Was on the Rams website, checking out the vids.

One of 'em was...
"Relive it - week one at the 49ers".

Look, obviously the offense played pathetically. We were never going to win that game. But when you look at a few things, I start getting more angry with the defense:

1. TOP - Niners only held a 5 minute advantage; not significant at all in todays NFL. We've seen teams win a game when they've only possessed the ball for 20 minutes, so I refuse to give the defense a pass because of the ineptness of the offense

2. The first half - even if you were inclined to blame the offense for the defensive failures, it becomes harder to do if you just focus on the first half. The Niners scored 14 points and had over 100 yards rushing. Gabbert converted way too many 3rd downs, which brings me to...

3. 3rd down conversions. For the game they were 8-17. That's elite offensive performance there for the Niners. 8-17 would make them one of the best 3rd down converting teams in the NFL. Considering their personnel, our defense played a TERRIBLE game.

4. No sacks. There are no words to even describe this one.

5. Dropped INTs. Joyner with two and Tree with one, which likely scores for us. Ouch.

6.. And most importantly for me - we've invested FAR more into the defense than the offense. Given their performances relative to the talent/resources put into them....the defense was almost more of a disappointment than the offense. I say almost because obviously you can't do worse than not scoring. But many a game has been won or lost 3-0 or 10-7.

Kind of early to give up on a third round pick. Maybe he is worth a look see.

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/...und-rookie-cb-russell?ls=roto:FA:topheadlines

The Rams’ franchise is now worth nearly four times what it was when Kroenke bought a majority share back in 2010.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/artic...n_after_move_to_los_angeles/s1_12680_21826897

Abandon Hope

In this post I will highlighting why there is no light at the end of tunnel for this Rams in the near future. Nothing said here will change even if Rams will 7 or 8 games this year.

Ownership:

It’s a zero sum game either Rams win or not for ownership. They are in business of making money not winning for you- the FAN. As long as they are not embarrassed 28-0 many times, they will settle for 6-10 seasons for the next two years. If their PSLs are selling well at the end of 2017, they will let Fisher coach for another decade. If not, there will be a change early 2018. But nothing in the last 15 years that the ownership has done should trick you into thinking they give a damn about winning or losing on the field.

Coaching:

Going into fifth year, there are more questions than answers. The team is as undisciplined in 5th year as year 1 due to poor coaching. Boras appears outmatched. Looking back, Brain Scotty was the best OC Fisher had with Rams. Gregg Williams gets more credit than what he achieved with Rams. And Fisher will not hire anyone who may outshine him in both football and non-football sense on either offense or defense. Fisher's assistants are not sought after. When they are fired they end up in a lower ranked job or retire. The good assistants almost always never want to work for Fisher. The game has passed him by. He knows he cannot change the narrative of his coaching years or his philosophy of the past 20 years. All he has now, like you and me, is hope. Hope that his team wins somehow. When he tells he knows what he is doing to cameras, what does it say about his inner thoughts? With Carroll, Arians and Kelly in this division, let’s ask ourselves where our coach ranks in this division. By the way, I believe Fisher's contract has been extended but they are not announcing it yet.

Offense:

Wide Receivers, TE: There is no more inept group of receivers than Rams have assembled. Kenny Britt at best a 2nd receiver on most teams. Tavon Austin is just a speed decoy without fluid route running ability. A #3 receiver at his very best and generally should be a #4 receiver. Quick will not make 53 man roster on 25 other teams. No one knows if they can teach rookie WRs to grow up in NFL. TE group is as putrid as WRs and nothing to write about. The talent at this position is almost laughable. It will be prudent to note receiving talent in 2012 was better than 2016.

Running Backs: If real Gurely is the one who averaged 140 yards the first 6 games are so, Rams have their own Adrian Peterson. If real Gurley is one from the last 9 games, oh boy!. But I believe real Gurely is the one who we saw in the first 6 games. Cunningham is a good backup to have. Nothing else matters. Rams are set here for years.

Offensive Line: If Paul Bourdeau is one of NFL's gold standard, then standards should be abolished. What he has done with that group is very tepid. He never raised their level of play. In some ways, Fisher has to be blamed again here. Except for GRob, Bourdeau was given poor talent and was asked to make chicken salad out of it. Still, coaching matters and I don't believe he has risen up to the occasion. We are still waiting on GRob to play to his draft level. Saffold is good but his best days are behind him. Barnes is a warm body that can snap. Havenstein looks below average. Brown looked like pro bowler last year until he was hurt. So not sure where things will end up with him and it is not looking as good.

