00:00:00
Speaker 1: How's it going everyone? Hope you can make it to Sofi Stadium this weekend for a first place collision between Seattle and Los Angeles. Indeed, the Rams are set for their biggest test of the season, and so am I start your stopwatch and enjoy this edition of RAMS revealed with punifour Well, Punta, good to sit with you. I've been looking forward to this for a while. You maybe not so much.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: Well, I'm open to it, Okay.
00:00:29
Speaker 1: I just hear that you're a man of few words, fair yea true by nature or just around the media.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: This in general playing I won't release much.
00:00:39
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, I won't say who, but I have a little wager with someone in the facility that I can get you to hit here for ten minutes that the over unders like nine and a half. Thing. I got a chance.
00:00:48
Speaker 2: Maybe you might.
00:00:50
Speaker 1: Know better chance than the centers you go up against on a weekly basis. All Right, I got a little bit of a nce breaker. Let's see where this leads. Okay. I know there's a few things that you like to talk about. We'll get to them eventually. But I'm going to rank the best arms on the RAMS roster, and you stop me when you get to yourself or where you think you fit in. Okay, because I hear you can spin it. We'll get to that next. Am I right though?
00:01:15
Speaker 2: Yeah?
00:01:16
Speaker 1: Okay, Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson, Bennett Cam Curl.
00:01:26
Speaker 2: I feel like I got Cam. I ain't.
00:01:29
Speaker 1: I feel like both of Okay, all right, so we'll just go right after the quarterbacks? With which hand right? Because you can throw it both ways? Your ambidextross research research, trying to get past this nine and a half minute.
00:01:42
Speaker 2: Mark, Dad, I can throw both hands.
00:01:45
Speaker 1: Okay? Do you do everything? Amber? Can you write with no?
00:01:48
Speaker 2: I write my left hand, sign an autographs left hand. I guess you had a basketball in both hands.
00:01:53
Speaker 1: Shoot a basketball with both hands, kick with both feet?
00:01:56
Speaker 2: No?
00:01:56
Speaker 1: Okay. Do you feel that that ambidextrous nature allows you to play football better? Does it help in the trenches?
00:02:03
Speaker 2: I feel like it does help because it like it helps you be able to play both sides, like left and right.
00:02:08
Speaker 1: You played both sides of the football growing up. Right. You had some good offensive skills too. Taking a handoff that's necessarily throwing it though. Huh Yeah, Okay, when's the last time you threw a football for real?
00:02:19
Speaker 2: Uh probably like yeah, probably around high school. I'll say, okay, yeah, I was supposed to have some like my own packages, but I hurt my so to my senior year.
00:02:31
Speaker 1: Okay, so that robs you of the offensive start.
00:02:33
Speaker 2: Robbed me on my sign a little bit, man.
00:02:35
Speaker 1: I mean you're giving me some ideas though, like a little red zone RPO package, the mesh point poona coming downhill with a chance to flip at the end zone.
00:02:43
Speaker 2: Maybe okay, just let me lead block. I feel like I like that more lead block.
00:02:48
Speaker 1: Okay, so just true formation full back paving the way for Kiren or put in Shawn's here. See what he says, He's opening new things, apparently. What do you make of this new free tight end identity that the Rams are role with.
00:03:01
Speaker 2: I feel like tiles are great. I'm gonna leave that.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: To leave that to them.
00:03:04
Speaker 2: YEA.
00:03:04
Speaker 1: What kind of stress does it put on a defense when you're flipping between eleven personnel with Pooka and Avante Adams and then you're loading up with three tight ends and having to deal with that presentation.
00:03:15
Speaker 2: I feel like it just allows you to stay balanced as an offense. Really, you'd be able to like, I guess, move the ball around and also like run it.
00:03:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty good offensive day and that win at San Francisco, how'd you enjoy that? What did the Rams do well? What can they do better between now and Seattle?
00:03:33
Speaker 2: I don't know. I feel like they was, you know, hitting on Austinlanders, but for this game important. I feel like, see how I got a good run defense, and I feel like it's gonna be important for us to get a run game going this week.
00:03:46
Speaker 1: Yeah. As we approach the midway point of this season, how would you evaluate your performance your first campaign as a RAM.
00:03:55
Speaker 2: I thought it's been pretty good, like you were winning, so that's always great. Love winning. I don't like losing. I don't take losing pretty well.
00:04:03
Speaker 1: Okay, but I ask you about yourself myself? Yeah, I don't know.
00:04:06
Speaker 2: I'm not really wanting to talk about myself.
00:04:07
Speaker 1: I can tell I'm trying to get there though. But they're winning because of you, not not necessarily come on pot of the last I think seven opponents only six or you've held six below one hundred yards rushing.
00:04:17
Speaker 2: I mean that's not just me to it's kind of like collectively all of us together. But you know, that's just like the chemistry they have. Everybody like, you know, play for one another.
