Marcus Thompson on the Niners impressive win over the Rams

0:00Now, back to dirty work. Adam Copeland and Derek Papa in the KNB Art Casino Matrix Progressive Jackpot Studios. Casino Matrix Progressive Jackpots are here. Where are you? Just drop in. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-Gampler. Dirty work on a Friday, 49ers dominate the LA Rams. And now we're joined by Marcus Thompson, oh, of the athletic who joins us every Friday. It's going on, Marcus. What's going on? How are we doing? Oh, we do great, man. Which the last night's game between the 49ers and Rams. I'm so glad I booked that right here on dirty work and told everybody what was going to happen. Right? Did not do that? Did I do that? I can't recall. I actually booked that or not. I guess I guess I did do that. That was actually... How many times are we genuinely surprised? You know?

1:01Yeah. That was actually a surprising outcome. Not that they won, per se. But dominated. But yeah, they... It looked like the old 49ers versus Rams. Where air... The Rams just always kind of like... Play the role of Wally Coyote. It was just interesting to see that they still have this mojo. And having Divo be central gave it a nostalgia to it, right? And I was really thinking about that. Like, wow, they really do just really give the Rams a problem. Now, obviously the Rams have a Super Bowl in this era of the 49ers. So, you know, I'll listen to arguments that, you know, it's the other way. But generally speaking, when these two teams match up, you got to feel really good about the 49ers chances. And this was the one where it felt like all that was about to change. And sure enough, it didn't like... That was a bit of a shocker. That was surprising.

2:04Yeah, I mean, I'm with you on like... They're being an argument because they're the team that's gotten one. But the Niners have been to two NFC Championship games and two Super Bowls in the last four years. Or seven years and they've lost... No, they've lost two of each of those. But head to head, there's not really an argument in terms of who's dominated that matchup. And the one that matters, I know, is that NFC Championship. But what you said about Debo is kind of how I feel about the defensive side of things. Like, I'm questioning if I've undersold in my mind the value of what Fred Warner and Dread Green Law, in addition to just having Nick Boza back, was going to mean for the defense because we had so little of those guys last year. No Green Law. Fred Warner went down like week six or something and Boza went down week three. So, we saw so little of them and it was about surviving. I sort of think maybe I've undersold even to this point in their careers, what their value is to that defense. I mean, I feel like you can put some exclamation points on that with Fred Warner. Yeah. Like, how easy was it to forget the best Fred Warner's the best linebacker in basketball?

3:08I mean, you just haven't, I mean, in football, you haven't seen him. So, it was easy to be like, yeah, this defense, I don't know. Fred Warner is a monster, right? And that was evident when he got hurt and you thought, hey, he's done, right? Like, he felt like, how do you weigh without Fred Warner? But that was a long time ago, watching him out there with essentially his personal magnifier and Dread Green Law, because them two together, like, you know what I'm saying? They're like, they're like the old couple who always end up back together again. Like, they are meant to be very great law and Fred Warner. Their ability to cover the ferociousness they bring. It is just, it just pops, you know, Fred Warner even dropped the pick. I was like, yeah, they go for it, Fred's back. First snap of it on the season. He was fixing off. And I was like, that was, I mean, I think that messed up stuff.

4:09Yeah. Jumped in with perfect time and covers the route, had the burst of speed was there. And next to you know, he's holding his hands there like, I would, that's Fred Warner. Like, it was a great reminder of like, oh, yeah, this dude is different, right? Like, he is a difference maker. And now, having that in there, it just, it changes what's possible. And, you know, the corners do look better, right? The secondary didn't look better. They played better. And perhaps that's another underestimation. But I do feel like a good bolster and a good Fred Warner would make, you know, deep hop look like a viable corner out there. I was pretty good back in the day. Point safety. So, safety, you played safety? No, no. I was like a white safety. I know, it was like, what's believable for me? I know, as a white DB. Yeah, you're a fullback, bro. Yeah, yeah. I'm not Jason Seahorn back there playing cornerback. No. No. Talking about the pins on the opponent. That is true. I know.

