Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
ZooeyModeratorI will be very curious to see how much
intensity the Rams can generate,
after the intense win at Arizona.I’m thinkin this will look a lot
like the Washington game.w
vThat’s okay. I will still remember the good old days when you were a legit Rams fan.
ZooeyModeratorAh yes, the salad days on the old rivals site.
Good times.
=====
Rams 27, Packers 24. Gurley has an even bigger day than he did in Arizona.What?
WHAT?
Are you predicting that the Packers get a…kind of…lesson in HUMILITY…AT HOME?
Is THAT what you’re saying?
ZooeyModeratorI think Green Bay is going to look back on this game as their most humbling of the season.
Because they so thoroughly destroy the Rams that they begin to question a lifestyle driven by violence so they join a Tibetan monastery where they take a vow of humility?
Boy, do I know how to bait the trap for Raiders fans, or what.
It’s amazing that trolls keep coming to this board in spite of round after round of humiliation at my hands.
ZooeyModeratorI think Green Bay is going to look back on this game as their most humbling of the season.
ZooeyModeratorbut yeah. i’m liking this thunder and lightning combo of gurley and austin. adds an element of unpredictability to this offense. cignetti just needs to find a way to free others up once defenses start to key in on them.
Yes, that’s what I’ve been thinking amidst all this Austin/Gurley pride. Make somebody else start to “happen,” too. Quick, Bailey, Kendricks….
Then we have an offense.
ZooeyModeratorSo the two teams the Rams lost to are rated below them, and the two teams they beat are rated above them.
And that, in a nutshell, is our beloved Rams.
———————
Well, i think they’ve turned the corner — which means,
they will finally start losing to good teams
and beating the bad teams.w
vWhat is suddenly interesting is that, given the upcoming schedule, doing that would place them in playoff contention.
ZooeyModerator===============================
PFT’s Week Five power rankings
Mike Florio
1. Patriots (3-0; last week No. 1): The bye week, the one weekend of the year when the Patriots definitely won’t win.
2. Packers (4-0; No. 2): When they envisioned finally beating the 49ers, they likely assumed the 49ers would be a little bit better than they currently are.
3. Broncos (4-0; No. 3): Peyton Manning should be very glad he’ll never have to face the Denver defense.
4. Bengals (4-0; No. 5): They’re separating from the rest of the division; the next goal is to separate from the rest of the conference.
5. Falcons (4-0; No. 6): Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones are the new triplets.
6. Cardinals (3-1; No. 4): We’ll know a lot more about this team after back-to-back games at Detroit and Pittsburgh.
7. Panthers (4-0; No. 10): The schedule gets a lot tougher, soon.
8. Seahawks (2-2; No. 9): Jimmy Graham doesn’t block in the running game. And the offensive line doesn’t block in the passing game.
9. Jets (3-1; No. 14): The Jets hadn’t killed a coach this convincingly since Rich Kotite.
10. Rams (2-2; No. 17): Sunday’s win over the Cardinals inevitably will be bookended by a loss to someone like the Browns.
So the two teams the Rams lost to are rated below them, and the two teams they beat are rated above them.
And that, in a nutshell, is our beloved Rams.
October 6, 2015 at 3:30 pm in reply to: week 5 stats, including "Rams have played 3 top 5 defenses" #31847ZooeyModeratorGeez. Well, the way this season is shaping up, that schedule looks a lot more friendly than I thought it was a few weeks ago. It is not unreasonable to hope for a 10-6 season, certainly. Heck, they do that just by beating the teams ranked below them in this power ranking.
Of course, that is just THIS week’s power ranking.
And it’s only from one site.
CBS’s power rankings put the Rams at 17th.
But still…I can see 8 out of 12 there without rose-tinted goggles.
ZooeyModeratorWho knows, I just thought the film showed a very talented Rams roster and Arizona is actually really fucking loaded on both sides of the ball. Both teams were flying around -Rams pretty lucky to get that one -hopefully a team learning how to close
They beat Arizona in Arizona, and that counts. That’s a talented team with good coaches.
This sounds cliche, but that was 60 minutes of football. The Rams made some mistakes, but they didn’t ever cave in. I thought Arizona played better than the Rams did overall, btw. But the Rams didn’t break, and it looked like they made meaningful halftime adjustments for the first time in a decade, and it felt like the first time we have seen the offense operate in sync.
