RAMS SQUAD SHOW: Rams TRADE Talk, Tutu Atwell INJURY FALLOUT, and PREDICTIONS vs New Orleans Saints!

RAMS SQUAD SHOW: Rams TRADE Talk, Tutu Atwell INJURY FALLOUT, and PREDICTIONS vs New Orleans Saints!

My name is Doug McCain and it’s time for the Rams to f them picks and go make another blockbuster move. What it do squad? It’s your boy Brock and can we get two dominant victories in a row? And I’m Gavin Carlson and look, the bye-week is done. We got a nice schedule up ahead. Let’s just go make a Super Bowl run, baby. Let’s do it. Whose house? Rams house. It’s the Rams squad. Everything Los Angeles Rams every week, breaking down all the big hits and gamechanging plays from the city of angels, the way only the Locked on Podcast Network can. Here comes the Rampede. The Ram Squad Show starts now. Uh uh. Yes, it does. What is going on, Ramly? and welcome back to another edition. A long awaited return of the Rams Squad Show. The Mob Squad is back. It’s been a minute. It’s been a minute. All right, our Rams had a buy. We watched a couple teams in the NFL expose themselves as frauds while we were sitting on our couches, but it’s time for Rams football coming back at you. We got a nice Friday morning Halloween edition. So, happy Halloween to those who celebrate. I know DMAC is going to be uh in Toronto seeing if his Dodgers can turn things around as the only Dodgers hater maybe on this show. I’ve been quite happy with what we’ve seen so far from the World Series. But we’re here to talk about the Rams. Okay, the Rams coming off a dominant win in London, then a bye-week, and now they get the Saints. They get the debut or the official first start of Tyler Shuck. We’ll get into that, but we have to start with the trade deadline, what the Rams did over the bye-week and how they can move forward and try to win a Super Bowl. But enough yap. The mob squad is here. It’s been a minute. Big Brock, how is life treating you? Been good. Been good, man. Just getting ready to get back into the season after the bye. Let’s go get us a dub. Yes, sir. Later in the show, I’m going to grill you on what a byee is like under Shawn McVey and the Rams organization. But the busiest man in sports right now, DMAC, again, my condolences. I know I know there’s a shot. You guys can turn this around. As the Dodgers hater, I’m just very happy. But how’s life outside of Dodgerville? Life is great. I just want to say, too, that when the Rams make the Super Bowl, when the Rams are in the Super Bowl this year, that Gavin is going to be performing at halftime. Here’s uh here’s Gavin right here. Aka, look at Bad Here’s Gavin in his Bad Bunny costume. Bad bunny. Bad bunny. VIP. VIP. Hey, VIP. Come on. So, yeah. Just so you know, uh, we started this show and and Gavin had a full beard on with the shades. He had to do some hair and makeup just to get ready for this show. So, Gavin, I’m so excited to see you at the Brock will be on the sideline. I’ll be up in the press box and you’ll be at the 50ard line performing. So, that’s We’re all going to have We’re all going to contribute to the Super Bowl this year when the Rams get there. Man, I have never regret sending a photo into the group chat so much in my life. Oh my god. Oh, Dmad got me. Oh, he got me. Oh, hopefully podcast listener, that was a picture. Okay, if you’re a podcast listener that has not subscribed to the show on YouTube, now is the number one reason why. So, you can see Gavin in his Bad Bunny costume. Go over on uh on our YouTube to watch that. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. I’ll try to think of a segue. Hopefully the Rams can be playing at that Super Bowl that bad buddy’s performing at. Um, good. You got me. You got me. But, uh, the mob squad is back. We We’re already on that shizz. We’re laughing and and having a good time. But, let’s talk about the Rams. They were busy during the uh during their by-week. Obviously going out and making a trade, getting a corner, and now more talks of more trades with 22 Atwell going down. DMac, I know you’ve covered it on the Daily Show a little bit, but just in case there’s some people who want a little bit more about the Rams going and saying Etham picks and and acquiring a corner, what do you think of the move? I think it was a really good move. And we look at Roger McCreary as a corner. He’s not this superstar sauce gardener. People were trying to link the Rams with some bigger name quarterbacks. The truth is, you can’t buy a house that’s not for sale. Not a lot of impact corners available that would be worth giving up a a first round pick for. But McCreary is a really interesting player because he has that versatility that the Rams covet. He can play in the slot. He can play on the outside. He’s done a little bit of both. He’s not a guy that has a ton of interceptions in his career that turns the ball over, but he’s physical. He can play in this scheme. And I think too, just overall, we look at the play of Emanuel Forbes. He has been one of the least productive quarterbacks in the NFL. Darius Williams dealing with the shoulder injury. Aella Witherspoon, you’re not going to get him back until week 14 or 15 coming back off that broken clavicle. So Kobe Durant had some ups and downs, too. But I think that in Chris Schula’s system, 5’11, 190 lbs, I think he can do some things. I think that Rams fans are going to quickly find out that, hey, this was an upgrade and the Rams are better in the secondary after the buy and that was a weakness that they had and they addressed it. So, and other thing too, I mean, you’re talking about a very minimal uh a very minimal exchange when it comes to fifth round, sixth round. Basically, the Rams are going to be picking at the end of the sixth round. Now, the Titans will be picking at the beginning of the fifth round. So, it’s not like he gave up the farm to go get a guy that’s going to help you in a lot of different ways. And yeah, I like this guy. I really do. More I more I watch him, more I learn about him, I think he’s someone that uh is going to have an impact for this team. Yeah. Yeah, he certainly is probably thrilled to be joining a contender given what he was facing previously. Big Brock, what’s it like? I mean, I know you probably haven’t had this experience, but being the former the the NFL stud on here that you are, what’s it what’s it probably like joining a defense middle of the season? I I would imagine it’s easier than joining an offense. You don’t need to learn necessarily this entire complex playbook like, hey, just go out there and you’re a corner, right? It’s either you’re playing man, cover two, cover three, or cover four, right? Like, is there really anything else for that or is it going to take him some time maybe to get into uh the flow of things with the Rams defense under Chris Schula? Man, you’re absolutely right, Gavin. I mean, it’s more about just knowing the language. It’s not about knowing cover two because like you said, there’s only so many coverages you can really run on defense. And usually it’s just all about you know learning the verbiage and hey what which you guys is you know cover two word what is your you know top hat you know whatever these signals are learning the language of the defense I think that’s the biggest part but as you stated earlier too I know he’s going to feel a lot better playing out there when he’s playing with a contender versus somebody that was going to be home in January. So, for me, it’s uh uh for me, I know as a player that especially on the last year, his deal, this is a go-get season for him. So, if he’s playing with a contender and he can make some plays now, he may be, you know, able to take advantage of uh maybe this this possibly one year with the Rams. Yeah. And I I think that that’s the word that uh that I’ve been thinking too as far as just getting that bump with the Rams is being on a contender just changes the outlook of your season. being when the Rams pick, there’s no one random on the Rams. I always kind of say there’s no one random on the Rams. If you’re on this team, if you’re in this building, you’re here for a reason because they think that either they can elevate you or that you have not been optimized where you’re at. And this is a guy that was the 35th overall pick in the 22 NFL draft. He was a second round pick. And I think he’s a diamond in the rough. I really do. And I think you look at the fact that he can play on the boundary, can play in the nickel, can play in the slot. And I think too another motivating factor on top of just being on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations and that they have a very very specific need for is that like you mentioned Brock, this guy isn’t a contract year. And that to me is you talk about peeds that that’s the ultimate peed for a player that’s getting paid. And for him to know that you’re on a Rams team that has the fourth most cap space projected for this off season and guys like a Kell Witherspoon and Kobe Durant who not aren’t going to be around most likely. This is someone I think this is not only okay can you fill in and be a missing piece of a puzzle in 2025 but also this is an audition right this is Hollywood right if he nails his audition I think that this is a player that the Rams would consider inking longer than just this year. So, I think that’s another thing they really like about him, too, is not just now, but it’s for the future as well. Yeah. And I think there’s a great opportunity for him as well, given kind of the state of the the corner room, like you’re saying with, you know, next year it being empty, but even right now, like you’re joining a room that has solid players, but no alpha. So, you can step in and become the alpha, right? It