Mychal perez: Hey jim
what do u think about the move to the west coast rumor?? |
| Jim Thomas: Nothing to it. |
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Billy C: Congratulations Coach Linehan . I am happy for you & our Team . Jackson looked like Lawrence throwing that TD pass in the Super Bowl . But I must ask where has this intensity been all year ? Why did we go 34 to 7 & then let them back in the game in the 4th ? I know eat up the clock but 1 more TD & a 2 point (hard to do) would send us to overtime . Thanks Dane for recovering that onside kick .
Where were those deep patterns all year ?? where was that aggressiveD all year ?? We should (Could have) been 4&5 0r 6&3 . Its not just injuries that held us back . It was bad drafts & tentative coaching that did us in . Not all "wrong" calls but lack of motivation and mad dog desire to Win .
We had Motivation & strong Mad Dog desire to win Sunday and it was great . If we had it all year WOW . Will we have it next week ? I hope so . Nothing would make me happier than to say "I was wrong about Linehan / hes a RAM Coach ."
A great sign / a sign nobody should miss / the biggest + of the day was Marc Bulger giving the game ball to Coach Linehan and he didnt do it all on his own ,
Maybe just maybe the guys are rallying around "The Coach" . Maybe the Fire is starting . Maybe a family in being born . No individuales but a team . Guys playing (at least some of them) not just for the money but for the fun & love of the game . Some of the players get it now . Some woke up .
is a Great start but its just a start . The Team can give up ."Were 1&8 we won one / so lets just mail it in now" Or we can kill ourselves and maybe still loose anyway . What Rams will we see ???
"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages & ages hence
2 roads diverged in a yellow wood
&I took the one less traveled by
& that made all the difference"
I think Mr Frost was a Coach ..... Billy C Old School Ram Fan |
| Jim Thomas: Billy--I've often wondered, even wondered aloud on the radio, why this team doesn't play with more enthusiasm. And by that, I'm not saying the players weren't trying, or they weren't intense. It's football. It's supposed to be fun. And for whatever reason, there was more bounce in the players' step during the practice week, and they looked more energetic during pregame. You could sense it. In fact, I almost mentioned it on the air with Howard on the pregame show. Anyway, I have no idea where this has been all year, and no idea how long it can last. I wouldn't have believed 34-7 had I not saw it with my own eyes. |
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Mark: What's with the change in offensive philosophy? the passing game looked more like it was based of Martz's principles - DIG routes, skinny posts and quick slants as hot reeds off blitzes . . . not those goofy one yard button hooks. This was the first game in Linahens era that he seemed to TRULY put his playmakers in position to make plays. First game he really worked the WRs in the middle of the field.
Granted, the Saints "D" is nothing special and the O-line held up very well in pass protection, but this was a fun game to watch because the the pass routes actually had the WRs, TEs and RBs catching the ball going forward. Now add a few more drag/crossing routes and a some post-corner routes and Linehan might save his job.
I really hope he continues with type of game plan. |
| Jim Thomas: Well, we saw this against San Francisco in Week 2. Bulger passed for a lot of yards, but the Rams couldn't get it in the end zone much. Bulger also got hammered in that game _ 13 hits total including six sacks. We also saw it in the first quarter against Cleveland (or before Steven Jackson got hurt). You can't underestimate what Jackson does in the lineup. More eight man boxes and linebackers creeping up to the line of scrimmage to stop stop the run frees up the receivers on the outside. You could see it on the game tape against Cleveland. Once Jackson went out, the linebackers didn't bite nearly as much on the play fakes, and the Browns safeties played deep in a Cover 2 shell just daring the Rams to run. |
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RESPECT: Way to hang in there Jim
i questioned the hearts of these guys a few weeks ago (not necessarily the mainstays) because injuries dont matter come playoff time. i might just be wrong... however, i wonder how a 6th string offensive line unit ends up looking leaps and bounds letter than the 1st stringers. How much of the Rams success sunday can be attributed to how bad New Orleans defense is? i dont know the stats, and i dont wanna take anything away from our guys either, but, WHERE HAS THIS INTENSITY BEEN FOR THE PREVIOUS 8 GAMES??? I would like to see Hasslett continue to blitz, wouldnt you?
is it just me or doesnt it seem like #51 is everywhere, SOMEBODY GIVE THAT GUY HIS PROPS!!! |
| Jim Thomas: Witherspoon (#51) has played that way for the last month or so. He is really on a roll. And he's become more physical as a tackler and more effective (obviously) as a blitzer. There's no doubt New Orleans isn't an elite defense, at least when it comes to the passing game. (They had been very good against the run, however.) Plus, the Saints were missing three starters, all members of their front seven. So that helped the o-line. As I mentioned in an early post, I think we're all wondering where the energy has been all season. |
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Tom: Hi Jim,
I have a couple questions, why are the Rams carrying so many WR's/TE's on the active roster?
Also, how come Wroten was credited with a sack in the Second quarter? |
Jim Thomas: I figured once Bruce and Dante Hall returned, the Rams would release a WR or two. But now, Bruce is injured again. It looks like Dante Hall will be back this week, but there are no guarantees until they see him in practice again this week. So maybe they keep all the wideouts another week. As for keeping 4 TEs (plus a FB in Owens), I have no idea. But with Aaron Walker out of the year with a shoulder injury, the Rams are now down to just three TEs.
Actually, Wroten should've been credited with a sack but it was changed to an aborted play because of a goofy shotgun snap by the New Orleans center. But Brees never dropped or even bobbled the ball, so I think the play will be changed back to a sack. The Rams have called the Elias Sports Bureau _ the NFL's official statisician _ to review the play, because the Rams think it should be a sack. By the end of the week, Elias will get back to them with a ruling. |
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Tom: Jim,
That should have said was not credited with a sack. |
| Jim Thomas: Figured as much. |
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Todd: Jim, Do we finally have the Oline we want?
How is Bruce? Will he play at San Fran?
