2010 Off-Season
When he's on the field, an easy smile has always come to the face of the new holder of the richest rookie contract in NFL history. The smile seems to say that this game of football has been pretty fun so far.
He had fun at Putnam City North in Oklahoma City, though he never got to a championship game. He lit up the Oklahoma camp in his freshman year, grabbing hold of a starting job left vacant by Rhett Bomar's dismissal, then proceeded to put his name in the record books. Most consecutive completions (22). Most touchdowns thrown by a freshman (32). He led the Sooners to the Big 12 Championship, claiming the entire state as his kingdom. Heroic deeds to be sure, but still that smile came easy.
He led a charmed life during Oklahoma's magical 2008 season, throwing 50 touchdowns and wresting the Heisman trophy away from Tim Tebow, then leapfrogging rival Texas into the BCS Championship game. That they lost was a disappointment, but not one that soured him, not one that could keep the smile off his face.
"I've dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little," Bradford said. "My three years here have been probably three of the best years of my life. ... I feel there's no need to cut this experience short."
-- Bradford, on his decision to return to Oklahoma for his Junior year.
He spurned the NFL draft and its promise of riches, whether to take care of unfinished business at Oklahoma, or because he wasn't ready to give up that life, we don't know. But just weeks in, his college career was suddenly aborted by a 3rd degree shoulder separation. He still stood on the sideline and cheered, a part of the team but no longer a part of its season. He was now bound for the pros, taking a long and painful road of rehab to get there.
After months of cautious courtship, the Rams made him the game's top pick, made him the totem around which they would rebuild their broken team. And we knew that this contract would come. We knew it would be staggeringly huge. But until late Friday evening, when he finally put pen to the terms and clauses and conditions that his agent had spent weeks hammering out, Sam Bradford still had a shred of innocence, a tiny scrap of ordinariness unscrutinized by the media and adoring public.
Sam Bradford's life has just transformed. There is no longer any Peter Parker left, because he has just been given the mantle of St Louis' Super Hero. And to paraphrase Uncle Ben, with a great paycheck comes great responsibility.
Bradford is going to feel that weight now like never before. He's going to feel the burden of expectation. The expectation of starting Week 1. (Which I and many other fans expect.) The expectation of being immediately better than last year's triumverate of misfortune. The expectation of making the Rams his team and leading us out of the fifth circle of football hell -- the one reserved for wrath and sullenness, two characteristics that still plague Rams nation.
Most of all, he's going to feel the weight of that contract. By all accounts he is a standup guy. He isn't a Jamarcus Russell, who can laugh off the responsibilities that come with the position. He's going to put in the work to earn this contract. But he knows that fans expect repayment in the winning column.
If he's the guy I think he is, he's going to carry all of our expectations with him, as he did in high school, and at Oklahoma. Throughout his time on the field, he has been able to carry the weight lightly. With a smile.
This restoration of a franchise is going to be harder than anything Bradford has had to do before. But he won't be alone. He has 52 men and more in Rams uniform behind him, all bought in to Coach Spagnuolo and his "team first" mantra. Spags has offered three missions to his Rams team in this year's training camp: "demand, compete and finish."
He might add one more for his newly enchristened quarterback: don't forget to smile. It might just be contagious.
no comments
UPDATE, following Saffold's contract signing today:
OneRamsWay Per OL coach Steve Loney, as expected, Saffold will work at right tackle.
So take Saffold's part in this post with a grain of salt. The larger concern remains, though.
The Rams had their pick of an epic rookie class of left tackles with the #2 pick in last year's draft, including movie poster boy Michael Oher. They deemed the athletic Jason Smith as the best of 'em all, and then moved him to right tackle, swapping last year's right tackle, Barron, over to the blind side. Why? This offseason, that situation resolved itself with the dumping of Barron, and the drafting of a new right tackle prospect, Rodger Saffold. But as reported by Brian Stull on Twitter, Saffold has been working out primarily at the right guard position so far this summer. Why? It appears to be a part of a pattern where young players are expected to "work their way up" to their natural starting position -- much like Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa prefers to have his young starting pitchers (like Adam Wainwright) work their way through the bullpen. But whose philosophy is this? And will it affect Sam Bradford's chances of starting Week 1?
The first obvious target is to look to offensive line coach Steve Loney, who managed one of the great O-lines in recent memory, the 2002-05 Vikings. They added premier tackle Bryant McKinnie in that year's draft to an already stacked line, replacing the departed Todd Steussie. But rather than move him around, the Vikings immediately slotted McKinnie in at Left Tackle, keeping the veteran Chris Liwienski on the right corner. They followed a similar pattern in 2004, using a mid-round pick on tackle Nat Dorsey, and immediately slotted him into his natural position as well, sliding Liwienski to left guard. That apparently didn't go so well, as he only lasted a year, and the Vikings faced a revolving door situation at the position over the next few years.... a problem that was easily masked over by signing powerhouse guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks, creating such a dominant left side that the weakness on the right was easy to ignore.
Clearly, Loney has a track record of building up units of strength and playing people in their best natural position. The next man up the totem pole is offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, but after a career built on coaching quarterbacks, I find it hard to believe he would overrule Loney on this.
That leaves Spagnuolo as the man to look to. And if we look back to his time in New York, he clearly preferred to "ease in" talented but raw players like Matthias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck. The Rams followed a similar pattern last season with Bradley Fletcher, who didn't crack the starting DB rotation until October, and Chris Ogbonnaya, who couldn't get off the practice squad despite only the ineffective Samkon Gado ahead of him. Even a young veteran like Chris Long didn't start several games in the first half of the season, rotating his way into the lineup until he found his groove.
(However, the big exception to this rule was James Laurinaitis, who came to camp driven to earn the starting middle linebacker job right away. With his stellar preparation work, obvious leadership and physical play, he gave the Rams coaches no choice but to start him from Game 1 of the preseason.)
What does this mean for Bradford? He will be easily the best quarterback on the Rams roster as soon as he signs his contract -- which could be as early as tomorrow. With only the semi-retired AJ Feeley and all four games of pro experience under Keth Null's belt ahead of Bradford on the depth chart, I would expect him to be able to seize the starting job very quickly. However, other observers such as ESPN's Mike Sando are much more conservative in their assessment.
Sando in particular points to Donovan McNabb's rookie year, when journeyman Doug Pedersen was able to keep the talented QB on the bench until November.
