That Defense is making the Steelers look bad and Roethlisberger like a rookie. I’m glad the Cards lost Calais Campbell but he will have to see him next week anyway. I believe they have the best defense in the NFL and next week will be our offense’s biggest challenge. I realize the biggest game of the season is today...but I’m not a player or coach so I have the luxury of looking ahead. The Jags scare me even more than the Hawks.

It's game day! You psyched? I can't hear you! Much better...

What's on the game day menu? I'm about to go Bavarian on the Seahawks asses:


We got wursts, potato pancakes, fest biers, and German Chocolate Cake.

What you got?

In today’s world, information is readily available and the media is so reactionary that there is no hiding or ignoring the chatter about national perception on which team is considered on the rise and which team is struggling. Case in point, Heath Evans gave a balanced perspective on this upcoming game. Ram fans were offended. Earl Thomas disagreed. The Seahawks are being told by the media they have to man up or admit the Rams have taken their place atop the division.

What scares me is that a similar perception preceded the Niner game and continues even though they played us tough through the fourth quarter. And that is with what most consider a Niner organization that is completely starting over.

My point is that often NFL games come down to the bounce of a ball on a turnover, a couple questionable penalties, or which coach is able to outscheme the other for explosive plays.

This game could be a blowout by the Rams and signal the kind of changing of the guard like the Niner game in ‘99. Or it could be the kind of struggle the Bucs gave the vaunted GSOT in the NFC Championship game we barely survived (thanks Ricky Proehl). Heck, even that Niner game saw them score 17 points in the first half and still in the game though nearly everything went our way.

Psychology though, today’s media access has thrown down the gauntlet on the Seahawks and you can bet we get all they have to give...as though it were their Super Bowl like we have done to them during the Fisher tenure. We may be a better team, but unless Brockers, Quinn, and Donald destroy what should be a very weak OLine of the Hawks and Goff doesn’t press too much and produce turnovers, we could be looking at 3-2 with the Hawks holding the advantage.

Count me nervous and cautiously optimistic

http://www.worldwiderams.org/forum/...ints-earl-thomas-low-respect-for-rams-offense

Hopefully the whole team and coaches feeling this way.

Get your SportsBook wagers in here;

http://www.ramsondemand.com/sportsbook/category/national-football-league.1/

It's Game Day!

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/06/w...goff-russell-wilson-cam-newton-devin-funchess

The Rams are positioned to become the NFL’s most talked-about team on Monday. A win over the more-established Seahawks would make them 4–1 and put them in command of the NFC West. No offense has looked better-schemed than first-year head coach Sean McVay’s. And remember, last year Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur was QBs coach for a Falcons offense that thoroughly exploited the hidden weaknesses of Seattle’s foundational Cover 3 zone. Seattle defensive coordinator Kris Richard is gradually turning the Seahawks into more of a man-to-man unit. The Rams would welcome Richard’s man coverages; McVay has installed a lot of the man-beating pick and rub routes, similar to those that New England runs so well.



The Seattle matchup also favors Los Angeles on the defensive side of the ball, for the simple reason that every play will start with Seattle’s offensive line trying to block Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn and mechanically savvy strongman Michael Brockers. Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips should press the Seahawks receivers (Phillips can keep two safeties back to minimize the risk). If Russell Wilson consistently has to hold the ball, Los Angeles will win.

Rams SportsBook wagers here;

http://www.ramsondemand.com/sportsb...-seahawks-los-angeles-rams-special-bets.1736/

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/RealShaneGray/status/916534241227190272

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/Incognito_of_Oz/status/916523856071987200

Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay an early favorite for coach of the year
by Shane Gray
https://nflspinzone.com/2017/10/07/los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-early-coach-of-the-year-favorite/

One quarter of the way through the Los Angeles Rams’ 2017 season, head coach Sean McVay is a emerging as a strong candidate for NFL Coach of the Year honors.

Having watched or covered the Los Angeles Rams as they flailed in futility for a dozen consecutive campaigns — 11 straight non-winning seasons in St. Louis and a 4-12 inaugural season in the team’s return to L.A. — it only came natural to doubt the club’s ability to rapidly rebound during head coach Sean McVay’s rookie year. After all, what could possibly have gone awry after an organization 13 years removed from the playoffs chose to name a man void of any head coaching experience at any level as its head coach in the nation’s second largest market?

This is the same franchise who posted the worst five-year win-loss record in NFL history from 2007-11 and has managed just four winning slates since 1989 and zero winning seasons since 2003.


