriots also on 92 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: the back end of this Cardinals game on Thursday Night Football. 93 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: But let's turn our attention back to Jared goth And 94 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: it's been puzzling and I think it's challenging for McVeigh 95 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: as a game planner now to see two really puzzling 96 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: performances Miami and San Francisco sandwiching too really stellar performances 97 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: wins over Seattle and Tampa Bay. Maurice, if you're in 98 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: that offensive room, what are you doing going to Arizona? 99 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: Are you treating and trusting Jared Goff as that Pro 100 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: Bowl quarterback or are you scaling back the risk in 101 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: the game plan a little bit to try and win 102 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 1: with some other phases and elements. You know, I'm glad 103 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: to ask that question because I think anytime you struggle, 104 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: you want to go back and you want to work 105 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: on whoever that person that struggles with strengths, not their weaknesses. Right, So, 106 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: Jared Goff is a great He throws the ball really 107 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: well in between the numbers and the hash. That's where 108 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: he's the most efficient. I feel like slants deepens short 109 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: ends though that area between the numbers and the hash 110 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: he excels at. I would expect Sean McVay and the 111 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: Rams to go get back to that. You're gonna see 112 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: a lot of blitzes here from this Cardinals team than 113 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: Joseph their deepensive coordinator is a very aggressive guy. They're 114 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 1: gonna sit and boot a Baker a ton. You're gonna 115 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: see him consider to what Jamal Adams was for the 116 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks. So I expect to see a lot of 117 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: inbreaking routes. Now they struggle covering on the outside, which 118 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: is another you know, a very I think I think 119 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: the Rams gonna take advantage of They're gonna try to 120 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: send pressure and do different things. But if you can 121 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: get those in breaking routes, that we were used to 122 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: seeing the first couple of years with Sean McVay taking over, 123 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: where Jared was like he'd play action fake, whip around 124 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: and throw the ball right now and the ball will 125 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: hit him right in the chest. He missed a couple 126 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: of those against the Niners, but I think you work 127 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: on those throughout the course of the season or throughout 128 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: the course of practice. Then you get back to that. 129 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: And the second thing I think they do, and you 130 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: are going to lean on Jared Golf, but you need 131 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: to find a way to get Cooper Cup on those 132 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: option routes in the slot. That's where they've excelled. If 133 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: you watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, whenever they needed 134 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: a big play was Cooper Cup in the slot, either 135 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: working across the middle or breaking out where he was 136 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: wide open a couple of times and Jared was able 137 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: to get the ball to him quickly. And the last 138 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: thing is this for Jared, you can't dial in on 139 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: a guy and JB. We called the game where Robert 140 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: Woods comes wide open in the second window and Jared 141 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:55,679 Speaker 1: was already throwing the ball on the wheel to Cooper Cup. 142 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 1: You have to be you have to allow the defense 143 00:06:57,960 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: to tell you where to go with the ball, and 144 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: when they you would just throw it accurately in on 145 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: time and you'll be fine. So it was more pressing, 146 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: I think for Jared golf than it was arm or 147 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: anything else. And sometimes that happens all right, Like when 148 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: we're on the golf course, JB. The one time we're 149 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: out there and I didn't strike the ball the best way, 150 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: I started to press a little bit and they started 151 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: shooting left and right. They want to relax. I started 152 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: hitting the ball right down the middle. So for Jared, 153 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: it's more is getting back comfortable, being more relaxed, and 154 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: understanding that you still are a very good quarterback in 155 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: this league. You're just hitting a rough spot in your career. 156 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: Sorry interrupt, but let me follow up on that point, 157 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: because what I saw from San Francisco was the way 158 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: they deployed their personnel such that they were taking away 159 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: the areas that you wanted to attack and the person 160 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: Cooper Cup with whom you wanted to attack to open 161 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: up those throwing windows to attack between the numbers. Do 162 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: they need to get vertical more? Because what I sense 163 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: from Robert Sala and the San Francisco forty nine ers is, Hey, 164 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: if you can beat us on the perimeter, if you 165 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: can beat us to the sidelines, great, But I get it. 166 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: They're uniquely equipped with their safeties, their linebackers, their corn 167 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: or to take a lot of that stuff away. But 168 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: there was maybe not as much throwing room as you 169 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: would have liked in the areas of the field that 170 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: you're talking about. Well, I think