Thanks |
Jim Thomas: For this year, maybe. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Romberg if he's healthy this week. Do the Rams still start Leckey at RG? Or do they start Romberg? No matter what, I think McCollum is staying at C, Brown at LG, and Barron at LT. With Steussie due back next week for Seattle, I wonder what the Rams do with him? If he's ready to play, you may see him at right guard or right tackle.
As for Bruce, I'm not sure. Past experience says it's probably a one_ or two-week deal, which is a shame, because for once the Rams had all their skill players healthy against New Orleans and we saw what happened. |
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Murat from PA: Hello Jim;
Last week you dismissed my wishful vision that Rams put together a winning streak and challenge the Seahawks for the division title. I was wondering if the impressive win against the Saints softened your stand a bit.
Thanks. |
| Jim Thomas: I am not even going to think about that until the Rams are 5-8. So let's revisit that in a month. |
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Garon...Dog Boy: How the heck are we going to get the #1 draft pick with wins like this? You know what they say. When life gives you lemons, quit! When the going gets hard, quit! I'm looking forward to a solid loss at the 'Niners this week.
Regards,
Dog Boy |
| Jim Thomas: Dog boy _ Have the Tampa Bay fans been pouring more beer on your head? You've got to play to win. Even if the Rams manage to scrape out a few more wins, 4-12 should still give them a top 5 pick. As for the 'Niners, after watching their Monday Night debacle in Seattle, I have to think the Rams win at Monster Park. |
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Buzz: Jim,
Almost everyone agrees that while Witherspoon is ok at MLB, we would be better served if he moved outside and a larger run stuffing hitter replaced him in the middle. How married is Haslett to the current setup? Is it possible he could make this change for next season, or would it take a change in coaching staffs for it to occur? If it did happen, would you move Will to the strong or weak side? If the weak side, could Pisa play on the strong side? He seems to have bulked up since his early years. Thanks. |
| Jim Thomas: Buzz--Haslett seems very married, blissfully married, to Witherspoon in the middle. (Although as you saw against New Orleans, he wasn't against moving him around in certain packages.) I haven't always felt this way, but I like your idea. Witherspoon at weakside; Pisa at strongside (he has bulked up), and a thumper in the middle. But I don't think it's going to happen if the current staff returns. |
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matt from GC: hey Jim. second time poster.
ok. here we go. With Witherspoon baically our team mvp this year. do you think the Rams will go after A big name MLB this off-season and move him to the outside still? And who do you think the rams could and would go after?
thanks buddy. Go Rams.
Matt from GC |
| Jim Thomas: As I mentioned in a previous post, Haslett seems wedded to Witherspoon at MLB. So if this staff returns in '08, I think Witherspoon stays inside. As for possible free-agent pickups, the only inside name that comes to mind is Karlos Dansby of Arizona. He has some size, and plays aggressively. But it's still a little early to start contemplating free agency. Teams are still working on re-signing a their own, and the list could look at lot different in even the next month or so than it will at the start of March. |
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Dave in Atlanta: Hey Jim,
I'm one of your Golf-addicted Nephew in Tampa's former drinking buddies from The Cape. He said I should say hello! So, "hello!"
My question is, now that you screwed the pooch in the Dorsey Sweepstakes by winning a game, where (position-wise) and who do you see the Rams looking at with say a 2nd to 5th pick in the first round? |
| Jim Thomas: I still think the Rams are headed for a top 5 pick. Here are some of the top senior names right now: DT Dorsey of LSU; DE Chris Long of Virginia; DT Sedrick Ellis of Southern Cal; OT Jake Long of Michigan; ILB Dan Connor of Penn State; OLB Keith Rivers of Southern Cal. But keep in mind, it's V-E-R-Y early. Even the NFL teams at this point aren't sure what the top 10 players look like, particularly since the sophomore and juniors have yet to declare. (Which doesn't happen until January). Certainly, if RB Darren McFadden of Arkansas comes out early or Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston comes out early that changes the board as well. As for what positions I think the Rams should consider with a top 5 pick, I would say in no particular order--OT, WR, DE. |
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| sid: Thanks for this forum, question that I have is about the game clock, doesn't a penalty or going out of bounds stop the clock until the next play. There were times in the 4th quarter when New Orleans had the ball that the clock didn't stop when this happened. |
Jim Thomas: Sid--This is straight from the NFL's "digest of rules" _ With the exception of the last 2 minutes of the first half and the last 5 minutes of the second half, the game clock will be restarted following a player going out of bounds on a play from scrimmage, or after declined penalties when appropriate on the referee's signal.
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JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,
Okay, lets get to it. There are basically five questions that every Ram fan needs the answer to.
1. Where was this play calling the first 8 games?
2. Did the players have temporary amnesia and simultaneously woke up and remembered how to play?
3. Why go conservative on Defense in the last quarter?
4. Steven Jackson TD? No turnovers? Wilkins goes 3-3 including a 49 yarder? 4 of 5 in the red zone? Linehan wins a critical challenge? Saints held to only 43 Yd's rushing? Okay, you got me, these aren't questions but after 0-8 it deserves a retort.
5. Do we loyal fans get a game ball for sticking it out through this mess? |
Jim Thomas: 1.) Locked in a vault in Earth city.
2.) Yes.
3.) Makes no sense.
4.) Like I said before, if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it.
5.) You do deserve a game ball _ but I think the Rams gave them all away after Sunday's victory. |
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| Dave in Atlanta: Jim: Holt and Bruce....where do you put those guys relative to other top receivers in the league as far as current (i.e. I need someone to start this week to win a game) performance? Top 10? Top 25? Not even top 25? |
| Jim Thomas: Holt is still top 10, even with his bad knee. Healthy, he's top 5 easy. Bruce is top 30. |
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| Dave in Atlanta: Jim, how painful is it to cover a team that is 1-8 vs the excitement of a Superbowl (or even a mediore) season? |
| Jim Thomas: The players and coaches are grumpier that's for sure. There are no national writers or networks coming in for interviews. There's nothing like covering a team on a Super Bowl run. But I have to admit, the prospect of the Rams going 0-16 was starting to look like one glorious trainwreck. And that would be historic in a sense, even more historic than a Super Bowl team. Because a team wins the Super Bowl every year. No one has ever gone 0-16 in a season. |
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| Dave in Atlanta: Hey Jim: What's the best place to get a burger & beer(s) on a Saturday nite before the game in the downtown/Landing area? |
| Jim Thomas: I like the Morgan Street pub on the landing. Or for some pasta, try Charlie Gitto's on 6th and Pine. |
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S. Monkey: Hi JT,
Nice to see what we can do when properly motivated, looks like we're about 9 weeks too late though. You had mentioned before that one of our needs for next year would be a pass rushing LB. Was I the only one who saw how good Witherspoon is in that role? Seems like finding a way to move him outside may not be too bad of an option. Which leads to my next question, why does it take us so long to get Clifton Ryan in games? With his emergence as a nose tackle, could we begin looking into 3-4 schemes to occasionally mix things up? |
Jim Thomas: I still think the Rams need another edge rusher from the DE position.
