I saw the ending.

Wild finish to some bad football.

I don’t know if he’s really ready or not. But does Foles look ready? Is Mannion struggling to learn the playbook? maybe–but we haven’t heard that from anyone. Of course he doesn’t get the snaps but that’s up to Fisher. My point,I guess is that it’s up to Fisher to get him ready–if he chooses but I’m not so sure he wants to do that because of the state of the offense. Is that a good thing? I don’t know. Maybe long term it is. Maybe it doesn’t matter.

But I look at a team that needs a QB right now because Foles doesn’t look at all like even the average, game manager type QB I hoped he’d be. He’s had some moments, for sure. But he’s had bad moments more. So to me, I look at what this team has and if I’m a realist, I make some decisions going forward. And the same goes for Robinson. What have they got there? And I don’t care about potential. When you are picked 2nd in the draft you’d better be ready to go–and he hasn’t been.

And I see very little to indicate he will suddenly “get it” and be the all-pro LT that someone of his draft selection status should become. I don’t even see a functional part right now. He may have all the ability in the world physically but that’s not going to cut it now. I hope he makes it at guard, I really do. But for now–that is a position with a big problem IMO.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by PA Ram.

I don’t think Fisher is being entirely honest when he says: “Mannion isn’t ready.”

He really can’t be worse than what they have. I think he’s more concerned about destroying Mannion’s confidence for the future by having him play with this dysfunctional offense. And he may not be wrong. This season is lost. I get it.

But they also have to decide what the quarterback situation is going forward and Mannion is part of that. They won’t know with him sitting on the bench. So while I get the concern, I also think they need to see how he holds up in this miserable situation. No one is expecting miracles. But what does he bring? How cool can he be?

It’s worth looking at.

Fair enough.

So if Foles kicks ass today can Fisher go back to Keenum next week or does Foles get his job back?

This is all hypothetical of course as Foles is not likely to kick ass in any way shape or form, unless he stumbles and his foot flies up to kick Barnes in the ass. In which case Barnes will probably fall in such a way to snap his ankle because…the Rams. But you know.

Happy Birthday!

I would have brought cake but I see zn already got that. Besides–with the way the Rams are playing I thought you could use a drink:

On second thought–use the harder stuff:

wv wrote:

PA Ram wrote:

Lack of consistent players on the o-line is a major factor, obviously.

But there’s a lot going on here. It can’t be just ONE thing.

I dunno how much of this is the OLine Injuries.

It may very well be that this team could
have won Ten games if the OLine had stayed healthy
and gelled. I dunno. Possible. I’m totally open
to that possibility that the “OLine Injury Theory” (OLIT)
is the major or total cause of this year’s
Fiasco (TYF)

But, I dunno.

One of the factors that I see, that has nothing
to do with injuries is Greg Robinson. He
has not been good. Will he ever be? I dunno.

Would Foles have been good enough had he not
be beaten up so much? I dunno. Maybe. But man,
he sure does look ‘slow’ out there.

The Receivers have been dropping balls
in key situations — why ?

Penalties.

Missed extra points, field goals.

Its a spectacle.

w
v

I do think that the injuries had some effect because constant shuffling just can’t be good. And I can see where they could have won maybe one or two more games. What I don’t want to hear as an excuse from Fisher are the “rookies-on-the-line” excuse. That’s his doing. And besides–first game of the season New England started THREE rookies and did just fine.

But yes–there are many issues. Do QBs on this team just suffer from battered QB syndrome? Maybe that’s part of it but there are cases when they also take the fault for some sacks. That’s lack of awareness.

The dropped balls?

Well—they drafted these guys or signed them as free agents. So many things on this team seem like mental lapses–and I point directly at a guy like Cook or Greg Robinson. Does this team consider the “mental” component when selecting players or is it all about athleticism?

I fully expect Fisher to get another year–and I’m okay with that. But he has run out of excuses as far as I’m concerned. It’s his fifth year. Put up or shut up. I don’t care who goes down. Deal with it. He’s been given the benefit of the doubt for four years. That’s plenty.

