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Linsay Strlilling
  • 3 months ago
Transcript
00:00Hey, thank you guys again.
00:08We welcome you back with our player to bank.
00:10I'm brought to you by Unified Financial Credit Union,
00:12the official credit union of the Los Angeles Rams.
00:15Time to talk Puka Nakua.
00:18I'll tell you what, Puka Nakua,
00:19not only was he one of the best receivers in the game,
00:23he's one of the best blocking receivers in the game,
00:25can run the football as well.
00:27He was that physical presence for the Rams,
00:30the guy that really took off
00:32when Cooper Cupp got banged up a couple years ago
00:34and has never looked back.
00:36Rams fail on fourth and goal,
00:38so the score remains 7-6.
00:40Rocket Sanders around the right side.
00:43Some breathing room
00:44and a new first down for the Chargers.
00:46Malik Dixon-Williams spilled him at the end of that run.
00:50Part of the benefit of going for it so close to the goal line
00:53is you got him backed up,
00:54but the Chargers get out of a sticky situation there
00:56with some nice blocking on the edge
00:58and a good run by Sanders
01:00who adds an explosive element, I would say,
01:03to this running back room
01:04that could be sorely needed to back up Hampton.
01:07No, no question.
01:07I mean, again, great vision,
01:09cutting outside, using your tools,
01:11stiff arming, and getting down this island,
01:13getting your offense out of trouble.
01:15What a run there.
01:16Some misfits there by the Rams.
01:19Jackson has to have contained.
01:21Heineke gives again.
01:22It's Vidal's turn.
01:24And a first down run up to about the 17-yard line.
01:27Jack Hapland, defensive tackle.
01:30Played most recently with the Saints in 2023,
01:33and on that stop.
01:34He's shown up a lot, actually.
01:37When you see the run,
01:38when you watch the running game
01:39or the run defense for the Rams this preseason,
01:42he's shown up as one of those guys
01:44that's holding the edge, holding the B-gap,
01:47getting off blocks, and making a ton of plays.
01:52But not as much of Heineke's.
01:54Five or six through the air for 43 yards.
01:58Drops to throw here on second and six.
02:00Dangerous position there.
02:03Charles Woods nearly took it away from Trey Harris,
02:06the rookie, second-round pick.
02:07Yeah, Trey Harris, second-round pick.
02:09So excited, I think, for the Chargers when they got him.
02:13He's that big-bodied ex-receiver,
02:15great contested catch guy they've been missing,
02:17but he hasn't done a lot this preseason.
02:20Some of that is due to opportunity, though.
02:22As you saw there, that's an inaccurate football.
02:24Can't go up and make a play.
02:25Can't put up numbers in the box score
02:27if the ball's not thrown to you.
02:30Now, Heineke surveys before third down and six
02:34from his own 17-yard line.
02:40Shotgun snap here, looking for the 23.
02:43Protection is there.
02:45Goes right back to Harris.
02:47This one is on frame,
02:48and it's a first-down Chargers in front of Sean Jolly.
02:52Yeah, that's a big body going across the middle,
02:54catching the ball.
02:55You talked about contested catches, yes,
02:57but also the guy that you're comfortable with going across the middle
03:00that can take those hits when they catch the ball.
03:03No huddle now.
03:03Pats the football.
03:04Way too tall as Harris tries to climb the ladder at 6'3".
03:08Harris caught some difficult balls in college,
03:12but not going to catch that.
03:14That one's on Heineke.
03:16Chargers are locked in a QB2 competition.
03:19Likely we're going to see Trey Lance in the second half, it seems.
03:23Maurice, I'm not sure Heineke made up ground in that competition so far today.
03:27What do you think?
03:28Trey Lance has been on fire.
03:29I mean, you watched the Hall of Fame game last week.
03:33I mean, he has been a guy,
03:34and he'll hurt you with his legs as well,
03:36which he's doing a great job of playing fast
03:38and getting through his progressions.
03:39He's not open, taking off and extending the play.
03:44Heineke hands it off on second and ten.
03:47Nowhere to go.
03:48The Rams collapse with Nick Hampton from the edge.
03:52Winning the Chargers in third and long.
03:57Timeout us at the two-minute warning.
03:59Rams on defense protecting a 7-6 lead
04:02and a chance to get it back to Stetson Bennett when we return.
04:09Welcome back to SoFi Stadium.
04:11Final two minutes of our opening half.
04:137-6 Rams on defense with an important third and 11 coming up.
04:16J.B., Mina, and M.J.B. with you today from Englewood.
04:19Hope you're all having a great weekend.
04:21And just a reminder, in case you're joining us late,
04:23that the Chargers started their runs on both sides of the ball,
04:26so the Rams played them better than even through the first quarter in change.
04:30Yeah, I thought the offensive line of the Los Angeles Rams
04:32did an awesome job against that starting front seven
04:35without Khalil Mack.
04:36It's creating holes, and then Blake Corum running the football.
04:39I mean, that was a big part of that scoring touchdown.
04:42Both Rams backs, I thought, have been excellent today.
04:45You mentioned Corum, Jarquez, Hunter, so far in this game
04:48has been running really hard, so explosive out there.
04:51And then Xavier Smith, the Rams receiver, I think, has been a real star.
04:55All right, so third down and 11, facing Heineke and the Chargers
04:58from their own 29 with two minutes to go.
05:01Deep drop, pats the ball over the middle, busts it up,
05:04and the Rams will get it back.
05:06Woods with that PBU, the secondary delivers again
05:10for Chris Shula's defense.
