I was caught off-guard when the Denver Broncos fired long-time head coach Mike Shanahan yesterday, but I shouldn't have been. They haven't made the playoffs for three years and had the epic meltdown in December, losing three straight to blow a two-game lead in the division with three weeks left. That Nov. 23 blowout loss to Oakland couldn't have helped things, either.
Shanahan ought to shoot to the top of the Rams' HC candidates list immediately. The guy's won two Super Bowls, and who would be a more perfect coach for the running attack the Rams say they want to run? Shanahan could make Steven Jackson a 2,000-yard back. Plus whatever he gains receiving!
Then again, Shanahan's going to want to be a full-control kind of head coach, I assume, and that's not going to mesh at all with what the Rams want to do. Shanahan's the dummy who drafted Maurice Clarett; you don't want him in charge of the draft or personnel, which may be a dealbreaker from his standpoint. I also thought, even though it worked, that Shanahan was certifiably insane to try that two-pointer at the end of their home win over San Diego earlier this season. That was an idiotic gamble, and EVERYBODY knows it, but you won't find anybody criticizing the call because Denver got the two and the win.
Denver's likely to be a factor in the quest for Cowher, Mangini and Spagnuolo, possibly also Rex Ryan, in the high-dollar neighborhood the Rams don't seem inclined to move to. For his part, I doubt Shanahan will work for any team next year, more likely a network. Not with the Broncos owing him $20 million.
But, as with Mangini, I'd better hear that Devaney at least tried to contact Shanahan about the Rams' HC job. Any head coaching search that doesn't involve at least contacting those two would be a farce.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
...so is Mike Martz
The 49ers dumped Martz yesterday. Mike should be a candidate for almost all of the head coaching jobs out there. He's a proven keen football mind. He's a proven salvager and resurrector of QBs. He led the Ram offense on one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history. His offenses produce.
Of course, he also tends to abandon the run way too early and his low-protection schemes get his QBs killed. Look at the QB carnage everywhere he goes. And he went pretty much psycho at the last place he was head coach.
If this were a truly open head coach search in St. Louis, Mike Martz would get an interview. Jay Zygmunt is gone. John Shaw is (supposed to be) in the shadows. The personalities that clashed here aren't here anymore. But of course, we've also seen Mike Martz draft and know he really shouldn't have any functional control over personnel. If he insists on that, he won't be a head coach anywhere. Right now, he's probably best suited as an OC, even though he's been fired by two teams in two years at that position.
I've thought for a couple of years that with their offensive talent, Cincinnati would be a perfect place for Martz, but it looks like they're keeping Marvin Lewis (well beyond his shelf date). Martz has also interviewed for the open position at San Diego State.
And the rumor mill has the Rams pairing Martz up with Haslett as OC in an attempt to energize the fan base. And you know what? They could do a lot worse.
They sure are now.
Of course, he also tends to abandon the run way too early and his low-protection schemes get his QBs killed. Look at the QB carnage everywhere he goes. And he went pretty much psycho at the last place he was head coach.
If this were a truly open head coach search in St. Louis, Mike Martz would get an interview. Jay Zygmunt is gone. John Shaw is (supposed to be) in the shadows. The personalities that clashed here aren't here anymore. But of course, we've also seen Mike Martz draft and know he really shouldn't have any functional control over personnel. If he insists on that, he won't be a head coach anywhere. Right now, he's probably best suited as an OC, even though he's been fired by two teams in two years at that position.
I've thought for a couple of years that with their offensive talent, Cincinnati would be a perfect place for Martz, but it looks like they're keeping Marvin Lewis (well beyond his shelf date). Martz has also interviewed for the open position at San Diego State.
And the rumor mill has the Rams pairing Martz up with Haslett as OC in an attempt to energize the fan base. And you know what? They could do a lot worse.
They sure are now.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2009 Opponents
Something I always enjoy about the NFL is the minute your season ends, your opponents for the next season are set. Here are the Rams' opponents for 2009:
Road: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Washington.
They'll lose all 3 road division games. Chicago and Tennessee look like pretty sure losses.
Their one must win next season is at Detroit.
They can split the other two games. After all, they beat Washington in their place this year.
And the Jagwires were poor at home this season. Good chance to take either of those.
Home: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Minnesota
Tough-looking home schedule. Besides the Colts and 10-6 Vikings, they've got a couple of 9-7's and a couple of 8-8's.