then you use Cooper 171 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: Cup as a deep threat, right, So if you're gonna 172 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: double team him, you know, we're trying to get him 173 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: the ball, you're gonna use him as a decoy in 174 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: certain situations to stretch the field and then allow Robert Woods, 175 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: Josh Reynolds, Van Jefferson, Gerald Everard, and possibly Tyler Higley, 176 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: who all have receiver backgrounds to come underneath sometimes, you know, 177 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: and I'd never liked this as a player. I hated 178 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: being the decoy because that means you you're doing really well. 179 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: They're doing everything they can to take you away, but 180 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: you still want your your touches. But sometimes you have 181 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: to sacrifice with a greater good of the team. If 182 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: you're Cooper Cup to say, okay, which I know he 183 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: has no problem with it, but I'm gonna get out. 184 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna clear this thing out so that my brother 185 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: can eat, and then when he starts doing well, they'll 186 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: try to take him away. Then I can go and 187 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: get what I need to get. But again, it's it's 188 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: that back and forth game that you have to play. 189 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: The Niners had a great game plan coming in and 190 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: they've just executed it better than the Rams executed there. 191 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: And you know it's part of it. But you be 192 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: able to bounce back because that is on tape and 193 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: similar to what you saw against the Miami Dolphins the 194 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: next week. It was zero pressure and all these things 195 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: that you were seeing, you had to have a you 196 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: had to have an answer for it. From the sea 197 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks, You're gonna have to have an answer 198 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: now for what was to come from what the Niners 199 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: did as well. Yeah, and now they're about to face 200 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray, who's been better than ever this year. He's 201 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: that dual threat quarterback. We talked about quite a bit, 202 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: but I really want to talk about can this defense 203 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: really stop him? And do they need to account for 204 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: him in the run game because he's on pace for 205 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: nearly a thousand rushing yards fifteen rushing touchdowns. Keet this. 206 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: Only Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, and Antonio Gibson have more 207 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 1: rushing touchdowns than quarterback Kyler Murray. Yeah. Well, this is 208 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: the thing with Kyler Murray. I kind of got some 209 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: people on Twitter got upset with me when I said this. 210 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: I believe in order to win in the National Football League, 211 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: you have to be able to compete from the pocket. 212 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: You have to be able to win from the pocket. 213 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: All that running and all that stuff it sounds good, 214 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: but eventually that goes away and you have to have 215 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: the ability to see the game from inside the pocket 216 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: to play for a long period of time. The thing 217 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: about Kyler Murray, what we saw from the New England Patriots, 218 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: they didn't They blitzed him, not to sack him, but 219 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: to keep him in the pocket. And so you eliminated 220 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: the outside runs, You eliminated the throws that he makes, 221 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: the big plays he makes from the outside. And to 222 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: be honest with you, guys, if it wasn't for the 223 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: hell Murray against the Buffalo Bills, they might be over 224 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: oh one four here in the last four games. So 225 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: they have struggled mightily. And I think the Rams defense 226 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: and what I love about this, and I've talked to JB. 227 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: A Ton about this. It's a matchup based game, and 228 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: the Rams defensively match up perfectly against the Arizona Cardinals 229 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: with Jalen Ramsey taking out New Hopkins, with Aaron Donald 230 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 1: and the way these guys are rushing the quarterback, they 231 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: can keep him in that pocket. Someone of what you 232 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: do with Russell Wilson, what the Rams did to Russell 233 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: Wilson and DK Metcalf. And so you do have to 234 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: watch the Kyler Murray run in the red zone because 235 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: he is he becomes a running back and a viable 236 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: threat there. But if you can keep him in that 237 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: pocket and force him to throw through the trees, what 238 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: Jagdoy used to tell us, like, put your hands up. 239 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: He's a short guy. Make him throw through the trees 240 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: where you can't see the receiver. You give your dbs 241 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: a better opportunity to go and make plays. You know 242 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: he hurt that shoulder, is throwing shoulder against the Seahawks 243 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: a few weeks back, and I know you don't run 244 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: with your shoulder, but he has not been the same 245 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: runner since that occurred. And I think from the Ram standpoint, 246 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: you still have to account for him as if he's 247 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: full strength and if he is going to be that 248 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: dynamic dual threat. Recent weeks, he's been a reluctant, if 249 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: not ineffective runner, and he hasn't been necessarily as dynamic 250 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: and that at that mesh point. That's not to say 251 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: that he won't be this weekend, but I think that's 252 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: part of why the Cardinals have been struggling, not having 253 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: Larry Fitzgerald obviously another piece last week to account for all. Right, 254 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: do you want to go rapid fire really quick? Who 255 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: wants to Who wants to take this Ramsey Hopkins matchup first? 