Stay or Go, the Rams Can’t Afford to Keep Jeff Fisher

Bernie Miklasz

http://www.101sports.com/2015/12/06/stay-go-rams-cant-afford-keep-jeff-fisher/

Question for the gallery: is there a reason — whatsoever — to bring Jeff Fisher back as the Rams’ head coach in 2016?
jeff fisher-5

With a $7 million salary, Fisher is the NFL’s fourth highest-paid coach.

If the decision is solely based on results, the answer is a clear-cut “no.”

Hold on.

Make that …

“Hell, no.”

There’s no legitimate reason for staying the course with Fisher beyond the end of this season. If you can give me a reason to reassess that opinion, then please enlighten me. I try to be fair. Really, I do.

I supported Fisher’s hiring in 2012, and I offer no backdated apologies for that endorsement.

I believed Fisher was a good fit at the time. The Rams needed to bring in an experienced head coach that had led his previous team (Tennessee) to a commendable if incomplete level of success.

In 2012 the Rams couldn’t afford to gamble on another inexperienced and overwhelmed rookie HC. Previous Rams regimes tried to go young and fresh with Scott Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo, only to fail miserably.

I was well aware of Fisher’s tendency to win and then gravitate back to .500 or lower.

But let’s have some context, shall we?

Fisher inherited a Rams’ dumpster fire of a roster, taking control of a team that had careened to the worst five-season record (15-65) in NFL history. And when the NFL team in your town has lost 65 out of 80 games, an upturn to .500 didn’t seem so bad. And Fisher had supervised two solid rebuilding projects at Tennessee.

Between 1999 and 2003, five seasons, Fisher’s Titans were tied with the Rams for the most wins (56) and best winning percentage (.700) in the NFL. In addition to capturing an AFC Championship, the Titans were tied for second in the NFL with five postseason wins during those five seasons.

After going through a necessary roster purge due to a salary-cap detonation, Fisher pulled Tennessee back into the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, 2007 and 2008. Only New England (27) and Indianapolis (25) had more wins than the Titans (23) during the two years.

Fisher’s overall record before 2012 wasn’t shiny overall — but it had merit.

During his first 14 full seasons as an NFL head coach Fisher basically had one of the best teams in the league in seven of the 14 years, and his 14-season winning percentage between 1995 and 2008 was .567, tied for No. 6 in the NFL.

No, Fisher never won a Super Bowl, but only five teams had a better winning percentage than the Titans over those 14 seasons. Fisher had more success in his background than he was generally given credit for.

Put it this way: with all of the hideous football we’ve endured over the last 12 seasons here in St. Louis, I don’t think we’d object to having the league’s sixth-best record over the last dozen campaigns or so.

Instead, since their last winning season in 2003, the Rams are 61-126-1, ranking 30th among 32 teams with a .327 win percentage.

And if Fisher could pull off two good rebuilds while working for a wacky owner at Tennessee, there was a legitimate reason to believe he could do the same here.

Nearly four full seasons into Fisher’s term in Earth City, it isn’t working out.

The measured optimism of Fisher’s first two seasons in St. Louis has given way to full-blown pessimism.

I’ve lost confidence in Fisher.

Given the Rams’ pathetic 15-65 mark between 2007 and 2011, I felt pretty good about Fisher’s 14-17-1 record in his first two STL seasons. But then the Rams took a step back in 2014, sliding to 6-10. My patience was thin, and I declined to accept Fisher’s attempt to put a positive spin on 6-10.

Still the Rams were seemingly trending in a positive direction earlier this season, battling to a 4-3 record through the first seven games. That was no small gain in these parts; the Rams hadn’t been 4-3 after seven games since 2006.

Like many of you, I’m just tired of Fisher’s teases. The Rams put together some wins, raise hopes, and then go into another absurd free fall that worsens the understandable fan apathy. I’m tired of buying into a sequence of on-the-verge breakthroughs that become anger-causing breakdowns. Enough of this. Really. Enough.

Sixty games into their regime at Rams Park, Fisher and GM Les Snead are 24-35-1. The Rams were at the depressing, desolate bottom of the NFL when Fisher arrived. And while they’re no longer the league’s worst team, Fisher’s winning percentage as Rams coach (.408) ranks 26th in the league. For a coach that’s deep into his fourth season on the job, that’s simply unacceptable.

This is a league of quick turnarounds.

In 2011, the year before Fisher’s appointment in St. Louis, 18 NFL teams (excluding the Rams) were .500 or worse.

Of those 18 teams, 12 have made the playoffs at least once.

We’ve seen some terrific, rapid-fix coaching performances in recent NFL seasons including three inside the Rams’ division, the NFC West.

