WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.280 Some fun news broke yesterday as Britain Covey has been 2 00:00:04.280 --> 00:00:07.400 signed by the Los Angeles Rams. Of course, they already 3 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:09.400 have Pooka and Akoua our next guest friend of the 4 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:12.919 show from our PAC twelve Days. Oh goodness, jab Long 5 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.240 do you remember those PAC twelve days? Happy Tuesday, buddy? 6 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:15.640 How are we doing? 7 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:19.440 I remember them? Finally, Happy Tuesday to you? And yeah, 8 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:22.839 the Los Angeles Rams bid to be the official NFL 9 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:26.199 team of the greater Salt Lake Area continues with Britain Covey. 10 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.519 You already have one of our favorite songs with Puka, 11 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:29.519 and now you had another. 12 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:33.039 So look, I'm sure you already know this. You're getting 13 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.600 the highest of high quality guys. 14 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:38.960 He was undrafted and got a Super Bowl ring in Philly. 15 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:42.920 I'm wondering what sort of role you foresee Britain playing 16 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:45.119 for what I perceived to be a really good landing 17 00:00:45.159 --> 00:00:46.119 spot for him in LA. 18 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:49.640 Yeah, the Rams are one of the most improved special 19 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:53.439 teams units year every year. Last season, which they had 20 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.320 to be because they couldn't have been much worse in 21 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.439 twenty twenty three, and I think this year is very 22 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.200 much about incremental progress. I think they've pinned down who 23 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:05.239 their placekicker is, who their punter is. But I think 24 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.000 return game and kick coverage are all still very much 25 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.519 roster spots that are up for grabs, and so you're 26 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:16.599 dealing with kind of roster spots forty seven, forty eight 27 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:20.000 and beyond. And I think Covey is someone they got 28 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.519 to see up close head to head against the Eagles, 29 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:25.680 and when it became known that he was available, might 30 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:28.760 be one of those incremental upgrades. And who knows, there 31 00:01:28.760 --> 00:01:31.640 could be like a wide receiver sixth spot available to 32 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:33.239 him as well if he does make the team. 33 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:36.280 In that regard, is it odd to picture life without 34 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:41.959 Cooper Cup, Yeah, it is, But. 35 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:46.359 I'm trying to take like a glass half full approach, 36 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:49.920 like I had the privilege of calling every snap of 37 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:54.359 Cooper's NFL career to this juncture. And he was old 38 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.359 by his peer standards when he entered the league, and 39 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.719 he was old by his peer standards when he won 40 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:03.680 the Triple Crown in Super Bowl MVP, and he's unfortunately 41 00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:05.840 on the wrong side of thirty in a young man's 42 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:08.879 game where more and more waves of I think top 43 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:13.240 tier receivers are coming into the league, and so it 44 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:16.120 made sense, I think, to go in a different direction 45 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:19.479 at this point. His usage rate had dropped considerably in 46 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.039 the second half of last season and especially down the 47 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.719 stretch and into the playoffs, and had that continued, had 48 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.680 that reality spun forward into this season, I think it 49 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.840 could have had the potential to be awkward, and not 50 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.080 that it would have tainted his legacy in any way, 51 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:37.680 shape or form. But I think it's best for both 52 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:42.319 sides that his future as a ram Is preserves with 53 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:45.520 a year maybe more in Seattle, and whatever he's got 54 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.240 left and left to prove, he gets to do it 55 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:50.599 in an area that's you know, familiar and close to home. 56 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:53.840 And I'll certainly be rooting for him, you know what, 57 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.199 fifteen times. 58 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:59.199 Per year, certainly, And you know you had DeVante Adams 59 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:03.840 who went healthy and engaged is as talented and certainly 60 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:07.719 aging as well. But what do you foresee with of course, 61 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.159 as were already referenced, Pooka and Akoua, you're three next 62 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.599 to Devonte Adams. 