JT Chat, 10/11 … selections

NFL chat with Jim Thomas … (selections)

http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/NFL_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_31?Page=0

Afternoon Jim, what do you think of the ratings slump. Looks like St Louis no-longer-ram fans are single handedly taking down the NFL. You think it’s backlash for the kneeling during the anthem? I’m sure the owners are more worried than they let on.
by eman 2:10 PM

I think there are a lot of factors at work. And I think one of the factors is a backlash for the kneeling during the National Anthem. The presidential election has been a contributing factor. Not having some marquee players available hurts as well. Manning retires. Romo is hurt. Brady is suspended. A lot of the games seem sloppy. And through its sheer greed, the league is alienating markets in Oakland, San Diego, and St. Louis by having teams leave or threatening to leave. Ratings mean dollars. And if this trend continues, it will cost the owners dollars. Over the years, I’ve frequently been asked why the owners continue to back Roger Goodell, even though he has seemed to mishandle a lot of situations. My answer has always been that as long as people were still watching games, as long as the money was still rolling in, nothing would change. We’ll see what happens if this decline in ratings continues.
by jthomas 2:19 PM

James Laurenitis looked about 2 steps slow on last weeks game and I did not catch this weeks game, but lack of D seems a big issue in NOLA. Whats up there ?
by farsworth 2:20 PM

The Saints had a bye this past weekend. I watched the Monday night game against Atlanta in Week 3 and paid special attention to Laurnaitis. He started well, was very active early. But didn’t do much the rest of the way. He did seem slow. Don’t know if that was due to his injury or not. He was on the pregame inactive list the following week with a quad injury, ending his streak of 115 consecutive starts. The Saints play this week at home against Carolina. We’ll see if Laurinaitis starts of if he plays. Defense has been a big issue for several seasons in New Orleans..
by jthomas 2:28 PM

Over the years, I’m sure you’ve had opportunities to just sit down with a coach or two and just “talk football.” Can you name a coach or two (assistant, head coach, position coach) who provided you with the most insight on the game?
by Andy 2:28 PM

There have been several coaches over the years who’ve helped. Mike Martz, Gregg Williams, and Rick Venturi come to mind. Martz occasionally would even sit down and watch film with me. I still lean on Coach Venturi even though he’s been retired from coaching for several years. He does radio and TV work for the Colts in Indianapolis and still looks at a lot of tape. In fact, I talked to him this morning just before the chat started. Talking to a coach can make a beat writer look smart.
by jthomas 2:32 PM

One thing that really irks me is the “incidental contact” between WR’s and DB’s that is allowed. This is a form of cheating and should not be allowed. Same thing with holding by offensive linemen. Sometimes they look like dancing bears but nothing is called. Why does the NFL allow this to go on?
by maverick 3:02 PM

As long as illegal contact isn’t called, or not called very often, the players will keep doing it. It’s interesting that you brought this up because in watching the games this year I think there’s more WR-DB contact than usual. The league could try to combat it by calling more penalties, but nobody wants that. Some feel the length of games and the flow of games is already bad enough.
by jthomas 3:04 PM

The Jared Goff situation is mystify, What do you think is really wrong behind the scenes ? Do you think he will play this year ?
by BlueRams 3:05 PM

For one, I think you can start by questioning the presumption that he was a No. 1 overall talent to begin with. I’ve been told that Goff may not have much in the way of leadership skills. And three, there’s always the adjustment to the pro-style game by QBs who played in the spread and the no-huddle in college. And the Rams don’t have a bona fide quarterback whisperer on their staff. Fisher has a defensive background. Boras’ background is in line play and the running game. Weinke is relatively new to coaching, and coaching at the NFL level. I’m not saying they’re not knowledgeable coaches, but there’s not much expertise in this area.
by jthomas 3:10 PM

Given how inept the offense is playing, do you think Goff should play now?
by Pat 3:17 PM

Actually, the offense played pretty decently against Buffalo. With a little better execution in the red zone, they would’ve scored a couple of more touchdowns.
by jthomas 3:18 PM

I didn’t get to watch the Lambs Sunday. What happened? Dumb mistakes? Bad QB play? Porous D? All of the above?
by maverick 3:21 PM

The Rams were missing 3 starting defensive linemen due to injury _ Quinn, Hayes, and Brockers _ and got gouged in the running game. On offense, they committed three turnovers including a pick 6 of a sideline pass thrown by Keenum. The Rams moved the football fairly well, but went 1 for 4 in the red zone. And Fisher’s decision to try a fake punt deep in his own territory down by four points in the fourth quarter was a bad, bad call. It looked like Gurley was headed for a 100-yard game _ he had something like 71 yards on 13 carries early in the third quarter. But he was stopped cold down the stretch _ with just 1 yard total on his last 8 carries.
by jthomas 3:25 PM

What’s the deal with Gurley’s puny numbers? Is he hurt? O-line regressing? Opponents stacking the box to stop him because they know Keenum is awful?
by Shirley in Fenton 3:27 PM

Opponents are stacking the box, that’s for sure. In general, the line isn’t getting much push. The lack of a consistent threat in the passing game, particularly when it comes to downfield passing, is making it easier for defenses to compress the field _ in other words, play up closer to the line of scrimmage and aggressively defend the underneath passes. I’d like to see more stretch plays and outside plays called with Gurley. I’d also like to see the team use him more in the passing game. Don’t think Gurley is hurt.
by jthomas 3:31 PM

If the line can’t move anyone and get the running game going, how can the Rams expect to do anything?
by ScottB edited by Mike Smith 3:33 PM

Given the struggles they’ve had running the football, it’s kind of amazing they’ve scored the points they have this season.
by jthomas 3:34 PM

Sam Bradford is playing an efficient game. Not a lot of yards, but decent yards-per-attempt, and zero interceptions. The Vikings offense seems to be more diversified without AP in the backfield. But it seems to me the defense is the big story in their 5-0 record.
by Andy 3:43 PM

There’s no doubt that defense is the big story in Minnesota, but Bradford rightfully deserves a lot of the credit. He’s made some big throws, led some key drives, when he’s had to. And has done so without some key players on offense.
by jthomas 3:45 PM

How do you rate Keenum overall so far, and do you think Goff starts this season at all?
by Tom 4:04 PM

He has good leadership skills. Brings a lot of energy to the huddle. Decent accuracy. Average at best arm strength. I think he’s played just well enough to keep the job so far.
by jthomas 4:06 PM