Martz Is The Greatest Thing Ever to Happen To..... - Page 2

*moklerman* · #16 (**permalink**) -18-01-2005

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Well, Martz didn't whiff on tackles. Martz didn't drop passes on third down that would have given the Rams a first down. Martz didn't lose his man on pass coverage. Martz didn't overpursue on run defense. Martz didn't drop interceptions.

So are poor fundamentals, out of position players, poor adjustments and poor talent even remotely linked to Martz? Does he deserve any of the responsibility for the team on the field? We're talking 350 yards rushing here! That's like Nebraska vs. Northeast Mid Ohio community college. This wasn't being outcoached (like New England, Carolina, etc.) this was a total ass-whuppin'.

*psycho9985* · #17 (**permalink**) -18-01-2005

We wont get much in the draft, so lets hope for some good trades mostly OL and LB corp.

**txramsfan** · #18 (**permalink**) -18-01-2005

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Originally Posted by moklerman

So are poor fundamentals, out of position players, poor adjustments and poor talent even remotely linked to Martz? Does he deserve any of the responsibility for the team on the field? We're talking 350 yards rushing here! That's like Nebraska vs. Northeast Mid Ohio community college. This wasn't being outcoached (like New England, Carolina, etc.) this was a total ass-whuppin'.

Yes he does. He is ultimately responsible for this. I'm just not assigning all the blame to Martz. There is a 50/50 guilty deposit here, 50% coaching and 50% players. It isn't 100% Martz, and it isn't 100% players.

Martz has one more year to turn it around. I'm a huge Martz fan, but it's his responsibility to make this thing work.

*moklerman* · #19 (**permalink**) -19-01-2005

Tex, I know where you're coming from but this is year five of "he'll get better" and the Rams have gone from "you can't win every year/disappointing" to "utterly embarrassed and lucky to be there" in that timespan. You're right that the coach can't make the plays on the field but after five years has Martz's approach to the Rams' continual shortcomings on defense and special teams changed? Even a little bit?

That's why I say it's Martz's fault. It's been his responsibility to put coaches, schemes, players, etc. in place to succeed and hasn't. He's had five years to try something other than a square peg in the round hole. Do something different other than to get a bigger hammer. It hasn't worked, isn't working and isn't going to work the way he's doing things. To continue the peg board analogy, when he first started trying to force things, the Rams were a brand new toy. Nice and shiny. Now, five years later, after beating on it with a hammer, the peg still doesn't fit and the wood around the hole is all scuffed and dinged, the end boards aren't shiny anymore and are all scratched up from turning the toy every which way and soon, it won't be worth keeping. It's still holding together, but it's getting awfully haggered.

*JCRamFan* · #20 (**permalink**) -22-01-2005

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Martz didn't drop passes on third down that would have given the Rams a first down.

But Martz did have Steven Jackson in that position instead of Marshall Faulk, who I would hope all would agree is a much better option in that situation. What also amazes me is that on the first drive of the game when the Rams were down 7-0 Faulk carried the ball 5 times for 28 yards keeping the defense honest and giving Bulger time to complete a 57 yard game tying TD. On the next drive, again down by 7, Faulk is on the sideline, Jackson and the offense can't get anything done and the team punts. After that Faulk has 2, count them 2 carries the rest of the game.

But I guess for all of you Martz lovers the excuses will be the team was down by double digits and you can't get back into the game by running, but I will tell you that you can get back into the game by keeping the D honest and giving your QB time to throw instead of letting them know that you are throwing and getting your QB destroyed behind a weak O-line. Or maybe it's just Faulk's fault for not just going into the game and taking the ball on his own.

I know Marshall is getting older and is not the force he once was, but when I was watching him on that first drive, I saw the old Marshall and was excited that the Rams might actually have a chance, just to sit back in horror and watch Mr. Martz (along with some help? from the D and SP) tear my heart out by going with what he wants to work instead of what really works.

Time to move back upstairs Mike and call your wonderful plays but let someone else handle the HC.

**Nick** · #21 (**permalink**) -22-01-2005

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Originally Posted by JCRamFan

But Martz did have Steven Jackson in that position instead of Marshall Faulk, who I would hope all would agree is a much better option in that situation. What also amazes me is that on the first drive of the game when the Rams were down 7-0 Faulk carried the ball 5 times for 28 yards keeping the defense honest and giving Bulger time to complete a 57 yard game tying TD. On the next drive, again down by 7, Faulk is on the sideline, Jackson and the offense can't get anything done and the team punts. After that Faulk has 2, count them 2 carries the rest of the game.

Actually, according to Martz, it's the RB Coach and Faulk himself who decide which back is in the game. Whether or not you believe him, I guess that's the real issue. But he's not the only coach who takes this approach.