Mitch from Idaho: Gordo,
OK, I am a DIE HARD RAMS FAN. Ok, that's out of the way. Can we all gain some perspective here? The Rams won A GAME. Actually, a better way to put it is that the Rams were handed a game that they tried to lose and actually, despite Richie's best efforts, they still won.
But now, the fans, and even the media, and even the St. Louis media, are all in some strange and mysterious way, giving the Rams a "chance" in this game against Dallas.
Even the PREDICT A GAME POLL on this website shows that fans are picking the Rams to actually BEAT Dallas.
REALITY CHECK: THIS IS A VERY BAD RAMS FOOTBALL TEAM. They are banged up and injured and being led by a spooked QB who has been simply TERRIBLE all year. They have an offensive line that, when healthy, is TERRIBLE and when unhealthy is, well you get the picture.
They have a carousel on defense at the CB position and even with Brown back, they are still NOT GOOD AT ALL.
In comes Dallas, with a VERY GOOD offensive line and an VERY GOOD defensive line, the best tight end in the NFL, perhaps the best receiver in the NFC, a bruising running back that can kill any team in the 4th quarter, and they are HUNGRY after losing a game they could have won in AZ.
How can anybody who has watched this team possibly think that the Rams should or can win this game?
It's simple, if the Cowboys don't turn the ball over, with or without Romo, they win easily. Witten has nearly 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. TO has only five catches but one is for over 40 yards for a TD. And then in the 4th quarter, Barber and Jones will pound the life out of the tired and worn out Rams defense who will be on the field WAY too much because of the 7 sacks that Bulger will absorb.
I'm sorry, but I do NOT think the Rams can beat the Cowboys without having a PLUS 3 turnover ratio. They need ALL THE BREAKS and all the luck. Without it, they lose big.
Sorry, better luck next time Haslett. |
| Jeff Gordon: Oops! |
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cracengl: Ok I just have to ask...if all the haters say Marc Bulger has a rag arm, then how's he able to out throw a full speed Donny Avery?
It's amazing the difference a few weeks and a coaching change makes. I'm writing this at halftime, but still. I'm once again excited; I don't expect a ton, but at least I can justify watching again. |
| Jeff Gordon: Marc doesn't have a rag arm. He just needs to step into throws. Today, he did. |
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| midnighter67: This is the best Rams game I've seen in years. I'm loving it!! Scoring points and hitting hard on defense. Who are these guys, Gordo? |
| Jeff Gordon: Scott Linehan would love to know the answer . . . New atmosphere,lots of luck at Washington, the Cowboys come at just the right time . . . and suddenly Haslett has a new team. |
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Bill: Jeff,
Wow! Have they started working on the Haslett extension yet? Where has this Rams defense been? Did you see Bartell light up Barber! How bout that Atogwe pick on the deep ball to T.O.? They are playing with a ton of attitude. Donny Avery continues to impress. Bulger (though far from perfect) finally seems to be playing like he's got something to prove. Jackson is an absolute beast (Is he ok, I just saw him go into the locker room) Also, any word on Carriker or Stanley (so happy and relieved he was able to walk off the field)? Whatever happens the rest of the season, Ram fans can look back on today with pride. Have a great day. |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker has a sprained ankle. The Rams will know more Monday. Stanley went to the hospital to be observed; he obviously has a concussion. |
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| Christopher Johnson: Assuming this Twilight Zone-ish result holds up, has Haslett just won a permanent job? |
| Jeff Gordon: He has to keep it up. The NFL may not allow his trigger clause (six victories = automatic contract extension) because of its minority interview policies. But Jim is well on the way to having the job next season. |
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CT Rams fan: Jeff,
So how bad must Linehan feel right now when it is embarassingly obvious that the team quit on him? And is there a team in the league that will hire him when they see what the Rams are doing without him at the helm? |
| Jeff Gordon: Scott will work again, as a college or pro assistant. He is well-regarded and has good connections. |
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rams1017: it's nice to see the fire back in the rams. i thought the rams defensive
front deserves an A+, what is the injury situation to Carriker and why would you leave Steven Jackson in longer then he probably should have been. |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett was about to take Jackson out when he strained a quad muscle. That bears watching, given the team's absolute lack of RB depth. |
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| Brent King: My oh my how things have changed. Rams and Haslett off of the hot seat and enter Gary Pinkel. Gordo- could you have imagined this change in direction would have happened in two short weeks? Don't look now but the Rams might just be able to make things interesting in the very weak NFC West. |
| Jeff Gordon: Pinkel shouldn't be on the hot seat. The OSU loss was tough, but Texas is just better. A lot better. |
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| J Smith: Are we seeing these last two weeks what this team could have been from day one if Linehan had been replaced at the beginning of the year? |
| Jeff Gordon: Obviously that is the case. As I've said all along, there are good players on this team -- players who would do well in another atmosphere. Now there is another atmosphere here. |
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| marvin slay: who were those guys playing in Ram uniforms? |
| Jeff Gordon: Guys with a reason to care for a change. |
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John: Hi Jeff,
This must be the big question of the day. Is Haslett that good? Was Linehan that bad? This is a different Rams team than I saw than the '07 squad, and through the first 4 games of this year. Yes, the Cowboys are wounded, but still, 34-14 feels pretty good, especially with how #39 played. |
| Jeff Gordon: Motivation means a lot in this game. It is very emotional out there. Momentum is big, too. A new start, some luck, the Rams catch teams at the right time . . . it all adds up. |
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Mark J: Welly welly welly WELL. This is easily the most entertaining Rams game I can remember for the past two years. Were the Rams players fired up that much by Haslett, hate Linehan that much, or taking advantage of a confused-looking Cowboys team that went through a rollercoaster week?
