SB Nation - LaRoi Glover

The PBP: gaps, techniques and the Hollis Thomas effect

3k — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:40:19 -0000

Alright, gentlemen, listen up! This is a chalkboard. It's made primarily of slate. Got that Jimmy? Well, damnit, pay attention! Why the hell do you think I wear this coat and hat indoors?

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I know I suggested doing the next episode on the O-line in the last PBP, but with the signing of Hollis Thomas, I thought this had more immediate relevance. Today's Playbook Projector asks a couple questions:

What the hell are gaps? What the hell are techinques? Why the hell do I have to say "hell" every question? I mean, what the hell?

Numbers, fat bodies and diagrams await...playbook projector, hoooooooooooooooooooo!

You'll often hear commentators or sports journalists refer to gaps or techniques. Let's look at what those mean before we get into our 2009 D-line.

"Gaps" refer to the spaces in between offensive linemen. Take a look:

Let's work from the inside in. Your "E" gap generally is assigned to CBs on a CB blitz. They'll shoot the inside shoulder of a wide receiver to hold down that side of the interior offense. The "D" gap is an option for the strong side DE or LB to come around the TE if he's assigned to block and not run a route. Your "C" gap refers to the outside gap of the offensive tackles, a common gap assignment for your RDE. The gap in between the OTs & Gs is the "B" gap; DEs will often attack this gap on run plays if the have outside help (think Victor Adeyanju) or a DT may be assigned here to contain plays where the offense is moving horizontally instead of vertically. The "A" gap is the most interior gap. Envision that 4th & inches play where you're expecting the QB to run up the hip of his center to eke out a 1st down. This is where he'll end up once the referee peels off all the bodies on top of him.

Now on to techniques:

While it looks a bit more crowded, it's not as if all of these are assigned on a given play; they just refer to the options defensive linemen have in terms of where they line up. In other words, a true nose tackle will line up at the "0" tech, directly in front of the center. This was where we saw Adam Carriker lined up most often last season and where Thomas will probably set up this season. The remaining six techniques refer to the shoulders of the offensive linemen. A "3" technique refers to the outside shoulder of the offensive guard, respective to which side of the line a D-lineman sets up.

So now that we've established the concept of gaps and techniques, let's look at how the Rams' D-line might line up:

I'm going to approach this from left to right. The RDE, who is generally your strongest DE, is set up in the "5" tech and assigned the "C" gap. Hopefully, he can get around the LT quickly and come from the QB's blindside for one of those sacks we love to see (when you're on defense...). Your RDT, here set up at the 1 but could also set up at the 0, tries to slide inside either A gap to stop the HB from feeding through the middle or to disrupt the pocket the QB is expecting. On the right side, we see some options for the D-line. The LDT, set up at the 2, has the option of taking the A or B gap. Similarly, the LDE, set at the 5, can either go for the C or D gap. The strong side D-linemen's decisions are usually determined by whether they assume a run or pass attack., and, for the LDE, how the TE is assigned.

The LDT may try to slide through the B gap (again, in between the G & T, to free up the LDE on a pass play. That way, the LDE only has to deal with the TE; if the TE happens to be assigned a route instead of a block, then both the LDT & LDE will try to sweep around the outside to bring pressure into the pocket. A run play, however, requires an interior approach from the DTs. Let's look at how a HB counter play looks and how the D-line's initial approach makes a difference:

The offense is hoping that once the HB makes his move toward the right, the D-line will take their "2" pursuits to free up the left side. If, however, that RDT (Hollis Thomas) takes his "1" pursuit and is able to get into the backfield, he can contain the run and negate a big play. Although the offensive and defensive formations are different, check out this video of two counters then-Gator Percy Harvin ran with huge success. The're both from from UF's victory against South Carolina last season that saw Harvin run for 167 yards on 8 carries

In the first play, notice the NT for South Carolina took his "2" pursuit which opens up a huge lane that TE Aaron Hernandez (who is one of my #2 NFL prospect TE for the 2010 Draft) helps seal with his block on the LB who's assigned to the HB. In the second, look at the LB corps which consists of 5 players once the ball is snapped; four of the LBs are dragged to their left by Harvin's initial move. The only LB who had a chance of stopping him has his lane to Harvin impeded by Hernandez again.