I demand they win at least 2 of the three division games.
Green Bay, Houston and New Orleans were poor road teams. Toss in a Minnesota team QB'ed by Tavaris Jackson or Gus Frerotte, and 3 wins against those 4 is very reasonable.
A 7-9 record isn't a lot to ask from next year's team. Then again, that's the record I was looking for this season.
Road: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Washington.
They'll lose all 3 road division games. Chicago and Tennessee look like pretty sure losses.
Their one must win next season is at Detroit.
They can split the other two games. After all, they beat Washington in their place this year.
And the Jagwires were poor at home this season. Good chance to take either of those.
Home: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Minnesota
Tough-looking home schedule. Besides the Colts and 10-6 Vikings, they've got a couple of 9-7's and a couple of 8-8's.
I demand they win at least 2 of the three division games.
Green Bay, Houston and New Orleans were poor road teams. Toss in a Minnesota team QB'ed by Tavaris Jackson or Gus Frerotte, and 3 wins against those 4 is very reasonable.
A 7-9 record isn't a lot to ask from next year's team. Then again, that's the record I was looking for this season.
Winston Moss?
Billy Devaney has begun making requests around the league for candidates to interview for the Rams' head coaching position. This should be an exciting time at Rams Park, right? (Not Rams Park, actually. The team will demonstrate its deep ties to the city it's been in for FOURTEEN years by conducting all interviews in LOS ANGELES.) We'll be seeing top names coming in and out of there like Eric Mangini and Jim Schwartz and Steve Spagnuolo, all of whom can be interviewed RIGHT NOW while Devaney waits for his chance to talk to Rex Ryan and Leslie Frazier and others, right? So who's the first guy Devaney's going after?
Winston Moss?
Moss is the Packers' linebackers coach, and that is a high-performing group. He's also the assistant head coach, a position from which a lot of new head coaches are launched. He was an NFL linebacker for 11 years and has been coaching LBs since 2000.
When Jim Haslett hired him.
This will be Moss' first head coaching interview. He hasn't been a head coach or even a coordinator at any level. He has plenty of references who vouch for his leadership skills and character. Those are all well and good.
But if Billy Devaney wants to even give the impression of an open head coach search, he'd better do a lot better than to bring in an old Haslett crony who's mainly helping Haslett out by providing the Rams their official Rooney Rule interview.
Good luck to coach Moss, but this smells a little funny.
Winston Moss?
Moss is the Packers' linebackers coach, and that is a high-performing group. He's also the assistant head coach, a position from which a lot of new head coaches are launched. He was an NFL linebacker for 11 years and has been coaching LBs since 2000.
When Jim Haslett hired him.
This will be Moss' first head coaching interview. He hasn't been a head coach or even a coordinator at any level. He has plenty of references who vouch for his leadership skills and character. Those are all well and good.
But if Billy Devaney wants to even give the impression of an open head coach search, he'd better do a lot better than to bring in an old Haslett crony who's mainly helping Haslett out by providing the Rams their official Rooney Rule interview.
Good luck to coach Moss, but this smells a little funny.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Andre Smith suspended for Sugar Bowl
From espn.com: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls08/news/story?id=3798417
---
So, we can be pretty sure he's coming out for the '09 draft, then.
A lot of people out there don't like Smith as an NFL LT. They say his size is more befitting a RT or even a guard. Let's not use the #2 overall pick on a guard.
Improper dealings with an agent isn't what I would call a character flaw, but it's kind of dumb and at least raises flags about Smith's judgment and whether he loves the game more, or the money.
Alabama junior offensive tackle Andre Smith has been suspended and will not play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday.
Smith, the Outland Trophy winner this season, was a huge part of the Crimson Tide's offensive success. They were second in the SEC and 22nd nationally in rushing offense and routinely ran to his side on key downs. He's widely considered to be one of the best left tackles to play in the SEC in the last decade. Sources told ESPN.com that Smith's suspension was related to improper dealings with an agent. Saban's statement on the matter said only that it was due to violation of team rules and policies.---
So, we can be pretty sure he's coming out for the '09 draft, then.
A lot of people out there don't like Smith as an NFL LT. They say his size is more befitting a RT or even a guard. Let's not use the #2 overall pick on a guard.
Improper dealings with an agent isn't what I would call a character flaw, but it's kind of dumb and at least raises flags about Smith's judgment and whether he loves the game more, or the money.
