| Billy C: Way past time for a change / we keep getting worse / How about Marty Shottenheimer for GM & Bill Cower for HC / 2 guys who "Have the Gleam" . We lost the Gleam . I love the Rams / LA to SL they are My Team / If I didnt care I would watch baseball but I love this Club / just not its leadership(or lack of) . Good things can come out of this season , we will see who wants to play and who goes through the motions . If Ownership doesnt wake up they will loose the fans . If they do that they wont get them back . Strong leadership can turn this Club back onto the winning track . Carroll Rosenbloom never would have let Us slip so far down / I miss C R & Steve . Billy C Old School Ram Fan |
| Jim Thomas: I do wonder if management senses the restlessness among Rams fans. And if we're really about to witness a 1-15 or 2-14, what will management do if 10,000 fans decide not to renew their PSLs? For starters, here's my proposal: John Shaw and team ownership should make this pledge to Rams fans: No moret ticket price increases until the team has another winning season. |
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| Billy C: PS Letting our coach have another year (08) / is crazy from the management who did not give Rich Brooks a real chance / Hows Rich doing now at Kentucky ??? Pretty darn good and he only gets 3 or 4 years with a player / ya Rich was better than they realized . At least he had Fire and Heart . Billy C Old school Ram Fan |
| Jim Thomas: Shaw regrets letting Brooks go after two years. That's one reason Vermeil got a third year after going 5-11 and 4-12 in his first two campaigns. My question to you: Would firing Linehan after 1 1/2 or 2 seasons constitute giving him a real chance? |
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JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,
Okay, I know injuries are part of the game. And I know the Rams had more injuries in six weeks, then I can ever remember them having in such a short time. So I have a two part question. 1. Shouldn't Linehan start looking at Dana LeDuc, (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and ask him "What exactly have you been doing all year?" and "Your Fired!" 2. The injuries provide a great excuse for Linehan to carry on. Probably for at least another year. So when does accountability come in? I am pretty sure if Belichick had the same number of injuries and was coaching this Rams team, that they wouldn't be 0-6. Maybe not 6-0, but definitely not 0-6. What's your take? |
Jim Thomas: I think Linehan will re-evaluate everything about his program if indeed he is back in '08 _ offseason conditioning, what happens in minicamps, OTAs, training camp, preseason playing time. And I believe he has talked to the strength and conditioning coaches Dana Le Duc and Brad Roll about it. But quite frankly, some of the injuries have been downright flukes. . . .Tye Hill colliding with O.J. Atogwe in practice. . .Orlando Pace making a punch move with his right arm _ a move he's done a million times _ and tearing up his shoulder. . . .Dane Looker's thigh all but imploding as he dives to bring down a kick retuner.
As for New England, the Patriots break the mold in a lot of ways. They and Indy seem impervious to all of the ups and downs that teams have in the age of free agency and the salary cap. Of course, there are two good reasons for that: Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. |
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| morris puma: Why not alternate Wroten and Andaque at defensive end with Little and Hall. They would keep constant pressure on the qbs. as they are both fast and strong enough to play the position. This would keep Little and Hall fresh to be more effective. Both of these players need to see more playing time. Also, if they threw to the tight end more the qb wouldn't be so much of a target, if the play didn't take so long to develop. They need to get rid of the ball quicker, since their pass blocking is so bad. |
Jim Thomas: Wroten really isn't the answer as a pass-rushing DE. He's quick enough to do that inside, but not outside. Adeyanju is a high-motor player who plays the run pretty well. But pass-rushing is not his forte. He has very little in the way of moves and needs to use his hands better. The Rams need a pass-rushing edge specialist in the worst way. I think you can make a strong case that that should be their No. 1 priority on draft day.
As for TE, you're singing to the choir. Both McMichael and Byrd are good pass-catching TEs. |
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RESPECT: Hey Jim, i commend your tenacity... i know this year aint easy. i got 4 "Linehan moments"
1) 1st Qtr, kick Wilkens- 4th & 1 after he missed the previous FG: i love Wilkens to death, but, kicking is as close to individualized as you get on the football field, its time to be held accountable.
2) 2nd Qtr short out incomplete to Hagans on 4th & 1. uh, is it me or does it seem like Linehan throws on 3rd & 4th and short and literally gives up on 3rd & 4th and long with dumb draw plays that never seem to recoup any kind of yardage. its like he's giving up on his guys.
3) 3rd Qtr FG, 4th & short. OK, there is such a things as being too conservative. DAMMIT, RALLY THE TROOPS! GO FOR IT! he threw in the towel... hold up, wait a minute- see next comment.
4) OK JIM, lets get your best defense on WHY HE CALLED THAT LAST TIMEOUT??? im all for giving a guy a fair chance, but, this was by far the worst coaching preparation/motivation/game management effort i have ever seen, i really think he's too comfortable with how his tenure is evolving. that was just horrible. |
Jim Thomas: In your opinion is Linehan's game management worse than Martz's?
Wilkins kick on fourth-and-1 took place in the third quarter, but it made no sense. It's hard to disagree with Bernie's assessment. Why skip the field goal there, yet use every last timeout at the end when it's r-e-a-l-l-y hopeless? I don't know what to tell you. |
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| Mike: So hypothetically, the Rams are looking for a new coach at the end of the season. Is there any possibility Bill Cowher would have interest in the job and would the Rams FO be able to lure him here? Realistically, why would any coach with credentials want to come to this mess? Please humor me and tell me there is no way in hell Schottenheimer ends up coaching the Rams. I don't think I could take that kind of news after a season like this. |
Jim Thomas: Cowher will have his pick of any jobs. And will demand top dollar. I'd say $5 million, plus, per year. Actually, the Rams traditionally have given their head coach say over personnel. Martz had it. Linehan had. Vermeil had it. But team management reserves veto power, which I cannot remember them actually using. (They should've used it several times with some of those Martz picks).
As for Schottenheimer, I don't know what Shaw thinks of him, or how he views him as a coach.
The trend across the league these days is to hire younger, unproven assistants for about $2 million a year. And that way, if they don't work out as head coaches, you're not stuck paying off millions as is the case with Detroit and Steve Mariucci.
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| Mike: Which players are the Rams likely to cut ties with at the end of this miserable season? I love Isaac Bruce but I think this could be the end of the line for him. Chavous hasn't wowed me with his play, either. For how long are we stuck with Bennett? |
Jim Thomas: I'm wondering about Bruce and Chavous as well in '08. Don't get me wrong, they're both high quality, class individuals. And Bruce is an icon in this town. If Linehan indeed is back in '08, I think it's pretty clear he likes big receivers. Something to keep an eye on with Bruce: He's do $3 million in base salary, but $2 million in a roster bonus in March of '08 (the start of what's called the league year). Let's see what happens there.
Yes, you're "stuck" with Bennett for a while, due to the fact that he's in the first year of a contract. (Six years) The cap hit would be large if he were released or traded after this year. |
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Benjamin: Hey JT,
Thanks for listening to/answering everybody's questions, you're kind of like a Football Therapist for us.