To frame it further, the last time the Rams made the playoffs (2004), Donald Trump was just another eccentric billionaire, flat screen TVs were yet to come to market and Johnny Carson, James Brown, Richard Pryor, Rosa Parks, Steve Irwin, Don Knotts and Saddam Hussein were still with us.

Wow.

But if the 3-1 Rams keep winning and eventually make a playoff push — and if McVay’s offense continues to lead the league in scoring at over 35 points per game, they will — then you can expect to see McVay in the hunt for Coach of the Year. It still feels impossible that this is reality, but it is.

The Rams offense — which has looked more like the Greatest Show on Turf than the inept one featured in recent years — is built around a revamped offensive line anchored by left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who Los Angeles wisely targeted when he hit the open market during the offseason.

MORE FROM NFL SPIN ZONE

• Jaguars vs. Steelers live stream: Watch Week 5 online9m ago
• Cardinals vs. Eagles live stream: Watch Week 5 online14m ago
• Titans vs. Dolphins live stream: Watch Week 5 online18m ago
• Panthers vs. Lions live stream: Watch Week 5 online24m ago
• 49ers vs. Colts: Preview, score prediction for Week 55h ago

On the ground, Whitworth and company have consistently cleared lanes for running back Todd Gurley, who has looked every bit like the player who earned the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2015.

For the passing attack, they have provided second year quarterback Jared Goff with a consistent pocket and ample time to throw, allowing just four sacks through four games — good for second best in the NFL.

Speaking of Gurley, he has shown noticeably more burst and strength than he did a year ago. His 4.2 yards per carry is a full yard better than that of 2016 and his increased workload in the passing game has him on pace for an 80 reception campaign.

And Goff has looked like a seasoned, franchise caliber quarterback to date, upping his completion rate from 54.6 a year ago to 66.7 percent while generating a 7-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Make no mistake, Goff has benefited from a noticeably upgraded receiving corps led by former No. 2 overall pick Sammy Watkins, free agent acquisition Robert Woods and rookie third round selection Cooper Kupp, who has reminded some of former Ram receiver Ricky Proehl.

In short, the Rams offensive turnaround has been one of the most radical and unexpected the league has seen in quite some time. But as much as the offense has stunned folks in a positive way, the defense has surprised onlookers in a negative manner.

Who would have thought — one-quarter of the way through the season — that the offense would be the Rams strong suit and the defense would remain something of a question mark? Who would have guessed that the unit ready for Hollywood attention was one not led by perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald or former Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn, but one spearheaded by a second-year quarterback who often looked lost in leading a pedestrian attack last season?

But through four games, the defense has yet to gel while giving up 26.3 points (27th) and 151.5 rushing yards per contest (30th). You need look no further than the aforementioned Donald and Quinn to peg why that may be the case.

While neither have played poorly by any means, neither has played to his potential just yet, either, following role adaptations in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense.

For Rams, Sunday could be a big step toward regaining loyalty in L.A.

• 
  
  Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Tickets for Sunday's Seattle Seahawks-Los Angeles Rams game were still very much available as of Saturday afternoon, the cheapest ones going for $87. The last time the Rams hosted the division-rival Seahawks, on Sept. 18 last year, more than 90,000 fans stuffed themselves into Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to watch the Rams capture their first L.A. victory in more than 20 years.

On Sunday, though, attendance will be no more than around 60,000, even though the Rams probably haven't been this exciting in a decade.

There's a tangible buzz about these 3-1 Rams, on their way to one of the greatest offensive turnarounds in NFL history. That buzz, however, has yet to translate into increased attendance in their home market, a struggle that the neighboring, winless Los Angeles Chargers know all too well. The Rams capped their Coliseum capacity at 65,000 this year, at least partly because hosting 90,000 fans at a 94-year-old venue became a logistical nightmare. But they still aren't selling out games.

It will take a while for the Rams to regain trust in L.A., a city starving for NFL football right up until it got an up-close look at the most boring brand of NFL football imaginable last season.

But fans won't come out in droves until the Rams prove they can be legitimate contenders -- and that can happen as early as this weekend.

The Seahawks were deemed a Super Bowl-caliber team heading in, but it's the Rams who are in first place through the season's first quarter, and it's the Rams who are actually favored -- minus-1.5 -- to win on Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers (0-4) look very much like a team at the onset of a long rebuild. The Arizona Cardinals (2-2) seem almost helpless without running back David Johnson. And the Seahawks (2-2) have significant offensive line issues that might not resolve themselves.

The Rams are foolish enough to think they might just have a chance to win this division.

“It’s been the goal since Sean and the new staff got here," Rams quarterback Jared Goff said, referencing his new coach, Sean McVay. "There’s been no wavering in that. We just continued to try to get better in the offseason and now into the season. And I’ll say it again -- every day we come out here, and there’s no external influence on anything. We come out and practice and try to just get better.”

