1998/1999 parrallels 2016/2017

[den-the-coach]

Rams don't have a Adam Timmerman playing right guard for them this year so everything else pales in comparison.

 

[fearsomefour]

Oh, where have you gone Tom Nutten?

 

[SteveBrown]

Tom Nutten was 280 lbs...without the Martz O, he couldn't play on any team. Smart and tough has its termination point at that weight.

 

[So Ram]

Tom Nutten was 280 lbs...without the Martz O, he couldn't play on any team. Smart and tough has its termination point at that weight.

He was Warners center in euro league..

I made the bet because of Trent Green as the QB . Warner gave him a lot of credit for his support.

 

[So Ram]

The trade for Watkins completely filled up my koolaid glass.

Well Marshall said he came over to The Rams in similar fashion, except Watkins came over in middle of training camp , as he was traded a day before the draft.
Gurley is in place at RB.

 

[So Ram]

Yep I said it. I'm not saying we're going to be a great team, and I'm definitely not saying that we're going to win the super bowl, but my optimism is growing every day.

The Rams have gone 4-12 twice in the past 20 years - 1998 and 2016.

While we didn't change head coaches in 1999, we brought in an entirely new offense - like McVay has done.

We traded a 2nd round pick for an established star NFL player in Marshall Faulk - this year we traded a 2nd round pick for Sammy Watkins.

Going into the season, our best player on offense was/is a running back - Faulk and Gurley.

Before the trade, we had a star offensive player that seemed like his career might be wasted - Bruce and Gurley.

Warner had no NFL experience and no reason to think he'd be a good QB - enter Goff and how the media is talking about him.

Tavon Austin and Cooper Kupp as your 3rd and 4th WR kind of sort of remind you of Hakim and Proehl, potentially..

Rams signed a stud offensive linemen in the offseason in both years: Timmerman and Whitworth


There is some overlap to some of that, but still - thought it was interesting. Nobody thought we would make any noise in 1999, and while that type of lightning in a bottle is nearly impossible to capture twice, I can't help the growing optimism I feel for this season.

I made a lot of comparisons in another post. In some cases The Rams are better on paper than 1999 , going into 2017 IMO .

Aaron Donald is the key , & D. Easley getting hurt hurts.

TE Gerald Everett vs Roland Williams is another example.

Kupp vs Tory Holt

Robert Holcomb was underrated going from HB to FB

Kevin Carter & Fred Miller going to Tennessee really helped Fisher during there time there.

 

[Ramstien]

I have been watching the games from the 1999 season. I am not saying we will be like this team, but the similarities are the same. The offense was embarrassing in 1998, could not run the ball, but had a good pass catcher (Bruce). In 2016, really still could not run the ball, but the pass catchers were not good. The defense kept them in games in 1998 and in 2016 (expect Atlanta)

I remember Bruce being interviewed after the playoff game against the Bucs saying we finally got an offensive coordinator that is not a wimp. I think this will make a major difference.

 

[FrantikRam]

Not to toot my own horn, but...

 

[EasyE]

Only old guys like us know about Jonestown..lol

 

[FrantikRam]

Interesting tidbits:

First 8 games: both teams 6-2 - both losses close games, one each that we fought back and tied but then ultimately lost (Titans in 99, Redskins in 17), one each that we lost at the end but should have won (Lions in 99 converting a 4th and 26, Seahawks in 17 with Kupp's dropped TD) - Points scored: 265 in 1999, 263 in 2017 :shocking:

The most points scored by the 1999 Rams? 43 against the Saints. Number of times the 1999 team topped 40 points? 3

So these Rams have TWO games that would have been the highest scoring of the 1999 season. Yikes. This team has also already matched the number of 40 point games as the 1999 team.

In 1999 and 2017, the following opponents are in common:

Niners (x2), Giants, Saints, Eagles, Titans

 

[Dirigo]

Yep I said it. I'm not saying we're going to be a great team, and I'm definitely not saying that we're going to win the super bowl, but my optimism is growing every day.

The Rams have gone 4-12 twice in the past 20 years - 1998 and 2016.

While we didn't change head coaches in 1999, we brought in an entirely new offense - like McVay has done.

We traded a 2nd round pick for an established star NFL player in Marshall Faulk - this year we traded a 2nd round pick for Sammy Watkins.

Going into the season, our best player on offense was/is a running back - Faulk and Gurley.

Before the trade, we had a star offensive player that seemed like his career might be wasted - Bruce and Gurley.

Warner had no NFL experience and no reason to think he'd be a good QB - enter Goff and how the media is talking about him.

Tavon Austin and Cooper Kupp as your 3rd and 4th WR kind of sort of remind you of Hakim and Proehl, potentially..

Rams signed a stud offensive linemen in the offseason in both years: Timmerman and Whitworth


There is some overlap to some of that, but still - thought it was interesting. Nobody thought we would make any noise in 1999, and while that type of lightning in a bottle is nearly impossible to capture twice, I can't help the growing optimism I feel for this season.

Atlanta Falcons lost the Super Bowl the year before the Rams won SB34. The Atlanta Falcons lost the Super Bowl last year. Things that make you go hmmm...

 

[DaveFan'51]

The trade for Watkins completely filled up my koolaid glass.

Talent wise, the Rams Kupp runith-over!!

 

[Farr Be It]

In 1999 we had a former Indianapolis Colt running back come to the Rams in Marshall Faulk.

In 2017....well...