A Preview of Round 2: The Los Angeles Rams Host the San Francisco 49ers; from LA Rams Up

Welcome back to Rams up your Los Angeles Rams podcast. We're a proud member of the Pigskin podcast network. We'll cover just about any SoCal sports team, but we're mostly about your Los Angeles Rams. I'm your host, mark, let's get to it.  

Welcome back everybody. Mark from Rams up here and it's niner week again. Already for better or worse we're going to have a preview of that game coming up here. Get to some RAM notes and some NFL news first.  

Got some information on that. Rams final trade offer for McCaffrey. This has been all over the news. Y'all probably heard this already. A 2020 third second and third round pick a 2024, fourth and fifth round pick. And they were going to throw in Cam Akers 2 and a couple of writers chimed in on this. I like them all on the media, but I think these two guys got it right. The Panthers got more than they deserved at Peter King's opinion. The only reason this would have made sense for the Rams is if they just wanted to keep McCaffrey away from the Niners and you can't. Let the state of arrival do. Determine what trade you're going to make, what your future plans are. That was Peter King's input, and I agree with it. Jim Trotter of NFL. Com criticized the trade from a 49ers perspective and this is what he said. If you were to rank the areas of concern for the Niners, the list would likely gone something like this cornerback. Interior defensive line interior offensive line. Running back would have been somewhere behind better weather. And I think Trotter is right, so 49ers may have reached here, hey. Any team in the league would love to have Christian McCaffrey, but at what cost? And are you ignoring more pressing needs?  

And now for some Rams news. Apparently they're making a run at a Brandin cooks trade. I find that a little puzzling. Is this because of concerns about Allen Robinson and his production? Van Jefferson coming back. He would be the closest thing we have to a vertical threat at this point since 2/2 at wells, rarely on the field. Hey, I'd welcome Brandin Cooks back, not sure it makes complete sense here but hey the Rams make these moves every year and they usually workout and finally some good injury news. Troy Hill, Travian Howard, Kobe Durant all back practicing Brian Allen and Van Jefferson were limited on Wednesday. But Sean McVay expects them to contribute on Sunday, a pretty clear indication that McVay thinks Alan is going to play the Rams waived Jeremiah Kolone. And this is a guy that just got a game ball last time out against the Panthers suspect you'll end up back on their end practice squad if he hasn't already has to clear waivers. One less guy whose name I struggled to pronounce, Darrell Henderson was out with an illness. Kyrene Williams, entering that 21 day. Return window he won't play against the Niners, but but my guess is he will be back for the Tampa game and Clinton Lake Carnell Lake sign. But on the PUP list at the start of training camp, he has returned to practice so we could see him and add it to the roster here. Pretty quick. And the guys we have no news on Daniel Hardy, George Fuller, David Edwards, Coleman Shelton. Hoping a couple of these guys get back quickly but don't have a warm fuzzy on that and Aaron Donald doing the right thing, terminating his marketing arrangement with. The guy that used to be called Kanye West. At this point I don't think any high profile athlete has a choice but to back away from that guy.  

Some NFL news real quick Breece Hall is indeed out for the year. The Jets traded for James Robinson. I think I mentioned this. The last pod and the Eagles picked up Robert. Quinn kind of reminds me of the Von Miller pickup. Maybe not as big a splash as that, but Robert Quinn a good addition for a team that started to think hey, maybe we are Super Bowl bound. Let's add a really good edge rusher. You know I was going to do power rankings and I started to do power rankings and I got through like the fourth team and I was like. What a waste of time this is. There's about 10 or 15 teams that are just a mass. You can just throw them up and see where their names land and that's your order. Six through 15 or so. I just didn't want to waste my time with it. It's a crapshoot. I did figure out my top four. The bills. Chiefs, Eagles and Cowboys, and even the Cowboys I. Have a hard time believing they're really going to end up being the 4th best team in the league, but they've earned it so far. Giants would probably be the next team up. But I'm not going to get into power rankings beyond that. Rams would probably be somewhere around 10 or 11 I think. That's all I'm going to say about that now. I've been telling you every week which teams seasons are over and I already had the commanders, Texans, and Panthers on that list. And maybe I was a little hasty with the commanders and Panthers, but no going back can't unring the bowel. Those 3 three seasons are over and I'm adding my second favorite team, the Detroit Lions. Their season is over. Thank you for participating. Dan Campbell, Jared Goff. And the Detroit Lions. On the break, you know, I thought the Bears were going to fall to the Patriots for sure, and I was going to throw. At them in here. But they won, but they still on the brink, as are the Denver Broncos. 

