 HURTS, DON'T IT? BY DK COX, THE COMMISH (Nov 7) |
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THE DETROIT GAME. Take a
deep breath, exhale & let out a sigh. Still hurts, doesn't it? As fans we all deal with things differently. I have to force myself to accept the negative realistically. Many seem to be indifferent & unsure how they feel. No one ALIVE could have wanted that win more than me or the thousands of other people cheering for the Rams (or the Rams themselves). As fans we can sit back and choose simple words to flame or praise the "Boyz in the horns" week in & week out. We will discuss, argue, agree or agree to disagree about who cost us the game, what could have been, & what will be---& in that light I offer my thoughts on the Lions game. 1. Why have instant replay ? Bruce caught the ball clearly, dropped it after getting hit, & yet the play stands as a incomplete pass. I say get rid of instant replay once & for all. I can live with some bad calls in the course of a game, but now the bad calls are coming from instant replay. The administration of the system & its policies greatly handcuff its effectiveness. For the league office to call up & say sorry guys about those bad calls Sunday, good luck next week is ludicrous from my perspective. 2. Kurt Warner needs to adjust to the adjustments by the defensive coordinators in the league quicker than he has. I realize it's his 1st year as a starter, but he struggles & I believe the coaches are responsible for quickening these adjustments. He resembles Chris Chandler---he has the arm & long ball, plus the competitiveness & toughness to succeed in this league. He also stays in the pocket too long and doesn't protect the ball. Warner throws the quick slants across the middle better than any other pass he throws. Often the long ball hangs a little too long & the outside passes sail on him & the screens often stop the flow of the runner. I hope Martz puts him in a zone early next week with high percentage, chain moving play calls. 3. The Rams coaching staff needs to improve. They have proven to be pretty good at assembling talent, diagramming schemes on a chalk board that work, & motivating this young team. In my opinion, though, they really struggle while the clock is running. They are sloppy with time management and need to improve in the selection of time-outs & and in getting the two minute offense going. They adjust too slowly to their opponents's game plans. They are poor at working the officials. And most importantly, I have a sense that their history gives them too much ability to deal with bad circumstances instead of feeling the noose tightening or their backs against the wall. This coaching staff could be better with a healthy dose of anxiety. 4. Torry Holt needs to adjust to the bump & run. Limited by the players allowed to go in motion & shifting by NFL rules, I think Martz needs to get Torry in motion occasionally to get him going. The Rams receivers are very fast & quick but all struggle with 5 yard chucks and they need to adjust to this. They've enjoyed success this year in stacking guys & running some combined or crossing routes that can be effective against bump & run in giving the receiver the chance to take a vertical step when the defender is staying horizontal for a step. It also opens the middle while the defender is back pedaling. Not many DB's can close on these receivers when they come open across the middle. Warner does though deliver the middle slants with authority, leading the receiver really well, which makes a pick almost impossible. 5. This Rams defense needs to manufacture some turnovers in these close games. I've seen way too much prevent type play calling, coverage & tackling that I care to remember. The pressure was on the Lions offense yesterday with 2 minutes left & the Rams should have pushed the envelope on Frerotte, which surely could have forced him to misfire. Instead, Frerotte came in and was making throws on the money because the Rams where trying to prevent the long TD. On 4th & 26, I say send the house. I'm O.K. with soft coverage packages, but don't give the receivers so much time to make a play. Containment by the linebackers is a waste if you ask me. Frerotte will not crank off 26 on a scramble & the Rams fast team defense can close quickly on the underneath passes. 6. The Rams corners seem to have lost the ability to read the receiver when the ball is coming and turn around for it. Lyght, McCleon & Allen all got burned while never turning around. This is a real problem because any fan can tell you that when a CB doesn't turn his head to see the ball coming it will result in a catch or a pass interference call. It will NEVER cause a interception unless it bounces off the back of their head and lays up for someone to fall under it. 7. James Jones gave Timmerman all he wanted yesterday. I though Miller held up pretty well & any time Pace whiffs in a game you get the feeling he had a bad game, but actually I believe he will grade out pretty well again. 