QuarterBacks: I still hear the giggles from this board when Keenum won 3 of 4 games he started last year. He never had the arm to be a 16 game starter in this league. He is still a good backup to have and has no business starting. What characterstics made him team capitaan in 2016 is beyond me (this could be another of Fisher's six sigma thinking that average fans like me may not understand). Goff is not ready now and hope they don't throw him to wolves this year with poor OL play,disgusting play calls and schemes. The important thing is does Goff have it? I don;t know the answer. In life, nurturing talent makes 99% of talented people successful. Can one believe Fisher's coaches and system will help nurture Goff's talent to enable him to become the next Eli Manning or Carson Palmer if not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? (To my core I believe, Fisher will destroy Goff beyond redemption). Sean Mannion has to play at least 8 games this year to see what they have in him.

Defense: On defense 5 starters are gone (Long, JL, JJ, Ayers, McLeod) and it appears the talent is not just there to replace them both on field and leadership wise.

Defensive Line: They have a top 3 defensive line in the league. Aaron Donald is a future HOF. Worried about Quinn's production of late. My hope was Quinn would be unstoppable with Donald in the lineup. JL and Chris long left leadership void more than talent void on this defense. The other line men are effective to a good extent. I am happy for the talent in this group.

Line Backers: This group needs Ogletree and others to step up. Mark Barron has found his niche. Nothing to write about regarding the talent pipeline for this position group. Coming weeks should answer more questions about this group.

Secondary: TJ is a good talent. If EJ Gaines is not 100% soon, this secondary is toast. Joyner is awful. He should be a backup. Safety play is to be determined.

Special Teams: Special team coaching and players are strength of this staff. If Greg Zurelin can be consistent they have top 5 special teams in the league.

Overall, it is a depressing state of affairs from both micro and macro levels in 2016 than it was in 2012 for several reasons: A NFL level QB (Bradford) was on the team, a lot of draft picks from trade with Washington was available, a new coaching staff came in to be hopeful. In 2016, the same coaching staff may be the worst in league, draft picks were traded away and there appears to be no NFL ready QB available on the team with holes in both defense and offense sides.

To everyone who is behind this coaching staff, I have one question, Why?

Many fans are reluctant to replace either Keenum or Fisher just yet. The old why change the horse in midstream conundrum.

I can understand that line of thinking. I think that strategy is my preference right now, too.

But a part of my brain keeps asking me two questions that are hard to answer.

1) If we were to replace Fisher in mid season, could his replacement do all that much worse than losing 28-0 to an inferior opponent, talent wise? And let's be honest here, that score could have easily been more lopsided. I mean, what temp HC could do worse than leading an unprepared and uninspired team to a humiliating shutout loss on national TV? Nowhere to go but up from there, don't you think?

2) Same question at QB. Could Goff do all that much worse than Keenum on Monday night? We all know the stats. At least Goff or Mannion could present a legitimate threat for an occasional deep throw that the opponent must respect. Just how much worse than zero points with 2 interceptions could it be with either QB, anyway?

We may be at the point of having nothing left to lose here, fellas. Where was the team's pride against the Niners? How much longer before Fisher loses the team? We all saw the frustration of Donald and Gurley. Two normally classy and well behaved elite players that lost it. I can relate. I wanted to throw something through my TV screen, myself.

Anyway...

Just some food for thought. Might stimulate some discussion as we all are licking our wounds.

I am ready to see Goff play, after that embarrassing game Monday night I have already seen enough. I drove around working yesterday and from 9-5 ESPN radio was just slamming our team, " they look worse than the bills and Browns," " set offensive football back 50 years" Why is this happening again? I am ready for Goff, I want to know if he truly has the potential we are hearing about or if he really does deserve to be in street clothes. If he proves to be a bust, our team will struggle for years. I'm truly worried and its only week 2 !

Bonsignore: Case Keenum, Jeff Fisher just the start of Rams' opening night woes

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE / STAFF COLUMNIST

[www.ocregister.com]

SANTA CLARA – Case Keenum took the snap at the end of the Rams’ 28-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, planted a humble knee into the turf at Levi’s Stadium and figuratively screamed: “We give up.”