256 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: It's exciting. I mean, this is as good as it gets. 257 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: This is this is Dion against Jerry Rice caliber stuff. Yeah, 258 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: I mean it's the most by a most um what 259 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: is it allowed by Jalen Ramsey and coveraged by a 260 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: receiver in his career. I mean, DeAndre Hopkins has Jalen 261 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: Ramsey wrapped around, but Jalen ain't gonna have that. Yeah. 262 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: That's volume though, That's that's that's the number of games 263 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: they played against each other more than anything else. Yeah, 264 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: I mean, someone like Hopkins is gonna get hit, but 265 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: Dylan's had last moment, but I think his chances in 266 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: this defense are are gonna be great. Well, we also 267 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: have to remember this too, Jalen didn't have Aaron Donald 268 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: rushing exactly. Even in Jacksonville. You had Klaias Campbell, you 269 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 1: had some other guys Yannique and gock Way, you have 270 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: some guys getting to the quarterback. Even Fowler was there, 271 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: But he doesn't have a guy that gets that type 272 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 1: of pressure, that internal pressure. Especially with the way the 273 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinal's blocking scheme, He's gonna get immediate pressure right away, 274 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: and that's gonna help out Jalen in this situation. So 275 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a great matchup though for sure. Hey, 276 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: you know, I looked at m like the Pro Football 277 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: Focus grades, who had ninety plus grades, Like, obviously Aaron 278 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: Donald is always going to pop on that, but John 279 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: Johnson popped up on that list. And offensive lineman David 280 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: Edwards and Sean McVay spoke just this past game how 281 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,839 Speaker 1: great John Johnson played in that game. Is there anything 282 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: to be said for that? You two are watching that 283 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: game more than anybody. I mean, I think not only 284 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: is he playing well individually, but he's wearing the green dot, 285 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 1: and so a lot of the organizational stuff he's responsible for. No. 286 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 1: By the way, he's got a rookie safety playing next 287 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 1: to him in Jordan Fuller, So I think he's carrying 288 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: a lot of substance for this defense. No question. John 289 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: Johnson's having a career year. I don't know what's happened 290 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: to his hands, and neither does he. He's been hard 291 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 1: on himself because he's had some picks. Yeah, and he's 292 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: letting everyone else eat in terms of those takeaways. But 293 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: he's due. He's due, all right. You want to go 294 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: to Cam Akers, Maurice, this is your cup of tea here. 295 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 1: He's the most talented runner. But is he the rams 296 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: best running back? Are we gonna see more cam Where's 297 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: Malcolm Brown? Where's Darrell Henderson? Well? Swree and I think 298 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: this you're gonna always go with the hot hand, and 299 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: as of late, it's been cam Akers. He scored on 300 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He ran well 301 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: against the Niners obviously with that big run scores again, 302 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: to me, it seems like they're gonna start leaning on 303 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: him more. You're gonna see all three guys, Malcolm Brown's 304 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: situational play is not gonna change. He's still gonna be 305 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: on third down, story yardage and some goal line. But 306 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: cam Akers may mess around and become the lead guy 307 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: now just because of when you're when you're struggling against 308 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: the team, and then all of a sudden he breaks 309 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: that sixty one yard run. And it wasn't like he 310 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: didn't have to make a guy miss or two. He 311 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: broke the safety down and was able to get outside 312 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: and go, and he showed what we saw at Florida 313 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 1: Stay this freshman year, and so you want to try 314 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: to keep that going because again down the road, you're 315 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: gonna need all three guys going. So it's important to 316 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: get that hot hand. And I think again, he hasn't 317 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: played a lot, so he's fresh, and he has legs 318 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: he'll be able to roll. So to tie it all together, 319 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: because I know a lot of the attention is on 320 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: Jerry Goff right now, as it rightly should be. He's 321 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: the quarterback. He plays the most important position. But I 322 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: got an MJD. Caliber nugget for you here. Since Whittwer's injury, 323 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: going into the half against Seattle, the Rams are rushing 324 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: for less than three point two yards per carry. If 325 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: you take out that sixty one yard burst from Cam, 326 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: they're averaging two point two seven yards per carry since 327 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: the half against Seattle. One of the greatest things you 328 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: can do for Jared Goff is to open up a 329 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: lot of this