05:14You know, Aubrey Pleasant is so excited to see these young guys
05:17get flying around.
05:18Woods, again, all over the receiver, the ball is thrown behind.
05:23Normally, that's a pick six, but great job of batting the ball down,
05:26understanding the situation.
05:28It's third and 11.
05:29You get off the field, you get the ball back,
05:31now your offense has a chance to go a two-minute drive.
05:33J.K. Scott, the punter for the Chargers.
05:42Britton Covey competing for some return opportunities.
05:45The Los Angeles Rams breaks it across the field
05:48and stumbles before the 15-yard line.
05:52So we'll step aside and have a two-minute drill
05:55for Stetson Bennett when we come back.
05:56And the Rams looking for more points before the break,
06:06and Aubrey Pleasant introduced his four-year-old horse, Danger.
06:11Of course.
06:12Jarquez said that he met him the day he was born,
06:14coming home from school on a break.
06:16Actually had to take his church clothes off
06:18to pull Danger out of the mud.
06:20But...
06:21Oh.
06:23Listen, Jarquez Hunter gallops like a horse in the open field.
06:27He's got that interesting combination of power
06:31and explosive top-line speed.
06:34Maurice, for me, in terms of differentiating between him and Coram,
06:38it's really the vision, I think, where Coram stands out.
06:41But when he finds the hole, he is explosive.
06:45And he won the squatting competition as a freshman.
06:48Or not a freshman in high school as well.
06:49So you know he has that strength, that lower strength.
06:52The drive starter for the Rams, Mark Redman.
06:56A look out of Louisville, the arms of Nico Lee.
07:00Hunter's a great student, too.
07:01He's a three-year member of the SEC Honor Roll.
07:05Graduated with a bachelor's, no surprise,
07:07here in forestry and wildlife management.
07:11Officials kill it before second down.
07:16Previous play is under review.
07:19All three timeouts available to Pleasant and the Rams here
07:22with 1.39 to go before the half.
07:25They also will get the first possession of the third quarter.
07:29I wonder what we're reviewing.
07:31Is it the spot of the ball, possibly?
07:35Do they think he dropped it?
07:37Looks like he had it.
07:40We're inside of two minutes,
07:41so no challenge here.
07:42This all comes from the league office.
07:45Ball secured.
07:49I don't know.
07:50He's got possession the whole way.
07:51It has to be the spot of the ball is what they're looking at at this point.
07:55You know, this is a game of inches.
08:05Okay.
08:05I was going to say, that ball being a half yard short could be the difference of a field goal,
08:11a touchdown.
08:12It could be anything in this situation.
08:13That's how fine the line is in the NFL, a half a yard.
08:18Or out of bounds or not, perhaps, to stop the clock.
08:21As we see Aubrey Pleasant there, we've been talking about him getting the opportunity to coach this game.
08:26This is a great opportunity for him from a game management perspective.
08:30Two-minute drill for him in Stetson Bennett.
08:33Got all of his timeouts.
08:35Let's see how he manages his drive.
08:39Bennett, 9 of 12 through the air for 87 yards and the touchdown to Kanate Mumfields.
08:45And still can't get second down off.
08:46This time, a penalty marker.
08:48Ball start.
08:49Office number 50.
08:51Five-yard penalty.
08:52Still second down.
08:53Bo Limmer.
09:01Limmer started weeks two through nine, and the Rams went four and three in that stretch last year.
09:07Remember, he was benched for week 10 against Miami as they kind of went back to Jonah Jackson.
09:11Rams lost that one, flipped the switch, and never looked back.
09:15Now, Limmer with a terrific rookie season where far more was asked of him than anyone had planned.
09:23So, Stetson behind the sticks now.
09:29Handles a knee-high snap.
09:31Over shot.
09:32Drake stoops, and now you're in third and long.
09:35Reading coverage there.
09:37In danger of giving it back to the Chargers with two timeouts.
09:41Now, you want to hear, whatever you do here, you want to stay in bounds.
09:45This is where the two-minute drill flips.
09:47Hey, whatever play you want to call, you want it to be a call that you can get yards,
09:52possibly get the first down, but stay in bounds is more important now
09:55because now you're going to go into a defensive mindset offensively.
10:02That's Presley in motion, and they will stick it on the ground.
10:05Jarquez Hunter stutters the feet and is gang-tackled at the 19th.
10:11The Rams will have to punt it away.
10:12Along those lines, they play it conservatively, handing the ball off to Hunter.
10:16So, now, JB, as you said, we get Taylor Heineke back on the field with 1.30.
10:22Or 1.29, pardon me.
10:24Chargers have two timeouts.
10:25It'll be interesting to see how aggressively they approach this.
10:27I'll tell you, this is where the Rams' secret weapon comes into play.
10:30You know who that is?
10:32Ethan Evans?
10:32No question.
10:33Kick the ball all the way to the form if you can.
10:37He had an 81-yard punt last week.
10:39Yes.
10:40Expect to see something similar this timeout.
10:43Again, a guy that can flip field position,
10:45especially here when you have backups to give your guys the best chance to be successful.
10:50That's where I remember Johnny Heger used to do that all the time early in his career,
10:55or at least in our career, JB, year one and two.
10:57But, again, being able to flip field position,
11:01kicking this ball into the 10, the 15-yard line,
11:04and allowing your covers to get there is going to be huge here for the Rams.
11:09Ethan is averaging 71 yards per punt this preseason.
11:14Air it out, Ethan.
11:15Oh, he hits it end-over-end.
11:17A little hang time.
11:18Keandre Lambert-Smith from his 30.
11:22Reversing direction.
