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Seahawks Conference Call with Aaron Donald (9/14)

LOS ANGELES RAMS DT AARON DONALD
CONFERENCE CALL



(On what challenge the Seattle offense presents to him)
“We know what to expect, we know the plays they get. We know it’s going to be a dog fight, we know we need to try to cage [Russell] Wilson, have to get to him. It should be a good match, we match up against them well and we pretty much have a good feel for them.”


(On whether they consider the possibility of Russell Wilson not being 100 percent with his ankle)
“The goal is if he plays, I know if he’s out there he’s going to play his all and I know every time he’s on the field it’s an opportunity for him to hurt us. So we’re just going to take him like we would any other time of the season if he wasn’t slowed down or whatever. I know if he’s on the field he’s going to try to make some plays for them and our job is to stop that from happening.”


(On their win against the Seahawks in last year’s season opener)
“I think it was a good team win. The offense and defense, we all did our job like we were supposed to. We planned on what we’d been doing and we executed that game plan. Just the game plan that we usually had usually works for us. We have a game plan going into this week. We know that already and we know that we have to execute as we get ready for Sunday.”


(On why they are able to play so well against the Seahawks)
“Like I said, we play these guys twice a year, every year, and we have a feel for them. Just like they have a feel for us, they know what to expect, they know our personnel, they know how we play, so it’s the usual dog fight.”


(On how much shifting he’s doing on the defensive line)
“Same thing as last year. We flipped around, I might be on the right side or I might be on the left side. We flip a lot, wherever the strength’s at and things like that, they’re going to put me there. They’re going to put me in positions to do what I do.”


(On having a home game on Sunday)
“I’m pumped up about it. We’re back in LA, we know the fans are going to be pumped up about it. A home game in LA, we know it’s going to be loud, I’m excited and pumped up to get out there and play at our home stadium.”


(On whether he is getting antsy for getting his first sack of the season)
“I’ll get it, it’s going to come. It’s going to come, I just have to keep playing and doing my game and not try to think too much of it. When I’m in the position I’m going to take advantage of it, but I’m not worried about it at all.”


(On the frustrating season opener for the Rams)
“Just moving on. That’s the past, nothing we can change, but just move on and prepare and get ready for the Seahawks.”


(On whether he’s worried he’ll receive a suspension for last game)
“No, I think I’m good. Everything is fine as far as that, so I just have to get prepared for the Seahawks and get ready to play them like we have to.”


(On Justin Britt)
“He’s a football player, he played tackle our rookie year when we were in there. Last year he was a guard and now he made the move to center. That’s the strength of their offensive line, a guy that’s versatile, that’s played all positions. He’s a football player. It’s going to be a dog fight, like I said.”


(On him losing weight this season)
“I had a belly. I just bulked up a little bit. I didn’t lose any weight, just put some muscle on. When you look good, you feel good, you play good.”


(On how he prepares for being double teamed)
“You just watch film. You study film and you find ways to beat being double teamed. You find a way to beat that and get the upper hand. There’s going to be a lot of things that might change, slide protection and things like that, but you just have to find ways so they won’t slow you down and continue to have success. Try to make some plays that will help you get the win, anything you can do to get in the best place to make some big plays. Just training, lifting weights. Like I said, studying a lot of film myself and technique. We’ll put the pads on, go on out and come practice time, try to work on the things that I trained to do in the offseason.”


(On whether he cares about being known as one of the best defensive linemen in the league)
“I feel like everybody who plays this game wants to become one of the great football players and be talked about. That’s always my mindset, to be talked about one day. I have a long way to go, but when you talk about the future you always talk about the Warren Sapps, the John Randles, the guys like that. One day, I put the body of work in and keep getting better each day, and I’ll be in that conversation one day.”


(On his collision with Marshawn Lynch last year)
“Just that big plays help us win. Michael Brockers made a great play, got to it late, he actually got there before me, and hit Lynch then I just went on too and helped clean it up. Whether it’s a divisional game or the first game of the season, that was a big win for us.”


(On whether it will be odd not playing against Marshawn Lynch)
“I’m not mad at it at all, that I’m not going to see that guy. That’s definitely a tough running back. It’s going to be different but I’m happy that guy isn’t suiting up.”


(On being on the West Coast time)
“I’m used to it, I had to get used to it. Everything is good so far and I’m enjoying it.”