won’t be right away, but maybe you’re starting in the slot and then maybe you end up on the outside. But that you could, if you told me by the end of the season he is the guy that we’re trying to shadow the best wide receiver with, I wouldn’t be surprised. At the same time, if you told me, hey, he’s reserved to only being in the slot, I wouldn’t be surprised with that either because it really does feel like this is a there’s a huge variance, a huge range in terms of how this could end up. I don’t want to again and I know DMac’s gonna say, “Hey, you don’t need to preface this every time you say it when I come in here and and maybe do something negative, but DMac, Brock, is there a part of you that when you saw this move, I don’t know about you guys, but when I saw this move, my immediate reaction was, “Oh, nice. The Rams went and got a corner right after Shawn McVey maybe hinted at not wanting to trade for a corner. Okay, good. They realized it was a need.” But then my mind kind of went, wait, so we we went and got a corner. So that obviously doesn’t mean we’re going to get another. And we didn’t maybe acquire a huge name corner, a game-breaking corner. And then I kind of went like I don’t know if I love this, right? Obviously, it’s better than nothing, but am I lame for saying it’s just better than nothing and and we could have gotten more or is is that a valid, you know, opinion to have because I know other Rams fans have it. So, I would say to that that and and Brock knows this very well is if if the Rams are going to take a big swing, like it’s literally for the best players in the game. Like, it is literally for Jaylen Ramy, it’s literally for Von Miller. If those guys aren’t available, if it’s not a Sauce Gardner, right? If it’s not a Patrick Certan, if it’s not one of those top five top tier guys that are available, they’re not going to part ways with their top assets. They’re not going to consider parting ways with a first round pick or a second round pick. They’re only going to save that stuff for the top tier dudes when they become available because they’re going to stay opportunistic. And I think that one thing about the Rams and you talk about the Von Miller trade, no one saw that one coming because no one thought that that was necessarily the most pressing need. But the thing about the Rams is they’re always going to just hang around and if someone becomes available and there’s an opportunity there, they’re going to jump on that, right? And I think that they’re going to let that market emerge. But as far as this cornerback, they too are a group that you’re not going to ask your corners to do things that some other defenses are going to do, right? This team strength is in their pass rush and it’s also now in their linebacking core with Nate Lamman and guys like Quent Lake. So, you don’t necessarily need a 10 out of 10 at every single position on this defense. And if there’s kind of one position group that you can kind of lean back off is the quarterback spot. But here’s the thing though. I mean, they got better. I mean, the truth is McCreary I mean, we kind of hear we kind of you always say you got to take those PFF grades with a grain of salt, but I mean, he’s the 36th ranked quarterback out of 113 qualified quarterbacks. I mean, that’s I mean, with when that when teams have two starting quarterbacks and you’re 36, I mean, that definitely is solid. And would he be 36 on the Rams? I mean, he could maybe crack the top 20, right? is a lot of people are really really really high on McCree as far as will they go for a bigger move. Uh that remains to be seen. But I I do think that the fact they addressed this before even the November 4 deadline came around. They didn’t wait till the last minute I think was another solid reason too, right? I mean they kind of took care of their business a little early. They kind of did their Christmas shopping like you know when you do it like in August and September. I do mine like on November December 24th, right? So they kind of took advantage of that as well. So, hey, I think two guys got we got to kind of to bring up too is what does this say about Emanuel Forbes? Like, is this a a failed experiment? Uh, they picked him up on waiverss. They were hoping to develop him. He’s really really struggled this season. He just has not met expectations. And yes, it we’re not even through a full season with him. But I think this is another indication that maybe they’re they’re kind of admitting a little bit that he’s not the guy that they hoped he would have been. Yeah, fair. I mean, Brock, remember a couple times you you rightfully bring it up how yes, like DMAC said, we go and get the big fishes when they’re available, but this team finds diamonds in the rough, right? We keep saying land man, you know, every every week, right? I know that’s your guy, right? Diamonds in the rough. Diamonds in the rough. I guess Emanuel Forbes was one of those diamonds in the rough that wasn’t a diamond and you kind of swung and missed. Like at some point do you you have to accept that that’s a miss and and try to find another diamond in the rough or do you stop finding diamonds or trying to find diamonds in the rough and go I don’t know what the analogy is go go swim with the sharks go get a big dog right stop going in the rough right like at what point do you maybe just try to go swim because the clock is running as much as we don’t want to admit it right this this is a winner now season and it feels like if there’s ever a year to to go do it it’s when like DMAC said the cap space at this in the summer is going to be a lot more you know manageable Why not go make a move on a guy on an expiring deal or even someone that you might owe some money in in years, you know, beyond this year knowing you’ll have space, big Brock, like does a trade like a big trade in the middle of the season give a boost to a roster? Like is is is this feel like a missed opportunity just going kind of mediocre in terms of an acquisition? I mean, I think like Doug said, like if the Rams are going to do it, they’re going to do it big. They’re not going to kind of, you know, halfway do it. They’re going to do it. They’re going to go to the top five corners, you know, after the top fives. And since those weren’t available, I think it this is what this just was the best move for the Rams. I mean, I think they got a solid quarterback on his fifth year, like you said, that that’s kind of like a peed for for players when they’re trying to prove it, like a make it, prove it season, you know, he’s trying to make plays all over the place. and then now he has a little bit more energy now that he’s on a a team uh more than 500 and that’s pretty much contending in the NFC. I think he’ll play up to that level if not better. Um I think Amalman Forbes like you said it was probably a project that you know maybe is not working like everybody else expected but for the Rams I think he’s doing what he needs to do. Um, obviously, hey, cornerback is a tough position to play. People don’t really realize that you’re on an island and whenever a play is made on you, it’s highlighted 10 times because either is it for a touchdown or somebody’s, you know, breaking a tackle and running. So, people I think people got to give my man a little slack. Man, cornerback is a hard position. Um, obviously, if you getting paid millions, you want you expect the best and you want the best. But, I mean, as far as are is he doing his job? Are they winning games? I can say yes at this point in the season. Yeah. And I’m definitely playing devil’s advocate a little bit because at the end of the day, you didn’t really give up anything and you got a guy who still has improvement to be made. Like still has an upside, but the floor isn’t that low, right? Like he’s like Dmax said, he’s already slots in and ranks pretty respectably. Not to mention, he still is just 25 years old and still hasn’t been on a competent roster and competent coaching staff, right? You can’t forget that. Like there’s so many times players come from these teams that are awful and they just go on a team that’s run competently with a head coach like Shawn McVey and and Chris Schulen and they find Second Life and there’s no reason he couldn’t do that. DMAC, is there any scenario ever where the Rams go acquire another defender at the deadline or is this certainly that’s it, right? Like the only other talk on acquisition would be receiver, right? I mean I think look I mean you talk about your New Orleans Saints, right? I mean, Chris Olive would be really interesting. Someone like that or I mean, we’ll talk about some other guys as possible options, but I think it really comes down to when you when it really comes down to every player has a price, right? And there was some talk, oh, could Tibido be available? Could a Trey Hendrickson be available? Now, it’s like we get close to the deadline and teams aren’t really that serious about parting ways with some of their top dogs, even though they’re having losing seasons. But I I think you look at the Rams that yes, they’re willing to to pay a big price for certain players, but they also kind of like to buy that Halloween candy the day after Halloween, right? When it’s a little discounted, you can kind of get it on sale and and they don’t like to overpay. They like to win the trade. And we saw that with the Jaylen Ramsay. We saw that with with Von Miller. We saw with a lot of moves they made. I mean, Marcus Peters back in the day. I mean, they they they usually win these deals. Another thing that’s looming that you have to mention with the Rams is the quarterback situation because we know that Matthew Stafford is playing at an MVP level. He’s picked to be