One of the reasons I often feel at odds with the way the NFL is discussed is a core assumption I make at all times. It's nothing earthshaking in itself. It's actually a sort of truism. Yet, it gets forgotten, IMO, in so many discussions. Anyway, here it is: The gap separating winning from losing teams in the league is very, very thin. A razor's edge. Obviously, there is a talent gap in tby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Do I misremember you attributing Ram failures to Fisher's coaching? Isn't it fairly easy to think of a good HC having led our lads to getting Ws in, say, 3 games this year? Imagine what a different situation we'd be in right now under those conditions. Either Fisher is responsible for the team playing under its ceiling or he isn't, and then he can be defended as a good coach.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
And actually I wondered if that weren't a major factor in people's expectations. Decades of reflex conditioning. Believe it or not, I might have you beat. I've been having my heart broken since 1967! I really get what you're saying. And BTW, I DO NOT believe that firing Fisher automatically solves our problems. I believe that we have no chance at better than mediocrity with Fisher. And iby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Would be a string of wins, perhaps beginning this week, that surprise everyone. We do that every year under Fisher. Then, as the team approached the possibility of a winning season ... Another collapse in the last game or two. That is Fisher's pattern.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
As I said in the thread I started, I don't get why people believe Fisher will be back. I really don't. What factors will be true THIS YEAR that would lead to SK renewing FIsher? I can't see any ...by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteLesBaker Next year this could be a 10-12 win team with good QB play. THIS YEAR we could have been a 10 win team ... with better coaching! I honestly believe that. I think we are playing well below our ceiling due to erratic, desultory coaching.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteLMU93 Let's say, for argument's sake, they somehow win one of the next three vs. NE, ATL and SEA while being competitive (within 7-10 points) in each game. Then they win the final two at home. ... Can that be "sold" to the fan base? The focus of course being on Goff and his development. I'm not saying I agree. Just that it's a remotely possible path I see. I admire your abilitby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteLesBaker I agree about losing year after year, it will erode support anywhere. It did in LA before, with the Rams and just look at the Clippers and even the flagship franchise Lakers. I'm from Cleveland except for the last 6 years and they are the most die hard fans imaginable. Yet they are tired and starting to stay away. Those fans are made of granite too. So SK will put a product on thby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Shaky, I can see why you might make this request. And it is a challenge on message boards like this one world wide. But, I offer a different perspective on the matter. On rugby and soccer boards in Europe, there is a sometimes fiercely moderated commitment to keeping all of the discussions of 1 theme in one thread. IMO, that leads to something worse than a sprawl of discussions in various pby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteGuard Those who seem to be experiencing the most anguish and despair.... are those who have just realized within the last few games that Fisher is not the answer. Those who were never on board in the first place, and those who realized it within the first couple of seasons (the category I fall into), have been resigned to Kroenke's "deliberate" process. He's pretty much a hands oby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
An interesting point. Money. Winning titles. They aren't necessarily the same thing. But I do think that, if an owner wants to make money, he needs SUCCESS. You can't make money with a perennially losing team, especially in LA. UK's point is an apt one. Arsenal of late have frustrated their fans the same way the Rams of the late 60s-early 80s frustrated us. They perennially contend anby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
An indictment of G Rob. And an indictment of a coaching staff that has yet to prepare him to play. This guys is a bust. No solid or better player takes this long to develop.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Which isn't primarily tooting my horn. It's a point about perceptions and assumptions responding to an erratic track record. For 3-4 years our defense has shown flashes of excellence and developed some fine, or at least talented, players. AT TIMES they have shut people down. Yet, throughout that time, they have also broken down often enough to fall into the middle of the pack. They have hadby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
I have a question for the many folks who write posts that more or less assume that Kroenke will not fire Fisher and will in fact extend him. Note: I am NOT here raising the question of whether or not Fisher should be fired. This is a question about how we might imagine Kroenke responding to an off season after another season of sub-.500 mediocrity. My question: Why? Why do folks so often wrby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
She does! She associates that year with Ike Bruce--she got a signed photo from him--and with meeting guys like you!by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Been a long time since Herdfest 1! Great to hear from you.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Discussions of Fisher have reminded me of a point I have been meaning to make. When people defend Fisher, they often cite the fact that the players seem to be playing hard, even through adversity. Well, it's now Year 5. And, with all due respect to my Ram brothers and sisters, I personally do not want to hear about how the team hasn't given up. And I have something specific in mind. At thisby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Quotewv ramWell my old friend, i just cant join anyone in the "Fisher is Awful" perspective. I see a guy who has done his best to bring the Rams back to playoff level. He's given everything he has to the Rams. Just didnt come together for a myriad of reasons. (I dont know all the reasons. I just dont know). Maybe this has more to do with 'posters' than with coaches. Ya knowby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah, I'm sure the team works out hard. That's no challenge. But preparing a team requires hard work by the staff and THEN hard work at drilling the players for performance. You can go through the motions without doing that. You mention evidence of a lack of updated game planning. I'd mention another: 1st game performances. We never seem to be "ready" for the 1st game while othby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Well, it's a good question. I'm not sure I have an answer. I guess I'd mention 2 variables: Developing Goff over the next few games Hiring a new coach very quickly at season's end Fire a HC mid-season, and you get an interim coach. Would an interim coach develop Goff well? (Can't see anyone in our staff doing this well.) Would an interim coach who had some short term success slowby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
I certainly agree we need at least a couple of upgrades on the OL. But, just a note on that. A team needs to have a good idea of what system will be in place before going shopping for OL. Zone blocking? Man? Power running? Medium-short passing? Play action and downfield? Read option? Gotta know before choosing from OL flavors. I am hoping we fire Fisher and hire a new coaching staff PROMPTLby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Quotewv ramI guess i just dont like to call a coach 'awful' when they have worked as hard as Fisher/Boras. I mean they have worked their butts off and they have tried to lift the Rams to greatness...so i just dont "go there." w v My old friend, I certainly agree that we need a divorce. But I am mystified about why anyone would feel that Fisher has been working his butt off.by RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Fisher being retained after a 7-9 or 6-10 season. The team is now safely ensconced in the LA market ... a market which demands success for a team to retain relevance. No way on earth Kroenke retains Fisher. He is smart enough to know there is no gain to be had in doing so. I just can't imagine Fisher surviving another year ... unless we have a miraculous turnaround. And BT, I DO NOT Mby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Two of my points over the last several years: We have lost several games in each of the last few years from winning positions--whoever the QB has been. A great defense does not break down as often and in such crucial situations as our does. In all of the lamentations over Goff's minimal success on his debut, let's not forget one key point: Our defense collapsed and gave up a 10 point lby RFL - RamsFootballFans.com
Guys, I enjoyed hanging out with you. Just remember, there's a good chance we get another coach next year. 'Course, whether he's any good or not ... who knows. Hope no one bet on the game. And have a good Thanksgiving.by RFL - Game Time Forum
And we find a coach who can get value from Goff.by RFL - Game Time Forum
LOL. I dunno. I have less and less invested in this team. I haven't really followed a game since the London debacle. I just don't expect these guys to do anything. And, yes, it is the coaching.by RFL - Game Time Forum
There should be absolutely no surprise for anyone. This is what we do. Over and over.by RFL - Game Time Forum