To what do you relate the rash of injuries last year?

[-X-]

I've been thinking about it, and I have a theory. This is just me probably, but I think that when you play this game with a level of pensiveness attributed to not necessarily being real familiar with what you're supposed to do, you expose yourself to injury more than you would if you were completely familiar with the scheme and were just out there reacting to things.

For example.

Say you're a wide receiver and you're still learning the system - and let's use McDaniels' system because it incorporated sight adjustments. You're definitely not real familiar with it. Now you're lining up and what's going through your head is, "I have to get to that spot or adjust my route if the defense shows blitz, but I'm not real familiar with what this defense does (because I'm a rookie), so it may only *look* like a blitz with how the defender's lining up. Oh, and my QB has never done this before either, so if I adjust my route, is he going to read it the same way I did? How do I read this one? We've only practiced this a few times because again, I'm a rookie, and I'm filling in for the guy who got hurt last week."

"FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Now you're out there running your route and your head is trying to process stuff, so you're not necessarily playing football. You're analyzing and running. Can that cause you to get lit up or be overly cautious while running your route for fear that you might make the wrong decision? Is having all that stuff in your head dangerous in a game that goes SO fast?

Food for thought. Lloyd didn't get hurt. Mikell didn't get hurt. Long and Hall didn't *get hurt*. Harvey Dahl didn't get hurt. JL didn't get hurt. Those are all guys who had experience in the systems in which they were playing. Years, in fact. The other guys were learning on the fly. Some of the injuries were just flukes (J Smith, Bartell, Saffold), but there has to be a reason why this team was so plagued last year. Other than 21 instances of "bad luck."

 

[Memento]

I'm sorry, but the only thing I can compare this season to is the Blues season one year ago. The only Blues player who wasn't injured at some point during that season was David Backes - and some of the injuries (yes, I'm looking at you, Mr. Oshie) were just as fluky as this season's injuries.

And how do you explain Quinn? He wasn't hurt this season; at least, not enough to miss games. And yet he was probably the most inexperienced out of every player, including the rookies.

I really am starting to think that someone put a curse on the Rams.

 

[-X-]

And how do you explain Quinn? He wasn't hurt this season; at least, not enough to miss games. And yet he was probably the most inexperienced out of every player, including the rookies.

Quinn was a pass-rush specialist and a special teams punt blocker. Seemed to me his only responsibility was "go get that guy, or go get the ball." He got a little more involved in the running game toward the end of the season, but I don't think he was really much more than a head-hunter for most of his time last year.

 

[Faceplant]

"FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

I think there is some merit to what you are saying. When players are used to a system they can be more focused on footwork, route running, etc because they are thinking less about screwing up. I think you are correct that this could reduce chances for injury.

 

[Memento]

And how do you explain Quinn? He wasn't hurt this season; at least, not enough to miss games. And yet he was probably the most inexperienced out of every player, including the rookies.

Quinn was a pass-rush specialist and a special teams punt blocker. Seemed to me his only responsibility was "go get that guy, or go get the ball." He got a little more involved in the running game toward the end of the season, but I don't think he was really much more than a head-hunter for most of his time last year.

Then he had to learn one of the most complex defensive systems in the NFL and play special teams - and all of this happened after he had been forced to sit out his junior year of college. Even if he was nothing more than a headhunter, he still has to perfect the pass-rushing moves that he hasn't used (at least, not in a game-like setting) in a year. Veterans like Hall and Long help, but that's still a lot to put on a rookie.

Sometimes a team just has a ton of horrible luck. Sometimes the sports gods decide to suddenly hate a team for no apparent reason. Still, while your theory sounds good in practice, I honestly don't know if it's true for all teams. The Packers were pretty much like the walking wounded during their Super Bowl run, and their systems had been put in place years ago.

 

[Anonymous]

I've been thinking about it, and I have a theory. This is just me probably, but I think that when you play this game with a level of pensiveness attributed to not necessarily being real familiar with what you're supposed to do, you expose yourself to injury more than you would if you were completely familiar with the scheme and were just out there reacting to things.

For example.

Say you're a wide receiver and you're still learning the system - and let's use McDaniels' system because it incorporated sight adjustments. You're definitely not real familiar with it. Now you're lining up and what's going through your head is, "I have to get to that spot or adjust my route if the defense shows blitz, but I'm not real familiar with what this defense does (because I'm a rookie), so it may only *look* like a blitz with how the defender's lining up. Oh, and my QB has never done this before either, so if I adjust my route, is he going to read it the same way I did? How do I read this one? We've only practiced this a few times because again, I'm a rookie, and I'm filling in for the guy who got hurt last week."

"FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Now you're out there running your route and your head is trying to process stuff, so you're not necessarily playing football. You're analyzing and running. Can that cause you to get lit up or be overly cautious while running your route for fear that you might make the wrong decision? Is having all that stuff in your head dangerous in a game that goes SO fast?

Food for thought. Lloyd didn't get hurt. Mikell didn't get hurt. Long and Hall didn't *get hurt*. Harvey Dahl didn't get hurt. JL didn't get hurt. Those are all guys who had experience in the systems in which they were playing. Years, in fact. The other guys were learning on the fly. Some of the injuries were just flukes (J Smith, Bartell, Saffold), but there has to be a reason why this team was so plagued last year. Other than 21 instances of "bad luck."

You know, believe it or, I was thinking the exact same thing today. I was wondering about the injuries and then got to thinking that maybe it was the "calculating not executing" thing.

 

[Ramhusker]

So how would you explain the Rams' rash of injuries the two previous years as well? This team has had "over the top' injuries for a few seasons now. What gives?

 

[Anonymous]

So how would you explain the Rams' rash of injuries the two previous years as well? This team has had "over the top' injuries for a few seasons now. What gives?

They didn't have as many injuries in 2010.

The bad years were 09 and 2011.

Both times, new systems.

Of course the lockout was also a factor in 2011. Guys like Brown reported out of shape, which would not have happened if they had normal OTAs (cause they would have caught it sooner). Guys like Avery and Clayton couldn't heal right cause they thought they didn't have to (they were catching passes from Bradford and then reported still dinged). The rookies were not used to NFL rigors and had less time to learn all the right stretches and weight training techniques.

 

[Warner4Prez]

Something's gotta give. I find it hard to believe that a group of NFL players can be fragile as a bunch of damned eggs.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Outdated unnatural turf playing field and slacking off or not knowing how to properly stretch and warm up. That's my guess. I don't know. There has to be a logical explanation. There just has to be. We can't be this "unlucky". If it is bad luck, wow!

 

[Selassie I]

Something I learned many moons ago is... when playing football, if you play the game in a manner were you are actually trying to avoid injuries... you will greatly increase the chances of being injured. That may sound crazy,,, but take my word for it, it's true. This game has to be played at full-speed to be played correctly,, and playing the game correctly (fundamentally sound) is the real way to avoid injury.

I can see were being indecisive about your assignment on the field could lead to a "slowdown" in the speed you play, and thus have a direct effect on increasing your chances of injury. Not as much as actually trying to avoid being injured though, but I can see it as a possibility.


If I were to guess (cause that's all any of us are doing) at the reason for the large # of injuries last year,,, my guess would be that we had too many players that are injury PRONE making up the roster.

Starting with the Receiving Corp... I had a terrible feeling going into the season that most of the group was made up of China Dolls. Avery, Alexander, Clayton, Hoo-Hoo, and I'm probably leaving somebody else out. Anyway, counting on these guys to retain their health throughout the year was, at best, a poor gamble. I never thought Danny Boy would go down,,, (just a freak thing).

I was afraid to look at Jason Smith too long for fear that I would be the cause of his next concussion. Really had to almost expect that I'm sorry to say. Had to gamble though, no choice. Why did he give up wearing that Giant Cushioned Don Beebee Helmet I saw in someone's signature in here BTW ??? lol

SJ39... he's going to miss a few games every year. Had to expect that.

Fletcher...coming back from a knee at CB. Al Harris , even with his kickass dreads,,, old as fucking hell. Then having to rely on multiple CBs coming off the streets basically... most not in the best shape, and they're usually on the streets for a reason. Bad ingredients.

I feel like I'm forgetting a few others that I thought were higher risk... but I have a problem with short term memory loss at times for some reason.


The fucked up off-season had a hand in it too. Players out of shape lead to injuries.


There was a time when writing the word "injury" in this forum was considered bad juju... that must of had something to do with it as well.

 

[-X-]

Something I learned many moons ago is... when playing football, if you play the game in a manner were you are actually trying to avoid injuries... you will greatly increase the chances of being injured. That may sound crazy,,, but take my word for it, it's true. This game has to be played at full-speed to be played correctly,, and playing the game correctly (fundamentally sound) is the real way to avoid injury.

I can see were being indecisive about your assignment on the field could lead to a "slowdown" in the speed you play, and thus have a direct effect on increasing your chances of injury. Not as much as actually trying to avoid being injured though, but I can see it as a possibility.


If I were to guess (cause that's all any of us are doing) at the reason for the large # of injuries last year,,, my guess would be that we had too many players that are injury PRONE making up the roster.

