Is this the "no excuses acceptable" year for you?

[RhodyRams]

for years I have been saying wearethisclose to making the playoffs, and then the next year the team tanks. I , as someone else pointed out, believe that Rams would have had 9 or 10 wins last year with Sam. Pretty tired of getting all pumped up for a game every week and not even winning half the time.

So yeah, this year it is either put up or shut up for me

 

[-X-]

I've never liked the term "excuses" in football discussion. It's a loaded term that automatically implies that any factors outside of talent causing bad results are invalid. I certainly don't like our recent performances, but when you automatically put bad performance onto players and/or administration lacking talent, you run a real risk of letting talent go because of bad circumstances and actually downgrading the team.

So, yeah, if we don't have a winning record this year, I'd have to ponder why exactly that happened first.

Just my opinion.

I see your point. Maybe "excuses" isn't the perfect word, but I think you see where I'm going with it. Every year we're left with a litany of 'reasons' for the shortcomings, and I'm at the point where I'd like to forego all of that. In short, it's time (IMO) to shore up all of the potential 'reasons' for failure (relatively speaking) and take what's ours.

 

[Boffo97]

I see your point. Maybe "excuses" isn't the perfect word, but I think you see where I'm going with it. Every year we're left with a litany of 'reasons' for the shortcomings, and I'm at the point where I'd like to forego all of that. In short, it's time (IMO) to shore up all of the potential 'reasons' for failure (relatively speaking) and take what's ours.

I agree with that, but there is only so much shoring up one can do.

Sometimes... it's just bad luck... and that has been the case unfortunately often for the Rams. I've half wondered if the Ed was built on a Native American graveyard or something at times.

 

[rdlkgliders]

Good to see you around X.
Yes it pretty much is, I think we will have a good idea of what the direction of our team is. The front office philosophy and moves they have made over the first 3 years should be clear enough to assess whether or no we are headed back to prominence which is where we belong

 

[blackbart]

I have been a fan for far to long to put any stipulations like this on the team or myself. There are years that you cannot explain. I went through a lot of years with the team in LA losing in the playoffs to the Cowboys, the Vikings, etc etc etc years when there was no way they should not make the SB. So to say this is it for me, nah I'll be around until my dying day and understand that the years like 1999 are a gift to cherish.

 

[RamzFanz]

Ten wins? Yeah, at this point, I'm on board with that. Anything less would be a disappointment.

I'm assuming at least two impact players in key positions in the draft. If that doesn't happen, I'll have to dial back.

I'm not accepting anything less than playoffs for 2015 season. They should be more than ready.

 

[-X-]

I have been a fan for far to long to put any stipulations like this on the team or myself. There are years that you cannot explain. I went through a lot of years with the team in LA losing in the playoffs to the Cowboys, the Vikings, etc etc etc years when there was no way they should not make the SB. So to say this is it for me, nah I'll be around until my dying day and understand that the years like 1999 are a gift to cherish.

Fair enough. I'm really just trying to gauge where fans are in terms of patience, I guess. I thought I was pretty patient, and was willing to look upon a season objectively (with a homer slant) and rest on the idea that there are reasons for falling short of the mark. But I think I'm at the point where 5 years is enough to make the necessary corrections and account (in advance) for the things that could potentially hinder the goal of taking the division. As I said initially, there are things that could undeniably keep us from meeting our goal (2007 or 2009-type injuries), but anything short of that should be easy to overcome. In short, I really can't accept anything short of success this year. But again, that's just me.

 

[Faceplant]

In a word. Yes. Been suffering through underachieving, inconsistent, disfunctional football from this team since `79. Other than a glimpse of the good life during the GSOT years, it's been kick after kick to the nuts. This last 10 years has been such a disappointment due to the circumstances of the Great Fall from Grace that we all bore witness to. Time for some much deserved love from the football Gods. Let there be Lombardi!!!!

 

[rhinobean]

There is never a excuse. Come out play hard and win.
Yes this the year they have to win.

You're right about this! Was mad at the effort we got on both sides of the ball last year. Particularly Dallas & the whiners. Can't have that kind of effort or lack thereof this year! A split or better in the division is the least I expect and 0 losses at home! This team has the talent to go to the playoffs!

 

[Ramhusker]

10 wins or bust!!!! Anything less than double digit wins this year will be a failure for my fandom. I mean IT'S TIME! I'm with ya X. It's time to put it together and show us the wins! And that's got to be the attitude across the board in St. Louis. No excuses for anybody. JUST WIN BABY!!!!!!

