LISTEN | Jets Opponent Series - Los Angeles Rams (6/29)

to circle back to what I just alluded to. This is the second trip of a back to back West coaster late in the season, yeah, the second half, and it's going to be interesting when we get to that point if the Jets do indeed stay out in the West Coast following their matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on December, because then ensuing game is in l A against the Rams, and it will be the Jets second appearance in the new l A Stadium in two thousand and twenty, and

it's there, I know, matchups of the year against the NFC West. And in terms of dal A Rams, where do they fit in the West right now? Because it feels like a team in transition. We've talked about the forty Niners, who the Jets open up the season against at home in a week two, and how complete they are. They just narrowly missed winning the world's title last year. The Seattle Seahawks, who the Jets see the week prior

to this matchup. As I just said, they have Russell Wilson, so they're going to be a threat no matter anytime they take the field. The Arizona Cardinals. A lot of people believe that the Cardinals are an off swing with Cliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray of course, and is you mentioned before your Syracuse along Chandler Jones on the defensive side of the ball, plus Patrick Peterson, they had DeAndre Hopkins to the mix. So with all that being said

about the NFC West, where did the Rams fit in now? Yeah? I almost feel like people forget about the Rams. I think it surprises people, at least when you look back on it that the Rams were nine and seven last year. It feels like people almost write them off because they missed the playoffs, even though the year before they went three and thirteen, well nine and seven in the a f C probably would have gotten them in, or at

least they would have had a chance. Like the Tennessee Titans, And this is a different Rams team than I think a lot of fans are accustomed to seeing, at least in the past couple of years, with a new defensive coordinator and no Brandon Cooks, a kind of refurbished offensive line. I just personally, e a, I don't know what to think of the Rams because on one hand, they're not far removed from a Super Bowl run, and on the other hand, they just feel very different from that run.

And you'll hear from Serena Moraley shortly like I didn't realize the Rams had a top ten defense last season. Yeah, well, they do have a couple of studs on the defensive side of the ball and Aaron Donald, who still might be the top interior defensive alignment in the league. Guys, is an absolute, uh crazed medicine there. And then Jalen Ramsey is a top five quarter cornerback easily in the National Football League. But like many teams out there, you

see definite strength. But yeah, that definitely caught my eye. Went Wade Phillips was dismissed in the off season and the Rams decided to go in another direction. And then the offensive side of the ball, we thought about Todd Gurley for years, and now he is in Atlanta. He's gonna be playing for the fall, and so he got a changing backfield behind golf. They really didn't protect while last offseason and didn't get things moving in the run game,

and a lot had to do with injuries. I do like the receivers and some of their pieces at tight end, but it's like for every strength you have with the Rams, then somebody can counter and talk about a weakness. So I don't know greens as we look at the Rams right now if this is a playoff team in two thousand twenty. But you gotta give a lot of credit

to Sean McVeigh and what he's done there. It's just it seems like they're just going through a lot of change right now, and some of it's positive, but some of it is going to require some time. Did you see recently that Aaron Donald posted a video asking essentially Sean McVeigh to put him in on goal line situations on offense. And not only that, it wasn't even as a running back. He was lining up as a receiver

outside of his pool. And then he showed off his hands on a little nor football three or freaking athletes doesn't surprise me. Right, we saw j J. Walt Watt catch a touchdown pass against the Jets relatively recently. Right, we saw a what do that? And hey, if you're Aaron Donald, why the hell not? You can do everything on the defensive side up. Also, why not get some

touches offensively? Exactly? All right, Well, let's hear from Serena Morales real quick to learn a little bit more about this Rams team in I want to start off with a broad question. I feel like a lot of the external media view the Rams are taking a step back last year after a thirteen and three Super Bowl run season. So from your angle, what do you think the biggest difference was between last year's team and the team that made it to the Super Bowl. A lovely strong offensive

line that had no injuries at all. You know, we have had like a lot of criticism towards Jared Goff last season because it was like, wow, that's a very Unjared like year, But we didn't look at the guys who were protecting Jared Goff that old line. You had your center injured, you had both cards injured, you had

a taco injured. Really the only man that was consistent on at O line was the oldest person in the league, Andrew Whitworth, who was like the guy on the sidelines and in that line, keeping everything as consistent as possible. And mind you, there were a lot of great things that came out of that from learnings. I mean, I think you know, you stall Jared worked through a very

difficult time. If you don't have guys that are protecting you, and you know that Jared Goff's strength is to throw the ball down the field with his arm um and you're not protected, that's gonna be a problem for you. So I think you saw a difference there a lot. I think there were some injuries that outside of the

old line that also affected that. Gerald Everett was injured our tight end, when you later on saw someone like Tyler Bigby step up and have an incredible season and you like had uh four games in a row of a hundred yards. So I mean there were guys that certainly stepped up as the as the season progressed. But that O line, the injuries of Note Bloom and Allen and Rob Havenstein were critical, and I think this year now, with a lot of rests, we're gonna see that old

line come back way more consistent, way more ready. I get props to Austin Blythe who stepped in and went from a guard position to center and really like, calm down the madness, because if you think about it, you had guys who had never had NFL experience come in and they were thinking, you're a rookie coming into the league. All right, well, I've got a little time to work into this position. Nope, you are going in right now, buddy.