Starting with the Receiving Corp... I had a terrible feeling going into the season that most of the group was made up of China Dolls. Avery, Alexander, Clayton, Hoo-Hoo, and I'm probably leaving somebody else out. Anyway, counting on these guys to retain their health throughout the year was, at best, a poor gamble. I never thought Danny Boy would go down,,, (just a freak thing).

I was afraid to look at Jason Smith too long for fear that I would be the cause of his next concussion. Really had to almost expect that I'm sorry to say. Had to gamble though, no choice. Why did he give up wearing that Giant Cushioned Don Beebee Helmet I saw in someone's signature in here BTW ??? lol

SJ39... he's going to miss a few games every year. Had to expect that.

Fletcher...coming back from a knee at CB. Al Harris , even with his kickass dreads,,, old as fucking hell. Then having to rely on multiple CBs coming off the streets basically... most not in the best shape, and they're usually on the streets for a reason. Bad ingredients.

I feel like I'm forgetting a few others that I thought were higher risk... but I have a problem with short term memory loss at times for some reason.


The fucked up off-season had a hand in it too. Players out of shape lead to injuries.


There was a time when writing the word "injury" in this forum was considered bad juju... that must of had something to do with it as well.

Oh I absolutely agree with the first part. If you're not thinking about anything other than bringing the pain, you probably won't experience much of it yourself. That's the kinda thing I was talking about. Nothing else on your mind but getting the job done and knowing exactly how to do it - and looking forward to it.

Sure, there were a lot of other variables involved as well. Age, lack of OTAs and camp, previous history, etc. It just seemed to me that there were WAY more injuries last year than in years past, and it seemed to all revolve around the new system(s). We did bring in a lot of guys on defense who never ran Spags' system either, so... yeah. I dunno. Just trying to rationalize it in a way that I can embrace. Something that makes sense to me.

 

[Selassie I]

Well , I believe the true answer to the question HAS to be that there was more than 1 thing that led to the "rash".

 

[-X-]

Well , I believe the true answer to the question HAS to be that there was more than 1 thing that led to the "rash".

In the right context, sure. :hehe:

i.e., "Where the hell did this rash come from?"

 

[Warner4Prez]

Well , I believe the true answer to the question HAS to be that there was more than 1 thing that led to the "rash".

In the right context, sure. :hehe:

i.e., "Where the hell did this rash come from?"

And apparently the excuse "toilet seats" doesn't cut it anymore??

I dunno, I'd like to throw old position coaches under the bus. Loney was here for a few years and saw a rash of injuries on the o-line damn near every year, and that's preceding the Spags era.
Wide outs had experienced a boat load of injuries both with Ellard and again after Cromwell showed up too. Maybe you can chalk that up to fragile players? Lack of elite or even better than average talent?
I think the same applies to the secondary, there were injuries before Spags and during his time. There's been a lot of turnover at the spot though. Bartell and King have been there longest I think. With that little continuity you can't expect guys to play balls to the wall or be prepared for the grind of a full year.

Maybe some more experienced guys come in under Fisher and they're able to better prepare guys than what we'd previously had with Linehan and Spags, I'm sure a full off-season will help too.

 

[Ram Quixote]

There was a time when writing the word "injury" in this forum was considered bad juju... that must of had something to do with it as well.

I consider the word "injury" to be bad juju from the start of training camp thru the playoffs (when we're in it). The offseason, including OTAs, is just talk.

 

[Ram Quixote]

There isn't any single cause for the injuries last year. X's theory makes sense, as does the snowball effect that occurred from the middle of the season onward. Sometimes, stuff happens and people wonder who's next and then it's them.

But let's not forget how snakebit Spags' tenure was. There wasn't a normal offseason (2009-dead money, 2010-no cap, 2011-lockout) in 3 years. Hard to get a handle on cause and effect with all that going on. So, maybe there was a large dose of horrible luck.

As much as I didn't want Spags fired, with the above in mind, things are looking up. Maybe Fisher brings us good luck. In 2010, they upgraded the ED turf and after 2 years it should be broken in enough to not be a major factor in injuries.

 

[JdashSTL]

Cant we just blame this on the Strength & Conditioning coaches (especially if it continues)?

Then we go to Tennessee and and kidnap their coach S & C (since they blocked us from interviewing him). Boom. Problem solved. :bign:

 

[Anonymous]

Cant we just blame this on the Strength & Conditioning coaches (especially if it continues)?

Then we go to Tennessee and and kidnap their coach S & C (since they blocked us from interviewing him). Boom. Problem solved. :bign:

Nope, can't do that.

They had a long series of multiple injuries in 2007, too--with a different strength coach.