And seeing this bounceback, can the Rams walk into PatriotLand next Sunday and take it to them? |
Jeff Gordon: That depends on Jackson's health. This would not be a good time for Steven to miss time with a quad injury. Rams fans better hold their breath on that one.
With No. 39 healthy, yes, the Rams could win again. |
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| steven: I knew Jim Haslett would be a 10x better coach than the name i will not say... I get to laugh at all my friends at skool b/c the Rams are finally contenders. My question is, Do the rams have a chance to make the playoffs? |
| Jeff Gordon: One thing at a time. Arizona is still imposing. But, yes, the Rams can win some games this year. The Rams can at least get into some games of consequence now. |
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Jim Leatherman: Mr Thomas,
Can the Rams sustain the mo? O-line looked ok, Bulger did get nailed a couple times. Hats off to Mr Jackson, that was the Stephen of 2006. Will pace's leg keep him out vs Pats? The Pats looked ripe for the picking over the past several weeks. What you think, could we be looking at .500 at home vs Warner and the Cards? Should I book my flight and hotel for a playoff game at home?
Thanks and keep up the great work. I enjoy you on St Louis radio and look forward to your Ram columns every day.
Ohio Ram Fan |
| Jeff Gordon: Pace has a chance to play next week, but the team is more concerned about Jackson right now. He will have a MRI Monday. That test could say a lot about the Rams chances going forward. |
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| mightymike105: Wow! Who are these Rams? It's like night and day. This game and last week really show just how much this team had stopped playing hard for Scotty L. |
| Jeff Gordon: Yes, it did. |
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| Rampage88: Can't say enough about Jim Haslett. He has really done a great job getting this team to play up to their potential. I am rooting for him to get an extension. |
| Jeff Gordon: So are a lot of players, based on what we've seen. |
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Jack J: Gordo,
Another great win for this once beaten down team. Brown showed an immediate upgrade to the defense. I am sure glad we have him back. Avery is starting to show why he was the first wideout picked in the draft. I know so many said we should have taken Deshawn Jackson because of his early play but Avery will be just fine if he stays healthy.
I heard Jackson has a pulled quad so lets hope he will be fine as well as Adam C. I know you said that the promotion of Haslett to HC was ok but I really think the change has made an immediate impact to this team. It just shows how very important it is to have a strong leader as it appears Haslett is. Congrats to the Rams first home victory!!! |
| Jeff Gordon: How about Donnie? He could be all right. It will be nice to see Burton play more during the weeks ahead. |
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Grimmsta: Hey Gordo,
I wasn't able to write after last week's game, but I wanted to make sure I wrote in this week. What a difference an attitude adjustment makes! You can see the confidence level is totally different from the Linehan era.
Great job by Steven Jackson, D. Avery, and Atogwe. Those are my gameballs for this week. But overall, the team as a whole stuck with it and persevered.. They are playing as hard as Haslett promised, and that's all you can ask for until some more talent gets here.