00:04:28
Speaker 1: You're the tip of the spear though. What about that chemistry in that defensive line room?
00:04:32
Speaker 2: Oh, I feel like it's pretty good, you know, me being just in the room, it's kind of interesting. This is a fresh for me. But uh, Couz Gibson kind of like challenge me to like to lead the guys a little bit, and that's what I can be kind of trying to do.
00:04:45
Speaker 1: When you say it first, it's the first time you've been kind of the senior statesman in a position group. Yes, I mean, I'm not trying to date you, but I know you got a birthday around the corner absolutely, thirty next week.
00:04:55
Speaker 2: Yep, thirty thirty.
00:04:57
Speaker 1: All right, what kind of present you're hoping to get yourself?
00:05:00
Speaker 2: M hmm, I don't know. I don't know. To be honest, I'm not really big on my birthday because I'm always working. I've been working on my birthday since like forever as I remember. Yeah, it just be nice. It's like just chilled my family and stuff like that.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: You'll be out here installing something on a Wednesday. Yeah, Well, how about Nathan Winn. We'd love to get that for you.
00:05:22
Speaker 2: That'd be a great birthday present.
00:05:23
Speaker 1: Back to your position group for a second. Who are you closest friends with here just a few months into your RAMS tenure. Oh?
00:05:29
Speaker 2: Probably, I say Merch Probably, Like that's why I like hang out with a lot him and.
00:05:36
Speaker 1: Uh, Bill, what do you like about Merch March?
00:05:38
Speaker 2: I mean, like, you know, he's a one of the bigger personalities on the team. But I don't know, but I know much for a long time. Like I hosted him at Texas on his official visit, so but yeah, I know much for a long time. And that's probably that's probably why we, uh hang out so much.
00:05:59
Speaker 1: Yeah, because he can talk the whole time.
00:06:01
Speaker 2: You just listen right as a chill laugh, you know, chime in whenever.
00:06:05
Speaker 1: What was Laurel Murgison like as a prep recruit in Austin, Texas.
00:06:12
Speaker 2: I mean it's kind of quiet, I guess at first, but I don't know. I kind of knew he was to come in there.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, you were ahead of your time, man. You could have made some money in this nil era down there in Texas right now.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: And pretty cool. I just really wanted the card that's it.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: Well, I hope you've been able to pick one out for yourself now that you've made a nice long career in the National Football League. Aside from the money, what was it about this opportunity with the Rams that attracted you in free agency? Uh?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: You know, just uh, just the opportunity to really play under Cos McVeigh, you know, being playing against him since my time in Seattle, I always thought he was a great coach and there's someone I could see myself playing for.
00:06:53
Speaker 1: A great coach because he made life difficult for you as an opponent or.
00:06:57
Speaker 2: I mean, not get into that he did, but like yeah, just like just his style as a coach, Like he's young, energetic, and that's just something that you know, makes you want to play for a goal like that.
00:07:11
Speaker 1: I am always curious when players have been on the opposing sideline, what's the perception of McVeigh and the Rams from afar versus the reality now that you're inside these walls.
00:07:22
Speaker 2: Just being on the other side. I was like, I don't know, like we kind of like hated each other as far as like you know, being division rivals and stuff like that. But it's just like, man, I'm like especially like going together his office. I'm like, man, it's like the scheme is crazy. The scheme is crazy. So that's really my biggest thought on him, Like playing against him back in my early career.
00:07:45
Speaker 1: Is there one moment or one game that stands out from your time in this rivalry Seattle against Los Angeles that still sticks with you? Uh?
00:07:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, probably for my rookie year. It was like a Vela was like a scuffle at the end of the game when what they were playing in the Colosseum. Still, that's probably what really stick that to me. Well from what I.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: Remember, Yeah, it was a pretty prominent defensive tackle involved in that scuffle if I recall.
00:08:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, I wanted to meet him, but I guess he had that my first U Yeah, that was my first game.
00:08:20
Speaker 1: So you're trying to meet Aaron Donald maybe someone you looked up to admirers.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: And mom bought me his jersey in college.
00:08:27
Speaker 1: Your mom bought you Aaron Donald's You still have it, Yeah, get him to autograph it.
00:08:34
Speaker 2: Uh. I don't know, really, I'm not really to.
00:08:37
Speaker 1: That, not into that, No, but he did inspire you.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: Of course, like being one of those you know, short a defensive line in the league, especially like to do what he done and accomplished. It's just it just gives like, you know, shout the guy's hope.
00:08:50
Speaker 1: So you're in the Colosseum thinking maybe I'm going to meet this guy and he's too busy beefing with your offensive line up. Man, all right, that gives me a flavor to this this game coming on Sunday. I like that. Let me talk about those measurables real quick, and we'll come back to the Seahawks. According to listing like shortest defensive linemen in the league five eleven and changes that sound about right, yep, but show us the wingspan six foot eight.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: I don't know, man, it's been a while. I haven't done it since like college.
