Do you Remember? Throwback Thursday: Back to Business - The 2000 season | Rams Yearbook

[Corbin]

Throwback Thursday: Back to Business - The 2000 season | Rams Yearbook

How could the Rams top their most exciting season in NFL history? The tale of the 2000 Rams is one stolen by time — twisted with a little struggle and a whole lot of strength.

www.therams.com

 

[Corbin]

Do you remember this? God this brings back a lot memories of the team and life in general!

Great vid!

 

[Tano]

That defense that year was pure shit. I don 't what happened to Peter G that year but his defense could not stop anyone.

We gave up 31.4 points a game that year.

 

[den-the-coach]

That defense that year was pure shit. I don 't what happened to Peter G that year but his defense could not stop anyone.

We gave up 31.4 points a game that year.

Yeah I knew the Rams were in trouble on defense that year during preseason, they looked bad and it translated into the season.

This was Mike Martz first mistake as the defense worked fine with Peter Giunta calling the defense because he knew that defense from Bud Carson as they had worked together, but pairing Giunta with John Bunting, who took care of ensuring everyone was in the right place and being able to orchestrate the defense to the players plus motivating them accordingly.

Giunta & Bunting were Co-Defensive Coordinators for that reason and after Vermeil resigned, Martz decided he wanted Mike Haluchak as his linebacker coach and then informed Bunting that he was going with Giunta as the DC as he didn't want co DC's and that he was hiring Haluchak as linebacker coach so Bunting understood he was out. IMHO Martz should have kept Bunting as the DC, however, Bunting vacillated signing his contract to comeback with the Rams because Martz went with Giunta, Martz then replaced him and the defense suffered.

 

[Tano]

Yeah I knew the Rams were in trouble on defense that year during preseason, they looked bad and it translated into the season.

This was Mike Martz first mistake as the defense worked fine with Peter Giunta calling the defense because he knew that defense from Bud Carson as they had worked together, but pairing Giunta with John Bunting, who took care of ensuring everyone was in the right place and being able to orchestrate the defense to the players plus motivating them accordingly.

Giunta & Bunting were Co-Defensive Coordinators for that reason and after Vermeil resigned, Martz decided he wanted Mike Haluchak as his linebacker coach and then informed Bunting that he was going with Giunta as the DC as he didn't want co DC's and that he was hiring Haluchak as linebacker coach so Bunting understood he was out. IMHO Martz should have kept Bunting as the DC, however, Bunting vacillated signing his contract to comeback with the Rams because Martz went with Giunta, Martz then replaced him and the defense suffered.

Where did Bunting go?

 

[den-the-coach]

Where did Bunting go?

The team that beat the Rams in the playoffs that year, the New Orleans Saints. So Martz made our rival stronger.

 

[tempests]

So many great memories from that year.

Torry and Az's MNF run
Rams losing their placekicker against Atlanta and going for it on every fourth down and two point try
Firebombing the Chargers for 614 yards and 57 points. Then Kurt Warner grading their offensive performance 'B+' after the game because he was disappointed they didn't score a TD on every drive.

Felt like there was nothing that offense couldn't do.

 

[Merlin]

After the Super Bowl win in '99 I remember Vermiel being asked about the defense and him saying (before he decided to retire) that they needed to get tougher on that side of the ball. Martz of course didn't get the memo, or didn't agree, and in the end didn't know what he didn't know and had to learn his big first lesson the hard way.

He did a good job prior to 2001 though in hiring Lovie and all that. But the truth was Martz was an OC type not a head coach. To be the top dog and win in that role over time you need more than just great coordinator ability. Gotta have leadership, a steady hand, good vision, many things that Martz simply couldn't provide.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Yeah I knew the Rams were in trouble on defense that year during preseason, they looked bad and it translated into the season.

Same here! I remember noticing how bad the D looked in preseason. Before the Denver opener, I remember thinking, "this will be a good test if the D is terrible or not." And sure enough it was. But the offense... wow!!!

Dennis Miller with his "Romulus and Remus" call of Holt and Hakim jawing as they dash down the sideline for a TD:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPxc0UYGz_8