an allp pro this deep into the season. But the truth is that at the very best you’re probably going to get one more year of Matthew Stafford. And even then, how productive is he? I still think you can still get two really good quality years out of Stafford, including this one. even beyond he really if he wants to play and he stays healthy but the truth is when it comes to quarterback position look at the top 10 look at the top 15 guys those guys are drafted right I mean unless you want Sam Darnold or guys like that you’re not going to find them in free agency and they have those two top picks they have those first round picks and even though there hasn’t been any breakout guys Arch Manning hasn’t been the guy that everyone build him to be you don’t have that big standout quarterback just yet but I still think that they are keeping draft picks to look for Matthew Stafford successor, right? So, I mean, they kind of pulled off the exception with the Matthew Stafford trade and look, Joe Burrow would look great in a Rams uniform, right? I mean, who knows if they could do something like that again, get a guy that is has underperformed because he’s not in a great organization, but the way you pull off trades like that is you keep that war chest and you only spend it on premium position, edge rusher and and quarterback and things like that. So, I think that’s another reason why. Another thing too is just like guys on this team have performed. I mean you mentioned Nate Landman. Like I mean I he’s been a better signing than Devonte Adams so far and I don’t think that’s going to be like that for the rest of the year. But I mean look I mean how about this? Would you guys consider a Breeze Hall if you became available? I mean uh with the Jets part ways with him. I mean that’s the thing. It’s not the big needle mover that you would want to overpay for and that’s I think why the Rams are getting guys like a McCreer’s and you you got to make those under the radar moves because you you’re kind of thinking big picture but also that guy isn’t there that’s really going to take you over the top. Yeah. I mean I got I am not going to lie. I don’t know about you Brock but DMAC had me at the edge of my seats when he said quarterback. I’m like is he going to suggest we go acquire a quarterback? I was like what what no way he’s about to do that? But then no it makes perfect sense. It’s like as much as you as I’m sitting here saying, “Let’s go buy this, go buy that.” Demac’s like, “Hey, we got to protect some of these assets for a year from now or two years from now when you got to go make the big move.” And you’re absolutely right. And I know that Joe Burrow dream is in the back of your brain every day you wake up and you think about it a little bit. And I don’t blame you because that would be pretty darn amazing in a couple years. And I guess it’s it’s days like these where you need to remember it’s not just one season. As much as you you want it to just be this season and just go win the Super Bowl this year, this is a franchise that has to plan for the future. I get it. I get it. And you’re a Saints fan. I’m just kidding. You’re that’s your side team. Okay, we all have our side teams, right? You got your side teams, teams that you just kind of it’s not like you root for them, but it’s like you like, you know, you have family members that are fans of that team, that kind of stuff. So, you just kind of like are more in tune. For me, it’s like all my fantasy players. I mean, they’re like my family members. Like all the guys are on my fantasy teams. I I I root for them. But a guy like a a guy like a Shahed, right? A Rasheed Shahed, I mean, just talking to people that cover the Saints and just over the last week, you they’re telling me you could get him for fourth round pick. And that to me is interesting. I mean, we’re talking fourth and fifth round picks for guys that could have a very specific role on this team. I mean, that’s interesting to me. A guy like a Rasheed Shahid. I don’t know if you guys have seen any of these rumors that have the Rams linked to a guy like Mark Andrews with the recent play of of of Tyler Higgby and and and maybe upgrading the tight end position. I feel less inclined about that. But I mean with with 222 with the hamstring injury and the Rams just continuing to spread the ball around, Rashi does some things that uh really help this offense in a lot of different ways. Yeah. No, absolutely. I think there’s a lot of interesting trade targets on the offensive side of the ball. I think we probably all agree, unless Brock, you disagree. Do you think there’s any chance that the Rams go acquire a defender, another defender, or is it really only on the offensive side of the ball now after after the McCra trade? I mean, I you know what I think this Rams organization, I think that front office and staff, they are very smart. They they love playing chess. They don’t like playing checkers, man. So, they always make the smartest move for their team. Um, so I, you know, I look at a guy like McCreary as, oh, this is a piece to the to the puzzle that they needed. I mean, they wouldn’t go acquire a guy they didn’t, you know, need to do that or trade that pick. They would have used it on something else. So, if you see a move, whatever move that they make, they feel like it’s going to be the betterment for the team. So, um, I’m not nervous at all. I don’t think they’ll go for a defender. I think, you know, definitely if there was an opportunity to get somebody, it’ll get beat somebody on the offensive side of the ball. Yeah. I mean, it doesn’t get more chess, not checkers, than McVey coming out a couple weeks ago and saying, “We ain’t trading for no corner.” And me me saying, “Dmac, how could he say that?” And DMac going, “Hey, I don’t know. I think he’s just, you know, playing chess and and surely there he is. He goes and makes the move for the corner.” We’re going to take our break. When we come back, we are going to talk 22 Atwell and his injury and if there is a move that needs to be made on the offensive side of the ball as a result. Then we’ll do a little Brock talks. I want to talk about the NFL bye life under Shawn McVey and how that might affect the Rams. Kind of an older team at least in a couple positions, how that’s going to affect the Rams going into the second half of the season. And then we will talk about the upcoming matchup against the Saints. Should it be a blowout? Is it a sneaky trap game? and we’ll get to all that after our break here on the Locked on Ram Squad Show. We’ll be right back. Now, today’s show is brought to you by prize picks. It is always a great time to talk about prize picks because I don’t know about you, I make decisions every day on prize picks. Being right can get you paid though. You don’t want to miss any of the excitement of the sports season now that the NBA’s started, the NHL’s started, we still got baseball underway. So, come on now. What are you doing? Try prize picks. It’s the simplest way to play. Just pick more or less on at least two player stats. And if you get them right, you win. It takes less than 60 seconds to make your lineup. So, download the prize picks app today. Use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code locked on NFL for $50 in lineups after your first $5 lineup. Prize picks. It’s good to be right. Today’s show is also brought to you by Mazda. Mazda’s moving the game forward for those who believe it’s not just about playing the game. It’s about redefining it. There are moments that do more than put points on the board. They move crowds. They move culture. And they keep moving the game forward. this week. It wasn’t a play that moved the thing moved things forward. It was the trade deadline so far. What the Rams have done, going out and getting a corner. Obviously, we’re talking about if the Rams are going to go do more. But that was the Rams way of moving things forward on a by-week. When you follow what moves you, the unexpected is only the beginning. And just like there’s more to every highlight, there’s more to a Mazda vehicle. Mazda, move and be moved. Ram Squad Show is back on Locked on Rams YouTube channel and audio podcast feed. I already got exposed and embarrassed by DMAC, one member of the Mob Squad for my Halloween costume on this Halloween edition of the Locked On Ram Squad Show. No, this was not an invite for you to go get it back out. Don’t do it. This is my new lock screen. No, my new lock screen, bro. You guys like it? Oh, that is crazy. That is That is just your lock screen. Come on, man. This kind of goes hard, bro. Oh, look at the album. I mean, geez, man. The Dodgers players love Bad Bunny, too, so they’ll respect it. Oh my good. What’ you say? The Dodgers players all listen to Bad Bunny, too. So, they’re going to love that. You know what I’m saying? There you go. There you go. We’ll see if they’re listening to uh Bad Bunny before their game, which will be tonight when people are watching this. Uh what about you guys? Any Halloween plans? What is it looking like for you, Brock? Um taking the kids out. Uh we we go to this little local church and do a little trunk or treat there. So, I’ll just take my kids to that and uh have a nice little Halloween. There you go. You dressing as anything or you just going to be, you know, Rams legend Mike? I don’t I don’t participate. I go as myself, you know. I think that’s the best that I wear that the best, you know. There you go. Hey, you know, it’s a pretty good life when you can be yourself for Halloween as kind of theoretically being something that someone else would be for Halloween. Like, there’s definitely been someone who’s been Michael Michael Brockers or certainly a Rams player for Halloween. Don’t know if anyone’s been Gavin Carlson or DMac for Halloween. What about you, DMac? What are you going to be? Man, I just be h dude, my costume. Yeah. Yeah, that’s that’s what I’ll be doing. But, you know, I love me some Halloween. You know, it’s kind of snuck up on me this year, you know, like um we’ll see what’s up. I mean, I don’t really get a lot of trick-or-treaters here in Hollywood at my uh apartment, so it’s kind of like not not going down. But, uh you know, how I I mean, I do I do I will watch like The Exorcist, you know what I’m saying? kind of kind of weird and I I hate scary movies, too. You know what I’m saying? Like, but I Are you a scary movie guy, Brock? No, not at all, bro. I’m You’re more like sci-fi, you know? I’m not a really scary movie type guy. