Energy? Play hard? Fast-paced?
I can't recall the last time I heard words like that used to describe anything related to the Rams. Definitely not this season. But that's exactly how practice was referred to as the Rams started the first full work week of a new era.
Will this energy and enthusiasm traslate into wins? The next two weeks are as tough as any two week stretch the Rams have played this season with games against the surging Redskins and the Cowboys. The week after that is no picnic either with a trip to New England. For all this energy to mean something, we need to see results over the next three weeks. A win or two while possible is unlikely, but playing good football and excorcising whatever demons have infected this team over the last few seasons will go a long way toward making the rest of the season more entertaining...and maybe more successful.
The Rams schedule gets a little easier after that with five games against division rivals. Of those games, the two against the Cardinals might be the toughest given their strength in the passing game and the Rams weakness against the pass thus far this season. Two against the 49ers are shaping up to be the best matchups of the season. The odds don't favor the Rams to make a run at the title in an incredibly weak division, but nothing's impossible. A visit from the Seahawks to the Dome gives the Rams a chance to at least make a statement; beating a bitter rival might go a long way toward salvaging something positive out of the season and set them up nice to start over in '09.
0 recs | 12 comments
Winning just one of these next three would do wonders
The mantra of the NFL is “Any Given Sunday…”
If the Rams win even one of these games against highly touted competition (I’m actually targeting the Cowboys… the harder they come, the harder they fall), they’ll have lived up to that standard. So far, their play hasn’t been NFL-worthy, outside of the first half against Buffalo.
taiko - October 7, 2008
I feel like they gotta find a way to steal a win...
somehow in the next three weeks…even with the coaching change, a 0-7 record, IMO, would be devastating in the effort to return some momentum and good feelings to the organization, both on and off the field…we know we aren’t going to the playoffs, but you gotta win some games if you expect the people to come out and free agents to even consider St. Louis…II would take a win against any of the three, but to knock off the Patriots would be especially sweet.
tbell61 - October 7, 2008
the Pats
might be the best opportunity given what the Dolphins did and the fact they don’t have Brady. However, that’s in NE, which could be tough.
Teams often get caught slacking against opponents like the Rams, and I wonder if Washington might be the most vulnerable to that. Dallas is on the hot seat after losing ground in the NFC East, so I expect them to get into do or die mode, with Jerry Jones waving the purse strings in everyone’s face
Ryan Van Bibber - October 7, 2008
Is a win what's best?
I’m working on a diary that asks why we want to win. I know it seems overly pessimistic and “old-man ranting”, but how the Rams win and why they want to are questions I can’t answer. Tbell said above that going 0-7 would be devastating. Personally, I’m leaning towards devastation. It would give us the motivation to really put this team back together, Naomi Klein Shock Doctrine style.
I thought this week’s ESPN Power Rankings summed it up. The Rams, again, remain at the bottom. Amusingly, the Lions come in at 31 with this as the comment:
The Lions are one of the worst teams anyone’s ever seen, and yet they’re ahead of the Rams. Winning only puts the lipstick on the p…well, you know.
3k - October 7, 2008
Thinking along similar lines...
I’ll wait to comment in depth until you complete the diary, but I tend to agree. The primary focus of this year has to be rebuilding. This is not a win-now team that should even expect to contend.
NFL Trade deadline is one week away. Here’s hoping we make a move.
taiko - October 7, 2008
But what?
What move can we make? I was talking to my best friend (soon to be my Best Man) who is a Cowboys fan, and we both agreed the Rams have one trade-able asset, and it’s one they can’t even trade: Steven Jackson. Holt has both age and injury concerns, and Bulger hasn’t produced enough to warrant his trade value. That only leaves SJ as a trade we could make to bring something of value to the Rams. Is that the move we need to make? Sure, it would have to land us HUGE value, but would it be worth it to give up one of the league’s most talented running backs when he could produce for us down the line?
3k - October 7, 2008
The market for Holt
I think your friend is confusing fantasy trade value with real NFL trade value. Granted Holt is no longer a top 25 player, but he’d also be the best wide receiver to be traded in a very long time.
First of all, I’m not sure what injury concerns you’re talking about, but he’s only missed two games ever in his career, and he’s exceeded 90 catches and 1,000 yards receiving every year since 2002. He’s as professional as they come in terms of running precise routes and giving his quarterback an easy target.
Secondly, is there demand? If I wanted to move him, it would be to a team with expectations of a deep playoff run that didn’t have a player of Holt’s caliber. Ideally, this team would be off to a slow start, giving the GM an itchy trigger finger. Off the top of my head, this includes the Chargers, the Vikings, and the Jaguars. Even the Cowboys themselves might be interested, since they don’t have a reliable #2 receiver any more. (Crayton is clearly not trusted by Romo.)
Thirdly, what return can we expect? This is hard to say, but the Dolphins traded away their top two receivers in consecutive years — possession receiver Wes Welker and perennial malcontent Chris Chambers — and got a second round pick for each, plus a seventh rounder for Welker iirc. Balancing Holt’s age (older than either of those two) with his accomplishment and ability (better than either of those two) and you could probably do no worse.
If the Rams aren’t exploring this, they’re silly.
taiko - October 8, 2008
Mark it down
2 out of the next 3 are wins
Option27 - October 7, 2008
now that's optimism
Ryan Van Bibber - October 7, 2008
HAHAHAHAHA
Option, you are now my favorite optimist.
3k - October 7, 2008
now you do need to share whatever shit you are smoking
seems to be some good stuff
FunkeeC - October 7, 2008
Just watch!
This is all happening exactly as I had planned
Option27 - October 8, 2008
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