The Rams are better in ways nobody thought possible.

They went from scoring an NFL-low 224 points in 16 games last year to an NFL-best 142 points in the first four games this year. Goff, exceedingly more confident behind an improved offensive line and an innovative scheme, leads the NFL with 9.2 yards per attempt and sports a 112.2 passer rating. Todd Gurley leads the NFC with 596 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. The Rams' top three receivers -- Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp -- have each caught at least 12 passes.

"They’ve totally turned around kind of their style, the scoring and offense and the ability just to control the football," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "It’s just really a clear distinction from what it was a year ago. The quarterback play is fantastic. They’ve really assembled a good bunch of guys. They’ve got big playmakers at every spot, so they’ve got, I would think, a great feel about them and momentum."


Seahawks-Rams is now a matchup between the NFL's oldest coach in Carroll, 66, and the youngest head coach in modern NFL history in McVay (Carroll worked with McVay's grandfather at one point). The Rams have won three of their past four games against the Seahawks and are 4-1 against them at home with Russell Wilson at quarterback, but that was all under Jeff Fisher.

Last year, when the Rams pulled out a 9-3 win in their home opener, Wilson was hobbled by a high ankle sprain and, as he put it, "moved like a bag of bricks." He's fully healthy now, having already gained 138 yards on the ground. Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson believes Wilson is "better out of the pocket than in the pocket." Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips called Wilson "one of the best ever" at scrambling.

"We've got to contain the guy," said Phillips, whose defense is coming off holding the Dallas Cowboys to six second-half points last week. "But if you contain him, he can still really throw the football well. He presents big problems."

The biggest problems, however, come from the Seahawks' defense, which has yet to dominate but is still one of the NFL's best. After Seattle, the Rams play the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants, the Houston Texans and the Minnesota Vikings, representing a string of six consecutive difficult matchups for an offense that is still growing under a new scheme.

The Rams, however, are keeping their focus on Week 5.

Offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur called the upcoming game against the Seahawks "a great measuring stick for our offense and a big-time challenge.” Offensive lineman Jamon Brown referred to it as "another building block on our foundation, trying to take this from a losing culture to a winning culture."

Sunday can be a big step toward that.

So according to Shane Gray's twitter, he will be covering the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL Spin Zone..

Shane Gray‏@RealShaneGray Oct 6



Beginning this weekend, I will be analyzing @NFL & #Rams nationally for @NFLSpinZone. Excited to kick it off tomorrow. #NFL #STL #LA

1:59 PM - 6 Oct 2017


____________________

Shane has expressed disdain for the Rams...and has promoted unfavorable views regarding the fan base in Los Angeles from the relocation drama, on up to the present. As the Rams continue their rise here in Los Angeles, I think us true Ram fans should make sure that if that type of negativity regarding our team and their current home continues...we should make it clear to the NFL Spin Zone that it is not acceptable for our team to be disparaged in such a manner....

There is a chance Jamon Brown doesn’t play due to groin injury.

Who will start in his place? I’m guessing Austin Blythe?

I was wondering if anyone had a couple of seats available ? I would like to take my granddaughter to the game. Thanx for any help ! -- the Fatboy

OK - We've had threads on favorite beers, what beer is in your fridge, what you are drinking on game day...............

What I'd like to know is what kinds of drinks you've had out there that you really dig. It could be a type of a particular alcohol like Tequila or Whiskey. It could be a twist on a Martini or Margarita. It just has to have liquor in it for this thread.

I try all kinds of things when it comes to food and drink. Hell, I could probably do a season of weird foods episodes. But for this thread, I want you guys to tell me what cool drinks you've found or come up with.

So now you're thinking.... well 503... what kind of awesome concoctions have you found? Well not to be a tease but I'm going to just mention a couple and then give some more as time goes on.

I'm going to start with my weapon of choice these days. I'm a huge black licorice fan. And no - Jägermeister is not licorice in my mind. It's more like molasses with a hint of licorice. So I looked for the most licorice tasting of alcohols known to man. While it is true that Absinthe has a very strong anise flavor (face it - that is what a true licorice lover looks for), you either have to buy really expensive stuff or it kinda sucks out loud.

So what is this weapon I speak of? It is a 50/50 combination of Romana Sambuca and 12 Ouzo neat in a snifter or on the rocks in a low-ball glass. Just solid licorice goodness.

So on the heels of this discovery I have made, I thought, how do I come up with a fun variation on this? Well I give you the Irish - Italian Car Bomb. Many of you have no doubt heard of and paid the price of the Irish Car Bomb. This one is a shot of Sambuca dropped into a low ball of Guinness. Don't even think of driving after a couple of these.

