would 8-8 save Linny?

[YodaRam]

Originally Posted by Mooselini

Linehan will stay if we make it to 8-8. If we get it to the play offs, no doubt will he stay. If we fail to make it to .500, hes gone. Depending on injuries too. If its as bad as last year, I think he'd get another year.

Mooselini, i'm sorry, but if we have another year like last year, injuries or not, Linehan is toast! Fair or not not fair. He will get the axe.



RAM ON!

[RealRam]

Would 8-8 save Linny? ...No, I don't think so. In fact, it certainly will not. And I stood by Coach SL through thick and thin last year -- mostly thin.

That said, I also do not believe the Rams will finish with that record. I'm shooting for a minimum 9-7, probable 10-6.

[KoaKoi]

If it's as bad as last year, you honestly think Linny will get a 4th year?!!!! sorry Moose, i'm gonna respectfully disagree with you on this one.

i just don't see any chance of the organization extending that long of a tether to a coach with two horrible seasons in a row, just because injuries gave him a "raw deal". injuries are a part of the nfl and while i understand giving grace for a bad injury year, Linny has tagged a new head strength and conditioning coach, was given better quality and depth on the O-line and for qb, was provided with an outstanding offensive coord. (even tho Linny was supposed to be the great offensive mind), a high draft pick, and has been given every opportunity to rally the troops this offseason. injuries won't make the play here, it's going to be wins wins wins and even then, he still might be gone.

[Brain Daddy]

Originally Posted by Goldenfleece

I think it would be pretty iffy at that point. Playoffs or no, I'd be looking at how we got to 8-8.

Managing 8-8 with some tough losses might be enough for him to keep his job. On the other hand, just eking by several games and barely making 8-8 would get him fired, I would think.

Originally Posted by HUbison

Yea, 8-8 brings him back. That's a 5 game improvement; like an 8-8 team going 13-3. Not to mention, what head coach (other than a rookie) would take this job? Ownership in flux, management in flux, aged roster........it's not that appealing really.

Yeah but overall, he's gone nowhere. He's just managed to get back where he started. It's basically a net gain of zero. 8-8, 3-13, 8-8. A five game improvement doesn't necessarily mean anything when the team finished 5 games worse than his first year on the job. At least, that's how I'd see it.

[eldfan]

quote KoaKoi This is the NFL folks... you either produce or you go home. If he can't manage one single winning season out of 3 years at the helm- he'll be done.

I have to agree on that. Wow I remember this topic at the end of the season and most posts had him (SL) bury now 8-8 is ok. Miami coach was done in one and we are going to be ok with a coach who had not produce a winning season and 3 and who had one of the worse season in rams history. From that we want to reward him with another year. Again WOW.

[Bar-bq]

I believe...

I believe 9-7 will save Scott Linehan

[Nick]

As others have said, I think depending on how it comes about, Linehan could be retained after an 8-8 year. Let's not forget that 8-8 is the best record the Rams have been able to accomplish in nearly five years; it's not great but I don't think it's going to warrant an automatic firing if we're competitive in those losing contests or rebound from a tough early schedule. If we make the playoffs, I would think it's definite that he stays.

Originally Posted by txramsfan

Just a question....what great offense are you talking about? Holt is banged up, Bennett hasn't proven anything, and we have rookies that are going to be heavily counted on.

I think we are really overestimating how good this WR corp is going to be. We have Jackson and he is one of the best RBs in the league. Bulger is a top notch QB. However, with Holt banged up we aren't that talented on offense.

I'm not sure it'll be the receivers holding us back. Look at a team like San Diego. Good QB play, a top runner in the backfield, an athletic capable tight end, and generally average receivers. Look at Kansas City during the Saunders years. Good QB play, a top runner in the backfield, an athletic capable tight end, and generally average receivers.

I think we can fit into that mold. Bulger is capable of being a great QB, Jackson is among the top runners in the game right now when healthy, and Randy McMichael is a capable tight end who can go out there and make things happen in the middle of the field. I like our group of WRs better than I would San Diego's or KC's from those time frames.

The area where those two teams trump us though is offensive line play. San Diego has one of the best lines in the league right now. When their offense was firing, the Chiefs' line was widely considered to be very talented. Our line has yet to prove it's anything better than average.

If there's an area that's going to hold the Rams back from becoming a great offense again, I'd put my money on the offensive line over the wide receivers.

[MoonJoe]

Well with the instability of the management team and the fan support aside, I would say that he needs at least 12-4 with one or two games into the play-offs. A lot of people still turn to the injuries for an excuse for his record, but it still doesn't cover up his less than intelligent play calling and decision making in my opinion.

Joe

[skelley]

Originally Posted by Brain Daddy

Managing 8-8 with some tough losses might be enough for him to keep his job. On the other hand, just eking by several games and barely making 8-8 would get him fired, I would think.

I hope not.
Yeah but overall, he's gone nowhere. He's just managed to get back where he started. It's basically a net gain of zero. 8-8, 3-13, 8-8. A five game improvement doesn't necessarily mean anything when the team finished 5 games worse than his first year on the job. At least, that's how I'd see it.