On an embarrassing night in the Bay Area, it was a fitting, symbolic gesture of the Rams’ ineptness. Sadly, it might have been the only play the Rams perfectly executed from beginning to end.

It was that kind of night in Santa Clara, as the Rams feebly stumbled about offensively in their opening night as the Los Angeles Rams and pretty much surrendered all the positive vibes and momentum of their return to Southern California.

The question is, will it be that kind of season?

This much is certain: The honeymoon is over.

All that heartwarming nostalgia flew right out the window.

If the Rams thought they could float their way through their first season back in L.A. atop a magic carpet ride of sentimentality, reality delivered a vicious right cross.

That’s not going to happen in Los Angeles.

Here is another dose of harsh truth.

It doesn’t get any easier.

The schedule gets tougher, the quality of opponent improves and the travel harsher.

The Rams better get their act together, and in a hurry.

Where to start is the question, because Monday night exposed a litany of issues.

Here are a few observations:

KEENUM GOT EXPOSED

The undrafted quarterback out of Houston has worked hard to play himself into a starting position in the NFL. But as Monday night showed, the Rams might be the only team in the league for which he’d be a starter. Had No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff played better in training camp, Keenum would be right back where he belonged: on the bench as a backup you can trust – somewhat – in short stints as the emergency starter.

Keenum started 16 games over his first four seasons, but never as his team’s opening-day No. 1 and certainly not as a prolonged answer.

He’s essentially keeping the seat warm for Goff, but after looking overwhelmed while throwing for 130 yards and two interceptions on 17-of-35 passing for a putrid 34.2 quarterback rating, his leash just got a whole lot shorter.

Keenum stands barely over 6 feet and has a low release point – which reared its ugly head on a tipped ball that landed in the hands of the 49ers for an interception. He is also limited by a below-average throwing arm, which was exposed when he tried to deliver downfield. On pass attempts 5 yards or longer, Keenum was 5 of 18 for 74 yards and a pair of picks.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher acknowledged afterward he contemplated bringing in backup Sean Mannion, but decided to stick with Keenum.

But if this keeps up?

“Well, I’ll adjust,” Fisher said, “But I don’t expect it to continue.”

Give Keenum credit for accepting responsibility.

“Well, I’m not happy. It’s not something that I’ll go out and think about, but this team deserves better plays from its quarterback and I intend on doing that,” Keenum said.

But it’s hard to have hope he’ll get significantly better anytime soon.

SHORTAGE OF LINEBACKERS

The Rams released veteran starting outside linebacker Akeem Ayers in a money move, and while they hoped to bring him back on a reworked contract, the Buffalo Bills beat them to the punch. The Rams shrugged it off, believing they could get by against the 49ers’ spread offense by operating out of base nickel and dime packages in which only two linebackers were on the field.

That proved to be a big mistake, as the 49ers continually exposed the Rams’ lack of strength in the middle of the field with big-chunk power runs and scrambles by quarterback Blaine Gabbert. On many plays, Rams cornerbacks got overwhelmed at the point of attack by bigger blockers.

Up next is the Seattle Seahawks, who pose a big-time power running threat.

Something has to give at linebacker – and barring adding a newcomer, the Rams must turn to youngsters such as Cory Littleton and Josh Forrest. That doesn’t bode well against the Seahawks.

AUSTIN HAS TO DO BETTER

The Rams rewarded Tavon Austin with a four-year contract extension at $42 million, and spent the entire offseason devising and implementing new ways to get Austin the ball.

Give them credit for following through on the plan, as Austin was targeted a reasonable 12 times Monday night.

The problem is, Austin made little use of the chances, catching four balls for a meager 13 yards and rushing one time for 2 yards.

Austin dropped a few catchable passes, Keenum missed on a few targets, and when the ball was secured, Austin did little with it.

As one of the Rams’ few playmakers, it’s up to Austin to figure out better ways to do more with the opportunities. The 12-target ratio is more than enough. Now Austin needs to back it up with production.

“We’re going to go back to work this week and I guarantee we won’t look like this again.” Austin said.

PENALTIES REMAIN AN ISSUE

The Rams were the ninth-most penalized team last year and vowed to make improvements. If you caught any of training camp, many Tuesday practices ended with wind sprints as Fisher tried to discipline the previous games’ infractions.

A lot of good it did.