If Hollis Thomas can use his bulk and strength to carry through the interiors of offensive lines and prevent teams from setting up their running game with ease, we have made a great pickup. If, however, he plays the same role as La'Roi Glover did last year, we could see this kind of play several times over, much to our dismay.

As always, comments, critiques and suggestions are always more than appreciated. On the next PBP: the O-line and Jason Smith.

CSC All-Time Saints Team Nominations: Defensive Tackle No. 1

Saintsational — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:48 -0000

And now back to our regularly scheduled CSC All-Time Saints Team programming. Next up on the list is the defensive tackle position. Below is a list of players I've researched and deemed worthy of inclusion in our discussion of great Saints defensive tackles. As usual I will leave it up to you guys, the readers, to nominate any other players you feel should be included.

The poll will open at 6am Central tomorrow morning and will be open for exactly 48 hours, ending on Saturday, July 18th. Remember that there will be a separate election held for the second defensive tackle position.

I now open it up for any other nominations or players that you just can't believe I missed. There very well may be a glaring omission. Talk it out in the comment section. I would also love to hear some personal rumination from our readers who've actually watched these guys plays.

Jim Wilks

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 252

D.O.B.: 3/12/1958

College: San Diego State

NFL Experience: 13 Seasons

Seasons with Saints: 1981-1993

Notables: Played entire career with Saints.

La'Roi Glover

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 290

D.O.B.: 7/4/1974

College: San Diego State

NFL Experience: 13 Seasons

Seasons with Saints: 1997-2001

Notables: Six-time Pro Bowler (2000-2005).

Tony Elliot

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 282

D.O.B.: 4/23/1959

College: North Texas

NFL Experience: 7 Seasons

Seasons with Saints: 1982-1988

Notables: Played entire career with Saints.

Will the Pioli/Parcells/Haley Connection Bring Any Remaining Free Agents to the Chiefs?

Joel Thorman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:37:19 -0000

Note: Primetime did the leg work on the tables and I did the writing. -Chris

If you're been reading Arrowhead Pride for a little while now, you know that Scott Pioli and Todd Haley are big on bringing in coaches and players that they've worked with before. Which makes perfect sense. It's a natural human instinct to take the known over the unknown.

It's gotten to the point where as soon as we hear of a new player the Chiefs have signed or are interested in, we look for the Pioli/Parcells/Haley connection and it's inevitably there.

Why look for a Bill Parcells connection in addition to a Pioli/Haley connection?

Well because the legendary coach has had some big time influence on the Chiefs current GM and head coach.

Todd Haley began his career as the New York Jets' wide receivers coach under Parcells in 1997. Haley also coached under Parcells from 2004 to 2005 as the wide receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys, while Parcells was the head coach.

Todd is the son of Dick Haley, who is the current Player Personnel Analyst for the Miami Dolphins and former Director of Player Personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. Haley, his father Dick and Parcells all worked together in New York from 1997 to 1999. Haley was the Jets wide receiver coach; Parcells was the head coach; and Dick Haley as the Personnel Director.

Haley and Scott Pioli worked together from 1997 to 2000, when Pioli was the Director of Pro Personnel for the New York Jets.

As far as Parcells and Pioli go, both worked together in New York for the Jets in the late 1990s while Parcells was the head coach there. Oh, and Scott Pioli also married Bill Parcells' daughter. They're probably pretty tight.

So it's one big happy family over there at One Arrowhead Drive nowadays.

Every single coach hired by the new Kansas City Chiefs' brass has had some sort of Scott Piloli/Todd Haley/Bill Parcells connection.

Special teams coach Steve Hoffman (Parcells)
WR coach Dedric Ward (Haley, Parcells and Pioli)
Defensive quality control coach Pat Perles (Haley)
Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast (Haley)
Offensive line coach Bill Muir (Pioli and Haley)
LB coach Gary Gibbs (Parcells and Haley)
Joel Collier (Pioli)

It's the same thing with the free agents the Chiefs have signed this off season:

LB Monty Beisel - Played for Arizona in 2008 under Chiefs' DC Clancy Pendergast
QB Matt Cassel - Former New England Patriot under Pioli
WR Terrance Copper - Signed to the Cowboys by Bill Parcells when Todd Haley was working with the wide receivers
CB Travis Daniels - Former Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel, who coached under Belichick and Pioli in New England, traded for him prior to the 2008 campaign
WR Bobby Engram -Played for the Bears when Todd Haley worked with wide receivers
LB Darrell Robertson - New England practice squad in 2008 and a former Georgia Tech player under Chan Gailey
TE Sean Ryan - Played last year in Miami for Bill Parcells and for Haley and Parcells in Dallas from 2004 to 2005
TE Tony Curtis - Played for Haley and Parcells in Dallas from 2005 to 2006

Is that enough evidence that these guys prefer working with people they've worked with before?

