STL Ram's Fan Diary (Last Week) -Lions @ Rams-

I have no doubt the skins defense could slow down the seahawks rushing attack. I don't think they'll be able to completely stop it but I think they can really slow it down.
 
JFM92_GTRacer
^Cmon! That's your team root them on! Never heard that much doubt in their favorite team.
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You should hear me talking about Kentucky basketball after Kansas wiped the floor with us Saturday.

I'm still rooting but I'm getting depressed.
 
Judging by their record, (on your sig), they sound good. How are they doing?

BTW, as you notice I got a new avvie...and currently searching for a new Holt picture...for my newer avvie. :)

ALSO!!!, I'm hearing Jeff Fisher...
 
JFM92_GTRacer
Judging by their record, (on your sig), they sound good. How are they doing?
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They started out good but they more and more are beginning to just stand around and look at each other.

See, for Kentucky basketball the fourth loss should only come in the NCAA tournament. We didn't become the winningest team in college basketball by losing 1/3 of our games. The scary truth came home after Kansas (unranked) beat us by 27 points.

Back to the Rams.

From the Rams website I just read this article.

Coaching Search Continues
Monday, January 9, 2006

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

It has been a week since the Rams parted ways with head coach Mike Martz. While a lot has happened since and there has been some progress made toward the hiring of a new coach, there is still plenty of work to be done.

At this point, there is plenty that is known about who the potential candidates are, what the Rams are looking for and which teams they are competing with to get the right man for the job.

Team President John Shaw is conducting the fourth interview in the past four days today when he and the Rams’ contingent meet with Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis in New York.

It appears that this decision won’t be made hastily as Shaw made a point of saying that the team would give the search the proper amount of time and thought before coming to a conclusion.

Some of the names on the list have completed their resume and can be hired at any time, while others are still making their case in the playoffs.

As the playoff season kicks into high gear with the Divisional round next week, here’s a look at where the Rams stand with potential candidates and what could be next in the coming weeks.

Tim Lewis – Giants Defensive Coordinator

Lewis is probably the most experienced candidates the Rams have looked at. He brings an impressive resume with a solid defensive background. His interview was scheduled for today, one day after the Giants were blown out by Carolina in a wild card playoff game.

That game didn’t do much to help Lewis’ case as the Panthers punished the Giants defense on the ground, something Rams’ fans have been accustomed to seeing in the past few years.

Carolina running back DeShaun Foster gashed the Giants for 151 yards and the Panthers had the ball for an astonishing 42:45.

"It was disappointing," Michael Strahan told the New York Daily News. "We picked the most inopportune time to have one of our worst games of the season."

But it would be unfair to hold Sunday’s loss against Lewis as a potential coaching replacement. He was working with a banged up defense that was missing key components, particularly at linebacker without the help of Antonio Pierce.

Sunday’s loss aside, Lewis has an impressive list of accomplishments in the league and has run some of the better defenses around. After working as the Steelers’ secondary coach from 1995-1999, Lewis became the defensive coordinator there from 2000-2003.

In that time, Lewis never had a defense ranked worse than ninth in the league and led the NFL’s top-ranked unit in 2001 when Pittsburgh allowed just 258.6 yards per game.

Lewis moved on to New York in 2004, taking over soon after the hiring of Tom Coughlin. His first defense in New York finished 13th. The group took a step back this year, finishing just 24th in the league while allowing 327.5 yards per game.

In fairness to Lewis, this year’s unit struggled with injuries all year and did finish third in the league in takeaways. Perhaps more important, Lewis has shown the ability to develop players into key contributors.

Defensive end Michael Strahan has long been one of the best pass rushers in the league, but this year he was overshadowed by fellow end Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora finished second this season in sacks with 14.5.

While most coaches are known for some sort of gimmick or staple defense such as the Cover 2 or the 46, Lewis is a multiple coach who disguises blitzes well and comes up with exotic packages making it tough to know where the defense is coming from at a given time.

Lewis has been close to landing a top job in the past, finishing as a runner up to Jim Mora Jr. in Atlanta two years ago. He is also in the mix in Detroit and Green Bay.