The Rams reverted to their old mistakes against the 49ers, getting flagged an excruciating 10 times for 102 yards. In doing so, they sabotaged potential scoring drives and aided touchdown drives by San Francisco.

HORRIBLE START FOR FISHER

Fisher is on the last year of his contract, and while there was talk this offseason about a contract extension, nothing came to fruition. At this point, the Rams might want to let this season play out a little longer before giving him more years and money.

The Rams looked overwhelmed and unprepared Monday behind an offense that couldn’t move the ball and a defense that was bit on the backside by some curious personnel decisions.

They also looked undisciplined with the 10 penalties – culminating in Aaron Donald getting thrown out of the game after pushing off the helmet of a 49ers player.

That goes straight to the head coach, and it’s obvious Fisher didn’t have his team mentally or physically ready to play.

Worse, he went “there” after the game by pointing to the team’s move from St. Louis as a possible excuse for the bad performance.

In fact, he actually threw in an extra “move” by saying the Rams have moved four times over the past eight months, when in reality it’s been three: St. Louis to Oxnard for OTAs, then to Irvine for training camp and onto Thousand Oaks as their home base.

After pretty much resisting the move as a potential crutch through the entire offseason, Fisher conveniently reached for it on opening night.

And that’s unacceptable.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...be-rams-backup-this-week?campaign=Twitter_atn

i became a Ram fan in the 60's and agonized EVERY loss over the years but was no more disappointed than MNF. Even the stolen loss to the Pats in the SB and the heart wrenching loss to Carolina in the playoffs doesn't compare. The coaching staff collectively sh*t a brick. The players were overwhelmed by an inferior team. I can't imagine how these players could trust the coaches after such an embarrassing lack of performance. The entire game it seemed like Chip Kelly KNEW every play call and was prepared while the Rams were dumbfounded.

But I've seen Fisher and Williams outsmart their competition in the past. Yes, they laid a Brontosaurus egg against a dumpster fire team. But I believe they took this game for granted while saving bullets for the Hawks. This happened the first game under the spotlight. Nearly EVERY team lays an egg from time to time...it's inevitable .

But three things are about to happen. 1. The players will rise up with the pride and talent they have. 2. The coaches will admit their ridiculous gameplan and adjust accordingly, and 3. The team grow through the year into something we can be proud of again.

I realize I sound Pollyanna but too much work has been done for this game to be all we will see. The season just started. Beat the Hawks and the whole nature of the season changes. Call me a hopeless romantic but this might be just the kick in the groin that propels this team to what it needs to be.

I agree that he deserved the flag for ripping off Patton's helmet, but I didn't see anything at all resembling contact with an official. Not sure why he was flagged and ejected for that? Anyone else see him touch or shove an official?

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOOxSqWe7ro

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/l...Rams-Team-is-Happy-Theyre-Home-393214391.html

When you picture the man who is known as the oldest living member of the original Los Angeles Rams team in 1946, one might conjure up images of a retirement home where patients are pushed around in wheelchairs to arts and crafts or movie night.

Then you meet 93-year-old Jim Hardy, and he bounds up the stairs of the LA Memorial Coliseum like a spry stag leaping through the hills. He's healthy, active, and more fit than most 30-year-olds.

It's no coincidence that Hardy and the Coliseum were born just a week apart. They each represent strength, stability and a legacy. The historic home of the Olympics, MLB, USC, and the Rams is Hardy's church, and he's ready to preach.

He may be in his 90s, but behind the eyes of the oldest living member of the inaugural Rams team is simply an eight-year old boy who fell in love with football.

Jim Hardy on the NFL, Then and Now

Jim Hardy, the oldest living member of the first LA Rams team, talks about some of the big changes in the sport since then. (Published Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016)
"One day in 1931, when I was eight years old, my father took me and my brother to our first Trojan football game at the LA Coliseum," Hardy says, taking us on a trip down memory lane. "It was the last game of the season and they beat Georgia 60-0. I have been a Trojan fan ever since that day. I have seen every home game and every Rose Bowl game since 1931."

It is a conceit of the modern era of football that so many talented athletes auction themselves off to the highest bidder. Gone are the days where posters of favorite players adorn the walls of the NFL's future stars whose sole motivation is loyalty to a team or city.

In a time where college athletes coined the term "one and done," and consistently receive improper benefits by programs in exchange for a commitment letter, Hardy has remained loyal to the Trojans since 1931.