Great 2 weeks of Rams football (not perfect, but VICTORIOUS)! |
| Jeff Gordon: Well, there is talent here already - more than you think. Now the players are applying themselves. |
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RAM FAN STR8 FROM L.A: OKAY FIRST IF ALL TO THE UNLOYAL SPECTICAL RAMS FANS. HOW CAN YOU GUYS PUT DOWN BULGER. HOW CAN YOU PUT DOWN JACKSON. DONT START BLAMING THEM FOR THE LOSSES. ITS A TEAM EFFORT RIGHT? AND THATS WHAT THE RAMS HAVE SHOWN FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. BUT TO MY QUESTION DO YOU THINK THERES A STINT HERE AT SEEING THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF RISE AGAIN? WITH ALL THE YOUNG SPEED WE SEE WHAT THE RAMS CAN DO WHEN BULGER HAS TIME AND JACKSON GETS HOLES. THE O-LINE IS GETTING BETTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK? AS FOR THE DEFENSE THEY HAVE BEEN PLAYING THERE BEST. DO YOU THINK ITS RICK VENTURI BRINGING IN A CHANGE? BUT IM HAPPY WITH ALL THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROUGHT POSITIVE THINGS. DO YOU SEE THE RAMS MAKING A PLAYOFF RUN? WILD CARD? WINNING THE DIVISION?. RAMS BEAT PATRIOTS NEXT WEEKEND?
SORRY FOR THE LONG CONVO BUT IMA PROUD RAMS FAN! |
| Jeff Gordon: THE RAMS ARE STILL JUST 2-4! THERE IS STILL LOTS TO DO! |
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caramsfan: The Rams looked decent in the trenches and what a difference Fakir Brown made at corner. He covers, he tackles and is rarely out of position.
The loss of Orlando Pace wasn't as sorely felt as I would have imagined.
However, a tight end or fullback with some linebacker or 3-4 dogging backer blocking ability would be refreshing. Never thought I'd miss Manumanuela, but someone in San Diego coached him up on not carrying the ball on his belt buckle.....he fumbled alot in spite of great catching hands.
This team has a chance of sneaking into this division race with all other teams with the exception of a 2001 looking Kurt Warner hitting his receivers on the dead run.
Did I see the first game EVER that Barron didn't have a false start penalty?.
Avery needs to work on his hands and defense reading ability before he makes anyone forget fly paper handed Issac Bruce. |
| Jeff Gordon: A fan praising Barron? That is a first. But as colleague Bernie Miklasz noted, the Rams football people are very pleased with his work this year. |
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| Armen Dacity: Any early injury reports on Jackson, Carriker? Hopefully they will be ready to go next week, as the Rams will need them to keep this thing going! |
| Jeff Gordon: Jackson, especially, would be sorely missed. We'll know more Monday. The fact that Pittman was back on the field last week is encouraging, because the Rams may need him. |
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Red Bird: Now we get an idea of what might have been had Scotty had a clue. Haslet's odds of staying are getting better by the week.
I don't want to get way ahead of myself, but what do you think the odds are that Haslet can get these guys in to contention? |
| Jeff Gordon: Contention is still a few steps away, but Haslett's leadership does create some hope. Linehan is a good football man, but he just couldn't lead the troops. Didn't have it in him. |
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Grimmsta: I'd like to see more of Burton out there. Not a complaint, but I'd like to see him in the mix. Avery is doing his thing. One that one ALMOST play....DAMN!!! Almost broke the Cowboys' back! Look for teams to start trying to take him away, so that's why I'd like to get Burton out there. They wouldn't be able to double team anyone.
By the way, how is Derek Stanley's condition? |
| Jeff Gordon: Stanley is in the hospital, under observation. It would good to see him get up without needing the cart. Nasty concussion. |
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Richard: Do you think a wild card is out of the possibility?
At 2-4 they still have a legit chance at 9-7. That's going 7-3 the rest of the way, which is not out of the question. They should beat 49er team twice and Seattle once and if they can split with Arizona, that gives them a chance by finishing out 4-2 in the division.
They already own tie-breakers against cowgirls and redskins (both likely to fight for a wild card) and finish year against Atlanta, another likely wild card team. If Haslett keeps them focused, I think their chances are real.
Regardless of playoffs - Haslett deserves a lot of credit - he has completely re-energized the team, the organization and now are competing on Sundays. |
| Jeff Gordon: Plenty of ifs, especially with the injury risk. If Jackson misses time, the bandwagon could leave the road. |
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Ramtastic!: This was the game I have been waiting 2+ years to watch. This is a game that the hardcore Rams fans that never gave up are enjoying. This is true bliss. This is truly a victory that will rank in the top 5 since the Rams moved to STL. It is clear that this was a win that was founded in ATTITUDE! Haslett has brought an aggresive mindset that has changed this team. It is a great day to be a Rams fan!!!!!!
I hope all the Avery doubters are gone after the past two weeks!
