Rams’ poor eye for talent, not Linehan, spurred slide
September 28th, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
By
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Let’s clear something up at the beginning: Not only will Scott Linehan remain
the Rams head coach for the remainder of the season, he’ll be the HC in 2008
unless something extraordinary goes down.
If Linehan smashes a chair over the head of one of his bosses, OK, that
probably gets him fired. If he finishes 1-15 or 0-16 and the players quit on
him, maybe that gets Linehan fired. But only maybe. I’d say the chances of that
happening are minimal.
You need to understand that Rams owner Georgia Frontiere, team president John
Shaw and general manager Jay Zygmunt really like Linehan and will give him
every chance to succeed. I can assure you that he has 100 percent support from
his employers, so you might want to hold off on those upstart Internet
campaigns for Marty Schottenheimer or Bill Cowher. Linehan isn’t going
anywhere.
I spoke to a couple of Rams VIPs about Linehan’s status on background, and they
wouldn’t comment on this subject because they believe it’s ridiculous to even
suggest that Linehan’s job is in jeopardy. The Rams VIPs didn’t want to insult
Linehan by giving him the proverbial vote of confidence only 19 games into his
regime, when he’s 8-11 overall and is off to an 0-3 start this season with a
squad that already has been severely damaged by injury.
Here’s the biggest problem the Rams have right now, and it isn’t Linehan: This
organization can’t identify good football players. The drafts have been awful
in recent years (too soon to tell about 2007). There have been way too many
early round busts and only one pick, running back Steven Jackson, who evolved
into a Pro Bowl talent. Free agency hasn’t delivered any true stars who have
made this team significantly better on either side of the ball.
This startling incompetence in evaluating personnel is slowly destroying the
franchise. And until ownership and Shaw decide to hire a personnel sage to
replenish the talent, the Rams will sink deeper into mediocrity. And the coach
will be largely irrelevant.
This almost makes me long for the days of George Boone, and please note that I
said “almost.”
Not that Linehan gets a free pass.
(And if Linehan did get a free pass, he probably would opt to throw it 2 yards
to Torry Holt at the sideline.)
Monday, I wrote a blog on STLtoday.com about Linehan’s “prevent” offense. I
simply do not understand an offensive approach that has Marc Bulger throwing
mostly quick-hitch sideline passes to the wideouts. Those wimpy plays achieve
little except create the impression that Linehan and offensive coordinator Greg
Olson are playing scared with their obsession to prevent sacks, hits and
turnovers.
What they’re preventing is big plays.
Think I’m exaggerating? The Rams have attempted 109 passes so far, and 22 have
been caught behind the line of scrimmage. Another 51 have traveled 10 yards or
less. That means 67 percent of the Rams’ passes so far have been dinks. If
you’re petrified of throwing the ball downfield, then why have so many
expensive wide receivers? Why sign Drew Bennett and tight end Randy McMichael?
If Bulger’s ribs prevent him from making longer passes, then play Gus Frerotte.
That’s why you gave him a three-year, $6.3 million deal.
The coaches did the smart thing in establishing the running game at Tampa Bay,
but then failed to follow up by stinging the Bucs with downfield throws. Bulger
always has thrived on those intermediate throws; this season when he attempts
passes that are airborne for 11 to 20 yards, Bulger has completed 18 of 27 and
has a QB rating of 114. I’d like to see the coaches play to their players’
strengths for a change.
Linehan has lost Jackson to injury, and the offensive line is scrambled. The
situation is tough, and unfair. But the Rams can’t go to Dallas and turtle.
They have to at least earn respect by putting up a fight. Linehan’s job may be
safe, but that’s no reason to play it so safe.