Seems like Desperation

I am a lifelong cool aid drinking Ram fan...always think they have a shot...

But how does Mannion get screwed when he had absolutely ZERO responsibility for the debacle on Monday night? It's like they want to shut up the critics, but are missing the entire point. Personally I think Mannion deserves a shot. He's slow , his release isnt as fast...both things they say about Flacco. Im not saying he is the answer, just that he is better than Keenum, and building him up can do nothing but help this team. We blew it not trading Keenum to Denver.

Someone help me find the light

I'm finding it increasingly hard to support this team in manner in which I have been since I can remember. And no this isn't a "sky is falling after 1 week" rant because I'm sure we will play enough good football for me to go into next season with a heart full of ignorant hope. But once again...we are the same old rams. Bunch of talent that never seems to take the next step. Just flashes here and there.

I was a default cowboys fan for the first 7 years of my life because my dad is a die hard and at that age I liked whatever he liked. But in 1999 I found my 8 year old self mesmerized by Marshall faulk and have bled blue and gold ever since. And ever since then minus the 2000 season we have been either mediocre or down right bad. I've reached a point where it's like what am I putting myself through why continue to root for a team that can't get out of its own way.

And now we're in a position where Goff either becomes Aaron Rodgers good or we are going to continue to suck for another decade. Don't get me wrong as you all know i have thought very highly of Goff for a long time now but those expectations are hard for anyone to achieve regardless of talent. And now i continue to lose faith in our head coaches ability to help Goff reach that potential... let's face it almost every quarterback coming into the league drafted that high has immense talent. But, a huge part of realizing that potential falls on the surrounding circumstances. We have a coach stuck in the wrong decade and no real outside threats.

Idk I feel like I'm in a shitty relationship that I know is no good for me but I can't let go of because of history.

9/16 Practice Report: The Difficulties of Containing Wilson

Practice Report 9/16: The Difficulties of Containing Wilson

By Myles Simmons

[www.therams.com]

In just his fifth year in the NFL, Seattle quarterback Russel Wilson has undoubtedly become one of its the best quarterbacks. He’s started every game since he was drafted at No. 75 overall in the third round of the 2012 draft, and Seattle has won at least 10 games in each of those seasons.

“It’s been a constant progression,” Seahakws head coach Pete Carroll said this week. “He played really well his first year and he’s played well every year. What we’ve seen, it’s just the natural progression of growing and understanding the game to the point where it becomes he’s in greater command of it.”

“I’ve had the chance to coach against a lot of quarterbacks who are in the Hall of Fame, and you see some of those marquee guys — and I think Russell is one of them,” L.A. defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said.

Willson has increased his yards passing each year as he’s grown and matured as a quarterback. And while he can undoubtedly make plays with his feet, it doesn’t mean he’s a run-first quarterback. Last year, Wilson completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 4,024 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s hovered around 100 rushing attempts per year in each of his first four years, but last year he decreased his output from 849 yards rushing and six touchdowns in 2014 to 553 yards and one touchdown.


“You can just tell that he’s just more and more comfortable each year we play,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “He’s standing in the pocket, he can make all the throws. He already knows what’s coming just by a look. You can just tell his growth in the offense.”

“I think the best quarterback extending plays is Russell Wilson,” Williams said.

Wilson’s numbers from the last seven regular-season games of the 2015 season are, in a word, bonkers. The quarterback completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,906 yards with 24 touchdowns and just one interception — thrown to Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson in Week 16.

“The second half of last season, he was just remarkably on it, so he goes in to the offseason with the thought that he wants to pick up where he left off and add to that,” Carroll said. “And that’s what he’s done, he’s been working like crazy to get that done, he had a great offseason, he came in in great shape.”

The only contest in which Wilson didn’t fare remarkably well was Seattle’s 23-17 loss to the Rams in Week 16. In that matchup, Wilson was 25-of-41 passing (61 percent) for 289 yards, with two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble lost.

Last week, Wilson suffered an ankle injury in the Seahawks’ matchup with the Dolphins. Despite being visibly limited in his mobility, Wilson was able to engineer a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Doug Baldwin with just 31 seconds left. With that, Seattle had a 12-10 victory.