After 22 games this is what we have: 8 wins against teams with a combined .356 win percentege. The "best" win from that span is last year's season opener against a Denver Broncos team that eventually went 9-7 (the only winning team the Rams have beaten during that span), and missed the playoffs. (we kicked 6 FGs to win, we did not score a TD)... that's the signature win of the Linehan era thus far.
It seems like last year's 8-8 was a bit of a mirage, a benefit of facing 5 of the 7 teams that picked first in this past year's draft. Can we start talking about a new HC yet? I don't necessarily think Linehan is a bad coach I just think management made a bad match, his system is not conducive to the talent on the roster. So along those lines, would management ever consider taking a look at someone like Al Saunders? |
Jim Thomas: To me, your record is what it is. You have no control over who's on the schedule, or what happens to them over the course of the offseason or season to improve or decrease their chances of winning. Check out the Rams' quality of opponents in '99 _ the Super Bowl championship season. I'm not sure it was even .356. Should the Rams give back the Lombardi Trophy that sits in the lobby in Earth City because of that? I think not.
I would love to see Al Saunders get another chance as a head coach. He is a very bright offensive mind. Look at what he did with Kansas City's offenses after he left the Rams. For some reason, however, I don't think Rams management is interested. At least they weren't a couple of years ago during the hiring process that led to Scott Linehan. |
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| William Watkins: Is there any credible evidence that Holt, Bruce, Pace, et al will ever contribute meaningful play in the future? Time to retool and draft smart. This team is old and ugly. |
| Jim Thomas: No doubt, the core of talent is aging. Bruce is nearing the end. I don't know what to say about Pace and his injuries the past two years. Holt is still an effective receiver, but he's not what he was even a year ago at this point because of the knee injury. And he says he will have to manage that knee for the rest of his career. The scary part about the immediate future is the Rams haven't done a good job of even lining up possible replacements for these guys. Here's what's left of the drafts of 2000, 2001, 2002: Long snapper Chris Massey. Sure, there's attrition as each year goes by. And yes the Rams were drafting at the end of every round following the Super Bowl seasons of '99 and '01. But there should be a half-dozen players left from those drafts who are nucleus players. And they're nowhere to be found in St. Louis. |
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| Deja Vu: Yesterday's game reminded me of the glory years. Kennison snatching Banks' pinpoint passes from the air and racing towards the endzone. Phillips incredible heart and instincts willing him across the goal line. Ah, those were the days! And here I thought I could never relive that era again. |
| Jim Thomas: It reminded me more of the '98 Rams, a team that had a decent defense but was trying to win with Pretty Tony at QB, June Henley at RB, and J.T. Thomas at WR. And that team won four games!!! |
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| RICH: Is there a worse organization at identifying and drafting talent. With a few exceptions the Rams drafts haven't given anthing TO build on. The free agents are too old, too slow or just not good enough. This team needs an oerhaul from the front office on down. |
| Jim Thomas: In free agency, I would like to see the team sign more players in the up-and-coming category. For example, Will Witherspoon. You might debate whether he's a MLB or OLB, but he's a pretty good player. Sign more Bart Scotts, players who are hitting or about to hit their prime. Instead of players who already are on the downside. |
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| Joe: Jim, If we can jump to next year... can you give a rundown on the 4 or 5 no-miss players that might help the Rams next year, given their current trajectory to land a top-5 draft pick? |
| Jim Thomas: You know, I don't have a good feel for that yet. The Arkansas RB (McFadden), the DT from LSU (Dorsey) look like early sure things as top 10 picks. Virginia has a very good pass rushing DE. But the underclassmen who come out really define the first round, and that won't happen until early January. |
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| Mike: Why don't the Rams ever wear throwback uniforms? It worked for the Eagles a few weeks ago. Maybe the old blue and gold will give them some inspiration. The last time they wore those uniforms they won a Super Bowl. Nothing else is working. |
| Jim Thomas: The Rams have tried every other color combination this year. Why not the throwbacks? I'll try to ask that question this week at Rams Park. |
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Frank: Jim
Gordo and Bernie keep writing about the importance of hiring a solid football man at the top and Heaven knows we all agree. Isn't it true that the Rams teams of '99-'01 (with the drafting of Pace, Holt, Little, Todd Lyght, Kevin Carter, Bruce, Wistrom, signing Fletcher, etc.) were assembled by true football men like Vermeil and whoever it was who preceded him (Ortmayer?). Sure, the trade for Faulk helped a ton and we got lucky with Warner, but the core of those teams were not put together by an accountant!! Am I right? |
Jim Thomas: Ortmayer was a disaster. He was responsible for Steve Walsh, Lawrence Phillips, Tony Banks, Leslie O'Neal, Dwayne White, and Robert Jones among others. Vermeil listened to Charley Armey. Plus, it's a lot easier to hit on a draft pick when you're sitting there in the top 10. Pace was No. 1 overall; Holt, was No. 6 overall; Carter was No. 6 overall; Wistrom was No. 6 overall; Lyght and Bruce were drafted before the team came to St. Louis.
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| RamsXL: After watching that Seattle Game Sunday night I think our Rams might be able to win a game this year. What's your take? |
| Jim Thomas: Oh, they'll win a game. Maybe 2 or 3 or 4. I just don't think it will be in Seattle. |
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| Jack Emil: Has an NFL team, in the current format, ever gone 0-16? Will there be a first this year? |
| Jim Thomas: No team has ever gone 0-16 since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978. Seven teams have gone 1-15 since then, most recently Carolina in 2001. The last team to go winless throughout an entire season was the expansion Tampa Bay Bucs _ 0-14 in 1976. |
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| Ted Michael: Jim- Brian Burwell wrote an article last week about the lack of sell outs and the last two games turning into a "home game" for the Steelers and Packers which could make the Rams irrelevant. If so, we will not like the outcome which I interpreted to mean John Shaw will start looking for another City to move the Rams. Shaw in a related article stated "Maybe this market place does not support a team in a down turn". St. Louis and its fans through public money for the Stadium and PSL's put our money together to show the NFL we can support an NFL franchise. Do you think we are in danger of losing the Rams in the next 5 or so years? If that happens we will never regain a team. Can the team be saved for our area with this ownership in place or do we need to hope there is a Blues type scenario? |
Jim Thomas: I do not think St. Louis is in danger of losing an NFL team in the next five years or so.
But I do not think St. Louis has a good image as a football town throughout the NFL. I think's Shaws comments _ which came in an interview with me _ about the market place is a response to the strength of the baseball Cardinals in this market, and the fact that the Rams had gone 42-41 since the '01 Super Bowl season entering the '07 campaign _ not 22-61. |
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| cncdaddy: Is it me or does Linehan seem like an exceptionally weak leader? |
| Jim Thomas: I'm not sure if the players are buying in right now. I'm not sure that he's much of a motivational speaker. But he's level-headed, treats his players like men, and is fair. |
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Murat from PA: Jim;
We have the ball on Baltimore 11 yard line. 2 running plays in a row by Linehan against one of the best running defenses in the league. We had not much of a success in running game at that point. Wilkins misses the field goal. No points in the end. Why not take 3 shots into the endzone?
