Flashback to when things were really bad ("Bernie" interviews "Linehan" 2007/08)

[Tano]

lol I remember back in the chatroom when they sucked. Would start off everytime we scored I'd drink, then as the game got shittier and we couldn't score and got laughable I'd start drinking and celebrating 1st downs and the other team punting. We held them to a FG!!! drink time baby!! Holy shit, Craig Dahl tackled someone!!! Drink time!!!(those didn't happen often obviously).

Everytime I saw Craig Dahl play, I would think of the cartoon dog - which way did he go George which way did he go

 

[wolfdogg]

"Things may not be perfect now..."

This is one of the best Rams teams we've ever had coming into a season.

Best QB we've had coming since 2001. Deepest WR group since 2004/2005.

Defense was number one last year and we still have two of the best defensive players in the league.

Our HC has never had a losing season.

We're the 6th youngest team in the NFL.

The way some of us talk on here is BAFFLING to me. Our roster is right there with any team.

I'm 55 and reading the thread title gave me my first ever "trigger" moment. Fortunately this post made me spit the bottle of pills out.

I was like, yeah, wtf am I doing?

The Linehan references, however, have popped something loose, things that I've paid my shrink alot of money to keep locked up in a deep dark place.

 

[Merlin]

2007-2011
15 wins, 65 losses

This is some good perspective on the job that Fisher/Snead did from 2012-2016...31 wins, 45 losses.

And a hard dose of reality when complaining about McV getting figured out, not drafting OL or getting pass happy or whatever.
43 wins, 21 losses

Without a doubt. As happy as I was to see us move from Fish to Sean the truth is Fish (and Snead) did a ton of pre-work in churning the roster and raising the bar. There was talent when Sean came in and that was a big part of this run that began with success on day one for him.

The day is coming when Sean elects to move on, either to a new situation with maybe more control or maybe even the media where he'll be a juggernaut there as well. So for me I'm gonna savor each moment of this window. We have a season ahead with a good chance to win it all, no idea where we'll end up but it's gonna be a great ride.

 

[wolfdogg]

Without a doubt. As happy as I was to see us move from Fish to Sean the truth is Fish (and Snead) did a ton of pre-work in churning the roster and raising the bar. There was talent when Sean came in and that was a big part of this run that began with success on day one for him.

The day is coming when Sean elects to move on, either to a new situation with maybe more control or maybe even the media where he'll be a juggernaut there as well. So for me I'm gonna savor each moment of this window. We have a season ahead with a good chance to win it all, no idea where we'll end up but it's gonna be a great ride.

Orrr....mcvay will be coaching here into his 60's putting him at shulas record of 328 wins.

I think he'll have to get fired before he leaves on his own and why would either of those things happen? Say what you want about California but when you're a star in LA , there's nothing like it. His kids will grow up there. He'll get entrenched in that rut of waking up next to a beautiful wife, and great human being, pondering all the fun things socal has to offer from his beautiful home, never paying for a meal at some of the best restaurants in the country, including his own, popping in to chat with Kimmel or hanging courtside with the lakers, etc,etc,etc. He ain't going nowhere.

 

[AZRams]

Worst 5 year stretch in NFL history at the time.
Something like 10 wins and 70 losses. Not sure if that record still stands.

EDIT: It does. Here it is...

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/4mcx9e/every_nfl_teams_worst_5_year_stretch_based_on_win/


2007-2011
15 wins, 65 losses

This is some good perspective on the job that Fisher/Snead did from 2012-2016...31 wins, 45 losses.

And a hard dose of reality when complaining about McV getting figured out, not drafting OL or getting pass happy or whatever.
43 wins, 21 losses

I vividly remember arguing on-line with folks about the Fisher hire in '12. Folks talking about how he's such a mediocrity and I'm like, "Mediocrity? Bring it..."

The only requirement I had for him was to make them competitive. I'd hoped he could turn the corner and start having some winning seasons but relative to what came before him, my lord what an upgrade!

 

[den-the-coach]

The only requirement I had for him was to make them competitive. I'd hoped he could turn the corner and start having some winning seasons but relative to what came before him, my lord what an upgrade!

