 THE 99 CARNIVAL RIDE, BY WV RAM (March 9) |
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THE SEASON. Early in the
season, when it became apparent that Bruce was back and Holt was good enough to start, I
knew they'd be explosive on offense. However, I still thought they'd be porous on defense.
I figured they would lose a lot of games 35 to 28. Then the Baltimore game gave me an inkling that the defense might not be porous. (Remember the important stand the D made after the turnovers in that game.) I first knew they'd have a great chance to make the playoffs after the first Atlanta game. It was "The Drive." In my entire life I'd only seen one drive by a Ram team as good as the one they put together in the first Falcon game. Then, after the first 49er game, I knew they'd probably win their division and have a chance to actually win a playoff game. There were some doubts. Remember, the 49ers got blown out that first game and looked vulnerable, and the Falcons were crumbling. But after midseason I knew they had a chance to challenge for the Championship. The other elite teams in the NFC had crumbled, and it was evident by then that Kurt Warner was special, the run defense was outstanding, and that Faulk was coming around. Though truth be known, I never gave a damn about just "making the playoffs" or "'winning the division" or "winning a playoff game." I was never interested in "getting respect" or any of that. I was only interested in the championship. So I guess my point is that, for a long time, I never really was confident about the Rams "winning it all." THE PLAYOFFS. I'm never, ever, calm or confident about a playoff game. That Viking game really had me worried. I was scared to death of the Vikings. After the Viking game, I was just holding my breath. I thought IF the Rams played error free football they could win it all. But there is never any way to know if that will happen. Turnovers and injuries are always X factors. I kept visualizing Hakim muffing punts and Holt fumbling after catches and Warner being stripped in the pocket. So I was just holding my breath. (Faulk is the only player I never worry about.) NOW. I feel a kind of 'peace' about the Rams. A quiet contentment. A serenity. Tranquility. Nirvana....it's true. The younger fans won't "get" that. The old diehards will understand. There's something about winning a championship after waiting for so very long....Last year's dream season changed me a little. I waited 30+ years for that. A long time. No matter what happens over the next few years, I can always bask in that dream season. No more doubts, no more demons, no more sosar, no more doormats, no more close but not quite, no more wait till next year, no more if only they had a QB., no more we can't win the big one. No more jinx's, blocked kicks, fumbles...no more choking. Every three or four days, I pop it in my VCR and watch the last 7 or 8 minutes of the 4th quarter. I never seem to get tired of it. Actually, I don't have the whole game on tape---I only started taping it at the point where I couldn't watch anymore. So my tape starts at 16-13 Rams. I still get chills when the Rams take the field just before the underthrown 'bomb' to Isaac. (And I STILL hold my breath waiting to see if there's a flag on the play...especially a clip, cause a Ram receiver did kinda nudge a Titan in the back around the 20 yard line or so...). SOME QUESTIONS FOR 2000. There are a lot of questions for next year. I wonder how the players will react, especially early, next season. Will they still be basking in the afterglow? I know this team came to love Vermeil. Did that matter? Is that necessary? Will they love Martz? I don't know. And I don't know anything about Martz. But I think I will miss Dick Vermeil. It has nothing to do with wins and losses. He was just somebody that I'd fight for. Will they be ready to fight and claw and sacrifice, against superior competition...for Martz? The O line was a big question mark going into last year. They held up pretty good...just good enough to get the job done. The quick 3 step drops made the difference against the good teams, IMHO. Tampa and Tenn just didn't have time to get to Kurt, so I don't think the 'line' had much to do with it. Next season the O line will again be a question mark. We all have faith in Pace and Timmerman. Many folks think Spikes will be an upgrade. Maybe they will be better? Some say the line will be worse. It may end up better. It's too early to tell. We're gonna have to wait and see. Washington is building a monster, IMHO. Their defense underachieved last year. Tampa may be better too. Tennessee was a great team and is one still. The AFC is full of potential tigers. It's gonna be real interesting next year. For now, though, I just can't seem to let go of that incredible championship march. Those 3 distinct and meaningful battles. Minnesota. Tampa Bay. Tennessee. |
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