4th and 1. We need points desperately. Linehan calls for a field goal. Although Wilkins made it, he is less than his usual self, so there were no guarantees that he would make it. Why not go for it and try to get a 1st down?
I thought Olson's play calling was lame. Linehan's the same. It is so ironic that he was hired to keep the Martz offense alive.
Isn't Clifton Ryan the greatest draftee so far?
Did we not find the 3rd receiver in Hagans?
Wouldn't Bennett's salary be better spent next season on a MLB and a hard-hitting safety?
Thanks. |
Jim Thomas: Right now, Ryan is the shining star of the '07 draft class, with Brian Leonard second?
Hagans still needs work. And if he really wanted to make a name for himself, he should have caught that ball in the end zone in the second quarter prior to the missed filed goal. But I think he's shown so far that he deserves to be on the field. He's got some tenacity about him.
Bennett isn't going to get cut, so that salary's going nowhere. (Besides $10 million of it _ out of $30 million total _ is guaranteed.) |
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Kevin: Jim,
Since you have covered the Saint Louis Rams the entire time, I would like to see how you rank this team compared to the 96-98 Rams. In my opinion, this team is worst than those years.
Kevin |
| Jim Thomas: Now, there's still 10 games to play, and things could improve once (if) the Rams start getting some players back (Jackson, Bruce, etc.). But right now I'd have to say this is a worst showing than '96-98 because the talent is supposedly better on this squad. |
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| Jack Cramond: I would have to believe that behind closed doors, discussions are proceeding concerning changes for next year. Unfortunately, the discussions will do nothing to improve the humiliating state of affairs of lambs football.The "owner" and "president" will blame the fans for our lack of support, they may even hand slap the coach. But they will do nothing to improve the quality of the club. They do not care. Its all about window dressing. A minor change here and there...thats all. Georgia will return to her donut eating hobby and John will keep staring at his reflection in the mirror. They will eventually wear out their welcome in StL. and move their traveling football club elsewhere. But look at the bright side, next week we will break a ram record by losing 8 straight football games. At least we're consistent. Thanks Scott...thanks a lot. |
| Jim Thomas: Geez, you're the bluebird of happiness. |
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| kevin.l.dixon: when will Mark be back? |
| Jim Thomas: As you'ver probably heard by now, Marc Bulger will start Sunday in Seattle. |
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| Dave: Is Washington still on the practice squad? If so, why? Wouldn't it be better to have a player more likely to be of value to the team/ |
| Jim Thomas: The fixation by some with Washington on the practice squad amazes me. Do you think the team would be 3-3 if somebody else were on the squad? Yes, he still on the practice squad. He's a hard worker. And he is the son of actor Denzel Washington. |
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| Chris: Any chance of seeing Fitzpatrick play? I'm surprised he didn't play at all this past Sunday. |
| Jim Thomas: A nice joke, I presume. |
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Eric Sutterer: What seperates the great teams from the average teams is they all have a true leader on offense and defense for the times when the team gets down to pick them up.--Who are the Ram's leaders, and why aren't they trying to get this team going again, there is no passion out on the field!
With all the injuries to the players, are the players just deciding to quit playing for any little thing so that they are not the ones to blame for the mess that they are in? |
Jim Thomas: Well, I think you've hit on something. You can't blame it all on the coach and the front office. Look at the Rams' core and/or highest-paid players, and how they've performed this year:
_ Pace, hurt.
_ Bruce, currently hurt.
_ Holt, production decent but down because of injury.
_ Tinoisamoa, so-so. (But played his best game of season against Baltimore).
_ Little, 1 sack.
_ Bulger, hurt and ineffective.
_ Bennett, ineffective and hurt.
_ Jackson, hurt, and underperforming before injury.
Glover's a good leader, but not a rah-rah type.
Chavous is a good leader, but when you're injured and/or underperforming it's hard to be a leader.
Bruce is quiet.
Bulger had tried to be a leader. |
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| Mike: Can the coaches really be held responsible for missed field goals, dropped passes, poorly thrown passes, missed blocks, missed tackles, etc. Jeff Gordon says yes. What's your take? I can agree coaches have some culpabitlity but it's shared with the players. These guys are professionals. Week in and week out we see mistake after mistake from these players. These guys just can't play. If they executed consistently, this team has at least a .500 record. What can a coach do to motivate a player to catch a pass, make a tackle, or protect the football? With all the injuries it's tough to bench guys. I would think hundreds of thousands of dollars would be motivation enough. Start taking money away for screwups and these guys might start taking their jobs more seriously. Let's face it, the team isn't getting an acceptible return on their investment. |
| Jim Thomas: Look at my prior response. I've listed some of the Rams' highest-paid players, the ones that are supposed to be the playmakers, and they're all either injured or underperforming, or some combination of both. |
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Bill Fleming: Hi Jim,
Isn't Clifton Ryan a pleasant surprise?
How long before Claude (the fraud) Terell gets the heave ho?
If the RAMS hiearchy feels that Linehan is an embarassment, he will be gone before the season is over.
Stay Strong! Thx for this forum. |
Jim Thomas: Myself, I'm surprised that Terrell, Byrd and Wroten are still on the roster.
Keep in mind, in my interview with Shaw, he kept the door slightly open on the possiblity that he might change head coaches. I don't think it will happen, but again, Shaw didn't rule out the possibility. He's a very smart person, chooses his words carefully. He knew exactly what he was saying.
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| David: You say that it would take a highly disastorous season for the Rams to fire Scott Linehan because this is his first head coaching gig, among other things. However, the Rams pulled the plug on Rich Brooks, a first time NFL coach, after two seasons as well, even though the Rams almost made the playoffs the first year and the personnel was unavailable the second year, much like Linehan now (except Brooks ended up at least winning six games). On top of that, Dick Vermeil had two worse seasons than Brooks did, and in regards to your arguments for keeping Linehan, Vermeil had been an NFL head coach before and his worse records should have resulted in him being fired as well (thankfully he wasn't). Could you shed some light as to what the differences are between the three regimes? |
| Jim Thomas: I think I've mentioned this a few times now. Shaw has told me he felt badly (after the fact) about firing Brooks after only two seasons. Even in the do-it-now mentally of the NFL, Shaw felt two years wasn't enough time. It is precisely for that reason that he didn't fire Vermeil after two seasons. And you saw what happened in Vermeil's third season. Those past experiences are influencing Shaw to give Linehan a third season. |
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| STEVEN DUDA: MY QUESTION WITH THE ST LOUIS RAMS ARE WHY DID WE TRADE RYAN FITZPATRICK. GUS FREROTTE IN MY OPINION IS TOO OLD AND HASN'T PASSED WELL AT ALL. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE WHAT DO YOU THINK. WE SHOULD FIRE ARE OFFENSIVE COACH OR SCOTT LINEHAN. |
Jim Thomas: I don't think Ryan Fitzpatrick was the second coming of Joe Montana, or even the next Tony Romo. But why spend two years developing a guy, and then give him away for a seventh rounder? I don't get it. If nothing else, Fitzpatrick could have stepped in against Baltimore and prevented Frerotte from taking any more shots against the Ravens.