Here are a few examples:

Seattle went 9-23 in the two seasons before Pete Carroll was hired as coach in 2010. Carroll has led the Seahawks to a record of 57-35 with two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl title.
The boisterous Bruce Arians was hired by Arizona in 2013 — a year after Fisher set up at Rams Park. Between 2010 and 2012, the Cardinals went 18-30. Under Arians, they’re 31-13 (.705) and just clinched their third consecutive season of double-digit win totals. Arizona is tied for the NFL’s fourth-best record under Arians. And again: Fisher had a one-year head start on Arians. And Snead had a one-year jump on Arizona GM Steve Keim. To put it bluntly: Arians and Keim really make Fisher and Snead look inadequate.
Though he ultimately fell victim to stupid front-office politics, let’s remember the exceptional work done by Jim Harbaugh did at San Francisco. Between 2003 and 2010, the 49ers were an abysmal 46-82. Harbaugh was hired in 2011, and over the next four seasons he transformed the ‘Niners into an NFC powerhouse. Harbaugh had a .698 winning percentage, made the playoffs three times, and won the NFC Championship in 2012.
Ron Rivera was brought in as the coach of the rebuilding Carolina Panthers in 2011. Rivera’s teams won 13 and lost 22 in his first two seasons; since then they’re 31-12. Sunday the Panthers rallied for a comeback win at New Orleans for their 16th consecutive regular-season victory.
The Kansas City Chiefs were 9-23 in two seasons before Andy Reid moved over from Philadelphia in 2013. The Chiefs have been inconsistent, but Reid is 27-17 as their coach.
The controversial Chip Kelly catches a lot of static in Philadelphia. But the Eagles went 12-20 in the two seasons preceding Kelly’s hiring in 2013, and he opened his stay in Philly with consecutive 10-win seasons and is 25-19 overall. Kelly is only 5-7 this year but has a chance to win the weak NFC East.
The Minnesota Vikings are 15-13 under second-year head coach Mike Zimmer. That seems rather ordinary — but looks a lot better when you realize that the Vikes were 24-39 in their previous four seasons.
Former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith was given custody of a horrendous Tampa Bay franchise in 2014, and opened with a 2-14 record. But in his second season the Buccaneers have heated up, currently sitting at 6-6 after winning five of their last eight.

In St. Louis, Fisher hasn’t stopped the bleeding that began last season.

— After putting up a hopeful 14-17-1 record (.435) in his first two seasons, Fisher is 10-18 since the start of last year.

— With Sunday’s humiliating 27-3 loss to Arians and the Cardinals, the Rams have only four wins in their last 15 regular-season games. (On a side note: what the heck was Arians up to with his physical, bear-hugging grip on Fisher after the game? We appreciated the comic relief, Bruce.)

— Since Dec. 11 of last season, only Cleveland (two) and Tennessee (three) have fewer wins than the Rams’ four over this 15-game period. The Rams have been outscored by 98 points during this 4-11 regression.

— The Rams’ current five-game losing streak is the longest by the franchise since that 2011 wreck of a team closed the season with seven consecutive losses.

— During the skid that wiped out the Rams’ 4-3 start, they’ve suffered three 24-point blowout losses and have been outscored 132 to 54.

— Since taking a 13-3 lead into the fourth quarter at Baltimore on Nov. 22, the Rams have been outscored 71-10.

— In their five straight defeats, the Rams have scored 10.4 points per game.

— The St. Louis defense is in a state of collapse, having been plundered for an average of 25 points during the five-game sinking. This tired defense gave up an average of only 15.4 offensive points through the first seven games.

In other words: the Rams have ceased being competitive.

Fisher and Snead can’t put the blame on anyone else.

This is their team.

They’ve had four drafts and just as many free-agent shopping windows to build a winner. Instead of improving, the Rams have fallen apart. That isn’t supposed to happen in a league where coaches frequently pull off a team turnaround in short time.

Dick Vermeil took over a drifting, directionless Rams franchise in 1997 and spent two hard seasons changing the Rams’ diseased culture and working with Charley Armey and John Shaw to upgrade the Rams roster. Between 1990 and 1998, nine seasons, the Rams had the league’s next-to-worst winning percentage at .313. And it Vermeil struggled in his first two seasons, 1997 and ’98, losing 23 of 32 games. But in this third season Vermeil led the Rams to a 13-3 record and a victory in Super Bowl 34.

In the modern NFL it should take only three years — tops — to refurbish a loser and make it a winner.

Fisher and Snead have drafted 38 players in four years — a crop that should have gotten a major boost from the 2012 pre-draft trade with Washington, which coveted the No. 2 overall pick to select Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

That deal gave the Rams a bundle of premium draft picks, but the Fisher and Snead didn’t come close to maximizing the potential windfall.