In my mind, if the Rams take the same approach, it will be a very ugly first year of this franchise reboot. Fans and the team alike will be restless, waiting for the coaches to put the obvious best talent on the field, and give them the best chance of winning games. The Rams schedule is loaded with winnable games early. Starting Feeley would essentially be punting on those games, and on the goodwill the team has developed so far this offseason.
no comments
OneRamsWay Per OL coach Steve Loney, as expected, Saffold will work at right tackle.The Rams had their pick of an epic rookie class of left tackles with the #2 pick in last year's draft, including movie poster boy Michael Oher. They deemed the athletic Jason Smith as the best of 'em all, and then moved him to right tackle, swapping last year's right tackle, Barron, over to the blind side. Why? This offseason, that situation resolved itself with the dumping of Barron, and the drafting of a new right tackle prospect, Rodger Saffold. But as reported by Brian Stull on Twitter, Saffold has been working out primarily at the right guard position so far this summer. Why? It appears to be a part of a pattern where young players are expected to "work their way up" to their natural starting position -- much like Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa prefers to have his young starting pitchers (like Adam Wainwright) work their way through the bullpen. But whose philosophy is this? And will it affect Sam Bradford's chances of starting Week 1?
The first obvious target is to look to offensive line coach Steve Loney, who managed one of the great O-lines in recent memory, the 2002-05 Vikings. They added premier tackle Bryant McKinnie in that year's draft to an already stacked line, replacing the departed Todd Steussie. But rather than move him around, the Vikings immediately slotted McKinnie in at Left Tackle, keeping the veteran Chris Liwienski on the right corner. They followed a similar pattern in 2004, using a mid-round pick on tackle Nat Dorsey, and immediately slotted him into his natural position as well, sliding Liwienski to left guard. That apparently didn't go so well, as he only lasted a year, and the Vikings faced a revolving door situation at the position over the next few years.... a problem that was easily masked over by signing powerhouse guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks, creating such a dominant left side that the weakness on the right was easy to ignore.
Clearly, Loney has a track record of building up units of strength and playing people in their best natural position. The next man up the totem pole is offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, but after a career built on coaching quarterbacks, I find it hard to believe he would overrule Loney on this.
That leaves Spagnuolo as the man to look to. And if we look back to his time in New York, he clearly preferred to "ease in" talented but raw players like Matthias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck. The Rams followed a similar pattern last season with Bradley Fletcher, who didn't crack the starting DB rotation until October, and Chris Ogbonnaya, who couldn't get off the practice squad despite only the ineffective Samkon Gado ahead of him. Even a young veteran like Chris Long didn't start several games in the first half of the season, rotating his way into the lineup until he found his groove.
(However, the big exception to this rule was James Laurinaitis, who came to camp driven to earn the starting middle linebacker job right away. With his stellar preparation work, obvious leadership and physical play, he gave the Rams coaches no choice but to start him from Game 1 of the preseason.)
What does this mean for Bradford? He will be easily the best quarterback on the Rams roster as soon as he signs his contract -- which could be as early as tomorrow. With only the semi-retired AJ Feeley and all four games of pro experience under Keth Null's belt ahead of Bradford on the depth chart, I would expect him to be able to seize the starting job very quickly. However, other observers such as ESPN's Mike Sando are much more conservative in their assessment.
Sando in particular points to Donovan McNabb's rookie year, when journeyman Doug Pedersen was able to keep the talented QB on the bench until November.
In my mind, if the Rams take the same approach, it will be a very ugly first year of this franchise reboot. Fans and the team alike will be restless, waiting for the coaches to put the obvious best talent on the field, and give them the best chance of winning games. The Rams schedule is loaded with winnable games early. Starting Feeley would essentially be punting on those games, and on the goodwill the team has developed so far this offseason.
no comments
At least, not according to an intriguing set of offensive line rankings put forward by Neil Hornsby and the fellows at Pro Football Focus. Unlike in purely results-oriented rankings like those at Football Outsiders, PFF rates the pure blocking play of the linemen, regardless of the outcome of the play itself.
So, for example, if a QB has six seconds, runs about like a headless chicken and takes a 10-yard sack on second and six, we aren't about to put that on the line.
-- PFF
And unlike any outcome-based analysis, the Rams trenchmen fared fairly well in PFF's ratings, coming in at a respectable 19th overall. The rating combines three elements: Run blocking (14th overall in NFL), Pass Protection (15th), and Penalties (27th). The big question then is whether the Rams' "addition-by-subtraction" moves of dumping their biggest flag magnets Richie Incognito and Alex Barron for a combination of raw rookie (Rodger Saffold), aged veteran (Hank Fraley) and utility knife (Adam Goldberg) can combine to maintain the team's gains in blocking, while dramatically improving their penalty situation.
For perspective, FanBall's own offensive line guru, Bryan Douglass, recently published his 4-part ranking and breakdown of every line in the league. (He rates the Rams 22nd overall, barely missing on last year's projection that they would be the league's most-improved offensive line in 2009.)
The ability to run the football has been established in St. Louis. If these young tackles can improve at pass blocking, the process of offensive rehabilitation will excite fans through what should be a progressive 2010 season.
-- FanBall Owner's Edge: O-Line Rankings Part II
I asked Bryan to give the RamsHerd readers some in-depth perspective about the progress the Rams have made, and what can help them get to the next level. Thankfully, the big dog was more than happy to comply.
The big moves are also smart moves
We've talked about Alex Barron and Richie Incognito a ton... think it sends a CLEAR message where this line is going, and that may be the most positive attribute I want to put on the Rams this season (granted, I have bias... but I love it).
The starting line appears to be rather strong. I adore Jason Brown in the middle (the best free-agent signing since the Vikings picked up Steve Hutchinson) and I believe he will be Sam Bradford's best friend... and I think Spags knew this. I honestly believe they understood the situation at quarterback (they may have been targeting Bradford all along... wouldn't doubt it for a second) and the decision to get Brown on the point was crucial in influencing quick improvement. As Brett Favre would say, he's allsum.
Drafting Smith and Saffold a gamble that should pay off...
In review of Jason Smith's rookie season I found little reason for criticism. I would have enjoyed more snaps but he was solid, especially for a rookie out of second-tier Big 12 program at Baylor. The move to left tackle will be tough and I would anticipate growing pains, but I also believe the staff in St. Louis (namely offensive line coach Steve Loney... he was in Minnesota when the team drafted Bryant McKinnie btw) is more than capable of bringing him along and slanting him towards success.
I was especially inspired by two other names: Jacob Bell... REALLY improved last season after a frustrating 2008 season, and the decision to draft Rodger Saffold. Going with tackles in these first two seasons at the helm is a bold move. It may not SEEM like a bold move for a team clearly in need of offensive line help, but that's not something most coaches would do in this league.
You drafted a tackle with the top pick last year, then you turn around and draft the arm that will put him to use with the first pick this year... but you turn right around with the next pick and add another tackle. Most teams would spread the love, go defense, maybe add a receiver (could use it, right?).. but Spags GETS it. He goes Saffold and, if he and Smith turn into the powers I think they will be, you have what could be the best NFL pass-protection tandem in 2-3 years.