Frerotte was a disappointment in his two starts, even with the faulty pass blocking and all the injuries. |
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| Mark Mosley: Need a kicker? |
| Jim Thomas: Are you THE Mark Mosley? Wilkins is getting up there. But he has been a rock for a decade. I don't think you give up on him after a few missed kicks. |
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| SALOMON TANUS: I`m a ram fan since 1967 ,don`t you think Scott Linehan is one of the worst, or the worst coach on the ram`s history ?? don`t you think that we need a new coach |
| Jim Thomas: Granted, he's not looking like George Allen, or Chuck Knox (first go-round) or Dick Vermeil in '99, but I'm not ready to pass judgment after 22 games. |
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| Ryan Caldwell: The Rams look absolutely horrible this season! I blame it on coaching but also on the GM. It is the GM's job to bring in players that can execute. Do you see the Rams doing a complete overhaul of the front office? Replacing the GM or coach? Possibly both? |
| Jim Thomas: If this disaster continues, I think the Rams organization must re-think everything. From treatement, to conditioning, to player personnel, to coaching, to front office. Everything. |
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| Jerry Reynolds: Hi Jim, I'm an old LA Rams fan and this is the worst Rams football team I can remember in 40 plus years of following the Rams. I've never seen a more incompetent and inept team. I reallize its due alot to injuries but certainly coaching has to take alot of blame. Ferrotte's performance on Sunday was Chris Chandler like much in the vein of Chandler's performance versus the Panthers in 2004 and then the Cardinals. I guess trading Fitzpatrick now looks kind of dumb doesn't it? |
Jim Thomas: Even with all the injuries _ and it's been an amazing run of injuries _ you'd think the Rams would've found a way to squeak out a win or two. Just take care of San Fran and Arizona at home, and the team would be 2-4, just one game out of the division lead, with the prospect of getting some key players back from the injured list in the next couple of weeks.
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| zn2003: You're around the players. I get the sense that aside from the big injuries (Pace, Jackson, Bulger & the ribs) that a lot of players have been diminished by minor nagging ones. It's an epidemic, but this suggests that many of them could come back stronger later or next year. I'm thinking of Little's toe, Holt's knee (knees are often not fully healed the first year back), Bennett's quad....what I'm driving at is this. While a lot of players are out and a LOT are not at full speed (including Bulger: rib injuries mess with accuracy), when they all come back strong (next season?) this roster could be a lot deeper than some realize. What do you think? How deep is this roster, really? Is the injury epidemic so widespread it's giving people a kind of false picture of this team's longterm strengths? |
| Jim Thomas: The problem is many _ not all, but many of the injuries _ are to players who are up there in age (Bruce, Pace, Steussie). Even Holt, Little, and Dante Hall are no longer spring chickens. I thought this team had better depth than some of the recent squads here, but the injuries have really taxed that depth. Exhausted that depth. It was exposed, for example, when Lenny Walls was forced to start. (He was supposed to be the fourth corner at best.) So there are some holes on the roster, probably more holes that realistically can be addressed in one offseason. |
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| zn2003: If no one already asked this---what was Linehan saying when he indicated he did not install the no-huddle for the Rams veterans? What he said seemed to make no sense. What is your take on that whole comment? If someone has already asked this, really just skip my version of the question. |
| Jim Thomas: Linny made the original comment to me, and me alone, in a one-on-one interview last Thursday. I too was confused by it. But with the Martz offensive so ingrained in the veterans, he was hesitant to institute the no-huddle. He planned to do it in due time. But as he's finding out _ perhaps the hard way _ there's never much time in the NFL, where there's no such thing as five-year plans. If the team doesn't start winning games, he might be gone by the time he gets to fully institute the no-huddle as part of his offense. |
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Lew: First, I have to say that it's actually great that the Rams very own players are saying that this current situation is "pathetic". Who wants players who would be complacent with losing? But I also get a laugh from all the fans who are overly frustrated with this season(Somewhat justly) saying things like the Rams are playing the way they did in L.A. and that's why they left. Being a Rams fan from L.A. I can tell you the fans in L.A. remember that the Rams went to the Superbowl, in their OWN HOMETOWN, leading at halftime and eventually lost the game. The Rams became unfashionable in Hollywoodland (even though they returned to the NFC title game 2 more times). It was a feeling like, even though they would win, the Rams were eventually doomed. I honestly thought I would never see a Rams superbowl win in my lifetime. Cut to this team in St. Louis and the exact opisite seems to be the case. Here, we are losing right now... and alot. However, judging from the quick turnarounds and parity in the NFL these days, dont you think that a turnaround next season insn't all that farfetched given that great teams go through adversity?
P.S. Except the New England Patriots who have been the model franchise in "if your not cheating, your not trying" (see Superbowl XXXVI & Spygate). Remember the NFL is all about integrity! |
| Jim Thomas: Lew, I don't know if I can add much to your comments. Except that it's always interesting to hear the West Coast perspective from the LA Rams fans. That's one of the interesting things about this "chat" in particular and the Internet in general: you find out there are Rams fans all over. For example, I've gotten e-mails from Rams fans in New Zealand and Scotland. |
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| I Miss Exciting Football: Should the Rams dump Linehan after the season, would hiring a proven coach like Cowher help in signing free agents who would otherwise be wary of signing with an an organization with questionable front office people? |
| Jim Thomas: I-miss. . . .Ninety-nine times out of 100, if you pay them, they will come. Once in a while, a player wants to play in a certain part of the country, or for a certain coach that he has some background with. But almost invariably, if the money's there, the player's there. |
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| I Believe: Seattle isn't exactly dominant right now. Do you think, with an inspired effort, an upset is a possibility? It's a rarity that this group ever plays inspired but with the "worst ever start" label in the waiting and a rival on the field you never know. It's possible. |
| Jim Thomas: Sure they can beat Seattle. But it has to start with this: NO TURNOVERS. That was supposed to be a tenet of the Linehan system, but the turnovers have gone haywire lately. It would be help if Bruce was back at wide receiver as well. |
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| Jay: I was at the game this past Sunday, and if Linehan didn't seal his own fate with that gutless 4th down FG call, then I'm not sure Georgia and Shaw actually watch the games. Linehan seems like a nice guy, but offensively he just seems to be overwhelmed. The play calling, injuries asise, is just confusing, frustrating, and ridiculous all rolled into one. If we were doing the right things, but execution was poor than maybe I could see why Linehan should be back in 2008. Right now though, he looks like another example of the Peter Principle, great OC, not a head coach. |
| Jim Thomas: Hard to argue with your points. As we approach 1 1/2 seasons under Linehan, I'm not sure what the offense stands for. Even with the injuries. |
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Thad H: It's been well documented in the Post Dispatch that the Rams management needs a shakeup, whether it be a new strategy or new faces. I would whole-heartedly agree with this sentiment. Is there any chance that the Rams management will change when the problem most likely is themselves? Not too many people at that level are willing to admit fault but they expect their subordinates to do so. Has this been asked of the key people in management? Maybe they could follow the Blues blueprint (who would have ever thought we'd be saying that!)
