Quote
Speed_Kills
but sure that likely didn't help. However, Fisher needed to go... his teams prior to the move simply didn't get it done. So the Rams don't move and they win 7 games again

it was time for Fisher to go

Quote
zn
On some of these issues. It was the move.

Numerous reporters close to the situation said it had an effect. All the way up and down the line, coaches and players. Farr, who had been through a move, said it had an effect.

Well I have a double take on that.

First, I had no problem with Fisher going. They had fallen apart at that point in 2016, having lost 3 games in a row for a score of 45-117. The team was obviously barely breathing at that point. It would have been hard to come back from that and starting over is never bad if the hire is a good one, and I like this hire.

But even though I feel like that, I don't blame the perpetual 7 win records on coaching. Before 2016, they had a starting caliber qb in 23 of 64 games. They had a decently veteran, relatively healthy OL in 22 of 64 games. They had BOTH things combined in 15 of 64 games. Most people can't think of a whole lot of times coaches have won with both a #2 caliber qb and an extensively injured and/or very inexperienced OL. Given that I think winning 7 a year under those conditions is something of an achievement.

So I am really of two minds. On the one hand, going forward with new coaches is just fine with me. Good hire, no complaint. On the other hand, I also claim that people put way too much on the coach for 2012-15 and often (in my view) do not properly factor in real things that would have hurt most teams in the league (and often have). Imagine for example if this year, they lost 3 OL starters including Whitworth and were forced to start Allen the rest of the way (not even Mannion, who may be better than an #2 caliber qb). And I once listed a bunch of quotes from LA reporters who pointed out how much of an effect moving had. There's a reason why for decades no team that moved cross-state has had a winning season the year they moved. But when I say things like that, I am (in my mind) just trying to be a good historian. I am far from trying to take anything away from this team, which I like. Phillips and a maturing, better-stocked offense? Promising young head coach? Yeah I'll take it.







....



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/2017 11:36AM by zn.