00:09:17
Speaker 1: Okay, how does that play? Why does that matter?
00:09:21
Speaker 2: They're just like it helps me, like like I say, like early, it helps me get separation from the lineman.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, what are the other ingredients that have allowed you to overcome being an undersized, undrafted defensive lineman to make it this far?
00:09:35
Speaker 2: Just like you know, being like shorter and being overle like get under the Tyler offensive line, like a lot of them are pretty much all of them are tiler than me, so like it's easier for me, like to get up under him and like them not being able to move me and stuff like that.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: I'm sure it crossed your radar what Jason Kelsey.
00:09:51
Speaker 2: Said about you, right, Yeah, everybody sent me that.
00:09:54
Speaker 1: Yeah, for those who didn't catch it or don't know what I'm referencing there, he says, when you play somebody shorter with longer arms, like, I've negated every technical advantage I could have. I hated playing Puna. Is that like the highest compliment that, of course Hall of Fame Center could offer you?
00:10:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was. It was honor.
00:10:12
Speaker 1: That's terrific. All right, let's go to the Seahawks. What's it like preparing for a first place showdown against the team that raised you at SOFI Stadium.
00:10:21
Speaker 2: Uh, it's just I don't know, you know, being out the side because like this is my first time playing them, you know, since I left, And I don't know, I'm just you know, we've got two really good teams going up against each other. I'm just and not just me, but like everybody is looking forward to the challenge.
00:10:39
Speaker 1: What are your recollections of your time in the Pacific Northwest? Fond Memories Uh.
00:10:43
Speaker 2: Yes, I mean I kind of love it up there, like the weather, it wasn't as bad as people like said it was, but like it's just whatever you make of it. So I enjoyed my time there.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: Grateful of course, because they gave the opportunity. You got an extension, right, I think before anyone else in your class drafted or otherwise got an extension, you were first. So what did that mean to you that they invested in you in your future?
00:11:05
Speaker 2: Just like you know that they believed in me and like believe what I could be as a player, And that was just like a good feeling.
00:11:14
Speaker 1: Let me ask you about your name, Poona. Will you share with us the origins of that nickname?
00:11:18
Speaker 2: Origin? I tell you, like like this is something like Grandma gave to me. But like I don't know. I got like a few different names.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: I'm open open, Like which one do you tell me?
00:11:32
Speaker 2: I do you know my real name?
00:11:34
Speaker 1: I don't know if the pronunciation is correct, but Kaylin Nikia Ford Junior.
00:11:38
Speaker 2: I just asked for my first name. That's the whole thing.
00:11:41
Speaker 1: Oh you don't want you don't want your government name?
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Just put it out there, man, we can edit it. I don't care.
00:11:46
Speaker 1: Okay, no social Security number though, no.
00:11:48
Speaker 2: But yeah he said it right, Okay, surprisingly thesually people would be like Kylon or something, but nice, kaylin, I lose.
00:11:55
Speaker 1: A lot of fifty to fifty bets, but I got that one, all right. So Poona comes from.
00:11:59
Speaker 2: My grandma and then my mom she called me pun. And like my mom and like my sisters, my little brother, they all called me pun. And then like my grandma's believe the one that gave me pulling, they both just come me Pooh.
00:12:15
Speaker 1: At what point did you decide to just run with it and like have that be your roster name.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: I don't know that kind of just chose me, like that's what people have been calling me, like my entire life. Yeah, and so that's just what it was.
00:12:28
Speaker 1: And where are you from? Family origins geography, North Carolina, South Carolina. You and Tyler Davis connect through South Carolina too. Speaking of another defensive lineman.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, but he came to our camp one year, him and like another player I think it was like Exavier was or something, but a couple of Crimson guys then, like like I said, like my cousin was doing that camp for a while. So I used to have like a lot of top guys. Like one year we had like Ezekiel Elliott. Like that's alone, I said. Christian Lookers was there one year. It's just like a lot of uh, just a lot of like South Carolina schools. But it was nice to cross paths with them.
00:13:08
Speaker 1: You've been in the Pacific time zone a long time now, though, Do you feel like a West Coast guy at this point? Do you like it out here?
00:13:14
Speaker 2: It's all right, but you know, I stay true to my roots.
00:13:17
Speaker 1: That'll always be a home.
00:13:18
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:19
Speaker 1: What's after football for you?
00:13:21
Speaker 2: Mm? I don't know. I got like a I kind of got an idea, but like I'm not really in the rush. Yeah, to be honest, but probably go back home just you know, be a dad and just enjoy my family.
