CHICAGO AND THE LONG PRESEASON, BY JIM FADLER (Aug 22)Add yourself to The HERD's Official Roster (guestbook), if you think you are man enough!
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The Rams offensive line is for the first time in a long time getting off the line and making blocks downfield. Timmerman mashed someone on Watson's long TD run. I noticed Freddie Miller getting downfield quite a bit as well.
The Rams ran quite a few screen passes when Faulk was in there and he made the plays work when it looked as if there was nothing there. This in contrast to 1997 when we called a screen pass to Ironhead....it worked for about 25 yards....and proceeded to never call another one all year long...or 1998 when we called one to June Henley on the first play of the last 49er game...it worked for a bunch of yards...and of course we never called another one all game long. I have hope and confidence in this offensive coordinator. Green looked good setting up on those plays and did not tip it to the defense. Interestingly enough they were center screens--not to the side.
Trent Green really aired out the ball on a deep out on one occasion. He looked to the middle and then you could see him make an extra exertion to get a lot on the ball and make the throw..it got there with plenty of heat on it but still looked easy to catch...no concerns from this precinct on the arm strength question--that throw was vintage heat. Of course the TV announcers did not notice it...that was a tough throw for any fastballer.
I think Mac Cody is the #6 WR and Tony Horne can play some WR if needed.
The defense is blitzing some in preseason but seems to me to be holding back some. We better not get anymore injuries up front...or anywhere else for that matter. IMHO the defense is playing possum somewhat right now in that we aren't seeing a lot of what they will bring in the regular season...but the second stringers don't have a heck of a lot to bring period.
Charlie Cleamons looked like the starting MLB to me. I am somewhat disappointed in Corey Sears who I hoped would be more disruptive if given a chance and after Dre Bly I see nothing in the cornerbacks including Taje Allen. Taje should be better by now but to my eyes he has not progressed appreciably since his rookie year. He is too easy to turn, doesn't tackle well, and seemingly will never fight for the ball or try to strip it...I am tired of watching him.
That game was not much fun to watch....and it seems to my tired old eyes that preseason games in general are getting tougher and tougher to watch. I am ready for them to start cutting people and get on with it. Training camp and preseason games were originally intended to allow the players to play themselves into shape...now the players are truly never not in shape. So why play 4 of these stinking figments of a football game.
It's money and I know it but the end of the preseason cannot come too soon for me.
Vermeil almost always cuts some players early to start giving those on the bubble more reps. I think sadly that Danny Jones is doomed to be cut this week after his fumble on the kickoff.