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Okay. Hey, I respect it. I get it. I know that you got more important things than than candy and and trick-or-treating. You got the World Series. I get it. I get it. You’re You’re actually going to be in Toronto, right, DMAC? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So you you won’t even be able to safe travel. Yeah. You’re going to be Yeah. seeing what a Canadian Halloween is like and and hopefully for your sake not in the middle of a a championship parade on the way out. But we’ll see, buddy. We’ll see. Those fans from Canada were crazy. They were singing like, “Oh, Canada and like Yeah, the Blue Jays fans are getting crazy.” Yet yet Drake. I don’t if you saw Drake trolling Otani on his Instagram. Yeah. You know, that’s that’s all he can do after getting swept and mopped by everything LA for the past year and a half in in the rap battle, right? this the only way you can win, I guess. So, um, but yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see. But hope everyone does have a nice holo weekend week weekend, Halloween weekend. But obviously, it’ll be capped off by the Rams on Sunday taking on the Saints. We’ll get into that towards the end of the show like we always do. I’ll remind everybody that I’m still dominating our predictions competition. Just had to put that out there. But we’re going back to talking trade deadline because of the 22 Atwell injury. Kind of an unfortunate one, right? Right. a couple weeks removed from him having the big game-winning catch. You know, felt like maybe he was going to get some momentum and then suddenly it’s where’s Tutu, right? Like he’s not on the field. What’s going on? And now the news gets worse and worse. And now there’s people saying, “Do we need to go find a Tutu Atwell replacement?” DMac brought up Rasheed Shahed. He mentioned that I have bunch of family members that are diehard Saints fans. They certainly I I know quite a thing or two about a Rashid Shahed would be an interesting option. But my question starting with I’ll start with both of you is do the Rams need to replace 22 Atwell like he’s had a couple catches but let’s let’s not act like this is a guy we’ve been using all season. Why can’t we just maybe use a Terren Ferguson more in the passing game? Why can’t we maybe just use a Jordan Whittington more in the passing game? Why can’t we maybe just use a Kate Mumfield or you know a guy like that who’s on the roster already? Do we need to go make a move for a receiver? I would say need probably not. I mean this team can still win this division, finish the top two seed, all their goals would still be attainable without a trade. But I think if you are looking to feature 22, I mean it’s not like it’s a season ending injury anyway, but if if if you aren’t going to use him and they have not used him, I mean this is the truth. I mean, this is a guy that he I he wasn’t 100% against the Jags, but he played a season low 10 snaps this year, even when he’s been healthy, he’s only played 50% of the team’s offensive snaps once this season in a game. I mean, think about that. That is like very minimal usage for a guy you gave $10 million to a guy that had that play you mentioned against the Colts where shook his guy beat him deep and really it’s no matter what happens with him it feels like the conversation always reverts to either whose fault is it Shawn McVey not putting him in situations and not having packages for him to be a part of this offense or is it to Atwell whatever reason not proving to these coaches that he demands to be featured and I what he brings to this offense is essentially he’s being used as a decoy to clear guys out. He’s the clear out player, right? And and the what he brings though is his average depth of target almost 30 yards at 28.6 yards that still leads the team. And if you’re looking for a guy to do those things in your offense, you don’t think it’s going to be two two out. Well, that would be the reason to find a guy to go trade for. I mean, because it clearly that’s something that they want their offense to have someone to clear out and have a vertical presence in some way. Yeah, maybe I’m I don’t want to be disrespectful. I know there’s a you know, oh, I don’t want to be the guy who’s again never played this sport. I’m sitting next to an NFL guy and dis but like a lot of people can do what two outs done for the Rams. Come on. You just run straight, right? Like you just said, you run straight, you clear out space. We’re not asking as much as we would want him to be a Tyreek Hill of, you know, the Chiefs era or, you know, a guy like a Flowers or something like we are not asking him to do that. we were asking him to run straight and clear out space and he we keep bringing up one catch that was made because it’s the only catch that was made of of note, right? Like so I don’t necessarily think we need to go make a move. If you go and get a Rashid Shahid, you go and get a like a Marvin Mims as one name I’ve seen or or a Jacobe Myers isn’t really the same mold, but something like that. Like if you’re going to go make a trade for that, you better actually use the guy cuz you’re already pissing us all off by giving him 10 million and not using him. you better not then go use a draft pick on someone else to replace him and then not use him. Like Brock, I’m not being disrespectful, right, when I say I don’t think I don’t think it’s Tutu’s fault, but we’re just asking him to run cardio like Dmac said. So why in the world are we going to go use draft capital for someone else to run cardio? Man, it it’s hard to understand like why why they don’t use him the way that they should or you know I mean because he’s such a smaller player gadget type guy like maybe there isn’t enough balls on the field like let’s be honest with you there’s only one ball and you know Puka has to get 10 to 12 you know 10 to 15 you know uh touches you know Devonte deserves his touches you know you got to give it the run game their touches I just don’t think It’s it’s only one ball on the field and the the star players are, you know, touching the ball. I don’t think they’ll ever have a guy in that space in that in that third option window to especially if everybody’s healthy to have enough, you know, enough plays or enough things in the playbook to get that guy the ball. So, I don’t think if they whatever player they put there is not going to be productive. So, don’t go out there and waste capital for a player that you know you’re not going to use. So, uh, I think this is a good move if they don’t, you know, go seek out a receiver or anything like that, unless it’s just somebody that you can’t pass up. And, uh, Rasheed, how do you say his name? Rasheed. Shahed. Shahed. I think a guy like that is going to be pretty much used the same way as, you know, our, you know, our players are. So, um, I don’t think, you know, it’s it makes any sense going to go get a a slot receiver to, like you said, just, you know, run straight and then clear out route. So, yeah. No, I agree with you guys. I I would say that the way that you could talk yourself into it, maybe their line of thinking would be that this is a IR stint, right? So, he’s going to be out for an extended period of time, a four-game stretch. And you look at this four game stretch for the Rams. You’ve got the 49ers, you got the Buccaneers, you got the Seahawks, and then of course you got that Saints team. So you could get a look at at Shahed potentially. And what he does basically is similar things. He can run deep, he can run streaks. But can he do all the things that this team looks for in receiver, which is block, which is be physical, which is be versatile? The answer is no. But he can do two outwell things. So, if you’re the Rams, kind of the one way to look at this is do you want to have your offense limited in any capacity in this very critical four game stretch that’s going to ultimately determine are you going to win your division? Are you going to buy? Are you going to finish one of those top two seeds? Cuz it’s this is where it gets real. I mean, talk about Halloween and all this stuff. I’m my when you brought that up, the only thing I started to think of was I’m sad because football season is going by this fast, right? And then I’m also getting anxiety because this is when it gets the most intense and these games get real and it starts to be like, “Oh, we you can’t be like, oh, it’s just September. It’s just this.” No, it’s it’s almost November, right? And that’s when that’s when championships are are the building blocks for championships feel like they really won. But I think that if you’re the Rams, that would be kind of the ultimate thing is we don’t want to be limited any way because of what 2 does for this offense. You did mention Mumfield. Mumfield can do a lot of those things. He’s not as fast as 22, just like end to end speed. Can get off the line, can run