63 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:18.000 Yeah, I think that, rightly or wrongly, it was believed 64 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:21.039 that Cooper Cup was no longer changing math in the 65 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:24.360 passing game. He was still doing everything right. He's still 66 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.199 making great catches. He was still inserting in the running 67 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.520 game the way that we've come to know and love. 68 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:33.840 But I think the Rams offensively, especially in the passing game, 69 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:39.319 had become Pooka and Akua and then replacement value around 70 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:42.039 the rest of the formation, and so year over year 71 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.560 to bring a future Hall of Famer in who, despite 72 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:51.000 a whole lot of quarterback uncertainty last season, still put 73 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:56.120 up numbers is a worthwhile dart throw. I think Matthew 74 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:58.840 Stafford has been a king maker at quarterback throughout his career, 75 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:01.639 be it with Megatron or with Cooper Cup or with 76 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:05.199 Poka Nakua, and so whatever is left of DeVante Adams's 77 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:09.400 career maybe even prime. I think Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford 78 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:14.039 or the perfect pandem to maximize it. California and Los 79 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.600 Angeles familiar to him as well, so he's comfortable and 80 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:19.600 I think at this stage of the the creer he 81 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.040 knows what he's playing for right, which is just like legacy, 82 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:25.000 cementing wins and moments, and that's kind of where the 83 00:04:25.079 --> 00:04:27.800 Rams are as a team and especially as an offense 84 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:30.120 in their organizational growth curve. Twas at the. 85 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:34.199 Match, let's need as well as Sean McVay always seemed 86 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.920 to be up to something on Draft night, and they've 87 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.639 kind of become the NFL equivalent of the San Antonio Spurs, 88 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:43.000 where the Spurs will just draft like an international dude 89 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:44.959 in the second round. You back, well, he's probably awesome, 90 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:48.120 so you probably just assume that they're doing the right thing. 91 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.160 Six picks overall. What'd you like about what the Rams 92 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:52.399 did during the draft process. 93 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.199 Yeah, I mean, I think coming away with a future 94 00:04:55.279 --> 00:04:58.199 number one pick by way of Atlanta was a surprise, 95 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:02.439 an extremely pleasant one that could have all sorts of 96 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.720 you know, amplified benefits in the next three hundred and 97 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:09.920 fifty something days. They were at the tail end of 98 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.879 the first round. By moving back twenty spots from twenty 99 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:16.639 six to forty six, they essentially bought themselves Atlanta's first 100 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:20.600 round pick next season next spring, and who knows, like 101 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.399 the Falcons could very well win the South, the Falcons 102 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:27.240 could very well, you know, enter a tailspin, and that 103 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.920 could be a top ten pick, maybe even a top 104 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:32.639 five pick if you're being super optimistic. So it's always 105 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:36.680 tough to accept delayed gratification for an event like the draft, 106 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:41.639 which only happens once per year, but Spence, you know this, well, 107 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.000 think of all the different ways that the Rams might 108 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.879 be able to utilize two first round picks. You know, 109 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:49.519 before they even kick off Week one, who knows, if 110 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:53.920 there's a veteran at a position of need and a 111 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.399 team willing to deal at the end of training camp, 112 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:59.439 come the trade deadline, you know what if a team 113 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.439 is out of it and is looking to part ways 114 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:03.879 with a potential free agent to be and you might 115 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.759 get someone of Jalen Rams, your Obi j or Dante 116 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:11.480 Fowler or Von Miller's caliber. These are all players that 117 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.839 the Rams have acquired at that point in the calendar 118 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.639 in years past. To have a first round pick to 119 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.480 play with extremely valuable. And if things go great and 120 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:24.199 you don't need it, wonderful, maybe you come up with 121 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:28.120 another championship. If things go sideways for the Rams, well 122 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:31.000 you're entering your thirty seven with Matthew Stafford and there's 123 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:33.800 got to be life at quarterback beyond him. You could 124 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.560 be tied up, even coming off a disappointing season, with 125 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:39.199 two first round picks to package and move up and 126 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.199 get your next quarterback of the future. 127 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:44.600 From the outside looking in there was some conversation about 128 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:46.920 whether or not Stafford would be back, right, was that 129 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:48.600 ever a real thing or were they always going to 130 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:50.480 ride with him for at least another year. 131 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:53.439 No, I think he's been year to year ever since 132 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.639 getting injured in twenty two after the Super Bowl season. 