It makes sense to take a look at who the top remaining free agents and see where the Pioli/Haley/Parcells connection is. It's likely that any future free agent signings will come from this group.

The top offensive and defensive free agents connected to Pioli, Haley and Parcells are after the jump.

Offense
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Age	Pioli	Haley	Parcells
Rex Grossman	QB	6'1"	222	28		CHI 03-04
Lorenzo Neal	FB	5'11"	255	39		NYJ 97	NYJ 97
Marty Booker	WR	6'0"	212	32		CHI 01-03
Kelley Washington	WR	6'3"	218	29	NE 07-08
Jerame Tuman	TE	6'4"	255	33		AZ 08
Brandon Gorin	RT	6'6"	308	30	NE 03-05
Rob Petitti	RT	6'6"	347	26		DAL 05	DAL 05
Terrence Metcalf	G-T	6'3"	325	31		CHI 02-04
Evan Mathis	G	6'5"	304	27			MIA 08
Grey Ruegamer	G-C	6'4"	310	32	NE 00-02
Matt Lehr	G-C	6'3"	300	30			DAL 03-04
Edgerrin James	RB	6'0"	219	30		AZ 07-08

Back on Monday, I asked you what was the biggest positional need for the Chiefs after the draft. You responded by saying that wide receiver, offensive tackle and outside linebacker were the Chiefs' biggest needs.

WR Marty Booker has already had a workout with the Chiefs and left without a contract offer (We assume).

Former 3rd round pick Kelley Washington is an option too I guess, although I'm not sure what he would bring to the table considering his poor career numbers.

At best, I think any of the offensive line free agents out there would be back ups to our current crop of linemen.

The defensive free agents are pretty slim pickings as well. Check them out.

Defense
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Age	Pioli	Haley	Parcells
La'Roi Glover	DT-NT	6'2"	285	34		DAL 05	DAL 03-05
Chris Cooper	DT-DE	6'5"	275	31		AZ 07	DAL 04
Vonnie Holliday	DT-DE	6'5"	290	33			MIA 08
Rosevelt Colvin	DE-LB	6'3"	250	31	NE 03-08	CHI 01-02
Ebenezer Ekuban	DE	6'3"	265	32			DAL 03
Derek Smith	ILB	6'2"	245	34			MIA 08
Junior Seau	ILB	6'3"	250	40	NE 06-08
Willie McGinest	OLB-DE	6'5"	270	37	NE 00-05
Mike Brown	S	5'10"	210	31		CHI 01-04
Rodney Harrison	S	6'1"	220	36	NE 03-08
Lawyer Milloy	S	6'0"	210	34	NE 00-03
Roy Williams	S	6'0"	235	28		DAL 05-06	DAL 03-06
Keith Davis	S	5'10"	193	30		DAL 05-06	DAL 03-06
Terrence Holt	S	6'2"	208	29		AZ 07
Cameron Worrell	S	5'11"	199	29		CHI 03-04
Mike Green	S	6'0"	195	32		CHI 01-04
Deltha O'Neal	CB	5'11"	194	32	NE 08
Jason Webster	CB	5'9"	187	31	NE 08
R.W. McQuarters	CB	5'10"	198	32		CHI 01-04
Lewis Sanders	CB	6'1"	190	29	NE 08
Aaron Glenn	CB	5'9"	185	36		NYJ 95-00, DAL 05-06	NYJ 97-99, DAL 05-06
Roderick Hood	DB	5'11"	198	27		AZ 07-08
Travis LaBoy	DE	6'3"	250	27		AZ 08

Considering that the top remaining linebackers are all over 34-years old and that the Chiefs have already signed two veteran LBs, I don't see the Chiefs signing Junior Seau, Willie McGinest or Derek Smith. McGinest could theoretically fill at defensive end in addition to linebacker but his age prohibits most investments in him.