Marinelli, Crennel, Mangini fired
The axe is already starting to swing around the NFL. There's little surprise that Rod Marinelli was fired after steering Detroit to the worst season in NFL history, 0-16. Romeo Crennel wasn't cut much slack for injuries on his team, especially at QB, but his dismissal has been in the rumor mill for quite a while.
The biggest surprise to me, and I think the most short-sighted move, was the Jets' firing of the Mangenius. (Think Belichick will welcome him back to the Patriot fold?) I thought Mangini did a good job there. They had a ton of injuries last year, and he had a winning record this year with a young offensive line and a very young secondary. He's put together a good staff. Bob Sutton and Brian Schottenheimer did good work there and shouldn't have any trouble finding their next job, especially Schottenheimer, who's probably already got an interview set up in Cleveland if not also Kansas City.
The Jets faded down the stretch, but I think they overreacted in giving Mangini the quick hook.
Meanwhile in St. Louis, Jim "2-10" Haslett is STILL the Rams' head coach.
Billy Devaney will whiff badly if he doesn't get Mangini in here for an interview pronto. I'd take most of the Jets' staff here in a heartbeat.
The biggest surprise to me, and I think the most short-sighted move, was the Jets' firing of the Mangenius. (Think Belichick will welcome him back to the Patriot fold?) I thought Mangini did a good job there. They had a ton of injuries last year, and he had a winning record this year with a young offensive line and a very young secondary. He's put together a good staff. Bob Sutton and Brian Schottenheimer did good work there and shouldn't have any trouble finding their next job, especially Schottenheimer, who's probably already got an interview set up in Cleveland if not also Kansas City.
The Jets faded down the stretch, but I think they overreacted in giving Mangini the quick hook.
Meanwhile in St. Louis, Jim "2-10" Haslett is STILL the Rams' head coach.
Billy Devaney will whiff badly if he doesn't get Mangini in here for an interview pronto. I'd take most of the Jets' staff here in a heartbeat.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Breaking down this week's game-losing play
I've gotten to see the Josh Morgan TD catch that won the game for the 49ers Sunday, and it's remarkable just how badly the veteran Rams secondary played it.
Jeff Gordon has repeatedly described the Rams as blitzing on the play. I guess he's considering Will Witherspoon at LDE as a blitzer out of a 3-4 look, but I don't see anything really special about the Rams bringing 4 on a pass rush. Will was rushing out of that position all day; I don't really think of what he was doing as blitzing. Pisa was up on the play but dropped back and picked up a receiver out of the backfield.
Meanwhile, the Ram secondary has given Josh Morgan AT LEAST TWELVE yards of cushion. There is no Ram DB in sight on the left side of the field. So the first thing they've done is give Morgan a free run. All that space is supposed to save the secondary from getting burned, but that fails miserably when Brown bites like a rank rookie on the double move by Morgan, who IS a rank rookie, and he beats Brown downfield by 3 or 4 yards. Great coverage, Brown!
Then, proving he never watched NFL PrimeTime over the years, or at least never heeded Tom Jackson's timely advice, OJ Atogwe gets over in time to break up the play, leaps, AND TRIES TO CATCH THE BALL. It goes through his hands and into Morgan's. What does Jackson say, Atogwe? KNOCK IT DOWN!
Atogwe could have knocked that ball down, or at least tipped it, and saved the game. But the guy who was voted team MVP for his ability to create showy turnovers (certainly not for his coverage skills, which are mediocre), the guy who's gunning for a big new contract after this season because of his showy turnovers, went for the statistic instead of the fundamentally sound play that would have won the game. Consciously or not, he made the selfish play, and selfish play sinks a team.
It sure sank the Rams Sunday. It should be a mark against Atogwe when the Rams are deciding what to offer him next season.
Knock it down, O.J.
Jeff Gordon has repeatedly described the Rams as blitzing on the play. I guess he's considering Will Witherspoon at LDE as a blitzer out of a 3-4 look, but I don't see anything really special about the Rams bringing 4 on a pass rush. Will was rushing out of that position all day; I don't really think of what he was doing as blitzing. Pisa was up on the play but dropped back and picked up a receiver out of the backfield.
Meanwhile, the Ram secondary has given Josh Morgan AT LEAST TWELVE yards of cushion. There is no Ram DB in sight on the left side of the field. So the first thing they've done is give Morgan a free run. All that space is supposed to save the secondary from getting burned, but that fails miserably when Brown bites like a rank rookie on the double move by Morgan, who IS a rank rookie, and he beats Brown downfield by 3 or 4 yards. Great coverage, Brown!