133 00:06:56.759 --> 00:06:59.079 I mean, from that point forward, I think I've always 134 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:02.040 kind of put the headst on with the very real 135 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:05.120 possibility that I'm calling Matthew Stafford last game. I don't 136 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:07.680 want to think about those possibilities. And I don't think 137 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:12.000 McVeigh and the Rams wanted to step into the next 138 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.600 chapter of Rams football without what I think is still 139 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:17.360 one of the top ten quarterbacks walking the planet. But 140 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:19.120 I think it was good for both sides to kind 141 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:22.319 of look over the edge into the abyss and decide 142 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.720 what made sense for them moving forward. I think they're 143 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:28.279 actually in a better place, maybe even than they were 144 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:32.720 throughout last season, having gone through that exercise. And I 145 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:36.279 think it's entirely reasonable that neither one of those first 146 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:38.439 round picks next year that we just talked about are 147 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:41.480 used on a quarterback. I think it's entirely possible that 148 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.519 Matthew Stafford plays too closer to forty and he's got 149 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:49.439 another two, maybe even three years left in the tank, 150 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.680 so long as he stays upright and the Rams stay 151 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.759 winning and they can use that draft capital to keep 152 00:07:54.839 --> 00:07:55.519 him in the chase. 153 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:57.240 Wait from the Rams for a minute. 154 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:59.639 Just wanted to get your perspective because I always find 155 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:05.000 it really fascinating the chasm that exists between NFL talent 156 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:09.199 evaluators and guys that evaluate talent or people that evaluate 157 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.480 talent in the media, and the gap that exists between 158 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:16.560 the two. And you know, NFL talent evaluators or an NBA. 159 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:18.279 You know, if you work in the pros, you're taught 160 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:20.920 to remove emotion from the process and let's just analyze 161 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:25.000 whether or not somebody impact impacts winning. And oftentimes, certainly 162 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:28.120 in today's day and age of media, where content creation 163 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.439 and engagement is king, you wonder are you analyzing talent 164 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.240 to make it a better story or do you really 165 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:36.120 believe the kid can play? And I'm not a scout, 166 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.960 but I didn't think she'd Or Sanders who dropped to 167 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:41.759 the fifth round? How did you digest that slide and 168 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:44.919 the whole storyline? And can we be as reductive as 169 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.360 just saying NFL talent evaluators did not evaluate him the 170 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:49.399 way that the media did. 171 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.559 I think that's part of it. But I also think 172 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:55.240 he was subject to a perfect storm. You know, he 173 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:58.720 played his leading role in what transpired, don't get me wrong, 174 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:02.039 But I think because of that in balance that you 175 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:06.919 just described, there was a very real free fall to 176 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.360 be had, And I wasn't surprised that it went into 177 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:13.480 Day two, maybe day three certainly, But I would guess 178 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:16.519 if you were really able to see transparently Spence, there 179 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:19.120 were a whole bunch of teams, like a wide swath 180 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:22.799 of NFL teams that didn't spend one second on Shoodoor 181 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:27.399 Sanders during this offseason process. Maybe that's because they weren't interested. 182 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:30.039 More likely, I think it's because they didn't figure he 183 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.600 would be available to them. Like if you had a 184 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.759 draft pick in the back half of the first round, 185 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:38.840 or if you weren't really interested in this year's quarterback class, 186 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:42.399 why would you devote bandwidth to doing a deep dive 187 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:44.679 on whether or not he had the right ingredients to 188 00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:48.240 be in your quarterback room, much less your starter. And 189 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.799 so when you take half the teams, let's just call 190 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.679 it in the National Football League out of play for him, 191 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:56.600 and then the others either get the quarterback that they 192 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.720 wanted or had gone through the process and realized that 193 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:03.039 he was not worth all the ancillary things that would 194 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:05.559 come with making him a backup or bringing him in 195 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.200 to compete with your room. There were very few teams 196 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:11.879 even competing against each other, and I think that's why 197 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:16.960 you saw what transpired. And look, I think it's entirely 198 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:20.080 possible that he gets opportunities this year. I think it's 199 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:24.480 also possible that the consensus that we found out, you