JT chat, 11/8 … selections

NFL chat with Jim Thomas … selected

http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/NFL_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_35?Page=0

Is Kroenke even more devious than we thought? He keeps Fisher around for one year to take the heat in Los Angeles and then brings out the new coach and quarterback to provide hope and salvation to the fans of Los Angeles and buy him time until he can open his new palace.
by Dreyfus 2:00 PM

I think it probably has more to do with the fact that 1.) Kroenke wanted Fisher to guide the Rams through the transition to LA because of his past experience moving the Houston Oilers to Tennessee, and 2.) He didn’t want to pay Fisher’s $7 million salary if he fired him this year while also having to pay for a new head coach at the same time.
by jthomas 2:02 PM

The decline in Gurley’s performance is stunning. The O line is about the same as last year. Carries are down but is that the problem or is it the offensive play-calling?
by Bigtuna 2:14 PM

The Rams have gotten totally out of whack in terms of pass-run ratio these past two games. Gurley has had only 27 carries total and had only two carries in the second half Sunday vs. Carolina. He’s clearly the team’s best offensive player. Just because he’s struggling, it doesn’t mean you quit using him. You keep working on the problem until it’s solved. As I mentioned in the story, try more stretch plays, sprinkle in a little more Wildcat, give the defense more looks with Austin in motion threatening the jet sweep, etc. The worst thing you can do is just quit trying.
by jthomas 2:22 PM

Do Bradford and Foles really look better or is the talent just better around them?
by bfulton 2:23 PM

I think a lot of it has to do with the talent around them, and also the fit. In Andy Reid, Foles is back with the coach who brought him into the league. And Bradford now is back with the OC (Pat Shurmur) who helped him win offensive rookie of the year honors in 2010 in StL and post career-best numbers last year in Philly. Foles just looks like he has more confidence than he did for much of his time with the Rams in St. Louis. And unfortunately for Bradford, the Vikings’ pass-blocking issues make it look more and more like the worst of his time in StL.
by jthomas 2:27 PM

I watched the Rams game Sunday and Lynch was all over Gurley.. “not hitting the right hole, “not running really hard like last year” and more. What I saw was not many holes and a lot of Carolina people always at the line. When you rarely throw deep there are more people around the line. It think we need a new coach and offensive thinkers and see what parts really fit and what doesn’t. Tough to watch each week.
by Bill 2:29 PM

Yeah, but there were the exact same issues last season, yet Gurley found a way to top 1,000 yards. I would even say that the Rams are throwing the ball better down field this season than they did a year ago.
by jthomas 2:30 PM

50 years in LA says its home.
by Floyd Gondolli 2:30 PM

Apparently, you flunked both geography and math in school. Ten years in Cleveland, 33 years in LA, 16 years in Anaheim, 21 years in St. Louis. Please move on Floyd, you are done here.
by jthomas 2:32 PM

What’s your opinion on the Oakland move to Las Vegas? If Jerry Jones and Kraft are behind it, what’s going to stop it?
by AustinTx 2:35 PM

I don’t think anything will stop it unless somehow the financing plan falls through in Vegas. The league attitude towards gambling/Vegas has changed dramatically in the past decade.
by jthomas 2:36 PM

I expected a longer honeymoon period in LA. First quarter of the third game in the Coliseum and the Rams are booed. Did you see that coming? I guess it says a lot about the product this team puts out there week after week.
by Pamacs 2:37 PM

I heard, jeers directed at Goff from fans during the very first weekend of training camp in Irvine. It’s a different market. Winning isn’t enough. You’ve also got to entertain. The Rams aren’t really doing either at this point.
by jthomas 2:40 PM

Further to what you said, I have to wonder if Fisher and Kroenke have an understanding whereas Fisher was told to ride out the transition, “develop” Goff in year 1, that is, don’t throw him to the wolves with a bad Oline and no go-to receivers in a desperate attempt to save his job, then Fisher will be paid to ride off into the California sunset in the off-season. Maybe even Fisher is tired of losing. Far fetched I know, but nothing makes sense right now.
by Dan 3:00 PM

There’s another factor at work as well. Coaches always want to play the players who they think give them the best chance to win. There’s no doubt in my mind that Fisher feels Keenum gives him the best chance to win. (Call him delusional if you will. . . .) But there’s some self-preservation at work here. If Fisher can scrape out a 9-7 or 8-8 with Keenum _ or even make the playoffs _ maybe he feels that saves his job. Go with Goff, and you’re starting from scratch. Goff probably takes some lumps, and Fisher’s almost assured of another losing season and he’s out the door.
by jthomas 3:04 PM