Actually, Ryan has been playing a fair amount since early in the regular season. The Rams simply don't have the personnel to run a 3-4 much more than they now employ it. You'd need a couple of big defensive ends (290 pounds) and about 3 more LBs. |
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| Greg: If the offense plays like it did in N.O. the rest of the way, I can definitely see us going 8-8. Does 8-8 win the division? |
| Jim Thomas: I think Seattle, now 5-4, will go 9-7. (Barring a rash of injuries.) They have three left at home, where they rarely lose, and don't have a team left on their schedule that currently has a winning record. |
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GoneGator: Jim - has there been an explanation on the Reggie Bush "fumble"? It looked clear as day to me and my Tivo skills. I don't buy the explanation that his "momentum was stopped". It was stopped cause he was knocked cold. But his momentum wasn't - not that quickly.
And, if it wasn't reviewable, uh, why did they review it? |
| Jim Thomas: It looked like a fumble, plain and simple. It was one of about three or four botched calls by this crew in the second half. They just kind of lost control of the game for a while. As you correctly pointed out, if the play wasn't reviewable, why do you go "under the hood" to review the play. |
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| David: I loved the aggressiveness of Haslett's game plan through the first 3 quarters. Just like Mark Bulger's eye roll, it is hard to judge gestures that we see on camera but I saw one of the defensive backs in the 4th quarter gesture to the sideline with a pushing motion. I took that to mean he wanted the Defense to apply more pressure. The camera cut to Haslett who was shaking his head "no". Again, I could and probably am reading way too much into that sequence but my question is do you think Haslett will continue to display the aggressiveness throughout the rest of the season? I couldn't believe they backed off at New Orleans! I guess I have listened to Madden too much over the years but I firmly believe what he says when he tells everyone that he would continue to do what works until the other side figures it out. It didn't seem to me that New Orleans had a clue what was going on even as late as the end of the third quarter. I know they want to prevent the quick score but I think the case could definitely be made that letting a quarterback like Drew Brees set back and deliver the ball almost guarantees a quick score. At least mix it up a bit! Anyway, I would love to see more of the aggressiveness. Will it continue or was that a one game wonder?? Hope to see the defensive jumping around at SF next week! |
| Jim Thomas: Actually, two things were at work here. One, Haslett did back off. Way too early I thought. But New Orleans also adjusted its blocking schemes. Finally. They were keeping two backs in at times, or keeping seven blockers in total to pass protect, meaning they were sending out only three pass receivers. Haslett made it a point to stress that the game plan against pass-happy New Orleans wouldn't necessarily apply to run-oriented teams like San Francisco. Myself, I don't think the Rams play the soft zone coverages particularly well. I think they're better at man coverage, trying to beat up receivers at the line. And they simply aren't getting enough pressure with just the four-man front (particularly minus Leonard Little). I'd like to see them keep blitzing, mixing things up, and dictating to offenses instead of vice versa. |
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don: Jim,
How did the offensive line grade-out in the Saints game? Individual stand-outs or breakdowns? Any rays of hope or is Bulger getting better at dealing with intense pressure? |
| Jim Thomas: I haven't looked at the tape yet. I usually do that on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Alex Barron obviously got beat at the start of the game for a sack by Will Smith, but after that played pretty well. Every once in a while, McCollum and Lecky had trouble with Saints DT Hollis Thomas (who is a wide body and a load). But the right tackle combo of Gorin and Petitti did surprisingly well on pass blocking. Bulger did a good job of stepping up in the pocket and getting the ball out quickly. He was decisive, even on the deeper routes. Bulger himself said that of the 4 sacks, two were coverage sacks, and one came on a play when he missed a "hot" read. |
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Brian: Jim,
I don't see Jonathan Wade playing too much..is he a decent player or is he just a speed guy? Is the the long term plan for the Rams at cornerback Hill, Bartell and Wade? That doesn't sound too bad to me. |
| Jim Thomas: Wade was so raw coming out of Tennessee _ remember he was a WR for part of this time there _ that the Rams weren't expecting much out of him this year. They were hoping he would simply develop into a decent special teams player as a rookie. (And he hasn't exacly been stellar there.) He's got plenty of speed, but I'm not sure you take a guy like this in third round. Fakhir Brown is only in the second year of a five-year deal, so Hill and Brown will be the starters for the next few years, assuming Brown doesn't get any more NFL substance-abuse suspensions. The next one, by the way, sidelines him for a year. |
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| Steve: thanks for your time, jim. i posted this last week, but did so too late. the idea of letting ike bruce go has been mentioned several times. i just don't agree with this in the least. first of all, ike is a true professional....stays in tip-top condition, brings it every sunday, keeps his name out of the papers....besides all of this, he's to the rams what brett favre is to the packers in a way. there is no doubt in my mind he can still get it done. if ike were the no. 1 option for this team, his numbers would bare this out. i would like to know what ike's numbers are in the games torry did not play. i also believe ike would be willing to restructure his contract to stay a ram because of his loyalty to this team and the legacy he will some day leave behind. i believe he did restructure his contract somewhat the last time it was up; is this accurate? i don't think we can rely on the rams to draft someone to replace ike's production and drew bennett has not convinced me of anything yet, although we all saw a glimpse of what he is meant to bring with the touchdown he had vs jason david....as did everyone else that day. ike deserves to go out with class and style...unlike jerry rice did at the end of his career. i just couldn't stand to see ike go out like rice did. |
| Jim Thomas: Bruce has one year left on his contract, which calls for a $2 million base salary and a $3 million roster bonus as the start of the league year (in March). The Rams actually cut Bruce last year, re-signing him less than a week later to a lesser deal. If ever a Rams player deserved to go out on his own terms I would say it's Isaac. To me, he's still the face of this franchise. He's been the lone remaining LA Ram for several years, he was the first star player of the "St. Louis" Rams, and he caught the game-winning TD pass in Super Bowl XXXIV. He has always given his best on the field. And has quietly done tons of community service work off the field. And when you see Isaac handing a football to a Marine after scoring his first touchdown of the season (in New Orleans), you realize he hasn't changed. He's still the same Isaac. But I realize the NFL can be a cold business. I also realize that Linehan likes bigger receivers with run after the catch ability. So I'd say it's 50-50 on whether Isaac is back in '08. We may be down to the last few games together of one of the best receiving tandems in NFL history _ Holt and Bruce. |
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JerseyMo: Jim,
Do you think it was wise to call off the dogs in the Saints game especially in the 4th quarter? Jim what do you think about a 6-10 finish or 7-9? |
Jim Thomas: I would have kept getting after them, at least until the final 4 or 5 minutes of the game. (Although as I noted earlier, according to Haslett, the Saints finally adjusted their blocking schemes to neutralize the blitz.)