S Keith Davis left KC without a contract offer after a private visit to KC back in March.

DE Travis LaBoy, like Primetime wrote this morning, really does seem to be the most viable option for the Chiefs on this list, although I'm not sure what the odds of him coming to KC truly are.

Last year, we would have crossed off any one on this list that was over the age of 27 but that's no longer the case. Now, with the draft over and compensation for many of these players at a minimum, we could be looking at more signings.

Would you like to see any of these free agents signed by the Kansas City Chiefs?

Poll

How many of these free agents will the Chiefs sign?

0

52 votes

1

108 votes

2

212 votes

3

154 votes

4

71 votes

5+

86 votes

683 votes | Poll has closed

Out with the Old: Does Chavous' release portend more cuts?

VanRam — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:48:35 -0000

Only in pro sports do you look at the players on the roster over 30 and think 'old and in the way.' As a 30-something myself it seems strange anyway. ESPN's Mike Sando points out in this post that the Rams were the third oldest team in the league last season. Now younger and speedier in the secondary after the release of Corey Chavous, what becomes of the other elderly players on the team, the guys on the other side of that three decade horizon?

Using the list Sando provides of players over 30, we can surmise a few of the players likely to soon join Chavous in the NFL free agent job hunt.

First, the guys with a contract. You can pretty much forget about Bulger going anywhere, even though his name keeps popping up among those who wonder where the Jets might get a veteran QB to replace the veteran QB that disappointed them last season. The futures of Holt and Pace have been much discussed 'round here, with the conventional wisdom now seeing Holt elsewhere and Pace with a possibly restructured contract. DE Leonard Little is also a candidate to restructure his deal, but given the Rams new head coach Steve Spagnuolo's affinity for aggressive rushing defenses, cutting Little, who still has value in a part time QB chasing role, doesn't make much sense.

Sorry, haters, WR Drew Bennett probably isn't going anywhere given that the Rams have to pay him just as much to play elsewhere as to sit on the sidelines in St. Louis. And why not squeeze the last few ounces of productivity out of the guy? He might be just as motivated to prove himself and get one last contract after this season, somewhere else.

That takes care of the much discussed guys on the over-30 list, but what about the others? DE James Hall led the Rams in sacks last season with 6.5. He's two years younger than Little and cost a mere $1.4 million for 2009. Seems like depth worth keeping. Ditto TE Anthoy Becht, the Rams need a blocking TE, and I can't imagine they'll bother retaining Klopfenstein. (In fact, I'll go ahead and predict the Rams carry three TEs next season: Becht, McMichael, and Daniel Fells). S Todd Johnson replaced Chavous as the starting SS down the stretch last season, but he's still more of a solid backup than a true starter. Keep him, I say, at just $1.1 million, but the Rams still need to find a SS. LB Chris Draft is a decent depth guy, but the Rams really don't need another 23o lbs LB. Cutting Draft saves the Rams, a team in desperate need of larger LBs for the middle, upwards of $1.3 million in cap space. Why on earth would the Rams keep QB Trent Green when they can save $1.3 million by cutting him? Can he even play anymore? Somebody ought to be taking this guy out for a four star meal (I recommend Harvest if they eat in St. Louis) and convince him to retire.

That's the list of over-30 players under contract for next season. Sando also lists the guys over-30 who are free agents for 2009. WR/KR Dante Hall is no longer needed here. DT La'Roi Glover is expected to retire. We've talked about some of these guys before in our free agent assessments (offense and defense). The two most intriguing names on that list are CBs Fakhir Brown, who'd probably be a little pricey for the Rams if they pursue another CB, and Jason Craft, who might have some value as depth, but the team can certainly live without him.

2009 Rams free agents - defense

VanRam — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:54:19 -0000

Awhile back we took a look at the Rams players on offense that will be free agents this season, so with free agency just a few weeks away, it's a good time to review the Rams free agents on defense. There are some important names on this side of the ball. A new head coach who comes to the team as a successful defensive coordinator adds a little bit of an x-factor to the predictions game. Let's look at it from a fan perspective. What's likely to happen to this crop of free agent players?