“The Dolphins really played well up there in a tough place to play, and Russell, with a sore ankle, finds a way to put together a winning drive at the end that is really impressive,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said this week.

“He did a great job finishing the game last week to get us a win, when he was kind of hobbling around and still got it done kind of in dramatic fashion,” Carroll said.

Wilson has been listed as a full participant in practice all week, so there’s little doubt he’ll be starting at quarterback when the Seahawks come to the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. And according to Fisher, L.A. is preparing for the quarterback to enter the contest with his full mobility.


“We’re preparing for a 100 percent healthy Russell. You have to do that or you sell yourself short,” Fisher said. “I thought their offensive staff, when he was injured, did a tremendous job adjusting the play-calling to allow him to find a way to win that game without using his legs. I thought they did a great job. We have to approach this, from a player standpoint and assume that he’s going to be 100 percent.”

And that means the Rams know they will have to swarm whenever they have a chance to bring Wilson down in the backfield or once Wilson decides to take off down the field. Still, the Rams’ defense sacked the QB a total of 10 times over two games last year.

“I have to make sure we plaster our guys,” Ogletree said. “He might scramble around and he’s really good on the run. We have to try to contain him and make sure our defensive line are in their rush lanes and everybody’s doing their jobs.”

“It’s really getting seven, six people surrounding him, and really getting him down. Because this guy, it really doesn’t matter — there can be three people after him and he can still get out of there,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “The big thing about it is balancing the rush around him — making it a way where he can’t get out and he’s surrounded and everybody’s getting to the ball.”

If the Rams can keep Wilson contained as they have in the past, they should be in position for a W in the home opener.


EXTRA POINTS

— The Rams have five players on their injury report for this week’s game. Two players are questionable, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (foot) and defensive tackle Michael Brockers (thigh).

Wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (shoulder) was a limited participant in practice on Friday and has been listed as doubtful.

Cornerback E.J. Gaines (thigh) and wide receiver Nelson Spruce (knee) did not practice all week and have been declared out.

— After Friday’s practice, Fisher announced quarterback Jared Goff will serve as the backup to Case Keenum on Sunday against the Seahawks.

“He’s going to be two and he’s ready to play,” Fisher said. “He’s gotten some reps throughout the week, so good for him. It will be exciting for him, knowing he’s a snap away from going in the game. He was here until the wee hours last night preparing — as he should.”

“They told me earlier in the week,” Goff said. “And I kind of have just been preparing the way I’ve been preparing the last two weeks.

“Obviously, I’m going to support Case,” Goff later added. “But anything can happen and I’ll be ready if my number is called.”

For more on Goff being named the Rams’ backup quarterback, check out our full story here.

— One of the elements Williams would like the defense to improve upon this week is picking off passes when players have the opportunity to do so.

“The other thing we could’ve done a better job with was we got our hands on three balls where it legitimately hit us in the hands,” Williams said. “And those three interceptions right there — and two of those three times that we dropped the ball, we could’ve put points on the board. We could have scored with those throws because there was nobody between us and the goal line. Our guys understand that and they’ll come back, they’ll bounce back very well.”

— Finally, offensive coordinator Rob Boras said his unit has to be resilient in coming back and attacking the Seahawks’ defense this weekend.

“Didn’t play up to our standard. Didn’t coach to our standard. Didn’t see it coming,” Boras said. “I think across the board, players would say that we thought we had a great week of preparation. And then, obviously, just didn’t live up to our standard — playing-wise [and] coaching.

I talked last week about being resilient, and we’re not going to let that define us,” Boras continued. “And, obviously, we have to see if we’re as resilient as we think we are moving forward.”

Rams claim to have seen good things on defense Monday

Rams claim to have seen good things on defense Monday, but it’s time for that unit to fulfill its reputation

[www.dailynews.com]

By THOUSAND OAKS >> The Rams will have a great defense someday.

That, of course, can be a promise without end.

Greg Norman was going to win the Masters someday. Healthy bacon was going to come along someday. Heck, pro football was coming back someday. The Rams fixed that, but they have brought it back to a notably impatient place.

The defense was one thing we knew about this unfamiliar team with the familiar name that returned to our lives Jan. 12. If nothing else, the Rams could stop you. They had four first-round picks on defense and, in some eyes, the best player in the NFL in Aaron Donald.

During those years, they also had to carry around the Rams’ offense like a box of anchors.