Ron Rivera – Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator

Rivera emerged early as the first name to be revealed on the Rams’ list and is one of this year’s hottest coaching candidates. And with good reason.

The Bears defense this season has been one of the most dominant in recent memory, attacking with the front four and blanketing receivers in the Cover 2. Chicago finished second in the league in total defense and first in points allowed.

Under the tutelage of head coach Lovie Smith, Rivera has learned the nuances of the Tampa 2 defense, but has been critical in the development of some of the game’s brightest young defensive stars such as linebacker Lance Briggs, cornerback Nathan Vasher and defensive end Alex Brown.

The biggest question about Rivera involves his experience or lack thereof as a coordinator in the league. Rivera is in just his second season as the coordinator for the Bears and many wonder how much of the defense’s success is because of him and how much of it is a result of Smith’s influence.

But make no mistake, just because Rivera hasn’t been a coordinator long, doesn’t mean he hasn’t been around the game long enough to be a head coach.

In fact, Rivera has spent the majority of his professional life in the company of some of the game’s great defensive minds. He was a linebacker for the Bears from 1984-1992, playing for head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.

From Ditka, Rivera no doubt learned about mental toughness and picked up the type of hard edged work ethic Ditka became famous for. From Ryan, he learned plenty about the intricacies of the 46 defense as well as how to handle hotshot young defenders such as himself.

He took his first NFL coaching job with the Bears as a quality control coach for the defense in 1997-98 before coaching linebackers for the Eagles from 1999-2003. With the Eagles, Rivera was once again given the opportunity to learn from one of the best, Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson has long been recognized as one of the most creative blitzing minds in football and Rivera picked up on pieces of that.

So, needless to say, though Rivera doesn’t have the experience of a Johnson or even a Lewis, he has learned from some of the best.

"When you're around a guy like Lovie Smith, too, there's a lot to learn, and in two years, I've learned an awful lot from being around Coach. He's been another tremendous influence and has had a great impact,” Rivera told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Being around Andy Reid, there's another guy that, just the way he does things, has had a tremendous impact on my life, as well.''

Rivera’s defense is also pretty multiple, though it is centered on the Cover 2 that Smith has long been known for. But Rivera isn’t afraid to mix in elements of the 46 or even other packages that are difficult to recognize.

Rivera has also received interest from Green Bay, but it is unknown when teams will be able to talk to him again. He interviewed with the Rams last Friday, but the Bears are set for an NFC Divisional Playoff game this week and Rivera won’t be available for a potential second interview until Chicago is done in the playoffs.

Scott Linehan – Miami Dolphins Offensive Coordinator

Linehan is the first and only offensive coach the Rams have talked to thus far, but that doesn’t preclude him from being a potential candidate. In fact, Linehan was believed to be rather impressive in his meeting with the Rams last Friday.

In his fourth season in the NFL, Linehan had a dramatic impact on a poor Miami offense. Soon after the Dolphins hired Nick Saban as head coach, Linehan was brought into cure Miami’s ailing offense.

He did just that, taking a team that starts Gus Frerotte at quarterback and improving it from 29th in the league in total offense a year ago to 14th this season. Linehan is known for running a balanced offensive attack that mixes the run and pass with equal aplomb.

Linehan would certainly have some fun working with the Rams offensive talent considering the way he succeeded with the multitude of weapons he had in Minnesota. He led the Vikings to the top-ranked unit in the league in 2003, finishing fourth in passing and rushing. He followed that with a ranking of fourth in 2004 with the No. 2 ranked passing team in the league.

While it is believed the Rams are searching for a defensive-minded head coach, Linehan would be a good choice if they choose to go with an offensive coach who can bring in a talented defensive coordinator.

Linehan has been in contention for jobs in the past and is also being considered by the Texans for their vacant coaching position.

Mike Zimmer – Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator

Zimmer was the first of the coaches to speak with the Rams, meeting with club officials last Thursday and apparently setting the bar high. Zimmer’s experience in the league is on par with Lewis and he has shown that he can be flexible with his defense but still have success.

