Rams linebacker Nate Landman, who signed as a free agent this past offseason after three years with the Falcons, tackles some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship game at Seattle.
Q: Have you visualized playing in the Super Bowl?
A: I have, yes. … Everybody has a goal when you’re a kid, you talk about it as a team before the year, that’s why you play. The vision is seeing that confetti drop, hugging my wife and hugging my family, and seeing Sean [McVay, head coach] lift up that trophy on the stage, and just putting that hat and T-shirt on with the confetti falling down.
Q: You’re 60 minutes from that chance for that visualization.
A: It is surreal, but we’re not focused on that yet. We gotta win one more.
Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: Locked in … focused … attentive … it’s a different zone. You always hear people who are different in between the lines verse out of the lines and kind of just go into that mode. The most famous example obviously is Kobe [Bryant]’s Mamba Mentality. It’s just a switch that flipped to where your adrenaline’s going. Your body knows that it’s time for war, and it’s just “go” time. And I think that your body knows that it’s time to lock in, get ready to go, there’s a job to be done, and it’s time to do it at the best clip you can.
Q: What do you think your emotions will be standing in the tunnel on Sunday night?
A: Pure joy and elation and excitement. You’re living in the moment of a dream coming true. 1) It’s hard for people to get to that point. 2) It’s hard to realize, some people’s dreams, they’re hard, they don’t even understand that they’re in the middle of living their dream. That’s where I am, that’s where the rest of the guys on this team are … pure excitement, pure joy, for what we’ve earned this season as a team.
Q: What is the mindset of this team?
A: To go win this game. To go play Rams football, go put our best foot forward. We’re going in a hostile environment, one that we’re familiar with, that we played in before, but just completely present in the situation at hand, focused on our roles, our job, be at our best when our best is required.
Q: How do you deal with that crowd?
A: Luckily on defense we don’t get it too bad because they’re trying to stay quiet for the offense. You do feel the uproars, when they make plays and whatnot. But you hear them just as much when we make plays and the crowd is silent. So it’s a give-and-take. You feed off the noise both good and bad. People think that you go to a loud stadium and it’s going to affect you negatively, but I think it does the opposite. We love when the fans are talking, they’re trying to rile us up, but in reality they think it’s doing a disservice, but you’re just fueling the fire more in my opinion.
Q: Do you have a chip on your shoulder from being undrafted?
A: Of course. Yeah, I think whether you’re drafted in the first round or undrafted, there’s a chip on your shoulder. The chip may look different. I actually am super proud of being undrafted and making it to where I am now. It’s a sweet moment for myself, for my family, for the people who have invested in me. Not that you work harder than first-round picks, second-round picks, but you work different, you kind of work from the shadows, and you’re overlooked, so that definitely creates a natural chip on your shoulder.
Q: What were your emotions when the Falcons released you?
A: Honestly, I was sad. I enjoyed my time there. I made great friends there. I met some coaches that impacted my life forever, I loved the area there, I made some friends outside of the football building and football realm. But they say the grass is always greener, in this case the grass is 100 times greater here with the Rams. I couldn’t imagine even being with the Falcons now. I’m at home [Danville, Calif.] here with the Rams, and so grateful for the experience and the opportunity to play football here under Sean.
Q: Do you have a favorite Peanut Punch?
A: Definitely the one against the Texans.
Q: Why was that your favorite?
A: That was my first game as a Ram. It came in a big moment. I ran to the sideline and celebrated with the team, just a memory I won’t forget to jumpstart my career here in L.A.
Q: Is there an art to the Peanut Punch?
A: I definitely think so. It’s knowing when to take your opps [to cause a fumble] and knowing when that opportunity is best presented itself without taking yourself out of the play or missing a tackle. Something that we practice in OTAs and camps throughout the season each week, game week. There’s definitely an art to it. I think that I’m still learning and can still be better at it for sure.
Q: What level of comfort does Matthew Stafford give you?