00:13:38
Speaker 1: I'm coming right back to fatherhood, I promise. But how many more years do you want to do this?
00:13:42
Speaker 2: They let me?
00:13:43
Speaker 1: Man?
00:13:43
Speaker 2: Why was my body lets me? So? We'll see.
00:13:46
Speaker 1: It's kind of a thankless task, isn't it. But you enjoyed.
00:13:50
Speaker 2: I did enjoy it, man. I love the game. I love the locker room parate and just you know, just going out there on Sundays having fun with the guys.
00:13:57
Speaker 1: How do you measure success? Like, how do you leave a few old feeling like you thrive that you had a great day.
00:14:02
Speaker 2: A win first and foremost, just you know, just like just not giving up, like you're not having a hound of yacht rusher. That's that's a win for me personally. I'm not really too big in the stats, but just those that's what I'd like. Jase game mofa pretty much.
00:14:21
Speaker 1: When you do get rewarded with a chance to rush the pastor to get vertical, and you racked up some sacks last year, take a career high. You're in the box score this year as well, what does that feel like as a reward?
00:14:32
Speaker 2: It feels good, you know, it makes you like, you know, we want to get more. But like like you try not to chase sacks because it's like you don't want to, like you feel me abandon like your focus on like what the entire goal is.
00:14:46
Speaker 1: But you can celebrate the success of others, like when V eight or Agent zero or Kobe get a sack, you know that you played a role in that, either earning them the right to rust the pastor by occupying an offensive line. Who's got the best sack celebration.
00:14:59
Speaker 2: I think Kobe does the conductor, yes, hands down.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Who needs to work on it?
00:15:05
Speaker 2: Mmm. I don't know if everybody got their own little celebration that fits him, but yeah, Kobe has the best.
00:15:14
Speaker 1: Fist kicks down that door. Pretty good Destiny all right, I said fatherhood would be our finishing topic. I want to go there. Tell us about your daughter, Pud.
00:15:23
Speaker 2: What do you want to know?
00:15:25
Speaker 1: What's your name? How old is she?
00:15:26
Speaker 2: Kensley? Kensley? She's four years old.
00:15:30
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:15:31
Speaker 2: Their birthday was October tenth, not too long ago.
00:15:34
Speaker 1: Okay, so a fall birthday, like yourself just celebrated a fourth birthday. What did you guys do to celebrate?
00:15:39
Speaker 2: She she came out here earlier, but like that was when we had to go to Baltimore, so I wasn't abstually able to get to celebrate her actual birthday. But she h, we just like we just hear, like we make cakes and stuff like that, and like we go to play places, parks whatever. She's just an active baby. She likes she does a lot. She's very active.
00:16:01
Speaker 1: Does she understand what her dad does for a living?
00:16:03
Speaker 2: I don't know yet, but like she comes to the games and she. I think she enjoys it, especially like when she see her like she sees herself on like the big screen. She's about there a few times.
00:16:15
Speaker 1: She just she loves it on the infinity screen. It's so far. Oh, that's that's special. It's very cool. Was a trip to Baltimore helpful and getting some time with her, reconnecting being on the East coast for a full week.
00:16:25
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it's pretty It was pretty cool. It's just like different though, just you know, being away from your actually home and like in a hotel for like a whole week.
00:16:33
Speaker 1: Practicing at Camden Yards. What was that? Like?
00:16:36
Speaker 2: I'm like to see like a actual baseball state and be inside of it, and like the locker rooms are like way different than ours.
00:16:43
Speaker 1: That made an impression on you. I can tell. Are you expecting that?
00:16:46
Speaker 2: I respect honestly. And they have like great shower pressure, like the water pressure and.
00:16:53
Speaker 1: Showers Camden Yards unexpected.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: It is impressive.
00:16:58
Speaker 1: Okay, So you guys split up offensive defense right, one in each clubhouse, one in each weight room. Yeah, and the showers were a great takeaway. When they tell the story of the twenty twenty five Rams and how this winning streak started, and what led them to success. Do you think Camden Yards in shower pressure will be a footnote? Uh.
00:17:13
Speaker 2: I wouldn't say just that, but just like just you know, being out in Baltimore together as a team, that's pretty cool. We did a few things we would like try some restaurants and stuff like that, just some like real coarate. So I feel like that was kind of a buildings.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: So okay, so a second training camp of sorts. There's some merit to that that that helped. Yeah, all right, well you're way past the ten minute mark. Mission accomplished. I feel like that's a win for me. I want to win for you. To celebrate your thirtieth birthday, Punah, thank you for giving us a little peak into what makes you a great defensive lineman and a father. We wish you and your daughter all the best. Glad you're with us here in Los Angeles.
