No Cooks or Woods wow
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You know, as I was typing this and looking at all the results and the way other teams are playing, ALL of them are facing some sort of struggles. Yet the only teams that are getting the brunt of the criticism police are the Rams, and locally the Texans.

It's so freaking frustrating that other teams seem get the "oh it's ok, they'll be fine" pass but not these teams. Anyway, hopefully you can sense my pissiness when reading.

Have fun. Maybe.

https://ramsondemand.com/powerrankings/angry-ranks-week-16.38/

This is such a cool video and story. Especially this time of year when we're all receiving lots of packages. Trust me, this shit is hilarious...


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Well there ya go

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Hilarious
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well folks, week 16 finds the Rams riding a 2 game losing streak, but hey, at least they arent the Cardinals, amirite?

Arizona got throttled by the Falcons last week to the tune of a 40-14 beat down. And the Rams dropped to 1-7 vs the Eagles in the last 7 games.alm:


Can the Rams bounce back to Sept-October form against the hapless Redbirds, or will Arizona prevail in Phoenix.


Lets see those predictions

Coleman was the ref for the "Tuck Rule Game."
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http://www.footballzebras.com/2018/12/week-16-referee-assignments-2018/

Rams at Cardinals — Walt Coleman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Coleman

https://www.arizonasportsfans.com/f...aying-worse-than-jared-goff-right-now.291596/

No starting quarterback is playing worse than Jared Goff right now

Goff did not look good last night. Maybe the Rams have peaked?
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https://www.arizonasportsfans.com/f...arizona-cardinals-pregame-thread-2018.291588/

Week 16- Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals Pregame thread, 2018

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Please forfeit and save us the embarrassment
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This game could get real ugly

Rams looking to right the ship after 2 losses
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Rams have an incentive after these losses. Home field advantage and byes are in play.
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I will watch the Cards first offensive drive only,,,they will probably score that early, and then the wheels will fall off again. The Rams have a sore azz from last night, so it will get ugly fast for the Cards. Rams > 37 Cards > 10
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I hope the Rams score 40, nobody gets hurt and Larry gets his catches. Other than that, blah...
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The Rams are gonna be pissed after the way they've played the last two weeks. Wouldn't be surprised if they dropped 60 on us
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https://www.arizonasportsfans.com/forum/threads/anybody-want-my-rams-tickets.291568/

Anybody want my Rams tickets??

Make an offer
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You’re going to pay me how much again to take them? :lol:
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Feel bad for people with Rams players on their team in the championship. A 1st quarter blowout sounds about right for next week's game
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So you would not be a fan of the Lions vs Gladiators?

If Card fans show up, I would love to see a mass display of thumbs down.
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don’t miss out on this game of the year folks
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I'll take them. I'm sure my son can find some teammates that would love to go to a Cardinals game. Especially what might be the last chance to see Fitz play.
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If I was in Arizona, I'd definitely be there... just because why not and my Dad and I always go to the game if they're in town when I am.

But I'm surprised more people aren't going just to possibly see Larry's last game at home. I don't think there's much of a chance in hell of coming back and I wish I could see his last stand and hear the LARRY, LARRY, LARRY chant one final time reverberate through the stadium.
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http://arizonacardinals.freeforums.net/thread/959/goff-comparison

The Goff Comparison

Everyone is arguing that Rosen’s poor performance this year can be solved if we replace Wilks with an offensive guru.

Breakdown:
GS QBrec Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int

Goff 2016:
7 0-7-0 112 205 54.6 1089 5 7

Rosen so far:
11 3-8-0 187 336 55.7 2042 10 14

With only 4 more games than Goff, Rosen has doubled both rookie Goffs yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. He has also done so with a slightly better completion percentage.

Additionally, Goff was working with a similar arsenal of weapons: a good running back (Gurley) and a subpar WR corps (Kenny Britt had a 1000 yard season).

I think people need to relax with the David Carr damage comparison, and realize that Rosen has a lot of confidence, exuded clearly on draft day. He will love trying a revenge year with a new coach that tailors the offense to him. That’s what our worry should be right now; not that Rosen is broken.

Let the rookie play it out; he’s tough, and you will only damage the most important trait—his self confidence—if you bench him.
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The point of this thread was not to say Rosen is a guaranteed QB of the future. Honestly, Goff is not a great QB to be compared to—when McVays scheme breaks down, Goff seems flustered and breakdowns with it. The last few weeks, especially last night, showcase that Goff is not the next Tom Brady.

Nevertheless, Rosen can be a great system quarterback. And that can win you Super Bowls in this league—look what the eagles accomplished last year.
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Rosen is better than Goff the last three weeks, wrap your head around that! Goff has the lowest QBR these last three weeks, with 1 TD and 7 INTs!

