Tweet
Veterans need not apply at Rams Park
Columnist Jeff Gordon
09/23/2009
The Derek Stanley Project was well into its third year at Rams Park, offering great promise but generally thin results.
That ended abruptly Tuesday. First-year coach Steve Spagnuolo’s patience with the Division III speedster officially expired.
The 0-2 Rams have gotten nothing from their return game. Their depth at wide receiver is underwhelming, too.
So Stanley got clipped and former Texas Tech star Danny Amendola came aboard, arriving from the Eagles practice squad. During his days with the Red Raiders, he earned All-Big 12 honors as a return specialist and had a 103-catch season.
Starting Sunday, Amendola, 23, will get an opportunity to earn the kickoff and punt return job here.
Such is life in a rebuilding program. The Rams have lost 29 of their last 34 games, so change will remain constant and thorough until the losing stops and the winning begins.
Stanley did nothing with his opportunity to return kicks. Samkon Gado and Kenneth Darby weren’t great on kickoff returns. Poor offensive field position has been just one more problem keeping the Rams down this season.
Fans see these shortcomings and clamor for veteran additions. For instance, one persistent participant in the STLtoday.com chats practically begged the Rams to trade for Bills receiver/return specialist Roscoe Parrish.
Others have campaigned for Marvin Harrison. (So far, anyway, your cyber-correspondent hasn’t heard from anybody backing yesteryear NFL quarterback Jeff George. But that could come.)
Hiring stopgap veterans does not fit the M.O. that Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney are using to mill the lower half of the Rams roster. They are looking for young, hungry and talented players capable of adding new life and the ability to grow with the organization.
Defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey is a classic candidate. The newcomer didn’t play a whole lot at Washington, but blew up a couple of Redskins plays and got himself noticed on the game video.
He recorded a tackle and an assist. In his previous 19 NFL games, he had 10 tackles and two assists. The Rams are offering Ramsey a chance to play his way off the fringe.
If he keeps progressing, he will keep playing. If not . . .
Meanwhile, young veteran Victor Adeyanju has been inactive for the first two games. He is battling to get back into the defensive line rotation -– and, realistically, to keep his spot on this team.
Adeyanju has been a hard worker since coming to the Rams, but now he has to become a difference-maker -– or he will join the alumni club.
Like we said, change is constant. Everybody currently employed at Rams Park must be dedicated to turning this football team around. Everybody still on board must find ways to make a difference.
Those not making a difference may be contacting Jim Haslett and the UFL (see Tipsheet for details) to discuss employment opportunities with that fledgling outfit.
The Rams played with more urgency at Washington. This performance did not resemble a beach party, as their “effort” at Seattle did. They cut down on their penalties and mental mistakes. They pushed back in the trenches and fought to the finish.
Their 9-7 loss represented a step in the right direction. But it was just one step and the Rams have a long, long way to travel to regain their respectability.
Expect more casualties along the way. Players not making a positive difference might have to make way for the next candidate.
Spagnuolo and Devaney will keep looking for ways to improve this team. If they don’t like what they see on their game video, perhaps they will see something they like on the waiver wire or another team’s practice squad.
As you read this, time is running out on other Rams players. For their sake, let’s hope they hear that clock ticking.
Columnist Jeff Gordon
09/23/2009
The Derek Stanley Project was well into its third year at Rams Park, offering great promise but generally thin results.
That ended abruptly Tuesday. First-year coach Steve Spagnuolo’s patience with the Division III speedster officially expired.
The 0-2 Rams have gotten nothing from their return game. Their depth at wide receiver is underwhelming, too.
So Stanley got clipped and former Texas Tech star Danny Amendola came aboard, arriving from the Eagles practice squad. During his days with the Red Raiders, he earned All-Big 12 honors as a return specialist and had a 103-catch season.
Starting Sunday, Amendola, 23, will get an opportunity to earn the kickoff and punt return job here.
Such is life in a rebuilding program. The Rams have lost 29 of their last 34 games, so change will remain constant and thorough until the losing stops and the winning begins.
Stanley did nothing with his opportunity to return kicks. Samkon Gado and Kenneth Darby weren’t great on kickoff returns. Poor offensive field position has been just one more problem keeping the Rams down this season.
Fans see these shortcomings and clamor for veteran additions. For instance, one persistent participant in the STLtoday.com chats practically begged the Rams to trade for Bills receiver/return specialist Roscoe Parrish.
Others have campaigned for Marvin Harrison. (So far, anyway, your cyber-correspondent hasn’t heard from anybody backing yesteryear NFL quarterback Jeff George. But that could come.)
Hiring stopgap veterans does not fit the M.O. that Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney are using to mill the lower half of the Rams roster. They are looking for young, hungry and talented players capable of adding new life and the ability to grow with the organization.
Defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey is a classic candidate. The newcomer didn’t play a whole lot at Washington, but blew up a couple of Redskins plays and got himself noticed on the game video.
He recorded a tackle and an assist. In his previous 19 NFL games, he had 10 tackles and two assists. The Rams are offering Ramsey a chance to play his way off the fringe.
If he keeps progressing, he will keep playing. If not . . .
Meanwhile, young veteran Victor Adeyanju has been inactive for the first two games. He is battling to get back into the defensive line rotation -– and, realistically, to keep his spot on this team.
Adeyanju has been a hard worker since coming to the Rams, but now he has to become a difference-maker -– or he will join the alumni club.
Like we said, change is constant. Everybody currently employed at Rams Park must be dedicated to turning this football team around. Everybody still on board must find ways to make a difference.
Those not making a difference may be contacting Jim Haslett and the UFL (see Tipsheet for details) to discuss employment opportunities with that fledgling outfit.
The Rams played with more urgency at Washington. This performance did not resemble a beach party, as their “effort” at Seattle did. They cut down on their penalties and mental mistakes. They pushed back in the trenches and fought to the finish.
Their 9-7 loss represented a step in the right direction. But it was just one step and the Rams have a long, long way to travel to regain their respectability.
Expect more casualties along the way. Players not making a positive difference might have to make way for the next candidate.
Spagnuolo and Devaney will keep looking for ways to improve this team. If they don’t like what they see on their game video, perhaps they will see something they like on the waiver wire or another team’s practice squad.
As you read this, time is running out on other Rams players. For their sake, let’s hope they hear that clock ticking.
Comment