 THOUGHTS AFTER THE 2ND ATLANTA GAME, BY JIM
FADLER (Oct 18) |
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2ND ATLANTA GAME: I
thought that Kurt and the team grew some today [Sunday] in that they did not force things
deep when it was not there...I thought the offensive game plan showed a lot of creativity
and they adapted to the defense. The offensive coaching staff obviously watched a lot of
film and did a great job in anticipating what the Falcons were going to do. It was fairly
obvious that the Falcons were going to come out in a double deep zone and the coaches used
that against them. That fake to Holcombe and pitch to Faulk was devestating and a new
wrinkle for teams to defend. I incessantly ripped on the coaches for never changing the scheme last year after the Dolphins game....at least all the way up until the New England game. This year that is not going to be a problem. * Andy McCollum is a very very good run blocker and it is a bit of a mystery to me why he fell out of favor in New Orleans. * The 3rd and 26 conversion was fantastic on the draw. * The defensive line earned that victory as much as any unit. D'Marco is playing as well as I have ever seen him. He is consistently beating his guy and penetrating every play. He stripped Oxendine (who showed me nothing as a starting running back) as quickly as you will ever see. * Devin Bush and Billy Jenkins were both shaky on covering the tight end. Bush more so that Jenkins. * I will never...ever change my tune on Gansz (what has he done to Tuten's head?) but Tony Horne has obviously caught some of Ron Brown's speed, desire and ability. * I would like to see Torry Holt be featured in a game plan and catch about 8-10 passes in the Cleveland game....Ryan McNeil....Ryan McNeil. * Is there more of a front running fan base than Atlanta? * PAYBACK. The Rams have come into some criticism for taunting and hotdogging in the local media...forgetting that the Falcons have been talking trash and payback ever since the first game. I like some of the trash talking but thought that Dexter went beyond the point by rubbing it in on Graziani. The end zone dance is neat and I enjoy that. Some of the Rams players like Bruce and Lyght have had their nose rubbed in it for quite some time now and this is obviously a payback to some of the teams. * THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR. I know that its easier to like everyone when you win but........ In years past I have had occasion to write about how fractured the Rams locker room tended to become as the year would wind down. This year the units are tending to hang together off the field and it's a very good atmosphere. For example Holcombe and Faulk go almost everywhere together off the field...and a lot of the players are attending Warner's prayer meeing weekly. The defensive squad really felt betrayed by the offense last year and that drove a big divide through the squad. THE WEEKLY TRENT/KURT DEBATE. I am not sure what I think about this and am inclined to just let it take care of itself next year.... I think that Trent is still better on play action and is a fraction of a beat quicker getting rid of the ball. Trent is clearly better at looking off at this point. The interception in the 49er game was a case of looking right into a pick imho....Kurt is superb at pump fakes and is throwing the safeties way off and freezing them in their tracks with his fakes. I am not going to let this consume me one way or another...its a wonderful situation to be in next year and could give them a very high draft pick one way or another in the future. |
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