I feel that he may even bind OCs to his own version of what an offense is allowed to do and that is pretty predictable.

He needs to rethink some things or move on to the next team with his mediocre approach to football.

nittany ram wrote:

My wife is working until 4 EST so I’m doing the cooking this year.

For the first time ever.

Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and the green bean casserole are made and standing by.

The turkey is stuffed and in the oven.

Still have to make gravy, crescent rolls, corn and open up a can of the semi-solid gelled cranberry sauce (which is the best kind of cranberry sauce).

If you don’t hear from me again it means I’m probably dead from Salmonella poisoning.

It’s been an honor.

I have to run out for more corn. My wife never buys enough corn. 11.5 years of marriage and you’d think she’d know how much corn I like to eat.

You, sir, are a prince.

My wife works until 5 o’clock today and I have been lying on the sofa watching football and munching some cold pizza and doughnuts.

We’re going to a diner when I pick her up.

I will not tell my wife of your efforts. She shall never know. She thinks the diner is a good deal.

Horrible news. I hope Stedman is okay.

nittany ram wrote:

PA Ram wrote:

If Keenum can play I’d stick with him at least one more week. If he can’t go–I’d throw Mannion out there. Foles may give them a better chance to win–but he hasn’t proven it lately–but let’s see what Mannion has. It would be great to evaluate him in some real games and see how he holds up. This team has to know the state of the position going forward. Because right now–it isn’t solved. But I’m not sure any QB can thrive in this offense behind this line.
‘

Well, the current state of the o-line is why I wouldn’t play Mannion. I don’t want to subject my inexperienced rookie to that punishment. I’d wait to play him until I thought he had a decent chance to succeed.

I think I’d start Foles. Let’s see if the benching refocused him. Give him a chance to salvage his career.

That makes sense, of course.

But the way that line is playing Mannion may have no choice than to get out there. If Keenum can’t go Mannion will be back-up this week. So one way or the other–I wouldn’t be shocked to see him take the field but I thought about that and I get the o-line argument. I just can’t stand watching Foles anymore.

And while I’m at it…IF Fisher is replaced I’d consider Brian Billick.

He has a winning NFL record 85-67, has won a Superbowl and made the playoffs numerous times. 5-3 in the playoffs.

He has a good offensive mind. When he was OC of the Vikes in 1998 they set an NFL record for most points in a season.

So there you go–I’m on record. Hire Billick.

I agree with Wagner.

You know, I wonder if during this long long search for an OC, if one of the problems was Fisher trying to put these guys in a box. If he truly wanted guys willing to limit what they do and he gave them the guidelines and said something like, “Our defense will win games–our offense shouldn’t lose them. We’ll take a 6-3 victory. That’s our style and we need a commitment to that sort of offense.”

All speculation, I know.

But someday I’d love for former OCs to come out and say what it was like to work for Fisher.

Cigs may feel so handcuffed by every thing that he may be predictable.

We’ve seen this, as Wagner says, for too long for this just to be a set of circumstances that dictate it. It runs deeper than that–to a certain philosophy. That is a recipe for mediocrity and that is Fisher. He can’t shake who he is. He can’t shake what he believes. And he needs to–to change.

But he won’t.

What a difference when Martz got with Vermiel. Vermeil let Martz do his thing.

I don’t think Fisher is Vermeil.

What we see is what we get and will continue to get. It’s a waste, IMO.

Is it sad to say that the highlight of football season for me these days is the off-season?

nittany ram wrote:

PA Ram wrote:

I swear it just looks to me that Robinson daydreams out there sometimes. His head is NOT in the game.

I don’t think he fully knows his assignments. He looks confused to me.

That play where Upshaw beats him is just unbelievable–even the announcer couldn’t believe it. Robinson doesn’t even seem to look at the guy and he’s RIGHT THERE. Only when Upshaw is blowing past him does he turn and swat at him–much too late and he’s left watching the QB go down.

He’s awful.

Myles Simmons
‏@MylesASimmons
Got word in locker room Rams QB Case Keenum has been diagnosed with a concussion.