Rams begin new season

by VanRam on Oct 13, 2008 9:31 AM CDT in 2008 regular season Comment 14 comments

Everyone's feelin' the love for the Rams new/interim head caoch Jim Haslett today. And why not? He led the Rams - the same Rams who in their first four games were out scored by 147-43 - to a huge upset victory.

Fans couldn't be happier about the regime change. From james535:

in just one game and we can all feel that we have a real head coach what a change from Linehan, the players and the fans have responded like i knew they would

That response was all the difference. This looks like a new team. And now the stakes are elevated for Jim Haslett. Five more wins, reportedly, and he'll secure a long term deal as the Rams head coach. If he wants it. Five more wins with a team that looked this forlorn to start the season and Haslett might be coaching wherever he wants to.

Some deal for Haslett though. Linehan got an endless amount of forgiveness from the front office, but there's a new sheriff in town (sorta) and nobody likes to make the same mistake twice. Still, if they fall short of 6 wins but play competitively, I'd have to think they''ll certainly talk to Haslett.

And about those five more wins... This is still the same Rams team, so five mroe wins is no layup. Take a look at the rest of the schedule.

Week 7 - Dallas: The Cowgirls lost again, to the Cardinals this weekend, so they won't be snoozing next week with the pressure on and a chance to get back on the good foot against the 1-4 Rams. I think this is the toughest game left on the schedule.

Week 8 - at New England: Suddenly not as intimidating as it once was. But playing at Foxburo won't be easy.

Week 9 - Arizona: Right now, the best team in the division. They're inconsistent though, and rivalry makes it an interesting matchup.

Week 10 - at NY Jets: Tough test for the secondary.

Week 11 - at San Fran: Gotta win at least one against the 49ers, and should be able to.

Week 12 - Chicago: Winnable at home.

Week 13 - Miami: Could be a pretty good game. Must study Wildcat.

Week 14 - at Arizona: As with the 49ers, gotta take one of these games.

Week 15 - Seattle: They have to get this one back. Right now, Seattle might be the worst team in the division.

Week 16 - San Fran: Win this one.

Week 17 - at Atlanta: No pushover, but their pass defense can be exploited if the Rams offense can get it together.

Alright, where are those 5 wins? Do you even want Haslett to stay? Let's hear it.

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I would like Haslett to stay

Don’t know why, and I’m retaining the right to change my mind at any time, but for now I’d like to see him stay.

As for that schedule, I see 3 wins. The home games against San Francisco and Seattle and the road game against New England. But I’m not 100% confident in that either.

The Atlanta, Miami and Chicago games are toss ups especially with two of those games being played in the dome. All three of those teams have pretty good offenses (as much as it surprises me to say that about Chicago) and Miami has played extremely good defense so far this year.

Hopefully we can get Fakhir Brown back in uni sometime today or tomorrow. We’re definitely gonna need him.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Romo will be out for 2-4 weeks

so thats gotta help if we can stop the run

by FunkeeC on Oct 13, 2008 10:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Brad Johnson is the kind of quarterback who makes me nervous

Sure, first instinct says he should be washed up and won’t be worth a damn, but he’s been around a long time and he’s apparently good enough to warrant a number 2 qb spot on the Dallas Cowboys.

Also, I think the Cowboys might be hiding something. Romo looked really beat up yesterday late in the game and I’m talking more than just his pinky. He looked hurt. So, I wonder if it’s actually more.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas has a good O-line

so that helps the transition for a backup QB

by VanRam on Oct 13, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And as inspired as our front 7 on defense played yesterday

did you see how the Cardinals got after Romo? Holy crap! I don’t think we have the dudes to get after it like that.

Hope I’m wrong. But the Cardinals are looking better every week and missing Boldin who should make them even tougher.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sold on Dallas' O-line

Sure, they have talent and potential and all that great stuff that looks wonderful on paper, but Romo got hit around 20 times yesterday. That’s bad O-line play, no matter how nice the personnel looks on paper.
Cardinals are looking nice. I watched that whole game. Steve Breaston is where I hoped Donnie Avery would be by now. Which raises my first criticism of Haslett: why is Dante Hall still on return duty? I just don’t get that one.
Oh, and a shout out to Rams special teams. Spotlight: punt defense. Antwan Randle-El fielded 4 punts for just 19 yards. Perfect pursuit.

by 3k on Oct 13, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup, wasn't that fun to watch

Our coverage units played great yesterday. And I can’t remember the last time I was able to say that.

Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.

Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.

by Tackle Box on Oct 13, 2008 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone else laugh

..at the redskin tackling his teammate on a kickoff return late in the game?

by mpire on Oct 13, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hall is ok on returns...

..as long as he’s not being used as a receiver.
Which seems to be what happened and I think he did a decent job returning this week.
Only saw him on the field as WR once, and he had no catches.. Better to take away return opportunities from Avery than catch opportunities.

by mpire on Oct 13, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But why is "decent" the standard?

This is the philosophy Haslett needs to change (and if he doesn’t, his successor). Being ok is not the answer in the NFL. Doing a “decent job” is unacceptable. Why are we limitied to hoping for untalented players to take away certain opportunities from talented ones?
The truth is, this team is yet to put enough talent on the field to compete week in, week out. That’s the fault of the management to draft and sign players who can bring enough talent on the field to outmatch opponents. But to go so low as to say “at least our talented players are getting some of what they should” is unnacceptable, and is an absolute referedum on the inability of the management to put playmakers in a Rams uniform.

by 3k on Oct 13, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cowboys' o-line

They’re huge, but not mobile. They were repeatedly getting burned by speed rushers on the edge, particularly Travis LaBoy, who got multiple hits on Romo. Leonard Little could have a huge impact on this game.

Also, Cowboys will be without slasher Felix Jones, and most of their starting secondary as well if the artist formerly known as Pacman Jones gets suspended for his hotel fracas. They’ll be as vulnerable as they’ve been all season, but at the same time that means there’s no way in hell they’ll be overlooking this game.

"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

by taiko on Oct 13, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

secondary help

it seems pretty evident to me that in addition to getting fakhir brown back, we should try to bring someoen else in.
obviously he’s a safety, but does anyone think giving John Lynch a look would help at all? I think our secondary could use a few more healthy bodies period.
i was getting to like manning too.

by PolancoMcEwing on Oct 13, 2008 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

with manning jr out

we have to find help

by VanRam on Oct 13, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely need another CB

And where have you been, Polanco? Glad to see the Cardinals fans starting to show up. Go grab a couple dozen more of your buddies.
Justin King is gone for the season (so far, no updates I can find), Fakhir Brown is still team-less, Tye Hill, Ricky Manning… we’re banged up. And the timing sucks, with the Cowploys up next. I don’t know how we deal with this, but put this on 100% permanent recordable time-capsule paper: 3k has absolutely no faith in the front office to deal with this effectively. Had they not released Brown, he would still be available. Hopefully, we can answer this question ASAP.

by 3k on Oct 13, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs