Did you hear the big news Monday from Rams Park?
No, you didn’t. Because there wasn’t any.
As usual, coach Scott Linehan took the podium at 4 p.m., followed by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and offensive coordinator Al Saunders. For about 45 minutes, they tried to explain away another jarring and embarrassing defeat, while providing reasonable answers to stinging questions. It wasn’t pleasant, but they deserve credit for facing the fire.
New owner Chip Rosenbloom is an an extraordinarily difficult position. Does he honor his dying mother’s wish and stick with Linehan till the end of the year? Remember, the Rams haven’t changed head coaches during a season since 1962, when Bob Waterfield resigned.
On the other hand, can Rosenbloom afford to wait and risk that the franchise, which Georgia Frontiere loved so dearly, will tumble even further into a deep and dark abyss?
If Rosenbloom determines that the highly unpopular Linehan must go, and soon, does he:
A) Do it now, on the heels of three dreadful performances and before Sunday’s home game vs. Buffalo? It almost certainly would put more seats in the seats at the Dome, and at least would create a positive buzz among an increasingly hostile fan base.
B) Wait until after the game and do it during the subsequent bye week? That would provide some time for the transition to set in, and also would allow the new head coach (presumably an interim choice) to get his feet wet on the road (Oct. 12 at Washington).
These are difficult questions — far tougher than the coaching braintrust is facing. How Rosenbloom answers them will tell us a great deal about what kind of owner he intends to be and perhaps set the tone for the franchise for years to come.
All for now . . .
Scott Linehan needs to be gone. He gives the team no sence of urgency nor does he insist that these highly paid “hold-outs” perform the way they said they could. The team is only as good as the leader. If I hire someone to do a job, I will give him a job description and job duties list. If he can’t give what he is paid to give then he needs to go. This should be the same for everyone on the team. The coach is not the only one to blame. But, the buck stops there. If Chip Rosenbloom does not address the situation that is here, then he is only telling the team that he is accepting mediocrity. (sp?) Make a decision and stand by it and let there be an end to the speculation. Yes, this is a lousy team. “THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH” left the building long ago. Will it ever be back? Only Chip Rosenbloom can provide the answer.
The issue with firing Linehan - and his staff - at the midpoint of the season is getting the quality replacements we need. IF we could get Cowher to come in…would the coordinators and assistants he wants for his staff even be available until after the season (assuming many of them already have jobs for other NFL or college teams)? Who else might become available after the season. Marty Schottenheimer? Mike Holmgren (he’s not done coaching, just done with Seattle)? Make a run at somebody like Steve Spagnuolo? What about a GM…Ron Wolf (he did wonders in Green Bay)? So much needs to be fixed internally…let alone on the field…but given that it looks like the players have quit on Linehan, who knows what kind of talent we really have. Either way…it’s a long road to the 2009-2010 season and the first rays of hope for this franchise.
I saw a special on NFL network called Top 10 Guttiest performances and # 1 on the list was Los Angeles Rams DE Jack Youngblood playing in The NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl on a broken leg. I began to realize this is a proud franchise that has had great players who gave great efforts in order to win. I think this Ram team has a few players willing to give that type of effort ie Long, Witherspoon, Jackson, but his coaching staff is not the one capable of putting them in winning situations. Linehan and Hasslet must Go!
Mercy, please give us mercy. How can a franchise in which the NFL promotes parity be so bad. The offense is offensive, the defense is putrid, the special teams (other than the kicker and punter) are just bad. That’s right folks, our special teams are the best part of this team. Heaven help us. I’m just a fan, for 35 years, but I’ve never seen anything like this. The players are stealing, the coaches are clueless and management have their heads in the sand. Mercy.
Fire all the coaches now Chip! Your Mother is dead and can’t mismanage the team from the grave like she did in life unless you all her memory to. Unbelievable. At least Bill Bidwell had some fortitude when he was here with the Big Red.
Linehan needs to go NOW!!!!!!!! He should have never been hired! But the two above him need to go also! Do it now and get a head start on the re-building.
Bench Bulger? How about the stats of the self proclaimed best running back in the league……Faulk who? If this guy ran the ball as well as he runs his mouth maybe he would have more than 53 ypg.
Rushing Statistics
Player G Car Yds Yd/G Avg Long TDs Fum Fum Lost
S. Jackson 3 50 159 53.0 3.18 15 0 1 0
I like the comment of keeping Linehan 5 more years, so we can get a new offensive line. Five more #1 picks sounds great. Problem is, there seems to be no one at Rams Park that knows squat about how to draft and develop talent. Whoever is responsible for the Trung Canidates, the Claude Wrotens, the Jimmy Kennedys, the Damione Lewises, the Eric Crouches, the Tye Hills, the Joe Klopfensteins–get those turkeys out of town now! I mean, really–are there other winning NFL franchises that screw up with that kind of regularity? I doubt it.
Rosenblom should roll the dice and axe Linehan now…whats the worst that can happen…going 0-4. I can understand wanting to honor his mothers’ dying wish, but by firing Linehan he sets a tone to the club and sends a message to his dwindling fan base.
The fix is not firing SL now but letting/forcing Shaw to retire and firing Jay Z immediately. That will shake up the players as the ax will be hanging over not only the coaches heads but the players as well. This would allow new personnel in the front office to evaluate who has value and be retained while lining up replacements for those terminated after the season.