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By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Jan. 01 2008
There will be coaching staff changes and numerous player changes in the weeks
and months to come. But before going there, Rams coach Scott Linehan is
starting his evaluation process by looking in the mirror.
"I'm actually spending this week really putting a lot of thought into
evaluating the season, starting with myself to be honest with you," Linehan
said. "Looking at the things that I've got to change first, before we start
talking about the staff and the personnel on our team. If I can come to terms
with that first, I think I can make much better decisions (on everything else)."
With the dust barely settled on a 3-13 season, Linehan already has come to one
key conclusion on Linehan. Namely, he has to do a better job of handling
adversity.
"I personally was devastated by the way we started the season," Linehan said.
"I didn't want to admit it, or tried not to show it. And I'm not going to say
the first four games or eight games; I'm talking about the first couple (games).
"If you go into a season, and you drop your first game or first two games, if
you're feeling that disappointment or whatever, it sometimes may affect you."
After squandering second-half leads in home losses to Carolina and San
Francisco to start the season, Linehan believes he started pressing.
"And it showed up in maybe how I coached, how we played and performed," Linehan
said. "Hopefully, I've learned that lesson, and won't do that again. ... You've
really got to put those (tough losses) to bed as quick as possible, and move on
and get yourself ready to go with a whole fresh approach."
But Linehan realizes he can't sit around all month in self-reflection. The
annual West Coast summit meeting with team president John Shaw and president of
football operations-general manager Jay Zygmunt will take place sometime in
mid-January.
The Senior Bowl is in late January, and because the Rams finished with the
worst record in the NFC, Linehan and his staff probably will be asked to coach
one of the squads of NFL draft prospects all week leading up to the all-star
game.
"I'm not opposed to that," Linehan said. "Certainly with the high pick we have
this year, it can be very valuable."
The Rams have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Senior Bowl also is a
job fair for assistant coaches looking for jobs, and head coaches looking for
assistants.
Does Linehan foresee many changes on his coaching staff?
"I don't know," Linehan said. "There possibly could be a change or two. I think
it's only fair to say that at this point."
But Linehan doesn't have a firm timetable on making staff changes, and says he
really hasn't given the topic much thought until now.
To get things right in 2008, the Rams must hit on their first- and second-round
picks in April. Free agency can help, but Linehan realizes teams are doing a
better job of keeping their own free agents, thus thinning the market.
"So I don't know how much is done in free agency," Linehan said. "It's hard to
get guys out. I think you've got to really look at free agency — and trades.
Trades are probably as good a way as any to change the face or the culture of
your team, veteran-wise."
Over the next several weeks, Linehan also plans to meet with most of his
current Rams players, either in person at Rams Park or on the phone.
"We've got to have a lot better offseason," he said. "We've got to see
improvements in our offseason program. And the attitude and mind-set of our
team's got to change. And it's got to start now. We can't wait until September."
Linehan is just glad he has a chance to make things right in '08, while
realizing it's very much a make-or-break year for him as Rams head coach.
"I know the sense of urgency is there," Linehan said. "You put a lot of time
and energy into a couple drafts and a couple years. You finish 8-8 (in '06),
and then you turn around the next season and for whatever reason you have a lot
of adversity and you have a tough year."
So he's grateful for the vote of confidence Shaw gave him in early December.
"It's a good sign for me, not just because I'm still standing, but that we've
got (people) who have enough patience to understand that it does sometimes take
time to get things done," Linehan said. "They've been through it before."
Namely, in bringing back Dick Vermeil for a third season after he won just nine
of 32 games in 1997 and '98. Vermeil and the Rams, of course, won the Super
Bowl in the '99 season. Linehan realizes Rams ownership and management could've
easily fired Vermeil after a 4-12 season.
"And just moved on to another guy," Linehan said. "They hung in there (with
Vermeil)."
Just like they're hanging in with Linehan for a third season after the 3-13
disaster of 2007.
