Xavier Smith - Pharoh Cooper - Az Hakim

[Psycho_X]

Most of you know how these all relate to each other. Hell, I'm probably forgetting some more with the way our luck has been. How in the hell do I keep seeing my teams hopes and dreams destroyed in the playoffs by disastrous special team play? I've got some serious PTSD with special teams. I want nothing to do with them... I sit there expecting the worst every time. I need it to stop because nothing pisses me off more than losing or giving up points because of dumbass special teams plays. Fuck, at this point just don't field a returner. I don't care, leave the backfield empty. Let the ball fall where it may. At least then the MVP gets to touch the ball.

Sorry, probably not worth a new thread but the irony of this shit is wearing me out. How many more of these will I endure before I die?

 

[snackdaddy]

When it came to Hakim I thought he just lost focus. Mighta been too nonchalant. With Cooper I felt like the magnitude of a playoff game overwhelmed him. I kinda felt that with Smith. Seemed like he felt the pressure of the big game and his mind got in the way. Fumbling once, shit happens. But twice? It was in his head.

 

[Memento]

If I were McVay, I'd leave X in Seattle.

So disgusted with the way he played today, and if Pharoh Cooper gets cut for less with more production and X doesn't, I'll have questions.

 

[Merlin]

Relying on guys who aren't ideal for given roles will inevitably lead to disappointment. I don't blame Xavier Smith for the mistake. It happens in football. The problem is we positioned ourselves to depend on him in the first place. And unfortunately it bit us in the ass.

Snead simply needs to prioritize teamers with the late round and UDFA efforts. Returner has been something I've bitched about for years. Rams had other priorities, ok fine, but now that returner shit finally bit them so I guess they'll fix it.

 

[PukaStan12]

X should be done with this team after not one but two inexcusable muffs.

Low quality players like him and Konata Mumpfield get snaps over Tutu Atwell (who we brought back for $10 million for no reason mind) which absolutely baffles me.

 

[JonRam99]

Didn't Az have a muff or 2? or am I misremembering?
Regardless, ST's is priority #1 in the offseason. And I knew this would happen to them last night. We match up better than the Seahawks on O; slightly less on D. But, on ST's.... that was our Achilles heel & the 'Hawks took advantage of it.
This HAS to get fixed in the long, long offseason to come.

 

[Psycho_X]

Didn't Az have a muff or 2? or am I misremembering?

Yes, that's why he's in the thread title too. Lost us the game in 2000 against Saints that knocked us out of playoffs and had several others during regular seasons. At least he was a legit returner I suppose but that Saints game was a kick in the nuts because that offense was probably the best to ever play the game. Special teams mistakes and a defense that couldn't cover anyone killed us. We fixed one of those problems by trading for Aeneas Williams.... I'll pray something similar happens this offseason.

 

[Cjcinec]

The two muffled punts equaling the fumble that completely changed the game were unacceptable. Smith had struggled for the past three weeks catching the ball cleanly. He couldn’t catch two punts in Carolina and had then bounce away for additional yards on both occasions. Those could have been affected by the wind but the two fumbles yesterday were unacceptable. Does the guy actually practice punt returns? It goes back to the Special Teams Coach along with Snead and McVay. The change of Special Teams Coach should have been done LAST OFFSEASON. Teams have struggled for years and haven’t been at NFL Standards since Fassel left. The Rams DONT place a high value on special teams in draft and free agent signings. Smith was a very mediocre returner that gets limited snaps of offense but doesn’t offer much from his roster spot. He’s not fast or dynamic enough to be a threat. They need to address their poor coverage of punts and returner by drafting some speedy athletic players that can play backup roles on offense and defense while they develop their skills on special teams. This team needs an infusion of speed and athleticism to compete in this modern NFL. Seahawks weren’t that much better than the Rams yesterday but they are quicker and more athletic. We got to match that to beat that.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Returner has been something I've bitched about for years.

You and me both.

Rams had other priorities, ok fine, but now that returner shit finally bit them so I guess they'll fix it.

