 GOOD STUFF, SOME PLUSSES & MINUSES, &
SO FORTH, BY JAMESJM(Dec 6) |
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FIRST,
CELEBRATE. Right after the game---> The impossible dream came
TRUE!!! Today we won the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP.....This is what it's all about, take
today to celebrate. Tomorrow we'll worry about the problems. Right now, all is sunshine
and rainbows....CONGRATS EVERYONE....My God, the RAMS DID IT!---And congrats to everyone
in St.L from a Ca. guy.....You have shown the world, (and Tag) that St.L is not merely
worthy of Pro ball, but that it has fans who truly among the *elite* in the entire
USA We''ve had so many causes for celebration this year I can't count them all. If you think Division Titles have no meaning, you better ask the NFL players. Look at their accomplishments---they have turned it around; they ended S.F.'s dominance plus they swept S.F.; they went from 0-8 in division play to 7-0 and soon to be 8-0 (that has NEVER been done!). They have the offense, they have they defense, they have a QB, they have fewer penalties than they did last year; they are even winning special teams play----need I go on? Fail to accomplish these things and you can forget the Super Bowl. SECOND, ANALYZE. The next day--->I have a "celebrate on Sunday and critique on Monday" mentality. Like most things in sports these days, everything is measured in numbers. I think it's because of computers, or our insistance that all things be reduced to a formula, (easier to manage that way). Anyway...if you look at the numbers [from the Carolina game], it was an A- effort. But no way would I give this effort an A. But still, it was far from a bad effort. Also, I think it's important to keep in mind that the Rams have been leading the way since game 1. You can bet that other teams will be playing a bit harder, and will be a bit more determined, when they play against the Rams now. * Once again, it almost looked like Carolina played over their heads in the 3rd Qtr, as (well as part of the 2nd & 4th) . Not surprising, really, when you conside how much was on the line for them. They fought like a cornered jackal didn't they? I think Carolina is doing all the right things, and next year I expect a tough contest right down to the wire. There was no "quit" on the Panthers today---they made a statement, and the rest of the NFL better pay attention. * It really looked to me like the big hit Greene put on Warner shook him up for a while. I don't mean mentally necessarily---Warner still had the determination. But after that hit Warners passes got to be as inaccurate as I have seen all year. At least in my eyes...Warner, given the situation, should have sat for a series or two. It wouldn't have hurt a thing. Had it been the last two minutes and the Rams were driving for the go ahead score it would have been different. * On Warner? The first int was a bad pass, as was the second.....but the 2nd int. saw Warner rolling left and throwing right against the grain, something he has done very seldom this year--and I think that that is an area he needs to work on. As you would expect, working left, he threw behind the receiver. Even so, Williams nearly caught the TD---it was close. * And at what point does Martz decide that "X" is what we do best, so we're going primarily with "X" and using "Y" to keep the defense honest? As an example---there are some facets of the offensive game that have yet to come together. For instance, we have a running game, but it appears we only have a when used in combination with the passing game. It isn't likely we can sustain a drive running 2/3's of the time. Yet Martz, or Vermeil if the quotes I'm reading are accurate, continue to work on this. A good thing, by the way. But I wonder.... at what time during the remaining 4 games do the Rams zero in on what the previous 12, 13, or 14 games have shown is effective and then proceed to fine tune the "O" is prep for the playoffs? * And sometimes doesn't it seem like these Rams perform best when asked to go for it, at 110%? Yet it almost seems like every game a command comes in from the sidelines to be "cautious," at which time the momentum goes out the window. P.S.....Thank you Dre Bly. :-) COUNT THE POSITIVES. Shortcomings aside, the Rams may be better than anyone gives them credit for. After so many years of losing, we Ram fans have probably become the best critics of the game, seeing every flaw, every tiny mar, the slightest miscue. And yet the bottomline says the Rams have scored more points than anyone in the NFL. I have a list as long as Manute Bol's leg of our defensive flaws, and yet they will most likely end this season allowing one of the fewest amounts of points of any team. I always doubt my optimistic hopes, and now I find myself doubting my "pessimistic" thoughts. A positive---Sunday, I liked Martz's play calling, and I thought his immediate and unrelenting trust in Warner's arm, even after two interceptions, was especially noteworthy. The faith both Martz & Vermeil had in Kurt in the first game of the season absolutely amazed me, and I knew then we were in for something very different this year, even if I could not have told you exactly what that difference would be. A positive---Back to Sunday's game. I also liked Martz calling Holcombe's number a few times (sometimes the value of things are not always relevant to the game being played). A positive---I liked our offensive line play over all, I believe it's improving every single game, even if there is a ways to go. Big positive---There is no area where I have no worries, but Faulk at RB comes as close as I can get. I can not legitimately find fault with Faulk anywhere. A positive---On defense I am pleased with our pass rush, even though it was not up to par yesterday. The spirit was still there, and you can see that this group of linemen really believes they can control the game. A positive---I am pleased with Bly, although I am not as sure as others that he is ready to make a big difference as a starter. A negative?----I have never had much confidence in Allen, but I don't say much about that because I am not convinced I'm right. A positive, mostly---Like the offense, I can't say there is anything that I DON'T worry about on defense......but unlike the offense I can't name one player like "Faulk" that I can find no fault with, though Carter comes damn close. LOOK AHEAD TO THE PLAYOFFS. I think what I'm celebrating most about the Carolina game is that the "REAL" season can now begin. Up til now it's been worry after worry about getting in the dance, and that is OVER WITH! Now it's all about HFA and the playoffs. We're not trying to gain respect anymore, the Rams are now trying to win the WHOLE THING! And wrapping up the West this early just means we have that much longer to prepare. We have the will and the means to not just get in the big show, but win the damn thing. Those circumstances don't come along very often, and the Rams have never once done it. I don't want second best, not at all. The 70s is my only frame of reference for looking at today's Rams. Back then, I KNEW the Rams could play with anybody, and I did NOT fear any other team. In fact, I wanted to PLAY THE BEST there was. That's what the game is all about, IMO. Well, I'm no different now. The Playoffs? Det? Minn? Wash? I could care less, bring em' on. If we can't handle them we don't belong in the S.B. to begin with. I will NEVER root for Det. to lose early so we don't have to play them---to hell with that. In my mind that's like beating up your dog because you're afraid to fight a man. I watch the Rams....if Det wins or loses, or Minn, or Wash, or Dal, big damn deal. I just want the Rams to be prepared for ANYONE they face---and personally, I hope the Rams play the next best team for the NFC Championship. |
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