"Hopefully, I'll be the beneficiary of that patience and that support," he
said. "I truly believe that it's a blessing to have another shot."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Jan. 01 2008
There will be coaching staff changes and numerous player changes in the weeks
and months to come. But before going there, Rams coach Scott Linehan is
starting his evaluation process by looking in the mirror.
"I'm actually spending this week really putting a lot of thought into
evaluating the season, starting with myself to be honest with you," Linehan
said. "Looking at the things that I've got to change first, before we start
talking about the staff and the personnel on our team. If I can come to terms
with that first, I think I can make much better decisions (on everything else)."
With the dust barely settled on a 3-13 season, Linehan already has come to one
key conclusion on Linehan. Namely, he has to do a better job of handling
adversity.
"I personally was devastated by the way we started the season," Linehan said.
"I didn't want to admit it, or tried not to show it. And I'm not going to say
the first four games or eight games; I'm talking about the first couple (games).
"If you go into a season, and you drop your first game or first two games, if
you're feeling that disappointment or whatever, it sometimes may affect you."
After squandering second-half leads in home losses to Carolina and San
Francisco to start the season, Linehan believes he started pressing.
"And it showed up in maybe how I coached, how we played and performed," Linehan
said. "Hopefully, I've learned that lesson, and won't do that again. ... You've
really got to put those (tough losses) to bed as quick as possible, and move on
and get yourself ready to go with a whole fresh approach."
But Linehan realizes he can't sit around all month in self-reflection. The
annual West Coast summit meeting with team president John Shaw and president of
football operations-general manager Jay Zygmunt will take place sometime in
mid-January.
The Senior Bowl is in late January, and because the Rams finished with the
worst record in the NFC, Linehan and his staff probably will be asked to coach
one of the squads of NFL draft prospects all week leading up to the all-star
game.
"I'm not opposed to that," Linehan said. "Certainly with the high pick we have
this year, it can be very valuable."
The Rams have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. The Senior Bowl also is a
job fair for assistant coaches looking for jobs, and head coaches looking for
assistants.
Does Linehan foresee many changes on his coaching staff?
"I don't know," Linehan said. "There possibly could be a change or two. I think
it's only fair to say that at this point."
But Linehan doesn't have a firm timetable on making staff changes, and says he
really hasn't given the topic much thought until now.
To get things right in 2008, the Rams must hit on their first- and second-round
picks in April. Free agency can help, but Linehan realizes teams are doing a
better job of keeping their own free agents, thus thinning the market.
"So I don't know how much is done in free agency," Linehan said. "It's hard to
get guys out. I think you've got to really look at free agency — and trades.
Trades are probably as good a way as any to change the face or the culture of
your team, veteran-wise."
Over the next several weeks, Linehan also plans to meet with most of his
current Rams players, either in person at Rams Park or on the phone.
"We've got to have a lot better offseason," he said. "We've got to see
improvements in our offseason program. And the attitude and mind-set of our
team's got to change. And it's got to start now. We can't wait until September."
Linehan is just glad he has a chance to make things right in '08, while
realizing it's very much a make-or-break year for him as Rams head coach.
"I know the sense of urgency is there," Linehan said. "You put a lot of time
and energy into a couple drafts and a couple years. You finish 8-8 (in '06),
and then you turn around the next season and for whatever reason you have a lot
of adversity and you have a tough year."
So he's grateful for the vote of confidence Shaw gave him in early December.
"It's a good sign for me, not just because I'm still standing, but that we've
got (people) who have enough patience to understand that it does sometimes take
time to get things done," Linehan said. "They've been through it before."
Namely, in bringing back Dick Vermeil for a third season after he won just nine
of 32 games in 1997 and '98. Vermeil and the Rams, of course, won the Super
Bowl in the '99 season. Linehan realizes Rams ownership and management could've
easily fired Vermeil after a 4-12 season.
"And just moved on to another guy," Linehan said. "They hung in there (with
Vermeil)."
Just like they're hanging in with Linehan for a third season after the 3-13
disaster of 2007.
"Hopefully, I'll be the beneficiary of that patience and that support," he
said. "I truly believe that it's a blessing to have another shot."
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