The stage is set for an epic coaching showdown at SoFi Stadium, where the gridiron gladiators of Los Angeles will battle under the leadership of two diametrically opposed masterminds.  As Blake Corum, the Rams’ explosive rookie running back and former star at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, correctly characterized on The Rich Eisen Show, “Total opposites in terms of their personalities. I think they’re both great coaches, but they are definitely total opposites.”

In one corner stands Jim Harbaugh, the newly appointed head coach of the Chargers, a coaching force of nature whose relentless pursuit of victory echoes the words “The game is everything.” Harbaugh’s resume speaks volumes, boasting a 44-19-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance in 2013 during his four-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, not to mention a hard-fought national championship with the Michigan Wolverines last season.

Across the field, Sean McVay, the offensive genius behind the Rams‘ resurgence, commands his troops with a cerebral approach that would make Vince Lombardi proud. McVay’s impact was immediate, which turned the Rams from a dismal 4-12 record in 2016 to an 11-5 powerhouse in his first season with the team. That fast turnaround and rewarding performance won him the prestigious AP Coach of the Year and PFWA Coach of the Year accolades.

The showdown between Harbaugh’s grit and McVay’s genius will be an extravaganza good enough for Hollywood. Harbaugh’s brand of football sounds similar to the hard-hitting, smash-mouth type immortalized in classics like “The Longest Yard” and “Friday Night Lights”—football that centers on winning battles in the trenches and simply imposing your will on another team.

Conversely, McVay’s more aerial artistry, brought on by his high-octane, innovative offensive schemes, best resembles the likes of “The Replacements” and “The Blind Side,” where the opposition just could not manage things defensively. This creates an exciting contrast between the two coaching philosophies and sets up the battle of wits and wills between coaches who want to be known as significant in the City of Angels.

Blake Corum’s take on flourishing under McVay after being tutored by Jim Harbaugh

Speaking of willpower, Corum learned firsthand about the best of both worlds: forged in fires under Harbaugh’s intense, no-nonsense regime before flourishing under McVay’s positive, energy-infused leadership. During his time at Michigan, Corum learned the ropes from the master of discipline himself, Jim Harbaugh.

As Corum noted, Harbaugh prepared him well for the rigors of the NFL: “Playing under center, playing in a pistol and things like that…prepared me for what we’ve done with this offense so far.” But, as Corum adapted to the Rams, there was a coaching culture of pointed disparity: from Corum’s previous coach with those intense glares and barked orders, the oozing of the Rams’ facility was instead filled with an undercurrent of positivity, one that became infectious, and Corum latched onto it without question.

In his interview with Rich Eisen, Corum praised McVay’s approach, stating, “I love coach McVay’s energy, you know, he’s positive, he’s consistent, bringing the energy each and every day, growth mindset.” His ability to recall intricate details and make adjustments on the fly is the stuff of legend, “You can just tell he’s a genius as a head coach…he’s really an offensive Guru,” gushed Corum.

This stark contrast in coaching styles has allowed Corum to develop a well-rounded skillset, As Corum aptly put it, “What Michigan prepared me for was just being where my feet were, taking it a day at a time and that’s kind of what I’m doing here.” When the Chargers and Rams take the field at SoFi Stadium, it will be a matchup of titans—an onslaught of old-school smash-mouth against cutting-edge offensive wizardry. And at the center of this battle of coaching wits is Corum, an embodiment of adaptability and versatility in these times.