Because of that the Rams are experiencing the severe repercussions of taking so many underwhelming or failed draft picks.

That’s especially true with their impotent offense, which is tied with San Francisco for the fewest points in the league this season — with a putrid average of 14.4 offensive points per game.

The Rams used 12 of the 37 picks on so-called “skill position” players: quarterbacks (two), running backs (five) and wide receivers (five.) Only five of the 12 players are still on the roster. And only two — running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Tavon Austin — can be categorized as impact talent. But that’s even a stretch considering Austin’s inconsistency and Gurley’s dramatic drop in production.

Not that Gurley is at fault; the Rams are wasting him. After a dramatic first four starts to his NFL career, Gurley has averaged only 52 yards rushing during this five-game wrong turn into another dead end.

Remarkably, the coaches have given Gurley only 18 carries (combined) over the last two games.

How can that be? That’s inexcusable.

Gurley is their best player.

So even when the Rams draft a gem such as Gurley, they can’t take full advantage of his talent. It’s sad.

The foundation for Fisher’s coaching rep as formed by defense and a power-running offense. Four years into the program the Rams’ defense has been solid and often outstanding, ranking (in order) 16th, 13th, 5th and 9th in offensive points allowed. But the bullying rushing attack hasn’t surfaced regularly enough; over Fisher’s 60 games the Rams rank 17th in ground yards per game.

Snead and Fisher have also chosen 10 offensive linemen, including eight during the last two drafts. Left tackle Greg Robinson, selected No. 2 overall in 2014, is rated among the NFL’s worst offensive tackles this season by Pro Football Focus. Going into the Arizona game Robinson had given up more QB hits than any NFL offensive tackle in 2015 according to PFF. And Robinson has committed the most holding penalties in the league this year. While it’s too soon to judge the Rams’ 2015 O-line rookies as a group, only one, right tackle Rob Havenstein, is rated as high as “average” according to the Pro Football Focus player grades.

Fisher and Snead also traded for their hand-picked quarterback, Nick Foles, last offseason. Not only that, Fisher-Snead gave Foles a contract extension (with $14 million guaranteed) before he took a snap in a regular-season game. Foles is having a brutal season, ranking 30th among 31 qualifying NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 69.0. That 69 passer rating would be the second worst in a season by a Rams’ starting quarterback since the team moved here in 1995. (In case you’re wondering, Tony Banks had a 68.6 passer rating in 1998.) Foles will be benched, again, for Case Keenum when the Rams host the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Plenty of good seats remain.

With all of the swings and misses on draft picks and other personnel decisions — all of that money to tight end Jared Cook to name one — should we really be surprised to see the Fisher-Snead offense degenerate into the league’s sorriest unit in 2015?

“It’s kind of a broken record thing here with the offense,” Fisher said after Sunday’s smackdown by Arizona. “We have to get the offense fixed.”

Coach: you’ve been saying that for four seasons.

The Rams have yet to field an average offense — in terms of points scored– since you took over in 2012.

In Fisher’s four seasons the Rams’ offense has scored 108 touchdowns from scrimmage. That ranks 30th, above only Cleveland (107) and Jacksonville.

How many years does Fisher need to fix the offense? Six? Eight? Ten?

It’s quite possible that he’ll never fix it.

Fisher hasn’t had an offense ranked better better than 12th in the NFL in offensive points scored since 2003.

Fisher’s offense (Titans, then Rams) has scored at the average level for playoff teams only three times in his 19 seasons … and only once during the last 15 seasons.

Coach, you can’t find a winning quarterback, can’t build a powerful offensive line, can’t draft or cultivate a true No. 1 receiver, can’t even take advantage of Gurley.

And when you had the chance to remix the offense in a meaningful way by bringing in an experienced and creative offensive coordinator, your search was contained within the walls of Rams Park. You simply elevated quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti.

That move was just another indication of the stubbornness and staleness that’s left this team with such a sickly offense.

Fisher’s arrow is definitely pointing down.

This is Fisher’s 20th full season as an NFL head coach, and he’s had only six winning records.

That includes only two winning records in his last 11 seasons — and none since 2008.

Remember how I told you about Fisher’s .567 winning percentage in his first 14 seasons?

Well, since the beginning of the 2009 season — and remember, he sat out the 2011 season — Fisher has coached 92 games with the Titans and Rams and has a six-season winning percentage of .418.