He made it his mission to play football for USC and allow other eight-year old kids to come to the Coliseum and have their eyes light up when they watched the Men of Troy take the field. So Hardy worked hard and played quarterback at USC for four years, he led the Trojans to two Rose Bowl victories in 1944 and 1945, the latter of which he was named the MVP after USC tore apart the Tennessee Vols, 25-0.

Rams Fans Rejoice in LA

The country was at war during that time, and after the Trojans season Hardy spent the next few months in the Navy stationed on the battleship, Maryland, located in the Pacific. After the war ended, he married his college sweetheart, Henrietta, and entered the 1945 NFL Draft.

The Washington Redskins took him eighth overall in the first round, but with the birth of their first son, he didn't want to move his young family across the country. Simultaneously, the reigning NFL Champion, Cleveland Rams, had announced they were moving to Los Angeles. So Hardy asked to be traded and signed with the Rams.

He called it, "the dumbest thing I ever did."

Hardy's biggest rival during his collegiate career was cross-town quarterback Bob Waterfield. The future Hall of Famer led the UCLA Bruins to the Pacific Coast title in 1942 and a Rose Bowl birth in 1943. After a blowout loss to Hardy and the Trojans in 1944, he was selected 42nd overall by the Cleveland Rams.

Jim Hardy Happy About Rams Return

Former Rams and USC quarterback Jim Hardy talks about Los Angeles as a sports town at the time the Rams moved to the city the first time. (Published Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016)
Waterfield won the Rookie of the Year and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player as he led the Rams to the Championship in his first season. So the following year, when the Rams moved to Los Angeles and Hardy joined the team, the two heated rivals had to compete for the starting job with Waterfield having the advantage as the incumbent.

"That was just terrible. It appalled me. I couldn't stand it and I couldn't get into a game in the first year," Hardy said of having to be the backup to a Bruin in Los Angeles. "Bob and I were rivals, we didn't like each other, and it wasn't healthy."

LA Rams Stadium Development in Inglewood

http://www.hollywoodparklife.com and Hart Howerton
Hardy and Waterfield competed against each other for three seasons with the Rams as Angelenos steadily flocked to the flame of the Olympic Cauldron to watch their newest NFL franchise.

"The Trojans owned the town back then," Hardy said of when the Rams arrived. "There was no Lakers, no Kings, no Dodgers. The Trojans were the only act in town. So when the Rams came in, all the Trojans fans became pro football fans, especially, people who didn't go to USC or UCLA. I think the people of LA have been waiting all these long years to have the NFL back with us in Los Angeles."

Jim Hardy Recalls His Eight-Pick Game

Jim Hardy, the oldest living member of the first LA Rams team, looks back on an ignominious record. (Published Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016)
In Hardy's three seasons with the LA Rams he played alongside NFL greats like the aforementioned Waterfield, Kenny Washington (the first African-American to play in the NFL), former Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, Fred Gehrke (who designed the Rams famous logo) and Red Hickey (who invented the shotgun formation).

"We had some all-time greats on that team," Hardy recalled. "The team had good players back then and now they have to rebuild on that. Kenny Washington was my best friend back then. Kenny was an all-time great then and he would be an all-time great now."

As the NFL became integrated in Hardy's first season, he had a front row seat to the racial divide that plagued Los Angeles after World War II. Despite the attempts of many NFL teams and their owners to block Washington's entrance into the league, Hardy saw his friend simply as a great person and talented football player.

"When we would go out of town, Kenny and those guys would take me with them," remembered Hardy. "They took me to Harlem, the Black Bottom in Detroit, all the black neighborhoods. I became friends with black entertainers and I had a ball with them."

In addition to witnessing the desegregation of the sport, Hardy and his teammates were also part of an era that wore leather helmets. There were no mouthpieces, facemasks, or state of the art protective gear. Ironically, there were also fewer concussions.

"In today's game, everything is an improvement with the equipment except for this huge facemask and that rock they put on their heads that weights a ton," Hardy said of the modern day helmets. "They don't have a bar, they have a fence. You could hit them with a 2x4 in the face and not hurt them."

In Hardy's day, without the protection around the head, defensive players were forced to hit with their shoulders. In today's game, many players lead with their head creating helmet-to-helmet contact that shocks the brain, leading to rampant concussions across the league.