Dude straight out balled last week and i think he deserves some mention. If we ended up pulling out a win, he imo deserved the game ball.

http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/po...ve-urgent-need-to-solve-self-inflicted-wounds

Rattled Rams could see promising season fizzle out if Sean McVay doesn't restore order
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...sean-mcvay-jared-goff-todd-gurley/2341190002/

Rams' offense slow to adapt without injured receiver Cooper Kupp
http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...to-adapt-without-injured-receiver-cooper-kupp

NFL Power Rankings: Rams are in a funk, and the great Sean McVay has to fix them
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-rams-funk-great-sean-mcvay-fix-041813823.html

McVay sees signs of turnaround after Rams’ 2nd straight loss
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/article223239500.html

It started in the Chiefs game and has slowly regressed over the next several games. He is not right. We all said that we were glad the bye came when it did because it would give him a chance to rest and heal...he hasn’t. Sean seems to be using him as a decoy as much as he can, but I think that’s backfiring a little. Anyone with a discerning eye can see he does not have the explosiveness he had before that awkward tackle against KC. If Todd isn’t right, should we keep playing him?

It IS Christmas time so I am allowed to Dream! I am still hoping (Dreaming!) that the Saints will lose one of their two games with the Panthers and lose to the Steelers! I know this is NOT likely but I will be hoping for this until it can’t happen! But, If the Rams will at least win their last two games and get a Bye Week that will be a good consolation but I really would prefer NOT to play the Saints in New Orleans!

read:https://athlonsports.com/nfl/monday...ts-vs-carolina-panthers-prediction-picks-2018

Monday Night Football: New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers

With the division title clinched, New Orleans looks to stay in the lead for the top seed in NFC when the Saints take on the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Monday night. New Orleans (11-2) also is hoping for a better start after the offense failed to score a touchdown in the first half last week against Tampa Bay. Carolina (6-7) has lost five in a row and needs a win or risks falling too far down the pecking order for the second wild-card spot.

Fortunately for the Saints, their recent offensive struggles didn't cost them two weeks in a row. After trailing 14-3 at halftime, a blocked punt by Taysom Hill sparked four straight scoring drives as New Orleans went on to beat the Buccaneers 28-14 last Sunday. The win coupled with the Rams' loss in Chicago put the Saints back atop the NFC courtesy of their head-to-head win in Week 9.

Week 9 also was when the Panthers trailed their division rivals by just one game. But a 52-21 loss in Pittsburgh in Week 10 sent Carolina into a tailspin. While blowouts are tough to swallow, the Panthers' last four losses have been by a touchdown or less.

These two teams will meet again in Week 17 to close out the regular season. The Saints have won four of the past five matchups, including all three (beat Carolina 31-26 in the NFC Wild Card Game) last season.

New Orleans at Carolina

Kickoff: Monday, Dec. 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Saints -6

Three Things to Watch

1. Can the Panthers corral Alvin Kamara?

Kamara has served as the bell cow for the Saints’ offense. His dual-threat capabilities have contributed to him posting 100 yards from scrimmage in seven games thus far. He leads the team in rushing with 793 yards and 11 touchdowns and is second on the team in receiving (591 yards, 4 TDs). Kamara is someone head coach Asshole Face can line up anywhere in the formation and use however he sees fit.

Similar to Carolina running back Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers must always account for Kamara when he's on the field. It may not seem like much but when he rushes for 40 or more yards, New Orleans is 10-0. Kamara teams with Mark Ingram (519 yards, 5 TDs in 9 games) to give the Saints a potent 1-2 punch in their backfield.

While Carolina obviously will have to contend with Drew Brees, the Panthers need to continue their good work against the run. When holding opponents under 90 rushing yards, Carolina is 4-1. Making New Orleans one-dimensional on offense, especially on the road, should improve the Panthers' chances on Monday night.

2. What do the Panthers need to break out of their funk?

Carolina has lost five in a row, but that streak is a little deceiving. After getting blown out by Pittsburgh (52-21) in Week 10, the four most recent losses have come by a total of 17 points. Part of the problem during this stretch has been an offense averaging 20.8 points per game.

Turnovers certainly haven't helped. The Panthers have turned it over nine times during this stretch while generating just three takeaways. Through the eight games of the season, they were sporting a plus-three margin.

Cam Newton has thrown at least one interception in five straight games and nine total during the losing streak, but he's not alone in needing to play better. For Carolina to beat New Orleans, who has been getting the job done on both sides of the ball pretty much all season, it will need a well-rounded effort of its own.