So. On to Green Bay.
ZooeyModeratorMayhap. I haven’t looked – have they played anyone? Who is catching passes in Charlotte?
I don’t know. But remember the 99 Rams were criticized for “not having played anyone.” They’re winning, and I gather comfortably, though I only follow one team, so I do not know.
I think the Rams may end up the season in the Top 4, but based on what they’ve actually done – including the losses – I can’t put them there yet personally.
But I am glad you did, and I think you should stick to your guns there.
ZooeyModeratorI think Carolina and Atlanta would contest that.
ZooeyModeratorWatched the game on internet TV, so no chance to rewatch. Just wondering what changed when Gurley started to let loose. In the first half he was getting hit 3 yards back from the LOS, and then, after Fitzgerald’s fumble, it seemed like everything opened up. Don’t think the Cards D was gassed, the Rams certainly didn’t wear them out in the first half. So what changed? If this is a glimpse of the future, just wow.
It’s a mystery. I hope same film watchers can tell us.
Whatever it was…once Gurley popped that 23 yard run, he was just dominant after that. Against a good defense.
A lot I agree with in this thread. Arizona was arguably the hottest team the first 3 weeks of the season, and they had homefield on this, and the Rams took them. It’s a big win, and puts the Rams at 2-0 against the division. If the Rams can establish a running game, the passing game will improve. And the defense has played consistently well with the exception of the Washington game. It’s certainly “breaking” less than it has the past couple of years.
They threw serious roadblocks at Pittsburgh and Arizona who were both lighting up scoreboards. This is a good win.
On to Green Bay.
ZooeyModeratorThis win was less dominant that the win over Seattle, imo.
But the Rams won because of turnovers and BBDB defense. Arizona seemed to control the game most of the time. They had more TOP, ran 20 more plays than the Rams (71-51), gained more yards (447-328), got more first downs (26-13), and were penalized less.
The Rams recovered two fumbles, and intercepted a pass, and stiffened in the red zone.
In the end, they ran effectively.
All of which this team is designed to do.
So…yay.
ZooeyModeratorThe Cardinals will look back on this game as one for which they wish that they had never suited up.
Because they so thoroughly destroy the Rams that they recoil in horror much like the captain and crew of the Enola Gay?
Where are you NOW, Raiders Guy?
ZooeyModeratorI thought more than a million died in the Civil War. I was way off.
I didn’t realize american wars were that lackluster.
Is it coaching? Or talent? Or leadership?
I don’t think it’s lack of talent. The US has all the weapons in place. I say it just needs time to gel. Before you know it, it will become a world class killing machine.
ZooeyModeratorThat’s quality.
ZooeyModeratorThe ole tweeters in Philly are starting to hint that it is time to see if Sanchez should warm up.
Bradford 2/5 for 12 yards and 2 sacks so far against Washington. Philly 25 yards of total offense in the 1st quarter, including a 30 yard run.
ZooeyModerator44.7 Nick Foles QBR in 2015
44.3 Austin Davis QBR in 2014
41.4 Shaun Hill QBR in 2014I am disappointed in Foles so far. And jrry32 has not cheered me up.
ZooeyModeratorIf you finish, that will be more than the Rams did.
ZooeyModeratorNor I.
I though more than a million died in the Civil War. I was way off.
ZooeyModeratorYou are probably right,
but then, I didnt expect Bernie (or trump) to do
nearly as well as they’ve been doing — so, I dunno.w
vYeah, but I think Trump has peaked. I don’t think his numbers can go up. The guy is running entirely on pathos. There is no logos there, and no ethos that has yet to be discovered. If anything, his ethos is going to go down. Unless he starts talking sensibly.
I mean…a wall. Seriously. How much is that going to cost? And don’t they have ladders in Mexico? I think they do. So how high are you going to build it? And how are going to stop people from scaling it? And how deep are you going to build it because there have already been multiple tunnels dug under the border, so you’re going to have to burrow down, too.
And then there’s going around it in a boat. Unless you are building the wall around the entire gulf of Mexico coast and up the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
I’m just thinking…not so practical.
The angry and crazy people have already found him. There aren’t going to be more converts from this point forward. He’s just running on, “Shoot! We’ll fix that.”
ZooeyModeratorWell, thats nice and all, but the ‘unit’
has to start stopping the Run. Donald included.Ya know.
