11/21/24
December 02, 2005
Greatest No More: The St. Louis Rams may or may not have a head coach. One of the Rams' executives threatened a beat writer. One of the most productive running backs in NFL history is sitting on the bench.
It really doesn't suprise me all that much. Despite recent history (fucking Pats) it is extremly difficult to stay on top in the NFL. Of the American "Big 4" (or the big 3 and the little 1) Football seems to have the most turn around in the standings from season to season.
posted by HATER 187 at 02:34 PM on December 02, 2005
Not to flame this post, but it's from the Washington Times - - renowned for it's horrendous sports writing. Fully agree with your analysis dfleming. That's the great thing about NFL parity, which I've discussed many a times with folks who, for some reason, are now flabbergasted that the AFC has so many of the "elite" teams. I guessed they missed out on the mid-80's to mid-90's when the NFC was all the rage (sorry Bills, you just couldn't pull off those SB wins). Hater 187 - re: standings - at least speaking to Baseball, it's gotta be the salary cap, right? -Snare
posted by redsnare at 02:40 PM on December 02, 2005
With the Rams at 2-3, coach Mike Martz took a leave of absence to deal with a heart ailment. Martz vowed to return this season, but Rams president John Shaw made it clear that won't happen. Martz hasn't been the only problem in recent years but he's been the biggest problem. His arrogance is that of a coach coaching a great team. A few years ago he didn't care when their place-kicker went down because the 2 point conversion was automatic. It also shows with his idiotic use of precious time-outs. Now with only a fair team that arrogance is misplaced and he can't score his way out of stupid coaching mistakes. Here's one Ram's fan that wishes him a nice early retirement.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 02:50 PM on December 02, 2005
martz is pretty awful, his most egregious recent mistake IMO was not getting steven jackson the rock more often. though as a rams hater, i'm sad to see him potentially go.
posted by ninjavshippo at 02:52 PM on December 02, 2005
yes, it's fairly common for dominant teams to age, break up and subsequently go through periods of terrible records and teams. Why is this any different because it was the Rams? Not like the rams. This has been fairly dramatic. Teams fall apart, but normally not so drastically and all at once. Who knew warner and faulk would drop so quickly. Add the coach's health problems and it's pitiful. Usually teams at least fight to keep their status. The rams have shown little desire to do so.
posted by justgary at 03:13 PM on December 02, 2005
This has been fairly dramatic. Great team - minus 2 MVPs + moron coach = falling apart in dramatic style.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 03:28 PM on December 02, 2005
Yeah, I wouldn't worry. Those Moonies say the strangest things.
posted by Hugh Janus at 03:43 PM on December 02, 2005
Stupid article. Big news, the Rams aren't what they used to be! They went to a couple of Super Bowls and won a championship. I dare to say Bill Cowher's Steelers would love to have that type of recent history, as would the Colts. Kurt Warner had a few fantastic seasons for the team, then flamed out. Marshall Faulk got old. The defense was NEVER that good, even though Mike Jones made the all-time BEST defensive play in Super Bowl history making the tackle he did on the final play against the Titans. I still believe if Vermeil would have stayed around a couple more years the Rams would have won at least one more Super Bowl. Mike Martz is another in a long line of good coordinators who doesn't make a good head coach. Many really good head coaches would have loved to have had the type of talent Martz inherited after Vermeil and the organization handed the team over to him.
posted by dyams at 04:38 PM on December 02, 2005
Mike Martz is another in a long line of good coordinators who doesn't make a good head coach. Many really good head coaches would have loved to have had the type of talent Martz inherited after Vermeil and the organization handed the team over to him. Yup.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 04:45 PM on December 02, 2005
Great team - minus 2 MVPs + moron coach = falling apart in dramatic style. Seconded. It does seem sudden, but with the parity in the NFL, if your quarterback and star all-everything back get old and you lose a star receiver or two, that "chemistry" can explode pretty quick.
posted by yerfatma at 06:04 PM on December 02, 2005
So what if Marshall Faulk is sitting on the bench. Steven Jackson is better than him now. It would be dumb to play Marshall instead just because of his past. (though if this was the Lions nothing would surprise me).
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:24 PM on December 02, 2005
You can't emphasize the "moron coach" enough. This is a guy that immediately cut heavily into Faulk's carries even when Faulk was 100 percent, thinks time outs fall out of his ass and couldn't play call in a Pop Warner game.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:54 PM on December 02, 2005
Steven Jackson is awesome. As a back. Marshall Faulk was awesome as a back. And a receiver. He was hard to defend.
posted by yerfatma at 08:36 PM on December 02, 2005
That article fails to mention that it only takes a few changes to go from the cellar to world champs (I.e. '98 Rams - Bottom of the barrel/ '99 Rams - World Champs) Besides, I looked at the stats and if the Rams had a defense they would be almost unstoppable. They are the 4th best in total offense and are the 4th worst in total defense. A few changes on defense and a healthy offense and the Rams could be world champs again. However, the writers fail to take that into account.
posted by mcstan13 at 09:42 PM on December 02, 2005
This article's kind of weak; yes, it's fairly common for dominant teams to age, break up and subsequently go through periods of terrible records and teams. Why is this any different because it was the Rams? Marshall's old, Warner's gone, as is most of the recieving corps, it's not even the same time anymore.