- Joined
- May 9, 2018
- Messages
- 5,392
1. Wait... what? How can a message board series have a high ankle sprain? Does it even have ankles?
2. Of course, this theme is no sillier than the predicament we find ourselves in.
3. Here's my theory... A year ago, we Rams fans got together and collectively wished for a championship. The Football Gods heard our prayer, and decided to answer our plea on the condition that we all also agreed to withstand a nightmarish follow-up season after winning the big one. We made this deal, but we didn't know that, being old school Gods who thrive on irony, revenge and mocking mankind, the Football deities decreed that we'd have no memory of the deal we made, thus compelling us to suffer, lacking the knowledge that enduring this year was the agreed upon price of a championship.
4. Either that or field turf sucks. Maybe that's it?
5. Oh, and I'm not going to provide an in-depth analysis of the Chiefs game. We played as well as could be expected in a match-up equivalent of Spud Webb guarding Patrick Ewing in the post.
6. A few props are in order...
7. Kyren Williams could have a future with this team. I don't see him as a primary RB1, but he could be a very effective third-down/change-of-pace reliable option next year. Behind/paired with whom? Well... while Cam Akers has looked a bit better in the past two weeks than the first part of the season, I think that guy may be in college or on another team right now.
8. I'm not going to get my hopes up on Tutu Atwell, but he has at least made a couple of plays lately. He'll get some more chances in the remainder of the season, so... well, I said I wouldn't get my hopes up.
9. In a total lost cause season, here's to the guys like Rob Havenstein, Bobby Wagner and Nick Scott, who keep strapping on the helmet and giving their all.
10. So now, we're looking at Allen Robinson shut down for the year, and possibly Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald along with him. Ugh.
11. I'll say this about our Rams... they do things BIG. 1979? Biggest underdog ever almost pulls off a shocker against a dynasty. 1999? Biggest fairy tale season ever. 2021? The pinnacle of an "all in" strategy working. 2022? Most snakebit, injury-plagued, soul crushing attempted title defense ever.
12. I do see a lot of hope for 2023. I have been accused of being a wide-eyed optimist before, though.
13. A big storyline of this offseason will be how the stars respond to this year's adversity. Okay... Cooper Kupp is an easy one. He'll probably come back in the best shape of his life, with an even faster 40 time, and have a great year.
14. Others, though, will be questioned. Until we hear firm commitments, there will be those who will wonder if this season will drive Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald into well-deserved retirements, or if it will be a motivator to show that they're not ready to be written off and sent into the sunset.
15. I tend to believe it will be the latter for all three, but... who knows? In McVay's case, the money truck is always parked on the curb outside his house, waiting for him to take a TV job. In Stafford's and Donald's case, there is an opportunity to leave the game with health, wealth, and glory.
16. I'd ask each for just one more year (with an option for more), but they don't owe me anything.
17. As an aside, I don't begrudge the Detroit Lions for the benefits they stand to gain from the Rams' troubles. The Lions' willingness to let Stafford leave was somewhat noble, and it benefited us greatly. If the Lions can parlay the deal into the development a team that will give long suffering Lions fans something to cheer about, I'm okay with that.
18. The prospect of a top 40 selection in the draft... intriguing.
19. The challenge of rebuilding around the (hopefully) returning core of stars... exciting.
20. And, remember... the Rams do things big. 2023... an historically big comeback season? Why not?
2. Of course, this theme is no sillier than the predicament we find ourselves in.
3. Here's my theory... A year ago, we Rams fans got together and collectively wished for a championship. The Football Gods heard our prayer, and decided to answer our plea on the condition that we all also agreed to withstand a nightmarish follow-up season after winning the big one. We made this deal, but we didn't know that, being old school Gods who thrive on irony, revenge and mocking mankind, the Football deities decreed that we'd have no memory of the deal we made, thus compelling us to suffer, lacking the knowledge that enduring this year was the agreed upon price of a championship.
4. Either that or field turf sucks. Maybe that's it?
5. Oh, and I'm not going to provide an in-depth analysis of the Chiefs game. We played as well as could be expected in a match-up equivalent of Spud Webb guarding Patrick Ewing in the post.
6. A few props are in order...
7. Kyren Williams could have a future with this team. I don't see him as a primary RB1, but he could be a very effective third-down/change-of-pace reliable option next year. Behind/paired with whom? Well... while Cam Akers has looked a bit better in the past two weeks than the first part of the season, I think that guy may be in college or on another team right now.
8. I'm not going to get my hopes up on Tutu Atwell, but he has at least made a couple of plays lately. He'll get some more chances in the remainder of the season, so... well, I said I wouldn't get my hopes up.
9. In a total lost cause season, here's to the guys like Rob Havenstein, Bobby Wagner and Nick Scott, who keep strapping on the helmet and giving their all.
10. So now, we're looking at Allen Robinson shut down for the year, and possibly Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald along with him. Ugh.
11. I'll say this about our Rams... they do things BIG. 1979? Biggest underdog ever almost pulls off a shocker against a dynasty. 1999? Biggest fairy tale season ever. 2021? The pinnacle of an "all in" strategy working. 2022? Most snakebit, injury-plagued, soul crushing attempted title defense ever.
12. I do see a lot of hope for 2023. I have been accused of being a wide-eyed optimist before, though.
13. A big storyline of this offseason will be how the stars respond to this year's adversity. Okay... Cooper Kupp is an easy one. He'll probably come back in the best shape of his life, with an even faster 40 time, and have a great year.
14. Others, though, will be questioned. Until we hear firm commitments, there will be those who will wonder if this season will drive Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald into well-deserved retirements, or if it will be a motivator to show that they're not ready to be written off and sent into the sunset.
15. I tend to believe it will be the latter for all three, but... who knows? In McVay's case, the money truck is always parked on the curb outside his house, waiting for him to take a TV job. In Stafford's and Donald's case, there is an opportunity to leave the game with health, wealth, and glory.
16. I'd ask each for just one more year (with an option for more), but they don't owe me anything.
17. As an aside, I don't begrudge the Detroit Lions for the benefits they stand to gain from the Rams' troubles. The Lions' willingness to let Stafford leave was somewhat noble, and it benefited us greatly. If the Lions can parlay the deal into the development a team that will give long suffering Lions fans something to cheer about, I'm okay with that.
18. The prospect of a top 40 selection in the draft... intriguing.
19. The challenge of rebuilding around the (hopefully) returning core of stars... exciting.
20. And, remember... the Rams do things big. 2023... an historically big comeback season? Why not?