This is a strange team. I said
that last year, and its even
stranger this year.w
vBoy, yeah. I will always love strong defense. We grew up on the Fearsome Foursome and its heirs, and I just remember flat out stuffing the run. Merlin Olsen, baby.
Felt a little strange for Laurenitis to break his record. Just doesn’t feel quite right. I like JL, but he isn’t in my pantheon of Rams, and taking an all-time record from Merlin just isn’t right somehow.
ZooeyModeratorQuick is certainly better in this offense , a great blocker, should really help the struggling outside zone run scheme but they have an open roster spot and going up against the “no fly zone” Givens could’ve been a benefit running 9’s Givens lack of production wasn’t his fault. They just didn’t target him much , his career stats are close to double those of Quick’s if you are basing earning a contract on production. I can be happy for Givens knowing he’ll have Flacco’s cannon getting him the ball in the deep game he has been so effective in.
Yeah, it’s true to say he wasn’t targeted much, but after four years, you kind of have to think he wasn’t targeted much because he wasn’t open much. QBs will gladly throw to WRs who are open.
I think he will be better with Flacco – and because there isn’t much anyone else to throw to there – and I wish him well. But I don’t think he got screwed with the Rams. He’s basically a deep threat, and when defenses took the deep routes away from him, he didn’t get the ball much.
October 3, 2015 at 2:35 pm in reply to: Wagoner: Run-first Rams' struggle go beyond the basics #31624ZooeyModeratorObviously, we are applying different metrics. Just a couple of points:
1. The roster was in rough shape when Fisher and Snead got here. No doubt. But plenty of coaches have built competitive teams much faster than waiting until Year 5.
2. Talent. I started the thread the other day because I fundamentally disagree with the assumption that you can keep building talent until you win. Winning coaches need some talent, but they often beat more talented teams. And bad coaches screw up the opportunity with talent. Football is a coach’s game. Talent is no guarantee, and many teams achieve past their apparent talent limit.
3. In terms of talent, I like the build up of the team. I actually like what Snead does. I’d keep Snead and dump Fisher.
4. These discussions seem to mire themselves in abstractions. But, you have acknowledged some preparation issues, so that’s good. I personally think that this coaching staff’s prepration of its team has for 3+ years been spotty and sub-standard in many ways. I think Fisher is a sloppy coach. And I think it SHOWS ON THE FIELD in scores of ways and plays, whatever the team’s talent level is.
You should acknowledge, then, that the Rams HAVE beaten superior teams a number of times. I don’t think “playing over their head” is sustainable, though, by any team, regardless of the coach. Weaker teams win the World Series occasionally, but it just doesn’t happen in football. They can upset good teams here and there, but nobody in the NFL gets away with playing over their heads week in and week out.
As far as the team’s sloppiness, I agree with that. Though I can’t tell how much is coaching, and how much is youth. Penalties are down this year a bit, and I don’t have any stats, but my eyeballs tell me missed tackles are down. It’s been only 3 games, though. I will be watching the sloppiness, and the blown assignments. I do want to see improvement there.
I just think that this season was destined from the start of camp (with a new QB, OC and OL, coupled with a brutal opening set of games), to really begin on Oct. 25 against the Browns. I am expecting the Rams to win 7 of their last 11 games.
October 3, 2015 at 2:03 pm in reply to: Wagoner: Run-first Rams' struggle go beyond the basics #31620ZooeyModeratorWell, RFL, first of all, I just don’t know what I don’t know, and I’m reluctant to make judgments about what I don’t know. So, for example, nobody really knows what happened with Barksdale. You say the Rams SHOULD have gone to Barksdale early, and tried to make him feel wanted, and negotiate something that would have kept him here.
But the thing is, you don’t know that they didn’t do that. We DO know that Barksdale wanted a LOT more money than he eventually got on the open market. Meaning…Barksdale and his agent vastly overestimated his value.
So this is kind of made up, imo:
First, it was ridiculous to let Barksdale go. He was clearly miffed at being mucked about. It would not have cost that much to make him happy and keep him. Most likely, it would have been a matter of going to him early and making him feel wanted.
Keep Barksdale and the challenge this year would have been much less.
