Rams try to keep their focus

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Sep. 18 2008
The calendar says it's still summer, but things have gotten ugly early at Rams
Park. Two extremely disappointing games into the 2008 season, and the head
coach's job officially is on the line.

It's bad enough to be 0-2, but now there is the specter of an in-season
coaching change looming over the players — not to mention coach Scott Linehan
and his staff. That became crystal clear Monday when Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom
said the level of play by the team was unacceptable, and that if things don't
get better, "changes will be made."

"You've got to fight for your coach," center Nick Leckey said. "When the owner
has to say that to the coach, then I feel like as a player — me personally —
I've let him down by maybe not performing at my super-highest. I always go out
there trying to perform at a high level. But at the same time you feel like
maybe there's something else you can do to prevent that from happening."

Wide receiver Dane Looker said the onus is on the players.

"Coach Linehan is doing everything in his power to make sure that we put the
best product on the field," Looker said. "I never hold a coach responsible for
anything I do on the field. If we can't win, we've got to figure out ways that
we can win. That's making plays on the field. I think it's unjust that a coach
would ever get (blamed) for the way a team performs."

But usually, the head coach is held accountable at some point when teams are
floundering. And make no mistake, after being outscored 79-16 and ranking last
in the league in total offense and total defense, the Rams are floundering.

Defensive end Leonard Little said the situation goes well beyond winning for
the coach.

"I'll put it like this: If we as players don't come out and produce this year,
there's a lot of people that aren't going to be back here next year," Little
said. "Because we haven't been to the playoffs since 2004. We just need to get
some wins around here. Everyone's under the microscope right now. Hopefully,
we'll respond to the criticism and what everybody says about us."

Left tackle Orlando Pace has been around Rams Park since 1997. He has seen Dick
Vermeil go from being on the coaching hot seat in 1998 to a Super Bowl
championship following the 1999 season. He has seen the architect of the
Greatest Show on Turf, Mike Martz, leave in a messy divorce with team
management following the 2005 season.

Pace's take on the current coach-in-crisis situation?

"I've been here for a long time," Pace said. "I try not to worry about that. I
understand it's a business situation they have to make, and that's it."

Quarterback Marc Bulger took a similar approach.

"I'm just going to do my job," he said. "What happens with the ownership, or
upstairs, is out of your control. So you just have to prepare, get the game
plan you've got and study Seattle, and try not to get caught up in how bad
things are right now. You just have to keep grinding and find a way out of this
hole."

Linehan said he talked with Rosenbloom following Sunday's 41-13 loss to the New
York Giants, and also spoke with him Monday.

"He just asked me what the plan was and what my thoughts were generally,"
Linehan said. "I know it's very difficult to be in the positions he's at, where
he and his sister are taking over a team and we've started the way we have. I
take it as support. I also don't disagree with the fact that people have got to
step up."

Apparently, the sooner the better.

As if things weren't bad enough these days for Linehan, who celebrated his 45th
birthday Wednesday, Seattle has turned some of his comments from Monday's press
conference into bulletin-board material.

"In my mind we're going to beat Seattle," Linehan said Monday. "I'm not making
any guarantees — you can call it what it is — but in my mind we're going to
beat Seattle and we're going to right this ship."

In a conference call with St. Louis reporters Wednesday, Seahawks quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck indicated that Linehan's quote had indeed already been posted
on a bulletin board at the Seahawks' practice facility.

When asked about Linehan's comments, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren told St.
Louis reporters, "I think every coach has a certain confidence level. More
often than not, they don't talk about it publicly."

After a brief pause, Holmgren added: "I'll probably mention that."

[laram0]

The players are being very diplomatic about the hot seat issue for Linehan.

My guess is that Bulger and Pace could care less and have been waiting for this. Probably wondering what took so long?

[eldfan]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Sep. 18 2008

As if things weren't bad enough these days for Linehan, who celebrated his 45th
birthday Wednesday, Seattle has turned some of his comments from Monday's press
conference into bulletin-board material.

"In my mind we're going to beat Seattle," Linehan said Monday. "I'm not making
any guarantees — you can call it what it is — but in my mind we're going to
beat Seattle and we're going to right this ship."

In a conference call with St. Louis reporters Wednesday, Seahawks quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck indicated that Linehan's quote had indeed already been posted
on a bulletin board at the Seahawks' practice facility.

When asked about Linehan's comments, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren told St.
Louis reporters, "I think every coach has a certain confidence level. More
often than not, they don't talk about it publicly."

After a brief pause, Holmgren added: "I'll probably mention that."

That is laughable Matt Hasselbeck need bullentin board read to get them up on a team that is a 10 points dog on the road. They really must be afraid.

[AlphaRam]

"You've got to fight for your coach," center Nick Leckey said. "When the owner has to say that to the coach, then I feel like as a player — me personally —I've let him down by maybe not performing at my super-highest. I always go out there trying to perform at a high level. But at the same time you feel likemaybe there's something else you can do to prevent that from happening."

Maybe???? Your middle name should be turnstile.

[ScottD413]

Quote:
"You've got to fight for your coach," center Nick Leckey said. "When the owner has to say that to the coach, then I feel like as a player — me personally —I've let him down by maybe not performing at my super-highest. I always go out there trying to perform at a high level. But at the same time you feel likemaybe there's something else you can do to prevent that from happening."

Maybe???? Your middle name should be turnstile.

LOL

[CaliGirlRamsFan]

The quotes that Scotty made, are pathetic. Does he ever make any sense?

[Ram Dragoon]

Something smells

Getting blown away in two games after a pathetic previous season will get a HC in the "HOT SEAT"? Your kidding right?

So where is this concern about your HC at kick off time 2 games ago? There are words and there is action. Right now I hear a lot of words. The player's knew the situation before the starting gun sounded two weeks ago.

As much as I dislike Linehan's management and handling of the team, at least I am fair enough to realize that the players are part of the problem too. If your a professional, you don't let opposing teams walk all over you or slap you up--its called PRIDE. Granted the plays dialed up where not effective, but the players could have carried them at 100% effort.

So what if the Rams beat the Seahawk--the true test already has come and gone--the Eagles & Giants. But in 4 weeks there is a shot at to redeem themselves as a team and professionals (Cowboys). Its one thing to beat weaker less capable opponents, its another to inflict a loss on a favorite, or at least make a game of it.

Last year Linehan needed to be sent packing--but I can name a few players that ought to join him on his way out of town too