"In my day, you might get a tooth knocked out or break your nose, but that all heals in a week or two," Hardy explained. "In today's game, they break their necks or they get concussions. In my mind, they need to take off that plastic thing on their head and put back on the leather headgear. Yeah, you're going to get a broken nose or one of your teeth knocked out, but you're not going to end up in a wheelchair."

Hardy left Los Angeles in a trade to the Chicago Cardinals in 1949 and set an NFL record that still stands today in his second season with the team when he threw eight interceptions in a single game.

"An hour before that game I was in an automobile accident and totaled my car. I didn't get to the ballpark in time to warm up, I literally ran out and just started in the ball game," explained Hardy of one of the worst days by a quarterback in NFL history. "I don't even remember playing in the game. I played so poorly they should've jerked me in the first quarter. You usually never let a quarterback stay that long in the game. I played so bad they probably should've fired me and released the coach on the same day."

Hardy redeemed himself by throwing six touchdowns the following week (an NFL record at the time), and got revenge on the Eagles—the team that intercepted him eight times—when he led the Cardinals to a 21-10 victory in Philadelphia later that year. Despite the bevy of lifelong accomplishments under Hardy's name, his interception record is one he hopes people forget.

"I can tell you the one place that record won't be," he said with a wry smile creeping across his face. "It's not going to be on my gravestone."

Thankfully, the highlight of Hardy's career came a few years later when he helped lead the Detroit Lions to the NFL Title in 1953. An accomplishment he called "the pinnacle of everything you play for," but his championship ring pales in comparison to his achievements inside the Coliseum while wearing the Cardinal and Gold.

He retired from the game in 1953 after seven seasons in the NFL, but his passion for the game never requited. For the next 63 years, Hardy regularly attended USC practices and home games, a habit he still continues today despite his nearly 130-mile commute from La Quinta, California.

Even his love affair with the Coliseum continued long after he left the field, as Hardy became the General Manager of the Coliseum Commission from 1973 to 1986. His relationship with one of the most famous stadiums in America makes the Rams return extra special, especially when they host former Trojans coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks in the first NFL game at the Coliseum in over two decades.

"I'm going to be at the game and I'm going to root for the Rams," said Hardy who plans to attend all the Rams home games this season. "With Pete Carroll coming, he's one of my favorite all-time coaches, but I'll still be a Ram fan."

Hardy is a walking, talking, encyclopedia of the Los Angeles Rams. He joined them when they became the first NFL franchise in the city, was teammates with the first African-American player in the league, watched Gehrke paint the horns on his helmet and saw the formation of the "Fearsome Foursome."

Hardy held court as the Dodgers, Lakers, Kings and Angels all joined the Rams as professional sports franchises housed in the City of Angels. He watched from the sidelines as the Rams went to their first Super Bowl in 1979, and then headed South down the 405 to Anaheim as former USC head coach John Robinson took over the team.

As the dark period in Rams history hovered over the franchise in the early 90s, he observed as owner, Georgia Frontiere, moved the team to St. Louis, and waved goodbye as they traveled halfway across the country under the Gateway Arch.

Twenty-two years later, Hardy has lived through it all as the Rams story comes full circle in their return to Los Angeles.

"I'm glad to see the Rams come back. They were an organization, ownership and talent-wise that has changed a lot, but I'm glad to see the Rams come back to LA because it's a good football town," he said. "People support the team and they'll be home here in the Coliseum for a few years and then go to their own stadium in Inglewood. I think they'll prove to be one of the best teams in the NFL."

Someday, Hardy will have time to look back and reflect on his football life, but for now he's having too much fun living it. There's no doubt that he will be in the stands of the Coliseum on Saturdays and Sundays this season with more energy and vigor than the other 90,000 fans in attendance.

He says his secret is he walks and jogs every morning and goes to the gym four-to-five times a week. Thankfully, the Rams have returned while he's still young and he has no plans of surrendering his love for football anytime soon.

"I have long-range plans. There are a lot of things I haven't done yet," he said in his homespun way. "The good Lord has been good to me and I'm appreciative. I have a healthy outlook. I have a happy life. I have a healthy life and barring I don't get hit by a bus, I'll still go to practice one day a week. Fight on!"

Read the red font below
Fisher: Jared Goff could be Rams' backup QB Week 2

• 
• By Chris Wesseling
• Around the NFL Writer
• Published: Sept. 13, 2016 at 09:10 p.m.
• Updated: Sept. 13, 2016 at 09:38 p.m.