00:17:51
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:17:52
Speaker 1: Go get the Seahawks, Yes, sir,
Speaker 1: How's it going everyone? Hope you can make it to Sofi Stadium this weekend for a first place collision between Seattle and Los Angeles. Indeed, the Rams are set for their biggest test of the season, and so am I start your stopwatch and enjoy this edition of RAMS revealed with punifour Well, Punta, good to sit with you. I've been looking forward to this for a while. You maybe not so much.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: Well, I'm open to it, Okay.
00:00:29
Speaker 1: I just hear that you're a man of few words, fair yea true by nature or just around the media.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: This in general playing I won't release much.
00:00:39
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, I won't say who, but I have a little wager with someone in the facility that I can get you to hit here for ten minutes that the over unders like nine and a half. Thing. I got a chance.
00:00:48
Speaker 2: Maybe you might.
00:00:50
Speaker 1: Know better chance than the centers you go up against on a weekly basis. All Right, I got a little bit of a nce breaker. Let's see where this leads. Okay. I know there's a few things that you like to talk about. We'll get to them eventually. But I'm going to rank the best arms on the RAMS roster, and you stop me when you get to yourself or where you think you fit in. Okay, because I hear you can spin it. We'll get to that next. Am I right though?
00:01:15
Speaker 2: Yeah?
00:01:16
Speaker 1: Okay, Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson, Bennett Cam Curl.
00:01:26
Speaker 2: I feel like I got Cam. I ain't.
00:01:29
Speaker 1: I feel like both of Okay, all right, so we'll just go right after the quarterbacks? With which hand right? Because you can throw it both ways? Your ambidextross research research, trying to get past this nine and a half minute.
00:01:42
Speaker 2: Mark, Dad, I can throw both hands.
00:01:45
Speaker 1: Okay? Do you do everything? Amber? Can you write with no?
00:01:48
Speaker 2: I write my left hand, sign an autographs left hand. I guess you had a basketball in both hands.
00:01:53
Speaker 1: Shoot a basketball with both hands, kick with both feet?
00:01:56
Speaker 2: No?
00:01:56
Speaker 1: Okay. Do you feel that that ambidextrous nature allows you to play football better? Does it help in the trenches?
00:02:03
Speaker 2: I feel like it does help because it like it helps you be able to play both sides, like left and right.
00:02:08
Speaker 1: You played both sides of the football growing up. Right. You had some good offensive skills too. Taking a handoff that's necessarily throwing it though. Huh Yeah, Okay, when's the last time you threw a football for real?
00:02:19
Speaker 2: Uh probably like yeah, probably around high school. I'll say, okay, yeah, I was supposed to have some like my own packages, but I hurt my so to my senior year.
00:02:31
Speaker 1: Okay, so that robs you of the offensive start.
00:02:33
Speaker 2: Robbed me on my sign a little bit, man.
00:02:35
Speaker 1: I mean you're giving me some ideas though, like a little red zone RPO package, the mesh point poona coming downhill with a chance to flip at the end zone.
00:02:43
Speaker 2: Maybe okay, just let me lead block. I feel like I like that more lead block.
00:02:48
Speaker 1: Okay, so just true formation full back paving the way for Kiren or put in Shawn's here. See what he says, He's opening new things, apparently. What do you make of this new free tight end identity that the Rams are role with.
00:03:01
Speaker 2: I feel like tiles are great. I'm gonna leave that.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: To leave that to them.
00:03:04
Speaker 2: YEA.
00:03:04
Speaker 1: What kind of stress does it put on a defense when you're flipping between eleven personnel with Pooka and Avante Adams and then you're loading up with three tight ends and having to deal with that presentation.
00:03:15
Speaker 2: I feel like it just allows you to stay balanced as an offense. Really, you'd be able to like, I guess, move the ball around and also like run it.
00:03:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty good offensive day and that win at San Francisco, how'd you enjoy that? What did the Rams do well? What can they do better between now and Seattle?
00:03:33
Speaker 2: I don't know. I feel like they was, you know, hitting on Austinlanders, but for this game important. I feel like, see how I got a good run defense, and I feel like it's gonna be important for us to get a run game going this week.
00:03:46
Speaker 1: Yeah. As we approach the midway point of this season, how would you evaluate your performance your first campaign as a RAM.
00:03:55
Speaker 2: I thought it's been pretty good, like you were winning, so that's always great. Love winning. I don't like losing. I don't take losing pretty well.
00:04:03
Speaker 1: Okay, but I ask you about yourself myself? Yeah, I don't know.
00:04:06
Speaker 2: I'm not really wanting to talk about myself.
00:04:07
Speaker 1: I can tell I'm trying to get there though. But they're winning because of you, not not necessarily come on pot of the last I think seven opponents only six or you've held six below one hundred yards rushing.
00:04:17
Speaker 2: I mean that's not just me to it's kind of like collectively all of us together. But you know, that's just like the chemistry they have. Everybody like, you know, play for one another.
