Rams trying not to panic but know time is running out

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

RamBill

Legend
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
8,874
Rams trying not to panic but know time is running out
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ing-not-to-panic-but-know-time-is-running-out

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- After a heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Vikings two weeks ago, the St. Louis Rams believed they had a good enough week to bounce back at home against the Chicago Bears.

They were wrong.

The Rams returned to the Edward Jones Dome and the Bears embarrassed them in a 37-13 loss. At 4-5, the Rams now find themselves looking for answers this week rather than building on momentum.

"I’m kind of lost for words," defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. "Nobody wants to lose like that. It hurts but we need to move on. We can’t linger on this one because it would be our downfall. Brush the dust off from this game and move to the next."

In reality, many players on the Rams roster have been through this before. Although it happened later in the season last year, the Rams appear to be following a similar, equally disappointing script.

Near the end of the 2014 season, the Rams dominated Oakland and Washington before losing a heartbreaker to Arizona and laying an egg against the New York Giants. This year, you can sub in Cleveland and San Francisco for the Raiders and Redskins, the Vikings for the Cardinals and the Bears for the Giants.

Even after the disappointing overtime loss to Minnesota, the Rams believed they were far enough along in Year 4 under Jeff Fisher that games like last week's wouldn't happen anymore.

"Everybody kind of had an agreement, this is a new start to our season," tight end Jared Cook said. "This is our chance to put our stamp on the season. We were at the halfway mark and it's time to become a new team, it’s time to become a better team than what we just played ... time to put something better out there on the field than what we just played. I think everybody still believes that. I'm not going to say it's panic time, but it's time to get this train rolling."

Maybe it isn't panic, time but it's an absolutely critical time if the Rams are going to make something of their season. After the Week 6 bye, many viewed the Rams' schedule as lightening up enough for them to go on a run. Some thought 3-1 or even 4-0 was possible in those first four games after the bye with a trip to play two-win Baltimore after that looking like another possible victory.

As has often been the case with Fisher's Rams, however, the consistently inconsistent performances have persisted. That's particularly true when they venture outside of the NFC West. So far this year, the Rams are 3-0 against division opponents and 1-5 against non-NFC West teams. The loss to the Bears dropped the Rams to 0-3 against the NFC North this year and 1-8 since Fisher arrived in 2012.

Now the Rams must go on the road for back-to-back games against the difficult AFC North.

To stay in the mix or have a shot to keep this from being yet another lost season, the Rams have to pick up the pieces in short order. After last week's loss, end William Hayes sat in his locker staring at his phone while his teammates dressed and left. He was noticeably angry. About 30 minutes later, he'd showered and changed but was still angry.

"No, it’s not time to panic," Hayes said. "It’s time to just fix [stuff]. We have got to go out there and play better football next week. Defensively, we have got to just make plays. That’s the name of the game. We have got to make plays, give our offense a chance to get points and when they get the opportunity they have got to score."

It sounds like a simple solution but with these Rams, that which seems simple never really is.
 

DR RAM

Rams Lifer
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
12,111
Name
Rambeau
For me, the panic has come and left.

No reason to panic now, unless we go on an epic winning streak.
 

DaveFan'51

Old-Timer
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
18,666
Name
Dave
"I’m kind of lost for words," defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. "Nobody wants to lose like that. It hurts but we need to move on. We can’t linger on this one because it would be our downfall. Brush the dust off from this game and move to the next."
I'm with Brockers!! And Fuck anyone who isn't!!

d0cbDgo.jpg

exaVP3j.jpg

Dancing Ape.gif
 

RamFan503

Grill and Brew Master
Moderator
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
33,812
Name
Stu
I love that movie! It was pretty much my childhood.
Funny little story about Toy Story. My son might want to kill me for this but here goes...

It was just after Christmas and our sons were about 4 and 6 I think. For Christmas we had gotten them the big action figures of Buzz and Woody. We had some company over and were just kind of sitting around in the living room when my oldest comes running into the room to show our friends his present by proclaiming, "Look! I've got a Woody!" He didn't quite get why everyone was busting up laughing.

He will never live that one down and we kept the figure in our cedar chest to make sure he never does.
 

Killgasm

Starter
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
688
Name
Alex
Funny little story about Toy Story. My son might want to kill me for this but here goes...

It was just after Christmas and our sons were about 4 and 6 I think. For Christmas we had gotten them the big action figures of Buzz and Woody. We had some company over and were just kind of sitting around in the living room when my oldest comes running into the room to show our friends his present by proclaiming, "Look! I've got a Woody!" He didn't quite get why everyone was busting up laughing.

He will never live that one down and we kept the figure in our cedar chest to make sure he never does.
That's too funny!
You should remind him again this Christmas.
 

rdlkgliders

"AKA" Hugo Bezdek
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Messages
7,806
Name
Don
Trying no to panic????
We should feel like the 6 year old kid who just lost his parents at Disneyland.
 

Ballhawk

Please don't confuse my experience for pessimism!
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jun 25, 2014
Messages
2,239
Name
NPW
I feel bad for Hayes. He needs to be on a team that wants to win!
 

Mojo Ram

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
22,897
Name
mojo
For me, the panic has come and left.

No reason to panic now, unless we go on an epic winning streak.
Yeah the Chicago loss sort of took the wind out of my sails on this season. Hopefully the teams psyche is stronger than mine.
 

Elmgrovegnome

Legend
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
21,605
It's amazing what a coaching staff can bring. Consider Arizona and how bad a shape they were in before Arians came along. They are not perfect but they are playing football consistently and with a winners attitude. They expect to win and they don't show up and lay eggs. That is on the coaching staff and GM.
 

tragic891

UDFA
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
27
For me, the panic has come and left.

No reason to panic now, unless we go on an epic winning streak.

Exactly.. After the Vikings game the Rams showed me they didn't wanna go to the playoff...
after the bears,redskins, and packers games they show me they dont even wanna be a good football team...
I swear after watching the redskins game LIVE i had a feeling it was gonna be a long season of disappointment and inconsistency..