A trip down memory lane with Jeff Gloombringer Gordon

[-X-]

POOR GRADES REFLECT 4-12 SHOWING PAINFULLY OBVIOUS: IT'S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE AT RAMS PARK

Author: Jeff Gordon
December 30, 1998



Stop the insanity

Enough already.

The circus atmosphere at Rams Park has to end. A complete management overhaul from top to bottom is the only option left for our pitiable Male Sheep.

When several core members of the Rams team skipped the season-ending meeting with coach Dick Vermeil, they sent a clear message to owners Georgia Frontiere and Stan Kroenke: "Quit pretending. Your 'Legends of Coaching' experiment failed abysmally."

The players have given up on this management team, and they will discourage free agents from joining this mess. The players will continue to rebel until sweeping changes are made or they are allowed to escape to better organizations, one by grateful one.

Once a management team loses its players in pro sports, it seldom gets them back. And firing the team isn't practical, particularly with the NFL salary cap restrictions that punish teams attempting wholesale change.

The Rams did serve up one head on a platter Monday, firing offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome. And even he would admit this season wasn't his shining hour in coaching.

But Rhome's struggle provides a classic illustration of why the Vermeil regime has failed -- and why compromises, accommodations and half-changes don't turn dreadful operations into great ones. You can't Jerry-rig coaching success.

A boss has to succeed or fail doing it his way. Forcing strategies upon him, applying restrictions, giving him unwanted help in this area and that . . . that's stupid. It doesn't work in any business.

(The Blues hired Mike Keenan and turned him loose. When the ownership determined that it wasn't working, it canned him, took the multimillion dollar hit and moved onward and upward. At no point did the ownership tinker with him, trying to make him into somebody he's not.)

Vermeil stripped Rhome of his quarterback-coach duties and shifted Mike White into that role. Then Vermeil stripped Rhome of his play-calling duties and took the role himself, even though he admitted (and later demonstrated) that he didn't have a handle on the job.

He eventually gave up on his play-calling fantasy, but, as our Jim Thomas reported Monday, Coach V seemed to involve everybody but the beer vendors in the play selection process. Critical down-and-distance situations prompted congressional caucuses.

Confusion on the sideline led to confusion on the field.

Vermeil said Rhome gave up on the run too quickly but, with the exception of Greg Hill's brilliance in a few games and some nice bursts by spunky June Henley, the ground game was awful.

What was it about "this ain't working" did Vermeil miss? What was it about Jerald Moore fumbling or Robert Holcombe running into somebody's butt and falling down that he wanted to see even more of? Did he watch the Rams' game films or did he doze off into an Eagles dream state?

The best the Rams looked on offense all season was when quarterback Tony Banks caught fire playing catch-up against Minnesota and Buffalo. He made plays downfield and actually produced touchdowns. He also looked promising while opening in a no-huddle against New England, a tactic Vermeil mulled for weeks before pulling the trigger.

Then there were the personnel fiascos Rhome couldn't control. The best Rams back, Hill, opened the season in street clothes because Vermeil had a Jerald Moore fascination that puzzled anybody remotely familiar with pro football.

The best Rams offensive threat, Isaac Bruce, continued his feud with Vermeil on training issues and, surprise!, broke down again. Vermeil was VERY reluctant to use his next-best big-play receiver, Az Zahir-Hakim, when the explosive rookie was healthy enough to contribute.

Injuries to running back Amp Lee, the team's best offensive threat, and tight end Ernie Conwell only made the crisis worse.

Vermeil was insanely loyal to Banks. Quarterbacks learn from mistakes, but they gain nothing from continual failure. By benching Banks for the first San Francisco game and giving him a few breaks earlier in the season, Vermeil may have kept him out of his prolonged midseason slump.

It's amazing that Banks didn't crack up the way Ryan Leaf, Elvis Grbac and Kordell Stewart did this season. Why send a kid onto the field with no chance, series after series, game after game?

Fans vilified Rhome for the team's offensive collapse, but even if he managed to get some terrific calls through the sideline maze there was a matter of execution. The good Rams players often played bad and the bad ones couldn't manage to play good.

So now what? The Rams are positioned to add lots of offensive help, starting with one of the exciting playmaking quarterbacks available in the draft. A Donovan McNabb might push Banks to a higher plane and provide an interesting threat in relief.

(Yes, the Rams should bring Banks back. He's better than half of the guys who started in the NFL this season, and he's cheaper than most of the veteran alternatives. The Rams would have to sink big money into a top prospect -- but playing him right away, for strictly economic reasons, would be asinine. And who knows? Given a real chance, Banks might realize some of that vast potential and become an asset to deal down the road.)

The Rams will get Hill and Conwell back next season, and there's always a chance that Bruce will squeeze in a few games between hamstring pulls. Throw in a top wide receiver and an offensive lineman from the draft and some mid-level free agents to add depth and they might have a nice attack.

On paper. Without strong, coherent leadership that the players trust and respond to, this team will continue to lose. Changing a few assistant coaches and shifting duties around won't solve the fundamental problem.

The Rams organization is a laughingstock. You know it, the players know it and everybody around the NFL knows it. Until new leadership is brought in -- decisive, convincing leadership that can sell players on real change -- the Calliope music will play on.

 

[HometownBoy]

To be fair, c'mon, who knew that the GSOT would just explode out of nowhere like it did. But yeah man, how do you walk away from one like that?

 

[Angry Ram]

Stop the insanity

Stopped reading right there. Can't stop laughing.

Did they move to LA after that season? Oh right, yeah.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It is shocking how well coached the offense became when Martz took over the OC job. It goes to show that the man really knows his shit and how to teach it.