Good luck. So I think those things we just kind of look past because we're like, we're an NFL player, you know how to play football, that's it, and and that's not actually how it works. So I give a lot of props to the old line and give a lot of props to, you know, just the entire offense that really worked with a lot of those injuries. So that was to me, that was the biggest difference that took place outside of some smaller, you know, like individual

injuries like a Gerald Everett. But then that opened up opportunities for Tyler Higbee to have an incredible end of the season where the Rams fit in the NFC West. A lot of people would say the San Francisco forty Miners are the most complete team in football. Russell Wilson is one of the most valuable performers in the NFL, so you're gonna be dealing with him for a while. And a lot of folks are high in the Arizona Cardinals this year and their young coach Cliff Kingsbury and

their young quarterback Kyler Murray. I mean, Cliff Kingsbury really put them on the market after he showed off his backyard to all of us during the draft. I think there, so it's like, oh wait, we gotta put the Cardinals up there in the NFC West. I think that the nfacy West in general is just an unfair place to be because they're so good and I'm sure all of

them have very nice backyards like Cliffs. However, we really saw an improvement with all of the teams in the draft, and so really what I think the Rams, what I think that the Rams are really gonna have to prove in the NFC West is an improvement of the up the run game. Because you have the Seahawks who love running the ball, You've got the forty Niners who love running the ball, and you've got the Cardinals, You've got

Kyler Murray's gonna run the ball himself. So I think really and I think the Rams have done that this offseason. They picked up guys like a Sean Robinson, they brought back Michael Brocker's. You know, they're trying to figure out and mean, who's gonna work at the linebacker's position, because there's been a lot of changes there with the departure

of Clay Matthews. But I think overall, Leonard Floyd, another guy they brought in a new DC, Brandon Staley, who I've heard amazing things from the players in general that this guy is energetic, he has the respect of the players.

So if you're gonna now focus on this this particular spot, which actually was a top ten defense already last season, and you're gonna improve and make sure that you're keeping that there so that way, when Aaron Donald is double teams, you're still gonna be able to stop a run game. I think that's the key. And then in addition to that, obviously to bringing back Jalen Ramsey, I saw a lot of great things from Troy Hill, a guy like a safety like um John Johnson coming back from an injury

will be significant to the defense as a whole. But honestly, I know we talked a lot about the difference between last year and the year before that. When the Rams went to the Super Bowl was offense, but now we're not. We're gonna be able to also focus on defense, which is pretty key if you're gonna rank anywhere in the NFC West. I could see all of the NFC West teams somehow making you know, playoff run. It's it's kind of ridiculous that the Rams are in a predicament to

play all these teams twice. Like good for us? All right, So quick follow up there from Afar. It was a surprise that Wave Phillips was dismissed one of the Rams, specifically coach McVeigh. They're seeing Staley and how is that defense going to change in terms of how they attack. So they're trying to keep it as consistent as possible from the Wade Phillips regime to the Brandon Staley regime.

I haven't heard of any changes on the three four defense teams, so I mean, really they love The only thing that was significant over from last season to moving into this season is they lost the corner like Nickel will be Coleman, who was a very significant corner. I mean he was nicknames alot about. But I think again, we've got a lot of players that can step up. They've they've drafted a couple of guys who could be

working either safety and or a corner, which will be significant. Um. The Rams this offseason drafted from a lot of top tier schools like most of the time, and I give it to the the props to the scouts, but you know, you're got getting guys like Eastern Washington, like a Cooper Cup or a Sanson a become who are like, oh, I think I've heard of this guy and maybe didn't splash at the draft or the combine the way that

you would normally see guys splash. But then obviously Cooper Cup becomes one of the best whiteouts in the NFL. So they've been very good at, you know, finding those guys. But I think this year in particular, they're looking for guys to step in and go in and play. And again, I think they've had some learnings from maybe you know, some of the injuries that they experienced from the old line last season. So I could see, you know, them