Then, proving he never watched NFL PrimeTime over the years, or at least never heeded Tom Jackson's timely advice, OJ Atogwe gets over in time to break up the play, leaps, AND TRIES TO CATCH THE BALL. It goes through his hands and into Morgan's. What does Jackson say, Atogwe? KNOCK IT DOWN!
Atogwe could have knocked that ball down, or at least tipped it, and saved the game. But the guy who was voted team MVP for his ability to create showy turnovers (certainly not for his coverage skills, which are mediocre), the guy who's gunning for a big new contract after this season because of his showy turnovers, went for the statistic instead of the fundamentally sound play that would have won the game. Consciously or not, he made the selfish play, and selfish play sinks a team.
It sure sank the Rams Sunday. It should be a mark against Atogwe when the Rams are deciding what to offer him next season.
Knock it down, O.J.
Ticket prices on hold
The Rams have announced that ticket prices will not increase for the 2009 season.
On its face, that looks like a good thing. After these last two seasons, though, you could argue that the Rams ought to be cutting ticket prices. Hell, they ought to be paying US. They're getting $30 million worth of stadium improvements from the taxpayers. They got that big chunk of change from league revenue sharing last year. And 2009 ticket prices are still going to include the ridiculous charade known as preseason games, at full price as always.
At least put something on the field worth watching; it's been a while.
On its face, that looks like a good thing. After these last two seasons, though, you could argue that the Rams ought to be cutting ticket prices. Hell, they ought to be paying US. They're getting $30 million worth of stadium improvements from the taxpayers. They got that big chunk of change from league revenue sharing last year. And 2009 ticket prices are still going to include the ridiculous charade known as preseason games, at full price as always.
At least put something on the field worth watching; it's been a while.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Go Isaac
It will be blacked out on local TV, but the greatest wide receiver in Rams history is poised to cross a couple of huge career marks on Sunday. If Isaac Bruce catches 6 passes for 125 yards, he will reach 1,000 receptions and 15,000 yards in his storied career. He needs 60 yards to pass Tim Brown and move into second all-time in receiving yards.
And I'll be standing on my chair and applauding every mark Isaac reaches, right after I spit on Scott Linehan for making it possible for Isaac to do it in a 49er uniform instead of the uniform he belongs in.
And I'll be standing on my chair and applauding every mark Isaac reaches, right after I spit on Scott Linehan for making it possible for Isaac to do it in a 49er uniform instead of the uniform he belongs in.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sorry
This has been a miserable season, and the blog has been as dead as an Illinois government ethics seminar. Starting today, I'll try to return to my goal of posting something every day, which I've been able to do in spurts.
Hey, I'm still more productive than the Ram offense.
Hey, I'm still more productive than the Ram offense.
Donnie Jones snubbed - TWICE!
Anyone watching the Rams this year knows their only consistent player, their only decent player, the only player remotely worth consideration for the Pro Bowl, has been the punter, Donnie Jones. (Scott Linehan's only good personnel move.)
While the rest of the team has crumbled into Washington General-like futility, Donnie Jones just comes on the field and blasts the hell out of the ball every time. Early in the season he was even making TD-saving tackles on punt returns. Little did I realize that coming out of Sunday's game against Seattle, Jones was the #1 punter in the NFL with a 50.2 average, and his 40.9 net led the NFC and was good for 3rd in the entire league. And as the Post-Dispatch pointed out, Jones' performance borders on historical; there hasn't been a punter with a season average over 50 yards since the just-departed Sammy Baugh.
So, he's #1 in pure distance in the league, and #1 in net in the conference (by nearly a yard), so it's obvious who the NFC's Pro Bowl punter is, right?
Of course. Jeff Freaking Feagles.
Jeff Freaking Feagles, who is TWENTIETH in the NFL in punting average (though 2nd in the NFC in net). It's not even close; he's a full SIX YARDS A PUNT worse than Jones.
So we have a further addition to the mountain of evidence that the people who pick all-star rosters in sports are IDIOTS. And the Wise can't blame the fans; Pro Bowl balloting is still 2/3 coaches and players.
Whatever the hell they're watching.