My friend and colleague Randy Karraker recently came up with this factoid: Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, only one new coaching hire has been brought back for a fifth year after having four consecutive losing seasons. That was Cincinnati’s David Shula who somehow survived a four-season 18-46 record between 1992 and 1995. The Bengals finally gave Shula the boot after he went 1-6 at the start of his fifth season, in 1996.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner added this piece of historical perspective: According to Elias Sports Bureau, there have been only three coaches that had at least five consecutive full losing seasons with one team: Philadelphia’s Bert Bell (1936-41), Dallas’ Tom Landry (1960-64) and Washington’s Bill McPeak (1961-65).

Will Fisher receive a fifth year?

The Rams’ extreme deterioration — especially on offense — should eliminate that possibility.

There’s no case to be made for keeping Fisher.

I can think of only two reasons why he’d stick:

One, Rams owner Stan Kroenke will be cheap. Fisher is due $7 million to coach in 2015, and Kroenke may not want to pay the coach $7 million to spend 2016 fishing in Montana. But that’s no excuse; according to the “up to the minute” Forbes 400 rankings of the wealthiest Americans, Kroenke is worth $7.7 billion. Money should be no object in the pursuit of turning the Rams into a winner.

Second, Kroenke may want to keep Fisher in place just in case the Rams get the NFL’s permission to move to Los Angeles for 2016. These franchise relocations are chaotic and disruptive, and it can only help to have a coach that’s been through it before. Fisher was coaching the Houston Oilers when they moved to Tennessee. But that would be a bogus reason. As we sit here today (things could change) I don’t believe the Rams will be moving.

And if the Rams stay, Kroenke must begin to repair the considerable damage that’s been done to the franchise. How can Kroenke relaunch the product for a happier, more successful existence in 2016 by bringing Fisher back? That alone would put a drag on ticket sales. And Rams fans deserve Kroenke’s best effort in pulling the team out its 12-season malaise. Even if Kroenke is allowed to take the Rams to Southern California, the football fans of Los Angeles should have a new start that comes with a new coach.

Kroenke tried to do the right thing when he spent a lot of money in hiring Fisher in 2012. It was a sensible move at the time, and Kroenke can’t be accused of skimping on the coach’s salary. But surely by now the NFL’s second-richest owner — an one of the smartest businessmen in the world — recognizes the futility of staying too long with a losing investment.

According to a 2007 account in the Denver Post, one of Kroenke first decisions as owner of the prestigious Screaming Eagle vineyard was to dump $3.3 million of Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon because it wasn’t up to standard.

Kroenke appears to have lower standards with his NFL team.

If Kroenke has developed an acquired taste for losing football, then Fisher will stay.

Eternal Ramnation wrote:

He doesn’t even look like the same guy ,he looks like he has significant brain damage and I am serious. I fear for his health.

Interesting.

Jeff Fisher says QB Case Keenum will start next Sunday

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14306548/st-louis-rams-qb-case-keenum-starter-detroit-lions

ST. LOUIS — Rams coach Jeff Fisher left no doubt about whom his starting quarterback will be next Sunday when the Rams play the Detroit Lions.

Immediately after Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Fisher declared that Case Keenum will return to the starting role he had before suffering a concussion late in the team’s loss to Baltimore on Nov. 22. Nick Foles started the past two weeks as Keenum worked through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

“We’ll go ahead this coming week, and Case will be our starter,” Fisher said. “I’m not blaming this on Nick, but I don’t have the philosophy where a player is going to lose his job because of injury. Case did not get reps on Wednesday and Thursday, so that’s the reason he did not start [Sunday]. So he’ll be our starter next week.”

Fisher had maintained that stance all along but wasn’t able to go back to Keenum this week or last against Cincinnati because Keenum had been unable to clear the final tests to play. Keenum was limited in practice each of the past two weeks and worked with the scout team last week. According to Fisher, Keenum felt good enough Saturday to clear the concussion protocol and serve as Foles’ backup against the Cardinals.

“He was good enough to be the 2; he just didn’t have the reps,” Fisher said. “So we had Case at the 2 because of the understanding and experience.

“So Case will go back, and he’ll be the starter.”

Foles struggled against Arizona on Sunday, going 15-of-35 for 146 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a passer rating of 43.3. Asked after the game if he was OK with returning to the bench, Foles said he’d prefer to play but understands the decision.

“I respect Coach Fisher and I love Case Keenum,” Foles said. “I want to be out there. But at the same time, I respect Coach Fisher and I’m going to do everything I can to help Case along and help him succeed out there and help this team succeed.

“So whatever I can do to help Case with, I’m going to do, just like he’s always done for me because I think he’s a heck of a player and I know he’s a heck of a person and a great leader.”

Rookie Sean Mannion returned to his role at the Rams’ No. 3 quarterback on Sunday after working mop-up duty for Foles against the Bengals last week. Fisher indicated that Mannion might get a chance before the season is over but he preferred to have Keenum as Foles’ backup against Arizona.

