could it be that coaches are evaluating what the players are good at and what they aren’t good at. what good is constant blitzing when they want to figure out how good this team is in coverage? and figuring that out, they can adjust their scheme accordingly.

my only point is we don’t know what the coaches are trying to get out of these games. whether they do good or bad. i don’t think it means anything. i mean if they showed the whole defense in preseason and shut offenses out, i’m not sure that would even translate to success in the regular season.

I think Fisher has been around this league far too long to feel like he “needs” to do anything, and from his press conference tomorrow he certainly doesn’t seem like someone who is the least bit concerned with what has happened thus far. I doubt that he cares one bit about the hand-wringing that goes on here, and he knows that almost nothing that has gone on in PS games 1 & 2 has any carry-over to September.
I suppose you people also think SF is going to go 0-16 and get outscored 24 – 456 this season? That’s what they are projected to do after two preseason games. Maybe the Rams are laughing at THEIR film?

I think that Fisher has a six week plan to get the team ready for September 7th, and he doesn’t care what happens on August 23rd. And none of us will care what happens on August 23 if the Rams come out and win game 1. While it may make you sleep better to have them win next week, in the grand scheme of things it means nothing.

And I respectfully disagree that the Rams have looked any sloppier than all of the other teams. I have watched every team play at least one preseason game, and the level of play for all of the teams are comparable at this point. Every fan base in the NFL right now is complaining about missed tackles, and every fan base is fretting over perceived deficiencies culled from watching the starters play about 10 minutes of preseason ball. The Rams are not unique in this manner.

i think you’re right. and you know. i was complaining too about how ugly the game was on saturday. but upon reflection. this is what happens when you’re trying to limit contact to a minimum. and you’re trying to save your body for the real season.

so i’ll try and save my griping for when the games count.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by InvaderRam.

i really don’t know that “turning it on” in the preseason will have any bearing on the regular season.

if they suck, they will suck in the regular season.

having said that. i would like the rams to have some of their regular starters back for the browns game and see an improvement in run blocking and run defense.

upon reflection. i think the two most impressive things i take from this game are.

1. bradford. very good for his first game back. he overthrew a couple times. and he got bailed out by quick. but great job after not playing any “competitive” football in almost a year. i expect him to be even better as the season progresses. health willing.

2. quick. now i see what everyone is raving about.

interesting comments about fisher toning down the dline to see what they have in the secondary… not sure i totally buy it, but it’s an interesting comment.

i think one of the biggest things was health. more than anything else. brockers and laurinaitis gone. they couldn’t stop the run. and when you can’t stop the run AND you go against one of the best qbs in the game you’re gonna have a tough time. and on offense, you had a center and lg who hopefully won’t be playing much this year.

i think the important things i take are that bradford looked good. quick looked good. other than that. i’ll wait until cleveland when the rams get some more starters back to really start worrying.

i don’t know. i rather liked holt’s, “ohhohhhohooooohhhhh!!!!!!!!”, when quick caught that ball over the middle…

no joke.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by InvaderRam.

that’s a very good question. my guess is they don’t keep him.

i think robinson is expected to be the left tackle next year. in which case long slides over to right tackle. maybe then they find or already have a guard/tackle prospect who immediately fills in at left guard with the potential of being groomed for the right tackle position.

that’s what i would do.

i agree with you guys. definite signs that he was becoming more comfortable right before he went down with the injury. showed some big time explosiveness.

tavon will adapt to this league. and the coaches will continue to find specific ways in which austin can use his explosion to help this offense. i agree with you rfl. just the normal process of developing a rookie with a different skill set than your typical “wide receiver”.

and good point, zn, about not showing much in camp. they’re certainly keeping things close to the vest.

As much as I love the Joseph acquisition, when Saffold is in there, this unit has the potential to have an overpowering running game. Joseph has been good, Saffold could be special.

yeah. i can’t wait to see this oline with everyone lined up. the interior oline should be opening up some nice holes for stacy to power through. this offense is gonna be more physical than any st louis ram offense we’ve ever seen.

and also to add to that. i don’t expect tavon to become more physical this year. to be able to break tackles and be a complete route runner capable of taking on physical cornerbacks.

but i do expect him to become a better route runner. to have more confidence. to think less. and more than anything else to have better hands. those things alone should be enough to make him a significant contributor.

i’m hoping for around 65 catches 700 yards receiving. 30 rushes 300 yards rushing. that combined with punt returns could provide the rams with some explosiveness.

last year he had 569 yards from scrimmage over 13 games. projected to a 16 game season that is 700 yards. so i think 700 receiving and 300 rushing is a realistic goal from year 1 to year 2.

Coach Jeff Fisher admitted the Rams need to get Austin the ball in space more — just don’t expect to see that during the preseason.

“We just have to give him the ball,” Fisher said. “Give him the ball in space, because we all know what he can do with it. And so we’re doing some different things. Probably won’t show a whole lot in the preseason, but I’ve (sic) very pleased with where he’s at right now.”

i’m hoping this is what it is. just save the secret weapon for the regular season.

he’s the most explosive player on the rams offense. you have to use him. in the passing game. in the running game. let’s go tavon!

i don’t know. barrett jones seems like the type of guy fans should be least angry at. hard worker. intangibles through the roof. smart. these injuries are disappointing, but i would hardly say i’m angry at him. i’d keep him and see what happens. i think he’s worth the risk.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 1 month ago by InvaderRam.

i’m excited to see this offensive line. i think it will have a bigger impact than any other offensive group. the running game. and then off that the play action. pass protection. i’m excited to see how quickly this group can get it together. that should be the identity of this offense. the line.

i’m of the opinion that tavon should be a major contributor outside of just special teams. whether the team passes it a lot or not, you don’t spend that kind of draft value on a special teams guy. i really hope he’s not the next desmond howard. my only hope is holt is not much of an evaluator. great players don’t always make great evaluators. we’ll see.

greg robinson, alec ogletree, and sam bradford.

i want to see greg robinson clean things up a little bit in pass protection. that one mental error last game. don’t want to see that again.

i am extremely encouraged by what laurinaitis had to say about alec. i hope it isn’t just talk. sounds like he’s becoming a real professional.

i want to see sam shake that rust off.

well that’s disturbing. cuz i don’t think britt or quick are the answer. not as starting wrs. that leaves bailey who i like. but he’s suspended for the first four games. cook? kendricks? right now i see a bunch of complimentary receivers, but no number one type wr. is that going to work? i think it will for now with the running game looking as strong as it does. but i think ultimately bailey or austin have to step up. or both. i don’t see anyone else on the roster who is capable.