Thanks |
| Jim Thomas: Both Shaw and Zygmunt have been around forever _ they're closing in on 30 years with the Rams. It's difficult to imagine them leaving, deciding enough is enough. But I guess it's not impossible. But if that happens, I wonder if Georgia sells the team? It's hard to imagine her owning a team without Shaw running it. |
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| DJ: Is there a chance that not playing first teamers enough in the pre-season will be looked at by the Ram's next year? The offense comes out rusty in games 1 and 2. Basically killing their best chances for wins this year. Then players get hurt. Maybe a few more reps at the slower pace of pre-season would make the team more season ready. Gale Sayers mentioned in an interview that you had to get used to getting hit before you were ready for the NFL season. Let's face it, we'd be optimistic at 2-4 in this division. |
| Jim Thomas: Linehan seems pretty stubborn on this issue. I'm just saying this: Play the starters 1 quarter in preseason games No. 1 and No. 4. Play them two quarters in preseason games No. 2 and No. 3. Try to get some momentum and rhythm going. Try to build some confidence, a little swagger. And see what happens. After all, could it be any worse? Could the Rams have any more injuries with this approach than they've had this year? |
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| Randy Lipson: Jim, the bottom line on the Ram's problems starts and ends with player signings and drafting. Who is really making those decisions, and who is holding them accountable? If you take a look back 7 years, our drafting has been atrocious. That is where changes need to be made to make this team a contender again. It will take some time. Thanks for your always candid answers on your weekly chat. |
| Jim Thomas: Here's the short answer (and I think this is a topic we need to address soon in the Post-Dispatch): The head coach has the final say in both the draft and free agency (with ownership/management) holding veto power. But in free agency, the person negoatiating the contracts (Zygmunt) can have a lot of influence on who's signed and not signed because he in effect controls the purse strings. |
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| JJG: What is your opinion of are back-up QB GUS F. ? Has is it changed since you saw that pounding he took? |
| Jim Thomas: Frankly, I expected more from Gus. Even with the problems blocking and the problems at wide receiver against Baltimore, there were several plays where he simply held onto the ball too long. Throw the ball away if you have to. To me, even an intentional grounding penalty is better than an interception. |
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| JJG: How long do you think Bulger will last in Seattle when every pass play will be like jail break on Defence. Do you think he should be held out(65mill) until the o-line settles? And how happy do you think Gus is??? |
Jim Thomas: Unless the blocking tightens up, this one scares me in terms of what might happen to Bulger. Since there are already four o-linemen on injured reserve (I'm including Steussie although he was ultimately given an injury settlement) the line isn't going to settle in. Bulger wants to win, and wants to play, no matter what the team's record, no matter what might happen to him. I think that's admirable. I think that's much preferable than a player begging off getting back on the field because things aren't going well. Don't you?
I'm sure Gus is sore, frustrated, and still upset with himself. It was close to a no-win situation he was in, but I'm sure Gus would be the first to admit he should've done better. |
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Rocky: JT-
Any chance JD Washington will get any playing time in the future? And also, who is our practice squad QB?
Thanks |
| Jim Thomas: Brock Berlin is the practice squad quarterback. As for J.D. Washington, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for him to be promoted to the 53-man roster. |
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CM: Jim-
Do you think the Rams will have another home game sold out this year? |
| Jim Thomas: Largely because of ticket sales to Packers and Steelers fans, both the Green Bay (Dec. 16) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 20) games are sellouts. Largely for the same reason, I think the Cleveland game (Oct. 28) isn't far away from sellout status. |
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Larry: Jim-
With the season lost, why in the world would the Rams even consider playing Bulger again? And for that matter, why not put Bulger, Jackson, Bruce, and maybe even Holt on the IR for the rest of the year? Shouldn't the Rams start developing some adequate backups for next year in case an injury scenario like this happens again? |
Jim Thomas: You may think it ludicrous, but they're still trying to win games. And they're paying Bulger, Jackson, Bruce, and Holt BIG money to try to win games. Believe me, the backups are getting plenty of work this season _ more than the Rams could have ever imagined.
Hey, I've got to go now, and work on some stuff for Wednesday's paper. In my humble opinion, outstanding questions today. I'll try to come back tonight and answer more. Regards. . . . |
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B Faulkner: First half facts this season: Two halftime leads, three other games with a deficit of seven points or less.Easily five winnable games.
Second half facts: Outscored in five of six games.(only outscored Arizona 18-17, 81-12 in the other five games). Lost two halftime leads. Outscored 98-30 in the second half of these six games.
This coaching staff has been out adjusted,and out coached in the second half in each game. This has to say something to the management of the Rams,about the quality of this coaching staff.
Do you make a change now? Or after the season? Or both? |
Jim Thomas: The whole concept of half-time adjustments is overrated in the era of the 12-minute halftime. Players and coaches barely have time to walk to the locker room, take a leak, have a drink of water, and then walk back out onto the field. But something is happening. Maybe it's conditioning, too.
There will be no in-season change, unless Linehan resigns. And I don't see that happening. After the season, not likely, but not outside the realm of possibility either. |
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matt: Of course looking forward to the 2008 season, what positions do you see the rams upgrading through draft and free agency?
thanks, First time poster, Matt. |
| Jim Thomas: It's a moving target, and what happens in the final 10 games can change the assessment, but right now I feel these should be first-day priorities in the draft: pass-rushing DE, left tackle, wide receiver, safety. |
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| JJG: What do you think is going on in front office? Any good backstabbing as the head coach slooowly burns up in a 1&15 season(I do feel with a healthy BULGER, Jackson and Holt, they could pull a game out potentially, if the defense plays like it is right now) as if it really matters...0-16...or are they 100% behind the coach? |
| Jim Thomas: As far as I can tell, Shaw and Zygmunt both remain behind the head coach. But keep in mind, there's major egg on their faces if they had to jettison him so early. |
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Hugh: JT-
Will a 1-15 or 0-16 season make any of the players anxious to get out of STL? Even without the injuries, this team looked pretty bad anyway. Unless there is a significant change at Rams Park, do you think it'll be hard to keep star players, and/or lure star players here? |
| Jim Thomas: More often than not, the players follow the money. The Rams don't have many of their core players scheduled for free agency, so I don't foresee a mass exodus at 1-15 or 0-16. |
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| Sonny: Will the Rams really make a change at Head Coach or are they going to make the fans suffer through another season of this? I see the defense improving with each game and the offense going backwards at the same time. Whats your take? Thanks |
| Jim Thomas: I have to stand by the Shaw interview from earlier this month. The Rams probably stick with Linehan in '08 because of the injuries. But Shaw did leave the door open a crack. . . .Let's see what happens in the final 10. |
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Thomas Turniawan: Hey Jim;
Seeing as we are destined for a top 5 (#1...?!) draft pick this year, what need do you see the Rams filling in a process that is anything BUT a science? Do you think they would consider Glenn Dorsey, given he plays tackle, and our luck at drafting tackles in the past has been, um, terrible.
