Torry's Outburst

I have been of the opinion that Coach Linehan should get a third year to have a fair run at the head coaching job. Torry Holt's obvious displeasure during the Steeler game, coupled with Marc's 'eyeroll' earlier in the season is leading me to change my opinion. If you cant keep happy 100 percenter team guys who anyone would figure as the last 2 people to rock the boat, you need to get out of the way and let someone else give it a try. It appears to me that he has lost the team and that 3rd year would very likely be a disaster if he's still the coach. Just my opinion!

Lukewarm Fans

I am afraid both corporate season tickets and individual single game ticket holders are responsible for the empty seats and those filled with fans of the opposing team in the Edward Jones dome. I'd like to think there are a lot of dedicated Rams fans out there in St Louis, but it seems we have more than our share of the fair weather variety.

Thank the yuppies who stayed away and for allowing a lot of Packer fans in the prime seats, but then again the "nosebleed" seats aren't selling out either.

Don't know that I see a solution for it.

A competitive team would put them back in the seats, but I don't think the exodus we are seeing is in any way warranted when you consider this will be only the third losing season since 2000.

There just isn't a big enough hard core group of fans around. Much as it would pain me, if it continues, I think the organization would be justified to move.

On their side of the ledger, though, at some point Zygamunt and Shaw need to give a full time/full power "football" person in control - it is plain, simple, and STUPID to have bean counters in 3 piece suits having a lot of the say in the football operations. I also hope they are serious about making this LONG needed change in the hierarchy of the organization.

Second Half

I really want Coach Linehan to succeed with the Rams, but it sure appears that opponents are adjusting to our game plan at halftime, and we are not, at least on offense.

I'm not pretending for a nanosecond that I have an answer, but it's not looking like our coaches do either.

I know the extreme number of injuries plays into it also, but I can't help but think other teams are near the same situation. I don't know whether more creativity is needed or what, but it is glaring that we are in trouble in the second half, unless Joey Harrington is the opposing quarterback.

Sure hoping someone on our sideline has the answer, don't you?

I'm a jinx

That one hurts-I'm feeling like a jinx/a curse. Had to go into work around halftime and was unable to watch any of the second half until....that very last play. Was chastising myself for sitting down to watch it after THAT happened. Lets get all these 'boinks and doinnks' and broken bones out of the system this lost year, and get all the breaks next year. This second half of the season has life in it - no more going through the motions like some of the later 1st season half games

The 'Unstylish W'

Still counts the same in the standings. There have been enough ugly ones get away from the Rams (and not just this year) that it was about time we got to tuck a turkey in the win column. We will all be concerned about the Oline, and about Marc's protection by them, but lets just savor the win now. Hats off to OJ and Will in particular, and Coach Haslett and the defense in general. This team has been through the wringer and is showing some spunk. Some of those teams we lost to earlier are turning out to be better than expected (see Cleveland and Tampa Bay), but all that is behind us. Turn to the old cliche (old but true) to look ahead and take them one game at a time.

Can we all say 'Hallelujah'??

A real pleasant surprise happened yesterday. Marc looked like the Marc we've come to expect, and the o-line gave him some time to execute the game plan instead of having opposing d-linemen in his grill all afternoon. Nice work and nice game planning were evident also, though they let up on the gas too soon on defense.

Thought it was a great gesture for Marc to give Coach Linehan a game ball also. Linehan has had a tough go - I want to see the Rams win as much as the next guy, but I thought it was downright embarasing to hear the vitriol being spewed at him as he walked to the locker room after the Browns game. I wasnt there to hear it, but one of the St Louis stations played a good 20-30 seconds of people screaming at him-thank goodness it was unintelligible, but I'm pretty sure from the tone they were'nt saying 'have a nice day, Scott, get 'em next game'. I sincerely hope we all just saw a page turned and we'll see a Rams team the rest of the year close to what we were expecting.

Every aspect was clicking, and lets keep it ticking from here on out.

Go Rams!

Stephen Jackson makes the offense go

I think Sunday's games against the Browns was a statement about how much this offense is built around Stephen Jackson's abilities as a big, fast, bruising runner. When he was in the game, we saw an offense able to mix it up and march right on down the field on 2 nice drives. Once he left the game the offense was floundering again. Its easy to view with 20/20 hindsight, but we opted for bigger slower receivers and let Curtis walk away, and I think speed burners at receiver may have been the only answer as a fill in while Stephen is hurt. I hope he's back after the bye, because it appears to me the offense will continue to struggle mightily if he's not. This is no indictment of Brian Leonard AT ALL, he is exceeding what he was drafted to do. He's just not a Stephen Jackson - not many people are! I liked the spunk and fight in the team today, but that W still eluded them. It looked like Clifton Ryan and Adam Carriker had very good games also. All in all, players and fans alike need this bye week coming up, I believe!

