What is wrong with Greg Zuerlein???

[Irish]

He is all boom and no zoom, if you will.

Dude has no idea where it is going off of his foot.

 

[CoachO]

I guess it all depends on the definition of a "pressure" kick. I assume it's being given as one that will win or tie the game but I consider it just about any kick. Especially for this team. The Rams can't afford to give away ANY points much less momentum swings so even though Zuerlein's misses don't count as the technical definition of "pressure", I'd say they were just as important.

I think it's apparent that something's got in his head though and if he can't remain consistent, the Rams may have to bring in some competition for him. I don't know if pushing him will get him out of it but protecting him hasn't resulted in him working out his inconsistency and inability to make long FG's.

So you are saying that the entire game YESTERDAY swung because of a missed FG? Just want to make sure I understand what you are saying.

Because, from where I was sitting, it had more to do with our "phenom" QB running around like a chicken with his head cut off, when he had more than enough time to find one of the 4 receivers in the EndZone, and at the very least throwing the ball into the 3rd row from the SIX YARD LINE, as opposed to taking an 18 yard sack. That to me, is much more deflating than a kicker missing a FG in a 27 point loss.

 

[fearsomefour]

You mean last year's #1 rated special teams? That level? Still - there isn't really an area of the team that played even well yesterday from what I saw. Greg is just one on a long list and I can understand the frustration from us fans.

Soooooooo No real point - just an observation.

In recent history the ST were terrible. That's not on Fassel. They were much better last year.
I will own how inaccurately I portrayed Fassels' ST.
I still haven't recovered from Peterson running backs punts vs the Rams.

 

[Mikey Ram]

Without being able to offer specifics off the top of my head, it seems that there is an awful large amount of knee-jerk reacting here...Normal, I guess, but because somebody slumps doesn't (at least to me) mean that he should be beheaded at mid-field during the halftime show...

 

[CoachO]

In recent history the ST were terrible. That's not on Fassel. They were much better last year.
I will own how inaccurately I portrayed Fassels' ST.
I still haven't recovered from Peterson running backs punts vs the Rams.

This is not an attempt to single you out, but your comment screams of the issues I see from alot of fans.

Too many are holding onto lingering thoughts and feelings about PAST teams, and not looking at THIS YEAR'S team for what it is. And that is a broken, injury riddled, inexperienced team that just can't get out of its own way.

So the frustration of the past decade carries over and influences this year, and IMO, makes it seem a whole lot worse than it is. Expectations were high, but that was when they had their entire roster up and ready. That all went out the window the minute Bradford went down. Then they lose T. Johnson, C. Long, and the list just continues to grow.

Now we seem to want to hold what's left of this roster accountable for the expectations of 3 months ago. Just not sure what people can expect when you look at things objectively. This is not a very good roster at the moment, and unless they play a perfect game, they just aren't gonna win consistently with these players.

 

[moklerman]

So you are saying that the entire game YESTERDAY swung because of a missed FG? Just want to make sure I understand what you are saying.

Because, from where I was sitting, it had more to do with our "phenom" QB running around like a chicken with his head cut off, when he had more than enough time to find one of the 4 receivers in the EndZone, and at the very least throwing the ball into the 3rd row from the SIX YARD LINE, as opposed to taking an 18 yard sack. That to me, is much more deflating than a kicker missing a FG in a 27 point loss.

Why do you feel "momentum" swing means the entire game swung on a the missed FG?

And it isn't an either/or. We're just talking about Zuerlein here. What Davis did or didn't do doesn't really have anything to do with Zuerlein and both could have done better.

 

[moklerman]

Without being able to offer specifics off the top of my head, it seems that there is an awful large amount of knee-jerk reacting here...Normal, I guess, but because somebody slumps doesn't (at least to me) mean that he should be beheaded at mid-field during the halftime show...

 

[jrry32]

Last year he was 5th in percentage because he was 21st in attempts overall and 30th in attempts of 50+. This year, he's even lower in attempts at 25th and his accuracy is suffering anyway.

The thread title is apt. What IS wrong with Greg Zuerlein?

There's no correlation between a lack of attempts and accuracy.

This is an Old Larry esque post if I've ever seen one. This is a Rams player you're discussing and you're doing your damnedest to marginalize an accomplishment.

I'm done with this discussion.

 

[moklerman]

There's no correlation between a lack of attempts and accuracy.

This is an Old Larry esque post if I've ever seen one. This is a Rams player you're discussing and you're doing your damnedest to marginalize an accomplishment.

I'm done with this discussion.

Oh, please. It isn't just a lack of attempts, it's a lack of attempts coupled with a lack of long attempts. He attempted a lot of shorter FG's and missed 1 of the 2 long one's he took. He wasn't being asked to attempt long FG's because he struggled so much with them the previous year. As Nick Wagoner wrote, he's 5 of his last 14 in 50+ yard attempts.

They tried to get his confidence back by not asking him to do too much and it didn't work. He's still inconsistent overall and his accuracy overall is bottom third of the league.

But have I said to get rid of him? Have I even said he should be benched? Have I attempted to belittle your posts/opinions with personal attacks? Have you?

 

[CoachO]

Why do you feel "momentum" swing means the entire game swung on a the missed FG?

And it isn't an either/or. We're just talking about Zuerlein here. What Davis did or didn't do doesn't really have anything to do with Zuerlein and both could have done better.

So, just a little research on your "head case".........

for his 2 and 1/2 year career he has made 57 of 70 FGA for an overall 81.4% success rate.

(10-19) : 1 - 1
(20-29) : 12 - 12
(30-39) : 18 - 21
(40-49) : 17 - 18
(50+) : 9 - 18

That translates to making 48 - 52 of all FGA inside of 50 yards. (92.3%) If that is what you call "struggling" then you and I have different definitions.