Making progress on their "most improved" mark
I only worry about injuries. Saffold (if memory serves) has already had a bit of trouble with durability... Smith was on and off health last season... you need to keep those kids healthy and working. You don't want to lose this season with them working together. You have proven veteran leadership up the middle and a rusher that puts 'em to use... you are working to get the pass back up to speed. Keeping those tackles healthy will be vital in that effort.
I know I said this last season when we talked and I suggest the Rams were the most improved line in the league. I stand by that... can't account for injuries but they clearly were improved (and based on this year's preseason rank, I was close). Forgive but I want to say the same thing this year, though they are not the most improved line in the league. That would be your division foe... but they are clearly on their way to substantial evolution. It's going to be fun to watch my friend!
And by "division foe," we're talking about the hated Niners...
RH: I have to admit, I'm a little in awe of the potential turnaround in San Francisco, with the addition of Iupati and Anthony Davis to pave holes for Gore, and help keep Alex Smith upright.If I'm a fan in St. Lou, I'm calling 7-8 wins progress. I'd be happy with it until that D gets juiced, Sam gets comfy, and those tackles get acclimated.
But as you noted... crazy division. Seattle is a wreck, Zona is in transition, and San Fran and your Rams are unknowns. It will be, if nothing else, entertaining!
no comments
The Rams have taken a good idea -- making training camp practices open to the public -- and made it better, by opening the gates for a full 29 practice sessions. [Here's a link to the Rams' training camp schedule.] Players are going to be getting plenty of fan interaction after the morning sessions, the first of which starts next Thursday. But apparently, receiver Brandon Gibson couldn't wait that long.
Gibson got onto Twitter this Thursday morning and opened the door wide to all his fans and followers:
BGibson04 To new followers & current ones I'll b answering ur ?'s all day. If you got any ask away...Q & A all day.
Rams icon come from members of the @RamsHerd/rams-fans list on Twitter, now 100+ strong and growing.) Enjoy!
Starting out personal...
@FlyGuyTMasc: how many gfs have u had? Gibson: lol 4@Snimri85: Have you cought any passes from Bradford yet? Gibson: yessir he's a big talent
@FlyGuyTMasc: who's the hottest celeb (according to u)? Gibson: Paula Patton Halle berry Sarah shahi the list could go on 4eva lol
Past Glory
@TiltingRight: What's your favorite memory as a Coug player? Most painful loss? Gibson: 07 apple cup, & coach doba being fired RH: The "Apple Cup" is the name given to the annual game between Washington and Washington State ... and in 2007, Brandon Gibson caught the game-winning touchdown in an electric 42-35 victory for the WSU Cougars, beating the heralded freshman Jake Locker. Gibson was the game's leading receiver with 137 yards and 2 TDs. [youtube XiEd9MZrdW4] However, that dramatic victory wasn't enough to save the job of the Cougars' coach, Bill Doba, who was fired the following week after the team finished out of the bowls for a fourth consecutive season. It's ironic that, for Gibson, his greatest victory and saddest loss are separated by mere hours.@ucancallme_sam: favorite memory at rogers? Gibson: High school bball. I had so much fun
The Twitterverse gets hungry
@TiltingRight: Favorite place to eat in StL? Gibson: not sure. Haven't bn to that many spots...I usually eat at the house@FlyGuyTMasc: fav place 2 eat back in seattle Gibson: charlies off broadway. U can eat everything on the menu
@PitViper83: What's your dream ride?
Gibson: Aston Martin cuz of James Bond. Or the revention
@PitViper83: Okay, next question: What are you currently driving? Gibson: Denali
@PitViper83: Rims? Gibson: str8 stock
Finally, some questions about sports!
@Snimri85: What are your favorite sports to watch? Gibson: anything but baseball & golf. Love bball soccer tennis@RamsHerd: Who do you pattern your game after? Do you have a WR mentor?
Gibson: Eric Metcalf, Greg Jennings, steve smith(NY)@Mtrible: what did you think of kolb during your time in Philly? Gibson: he can play, he can the show, gunslinger RH: Thinking he meant to type "ran the show"? stupid tiny cell phone keyboards...
@Snimri85: you dont even like Watchin tiger? Gibson: on Sundays when he wears red haha
@Snimri85: Haha thats true. Whos your favorite Nba team? Gibson: blazers & thunders
@GreetingsADM: How were the fans at an Eagle's training camp?
Gibson: they roll deep! Good fans a lil harsh but love there teams @21Bird: how far are u on the depth chart?
Gibson: not sure. @21Bird: I really think your the best wr we got u didn't go down easy and u made tough catches
Gibson: gotta earn the title@HamzaAbdullah41: Who do you think is the best corner in the NFL? Gibson: revis, cromartie(jets), 21 from Oakland, sante in no order
Having some fun
@TiltingRight: better shooter... You or @reggi3moore? Gibson: me until he shoots me out the gym haha RH: Reggie Moore plays basketball for WSU@reggi3moore: @TiltingRight ME.. @Bgibson04 is too buff to shoot. I smacced him in Madden to with his own team. #ithappens Gibson: haha--fibbbss
@BeemerJules: What's your idea of a good date? Gibson: Dinner & a movie for starters...from there u gotta get creative.
@21bird: @Bgibson04 u play madden online if so up that gamertag so I can teach u a gun lesson
Gibson: ps3. Gamertag: bgibson04@Snimri85: last time you played in hoopfest? Gibson: never played , I did hoop it up when I was lil
@BeemerJules: What's your worst injury? (So much for the workout!) Gibson: I kno right. Ummm heel bruise. I couldn't walk
@Snimri85: ever met any celebrities?
Gibson: Like 2. Forgot there names lololol
@TurfShowTimes: Bold predictions for 2010?
Gibson: we compete for the NFC west =]@GreetingsADM: @Bgibson04 How do you feel about drinking an ochocinco (cranberry and red bull)?
Gibson: shirley temple if I step out lol@CoachTruck: do u follow or care what ur madden rateings are
Gibson: nah not really. coo that I'm in a video game tho.Scouting himself and his teammates
@TLangland: Out of any quarterback you have played with; who throws the hardest ball? Gibson: McNabb@21bird: is the kid Jerome Murphy as tough as they say? I got high hopes for that dude!
Gibson: he's gunna help a lot@21bird: are u looking to change your number this year? What's your fav # and why?
Gibson: 11. 5 is my favorite. Always liked it@sth85: So when Bradford signs his deal are you going to ask him for a loan? Gibson: no sir
@Snimri85: favorite Nfl player.. Currently playing. Gibson: Jason avant RH: Another interesting choice. While DeSean Jackson grabs all the headlines among Philly receivers, Avant does the dirty work. The fifth-year player saw a lot of key third-down targets, and successfully moved the chains with a 16.7-yard-per-catch average on those third down throws.