Victor Adeyanju, DE, RFA - He made a good case this season to remain on the roster with a tireless work ethic and specialty for playing the run...if only he'd have had some support. As a restricted free agent, I can't imagine the Rams won't keep him. Plus, Spagnuolo's defense in NY had a bevy of ends he rotated in and out; Adeyanju seems to be a good fit for a rotation.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Victor Adeyanju	14	2.0	11	0	0	0	40	7	47

O.J. Atogwe, S - Atogwe's a ball hawking free safety who once again led the team in INTs (5), forced fumbles (6) and fumbles recovered (3). He needs to get better in coverage to be truly elite. The Rams have said they'll use the franchise or transition tag to keep Atogwe on the roster.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Oshiomogho Atogwe	16	0	0	5	91	0	75	7	82

Ron Bartell, CB - Bartell emerged as the Rams top CB - I don't mean that as a joke either - he was legit and the team has said they'd like to keep him on the roster by making him a reasonable offer. The question is will he accept or test the free agent waters, where teams always overpay? He's fond of Haslett, and might follow the former interim coach if he lands a gig elsewhere.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Ron Bartell	15	1.0	4	3	29	0	54	3	57

Fakhir Brown, CB - This was a weird saga, released from the team, then brought back...after Linehan got canned. Brown plays well enough in coverage, but if the team looks for a big free agent, they won't likely resign him.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Fakhir Brown	13	1.0	4	1	16	0	41	4	45

Jason Craft, CB - Craft did a nice job playing nickel and really made a name for himself when the defense brought in a CB on the blitz. He's worth keeping and should come at a reasonable rate.

		Sacks		Interceptions			Tackles
	G	Sacks	YdsL	Int	Yds	IntTD	Solo	Ast	Total
2008 - Jason Craft	15	3.0	22	1	16	0	51	4	55

La'Roi Glover, DT - Glover, by all accounts, seems set to retire after a great career. The guy just got too old and slow to handle offensive linemen anymore. (I'm not posting his stats since he's not coming back).

Ricky Manning, CB - Manning had some serviceable time with the Rams as a depth guy before hitting IR with a very serious broken leg and ankle. There's no need to bring him back...if he can even play again.

Eric Moore, DE - A depth guy at DE. He may come to camp, but easily replaceable.

The priorities are fairly obvious on this side of the ball: Atogwe, Bartell. The fate of players like Adeyanju and Craft, I think, depend on which direction Spagnuolo goes with the defense and who fits into that plan. I can't imagine he and his coaches don't already have some free agent targets identified, even as role players.

49ers-Rams: Final Injury Report

Fooch — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:10 -0000

It's a day late, but here's the final injury report for tomorrow's game. When you get to these last couple weeks of the season, it becomes a balancing act between getting PT for your guys and avoiding injuries that might carry well into the offseason.

Obviously I'm speaking about Frank Gore in particular. Gore has now gone two full weeks without truly touching the practice field. Apparently he's been moving around and trying to get some work in. However, without actually playing time on the practice field, I really don't expect to see him playing this Sunday.

I'd imagine everybody wants him to crack 1,000 yards. However, if you save him for the Redskins game, I think you could safely say he's healthy enough to avoid re-injury. You want to win both remaining games, but if you were going to pick one game to bench Gore, clearly it would be this week. He really does deserve to crack that 1,000 yard mark, but the smart play is sitting him this week and starting him next week (barring an aggravation of the injury).

The most important point in all of this? If you've got him on your fantasy team, find someone to fill in and plan on Gore NOT playing.

San Francisco 49ers
Probable - SS Michael Lewis (abdomen), KR/PR Allen Rossum (ankle), LT Joe Staley (ankle), WR Josh Morgan (head), FS Mark Roman (head), DE Ron Fields (foot)

Questionable - LB Ahmad Brooks (back), RB Frank Gore (ankle), OT Adam Snyder (ankle)

St. Louis Rams
Probable - K Josh Brown (groin), CB Jason Craft (back), DT La'Roi Glover (knee), G Jacob Bell (hamstring), CB Ron Bartell (back)

49ers-Rams Wednesday Injury Report

Fooch — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:04:31 -0000

These last two games are not exactly barn-burners in the grand scheme of things, but I'd like to see some of the injured youngsters get healthy and get on the field for some meaningful action before the season ends. Among those are guys like Dashon Goldson and Josh Morgan. As you'll notice from the participation report, things are looking up for those two.