We all wanted Barksdale to stay, at least transitionally, including the Rams. Those talks broke down over money, but we don’t know which side bears responsibility for shutting that door. Therefore I don’t blame anybody. I don’t assume it was the Rams’ fault. I just don’t know.
The market was similarly cold for all OL. There are a lot of teams out there with OL needs, and there was just slim pickings in FA.
So the choice there may well have been 1. tie up cap space on a placeholder vet or two (and thus limit their ability to re-sign their own guys just as they emerge as red and blue chip players), or 2. go with rookies with high upside who are cheap, but better for the team in the long run both in terms of talent and finances (and health, incidentally).
They took option 2.
Now you may say that flies in the face of the “fast start” talk in preseason, and I respond by saying, “Big deal.” I don’t care. I want the team built right, and built sustainably for a 5 year run of contention.
If I was going to complain about the slow start, the OL personnel decisions aren’t where I would focus. I would complain that the first team offense didn’t get enough work in the preseason. Foles just hasn’t built any chemistry with his receivers, and the OL needs more experience. I would have played them more.
And my indulgence of Fisher boils down to this: He started with f*** all. And they are still the youngest team in the league. I am in awe of the foundation. Fisher has completely restocked the cupboards.
If they can keep this team together, they are going to win.
ZooeyModeratorWhich is why they signed a WR to the practice squad, apparently.
I don’t know Zack.People are becoming increasingly frustrated with our offense.I am reading more and more that people want Fisher fired.What’s your take this?
I’m not Zack, obviously, but here are my thoughts:
1. Fisher isn’t going anywhere this year or next year, so there’s no point stressing out over it. I think Fisher could be on the hot seat next season (zn disagrees with me, or at least did). By that I mean I think he is safe through the length of his contract for certain, but a failure NEXT season might mean Stan will evaluate him. I don’t think it’s likely he is gone after next season, either, though. First of all, I am pretty confident the Rams will be in the playoffs next year, and this issue will recede to the standard issue 10% or so of fans who complain about the coach regardless unless he has wins the Super Bowl. Secondly, Stan has a track record of sticking with a course of action both in his sports teams, and in his business developments. He makes a plan, and he keeps pounding away until he wins.
2. This team was terrible when he took over in 2012. Awful. Scrubs. I think there are 7 guys left on the roster from when he took over. Meaning he had to go get 50 guys. That takes time. Furthermore, there have been a lot of substantial injuries, and turnovers in his coordinators. So his “failure” is excusable so far, though I agree it’s time to start winning. But the Rams are STILL the youngest team in the NFL, especially the OL which is about as green as a line can be. New QB, new OC, new OL = takes some time to gel. So that’s the “excuse” side of it.
3. I think there is a lot of talent on this team now, and signs they are ripening even though there are still setbacks. I think this team IS ripening, and I think after the bye, this team is going to start fulfilling its promise. It may not be enough to make the playoffs this year, but I AM optimistic about next year.
Just look at the Martz, Linehan, Spags drafts below from 2000 – 2011, and see what Fisher/Snead have done from 2012 on.
2014 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 2 Greg Robinson T Auburn
1 13 Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh
2 41 Lamarcus Joyner CB Florida State
3 75 Tre Mason RB Auburn
4 110 Maurice Alexander SS Utah State
6 188 E.J. Gaines DB Missouri
6 214 Garrett Gilbert QB Southern Methodist
7 226 Mitchell Van Dyk T Portland State
7 241 Christian Bryant DB Ohio State
7 249 Michael Sam DE Missouri
7 250 Demetrius Rhaney C Tennessee State2013 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 8 Tavon Austin WR West Virginia
1 30 Alec Ogletree OLB Georgia
3 71 T.J. McDonald SS USC
3 92 Stedman Bailey WR West Virginia
4 113 Barrett Jones OG Alabama
5 149 Brandon McGee CB Miami (Fla.)
5 160 Zac Stacy RB Vanderbilt2012 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 14 Michael Brockers DT LSU
2 33 Brian Quick WR Appalachian State
2 39 Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
2 50 Isaiah Pead RB Cincinnati
3 65 Trumaine Johnson CB Montana
4 96 Chris Givens WR Wake Forest
5 150 Rokevious Watkins G South Carolina
6 171 Greg Zuerlein K Missouri Western State
7 209 Aaron Brown LB Hawaii
7 252 Daryl Richardson RB Abilene Christian2011 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 14 Robert Quinn DE North Carolina
2 47 Lance Kendricks TE Wisconsin
3 78 Austin Pettis WR Boise State
4 112 Greg Salas WR Hawaii
5 158 Jermale Hines DB Ohio State
7 216 Mikail Baker DB Baylor
7 228 Jabara Williams LB Stephen F. Austin St.