 

[blackbart]

Fair enough. I'm really just trying to gauge where fans are in terms of patience, I guess. I thought I was pretty patient, and was willing to look upon a season objectively (with a homer slant) and rest on the idea that there are reasons for falling short of the mark. But I think I'm at the point where 5 years is enough to make the necessary corrections and account (in advance) for the things that could potentially hinder the goal of taking the division. As I said initially, there are things that could undeniably keep us from meeting our goal (2007 or 2009-type injuries), but anything short of that should be easy to overcome. In short, I really can't accept anything short of success this year. But again, that's just me.

I'm of the opinion that Bradford's injury last year was the absolute worse case scenario. It hurts him and the other offensive pieces not only last year but in their progression for 2-14 to some degree. As for excuses I think that is something I would pin on poor performance not an injury filled year. I thought all things considered 2013 was a successful year. I saw many projecting 4 or 5 wins for the Rams after Bradford went down. They did not make the playoffs but they were competitive in most games.

 

[DR RAM]

I think next year will be monumental for me as a LONG time fan. I see improvement. I think too many fans wanted things to happen too soon after the TOTAL rebuild that Fish, and Snead implemented. Is this year too soon for expectation??? No. It isn't in any stretch of the imagination, but I still think we are one more year away from being good, and beeing good for a stretch of time, which is key for me. No need to rush the plan.

We are still drafting from the RGME deal.... Just look at Robert Quinn to make my point. How long did it take him to be a full speed, impact player on every down? 3 years. He still might have more ceiling, which is scary, but my point is the same. It takes players a while to develop, even ELITE players such as Quinn. Quinn may have been the BEST defensive player in the NFL last year.

What I expect this year is for marked improvement, anything less would be a HUGE disappointment. I don't think 10 wins is asking too much. I think it may be right on. As we all know, some factors can't be controlled.

 

[DR RAM]

Oh, by the way, NICE to have the league's third toughest schedule. How many years has that been now, that we've had so many years with a tough schedule? Been before this was the best division in football, I know that.

Great question.

 

[kurtfaulk]

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When the Rams hired Fisher I had no doubt he would get them to 0.500 quickly, which he did straight away. The question was can he take them to the next step? He was the king of 8 and 8 seasons at Tennessee. As I did last season I believe the floor should be 10 wins but can Fisher get them there.

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[mr.stlouis]

It is for me. However, I'm sticking with Snisher and Bradford no matter what.

 

[V3]

This is the reason I say the year after next. That is when FA starts hitting these 2 teams, and hitting them hard. http://overthecap.com/futurefreeagents.php?Team=49ershttp://overthecap.com/futurefreeagents.php?Team=Seahawks This is when the Rams have to take over the reigns, and there's only one way. They have to draft/have drafted better than these teams and manage their team better.

Is that how low you set the bar? Once the other teams start falling apart due to cap issues(that's a mighty big assumption, too), only then will the Rams will be able to finally do something? I get that the West is one of the toughest in the NFL but if you want to win the Super Bowl, you have to beat the best. If they can't beat the best, then it's another season of not winning. The Rams should be able to beat them by next year with all the high picks and FA money they've used. Also, to say the Rams have drafted better than the Seahawks is wrong, IMO. The Seahawks have done an amazing job of finding Pro-Bowl caliber players all over the draft and even in the CFL. That's why I don't assume they'll be dropping off anytime soon. They draft extremely well.

 

[lockdnram21]

it all comes down to scoring more points and not having the defense on the field so much. oh and yea penalties need to go down. Build the line up give bradford protection and open those holes for Stacy.

 

[-X-]

Oh, by the way, NICE to have the league's third toughest schedule. How many years has that been now, that we've had so many years with a tough schedule? Been before this was the best division in football, I know that.

Great question.

The formula is solid, but I agree that we keep getting the short end of the stick. It seems that everytime we draw the last place team in each division (ahead of time by design), that the team in question is no slouch either. Strange how it keeps working out.

 

[RaminExile]

If we don't win 10 games I too will be sorely disappointed - but you have to look at the big picture and figure out why. If we are ravaged by injuries - then did we do a good enough job getting in depth in pre season - have the personnel decisions been right - that sort of thing. Changing something for the sake of change doesn't get you anywhere - we've been bad for 10 years and we've had loads of different coaches try and turn this ship round.

 

[DR RAM]

The formula is solid, but I agree that we keep getting the short end of the stick. It seems that everytime we draw the last place team in each division (ahead of time by design), that the team in question is no slouch either. Strange how it keeps working out.

It can't be explained, but it should be factored in. That part is hard though, and we have shown that we can beat playoff teams every year. Consistency, and injury, seems to be our problem. One, we can fix, one is an unpredictable factor, but having MORE depth well help that exponentially, IMO.