Bending steel

by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 20, 2007 9:37 AM CST in Events

Update [2007-12-20 22:27:35 by VanRam]:I got caught up in something at work. I'll make this the open thread. There's quite a game going on...

Update [2007-12-20 11:1:29 by VanRam]: DOINK! Not even a guild writer could sum up 2007 quite like this Speaking of 2007, this is a damn good article on the Rams predicament with fans.

Do you think Isaac Bruce would take a hometown discount to play for the Rams next season? Should he take a hometown discount to play in St. Louis next season? For a player with his age, one thing he'll have to consider is the role he would play with another team, would he get a role significant enough to match the role he's played with the Rams, would another team take a chance on him for a price close to the $5 million he's under contract for in St. Louis?

Bruce is a pretty important sports figure in St. Louis, and, as the Post Dispatch pointed out, he is the face of this franchise. With 46 receptions, 607 yards and 3 TDs, he hasn't had a terrible season considering the offense's season long struggles (which make Holt's season that much more impressive), and last year he topped 1,000 yards. He's definitely not washed up. My hope would be to lock him up for the rest of his career at a reasonable price tag that gives the team a chance to invest some of that expense into their future. It's still a tough call, and business may win out with the Rams needing to start getting younger at the position and lots of money already tied up in two other receivers, Holt and this spring's acquisition of Bennett.

Of course, it all comes back to the o-line. With a solid o-line, we get an effective Bulger again. With an effective Bulger, guys like Bennett and McMichael who've had lackluster seasons should be good again. With those variables ironed out, the money becomes a bigger issue with other looming holes on the team.

It's Thursday and because it's that strange time of year and also since five different networks have their hands in the NFL pot o' gold, that means "are you ready for some Monday...er, Thursday Night Football?"

Since we're talking about Isaac Bruce, he hasn't played a game against the Steelers since 2003. In that game, he had three catches for 73 yards. Each reception was for 20 yards or more. That game was the last time the Rams and Steelers met, with the Rams winning 33-21.

The secondary made some glaring mistakes in coverage against the Packers last week. While the Packers spot a much better passing game than the Steelers (32.1% DVOA vs. 14.5% DVOA), mistakes will burn you no matter who's passing and catching the ball. The opportunity for the secondary here lies in Ben Roethlisberger's propensity to make bad decisions and throw ugly passes into coverage. Still, with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, it's not like Roethlisberger's having bad season.

The thing I worry about the most for the Rams in this game, is the offensive line's match-up against the Steelers defense. This line hasn't held up well to the poundings issued by opposing defenses, and second half adjustments by opponents have really exploited the line's vulnerability. The Steelers defense, despite a couple bad weeks in a row, has at least as many looks and configurations as the Rams offense on a good day, and they can make plays with the best of them. Hopefully, Bulger's got a good flak jacket for this game...just in case.

I'll have an open thread up this afternoon ahead of the game.

More from the Steelers POV at Behind the Steel Curtain.

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Give the Rams you $$

Wow. Great article. I think one sentence sums it up pretty well.

"The people of St. Louis still support this franchise, they're just waiting for it to become mutual."

by Big Red on Dec 20, 2007 11:11 AM CST reply actions

Forgot I had something to say about Bruce

It's kinda funny. I've had like 4 conversations about Isaac Bruce this week and now there's an article and a posting here at TST that addresses the same concerns I've been having.

Frankly, I have said in all three conversations that I worry more about Holt retiring than I do Bruce. It just seems to me that Holt has had more injuries (at least in terms of severity and surgeries, I guess) and has such a promising career on television...I just assumed he'd walk away soon for greener pastures.

So, this article in today's paper kinda blind-sided me a bit.

Bruce has lost a step, but he's still a valuable reciever...hell, he's still a valuable #2 reciever in this league. Plus, he's soooooo close to so many milestones. Granted, I don't think Bruce is the type to chase records, but his comments in todays article about how it will feel to be becoming #2 was a little surprising.

Isaac knows he's still a top reciever. He knows the game hasn't passed him up. And he still has the desire to play and win.

But, what does this mean for the Rams? Well, they did sign the guy to a 5 year contract that SOULD have been his last contract. But, since contracts mean absolutely nothing in the NFL, they can cut him at any time.

The signings of Bennett and McMichael make losing one of our recievers a little easier to swallow. But i'm not ready to lose either one of these guys just yet. I just don't know what the team wants to do.

Do I want them to keep Bruce? Yeah.