5:09At the YO pop Warner. Everybody could be a pointer. That is true. Talking to Marcus Thompson on the UMAA guest line. So, I said today, I'm not making excuses for the Rams. I think the 49ers dominated them. But do you think the travel played a huge factor in yesterday's outcome? Yes, much to my glee. I believe it's been a life. They made me feel like I was stupid, right? Because I'm like, this doesn't make any sense. What am I missing? What is known that I don't know? Me. I don't know what it was just crazy. And they do all your studies and all that. Like, I'm taking enough flights to know. Like jet lag is the real thing. And I just, so there's a part of me that was like that to me saying. But then also, they put these things for so much money and so much thought and so much research into this stuff. I'm like, yeah, they must say must have found something out to hatch you. Because why would you intentionally, like essentially endanger players?

6:10Like that, that's just crazy. You could see it. It was visible. Like this, this was an all-star defense. And Brock Birdie is like turning the corner with no problem. Right? It's just like, well, Brock Birdie is like one of the best athletes on the field. So somebody's lost a step. It just felt like they were dragging. And second half, like it's a close game. They're there. And second half, they didn't look like they had anything. And after all that money, after all that education, and the end, comments is prevailed. We aren't dumb. So I was very happy about that. Because I thought I was going to have to rechange how I travel now. The other day, I'm like, oh, I'm going to quick turn around, I'm going to have to come along to see. But I would, I would accuse myself out there. So I've done it, Martin. I'm glad we know what's up. Remember, he did it like two months ago. That's right. Look at you. You still have recovered. No, I'm a mess. But you know what? I handled it better than Matthews' average yesterday.

7:12I'll say that. Yeah, well, same line, basically. Yeah, exactly. I'm not even trying to touch that. Talking to Martin, I'm just talking to him. On the Uber Desk Line. So, okay, like I never want to get too ahead of myself. After one game, and one game doesn't mean the world. But a lot of questions have started to be answered about things we had for this team. And also, the Rams looked really flat. And there's a case that like they're aging guys on the Rams. I mean, the Mountain Adams didn't look great yesterday. At some point, Matt Stafford won't be the version of Matt Stafford we know. But we can fear the same thing about a lot with the 49ers. But then I look at even what we've seen so far with Seattle. Right? Like we stack up this division. How long does Sam Darnel that? And how long can that defense sustain them if it's, it's drew lock? Based on what we've seen to this point, what where would you place the division after one week? I mean, I'm still going, Rams, see, y'all. Right? But without Donald, you're right. Like we're talking where will they finish or provide everybody's health? He has the energy you go with. I'd be like, that's the thing is, just situationally based on what we've seen or a contextually based on what we see. Like, lock is their QB for the next couple weeks.

8:14That's a big, that's a, you know what? The reason I'm not too, like, start, you know, struck about it with the, see Hawks is, I'm not the biggest Donald guy. Like, I do feel like he's a pretty good quarterback who has a great situation. Yeah. So I don't know that he's elevating the see Hawks as much as he's benefiting from what they have. Now, I'm not saying he's a bad, he's a good quarterback, but like we all know if he's playing this thing to go, go left. So like, I'm not giving too much use to that. I do think they do take a step back. I mean, lock is clearly a step back from Darnell. I don't know, but I still think when they're fully healthy, they're still a problem. Like, it's a massive thing. The rest is the one where it's like, I think they're the better team. I just don't think they want to see the 49ers. Like, that's just, it's like a logical at this point, but you know, Towsha in the hand, and Shawn McKay.

9:15I love that. So, and where do you play? Where's his game? Right? Do you actually want it in so far? I don't know. I don't know that you do it for them. I don't know that you want to go here and deal with a fan base that's going to like be little yours. Right? So, to me, that's just like a rivalry thing. That's different, but I still think the Rams are the better team. And I think if there is any belowback outside of the fact that the 49ers might be tired, they really put, you can tell they really want to win this game. They put a lot into it. So, you could, they're pride for a week to let down. But to me, the bigger belowback will be, we start living that 49ers again, like, hey, hold on. Right? I think they really kind of benefit from the galvanizing of a team that counted out. And we see like, I mean, even the players they have, like the Fred Warner who missed last year, and it will he be the same. Nick Bolsa is not Nick Bolsa anymore. Debo was a cast off still trying to prove he's, he was jaded.