7 229 Jonathan Nelson DB Oklahoma2010 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 1 Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma
2 33 Rodger Saffold T Indiana
3 65 Jerome Murphy DB South Florida
4 99 Mardy Gilyard WR Cincinnati
5 132 Michael Hoomanawanui TE Illinois
5 149 Hall Davis DE Louisiana-Lafayette
6 170 Fendi Onobun TE Houston
6 189 Eugene Sims DE West Texas A&M
7 211 Marquis Johnson DB Alabama
7 226 George Selvie DE South Florida
7 254 Josh Hull LB Penn State2009 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 2 Jason Smith T Baylor
2 35 James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State
3 66 Bradley Fletcher DB Iowa
4 103 Darell Scott DT Clemson
5 160 Brooks Foster WR North Carolina
6 196 Keith Null QB West Texas A&M
7 211 Chris Ogbonnaya RB Texas2008 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 2 Chris Long DE Virginia
2 33 Donnie Avery WR Houston
3 65 John Greco T Toledo
4 101 Justin King CB Penn State
4 128 Keenan Burton WR Kentucky
5 157 Roy Schuening G Oregon State
7 228 Chris Chamberlain LB Tulsa
7 252 David Vobora LB Idaho2007 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 13 Adam Carriker NT Nebraska
2 52 Brian Leonard RB Rutgers
3 84 Jonathan Wade CB Tennessee
5 139 Dustin Fry C Clemson
5 154 Clifton Ryan DT Michigan State
6 190 Ken Shackleford T Georgia
7 248 Keith Jackson DT Arkansas
7 249 Derek Stanley WR Wis.-Whitewater2006 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 15 Tye Hill CB Clemson
2 46 Joe Klopfenstein TE Colorado
3 68 Claude Wroten DT Louisiana State
3 77 Jon Alston LB Stanford
3 93 Dominique Byrd TE USC
4 113 Victor Adeyanju DE Indiana
5 144 Marques Hagans WR Virginia
7 221 Tim McGarigle LB Northwestern
7 242 Mark Setterstrom G Minnesota
7 243 Tony Palmer G Missouri2005 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 19 Alex Barron T Florida State
2 50 Ronald Bartell CB Howard
3 66 O.J. Atogwe DB Stanford
3 81 Richie Incognito C Nebraska
4 117 Jerome Carter DB Florida State
4 134 Claude Terrell G New Mexico
5 144 Jerome Collins TE Notre Dame
6 192 Dante Ridgeway WR Ball State
6 210 Reggie Hodges P Ball State
7 250 Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Harvard
7 251 Madison Hedgecock RB North Carolina2004 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 24 Steven Jackson RB Oregon State
3 91 Anthony Hargrove DE Georgia Tech
4 130 Brandon Chillar OLB UCLA
5 158 Jason Shivers SAF Arizona State
6 201 Jeff Smoker QB Michigan State
7 237 Erik Jensen TE Iowa
7 238 Larry Turner C Eastern Kentucky2003 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 12 Jimmy Kennedy DT Penn State
2 43 Pisa Tinoisamoa OLB Hawaii
3 74 Kevin Curtis WR Utah State
4 106 Shaun McDonald WR Arizona State
4 107 DeJuan Groce CB Nebraska
5 148 Dan Curley TE Eastern Washington
5 170 Shane Walton CB Notre Dame
5 172 Kevin Garrett CB Southern Methodist
6 184 Scott Tercero G California
7 251 Scott Shanle LB Nebraska
7 254 Richard Angulo TE Western New Mexico2002 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 31 Robert Thomas OLB UCLA
2 64 Travis Fisher CB Central Florida
3 84 Lamar Gordon RB North Dakota State
3 95 Eric Crouch WR Nebraska
4 130 Travis Scott G Arizona State
5 167 Courtland Bullard LB Ohio State
6 205 Steve Bellisari DB Ohio State
7 243 Chris Massey C Marshall2001 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 12 Damione Lewis DT Miami (Fla.)