offense by getting your running assignments down 330 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: and having a more efficient result in that running game. Now, 331 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: I know they've played Tampa Bay, which I think is 332 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: the best defense they'll see all season, and they played 333 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: San Francisco, which I don't care what their numbers say. 334 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: When they have the personnel that they had in Week twelve, 335 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: they are and can be an elite defense and they 336 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: know this Rams offense very well. We'll see whether the 337 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: Cardinals can mount a similar challenge. But you are asking 338 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: a lot of any quarterback, Jared Goff or who who 339 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: ever plays that position. If you are playing the better 340 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: part of two and a half games without a Russian attack, 341 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: well yeah, then they throw the ball fifty one times 342 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: against the Buccaneers. Like that's you don't want to live 343 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: like that. We don't want to live like that even 344 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: though you won. And that's the problem with winning sometimes. 345 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: And I just want our listeners to understand that when 346 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: you win, sometimes it helps negative habits keep going. Right. 347 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: It's kind of like we we we wont throwing the ball, 348 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: so we could throw the ball again. Well, that may 349 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: not work against the next team, and so I think 350 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: that kind of played a role into it as well. 351 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: Like they weren't running the ball as well against the Niners, 352 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: so they tried to go with some passing plays and 353 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: that didn't work as well either. All right, well, we're 354 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: gonna get to our fantasy football picks for the week 355 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: as we close out our show. Jab, I'm gonna start 356 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: with you. You know where I'm going. You know where 357 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm going. I love Jared Goff on the bounce back. 358 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: I did it earlier this season for this show, and 359 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: I was like, well, Jay's gonna say, Jerry, absolutely, I am. 360 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: He carved up the Cardinals last year. I believe in him. 361 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: I like the language that's coming out of Thousand Oaks 362 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: right now. Sean McVay put it on his plate, said 363 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: his shoulders are big enough to handle it. Jared Goff said, 364 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 1: He's exactly right. Let's go back to work. I think 365 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: they're gonna have a great game. Come on, Marie, give 366 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: me a running back. Because I feel like I am 367 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go. I was like I was, so, I 368 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: was like, Robert Wood sounds nice, even Gerald ever possibly, 369 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna go with cam Makers. Okay. It just 370 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: reminds me of the game when we were calling JB. 371 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: We're in Arizona and they brought out c J. Anderson 372 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: and I was a little disrespected because I feel like 373 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: if CJ could do it, I could definitely do it. 374 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: You should just caught me. You know, I could have 375 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 1: did both. But I think we've already had some Rams swag. 376 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,719 Speaker 1: You already had some apparel. I was ready to go. 377 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: He didn't have to go pay him that extra money 378 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: could go. But what this is what I do believe 379 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: when the Rams with the Arizona Cardinals, they run the ball, 380 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: and they run the ball efficiently, and they run the 381 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: ball well. And I think they'll continue to do that 382 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: this week. Serena, Serena, two guesses for your pick? Can 383 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: I guess your pick? Yeah? Go for it. I want 384 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: to see if we're far enough into between the horns 385 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: that I know, is it Robert Woods, It's not Robert Woods. 386 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: Is it Tyler Higbee? You know if Tyler Higbee's elbow 387 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: wasn't funky. I actually was gonna go with Higbee, but 388 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: I did pick a wide out Cooper Cup. I went 389 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: back and I looked at whose sparts. Last season when 390 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: we faced the Cardinals, Cooper Cup had a touchdown in 391 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: each of those two wins. Now to this season, he's 392 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: been a little quiet for Cup standards, but he's been 393 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: quietly leading the Rams with sixty six receptions, seven hundred 394 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: and sixty three receiving yards. He actually has better stats 395 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: on the road this year. So even though Arizona not 396 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 1: a long flight, I'm gonna give Cooper Cup some love 397 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: in this fantasy pick. See. I know Serena likes to 398 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: play the matchup. She likes the historical president and Robert 399 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: Woods had a career day in Glendale last year. Tyler 400 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: Higbee's massive month of December, a lot of it was 401 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 1: picking on the Cardinals who didn't defend tight ends particularly Well. Well, 402 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: good to see you both this morning. Looking forward to 403 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: getting back the Wing column. Hopefully it's against the Cardinals 404 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: in week thirteen. Have great rest of your day. Thank 405 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: you for listening for Maurice Jones, Drew and Serena Rallis 406 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: on JB Long. And that Rams Cardinals game from State 407 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: Farm Stadium and Glendale, Arizona kicks off at one oh 408 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 1: five Pacific, and you can watch it on Fox