I just don't know about 6-10 or 7-9. To me SF, Cincy, and Atlanta still look like the most winnable games. I don't know about any of the others. |
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JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,
What is the atmosphere like around the locker room? Was the win a huge weight lifted off of their shoulders? Do you sense there is still an urgency for them to keep on winning?
Aside from that, Sunday's game looked to me that the Saints coaching staff were out coached. I never thought I was going to say that this year. What's your take? |
Jim Thomas: JR--Players very relived in the locker room. Coaches too. HUGE weight off their shoulders. Believe it or not, most of them do care. And most of them put a lot into their profession. Football is a game of confidence and momentum, so the Rams should be able to build off this. But we'll see.
I did think the Rams' staff won the battle of the Xs and Os with the Saints. Haslett's blitzing schemes kept the Saints bamboozled for three quarters, and overlooked was the job the defense did keeping the lid on Reggie Bush. Linehan's play-calling also kept the the NO defense off-balance. He stayed with the run, mixed short, quick passes with some down-field shots, and lo and behold _ a couple of trick plays. |
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| Damon: Hey Jim! So how many more wins do you think Linehan needs to be keep his job next year? Who do you think we will get in the draft? Would you prefer we draft Jake Long, Glenn Dorsey, or Chris Long (son of Howie)?? |
| Jim Thomas: Don't bet your mortage on this, but I think three should do it. But make no mistake, he is coaching for his job in the second half of the season. Without doing any study yet on any of those guys, I'd say take the OT (Long). But let's see how the top 10 looks once the sophomore and juniors declare. Things could change dramatically. |
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| Alex Alvidrez: Forget about the win against NO. How about Marshal Faulk as our new head coach. What do you think of that possibility? He'll garner instant respect from management, fans, and players. He's a minority, a ram legend, and most importantly smart. I think he’d be a great head coach and get the rams back on track!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Jim Thomas: One I don't think Faulk want to coach. Two, most NFL players have no idea how many hours coaches put in. It's a lot more than players do. Does Faulk really want to spent 12 hours a day six months a year on football, when he can make $1 million a year doing TV work? As far as Faulk as a general manager, is he really willing to spend hour after hour grinding film and traveling to college campuses. And is Faulk willing to pay his dues as a scout and pro personnel man like Ozzie Newsome did in Baltimore for several years before becoming a GM? |
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| Ron Romer Sr.: Jim, do you believe that Scott Linehan is LEARNING from this season's disasters and we be a better coach because of it ??? or will he go back to Offensive game plans not as aggressive as this last one ??? This will tell fans whether or not he should remain for the 2008 season... |
| Jim Thomas: I'm sure he's learning from the experience. But the margin between winning and losing is razor thin in the NFL. So is he learning enough to make the Rams a playoff team? I'm not sure. One thing is sure: If Linehan is back in '08, he absolutely, positively has to find a way to get the offense out of the gates quicker at the start of the season. Perhaps that entails playing the starters more in the preseason, doing more contact work in the preseason, doing more game-planning in the preseason. But they have to enter the regular season with much more rhythm offensively than they have the past two years. |
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| Harry Keithline: Same question as before: Why haven't Rams resigned Adam Timmerman, still think he's better than some of Yahoos playing now? |
| Jim Thomas: I've answered this one several times before. Whether you agree or disagree, the Rams obviously think Timmerman doesn't have much left. |
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| Jon: While the Rams offensive line looked solid this past week, the rash of injuries they've suffered this season seems to indicate a really strong need for depth along the line. Wouldn't it be a smart move to re-sign Adam Timmerman at least as a back up at one of the guard positions? He's a proven starter, he knows the Rams personnel and offensive scheme, and he brings leadership to this team. Have they expressed any interest in bringing him back (especially with all the success they've had with him in the line in the past)? |
| Jim Thomas: Whether it's through the draft or free agency, I think the Rams need to add about 3 quality offensive linemen next season: one at tackle, and two on the interior. Steussie and McCollum probably are done after this season _ both are in their upper 30s age-wise. McCollum's contract is up after this year. Is Pace going to be all right. Romberg is scheduled for unrestricted free agency. Do the Rams know what they have in Romberg yet? We're talking about 10 starts over the past two years. What does that merit in any contract extension. What about Incognito? He's been injury-plagued this year after missing his entire rookie year with an injury. What can you expect out of him in the future? Is Setterstrom really the answer at LG? He started only 9 games (6 last year, 3 this year) before his season-ending knee injury. Are you ready to commit to him for the future? All of these questions must be answered _ and possibly answered by a new coaching staff. As for this coaching staff, they obviously feel Timmerman's time has passed, otherwise he would've been back long ago. |
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| Charlie Connors: Albeit a nice game, it appears as thought Tory Holt has lost a step or two. In my opinion, the old Tory would have had 2 or 3 TD's . One he would have out run the defenders in the past and the other he would have gotten to in the end zone. Do you think the Rams desperately need a big fast WR to fill Holt's spot? Also, why haven't we seen Travis Taylor yet? |
| Jim Thomas: We've seen some of Travis Taylor _ in the Baltimore game. And it wasn't very impressive. (He had a couple of drops). Holt's knee has cost him some of his acceleration. But I actually thought he looked pretty good against the Saints. Some of those goal-line passes to Torry just didn't work. A couple of better throws there from Bulger, in an otherwise great day, might have resulted in TDs. Amazingly, for all the problems Holt has experienced with his knee this season, he's still on pace for 96 catches, about 1,250 yards, and 8 TDs. I do think the Rams need a big, fast WR, but it's more likely that it would be for Bruce's spot. |
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Stef Samoy: Big difference when you have Steven Jackson in there for the game. Knowing that he's back there - the Rams can make the defense second guess if they're going to run or pass. Make the defense guess..... and you've caught them on they're heels. Which look liked the case this past Sunday.