Then came Monday night: San Francisco 28, L.A. 0.

“We played very strong in that ballgame,” said defensive coordinator Gregg Williams Friday, indicating that the strain of keeping that promise might be getting to him.

But he elaborated.

“We have to do a better job in the red zone,” he said. “That’s something we’ve always done well in the past. We extended some of their drives with penalties. And we got our hands on three balls that legitimately hit us in the hands and should have been interceptions, and two of them would have gone for touchdowns. Our guys know that and they’ll come back. And I was very pleased with the way they responded at halftime.”

The Rams were second in the league last year in preventing red zone touchdowns, at 41.3 percent, and fourth in 2014.

“The worst part was giving 28 points, and it doesn’t matter how the offense did if you are going to give up points,” linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “We had some missed reads in the red zone, some missed tackles. Things happened really fast.”

San Francisco scored four touchdowns in four red zone trips and the Rams lost a net 92 yards in penalties. The 49ers had three touchdown drives that took 10, 10 and 11 plays. Etc.

“We had a couple of short fields,” Williams said. “We’re usually good on sudden change, making people kick field goals. One of those drives we had a second-and-15 and we had pass interference, and another time we had second-and-13 and the guy (Blaine Gabbert) threw it right in there. ... What I liked was that before I could say anything, the guys were coming up to me and they were bringing it up. That’s when you know things are going well, when they take ownership.

“They extended some plays with their quarterbacks, and that’s when you don’t want to be reading my lips on the sideline. But otherwise we held their running game down pretty well.”

Still, the Rams are holding onto someday a little too long.

In 2015 the Rams ranked 12th in the 32-team NFL in yards allowed per play. They were sixth on third-down defense, seventh in passing TDs allowed, 13th in touchdowns allowed. The year before they were 24th in yards-per-play defense, and 18th the year before that.

That is good but not dominant, and their ambition is dominance. A glimpse came in Week 16 last year, when William Hayes sacked Russell Wilson three times (for 24 1/2 yards) and the Rams won in Seattle, 23-17. Three of Seattle’s 10 losses in 2014-15 have come to the Rams, and one of them came with Nick Foles posting a quarterback rating of 115.8.

Now Wilson drags a bad ankle into the Coliseum Sunday.

“We’re preparing as if he’s going to be 100 percent,” Williams said. “We know how tough he is. He’s one of the few players who could come over and play defense. He does things on instinct, does things you can’t coach. He’s the best quarterback there is when it comes to extending plays.”

The Rams allowed Wilson to run 15 times for 51 yards in those two games, with one gain of 20. They can live with that, provided they can find a way to squeeze Todd Gurley through Seattle’s front seven. “We might have to throw it deep to do that,” coach Jeff Fisher said, which invites its own problems.

“We’ve been preaching the same thing for three years,” Ogletree said. “as far as becoming the best defense. We’re looking forward to this year and spreading our reputation around the league. We’re not looking to wait until next year to do that, because things change. What better time than now?”

Sure beats someday.

Must win for Rams

Given the 7-9 bull&*^&^ we saw from Hard Knocks not being good enough (in Fisher's own words)...then I assume this has to be a must win game for the Rams.

Statistically, only 12% of teams have ever made the playoffs after starting 0-2. And it doesn't get easier, next week is at Arizona.

I hope they're ready!
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Conspiracy theory optimism

After the first game I tried giving up football. It doesn't work. So if I'm going to be a Rams fan, I need to figure out a way to remain positive. Thus, my new conspiracy theory.

What if they have decided to drastically change the offense to something modern, vertical, and aggressive? Something that maximizes the skillet of their top players while remaining flexible enough to take advantage of defensive weaknesses. What is they know that Keenum can't run that offense? And, due to its complexity and superior requirements, Goff isn't ready to run it yet.

So they keep Keenum running the old offense, the one he won with last year, the one he has the skillet to use. And when Goff understand the new offense, Bob's your uncle and we have a new starter?

Unlikely? Very. Does it give me hope? You bet it does.

And to be fair, I believe that they can win some games with Keenum so it's not like everything is lost until Goff comes around.

Anyone else in on the latest flavor of Kool aid? I like it.

Every Year. ......