This year, the Cowboys finished 10th in the league in total defense, allowing 300.9 yards per game. If nothing else, the Dallas defense has been consistent in Zimmer’s time there, whether he has been the coordinator or the secondary coach.

This season was the seventh time in his 12 years the defense has finished in the top 10 in the league. Zimmer is well respected in league circles and has become somewhat of an institution in Dallas after breaking in with the team in 1994.

Zimmer prefers a more basic 4-3 defense, but was able to make the switch to the 3-4 this year and did it with a fair measure of success. He helped develop a young group of defenders into the 10th best in the league despite myriad injuries.

He would likely go back to the 4-3 wherever he might land this offseason, but his willingness and ability to adapt earned him more points with Dallas coach Bill Parcells. Parcells has long been known for producing excellent coaching prospects and Zimmer certainly fits that mold.

Zimmer has not interviewed with any other teams at this point, but has gotten interest in the past, including from the University of Nebraska.

Other Possibilities?

For now, the above foursome is the group that seems to have emerged and as it stands, there are no more interviews lined up right away. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be more candidates in the near future. One name that has consistently popped up is Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. He has gotten steady interest from a variety of teams, but is another coach that will have to wait because of the Steelers’ postseason run.
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It sounds to me like he is just listing names of anyone that they interviewed.

You really think they will get Fisher? Where did you hear that?
 
JFM92_GTRacer
^Chris Mortensen from ESPN. Wow, what a liar. Well, hopefully whoever we get for the team is a pure winner. 👍
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I have a feeling that there will be so many rumors floating around and speculations that it would be best just to ignore it until I hear an announcement from the team themselves. I have feeling they won't decideuntil after the playoffs because they need to talk to some of the playoff guys but can't until after the post-season is over.

Fisher could be a possible candidate, I just don't see him leaving Tennessee since he is part of management as well. He needs to lose a lot more before they give him the boot and the Rams would be hard pressed to match/beat a coaching and management position. It's still possible thgough because the article I posted only listed guys that were being interviewed and Fisher could easily come in anytime before the Super Bowl for an interview. It could be that it just hasn't happened yet.
 
JFM92_GTRacer
^True...but we need to know now!
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They may want to interview someone who makes it to the Super Bowl, so we may have to wait until after that.

Just do what I do, put in your football game of choice and then hail mary to Faulk or Holt all day long. :sly:
 
Woh all this Rams talk is making me giddy. :)

According to Bernie Miklasz (columnist at the St. Louis Post Dispatch with strong contacts at Rams Park). John Shaw and the gang are leaning more towards hiring an offensive minded coach, due to the severe shortage of OC candidates. Which would mean hiring a quality Defensive Coordinator would become key, nobody as bad as Lary Marmie I hope.

Pat Hill from the Fresno State Bulldogs also apparently had an interview with the Rams, but by the sounds of it the interview just went "Ok." Jim Fassel has also been interviewed, but is more of a fallback option.

But so far the main inkling seems to be that Miami Dolphins OC Scott Linehan is the leading candidate, and I really can't say I'm concerned about that prospect. His interview was a home run, and from all I've heard about him, he knows how to coach. Whilst Ron Rivera is also pretty highly ranked by Shaw and crew, and if the Bears lose this weekend then he'll get a second interview along with Linehan. Thankfully Tim Lewis of the Giants appears to be off their radar a bit, but sadly still in contention.

It is exciting times being a Rams fan. :) Come on Bulger for MVP and Top 10 in Defense in 2006!
 
JFM92_GTRacer
^Sounds great. It's in the works. Another Ram's fan i see here?
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That makes 3 on GTP. I can vouch for two more at my work and a whole city in St. Louis.

I'm curious, with the Colts out of it and the Panthers looking good what are your picks for the Super Bowl?

I'm hoping for a Broncos-Panthers matchup but think it might be Steelers-Seahawks.
 
Haha, I'm hoping for the Broncos and Panthers as well. I really do hope the Seahawks choke and Steve Smith tramples over them for another 200 yard+ game.
 
Liberi
Haha, I'm hoping for the Broncos and Panthers as well. I really do hope the Seahawks choke and Steve Smith tramples over them for another 200 yard+ game.
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im the opposite. hoping for steelers-seahawks, but KNOW the seahawks will allow 200 yards to smith. it wont be choking because the secondary sucks.
 
OK, so why is it that on the way to work every day I hear on teh radio how this team got this coach or that team got that coach or this team is rumored to be wanting this guy and all I hear from the Rams is stuff online about how they have a list a mile long? They better be looking at someone still in the playoffs.

EDIT: My bad, I found something new.

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

One week into their coaching search the Rams had interviewed four candidates. A week and a half into the search, they had talked to seven. Now, two weeks since the search began, the end appears in sight as the team has trimmed the list to what is believed to be a group of three finalists.

Two of those finalists do not come as much of a surprise and have been in the race since the search began. Sources close to the situation have indicated that Miami offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is one of the three finalists given a second interview, meeting with the Rams on Monday. The other anticipated finalist, Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is also expected to get a shot at another interview. The other finalist is a darkhorse and late bloomer in the form of San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
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He goes on to detail the guys.

I'm hoping Rivera just because we need some defense to balance out the offense and Chicago's defense is probably the best out of the three teams the candidates are coming from. I hope a bad playoff performance won't sour the Rams staff off him.

On the upside, that loss has allowed him to get a second interview in. I guess he wouldn't have that if they had soured to him.
 
kylehnat
Isn't it wonderful? :)
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You mean the Rams getting a new coach? It's great!

I am left with a Super Bowl conundrum. I hate the Steelers with a passion but I also don't enjoy cheering for a rival. Maybe I will just go to bed early and watch the commercials on tape.

I hope Alexander does well, he is from my home state and all.
 
this rivalry stuff is way too much. theyve been playing each other for what...4 years? 5? is it really that much of a blow to your ego to lose to a team in the same division? give it a rest and enjoy some football.
 
Bones Brigade
this rivalry stuff is way too much. theyve been playing each other for what...4 years? 5? is it really that much of a blow to your ego to lose to a team in the same division? give it a rest and enjoy some football.
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Who said anything about ego? I just don't cheer for my rivals whether it be football, basketball, or baseball. I enjoy watching a team that proves to be a thorn in my side get beaten. What is so wrong with that?

You are the second Seattle fan that has seemed upset by Rams fans not liking to see the Hawks win. What's the deal? I mean, would you all really be cheering the Rams on in the playoffs? Check out the NCAA threads and you will find me cheering on every Louisville loss and talking trash about the Wildcats. It's called sports and having good natured fun. If it were serious I would have to quit my job as only one of three UK fans in my office. Instead we all throw jabs at each other back and forth and laugh about it.

No one's ego has been hurt, especially since I am not on the team. Then I would have a bruised ego.
 
So yeah we've hired Jim Haslett as our new DC. http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/STL/9185578

I'm a wee bit iffy about hiring him, and hiring Jim Bates (Green Bay DC) would have been better, but in the end he just wanted too much money.

Hasletts fiery persona should mesh well together with Lineham, and hopefully they'll produce a lot of wins together. :)

Oh and we hired Greg Olsen as our Offensive Coordinator (QB Coach from Detroit), it sounds like he won't have much control over the offense so its all good.
 
FoolKiller
It's called sports and having good natured fun.
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Exactly. its called sports and good natured fun. so cant you enjoy it? just because you're team isnt in it doesnt mean you have to skip the game. if all i ever watched was seahawks games id have a lot less fun than if i watched a bunch of the games.

and no, of course i wouldnt cheer for the rams, but not because we're "rivals" i just dont like them. but that doesnt mean i cant watch their games and hope for a good game. you said you would "go to bed early" and presumably not watch the game...because its two teams you dont like? its football! have some fun. by all means do what you want, but it seems a bit ridiculous that you have such a deep dislike for the seahawks after a few years of playing us that you cant enjoy the games. its just sports and good natured fun, dude.
 

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