Go Rams! |
| Jeff Gordon: The line for the Avery bandwagon forms to the right. |
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Mark J: This was not the same Rams team that lost its ass off in the first four games. Not at all.
The more this game went on, the more I suspected the Rams were laying down intentionally on Linehan. Didn't hurt to catch Dallas while they were hurting but still, they looked mighty confused out there. |
| Jeff Gordon: Did the Rams quit on Linehan? Yeah, that was pretty obvious, They may not have tanked on purpose, but the end result was the same. |
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| RXBluejay25: So how big is Jim Haslett? On the sideline, he looks as big as the players do and they are in pads |
| Jeff Gordon: He is not enormous, but his presence is pretty large. He played and the players know it. He is a tough guy. |
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rockintheburbs: Yo Gordo
With Jimmy Haslett now lighting the fire under our players butts. What is your prediction for what our final record will be this season? I'm thinkin 6-10 |
| Jeff Gordon: That is realistic. The Rams could do even better if they get Pace and Jackson back and other teams start taking big injury hits, as Dallas has. That changes the equation. |
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| Lawarence Marmie: Well Gordo- I have to admit that Haslett is definately looking like a better HC than DC. I also like the way that Venturi is calling defenses- he's much more aggressive than Haslett was and is forcing turnovers rather than waiting for the opposing offense to make mistakes. Now, is this just proof of how bad a head coach Linny was or how good Haslett is? Also, how many bad shotgun snaps and holds do we have to endure before we realize that Lecky shouldn't be our starting center? It was also good to see Cogs go an entire game without a 15 yd flag thrown in his direction. |
| Jeff Gordon: How about Richie? He minded his manners pretty well. Leckey still needs some work on the snaps, but he held up OK today. The Rams well behind a line missing Orlando Pace -- and Dallas had good run defense numbers. |
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| Bulger2Holt4td: Way to go Mitch from Idaho! |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, Mitch might be under cover now. |
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| midnighter67: Doesn't Mitch from Idaho look stupid now. Go Rams!!! |
| Jeff Gordon: I had a guy ready to bet me $1,000 that the Cowboys would kill the Rams. Wish I had taken that . . . |
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thamnosma: In just two weeks, Mizzou collapses into irrelevancy and the Rams beat Washington and Dallas. There must have been some very long Vegas odds on those bets.
Was that Scott Linehan seen on the streets of Columbia today? |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, the Tigers looked oddly Rams-like the last couple of weeks. Not good. |
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Mark C: Hey Gordo! Just want to say what a difference. I am very proud of this team right now. The win is great!, but even more to see the entire team fight to the end, it looks like we have heart now.
How is S Jackson? |
| Jeff Gordon: The team has lots of spirit. The guys are having a lot more fun now. |
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| DanzaSlap: How about Haslett? It's insane, this guy's taint! In that respect, can Linehan be considered one of the worst coaches in NFL history, or should we wait a few weeks to have it officially confirmed? |
| Jeff Gordon: Give it a few more weeks. This team could come back to earth, although Haslett doesn't want to hear such negativity. The man is doing a nice motivational job. |
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| OhioRamFan: Jeeez Jeff I'm sorry I believe I referred to you as Mr Thomas. My bad |
| Jeff Gordon: No problem -- J.T. is the expert, but he is busy writing many stories for the P-D. So you have me instead! |
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Don Muenz: Hi, Jeff.
One for two vs. Texas.
This wasn't quite a skunking, but it smelled awful bad. |
| Jeff Gordon: For all those Cowboys fans in the hands, yes, this stunk. |
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| JJ: some sites are reporting Jax left early with an injury...is this true?? if so, what was the injuty?? |
| Jeff Gordon: Quad strain. MRI tomorrow. |
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| MarkLZCran: Why is Lackey, er um, Leckey in there-- he can't block, he gets called for penalties and his shotgun snaps stink. Other than that he's fine. Is Romberg hurt or do the Rams actually think Leckey is better? |
| Jeff Gordon: The coaches like Nick's work, save for the occasional snap problem. What was not to like about the run blocking today. |
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superjim: Hi Gordo
I'm seeing the Rams for the first time next week, and after today's game I'm even more excited! Have you heard anything about the injuries to Carriker/Stanley/Jackson? Were we that good today or were the Cowboys that bad?