This is not a "rah-rah" post, but something to consider. Every year under Fisher we have that one game that is just pure SHIT. An absolute CLUNKER. The game where we all just want to stick our heads in the sand and give up. So ... hopefully, we got that one out of the way early on and there will be no more like it this year. Doesn't mean all wins from here on out, but let's hope no more "embarrassments" and we can actually be competitive.

That is all.....

Aaron Donald hit with $21,269 fine

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been fined $21,269 by the NFL for his actions that led to his ejection in the team's season opener against San Francisco on Monday night.

Donald was docked $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct and $9,115 for unnecessary roughness Friday after he was called for 15-yard penalties, including for making contact with an official -- resulting in him being tossed from the Rams' 28-0 loss.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...s-angeles-rams-fined-21269-nfl-actions-opener

Keenum says he didn't trust himself in Week 1 blowout loss

Case Keenum says he didn't trust himself in Week 1 blowout loss to the 49ers

By Gary Klein

The Rams put their trust in Case Keenum, making him the starting quarterback despite the selection of Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

After playing poorly in a season-opening defeat against the San Francisco 49ers, Keenum said Wednesday that he needed to trust himself and not overthink decisions.

“I think I was seeing ghosts,” Keenum said of his struggles against the 49ers. “I was seeing things that weren’t there. I wasn’t trusting myself and my abilities.”

The Rams need Keenum to quickly right himself.

The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off a come-from-behind victory over the Miami Dolphins, are coming to the Coliseum for the Rams’ home opener. Sunday’s game marks Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll’s return to the stadium where he led USC for nine seasons.


Keenum played efficiently during exhibitions, and he appeared to start off smoothly in the first few plays against the 49ers.

But the Rams’ offense fell apart.

Keenum completed 17 of 35 passes for only 130 yards and had two passes intercepted on a night when the 49ers shut down running back Todd Gurley. Keenum was sacked twice and hit hard multiple times.

“He made some plays and then missed some opportunities,” CoachJeff Fisher said. “We just have to make sure we take advantage of those opportunities when they’re there.”

Several of Keenum’s passes were nowhere near their targets, which can sometimes indicate that receivers did not run the correct route. Keenum put the blame on himself.

“It was me overthinking it: ‘Maybe they were going to this because of this, this and this,’ ” he said. “Just trust what you see and let it fly, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

The Seahawks gave up only 10 points in their opener and feature one of the NFL’s most aggressive defenses.

Last season, Keenum helped lead the Rams to a 23-17 victory over the Seahawks at CenturyLink Stadium. He completed 14 of 23 passes for 103 yards as the Rams beat the Seahawks for the second time in 2015 and the third time in the last four games.

“I just have to let the game come to me,” Keenum said. “Take what the defense gives me, trust my teammates … and get the ball out of my hands to the right place.”

Gurley did not practice Wednesday — “A coaches’ decision,” Fisher said — but is expected to return Thursday.

The Rams need more production from Gurley, who rushed for only 47 yards in 17 carries, and receiver Tavon Austin, who caught four passes for 13 yards.

And Keenum must rebound from his performance.

“Everybody’s always overexcited when you come in to the first game,” receiver Kenny Britt said. “You overthink stuff because you don’t want to miss stuff. … I know things will calm down for him.”

Watching and waiting

Goff was inactive for the opener, and Fisher has said that he would not decide whether to make him the backup until later in the week.

Goff was on the sideline in warmup gear against the 49ers.

“Definitely a different perspective,” he said. “But I tried to help Case as much as could and be the best teammate I could be.”

Goff said he would be ready when called upon.

“You can see the defense from a different angle and see the speed from the sideline,” he said, “but the best way to really know what’s going on out there is to be in it.”

Read Complete Article--[www.latimes.com]

Rams know honeymoon period won't last in L.A., they've 'got to win

Rams know honeymoon period won't last in L.A., they've 'got to win'
By Alden Gonzalez

[www.espn.com]

LOS ANGELES -- The first indication came subtly, in the middle of January, when a couple-hundred fans showed up to The Forum in Inglewood, California, for the Los Angeles Rams' first news conference back in Los Angeles. Then there was the draft party at L.A. Live in late April. People lined up shortly after the sun rose to secure tickets. And the first day of training camp from Irvine, California, which carried an attendance of roughly 10,000.