San Francisco 49ers
Did Not Participate in Practice: LB Ahmad Brooks (back), RB Frank Gore (back), CB Walt Harris (coach's decision), S Michael Lewis (abdomen), OT Adam Snyder (ankle)

Full Participation in Practice: KR/PR Allen Rossum (ankle), OT Joe Staley (ankle)

St. Louis Rams
Did Not Participate in Practice: K Josh Brown (groin), P Donnie Jones (illness), LB Gary Stills (knee)

Limited Participation in Practice: CB Jason Craft (back), DT La'Roi Glover (knee)

I can't see how, barring a re-injury, Goldson and Morgan won't be available on Sunday. Morgan played this past week, but Goldson was inactive. Goldson is the one I'm more impatient about due in large part to the poor play of Mark Roman. If Goldson is going to become the free safety next year, we need know what he can do.

Should they stay or should they go?

VanRam — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:22:43 -0000

The PD's Jeff Gordon looks at some of the Rams higher paid slackers, the guys that Haslett apparently has been vainly pressing upon to do better. There are 12 names on Gordon's list and he posits the Rams will have to cut about half of them to retool next year.

Let's look at the possibilities. Starting with the sure things: Dante Hall and La'Roi Glover's contracts are up after this season, so jettisoning their contracts is easy, and both players have passed their prime. You can forget dumping Bulger or Steven Jackson, for reasons we've discussed ad naseum. There's maybe a .001% chance the Rams could part ways with Bulger, via trade, but it's incredibly unlikely.

Witherspoon's a safe bet to remain a Ram too. He's playing with an injury and out of position. If the Rams add a real live middle linebacker next season, the chances of us seeing the player we saw last season go way up. DT Adam Carriker isn't going anywhere either. He's not playing like a first round pick this season - he has had moments though - but if the Rams can get a big body to play next to him on the line, he'll improve. I'd even think about making him a DE again. Given their needs on the line and the hit they'd take on the cap, G Jacob Bell is safe too. With improvements around him on the line, he'll be better.

It's hard to imagine the Rams without LT Orlando Pace, but at what point will he consider retirement? The Rams invested a lot of money in him for diminishing returns. He probably stays. The team's lack of depth helps LB Pisa Tinoisamoa's case, but if the team adds some quality to this group from the draft and/or free agency, then they could take the cap hit and say goodbye.

I don't know why the Rams would keep Trent Green. Cutting him costs them money, but I think they'll live with it. Fans might charge the field, and not for celebration, if WR Drew Bennett makes the roster next year. That leaves WR Torry Holt from Gordon's orignal list. Holt probably gets moved, traded for whatever they can get.

Breakout the paper bags, Rams fail to make it to the half, again

VanRam — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:22:51 -0000

Another week, another ignominious Rams loss. I'm beginning to think the league needs a Kevorkian rule; keep losing by lopsided margins and the commissioner pulls the plug on your season. It's getting hard to watch this team. If these guys were in charge of fixing the economy, I'd start stuffing bills in my mattress and pennies in my shoes. Only a loss to the Lions would have been more humiliating.

So many times watching this team over the last two years, after so many turds like this one, I've demanded answers and appealed to reason. No more. There's just no point. Until there's a sea change in the organization's zeitgeist, this is the rule, not the exception.

For me, mercifully, the game wasn't televised, so I'll leave my venomous sentiments to those who witnessed the massacre. The game sounded just as impressive on the radio as I'm sure it looked.

The game was a stinker on all fronts, but I gotta say, the Tony Banks Award for Excellence this outing goes to Marc Bulger. I was fully prepared to blame the Rams o-line, but they played pretty well, all things being relative with a 2-8 team. When it's this bad, there's plenty of blame to go around, but you can pin the lion's share of this mess on Rams QB Marc Bulger. The game ended with Bulger's fumble on 2nd down in the 2nd quarter set the 49ers up for a TD. That brillant sequence was follwed by a terrible interception by Bulger. The 49ers started two drives on turnovers inside the Rams side of the field, once in the red zone. At that point, 28-3, it became reasonable to wonder if the Rams were going on two weeks in a row where an opponent scored 40 points by the half. Turns out the 49ers only got 35. Crisis averted. Making it even worse was some fairly effective play from the QB in the second half...with the Niners in cruise control.