 

[mr.stlouis]

Wow... that's rock bottum. What that team did was unimaginable.

NFL's miracle team

 

[Dodgersrf]

Faulk was the missing link.
Bringing Martz over from Washington with Trent Green was huge. Though Martz may have failed of not for the donut bros and Pace.

The defense was already in ok shape.

Vermeil also made some coaching adjustments. He openly admitted that the game had changed. A least he had the resilience to adjust.
It worked out for us all.

 

[Dodgersrf]

It is shocking how well coached the offense became when Martz took over the OC job. It goes to show that the man really knows his crap and how to teach it.

That was his first gig as an oc I believe. He was the qb coach in Washington I believe.

 

[Prime Time]

Jeff Gordon is also listed as a moderator at Rams Talk. :snicker:

 

[Boffo97]

It is shocking how well coached the offense became when Martz took over the OC job. It goes to show that the man really knows his crap and how to teach it.

Still wish we could have seen Martz without the front office dysfunction, and with a good GM making the personnel moves.

And with competent officials in SB36.

While I'm wishing, I want a supermodel. And candy.

Jeff Gordon is also listed as a moderator at Rams Talk. :snicker:

I think one only needs to have mod powers to be considered a mod. Actual moderation does not seem to be necessary.

 

[Stranger]

Still wish we could have seen Martz without the front office dysfunction, and with a good GM making the personnel moves.

And with competent officials in SB36.

+1

 

[brokeu91]

To be fair, c'mon, who knew that the GSOT would just explode out of nowhere like it did. But yeah man, how do you walk away from one like that?

I think this is a valid point. I remember the 1998 season fairly well. When Bruce went down and we were down to Jerald Moore and Amp Lee as our RB our offense was pretty pathetic. That wasn't really Rhome's fault, but something had to be done at the end of the season. It just turns out that we were able to get Faulk, Holt, Pace came into his own, Proehl became the possession WR we needed, Hakim (when not fumbling) became a play making machine (because he finally had some open space) and a HyVee stock boy became our QB. Seriously, it was one of those things where some definite talent was there (it was just injured and inexperienced) and we added players that filled holes.

That year our defense was good but was gassed by the end of the game because our offense was terrible. It became a top 10 defense next year because they were playing with the lead and not on the field the entire time.

I think our current defense has nearly the same level of talent that our offense in the GSOT days had. Right now they are still learning the scheme and are inexperienced/injured, but next year, watch out.

We just need to add some pieces to the OL, maybe another WR, and get our QB situation resolved (maybe Bradford comes back) and our offense will be top 10-15 level with an elite type defense. That's a team that can challenge for a Superbowl

 

[Faceplant]

Throw in a top wide receiver and an offensive lineman from the draft and some mid-level free agents to add depth and they might have a nice attack.

On paper. Without strong, coherent leadership that the players trust and respond to, this team will continue to lose. Changing a few assistant coaches and shifting duties around won't solve the fundamental problem.

The Rams organization is a laughingstock. You know it, the players know it and everybody around the NFL knows it. Until new leadership is brought in -- decisive, convincing leadership that can sell players on real change -- the Calliope music will play on.

Hard to argue with any of this. Truth is, this team has been a dumpster fire for the better part of 25 years now. Take away those few, brilliant years of the GSOT, and whatta ya got? Possible the worst team in the NFL over that span. Sad but true.

 

[Thordaddy]

Boffo97 said:
Still wish we could have seen Martz without the front office dysfunction, and with a good GM making the personnel moves.

And with competent officials in SB36.
Stranger replied +1


I say Stranger understates : should be + Infinity X Infinity

Jef Gordon unleashed his inner Bernie ,but as in so many cases he did point out some ultimate truth , and Vermeil said so, NO Martz ,no Super Bowl,you could have given those guys Faulk , Holt , and the linemen ,but without Bruce having confidence in his coaching and FWIW a coach he could have confidence in, without a coach who knew how and was willing to use Hakim ,no Super Bowl without the guy with the cajones to use the people to their highest and best purpose.
Thas my story and I'm stickin to it.

Thanks X you don't come round much but when ya do you bring it.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Faulk was the missing link.
Bringing Martz over from Washington with Trent Green was huge. Though Martz may have failed of not for the donut bros and Pace.

The defense was already in ok shape.

Vermeil also made some coaching adjustments. He openly admitted that the game had changed. A least he had the resilience to adjust.
It worked out for us all.

"You Nailed it!!"

 

[RamsSince1969]

Vermeil also cut back significantly on the brutally long practices that was leaving the team totally gassed, battered and bruised, with nothing left in the tank on game day.

 

[Selassie I]

Sure is fun looking back on that knowing what happened in 1999.

 

[Thordaddy]

Vermeil also cut back significantly on the brutally long practices that was leaving the team totally gassed, battered and bruised, with nothing left in the tank on game day.

It's pretty well circulated that the Eagles were that way when they lost to the Raiders in the SB under DV

 

[Thordaddy]

Sure is fun looking back on that knowing what happened in 1999.

Yeah the player mutiny thing is something some deny and some swear happened ,I always saw how chilly Ike was towards DV ,he'd make a big play,DV would try to congratulate him and Ike would just walk past him.Too bad grudges hold you hostage as much as the target.

 

[LesBaker]

Faulk was the missing link.
Bringing Martz over from Washington with Trent Green was huge. Though Martz may have failed of not for the donut bros and Pace.

The defense was already in ok shape.

Vermeil also made some coaching adjustments. He openly admitted that the game had changed. A least he had the resilience to adjust.
It worked out for us all.

DFarr talked about it in the special about the 99 Rams. One of the biggest things was toning WAY down in practice..........DV was killing them and Farr said players were just plain worn down.