Thanks Gordo |
| Jeff Gordon: The Cowboys were bad, sans Romo, but the Rams were pretty strong. |
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Rams fan in NC: hi, jeff
did pisa get hurt?... to what extent? |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett didn't mention his situation after the game, so I assume it was nothing serious. |
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| Bulger2Holt4td: Hey Gordo, I know you have been saying there are games still on the rams schedule that they could win. (When the rams were 0-4) But were these the two games that you thought they would be winning? Me either lol. Wow what a turn around this team has put together. Haslett has done one heck of a job coaching this team so far. |
| Jeff Gordon: I liked the Rams to compete in this game with Romo out, but this was stunning. Didn't see 34 unanswered points coming, not at all. |
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dasvig: I'm not a big conspiracy guy, but is there a chance this time intentionally laid down on Linehan to get a new coach? If that's possible, could Haslett have been a part of that?
Either way...I'm glad Haslett's in. GO RAMS! |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett could have lost his job, too, as the result of the 0-4 start. It's fair to say the team quit on Linehan, although I doubt it was a deliberate tanking. They just got down. |
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Mark J: Two short weeks ago, I was bemoaning how the Rams couldn't beat one other team in the NFL at their-then level of play.
I don't want to get ahead of myself or overexcited about the Rams now, but could they march into Gillette next Sunday and really turn the NFL on its ear? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Patriots aren't that good. With Brown back at corner, this is a better team. Let's see how No. 39 is at the end of the week, though. |
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jerzeeram: Jim,
The olny great thing stinkerhan did was hire haslett period. Haslett was and is a HEADCOACH far from stinkerhan who had real problems motivating and running a team. |
| Jeff Gordon: Actually, Scott's bosses insisted on Haslett. They wanted a strong D coordinator with tons of experience. |
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Rich: It is good to see the Rams play with some fire.
Any word how bad Pisa's injury was? Everytime it seems like he gets on a roll, some part of his body gives out on him. |
| Jeff Gordon: Again, Haslett didn't mention Pisa on his post-game injury report. |
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| gjsandifer: Gordo, nice win today, rams looked good, in all apects today. Is Carriker ok? He left the game injured and I did not see him come back. Haslett definately has motivated this team, and you can see they actually respect and play for him. Lets hope they keep it up. |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker popped that ankle pretty good. X-rays were negative, but it could be a nasty sprain. |
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| Grimmsta: How's Antonio Pittman's health at this point in time? Or this new back we just picked up this week (I know he'll need time to grasp the offense)?With Jackson being hampered a lil bit, we'll need more than Minor back there. |
| Jeff Gordon: Pittman did some individual work last week. If need be, he might be able to get ready for this week. |
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Mr Faithful: Wow!! This Donnie Avery kid is something else. If Bulger hits him in stride on the play he was wide open, and the Rams don't get called for a penalty, he has 3 TDs for the game. Nice pick so far.
Ok, so what's the news on Jackson? All I saw was him working his way to the locker room with his pants opened after seeing him surrounded by medical staff. Say it ain't so going into New England next week! Minor is well, a minor replacement for Jackson. |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, starting Minor would change the offense into a pass-first scheme. Every down would be like third down. |
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thamnosma: Both sides of the ball played hard throughout the game. What a change that is in itself. Yes, the Cowboys were not at their best, but they did orchestrate a very solid opening drive for a TD. Under Linehan, that would have been the game. Instead, that awesome Bulger-Avery TD pass and then the D just shut Dallas down utterly and completely.
Bulger's confidence appears much improved and this victory can only help that recovery further. Let's hope Jackson is OK. When will we find out? |
| Jeff Gordon: We touched on Jackson. Haslett raved about Bulger's newfound leadership after this game. He is a new man without Linehan around. |
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| Ramtastic!: I liked Avery on draft day. I defended him after week 1 when everyone was calling for Jackson (Eagles Jackson). I am not on a bandwagon. I liked him from the beginning. Ask Jim Thomas about me. I was at training camp (Army guy). I have been motivated even during the tough times. GO RAMS!!!!! |
| Jeff Gordon: So you have the front row seat on the bandwagon. Good for you! |
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Mr Faithful: In my opinion at 2-4 is nothing to get too excited about, as the Rams have a loooong way to go. But it is nice to see the team play with some cohesion and intensity. Bulger looked like the old Bulger, confident and with some zip on his throws. It seems that when Haslett took over, everyone except for the kickers raised their game a notch (kickers were already playing well).