I don't see how you argue for sticking with Bulger next week.

The middle of the Rams defense did itself no favors with their inspired play either. DT La'Roi Glover spent most of the snaps he saw on his back. Glover's long in the tooth, a guy who served his time, playing admirably for a lost cause now. The disappointment is Adam Carriker, who hardly played like a first round draft pick. I don't think he belongs at DT, at least not without a bulky, NT-prototype next to him in the 4-3. Given the playmaking skills touted when he was a draft pick, maybe he'd be a better LB. That's two position switches in three years, though, not exactly a recipe for success. At the very least, I think the Rams should move him to DE, where he played better last year filling in for injured players. DE Leonard Little is the heart and soul of this team, by default, but taking nothing away from the man. Unfortunately, he's clearly playing hurt or just too over-the-hill, and that's dramatically reduced the level of effectiveness the Rams need out of one of their precious few leaders. More cause to move Carriker to DE.

And how could we forget about the injuries...just to make it really feel like a contemporary Rams game, there had to be injuries to good(ish) players. If this team loses Bartell for any significant amount of time, there could be a lot more blowouts. Pace and Incognito, well, let's keep our fingers crossed, those are our two best linemen.

Finally, there's Jim Haslett. His epithet for his time with the Rams might read, "He stuck with Marc Bulger as his starting QB." Though, I don't know; there was plenty of merit to the argument of leaving Bulger under center coming into this game (also plenty of argument against it). Haslett's early run seemed so promising. I can't imagine the odds favoring him at the helm next season, even though much of the problem lies with the player personnel. I think he'll be a fine coach, but if comes down the keepign Haslett and completely remaking this team, well, best of luck in the SEC, Jim. Much more than Haslett, the future of this team hinges completely on how the front office gets remade, and to do that right, Rosenbloom is going to have to show a winning commitment if he wants to get the best people for the job.

Alright, I can't think about the Rams anymore tonight. Why waste a perfectly good Sunday evening, right?

More fun tomorrow.

Poll

Will you watch anymore Rams games this season?

No. I'm done.

14 votes

Yes. Down with the ship.

41 votes

Here and there, but I won't hesitate to change the channel.

15 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Rolling down memory lane

VanRam — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:50:42 -0000

Ah, Mike Martz and the memories he brings for Rams fans...

Mike Sando has a recap of the old Haslett/Martz rivalry from way back during Haslett's days with the Saints.

The Rams haven't faced Martz since a win over Detroit in week 4 of the 2006 season. The Rams and Lions had quite a shoot out, with the Rams winning the game 41-34 as Bulger passed for 328 yards and 3 TDs, Holt and Bruce both had 100+ yard games and scored a TD...even Joe Flopfenstein scored a TD in that game.

Oh, those Halcyon days of 2006... The Rams had 2 games that season where they scored more than 40 points, the win over the Lions and a 41-21 week 17 win over the Vikings. The Rams haven't scored more than 40 points since then. In 2007, the Rams broke the 30 point mark just once, a week 5 31-34 loss to the Cardinals. This season, the Rams have scored more than 30 points in their win over the Cowboys, and - how's this for alarming - that was also the only time the Rams have cracked the 20 point mark since week 16 against the Steelers last season.

There wasn't much more than pride on the line the last time the Rams and the 49ers faced each other in week 11 of last season. The Rams, coming off their first win of the season against New Orleans, traveled to San Francisco to battle a 2-7 49ers team that hadn't won since week 2.

That game featured both defenses, with the Rams winning 13-9. Bulger, despite getting sacked 6 times and throwing one INT, completed an early TD pass to Torry Holt (hey, rememeber him) and Jeff Wilkins added the rest. Looking back on the performances of the Rams lines, the Rams had 3 sacks from Chavous, Witherspoon and Glover. The held Frank Gore to just 32 yards rushing on 15 carries.

The Rams o-line managed to open some running lanes, and Steven Jackson ran for 92 yards on 23 carries...and there were those six sacks allowed. Here's the box score.