Yeah, back then 7-9 sounded like the promise land and God forbid, 8-8. His first year was his best year at 7-8-1 and I remember thinking, Wow! Sadly, the Rams never evolved from that and in fairness the bad look at QB combined with never hiring a real Offensive Coordinator sealed Montana Man's fate and now Fisher can focus on, well, fishing.

 

[Memento]

Loserhan and Spitnuolo were equally bad.

Spitnuolo had the worse records and took down the photos of the GSOT because he was a narcissistic fuckface.

Loserhan had the worst drafts I've ever seen. I wasn't even eighteen, and I could probably have picked better than him. Oh, and every player was pissed at him.

I laughed at the fake interview, but my fate, I'm so glad that we have McSnead.

 

[AZRams]

Yeah, back then 7-9 sounded like the promise land and God forbid, 8-8. His first year was his best year at 7-8-1 and I remember thinking, Wow! Sadly, the Rams never evolved from that and in fairness the bad look at QB combined with never hiring a real Offensive Coordinator sealed Montana Man's fate and now Fisher can focus on, well, fishing.

Maybe not the promised land but it was definite progress and a first step towards more. And he accomplished it in-spades with that first year. And it was the necessary first step...sadly he couldn't take the next one.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Man, Bernie is such a hack, I do not miss his articles, so glad we have Jourdan now.

 

[Faceplant]

Linehan? My goodness... Fuck me dead.

Spags? Bye bye lil guy.

Fisher? Rob Boras was the worst decision he EVER made. That man made Linehan look like Mad Mike in his prime.

MCSLAY? Forever.

 

[PARAM]

How bad were Linehan and S;pagnuolo? Fisher was better than both of them combined.

 

[PhillyRam]

I don't want to look...

 

[MarkyMark]

Things may not be perfect now, but sometimes is good to remember when things were REALLY bad.

Here is a flashback of a couple of "interviews" by "BernieM" of our esteemed HC, "Scott Linehan," circa 2007-08 (originally posted on another site).

Enjoy!


October 2007

Welcome, Coach.

Thanks for having me.

Let's get down to business. 0-4. Not what you expected, huh?

Things are going well. I see improvement in many aspects of the game. I'm encouraged.

You're encouraged? You've lost the last two games by a combined score of 59-10. The only TD the team has scored in the last 11 quarters was on a punt return. What's encouraging?

Well, you for one. You keep telling me my job is safe for another year.

Touche! But you know I'm just blowing smoke, right? You know the front office doesn't really tell me anything, right?

You and me both, big man!

Okay, you got me on that one! So how is Marc Bulger doing?

Well, of course, he's not quite 100%. But we've got a lot invested in Gus Frerrotte, so I don't want to subject him to an injury.

Don't you have more invested in Bulger?

Yes, but he's already injured.

Not sure I follow your logic on this one...

Yeah, me neither.

What about the Steven Jackson issue. You sat him out for the entire preseason, and he proceeded to have a very slow start, marred by fumbling problems, and then got hurt. Any regrets.

Absolutely. I wish I hadn't taken him first on my fantasy team.

You play fantasy football?

Of course. I'm in a league with Don Imus, L.L. Cool J, Matt Damon, Al Roker and Jeff Goldbloom.

Really? So who's in first?

Well, that Roker guy wins every year, but I've got him this year. He took Bulger, Bennett and McMichael, and you can see what I've done to make sure he doesn't get too many points.

Oh, so that explains the playcalling.

You catch on fast.

So, what do you see as the bright points of this team right now?

Well, certainly the defense has improved a bit. In fact, if we could just hold on to the ball and score points, the defense might actually look pretty good.

Of course, Coach Haslett has more to do with that than anyone.

I think I've left my mark there too.

How so?

I like to stay involved. I'll walk by during practice and say "nice job, guys," or something like that. I think that is a big help.

No doubt. What would you say to those fans out there who are losing faith in you and your staff?

There are fans out there who don't like me?

Um... yeah. Some have even come up with acronyms for fake organizations opposing you as the coach.

Well, that's just mean. I--I--

Coach?

Y--Yeah?

Are you crying?

N--No...

Don't worry, Coach. Things will get better.

Y--you really think so?

Uh.... yeah... sure. Sure they will.

I feel much better.



January 2008

Welcome, coach. Thanks for meeting with me.

No problem. Its not like I have anything else to do this time of year.

Really? Aren't you getting ready for free agency, the draft...