Thanks. |
| Jim Thomas: So far DTs Carriker and Ryan look like good picks. So I see them going for another position with that first pick. |
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George smith: Jim,
In the event Pace does not return again, would u consider Barron the LT of the future or is it coming from this draft?
Also, with linehan playing for his job, is it less likely he gives the young players (byrd, hagans, pittman, victor a., wade, culberson) a run or more likely? If the season is over in terms of making the playoffs then it is logical to build for the future, but will linehan at the expense of his job?
Thanks |
Jim Thomas: RIght now, I'd say Barron still looks like the LT of the future (with no Pace). But he needs to pick up his game.
I think this coaching staff is playing to win. So they won't play the younger players at the expense of trying to win games. But Hagans has to play right now because of the injury situation at wide receiver. Pittman could see more spot duty as long as Jackson is out. Adeyanju remains a regular part of the defensive line rotation. Wade's not ready for steady duty in the secondary. Byrd caught some passes Sunday, but the staff is hardly overwhelmed with his play or his work ethic. |
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Kenric Bourne: Jim,
The Rams have sunk to a new low since before the 99 season. I actually turned off the game and decided my time would be better spent doing something else. Its a shame when my wife (who knows little about football) knows that the Rams just a bad team right now. I cannot even bear to put on anything that has a Rams logo on it right now. The Ravens looked like a bunch of thugs picking on a little old lady (Rams). They just flat out brutalized the lambs. I know Linehan is taking the blame, and I recognize he may be a nice guy but the head coach is just that...the tone setter for the entire team. If he is scared and timid then his team will reflect that. I am not advocating a yeller or a screamer...Tony Dungy gets the job done without resorting to that. But he displays confidence and maintains a sense of purpose even when things are not going well for his team. Linehan's call on 4th and 1 last Sunday epitomizes the Rams season. Play it safe and accept mediocrity. A 0-6 team should be dangerous because they have nothing left to play for except pride so they should leave everything and try things that maybe would not be normal. To not go for it on 4th and 1 tells the team why play through injuries and why put something extra on the line. The Rams are floating through this season and the fans are paying for it.
I was waiting for Gus Ferrotte to get up after one of those brutal sacks and run and smack his head into a wall...like he did in Washington...maybe it would knocked some sense back into him. So much for being able to run Linehan's offense, his play the last two weeks is horrible. I am glad I have NFL Sunday Ticket cause I am not forced to watch what this team has become. I am giving one last chance to this team. Since the Saints righted their ship against the Seahawks maybe just maybe the Rams can find their courage and do the same. The Seahawks are another sinking ship in the catastrophe that is the NFC West. We might see a team without a winning record win the West but it won't be the Rams. That being said do they have it in them to play for pride, will the veterans step up and take charge of this team and give their fans just a bit of hope that maybe next year will not be so bad...that is what I am holding on to as a Rams fan. So tell the players the next time you get a chance that is what we die hard fans are looking for a spark of pride. |
| Jim Thomas: I can't tell you how many people told me they couldn't bear to watch the entire game. But for some reason, my 81-year-old mother said she basically locked herself into her TV room and watched the entire game. I guess some people are fascinated by train wrecks. They can't turn away, no matter how gruesome. |
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| David Carriger: If Jim Haslett isn't given the coaching reigns at the end of the season ( or sooner) , what are the chances that Al Saunders will get at least a interview for the head coaching job or offensive coordinator ? |
| Jim Thomas: I'm not sure Haslett has done enough at this point to merit serious consideration if a switch is made. I think Saunders would be a good choice, but for some reason management wasn't interested in him last time around (the Linehan search). So I'm doubting they would be next time. |
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| Jay: Both Gordon & Bernie mentioned the idea of restructuring the organization, is that a viable option? This team's ownership/president seems to react very slowly to bad front office situations. Is it safe to say that until this franchise is sold to an owner who actually cares about the actual football team, we shouldn't expect too much? |
| Jim Thomas: Don't hold your breath unless Georgia sells the team. Or unless Shaw and Zygmunt resign, which I don't see happening. |
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| Jack Cramond: Hey jim. Bulger wants back in the mix. His ribs have not heeled. This is getting dumber by the minute. Individual Stupid heroics does not impress anyone. The first time he gets hit, and he will get hit, he will go straight to the hospital with a punctured lung which will end his career. PEE WEE Linehan has to sit him out and start Berlin at quarterback. The year is lost, done finito, thats it turn out the lights. Ferotte has no business wearing a football uniform. We are at a point where we need to find out how well OR NOT, the backups can play. Send Ferotte home and bring on BERLIN. We may not win, but at least we will know if he is worth keeping. Putting Bulger back in is absolute MADNESS. Seattles in a bad mood for losing to New Orleans. They will take it out on the lambs. They should surround the field with ambulances so when Bulger goes down, they can attempt to remove his ribs from his spinal cord. |
Jim Thomas: Bulger wants to play. He wants to win. He wants to be a leader. The ribs feel better. The Rams are paying him $65 million.
Brock Berlin is not the answer. |
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Todd: Hi Jim, The Saints got the ball out quick against Seattle, and it looked like it worked. Since the Rams have no O line. Would that be implemented in the game plan to keep Bulger upright?
Also, what will be our starting O line? |
| Jim Thomas: I think Bulger should get the ball out quickly _ or else _ no matter who the Rams are playing. I won't get a good read on the offensive line until Wednesday because I'm not sure of Romberg's status. |
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Slick: The networks and the NFL provides highlights of other NFL games during the broadcasts, or on the screens in the Dome.
Every other team in the NFL will use a 2 tight end set and use them as recievers. NOT THE RAMS! Other teams have recievers open, running long and throwing deep balls. NOT THE RAMS!
There was a time when Kurt Warner had so much time in the pocket that he would twirl the ball in his hands prior ot throwing it. Mike Martz was good for a few things, like creative offensive plays!
Linehan just doesn't have it. You can tell it in his voice! |
Jim Thomas: Nostalgia is nice, but I seem to recall Warner getting pounded after all those seven-step drops to the point where he looked shellshocked following a Monday Night game against Tampa in 2002. He's had a few flashes since then, but overall, I don't think he's ever looked the same.