Then again, Jones' own team just this week failed to recognize him as their best player. The Rams' vote for team MVP went to O.J. Atogwe, a few days after his woeful coverage of Deion Branch on a 45-yard bomb set up the Seattle FG that beat the Rams 23-20.
Atogwe's a nice player, and an effective playmaker in his ability to force fumbles, but he's been a repeat offender in coverage, which dulls some of that contribution. Donnie Jones has been playing at a historically-unprecedented level at his position all year and his ability to help the Rams in field position has made the most valuable defensive player on the team.
Jones should be the team MVP and the NFC's Pro Bowl punter, but he gets neither distinction from his inattentive peers.
While the rest of the team has crumbled into Washington General-like futility, Donnie Jones just comes on the field and blasts the hell out of the ball every time. Early in the season he was even making TD-saving tackles on punt returns. Little did I realize that coming out of Sunday's game against Seattle, Jones was the #1 punter in the NFL with a 50.2 average, and his 40.9 net led the NFC and was good for 3rd in the entire league. And as the Post-Dispatch pointed out, Jones' performance borders on historical; there hasn't been a punter with a season average over 50 yards since the just-departed Sammy Baugh.
So, he's #1 in pure distance in the league, and #1 in net in the conference (by nearly a yard), so it's obvious who the NFC's Pro Bowl punter is, right?
Of course. Jeff Freaking Feagles.
Jeff Freaking Feagles, who is TWENTIETH in the NFL in punting average (though 2nd in the NFC in net). It's not even close; he's a full SIX YARDS A PUNT worse than Jones.
So we have a further addition to the mountain of evidence that the people who pick all-star rosters in sports are IDIOTS. And the Wise can't blame the fans; Pro Bowl balloting is still 2/3 coaches and players.
Whatever the hell they're watching.
Then again, Jones' own team just this week failed to recognize him as their best player. The Rams' vote for team MVP went to O.J. Atogwe, a few days after his woeful coverage of Deion Branch on a 45-yard bomb set up the Seattle FG that beat the Rams 23-20.
Atogwe's a nice player, and an effective playmaker in his ability to force fumbles, but he's been a repeat offender in coverage, which dulls some of that contribution. Donnie Jones has been playing at a historically-unprecedented level at his position all year and his ability to help the Rams in field position has made the most valuable defensive player on the team.
Jones should be the team MVP and the NFC's Pro Bowl punter, but he gets neither distinction from his inattentive peers.
How will Kansas City affect the Rams' offseason plans
While we're all trying to figure out what the Ram front office is going to do, heck, what it's even going to look like, after the season, we need to cast a wary eye westward. The Kansas City Chiefs are dueling with the Rams down the stretch for the #2 pick overall. And that isn't all - Carl Peterson has stepped down over there as general manager.
That makes it that much harder for the Rams to hire Marty Schottenheimer as head coach, which has been my preference ever since about halftime of Week 1 this season. Schottenheimer now has long and successful history with two other franchises - K.C. and Cleveland - very likely to be joining the Rams in offseason front-office and/or head coach searches. And complicating those searches.
And if the Rams are looking at Dick Vermeil for a team-president type role, he had a good experience across the state as well.
If the Rams have a candidate they definitely want, they're going to have to come strong and pay big.
That makes it that much harder for the Rams to hire Marty Schottenheimer as head coach, which has been my preference ever since about halftime of Week 1 this season. Schottenheimer now has long and successful history with two other franchises - K.C. and Cleveland - very likely to be joining the Rams in offseason front-office and/or head coach searches. And complicating those searches.
And if the Rams are looking at Dick Vermeil for a team-president type role, he had a good experience across the state as well.
If the Rams have a candidate they definitely want, they're going to have to come strong and pay big.
Stanley out for season
Derek Stanley blew one of his ACLs during the Seattle game and is out for the rest of the season. The timeline for his rehabilitation seems to be that he'll be out until probably the start of 2009 training camp. Bad timing for Stanley, who was establishing himself as the kick and punt return man of the future and was very slowly finding his way into some of the offensive packages.
I'd thought Seattle caused the Stanley fumble they returned for a TD last Sunday but apparently his reaction to his knee blowing out was dropping the ball. Shades of the infamous Fred Taylor groin pull a few years ago...
I'd thought Seattle caused the Stanley fumble they returned for a TD last Sunday but apparently his reaction to his knee blowing out was dropping the ball. Shades of the infamous Fred Taylor groin pull a few years ago...
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