When you look closer at this "misses" from beyond 50, mix in a couple from 58, one from 57, and oh yeah, that fateful miss from 66 yards at Miami. So, if you take those FOUR misses into consideration, he has made NINE kicks from beyond 50 yards out of the remaining 14 kicks he has attempted. (64.3%). Again, not what I would call 'struggling".

 

[CoachO]

Oh, please. It isn't just a lack of attempts, it's a lack of attempts coupled with a lack of long attempts. He attempted a lot of shorter FG's and missed 1 of the 2 long one's he took. He wasn't being asked to attempt long FG's because he struggled so much with them the previous year. As Nick Wagoner wrote, he's 5 of his last 14 in 50+ yard attempts.

They tried to get his confidence back by not asking him to do too much and it didn't work. He's still inconsistent overall and his accuracy overall is bottom third of the league.

But have I said to get rid of him? Have I even said he should be benched? Have I attempted to belittle your posts/opinions with personal attacks? Have you?

Its not as easy to say they just didn't attempt as many long FGs last year by looking at the numbers. I did the research a while back, (not doing it again), and when you see the actual opportunities they had that they "passed" up a FG try, it was minimal at best. Unless you consider attempting kicks from outside your 40 yard line in the middle of a half, rather than at the of a half or game, a logical football decision.

With regards to Wagoner's comment about him only making 5 of his last 14 kicks from beyond 50, as I showed from the above post, he is not factoring in the actual distances in his comment. If you think missing from 57, 58, 58 and 66 yards are unreasonable misses, then again, you and I have different ideas on what is reasonable.

 

[fearsomefour]

This is not an attempt to single you out, but your comment screams of the issues I see from alot of fans.

Too many are holding onto lingering thoughts and feelings about PAST teams, and not looking at THIS YEAR'S team for what it is. And that is a broken, injury riddled, inexperienced team that just can't get out of its own way.

So the frustration of the past decade carries over and influences this year, and IMO, makes it seem a whole lot worse than it is. Expectations were high, but that was when they had their entire roster up and ready. That all went out the window the minute Bradford went down. Then they lose T. Johnson, C. Long, and the list just continues to grow.

Now we seem to want to hold what's left of this roster accountable for the expectations of 3 months ago. Just not sure what people can expect when you look at things objectively. This is not a very good roster at the moment, and unless they play a perfect game, they just aren't gonna win consistently with these players.

Fair enough.
Although I did not have really high expectations based mostly on the youth aspect of this team. I was thinking 7 or 8 wins.
The part that is maddening specific to this year is the play of the D overall.
So it goes.

 

[CoachO]

Fair enough.
Although I did not have really high expectations based mostly on the youth aspect of this team. I was thinking 7 or 8 wins.
The part that is maddening specific to this year is the play of the D overall.
So it goes.

I am right there with you. But its easy to overlook, or forget about the fact that Chris Long has played one half of football this season. Trumaine Johnson hasn't played a down. Jenkins misses yesterday. Laurinaitis missed virtually ALL of the preseason. Dunbar has been nicked up and hasn't practiced in almost a month. William Hayes, who excels as a rotational player, is now being asked to play much more, and that is after he missed ALL of training camp and most of the preseason with his off season surgery issues.

It's not like these guys just don't show up. They are playing short handed, and have since week one, On both sides of the ball.

 

[fearsomefour]

I am right there with you. But its easy to overlook, or forget about the fact that Chris Long has played one half of football this season. Trumaine Johnson hasn't played a down. Jenkins misses yesterday. Laurinaitis missed virtually ALL of the preseason. Dunbar has been nicked up and hasn't practiced in almost a month. William Hayes, who excels as a rotational player, is now being asked to play much more, and that is after he missed ALL of training camp and most of the preseason with his off season surgery issues.

It's not like these guys just don't show up. They are playing short handed, and have since week one, On both sides of the ball.

I don't question the effort.
If people just look at sack numbers they greatly under value what Long brings to the table.
There have been some bright spots.
Donald, some of the young DBs, good effort.
Ogletree regressing is a concern. Lack of passrush and an exceptionally high completion percentage against are all red flags.

 

[lockdnram21]

I don't question the effort.
If people just look at sack numbers they greatly under value what Long brings to the table.
There have been some bright spots.
Donald, some of the young DBs, good effort.
Ogletree regressing is a concern. Lack of passrush and an exceptionally high completion percentage against are all red flags.

Tree played way better yesterday im not giving up on him but we need to find Laurinits replacement. i also dont see missing Long as that bigof a problem. Its not like were not getting any pressu i think its more of a scheme problem.

 

[RhodyRams]

I saw the stat line for several kickers yesterday, several went 5/5 on FG's a few went 4/4 and a hole shit load of em went 3/3...GZ was 0/1 (could have sworn he missed 2.. I must have been seeing double)


bring a kicker in this week...if he, as some here have said, is a good pressure kicker...then put him out there with another kicker looming to take his job

 

[CoachO]

I don't question the effort.
If people just look at sack numbers they greatly under value what Long brings to the table.
There have been some bright spots.
Donald, some of the young DBs, good effort.
Ogletree regressing is a concern. Lack of pass rush and an exceptionally high completion percentage against are all red flags.

The completion % is not the issue for me. Williams has no issue giving up the check down. The problem IMO, has been poor tackling at the point of attack, and the tendency to give up a big play in more games than not.

I fully expected the sack numbers to be down this year, because teams are game planning to get the ball out quick. That's where the tackling becomes such an issue. They made Kelce look like the second coming of Kellen Winslow yesterday. It wasn't the completions, it was the missed tackles.