deep, but and I think I think really what this opens up, it should open up Terren Ferguson and possibly some 12 and 13 personnel and let you be creative from that standpoint. So, it’ll be interesting because I wouldn’t put it past them. I really wouldn’t just because of the teams that they have ahead and the fact that look, this team, they they they don’t want to have to chase at the end. They don’t want to have to be in a position where you have to play in the wild card round. I think this team really thinks that they have a defense that could be special. These are the best defense they had since 2014 since 2001 as far as overall production and an offense that I don’t think even has come close to reach its full potential. So, I wouldn’t I wouldn’t I wouldn’t be surprised they did something. Yeah, I still I still wholeheartedly believe that Shawn McVey wanted this to work with 22 Atwell, but I don’t even know if it’s the player. I think it’s more so the type of player, right? Like obviously you spent a lot of draft capital on Tutu Atwell but when you have him when you have an Xavier Smith when you have a Kante Mumfield it just feels like he’s been trying to kind of follow this trend in the NFL of having a Tyreek Hill type player right like think about all the teams that have swung and missed and trying to get a similar type of guy. I think the most obvious example was the Eagles and J remember Jaylen Rager, right? Like that was like them trying to get their Tyreek Hill. It never worked out. It just feels like uh I’m like Rond Del Moore or the Cardinals, right? like guys like that. Everyone wants suddenly the 5’9 510 guy who’s fast and really outside of Tyreek Hill. It hasn’t worked out that well. Maybe Z Flowers a little bit. It felt like Shawn McVey tried to do it as well. It didn’t work with 22. Um and I’m not saying we need to write it off like it’s done, but it just kind of feels like I don’t know how much longer we can wait for that to click. It feels like the Jags game would have been a great opportunity with Puka out. He can’t even play now. The Saints game would be a great opportunity with it being a horrible team. He he’s not going to play, right? So, it just kind of feels like the 22 train. I know that DMAC had some stocks. I hope he sold them all um before, you know, it it crashed to zero. You know, it was a penny stock at this point, right? The 22 train. Yeah. I mean, it’s definitely it’s definitely going down. And here’s the thing. It’s I mean, he’s injured, right? I mean, the truth is, I mean, health is wealth, right? I mean, best ability is your availability. And if you’re Shawn McVey, you’re just kind of shrugging your shoulders like I mean, we tried. I mean, it he got injured. He’s got a FL, you know. So, uh, it’s it’s it’s it’s really it’s kind of interesting to me because Tutu has really become one of the most polarizing players in recent memory for the Rams. And there’s a lot of Rams fans that are bitter about the fact that you could have gotten Creed Humphrey at that pick and then he’s turned out to be this great center for the Kansas City Chiefs. He would have been a long-term solution at that position. And look, 22 Atwell has not performed and it look whether it’s that’s on Shawn McVey, whether that’s on 22 Atwell, the reality is it just has not happened and it doesn’t feel like it ever is going to consistently happen for him as a Ram. It almost kind of feels a little Van Jefferson like right where it’s like, okay, he’s got that potential and you see it, but you don’t fully realize it. But I mean, I think the good thing is they’re in a much better position they were last year, right? I mean last year had Cooper Cup and he’s struck what I do with go laugh. There it is. No. Wait. Okay. You’re just in a better The wide receiver room is in a much better position. That’s all I’m going to say. Okay. I don’t know why you guys are laughing, but uh the cup’s not completely empty, but uh only a couple sips in that cup. Let’s put it that way. I I like how like Brock and I, it’s not like we’ve talked about this or anything, yet we both thought the exact same thing when DMX said Cooper Gup. We said, “There it is. There’s the shot.” You knew there was going to be a dad every time, bro. Hey, man. I was trying to win Lombardi. You know what I’m saying? But you’re right. You’re right. And and it goes back to something D or Brock actually said like weeks ago where he was like, “Man, we are spoiled that this is what we’re complaining about. It’s a trade deadline. The Rams have a great record. They’re first of the division. And Gavin’s over here whining about 22 Outwill not being the greatest like, you know, early round pick of all time.” Like, man, we we got it great, right? You got two of the best receivers in the league. You got one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The defense is one of the best in the past couple of decades. Like DMAC just said, if T2 doesn’t work out, like it’s fine. Yet, it does, like DMac said, feel like the most polarizing thing that’s happened around the Rams in a couple years because other than that, things have been pretty darn good over here, right? So, I guess it’s a good sign at the end of the day. It’s a good good sign. I think at the end of the day, I if I had to choose, I would be more annoyed if they gave up a fourth or fifth round pick for a receiver because in my opinion, I would just say, why didn’t you, you know, use two fourths to go get a better corner, right? that that would be why I would be upset about it. But hey, at the end of the day, I trust this front office. Like Brock says, this is a smart organization, and if they want to go spend a fifth on another speed demon, all I ask is that we actually use him. All right, that’s all I ask. We’re going to take another break. When we come back, we’re going to talk about the bye-week. I know you might be wondering, why the heck are we talking about a by-week when we got a game coming up? But it does feel relevant for a team like this who’s, you know, maybe not the deepest team. You want to keep guys healthy. We got a former NFL player on here. I’m curious what a bye-week looks like under Shawn McVey and what it probably looked like after a London trip for this Rams team and how it’s going to affect this team going forward. So, we’ll get to that and we will make our predictions. We’ll talk about the Saints and how the Rams can pick up another win after our break here on the Lockdown Ram Squad Show. We’ll be right back now on this Friday show. Today’s show is also brought to you by FanDuel. Look, we love the NFL. Yes, we do. But the NBA is also back. And there’s no better place to get in on the auction than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you missed the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Locked on Ram Squad show is back. The mob squad, I’m Bad Bunny. He’s a Cooper Cup hater and he’s former Rams legend. Love Cooper Cup. Dmad loves Cooper Cup. He worships him and it’s one of those things where you love a player so much that you just hate it to see him near the end of his his prime, right? That’s what it is. I get it. I get it. We don’t have Cooper Cup. We have Puka and Devonte Adams. The question is if we need to go get a number three receiver. I say no. Dmac Brock, what’s your final take on that before we move on? I say no. I don’t see I don’t see the value in getting a third option if you’re not going to use him. Simple. I would I would say no in in the hopes that Terence Ferguson becomes that guy. I mean, that’s where I’m at with that. There you go. Well, glad we all agree there. Glad we all agree there. I know DMac had some kind of questions that he wanted to to throw out in terms of what Brock and I believe. We’re teasing this bye-week thing. I do want to ask Brock about that, but DMac, I know you wanted to fire away some questions at Brock and I. Yeah, I mean I think look you look at the the after the buy like we talk about it it’s when it gets it gets realer than real and you really start to see how this league is shaping up and I think the big question for the Rams is are they really going to take that leap this year? I mean last year it was won a division and you won a playoff game. Are you going to finish with a top two seed in the NFC? Because if the NFL if the playoffs were going to start this week, the Rams would be the sixth seed in the NFC. They would have to travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucks. But over the second half of the season, the Rams are going to have a lot of opportunities to go up in the standings because of your opponents. You’re you’re all they’ve only played two conference opponents and one division game. So over the next 10 weeks, all 10 are NFC opponents and five of those are division games. So I mean 13 and four, that’s kind of the hope. Something like that. But, uh, how high are you guys on the idea that they finish with a top two seed in the NFC? I’ll let Rock go. Um, it it it’s definitely going to be on this the back of the defense for the most part. And I just think if everybody can stay healthy, I think when it comes to winning in this league, it’s all about obviously having a quarterback, but it’s also about, you know, beating that injury bug, everybody getting healthy towards the end of the season, things of that nature. If you can have your starters in towards the end of the season, you got a good chance at going to the playoffs and making a run, especially if you you you have a team that’s being productive. So, um, if this team is, you know, healthy and and stays productive on the back of the defense because defense wins championships, I can see this team being one of the top two seeds in in the