You know the Bears, if it weren't for that muffed punt. Against the commanders, they'd be sitting really pretty right now, but man, costly muffed punt, haven't sort. Of word about. The World Series. It's the Astros and the fillings that should be found. Bryce Harper hit Guy is a beast. I was really hoping to see Yu Darvish face off against the Astros. One of the guys that was victimized the most by their cheating scandal. I would have loved to seeing Yu Darvish know a few of those Astros down, but we were denied by the Phillies and Bryce Harper. All people for the Phillies. In this one. But I have a feeling the Astros are going to. Come away with this. We'll be back in a minute with our 49er Rams preview second time this year. We've done it. We'll get into that in a second.  

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Let's take a look at this matchup between the Rams and 49ers at Selfy Stadium. Is this the best rivalry in the NFL? I think it is. Seems like we just did this, and in fact we actually did just a few weeks ago. The series record is now 76 to 68 with three ties in favor of the 49ers. Last time they played that week, four-game pretty ugly from Iran's perspective. Niners 24 to 9 memorable games. Man, there are so many but still going back to that NFC Championship game. Last year won't forget that one for a long time. Aaron Donald, with the pressure driven Howard with the interception sealing that game and the Rams trip to the Super Bowl. But there have been a lot of really memorable games that one is just so fresh in our memory. Gotta go with that one. Head coach Kyle Shanahan 6th year his record is now 46 and 48. That's including playoffs. Key players Christian McCaffrey. The newly acquired running back saw some action against the Chiefs did pretty well. Deebo Samuel, who always seems to have one big play every RAM game. The quarterback Jimmy G still getting a lot of flak from 49er faithful. Not happy with him. And he may be the one thing holding this team back a little bit. Tight end George Kittle, one of the best in the business as is tackle Trent Williams on the defensive side, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Jimmy Ward and Erik Armstead to name a few. Now we're going to talk a little bit more about some of these. Guys, when we do our injury update for this game and the following segment 49ers struggling with injuries as much as the Rams are, the difference being the Rams coming off a bye are getting are getting at least three starters back. But we'll talk about that more in a minute. Niners notable draft picks at Drake Jackson. The edge rusher out of USC, he looks like a keeper playing very well running back Tyrion Davis. Price out of LSU little buried on the depth chart with the acquisition of McCaffrey, but he'll get some touches. RAM connections. About Sampson ebikon. And he's been playing really well. I think he had three pressures last week. Looking at these team stats, nothing really stands out. Other than that, the 49ers have the second ranked run defense in the league as far as yards per game, and the Rams are deadly. On offense, when it comes to running the ball 70 yards per game, so that could be an issue for the Rams. Do they stubbornly try to establish that run game and the play action? Or do they just start doubling down on the passing game hoping they can protect Stafford and that week four-game, the 49ers doubled up on the Rams. As far as rushing yards, Rams had more first downs in that game. 21 to 30. Kane, but Stafford was sacked 7 times. The Rams did not get the Jimmy G at all. The 49ers were very effective in the quick passing game, getting the ball out of Jimmy's hands. That game was really characterized by three things there, and inability to punch it in when they got to the red zone. The big catch and run by Deebo where we couldn't get him tackled and then. The late pick 6. Those are the three things that really doomed the Rams in that first match. Odds have been fluctuating a little bit. Niners favored by two the last time I looked the Niners come in three and four. They won two straight. Against the Rams and Panthers and now have lost two straight to the Falcons and Chiefs. The Rams coming off their bye week. They won their previous game over the Panthers, and that same Christian McCaffrey, 24 to 10. We'll be back in a second. We'll talk about how injuries will impact this game, how guys coming back. From injuries will impact this game as well. I'll share my fearsome 4 keys to the game and my prediction.  

OK, before we get to my fearsome 4 keys to the game and my prediction wanted to give you an update on the 49er injury situation, I already talked about the Rams at the front of this episode. Now this is going to change. I am planning on providing an update on the injury situation for both teams on the YouTube channel, maybe late Friday because I suspect there will be some changes but. The 49er injury situation as of Wednesday does not look pretty. Kyle jusek. We already know has been ruled out. They were hoping to bring back Eric Armstead, but Armstead, along with Samson Emicon, Dre, Greenlaw 1, Jennings, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams all not. Practicing as of Wednesday and Jason Verrett trying to come back from another injury. He was limited now. I'm sure some of these guys are going to end up playing in the game, but it still has to be some concerns there. If you're a 49er fan, especially overlooked. Dre Greenlaw he is accused of that defense and if he's out that would be a big swing to the Rams advantage in my opinion and gesek he always seems to hurt us at least once a game, doesn't he? What are my fearsome 4 keys to the game? Well, for some key #1, whatever it takes keep Stafford. Lane we can give up a sack or two. You know both is going to get his probably, but we gotta keep him a lot cleaner than last time. 7 sacks and a lot of that's on. The receivers as well getting separation, allowing Stafford to get rid of the ball quickly. But we also want to be able to throw the ball downfield. Hit our running backs out of the backfield. Offensive line has to step up and keep him cleaner. Here's some key #2 and if it sounds like I'm looking back at that previous game, I absolutely am limit big plays by the 49ers. Jeff Wilson had a big run for a touchdown. Deebo Samuel had a catch and run, broke several tackles for a touchdown. And the 49ers had a pick. Six for a touchdown. Now you talk about big plays dictating the outcome. That game was the best example. You're going to find. For some key #3, another thing that really helped the Rams back in this last match up was the red zone performance. I almost feel like you know, let's not get into the red zone. Let's score from 3040 yards out. It seems like this 49er defense, when you're first and 10 from the 18 or first and goal. From the. Eight, they are a tough team to score on, so we were going to score from 20 yards out. Sorry or figure it out in the red zone and we've got to figure it out fast and for some key #4. Again, going back to that previous game, we got to be better in the take away department even. Or maybe plus one against the Niners? For once, can we do that? Our secondary has been playing really good. Our inside linebackers have been incredible. This is the game they need to step up and instead of tipping passes and knocking away passes, let's grab it, run it back and same with sacks. We get sacks. The ball comes loose. Seems like the other team. Is always covering it. It seems that way, doesn't? It certainly gets it. 49ers absolutely against the 49ers. So a couple of big takeaways and maybe finishing plus one or two in the take away department that would be big. Now what's my prediction? My prediction? It's going to be a close game. For the Niners come in banged up. The Rams come in healthy but they really haven't been playing well on offense. Can they run the ball? Can they finish in the red zone? I think they're going to be better than they have recently. Sean McVay is going to have this team pumped, and the Rams are going to come away with a 26 to 23 win and the 49ers talk about a team being under pressure. They are three to four. They just made a big trade for an electric running back. And they could fall to three and five. How devastating would that be and how cool would it be if it was a Rams that sent them packing back to Santa Clara? Two games under 500 that would be sweet. We got our Rams up straight up game pics coming up in a second and remember. Check our YouTube channel in a day or two for an update on injuries and maybe there will be a trade we'll be talking about.  