know, 200 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.519 a couple of weekends ago, is that he's just not 201 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:30.000 an NFL quarterback and that very few in this class, 202 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:30.679 maybe even are. 203 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:35.279 Were you surprised to see the meteorc rise of a 204 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:38.440 former PAC twelve quarterback in cam Ward, where it's felt 205 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.480 like jbe for a long long time, there was a 206 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.879 legitimate debate about, well, A, whether or not you even 207 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:46.960 want to take a quarterback in this class, and then 208 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:49.679 b whether or not you want to take either cam 209 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.840 or Schador or whoever. Were you surprised to see what 210 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.759 a consensus the cam Ward became, that actually became the 211 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:57.919 reality for Tennessee. 212 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.840 Yeah, I mean I believe it or not. I called 213 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:03.039 it first Washington State Pac twelve game. I love the 214 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.919 narrative of him coming from incarnate word, and I understand 215 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:10.399 why he had gone under recruited and what upside there was. 216 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:14.799 But watching him that night and throughout his Washington State career, 217 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:17.679 I'm not sure that I ever saw an NFL quarterback 218 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.159 much less than number one overall pick. Clearly, what he 219 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:22.879 did last year at Miami changed a lot of those perceptions, 220 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.480 and I'll be the first to admit I don't know 221 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:26.639 what I'm looking at when it comes to evaluating NFL 222 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:31.720 quarterbacks either. I can see it happening with Fernanda Mendoza now, 223 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.720 who similarly had a long path to cal and I 224 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:38.000 think I called his first start there in Berkeley, and 225 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:40.480 now he's really highly regarded going in the next year. 226 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:46.639 So circumstances matter. Great quarterbacks can elevate their circumstances. All 227 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.320 quarterbacks benefit from positive circumstances, and I think that's what 228 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:53.320 you saw with cam Ward. He's on the RAMS schedule. 229 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.320 We traveled in Nashville next year, so I'm looking forward 230 00:11:56.320 --> 00:12:00.000 to seeing him again in person. But look, I think 231 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.360 think it's I think it's a good case study, especially 232 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.600 in the transfer portal era for quarterbacks looking for opportunity. 233 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.080 If you can prove it at the Washington State PAC 234 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.360 twelve level, if you can prove it at the Miami 235 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.639 ACC level, then there's every reasonable believe that you might 236 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.879 ascend to one of his really coveted positions in the draft. 237 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:20.759 Stick with a quarterback position, and stick in your division 238 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:24.120 and a former Pac twelve player, and happy for Sam. 239 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:27.559 Happy for Sam Donald as a Jets fan, I actually 240 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:31.120 thought we had finally drafted the solution, and maybe we did, 241 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:33.120 but we're just so horrible at everything else. You know, 242 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:35.159 Sam never really had a chance to show he was. 243 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.679 Of course a great year last year. Minnesota is going 244 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:41.039 to go JJ and so he lands in your division 245 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:44.080 with Seattle, and of course, as we already talked about, 246 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.919 they have Cooper Flag. What are you expecting as you 247 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:48.360 guys are going to battle the Seahawks with Sam Donald 248 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:48.919 under center? 249 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.960 I mean, talk about circumstances mattering for a quarterback, right, 250 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:55.320 did not look the part of a first round pick 251 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.039 in New York. Did not look the part of a 252 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:01.159 first round pick in Carolina. Goes to Sam Francisco. Experience 253 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:06.440 is a better ecosystem, a more quarterback centric offense, puts 254 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:11.279 up some good tape and then blossoms in another Shantahan 255 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:14.200 Tree system in Minnesota last year and was not just 256 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.320 a pro bowler, but I think a very viable MVP 257 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.080 candidate for a good part of last year. So I 258 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.639 continually had to remind myself that you, Sam, I think 259 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:26.159 last year was still in his age twenty seven season. 260 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:29.080 Don't quote me on that, but thereabouts, and so I 261 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.360 think he's got great football left ahead of him. I 262 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.879 don't know that Seattle is necessarily the long term best 263 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.039 place for him to be. I think Seattle made a 264 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:42.480 lot of understandable decisions, but not ones that necessarily made 265 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:47.000 their twenty five team better at quarterback and at receivers specifically. 