If the Rams somehow get to 4-4 do we start believing in playoff possibilities and that this play was not a fluke? |
| Jeff Gordon: Last week was lucky, to a large degree, but this wasn't a fluke. This was just a good football effort. Performances like this would produce several more victories this season. |
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| Ramtastic!: Haslett was nice to my 4 year old son. He is pretty cool in my book! |
| Jeff Gordon: Jim is a nice guy . . . until it's time to get all primal with his guys before the game. Then he can go Parcells on the group. |
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| Gametight: Ok, Jackson is hurt, what is the plan now?....Go street shopping? Who is out there? Also I am watching the networks and everything that is said about the game is "Dallas Loses Again" not "Rams Win Again" What is it going to take to get the announcers to talk about our team instead of the team that won or lost against us? |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams have won just five of their last 22, so it'll be a while getting respect. As for RBs, there isn't much out there now that Alexander has landed in Washington. |
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brutus0117: Jeff -
1 - Thanks for doing this for us every week, it's appreciated.
2 - On Crayton long return early in the second half, didn't he wave his arms back and forth? It looked an awful lot like a fair-catch sign.
3 - Do you think we'll be able to go this week without people complaining about Bulger? He did everything you want from your QB today: Moved around well, stood tall in the pocket, fired up on the refs and delivered the deep ball.
Thanks,
Brutus |
Jeff Gordon: I didn't notice that in the Crayton return and I didn't hear it mentioned after the game.
And, yes, we ought to get through the week without any Bulger bashing for a change. A real nice game for Mark. He looked much more comfortable. |
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cardsnumber7: I Love the way Bulger sold the play action today. He could've had a huge game, but you don't need to pass when you're up 3 or 4 scores.
Any word on Jackson's injury?
Thanks
Todd W. |
| Jeff Gordon: Good point on Marc. With Jackson killing the Cowboys, Marc could have hit a few more big throws if he needed them. |
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| Mr Faithful: So Incognito was a saint today. He played well and stayed out of trouble. I guarantee you it wasn't the talk from the coaches, it was the $$$ he was fined. Money fixes all problems doesn't it? |
| Jeff Gordon: I dunno . . . Plaxico Burress gets fined all the time in NY and he still acts up. |
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| bruce80: what was the whole thing about with jackson patting romo on the head after a good run? mocking? or sympathy? |
| Jeff Gordon: I hope that wasn't mocking, given the Cowboys record vs. the Rams record the past few years. |
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| bigbeargc: My first question is where is Mitch from Idaho? But all kidding aside, I am amazed at the improvement in the total defense and in particular the the front four against the run, which the Rams have had a problem with for over 3 years. Gordo it has to be more than just a change in the head coach? They play extremely well against two of the hardest runner in the NFL Portis and in particular Marion Barber the past two weeks. What is it? |
| Jeff Gordon: The front seven has been much tougher since the coaching change, which is weird -- since Haslett was their boss during the first four games. |
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Carl: Gordo,
When will O.J. Atogwe get an extension? He has shown more than enough to deserve it. Make sure you ask Zygmunt that the next time you see him?! If they wait until after the season, it might be too late because both Bartell and Atogwe are unrestricted free agents, and it might be tough to re-sign both if they don't re-sign one before the season end. They should take care of Atogwe like..............THIS WEEK! |
| Jeff Gordon: Yeah, this would be a great time to lock up Atogwe. He is suddenly on tract for the Pro Bowl. The coaches like him. The team has so many other holes, it doesn't need one more. |
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studebaker: Fakir Brown seemed to play well. Don't the Ram fans deserve an explanation as to what went on when he was released? Who made the decision? Who approved of it? Why?
I was trusting the Rams brass to put the best product available on the field! Thanks |
| Jeff Gordon: Linehan wanted Brown gone, over Haslett's objection. Part of the trouble was Fakhir's shoulder injury, but the suspicion was that Linehan was trying to flex his muscle against Jim. This is what happens when you give coaches too much say on personnel. This is why the Rams need a strong football man at the top. |
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| Gametight: What was it like inside the dome. I know it was lifeless in the past. Did the fans make a comeback as well |
| Jeff Gordon: Early on, Cowboy fans were very loud. As the game went on, the tide turned and the Rams fans were having a party. This was an interesting scene, actually. |
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| ka210927: Theres alot of talk on who gets the HC job next year, but im also curious about the DC job. Do you think if the defense plays good for the rest of the year they will keep the current fill-in (forget his name)? |
| Jeff Gordon: Rick Venturi is well-respected. If all this keeps up, he ought to be the defensive coordinator going forward. |
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| Martin (UK): Wow, how about them Rams!! Amazing transformation and you really do have to tip your hat to Haslett for the job he's done so far, he's certainly proved me wrong and I'm probably not alone there. Avery looks like he is gonna be a player and Long looks like he is coming along nicely to. With these two and the new agressive attitude that Haslett has instilled, then the future may indeed not be as bleak as we all believed just two weeks ago. |
| Jeff Gordon: At least half these guys look like new men with the coaching change. Just goes to show that this team was never as bad as it played. |
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Lawarence Marmie: Seriously, Linny must be in a bad way watching the Rams play like this. Maybe we should all chip in and get him a fruit basket or something...
