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[Note:
Since some posters may not know Tom, perhaps a little intro is warranted here. Tom used to
post regularly at the old Post.net site, where he was known for his insight,
knowledge, and objectivity. Although knowing him he would probably be
reluctant to have attention drawn to himself, I nevertheless offer a quick bio. Tom is an
ex-player who also did some pro scouting. He has followed Vermeil's coaching career from
the Eagles days to today. His sense of history and knowledge of the game make him a valued
commentator.
Enjoy---Zack.]
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ESPN thought that this "spoof" would
garner a couple of laughs from sports fans worldwide. We'll see who's laughing in
January.
(image scanned by Montana Ram) |
DV now has an offense that is as well
prepared as his defense and they are going to be fun to watch.
This is the best conceived offense I have ever seen DV put on the field, going back to
Philadelphia. They spread the ball around and they are harder to key on than even his good
Philly teams. Warner is reading coverage faster than I thought a young QB could.
Warner will have some ups and downs this years, all young QBs do, but he looks like the
real thing. Looks like he is getting great coaching. Coordinators can study him now and he
will be treated with a new kind of respect. Players and coaches will work harder at hiding
coverage from him, knowing how accurate he can be when he gets a clean read.
Having had to watch Tony play QB had to be pretty discouraging for our defense, the last
couple of years. Under the circumstance, I thought they had good game plans for the most
part played hard. This year they can play to win, which should bring their performance to
a higher level.
Holt and Bruce stretch the field as fast as anybody, and it gives Warner good clean
targets to throw at.
Terrific game play as well as play calling.
Coordinators in the NFC West are going to have to earn their paychecks.
Having said that, the Falcon team we played today should be better when we play them in
Atlanta, but this is not the team we saw play for the Falcons last year. They have no deep
threat and the coverage sits right up top of their guys. (Last year you sit on top of
Martin, you'd be so far behind by the end of the first quarter, even if we had a starting
caliber QB, we would have never caught up.) And they played on the road on the previous
Monday night. Monday night games create an extremely tough week for players and coaches.
Players are still a little sore when the following Sunday rolls around. All things being
equal, we need to go to Atlanta next month and get on the plane ride home with a win. It
won't be near as easy as it was this afternoon.
We beat a tired and injured Falcon team Sunday and we would have beaten them were they not
as tired and as injured, but we would not have demolished them.
Right now our power rating should put us in the top 15, in the league, but I predict later
we will finish the season in the top 5 to 10. The Falcon team we beat is 0-3 and the
Ravens got a close game from a pretty pathetic expansion team..
Next? The Bengals are a proven poor NFL football team, but no team, no coach, or no player
wants to go 0-4. When this season is over, they like some weak Rams teams (of the past)
will have won three or four games. The Bengals are due, and the Rams like all teams which
are just starting to win, must remember to go on the field in Cincinnati with the same
hunger and diligent preparation they took to the field this past Sunday in St. Louis.
Our Rams better bring their hitting clothes to Cincinnati this week, since we are playing
a wounded animal and one which is desperate not to go 0-4.
A champions learns to "kick butt and take names" on a weekly basis.
In the end, I think the Rams might be what the Falcons were last year. We probably
are as good as anybody in the division and we are playing what should be an relatively
weak schedule.
It's going to be a fun year. |