NFC just off the fact that everybody’s going to start um, you know, working together. I hope hopefully this this uh, piece in the back end as far as being a quarterback, Mr. Mc Mccir Query, I think I think that’s his name. the country singer. The country singer Roger McCquiry. I hope he’s the added piece to to help this defense um perform because like you said, we don’t have any amazing, you know, you know, just athletes and players on our defense. But I think they play well together in this scheme. You know, Shulie uses a blitz. He tries to play that that that game with the offensive coordinator. So, if we can just play great, you know, coverage in the back end, you know, not give up any um, you know, no extra yardage and yak and things like that, I think we, this defense will be fine and we can go a long way. See, it’s not going to be easy. I don’t know. What do you think, Gavin? Yeah, I think what’s interesting is I mean, I don’t have everyone else’s schedules ahead of me and everything. If you ask me, are are the Rams one of the two best teams in the NFC? I don’t think I’m ready to say that yet, right? I I just feel like you have to have the Eagles there still because they’re the defending champs and they feel like they’re not even playing their best football and they’re six and two and they beat us, right? Like was that a fluke win for them a little bit? Did we choke? Yeah, but they beat us. They’re not even at their best yet, right? I still think the Lions are that team. I know the defense is really questionable. I would be shocked if they didn’t go acquire a guy or two on the back end kind of like what we needed in the secondary. And I I don’t know about the Packers either. It feels like the Packers are a team that they’re not impressive. They’re kind of what teams were accusing the Rams of being the first couple of weeks. Like they’re never impressive at in any football game. They just barely win, but they always win, right? Like that that Steelers win most recently was probably one of the more impressive wins they’ve had. And even that wasn’t like, oh my god, this team’s unbelievable. Jordan Love looked really good, which you know is good for them. But I I’m not ready to say they’re one of the two best teams in the NFC right now. Do I think they can finish that? Absolutely. I think the schedule’s actually not that rough at all. Think you’re going to beat the Saints. Not to spoil my prediction, but think you’re going to beat the Saints. You’re going to be motivated as heck going to San Francisco after what they did. You’re never not going to be motivated against Seattle. And then if the Bucks are not healthy, which they aren’t right now, that’s a game that maybe you probably could have lost that you maybe end up winning. And then the schedule’s really easy uh outside of the Lions game in my opinion to end the season. So, schedule-wise, I think they could, but I’m going to say no to to to take the longest time to answer the question. I say no. Brock says yes. Demac, what do you say? I think right now I think right now it’s just such an unknown because I mean, we’re going to learn so much about this team in the next couple of weeks. I think I will just say yes just withium. You know what I’m saying? Like, you know, my heart says yes, my brain says uh I really like if I’m being honest, I need to see more. I I do think this team has a potential to have a top five defense. And when you have a top five defense with an offense that still has a lot of room for growth, then you’re doing something. And then think about this. I mean, if you don’t have a mix extra point against the 49ers, you’re playing for a field goal instead of a touchdown, you maybe win that game. If you don’t have a couple blocks against the Eagles, I mean, what like we definitely would be saying yes, right? We definitely would be saying yes if this team was was undefeated or they had one loss, right? So, think about that. the losses that they did have are ones that you could really make a strong case that they lost that game versus they got beat bad or anything like that. So, think about if those if those went their way, you would have to say that they would be in the driver’s seat to finish with one of those top two seeds. But, I I’m very curious to see how this team handles all these matchups that are coming up. I mean, the Lions at home, the Buccaneers. I mean, there’s not any juggernauts in the NFC, but when it’s all said and done, the Rams will have played most of those top dogs that you’re probably going to be facing, right? You’re not outside the Green Bay Packers, but it’s going to be it’s going to be a tough test. And I think that the good thing for the Rams is is that they play their best football towards the second half in the end of the season, and that’s when the schedule is going to get tougher. So, I think that if it wouldn’t be very Ramslike if you had a very front-loaded tough schedule and either you’re playing 500 or even if you’re doing well, you would think, okay, what really is the identity and how good is this team? We’re going to know how good this team is in in the next month. We really are going to have a very good idea about are they pretenders, are they contenders? Is the Matthew Stafford MVP campaign real? It has Devonte Adams really built that chemistry. Can Pukanakua stay healthy? Is Roger McCreary the number one country artist in America other than Morgan Wallen? Like, has he kind of found a role? So, I mean, that’s what makes this such an exciting part of the season because we watched every game, every minute, done all these shows, but uh I I don’t think we have a true true understanding about how good or bad is this team. Is it as good as we think they are or are we overrating them? Like all those answers, all those questions are going to be answered pretty soon here. Yeah. And especially the way this the schedule ends. It’s you play like a handful outside of the lines, a handful of like slightly better than 500 teams, you know what I mean? Like Atlanta’s not great, but they’re not average. Like they’re slightly above average in my opinion. I don’t think I’m ready to put the Seahawks as elite yet. They’re slightly above average in my opinion, right? Like those are the type of games that the Rams, if they’re elite, they win all of those against the slightly above average teams. And then the question is, can they steal one against the Lions? Can they avoid an upset loss at home against the Bucks on Sunday Night Football? If they do that, then yes, this is one of the best teams in the NFL, period. But as long as you can handle business against those slightly over 500 teams, that’s good enough to sneak in to be one of the top three or four seeds in the NFC, win your division, and then it’s just a couple coin flip games. Those haven’t gone well in recent years, but why can’t they go well this year? They very easily can. You got any more questions for us, Dmac? I do. All right. by the after the buy towards the end of the season, will the strength of the Rams still be their defense or will it shift to the offense? You would hope that offensive line play gets better that I sound like a broken record. I feel like I’m like the CEO of the Terren Ferguson fan club here, but will Terren Ferguson emerge like we expect and and the receiving core, the running backs, and the running game really hasn’t been great the last couple of weeks. Will that get back to a level that we expect or will the defense still be the backbone of this team? Cuz as it currently is, the Rams defense, they ranked second in the NFL in EPA per play behind just the Houston Texans. Uh the advance numbers like them, the the the fact that I mean, you’re not they’re averaging around 16 points allowed, which is elite territory. But I still think when it comes to upside, they got an MVP level receiver, at least before the injury, an MVP level quarterback right now with Devonte Adams. I mean, I sort of think that by the end of the season, the Rams offense will be the strength, but I think that it’s going to be close. So, you’re going to be in a good spot, but my hope is that the offense is going to improve tremendously towards the later stages of the season. But, uh, what say you fellas? I I mean I I’m gonna say defense still and the only reason being kind of what Brock said like corner is the roughest you know position in sports because you only get shown when you get beat type of thing. I feel like us Rams fans like we know how good the defense is and yet for some reason in the back of our mind we still are like a little overly critical. Like even me at the beginning of the show, I’m ranting about how we need to go get an elite corner and then you reel off those stats, DMAC, it’s like god dang, this defense is freaking amazing, right? Like come on. Like one of the best pass rushes in football, right? So, um I’m still going to go defense. I think pass r pass pass rush is the most sticky thing in defense if that makes sense. Like that’s the most consistent thing is how talented your pass rushers are. like that goes week over week whether you’re playing an elite offense or not. If you can get at the quarterback, you’re going to win games and we have that. Versus on offense, like we are a little bit inconsistent in terms of red zone efficiency, in terms of protecting Matthew Stafford, in terms of having a number three option. There’s inconsistency there. There’s not inconsistency on basically 85% of the defense. So, I’ll go there. And I feel like Brock’s going to say defense, too, right? Oh, absolutely. I was going to just repeat myself what I said earlier, man. I think I think that, you know, I think they’re going to just be on the back of this defense. You