Jackson holds the key. Whether he's running, blocking, going out for a pass, or used as a decoy. That leads to Bulger.... being the BULGER we all know! TARGET PASSER! Get those things fueling the fire..... and you've just ignited the rest of your team. In the end...... you get a WIN!!
GO RAMS..... |
| Jim Thomas: There's no doubt Jackson makes a lot of things possible for this offense. Finally, the Rams are getting a couple of games with Jackson at RB, and Brian Leonard at fullback, which was the plan all along. Also, there were encouraging signs from Antonio Pittman as a backup RB. That trio looks pretty intriguing for the future. And of course, you can't underestimate the value of good QB play. It's oversimplifying I know, but it's a lot easy to win with quality play from your triggerman. |
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| Gabriel to Snow: I am thrilled we may actually win enough games to stay out of the top 5 picks. The money paid to sign these unproven players at the top of the draft, and the requisite time you must allow them to " grow " before you can call them a bust, will ruin a teams chances to be title contenders for several years. This assumes of course that you CAN sign them. Jamarcus is really helping the Raiders, huh? For every Orlando Pace, you get two like Lawrence Phillips or Tony Mandarich. For a Peyton Manning you get David Carr, Michael Vick, Ryan Leaf or Alex Smith. We've done OK at the 6th slot, even with Phillips thrown in. However, we need more than one rookie who MAY blossom into a great pro, and most of the gems are found by digging deep. I'm hoping we trade down with our 1st round pick, add 1 maybe 2 picks, and if a real steal isn't there in other rounds, do it again. We're getting old in places, we need talent in places. If you nail several picks in a 10 pick year, your team can turn around talent wise in a hurry. Remember what Walsh did with the niners using this philosophy? I know people love Long, but he is no Pace coming out of college, and a QB for the future is a better bet after the first round, maybe after the first day, I.E. Bulger, Brady, Derek Anderson. Heck, people dig up Tony Romo and Kurt Warner with NO draft! The last draft may be OK, but the NEXT one may be the make or break one to bring in young blood before all our older, and especially our skill position players reach the end. How do you see it? Please don't say it's too early to talk draft, us REAL Ram fans are graspping at straws to stay afloat. Thanks for your great work covering the Rams. |
| Jim Thomas: For fans, it's never too early to talk draft. For beat writers, however, it's too early to talk intelligently about the draft and provide much insight or inside info. I too, am leery of the No. 1 overall pick _ and even the top two or three. The expectations on those top players are huge. But really, once you get out of the top 5 picks, the money spent on these top guys isn't bad because of the rookie salary cap (which in effect is a cap within the cap). I generally don't like trading down. If you do your homework, more often than not you'll be all right near the top of the draft. The Rams actually did quite well in the mid to late 90s with high picks _ Kevin Carter, Orlando Pace, Grant Wistrom, Torry Holt ( the only dud was Lawrence Phillips.) That's an 80-percent success rate. I know what you're thinking _ just don't make 2008 one of the "20%" years. |
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| Robert: Jim- Is it a dream or what- Its Mid Nov. and Missouri and the National Champioship are in the same breath? Is there a bigger football game in Missouri and Kansas plays at Arrowhead? Finally what Missouri players will be playing on Sunday in the future? |
Jim Thomas: As a former Mizzou football beat writer myself _ six seasons from 1985-1990 _ I think it's tremendous. I'm trying to follow them as much as time allows. As a Missouri native, it's great for the Show-Me State. Barring some kind of setback this weekend at K-State, I truly believe the Mizzou-Kansas game will be the biggest Mizzou football game in 40 years. Not quite, but almost a once-in-a-lifetime season in Columbia. I don't know Coach Pinkel, or know much about him, but he deserves all the credit in the world for building a foundation of success at Mizzou. As someone who covered the team during the Woody's Wagon days, and part of the Bob Stull tenure, I know how bad things were around there. And even from my Rams days, I know how difficult it is to change a culture of losing. So enjoy it, revel in it, Mizzou fans. When I watched the Mizzou-Nebraska game I said to myself _ in many ways this attacking Tigers offense looks like a college version of the Greatest Show on Turf. It's incredible to watch.
As for future Tigers in the pros, don't know about any underclassmen, but I've already seen early draft projections that have TE Rucker rated as a second rounder and WR Will Franklin rated as a fourth-rounder. |
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| Jimmy Joe: How many head coach openings do you see for next year, and, assuming Detroit plays as well in the second half as it has in the first, will Mike Martz be a leading candidate? Will Martz ever leave OC purgatory? |
Jim Thomas: JJ--I think if the Lions make the playoffs, Martz will be in play as a head-coaching candidate. I've already heard rumors about Martz and the Bengals if Marvin Lewis doesn't survive this season. What do you think Mad Mike could do with a quarterback like Carson Palmer, and receivers like Chad Johnson and Houshmandzadeh?
