Optimism in the face of adversity is difficult. Is it worth it?

[AvengerRam]

It's easy to grin, when your ship has come in,
And you have the stock market beat,
But the man who's worthwhile, is the man who can smile,
When his shorts are too tight in the seat.

- Judge Smails

So, here we are. The team is 3-5, we're coming off a loss snatched from the jaws of victory, and our offensive line is in shambles. Add to the mix Matthew Stafford in concussion protocol, and things look especially bleak.

And yet, there's this little voice in me that says: "the next two games are very winnable. We can get to 5-5 and then, who knows?" It whispers to me about the return of Coleman Shelton and others. It tells me not to give up hope.

Should I listen to that voice?

Despite my generally logical mind and healthy perspective on things, I still feel each loss. And, make no mistake... they hurt even more now, when we've had a successful team for years, than they did in the dark days before McVay.

So, should I continue to allow the little voice to talk me into having hope?

For me, the answer is still "yes."

Until the Rams are eliminated, I'm still going to entertain visions of an historic turnaround and another playoff run. I can't help myself, I suppose. More importantly, I don't want to stop hoping.

Hope followed by disappointment is hard. But hope rewarded is the sweetest prize for a sports fan.

So, here I am... still hoping. Until the bitter end.

(And then I'll have hope for 2023.)

 

[Rams8821]

I like it, lets get a W on Sunday!

 

[oldnotdead]

You would think the Rams were out of contention the way people are talking. Geez, the team is finally getting healthy. They are getting Shelton back which would be huge on the OL. If they play Nsekhe at LT and move Jackson inside where he played well this would be a good OL. Yeah they will be starting Wolford this week but the way Stafford has been playing lately, Wolford should be fine with an improved OL.

They are getting Williams back to rotate with Henderson at RB with Akers filling out the #3 RB role.

Hopefully, they finally bench Evans and I hope Morris benches, Kendrick. His undisciplined play is becoming a liability. Since Morris plays nothing but zone he has the choice between Hill and Rochell both better than Kendrick.

The Cards are reeling. Kyler is dealing with a hamstring so it will affect his mobility. Kupp will play as will Jefferson and Robinson. IMO the offense will have enough firepower to beat the Cards. Morris just has to take away that short zone pass Kyler loves. Frustrate Kyler and like the kid he is he will get frustrated and turn the ball over.

The Rams have two games against the Hawks. Sweep them (no sure thing the way Geno is playing) and the whole division title possibilities are upended. It ain't done till it's done.

 

[KJD_Ram]

absofuckinglutly...

 

[Psycho_X]

I think we can still correct this ship enough to be dangerous rest of season. Whether that's enough to get into playoffs is another thing. The Bucs game was an opportunity to stay in comfortable range of playoffs and then hope we get important players back like Shelton in time for the back half stretch to stabilize the offense.

But then we went and blew that so it's going to be against the odds if we make the playoffs at this point. But if we can at least beat the NFC teams rest of season and only lose once more to say KC then we should be good to go. Beating Seattle twice will be extremely important.

 

[OntarioRam]

You would think the Rams were out of contention the way people are talking. Geez, the team is finally getting healthy. They are getting Shelton back which would be huge on the OL. If they play Nsekhe at LT and move Jackson inside where he played well this would be a good OL. Yeah they will be starting Wolford this week but the way Stafford has been playing lately, Wolford should be fine with an improved OL.

They are getting Williams back to rotate with Henderson at RB with Akers filling out the #3 RB role.

Hopefully, they finally bench Evans and I hope Morris benches, Kendrick. His undisciplined play is becoming a liability. Since Morris plays nothing but zone he has the choice between Hill and Rochell both better than Kendrick.

The Cards are reeling. Kyler is dealing with a hamstring so it will affect his mobility. Kupp will play as will Jefferson and Robinson. IMO the offense will have enough firepower to beat the Cards. Morris just has to take away that short zone pass Kyler loves. Frustrate Kyler and like the kid he is he will get frustrated and turn the ball over.

The Rams have two games against the Hawks. Sweep them (no sure thing the way Geno is playing) and the whole division title possibilities are upended. It ain't done till it's done.

I am very much aligned with this line of thinking. The season is far from over, folks! Also, the NFL is so unpredictable, that how could any fan base lose faith at week 10 aside from the most egregiously bad rosters?

 

[tempests]

On a week to week basis, sure.