11:23Darion Kendrick is there, as you said.
11:25Well covered by Chase Blackburn's special teams unit.
11:29Something that the Rams really improved on last year.
11:31I know it's not the sexiest topic, but punt coverage was a huge problem for them in 2023.
11:38Dramatically cut their average run.
11:40They were one of the worst teams in the NFL in terms of yards allowed per return.
11:43It's a game of inches, and those hidden yards end up mattering a great deal.
11:47You know, it may not be sexy, but I tell you what,
11:49it cost the Rams a couple games not having great coverage teams kickoff and punt.
11:54I think it's flipped.
11:55I think it could be a weapon for them this year, the kicking game, in all facets.
12:001-16 and one timeout for Harbaugh and the Chargers.
12:04Heineke hangs onto it.
12:05Look who it is.
12:06Des Juan Johnson draped all over him.
12:08It's incomplete.
12:10He is so close to putting up an insane stat line in this game, by the way, just getting...
12:14And he's hurt.
12:16It looks like he got landed on.
12:21He's trying to fight through it right now as he's in a competition.
12:26Scott Leffler, head coach at Bowling Green, once described Des Juan as the Aaron Donald of the Mac.
12:33His agility there, by the way, after running into the double team, getting outside,
12:38and we've got Trey Lance in the game.
12:41It was really impressive.
12:41One of the leading stories of this NFL preseason, Trey Lance's rejuvenation pressed into two-minute drill duty here.
12:50And a stumbling Trey Harris moved the chains in front of Charles Woods.
12:58I was looking this up.
13:00Trey Lance, despite being drafted in 2021, has...
13:06First down, runs out of time, and runs out of the pocket.
13:11This is what we saw last week, that dual-thread ability.
13:16So dangerous, obviously, in these situations.
13:19I carry football less, but they do have the timeouts.
13:21What I was going to say, Maurice, Trey Lance only has 143 pass attempts in the NFL.
13:26He is only 24 years old.
13:29So, feels like he's been in the league forever since the San Francisco 49ers spent that third overall draft pick on him.
13:35But he's still so raw.
13:38He's athletic.
13:39He's raw.
13:39He has a ton of room to grow.
13:41Sometimes it's just a system that doesn't fit you.
13:44You get here with Harbaugh as more of a downhill run game, play-action pass, something he did at North Dakota State, which was amazing.
13:51And, to me, it seems like he's more comfortable in this type of system.
13:56As you saw, everything was there.
13:58He's strong enough to get pull-out of tackles.
14:00And then the ability to run and extend plays.
14:03You can find yourself a home here.
14:05And then, let's say, kind of like the Rams, if a coach leaves, I can see Trey Lance going with them to be a starter again in the NFL.
14:12Once led North Dakota State to an undefeated season in the FCS championship without throwing an interception.
14:22But then that pandemic year was drafted in the spring of 21, number three overall.
14:29Chargers just spent their final timeout.
14:31So, 40 seconds left in the half.
14:33Vertical down the sideline and inbounds for the catch.
14:38Keiondre Lambert-Smith.
14:39What a nice job by Lambert-Smith of getting his feet inbounds there.
14:4438 on the gain if it stands.
14:47And the Chargers to the ball.
14:48I don't know.
14:49I think he's out of bounds.
14:50I would throw the flag if I'm Aubrey.
14:53No challenge needed here.
14:54We're inside of two minutes.
14:56Call timeout.
14:57Give them more to look at.
14:58The ball moves when he hits the ground and his hip hits out of bounds.
15:03Oh, yeah.
15:04That left foot comes up.
15:06Yep.
15:06Before secure control is established.
15:10Mm-hmm.
15:11Oh, Shane.
15:13Chance to talk about 33 in Royal Unsold there.
15:16Cam Lampkin, who was one of the stars of last week's win with a sterling interception off Joe Milton.
15:22He was good again in joint practice this week against the Saints.
15:25That's a nice job, by the way, not getting stacked by Lambert-Smith there on the goal ball.
15:28Because he's got sub-4-4 speed.
15:31And, yeah, I do think that back foot comes up.
15:37Yeah, and it seems like his back foot touches, and then his knee or hip hits the ground before his shin.
15:43I may be wrong.
15:44That's a heck of a throw there by Trey Lance.
15:46He'll put that ball high and outside.
16:00Based on the body language, it looks like it's going to stand.
16:02Wow.
16:02Wow.
16:04What a play.
16:06Tell you what, Trey Lance may not have many pass attempts, but he has got an arm on him, as you saw there.
16:12Big part of the reason why he was drafted so high, in addition to the athleticism, he's got a cannon.
16:16So, 37 yards, officially the game.
16:25First down and goal.
16:27Trey Lance surveys.
16:28He shoots.
16:30Incomplete in the left flat, with the penalty marker down.
16:32Arande Gatson, the second, was his target.
16:35We're going to have a legal formation or a legal shift.
16:38One of the players went in motion and didn't get set while another player was moving.
16:46Bill Vinovich looking to Aubrey Pleasant on the Rams' sideline.
16:52In legal shift, offense number 84.
16:55Five-yard penalty, repeat first down.
17:01Gives the Rams more blades of grass to cover here on the short field situation at the end of the first half.
17:06Yeah.
17:10I'm excited to see how this Rams defense responds, but more excited to see what Trey Lance can do
17:15as a familiar foe with the Niners, to see how he's grown in this situation.
17:26Angle from the 13.
17:28Way overcooked.
17:30Looking for Miller-Hinds out of the backfield.
17:32Barkle still was running with him as a safety.
