The Colts never had to deal with the "losing mentality." They had one horrible season but they still had players who remembered winning and making the playoffs. I think far too many people forget that as a factor in the Colts turnaround.
Sure, they drafted well, found players that fit what they wanted to do. But they also had an emotional bond last year that drew the team together, and keeps them together now.
Compare what the Rams have gone through the last 10 years. A dysfunctional FO, HCs that weren't up to the task. Injury plagued seasons. And that losing mentality that's hard to shake. I think Fisher has done quite a bit to tear that down, but it's not over yet. Beating Seattle at home after losing Bradford for the season would be a major step.
Look at Detroit. They probably had as much going wrong for them (Millen) as the Rams, and after they made the playoffs 2 years ago, they suffered another sub-500 season.
I'm not going to say I'm not disappointed either, but I'm holding faith.
I agree with most of what you're saying here RQ. Winning mentality means you innately (bad term - I know) know what to do in a shit load of minor situations and also when you are being tested. You can relay that to the youngsters and get them better prepared. If you are not used to winning and I mean winning in a consistent manner, whether down or up in a game, against very good teams, in games that mean almost nothing, etc. then IMO, you are going to have a harder time making that rebound. This team has built a losing attitude since they were dismantled from within while still in Southern California. We caught lightening in a bottle for a few years but our inside "staff" (the same ass hats) screwed that up in short order.
What I only slightly disagree with here is the idea that beating Seattle will mean all that much. Beating Seattle on a major stage will be big. But then coming out and smacking Tenn in the teeth followed by at least a good showing where the team plays correctly against Indy will be a major step.
To me that is mostly about coaching at this point. The buck stops at Fisher's feet. IMO - both of his coordinators suck - flat out. He has this hyper high end coaching staff - many of which have seen the HC ranks yet he has two highly unproven coaches running the two shows. I was hesitant about the Fish signing at first but got behind him 100%. To me it is way too obvious that our defense has regressed tremendously in ALL aspects. I find it very hard to believe - in fact virtually impossible - that this is due to the players' inability to "execute". The offense has all kinds of weapons that I virtually guarantee you would be playing better on other teams or in other schemes. I can't even BEGIN to believe that BS has a clue how to use real weapons and nothing about his history tells me otherwise. Yeah, maybe they were slowly progressing after the first four games but really? Going from flat out bad to sorta mediocre isn't good enough with the bevvy of draft picks AND veterans we have on this team. If Fisher was a good choice, and I still believe he was, it is time for him to step up and demote (even if quietly behind closed doors) these coordinators.
Look at the two sides:
Defense - JL has regressed, Brockers has done no where near what most expected, Chris has regressed, Quinn has upped his game some but still is out of position in many cases, Langford has regressed (IMO), Jenks has regressed tremendously, Cort? Really?, Johnson has improved, Stewart is playing worse than when he was last healthy. As a whole, our run defense has taken a HUGE backward step, our secondary (supposedly a Walsh strength) is pathetically out of position, and our pass rush? We are 21st in the league from 1st last year.
Offense - there has been absolutely no space for our weapons - and we have more than many teams doing much better. Givens has regressed. Pead has not been used. DR has regressed. Quick looks every bit the WR we thought he'd be in flashes. Tavon is always blanketed. Our O-line can't open holes and is spotty on pass blocking. I'm going to guess that there are very few teams if any with less explosive plays. DR being used like a power back. A tandem like Kendricks and Cook and where are the mismatches? Where are the seam routes?
I am just not buying it that the reason we're not seeing it is because the players can't figure out how to execute what the coaches are giving them. Maybe if it takes perfect execution but really? If that is indeed what it takes to run these schemes, the coaches are still at fault because they are being idiots for thinking they will see that out of by far the youngest team in the league.
And yet I am optimistic. Why? Because we DO have the talent. And IMO, we are just coaching and play calling away from being dangerous. This is a team that can thump on defense AND be explosive on offense. Let's start tonight and carry it through.