Their offense is struggling too much for me to entertain thoughts of a playoff run. I don't know what could change that.

Rams could be a prime bounce back team for 2023 if they have a smart offseason.

 

[GoodBadUgly]

There once was an offensive line,
‘twas described by words other than “fine”.
As injuries healed,
the line started to field,
Rams that opened holes large as the Rhine…

The QB was playing like ass,
and Ram fans gave him boatloads of sass.
With his protocol cleared,
and his finely trimmed beard,
beat the Cards with a sweet no-look pass.

The downtrodden fans changed their tune.
“The Lombardi again we’ll win soon!”
So they saved up their money,
Flew McVay and his honey,
to get more star recruits in Cancun.

 

[CGI_Ram]

In the NFC the Rams are very much alive.

But… We have to start stacking some good fortune. We are definitely overdue for that.

Until we are eliminated… anything is possible in the modern NFL.

Football Sundays are a blast. Go Rams!

 

[Rams8821]

We are due for some turnovers to go our way....once that happens the tide tends to shift a bit....

 

[tklongball]

Thanks for the Caddyshack reference. Ted Knight was so good.

 

[Malibu]

A

There once was an offensive line,
‘twas described by words other than “fine”.
As injuries healed,
the line started to field,
Rams that opened holes large as the Rhine…

The QB was playing like ass,
and Ram fans gave him boatloads of sass.
With his protocol cleared,
and his finely trimmed beard,
beat the Cards with a sweet no-look pass.

The downtrodden fans changed their tune.
“The Lombardi again we’ll win soon!”
So they saved up their money,
Flew McVay and his honey,
to get more star recruits in Cancun

I absolutely love this really creative and well done!

 

[Tumak61]

Not really. Rams are very flawed this year. Not sure how dialed in McVay is.

 

[snackdaddy]

They are getting Williams back to rotate with Henderson at RB with Akers filling out the #3 RB role.

Not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy, but Williams is a 5th round pick who has yet to play a down in the NFL regular season. Can we really expect anything from him when he finally plays?

 

[PARAM]

If we can get the same 5 guys to suit up every week, McVay will figure a way to play to their strengths. Pretty hard to do that when there's a different 5 every week and most times a 6th has to step in. Continuity on the OL allows continuity with the play calling.

@AvengerRam......when there's a mark in the standings that indicates the Rams are out of it, I'll stop hoping.

 

[oldnotdead]

LT Nsekhe
LG Shelton
C Allen
RG Brewer
RT Havenstein

I think Shelton who is experienced and a better blocker than Brewer plays LG (blindside). This is about as good as can be expected and could be a decent OL. Not a dominant OL but "good enough".

 

[fearsomefour]

They have to play the games....whcih mean I will watch them....which means, I hope for the best.
Even during all the horrible years at the end of the time in St. Louis and early years back in LA....I would watch the young players on both sides of the line and try to hone in on them and see how they were developing. There is always something at least sort of enjoyable to take away.
Ever forward.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

After watching what the niners did last year, we still have a chance. But that’s all we have at this point. Still, thinking positively:

1. No more 49ers this season
2. The only direction we can go now is up.
3. We are starting to heal.
4. Adversity makes you stronger
5. Our defense is capable.
6. ARob will only get better
7. We have a premier QB
8. McVay is the way

I’m sure there are more reasons to expect success. This next game will be our turning point. Let’s go Rams!!

 

[blackbart]

Here we go!!!

 

[Psycho_X]

Well, fuck.


But having said that lets continue on some things that might be good in the long run....

Kyren William is averaging 9 ypcarry and 10 ypcatch. Ok ok, it was in garbage time but I'm trying to hang on to some kind of hope here. The kid looked fast and elusive so lets see more of that please.

With Kupp out a few weeks maybe we'll see McCutcheon in some real game action? Or be forced to play Tutu? Likely it'll just be more Skow but as this season gets more lost as we go I hope we start seeing what we truly have or don't have in younger players.

Was hard to get a good gauge with a backup QB doing a lot of roll outs but it seemed like the o-line was at least ok again. Brewer did at least ok again. Better than Evans by far so that's a plus. Maybe Brewer can develop into a good player for us that we can retain for depth this offseason. Nsehke got beat bad on the fumble sack that JJ Watt got screwed out of a return touchdown and Allen got demolished by Watt as well for another sack. But overall not the worst we've seen by far this season lol.