kind of switching things up. But right now, because we're in a situation where we haven't really been able to get on the field field and go into training camp, that is still to be to be seen. But Brandon Staley a lot of respect I've heard from multiple players like Jalen Ramsey in particular, is just like I love his energy. Other cornerback Troy Hill loves his energy, and so I'm excited to see what he can do. He comes from a great background. So let's go. Let's bring

this on. I want to keep things on the defense because I feel like when a lot of people think about the Rams, you think about Sean McVeigh and this offense, and I'm just curious how you would evaluate the Rams defense based on strength and weaknesses. Obviously you think of guys like you mentioned Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. But if you're the Jets when you traveled to l A and you face this defense I finished top ten last year,

where do you go about attacking them? Well? I mean I I really do think that the Rams took a significant step this offseason to make sure that their run game was strong and that was more focused. Obviously, again, we I joke. But it's like, the Rams have to play three other teams that have great run games, so they've got to focus on that, right, And that's what

they did with a Sean Robinson and Leonard Floyd. They brought back Michael Brocker's I will tell anybody in the universe that I don't know what bottles were popped, but I know Aaron Donald was so happy when they brought back Michael brocker Is to play on that d line. Um, I don't think people realize Also when you have a guy like Aaron Donald, well maybe people do realize it because it's Aaron Donald, but Aaron Donald opens up a

lot of the game on the other end. So if you have an edge raction's like doing well, they don't have to face the same amount of pressure if Aaron Donald's there. Because we've seen table their tape game after game, Ara Donald will go through a wall and it's okay, and somehow he's like, oh, yeah, I just made it through, no problem. I found this small, little inch gap and

I made my way through an attack the quarterback. So I think, um that we don't realize that he opens up the rest of this side of the of the game. And so the run game I think will be a huge improvement consistent from last season, if not more. Um, but I think a significant part of that was Michael Proper. So if you're trying to beat the Rams, you know, I really do think that the run game has already improved, but the past game obviously has a guy like Jalen Ramsey.

I think Troy Hill is someone who's been very underrated over the years. Um. You know, last year you saw changes like a key to Leaves departure and Marcus Peters departure, and there were changes just overall, but Troy Hill really stepped up. And a person that you really lacked on that past run game was a guy like John Johnson, who had a shoulder injury. Has I've seen him training this offseason and he looked strong and his main focus is He's told many time and time again, he's just

like screen, I just want to get back. A guy like Taylor Rap has done a great job stepping into that safety linebacker position. So I mean, right now i'd say just you know, maybe don't play offense and just go straight to you know, trying to stop the Rams. But I'm really excited to see you know, just the Rams overall focused on all the little minute parts that

maybe we don't think about. In addition to Sean McVey, we'll say this time and time again, in order for us to win games, it's offense, defense, and special teams. The Rams have a new special teams coordinator, a job bon Amigo. Um, they're keeping a guy like Johnny Hecker. John bon Amigo has already said, I know that Johnny Hecker, can you know fake punt, be a quarterback, be a punter, be a kicker. So you've gotta go like that, who's

consistently been with the Rams since he was drafted. Um, so that'll be That's the one nugget that I'm like, Oh, I'm interested to see how this team kind of gets pulled together because right now they also have three kickers that are going to compete for the job, which will I mean competition breed success. So it'll be an interesting spot. But I really don't know. I could give the Jets anything if it comes to whether you're gonna beat him on the run of the pass game. What is in

store for the Rams offense this year? You mentioned mcbaby before. Jared Goff, a veteran in the National Football League. That's a changing backfield behind him. No more Todd Gurley cam Akers was drafted. I know they like the receivers. You mentioned the old line being a weakness last year because of health. There doesn't seem to be a lot of changes up front though, in addition to better health. How

much of this is their success? The Rams offensively going to be on golf this year, so Robert Wood said maybe a couple of weeks ago he was just like, I would love to see this Rams offense go back in the air again. I think, Um, there's a lot of obviously eyeballs on Cooper Cup and Robert Woods. And again with the departure of a guy like Brandon Cooks, you saw, those three guys are like WHOA. The Rams drafted a guy like Van Jefferson, who I have heard is pretty much the same as a Cooper Cup and

Robert Woods. He is a smart wide receiver. Um, he will find his open spaces, he maximizes on those parts, and he's consistent with Sean McVeigh loves consistency. This wide out group in particular is a group that does not drop the ball. Josh Reynolds is another guy I think is underrated who would be constantly asked to step in at times and he would be like, okay, like I've got to jump in for a Brandon Cooks or Robert Woods or Cooper Cup, which is not easy to do.