“That’s doesn’t mean necessarily that Sean isn’t going to get an opportunity to play here down the stretch but I’d rather have Case as the two,” Fisher said.

Big Red run roughshod over Rams

Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/big-red-run-roughshod-over-rams/article_61ab3018-1ff6-559a-a88f-1b8b3c0d16d3.html

For those scoring at home, Sunday’s 27-3 loss to Arizona was a “clincher” for the St. Louis Rams.

After their fifth consecutive loss, the Rams sit at 4-8 and are now guaranteed their 12th consecutive non-winning season. Yes, as the late great announcer Jack Buck would say, that’s a dozen cousin.

Even if they sweep their final four contests — and who in their right minds expects that to take place? — the best they can do is 8-8 this season.

The Rams finished the regular season 8-8 in both 2004 and 2006 — and that’s the high-water mark since the 2003 squad won the NFC West title with the remnants of the Greatest Show on Turf.

No matter which way you measured it Sunday, the Cardinals (10-2) ran roughshod over the Rams with 524 yards total offense, 29 first downs, and 175 yards rushing against the once-formidable St. Louis defense.

The Rams were also non-competitive on the other side of the ball. They finished with only 212 yards of total offense; Arizona had more than that by halftime. The Rams had only three first downs at halftime, and have failed to score more than 18 points in any of their eight losses. Sunday’s offensive harvest was a measly three points, on a Zach Hocker field goal in place of the injured Greg Zuerlein.

“It’s not good,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “It’s not good.”

Foles had another poor day at the office, completing a mere 42.9 percent of his passes (15 of 35) for 146 yards and a passer rating of 43.3. He threw his fourth interception in five quarters in the opening quarter at the Edward Jones Dome on an overthrown pass intended for Kenny Britt.

Coach Jeff Fisher announced after the game that Case Keenum would be his starter next week against Detroit. Keenum cleared the concussion protocol on Saturday and dressed as the team’s No. 2 quarterback against the Cardinals.

“I want to be out there,” Foles said. “But at the same time, I respect Coach Fisher and I’m going to do everything I can to help Case along and help him succeed out there and help this team succeed.”

Foles doesn’t appear to be playing with much confidence these days. In fairness, he got next to no help from his receivers against the Big Red. Several catchable passes somehow eluded tight end Jared Cook, as well as Britt and Brian Quick.

Running back Todd Gurley managed a 34-yard run in the third quarter, his first gain of more than nine yards in a month. But he otherwise found the going tough, finishing with nine carries for 41 yards.

“We have to stay positive,” Gurley said. “At the end of the day, things could be a lot worse. We’ve still got a job, and it’s the game we love. At the end of the day, whether we’re in the playoffs or not, we do this for living. We love this game, so we’re gonna keep going.”

The Rams certainly aren’t going to the playoffs this year. And if this nosedive continues, there may be more than a couple of players out of a job at the end of the year, not to mention Fisher and his staff.

“We have to get the offense fixed,” Fisher said for the umpteenth time. “Three first downs at halftime, I think we had six to start the fourth quarter. It doesn’t give yourself the chance to be productive or win games.

“Defensively, we’re on the field way too much. Way too much. Again, that kind of offense, they’re going to score points.”

Even though it was giving up lots of yardage to Arizona’s top-ranked offense, the Rams’ defense found a way to keep the game close for more than 3½ quarters.

Arizona marched 80 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive, capped by a 22-yard pass from Carson Palmer to J.J. Nelson. The Big Red then tacked on a Chandler Catanzaro field goal just before the half to take a 10-0 lead into intermission.

A long punt return by Tavon Austin, albeit one that was more than cut in half by a holding penalty, followed by Gurley’s 34-yard run. That led to the Hocker field goal with 11 1/2 minutes to play in the third.

As the third quarter wound down, the Rams were still in the contest, trailing 10-3. After Kerwynn Williams fumbled out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff, the Cardinals took over on their 2. For just a moment, it looked like the Rams had a flicker of a chance to make this a wire-to-wire game.

But on third-and-3 from the Arizona 9, Big Red wide receiver Michael Floyd outleaped Janoris Jenkins on a 50-50 ball for a 31-yard gain down the right sideline. It was the kind of aggressive, contested catch that has been few and far between for Rams receivers this year.

On the next play, rookie David Johnson gained 23 yards, and just like that the Cardinals were in St. Louis territory at the 37. Johnson, making his first NFL start, scored a few plays later on a 10-yard reception from Palmer. On the play, Jenkins went for the interception, and missed, allowing Johnson to reach the end zone.

