Isiah58 wrote:

When the schedule came out, I pointed to this game this week as the surprise win in ’14. I’m sticking with it. Denver is on the third game of a 3 game road trip. The Rams’ defense is growing stronger each game. Rams coming off a three game road trip will play better at home, and defeat the Broncos Sunday. After, everyone will be questioning what happened to the Broncos, just like they did when the Rams beat Seattle and SF.

Ha!

I am still very much excited about this team, as I have been each of the 45 years I have been following them. I watch every play of every game, and I am traveling to San Diego in two weeks with my son to watch them play live in person. I don’t post or read the boards much because it seems like mostly just a sea of complaining and misery these days, but at least this board has some participants who can see past the most recent game, season, decade, and still enjoy and appreciate following a team who seems to be a lovable loser. I mean, if you are going to outwardly follow the Cubs, don’t bitch and moan that they didn’t win the World Series this year (again).

I think this game has a Rams victory written all over it.

The Rams recently have played very well at home over the course of a season, with 1 or 2 very bad games along the way. Last year it was the Titans game, and the year before it was the Jets. The Rams got the clunker out of the way early, and I think they paste the Cowboys.

Dallas until last week was picked to finish last in a very weak NFC East. Their defense is mostly in shambles, and Romo has been battling back issues. The Rams should be able to run and pass on Dallas, and put Dallas in a hole. The Rams are simply a better team right now, and at home.

Its funny the love that Austin Davis is getting right now. He was actually the 4th string QB when camp opened, and would have probably been cut in the first round of cuts had Bradford not been hurt. But the Rams moved Davis ahead of Gilbert after Bradford got hurt when it looked like one of those two would have to be the actual back-up QB because Gilbert wasn’t ready to handle the offense. On the plus side, Davis has been much more accurate than he was reported to be in camp and is pretty nimble in the pocket, but he is still a below average NFL QB with not a lot of upside IMO. Its just that the Rams now have better players, and can compete even with Davis’ shortcomings.

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 was very surprised at the total inability to run the ball. Stacy was futile, and that was after emphasizing the run all week in practice (purportedly).

I think Rogers would have put up 50 on this defense running the no huddle all game without any significant game planning by the D. That is a huge mismatch.

I think Bradford did well for his first game back. Missed one throw to Britt but made some nice throws too, took a hit, and got the TD on his second drive. Quick made a brilliant play on that catch and run. Kendricks also with a nice grab on the TD in traffic.

It always seems like the opponent’s D is playing with 14 guys, whereas the Rams are playing with 9 or 10 at the beginning of the game. Going against Brees and Rogers to start the preseason didn’t help matters.

I thought the tackling was better today, but Lacy is very tough to bring down. The Packers have a very nice combo with Lacy and Rogers.

Very quiet day for Donald. Didn’t see him in the backfield as much, or making plays. Have to watch the game later to see what they did to him.

When Bradford went out, the offense turned to mud. Penalties and negative plays on every drive, and the QBs not giving the receivers an opportunity to make a play. In the 4th Q, the line basically did the same thing to Austin, giving no chance to even set his feet. Brutal to watch, actually.

I hope we start seeing the “dominant” defense pretty soon. So far it doesn’t look much improved from last year’s.

Packers’ starting 22 played in the game. Rams were missing some pretty significant starters.

Givens has really fallen out of favor, hasn’t he? I know it was a tough play, but he could have drawn a foul on that long pass but instead he tried to reach over the defender without making contact (even though he had no hope of catching it).

Not worried bout Zuerline. He will be money when it counts.

So far the special teams seem improved to me. Nice job so far.

Isiah 58

The Saints are probably one of the top 5 teams in the NFL this year. At least most analysts are forecasting them to be.

After first quarter, Rams 7, Saints 3.

At half, Rams 17, Saints 16.

First Quarter was Saints first team O-line versus Rams second team d-line. I would EXPECT the Saints to have some success in that situation. Moreover, the most egregious missed tackles were by Armstrong and Davis, two players who should at most be special teamers.

Bradford has taken every first team rep this whole summer. He is going into his 5th year, he is not a rookie. He is playing next week. I think Fisher knows what he is doing with Bradford.

Can we just call everyone a “bust” and then move on? Seriously, Robinson allowed a sack, can I be first in line to call him a bust too? Sheesh.

There have been a ton of penalties called in the first six games of the preseason. Seattle practically lived off Denver penalties in the first half. I think the refs are calling ticky tack stuff early in the preseason to emphasize the new rules, but it really slowed the games down last night. Here’s hoping we can avoid that tonight and get through the game with no injuries.

I’d say it has possibilities. Spruce it up a bit, maybe some curtains over there and a new rug by the fire place. Ok, yeah, sign me up!