Should they? Yup.

Will they? I have no idea.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The success of your running backs, quarterbacks AND your recievers ALL depend upon the success of your offensive line. Without that, the entire offense falls apart. Fix the line, get guys healthy and I don't see why Isaac can't put up another 1000 yards next year...and the year after that.

by Big Red on Dec 20, 2007 12:09 PM CST reply actions

so wheres the open thread?

rams D gettin' eaten up by big ben and davenport.

worst. team. ever.

by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 20, 2007 8:22 PM CST reply actions

my favorite part

is the fact that Linehan COMPLETELY abandoned SJ, when it looked like he was headed towards a monster game....

torry holt didn't get the ball either at the end of the game, and gave coach a piece of his mind...

john wade got TORCHED all game long. i guess i didnt realize how much i miss tye hill...

and to cap it all off...down by 7(?) with 4th and 6th we punt. then with three left, down by 17, we go for it on 4th and 10???

leading me to believe that either:

a) Linehan just doesn't care, or
b) Linehan just doesn't care

in the post game press conference, he said it didn't mean anything/didnt bother him that the only pro bowler on the team was upset about not getting the ball. what?

it was obvious from the beginning of the game that the players were playing hard, like they wanted to win...

and p.s., keep sending derek stanley back there for returns, he was a hair away from breaking a couple for scores, and returned several to the 40-50

i'm usually the first to defend Linehan, but wow. that game was within reach. anyone else hear them boo Jay Zygmut and John Shaw during Marshall's ceremony?

Which leads me to-

a) Congrats to Mr. Faulk. One of the greatest, most complete backs ever. Thanks for the Superbowl #28.

b) Primetime jokingly said that Faulk will one day run the Rams. But it got me thinking. How much worse than what we have now could he be?

by kevinramsfan on Dec 20, 2007 11:31 PM CST reply actions

in fact

Bernie mentions just that in a great piece about Marshall.

by kevinramsfan on Dec 21, 2007 12:03 AM CST reply actions

Kevin

I heard that during the pre-game as well, but took it a bit differently. It almost seemed as if there was something behind it in the way Marshall looked uncomfortable with him bringing it up.

Now I don't know how Faulk would do in the front office, but the dude is proud and wouldn't let this shit go on anymore.

Now, I'll just hit on some of your observations...

Jax. Well, Pittsburgh was stacking at least 8 guys in the box almost every play for the rest of the game. They forced the Linehan to abandon Jackson and they did exactly what this team SHOULD be capable of which is disect a team with it's passing attack. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't slow the Steelers at all.

Yeah, Torry was PISSED. I could figure out what he was saying since his mouth was almost always blocked by Linehan's head, but there was something at the end that was very readible. Luckily, "Prime Time" was there to translate. Something about a 4 route or something. Anyway, he was wanting the ball and knew exactly how to exploit that defense and Linehan was in a fog. Plus, he was laughing with Bulger (or while talking with Bulger...I don't think Bulger was laughing) and I think that got Torry even more fired up.

Wade looked like shit until you compared him to Bartell who looked equally shitty....and then Chavious showed why he's a wash up too. Bad all around with the D Backs.

Yeah, strange play calling at the end.

However, i think Linehan cares, he just doesn't understand what he cares about or how to accomplish it.

I didn't see the post game press conf. but that's ridiculous if he really said that. Sometimes it's like he thinks he's better than he really is or like this team has a decent record and they're getting shit on by the fans and the media for no reason. Then again, after hearing Shaw's comments last week about the fans, it's not a surprise where he gets his attitude from.

Yes. The players (especially the offense) played extremely hard. On defense, hats off to La'Roi Glover and Brandon Chillar. Those guys were everywhere. Also, Draft had a pretty good game.

I heard the boos and I know Zygmunt and Shaw heard the boos...I just don't think they cared.

Congrats #28. You definately deserve it!

by Big Red on Dec 21, 2007 1:14 AM CST reply actions

Play Hard

I just wanted to clarify, I think the players are all playing hard. Unfortunately I think they're playing hard in spite of Linehan. They just seem to have no confidence in him at all and I'm afraid he's going to eventually run off all of our good players if he keeps this shit up.

Bruce may be completely fed up and Torry sure looked like it tonight. And at one point I saw Jackson yelling at the Rams sideline, but I couldn't see WHO he was yelling at.

by Big Red on Dec 21, 2007 1:21 AM CST up reply actions