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Rams look to close tough stretch on high note
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13837/rams-look-to-close-tough-stretch-on-high-note
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- If the St. Louis Rams can find a way to beat the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, they will be 4-4 in their past eight games.
That .500 record over that span would be the very definition of mediocrity, but for those paying attention, it would represent a pleasant surprise because of the teams they did it against.
When the schedule came out in the spring, many pointed to this eight-game stretch as one of the most difficult slates of games facing any team in the league. It included nothing but 2013 playoff teams and the Arizona Cardinals, who went 10-6 last season. Considering that, a 4-4 record would have likely had most Rams fans giddy at what the rest of the season might hold.
But the Rams' inability to take advantage of a lighter schedule in the first three weeks combined with their consistent inconsistency would leave them shy of a .500 record for the season even if they do beat the Chargers.
On the heels of last week's surprising 22-7 win against the Denver Broncos, the Rams find themselves searching for some sort of consistency. Even two wins in a row would be a sign of progress.
"That's the thing and the guys were talking about that last night in the locker room is that we had a big win now can we go ahead and put another one together," coach Jeff Fisher said. "Because it's going win-loss, win-loss, win-loss and it needs to go win-win. That's our focus."
The Rams are 4-6 with six to play and though they are almost through the toughest part of their schedule, that guarantees nothing in terms of the rest of the season. However, the fact that they have been as competitive as they have through the past seven weeks would lead to a reasonable conclusion that they could make some hay if only they can prove capable of stringing a couple of wins together.
Fisher is pleased with how his team has performed during the past seven weeks.
"With the exception of the second half in Kansas City we've been in it," Fisher said. "We just have to find ways to win games consistently, but this team has played hard and played physical against some really good teams. Big-picture wise I think we're building it right. We're building to contend and compete in the division. I think young teams need to learn how to match-up against those unfamiliar opponents, which we did yesterday. Now we have to do that again."
If they can do it against San Diego, they go into a stretch that includes games against teams like Oakland, Washington and the New York Giants. While it's almost certainly too little too late to make a run at the postseason, the Rams would seem poised to at least make a run at .500 or even their first winning season since 2003.
But before dreams of a strong finish can even begin, they must first win two in a row by finishing the eight-game stretch with a win in San Diego.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13837/rams-look-to-close-tough-stretch-on-high-note
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- If the St. Louis Rams can find a way to beat the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, they will be 4-4 in their past eight games.
That .500 record over that span would be the very definition of mediocrity, but for those paying attention, it would represent a pleasant surprise because of the teams they did it against.
When the schedule came out in the spring, many pointed to this eight-game stretch as one of the most difficult slates of games facing any team in the league. It included nothing but 2013 playoff teams and the Arizona Cardinals, who went 10-6 last season. Considering that, a 4-4 record would have likely had most Rams fans giddy at what the rest of the season might hold.
But the Rams' inability to take advantage of a lighter schedule in the first three weeks combined with their consistent inconsistency would leave them shy of a .500 record for the season even if they do beat the Chargers.
On the heels of last week's surprising 22-7 win against the Denver Broncos, the Rams find themselves searching for some sort of consistency. Even two wins in a row would be a sign of progress.
"That's the thing and the guys were talking about that last night in the locker room is that we had a big win now can we go ahead and put another one together," coach Jeff Fisher said. "Because it's going win-loss, win-loss, win-loss and it needs to go win-win. That's our focus."
The Rams are 4-6 with six to play and though they are almost through the toughest part of their schedule, that guarantees nothing in terms of the rest of the season. However, the fact that they have been as competitive as they have through the past seven weeks would lead to a reasonable conclusion that they could make some hay if only they can prove capable of stringing a couple of wins together.
Fisher is pleased with how his team has performed during the past seven weeks.
"With the exception of the second half in Kansas City we've been in it," Fisher said. "We just have to find ways to win games consistently, but this team has played hard and played physical against some really good teams. Big-picture wise I think we're building it right. We're building to contend and compete in the division. I think young teams need to learn how to match-up against those unfamiliar opponents, which we did yesterday. Now we have to do that again."
If they can do it against San Diego, they go into a stretch that includes games against teams like Oakland, Washington and the New York Giants. While it's almost certainly too little too late to make a run at the postseason, the Rams would seem poised to at least make a run at .500 or even their first winning season since 2003.
But before dreams of a strong finish can even begin, they must first win two in a row by finishing the eight-game stretch with a win in San Diego.
