There probably isn't a way to write this without it being taken negatively, but it really is a case of being realistic, not negative.
First of all, I don't think any of us should be patting the Rams on the back for beating SF last night. Just like the Cards and Saints, the Rams SHOULD have won. To me, it's like these guys who excessively celebrate after making a tackle. That's your job! You don't get brownie points for doing what you're supposed to do. You can't take a win for granted in the NFL but I won't throw a ticker-tape parade for a win like last night either.
Secondly, and more importantly to me, Mike Martz once again coaches in response to the media. Has there ever been a coach more affected by what is said in the media than Martz? I'm not even going to comment on his big speech earlier in the week since we all know you can't believe anything he's feeding to the media in press conferences. He called a good game this week and no one should have a problem with the actual plays that were called. I worry about the motivation for calling the game that he did.
Anyone remember the NFL Network promo's that were aired when the station had just started? "It doesn't suck being Rich Eisen" or something like that. In one of the promo's he's feeding a ball into a throwing machine and Torry Holt leaps 5, 10...20 feet in the air to catch it. Okay, maybe not quite that high but he was "Air Holt" for sure. The pass he caught last night was identical to that. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Can we all stop the Jackson needs the ball more than Faulk talk now? I think it should be obvious to everyone that Faulk's still got more moves than Jackson. It was nice to see Jackson get his first td, but I'm going to murder Martz if he takes Faulk out for Jackson in a real game. Jackson just doesn't have the goal line awareness that Faulk has and it was evident to me last night as Jackson struggled to get the ball into the end zone.
What the hell was Butler doing playing 15 yards off the ball when the Niners were on the 10 yard line? That slant pass that he gave up for a td--where he didn't ever TOUCH the wr was the most horrendous thing I've ever seen.
Hopefully the Rams can use this success to get better by next week and compete with the Seahawks. But, just like after the NFC Championship game against the Eagles, when we all thought that Martz FINALLY got it by running Faulk and calling a balanced attack, I fear that just like against the Patriots when things start to get tough, Martz will revert to his old ways against the Seahawks. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm betting Bulger will top 45 passes next week.
First of all, I don't think any of us should be patting the Rams on the back for beating SF last night. Just like the Cards and Saints, the Rams SHOULD have won. To me, it's like these guys who excessively celebrate after making a tackle. That's your job! You don't get brownie points for doing what you're supposed to do. You can't take a win for granted in the NFL but I won't throw a ticker-tape parade for a win like last night either.
Secondly, and more importantly to me, Mike Martz once again coaches in response to the media. Has there ever been a coach more affected by what is said in the media than Martz? I'm not even going to comment on his big speech earlier in the week since we all know you can't believe anything he's feeding to the media in press conferences. He called a good game this week and no one should have a problem with the actual plays that were called. I worry about the motivation for calling the game that he did.
Anyone remember the NFL Network promo's that were aired when the station had just started? "It doesn't suck being Rich Eisen" or something like that. In one of the promo's he's feeding a ball into a throwing machine and Torry Holt leaps 5, 10...20 feet in the air to catch it. Okay, maybe not quite that high but he was "Air Holt" for sure. The pass he caught last night was identical to that. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
Can we all stop the Jackson needs the ball more than Faulk talk now? I think it should be obvious to everyone that Faulk's still got more moves than Jackson. It was nice to see Jackson get his first td, but I'm going to murder Martz if he takes Faulk out for Jackson in a real game. Jackson just doesn't have the goal line awareness that Faulk has and it was evident to me last night as Jackson struggled to get the ball into the end zone.
What the hell was Butler doing playing 15 yards off the ball when the Niners were on the 10 yard line? That slant pass that he gave up for a td--where he didn't ever TOUCH the wr was the most horrendous thing I've ever seen.
Hopefully the Rams can use this success to get better by next week and compete with the Seahawks. But, just like after the NFC Championship game against the Eagles, when we all thought that Martz FINALLY got it by running Faulk and calling a balanced attack, I fear that just like against the Patriots when things start to get tough, Martz will revert to his old ways against the Seahawks. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm betting Bulger will top 45 passes next week.
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