Everyone is in agreement that the Rams could use a veteran presence at the safety position.  To this end the Rams have signed Matt Giordano who played for the Oakland Raiders in 2012.  I’m always excited to see the Rams address a need.  The problem is that Giordano isn’t any good.  Below are 2012 overall ratings from Pro Football Focus:

AHHHH!!!  Jeff Fisher, what are you doing?

Not a lot going on in Rams Nation.  The Rams just wrapped up another round of OTAs (organized team activities) yesterday.  2012 draftee RB Isaiah Pead will miss the first game of the 2013 regular season after getting busted for taking PED’s.  And every returning member of the team vows to take on more responsibility or to take on a larger role in the Rams success this upcoming season.  Sam Bradford would like to solidify his leadership blah blah blah.

In life and in sports I believe in the WYSIWYG philosophy (what you see is what you get).  It’s the ole ‘if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck… it’s probably a duck’ approach.  For example, if you lose a pro bowl caliber and record setting running back and don’t replace him with someone with similar proven abilities, then your running game will not be as good as it was.  You can hope others with lesser credentials will step up and fill the void, but most of the time they won’t.  Don’t yell at me; most of the time it’s true.  The great thing about sports is 1 out of 10 times the improbable happens and it is extremely exciting.

Does my pragmatic view make me a bad fan?  Surely conversations would be more upbeat if I optimistically believed the Rams 2013 RB threesome (Richardson, Pead, and Stacy) would perplex and bewilder opposing defenses as they lead us to a 2013 playoff birth.  Am I a bad fan for not feeling comfortable handing over our own defensive secondary to two inexperienced and unproven safeties (McDonald and Stewart)?  I am definitely not a good fan if, although I admit Sam Bradford has skills and a certain amount of innocent toughness, I think he doesn’t have ‘It’. The winning NFL ‘It’ (don’t come at me with his college record.  I’m really tired of hearing that old hack.).  Just like Alex Smith doesn’t have it.  Just like Tony Romo or Mark Sanchez don’t have ‘It’.

So where does that leave me?  Well, first I confess I have become a little cynical after standing by the Rams from 2007-2011.  Those 5 seasons where not only bad seasons for the Rams; they were perhaps the worst 5 year stretch for any team in the history of the NFL.  So, after 1 semi-respectful yet still losing season in 2012 (although I did thoroughly enjoy our play against the SF 49ers), I have not all at once become a blossoming believer.  What I believe is that going into 2013 we will have the strongest offensive line we’ve had in years.  I believe that outside our deep defensive secondary we have a very tough defense.  I believe we have a lot of young talent that has brought a lot of speed with it.  I believe that if God is willing, we could have a very competitive and successful organization in a few years.  I believe 2013 will be another rollercoaster and rebuilding season.  I believe I will be watching every moment with great anticipation.

So, I’m left simply being a fan.  Forgive me for losing my wide eyed optimism, but I will still never stop cheering for the Rams.  Good or bad I’ll be there.  Go Rams!!!

The greatest sacker to ever play the game has passed, as today the NFL world mourns the passing of David “Deacon” Jones.

Jones was the one that created the word ‘sack,’ and many felt that the defensive end who came to fame with the Rams was better than any man alive when he came to getting to the quarterback and getting him on the ground.

Jones died of natural causes at his home in Southern California on Monday night at the age of 74.

“Deacon Jones was one of the greatest players in NFL history. Off the field, he was a true giant,” said Redskins general manager Bruce Allen, whose father, George, coached Jones with the Los Angeles Rams.

“His passion and spirit will continue to inspire those who knew him. He was a cherished member of the Allen family and I will always consider him my big brother.”

Because sacks didn’t become an official statistic until 1982, Jones’ total is uncertain, but many felt he blew away all others in that stat.

Jones was the leader of the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome unit from 1961-71 and then played for San Diego for two seasons before finishing his career with the Redskins in 1974. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and made the league’s 75th anniversary all-time squad.

“Deacon Jones has been the most inspirational person in my football career,” said former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.

Jones made the Pro Bowl every year from 1964-70 and played in eight overall. He combined with fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy on a defensive line that at times was unblockable.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the Jones family.

