Why the gloomy outlook?

*RamsInfiniti* · #1 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

I see many a post these days from fans who think that this team will be bad again, even next year. With all the young talent we have in place, I just don't get it. If we can get through the injuries, and Linehan can mature as a coach, I think we can immediately contend, particularly in the NFC. Here are the major players I expect to return next year, with the holes appropriately labeled "DRAFT PICK":

QB1 - Bulger
QB2 - Frerotte
QB3 - DRAFT PICK
RB1 - Jackson
RB2 - Leonard
RB3 - Pittman
FB - DRAFT PICK
WR1 - Holt
WR2 - Bennett
WR3 - Bruce
WR4 - DRAFT PICK
WR5 - Hagans
TE1 - McMichael
TE2 - Klop/Byrd
TE3 - Klop/Byrd
K - Wilkins
P - Jones
OT - Pace
OT - Barron
OT - DRAFT PICK
OT - Stuessie
C - Romberg
C - McCollum
OG - Setterstrom
OG - Incognito
OG - DRAFT PICK
OG - Brown
DT - Ryan
DT - Carriker
DT - Glover
DT - Wroten
DE - Hall
DE - Little
DE - Adeyanju
DE - DRAFT PICK
LB - Witherspoon
LB - C. Draft
LB - Chillar
LB - Tinoisamoa
LB - Culberson
CB - Brown
CB - Hill
CB - Bartell
CB - Wade
S - Otagwe
S - Chavous
S - DRAFT PICK
S - Johnson

So, if we can stay healthy, and address the needs listed above, where are the real holes in this team?

**txramsfan** · #2 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

1. Bennett - wasted free agent pickup. I don't see him making an impact. The Rams need a speed burner but won't go after one due to his signing.

2. Barron - He hasn't played up to his first round selection.

3. Pace - Can he stay healthy?

4. Incognito - His temper and play hasn't made him what he should be yet.

5. DE's - Can Little stay healthy? Hasn't the last two years. Is Hall worth it? Book is still out.

6. LB's - Spoon is having a great year but that's because Linehan has given him free reign to roam. Pisa can't stay health, he hasn't since he's been here.

7. S - Need help for Atogwe. No money to spend, so it better come from the draft.

Need I say more?

*VegasRam* · #3 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

RI - agreed. If the Rams stay healthy (relatively), get a OT, DE, S and WR, and some back-ups, I think personnel wise we're good.

A new OC is a MUST, whether Linehan matures or not. Maybe if Linny gains confidence in a moire aggressive OC, he'll loosen up a bit, and we'll see a different team. I hope so anyway.

*VegasRam* · #4 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by txramsfan

1. Bennett - wasted free agent pickup. I don't see him making an impact. The Rams need a speed burner but won't go after one due to his signing.

2. Barron - He hasn't played up to his first round selection.

3. Pace - Can he stay healthy?

4. Incognito - His temper and play hasn't made him what he should be yet.

5. DE's - Can Little stay healthy? Hasn't the last two years. Is Hall worth it? Book is still out.

6. LB's - Spoon is having a great year but that's because Linehan has given him free reign to roam. Pisa can't stay health, he hasn't since he's been here.

7. S - Need help for Atogwe. No money to spend, so it better come from the draft.

Need I say more?

Actually,TX, yes you do.

Bennett will surprise next year.

Tired of people bad mouthing Barron - we're lucky to have him. Perfect case of once you get a bad rep, you never lose it. The guy's very good.

Pace - who knows. Hardly a negative.

Incognito - see "Barron", above. One of the better guards in the league.

We'll be getting a new DE, agree on Little. Hall's worth it, imo.

Don't quite understand the Spoon comment. Seems like you're trying to turn him into a negative, but can't. Agree on Pisa, but he's been there for three out of four games, and we do have Draft, not to mention Culberson and McGarigle.

Totally agree. Chavous is a good back-up at best at this point.

So if needs can be filled in the draft, why so gloomy?

Don't forget, we have an extra seventh-rounder this year.

**txramsfan** · #5 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Because we have been average since 2003. Prove it to me on the field for 2008.

**HUbison** · #6 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Pisa can't stay health, he hasn't since he's been here.

To be fair, Pisa didn't miss a single game his first 3 seasons. He's missed nearly 1/3rd of the games over the past two years, but to say he's never been healthy isn't exactly accurate.

He'll be back, but will he be healthy. Hopefully, his extended off-season will provide enough time.

**txramsfan** · #7 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Ok....I get all that. However, this team has to prove it to me. Bottom line.

*RamsInfiniti* · #8 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Any team can be battered by injuries at any time. You can take all the question marks posed by txramsfan and apply them to any team. If healthy, we have a great core of players ...

And BTW, Witherspoon is an ELITE player ....

And Chris Draft is a run stuffing monster!

As for the OC, I dream of Cam Cameron coming in and chunking bombs left and right ...

**txramsfan** · #9 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Witherspoon is playing out of position but due to the injury to Little he's able to play something of a throwback rover. He's able to blitz more because he's the fastest defensive player we have on the edge.

When Little comes back, Spoon will be back inside.

*itsguud* · #10 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

IMO, it doesn't matter if we have the AFC allstar team next year. Linehan doesn't know how to be a HC in the NFL.

*Rambos* · #11 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

I think we are just three players away from the west title, DE.. Long, SS ??? OL Alan Faneca.

We would have two all pros on the O line and good depth.

Long would bring a much needed pass rush.

SS that can tackle would be a hugh upgrade over the soft SS we have now.

Health is key I am sure the Rams will look into what they may or may not have done wrong.

Sign Chillar and Draft.

AC and Ryan will just get better.

Hill and Wade will just get better.

Against the one team that had no pass rush when we played them the Saints, our offense looked very good.

*moloch41* · #12 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUbison

To be fair, Pisa didn't miss a single game his first 3 seasons. He's missed nearly 1/3rd of the games over the past two years, but to say he's never been healthy isn't exactly accurate.

He'll be back, but will he be healthy. Hopefully, his extended off-season will provide enough time.

I never thought his health was an issue, but he's a very inconsistant player.

*moloch41* · #13 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by RamsInfiniti

Linehan can mature as a coach

This is the million dollar question- he did very little maturing from last year to this year and I don't see any reason to think it better for 08-09.

**HUbison** · #14 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by moloch41

I never thought his health was an issue, but he's a very inconsistant player.

For the past two years, I would say he's been inconsistent from the standpoint of just being on the field. However, his first three years (admittedly, ancient history in NFL terms), he led the team in tackles. I would say during that span, he was one of the few bright spots in a rather blah unit on a very blah defense.

*moloch41* · #15 (**permalink**) -11-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUbison

For the past two years, I would say he's been inconsistent from the standpoint of just being on the field. However, his first three years (admittedly, ancient history in NFL terms), he led the team in tackles. I would say during that span, he was one of the few bright spots in a rather blah unit on a very blah defense.

He can make a spectacular play one down and then get get toasted by a mediocre TE on the next. I've never been a huge fan of his. He really pissed me off this year in a game where we were getting killed. On first down, he got beat for like a 7 yd gain inside our twenty, pulled the dude down from behind, and then got up and celebrated. I'm not sure what he was celebrating exactly...maybe not giving up the first down in one shot?