Also,
The one fear I have of Haslett doing well is that Zagnut will escape all this unscathed or is a forgone conclusion that he is no longer our "Football Guy"? |
| Jeff Gordon: He is no longer your football guy. Devaney has more clout now, as Chip ponders his next move. |
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| rockintheburbs: I was unable to see the game on tv due to the pathetic chiefs game being televised in Warrensburg, MO where I attend college...... I was wondering how Fakhir looked today did he shut down T.O.? Also I saw Little had 1.5 sack and A FF but did Long get any pressure on Brad Johnson today It would be nice to have Little and Long both start wreaking havoc in the back field. |
| Jeff Gordon: James Hall had back-to-back sacks playing on rush downs in Long's slot, so there was good pressure on Johnson. Hall is more of a pure pass rusher. Fakhir Brown played well, as did Ron Bartell. |
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| Ramtastic!: Front row seats? No bandwagon for me. Since I know the name June Henley, that should show I knew the Rams prior to Warner. I am a big hater of those who like the Rams only when they win. I was here last year as "GORAMS!!!!!" week after week with optomism and hope. Avery is not a bandwagon player in my book. Like I said, when Kiper JR talked smack I just go angry. He is the fastest WR from the class of 2008. What a gift. He and Burton are the next phase of the Rams. You deal with fair weather bandwagon jumpers daily. Ask them about Tony Banks and Gerald Moore. GO RAMS WIN OR LOSE!!!!!!!!! |
| Jeff Gordon: Avery and Burton are very exciting. Haslett likes Stanley, too, and wants to get him in the offense. Let's see how Derek is after taking that big head blow. |
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Mr Faithful: Why can't Jackson keep his legs from getting hurt?
I am sold on Atogwe with that nice 2nd INT he had jumping over T.O., nice leap and better catch. Pro Bowl bound or is he going to lose the popularity contest? |
| Jeff Gordon: If O.J. keeps putting up numbers, he could get the call. He got on the radar screen last year. As for Jackson, no, he isn't an ironman. But his conditioning the last two weeks has been very good. |
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Luke: Gordo,
If the rams D continues to force turn overs... do you think we will be okay without SJ? I think if our line can open up holes for pittman/minor like they did for Sjax today they would make some plays happen.. maybe not AS effective as him.. but enough? |
| Jeff Gordon: A healthy Pittman could be pretty good, but Jackson is still a unique talent. |
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Grimmsta: Hey PAC-MAN!!!!
We BEAT the COWBOYS, dude! |
| Jeff Gordon: Talkin's smack in the live chat . . . |
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| Mr Faithful: Jeff you are right about Plexiglass getting fined $$$ in NY, but most of his antics are behind the scenes. He seems to hide from the public eye, whereas Incognito is losing his paycheck on the FOX broadcast. Maybe I've missed it but does Plexiglass create problems on the field? |
| Jeff Gordon: No, he is just doesn't like adhering to all those pesky team rules. |
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| Andrew: Did it really take Al Saunders five games to get the hang of this group, or was he being handcuffed by Linehan? The play calling was VERY different today, to say the least. |
| Jeff Gordon: In fairness to Al, now he has Avery and the speed he brings. And the O-line is playing better, even with Pace's injury. |
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mizzourah1986: Gordo,
It's amazing, during the last few years when the Rams were losing all the time, I didn't want to watch any highlight shows cause I didn't want to hear all the negativism about the Rams, but now I can't wait to watch the highlight shows!! Wow, just a super effort all the way around for the Rams today, kudos to Coach Haslett. |
| Jeff Gordon: The Rams are still an edge-of-the-radar team, but they'll get big play this week because the Cowboys really are America's Team. |
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| Mr Faithful: I think Long is looking an awful lot like Grant Wistrom did early on. What do you think, can he play up to Wistrom's top level or even better? |
| Jeff Gordon: He could be even better, since he can hold his weight better and hang better against the run. |
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SportsInsider2008: Jeff,
Why did the Rams wear their road jerseys at home today? I thought it was bizarre, but it worked. |
| Jeff Gordon: NFL teams generally mix it up, for marketing reasons. |