00:04:28
Speaker 1: You're the tip of the spear though. What about that chemistry in that defensive line room?
00:04:32
Speaker 2: Oh, I feel like it's pretty good, you know, me being just in the room, it's kind of interesting. This is a fresh for me. But uh, Couz Gibson kind of like challenge me to like to lead the guys a little bit, and that's what I can be kind of trying to do.
00:04:45
Speaker 1: When you say it first, it's the first time you've been kind of the senior statesman in a position group. Yes, I mean, I'm not trying to date you, but I know you got a birthday around the corner absolutely, thirty next week.
00:04:55
Speaker 2: Yep, thirty thirty.
00:04:57
Speaker 1: All right, what kind of present you're hoping to get yourself?
00:05:00
Speaker 2: M hmm, I don't know. I don't know. To be honest, I'm not really big on my birthday because I'm always working. I've been working on my birthday since like forever as I remember. Yeah, it just be nice. It's like just chilled my family and stuff like that.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: You'll be out here installing something on a Wednesday. Yeah, Well, how about Nathan Winn. We'd love to get that for you.
00:05:22
Speaker 2: That'd be a great birthday present.
00:05:23
Speaker 1: Back to your position group for a second. Who are you closest friends with here just a few months into your RAMS tenure. Oh?
00:05:29
Speaker 2: Probably, I say Merch Probably, Like that's why I like hang out with a lot him and.
00:05:36
Speaker 1: Uh, Bill, what do you like about Merch March?
00:05:38
Speaker 2: I mean, like, you know, he's a one of the bigger personalities on the team. But I don't know, but I know much for a long time. Like I hosted him at Texas on his official visit, so but yeah, I know much for a long time. And that's probably that's probably why we, uh hang out so much.
00:05:59
Speaker 1: Yeah, because he can talk the whole time.
00:06:01
Speaker 2: You just listen right as a chill laugh, you know, chime in whenever.
00:06:05
Speaker 1: What was Laurel Murgison like as a prep recruit in Austin, Texas.
00:06:12
Speaker 2: I mean it's kind of quiet, I guess at first, but I don't know. I kind of knew he was to come in there.
00:06:18
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, you were ahead of your time, man. You could have made some money in this nil era down there in Texas right now.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: And pretty cool. I just really wanted the card that's it.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: Well, I hope you've been able to pick one out for yourself now that you've made a nice long career in the National Football League. Aside from the money, what was it about this opportunity with the Rams that attracted you in free agency? Uh?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: You know, just uh, just the opportunity to really play under Cos McVeigh, you know, being playing against him since my time in Seattle, I always thought he was a great coach and there's someone I could see myself playing for.
00:06:53
Speaker 1: A great coach because he made life difficult for you as an opponent or.
00:06:57
Speaker 2: I mean, not get into that he did, but like yeah, just like just his style as a coach, Like he's young, energetic, and that's just something that you know, makes you want to play for a goal like that.
00:07:11
Speaker 1: I am always curious when players have been on the opposing sideline, what's the perception of McVeigh and the Rams from afar versus the reality now that you're inside these walls.
00:07:22
Speaker 2: Just being on the other side. I was like, I don't know, like we kind of like hated each other as far as like you know, being division rivals and stuff like that. But it's just like, man, I'm like especially like going together his office. I'm like, man, it's like the scheme is crazy. The scheme is crazy. So that's really my biggest thought on him, Like playing against him back in my early career.
00:07:45
Speaker 1: Is there one moment or one game that stands out from your time in this rivalry Seattle against Los Angeles that still sticks with you? Uh?
00:07:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, probably for my rookie year. It was like a Vela was like a scuffle at the end of the game when what they were playing in the Colosseum. Still, that's probably what really stick that to me. Well from what I.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: Remember, Yeah, it was a pretty prominent defensive tackle involved in that scuffle if I recall.
00:08:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, I wanted to meet him, but I guess he had that my first U Yeah, that was my first game.
00:08:20
Speaker 1: So you're trying to meet Aaron Donald maybe someone you looked up to admirers.
00:08:24
Speaker 2: And mom bought me his jersey in college.
00:08:27
Speaker 1: Your mom bought you Aaron Donald's You still have it, Yeah, get him to autograph it.
00:08:34
Speaker 2: Uh. I don't know, really, I'm not really to.
00:08:37
Speaker 1: That, not into that, No, but he did inspire you.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: Of course, like being one of those you know, short a defensive line in the league, especially like to do what he done and accomplished. It's just it just gives like, you know, shout the guy's hope.
00:08:50
Speaker 1: So you're in the Colosseum thinking maybe I'm going to meet this guy and he's too busy beefing with your offensive line up. Man, all right, that gives me a flavor to this this game coming on Sunday. I like that. Let me talk about those measurables real quick, and we'll come back to the Seahawks. According to listing like shortest defensive linemen in the league five eleven and changes that sound about right, yep, but show us the wingspan six foot eight.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: I don't know, man, it's been a while. I haven't done it since like college.
