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Rams looking to build toward 2015
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14815/rams-looking-to-build-toward-2015
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Now that they're mathematically eliminated from the 2014 playoff race, the St. Louis Rams don't have much to play for during the season's final two weeks. At least not when it comes to this year.
But survey the Rams' locker room and you'll find plenty of reasons why they're unlikely to just mail it in against the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks in the final two weeks.
First and foremost, there's an overwhelming feeling that this is a team on the verge of a breakthrough.
"I think nobody will say they didn’t want to be in the playoffs," safety T.J. McDonald said. "But some of these playoff teams that are in the playoffs, we have beaten and we’ve definitely established a presence when we played them. Just being able to take that into next year, I hope people will remember that."
OK, but haven't we been hearing similar things from various corners of the locker room for more than a decade now? Haven't we been told that this is the last rebuilding year? Haven't the Rams too often adopted the unofficial slogan of the Chicago Cubs that "there's always next year?"
"There’s no shot at the playoffs, but we can finish the year strong and built momentum toward the future," defensive end Robert Quinn said. "We’ve said it for the past few years but as you see guys growing this past year, hopefully going into next year we can really hit the ground running like we want."
The Rams' propensity for slow starts under coach Jeff Fisher -- they've started the past two years 1-3 and were 2-2 to start 2012 -- have eventually doomed them despite their knack for getting things going later in the season. The Rams have been 3-5 after eight games in each of Fisher's three seasons. So any idea of "momentum" carrying from one season to the next has been lost on the Rams.
That begs the question of what, exactly, the Rams can gain over the final two weeks? Well, it would start by beating the Giants this week at home. That would give the Rams seven wins for a third consecutive season. Clearly, that's not good enough, but mediocrity remains an upgrade over what preceded Fisher's tenure in St. Louis. It would also give the Rams a shot to get to 8-8 for the first time since 2006 if they could pull off a serious upset in Seattle to close the season.
Not that 8-8 would be much better, but it would at least signify an upgrade in the win column.
"I would think, but not really," guard Rodger Saffold said. "It’s kind of like we have been trapped with seven wins. Really, honestly, I just want to finish on a real good note and leave happy and excited about the upcoming season and really put this last loss behind us."
Beyond records and numbers, Quinn also points to the harsh reality of playing in the NFL. While he's certainly safe in his position as a franchise cornerstone, every offseason comes with plenty of roster turnover. For guys who are pending free agents such as tackle Joe Barksdale, tight end Lance Kendricks, quarterback Shaun Hill and others, every snap matters as they head toward uncertain futures.
"We have got to finish the year strong," Quinn said. "We are professionals. We have to put good film out there. You don’t ever want to put bad film out and have something come back and haunt you at the end. We have to take it one week at a time. We have got pride left and that’s what we have got to finish with."
As for any noticeable drop-offs this week in practice, Fisher said he hasn't seen anything but the usual, professional approach.
“They’re fine," Fisher said. "We’re preparing no different than any other week to go win this next game. That’s our focus and that’s their intention. As long as you create an environment where they can have fun, look forward to coming to work, they’ll work hard. And that’s what we’ve done."
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14815/rams-looking-to-build-toward-2015
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Now that they're mathematically eliminated from the 2014 playoff race, the St. Louis Rams don't have much to play for during the season's final two weeks. At least not when it comes to this year.
But survey the Rams' locker room and you'll find plenty of reasons why they're unlikely to just mail it in against the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks in the final two weeks.
First and foremost, there's an overwhelming feeling that this is a team on the verge of a breakthrough.
"I think nobody will say they didn’t want to be in the playoffs," safety T.J. McDonald said. "But some of these playoff teams that are in the playoffs, we have beaten and we’ve definitely established a presence when we played them. Just being able to take that into next year, I hope people will remember that."
OK, but haven't we been hearing similar things from various corners of the locker room for more than a decade now? Haven't we been told that this is the last rebuilding year? Haven't the Rams too often adopted the unofficial slogan of the Chicago Cubs that "there's always next year?"
"There’s no shot at the playoffs, but we can finish the year strong and built momentum toward the future," defensive end Robert Quinn said. "We’ve said it for the past few years but as you see guys growing this past year, hopefully going into next year we can really hit the ground running like we want."
The Rams' propensity for slow starts under coach Jeff Fisher -- they've started the past two years 1-3 and were 2-2 to start 2012 -- have eventually doomed them despite their knack for getting things going later in the season. The Rams have been 3-5 after eight games in each of Fisher's three seasons. So any idea of "momentum" carrying from one season to the next has been lost on the Rams.
That begs the question of what, exactly, the Rams can gain over the final two weeks? Well, it would start by beating the Giants this week at home. That would give the Rams seven wins for a third consecutive season. Clearly, that's not good enough, but mediocrity remains an upgrade over what preceded Fisher's tenure in St. Louis. It would also give the Rams a shot to get to 8-8 for the first time since 2006 if they could pull off a serious upset in Seattle to close the season.
Not that 8-8 would be much better, but it would at least signify an upgrade in the win column.
"I would think, but not really," guard Rodger Saffold said. "It’s kind of like we have been trapped with seven wins. Really, honestly, I just want to finish on a real good note and leave happy and excited about the upcoming season and really put this last loss behind us."
Beyond records and numbers, Quinn also points to the harsh reality of playing in the NFL. While he's certainly safe in his position as a franchise cornerstone, every offseason comes with plenty of roster turnover. For guys who are pending free agents such as tackle Joe Barksdale, tight end Lance Kendricks, quarterback Shaun Hill and others, every snap matters as they head toward uncertain futures.
"We have got to finish the year strong," Quinn said. "We are professionals. We have to put good film out there. You don’t ever want to put bad film out and have something come back and haunt you at the end. We have to take it one week at a time. We have got pride left and that’s what we have got to finish with."
As for any noticeable drop-offs this week in practice, Fisher said he hasn't seen anything but the usual, professional approach.
“They’re fine," Fisher said. "We’re preparing no different than any other week to go win this next game. That’s our focus and that’s their intention. As long as you create an environment where they can have fun, look forward to coming to work, they’ll work hard. And that’s what we’ve done."