There always seem to be more job openings than anticipated. These teams certainly look like coaching hot spots at the moment, for a variety of reasons: Cincy, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Minnesota, and the Rams. |
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Damien Domingo: Hey Jim,
Glad the Rams finally did it but in your opinion, how much of the Rams' success on Sunday was due to Haslett's familiarity with their personnel? I would like to think it had no part in the win so that we can look forward to another "competitive" effort next week.
Thanks |
| Jim Thomas: Couldn't have hurt. But on offense, the big three _ Brees, Bush, and Colston _ weren't around when Haslett was head coach. |
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| Pat: Hi Jim, Why does the Joe Klopenstein experiment continue? He is a poor blocker and average receiving tight end, at best. Where is Byrd? Also, Linehan made a terrible mistake dropping Hedgecock for Owens. Mind boggling! |
Jim Thomas: In my mind, Hedgecock was a C+ player. A decent blocker, a "cover" blocker so to speak, who didn't knock guys over like James "the Hammer" Hodgins in his prime, but did more than just get in the way. The problem is _ as with all personnel decisions _ if you're going to replace somebody, the replacement should be at least as good. Well, Owens isn't as good as Hedgecock. He lacks the upper-body bulk and strength to hold off bigger (or stronger) defenders at the point of attack. This makes him susceptible to the bull rush. He moves a little better in space than Hedgecock, but not enough to make much of a difference. So I don't get it, either.
Klopfenstein performed better against the Saints, although I'm not saying we should commission a statue in Canton. He too has yet to show he can block consistently at the point of attack. Byrd's work habits leave a lot to be desired. He teases the coaches with flashes of ability. Then drops passes on the practice field, shows up late for meetings, etc. He's also facing an NFL suspension for his off-the-field hijinks. Maybe the Rams should look at one of those Mizzou TEs in the draft. |
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| JK: It seemed as though Linehan was operating his offense with a “nothing to lose” mentality Sunday, which coincidentally created an effective offensive attack. Is there any reason why this team would not come out the same way for the next seven games? The biggest question is, why did it take Linehan so long to begin operating like this? The offensive line he fielded on Sunday was as pedestrian as it has been all year, yet his usual “crutch” in defending his play calling has been the personal? |
| Jim Thomas: Now, I'm not saying you don't take a more conservative approach against some times. For example, why come out in the no-huddle against Baltimore. The Ravens weren't going to score much, so the last thing you want to do is throw the ball all over the lot and have a lot of turnovers. Nonetheless, I'm a firm believer in playing to win rather than playing not to lose. I think the players get more energized by the more aggressive approach as well. |
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Mark: Hello Jim:
I sat in a stunned trance watching the Rams against the Saints. I was thinking aliens took the Rams!!! I saw plays, I saw linemen on the offense execute, I saw Bulger of old stay on his feet and pick the D apart. Now, without having read any newspapers since Monday, I am going to offer my opinion and want yours. After reviewing what I witnessed, I believe the success I saw last Sunday was due to better coaching preparation. Plays that fit the personnel and a defense that varied its "look". Do you agree? Also, one more thing .................. the offensive line that started Sunday, in your view, are any of the linemen, such as Gorin, a potential challenge for the starting line next season?
Thanks, Mark |
Jim Thomas: No doubt, both game plans were very effective. The bye week helped everyone. The relative good health at the skill positions helped as well. But it was more than all that. We can't heap all the criticism on Linehan and the coaches. The playmakers made plays Sunday. Simple as that. For a variety of reasons, Torry Holt is the only Rams skill player performing (numbers-wise) at anywhere close to his career norm.
As for the o-line, I still need to see more. But I'd say none of the newbies should be starters. I do think Milford Brown has some value as say a No. 3 guard. (Guard, NOT tackle). |
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| Jack Cramond: Jim, I thought that rams would surely lose the New Orleans game. I dont see the games (just as well) because I live in Charlotte, and they never televise the ram games, but when the score was 7-0 NO after a couple of minutes into the first quarter, I knew it was already over. Well suprise suprise, we won one. At least we wont be breaking any bad records this season. ESPN did televise a brief few seconds of the Marc Bulger interview after the game, where he stated that he was very pleased with the win, but that "we are a very bad team". At least he was honest. I thought that honesty had been banned a long time ago. I still hope for a new coach, staff and GM, but I wont hold my breath. |
| Jim Thomas: It was hard to believe. Maybe the Saints were taking the Rams lightly. Bulger has always been honest. Maybe too honest at times. |
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Curt: Hey Jim!
John Shaw- President and Owner Rep.
Jay Zygmunt- Chief Financial Officer
Scott Pioli- GM and Director of Football Operations
Tony Softli- Director of Player Personnel, Pro and College
Coaching staff- TBD
It is rumored Scott Pioli will leave New England at years end due to the Billicheat/spy-gate issues. He would be the ideal addition to the Rams front office, IMO. Your thoughts? |
| Jim Thomas: Curt--I like the look of your depth chart. Where do I sign up? |
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Tom: Jim,
Why no Hagans on kick and punt returns while Hall was out? |
| Jim Thomas: Good question. In fact, I need to ask Linehan this. (Sometimes you're too close to the forest and miss a couple trees.) I think LInehan liked the fact that Brandon Williams had some NFL experience at returning punts and kicks. But he had only done it for a year, and although he's been decent, I'd hardly say he was overwhelming. I'd still like to see Hagans given a chance there, although I'd say I was mildy disappointed as how he played at wide receiver. (Left some plays on the field, a few drops.) |
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| Ryan: What does your top five free agent "wish list" look like. |
Jim Thomas: I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I'm still a ways away from formulating that list. But I do know what positions need to be filled:
_ Top tier needs (in no particular order): OT, WR, DE (speed rusher)
_ Second tier needs: S, interior o-line (guard-center), Young QB (backup of the future.