00:09:17
Speaker 1: Okay, how does that play? Why does that matter?
00:09:21
Speaker 2: They're just like it helps me, like like I say, like early, it helps me get separation from the lineman.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: Yeah, what are the other ingredients that have allowed you to overcome being an undersized, undrafted defensive lineman to make it this far?
00:09:35
Speaker 2: Just like you know, being like shorter and being overle like get under the Tyler offensive line, like a lot of them are pretty much all of them are tiler than me, so like it's easier for me, like to get up under him and like them not being able to move me and stuff like that.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: I'm sure it crossed your radar what Jason Kelsey.
00:09:51
Speaker 2: Said about you, right, Yeah, everybody sent me that.
00:09:54
Speaker 1: Yeah, for those who didn't catch it or don't know what I'm referencing there, he says, when you play somebody shorter with longer arms, like, I've negated every technical advantage I could have. I hated playing Puna. Is that like the highest compliment that, of course Hall of Fame Center could offer you?
00:10:08
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was. It was honor.
00:10:12
Speaker 1: That's terrific. All right, let's go to the Seahawks. What's it like preparing for a first place showdown against the team that raised you at SOFI Stadium.
00:10:21
Speaker 2: Uh, it's just I don't know, you know, being out the side because like this is my first time playing them, you know, since I left, And I don't know, I'm just you know, we've got two really good teams going up against each other. I'm just and not just me, but like everybody is looking forward to the challenge.
00:10:39
Speaker 1: What are your recollections of your time in the Pacific Northwest? Fond Memories Uh.
00:10:43
Speaker 2: Yes, I mean I kind of love it up there, like the weather, it wasn't as bad as people like said it was, but like it's just whatever you make of it. So I enjoyed my time there.
00:10:53
Speaker 1: Grateful of course, because they gave the opportunity. You got an extension, right, I think before anyone else in your class drafted or otherwise got an extension, you were first. So what did that mean to you that they invested in you in your future?
00:11:05
Speaker 2: Just like you know that they believed in me and like believe what I could be as a player, And that was just like a good feeling.
00:11:14
Speaker 1: Let me ask you about your name, Poona. Will you share with us the origins of that nickname?
00:11:18
Speaker 2: Origin? I tell you, like like this is something like Grandma gave to me. But like I don't know. I got like a few different names.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: I'm open open, Like which one do you tell me?
00:11:32
Speaker 2: I do you know my real name?
00:11:34
Speaker 1: I don't know if the pronunciation is correct, but Kaylin Nikia Ford Junior.
00:11:38
Speaker 2: I just asked for my first name. That's the whole thing.
00:11:41
Speaker 1: Oh you don't want you don't want your government name?
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Just put it out there, man, we can edit it. I don't care.
00:11:46
Speaker 1: Okay, no social Security number though, no.
00:11:48
Speaker 2: But yeah he said it right, Okay, surprisingly thesually people would be like Kylon or something, but nice, kaylin, I lose.
00:11:55
Speaker 1: A lot of fifty to fifty bets, but I got that one, all right. So Poona comes from.
00:11:59
Speaker 2: My grandma and then my mom she called me pun. And like my mom and like my sisters, my little brother, they all called me pun. And then like my grandma's believe the one that gave me pulling, they both just come me Pooh.
00:12:15
Speaker 1: At what point did you decide to just run with it and like have that be your roster name.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: I don't know that kind of just chose me, like that's what people have been calling me, like my entire life. Yeah, and so that's just what it was.
00:12:28
Speaker 1: And where are you from? Family origins geography, North Carolina, South Carolina. You and Tyler Davis connect through South Carolina too. Speaking of another defensive lineman.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, but he came to our camp one year, him and like another player I think it was like Exavier was or something, but a couple of Crimson guys then, like like I said, like my cousin was doing that camp for a while. So I used to have like a lot of top guys. Like one year we had like Ezekiel Elliott. Like that's alone, I said. Christian Lookers was there one year. It's just like a lot of uh, just a lot of like South Carolina schools. But it was nice to cross paths with them.
00:13:08
Speaker 1: You've been in the Pacific time zone a long time now, though, Do you feel like a West Coast guy at this point? Do you like it out here?
00:13:14
Speaker 2: It's all right, but you know, I stay true to my roots.
00:13:17
Speaker 1: That'll always be a home.
00:13:18
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:13:19
Speaker 1: What's after football for you?
00:13:21
Speaker 2: Mm? I don't know. I got like a I kind of got an idea, but like I'm not really in the rush. Yeah, to be honest, but probably go back home just you know, be a dad and just enjoy my family.