After watching Case Keenum author one of the least effective season openers of the 21st century, Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday that he had no plans to change his starting quarterback for Sunday's home opener versus the Seattle Seahawks.

The obvious followup question is when will No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff be ready to move up from third on the depth chart?




Fisher told NFL Network's Steve Wyche last week that the plan was for Goff to ascend to the backup role in Week 2, flipping with Sean Mannion.

That plan is not set in stone, however.

During Monday's press conference, Fisher said only that there is a chance Goff will advance enough to handle backup duties this week.

Until he surpasses Mannion, Goff won't be a candidate to see game action.

The conundrum for Fisher and his offensive coaches is that Keenum has thoroughly outplayed Goff, who struggled with pre-snap reads, post-snap reads and the overall speed of the NFL game during August.

"Goff will one day be the starter but not until he is ready," Fisher emphasized to Wyche last week.


Will the rookie's timetable be accelerated after Keenum's Monday night faceplant?

The problems go beyond the quarterback in Los Angeles' offense.

One 49ers player told Wyche that San Francisco's defense could tell by alignment and backfield motion after the snap exactly what the Rams route tree was, Wyche relayed on Tuesday's edition of NFL Network's Up to the Minute with Andrew Siciliano.

If that predictably was a scheming issue, offensive coordinator Rob Boras will have to go back to the drawing board. If it was partially the result of Keenum's obvious physical limitations, there's a danger of rushing Goff into the starting lineup.

The Rams firmly believe their top draft pick will be a "great player" some day. It has been clear for five months, though, that he's going to need time to master his craft with more practice reps before he's ready to orchestrate an NFL offense.

Please post any links to archived Jeff Fisher show fom last night.

Before Monday night, many would argue that Keenum had the highest floor of all three QBs going into week one.

But after witnessing what occurred during week one against the 49ers, who would you say has the highest floor of our QBs?

Who would you say has the most potential or highest ceiling?

Lastly, who would you start week 2 against Seattle at home?

I personally would start Goff week 2 against Seattle so he can grow with the team and get those much needed reps in. In addition, I feel that he has the best chance at making the defense pay with his strong arm when opposing defenses have 8 people in the box ganging up on Gurley.

Thoughts?

Hang in there guys!

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I know it has only been one game that they looked like a steamy pile but it looks a lot like what we all should have expected.

The move to LA put them behind every other team in the league when it comes to off season programs. Its just a fact that goes along with the move and we should all have recognized it would be a problem.

Add to that the poison of Hard Knocks, I hate that show and what it attempts to do. I attribute bad attitudes and no leadership to playing to the cameras and think it can do nothing but harm to any team that participates.

Two strike for a team that is already trying to rebuild its defensive leadership, find a QB for this year and the future as well as finding its place in the LA market.

It should not be surprising with what we know about Fisher and slow starts along with these other factors. They might correct pieces of the team throughout the year but I am changing my expectations to think this is probably a throw away year, there isn't a damn thing I can do about it and I'm sick and tired of this shit from a team I have supported for more than 40 years.

uke:

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The year was 2009. The team was the Rams. Remember how they did? Behold: http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2009/REG/RAMS

I was listening to Kirwan today on Sirius and he went on a bit about how successful the Rams were last night on first down, well productive is a better word. Still, he mentioned how the Rams had things rolling a bit, only to p!$$ away what should have been favorable down and distances on 2nd and 3rd downs. He also mentioned the penalties, and how the one drive that threatened the 9ers got moved way back to midfield after the personal foul. So decided to take a look and he was pretty much on point:

TG
1st Down runs: 9 for 34 yards, 3.8 average.
2nd Down runs: 6 for 8 yards, 1.3 average.
3rd Down runs: 1 for 2 yards, 2 average.
4th Down runs: 1 for 3 yards, 3 average.

CK
1st Down passes: 8 of 13 for 57 yards, 61.5% completion, 4.39 average, 0 TD, 1 INT.
2nd Down passes: 4 of 10 for 35 yards, 40% completion, 3.5 average, 0 TD, 1 INT.
3rd Down passes: 5 of 12 for 38 yards, 41.7% completion, 3.17 average, 0 TD, 0 INT. <--sacked 2x
4th Down passes: N/A.

With Gurley his numbers on first down were not Todd Gurley-ish but they were not terrible. Keenum on first down didn't have great completion percentages, but they were pretty much on par with what we should expect from a backup QB.

