I’m thinking I may have to locate my shoebox filled with mini-helmets that I acquired as a kid, and pile all my Rams helmets on top of a Vikings helmet to see if that helps. It didn’t always work when I was a kid, but this is a new era.

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

Belichek, Payton, Carroll, Arians, Shanahan, Gruden, McCarthy, Rivera, Tomlin, Pederson, Zimmer, Pagano.

Dunno.

I think this is a tangent that isn’t helpful, however.

I would say Bellichick and Zimmer. Rams have talent but IMO they don’t have “7-2 in the first year of a new regime with ANY good coach” talent. I think McVay supplied that extra percentage.

…

Well, I don’t konw. I know all those coaches have had success.

The dramatic turnaround is dramatic partly because they played below their ability last season. That wasn’t a 4-12 team on paper. I think the move affected them more than I expected it to, and I don’t think Fisher/Wentz/Boras knew how to work with Goff.

But Snisher acquired a lot of talent. A lot of it. What Fisher never did was hire an innovative OC, or get good WRs. He tried to fix the OL, and some of those guys – Grob especially – just didn’t cut it. He built a pretty good foundation of talent, though, which is why I put money on the Rams for the first time in my life when I saw them get Whitworth and WRS and a guy who knows offense. It was a good ship with a couple of leaks, and no wind in its sails.

I agree that McVay is better, and better substantially. I agree with everything people have said in this thread, basically, and I’m glad now that Fisher is gone. He tolerated sloppiness, and he didn’t adjust during the game. Hell, we have seen more in-game adjustments that matter from McVay/Phillips this season than we saw in 5 seasons combined with Fisher, I’d warrant.

I was never a Fisher fan. I thought he was the right choice at the time, and was hopeful he would produce a winner. I would have given him one more season (this year) to produce, but I’m very, very glad Kroenke didn’t agree with me. Fisher seemed to develop this “I got this” attitude where he just thought he was a very good coach, and he stopped evolving. McVay is out there watching everybody’s film, and stealing plays that work, and applying them in exactly the right situation, and brings his hunger to everything he does. Fisher was coasting. And I think McVay’s success reduces Fisher’s chances of landing another coaching gig.

Anyway. Long Live McVay.

Everyone who thinks the Rams would be 7-2 right now if Fisher was still coach…raise your hand.

I hate the Vikings.

That happened.

Okay. I guess that’s not really news.

I got the impression that the training camp move of Hav inside, and Brown outside, had more to do with Hav’s limitations than with Brown’s prowess.

I think OL is the number one priority. After Blythe, they don’t have anybody afaik who can actually play. If Whitworth goes down, I’m pretty sure Saffold would move outside, and Blythe take over at LG – as he did when Saffold got injured Sunday.

He must be the most underappreciated Ram in the past decade, or so.

I’ll say this. The Rams have a very good offense, a very good defense, very good special teams, and a creative coaching staff that makes good halftime adjustments.

We’ve seen teams play at a higher level.

But…the team’s only real weakness is inexperience and youth. It also lacks depth is certain places, but the starters are doing well in every unit. This is a good team.

We are entering the gauntlet now, and we will get an idea in the next couple of games whether the Rams are a cut above, roughly equal with the best, or a notch below.

In any event, the future looks good (sign Donald), and we are clearly finished with the long, cold winter of nothingness. The Rams are relevant again, at the very least.

Let’s go.

Agamemnon wrote:

Starting with the Vikings, it is like being in the playoffs

I like them to sweep the division rivals. Splitting the other four should get them the division. I think if the Rams are still a game up after the Saints game, going into December, they’ve got it.

Remember all those Viking flamers years ago?

I can’t remember the handle of that one guy. I remember Mjollnir’s Wrath, I think it was, who was actually “conversational.” There was another guy, though. Those were that days! Over at Rivals.

I don’t know if I can take the stress.

This is why one should never wager on sports. It changes the experience.

Anyway. Go Rams.

canadaram wrote:

zn wrote:

18) I think we clobber the Vikings next week. I don’t think they have enough on offense to keep up. I think they’ll have turnovers and their defense won’t be able to keep them in it.

I don’t agree with that at all. I think Diggs and/or Thielen can both light up the Rams secondary. Furthermore, the Rams offense will be hard pressed to put up big points against the Vikings defense.

I watched about 4 drives of the game today, and it looked to me like the Vikings defense is good.

InvaderRam wrote:

goff. 101.5 qb rating on the season so far. he’s not playing lights out. but he’s hanging in there. seems to keep his cool. what a pass to woods. right on the money.

woods. what a signing. i was lukewarm on the signing. i wanted garcon. but shoot. i was wrong. more dynamic than i thought.

yeah. i agree with you. team win. defense hung in there. they did get a little lucky at times. but really turned it around in the second half. as did the offense.

these next four weeks. whoa, man. whoa! how long has it been???

Halftime adjustments.

We haven’t seen them in a decade.

This year…they do them.

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

The OL is where my biggest worry lies. An injury there could end the season for the Rams.

They will certainly be adding to the OL in the offseason.

I think they could handle someone being out for a game or 2.

This has been the Rams healthiest OL season since 2010, and then before that, 2003.

I do, too. But if someone goes out for the season (with the possible exception of C where Blythe seems sufficient), they are toast.

I guess Greg Robinson is available in a pinch.

nittany ram wrote:

Zooey wrote:

The next time the Rams lose, it will be to a team that is better than they are, not to a team that is AS good, or inferior.

So, you’re implying it’s possible for a team to be AS good or even BETTER than the Rams?!

Gawd, I wish Rams players visited this site. Your posts would make excellent bulletin board fodder for the upcoming Seahawks game.

Spoken like a true Seahawks fan.

True Rams Fans know the Rams don’t need bulletin board material for the Seahawks.