266 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.919 But yeah, Sam Darnold I've always found easy to root for, 267 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:53.919 and I think he would be a really interesting quarterback 268 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:56.600 to bring Seattle to Sofi Stadium in Week one. That's 269 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.679 kind of the the Sofi opener that I want for 270 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:02.679 the rank because they just knocked Sam Darnold out of 271 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:05.159 the playoffs last year as a quarterback of the Vikings, 272 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:08.679 and would also mean that Cooper Cup returned to Sofi 273 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:11.679 stadium is kind of locked in early in the season 274 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.840 when he's hopefully healthy, and we can all appreciate that 275 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.480 for what it is. 276 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:17.759 Feels like in Vegas tells us that the Rams are 277 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:19.399 the favorite in the NFC West. 278 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.639 I wonder you know. 279 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.559 San Francisco has a lot of questions, answer a lot 280 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.200 of questions. 281 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:24.600 Answer. 282 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.559 Of course, They're gonna have to pay their quarterback. And 283 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:28.639 as the way this league works, when you have a 284 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.559 young quarterback, you don't have to pay. You can surround 285 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:34.120 him with other pieces see Russell Wilson in Seattle. Then 286 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.679 you have to pay the quarterback. You have to let 287 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:38.600 some of those other pieces go. But who's the team? 288 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:41.159 Maybe it is Seattle that you think is keeping Sean 289 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.320 McVay up. As far as your NFC West counterpoints. 290 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:47.279 Yeah, I think all four teams are playing for a 291 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:50.279 division championship and a spot in the playoffs. I think 292 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.879 Arizona is on the com like I thought they would 293 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.919 be much improved last year. Maybe I was a year 294 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:58.320 early on them, but I think Arizona continues to make 295 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:02.320 really sound decisions. And they played the Rams toe to 296 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.519 toe twice last year, blew them out once and had 297 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:08.240 them dead to rights at SOFI Stadium as well. I 298 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:11.919 think people fading San Francisco are suffering from recency bias. 299 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:15.000 I think there's too much championship pedigree there. I think 300 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:18.200 they're too well coached, especially getting Rob Robert solid back 301 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.960 as their defensive coordinator. I think their draft is underappreciated. 302 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.759 And here's the most important thing is they play a 303 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.840 fourth place schedule and that matters with your three like 304 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:31.159 place finisher opponents like compare them head to head with 305 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:35.039 Los Angeles. Whereas the Rams have to play the Ravens 306 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:40.279 have to host, the Lions have to go to Philadelphia. Conversely, 307 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:42.960 the forty nine ers who finished last in that division, 308 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:47.639 they get Cleveland, they get Chicago, they get the Giants. 309 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.879 I believe, like that's gotta be worth a game a 310 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:53.000 game and a half in the standings by years end, 311 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.480 no matter how the year goes for them competitively. So 312 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:58.519 I think that's why. Yeah, some people are picking Los 313 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.399 Angeles as the favorite in that division, but if you 314 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.320 look at the Vegas thoughts, I'm pretty sure the Niners 315 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.720 are still right there because of that fourth place schedule. 316 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:10.159 Babe, before I say you lose simple question, you know, 317 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:13.519 expectations for the Rams this year and how do they 318 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.080 live up to those expectations? 319 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:17.159 Where are the concerns? What I read when I saw 320 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.919 you on the rundown earlier is that a lot. 321 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:22.519 Of people think that maybe some additions at cornerback necessary 322 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.679 prior to the start of the season. 