Williams, who was on the Arizona practice squad a week ago, scored late in the third quarter on a 35-yard run. Catanzaro added a fourth-quarter field goal, and that was that.

The Rams have been outscored 58-10 their last two Sundays, and simply do not look like a competitive football team.

“It hurts the same for everybody,” said defensive end Chris Long, who is in the midst of his eighth consecutive losing season as a Ram. “That’s losing in embarrassing fashion five games in a row. The guys in here are not happy, I can guarantee that. That doesn’t make it OK. That doesn’t make it OK at all.”

Johnny Hekker up, Nick Foles, run defense down in Rams’ loss

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/24476/johnny-hekker-up-nick-foles-run-defense-down-in-rams-loss

ST. LOUIS — A look at St. Louis Rams players who were “up” and those who were “down” in Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

UP

P Johnny Hekker — Hekker should probably get more credit than he does for his consistent excellence working behind an abysmal Rams offense. But Hekker was in the spotlight even more Sunday because he had to handle kickoff duties with Greg Zuerlein out with a groin injury and Zach Hocker apparently tweaking his leg in pre-game warmups. Hekker punted eight times with an average of 54.5 yards and dropped five of those punts inside the 20. Not many Rams are deserving, but Hekker absolutely belongs back in the Pro Bowl.

DT Aaron Donald — Donald gets a spot here in perpetuity, especially now with so many of his teammates failing to offer much help. But Donald was his usual, disruptive self again in this one. He had seven tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits.

DOWN

QB Nick Foles — Foles started again because Case Keenum hadn’t cleared the concussion protocol earlier in the week, and he was atrocious again, going 15-of-35 for 146 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a passer rating of 43.3. Not that we should be surprised. Both statistically and from the eye test, the Rams are getting the worst quarterback play in the NFL.

The run defense — It’s hard to put much blame on the defense when the offense is so bad, but the Rams have had issues stopping the run in recent weeks and the Cardinals took advantage even without the services of veteran Chris Johnson. Arizona rookie David Johnson and running mate Kerwynn Williams pounded away to the tune of a combined 158 yards on 28 carries with a 35-yard touchdown from Williams to boot.

The offense — While many of the offensive woes fall at the feet of Foles, everyone should share in the blame, including the coaching staff. The game plan remains dull and the production continues to match it. Before garbage time (the final five minutes), the Rams had just nine first downs, 207 yards and had the ball for more than 17 fewer minutes than the Cardinals

Ten Takeaways from the Rams’ 27-3 Loss to the Cardinals

Randy Karraker

http://www.101sports.com/2015/12/06/ten-takeaways-rams-27-3-loss-cardinals/

Before an actual crowd of perhaps 35,000 despite 51,000 tickets being distributed, the St. Louis Rams turned in another feeble performance in a 27-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

They’ve lost five in a row, and prospects for one more win don’t look promising. Here are ten takeaways…

1) For a normal business or sports franchise wishing to succeed in the market it inhabits, failure that leads to apathy would be an alarming thing. There’s no doubt that the St. Louis fan base has reached the point of apathy. They don’t show up at the games, and it’s completely understandable. With the threat of relocation and a terrible team, any emotion left toward the business is negative. But that’s exactly what the Rams want. The owner wants to move the team to Los Angeles, so what has happened over the last five weeks, with a five game losing streak, couldn’t be more convenient.

They’ve tried to ruin the football market, and they’ve virtually done it.

2) We heard after the Sam Bradford-Nick Foles trade that Chip Kelly had determined that he couldn’t win with Foles. Now we know what he meant. Foles continues to flounder, and following another dreadful performance on Sunday, coach Jeff Fisher announced that Case Keenum will start at quarterback again next week. Only an injured Andrew Luck has a lower completion percentage than Foles, who looks like he has no idea where the ball is going when it leaves his hand. Either he had a deal with the Devil two years ago when he threw 27 touchdowns with two interceptions, or his abilities and fundamentals have deteriorated in an extraordinary fashion.

3) During the five game losing streak, the Rams ineptness has reached astounding levels. They’ve averaged just over ten points per game, and have scored four touchdowns in the five games. How can that happen in 2015? The league’s average is 23 points per team, per game, and the average yardage is 355 per game. The Rams average 15.8 points and 296 yards. Those averages have declined over the last five games.
nick foles-10

Rams QB Nick Foles hands off the ball to RB Tre Mason in the first half of Sunday’s game. Arizona held the Rams to 66 rushing yards.

4) The Cardinals had eight plays of twenty or more yards, and the Rams had three. Todd Gurley had a 34 yard run, and Foles hit Kenny Britt for 30 yards and Tavon Austin for 24. That’s it for the Rams explosive plays. In a sport of explosive plays, Fisher’s St. Louis teams have continued to fail to evolve with the rest of the league.

