10 years later

by Summer of 99 on Aug 2, 2009 12:18 PM CDT

I remember reading the ESPN magazine at a Barnes & Noble store in the summer of 99. The issue featured a preseason evaluation of all NFL teams. For Rams, I remember reading that Tory Holt should make a great impact but there was no one else in the offense and the Rams were doomed for a losing season again. I also remember hearing analysts on TV saying that Marshall Faulk was a "me-first" type of player and all he wanted was a big contract. Boy, did they get everything wrong. Football is a team sport which is built on much more than individual talent. The attitude of the coach is reflected onto the team. That is why Coach Lombardi made miracles with a group of overachieving, otherwise mediocre players. Mad Mike, Vermiel had strong characters which we saw on the field.

I may be wrong but I am seeing a strong character as the head coach of Rams again backed by a competent management. We may have a lot of holes on paper and a bunch of unknowns as WR's. But it is the coach's character that is giving me hope. Both lines are better, and yes we have a ProBowl QB who is capable of being very accurate.

What I am trying to say is:

1. I am very optimistic about this season and future

2. I am not listening to any "experts" who got it so wrong many times before

3. The foundations are in place for sustained success.

How do you feel, what do you think?

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Yeah, don't listen to the experts, but I would temper some of that optimism

This team is being built much differently than the Rams were being reconstructed as they left LA. I’m equally optimistic about the future, but I’m skeptical as to how much success we can have this year with such a young team and the various question marks on the depth chart.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Aug 2, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions

In my opinion,

our team has been studied and observed for every little thing they do. Ten years ago, we didnt have alot of the technology and reporters and blogging sites that we do nowadays. Im very sure that the players are just as aware of all the question marks surrounding the team that we are. And as i sit here day after day thinking, “boy some key players better step it up”, i konw they are thinking, “boy, we better step it up”.
There’s no doubt it my mind that with our new coaches, systems, and philosophies, our players are going to give everything they’ve got into the upcoming season.

GO RAMS!

by Pezzullo10 on Aug 2, 2009 5:58 PM CDT reply actions

Check out my post: Don Banks = Patriots Butt Kisser

The SI wizard has us dead last in the power rankings. 32 of 32. That’s not giving us much credit for dumping the front office, coaching staff and half the 2008 team.

by edpjr on Aug 2, 2009 9:17 PM CDT reply actions

And really, how impossible is the NFL to predict?

Who had Detroit winning 0 games? Or Miami turning their season around? I would only give 2-1 odds that one of the bottom 6 teams in his rankings (Tampa, Oakland, Jax, Cleveland, Detroit and St. Lou) will win at least 8 games. It’s the NFL; it’s too tough to predict.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Aug 2, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Mostly true

That’s mostly true, the NFL is hard to predict on a division by division basis. I think if you try, you can come up with informed opinions, starting with looking at the line changes. Operative word there is try….I actually have done quite well with sports betting based on forming my own opinions and looking down to the individual players and how they fit systems. (predicting success based on who is coaching….well, not so much. I have a lot to say about that, but another time)

The Rams should be given more of a chance based on our O-line changes. The fact that they aren’t just underscores how you can’t rely on the mainstream media for anything other than “filler” because even though its hard to predict, most of what you can find out there is just lazy, ill-concieved garbage. The guys who get paid to write often times just fill up space with crap, borrow opinions from each other, and propagate stupidity under the guise of conventional wisdom.

I do remember reading all those things this post talked about, and even that Faulk was a cancer. That experience was part of what soured me on the big media outlets, and the more I learned about football the more I found they didn’t really give me my money’s worth. This site and guys like VanRam and 3K give me every bit that moron John Clayton does.

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Aug 3, 2009 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions

And Furthermore!

And John freakin Clayton is somehow in the Hall of Fame! JHC. I don’t think that sniveler has any business in the HoF unless he buys a ticket. At the very least he should have to be retired for a few years, just like the players. Then we’ll look at what he really offered and decide if it was an immortal body of work. The whole thing just cheapened the HoF , IMHO. Who voted on that??

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Aug 3, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions