By Bernie Miklasz
09/30/2007 7:12 pm
I’ll go with an “I” formation to set it up…
INJURIES: The nastiest among us refuse to acknowledge this as a factor, but the Rams have been ripped apart by health issues, especially on the O-line. To pretend otherwise is ignorant and dishonest.
INEPT COACHING: Apparently, overwhelmed Rams head coach Scott Linehan is the only person who watches this team who can’t see that quarterback Marc Bulger is (A) hurt; (B) playing the worst football of his career; (C) a combination of both. Why did Linny covet Gus Frerotte as an expensive No. 2 quarterback if he isn’t going to use him when it makes perfect sense to do so? By the time Linehan made the move at Dallas, it was too late. Coach is a nice man, but he is losing it.
INCOMPETENT FRONT OFFICE: Lousy drafts, nonsensical free agent signings (Lenny Walls?) and misguided financial decisions regarding roster composition have combined to slowly drain the talent base. I’ll have to double check on this to make sure I didn’t miss better examples around the NFL but I’d have to believe that WR Drew Bennett was the worst big-money FA signing of the offseason. Granted, it’s early and I’ll be happy to acknowledge later that I spoke too soon, but so far Bennett’s most noticeable moments have been standing on the sideline and forgetting he’s supposed to be in the huddle. Also: the bosses vow to stick with Linehan as HC even as fans turn on Linehan with increasing disdain. Good luck selling tickets in 2008.
INERTIA: do the players care? Where is the energy, the desperation? Have they quit on Linehan already? Why did we see underachieving DE Leonard Little and other Rams goofing and giggling with Dallas WR Terrell Owens after their team was busted up 35-7 by the Cowboys? What, were they trying to get T.O.’s autograph? This is unacceptable.
INCOMPREHENSIBLE: How an NFL team with established name players could go 31 consecutive offensive possessions without scoring a TD.
IRONY: Linehan was hired in large part because he could maintain the Mike Martz offense.
IN CONCLUSION: Arizona comes to The Ed on Sunday, and there’s a strong chance of an insurrection, with the loudest applause going to Cardinals QB Kurt Warner.
LINK
http://www.stltoday.com/blogs/sports...y-finish-0-16/