This is the MINIMUM wish list, at it will evolve some over the final seven games. |
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| jjg: Wow ......Bulger looked like a different QB......So did Bruce ...everybody for that matter ..Do you think the core players finally responded to the head coach's plea for leadership or was it that jackson made the difference giving the Rams a legitimate running threat?.....You could say it was a combination .....in your opinion what was the biggest factor against the Saints? |
Jim Thomas: I'd say combo--coach's plea; jackson; bulger stepping up; pregame (actually Saturday night) speeches by Chavous and Haslett, bye week.
Bulger by the way was named the NFC's offensive player of the week. |
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| mlalum: I know there's a lot of technical and physical ability required to play various positions. But it's still baffling how it's possible to get better line play from a bunch of street free agents than regulars. How can that be. It can't be pure enthusiasm or effort. I don't get it. |
Jim Thomas: I don't get it either. But before we get carried away, let's see if they can do it again. As bad as SF's offense is playing, the 49ers defense is hanging in their. The 'Niners do a lot of things schematically to confuse teams (Bulger absorbed 13 hits in the first meeting). Let's see if the no-name o-line can stay calm under fire against the blitzing, stunting, looping, and variety of looks they'll get this Sunday in Monster Park.
Another brief update: The Rams have put TE Aaron Walker on IR and signed OT Marc LeVoir (a Notre Dame product) off of Chicago's practice squad. |
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Brian: Jim,
Was Petiti who played tackle (spelling?) the kid that played at Mizzou a few years back?
Brian |
| Jim Thomas: No, I think you're thinking of Rob Riti. Petitti played for the Pitt Panthers. |
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| Ground Chuck: Sorry Jimbo. I meant 3-13. Itchy trigger finger.... |
| Jim Thomas: John Shaw hasn't been gracious enough to share his over-under with me, but I'm going to say 4-12. |
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Nettie Small: A little touch of humor:
A little boy was put in a foster home because his parents beat him all the time. His
new foster parents also beat the little boy all the time. The State took him out of the foster home and asked him who did he want to live with. The little boy replied
"with the Rams, they don't beat anybody." |
| Jim Thomas: A bunch of these are making the rounds. Even some of the Rams players have seen them (and actually, they're fairly amused by them). |
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| Dave in Atlanta: So Jim, are you going to take my questions? I send about a dozen of them as prework for the chat? Atlanta-based fans want them answered |
| Jim Thomas: Dave--I answered about five of them. But I have no idea anymore about where you can go to pick up chicks. I'd say consult our Get Out section of the paper, which lists a lot of places to go and things to do, and see if anything strikes your fancy. |
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Tom: Hey Jim,
What do you think the under over is for Linehan to keep his job? Would they make any changes on the staff? Give more power to Softli? |
| Jim Thomas: As I mentioned earlier, my instincts say it's 4-12. I don't think they give more power to Softli. At this point, I don't see Shaw necessarily demanding any changes on the coaching staff if Linehan returns. |
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Warner's Homeboy: Jim,
What's the over/under on games won for Linehan to retain his job? |
| Jim Thomas: See previous _ I'm thinking 4-12. |
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| Sridhar: Can we expect a 8-8 season now? |
| Jim Thomas: Please. |
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| Tim: Does 4 wins really keep Li8nehan in his job? Please tell me this isnt so. If the Rams want to fill seats they better bring in a proven winner. Agree? |
| Jim Thomas: Four wins is just a guest-estimate on my part. But I know Shaw genuinely likes Linehan and is factoring in the injuries. I realize such an approach would probably result in more empty seats, and I'm not sure how much Shaw is factoring that into the equation. |
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Rams Fan- Ft. Laud. FL: Jim, Just how bad does it look for Linehan's future with the Rams?
He wasn't impressive at all here with the Dolphins. |
| Jim Thomas: I don't know, but to me 9-7 (which was the Dolphins record with Linehan as O.C. in '05) looks a little better than 0-9. |
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| Johnny: So does this game conclude that the Rams don't go with a QB in the 1st round? I would still take one in round 2. We need to groom someone behind Bulger. We've all seen what Marc can do when he's healthy, but how often do we see him healthy? We should prolly go with an offensive lineman in round one, but that's so boring. I would go WR assuming Bruce retires after this year. |
| Jim Thomas: Johnny--Rams do need to groom a backup QB _ and perhaps even a QB of the future. But I just think there are more pressing needs elsewhere to use a pick on a QB in Rounds 1-3. |
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John: Jim, thanks again for giving your time to this forum.
The one thing that was a true positive out of New Orleans, besides the obvious victory, was giving the game ball to Coach Linehan. I have not been much of a fan of his, but have always felt he has been hamstrung in a system not totally his own. He has tried to fit his ideas with a cast that does not quite fit the mold. I think the team is beginning a turn around, and Linehan's disposition and ability to keep the team together indicates strength of character. There has been no finger pointing and quit with this group of players. The proof will be in the finish, but there are indications that the team. in spite of really brutal circumstances has stood together.
I think Jackson, Bulger, Holt and the leaders on defense deserve a lot of credit for not folding the lawn chairs on this season and this team. The 49ers certainly have given every vibe they are through with this year and the current coaching staff. The way the League seems to work, with so many injuries to so many key players, luck is a huge factor along with character on how well an organization does. I'm actually hopeful for much better days in the very near future for the Rams. We didn't as many wins this year as we all would have preferred, but this was still a team in transition missing a few pieces to challenge the upper echelon. Next year could be a lot of fun! |
| Jim Thomas: I too was struck by Bulger's gestures, particularly since there has been some friction between the two this season. As much as anything, I think what Bulger did reveals that there is a human side to all this. Bulger and the rest of the players may not think Linehan is the next Lombardi, but I think they realize that they've been part of the problem as well, they can see what Linehan has gone through on a personal effort, and they appreciate that he _ as Bulger mentioned _ has treated them like men. Let's see if this leads to something. |
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| Tim: you gonna answer any questions from someone whos not dave in atlanta? |
| Jim Thomas: Yeah, what's with this Dave from Atlanta. What's gotten into him today? |
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Louis: Jim, why do you respond to someone like "Dave in Atlanta"? I have e-mailed you every week and you won't even respond to my serious questions.