Are we on information overload?

A thought I've had in other subject areas is creeping into my 'Ram Fan life'.

Ever wish as I have that 'nervous Nellie' stock exchange buyers and sellers didnt know every time someone in the Middle East sneezed or scratched themselves, and promptly started a flurry of activity which ended up putting stocks in a nosedive?

With internet mesage boards like our own Planet Rams out there for all to read and contribute to, I sometimes think I pay too much attention to the most extreme opinions. Overall I think its a great thing that technology allows us folks with a passion for Rams football to have a dialogue with each other about what's going right and whats going wrong with the team, but I catch myself getting really dejected on my own when things are going like they are for the 2007 Rams, without logging on and reading many other folks' thoughts about what exactly is wrong and who should fix it.

Some fans have extremely detailed problem analysis which apparently come from high school/college experience as players or just a very deep study of football. I'm not into the mechanics of the game that deeply, almost seems that sort of study is a coaching level interest where you cant sit back and enjoy the game because you're focusing in on one area extensively. I might focus in one a specific area occasionally, but not often.

One thing I do appreciate at Planet Rams is that Patti and all the gang seem to be folks around my level of interest, rather than casual bandwagoners or total Fanatics!

Tough Time to be a Ram Fan

Another tough Sunday for our beloved Rams! Sounds as though the sportswriters and fans have the answer as to what's wrong and how to fix it. I honestly can't say I have near the football knowledge to think I could take that task on.

No one could have predicted the injuries that would hit this team like a plague, and that is a major part of the poor showing.

We fans weren't the only ones thinking this team would be a playoff contender heading into the season, a lot of the national writers that usually thumb their noses at the Rams were actually counting them as a playoff team.

Sounds as though the bloodhounds are on Jay Zygmunt's trail now, and the lack of a true football person over him, or at least equal to him in power. I have had the same question in my mind in the past, but I'm not so sure this particular discussion about him isn't just a need to blame someone at this time.

Long term, I think they need to add a full power personnel guru, or make Softl one, but this abyss is decimation by injuries, in my opinion.

I have every intention of keeping my ear to Rams Football no matter what. I'm embarrassed by the St Louis fans and media knocking each other over trying to get off the bandwagon more than anything.

Headed in the Right Direction!

I believe there were positives to bring out of the game today.

I felt like the team had a pulse and made strides on offense but were bitten by some crucial mistakes of their own making, and at a couple of critical times, and some overreaching calls by the fellows in striped shirts.

If there are some fans ready to throw in the towel because there's nothing showing in the win column yet,see ya and don't let that door hit you in your behind on your way out.

There's been mistakes made that I think need to be corrected, but we need to move on and give them a chance to fix it.

One thing I absolutely think needs revision is not playing the regulars hardly at all in preseason. They need to have more time to mesh and get on the same page.

That said, lets not keep pounding on the same old dead horse. Linehan is building a track record of recognizing problems and making adjustments. All indication seem to say that he will be the coach through next season at a minimum, and I think this is the minimum length of time that would be fair to him or any coach.

Oh My!

To be totally lame and obvious in my comments, Its not looking good, folks!!

Having a patchwork offensive line(on second thought make that leaking patchwork offensive line) is REALLY dragging things down.

The play calling is very vanilla, and I'm not sure we are making any halftime adjustments - some of both of those points may be due to OL holes, but predictable play calling has opposing defenses sitting all over the offense.

This may be a very long season as we sure have a brutal schedule coming up over the next several weeks.

I'll be doggoned if I'll join the chorus I've already heard in places to fire Coach Linehan - that's pure stupidity! One thing he aleady demonstrated last year was addressing problems directly and effectively, and I'm confident he will continue that, and will make adjustments.

The injury problems thus far have been staggering, and we are all witnessing it weekly.

Quick Trigger

Holy Mackerel, its already creeping into Post Dispatch columns that Linehan is on the hot seat!! Oh Brother, are we really that spoiled?? Any estimation I've heard says that a coach should have 3 years minimum to get a fair shake on his plan and personnel. Fans who are thinking that way are apparently spoiled rotten. This would likely be a T.O reaction if he were a fan- I shudder to think what kind of team would be taking the field if we change the coach every year! Please calm down, everyone!

Second Half Stinker

Very upsetting second half today. Seemed to take the air out of the team on Stephen Jackson's fumble deep in Carolina territory in the third quarter. Heard DeMarco Farr comment that he thought the defense was not staying with their assignments, and seemed confused. In particular that he felt James Hall was ' peeking inside' and trying to cover a teammates area when they busted some of those ridiculous runs to the outside where James should have been concentrating his efforts. Lets hope they do a good job of regrouping. Felt McMichael did a good job blocking, there was a rotating turnstile where Richie would normally be, though. There should be some intense practices this week, I'm guessing. I missed who let Marc get creamed, that better get fixed quick!

