[Bernie Miklasz]: Reading the Rams

**evil disco man** · -08-26-2007

Reading the Rams
By Bernie Miklasz
08/25/2007 7:02 pm

I don’t care about preseason NFL football. It’s the biggest rip-off in professional sports and largely a waste of time and the fans’ good money and loyalty. I wish the U.S. Justice Dept. would intervene and officially designate NFL preseason games a criminal enterprise.

I monitor the Rams’ exhibitions only because I want to try and keep up with the team, and I like to take a look at the new players. But I don’t get excited if the Rams go 3-1 or 4-0 in the preseason. I don’t get upset if they’re 1-3 or 0-4. The only emotion I have is when another one of these dreadful games is over, and that really pleases me, because it means we’re closer to the real football of the regular season. I’m also happy if the players get through these mock games without suffering injury.

The Rams looked bad against San Diego last week, and even worse at Oakland on Friday night. Some fans are sounding the alarm over the state of the team; the internet forums are in a tizzy. And that’s fine; having passion is one of the best things about being a fan, or a sports columnist.

But again, I just can’t get steamed about this, no matter how poorly the Rams look in key areas. Because of the way coaches deploy personnel and strategy, these games can be terribly misleading. The intensity isn’t there. The creativity isn ‘t there. The regular players aren’t there — at least not for four quarters. And even if the starters are on the field, I don’t know how hard they’re playing, or what they’re working on. It’s a jumbled mess.

Last year Indy went 1-3 in the preseason and won the Super Bowl… Oakland went 4-1 in the preseason and went 2-14 in the games that counted… Carolina went 4-0 in the summer, then failed to make the playoffs with an 8-8 record. New Orleans was 1-3 in the exhibitions, then became the best story of the season with a high-flying 10-6 team that reached the NFC Championship game.

So interpret these games, and the performances, at your own risk.

All of that said, I’m not sure why anyone would be surprised to see the Rams’ defense getting pushed around this summer. Again, I’ll wait until the regular season to have an opinion that matters, but the Rams really didn’t do much to upgrade the defense over the offseason. We all have great hopes for rookie DT Adam Carriker, but he’s just getting acclimated to the league and a new spot. The Rams really didn’t add one veteran defensive player who can disrupt a game and change its flow with big-play ability. The front seven is still questioable, and the corners are inexperienced, and there’s no heavy hitter at safety to bring the hammer down on the run. So again: why would anyone really expect to see immediate and significant improvement? Maybe that will come during the regular season, after some of the kids mature. We’ll see.

Same with the special teams. I’m sure the coverage units will be stocked with better personnel when the season starts, but up to now, is anyone shocked by the problems? The coverage units have been inadequate for a long time, and they’ve been awful in the second and third preseason games. It’s up to head coach Scott Linehan to make this area a priority, and under Linehan the Rams do invest more time in the special teams. But can Al Roberts turn things around? Not sure about him.

The Rams offense has been sluggish… but how can we possibly draw any significant meaning from this when RB Steve Jackson isn’t playing? And WR Torry Holt didn’t dress for the Oakland game. Yeah, I’d like to see this first-team offense establish some rhythm in these practice games, because I believe the Rams are going to have to score a lot of touchdowns to be a playoff team in 2007. But I won’t lose any sleep over the way the offense is shaping up this summer. Example: QB Marc Bulger looks jumpy, but the same was true of his play last summer, and he went on to have his best NFL season.

I’m looking forward to the start of the regular season.

And we’ll have a lot to talk about with the Rams — and I’m looking forward to having those discussions with you.