Will they?
I wrote on the NFC championship game day thread here when I saw Whittington back there returning kickoffs. Really?
And all game long, he pretty much got taken down by the first guy he ran into.
He looked more like a running back running into the teeth of another team's defense and picking up a yard.
I love Whittington as a gritty 3rd or 4th wide receiver in a rotation.
But kick returner?
I don't get it.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I don't know what's going on with Xavier Smith, but he looked incredibly confident catching the ball last year but he has been a little shaky this year and was REALLY shaky last night.
Kick returners and punt returners that get you a few extra yards are game winners.
It's really pretty huge in my opinion.

 

[LouisvilleRam]

It's like deja vu all over again

 

[Soul Surfer]

players like him and Konata Mumpfield get snaps over Tutu Atwell (who we brought back for $10 million for no reason mind) which absolutely baffles me.

Whittington
Mumpfield
X Smith
They're all getting snaps over Atwell. While Tutu wasn't even activated.
Very strange.
Of all four of these players.
I'd say Tutu is that home run threat you should have on the field in up to 80% of the offensive snaps.

 

[MachS]

Unfortunately when you dont perform under pressure you're never looked at the same. All the talent in the world doesn't matter unless it can be relied upon in critical moments when its absolutely needed. Feel bad for the kid but McVay wont let him be on the opening day roster next yr.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

Looks like mcvay's numbers game screwed him in the worst possible way. Using a spot on the team for a different position by using x as a punt returner and wr backfired on him at the worst possible time.

Talented players like shaheed can do that. Jags like Smith can't. He lost practice time in teams by being in the wr rotation. And here we are.

.

 

[Merlin]

Will they?
I wrote on the NFC championship game day thread here when I saw Whittington back there returning kickoffs. Really?
And all game long, he pretty much got taken down by the first guy he ran into.

Not only that but Whittington actively runs right to the first defender you see on some occasions. He is not even remotely a good returner.

Last good returner we had on this team was Horne. It's been that long. We've had ok types thereafter, but it's crazy to think about how this organization has not valued having an occasional score here or there to bolster the winning effort. And all it costs is a midround pick for someone with returner skills, as well as a roster spot.

 

[Rams8821]

Not only that but Whittington actively runs right to the first defender you see on some occasions. He is not even remotely a good returner.

Last good returner we had on this team was Horne. It's been that long. We've had ok types thereafter, but it's crazy to think about how this organization has not valued having an occasional score here or there to bolster the winning effort. And all it costs is a midround pick for someone with returner skills, as well as a roster spot.

Brandon Powell was good.....

 

[Merlin]

Brandon Powell was good.....

Hrm yeah ok. I'll agree with that.

But I'd still like to see them identify and go get a return specialist and then build the unit around him.

 

[So Ram]

Hrm yeah ok. I'll agree with that.

But I'd still like to see them identify and go get a return specialist and then build the unit around him.

-Not sure. He just tripped & was uncomfortable.X -Smith hasn’t done that before.He got lucky the FIRST time,but that was in his head as well. The ball was carrying from that direction with wind behind the QB’s/punters.
Like Stafford said he has made plays all year. Xavier Smith probably doesn’t make The Rams roster & Tutu is going on the Free Agent Market!!
-IMO who knows what happens next season.I can see The Rams drafting drafting a WR early with that Falcons pick.PLUS Kyren Williams could be the Punt Returner.Hunter will find his way into the rotation as well.

 

[MarkMyWords]

I noticed that the Seahawks right gunner, on punts, beat his guy down field almost every time. He was 3 yards ahead of Forbes, who was supposed to be at least slowing him down on that last fumble. I think Smith was seeing him coming, which is not an excuse to fumble but our special teams problems are much deeper than just the returners... Does Forbes usually play there on punts returns?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Yes, that's why he's in the thread title too. Lost us the game in 2000 against Saints that knocked us out of playoffs and had several others during regular seasons. At least he was a legit returner I suppose but that Saints game was a kick in the nuts because that offense was probably the best to ever play the game. Special teams mistakes and a defense that couldn't cover anyone killed us. We fixed one of those problems by trading for Aeneas Williams.... I'll pray something similar happens this offseason.

Trent McDuffie is rumored to be on the trade block, just saying.