8. I think they abandoned the run too early. They keep running screens & some long balls trying to soften the defense for the run but after Marshall would get stopped for no gain, they would abandon it right away. Holcombe should have gotten a half dozen carries yesterday & I would have liked to have seen Marshall in the flat of the 90 flip going one on one with Claiborne. Claiborne will be a phenomenal player in the league, but could have been beaten by Marshall yesterday. I'm also for plays putting Amp in the backfield & Marshall in the slot. 9. This offense is crying for production from the TE and I hope that Ernie can offer some help. The question though isn't only his knee but also has his hands. At the beginning of his career he was known for his soft hands, but last year greatly damaged that reputation, and am I extremely curious to see how he prospers catching Warners ball. I've always thought the Tony Banks strong arm & low release made for some pretty tough darts to catch. Warner throws a very "catchable" ball & everyone knows the havoc Ernie can create in a secondary (especially if the fools try to tackle him above the hips). I also think that Roland Williams's long arms create the illusion he is holding, whereas Ernie's shorter tree stumps stay inside the pads & locks guys up. 10. Kevin Carter is still the stud of the defensive line, but Farr, Agnew & Wistrom aren't far behind. D'Marco has unbelievable burst & very good lower body strength, Ray is the rock of Gibraltar in the trenches, and Grant is everything that makes me enjoy football so much. Kevin draws the double teams, and Grant makes them pay for it. I believe the Rams front four are playing with the leagues elite right now & I can't expect anything more from this group. The Rams problems are coming from the secondary, which makes it a poor decision to play so much prevent defense with the personnel that we have. They need to play to their talent, which I believe is pressure. We need to attack with the down lineman, mix it up with the linebackers & challenge the receivers and play more bump & run & let this defensive line dictate to the QB. 11. I think this talk of Trent Green being traded for a future # 1 is ridiculous for several reasons. First, this season is only half over and a lot can change between now & next year's minicamps, so it is premature to speculate already. Second, no one has seen enough from Paul Justin or Joe Germaine to feel good about them becoming our # 2 next year. Third, with all due respect, Kurt Warner needs to improve in several areas such as protecting the ball, making quicker reads, keeping the team focused as a leader on the sidelines, and understanding offense to the point where it becomes as the Rams coaches like to refer to as "Unconscious Competence". Fourth, Trent Green has proven the ability to run this offense at a very high level & that can only help the Rams & Warner be better next year. With everyone healthy next year, I think it's anyone's call who will win the starting job. Finally, as Rams fans should know all too well know, it is easy to lose a QB for an extended period. 12. OK, enough is enough---it's time to take inventory at the midway point this season. a. The Rams ARE a playoff contender. b. The Rams have some help on the way in Little & Conwell. c. They know they have the ability to compete on the road against very good teams. d. They know their two losses could have easily been 2 wins, whereas their 6 wins were decisive. e. Logic would dictate that this young team will only get better as long as they can contain confidence & get something from these last two games. f. They still hold a strong lead in their division. g. The schedule still looks like it will allow them to reclaim homefield advantage in the playoffs. h. The should prosper without the glare of the media attention while they rediscover themselves. Looking forward to seeing them in the blue jerseys Sunday against Carolina. THE TOP TEAMS. The Rams have shown me more than any other team in the NFC so far & should still be odds on favorites to win home field advantage, considering their schedule and all. I think the NFC best teams are ranked this way: 1. Rams (Deadly offense, but needs to cut down on mistakes & become consistent for 2n half) 2. Vikings (Most experienced & ability to be consistent...type of deadly offense) 3. Lions (They are typical Bobby Ross type team who will be tougher down stretch) 4. Giants (Underrated defense...need to stay healthy at RB) 5. Redskins (It's the Brad Johnson show, as long as he can keep more in than the D lets out) 6. Buccaneers (I got them over Packers because of that defense & Alstott). Just for fun here's AFC: 1. Jaguars (Once Brunell starts clicking & Fred stays in lineup to go with that defense. WOW) 2. Dolphins (Impressed me with their ability to make other teams play their style of game) 3. Colts (This team is as fun to watch as anybody---on both sides of the ball) 4. Titans (Reminds me of Giants as a team but needs to find consistent threat through the air) 5. Patriots (Will be higher as season continues if Allen stays healthy-Carroll is liability) 6. Chiefs (Gunther will take this team to the divsion championship & defense is underrated) |
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