Three things to watch as the Rams finish their season

by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 15, 2009 12:09 PM CST in 2009 St. Louis Rams regular season

The St. Louis Rams have three games left before the hellish ride that has become the 2009 season ends and the merciful reprieve of the offseason - the last vestige of parity in the NFL - begins. Before you start sharpening the guillotine for more offseason February house cleaning, here are the top storylines to watch as the Rams wrap up their 2009 season.

Will Steven Jackson stay healthy enough to finish the season AND play next year? The Rams are wearing Jackson thin and his back has started to give out from trying to carry this team. Spagnuolo has taken a little heat for riding SJ39 even when the team was burried late in the game. This week he carried the ball just 19 times, his lowest total since week 6, and didn't see much action on the Rams final drives. Preserving Jackson's health for next season is must. However, talk of shutting him down for the season is premature. I can't imagine Jackson willing to be shut down for the last three games. The better solution is to start giving Kenneth Darby some carries.

Who will be the QB of the near future? It's becoming apparent that the Rams would prefer to go with Boller as their starter, partly because they feel he gives them the best chance to win and partly because they don't want to expose rookie Keith Null to the broken confidence that comes with being the Rams QB. The Rams last three games are against teams in the playoff picture. Houston, this week, and San Francisco, the last week, are desperately clawing their way toward spots and can't afford to lose games. The Cardinals will be looking to fine tune their inconsistencies before going to the playoffs...and keeping the 49ers at bay by winning their final games. That won't make life any easier for Keith Null should he become the starter.

Can the Rams win another game? Get used to the idea of 1-15. I discussed the schedule in the graph above and it doesn't look friendly for the Rams. Of course, anything could happen. Hey, look at this pattern: 3 wins in 2007, 2 wins in 2008 and 1 win in 2009. Does the countdown continue in 2010 or can the Rams reset it?

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I just have the gut feeling

that if they start Null down the stretch, we win one of those games. And I’m thinking the Arizona game.

Not sure why, and if they go 0-3, I’m not eating crow since I’m not making a prediction. Its just a feeling.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Dec 15, 2009 12:16 PM CST reply actions

The Rams have to win

there’s a ton of Bucs fans in Tampa rooting for the Rams to get a win, so the Rams have to win, lol.

by bucnut1 on Dec 15, 2009 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

We might as well play Null. Wouldn’t hurt at this point. The kid has composure and skills there. I think he should get a whole week of practice with the 1st team rather then a handful of plays

This station is now the ultimate power in the universe!

by AbsolutMoose on Dec 15, 2009 1:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Agreed-

And there’s something else really strange- Randy was actually catching passes when Kull is throwing the ball—go figure!

by Knoxfan on Dec 16, 2009 12:55 AM CST up reply actions

The arizona game

Is winnable because the Cards won’t be playing for anything.

by dbcouver on Dec 15, 2009 11:33 PM CST up reply actions

more importantly

it’s in Arizona where they’ve played poorly all season.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Dec 16, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

Boy--that was a slick disclaimer--Bon'Apiteit''

by Knoxfan on Dec 16, 2009 1:42 AM CST up reply actions

these last three games

i don’t think you can keep SJax off the field but playing more Darby is a must. we can’t expect 39 to do it all.

Null should get the start, he showed a lot of composure within a terrible game last week. and i’m hoping that we can at the very least pull of a victory against the 49ers.

You know someone here at TST said you can only have one favorite team and I’d like to respond to that now. I have two favorite teams: THE RAMS and however is playing the 49ers.

"SJAX" - The extra strength cleaner that fights off that Stubborn, Stingy Defense

by moy on Dec 15, 2009 3:30 PM CST reply actions

Always been that way for me

Always will be. I hate that the 69ers are getting good again too.

by dbcouver on Dec 15, 2009 11:36 PM CST up reply actions

yeah Mike Singletary screwed that for us

I knew he was gonna turn them around

"SJAX" - The extra strength cleaner that fights off that Stubborn, Stingy Defense

by moy on Dec 16, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't exactly say he's "turned them around"

They’re pretty inconsistent. I mean, they’re obviously better than the Rams, but they’re hardly one of the “good” teams in the league.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Dec 16, 2009 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

they're a lot better than they've been in the past

and i’d rather them be in our position or worse.

"SJAX" - The extra strength cleaner that fights off that Stubborn, Stingy Defense

by moy on Dec 16, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

Forget 2010, what about 2011?

Get used to the idea of 1-15. I discussed the schedule in the graph above and it doesn’t look friendly for the Rams. Of course, anything could happen. Hey, look at this pattern: 3 wins in 2007, 2 wins in 2008 and 1 win in 2009. Does the countdown continue in 2010 or can the Rams reset it?

At this rate they will be the first team in NFL history to go -1-17.

Gregatron is not responsible for any of the crap he just wrote.
St. Louis vegetarian blog

by Gregatron on Dec 15, 2009 3:35 PM CST reply actions