@21bird: hey what Ram do u think will surprise this year besides yourself?
Gibson: @ChrisOgbonnaya@GreetingsADM: Of the Rams WR this year, Fastest? Best Route Runner? Toughest?
Gibson: fastest Donnie. Routes r a toss u. Danny is the toughest@BeemerJules: Do you see the Cougs making a comeback this year? (No BS.) Gibson: yessss
@GreetingsADM: What are the chances the Amendola gets on twitter? We want the whole crew!
Gibson: he don't call me back lol dour it@craigthompson11: They just showed Devaney and Demoff here at Cards game. Anything u want me to tell them?
Gibson: lol nahhh@Disease26: what are your individual goals for the upcoming season? Gibson: b the most consistent WR on the team
@CoachTruck: have u ever cut so hard u lost a toenail? Does that happen
Gibson: hahaha don't think so@eagleSBound: Who was ur Favorite Team Growing Up? Gibson: Seahawks, ravens, eagles
@eagleSBound: @bgibson04 Will you go over 1,000 receiving yards this season? Gibson: tryna 2!
After a brief intermission, Q&A resumes...
@Snimri85: favorite movie? Gibson: dark knight, he got game & prime.By this point, even Chris Long decides to get in on the act. Whatever it takes to get to know your teammates, right?
@CL7TWO: what's your favorite color , THANKS!
Gibson: C-long blue!!!@exblackbelt: Who's better, Rams fans or Eagles fans? Gibson: both!
@KLEWSportsGuy: Do you remember your first television interview at Washington State? Gibson: no idea. Prolly stuttered!
TRUTH!
@FlyGuyTMasc: @bgibson04 what would happen if u tried to tackle steven jackson? Gibson: lol deathThe question where I show what an idiot I am
@RamsHerd: Have you been any place hotter than STL in august?
Gibson: nvr bn to Stl in august so well c lol Hitting the home stretch
@GreetingsADM: Do you prefer Left, Right, slot, or fourth?
Gibson: any of them (jack of all trades)@BeemerJules: Boxers or briefs? LOL Gibson: haha boxer briefs!!!
@Hawk_56: is Bobby Brown the king of R&B? Gibson: yes & no. He needed help...he could dance tho
@Snimri85: who were your best friends on the eagles? Gibson: Amendola! Lol
@j_leckband: who's gonna have more catches this year, you or Jason hill? #gocougs
Gibson: that's my guy. Taught me a lot. Him!!!
RH: Hill is in his fourth year in the league now, having been drafted by the 49ers as a 3rd round pick out of Washington State. As a Cougar, he broke the school record for touchdown catches with 32 in his career. He only caught nine balls last season though, and will definitely be looking to prove himself in Niners' camp this summer. Crabtree and Vernon Davis are the clear top dogs in the receiving game, but the rest should be wide open.
@21bird: hardest hit u ever took whether practice are game?
Gibson: Rey mauluaga USC 05 on a k return.(demaundy woolridge didn't block)@eagleSBound: Who is the KING of STL? Gibson: Albert pujols
@Snimri85: favorite person to tweet? Gibson: any & everybody lol
RH: And with that, this epic day-long open interview came to an end. Many thanks to Brandon for allowing us to repost this exchange here. It makes a great read for Rams fans, especially those lucky enough to come down to the training camp practices. no comments
Apparently, Terrell Owens couldn't possibly be more available.
That's the subtext behind the rumors being floated around that the number of teams still talking to Owens and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is down to two: the Bengals, and the Rams. This leads to a predictable pundit war for credibility, with ESPN's Chris Mortensen saying that the Rams could offer Owens a contract as early as Monday, rebutted by NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora, who quotes a Rams source saying this speculation is "overzealous."
A quick roundup of recent tweets from the @RamsHerd/rams-fans group finds a surprising number in favor of an Owens deal:
TGreen1380I as a Rams fan and someone who gets to do a weekly radio show would be ecstatic to get @terrellowens but shocked most #StlRams fans agree
Daniel_Doelling How could T.O. hurt Bradford.? No way he'd bash the kid. And hes on his last 1 or 2 yrs, he'll be on good behavior.
STLRamsFan93 @ottoman89 T.O brings excitement, and alot of people have told me that they aren't even #Rams fans, but they would go just to see T.O.1. Can he still play?
He had his worst year as a pro last season in Buffalo. And our brother site here on the FanBall network, BillsHerd.com, wasn't particularly impressed:Terrell Owens came to Buffalo to rebuild his image. He has done that, but I don’t think in the way he intended. Owens has shown he still has big play ability, but has also shown that he has lost a step and is no longer a sure bet elite receiver. It isn’t his production or lack of yards that make me believe this. It is his routes that he is running and his very routine dropped passes. As bad as the QB play has been this year, I would wonder what kind of season Buffalo could have had if Owens could have maintained possession of the ball.
-- BillsHerd: Year End Review: Wide Receivers
However, Football Outsiders' Doug Farrar dropped a different perspective in a column for Yahoo Sports' Shutdown Corner:
[Owens' 2009 stats] would seem to indicate that Owens is well past his prime, until you consider what the Bermuda Triangle of quarterbacks in Buffalo did to the receivers who had been on the roster in 2008... it's tougher to do your job when so many of the balls thrown to you are either wormburners five yards in front of you, or floaters into triple coverage.
What T.O. did not possess was the consistent downfield speed that he was able to show off in his younger years. But it's tough to look at his 2009 performance with an unbiased eye and not wonder why this guy isn't on a roster at this point.
-- Yahoo! Sports: Upon Further Review: Does TO Still Have It?
Moreover, whether or not he is still an ace, merely by name alone he forces defensive coordinators to gameplan against him. You have to devote a top cover man to Owens, and roll a safety deep. That takes one potential eighth man out of the box that would be facing Jackson, and takes coverage pressure away from Avery, Robinson, Gilyard, etc. Any defensive coordinator that gives up a big run to SJ might get chewed out a bit, but he just got beat by a player in his prime, an unstoppable force at times. But any defensive coordinator that allows the Terrell Owens to beat his team deep? He's going to get reamed.
2. Would he play for a 1-15 team?
Well, he chose the Buffalo Bills last season, or rather they were the only team to choose him. We're almost to the opening of training camp and more teams have publicly denounced their invovlement with Owens or his agent than those said to be still in the running. So I'd say that if TO legitimately wants to play, and his staying in football shape appears to make that clear, I don't see a compelling reason why he would say no to the Rams. That is, unless a playoff-bubble team like the Bengals or Chargers offer up.3. (And this is the big one): Can Coach Spagnuolo handle Owens?