3. Will the Saints’ defense continue to shine?

Defense is not the first thing you think of when it comes to New Orleans, but that side of the ball is just as responsible for the team's success this season. Yes, Brees and company continue to do their thing, ranked second in the NFL in scoring (34.4 ppg) and seventh in yards (389.0) per game, but the defense deserves plenty of credit.

For starters, the Saints are No. 1 in the league in rushing defense (77.6 ypg) and 10th in scoring (21.8 ppg). Over the last 10 games, New Orleans has held all but two opponents (Rams, Ravens) to no more than 20 points. That does not bode well for a Carolina offense that's struggling to score.

The Panthers are second in the league in rushing offense (137.4 ypg) so it will probably come down to strength vs. strength when Carolina has the ball. An effective running game will allow the home team to control the clock and keep the ball out of Brees' hands, a strategy that worked well for Dallas two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Saints' defense will have yet another opportunity to show this team doesn't have to score a ton of points to win.

Final Analysis

The Saints have already secured the NFC South title and are in the driver's seat for a first-round bye. But last week's loss by the Rams has New Orleans thinking of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. Win out and the road to the Super Bowl could go through the Big Easy.

Carolina has lost five in a row but is still in the hunt for the second wild-card spot. But with four teams bunched up, this is basically a must-win situation. One of the reasons why the Saints are 10-2 is that they have shown an ability to win in a number of ways, including on the road. The Panthers have demonstrated the ability to lose winnable matchups. Expect these trends to continue on Monday night.

Prediction: Saints 38, Panthers 13

With Donald being doubled 90% of the time either Brockers, Suh or Fowler should have an easier time getting to the QB-what is the reason we can’t? Are these guys just not good enough? Is it scheme? Is Wade playing it too safe? The Eagles and Bears beat us with their defense and generated pressure with their front 4 and occasional blitzes-which caused timely turnovers and sacks. Game changing plays which we need to start making more of on defense. IMO thats why our secondary looks terrible sometimes because the QB has all day to throw when AD is contained. Wade has to get more creative with this D. I know our LBs are the weak link esp on rush D and coverage then why don’t we blitz them more? Is Wade playing it too safe?

You know, after watching that last play again, it really wasn’t a bad throw. It looked like he was trying to take advantage of Reynolds size with kind of a back shoulder throw. I thought it was in a location that Reynolds could make a play on it but when he turned back he really got no lift at all and it went over his head. At first watch it appeared to be another not so good throw by Goff and maybe they weren’t on the same page but if he had made a decent jump that was a catchable ball.

They need to simply take whatever the defenses are giving them. I seen a attitude early in season from the players like "not against our offense". Well a few injuries and players getting gassed late in the season, keep it simple, take what is given and god things will happen.
Then defenses will adjust and the deep stuff will start clicking again.
Don't overthink it coach McVay.Smart people tend to do that.

I think it was Parcells that said "you are what your record says you are." In Goff's case, I see it more as "you are who you play like."

Here's a reminder that elite players do elite things during important games and in the case of QB's (they) step up during times of necessity, they inspire and lead by example. Statistics never tell the whole story, put up a set of numbers and a good statistician will develop 2 or 3 opposing conclusions.

From http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...y-on-rams-woes-weve-got-to-figure-it-out-fast

>>Jared Goff and company compiled 413 total yards in Sunday night's surprising loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but averaged a pedestrian 5.6 yards per play, finished 4 for 12 on third downs and committed three costly turnovers.

Goff's struggles, which continued Sunday evening, have been most notable over the last few weeks. The Rams quarterback and one-time MVP candidate has thrown more picks in the three games since L.A.'s bye (7) than in his 11 prior games (6). Goff missed many open receivers Sunday, especially in the red zone, and made a critical error in the third quarter when he threw a sloppy pick after fumbling the snap and nearly falling on the ball.

Following the loss, Rams coach Sean McVay expressed confidence in the shaky Goff, but admitted the quarterback needs to play better<<

What else could he say?

Playing poorly for a game with numerous team injuries or other un-for-seen circumstances is one thing. But put two or three poor games together and a pattern begins to emerge . In Goff's case and this is just my opinion, I've always considered him a "tweener". This subject has been discussed ad nauseum, suffice it to say that last season may well have been closer to an accurate evaluation of Goff's abilities when he was rated around 13 or 14th.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I generally let my eyes tell me whether a player is doing well or not. I/we could go down the list of Goff's limitations, strengths and weaknesses, but what's the point? Some would agree and others disagree, it's all opinion anyway.....EXCEPT the score and standings (don't forget Parcells).