10:19Brock hurting no matter what will forever be, like the underdogs who have to prove himself, like that spirit really plays well for them, like they can use it. So, I think just by nature of who they are, they don't want to get too ahead of themselves. I think they're like, hey, you keep, you keep underestimating. Go ahead, you keep, keep looking at the Rams and Seahawks. And then over time, I do think they could figure some things out to be a problem. If they say healthy, one more for you, Marcus. Obviously, Sean McVeigh has the hardware over Kyle Shanahan. A lot of coaches do, but I mean, even Ted Winne in the athletic this offseason went around football asking defense coordinators, who's the best play caller? And everybody said Kyle Shanahan. I think Kyle Shanahan, like he gets disrespected by the fans enough, but man, was he prepared last night? Where do you place Kyle Shanahan amongst the best coaches in football right now? I mean, there's a feeling there until you win, right? Because in the end, that's the ultimate sign. But as far as the play callers goes, especially if you give them time,

11:19like I think he is where Andy Reed was before Andy Reed one of the title. Yeah, yeah, totally. That title puts you there, but remember Andy Reed, like by week Andy Reed was a thing. Yeah. Like you're just not beating them up. Kyle's like that. Like he's a guy that, like you better have an edge because he's going to figure out a way to loosen up your defense. He's going to get you. He's great with the misdirection. And also, like just if we want to be frank about it, Chris McAfry is amazing and you can do a lot with him. Like he's, there's probably nobody better at maximizing a talent like that than Kyle Shanahan. And you can just see it like all over the field. That's why he doesn't always need as much as we like kind of want him to go get the big quarterbacks and the big receiver. That needed as much because he can do these things with that. But if you give him like, it makes you wonder if he give him like a

12:20Justin Jefferson, what happens? So I think Kyle is elite. I think his ability to get his guys to grind, like they have a good football spirit. And that matter, that's why they'll be in the mix. Like no matter what happens, I mean, sometimes you lose enough talent the season's done. But generally speaking, a lot of this is just about real and toughness to have in the right mindset and positive. Like he's really good at all that. The one knock on Kyle is can't he get over the hump in the big game? Once he does that, his entire perspective will change, right? It will be like, all right, he's one of the great coaches we've seen it in football. I mean, he's truly a game changer, which by the way, game changers by Marcus Thompson. The new book. It's next week, right? Marcus is the 15th. I mean Tuesday, September 15th, you know, I'm saying like it's your copy pre-orders available now. I wouldn't even go and do it for my guy coach. Come on, bro. You know, I got you. Plus your publics, as well stop you know, and you're the Brock Birdie of football.

13:22Yeah, I got to get it in. I was waiting to the end because I knew we were going heavy football. But seriously, I didn't want to plug in game changers. The go-to revolutionized basketball. Can you, I mean, tell us about it. I've got a whole bio on it here. It's like statistical breakdowns and player lineage. It trace how generations of superstars directly inspired the next. So error to error. How this stuff gets handed down. I mean, tell us the premise for the book, dude. May you just do it. That was actually a good move. That's pretty good. Yeah, it is good. I mean, that it's it's evolution. It's fasty ball evolution. How do we get? I mean, I cut off. I was like, man, I'm not going back to George Mike in because that's too much work. So I started with Magic and Bird. Yeah, right. Thank you. How do we get from there to here? Right? And it's all one connected story. And really, I really just don't like the way we talk about basketball now. Where in order to list up one, you got to tear down others and other errors are terrible. And to me, it's really one fast-gaball story. These errors are far more linked. And it's something that's something better to appreciate

14:24instead of divide, right? Like there's no Steph Curry without Steve Nash. So Steve Nash, you're very swunger of all time. No, but you better respect Steve Nash because there's no Steph Curry without Steve Nash. And I feel like we need to do that more in the discourse instead of saying, Steve Nash, horrible. He couldn't do this. You know, there's no Michael Jordan without Dr. J. Did he play in a different era? Yes, he did. Were the shorts too short? Yes, they were. But there's no Michael Jordan without Dr. V. And that to me, these connections were just worth investigating and seeing like who changed the sport. When they were done, how did they change like how we lived their basketball and what was possible? We should revere these people. No, I just want to know like, is it pure statistical? Like how the game evolved? There was a cultural stuff too. Because Magic and Bird were a major part of that into Jordan, into Iverson and so on and so forth. I mean, it became a fashion show. You know what I mean? Like the leagues evolved and David Stern's like how much of that stuff is involved in the book too?