No team of 53 personalities is going to be easy to manage. Especially in a season of constant strife. But Spags had this group of men all pulling together, even as bodies were shipped in and out, whether via the injury cart or the transaction wires. Everyone seemed to understand their part in the effort, and no one threw the coach under the bus. Not even the "problem" players, like Richie Incognito, whom he cut. But Owens, by reputation and by deed, is a whole different breed. Right? I'm not so sure. Let's look at this question from the other perspective. When has Owens ever been "coached up" by a man like Spagnuolo? In college at UT Chattanooga, Owens had three different head coaches in four years, each of whom saw the receiver as the golden goose. Drafted by San Francisco, Owens was barely tolerated by his idol, Jerry Rice, and was a constant source of embarrassment to the laid-back Steve Mariucci. The public fallout over Owens' infamous celebration on the Dallas Star drove a huge wedge between player and team that was papered over, but kept simmering back to a boil that drove the young star out of town. Sacrificing money to escape to Philadelphia, Owens was given the tough-love treatment by Andy Reid. Owens played nice at first, but found the Eagles' "team-first" philosophy to be a zero-sum game that allowed him no room for his desire for individual recognition -- nor much room for renegotiation of his below-market contract. Relations with coach and team grew ugly, and Owens responded by publicly questioning the toughness of quarterback Donovan McNabb during an ESPN interview. Thus ended his time in an Eagles uniform. Exiled to Dallas, Owens was adopted by the even-tougher-love attitude of Bill Parcells. Again, Owens allowed himself to be subservient to the bigger personality of his coach, for a time. But now his own frustration with his declining skills set in, and eventually Owens could not hide his jealousy toward other receivers like Jason Witten whose role in the offense grew at his expense. Finally, in Buffalo, Owens was essentially put on the field and left alone by the defensive-minded Dick Jauron, who was fired midway through the season. Whether it was newfound maturity, a respect for interim coach Perry Fewell, or just a shortage of microphones in Buffalo, Owens never made waves off the field. Quoting Doug Farrar: "In 2009, Terrell Owens absolutely had the worst quarterbacks, worst offensive line, and worst overall offensive situation of his long career. For all the times he threw more talented teammates under the bus in the past, did you hear a peep out of him last season?" Honestly, if he had a chance to play for the always moving, constantly forward-looking Spagnuolo, I'm not sure Owens would know what to make of him. At the very least, it would be a dramatic difference in atmosphere from the overbearing natures of Reid and Parcells, and the indifferent and insecure attitudes of Jauron and Mariucci. I haven't fully talked myself into believing that Owens and the Rams are a fit. but I have to admit, it would make an interesting experiment. no comments
For all intents and purposes, Steven Jackson was the Rams' offense in 2009. He got the ball on first down as often as any back in the NFL, and seldom took a handoff with fewer than eight men in the box. But still he carried the team forward, most notably in the team's one win against the Detroit Lions, when he finished with 149 yards and a touchdown on 22 jarring carries. He traded paint with every player the Lions could throw at him on defense, and they were the worse off for trying to stop him.
Count Mike Sando among the believers:
For Warrick Dunn, 2006 was his best yardage year ever, a surprising swan song for a runner always cast as a platoon back, and one expected to start ceding major carries to younger and flashier players like Jerious Norwood. But the scoring offense in Atlanta ran through Vick, who surprised everyone with a sudden ability to hit his receivers in the red zone. While Dunn led the team in rushing scores, Vick threw a career-high 20 touchdown passes for the 7-9 Falcons.
Barry Sanders saw a team falling apart around him in 1998, failing to add significant talent around him while he single-handedly carried the team to five winning seasons in seven years. When semi-competent quarterback Scott Mitchell went down, leaving the team in the hands of young Charlie Batch, defenses keyed up that much more against Sanders. In a stunning move, Sanders quit the game all together after this season, leaving Detroit in a franchise tailspin from which it is still trying to recover.
In 1981, Tony Dorsett and the Cowboys were in the midst of their primes, with quarterback Danny White (childhood hero of my Texas-bred wife) taking over for Roger Staubach and continuing a string of seven consecutive 10-win seasons that was only interrupted by the labor strife of 1982. Dorsett meanwhile had scored 11 touchdowns the previous season, and accounted for 36 in his first four years in the league. However, old-schooler Coach Landry always maintained a stable of hard-headed fullbacks, and wasn't afraid to give them goal-line duties. Ron Springs was the lucky man this season, plunging in ten times to the much more heralded Dorsett's four. Perhaps this approach helped save Dorsett from needless punishment in his age 27 season -- he accounted for 36 more touchdowns over the next 7 years, with a fullback or two riding herd the whole time.
Of these three comparables, Jackson's season is closest in spirit to Barry Sanders', except for one obvious difference -- Jackson hasn't given up.
And, as I state in the OwnersEdge impact report, there are reasons for optimism in 2010 assuming Jackson's back holds up: With any regression to the mean in terms of sheer luck, not to mention the real potential of an improved offense, Jackson's red zone opportunities and touchdowns should go up.
no comments
Count Mike Sando among the believers:
"In looking at Jackson last season, I cannot remember another active player running the ball with such passion and toughness so consistently. It was inspiring and the most impressive individual wire-to-wire performance I saw last season, taking into account circumstances."
-- ESPN NFC West Blog: Mailbag: Steven Jackson best back?
However, heartwarming testimonials and inspirational perspectives from the real world can't crack the ice-cold heart of fantasy football. From that frosty perspective, there's no getting around the fact that, as a top-five pick in many leagues, Jackson's 2009 season was hugely disappointing. Those that drafted him are no doubt still kicking themselves, and vowing to stay away this year. But while doing some research for Fanball's Fantasy OwnersEdge column on Jackson's prospects for 2010, I discovered just how unlucky his year was.
In fact, it was one of the strangest seasons in NFL history, matched by only three other runners in the modern era.
Essentially, it's really rare for a runner to be this good and to have so few opportunities to score touchdowns. Here's the list of every season since the AFL-NFL merger that featured a rusher with more than 1400 yards running, and fewer than five TDs.
| Player | Year | Carries | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Dorsett | 1981 | 342 | 1646 | 4 |
| Barry Sanders | 1998 | 343 | 1491 | 4 |
| Warrick Dunn | 2006 | 280 | 1416 | 3 |
| Steven Jackson | 2009 | 324 | 1416 | 4 |
Imagine a gigantic station wagon driving down the highway on an interminable road trip toward the 2010 season, and the day along the way when Sam Bradford and the Rams agree to the largest-ever rookie contract in league history. How big? What clauses might it contain? How much will be guaranteed? That's to be determined. But what's important is that we Rams fans, bloggers, writers and sports pundits -- even Bradford's future teammates -- are all riding in the back seat. We can yell and scream "are we there yet!" all we want, but it won't change how long it takes them to reach their destination.
The important thing is whether or not we get there.
Yes, the team and agents met on Friday to officially open negotiations. But this is just the very beginning of this process, which will likely take us up to and possibly into training camp.
