The “vaunted Governor’s Cup”… HA!

When will some of you writers actually describe what happened during the game - Some of the important things we are all worried about? Where was Chris Long? - What about Tye Hill? - What about our fabulous #2 pick? How did these people do? Do you think they are performing well at their posittions? Are they improving or do you think they will remain anonymous? It is beginning to look like my previous comments were correct. When using these high picks “we should go for broke” and get someone like Sanchez, an obvious leader and future starting quarterback. I could tell it just by watching all the pre-draft television. Why can’t the GM see it? Drafting for “need” is ridiculous, you can do as well in the later rounds as you can guess at numbers one through ten. If it is a crapshoot go for it all!

I guess I am finally getting a little riled up. But it IS frustrating. I recall all the talk that we really needed a run-stuffer. I saw films of Raji shoving the offensive lines back into the quarterback’s face, time after time, and looking amazing at the wrokouts. Did we draft him? No. Can’t management see the films? Don’t they watch NFL.com?

“Her husband may put her on the travel squad for a while.”

Yar, yar. Over to you, Jane…

Bill Parcells has a reputation of being a great personnell guy. During the Miami/ Tampa Bay telecast the anouncers mentioned Parcells cut WR Willford after signing him to a nice free agent contract, essentially admitting he made a mistake. The Ram front office made a simular move early this year when they cut WR Drew Bennett. There are a couple of battles that pit Draft picks vs free agents. The anounsers pointed out most GMs go with the draft picks to prove they are good talent evaluators. Here is a couple of interesting calls to be made:1. DE Cj Ah You and Moore always seem to be around the ball vs Chis Long ( For playing time, I think all three should make the team.)2. CB Quincy Butler vs King for last DB spot. 3.DT Gibson vs Carricker for starting DT spot.

My apologies to Jeff Gordon. He did watch the game.

“* Second-year defensive end Chris Long led a solid charge by the defensive line. The Rams gave up too many big running plays, but the front seven made enough timely stops. Mixing in some effective blitzes, the defense also applied excellent pass pressure. Six different Rams earned sacks.

Long looked good on the left side filling in for Leonard Little, using nifty inside moves to get in the quarterback’s grill. He remembered to get those hands up to bat down the pass.”

Ramsfansince1950….I respect your position, however, when a team cuts loose an aging former all-pro left tackle…..you MUST try to fill that void. For now he plays on the right side, but eventually, he’ll move over to the left and protect the QBs blind side….whoever that might be.

Knuckles - You are probably correct, if Smith turns out to be what he was thought to be. I may be reading too many negative comments about him being knocked on his backside. What little info I get from the press does not give me any confidence that Smith will end up at left guard doing a competent job. Even if he does, that puts Barron back at right tackle, where he was average at best, and apparently nervous about being able to go to his right to stop the LDE (can you spell “jump before the hike”?) If you want good tackles there are bunches in rounds 2 thru 7. The #2 should be spent on some kind of monster, like Pace or Munoz. I hope he proves me wrong. I have never played the position. I’m just saying - those high picks should go for real game changers. (Same goes for Long. The years go by and I keep seeing us pass on guys like Dilfer and Cutler, to name just a couple. I got on my knees and begged them to take Dickerson. I was shocked. Then they decide they don’t want to pay him an extra $200,000 and they blew that one away. It becomes very annoying.

Can someone remind me and others how well Barron did in Pace’s absence on the left side. I beleive he allowed only 3 sacks all year in 2007?? Anyways, stop being so negative about the team and these youngsters. Too early to tell about Jason Smith playing a different position but he might be there because Barron could have a breakout year. I trust we’ll find out what Long and Carriker are all about with this coach. Early take on Laurinatis, stud.

Gee folks, I recorded the game on my DVR and have watched it three times now, and I have to say that I cannot understand the negative reactions to Chris Long. From what I saw, he was making the QB’s nervous all night, applying pressure a lot, he remembered to hold up his hands to block a pass, which LOTS of defensive rushers seem to forget, and he was the one who dived to flick the fumbled football away from a Cincy player and toward our guys so we could recover it. He also showed some ability to drop into coverage when it was the right thing to do. All in all, he looks to be developing into a very heady player. I figure his sacks will come because he keeps trying, and he’ll eventually wear out the person assigned to block him. As for the team as an overall, I think this game showed great improvement, and I was delighted to see five and six Rams showing up to corral a runner, stop a receiver, or block for our plays. If Barron gets up to his old tricks, I think there are guys on the current roster who will be able to replace and upgrade him, and I am counting on Spags to keep those guys around. I do not know how anyone can rate this team as to their effectiveness in a few weeks. They are improving at a very rapid rate at this time, and no one knows what level of ability the team will have. I was immensely relieved to see Boller looking like a QB who could actually play the position this time.