zn wrote:

I think Sim’s evaluation is right on. So this is just what the other side says:

Keenum did pretty well with the Rams considering that in 2016 he had no running game. He had no running game because according to McGinnis Gurley was playing hurt (remember he did not practice all summer in 2016) though whether he was playing hurt or not, he was certainly not himself–that was visible in his play. Keenum had a better situation in Minn and that was due to things that are just not under a coach’s control. Either way with CK I saw the same guy in 2017 with the same limitations as before in much better circumstances—the team had not moved (and that was a HUGE factor in 2016), the Vikes could run, they had a veteran OL, he had some weapons. I was a big advocate of CK’s in 2016 and nothing he did in 2017 surprised me.

Foles did with the Eagles what he always does. Some abysmally poor games mixed in with some good ones. That’s just as true of 2017 as it was of 2015. It’s just that the order was reversed. The Eagles coaching staff did a good job with Foles in the superbowl, albeit against a defense that was subpar, but anyone who traded for NF now with the hopes of having a real qb would be bitterly disappointed.

The thing with Joyner? It was a different system that used the safeties differently and Alexander and McDonald fit that nicely. In fact Joyner was on the field more than most strongside LBs because they were in nickel a lot and Joyner was a GREAT nickel. That worked with that defense. Even in 2016 with all the problems they had they were 9th in total defense and 10th against the pass and 9th in yards allowed per passing attempt.

To start with it was not a couple guys it was 12 starters or over half the team’s starters excluding special teams. They did this without a 1st round pick including a stellar 3rd round of a starting WR that is better than any WR Fish drafted in 5 years and JJ @ Safety who I believe is a budding star. The new defensive system , McVay brought Wade in so I gotta give him the credit there and I think there was significant improvement to Joyner’s contribution because of it.In my view Fish did build a good defense but not a good team. I also think Wade’s D will continue to improve. To me the difference in coaching is McVay/Wade adapt to their players strengths and weaknesses. I take Sim’s tweet as defending a good D he was part of and a coach that always seemed to me to be closer to his defensive players than the offense players. Keenum went to a better situation than he left no doubt but I have to ask why was the Rams O a bad situation? The Rams have consistently drafted higher than the vikes over Fisher’s time with the Rams. They lost their starting rb before Keenum ever played for them the C was a rookie and their veteran OL were trades. Wr Diggs was a 5th rounder trade from Atl and Wr Thielin was undrafted. Fisher would be a great DC but don’t let him near your offense.

They still have Westbrook’s and Easley with longacre coming off back surgery.

I would be slightly less surprised by a Saffold trade than winged cows flying out of my ass.

RIP GRITS. He was on the back to LA longer and stronger than anyone. Sad he’s gone but glad he got to realize his dream of the Rams coming home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ0Dqn4eI5E

Too many to quote but I disagree that Trump is clearly worse than Hillary would have been. I don’t think we’ll ever know but don’t forget she was for a no fly zone in Syria and Russia said if she was elected it was war. Don’t get me wrong Trump is worse than I imagined but Hillary is no garden variety dem , she’s a genius level Dr.Evil lawyer and had she got all that power there’d be no stopping her.Trump has exposed his newly adopted party for what it is. I am on rooting for the tipping point. No more business as usual . Something good could come out of it, meaningful change.

I can imagine a now bored McVay pouring all that creative energy into trade/draft strategy pestering Snead night and day. After last season Quinn , Joyner, Watkins and even Donald will be less about the money imo. Maybe I didn’t put that right but I just don’t see these guys that have been great players on mediocre teams for half a dozen years in a big hurry to leave the current situation which I believe is on a Superbowl trajectory.

Imagine if he didn’t get hurt at the end of the vikes game.

Billy keep fighting the good fight! On the memo I’ve seen Nunes has his own fake news site. The other night I watched a Russia-gate special on CNN something I rarely do. They laid it all out linearly and when you add it all up there’s just too much there to deny. HRC shares some blame too because there is an awful lot of dirt on her to be dug but still it’s not like they both can’t be dishonest. The FISA Court judges are conservative Republican appointees the FBI was before Trump, Republican heavy and now it’s even more so. Those “bombshell tweets” were before the HRC case was re-opened IOW the potus wanted to know everything about the Russian meddling investigation not HRC’s emails.

Britt to Woods , what’s his name to Sully at C , June Henley to Marshal Faulk

They gave up their 2nd round pick for Watkins so letting him go would hurt but he doesn’t seem like a #1 anymore . He had some horrible drops and he doesn’t look any faster than Woods to me but with a full off season program and camp. Who knows? Glad it ain’t my decision .

Blyth was also impressive when he had to come in for Sullivan. That we actually got the pro-bowl version of Sully was surprising to me I didn’t think he had that much left. It feels good to be wrong. Havenstein and Brown improved a lot this year. I guess you’d have to say Havenstein is the weak link but that’s a pretty good “weak link ” to have. Need to develop an LT while Whit can still help him and Saffold is no Spring chicken either. I don’t know why I worry about this stuff when McVay is already.

Great news!Ag you had us worried . I hope your recovery is a swift one!

It looked to me like the offense was playing tight until the end of the 1st half. Goff was off Gurley dropped Kupp dropped Cooper was fumbling . I know McVay said the game wasn’t too big for them but to me it sure looked like it was exactly that. By the time they calmed down Brockers was out and the D couldn’t get off the field the refs were horrible not calling blatant holding down after down on the Falcons .

All the talking heads I’ve heard picking the Falcons on experience. I like it that way. We’re healthier younger hungrier and rested and being underestimated .