Rams go down in historic fashion
PHILADELPHIA — Wow . . . just wow.
Those of us who have been witness to all the Rams practices since the start of training camp, who engaged in hours of discussion and conducted dozens of interviews with players, coaches and team execs, never saw this coming. There is hardly a way to describe how hard the Rams fell Sunday in their season-opening 38-3 loss to the Eagles.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” QB Marc Bulger said. “It’s terrible. That’s about as bad as you can get beat in the NFL.”
In fact, the Rams never had been beaten as badly on opening day in franchise history. And they’d been defeated more decisively only twice overall since moving from LA in 1995.
A bright sun was high in the sky in Philly, but it was a dark, dark day for a club trying to rebound from last year’s 3-13 debacle.
The Rams did almost nothing on offense: just 166 total yards and a stunning 0-for-11 on third downs. The defense surrendered 522 yards, the second-highest total in “St. Louis” Rams annals.
“I think discouraged is not a very good word; I refuse to use it,” coach Scott Linehan said. “I’m very disappointed, though. We’ve got to use it as motivation to not go back here. We expect to play a lot better next week.”
That would be when the New York Giants — the defending Super Bowl champs — come to the Edward Jones Dome. Not exactly a great recipe for redemption, eh?
Grasping for any positive karma, CB Ron Bartell used the ‘07 Giants as a beacon of hope for the staggered Rams. The Giants lost their first two games, 45-35 to the Cowboys and 35-13 to the Packers. They went 14-4 thereafter, including their 4-0 march through the playoffs.
“They came out in Week 1 and laid an egg, just like us. And they ended up winning the Super Bowl,” Bartell noted. “So you could look at that situation and get some confidence with it. . . . It’s a marathon, not a race. We have 15 more” games to go.
True. But the Rams really need to lace up their running shoes and get moving.
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Notes & quotes:
>>None of the Rams’ injuries appeared to be serious, with the possible exception of WR Drew Bennett (foot). He’ll have an MRI Monday.
>>TE Randy McMichael was Bulger’s favorite target, with five catches for 77 yards.
>>After getting burned twice on long passes, CB Tye Hill was replaced in the base defense by Fakhir Brown. Hill became the nickel back.
>>Brown reported no problems with his left shoulder, which kept him out virtually the entire preseason after he was hurt in the first practice at training camp. “It turned out pretty good,” Brown said. “I didn’t have to make any hard contact on it.”
>>The Rams secondary slogged through an awful day, and at times it looked as if confusion was the culprit. No so, insisted S Oshiomogho Atogwe. “No, we weren’t confused,” he said. “They executed their plays very well. And on those plays, they beat us.”
>>Donnie Jones punted a whopping 10 times. He averaged 48.5 yards (38.8 net).
>>According to the unofficial press-box stats, newcomer Gary Stills had a team-high two special-teams tackles.
>>DE James Hall was the Rams’ top tackler, with 10. He entered the game after Leonard Little tweaked a hamstring on the game’s first series.
>>Bulger committed the only Rams fumble, and he recovered it.
>>Nice day for Philly rookie DeSean Jackson. He caught six passes for 106 yards and averaged 12.1 yards on eight punt returns.
>>The Rams seriously considered drafting Jackson in the second round, but instead made Donnie Avery the first wide receiver taken. Avery was out Sunday with a sprained knee.
All for now . . . more after Linehan’s media session Monday afternoon.
How can any pro team be this unprepared??? Phily is apparently pretty good but my word, the Rams were just embarrassing! Im just a fan with no real expertise but it just plain as day… Linehan is not head coaching material. I was waiting on todays game to see about buying season tickets. NOT! I wasn’t expecting a win on the road but at least some show of improvement. BTW. Yeah Leonard… for sure this team will not be 3 and 13… more like 1 and 15!!! Sad. Very sad.
I think the Rams ownership should make a statement and fire Linehan today! That performance was unacceptable! If they have another bad year, and we all know they will, he won’t be back anyway.