Hey, let's get into. Our Week 8 Rams up straight up game picks. Take a look back at last week. First, Pete Prisco had another bad week, six right, eight wrong. Lorenzo and Mike both 9. Right and five wrong. And I was one behind them. Eight right and six wrong it. So what are the standings now? Mike has a two game lit on Lorenzo A3 game lead on me and Pete Prisco fallen behind even further. He's nine behind the leader who got me last week. I was one of two. Who picked the Jags to win and the only one to pick the Colts that Colts pick especially really hurt me and what have we got this week this week? On the surface, at first glance, most of these games were pretty easy to pick, which means I'll probably have a horrible week start off with the Ravens at the Buccaneers, and I'm sorry I have to go with the Ravens. I don't know what's going on in Tampa Bay. A short week. You never know what's going to happen, but I have to roll with the Ravens on that one. Broncos at the Jags. Not sure about Russell Wilson. It's not looking good for him right now, but I don't care who plays quarterback for the Broncos. I think the Jags will win that one. They're the better team. Still trying to figure out how to win games, close games out, but I think they're going to get there eventually. Panthers at the Falcons. I know the Panthers. Were really impressive last week. Against the box, but my take away from that is the Bucs are a lot worse than anybody ever dreamed. Falcons ran into a buzz saw against the Bengals, but they'll bounce back and get the win here. Bears at the Cowboys. You know the Bears had 10 days to prepare for the Patriots and the Patriots. Come on now. They're really not that good zappy. I think he's actually a pretty average quarterback and he showed that I don't know what the Patriots are going to do at quarterback. Actually, probably go back to Mack Jones. I don't know the bears around a short week now. Traveling to Dallas and the Cowboys will win that game. The Dolphins at the Lions. You know, I'm tempted to take the lions. Lions could really put up some points. I saw a power ranking that showed the lions as the worst team in the league and I think that's kind of crazy. Don't agree with that at all, but I'm not taking the lions ever again. I told you never again they've burned me too many times just this year alone, so I'll take the dolphins. Cardinals at the Vikings. This is kind of a tough one. Who should we? As Rams fans be rooting for? I guess the Vikings I'm doing that math in my head and hoping the Vikings. Go ahead, run away with the North title, hand the Cardinals a loss along the way. I guess that's what we're rooting for here. But I think the Vikings will win. Raiders at the Saints. You know two teams up and down hard to figure out. I'll go with the Raiders. Patriots at The Jets. Patriots gonna lose two in a row. The Jets lose Breece Hall, but they're playing such good football right now. Picked up James Robinson from the Jaguars to replace Hall. I will take The Jets Steelers at the Eagles. The Battle of Pennsylvania equals stay undefeated. Titans at the Texans. That could actually be a pretty good game. I'll take the Titans. Though they'll just be smothering that Texans offense. Commanders at the Colts new quarterback in Indianapolis going up against a pretty good commander defense. This is one of the more difficult games to pick. I guess I'll take the Colts, but if the commanders can shut down Jonathan Taylor, they could easily steal a win here. 49ers at the Rams. I think everybody is going to be picking the 49ers. Not me. Not going to happen, ever. I'll take the Rams giants at the Seahawks. Are we really in a fight for the divisional title with the Seahawks? Potentially anyways, but we have two head-to-head's with them left and that could decide the division and if we end up in second place in the division we need the Giants to take some losses that will help our cause. So I'm pulling for the Seahawks. Actually in this game. And then we go get him in our two games and I think the Seahawks at home will be too much for the Giants the way the Seahawks are playing. The way they're running the ball defense fly into the ball. I'll take the Seahawks. Packers at the Bills are the Packers really missing a Gallic? Devante Adams that much seems like it, right? That offense looks so different now. I think the Bills win at at home and the Bengals at the Browns on a Monday night. Bengals look so good and the Browns you can't bet on the Browns on any weekend at this point. So I'll take the Bengals in an AFC North clash. Bengals really bounce it back nicely. If we have a Super Bowl rematch still possible, so those are my ramps up straight up game picks for Week 8. The big games that stand out to me that probably going to get mixed opinions on divergents and picks one would be the Broncos at the Jaguars. Another would be the Raiders at the Saints. And maybe the Giants and Seahawks. Those are the three games where you're probably going to get split opinions on, but. Those are my Rams up straight at Pixel week eight. We'll check back in next week as always and see. How I did.  

That's going to do it for this episode. Remember you can reach us at Rams up podcast@gmail.com. You can visit our website at ramsup.com. You'll find links to all of our episodes and a link. To our YouTube channel. And you can also leave us a voicemail from our website. Don't forget to subscribe and give us a. Five star rating. 

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