Meanwhile, knowing that we're all hungry for updates, ESPN spoon-feeds us non-updates like today's podcast interview with John Clayton.
The important thing is whether or not we get there.
Yes, the team and agents met on Friday to officially open negotiations. But this is just the very beginning of this process, which will likely take us up to and possibly into training camp.
Meanwhile, knowing that we're all hungry for updates, ESPN spoon-feeds us non-updates like today's podcast interview with John Clayton.
Everyone knows where the prices are headed... the question is, do you go up 10% or go up 15% [from last year's contract given to Matt Stafford]. Naturally if you're going to be Tom Condon, you're going to try to go up 15%, so you're going to try and push for that $50 million guarantee.
The thing you have to understand is that people like Clayton are sitting right next to us in the back seat of this damn station wagon, and that he doesn't know much more than we do -- though he might have a better view out of the windshield. The only people driving this thing are Bradford, his agent, Billy Devaney and Kevin Demoff. And they aren't telling us anything we want to know.
To mollify us, Demoff and Devaney will play the patient parent: "We're on our way" or "Not there yet." Condon, if he gets impatient with the process, will tweak us with words like "I don't know if we're going to get there" or "We're going too slowly" or "I'll pull over and stop right here, is that what you want?" It's all a part of a really long and annoying journey that we have no control of.
How you ride along on this journey is up to you. You can jostle your fellow fans and jab and complain, or you can put on your headphones and tune out the distractions and wait patiently.
no comments
It was a quiet night of beers for two dads over at the Tap Room, and as Tom and I stood at the bar with two Kolsches in front of us, conversation turned to The Wire. I started watching the series on his recommendation last year, and Mrs. RamsHerd and I devoured all five seasons as fast as Netflix could send them to us. We laughed over Landsman and The Bunk, talked Omar and Marlo and the nature of villainy, and the unlikely five-season story arc of Bubbles. But when talk turned to Season 4, Tom shook his head.
[youtube H3II9PxLSsg]
"That's the one I can't watch again. It's too much. Knowing what happens to those kids, it's... intense." Tom punctuated this, as he often does, with a short self-deprecating laugh and a sip of beer.
As I turn back to Games 4 and 5 on the Rams' schedule, two ass-whoopings by a combined score of 73-10, I know exactly how he feels. I sit down to watch them again, and the gruesome outcomes loom over the optimism of the opening kickoff and 0-0 on the scoreboard.
But there may be nuggets of wisdom embedded within, so we daren't turn away. Enter the den of evil once known as Candlestick Park.
0 
35
NFL.com: Recap | Play by Play | Video
The official recaps called this game a "defensive statement" for the 49ers, allowing the Rams only 177 total yards, and never allowing a dent on the visiting scoreboard. But the Rams' defense was trying to make a statement as well, giving only 14 points on 233 yards of total offense. Both teams had similar figures in terms of number of first downs (13-9), third down percentage (30%-31%), and limiting the damage from the running game (23 carries for 79 yards vs 24 carries for 74). But the quality of those runners tells the story behind the stats.
Week 4: Rams (0-3) at 49ers (2-1)
Oct 4, 2009 3:00 CST 0 35
NFL.com: Recap | Play by Play | Video
| Week | Date | Opponent | LY: Record | LY: Points | 3Y: Record | 3Y: Points |
| 4 | Oct 4 | at San Francisco 49ers | 7-9 | 339/381 | 19-29 | 956/1157 |
| Rams games vs opponent, last three seasons: | ||||||
| Week 2, 2006: Lost 13-20 @ San Francisco Week 12, 2006: Won 20-17 at home Week 2, 2007: Lost 17-16 at home Week 11, 2007: Lost 13-9 @ San Francisco Week 11, 2008: Lost 35-16 @ San Francisco Week 16, 2008: Lost 17-16 at home | ||||||
The official recaps called this game a "defensive statement" for the 49ers, allowing the Rams only 177 total yards, and never allowing a dent on the visiting scoreboard. But the Rams' defense was trying to make a statement as well, giving only 14 points on 233 yards of total offense. Both teams had similar figures in terms of number of first downs (13-9), third down percentage (30%-31%), and limiting the damage from the running game (23 carries for 79 yards vs 24 carries for 74). But the quality of those runners tells the story behind the stats.
- Glen Coffee's best rushing day on the season was roughly equal to Steven Jackson's worst. Shutting down Coffee was no challenge for any other team the Niners ran him against, so the Rams shouldn't get bonus points for holding the Frank Gore-less run game in check. However, the Niners collapsed on SJ at every turn, and did it mostly without needing the help of their defensive superman, Patrick Willis. How was that?
- The 49ers simply were not biting on fakes or misdirection. Singletary gets a lot of pub for instilling "toughness" on defense, but perhaps not enough credit for instilling "smarts." The Niners were always watching for the ball, always ready for Jackson's cutback away from his lead block or away from the flow of the offensive line. One play that caught the announcers' eye was a fake end-around to Amendola and what looked like a gaping hole opened up by Richie Incognito. But the defense didn't over-pursue the fake and swarmed to the hole, stopping Jackson for a minimal gain. The veteran presence of players such as Takeo Spikes and Nate Clements, who have seen every kind of play fake under the sun, is augmented by the physical skills of younger players like Manny Lawson and Ahmad Brooks. And it's working for them, at least against the run.
If Kyle Boller was ever the answer, what was the question again? The way to beat the Niners last season was through the air, but you had to be damn good to do it. Their 8 losses last season were quarterbacked by Matt Ryan, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Donovan McNabb, Matt Hasselbeck and, as the exception that proves the rule, Vince Young. Boller is so incredibly far away from being able to provide quarterbacking at the level of these eight individuals, or even at the level of a Marc Bulger, that it's almost frightening. I remember wistfully hoping that he could at least make plays with his feet, but his primary "play" was the headless-chicken bootleg.
This was Boller's first opportunity to show something, and what he showed was that Rams' opponents had absolutely nothing to fear from the pass. Drop enough people back in coverage, and Boller would take so long to read through his progressions that eventually, long after he should have thrown the ball, somebody would get to him. And blitzing Boller on obvious passing downs, which made up most of the second half, was pure bloodsport. As far as I'm concerned, he was not a part of the Rams' team. He was and is a separate entity of suckdom. The Rams went 1-10 last season, and Kyle Boller was 0-5.
For the most part, the offensive line did their job. This may sound counterintuitive, but the line held up relatively well against the onslaught, at least in the first half when the Rams had the luxury of pretending to run a balanced offense. When the Rams had success on the ground, it was by plowing forward behind strong drive blocking. And this was without any significant blocking help from their tight ends. New draftee Michael Hoomanawanui could really contribute in these teams' next matchups.