15:25Oh, yeah, it's all that. Like Iverson was a big cultural shift, right? I mean, every time you go to Oklahoma City press conference and Shay Gilgis Alexander is in there with a fur coat and a turtleneck up to his skin with some corn rolls in the head then. You better be thinking Iverson, right? Right. It is cultural. It is a lot of people and basketball was part of that, right? Like sometimes helping us see like how a coach would need to change. And it's hard like basketball is as much emotion and culture and society as it is a sport, you know, especially the way we process it. So yes, some of those people really do. Yes. Like, okay, now that this has happened, like a human lives in a wand opened up Africa. It's like this about that, you know, like it's a whole costume. He's like, oh, oh, they they can hoop over there. And they're smart. They have good IQ and they have touch and feel. Oh, that's good. Now, okay, let's go, let's go scour the continent

16:27for other resources we can pillage. I mean, sorry, that was like a little historical. Yeah, you an African. Oh, you would. I got it. I got it. You got it. You got it. You got it. I got it. I can give you diamonds forever. Joe. Oh, blood diamond also available on HBO Max. Marcus Thompson's, Marcus Thompson's new book, Game Changers, available for preorder right now. It's artificially on Tuesday the 15th. The Go To Revolution ice basketball. I assume my copies in the mail from the your publics. As you. Whoa, I'm on that. Did you get your copy? No, not yet. I think it's on its way because I emailed her back to it to send me a copy. Just hasn't gotten here yet. I was lazy on the. I know. Oh, no. No, I was lazy on the. I feel like I feel like you got a copy. You try to get another one. I think that's what I have to. All to get caught. It never arrived. Yeah, I did. I have a table that's uneven and I need to level it out. So I figured if I got a second one, I could sit at the table and read the other. I'll take that one. Okay. Table of changes. It's a good. Golden table changes.

17:29Marcus tells us to make game changes. The Go To Revolution ice basketball. Marcus, appreciate the time. As always, congrats on the book. We'll talk to you next week. Then litter mergers. All right, homies. All right. Landed well. Sounds cool. That book sounds really cool. I guess all by one. I can get an extra copy for you. Yeah, that'd be nice. Don't tell Marcus though. Seems like he's really sensitive about that. Geez. Marcus told me one time he gave when he wrote the stuff. Curry book golden. Yeah. He gave his daughter a copy. And we're talking. I think we joke about it with him with Tom. And he was like, my daughter's never read my book. Yeah. And he's like, I gave her a copy and everything. I was like, he did. He said, yeah. And I know she hasn't read it because I taped a $20 bill into the back page. I was like, he's like, and I would go back periodically and check to see if the money was there. Well, he never even flipped through the book. Damn, she went to the Jamarcus Russell. It's the, yeah, he gave him the blank tape or JP Lossman as Dante Witton told me. Where we're referencing his young quarterbacks. They knew weren't studying film. And the NFL, they would give them a DVD or like a video to go home and study their film studying all that. And they'd be blank. Yeah. They'd be like, what did you learn?

18:29And they would get up and make them talk about it. And they'd be like, don't be like, man, I learned this and blah, blah. And they'd be like, put it on. And it's the tape they gave him is there's nothing on this tape. It's like they put up graphic that says, we know you didn't watch this. Right. Yeah, tough deal. Anyway, that's what Marcus is doing. All right. I think he said at one point, he's like, I just went in one point and took the 20 bag. He's like, I should have there. Forget that. Just go run away in the book. Adam Copeland, Derek Popper with you. I want to get into the question. I just asked Marcus. It's a good topic you headed in the rundown for today. Based on what we know now, I'm not going to say, I won't say, were we wrong and how we stacked up the NFC West? No, of course not. We didn't see anything yet. But one weekend did give us a bit of data. We saw the three teams in the US and we saw two of them head to head with each other, right? Marcus had a good point where he said, I think the Rams can still be the number one team. I just don't think they want to see the 49ers, which might also be true. It might be. That might also be maybe the 90s are there a kill he's healed. It might be. Talk more about that. But what does the NFC West look like in your mind today? And don't forget Drew Locke is the starting quarterback week two against Arizona. We'll talk about that next journey work on a Friday on the sports leader.