323 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.240 But I don't know. 324 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:28.519 You know' that's your expertise. So what are you expecting, 325 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.960 what are you hoping? And how do the Rams. 326 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.679 Live up to those expectations this year? 327 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:35.679 Yeah, the cornerback thing is interesting because they've got aged 328 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.200 veterans in those positions and they didn't address them at 329 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:43.000 all in the draft. There's still a possibility that Jalen 330 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:45.120 Ramsey comes back to Los Angeles, and I think we 331 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.840 could be having a much different conversation by training camp 332 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:51.519 with respect to that position. But look, when you sign 333 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:54.840 up for more, Matthew Stafford, when you make a move 334 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:58.799 to recruit Devonte Adams, you're signaling to anyone who will 335 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:01.399 listen that you're using crowbar and you're jumping on it 336 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:03.360 with both feet to kind of keep this window of 337 00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:07.559 contention open. I'm not naive enough to think that the 338 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.880 Rams were one play away from winning the Super Bowl 339 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:12.720 last year. I get that they played the Eagles more 340 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:15.519 competitively than any other team in the NFC playoffs or 341 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.920 even in the Super Bowl, but that does not mean 342 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.799 that the Rams necessarily would have won the NFC championship 343 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.799 game at home, nor played mahomes in Kansas City. The 344 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:27.359 way that Philadelphia did progress in the league is not linear. 345 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.160 It's the opposite of that, in fact. But so long 346 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:32.839 as Matthew's at the switch and Sean mcvay's wearing the 347 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:36.640 headset and this young and upcoming defense is puncturing pockets, yeah, 348 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:40.240 I think they have every reason to have championship expectations. 349 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.759 That starts with winning the West, and once they get 350 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.079 in the field, I think we saw last year and 351 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:48.000 we've seen throughout mcveigh's tenure, they're going to be a 352 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.720 tough out and they're not going to be a team 353 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.559 that any opponent is going to be happy to see. 354 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.279 In the playoffs. 355 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.200 You're gonna love britt he's the best guy, so hopefully 356 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.920 he can find a rolling stick. 357 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.119 And of course, with Pooka there, we'll have one eye 358 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.160 on the Rams all year long. 359 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:00.559 JB. 360 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.279 Thanks so much for the time. It's always good to 361 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.880 spend the Tuesday with you be good. 362 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.200 Okay. 363 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.720 I doubt his tenure in Los Angeles will be as 364 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.599 long as his one in Salt Lake City, but that's 365 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.480 what I'm going to root for. 366 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.240 Fair Enough, fair enough. The great JB. 367 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:15.240 Long Voice, thank you, sir, the voice of the La Rams, 368 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:19.039 A long time voice on the Pac twelve network. That's 369 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:21.400 how we got to know JB. Calling a lot of 370 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:24.880 Pac twelve football and basketball. He's on social media if 371 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.599 you are a Rams fan, a football fan at JB 372 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.279 Underscore Long is where you find him at Porter. 373 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.519 I think I shared this with you. 374 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:33.680 I was up at the Forever twenty two game the 375 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:35.880 spring game, ran into. 376 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.759 Zach, who we had on the show. 377 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:39.319 Of course, Britt was up there as well, and he 378 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:41.160 may have tipped me off that he was leaning towards 379 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:41.839 the Rams. 380 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:45.119 And look, this business is so cutthroat. 381 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.599 It almost doesn't matter who you are unless you have 382 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.240 a massive guarantee. They can walk into practice one day 383 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.359 and just say, hey, you're done. You don't play for 384 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:55.599 us anymore. But as far as all the landing spots, 385 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:58.680 this felt like a really good match for Britt. You know, 386 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.400 as far as what that coaching staff is, the need 387 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.519 that JB talked about in the return game and maybe 388 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:05.519 even a chance to play a little wide out. 389 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:08.640 Yeah, I think, uh, JB hit the nail on the head. 390 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:13.319 They're discussing again the special teams, probably more so than 391 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:18.039 the wide receiver, but it's it's a less crowded wide 392 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.880 receiver room than it oftentimes was in Philadelphia. So you're 393 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.279 hoping to to see Britt get an opportunity on the 394 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:29.200 offensive side, but I think that his main assignment is 395 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.880 probably going to be in the in the punt return 396 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:35.279 not kick return, but punt return game for the l 397 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:38.039 A Rams, and that's a place where they have been 398 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.519 kind of steadily improving on the on the special team side. 399 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:45.160 So good spot for Britt. I hope to see more 400 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:47.319 of him out in the field. That has both to 401 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:51.200