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| Ramtastic!: You don't need to post this, just know, win or lose I am always behid the Rams. In public you can say I have a 1 row seat on the Rams bandwagon, but in reality, I am 100% a fan win or lose. I have been teased and made fun plenty of times. I walked into a BW'3 today in Chigaoland wearing Rams attire. This is while a Cowboys fan walked in. I wonder who left happy? I am behind this team regardless. This Team showed so much respect to my family and I at Meqoun this year. I was a huge fan before this year, but after Josh Brown, Torry Holt and half the OL treated my family and I so well, I will always stand behind them. GO RAMS!.....and thak you again for this forum! I am glad to see you have 2 positive weeks in a row. |
| Jeff Gordon: This chat is less grueling when the team wins, that is for sure. |
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| mizzourah1986: Who was the brilliant executive at fox sports that had Detroit vs Houston as the only 3pm game on fox??? Glad I got sunday ticket!!! |
| Jeff Gordon: You don't have Matt Schaub on your fantasy team? |
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Mr Faithful: Feel-good quote of the week:
"I'm angry, disappointed, and embarrassed."- Wade Phillips in the Cowboys' post game news conference. Thanks to CBS for playing this short clip during halftime highlights! lol
I wish Linehan would've been that frank instead of saying he didn't know what was wrong, but they were gonna fix it by darn it. |
| Jeff Gordon: Wade could have plenty in common with Scott if he doesn't get this team back on a Super Bowl track. Jerry Jones can't be happy about this. |
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| Andrew: Hey, speaking of jerseys, why don't the Rams ever wear their throwbacks? I still prefer the new look, but I'd like to see the old blue & yellows on occasion. |
| Jeff Gordon: I'm with you on that. |
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| mizzourah1986: One more thing, I thought it was a great idea to wear the white jerseys today, it made Dallas were their dark uniforms, which they don't usually wear. It was something that the Big Red used to do when they were in St. Louis.. |
| Jeff Gordon: Weird thing, the fan colors looked pretty similar. It hard to tell how many Cowboys were in the dome -- until they cheered or booed. |
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| Ramtastic!: Mr. Faithful......Long seems to have even more heart and desire than the great GW. This is a young D-Line with a lot of hope and promise. The Rams just need one more strong pass rusher. I hope Carriker is ok. He may not live up to the hype of the 07 draft, but he has a lot of heart. That is way more valuable than talent. Just ask Ryan Leaf. |
| Jeff Gordon: Carriker was making a difference in this game. So, yes, it was a shame he got hurt. |
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| Joe Stafford: Jeff, what a win! The Rams only Dominated on offense, defense, and special teams! If the Rams don't sign Haslett to a long term deal, then they are not paying attention. All week I had to listen on NFL Radio the Cowboys this, The Cowboys that, and Tony Romo everything else! The Rams couldn't compete with the Pundunts favorite to win the Superbowl. Well all I got to ask the so called Experts is, " How Bout those Cowboys"! |
| Jeff Gordon: Haslett is well on his way to getting an extension. But there is still work to do. He has change the team's attitude, but can the Rams sustain the turnaround? |
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Mr Faithful: Nice point about Jerry Trump firing Wade if he doesn't get their ship right real quick, Jeff. I've never quite figured out what Philips has that keeps getting him hired as a head coach. He exudes frumpiness and passiveness, in stark contrast to Haslett. Perhaps you can enlighten us.
With Devaney doing his first draft with the Rams this season, can he set the tone for a good future? Other than the injuries, this year's class seems to be doing ok. |
| Jeff Gordon: We still need to see more from Greco to know if this is a great draft, but I think we'll see big things from Burton in the weeks ahead. That will be big. |
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| james: i think the rams still havea shot to win the division,,,,rams have too much talent....all they neede was the right coach |
| Jeff Gordon: Arizona is still loaded. I like the Gridbirds for the NFC West. But the Rams could make this season a lot more fun. |
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Ramtastic!: Wow, when the Rams lose there are 50,000 people making comments to you. Tonight there are only a few......strange.
Like I said earlier, this is a top 5 win since the Rams moved to STL:
1. Superbowl 34
2. Beating the Vikings 49-37 in playoffs in 1999. I was in a Minnesota Sports Bar during the game.
3. 1999 NFC Championship game.
4. 1999 whipping of the 49ers on the 10th of October. This was the game that showed Warner was for real. Bruce broke down on the bench.
5. Today. This was a serious statement that the Rams are not as bad as the NFL world wants to think they are. |
Jeff Gordon: I don't know about top five, but it is huge. It helps fire up fans, sell tickets to future games and give the team a reason to believe.
That does look like all the questions for now. See you down the road! |
