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Re: If in fact Linehan returns for 2008
First of all, it's a given that Linehan will be back in 2008. The FO has already stated as such. So, deal with it. He'll be back.
Secondly, the question asked of this thread is "What improvement must we see to want him back for 2009?" Well, "must we see", I assume "we", means the fans. It's pretty apparent that a large population of Ram fans do not want Linehan back, so I think it's also a given that even if he does make the playoffs next year, those fans will not be swayed. IF the Rams make the playoffs, but get blown out in the first round, how satisfied will those fans be then? The outcome of this thread is etched in stone. Those fans that don't like Linehan, never will, and at the first sign of ANY adversity, they'll want his head. Again. So, the answer is; "we'll only be satisifed if we win our division and win the Superbowl."
If the question is "what will it take for the FO to keep Linehan around for another year", the answer will be quite different. They'll probably keep him around if he posts anything better than a 7-9 record, depending of course, the circumstances that arise as the season unfolds.
Personally, I don't believe this team has nearly enough talent to be a top-tied NFL team. Despite the talent we do have at the QB, RB and WR positions, we're a very below-average team. The positions I mentioned as our bright spots, outside of Holt, are still questionable as to how great they really are. IMHO. The WR position is no longer elite. Holt and Bruce are both great route-runners with good hands. But do not have the speed to burn any CB in the league. Bennett is none of the above. His route running is fair, but his hands are questionable, at best. He also has no deep speed. So, at WR, we're not really all that great. Just "slightly better then average'", across the board, I'd say.
Our QB? Well, Bulger took a giant step back this year, I believe. Although brought on by a very, very porous line, and the fact that for most of the season he was fearing for his life, his mechanics have gone away. He threw some really, really bad passes this year, and his footwork was very poor. By his own admission. Also, Marc and his WR corp, since the Martz era, have never been good at improvising on the fly. When Marc gets out of the pocket, the Rams are one of the worst teams I've seen at completing a pass. Once the timing of a pattern is completed, the Rams break down. (see Superbowl XXVI) and they're in trouble. Now, I'll admit that that's true with a lot of NFL teams, but with the Rams, whenever I see our QB break out of the pocket to avoid trouble, it's usually a bad ending to a sad story. Is it Bulger's inability to find the open receiver? ...or is our recievers inability to improvise and get seperation? I don't get that feeling while watching other teams. Just the opposite. They break out of the pocket to buy some time, and there's almost always someone open. In fact, I cringe whenever the Rams flush out the opposing QB, because I see a big play in the making. I don't get that with the Rams, ever. More often then not, I see Bulger take a needless sack, or throw a pick. Why is that? Maybe it's our guys in coverage?
Jackson can be a great back in this league, but he's not there yet. Why? One season in three, has he been healthy. It was the take on him in the draft, by many experts, and I don't think he's disproved them wrong yet. If he's not on the field, he's not doing the Rams any good.
Before I go on too long, what I see in the Rams, is some talent at the skilled positions, but absolutely no strength, and no depth where good teams need it most. IN THE TRENCHES.
You have to realize that Linehan did not inherit a winning team, despite what some of you think, or at least allude to. This team had two non-winning seasons before he took over. ...and they were bad because they were weak on the offensive AND defensive lines, not because of the skilled positions. They were bad because of previous decisions and draft choices. The talent that we did have on the o-line and d-line in our SB win got old and/or were not replaced, or were let go over money. The guys that Martz's staff drafted for replacement were complete busts. John St. Clair, Ryan Picket, Damione Lewis, Jimmy Kennedy, Anthony Hargrove, to name just a few of the linemen busts. I could also mention others, like; Trung Candidate, Adam Archuleta, Tommey Polley, Dejuan Groce, Robert Thomas, Jacoby Shepherd, Brian Young as guys that make you go "huh"?
Like it or not, it's going to take time to recover. Until the Rams are tough in the trenches, this team will go nowhere. ...and the story gets worse. The skilled players that we do have are not getting better, but fading. So the skilled positions will need to be addressed soon. With all that said, Linehan and Haslett have their work cut out for them. But I believe that without the slew of injuries this year, we could still be a 9 or 10 win team. IF, and that's a big IF, the Rams get some guys to help out on the O and D lines, we can be competitive next year, and possibly secure a playoff spot.
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Linear Mode
