Stan was expecting a playoff run to help sell seats in the new stadium. Heads had to roll for accountability for this season....
I felt bad and I really like Phillips, but when you have wide open receivers wide open like we saw in the Tampa Bay game and again in the SF game on back to back 3rd and 16s, it hurts and it just wiped out the 6 sacks that the Rams had on SF.
Bones don't get a free pass either, i realize everyone remembers the Zuerline's misses in Seattle and in the SF game. But special teams play really sucked in SF.. gave up a 80+ yard kick off return after the Rams scored on the first drive and the punting game never really won the field position battle that day.
Perhaps Fassel's feelings were hurt when McVay chewed him out on the fake punt vs Arizona in week 17.
BTW, Special teams lost the 1st playoff game against ATL in 2017, those punt fumbles were a killer.
I think McVay wants a coaching culture that's aggressive, accountable and keeps the "pedal to the metal" each week, no matter who the opponent or what the score.
Similar thing happened in 2000, ... Martz hired Lovie Smith in 2001 to fix it and balance his high flying sometimes risky offense.
It's a shame.. the Rams could've made some serious damage in the playoffs this year..... they have a great WR core, probably the best of any team in the playoffs a very underrated TE that is not nationally known because Kittle in SF is getting all the hype. In addition, Gurley basically had a pair of fresh legs for January, and the line recovered from the 1st SF game in LA where the offensive line suffered some brutal injuries........ and playoff time is when Wade turns it up a notch i.... too bad, the Rams could've easily gone to Philly and beat them in round 1.
BTW, it shouldn't have come down to the missed FG in Seattle, the bogus late hit flag on Clay Matthews was a shame.. that game was over at that point.