Ram fan for 40+ years and I have never seen a team so poorly prepared to play. I think they are used to losing. No competitive fire on either side of the ball. If not for Donnie Jones Philly scores 50+
Try to lure Bill Cower for next year. If they lose to NYG, fire Linehan.
It is obvious something is horribly wrong with this franchise. As I watched the game yesterday or what I could bear to watch, I couldn’t help wondering “What happened to the Greatest Show on Turf”? Most would have you believe the blame falls on Linehan but I think it is much deeper. Who is doing the drafting and team decisions. Drafing Jimmy kennedy and Damione Lewis and passing on Shawn Merriman. Letting Kevin Curtis and Mike Furrey go and bringing in Drew Bennett. It is obvious that Desean Jackson and James Hardy are going to be top playmakers in this league but we passed on them for Donnie Avery. So whoever is making the personel decisions for the franchise I would like to say “You’re doing a heck of a job Brownie”
Everyone who seems to care somewhat about the St. Louis RAMS seem to be making alot of sense, but owners don’t seem to be listing. Linehan, Hasslett, other management as well as some of he players need to be FIRED. The same ole RAMS. First mistake was letting Kurt Warner go, and some of the former RAMS players that should have stayed. How can a team lose so bad and DON’T even care. No one tried, No one cared…they are getting PAID to lose. This is a DISGRACE to Georgia, this is the way to pay honor to a lady that cared so much about her team? And as big as Steven Jackson is all he could pick up was 40 yards, after getting a new multi-million dollar contract? Be for real. And what happen to the days of Dante Hall? I could come in and play better than these LOSERS. Yes LOSERS. if i was in St. Louis i wouldn’t even show up for a game. Maybe all the fans need to PICKET outside the RAMS corp. office. 3-13 last year hell im predicting a 1-15 season this year. they all are playing like COWARDS. Every team has HEART except the same ole RAMS, what ever happen to the days of the Greatest Team on Turf??
I try to keep sports in their proper place in life. I try not to let losses by highly compensated pro-atheletes bother me. I have to confess I have been extremely grouchy since I wasted a sunny afternoon watching that horrid effort. I am ashamed of the Rams organization. I am a 33 year fan who has endured too many games similar to this one. I have never liked Shaw as GM, Not a Ziggy fan. I didn’t care for Georgia (RIP) as an owner. I felt , ultimatley, it was their fault we were such a “soft” team who can’t draft worth a damn. I also hold Scott Linehan accountable for his team looking so awful and carrying the posture of a bunch of losers. One only had to see Scott in the first quarter to recognize he was already defeated. If I was coach I would be throwing my reputation as a “nice guy” out the door. I would be up and down these guys without mercy. They played like quitters.That’s how a majority of us think of them. They ALL need a kick in the arse.
Listen boys….snap out of it, get PO’d that the rest of the league considers the franchise, the team, and the players a joke.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! TIME TO MOVE FORWARD … BEFORE WE ALL STOP CARING!!
Bulger & Linehan must go. I never thought Bulger was a leader even though he won a lot of games - Give us someone who get excited - Bulger looks like a whipped pup! Linehan - well - he is just not meant to be a head coach. Rams were un-prepared for the Eagles. Do something quick so that maybe next year we will have something to look forward to!
Unbelievable and inexecusable. Monday night’s games pending, every team in the NFL has scored a touchdown in their opening game - but one. They begin this year like the ended last year - flat. It was frustrating to hear the game announcers speak of the lack of life on the Rams sideline. This team needs leadership and attitude. Rams goal for next week: keep the opponents starting quaterback in the game for 4 quarters.
Disgraceful, just absolutely disgraceful. These guys have no pride, the team should withhold paychecks, they don’t deserve them. I’m a Ram fan for 35 years, I don’t remember feeling so much optimism in the offseason ever. And then to witness that abomination. I’m questioning why I’m a Ram fan. There is nothing positive to point to in this game, why should we expect anything different against the Giants. Disgraceful. I’m ashamed to be a Ram fan.