Silence is (Blue and) Golden

[AvengerRam]

You hear that?

No? Good.

What a glorious silence we are hearing now in the world of the Rams.

No player holdouts...
Nobody's facing criminal charges...
No major injury questions (with the possible exception of Archuleta)...
No QB controvery...

Just think back 12 months ago. Orlando Pace was still unsigned, Leonard Little was facing a possible prison sentence, Kyle Turley was a question mark at a key position, and Marc Bulger was going into his first season as the unchallenged starter following a poor showing in the playoffs.

That's not to say that the Rams do not have any question marks. Far from it. But they have the normal, expected, question marks (who will emerge at RG and SS, how will Marshall Faulk adjust to his new role, how will the rookies play). Not the disruptive type that the team has faced in recent years past.

So, unlike in Seattle - where Shaun Alexander and Darrell Jackson threaten holdouts, or Arizona - where Josh McCown is waiting for Kurt Warner's first slip, or San Francisco - where PR nightmares are actually a welcome distraction from the team's lack of talent... its quiet in St. Louis.

Enjoy the silence.

[VegasRam]

Avenger - I thought Timmerman played right guard.

Is my dyslexia acting up again?

[Chiledog]

Good perception, AV. It's great to not have these "distractions" going into training camp. However, it also make for a VERY boring offseason on the ClanRam board. I sometimes miss the heated debates.

[AvengerRam]

Avenger - I thought Timmerman played right guard.

Is my dyslexia acting up again?

No, you're correct. I meant LG (I think Tucker will win out there, by the way).

[RamsFanSam]

Silence. Something we rarely hear in a house with a 5 year old.
But, this silence does not mean we don't have questions. A lot of them. Only problems with these questions is that they won't be answered until the season.
Here's my list of ten very important questions that will remain unanswered until later:

1. Will we be injury-free this year?
2. Will we take the Governor's Cup this year?
3. Will Bulger continue his growth and maturation as a QB?
4. Will Jackson grow into the second coming of ED?
5. Will Faulk be a dominant force this year?
6. Will Marmie actually prove most of us wrong, and coach our defense into a serious threat?
7. Will Barron, Atogwe, and the other draft picks be enough to put us on top?
8. Will Claiborne and Coakley help jump start our D?
9. Will Martz be considered a serious, top-of-the-heap head coach?
and the biggie...
10. How much will we win Super Bowl XL by?

[RealRam]

...Silence is golden, golden,
but my eyes still see.

Very fond of that song by The Tremeloes.

This "All Quiet on the Western Front" situation must be a real annoyance and/or challenge for the sports writers! But I prefer it that way for the obvious, i.e., the lack of serious or scandalous problems, as noted by Avenger.

GO RAMS!

[RealRam]

Interesting that even the "Alex Barron's Early Difficulties" articles have subsided. :football:

[Scidog68]

Over here on the Left Coast, I don't hear much of the minor rumour-mill output. What's the status on the Tucker/Incognito injuries? How about Jackson's knees?

Have not had this kind of giddy anticipation about the start of the season in a LONG time....before '99, for sure. This season, injuries allowing, promises to be explosive. How many question marks were actually addressed this off-season? More than I can recall ever seeing at one time. Game On.

[AvengerRam]

Tucker is reportedly over his past injuries, as is Jackson.


Incognito remains a question mark for this year. I don't think the team is counting on him doing much but getting healthy and, perhaps, learning the system. Look for him to compete for a job in 2006.

[Scidog68]

You are the On-the-Ball Man! Thanks for the update. So did Rex partake in the OTA's or are they waiting 'til Training Camp to work him into the rotation?

[AvengerRam]

I believe he participated. According to the PD, he's already been named the starting LG going into training camp.

[Scidog68]

Sweet. See what kind of mundane info I find myself lacking? How is Big B's progression? Any word that you've heard?

[AvengerRam]

Won't know that till training camp. I have, however, seen a couple of old FSU games on the local Sunshine Sports Network in the past few weeks. You can see why he was a first round choice. At the college level, he so outmatched his opponents he almost seemed bored.

[psycho9985]

Sweet. See what kind of mundane info I find myself lacking? How is Big B's progression? Any word that you've heard?

Like you Scidog I find it hard to be patient and I keep telling myself 2 1/2 weeks.Then the info will flow and the greatest show will start to glow.

[Scidog68]

I never, personally, was much bothered by talk of "lack of aggression" and/or drive , post draft, simply because of the natural physical qualities he brought to the position in college. K. Barnes, while more aggressive, was much less 'Le Package Totale" in terms of physical gifts and overall effectiveness, IMO. He is, however, one mean SOB.

Barron will be the perfect complement to Opie by mid-season, so says my gut.