A: An immense amount of comfort. Recent example as the Chicago game, you give him the ball back, good things are going to happen. Or the Carolina game. … No doubt in our minds about who’s leading us and who’s taking us to where we want to go. Him being on the field, seeing No. 9 trot out there, we know good things are going to happen and anything’s possible. His physical toughness, his mental toughness exudes and permeates throughout the team for sure.
Q: Why does Sean McVay give you comfort going into a game like this?
A: Just the way he prepares, the way he’s led us, the way he carries himself in the meetings, the way he coaches us, believes in us and breathes life into us. He’s been there before, he’s been there, done that, and a guy that is not afraid to go swing and take a shot. Playing for somebody who believes in you changes the confidence of a player and as a team. We’ll follow Sean anywhere. We’ll play for him anywhere. He’s earned that with his reputation throughout his time in this league, and you can see why he’s been such a successful coach.
Q: Describe defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
A: We have a mantra of, “Make them snap it one more time.” We’re constantly echoing that.
Q: Puka Nacua.
A: Complete stud. Temperature gauge of a team. Just complete workhorse guy who shows up and does incredible things week in, week out. Blessed to have him as a teammate. Amazing locker room guy, but even better player.
Q: Davante Adams.
A: Veteran presence. Stud who’s got experience. Another guy who you see him trot out there and looks like a different speed. A matchup nightmare for guys, especially when you add him together with Puka. Complete confidence booster.
Q: Kyren Williams.
A: Versatile, complete back. Tough tackle, good in protection, great route runner, separates, runs the ball hard, and another great locker room guy and real tone-setter.
Q: Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III.
A: Dynamic. Good in space, good cut. From the first time we played him to now, he’s got a lot more confident, a lot better and a lot of respect.
Q: Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
A: Stud. Can run all the routes, ability to separate. Create explosive plays.
Q: Is your nickname “Hammer”?
A: (Laugh) In college [at Colorado] it was, but I’m glad to move on from that.
Q: How did that nickname come about?
A: We had an award called the Hammer Award when I was under my first head coach in college. I think I won it two weeks in a row, so then the linebackers started to call me it.
Q: Has rugby helped you in football?
A: For sure. My dad was a professional rugby player. He taught me structural tackle, how to protect myself and how to tackle well and get guys to the ground. Working as a team, rugby’s a different sport, but it teaches similar benefits that carry over.
Q: Tell me about Zimbabwe.
A: Home, family and culture.
Q: You went back two years ago.
A: Felt like homecoming seeing my aunts and uncles and my cousins. Putting faces to photographs, and places to photographs, memories … just a special moment for sure.
Q: What is the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
A: I tore my Achilles my senior year in college. … It was the sixth and final game of that COVID season. Had my sights on being drafted and whatnot. That was probably my biggest hurdle I’ve overcome so far.
Q: What drives you?
A: My faith. My faith in the Lord and being able to utilize the gifts that He’s given me, and the position that He’s put me in as a leader of men.
Q: How would you describe your leadership style?
A: It’s a tough one to put in words. Every situation requires a different leadership tool, per se. Different players, different teammates respond to different positives, negatives or whatever it is, they respond different. And just being able to adapt to situations, I think that’s what I’m good at myself. I can relate to a lot of people. I love my teammates and I think they feel that.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jesus Christ, Conor McGregor, Elon Musk.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Step Brothers.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Miles Teller.
Q: Favorite entertainer/singer?
A: Luke Combs.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak and potatoes.
Q: You were snubbed for the Pro Bowl.
A: I’m not even focused on those individual things. I don’t even care because we’re not going to the Pro Bowl, we’re going to the Super Bowl. Credit to the guys that made it. Completely unfazed by that, not interested, just focused on getting to our end goal as a team.
Q: What is your message to Rams fans?
A: Let’s go! We got one more, one more to the Super Bowl, this is what we’ve been working for. Thanks for showing op and thanks for the support, especially for my first year here. Complete gratitude, and just love the city of L.A., love the fans.
Q: You expect to win this game.
A: Yes sir.
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