As for Linehan and his voice, you know, there was a time when many Rams fans thought that Mad Mike was too passive and laid back. Imagine that. |
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Todd: Hello Jim,
What is the status of Romberg? |
| Jim Thomas: I'm not sure, and won't get a read until Wednesday's practice. |
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| Dave Fish, Roch N.Y.: I went and spent money on the NFL Sunday Ticket so I could watch my favorite team. I was told that it was going to an exciting season full of offence and S. Jackson running over people like a runnaway freight train. I was given happy thoughts of our new free agents scoring touchdowns in the red zone like it would be taking candy from children. Never did think this season would end up like this. The Rams demise might be the fastest falling from the semi-top in the history of the game. I still wear my gear proudly although now I cheer for them to lose thats the only way whole sale changes will be made. No more complaining about the coaches or injuries no bitching about the ownership that's not going to change anything. Look, I went through the 90's now I guess I got to go through the 00's. |
| Jim Thomas: Actually, in this age of free agency and the salary cap _ since the early '90s _ teams go up and down all the time. Carolina went to the NFC championship in '96 and went 1-15 in '01. Look at what's happened to San Francisco. Oakland went to the Super Bowl and went 15-49 from '03 through '06. Philadelphia hung in there for a while then dropped to 6-10 in '05, seemed to regroup at 10-6 in '06, but now seems to be trending down again. Tennesse went 12-4 in 2003 (as did the Rams) and is 20-33 since then. (The Rams are 22-32 since then.) It's the NFL. Only New England and Indy seem to have totally avoided the roller-coaster lately. |
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| Will: Are rookies Dustin Fry and Derek Stanley likely to be activated anytime soon? And why is someone like Dominique Byrd still on this team? Seems to me Linehan and the staff would get some players' attention by getting rid of slackers like Byrd and Terrell right now. |
Jim Thomas: I guess the coaches don't think Fry or Stanley or ready.
It's hard to argue with your comments on Byrd and Terrell. |
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| ronjon: I assume that not calling up derek stanley or dominique thompson from the practice squad was a sign that these guys have to much potential to expose them to waivers or is this a dilusion? |
| Jim Thomas: My feeling is that the coaches don't think Stanley is ready. I'm a little surprised that Thompson hasn't gotten a chance. But in signing Travis Taylor, which will be finalized Wednesday, the Rams want someone with experience. Otherwise, they could be going with Holt, Hagans and Williams if Bruce and Bennett aren't ready. |
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Billy C: What would Carroll Rosenbloom do with this team to get the Gleam back ????? : A Fire the coach& call Bill Cower / B Fire the G M & call Marty Shottenheimer / C fire the scouts (do we have guys that find talent ?) / D All of the above .
Carroll Rosenbloomwas a class act who was a hard nosed (SOB at times) owner who was a leader . C R got the job done . we were Winners then . We could be now . And Steve his Son was a class act like his dad . Once Steve even drove the team bus when we couldnt get the driver . He was one of the guys / not above getting his hands dirty when he had to .
Where have you gone Carroll & Steve Rosenbloom ??? Ram Nation turns our lonely hearts to you / Boo Hoo Hoo . Whats that you say Mrs Rosenbloom Joltin Joe has left and gone away ...
Well this team shows it . Get Marty at G M & someone like Bill Cower as Coach befor you loose the fans completely . $ winning seasons in the last 18 WOW . C R is turning in his grave and Ram Fans are sick .... Billy C Old School Ram Fan |
| Jim Thomas: It's not pretty. Agreed. |
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Ron: Jim - Bartell seems to have some playmaking ability. Has there been any renewed talk of moving him to free safety and Otogwae to strong when Hill is back, or is he set for the nickel back role of covering the slot? I realize Chavous is still on the scene, but at times he seems slow for the position.
Thank you. |
| Jim Thomas: Haslett likes big corners, so I think Bartell goes back to being the nickel back with Hill almost certainly back in the starting lineup Sunday in Seattle. I haven't heard any talk about Bartell at free safety. I'm not sure he's physical enough to play the position. |
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| Lou: Jim: First, everybody needs to stop hating on the staff; not even a HOF coach could come in and win in the league with a group so wiped out with injuries. I know playoffs are likely out of the question, but if you look at the other teams in the NFC West, I think the division is wide open. Seattle is the weak leader and the 49ers and Cardinals are heading south with key injuries. The Rams have a chance to go on a run and make something happen, especially once they get their core back. They could still take the West--Thoughts? |
| Jim Thomas: They'd have to win at least eight of 10 to make that a possibility. And I just don't see it happening. If only they had held serve at home against San Francisco and Arizona, I'd say yes. |
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Stef Samoy: Maybe the guys should go with the old throw back uniforms. The blue and yellow or even the blue and white colors.
It may put some kind of spark with the different colors. Besides - the blue pants with blue shirts.... UGLY!
If we lose - at least they'll look good. |
| Jim Thomas: Mad Mike used to say the Rams looked like grapes in that blue-on-blue motif. |
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| ronjon: Whats the status on Romberg? Any chance they will bring up Fry to start against Seattle thus keeping Andy at LG. Claude just looked so bad on Sunday in pass protection. |
| Jim Thomas: Don't know on Romberg. Fry's not ready. One other possibility besides Terrell could be playing Brown at left guard and Gorin at right tackle. |
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Tom: Hi Jim,
I sentyou this message on Sunday but I guess you couldn't get to it. Anyway, we all know that Linehan and the Front Office hasn't been doing their job as far as drafting. What I wanted to know is that there were reports around the NFL while preparing for the draft that Zygmunt subscribes to a draft publication. And he places more emphasis on a draft publication than actually seeing the players in person. And maybe thats why the Rams draft haven't been that good. Do you know what publication that is?
Thank You |
| Jim Thomas: Its the Giddings scouting service. I believe the guy's name is Mike Giddings, and he does independent scouting work for several NFL teams. In the past, Mike Martz and Charley Armey felt the Shaw and Zygmunt paid too much attention to Giddings _ particularly when it came to rating NFL personnel (possible free agents). Zygmunt and Shaw say they use Giddings only as a tool among many resources to evaluate talent. |
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| mike in atl.: is this working? my 8th email |
| Jim Thomas: Caller No. 8. You're on the air. Your question or comment please. |
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| Ron Johnson: Hi Jim, long-time Ram fan here..from the days of Roman Gabriel and Eddie Meador. I remember a quote from those days by one of the fearsome foursome...he said that the toughest offensive line that they played against was their own, in practice. So, in that mode, who is available in the draft to help put our O-line back to that dominant level? And how badly do we need a backup QB?...(Gabriel had Bill Munson). Finally, whatever happened to Vince Ferragamo? I thought he was going to be great. And, out of morbid curiosity...Dieter Brock? |
| Jim Thomas: I haven't studied the draft yet. I usually don't do that until January when at least the regular season is over and all the underclassmen have declared. My bet is that Frerotte stays with the team through '08 as long as Linehan is around. |
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Roman56: Hi Jim,
Thanks for all the great info that you have provided over the years...greatly appreciated!
Been following the Rams faithfully all my life, I'm 51. When attempting to understand the Shaw/Zygmunt process, it creates a lot of frustration, and we have been through this in Anaheim.