5) Even Fisher admitted that the lack of offense is affecting the defense. Arizona essentially had the ball for 40 minutes to 20. “Defensively, (they were) on the field way too much. Way too much. Against that kind of offense, they’re going to score points.” And the Cardinals did, gouging the Rams for five plays of 23 or more yards after halftime.

6) With the Cardinals up 24-3 in the fourth quarter, Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer was 4-7 for 84 yards. It was 27-3 when Drew Stanton came on at QB, and he threw three passes, going 1-1 for six yards and also drawing two pass interference penalties. Think Cardinals coach Bruce Arians wants to stick it to the Rams?

7) With Trumaine Johnson out with an injury, the Rams only dressed two real cornerbacks, Marcus Roberson and Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins left the game twice, causing Lamarcus Joyner to cover one of the Cardinals outstanding receivers. Palmer was 26-40 for 356 yards and two touchdowns. The roster composition of the team doesn’t lend itself to a great deal of success if injuries hit anywhere except the defensive line.

8) Speaking of which, there’s a segment on ESPN’s College Gameday called “You had one job.” I was thinking of that segment early in the third quarter when Tavon Austin returned a punt 67 yards to the Cardinal 3 yard line, but it was called back. Chase Reynolds was called for holding and instead of having the ball at the Cardinal 3, they had it at their own 49. Chase, you’re a running back who hasn’t run a single play from scrimmage all year. You’re a special teams specialist. You had one job! And you were called for holding and cost your team at least three points, maybe seven. One job!

9) The Rams were a colossally bad 1-12 on third down. Eight percent. For the season, the Cardinals, Falcons and Saints are all at 46% for the season in third down conversions. San Francisco is 30th at 33%, and Miami is 31st at 28%. The Rams are last at 24%. 38 for 155. Amazingly bad. When your offense can’t stay on the field, the rest of the team is going to suffer. And the Rams have stayed on the field on 3rd down 38 times in twelve games. An average of three third down conversions per game.

10) I must admit I had to go to Thesaurus.com, but here are fifteen words to describe the Rams offense. Abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, horrendous, horrid, odious, repulsive and terrible. There are plenty of words for this offense. After being 4-3, 4-12 looks like a distinct possibility.

There’s another word in the dictionary that means rickety or shaky. That word is Ramshackle. And you can’t spell it without R-A-M.

Agamemnon wrote:

The offensive line had no sacks and no penalties against Arizona. The defensive line was not off sides.

Well yeah they had a couple of false starts…were those not on linemen? Were they all on TE/WRs?

.

Patz can’t come back. 35-28 Eagles.

So I got a little decent football pleasure out of today.

PA Ram wrote:

So I live with it and can mostly function fine but once in awhile it acts up.

Which is why we have to think about your replacement in the next poster draft.

You are not as useful to us if your arm goes numb and you can’t type.

I mean sure yeah, great posting career and everything PA, but, posting is a “what have you typed for me lately” business.

Just the cold hard merciless truth.

InvaderRam wrote:

i seem to remember reports saying that robinson was not putting in the necessary preparation it takes to be a professional instead relying on his athleticism. that’s disappointing. so maybe he realizes he can’t get away with it at this level. hopefully it’s just part of the maturation process. he needs to wake up.

Well no the report was that he had STOPPED doing that, ie. that he had stopped believing he was just athletic enough and didn’t need more. The issue was specifically him studying film of his opponents.

That’s not that uncommon. Williams openly came out and said he had similar issues with Joyner, that in 2014 Joyner just believed in his own athleticism and wouldn’t do things the way he was supposed to.

The recent revelation about Robinson came in the wake of GR realizing that he was doing things the wrong way by not studying opponents and so on.

wv wrote:

and thus
and therefore, he must be able to pass-block.

Well athlete does not mean pass blocker per se. Pass blocking is technique and awareness. Athlete means potential for SUPERIOR pass blocker. But until he learns the technique and gains awareness, he is going to be more limited.

IMO every complaint we hear about GR gets down to technique and awareness, both of which have to do with experience and learning.

He was just THAT raw coming out. Way behind.

Yet at the same time, they have 2 more LOT prospects in Battle and Wms. So, that;s interesting too.

.

wv wrote:

re the powers-that-bee gonna stop
the game and pull a player every time there’s a hard hit now?

IF they have reason to believe he has a possible concussion…yes.

Regardless of the fall out.