That's pretty much my point........an 8-8 season means he's pretty much showed he's not a head coach who is gonna lead us to the big time. I point to the fact nearly all our top players lost faith in him last year. That is not a sign of a good leader.

If we don't at least get our division crown he should be gone.

[Tony Soprano]

.
He's never beat a team with a winning record as HC.

I brought up this very subject last year when the discussion was should he be fired - and I was told resoundingly that he has to win - and that 8-8 would not be good enough this year.

I see the feeling has really softened, not with me though.

This is throwing away years - prime years - for some critical players. What a goal - 8-8 !

[skelley]

Originally Posted by Tony Soprano

.
He's never beat a team with a winning record as HC.

I brought up this very subject last year when the discussion was should he be fired - and I was told resoundingly that he has to win - and that 8-8 would not be good enough this year.

I see the feeling has really softened, not with me though.

This is throwing away years - prime years - for some critical players. What a goal - 8-8 !

I agree. In my opinion we already saw a HC waste careers as the window to win rings closed. But with Martz it seemed his ego would over ride his brain. Linny seems to have his ego well in check, he just seems to me to be in way over his head.


It'd be great if he proved me wrong. If Linny could prove me wrong we will have returned to the top of the pack.

[RAMFANRAIDERHATER]

I think he's gone at the end of the year. ...and I say that because I don't think there's any way in "you-know-what" that this Ram team has a winning season. The schedule is brutal, and I can't see them winning more than 2 of the first 8 games. They're going to have to light it up in the second half to get to .500 or better, and personally I don't think this team has the talent to do it. When Linehan IS let go, I'm not hot on seeing Saunders take over. I don't like having the HC call the offense.

I hate saying this, but I'm not overly optimistic about this team. The only good thing we have going is they're in the weak NFC West. If the rest of the division struggles along with the Rams, and the stars align, and Jackson stays healthy, stranger things have happened. I think Chippy fires Linehan before the season is over if he goes 1-7, or worse? ...and that's a real possibility with the first half of the schedule.

However, if Linehan should somehow get this team to the playoffs, St. Louis should give Scott the keys to the freakin' city, renew his contract for another 3 years, and build a statue in his likeness out in front of that poor excuse of a stadium.

[RAM-BO]

As far as I'm concerned, qualifying for the playoffs + 1 playoff win will suffice.

[itsguud]

We keep talking about Losey being ousted. But does anyone else think our FO should take a hit if, (and only if cause I hope its not true) we don't go 8-8 this year?

Personally I would like to see the lot of them canned and start fresh, with the likes of Bill Cower, or someone else that knows the game well taking over. I think the rams have really changed a lot in the last few years going from a pass - heavy, high scoring on both sides of the ball team, to becoming a more defensively minded run team. I would personally like to see someone with a better Defensive background come in and turn all the young talent we have on D into something special. Focus on OJ, Long, Carriker, WW, Ryan even and you have a scary looking base for a strong D.

[HUbison]

Originally Posted by guud

We keep talking about Losey being ousted. But does anyone else think our FO should take a hit if, (and only if cause I hope its not true) we don't go 8-8 this year?

Guud, my man, you've hit upon the most pertinent of roadblocks to this team. We can rearrange all the deck chairs we like, but the same men continue to steer the ship. Shaw and Zygmunt run the show, and until they self-fire (ie. retire), they're not going anywhere. Truly frustrating.

Personally I would like to see the lot of them canned and start fresh, with the likes of Bill Cower, or someone else that knows the game well taking over.

I'd love to see it come true, but we have to ask........objectively.....who would want to come to this organization right now?

Originally Posted by guud

I think the rams have really changed a lot in the last few years going from a pass - heavy, high scoring on both sides of the ball team, to becoming a more defensively minded run team.

You know, guud, that's an interesting point. I think the immediate perception was that Linehan would run the ball a lot more than Martz, but here is how the numbers breakdown:

Martz - 36.6 pass/game , 24.4 runs/game
Linny - 36.4 pass/game , 25.9 runs/game

Hard to imagine, but Linny only runs the ball 1.5 attempts more per game than Martz. And the Rams would have to play 5 whole games before Martz averaged an extra pass attempt! Who knew?

Originally Posted by guud

I would personally like to see someone with a better Defensive background come in and turn all the young talent we have on D into something special. Focus on OJ, Long, Carriker, WW, Ryan even and you have a scary looking base for a strong D.

Couldn't agree more, guud! We keep trying to hold on to the memory of GSOT and all the wild shootouts that went with it. But if we're going to cling to a memory, let's get old school and rebuild the D of the late 60's and 70's!

Did anyone know that with the exception of the two Prothro years ('71-'72), the Rams were a top 7 Defense every season from '65 through '79?!?! That's 13 of 15 seasons as a top 7 D. And 11 of those 15 seasons the Rams were a top 4 D!

The GSOT lasted only 3 years. I'm talking about a D that got it done for 5 times longer than the GSOT!

I'm talking about Deacon, Jack, and Merlin......and their combined 15 first-team All-Pro awards!

I'm talking about Eddie Meador, Isiah Robertson, Larry Brooks, Maxie Baughan, Hacksaw Reynolds, Monte Jackson.......that's the rebirth I want.