Nah. I think we're fine as is.

You do?

Well, clearly our record should have been better, but I didn't get fired, so I guess that means everything is okay.

Don't you want to win more games?

Well, sure I do, but there's nothing that I can do about it. I mean, I don't play the game.

True, but you do set the gameplan, call the plays, etc...

That's true, but that stuff doesn't really matter.

Your players seem to disagree. Torry Holt, for one.

What about him?

Well, he was pretty mad at you a couple of weeks ago, wasn't he?

I don't remember that.

Well, here's the tape <shows video clip of outburst>

Oh, that? He wasn't mad at me.

He wasn't? What was he saying.

He was saying "coach, I'm so frustrated about how fans have been coming down so hard on you when its all been about injuries and poor execution by us!"

Do you expect me to buy that?

Well, I didn't get fired, did I?

That's true, but I would suggest that Ms. Frontiere's health has put the team in limbo, and that's why you still have a job.

Are you accusing me of trying to kill the owner?

WHAT!?!!? NO!?!?!

Sure sounded like it.

Man, you are more paranoid than Mike Martz.

What about Mike Martz?!?!

Nothing. I was just saying...

He can't come back! I won't let him! No no no no no no no no!

I don't think anyone thinks he's coming back.

I'm in charge! He can't take away my power! No no no no no no!

Calm down, coach. I never said he was coming back. Now, what do you see as the Rams priorities in the upcoming draft?

Tight end.

What?

Tight end. That is the most important position on the team.

You're not serious, are you?

Don't I look serious?

But what about the pass rush? The offensive line? Strong safety?

A good tight end will make up for the problems at all those positions.

I don't see how, but are you saing that Randy McMichael is not good enough?

No, he's great. He used to play for me in Miami, you know? But we need more. More tight ends. More, I tell you. Bwahahaha!

Okay, well, anything you'd like to say about the 2007 season?

Yes. We accomplished all of our goals except one.

Which is?

Winning games

Things may not be perfect now, but sometimes is good to remember when things were REALLY bad.

Here is a flashback of a couple of "interviews" by "BernieM" of our esteemed HC, "Scott Linehan," circa 2007-08 (originally posted on another site).

Enjoy!


October 2007

Welcome, Coach.

Thanks for having me.

Let's get down to business. 0-4. Not what you expected, huh?

Things are going well. I see improvement in many aspects of the game. I'm encouraged.

You're encouraged? You've lost the last two games by a combined score of 59-10. The only TD the team has scored in the last 11 quarters was on a punt return. What's encouraging?

Well, you for one. You keep telling me my job is safe for another year.

Touche! But you know I'm just blowing smoke, right? You know the front office doesn't really tell me anything, right?

You and me both, big man!

Okay, you got me on that one! So how is Marc Bulger doing?

Well, of course, he's not quite 100%. But we've got a lot invested in Gus Frerrotte, so I don't want to subject him to an injury.

Don't you have more invested in Bulger?

Yes, but he's already injured.

Not sure I follow your logic on this one...

Yeah, me neither.

What about the Steven Jackson issue. You sat him out for the entire preseason, and he proceeded to have a very slow start, marred by fumbling problems, and then got hurt. Any regrets.

Absolutely. I wish I hadn't taken him first on my fantasy team.

You play fantasy football?

Of course. I'm in a league with Don Imus, L.L. Cool J, Matt Damon, Al Roker and Jeff Goldbloom.

Really? So who's in first?

Well, that Roker guy wins every year, but I've got him this year. He took Bulger, Bennett and McMichael, and you can see what I've done to make sure he doesn't get too many points.

Oh, so that explains the playcalling.

You catch on fast.

So, what do you see as the bright points of this team right now?

Well, certainly the defense has improved a bit. In fact, if we could just hold on to the ball and score points, the defense might actually look pretty good.

Of course, Coach Haslett has more to do with that than anyone.

I think I've left my mark there too.

How so?

I like to stay involved. I'll walk by during practice and say "nice job, guys," or something like that. I think that is a big help.

No doubt. What would you say to those fans out there who are losing faith in you and your staff?

There are fans out there who don't like me?

Um... yeah. Some have even come up with acronyms for fake organizations opposing you as the coach.

Well, that's just mean. I--I--

Coach?

Y--Yeah?

Are you crying?