Jimmy Kennedy

I assume everyone has noticed that Jimmy was cut by the Broncos. Its not something I would snicker at, but it does show it wasn't just an inability of our coaching staff to get through to him.

For all our hair-pulling over the "busts" we do as Ram Fans over our past DT draft woes, its all hindsight 20/20 over Kennedy, Lewis, and Pickett.

Everyone had those 3 high on their draft lists. Jimmy just has to make improving his level of play a priority, or he may be done. What a shame, he has more tools than a lot of NFL starters, but falls well below the "heart and pride" charts of those players. Put Grant Wistrom's guts and heart in his body, and he'd knock the front door to Canton down. Only way Jimmy's getting in there is to pay admission just like you and me.

If Adam Carriker develops into the player we all think he will, there's no reason Jimmy couldn't do the same. Only difference between them is Adam seems to have enough drive and eagerness to learn for both of them, and Jimmy's is all but nonexistent.

Let's Skip this one!

Anyone else want them to skip this last preseason game? I'd just as soon they did, even if it is the Governor's cup.. I think hits like Rodney Harrison's cheap shot (one of many by that scumbag) on Trent Green was one of the times all NFL teams collectiely said, it just isnt worth it, and scaled back first team time in preseason games drastically. Another factor as a Ram fan is that Coach Linehan seems to share Martz's philosophy on ultra vanilla preseason playbooks. It is important to the guys trying to get the last few spots on the teams roster, and I suppose one of those fellas could turn into a front line 49er nemesis, but lets get ready for some regular season football!! PLEASE!

2007 Rams

I have a simple wish among my high hopes for the 2007 Rams, and that is 'Lets powder those doggone deadbirds and niners'. I want those 2 teams left as a bump in the road, and a small one at that. We should manhandle the Cardinals in particular, despite what every national publication thinks of them. Until they actually have an offensive line out on the field consistently blocking well, they are pretenders to being in contention for anything but last place. I think the niners had a bit of a coaching edge last year and 2005 - Nolan is an excellent defensive coach who took advantage of our coaching disarray in 05, and had an advantage over Coach Linehan last year of having a year with his team under his belt already. Its time for payback! Go Rams !

In Scott I Trust

So far, I am very impressed with Scott Linehan's job performance as Ram's head coach.


He has quietly gone about the business of capably overseeing all aspects of assembling the best talent possible for the offense, defense and special teams. He is working well with his players and coaching staff, and meshes well with Nick Softl, Jay Zygmunt, and John Shaw in the front office. The quiet demeanor and easy going nature has not meant an easy mark for possible problem causers within the team, however, as Jimmy Kennedy and Anthony Hargrove will attest. Whether it be underachieving defensive tackles, unexcused practice absences, or coach's own involvement with actual play-calling to the detriment of his being able to exercise oversight of the entire team, Scott has shown himself already to be a decisive, direct 'doer' when it comes to recognizing a problem, formulating a plan to make a correction or adjustment, and following through with implementing that plan to solve the problem.


I just have a confidence in him that he will continue to address problems and issues as they occur, and make reasonable and well thought changes as neccesary to ensure our Rams are a highly professional organization which makes consistent and well planned moves to keep the teams performance at a high level.

I admit to being a fan who thought they should have picked Ron Rivera when I scanned the list of names being considered for Rams HC when Scott was hired. Good job John Shaw, Jay Zygmunt and whoever else figured in the decision to hire Linehan. I'm glad noone asked me for advice!

Will's in the middle

Will Witherspoon

I'm looking for another excellent year from #51. A 6 year veteran who has done everything asked of him both with the Rams and the Panthers should benefit from an improved defensive line in 2007. Ideally, his size would fit him best as an weak side linebacker, but I think Haslett wants his leadership in the middle linebacker spot. A smallish middle linebacker can work (London Fletcher, anyone) if the D-line is pulling its weight in the middle. Will appeared to be overmatched at times against the run last year, but I think a large part of the problem was that he was getting a defensive tackle's share of the force of the opponents run game, thanks to some pylon-like efforts (good riddance Jimmy) in the middle of the defensive line. It would be interesting to hear Will's opinion of Adam Carriker as the season progresses this year, because I think if Adam performs well, Will's job becomes much more manageable. We have marveled at the high motor efforts of Grant Wistrom, and have heard that Adam is a bigger version of Grant, but lets not forget that Will is one of those guys also. He's an easy guy to root for, a good citizen who goes out,works hard, does his job, and provides leadership to the defense. Go Will, and Go Rams in 2007!!