Also, it will sound funny considering I have spent most of the spring and summer bashing him, but the worst drive-killing penalty on Alex Barron -- negating a first-and-ten inside the 49ers 20 with the Rams ready to equalize the 7-0 lead -- was complete and utter BS on the part of the ref. It was a case of Barron being flagged by reputation, rather than by deed.
We will look further at the offensive line this week, as they may quietly have become the one part of the team that we shouldn't be too worried about.
- On defense, the most intriguing battle was between Atogwe and Vernon Davis. In a breakout season, Davis had a relatively quiet day, being targeted only 4 times and catching only three balls for 43 yards. Only twice last season was Davis, the team's most prolific receiver, targeted less often. And two plays on the Niners' opening drive helped tell the tale: The first was a five-yard curl on 3rd and 3. Atogwe is right there, establishes inside position, but Shaun Hill smartly throws it to Davis' outside shoulder. He is all hands, catching the ball, and drags forward a few extra yards with Atogwe draped on him. First down. Three plays later, facing third and nine, the Niners line up essentially four wide with Davis running straight up the seam from the slot position. The pass comes to him, but Atogwe is there, bringing elbows and knees to Davis' hands. The ball boots out harmlessly, and the Niners are forced to punt. Davis gets only two more looks in the game's remaining 55 minutes.
- The Rams' early response to adversity was just to bear it. Spagnuolo never deviated in this game from his conservative gameplan, even as the bad luck mounted and the scoreboard numbers taunted. Perhaps he didn't have much choice, with Boller at the wheel, but he kept on trying to grind the game out one first down at a time. Whether noble or Quixotic, at least we know he hasn't lost the team with this approach. Only games.
Firstly, a bit of a technical note. FanBall has been working on a server migration, and apparently we're having trouble approving comments from first-time commenters. This includes a nice little note from David over at FrozenNotes.com, and an inspiring comment from "a Rams fan from afar." Hopefully this will be sorted out quickly, we love having more folks join the conversation....
One conversation that's just getting started stems from this intriguing note from commenter Sean:
dougefresh1914 #romanticgestures don't b affraid to show affection in public, example: grab her ass sometimes, it will get her slightly aroused lol
This feed cracks me up daily, and I can only imagine his ability to keep a locker room loose. But if this type of tweets isn't your thing, the "Unfollow" button is just a click away.
Leading all of Twitter in "unfollows" today? LeBron James, after last night's culmination of a week-long media/ego engorgement surrounding his free agency intentions. I don't think any athlete has gone from "face" to "heel" status so quickly since Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
The difference is that savvy WWF/WWE fans knew that Hogan's bad turn was just an act. Sure, fans reveled in booing his evil hijinks, but when he came back to the good side there was a hearty welcome back for him. Not to be for LeBron, who will have a much harder time earning back the league-wide goodwill that he held just a month ago.
Lebron's self-aggrandizing antics earned a hearty "F-U" (Caution, kiddies: Rated R) from the godfather of my blogging career, StLouisGametime's Gallagher. He got me started down this path, recruiting me to write Redbirds for the short-lived baseball edition of SLGT. But football has long been my true love, so it was only natural I would end up here....
From "F-U" to "FO", Football Outsiders announced today that their 2010 Football Annual is now for sale. Rams fans will remember last year's edition all too well, with its prediction that the 2009 Rams had a 48% chance of getting 9 wins, and a strong chance of making the playoffs. Just remembering that high-minded cause for optimism makes my head hurt....
But not as much as Cam Cleeland's head hurts. Former Ram Cleeland is the subject of the latest powerful indictment of the NFL's treatment (or non-treatment) of concussions. Cleeland and former Ram Kyle Turley are now both prominent examples of this sickening syndrome, and a reminder that we are often too late to recognize that there are real humans inside these fantasy football objects.
i have been in st.louis the last 2 months. i love the city, but there sure isnt a lot of love for this team here. if even have the card fans were into the rams like that i could see the team wanting to improve. ive been a ram fan since gabriel was tossing td's to snow, and its a damn shame how poorly they are supported here.
-- Sean, commenting on "Fixing the Rams Ultimate Franchise Ranking (Part 2)"
I offered my response, but if you're local or just want to chime in, feel free. There's no doubt that the Rams have a long way to go to regain their swagger in this town...
Which brings me to my official summer jam by Cali Swag District. I haven't been able to get it out of my head, despite getting pretty limited radio play.
[youtube HY9uZWCh4go]
"The Dougie" is a response/reference to Lil' Wil's "My Dougie", which keeps the name Doug E. Fresh ringing out....
Which just happens to be the Twitter pseudonym of the Rams' funniest and most unabashed tweeter, Dominic Douglas.
dougefresh1914 #romanticgestures don't b affraid to show affection in public, example: grab her ass sometimes, it will get her slightly aroused lol
The difference is that savvy WWF/WWE fans knew that Hogan's bad turn was just an act. Sure, fans reveled in booing his evil hijinks, but when he came back to the good side there was a hearty welcome back for him. Not to be for LeBron, who will have a much harder time earning back the league-wide goodwill that he held just a month ago.
Lebron's self-aggrandizing antics earned a hearty "F-U" (Caution, kiddies: Rated R) from the godfather of my blogging career, StLouisGametime's Gallagher. He got me started down this path, recruiting me to write Redbirds for the short-lived baseball edition of SLGT. But football has long been my true love, so it was only natural I would end up here....
From "F-U" to "FO", Football Outsiders announced today that their 2010 Football Annual is now for sale. Rams fans will remember last year's edition all too well, with its prediction that the 2009 Rams had a 48% chance of getting 9 wins, and a strong chance of making the playoffs. Just remembering that high-minded cause for optimism makes my head hurt....
But not as much as Cam Cleeland's head hurts. Former Ram Cleeland is the subject of the latest powerful indictment of the NFL's treatment (or non-treatment) of concussions. Cleeland and former Ram Kyle Turley are now both prominent examples of this sickening syndrome, and a reminder that we are often too late to recognize that there are real humans inside these fantasy football objects.
“I tell people, ‘Grab your bike helmet, line up about 20 yards away and run into a concrete wall as hard as you can about 40 times,’” Cleeland says while sitting on the couch of his modest lakefront home an hour north of Seattle. “That is one game. Do that 16 times over a season – and then throw in 20 or 30 times a day during practice – and you’re going to see what you do to your body and head. Then let me know if you can do that and not screw yourself up.
-- Alex Marvez, FoxSports: "Cleeland's post-NFL battle with concussions"
The Rams talent evaluators have to be hitting their heads against the wall daily, after letting Brian Leonard go last offseason for so little return -- DT Orion Harris, who lasted on the roster for maybe four weeks in August. Now with next week's Supplemental Draft looming, VamRam at Turf Show Times takes a look at a possible Leonard replacement in BYU's Harvey Unga. (Hat tip to @nfldraftscout for first drawing the comparison between Unga and Leonard.) Before we get too excited, Van also explains the cost:
Remember, teams may draft use a pick from their stable of 2011 draft picks to select a player in the supplemental draft, so if a team uses a fifth round pick for Unga, they'll be without their fifth round pick next April.