Just curious – who were some lousy Rams to (try to) interview over the years? Was anyone mean or nasty?
by Dave 3:09 PM

Very, very few I’d put in the mean or nasty category. Marshall Faulk could be very moody. Robert Jones, the former Dallas LB, was way too arrogant for his status as a player. Lawrence Phillips had no respect for reporters. But 99 percent of them were good to deal with.
by jthomas 3:11 PM

Your comment about Foles and Bradford brings up an interesting question. Is Fisher and his staff able to adapt what they want to do to the available talent?
by fred 3:22 PM

I’d say to a degree. They certainly did in 2013, when they re-dedicated to running the football with Zac Stacy as the feature back 4 games into the season. Used a lot of 2_ and 3-TE formations, etc. But for the most part, it seems like the Fisher Rams have lacked an identity on offense.
by jthomas 3:25 PM

All of these “winnable” games left for the Rams that might get them in the playoffs are also losable games because, after all, we’re talking about the losingest NFL franchise since 2007 – yes, lost more games in that time frame than the Browns
by Alan Ameche 3:28 PM

No doubt. The Rams won three games by a total of 15 points earlier in the season; now they’ve lost their last three by a total of 13 points. Usually, close games _ or winnable games _ have a way of evening themselves out over the course of a season.
by jthomas 3:31 PM

Is it possible Kroenke can sack Fisher while keeping the defensive coaches?
by Tom 3:31 PM

Possible, but not likely. Usually an incoming head coach wants to bring in his own people.
by jthomas 3:32 PM

George Boone certainly made some odd draft day selections during his time with the Big Red. The Rams have chosen poorly over the years. Is it really that hard to identify players who can succeed in the NFL? New England seems to always find the right players. Do the Rams over-value potential versus actual college success?
by Andy 3:33 PM

It’s harder for some teams more than others. Part of it is “fit” _ having a scouting department that knows how to find and identify the type of players that fit the philosophy of your head coach. Too often, the Rams under Fisher-Snead have paid too much attention to the stopwatch, measurable, and potential as opposed to actual production, football IQ, and intangibles. Too often they’ve become enamored with players based on private workouts (See: Brian Quick) rather than their body of work and how a player’s skill set might translate to the NFL.
by jthomas 3:37 PM

Maybe some of Gurley’s problems are due to him only carrying the ball 3 times in the preseason? It certainly didn’t look like the team was ready to play on opening night!
by Tom 3:48 PM

Perhaps. I understand doing that with a veteran, like Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson in their prime. But it seemed a little odd for a player with 13 games of NFL experience. And I’m not saying you necessarily want to give Gurley 50 carries in the preseason. But maybe 20-25.
by jthomas 3:50 PM

So how do you rate the Barron contract?
by tim 4:05 PM

It was more than I thought he’d get simply because I don’t think there was much of a market for what Barron does (the undersized linebacker) elsewhere. But it also means you have to pay Ogletree more than $9 million a year to keep him. Significantly more, I would think. But Barron is playing well. He’s an aggressive, productive player.
by jthomas 4:08 PM

Seen anything obvious about Keenum’s recent interceptions? The one last weekend and the previous couple game ending ones seem like they all came out of nowhere and almost right to defenders. Is he not seeing them, just bad throws, trying to squeeze the ball into space that isnt there?
by jim junior 4:08 PM

A couple of things. Like most QBs, Keenum doesn’t seem to respond well when under pressure by the pass rush. And several of his INTs have come in those situations. And because he’s short in stature, I just wonder if he’s seeing the field well as he should at times. Yes, I know shorter QBs like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson see the field just fine, but I wonder about Keenum in those situations.
by jthomas 4:11 PM

what is your take on the NFL’s declining television ratings? Do you think the league is less entertaining than when you first started covering it? This is probably one of those questions that doesn’t have an easy answer, but interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks. Oh, and hope you got out to vote.
by mjpinindy 4:17 PM

There’s no one answer for the decline in ratings. I think a variety of factors are at play, and in no particular order: A.) Bad matchups and non-competitive games. B.) Compelling election year. C.) Once in a lifetime World Series matchup. D.) Too many interruptions in play for reviews, penalties, TV timeouts, etc. E.) Backlash over Kaepernick anthem protest. F.) Use of new technology to watch games on phones, etc., which isn’t measured in ratings. G.) General negative feelings towards league, whether it’s from uprooting teams from markets, failure to be consistent on issues such as domestic violence, concerns over concussion issue. H.) Lack of star power minus Peyton Manning, with no Romo and Adrian Peterson because of injuries, and no Brady for 4 games because of suspension. Overall, I think the league is viewed as more arrogant and greedy than ever by many.
by jthomas 4:25 PM