Rams notes: Key players could again be out vs. Cardinals

Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notes-key-players-could-again-be-out-vs-cardinals/article_405da39c-c5da-58ad-a350-352c9d8cb7ed.html

It appears the Rams will again be without defensive end Robert Quinn, cornerback Trumaine Johnson and kicker Greg Zuerlein when they take on the red-hot Arizona Cardinals at noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

The team’s Friday injury report listed Quinn (back), Johnson (thigh) and Zuerlein (right hip) as doubtful for the NFC West showdown. In NFL terms, doubtful means there is just a 25 percent chance of playing Sunday.

None of the three players practiced this week.

Quinn, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, started the season’s first seven games, sat a week and then saw limited action against Chicago. He was inactive for recent games at Baltimore and at Cincinnati. Sixth-year pro Eugene Sims has been filling in for Quinn.

Johnson, in the midst of perhaps his best season, was injured on an interception return in Baltimore and did not play in last week’s 31-7 road loss to the Bengals. Marcus Roberson, a second-year pro, stepped in against Baltimore and started in the Cincinnati game.

Zuerlein suffered a strained hip flexor a couple of days before the Cincinnati game. A day before that contest, the team signed free agent kicker Zach Hocker, a University of Arkansas product who began the season with the New Orleans Saints.

Zuerlein “did not kick (Friday), so it’ll probably be a game-time decision,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after Friday’s workout at Rams Park. “Zach kicked well, kicked off well (Friday), so we’ll see.’’

Quarterback Case Keenum was limited in practice Friday and still has not cleared the concussion protocol. He’s listed as questionable, which is 50-50.

On Thursday, Fisher named Nick Foles as the starter at quarterback.

Tackle Rob Havenstein, the team’s second-round draft pick last May, went through another full workout Friday and is listed probable. Havenstein started the first seven games at right tackle but has sat out three of the last four games with a calf injury.

Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday.

The 9-2 Cardinals, who enter Sunday’s action riding a five-game winning streak and holding a three-game lead in the NFC West, have ruled out RB Andre Ellington (toe), CB Jerraud Powers (calf) and DT Frostee Rucker (ankle), with DT Cory Redding (ankle) doubtful. WR Michael Floyd (hamstring) is questionable.

THUMBS-UP FOR ODOM

Rams center Tim Barnes, who played at the University of Missouri from 2006-2009, thinks his alma mater made a wise choice in hiring another ex-Tiger, Barry Odom, to take over for Gary Pinkel as the Tigers’ next football coach.

“I like it. Not really that surprised since Pinkel helped with the search and likes to promote from within,’’ the fourth-year pro said. “You know that Odom was probably going to be a head coach somewhere this year, so why not Mizzou? I know him personally; he’s a good guy and I’m excited for him.’’

Barnes continued: “You want to keep good people in the program, especially when they have good track records. (Odom) hasn’t been here the whole time. He left and went to Memphis and had success there before coming back. Seems like (Memphis) wanted him back, so I think it’s a good choice by Missouri.’’

GOLDEN SHINES

Drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of last spring’s draft, former Affton High and Mizzou standout Marcus Golden had played in all 11 games and made three starts at linebacker for Arizona this season.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Golden has 24 tackles, including three for loss. He leads the Cardinals with 13 quarterbacks hits, is second with 2½ sacks and is tied for second with 11 quarterback pressures. He’s also forced a fumble this season.

“I love him,’’ Arizona free safety Tyrann Mathieu said earlier in the week. “I love his energy, I love his passion. He’s getting to the quarterback for us; that’s something we definitely need to keep improving on. We need some other guys to step up and get to the quarterback. Marcus is doing a great job. To say he’s a rookie and he has to learn so much, he’s doing a great job just making football plays.’’

NFL PUNT, PASS & KICK

Before Sunday’s game with the Cardinals, qualifiers age 6-15 from throughout Missouri and Illinois will compete in the NFL Pass, Punt & Kick competition. The action begins at 8 a.m. in five age divisions for boys and girls, with the top scorer in each age group crowned team champion and eligible for the national championships to be held at Colts vs. Titans game on Jan. 3, 2016.

All competitors will be recognized during Sunday’s pregame.

NFL Punt, Pass & Kick began in 1961 and is the nation’s largest grassroots sports skills competition. Among those who’ve participated are Hall of Fame quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Dan Marino.

MESSAGE FROM BAILEY

On Friday, Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey issued a message via Twitter:

To my entire Rams family, especially my teammates, fans and peers, I thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. My recovery has been nothing short of a miracle (a work of God) and I can only give God the praise, glory and honor for what he is doing in my life at this time. Christmas is a holiday in which Jesus was born as a gift to the world but in all honesty, he has given me and my family a gift which is far greater than what any man can give, a restoration of my life and health. I will continue to get better day by day until I’m able to get back on the field and I ask for your continued prayers.

Love, Stedman Bailey.