17:34It's a great tandem there.
17:42Coaching continuity was such a theme this offseason, to have all the coordinators back, to have Aubrey Pleasant back.
17:47Man.
17:51This is what, one of the first years the Rams have had the same coaches in the last, what, nine years?
17:56Constantly getting robbed.
17:57Oh, my goodness.
18:01Trey Lance on for Taylor Heineke.
18:03Shaken up in the final moments of the first half.
18:06Too deep in the end zone for Lambert Smith.
18:09And again, it was Lampkin in coverage at third and goal.
18:14Put a little bit too much sus on that one.
18:17You know, when you throw, I always try to tell quarterbacks, and I learned this from Greg Olson,
18:22who's now the quarterback coach with the Las Vegas Raiders, when you throw that fade ball,
18:27you want to put it about two yards inside or inside that back pylon.
18:31Just put it up in nice air.
18:33Let your guy run underneath it.
18:34It's on the receiver to beat him, and then accelerate to that spot.
18:38Sometimes guys are trying to throw back shoulders and different things,
18:40but the easiest one is to throw it out to a spot and let your receiver make a play on it.
18:44Third down and goal.
18:45Lance has time.
18:46Drills one.
18:47Separated from the football.
18:49Oh, Miranda Gatson was the target, a big hit from Tanner Engel.
18:53Tanner Engel has been hitting guys out there.
18:56I mean, that was touchdown unless he gets in.
18:59I mean, again, you talk about fitting the ball into a tight window.
19:02Look at this throw right there.
19:04But it's the physicality of the Rams' secondary that really gets after people.
19:10Engel's been with the Rams since 23, so this is his third summer in L.A.
19:14He's been working behind the scenes on the practice squad.
19:17And we've heard from him a bunch here today.
19:2031 yards in the closing seconds of this first half.
19:24Cameron Dicker is 3-for-3.
19:32All right, so the two-minute drill for Stetson and the Rams never got off the ground.
19:40Trey Lance sparks the response from the Chargers, and they're back on the high side 9-7.
19:46Again, the Rams should get the first possession of the third.
19:49Obviously, the Rams are glad to hold them to the field goal there.
19:52But going back to the quarterback competition between Taylor, quarterback two competition
19:56between Taylor Enneke and Trey Lance, you saw a really nice run from Lance there.
20:00And then the beautiful go ball down the sideline.
20:03I feel like he's got a leg up thus far.
20:05If you watch last year, if you watch the Chargers, they'll go QB run in the red zone.
20:10You get an ability to play 11-on-11 football.
20:12Harbaugh loves that.
20:14Who can do that?
20:14Who can mimic that like Justin Herbert?
20:16It's Trey Lance.
20:17Built the same.
20:18We saw the athleticism.
20:20We saw the timing throw here.
20:21The ball gets knocked away.
20:23He kind of fits the mold of what Harbaugh and the Chargers want to be.
20:32Dicker off the tee.
20:33Schrader in the landing zone from the two.
20:36Schrader a block to the 20 and is spilled at the numbers with 11 seconds remaining.
20:42I think some of those end-of-half situations are going to be really intriguing.
20:46Do you want to just boom it out the back of the end zone and not have to cover a kick?
20:50Or are you concerned with giving the opposing offense a shot from the 35 to get one chunk play
20:55in a field goal going into the half?
20:57You know, there weren't that many huge returns with the new rule as maybe you thought there
21:03would be.
21:04But I do think, JB, to your point, coaches will more often than not play conservative in
21:08these end-of-half situations.
21:12The Rams will do so offensively here.
21:15In position.
21:16Take the knee and take it to the locker room.
21:18The highlight of the first half offensively.
21:20Canate Mumfield with a two-yard touchdown reception from Stetson Bennett.
21:25Three Dicker field goals for the Chargers.
21:289-7 our score.
21:29Join us at halftime coming up from SoFi Stadium.
21:33It's preseason game number two.
21:34The new Los Angeles Rams.
21:36We open up the third quarter with the Rams set to get it first down 9-7 against the Chargers.
22:02Let's go down to the field.
22:03Here's Kurt Sandoval.
22:06Thanks, guys.
22:07We're here with defensive coordinator Chris Shuler.
22:08Hey, your defense saw their first-team offense.
22:11You only gave up a field goal.
22:12What did you like?
22:13They're doing a good job.
22:14They're playing clean, playing hard.
22:16Herbert made a great throw on that one explosive.
22:18We were in good position.
22:19So I just want to keep doing that, keep the ball in front of us.
22:21Got to contain the QB a little bit better.
22:23What do you want to see from this defense this year?
22:26I mean, such high expectations after last year.
22:29Same exact thing that you saw at the end of last year.
22:31We want guys that play hard, play fast, play physical.
22:34Same thing that you see any great defense do.
22:36Chris, it's amazing that you're now in your ninth season.
22:39Second is defensive coordinator.
22:41How do you feel different?
22:43Do you feel different from a year ago as D.C.?
22:45A lot better, and I think that's a lot to do with some of the players that we have.
22:48So I think they know us, and we know them.
22:51We know that they do well, and I think they're getting really comfortable in the system.
22:54So it's been really fun so far.
22:55Always appreciate your time, Chris.
22:57I bet you.
22:58All right, thank you, Kurt.
23:02Here's Cameron Dicker.
23:03He's got it teed up.
23:04He's laughing for a reason, because his counterpart for the Rams, Joshua Cardi, met him in an almost
23:10like coin toss-like fashion.
23:13I think Joshua may have thought he was kicking off to begin that second half.
23:17So he took his tee back to his sideline.