1 20 Adam Archuleta SS Arizona State
1 29 Ryan Pickett DT Ohio State
2 42 Tommy Polley OLB Florida State
3 83 Brian Allen LB Florida State
4 116 Milton Wynn WR Washington State
4 129 Brandon Manumaleuna TE Arizona
5 145 Jerametrius Butler CB Kansas State
6 197 Francis St. Paul — Northern Arizona2000 – ST. LOUIS RAMS
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 31 Trung Canidate RB Arizona
2 62 Jacoby Shepherd DB Oklahoma State
3 94 John St. Clair C Virginia
4 104 Kaulana Noa T Hawaii
5 139 Brian Young DE Texas-El Paso
6 198 Matt Bowen DB Iowa
7 220 Andrew Kline G San Diego StateZooeyModeratorFisher is an idiot when it comes to wr’s. Maybe wait until Quick actually plays a game or two. A two years into the future 7th on the youngest team in the league stacked with 1s and 2s doesn’t bode well for future Rams teams though it does strengthen his legacy of failure.
Givens is in his last year. He hasn’t done anything to earn a second contract here. So Givens is gone after this season anyway.
So far this season: 1 Rec 7 yds.
Quick is better.
ZooeyModeratorI don’t think either Sanders or Trump will get the nomination. The DNC isn’t going to want Sanders, and the Super Delegates aren’t going to want Sanders. The RNC isn’t going to want Trump.
I dunno.
Clinton v. Rubio? Or Biden if he runs?
This is an interesting horse race. While there is a lot of popular desire for an “outsider” this cycle, all of the outsiders appear kooky to the mainstream. You know, Obama managed to be an establishment guy who convinced voters he was Fresh Blood. I just don’t see a candidate this time who can replicate that. Sanders and Trump are not establishment guys, and the establishment, as well as the majority of American voters, do not want to go that far afield. As you know, even a lot of the Liberal Democrats are conservative. Can you imagine Waterfield voting for Sanders? I can’t. He will feel more comfortable with Biden or Clinton.
It’s gonna be an interesting 6 months.
BTW, I read somewhere that Boehner could lock up financing for the rest of Obama’s term before he leaves, thus preventing a government shutdown even after he is gone. I didn’t read the details on that, but that would be an interesting move.
October 3, 2015 at 11:42 am in reply to: Wagoner: Run-first Rams' struggle go beyond the basics #31606ZooeyModeratorI think Fisher is still building for the future. He’s not in “win now” mode, because he knows he doesn’t have to be. His job is as secure as Belicheck’s. So he’s building every aspect of this team exactly the way he wants it without compromise while knowing he’s going to take some lumps in the process. He’s doing this because he knows he doesn’t have to win now.
You may be right.
And if so, well, I at least would consider that to be a cynical attitude. And damn tough on StL fans who have endured decades of lousy football and ALSO are looking at losing their team just when Fisher’s plans come to fruition.
I’d actually consider this, if true, to be more despicable than mere incompetence.
I don’t think it’s cynical. And the StL vs. LA thing just isn’t Fisher’s responsibility, and I’d be pissed, frankly, if that issue was influencing personnel decisions.
The alternative to attempting to build a rock-solid team from the ground up, patiently, over time, is to try to build one quickly through FA. Well, you can only grab so many guys through FA, and the fact is the Rams did what they could there only to have those players explode. I just don’t think there is any evidence that Fisher is complacently “mailing it in” in terms of building a winner. Actually, I don’t even know what that would mean, or look like.
I mean…”win now” mode is easier if you have the players. Fisher started out with very few quality players, and some of those weren’t ever on the field.
I am tired of the losing, too. We all are. But the explanation for their failure to win yet lies in personnel. I think this is the first season when we’ve looked at the Rams and been able to say, “Yeah, every unit on the team has talent now.” But one of those units -the OL – had to be completely overhauled this offseason, and it is just a bunch of babies. Their sluggish start was expected. And we don’t really know for sure that the line is fixed. GRob is a question mark, and Havenstein and Barnes haven’t dashed all doubts.
This is a young and talented team. Their day is coming, and it’s coming soon. And as I said in the preseason, I think next season is the season the Rams HAVE to produce (barring a rash of injuries).
ZooeyModerator7th rounder in 2017 according to CBS.
-
AuthorPosts
