Crown the new king...of penalties
Who led the Rams in penalties this season? Ninety-nine percent of the time you can just toss out the name Alex Barron and have a pretty good shot at being right.
Not this season though. Knucklehead extraordinaire OG Richie Incognito led the team with 13 pentalies (declined and accepted) accouting for 89 lost yards. He had 11 penalties accepted, 5 false starts and 3 holding and at least one memorable, ill-timed unsportsmanlike conduct.
Incognito is an idiot who couldn't even muster up the cajones to play in the season's last game (head coach Jim Haslett slapped a candy bar out of his hans on the sideline at that game). Fortunately, the Rams lost nothing with Adam Goldberg and John Greco replacing Incognito and Jacob Bell as the starting guards for that game. Let Greco have Incognito's spot next season. 89 yards for a team that struggled mightly to score all season; Incognito's brand of incompetence is exactly what this team needs to purge.
Now, lest you think Alex Barron magically got over his super human like ability to draw penalties...Despite having three seasons prior to '08 to learn the snap count, Barron collected 11 penalties, 9 accepted, including 7 false starts. Seven false starts! That's actually an improvement, two less than his 9 from last season and 13 the year before.
The Rams have lots of work to do on their offensive line and several means of going about it. For me, it starts with dumping Incognito, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season anyway, and Barron. Barron would be useful in a backup role since this is the last year of his contract. I'd accept Incognito as a backup, but I suspect he might fancy himself a starter and will be seeking that kind of deal on the market.
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I don't think
the Rams have enough talent to drop Barron. We need a starter to go with him, but we need that big body up there pushing back D-Linemen.
by Toddius on Jan 6, 2009 1:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I agree.
Barron will be back but I’m fairly certain the Big Dumb Retard will be gone. Haslett doesn’t like him and if he’s going to be the head coach next year, then I don’t see how BDR will be back. Although, it might be fun to see Haslett kick his ass some Sunday on the sideline.
The boys are all here for ya...we'll back you up...we'll be there...cause, Billy, we don't stink right now. We're the best team in baseball right now...right this minute...because of you. You're the reason. We're not gonna screw that up, we're gonna be awesome for you right now. Just throw.
by Tackle Box on Jan 6, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I know that I am in the minority, but I think that Incognito is a helluva player that we should keep. Yes, he does some very dumb things, but he is very athletic and Haslett has called him the best lineman on the team. I still like the idea of drafting a tackle (not necessarily in the first round) and starting him at RT, moving Barron to RG, and Incognito to C.
I am NOT convinced that Greco can play. He has essentially played the equivalent of maybe 3 full NFL games, if that.
Barron has shown progress with his penalties. As you mention, he has had a declining number of penalties in each of the last 3 seasons. If he continues that next year, the penalties won’t even be that big of a deal. A lot of people are upset after the season we just had, but there are some talented players on this roster, and just cutting them loose will only make things worse.
October 26; the countdown has begun.
by Marmie is the best on Jan 6, 2009 6:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Putting Incognito at center is a hell of a gamble when you’re trying to remake the offensive line as the centerpiece of a team trying to learn how to win. The center has to be absolutely dependable for his quarterback, and often has to be the smartest player on the field. The center is often charged with helping to identify defenses and making last second blitz-pickup assignments.
Now, playing devil’s advocate, it’s possible that Richie has untapped reserves of intelligence and leadership. It’s just barely possible that giving him additional responsibility would settle him down and bring out the best in the player.
Perhaps the best case study would be the “other” Stephen Jackson, formerly a problem child on the Indiana Pacers (and a major instigator in the infamous brawl at the Detroit Palace), traded to the Golden State Warriors where he has become their team captain. But after a year and a half, with the true team leader (Baron Davis) now gone, there are indications that he’s reverting back to his old ways.
I’m with the chorus that says “cut him.” The Rams aren’t strong-willed enough as a team where they can afford a talented-but-cancerous guy like this, and especially not in a position of such importance.
"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 Jan 7, 2009 11:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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