00:13:38
Speaker 1: I'm coming right back to fatherhood, I promise. But how many more years do you want to do this?
00:13:42
Speaker 2: They let me?
00:13:43
Speaker 1: Man?
00:13:43
Speaker 2: Why was my body lets me? So? We'll see.
00:13:46
Speaker 1: It's kind of a thankless task, isn't it. But you enjoyed.
00:13:50
Speaker 2: I did enjoy it, man. I love the game. I love the locker room parate and just you know, just going out there on Sundays having fun with the guys.
00:13:57
Speaker 1: How do you measure success? Like, how do you leave a few old feeling like you thrive that you had a great day.
00:14:02
Speaker 2: A win first and foremost, just you know, just like just not giving up, like you're not having a hound of yacht rusher. That's that's a win for me personally. I'm not really too big in the stats, but just those that's what I'd like. Jase game mofa pretty much.
00:14:21
Speaker 1: When you do get rewarded with a chance to rush the pastor to get vertical, and you racked up some sacks last year, take a career high. You're in the box score this year as well, what does that feel like as a reward?
00:14:32
Speaker 2: It feels good, you know, it makes you like, you know, we want to get more. But like like you try not to chase sacks because it's like you don't want to, like you feel me abandon like your focus on like what the entire goal is.
00:14:46
Speaker 1: But you can celebrate the success of others, like when V eight or Agent zero or Kobe get a sack, you know that you played a role in that, either earning them the right to rust the pastor by occupying an offensive line. Who's got the best sack celebration.
00:14:59
Speaker 2: I think Kobe does the conductor, yes, hands down.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Who needs to work on it?
00:15:05
Speaker 2: Mmm. I don't know if everybody got their own little celebration that fits him, but yeah, Kobe has the best.
00:15:14
Speaker 1: Fist kicks down that door. Pretty good Destiny all right, I said fatherhood would be our finishing topic. I want to go there. Tell us about your daughter, Pud.
00:15:23
Speaker 2: What do you want to know?
00:15:25
Speaker 1: What's your name? How old is she?
00:15:26
Speaker 2: Kensley? Kensley? She's four years old.
00:15:30
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:15:31
Speaker 2: Their birthday was October tenth, not too long ago.
00:15:34
Speaker 1: Okay, so a fall birthday, like yourself just celebrated a fourth birthday. What did you guys do to celebrate?
00:15:39
Speaker 2: She she came out here earlier, but like that was when we had to go to Baltimore, so I wasn't abstually able to get to celebrate her actual birthday. But she h, we just like we just hear, like we make cakes and stuff like that, and like we go to play places, parks whatever. She's just an active baby. She likes she does a lot. She's very active.
00:16:01
Speaker 1: Does she understand what her dad does for a living?
00:16:03
Speaker 2: I don't know yet, but like she comes to the games and she. I think she enjoys it, especially like when she see her like she sees herself on like the big screen. She's about there a few times.
00:16:15
Speaker 1: She just she loves it on the infinity screen. It's so far. Oh, that's that's special. It's very cool. Was a trip to Baltimore helpful and getting some time with her, reconnecting being on the East coast for a full week.
00:16:25
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it's pretty It was pretty cool. It's just like different though, just you know, being away from your actually home and like in a hotel for like a whole week.
00:16:33
Speaker 1: Practicing at Camden Yards. What was that? Like?
00:16:36
Speaker 2: I'm like to see like a actual baseball state and be inside of it, and like the locker rooms are like way different than ours.
00:16:43
Speaker 1: That made an impression on you. I can tell. Are you expecting that?
00:16:46
Speaker 2: I respect honestly. And they have like great shower pressure, like the water pressure and.
00:16:53
Speaker 1: Showers Camden Yards unexpected.
00:16:57
Speaker 2: It is impressive.
00:16:58
Speaker 1: Okay, So you guys split up offensive defense right, one in each clubhouse, one in each weight room. Yeah, and the showers were a great takeaway. When they tell the story of the twenty twenty five Rams and how this winning streak started, and what led them to success. Do you think Camden Yards in shower pressure will be a footnote? Uh.
00:17:13
Speaker 2: I wouldn't say just that, but just like just you know, being out in Baltimore together as a team, that's pretty cool. We did a few things we would like try some restaurants and stuff like that, just some like real coarate. So I feel like that was kind of a buildings.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: So okay, so a second training camp of sorts. There's some merit to that that that helped. Yeah, all right, well you're way past the ten minute mark. Mission accomplished. I feel like that's a win for me. I want to win for you. To celebrate your thirtieth birthday, Punah, thank you for giving us a little peak into what makes you a great defensive lineman and a father. We wish you and your daughter all the best. Glad you're with us here in Los Angeles.
00:17:51
Speaker 2: Thank you.
00:17:52
Speaker 1: Go get the Seahawks, Yes, sir,