What stands out to me is the second and third down runs, first off, were absolutely terrible. And that was compounded by the passing, just as any of us would suspect after watching that horrid game, which had average completions of 3.5 and 3.17 yards.

Translation was the 9ers defense was rolled up tight to stop Gurley and the Rams played right into it with their sorry passing game. Their safety Bethea also came on later, and aside from discussing how big their DL is and some other BS I tuned out he mentioned what was also not a surprise, that stopping TG was their overall defensive focus going into the game. He finished by saying some nice things about Todd, that they had to face him again, and that he was probably going to be a load for whoever they play this week.

For me, looking at those numbers above make me want to puke. The Rams' failure was largely driven by scheme IMO, and specifically 2nd and 3rd downs. As Steve Young said during the game: you cannot attack NFL defenses only horizontally; you have to get vertical and throw into them. It's too bad Boras doesn't seem to be aware of that, and that Keenum looks even more checkdown happy than Bradford was.

At this point if they want to keep playing Keenum, maybe they need to just go jumbo sets and run zone stretches to Gurley and Tavon. I'm sure that would make Fish very happy.

Los Angeles Rams to debut white throwback jerseys for Color Rush Game

http://www.ramsheadquarters.com/los...-white-throwback-jerseys-for-color-rush-game/

The Los Angeles Rams will once again participate in a Color Rush game which is part of the Thursday Night special against the Seattle Seahawks this year. For the Seahawks, they will be sporting an all neon green uniform while the Rams are going in a different route.

According to multiple reports, they will not be wearing the mustard jerseys because of the issue of color blindness.

Nike brought in doctors from Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York to review which Color Rush matchups would be problematic for people with colorblindness.

Other teams that will wear white include the Cleveland Browns, since their all-brown uniforms would blend with the Baltimore Ravens‘ purple, and the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks, because distinguishing yellow from green would be an issue.

Expect the Los Angeles Rams to wear something along these lines coming the TNF battle against Seattle.

Okay, I've given it the 24-hour rule, albeit's been only about 19 hours. Starting to think about this Sunday's game. I know we are disappointed/pissed beyond certain words, but I want to focus on Sunday's game against Seattle. I hope the team, regardless of Fisher's apologetic reasoning, comes out with a sense of urgency and some anger. The only way to wash the bad taste of last night's game out of their mouth is to get back on the field and play. In all honesty, and it's not the "kool-aid" talking, I think we will see a much different team, especially on offense. The one thing I've seen, over the years, is when someone's pride is wounded, they normally come back with something to prove. I think the players know they laid a huge sh*t burger yesterday and their pride won't allow them to do it two games in a row. I really hope they will play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder (no pun intended).

Offense needs to set the tone on their first series and score a touchdown and not settle for a FG or move the ball and eventually punt. They need to be on the field more than the defense and score points. Fisher needs to allow Boras/Groh dial up some deep passes. Austin needs to touch the ball more than 10 times. If memory serves me, when he has at least 10 touches, other than special teams, the Rams win. The O-Line needs to do whatever it takes to give Gurley running lanes and protect our QB allowing him to throw. Lest not forget the receivers need to get open and catch the ball.

Defense needs to get after Wilson and put the hurt on him early and often. It's our turn to make someone one-dimensional. Tackle, tackle and tackle. Limit big plays and momentum changing plays.

Special teams needs to show up and give us some points either by a KOR, punt return, blocked punt, etc. because Lord knows we probably will need them.

Fisher needs to let his coaches coach and players play. Stop holding them back because that's your philosophy. We have enough talent to win. He just needs to stop dictating the tempo.

And for God's sake stop with all the undisciplined play and mind-numbing penalties. Realistically for the Rams to win we need to score at least 24 points. I was not impressed with Seattle's game against Miami, and I think they saw how the loss of Lynch has put more pressure on Wilson to be the focus. So, for sake of your pride, the fans who spend thousands to support you, and anything else you can think of... get a freaking win this weekend!

- Same HC
- Same OC that was the OC for the final few games (offense was pretty bad in those games)
- Same personnel

The Rams used the QB position as a crutch, so they traded a treasure trove to get a QB. Problem is the receivers and line are still issues, issues that will plague the young QB once Fisher finally decides to put him in.

Is the offensive talent in 2016 better or worse than it was opening day 2012?