But Kevin Demoff, the Rams' COO who grew up here, couldn't fully grasp the significance of it all until the morning of Aug. 13, when he pulled up to Los Angeles Coliseum for the first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys and saw fans tailgating at 9 a.m.

"The flags flying, and the game-day atmosphere -- that's when you appreciated how important this was to this city," Demoff said. "And I can’t even begin to imagine the difference on Sunday -- with the 1:20 kick, and a bitter rival in the Seattle Seahawks, in the first meaningful game -- just how meaningful this is going to be to this city and to everybody to symbolize that the NFL is truly back."

The Rams opened up about 5,000 additional seats for their 2016 home opener in early August, and Demoff said they "lasted all of about two minutes."

Now about 90,000 will fill the Coliseum on Sunday, for the Rams' first regular-season game there since 1979 and first time as a home team in L.A. in 22 years. The Rams will wear their throwback uniforms, the popular royal blue and gold will conjure up memories of Merlin Olsen and Jack Youngblood. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform a pregame concert, CeeLo Green will sing the national anthem, a collection of Hall of Famers will be honored and the Coliseum's Olympic torch will be lit -- the start of a tradition that will carry on for every Rams home game over the next three years.

Demoff sees the opener as a symbolic "end of the relocation journey."

It might also be the end of the proverbial honeymoon period.

From there it will only be about the product on the field. And if Monday night was any indication -- and if the days that followed were any sort of barometer -- this is a team that will test the patience of a fan base that historically doesn't have much of it. Asked for his takeaway from the Rams' season-opening 28-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Everett, the quarterback in L.A. from 1986-93, said: "We've got one hell of a punter."

Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, with the L.A. Rams from 1983-87, was even more direct.

"They don’t have a lot," Dickerson said of the current Rams. "I’m just being honest. I’m a Rams fan, but I’m honest. They don’t have a whole lot. I mean they really don’t."

The question, then, is how long the Rams can keep attention spans in a city with so many distractions. L.A. is a bandwagon town. It loves winners and ignores losers. The Clippers went through that until, well, now. But the Clippers have the Lakers to ease some of the pressure, and the Kings have the Ducks, and the Dodgers have the Angels. The Rams -- for now, at least -- are all alone in the market.

"L.A. fans are not like Steeler fans; they're not like Packer fans," Dickerson said. "They're just not. You have to accept that. But when you have a winning product on the field, I'm telling you, you have no better fans. It's Hollywood. Hollywood is all about glitz and glamour -- and winning."

The Rams were embarrassed in their season opener, in front of a national-television audience and against a team widely considered one of the NFL's worst. The defense gave up 123 rushing yards in the first half, the offense amassed 185 yards from scrimmage through four quarters and the team committed 10 penalties. It was the worst performance from the opening week, and fans promptly eviscerated their new team through social media.

Everett doesn't believe one game should be blown out of proportion.

"There’s two letters, L-A, in the word relax," he said. "Let the boys play."

But that's not how this market works.

"I don’t think we’re naive to think we’re going to get this unbelievable honeymoon period where people will tolerate not being competitive," Demoff said. "We’ve got to be competitive. We’ve got to win. We’ve got to set the tone for what we expect this team to be in the market. But we’re not going to be perfect, and we’re going to have ups and downs and games like Monday."

Dickerson settled in Southern California after retiring in 1993, and the Rams left for St. Louis two years later. He doesn't believe L.A. fans really cared for about a decade, until the sport exploded in popularity and the area suddenly began longing for the NFL. Dickerson believes the relationship between L.A. and the Rams will take time to nurture.

"It’s like a girl that you love," Dickerson explained. "You left her, and you show back up and she's like, 'Hold up, you’re not going to stick your tongue down my throat right away. Take me out to dinner for a little while.'"

Regardless of how these first couple of years play out, and regardless of how fan interest might wane if the team does not perform, Dickerson expects another uptick in interest when the Rams open their massive new stadium in 2019. It'll be another mile marker; another milestone to symbolize a new beginning for this franchise.

But somehow they must bridge the gap.

"What I want most for this team is to be competitive consistently," Demoff said. "To go win division titles, to go deep in the playoffs, to deliver Super Bowls. We want the same thing as the fans. We want to build this process. This is a long-term vision for the Rams in Los Angeles. But you shouldn’t have to trade off short-term success for a long-term vision."