23:20He's going to let Stetson Bennett work here.
23:22Sorry to call you out, Josh, but we all got a good laugh out of it.
23:28Cody Schrader on the return, working the middle of the field.
23:31Ducks behind his pads and pushes Chargers up to the 27-yard line.
23:36Stetson Bennett's first half, 9 of 13, 87 yards, and a touchdown of 2 yards on the opening
23:42drive to Mumpfield.
23:43I think that's, thus far, Stetson Bennett has looked poised, taking care of the football.
23:52But I also think, compared to last week, Maurice, you're seeing these Chargers DBs are covering
23:57better.
23:58Rams receivers aren't as open, necessarily, as they were last time.
24:01So they're a little bit more challenged offensively.
24:06Now, Blake Corum got the start at tailback.
24:09Worked that opening drive.
24:10Seems to be taking the rest of the afternoon off, as Hunter carries the load.
24:15Minimal damage on the first carry.
24:17RJ Nickens, the safety, with the stop.
24:22I'm sorry to the Cardi family.
24:23We're going to have a couple more laughs.
24:26Cardi's like, look, you got three field goals.
24:29I've only got an extra point.
24:30What is going on?
24:31Let me get some work.
24:32Look at Evans.
24:33Even Evans can't even look.
24:35Hey, man.
24:40That's how you get on TV, ladies and gentlemen, right there.
24:43He was so engrossed with his halftime adjustments.
24:45I think he lost track of whose possession it was.
24:48Stetson looking for a target.
24:50Hunter bobbles out of the backfield and is spun down at the 30.
24:54Manny Johnson with a sure play in space.
24:56It's third down.
24:58Great concentration there by Hunter.
25:00The ability to catch the ball as it jumped up on him.
25:02He wasn't ready for the check down.
25:04Vincent's trying to get it out of his hands.
25:07You're able to catch the ball, concentrate.
25:09I've seen that ball get tipped up and pick six the other way.
25:13Rams don't really use their backs in the passing game.
25:16So in the preseason, it's interesting to see them get those opportunities.
25:19We wonder, maybe he's getting a little more of an element of the offense.
25:22But that's a nice open field tackle there by the Chargers defender.
25:25Rams 2 of 5 on third down.
25:27Short set and a missile to the 35.
25:29Right in the lap of Mario Williams.
25:33He picks up the first down the line to game and keeps the drive alive.
25:37I tell you what, if Mario Williams was able to stay on his feet,
25:39he might have had a big play there as the protection or the defense kind of expands.
25:44He slides a little bit.
25:45And just that misstep allows the guys to get on him.
25:48You might have made a move back inside and been able to make a big play.
25:54In a 7, first down Rams.
25:56Bennett back under center.
25:58Brings Covey in motion.
25:59Hands to Hunter.
26:01Working against the grain.
26:03Spins into a linebacker and has the 41.
26:07You know, JB, I think the Chargers have been listening to the broadcast.
26:10He talked about trying to get Jarquez Hunter going and getting him up to top speed.
26:15He hasn't had the ability yet to holes to really get to that top speed.
26:19He's had to do a lot of jump cutting and getting in and out of lanes a lot more than he had to do last week.
26:25And Kyron up front there in the shades.
26:28Working the clipboard today for Coach G.
26:31Gain of three, second and seven.
26:37It's Brandon Presley in motion.
26:38He got a touchdown last week.
26:40As they toss right, Hunter gets a block.
26:42He keeps his feet on the edge.
26:44And he pushes forward for a first down right in front of Aubrey Pleasant.
26:47A lot more room to run there on the little toss.
26:51Nice block setting that up for Hunter.
26:55We're starting to see him kind of get going a little bit.
26:58You're seeing the violent runs as he's able to duck under a guy and keep driving his feet.
27:02I just can't wait for the time where he can just break one.
27:05And it's coming.
27:07Rams totaled the fourth fewest explosive carries, meaning 10-plus yards on the ground last season.
27:13That's one of the biggest areas for growth on offense.
27:16I'd add red zone efficiency to that category as well.
27:20It's top of mind for everyone in the running back committee.
27:24From just shy of midfield.
27:26Play action here.
27:27Bennett turns.
27:28He fires.
27:29It's on target at the 30.
27:31Brandon Presley.
27:33A chunk play through the air in front of Tripland's bridges the corner.
27:36Good for 26 yards.
27:40When you run the ball effectively and you run in volume,
27:43all of a sudden you're able to layer the defense up a little bit
27:48with a guy on the flat, a guy in the intermediate, and a guy going deep.
27:53This is, again, a Sean McVay special.
27:55The part of the, you know, we call that the Bible.
27:572018-17 where the Rams were flying.
27:59That was one of their staple plays.
28:11Seven play of the opening drive of the third quarter.
28:14Bennett sets the laces.
28:15Nearly intercepted.
28:16Found its way to Presley.
28:18That's a nice job by Presley concentrating with the DB's arms in their face.
28:24Like you said, almost got his hands on it.
28:26Can be so difficult to keep your focus and track down that ball.
28:31RJ Mickens almost took this into it, though.
28:34Traffic in front of them.
28:36So not the best placement there.
28:38But, again, great job by Presley reeling that in.
28:40I think Mickens has long arms, and that's kind of what happened.
28:46Hunter running behind his pads.
28:48Needed three yards on second down.
28:50Got two of them.
28:53RJ Mickens has been part of a great Chargers defensive draft class,
28:57watching them in this preseason.
28:59You're seeing contributors from undrafted guys like Nico Reed and Eric Rodgers.
