Please thank Mike Karney and the offensive line for their job this season
by garrett1442 on Nov 5, 2009 3:57 PM CST
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Steven Jackson has been a beast this year. He has shown up as a leader, on and off the field. He is having a career year. He is the Rams offense, and he will continue to do so until Week 17 is over. Jackson deserves 85% of the credit on his runs. The other 15% goes to those who are blocking him.
Think about it, Jackson has his best career year in 2006 when Madison Hedgecock was his fullback. Then, stupid Scott Linehan cut him from the team and Jackson suffered. Any great running back needs a solid fullback (unless your name is Marshall Faulk). Then he hear that the Saints release FB Mike Karney, and quickly who scoop him up, and we know he hasn’t shown much in the stat book, but he makes holes for Jackson every week.
Also, the Rams offensive line has stunk over the past few seasons, by along with the regime and some good by new Gm Billy Devaney, the Rams have one the best O-lines in the league. Along the line, you have ex-first round pick Alex Barron at LT, who has something to prove in a contract year. Jacob Bell who was signed last year who plays LG. Then, probably the biggest off season signing of the year, is Jason Brown the center who they signed from Baltimore. Although Richie Incognito is a big mouth, he is still a productive RG. Then you have the future, 2009 1st round pick tackle Jason Smith from Baylor. So far this year, he has shown he has quick feet, energy, and run blocking ability. Now that’s a pretty good offensive line to me.
So with these 2 pieces, Jackson is a MVP candidate and it’s due to teammates. I personally praise the offensive line, and Mike Karney.
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Dizzamn!
That boy started and ended that fragment, like what!
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
Frag of the Week?
Possibly.
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember Is thinking, I want to be like them
Wow
I’m the ultimate optimist when it comes to the Rams, but those are some bold statements, a little too bold.
Not to burst your bubble guy, but lets lay some things out:
Our “great” performance was against the worst D-line we will see all year. That is a fact. Detroit traded their best D-lineman this offseason (Cory Redding) for Julian Peterson. Now that was not saying a whole lot, so their D-line went from crappy to shitty. And although we did well for the most part, they were by NO MEANS STELLAR. Jackson broke the first tackle in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage way to many times. There should have never been that much penetration. So let’s look at our guys.
Barron- like you said is in a contract year and he has already given the coaches a reason to bench him during a game and even use a 3 man rotation at LT. He has done nothing to solidy his payday in the offseason. In fact, I can recall several times people requesting that we just start Smith since he is the future. Barron has been a disappointment. I give him a C+, because has shown some glimpses of why the team drafted him in the first round, to go along with his boneheaded mistakes (penalties anyone?)
Bell-There was a reason why I was so pissed we didn’t go after Faneca in the offseason prior to the 08 season. Bell has shown me nothing to convince me I was wrong. He has been inconsistent, ineffective, and disappointing way too often. He is getting paid premium dollars and producing at an average level. I wanted the rams to draft Duke Robinson this last offseason to try and push Bell, and if he didn’t respond, bring in the young buck to take over. Setts even replaced him after he was concussed (what a great word) and showed us how to play the position effectively. I give him a D+ this is due to a two year disappointment from someone that we had such high hopes for.
Brown- I was a little skeptical in playing him at OG money but the kid has looked good for the most part. He was definitely not the biggest offeason transaction with Haynesworth bringing in what he did, but he has been arguably the most impactful. He has been very effective in preventing the pocket from collapsing in front of Bulger. He and Incognito have played very well together. I give him a B+. The best part is that he is young and that he is still learning he position.
Incognito- besides keeping a lid on his emotions, he has transitioned into a Professional. He used to struggle with dumb penalties and allowing his personal vendetta to look past his task at hand on the line. I love the fact that he is a bargain, a blue collar hard worker, and that he plays with a mean streak. I give him a B, wish he didn’t get hurt.
Smith- Well I think it is still too early to tell, considering the kid is still learning. He is coming along well, but still needs to focus on his technique. He is obviously a specimen, and I will be watching closely as the season goes on. He has struggled against some of the elite of the league (Freeney anyone?) but that is part of the learning curve. Maybe I am a little critical considering I really wanted Curry, but I do think that he played well this last weekend. I give him a B-. As long as he continues to progress I will be happy.
The bench has been great, they have filled in for the starters quite well and when called upon they responded. Setts and Goldberg have gotten the job done and been versatile. I look forward to Greco coming in and helping this group. I give the bench an A-. They have surpassed expectations and often times surpassed the performance of the person they filled in for.
It seemed to me the OLine was better
with Setterstrom in there for Bell. The same thing showed up at the end of last year when the young guys were in there at guard. Bell is clearly the weakest point of the OLine. It would be nice if we could trade him for a draft pick next year.
not a bad idea
I think if he plays solid throughout the rest of the year his stock will go up and we might get somebody or something for him. Because to me he just isn’t consistent and doesn’t seem to get enough drive run blocking something this team really likes to do. I just want the burden of having him around off. Barron is not the greatest football player but he has his moments where he can shine plus he rarely gets injured. Love smith something about him i just really like and i think if he plays RT it doesn’t mean he will never adjust to LT it’ll take some work but Barron did it and Smith is more impressive then he was when he was a rookie so game on. Fellas i think we have a offensive line that is really getting solid. I still say get rid of Barron for winston justice id like to too see Smith at LT and Winston at RT.
by keeperskillz24 on Nov 6, 2009 8:50 PM CST up reply actions
About Smith
One thing I noticed early in the season when watching his play over and over on the DVR was how often he blocked one guy all the way to the ground, then looked for someone else to beat up. I know Jackson has to love that. I do too.
Especially since Laurinaitis has racked up so many tackles (so I don’t miss Curry) and OT being literally a cornerstone position, I really like the pick so far. That combination of talent and effort, at that position, is going to be required for the Rams to ever get back to elite.
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember Is thinking, I want to be like them
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