Where do you see Isaac Bruce next year? |
| Jim Thomas: Louis--It's nice to know you care. I try to get to as many questions as possible every week. And this week I have a little more time. As for Isaac Bruce, I say it's 50-50 that he's back in St. Louis next year. And if he's not back, I'm sure he'll be somewhere where they need a highly competitive veteran receiver. Just a guess. . .but I'll say wherever Mike Martz is in '08 _ that is if Isaac decides he wants to keep playing, which seems to be the case. |
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Johnny: Jim,
It seemed like Pittman was getting a decent amount of carries, and well deserved. Has he moved ahead of Leonard on the Depth Chart? |
| Jim Thomas: Looks that way _ ahead of Leonard and Minor. But I think all along, the Rams wanted Leonard more at FB, and they're finally getting a chance to see how that works now. |
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James in San Jose: Jim,
I hate to nit-pick at Linehan's play-calling after he finally implemented a smart game plan. But...what was up with those red-zone fade patterns to Holt? He's simply not tall enough to go get the ball, especially with that bad knee. When they throw it to Bennett, it's a td.
Overall, I thought this was the first game all year that the Rams outcoached their opponents, do you agree? |
Jim Thomas: I would say the game plan against San Francisco was pretty good as well, although sacks and turnovers (one by Holt, and one by D. Hall) helped limit the offense to just 16 points.
Although, I agree with what you're saying in theory. . . .
That quick slant to Holt has worked for at least a couple of touchdowns this year. It was well-defended this time, which might explain why Bulger threw it a little behind him.
Holt was open on another of those fades, but Bulger overthrew the pass by a couple of feet. |
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Amy: Hey Jim, How much of a relief was it coming out of the bye week for Marc Bulger to go out and have the kind of game he did? He put up the best numbers of the season by far, not to mention he got his 100th touchdown pass of his career.
~Amy
P.S. I loved his honesty at the end of the game. |
| Jim Thomas: Geez Amy, I didn't even know it was No. 100. It was great to see Bulger play like that. It was vintage Bulger, in fact. As I mentioned in my game story, his completion percentage of 81.8% was a career-best. You could see the relief on Bulger's face afterwards. He was as healthy as he's been in weeks _ maybe since September _ and I think that helped, too. |
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Johnny: Jim,
I need you to pass on a message and tell Dave in Atlanta to stop hogging all the questions. This is serious business we're talking here. Next, I wanted to comment on Chavous. I didn't go over the game, but was he pretty much to blame for part of that 4th quarter meltdown. I hope he's not around next year. Do you know of any SS that will be a free agent after this year worth bringing in? |
Jim Thomas: Actually, Witherspoon _ despite all the great things he did in the game _ had one coverage bust that resulted in a big play for New Orleans, so I don't know why you're singling out Chavous. Had the referees made the correct call on the Bush fumble, that would have ended one touchdown drive as well.
The Rams still like Chavous' leadership ability _ his Saturday night speech helped rally the team. But I would agree with you that they probably need better play at that position. I think they'd like to draft someone to groom as his replacement in a year or so. |
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John Trowling: Jim,
Thanks for taking questions. Finally a win. What has become of Marques Hagans? Has he fallen behind Brandon Williams on the depth chart? Also, no kick or punt returns? Have the Rams given up on him?
Thanks.......John |
| Jim Thomas: J.T.--As I mentioned earlier, I think Linehan is going to Williams over Hagans because Williams has done it before in the league (last season). I too, would like to see what Hagans could do as a return man. I think the staff was a little underwhelmed with what Hagans did as a receiver a couple of games back (he had some drops and missed out on what could have been some big plays). I just wonder if a couple of games is enough to form a definitive opinion. |
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| BigDude: Your TSN report lost me. Please provide specific examples of how Atogwe has grown this year. He is still too often out of position on passing situations, and I have yet to see him lay the wood on anybody during his time as the starting FS. He isn't a thumper and he lacks instincts. What have you seen that makes you think differently? |
Jim Thomas: I don't know how much of what I sent into TSN actually got in, but I don't think I ever said the guy was Ronnie Lott. But he is tied for third on the team in tackles (54) behind LBs Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa; he shares the team lead in INTs, and shares the team lead in forced fumbles. So he's hardly a bum and plays with some aggression and attitude. I think I spent a good part of that report talking about how he needs to strike lower when tackling and that he gets in trouble occasionally by going for the ball when he's the first tackler on the scene. As for being a thumper _ did you see his hit on Marques Colston, the one that resulted in the personal foul penalty on Atogwe? I don't know, it looked like a pretty hard hit to me. I'd hate to be on the receiving end.
Lastly, my observations were based not just on watching the games from the press box, but consultation with coaches, and spending about 5 to 6 hours each week watching game tape. So that's where I'm coming from. Just wondering, what are your observations based on? |
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James in San Jose: Jim,
Do you get the sense that Linehan is finally letting go his near-obsessive fear of turning the ball over? It seemed to influence his early season game plans that were extremely conservative, such as the 2 yard passes on 3rd and long? Did it finally take his 7 year old son to talk to some sense to him? If he were to return next year, I would feel alot better knowing he is at least learning from his numerous mistakes this year. |
Jim Thomas: I don't know, maybe the players should be more "obsessed" with avoiding turnovers. Even after their first turnover-free game of the season, the Rams still have a league high 24 giveaways. I do think Marcus Linehan deserves a game ball.
And it was nice to see the Rams mixing up the short stuff with some deep shots, and working the middle as well as the perimeter. |
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The Instigator: I'm really upset this isn't the first question since that's generally what I do.
Anyway, how could you knott pick the Rams to beat San Francisco this week based on how the two teams are performing? |
Jim Thomas: And the first shall be last. Instigator guy.. . . .first off, we all make mistakes, but try to avoid the typos in your questions. I think you meant "not" instead of "knott" _ am I right?
But I will agree, the 'Niners look down. They've lost seven in a row. If the Rams have any kind of carry over from New Orleans, they should be able to get a win at Monster Park. We'll see. I've got to go now. It's almost 5 o'clock and I want to watch the TV sports. Regards. . . . |