29:03Those DBs have been so good.
29:05A muddy run here.
29:06Rams only needed one, and they went no huddle to try and pick it up.
29:10At first glance, it appears to be fourth down.
29:14Decision time again for Aubrey.
29:16We're going to go for it if it's me.
29:18Do you want a virtual measurement before you go for it if you're Aubrey Pleasant?
29:25I don't know.
29:25You know what I would do?
29:26I would go hurry up, and I'd tell the guys to hold their water.
29:29We'd call it frozen.
29:30And I'd just be like, and see them jump offside.
29:38Rams in their huddle.
29:39Well, 16 on the play clock as they come to the line.
29:43They've gained 57 yards on nine plays.
29:46And that's the opposite of what you asked for, MJD.
29:49Yeah.
29:51Offense number 62.
29:55Five-yard penalty.
29:56To a fourth down.
29:57I think that shift late by that defensive line got this offensive line to jump just a little bit.
30:10Is it on 62 or Leveston?
30:1362 at first.
30:14I wasn't going to name him because I know he's your guy, but in the box score, it's Willie Lampkin.
30:2138 yards from Cardi.
30:23Looking for points on the first possession of the third.
30:28On the hold of Evans.
30:33Clean operation.
30:35And Cardi connects.
30:37Well, he was disappointed he didn't get to kick off the third quarter, but he does throw the field goal to give the Rams the lead.
30:43So week one, September the 7th against the Houston Texans.
30:56Three weeks from tomorrow.
30:58Time to take a trip around the league with Kurt Sandoval, brought to you by YouTube TV.
31:02Every game, every Sunday, all in one place with NFL Sunday Ticket and YouTube TV sign-up match.
31:09Hey, JB.
31:10Plenty of noise down here, but I'll tell you the loudest boos was when San Francisco beat the Raiders today on a 59-yard field goal from Jake Moody.
31:19A lot to look at both of those teams.
31:21The good news for the 49ers, Christian McCaffrey, they say, is still Christian McCaffrey.
31:26Coach Shanahan says he's measured them on speed, 25 miles an hour.
31:29The bad news is, with Brandon Ayuk, not expected back until October, what are they going to do at wide receiver?
31:35As for the Raiders, the Pete Carroll effect is real.
31:38He has certainly changed the culture in Las Vegas, especially with Geno Smith.
31:42They feel that's a huge upgrade.
31:44The big concern, the offensive line, one of the worst in the NFL, and will a new scheme change all that?
31:49We will see.
31:50Back to you guys upstairs.
31:52Kurt, thank you very much.
31:53The Rams cover the kick return from Naheem Miller-Hines.
31:57Let's talk a little bit about the AFC West, which might have a claim to be the best division in football.
32:03And in particular, the Chargers schedule.
32:06They're going to open in Brazil.
32:08They give up a home game to take on the Chiefs.
32:11And then they come back and go to Vegas on a Monday night.
32:13They play all three division opponents when they get to week three, the Broncos, in the first three games.
32:20Whereas the Rams only play one division opponent, I think in their first nine.
32:24And it's week five against the Niners.
32:26Those Raiders should be vastly improved.
32:29Kurt mentioned Pete Carroll.
32:31But watching Geno Smith out there earlier, the offense, I think.
32:34You're seeing one of the more dramatic upgrades at the quarterback position.
32:38And then I know you saw that Ashton Gentry truck stick, Maurice.
32:41Yeah, I got a chance to go to Las Vegas and watch them practice during training camp and kind of see what they have going on.
32:47The Pete Carroll effect, the come Pete Carroll effect, is real.
32:51I mean, they are rolling.
32:53Max Crosby has this defensive line flying around.
32:55But then you talk about the AFC West.
32:57I mean, the Broncos had the number one defense in football last year.
33:00Stacked.
33:00You have the Chargers who are trying to get right.
33:02And they're dealing with some injuries.
33:04And then we just forget about the team that went to the Super Bowl the last, what, four or five years in a row.
33:08Rams blitz a linebacker.
33:10Lance has to unload and not even close.
33:13So it's third down and long.
33:14Jalen Johnson, his intended target.
33:17The Carroll Harbaugh reunion should be spicy in the AFC West.
33:21And I'll point out that that division, the Chargers division, crosses over with the NFC East.
33:27That could be meaningful for the Rams' playoff hopes.
33:29You never know.
33:30Could some of these talented AFC West teams steal a few games off the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Commanders?
33:37You don't think the Chiefs want some get-back, JB?
33:39You don't think they want to run it back one time?
33:44Showing pressure.
33:46Third down and eight.
33:47It's a five-man rush.
33:49Lance, a fluttering ball.
33:51Had enough juice to get there.
33:52Trey Harris working against Cam Lampkin for a new set of downs.
33:55Earlier talked about Trey Harris, second-round draft pick, and the Chargers hope that he can make the kind of difficult catches you see here.
34:05It's a nice catch with the Lampkin and actually great coverage.
34:08Maurice, it feels like he, to me, is the exact profile that they've needed, because they have Ladd McConkie, who's fantastic in the slot.
34:16Quentin Johnson, fast, some issues with drops.
34:20They need someone who can win on the perimeter in the red zone.
34:23If Harris is that guy, really helps out this Chargers offense.
34:26Yeah, 50-50 guy, too, as that was a tough pass to go and get and was able to make it happen.
34:32Lance has to climb the pocket.
34:34Now escapes out the side door and extends the football near the line to gain.
34:38We'll point out that was Poo Paul in pursuit.
34:40He was shaken up in the first half.