know, this is a young defense. That’s what I I love about this team is that they’re having this this success obviously with an older quarterback, but for the most part, this is a young Rams team and they have they’ve had a lot of success. So, I I want to see at the back end of this this season where, you know, we say in, you know, in the players world, man, we we gonna see who really love this game. You know, this is winter time. It’s gonna be some weather, some weather issues if you’re not playing in so far. But you know, you playing away games and in some weather and you gotta tackle a guy while you’re cold and your bones shivering. We’re gonna see if you really love football. So, um I I love this back in, you know, part of the season where it get co it gets cold. You know, it’s some mental uh things you got to get over when when you’re playing in this this this weather. So, um, it’s all about who really want wants it and, you know, hopefully this Rams team with the success they’ve had at such a young age, they they pulled through mentally throughout the season. All right, guys. This might be a good good uh opportunity to maybe transition to some Brock talk, some some Brockton Rams. You mentioned that like who loves football? And I’ve heard it too like there’s there’s guys that love football, there’s guys that love being football players, right? like the lifestyle, the money, like how like how obvious is that from a player? Like how easily can you smell that from guys? And and kind of what are some traits that you can tell when it’s I’m not asking you to name names. I mean, feel free if you want. It’ll probably go viral, but I mean, what are some kind of traits and things when you kind of smell that from a guy that you can kind of tell? Uh I mean, you just, you know, guys don’t want to hit the ground. you know, you get all wet and you gonna be cold and it’s just like you really see who who’s a primadana, who who really is about that life when it comes to that trench the trenches with where it come to hitting because, you know, a lot of guys don’t like hitting while it’s cold. You know, I mean, you hit it, you know, it rattles your bones. It rattles your whole body. So, man, you really see who loves this game towards the end of this season. And you know, you know, usually rookies are about to hit the hit that rookie wall where you’ve been playing, you know, all the way through November and all you got is two more games left or you know, now you know, guys are used to the playoffs. But, you know, a lot of these these rookies hit that wall, they have 17 games plus playoffs, you know, so it it hey, you got to be mentally tough to get through the back end of this this this uh this season. And I just feel like McVey and his staff have, you know, been there, done that. They know what’s what’s, you know, h what’s going on, what’s happening, and how to get to the playoffs. So, I just think this is a really good coach team. So, I think that’s what kind of puts us ahead and, you know, why I feel like we can be one of the top two teams in the NFC at the end of the season. I love to hear that. I love to hear that. We’re going to take our break. When we come back, we’ll talk a little bit more with Brock about the by-week, about the Rams, about what it’s like being under Shawn McVey, and then we’ll we will get to this Saints game and what we think the Rams will do and what is expected to be a Rams victory. Do any of us feel worried about it? We’ll get to that after our last break here on the Locked On Ram Squad Show. Now, finally, today’s show, it’s brought to you by Yes, yes, yes. America’s favorite sponsor, Rugie. Let’s be real, making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s It’s just stress. I’m tired or it happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. And that’s where Rugi comes in. Rug.com offers fast acting, doctor prescribed treatments for ED designed to help you stop making excuses and start making moves. To get started, you just connect with a board-certified doctor, 100% online, no awkward waiting rooms, no in-person appointments. If prescribed, your treatment ships discreetly straight to your door. The process is fast, simple, and private. It’s all handled by real doctors. And it’s about confidence, connection, and getting back to the moments that matter. Visit rugg.com/lockton to get 15% off your first order. That’s ruggit.com/lockedon NFL. And don’t forget to use our code locked on NFL so they know we sent you rug. Stop making excuses and start making moves. Back here on the locked Ram squad show, the mob squad, big Brock, Big Dmac, and myself. We’re talking Rams football twice a week as we always do. I know we were on a break with the bye-week. We are back and I want to ask big Brock about this byee under Shawn McVey what it’s what it’s like right we don’t get many opportunities to ask players who have been under this coaching staff what it’s like and I know you’ve been on other you know other coaching staffs as well so take me through obviously it’s unique coming off a London trip as well but do you still do stuff with the team you know during that bye-week are you completely separated do you just like have a week where you don’t even text any of your teammates or are you still around the building and just maybe not practicing as much. Are you practicing every day still? What is a by-week like under Shawn McVey and is it any different under other coaches as well? Oh, Brock, I think you fell victim to the mute bug there. Oh, I did fall victim to the mute mud. Um, no, I just think uh it’s all about when the when the the by-week comes and when it what, you know, when it’s set. Is it set on, you know, a holiday? as it said in the middle of the season, the front end of the season, things like that. But, uh, because it was it it was placed where there was no holiday. It’s all about getting back with your family obviously for a couple of days, then it’s back to work. You know, obviously he’s going to he’s going to ramp it up starting with, you know, probably like a a little jog through or something like that for the first day, you know, first day and second day and then, you know, third day you might have a hard practice. then you get to go back with your family for maybe a couple of days then you coming back you know Sunday or Monday um to start practice like a regular week. So I love the fact that he gives you opportunities to spend time with your family even though uh you are getting you know some work and just a maybe a couple of practices in the morning just really jog through things you know uh he always talked about above the neck approach which is just a mental approach what we’re what we’re planning to do let’s just jog through the motions things like that run through the play so we know the game plan and we’re practice on a we’re practicing on a game plan you know for two weeks going into this next game. So, um, I think it’s just all about, you know, getting your guys ramped up, not letting them get cold and stiff throughout the by-week. So, I love his approach. It’s all about, you know, the mental approach. Obviously, you’re out there working and I mean, I you you know, you’re working for this money, so might as well put in a little sweat, you know, sweat and tears on on the field. So, um, I think I I love his approach because it’s very strategic. It’s all about ramping the guys up, getting them ready to play after the by-week. So, it’s it’s never just no, oh, we’re going to do two a day, you know, just because we have the opportunity is all about um you know, what what what’s the plan moving forward and how can we best uh you know, do that efficiently. Yeah. And it’s a real thing, right? Like I you know, I feel like maybe some sometimes fans you nerd out a little bit too much. Like I’ i’ve watched shows where people freak out if their by-week is week seven and not week nine and oh my god, we have such a disadvantage. But there is something to be said about like, you know, the good teams are the ones that they always win the week after the by-week, right? Or they always have a better record after the buy than before. And I’m sure it’s those little things. And again, it feels great waking up every morning knowing we have one of the best leaders in the sport. And that I don’t know anything about a Shawn McVey bye, but I knew that Brock was going to say that Shawn McVey does by-weeks well, right? Because he just does most things well and better than most coaches, right? So, it it hopefully will make a difference. Like DMAC was saying, interesting part of the schedule, four tough games in a row. If you can win at least three of those four coming off the by-week, get everyone still healthy, knock on wood, then you go make a run, right, Brock, do you do you ever notice the difference if if it’s an early bye-week or a later byee on your body? Like, is it harder if you have a by-week in week seven versus week 10 in terms of recovery or anything like that? Or again, is it grow up and be a man, you’re a football player, you should be fine regardless? Uh obviously you want it towards the back end of the season. You really do because you know uh you almost rather like split the season in half. Maybe you got eight games, you get in the middle of the season, then you got another eight to nine games uh after that. But you know because when you’re looking at you get an early by week, you you’re looking at that that schedule like geez we got 13 games in a row like you know with Thursday games in you know in between that. So you’re like, man, we got 13 in a row. So it’s it’s all about, you know, having your strategic planning on how we can get that by week towards the the back end of