I will make one comment concerning Goff......I'm growing a little tired of hearing how Goff stays so cool & steady despite adversity and all that. Yeah great, I look down the bench and see this guy with a blank vapid look on his face. I don't know about you but that doesn't give me much confidence, I'd rather see him pacing the bench encouraging his O line or something. Perhaps getting a little pissed off and angry might wake him up from his coma!!

In any event, Goff is who he is, he wasn't my choice, but I accepted him as part of the team regardless of my opinions. This team has holes and depth issues, I had hoped that they'd stay healthy long enough not to get exposed this season but cracks are appearing on both sides of the wall and ball.

So to answer my own question.....no, Goff is not elite, not even close. Heck, there are perhaps 2 or 3 rookie QB's that look closer to elite than Goff does. But even they likely suffer from the same ratings malady as Goff, specifically a very limited quantity of "number sets" and "time periods". Goff (assuming McVay sticks around) is above average when protected. Generally speaking the current rules favor the big, strong, mobile and accurate QB's, rather than the pure almost stationary pocket passer....... Well at least Goff's got one of those qualities (most of the time), oh and he's tall (rather than big, strong or mobile).

These last 3 weeks are not all on Goff by any means, but he carries the largest share of responsibility, IMO.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...red-firing-vance-joseph-hiring-mike-shanahan/

John Elway considered firing Vance Joseph, hiring Mike Shanahan
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 17, 2018


Getty Images

The Broncos are out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year, and head coach Vance Joseph is on the hot seat. And now a very surprising name has been floated as a potential replacement: Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan, of course, won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, when Broncos General Manager John Elway was his quarterback. And Elway reportedly considered firing Joseph after last season, and hiring Shanahan to replace him.

Longtime Denver sports columnist Woody Paige reported that Elway and Shanahan met a year ago to discuss the possibility of Shanahan returning to the sideline. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that he heard the same.

Standing in the way was Broncos CEO Joe Ellis, who said if Elway was going to move on from Joseph, he needed to conduct a full coaching search, and not just hand the job to Shanahan. (Elway would have to interview a minority before hiring Shanahan to comply with the Rooney Rule.) Elway eventually came around to giving Joseph a second year in Denver.

But now that Joseph’s second year has ended out of the playoffs, the Broncos may be ready for a new head coach. Could Shanahan be the guy? It’s entirely possible. The 66-year-old Shanahan has said he would like to coach again, if he finds the right situation.

Elway is likely to begin conducting another coaching search in two weeks. Shanahan may be on his list of candidates.

The instant this ship started sinking was the instant Cooper Kupp was injured.

We have two very winnable games. Don't get me wrong. We need to play hard and win them. But we should use these games to do a little experimenting too. Here are a few things I think we should consider doing:
1. We should use Gerald Everett on the majority of plays instead of Josh Reynolds. I think Gerald is a bigger mismatch. We basically put teams in a pickle. If they stick with their base defense, we can move Gerald around and treat him like a WR. That will put him 1 on 1 with a LB or force them to drop a safety down to cover him. If they play nickel, that'll mean having Gerald block a CB 1 on 1. They might also play big nickel with a safety, but again, I think Gerald against a safety 1 on 1 in the running game is a good matchup for us. Gerald still makes a mistake from time to time with his route running.(he needs to get better with the instinctual parts of the game, like knowing when to sit down in coverage or knowing what to do with his stem, but he's a big time athlete who can make tough catches and run after the catch)

2. We should try Micah Kiser or Bryce Hager at ILB. We know Barron isn't the answer. We know Ramik Wilson isn't the answer. If we're going to play a lot of zone coverage, Kiser is a good fit. His big weakness is a man coverage. But he's a very smart and instinctual player in zone. In the running game, he's a thumper who will fill gaps with authority. We desperately need that. However, Hager has flashed good play too when given an opportunity. He's a smart, instinctual player. Wade needs to change things up. The current setup isn't working.

3. I'd sub Brian Allen in for Sullivan at Center or sub Noteboom in for Blythe at RG and move Blythe to Center. Sullivan seems to be hitting a wall this year. I'd like to see if one of the younger guys can step up and handle the job. It might be safer to play Allen because Noteboom is our backup LT. We can't afford him getting hurt. Regardless, the OL hasn't looked quite the same of late. I recognize there are some risks with a rookie Center, but if Allen offers us quality play there, that could solve a lot of the recent woes we've had.

We need to find a way to win the next two games to wrap up our bye. I think that'll be important for getting our guys some much needed rest and giving us a week to figure out how to adjust our schemes for an optimal playoff run. Still, I think these next two games give us a great opportunity to make some small changes and experiment a little.

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Sooo they are calling holding a lot more - Definitely has helped defenses int he NFL be better (forcing teams to go 1st and 20)

But it has not helped the Rams or Donald much. The games have also been shittier to watch.

But that's me...