-- TST: "Will the Rams make a move in the supplemental draft?"
... And bringing this post back around full circle, let me thank FanBall's and FrozenNotes' David Rogers for setting up that cool little Twitter feed badge in the site's sidebar. And I'm sure we'll get that commenting business sorted out soon. Many thanks, and to all, enjoy your weekend!
no comments"St Louis is a baseball town, first and foremost," you might say. "The Rams are always going to be a tough sell."
This was the gist of what FanBall's own Bryan Douglass had to say this morning, when I opened the subject of how to fix the Rams' "Ultimate Franchise Ranking" onto the Twitterverse. And I can't say I fully disagree. With more than 100 years of history in town, inextricably linked to the mighty Annheuser-Busch empire, and with championships won across five major generations of baseball (Pre-war, WWII, the '60s, '80s and '00s), there's simply no supplanting the baseball Cardinals from the hearts of St Louisans.
But that's not to say that fans here don't care about the Rams, or that loving your team always equates to being "satisfied" with the team. In fact, it's just the opposite. The more invested in the team you are, the more open to criticism that team becomes. And if this statistical measure of local "Franchise satisfaction" is anywhere close to the truth (and I think it is), the Rams' current ranking -- fed by years of decline -- is untenable. Without a serious reversal of fortune, you can count on the Rams leaving town in 2015.
ESPN's Mike Sando had a particularly insightful observation, when looking at division-wide trends in these rankings: "This type of survey probably carries a lag effect as perceptions chase reality."
In other words, even though the Rams have already made significant moves to change the culture and root out the negative influences on the franchise, those moves are not being reflected in widespread fan "satisfaction" with the team. "Are we still shelling out hard money to watch this team? Hell yes. Are we getting our money's worth yet? Hell no." That's the message that this ranking sends.
Let's check in on the rest of the components, and explore ideas on how the Rams can "fix" this ranking. (If you haven't already, read Part One of my look at these rankings.)
The Trust Factor
Ownership: #114 overall (31st in NFL)
Every aspect of this score is artificially deflated in my opinion, thanks to the pending sale of the Rams. But the lowest of all the component scores? COMMITMENT, which rates last in the league.
As I've posted before, I believe the Rosemblooms have made a lot of very good moves to ensure the health of the team in St Louis. But when you don't know who's going to buy the team, or what their intentions might be down the road, you can't help but wonder. If Shahid Khan surprises everyone with a winning bid, this ranking shoots up quite a bit, as he's become the lovable underdog in St Louis. But a Kroenke ownership would be very good for this team. Either way, the Rams clearly need resolution.
The Beer Factor
Affordability: 89th Overall (22nd in NFL)
Hey, we come here to have a good time. But high beer prices -- the highest in the league, perhaps -- puts a big hurt on the gameday pocket. And it doesn't do much for the jollility of the fans leaving the game with their half a buzz flattened by another depressing output. Plenty of bars are making bank by selling cheaper beers for cheap prices, and distributors can't move enough Stag, PBR, or Miller High Life into the south city coolers. Why not adopt the same practice at the stadium? Even if there was only one $5 beer man in the stadium, he would be a huge hit.
Popularity Contests
Players: 108th Overall (30th in NFL)
Coaches: 71st Overall (21st in NFL)
Another ranking that doesn't make sense on the surface, as the metric in question is supposed to measure players "effort on the field and likeability off the field." Not talent level, not Pro-Bowl berths, not fantasy rankings. True, our athletic talent is not eye-popping. (Quoth Jeff from RamsGab in the Rams' capsule summary: "The Rams have possibly had the worst roster in the league in 2008 and 2009.".) But if there's one thing I will hang my hat on, it's that our effort was not second-worst in the league.
Hurting the "likeability" factor was an embarrassing (and unproven) set of accusations leveled against Steven Jackson at season's end by his disgruntled baby mama. And depending on when this poll was taken, it may not have benefitted from the Sam Bradford honeymoon period -- which, in all reality, has yet to start. The kid is facing nothing but uphill expectations, with only a smattering of preseason love. But this team doesn't have that Kurt Warner or Isaac Bruce, players that are universally revered by the St Louis fans, and that hurts this ranking as well.
The coach gets higher marks for integrity, and the team's roster should as well as they continue to be remade in his image. This ranking should self-correct towards the center.
Championship Rings
Title Track: 37th Overall (12th in NFL)
This is the one thing that the Rams can -- and should -- continue to celebrate. Last year marked the ten-year anniversary of the miracle '99 team, a milestone that was quietly downplayed to avoid the obvious compare-and-contrast with a 1-15 disaster season. But I believe that downplaying this bright shining moment, the one thing that really galvanizes Rams fans and gets us all misty-eyed, is a mistake.
We can accept that this isn't the same team, but we love when they wear the throwbacks. Why not bring them back full time? It isn't as though these new uniforms have been working for us...
What would you do to fix these rankings?
This was the question I posed yesterday via Twitter, and got a variety of responses.
bpdouglass @RamsHerd MoveBoo!
acowden1 @RamsHerd win. =pIt's cheeky, but there's no doubt it would help. The Rams need to put serious Ws on the record in the next five seasons, and regain at least "contender" status in the division.
GreetingsADM @RamsHerd Changing divisions would be good. Jax moves to LA; we move to AFC South and have another reason to hate Hoosiers and Texans.Interesting idea, and a twice-annual Titans matchup would rekindle a lot of Super Bowl spirit, but would it really help to move into the toughest division in the NFL?
Daniel_Doelling @RamsHerd an unrealistic move in building a new stadium or giving the Dome a REALLY big make-over acowden1 @RamsHerd they desperately need a new stadiumEven though the Dome feels empty and anonymous, it is the home of our Greatest Show days and our one championship banner. Does that hold you back at all?
Daniel_Doelling @RamsHerd i have no connection with the EJD. My first game there was after the Greatest Show on Turf. It needs to be redone/ new one built acowden1 @RamsHerd i think they have way more bad memories in that stadium than good =/Personally? I'd love to see them rip the roof off and play on grass. Sure, it gets cold here in December, but that's why you layer up. This isn't frozen tundra, and it's not as though the roofed stadium is bringing in those weak-skinned winter fans. The Rams had a scrimmage last August at Lindenwood University, on a simple little outdoor field. It may have been rinky-dink by NFL standards, but it felt like football. Playing in a convention center feels just like that -- cold and business-like.
If they want to reconnect with St Louis, perhaps the Rams should start by opening up their field to the blue St Louis skies.
no comments