the season. So you know, hopefully we’re getting guys healthy throughout the season and and towards the back end of the season, all your guys are healthy, ready to play in the playoffs. Yeah. And hopefully we can have a a kind of secondary mini by week this Sunday against the Saints because obviously you have one of the easier opponents in the NFL in the Saints and now you’re getting the dream scenario. You’re playing a bad team with a rookie quarterback making his first official start and he’s going to have no time to throw because you have one of the best front fours in the NFL. It just feels like if you’re, you know, on the Saints side, it feels like a foolish decision. You’re you’re leaving your rookie quarterback out to dry. If you’re a Rams fan, you’re like, “Oh, this is wonderful.” Like, “This guy’s going to be, you know, what was it with Sam Darnold seeing ghosts?” Like, he’s going to be seeing ghosts all game. He’s going to be terrified that first time he takes a hit from Jared Verse, he’s going to be like, “Oh my goodness.” Right. And so hopefully it is a little mini bye-week. DMAC, we’ll start with you on the prediction front. Rams big time favorites. Actually, I need to pull up the spread because again, humble reminder that I am still winning our competition in terms of picking the wins and losses. Picking the wins and losses against the spread as well. But we all all three of us hit it two weeks ago. We all picked the Rams to win and cover the spread against the Jags and they did that. Now with this game, Rams Saints the spread is nine and a half. Rams almost favored by double digits. Do the Rams win? Do they cover D-Mac? Yeah, I think I mean you would hope going against a a rookie a rookie quarterback and and Tyler Shuck and going at Sofi Stadium. They dealt with some injuries. I mean I think 2710 I mean cuz I think you’ll be comfortable to want to continue to reestablish that run game and not going to run the score up as much. So I I think a 2710 but like a dominating 2710 if that. I mean, I really think this is a a focused Rams team that is going to be about their business. They’re I think gonna be as healthy this as they’ve been. Matthew Stafford’s been hot. Puganaku is back. I I they started to score points in bunches against the Jaguars. Like, there’s no reason not to mess this team up, to not go out there and impose your will. So, I mean, I think 2710 it it may be a little conservative just because you you put up over 30 against the Jaguars in London. So, you’d think with Puka back and and the Devonte Adam chemistry building that maybe you could get over 30, but I just think that you’re going to see a better showing from the run game in this one that will bleed some clock and it’ll be a nice comfortable dominating 2710 win over the eights. I mean, check that. The Saints. Yeah. I mean, yeah, in terms of the the Saints are kind of an interesting team because everyone came into the year saying they’re going to be the one of the worst teams in the league. And sure, they have one win, but they’ve actually looked a little more competent than other awful teams, right? Like they haven’t had the Cam Ward dropping the ball in the end zone moments. They haven’t had the Jets throwing for 45 yards in a game just in Fields moments. Like they’ve they’ve been awful, but a little more respectable awful. Right now, Spencer Rattler, I actually think he’s not terrible. He he makes a lot of mistakes, though. I think Kyler Shuck is going to be very conservative, and that might keep this game close. But Brock, Chuck, Tuck, words that rhyme with it. You know, Rams and five or whatever the joke, right? The Rams are going to win this game by 20 points regardless of who’s playing quarterback, right? No, absolutely. Uh I’m I’mma use a move that they used to use on the Price is Right. You know, I’m going to come in just a little bit below Doug with a 2410 victory for the Rams. I you know, I I said the same thing, man. I don’t see them trying to run up the score, but I definitely see them trying to establish this run game, see what it’s really about, and truly dominate the opponent and get out of there as quick as possible. Yeah, Brock got me wanting to stay home from school tomorrow and watch the Price Dry Jerry Springer. You know what I’m saying? Like, that was the move. And I I always want to spin that wheel, man. I’m about to I’m about to age myself out here, but I’ve never watched a single episode of Price is Right in my life. So Rock knows Brock knows the vibes. Price is right was that show. No, I trust you. I trust you. Absolutely. I’ll keep it simple. I’m not going to do my whole, oh, it’s going to go this way, but psych. Look, the the Rams are going to kill the Saints. And if they don’t, I’ll be shocked. I think, you know, it’s the NFL. It’s hard to have spreads over 10. But this is a game where if the Rams don’t win by 10 points, it’s because they were up 28 and then they took out starters and the Saints came back. I really don’t see a scenario where the Saints score 17 points and I don’t see a scenario where they hold the Rams to less than 27, right? So, I’m going to say I’m hoping the offense kind of explodes a little bit. I hope they don’t take their foot off the gas. Um, I’m going to say 30 to 14. I’m going with a big time win. Uh, a bunch of field goals hopefully to to have Joshua Cardi feeling a little bit better about himself. Would love special teams to have a good performance for once. I’m going to go 30 to 14. an absolute bloodbath in SoFi Stadium, which apparently DMAC might be the future stadium of the UCLA Bruins. I don’t I don’t know if you saw that. Um, but I I you know, it’s funny. We always think of some college football talk here. I I have no I I have no idea what I was doing there, but I was at the LSU message board and there was a post saying that LSU should go after Shawn McVey as their head coach. I mean, come on. I know LSU is a marquee uh program and one of the best in the SEC, one of the best in the country, but come on, Shawn McVey. It’s like when Mike Tomlin got pissed a couple years ago when they asked about the USC job, you know, like he he’s not going to any college job ever. Never. I don’t know. Was that Michael Brockers on the on that board? You know, the message boards burner. Yeah. Was that his burner? No, not me. Oh, man. Hey, the Rams could go to SoFi, man. I mean I mean the UC I mean is that a real thing? I mean I mean I mean apparently apparently Pasadena is trying to sue the the school for thinking about it. So it clearly means they were thinking about it. I I I’m I hate the drive. I hate the I mean I don’t live down there anymore but I was there as of two months ago. I absolutely hate the drive from West LA to the Rose Bowl. Could you tailgate there like that? Not at Sofi. I don’t think you can to. So that’s why even though I hate that drive more than a anything, I would still ma rather make that drive and be in the Rose Bowl than make a a drive that’s 10 15 minutes shorter. They act like you’re going from the Rose Bowl 3 hours away to SoFi 5 minutes away. No, it’s like an hour drive to the Rose Bowl to you know a 30 minute drive, 354 minute drive to Sofi. Like it’s not that much shorter. Stay in the Rose Bowl. Get a head coach. Go Bruins. Sorry Brock. Hopefully LC finds a coach rolling up if they become a top 10 team. So you can play at Sofi at the Rose Bowl at Pastina High School, bro. Drake Stadium. I’m only rolling up if you could be a top 10 team. So that’s how you get me in the stand. So you know I mean like high standards. He sounds like Brock. He sounds like LSU. He sounds like an LSU fan. Those are high standards. Brock, who’s the coach of the LSU Tigers, man? Who who do you want? Man, I don’t know, man. I don’t know. You know, Brian Kelly might be the next coach of UCLA. So good luck. No, I don’t want that. based on everything I’m seeing on Twitter. Oh my I like you know how there’s usually debates in sports. This feels like the only time where there’s not there’s not any debate like 99.99 like no one in in this world in this country can agree on anything except everybody seems to agree that Brian Kelly is horrible. Like that’s that’s all I seem to see on Twe to see on Twitter sad like right like nothing is agreed on and then everyone is just dogpiling on Brian Kelly. So just based on that alone I I’ I’d like to stay away personally. But once again, Rams, we have a good life. We have a good coach. We have a good team. And we should get a good win on Sunday. Have a great holiday or Halloween weekend. Not quite a holiday weekend. Have a nice Halloween weekend. I won’t be rooting for the Dodgers unlike 99% of the people watching this show. So, sorry DMAC. Sorry Dodger Nation. Um, and with that, oh my god. Hey, how about this? If the Saints beat the Rams, you have to put the Bad Bunny nose ring for the postcast. Put it on record. How confident are you? What What do I get in return? I’ll do it. In return, if if the Rams win, DMac has to do something related to Cooper Cup and then we got a deal. He has to talk. He’s the top 100 receiver, man. He’s a top 100 receiver. I love M Cooper Cup. I love it. I love it. All right. Well, whose house? Rams house. Who squad? Rams squad. the mob squad. We’ll be back. Don’t forget, I hope you didn’t forget after one by a week. We are back after every single game live. So, make sure you turn in tune in live after the game. Hopefully after a blow win. Take care and go Rams, baby. Let’s get it done.

The Mob Squad returns from the bye week to discuss the Los Angeles Rams’ CB trade, the Tutu Atwell injury, and the upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints.

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