JT on 920, 10/8 (added one more, so now 2)

Thomas: Rams Have ‘Good Mindset’ Entering Packers Game

Brendan Marks posted on October 08, 2015 13:21

http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLcom/STLSports/STLRams/tabid/137/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/19165/Thomas-Rams-Have-Good-Mindset-Entering-Packers-Game.aspx

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rams beat writer Jim Thomas made his regular Thursday appearance on The Hollywood Casino Press Box to discuss the several topics surrounding the team, including the NFL owners meetings and its upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers.

We typed up some notable excerpts. You can listen to the full interview below.

What do you think about the St. Louis stadium’s naming rights deal with Enterprise?

“No doubt about it (it’s a good thing). Why would the NFL be involved in the naming rights in St. Louis? It’s not their team. In an ideal world, Dave Peacock would be working with the owner of the team…but we know why that’s not happening. (Stan Kroenke) and the Rams have been intimating to the league is they don’t think the corporate support is what it should be in St. Louis. Well here’s $158 million worth of corporate support. I think there’s optimism among the St. Louis Task Force that will lead to more in terms of suite steals, maybe game day advertisements. Traditionally, at least some of that money goes to the owner. So in essence, Dave Peacock is helping Kroenke make more money. What’s wrong with that?”

What do you make of what happened at the NFL owners meetings?

“I’d say the headline would be, ‘It’s time.’ In other words, it’s time to get this financing done. I think (Texans owner Bob McNair’s) saying turning in the term sheet is overdue. It’s very telling. It’s time to ramp up the financing. Dot all the I’s, cross all the T’s. It’s time to wrap this up.”

“I really think it’s down to Carson or Inglewood, or St. Louis. I think they’d like to get it done now. I think for the task force, they’d rather have it decided now.”

Switching to this week’s game, elaborate on your stat about Packers QB Aaron Roders at Lambeau Field:

“It’s amazing. I wrote about it today. His last 19 home games, regular season and playoffs…The man has thrown 580 passes without an interception. It’s just incredible. He’s got 48 touchdowns, zero interceptions. The guy’s like RoboQB. He’s so efficient, it’s almost inhuman.”

“They’re not quite as much downfield without Jordy Nelson. So he’s thrown underneath a little more. But he takes plenty of chances downfield.”

On if the Rams can run the ball and keep Rodgers off the field:

“The Rams have to take a similar approach they did in Arizona. Have them kick field goals. Just keep them out of the endzone and you’ll have a chance. What Gurley did in the second half has engendered a lot of confidence in the offensive line. They’re certainly not overconfident. But there’s a good mindset on the team that they can go in there and make it a game. If they could somehow get out of their with a win and be 3-2 entering the bye week, we all know how their schedule softens up after Green Bay.”

On the schedule softening up after Green Bay:

“After Green Bay, nine out of the 11 teams they have on their schedule are either .500 or worse. The five teams they play right after Green Bay right now are a combined 6-14. So things could change. There’d be genuine reason to get excited if they could walk out of there with a win. Even if they lose, at 2-3 I don’t think it’s over.”

Which of the Rams’ offensive linemen is really grading out well?

“I think they’re really happy with Rob Havenstein. They’re happy with Jamon Brown too, but he’s had some hiccups with a couple blitz pick-ups. Havensteain has just been solid. We’ve seen some nice run blocking by him. You just don’t seem to notice him during games. For an offensive lineman, that’s a good thing.”