34:42Good to see 54 in Royal and Soul back on this defense.
34:47So challenging, by the way, when you're in the preseason defense, when you're preparing for different quarterbacks,
34:52and you have one like Lance, who's a threat to not only escape pressure, but create.
34:58And as you see there, convert first downs.
35:01You saw that last week.
35:02He was excellent running the football again today.
35:10Lance should get the majority, if not all, of this second half.
35:14Looking left, comes off that read.
35:15Again.
35:16Now pulls it down and slides inside the 45.
35:19Back to that receiver conversation.
35:21Mina, curious how you see Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkie teaming together.
35:25Yeah, it's interesting, right, because Keenan did so much of his best work in the slot.
35:31You know, Greg Roman's got to figure that out.
35:33I think McConkie has some inside-outside versatility when you want them both on the field.
35:39They both can be in the slot.
35:40Yeah.
35:41You got to think.
35:41You can come out in quads and trips and have two-man games by your slot receivers.
35:46Keenan Allen still has the best release off the line I've ever seen.
35:50I mean, he'll have a guy running to the bathroom, and he'll be going across the field.
35:54And so I'm excited to see how this plans out.
35:58Desjuan Johnson having a day.
36:00Holy smokes.
36:01He was in the backfield so quickly there to make the tackle.
36:06Then flipping his hips, that agility in a phone booth you see on display.
36:11The Rams have done it again.
36:14And we heard Aubrey Pleasant talk about doing their work early so they can earn the right to rush the quarterback.
36:21Here we go.
36:21Third and long again.
36:23What happens here?
36:26Conversation you're having reminds me a little bit of Jackson Smith and Jigba and Cooper Cup
36:30and what they're going to look like in that new Seahawks offense here in the NFC West.
36:35Lance looking for about the 36-yard line with this throw.
36:39And the Chargers have it.
36:41Put it on the number of Trey Harris.
36:43Once again, Trey Harris on the in-breaker to convert.
36:48We talked about how he has that big frame he can use to box out defenders.
36:52But again, the hands are really what they need from him in this offense.
36:56And they've got to be encouraged by what they've seen.
36:58Because that's where the preseason, he had no catches going into this game, JB.
37:02Well, you think of Puka Nakua and what he brings to the table for the Rams going across the middle,
37:06the screen game, the bigger body.
37:08A lot of teams don't use big receivers.
37:10They try to put them on the outside.
37:11When you put a big body on the inside, on the slot corner, a nickel corner, it becomes an issue.
37:17Seven to play of the drive.
37:18On the ground with Rocket Sanders.
37:20He's tripped up in the hole.
37:22Eli Neal, a reserve linebacker, went low to make the play.
37:25You think, you know, what we're talking about in terms of, like, wide receiver usage and similar body types, to me, it just brings to mind how excited the Rams are to have Devontae Adams.
37:37Oh, my goodness.
37:37Because he is the complimentary piece they've been searching for, really, since OBJ on the Super Bowl run.
37:44Extra receiver, wins outside, wins versus man coverage.
37:47Such a nice pairing with Puka Nakua.
37:48Chargers trying to spend the time out there to avoid the penalty flag thrown.
37:55More to come as we continue in this third.
37:57We'll see now.
37:58Hope to be with the surface.
38:01We'll see you in the next step.
38:14One, two, three, four.
38:18And what do we mean?
38:20.
38:46You're even playing with the temperature and everything? I love it.
38:50All right, so they assess the penalty and the timeout.
38:55Lance shoots one down the right sideline.
38:57We were talking about this.
38:58Oh, boy.
38:59And it brought it at the pylon by Harris.
39:01Not in the end zone, out at the one.
39:03Wow.
39:04Working against Charles Wurtz.
39:05It's the feet, you know, the body control.
39:07And it's exactly what we were talking about.
39:09The Chargers needed a guy who can win outside on the perimeter and make difficult catches down the sideline.
39:13And watch his feet, Maurice.
39:15One, two, toe drag.
39:16Oh, yeah.
39:17You got both of them.
39:18Did he hold on to the ball if he did?
39:20That's a great catch there.
39:23No challenge flag from the Rams' sideline.
39:25Rocket Sanders punches it in.
39:31Touchdown, Chargers, their first of the day.
39:35Trey Lance.
39:37I don't feel like this is a competition anymore for QB, too, quite candidly, because he has put together two very nice drives for the Chargers.
39:44I know Coach Harbaugh doesn't want to talk about it, but the tape doesn't lie.
39:48Yeah. And again, you're seeing Trey Lance move the sticks with his legs, throw intermediate routes, short routes, and then be able to take shots down the field.
39:56We saw this exact same performance in the Hall of Fame game.
39:59Mm-hmm.
40:00That tells you consistency is what you're looking at, and that's what's important.
40:05The plus-five margin, the offense on the field.
40:07Lance and company looking to go for two.
40:09Okay.
40:10Always a threat to keep here.
40:13Something to keep an eye on.
40:16Khamani by Dell is the offset tailback.
40:19Two targets to each side.
40:25Play clock hits single digits.
40:27Trey Lance and the Chargers looking for a full touchdown lead, and it's denied by Charles Woods.
40:33Great job by Charles Woods.
40:35Airborne with the 6'3", Trey Harris.
40:38The 55th overall selection.
40:48Fade to black.
40:57Three games between these two teams coming into today.
41:00All of them wins.
41:01Neither the Chargers nor the Rams had trailed before this afternoon's contest.
41:05The lead seesawing back and forth here with 3.31 to go in the third.
41:10Trey Lance gets the Chargers back in front.
