Offseason? What NFL offseason?

We had a two week down-ish window between the Super Bowl and the combine (or as NFL Network’s draft guru extraordinaire Mike Mayock calls it the “Underwear Olympics.”) But don’t be mistaken, something is always going on in the NFL and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

1) I think WR Titus Young Sr. must be quite the basket case.

Now you see him then now you don’t. The Rams were the only NFL team to put a claim on Young Sr. after the Detroit Lions said enough was enough. This wasn’t a complete head scratching move on the Rams part because the situation at wide receiver is still very much in flux in St. Louis. So why not take a low risk gamble on a very troubled yet talented player.

Yet Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and company decided Young Sr. wasn’t worth the headache after nine days.

We just felt like he was not the best option for us at that position. We went into detail. We felt like we’ve got a good young group, and we feel like perhaps Titus is better suited for another organization.

And this coming from a coach that took chances on some non-Four Pillar-esque players such as Janoris Jenkins, Chris Givens and Trumaine Johnson.

If Fisher didn’t give you a chance you might be done playing in this league, Mr. Young.

» Continue reading “Five Things I Think – St. Louis Rams Early Offseason Edition”

I cannot tell a lie. This is one game I had circled back in April when the 2012-2013 Rams schedule was released. This and the London game against the New England Patriots. Hopefully this game will have much better results.

I even predicted that by week 11 the famed Jets back up QB/Punt Protector Tim Tebow would be the starting instead of Mark Sanchez.

Tebow may not get the starting nod but I’d bet my money on Jets head coach Rex Ryan using some sort of Tebow package. If the Jets watched any game tape from the Rams-49ers game they’ll know Tebow can run outside a la San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The St. Louis Rams have lost the last three of the four times they’ve met up with the Seattle Seahawks. Their last win came in St. Louis on October 3, 2010 during week 4 when they beat the Matthew Hasselbeck lead Hawks 3-20. That was also the last time the Rams started the season at 2-2.

Two years later both teams find themselves in similar situations. Seattle comes in at 2-1 and St. Louis finds itself at 1-2 heading into week 4. Rams running back Steven Jackson is nursing a groin injury again and is questionable for the game.  In 2010, Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung left the game with an ankle injury and finds himself in 2012 playing with a bum knee. Déjà vu isn’t just a song by Dionne Warwick, folks.

Despite his strained groin Jackson managed to play through the pain in 2010 and lead the Rams with a combined 126 yards rushing and receiving (70 yards rushing on 22 carries and 3 receptions for 54 yards.)

Jackson will have to have a repeat performance in order for the Rams to beat a much improved Seahawks in 2012.

———-

The Five Things I’ll be watching for in week 4:

1) Will running back Steven Jackson be effective?

I’ve already recapped what he did back in 2010 when he was dealing with that groin injury. Can he take the team on his shoulders or in this case his legs and take the Rams to a .500 record? Jackson didn’t participate in practices all week so there’s optimism that he’s healed up enough to give it a go on Sunday.

If Jackson can’t be effective then Coach Fisher has a back up plan.

Well, we’ve been splitting reps. They’re all ready to play, even (RB) Terrance (Ganaway) is ready to play. We’ve been splitting reps in the event that ‘Jack’ can’t go.

Last week the sixth ranked rushing defense (76 yards per game allowed) of the Chicago Bears held the entire Rams running game to 59 yards on 17 carries. The Seahawks are ranked second allowing a meager 58 yards per game. It’s not looking very promising at this point.

» Continue reading “Seattle Seahawks At St. Louis Rams Week 4 Preview”

This isn’t the week 3 match up that most had foreseen when the schedules came out in April. Bears starting running back Matt Forte was officially ruled out Friday and his Rams counterpart Steven Jackson is listed as questionable. Most likely we’ll be watching the Michael Bush – Daryl Richardson Show if all things go as planned.

Although Coach Jeff Fisher did say if active the Bears could see all three rookie running backs in the Rams stable.

I have no concern what so ever about all three of them. Like I mentioned yesterday, they’re ready to play if ‘Jack’ (Steven Jackson) can’t play. It’s been a while since I potentially went into a game with three rookies at the running back position.

Now this I would love to get a glimpse of what Terrance Ganaway do. After all, there has to be a reason they have him. Here is what Coach Fisher said when asked about Ganaway.

Yes. If he gets in, he’ll do well. We watched a lot of college tape. He’s a really smart, young man. Got ball security and he’s a good size and he’s got good running sense.

Remember Isaiah Pead? Yeah, I’m starting to forget what he looks like.

—–

The Five Things I’ll be watching for in  week 3:

» Continue reading “St. Louis Rams At Chicago Bears Week 3 Preview”

St. Louis Rams WR’s #87 Greg Salas and #83 Austin Pettis (2012 Training Camp, Personal Photo)

The St. Louis Rams continued their quest to improve the team by making some cuts that have some fans wondering WTH and some even upset.  Out are WR Greg Salas, CB Jerome Murphy, TE Mike Hoomanawanui, and OL Quinn Ojinnaka.  In are RB Terrance Ganaway, DT Kellen Heard, T Ty Nsekhe, and OG Shelley Smith.

Nick Wagoner of STLouisRams.com did make it a point to write “It needs to be mentioned again and this can’t be emphasized enough but this is by no means a hard and fast final roster. Fisher and GM Les Snead and their crew will be looking at everyone who hits the waiver wire in search of potential upgrades. We’ll have a much better idea of the 53 the Rams want to go into the regular season with come next Wednesday.”

And true to his words the Rams did just that.

» Continue reading “Rams Trade Salas, Cut Murphy, Hoomanawanui, And Ojinnaka”