Rams second year running back Isaiah Pead will be suspended without pay for the first game of the 2013 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

Pead was a second round(50th overall) pick of the Rams in the 2012 NFL Draft. He had a disappointing rookie season and was expected to share the load at running back with Daryl Richardson after Steven Jackson left for Atlanta in free agency.

The Rams chose to allow Pro Bowl veteran RB Steven Jackson to ‘explore other options’.  Jackson explored them all the way onto the Atlanta Falcons roster.  We could spend a lot of time discussing the move, but he’s gone so why bother.  Here is the (2012) productivity we will be mising:

The relevant question is really, “who will run the ball in 2013″?  Some people are screaming the name Isaiah Pead.  Last year’s expected rookie sensation was much more of a bust than a boom.  Here are his 2012 numbers:

Ok, the numbers are less than impressive, but it’s hard to understand their real meaning unless we have an acceptible baseline for comparison.  How about Steven Jackson’s rookie year?  Here are  his numbers:

Everyone is different, but do we really expect Pead to make a solid contribution after the numbers he put up last year?  There is another RB hopeful coming out of the 2012 rookie class.  Daryl Richardson had a surprisingly good rookie season.  The Jackson/Richardson combo looked down right threatening at times.  Here are Richardson’s stand-alone numbers for 2012:

I do see upside for Richardson in 2013, but I don’t think we are net positive after losing Jackson.  What do you think Rams fans?  Who will run the ball in 2013?

Go Rams!

New Era, the official on-field headwear of the National Football League, is teaming up with the NFL to launch the Back to Football Photo Day contest. So what this means is that Rams fans will now have the chance to join the ranks of Sam Bradford to also become THE face of the Rams.

The contest, which is live at www.speakwithyourcap.com or through New Era’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/neweracaps?fref=ts) will require Rams faithfuls to submit photos of themselves showcasing how you personally “speak with your cap.”  Whether you wear your cap sideways, backwards or flexed at the brim, show how you are bringing your own style to the game.

32 fans (1 per team) will ultimately be chosen and win a complimentary trip to New York City for two. The winners will enjoy a four-day VIP experience and will be professionally styled in their favorite team’s looks for a New Era photo shoot that may be used for a year-long advertisement and promotional campaign.

Rams general manager Les Snead joined Jim Rome to discuss drafting wide receiver Tavon Austin, his expectations for Sam Bradford, the Rams’ playoff hopes, and much more.

It’s hard to have patience.  We and I live in a ‘I want it now’ society.  With that being said, 2013 is going be another year of building for the St Louis Rams.  The Rams defense was good in 2012 and has added some additional young talent.  The Rams offensive line looks to be tough with the additions of TE Jared Cook and LT Jake Long.  But the problems I see are at the offensive skills positions.

The Rams number 1 pick in the 2013 Draft was WR Tavon Austin.  At 5’9″, the speedy receiver will probably slip into the shoes of Rams former slot receiver Danny Amendola.  This fills a whole in the offense, but isn’t really an upgrade.  With the 7th draft selection we picked up RB Zach Stacy.  Stacy is sort of an under sized Stephen Jackson and since we lost Jackson, again their is no incremental gain.  In 2012 the Rams picked up a couple of speedster RBs, Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead with Richardson showing the most promise.  I’m looking forward to seeing how effective the outside the tackle running of Richardson plus the inside the tackle running of Lacy proves to be.

The WR position remains the most worrisome for the Rams.  Look for QB Bradford and slot receiver Austin to become best friends, but who will be the Rams’ long ball receiver?  A few names emerged from 2012 (Gibson and Quick), but we don’t have anyone that will keep our opponent’s defensive coordinators up late at night.  And which WR will be a red zone threat?  I don’t see a definitive candidate.

So, this off season the Rams have strengthened the overall team.  But we are still missing elite offensive weapons and until that is addressed, I don’t see us spending time in the post season.  In an earlier blog I said we’re looking at a 6-10 season.  That could improve by a game or 2, but again I don’t see us making the post season in 2013.  Fisher is a smart guy.  He is building, plotting, and scheming.  Unfortunately, for now we need to keep being patient.

Go Rams!

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