So I really do think that the RAMS wide out group is only getting better with a guy like Van Jefferson, who's a coach his son, so I mean, you guys know him, actually, so I do believe that Van Jefferson is gonna be great. They also, again you said it picked up a guy like Hamakers and Makers succeeded uh in a Florida State offense who had a pretty roughed

up OH line as well. So if we are looking at like, okay, what happened last year and what were things that the Rams needed to fix, not only are we healing up our OH line, now we're gonna bring in a running back they can work with the dinged up old line and he'll still figure out a way to succeed. So I think that will be really interesting. Darryl Henderson is another running back that didn't get as

much playtime last year. Obviously, if you got a Todd guy like Todd early out you're not going to see that. But this year, I think there's a lot more space for to see a guy like Darryl Henderson to succeed um. And then Malcolm Brown has been sort of the steady horse in this running backs group, and so I could also see you know, a mix there. I mean, you saw the year that the Rams went to the Super

Bowl just two seasons ago. The Rams ran a very consistent eleven personnel and that was because you know, Sean McVeigh was trying to mask all the different plays that they ran. Sometimes you saw Robert Woods blocking, sometimes you just Cooper Cup playing running back or tighten. I mean, there were so many different changes that Sean McVeigh tried

to do. Well, now you've got a new running back, a new wide receiver that replicate exactly what you're kind of trying to do and hiding your your plays on offense along with the Tyler Higby who have been the last four or five games of the season really showed what he can do. Let's not forget we still have Gerald every who had some injuries last season, who also

has the opportunity to do things. So while I stay, yeah, Jared Golf has to you know, didn't have a Jared golf season last year due to some of those injuries. Now we've got guys who are healed up. Now we've got some new pieces to this offense that Jared can use um at his disposal. What do you think about some happenings off the field for your franchise to l A Rams moving into a new stadium and Serena will will you will we see you on Hard Nuts. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get on this show.

Everyone's oh the clickers that are like on Hard Knocks, And I'm like your team reporter man, like, let's go. I'm just here, you know, hang now, Uh no, I am. I'm excited. Hard Knocks cool, especially because it's the Chargers and the Rams going into Gray Stadium. Everyone's got new uniforms. Are really excited about the uniforms. Actually, I love the fact that the Rams have the first off white bone coloring. Like I feel like the players are all like, all right,

like put on a new uniform. I've made this comparison before, but as someone who loves running and working out, like what is like the best part? Like sometimes you're like, oh, I really don't want to work out. But if you buy those new sneakers and you buy that nice new workout here, all of a sudden you're running seven six minute miles down the street smiling, you forget all about the pain that you're actually putting your body through. So

I would say, the Rams have a new uniform. Yes, please start a hashtag gets Serena on hard knocks or maybe we'll figure out something better than that. UM. But I'm excited, and I'm I'm I mean, it's great. The fact that we're still doing hard knocks. There's two teams in l a UM is going to be exciting. The Rams have a new look and and that stadium looks amazing. If you guys fly into LA because we'll see it

and it's it's ready for football. He I'm curious your perspective if you're the Jets, how do you go about winning this football game? And what matchups do you think are in favor of the Green and White. Well credit to Serena first off, because I can center myself a high energy guy. She is unbelievable energy. Uh, she's somebody who's talking about getting up early in the morning southern California, getting her workout in running miles in the six minute range and then she comes on here at like a

bolt of lightning, and oh, that's the Chargers. So the Jets play earlier in the year on the calendar. But a couple of things that she addressed was run defense. She repeatedly came back to that. So can the Jets challenge Rams linebackers? You're gonna have to make sure you a lot of times double Aaron Donald because he's a guy who basically is impossible a single block. We know that, But this is another game where I think this revamp offensive line, maybe they can get some traction in the

run game. And then Sam Donald is gonna be making a home coming back to southern California. That should open things up up top. You're probably gonna stay away from Jalen Ramsey, but that's okay because they're gonna have to to tend with a number of players on the Jet side of the ball. But that's the first thing is the Rams failed to be consistent stopping the run in two thousand nineteen. Can they do it in two thousand twenty? Will know a lot about this Rams team as this

season progresses. On the other side of the football. To me, it's clear this team has a lot of question marks up front. They really do. So can the Jets defensive line and front seven dominate? Because if you can, you can make it for a long day for Jared Goff, even though what his weapons, they're talented. All right, Well,

there you have it. That's the Jets Keys to success in Week fifteen at l A for the second week and the second game of a back to back West Coast trip, first in Seattle in Week fourteen, then traveled down to southern California, wrapping their West coast trips up against the Los Angeles Rams. And that was another edition of the Official Jets Podcast powered by Amazon Web Services.

The Opponent Preview series wraps up at MetLife Stadium with the Jets final home game of two thousand twenty against the Cleveland Browns.