Question(s): Just how old is Jay? Is he married? Does he have grandchildren? It seems that after suffering a mild stroke that his wife would be all over him to seriously consider retiring and enjoying his remaining years with his family.
Roman56
Saratoga, CA |
| Jim Thomas: I believe Jay is in his late 50s. Not married. He had a longtime girlfriend who lived in Chicago. But he is literally married to this job. It's 24-7 for him. He's from Chicago, knew Marc Bulger's dad as college students at Notre Dame. |
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| Big Thirsty Ram: Is there any way we make a trade before the deadline for anyone. Lets face it the rams need all the help we can get. |
| Jim Thomas: I'm not aware of any trades underfoot, but about six or seven might help. Correction: a believe the correct term is trades afoot. |
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Buzz: Jim,
What is the problem with Claude Terrell? He's a massive individual who can bench press with anyone in the NFL. Has he been hanging with Lenny Walls? Okay, we can move Milford Brown to LG to stop the bleeding there. If Gorin struggles at RT, we can keep a TE over there to help him out. The TE could occasionally release late and catch a pass. Run lots of draws and screen passes, + short to medium slants. Sound like a plan to keep Bulger in one piece? Thanks. |
| Jim Thomas: Terrell is massive, but I don't think you'll be seeing him in any strongest man competitions if you catch my drift. As for everything else--Brown to LG, etc., it sounds logical to me. |
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| Big Thirsty Ram: Alan Fanaca and Max Starks of the pittsburgh steelers will be free agents on the O-line. Do you think we will make a hard push to sign one if not both in free agency. |
| Jim Thomas: Don't think the Rams like Starks. Don't know about Faneca. |
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| Lawarence Marmie: Don't Adam Carriker's numbers through 7 games pretty much reflect Jimmy Kennedy-like numbers through any of his patethic seasons? Why are all the writer's saying he's been playing great? Are we just grasping at straws here because the season has been such a disaster with Linehan at the helm and we're just looking for something positive to say? |
| Jim Thomas: I'm not aware of any writers, at least writers at the Post-Dispatch, saying he is playing great. The defensive coaches, however, think he's played pretty good the past two games. |
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Greg: Jim,
I was wondering what would be a more effective way to express my disaproval with management not show up to the next home game, sell my ticket to the enemy, or wear a bag over my head at the game armed with a Fire Shaw/Ziggy sign? |
| Jim Thomas: I've always been a fan of the bag over the head. |
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| Big Thirsty Ram: The Wide Recieving corps for the rams in my opinon need a serious youth movement. Do you think Issac Bruce is done in St louis after this season, and is there anyway we can get out of the drew bennet contract. |
| Jim Thomas: BTR--No way to get out of the Bennett contract, at least not this year. Are you pulling the plug after just six games on him? Bruce is a tough call. If anyone has earned the right to play out his contract, it's Isaac. He's the face of the franchise. He's got one year left on his contract after this season. What do you think. |
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Soulardx: Jim, come on.
You'd rather take 12,334,523 questions on whether Linehan will be fired than admit to the fact that your employer bears some responsibility for the Rams eroding fan support? Local coverage is key to building fan support. We just don't get that here. It's sad.
Your silence says quite a bit though. I assume it's not your fault the coverage is so lacking and instead it's Lee's fault. |
| Jim Thomas: I would direct all questions on this matter to the sports editor, Larry Starks. |
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| mike in atl.: I think our only win , and its a long shot is atlanta. |
| Jim Thomas: I think at San Fran and at Arizona are possibilities. Cincy if the Bengals continue to stumble. Maybe Cleveland. |
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| Craig: Is Torry Holt going to be able to play this week, or can we add his name to the long list of injuries? The reason I ask, he looked like a 90 year old man last week. |
| Jim Thomas: I agree. Holt didn't look very healthy against Baltimore. My guess he will be limited in practice Wednesday and play in Seattle. |
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Curt: Hey Jim!
Breaking news: Miami just traded WR Chris Chambers to San Diego for what's reported to be a second round pick!
What could the Rams get for WR Drew Bennett? |
| Jim Thomas: They'd get a cap hit of about $6.3 million. Plus his entire base salary of $2 million this year is guaranteed, and $500,000 of his '08 base salary is guaranteed. |
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Jack Cramond: Hey Jim,
Isn't Marc Bulger the trooper. He will start the game on Sunday. His ribs are one hit away from puncturing a lung, and DA HED coach clears him to play. He is of no use to the team. I am sure that he has personal reasons for wanting to play, but he forgets that football is a TEAM sport. This is not golf and Bulger is not Tiger Woods.The year is lost. Embarrasing, humiliating all you want. Why don't they start Berlin at QB ?? They have nothing to play for anymore. Give the kid a chance. These next games are no more important for the rams than the preseason was. The season came and is now long gone.
PS: You're ABSOLUTELY right Jim. I am the "bluebird of paradise". I do apologize. I'm just so frustrated with this team. |
| Jim Thomas: Believe me, I understand your frustration. But they are paying Bulger $65 million to play football. There are a lot of banged up players throughout the league who are playing. The season may indeed be lost, but the Rams can't afford to look at it that way. Not in mid October. |
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Zeke: Did you see the piece last night on Monday Night Countdown on the Rams with Keyshawn and Parcells? They asked who was worse, the Dolphins or the Rams. Parcells went first and he said that the majority of the blame went on the Defense and the only bright spot was Torry Holt.
Hello Bill our defense has kept us in most of these games and Holt's knees are hurting him so badly that he is not the same as he used to be.
I was just curious if you saw this and had the same opinion as Parcells or not.
Thanks |
| Jim Thomas: Didn't see it Zeke, but apparently Parcells must be changing channels when the Rams have the ball. |
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bayoubert: JT, The play of Clifton Ryan has been one of the few bright spots. On the flip side it appears Carriker is getting fewer reps in the rotation as Wroten, Glover , and Adeyanju are all in the mix.
Has our first draft pick fallen out of favor? |
| Jim Thomas: Haslett has liked Carriker's play in the past two games. I'll have to check and see if his playing time has dropped appreciably the past two weeks. |
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| TMASS: After watching the Rams for several weeks I haven't noticed the "C" patch on their uniforms, which is suppose to represent the Captain of the Football team. Is there a reason that the patch is not on the jerseys? |
| Jim Thomas: In team voting, nine players were so close in the vote totals that Linehan decided to name all nine captains. But the league wanted no more than five players I believe designated with the C on each team. So the Rams decided not to give any players the C if they couldn't do it for all nine. |
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J.D.: Jim,
With all of the short comings I just wanted to get your personal opinion on who you think the rams should have hired last year? Also looking forward if they did decide to get a new coach who would you like to see leading this team in 08? Just food for thought I was hoping to get Ron Rivera last year. |
| Jim Thomas: To tell you the truth, I was hoping for Rivera, too. I didn't know much about LInehan at all at the time of his hiring, and just liked the idea of a defensive-oriented head coach with a strong offensive coordinator to rely on. I've given next to no thought to possible replacements. |