N--No...

Don't worry, Coach. Things will get better.

Y--you really think so?

Uh.... yeah... sure. Sure they will.

I feel much better.



January 2008

Welcome, coach. Thanks for meeting with me.

No problem. Its not like I have anything else to do this time of year.

Really? Aren't you getting ready for free agency, the draft...

Nah. I think we're fine as is.

You do?

Well, clearly our record should have been better, but I didn't get fired, so I guess that means everything is okay.

Don't you want to win more games?

Well, sure I do, but there's nothing that I can do about it. I mean, I don't play the game.

True, but you do set the gameplan, call the plays, etc...

That's true, but that stuff doesn't really matter.

Your players seem to disagree. Torry Holt, for one.

What about him?

Well, he was pretty mad at you a couple of weeks ago, wasn't he?

I don't remember that.

Well, here's the tape <shows video clip of outburst>

Oh, that? He wasn't mad at me.

He wasn't? What was he saying.

He was saying "coach, I'm so frustrated about how fans have been coming down so hard on you when its all been about injuries and poor execution by us!"

Do you expect me to buy that?

Well, I didn't get fired, did I?

That's true, but I would suggest that Ms. Frontiere's health has put the team in limbo, and that's why you still have a job.

Are you accusing me of trying to kill the owner?

WHAT!?!!? NO!?!?!

Sure sounded like it.

Man, you are more paranoid than Mike Martz.

What about Mike Martz?!?!

Nothing. I was just saying...

He can't come back! I won't let him! No no no no no no no no!

I don't think anyone thinks he's coming back.

I'm in charge! He can't take away my power! No no no no no no!

Calm down, coach. I never said he was coming back. Now, what do you see as the Rams priorities in the upcoming draft?

Tight end.

What?

Tight end. That is the most important position on the team.

You're not serious, are you?

Don't I look serious?

But what about the pass rush? The offensive line? Strong safety?

A good tight end will make up for the problems at all those positions.

I don't see how, but are you saing that Randy McMichael is not good enough?

No, he's great. He used to play for me in Miami, you know? But we need more. More tight ends. More, I tell you. Bwahahaha!

Okay, well, anything you'd like to say about the 2007 season?

Yes. We accomplished all of our goals except one.

Which is?

Winning games.

This can't be real! Is thos really real?! Can't be? If it is.......
Hell, I'm speechless.

 

[Memento]

This can't be real! Is thos really real?! Can't be? If it is.......
Hell, I'm speechless.

It's a joke. Not real.

 

[PARAM]

Still had Bruce and Holt, and Bulger was a pretty good QB still at that point, and several other guys from the GSOT. It's not like he had zero talent to work with.

And he went 8-8, two games better than the previous season. The peak of TGSOT was 2001. They were 5 years past their peak and had very little talent left. Ike, Holt, Pace and Bulger with a young SJ. On defense? Little?

 

[MarkyMark]

It's a joke. Not real.

Thank GOD

 

[Karate61]

Any room to add Rich Brooks in here? I couldn't stand him either!

 

[Wisconsinram]

I could hardly take those days as well, but always felt it always started at the top (ownership/GM). Makes me SO grateful for what we have now; a real organization.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

And he went 8-8, two games better than the previous season. The peak of TGSOT was 2001. They were 5 years past their peak and had very little talent left. Ike, Holt, Pace and Bulger with a young SJ.

Only 3 or 4 hall of famers there, I mean, with shit talent like that, it's amazing he didn't go 0-16. . . .

 

[PARAM]

Only 3 or 4 hall of famers there, I mean, with shit talent like that, it's amazing he didn't go 0-16. . . .

They say the memory is the first thing to go!!!! HOFer Pace played a whopping 8 games in 2006, 1 in 2007. HOFer Ike played 13 in 2006, 12 in 2007 and was in SF by 2008. And that was it for the HOFers on that 2006 squad. Torry's knees were bone on bone and he was in Jax by 2009. Timmerman played 13 games in 2006, his last year in the NFL. Like I said, they were 5 years past their peak as a team, individually, some less than that as a HOF player but they did manage to go 8-8 in 2006, so there's that. The one star who still had something left in the tank was Big Game, but not for long. It's amazing how some fans hold onto memories instead of realizing reality. They just didn't have much talent in 2006 on.