41:12The two-point conversion fails.
41:14So 15-10 our new score as Dicker has it teed up, ready to go.
41:23Mario Williams, one of the return men back deep for the Rams.
41:26And then Presley with him.
41:29A couple of receivers looking to carve out a role on the 20-25 Rams roster.
41:35Treyce.
41:36Mario Williams with a flag down.
41:39And it's time for the rookie spotlight, powered by Verizon 5G.
41:42What do you think about some breakfast for dinner tonight at SoFi Stadium?
41:46Is it too late for pancakes?
41:48Hey.
41:49You know what that means.
41:51Your guy.
41:52Offensive lineman.
41:53Yeah, I talked about him earlier.
41:54Willie Lampkin, pardon me, the fourth, who's been playing both guard
41:58and center in the preseason, undrafted out of UNC.
42:02But if you watched Marian Hampton last year, Drake May before then,
42:06you saw how good his tape was.
42:08The only reason I would say he went undrafted, Maurice, is he's a short king.
42:125'11".
42:13You know what?
42:14And at center, that's okay.
42:17You want shorter guys at center because you have guys like Bruno Ford
42:21who can control the B-gap to B-gap if you have a bigger guy and he has leverage.
42:26I love what I saw on tape from him last week.
42:29Excited to see what I see this week as well.
42:32Bennett begins from his 18-yard line after the kick return penalty was assessed.
42:37That's Britton Covey in motion and it's Cody Schrader, the new tailback, a ball of fury.
42:43He provided some late-game energy last week as well.
42:47Another really good run on first down.
42:49What's that, seven yards?
42:51Great job or six yards there.
42:53Great job of getting skinny and then running behind your pads and pushing the pile.
42:56Getting skinny is really what stood out to me watching him last week late in the game,
43:00obviously against Cowboys, third stringers.
43:02But it felt like he ran with such patience, Maurice, and you really saw that there as well.
43:08Ronnie Rivers, the veteran tailback and special teamer,
43:11suffered a rib injury last week against the Cowboys.
43:13So that really impacts, I think, the depth chart and the plan as Schrader fights for first down yardage.
43:21We'll see about a Rivers return.
43:22But it does seem like the pecking order that you would expect coming into this season has been established.
43:28The tyrant at the top, Blake Corum getting some early work,
43:32and then a healthy dose for the drafted rookie Hunter.
43:35And now here's Schrader who was a healthy scratch all year last year after the Rams claimed him off waivers from San Francisco.
43:42As you can see there on that last run, you had contact balance, right?
43:46A guy shoots in, hits his legs, able to keep his balance and stay upright and find a way to get the first down.
43:52Once again, the breakout star of last week had five attempts on the ground for nearly 60 yards,
44:01plus the six-yard touchdown reception.
44:03Cody Schrader, who set the Missouri single-season rushing record, was a consensus All-American,
44:10also won what's called the Burlesworth Trophy.
44:12That goes annually to the most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on like Cody did in the SEC.
44:19He had a game, speaking of SEC against Tennessee, where he had over 200 rushing yards and over 100 receiving yards.
44:26Even in college football, you don't see that every day.
44:28No, it's funny.
44:29He was once with my agency, and so I got a chance to speak with him when he was coming out.
44:33Watch this tape.
44:34Great burst.
44:35You saw it last week, and you're seeing it again now.
44:38Second down six, and that speed motion from Britton Covey comes free at the chains for a first down catch at the 40 in front of Bridges.
44:48So many times in the NFL, that guy goes in motion, the cornerback backs off and runs his speed out, is always open.
44:55And then the next move, or the next play after that, is he goes in motion, runs his speed out, and then goes vertical up the sidelines.
45:00If that cornerback gets a little greedy, expect to see a double move coming as we saw earlier from the Chargers.
45:06And on those speed outs throughout so far this game and the previous game, Stetson Bennett's ball placement has been terrific.
45:12Yes.
45:13Leading his guys up field, always on the money.
45:15Easy first down.
45:17Fast-moving third quarter has reached its final minute.
45:20New first down for the Rams.
45:22Boot action from Bennett.
45:23Time to deliver.
45:24Presley with the catch and run.
45:26In the Chargers territory and shoulder down near the 35.
45:30Similar to earlier in the game, another nice job of Stetson Bennett off the boot with the defender in his face.
45:35And Brennan Presley, he's got some juice after the catch, as you see there.
45:40Well, I love the athleticism, right?
45:42And it may seem like it's not a big deal, but to be able to flip your head as a quarterback and see that guy coming and trust the fact that your receiver will be where it is and make a catchable throw is huge.
45:54It was an adventurous debut, wasn't it, for Presley last week.
45:57Muffton recovered a punt return and capped his day with the touchdown.
46:04Five seconds left in the third.
46:06Play clock getting short as well.
46:08Stetson identifies.
46:10Deep drop off play action.
46:12Wings one.
46:13Down the numbers.
46:14That's a touchdown.
46:15What a ball.
46:16Oh, my goodness.
46:17Mario Williams.
46:1938 yards.
46:20That is a beautiful ball of the seam from Stetson Bennett off the play action.
46:25I'm just, I'm, I'm, first of all, the clock's winding down.
46:29There's two seconds on the play clock.
46:31You snap the ball.
46:32A nice token fake.
46:33And then as soon as he gets back on that seventh step, he lets it rip.
46:37Yes.
46:38It's there.
46:39I mean, right, what a throw over the safety in front of the corner.
46:44What a throw there by Stetson Bennett.
46:46You want to talk about growth?
46:47Yes.
46:48That is great.
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