rams24/7
Pro Bowler
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2013
- Messages
- 1,870
- Name
- Nick
I'm losing patience just as much as anyone. At some point all this young talent needs to be tapped into and used to its potential. I'm really hoping that a good/great team is just around the corner. I know we've been saying this for years now, but I think next year could be our year if we can fill our holes. The Rams have played to their potential for stretches of 1-2 quarters in multiple games this year against great teams this year, but you can't win most games in the NFL playing only 2 quarters. We need to learn how to play 4 quarters of consistent football in all 3 phases by minimizing penalties, turnovers, and other costly mistakes.
I get it. Long, Laurinaitis, Quinn, Brockers, TA, Tree, GRob, Donald, Jenkins, Johnson, McDonald, Joyner, Quick, Bailey, Kendricks, Mason; all early round picks still on the team. All this young talent and where has it gotten us? I think asking why we are where we are is an easy question with a difficult answer. There's no single answer. Defensive scheme issues? Offense becoming to conservative at times? TA not being utilized to his potential? Coaches failing to makes adjustments? I could go on and on.
Put me in the camp that thinks there may need to be a change at head coach. Sometimes I feel like the game is starting to pass coach Fisher by. I don't want to continue the 3 and out trend we have with coaches, but I also don't want to spend another year or two to realize we STILL aren't a playoff team (and I'm sure there will be a new slate of excuses then).
Sam tearing his ACL back to back years is EXTREMELY unfortunate, and although I didn't expect playoffs following his injury, we're still an incredibly talented team. WITHOUT Sam we were very competitive vs Dallas, Philly, & SF; all games one could argue we should have won. So to me the Sam injury doesn't apply in those games. I get that we'd be a better team w/Sam in those contests, but the bottom line is you play with the 46 you have out there and WE FAILED to find a way to win those 3 games we very much in.
I'll reserve judgement until week 17, but if this team plays as wildly inconsistent as we have for the first 7 games in the back 9, I see little reason for Fish's seat to be comfortable. 3 seasons of sub-.500 football isn't progress. Sadly two 7 win seasons is big news in this town though. You can't deny the talent we've acquired here, but Fish AT BEST deserves half of the credit. Imo if a change is made at HC I see no reason to relieve Snead of his duties. He's done nothing but bring great, young talent to STL in his 2+ years in STL via early round picks, late round finds, UDFA finds, and even some trades. Les has ACQUIRED the talent, but its not his job to DEVELOP it and PERFECT it.
Even someone with the pedigree of Coach Fisher will run out of excuses eventually. The truth is he's had 2 teams reach the playoffs in his last decade of coaching and those 2 teams 2007 and 2008 Titans. Coaches have done more with less talent than he's had here in 3 years. Look at Bruce Arians. He turned around a struggling, but talented team in one season into a 10-6, playoff worthy team. They still have some holes, but the guys filling in at the weak positions find a way to get it done. All the while doing it with CARSON PALMER.
Last point:
Here's some food for thought. The San Francisco 49ers had 8-straight losing seasons from 2003-2010. One can argue they lacked quality talent from 2003-2006, but they really started to acquire some very nice players between 2007-2010 (similar to us 2012-2014).
By 2010 the following players through the draft: Alex Smith, Gore, Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Crabtree, Staley, Iupati, Anthony Davis, Ray McDonald, Ahmad Brooks, Willis, Bowman, Dashon Goldson, and Andy Lee.
Many argued, and were correct, that they just needed the right coaching. Erickson, Nolan, and Singletary weren't the right guys, but the Nolan & Singletary regimes sure left Harbaugh some great talent.
I'd compare the current Rams to the 2010 49ers. A team GUSHING with talent, that just hasn't put all the pieces together yet. I think we're right around the corner, I'm just not sure if we have the right people (Fish, Schotty, GW) trying to complete the puzzle.
Sorry for the rant
I get it. Long, Laurinaitis, Quinn, Brockers, TA, Tree, GRob, Donald, Jenkins, Johnson, McDonald, Joyner, Quick, Bailey, Kendricks, Mason; all early round picks still on the team. All this young talent and where has it gotten us? I think asking why we are where we are is an easy question with a difficult answer. There's no single answer. Defensive scheme issues? Offense becoming to conservative at times? TA not being utilized to his potential? Coaches failing to makes adjustments? I could go on and on.
Put me in the camp that thinks there may need to be a change at head coach. Sometimes I feel like the game is starting to pass coach Fisher by. I don't want to continue the 3 and out trend we have with coaches, but I also don't want to spend another year or two to realize we STILL aren't a playoff team (and I'm sure there will be a new slate of excuses then).
Sam tearing his ACL back to back years is EXTREMELY unfortunate, and although I didn't expect playoffs following his injury, we're still an incredibly talented team. WITHOUT Sam we were very competitive vs Dallas, Philly, & SF; all games one could argue we should have won. So to me the Sam injury doesn't apply in those games. I get that we'd be a better team w/Sam in those contests, but the bottom line is you play with the 46 you have out there and WE FAILED to find a way to win those 3 games we very much in.
I'll reserve judgement until week 17, but if this team plays as wildly inconsistent as we have for the first 7 games in the back 9, I see little reason for Fish's seat to be comfortable. 3 seasons of sub-.500 football isn't progress. Sadly two 7 win seasons is big news in this town though. You can't deny the talent we've acquired here, but Fish AT BEST deserves half of the credit. Imo if a change is made at HC I see no reason to relieve Snead of his duties. He's done nothing but bring great, young talent to STL in his 2+ years in STL via early round picks, late round finds, UDFA finds, and even some trades. Les has ACQUIRED the talent, but its not his job to DEVELOP it and PERFECT it.
Even someone with the pedigree of Coach Fisher will run out of excuses eventually. The truth is he's had 2 teams reach the playoffs in his last decade of coaching and those 2 teams 2007 and 2008 Titans. Coaches have done more with less talent than he's had here in 3 years. Look at Bruce Arians. He turned around a struggling, but talented team in one season into a 10-6, playoff worthy team. They still have some holes, but the guys filling in at the weak positions find a way to get it done. All the while doing it with CARSON PALMER.
Last point:
Here's some food for thought. The San Francisco 49ers had 8-straight losing seasons from 2003-2010. One can argue they lacked quality talent from 2003-2006, but they really started to acquire some very nice players between 2007-2010 (similar to us 2012-2014).
By 2010 the following players through the draft: Alex Smith, Gore, Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Crabtree, Staley, Iupati, Anthony Davis, Ray McDonald, Ahmad Brooks, Willis, Bowman, Dashon Goldson, and Andy Lee.
Many argued, and were correct, that they just needed the right coaching. Erickson, Nolan, and Singletary weren't the right guys, but the Nolan & Singletary regimes sure left Harbaugh some great talent.
I'd compare the current Rams to the 2010 49ers. A team GUSHING with talent, that just hasn't put all the pieces together yet. I think we're right around the corner, I'm just not sure if we have the right people (Fish, Schotty, GW) trying to complete the puzzle.
Sorry for the rant