So let's hear it. I have a bunch of tasty concoctions. I want to see yours.

Cheers and TGIF!

Happy Friday! Here's our 28th episode of the Downtown Rams podcast. We have Rams Insider, Vincent Bonsignore on to give the latest Rams insight. Plus Blaine & Jake break down the Seahawks/Rams game this Sunday!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2xKVvT1
Android: https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/rams-seahawks-feat-vinny-bonsignore

When he and Fisher took over the Rams were coming off the worst 5 year run in the history of the NFL. The roster was almost completely populated with players who had little talent and ability.

We know Fisher had "final say" during his tenure, and still Snead did a good job putting talent in front of him so that the roster could be restocked with talent even when Fisher was pulling the trigger not Snead.

I remember when those two first started saying that if they turned the team around and made it a winner that it would be the ultimate resume builder. A team that was essentially shit for over two decades with a three year blip when it caught lightning in a bottle was nothing but the biggest rebuild ever. Because frankly it was the truth.

To put it in perspective everyone likes to poke fun at the Browns and how bad they have been. They have more wins than the Rams since 1995 when they "returned" to Cleveland. Yeah it's been that smelly.

Here we are now, with the Rams on the cusp of taking control of the division that once had the Rams penciled into last place year after year. A big portion of that is Snead. He put more talent on the roster, he picked up (as he calls them) "hidden gems" in late rounds and street free agents..........and most important he didn't draft Griffin and made the deal to draft Goff. He climbs up and down the draft fearlessly, not always perfectly, but he is brave enough and secure enough to take chances.

I think it's fair to say he's on the verge of completing the biggest rebuild in the sports history.

http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/10/06/what-seahawks-are-saying-about-rams


Head Coach Pete Carroll

(On how much of what they are doing offensively is Jared Goff getting better or is it their new offensive coaches and schemes…)
“The schemes don’t look so much different but the production is just there. Their tempo is really good. Really good. It seems to have played into Jared’s strengths. He had a great off season. He had one of the great freshman sophomore jumps that you can have. There is a lot of things clicking and they have added some really good players too to the receiving corps, up front and they just look much improved.”

(On Gurley’s ability to run and catch the ball and being a well-rounded back…)
“He is just that. He is a terrific player. He really can do everything. He runs good routes. He makes plays down field. He can shake and make you miss in the short routes passing game. He is an in-depth runner. He is tough, he is creative. He is off his feet a lot, jumping over guys and doing a lot of creative stuff. And he is obviously really durable. He is a stud. He can really hang in there and take all the load. He has been playing a lot.”

(On what have you noticed about Goff since the last time you saw him…)
“He is really sure of himself. The ball is coming out quick. He is utilizing the calls really well and that quick game, ball’s out. He is doing a great job checking the balls down evidence by Todd’s [Gurley] catches. He has 20 catches, leading the team in receptions already. More efficient, they have only been sacked four times. So everything is working really well and it’s fitting together. He is a quick decision guy. He gets the ball out. That is playing right into, I’m sure, the way they are talking in their style.”

(On how difficult is to plan against Aaron Donald…)
“Yeah, he is a really really problematic. Yeah, there is just nobody like him. Quickness wise. For a guy that doesn’t have a big stature, he’s got extraordinary strength and explosion and ability to disengage and get off. He makes remarkable plays that other guys can’t make. You don’t know when it is going to happen, so he is really a challenge to play against.”

(On what kind of weapon is Johnny Hekker…)
“He is a fantastic weapon. We know him. We have seen him for years. This guy can do all kinds of stuff. You have to be ready every snap he is on the field because he is a terrific thrower. He is a good athlete. He can run. He’s got all kinds of creativity to him. He gives them all kinds of options. Fortunately, we’ve seen a lot that they have done and we’ve been able to learn from it and all. But we are really on alert when he was on the field. He is a fantastic weapon for them. And he is terrific punter too.”


Cornerback Richard Sherman

(On how much different the L.A. Rams look offensively this year…)
“Honestly, they look a lot the same. They’re just executing, the o-line is blocking better, [Todd] Gurley’s got a lot more room to run, they’re using him more than they did in the past, and they’re playing with purpose. I think they were 3-1 at this point last year, so they’ve been looking good. They have a lot of talent.”

(On how he’s seen Rams QB Jared Goff develop in the last year…)
“He’s a lot more comfortable this year. Obviously, there’s going to be growth from the first year to the second year, and he’s seen that. [Head Coach Sean] McVay’s done a great job of just putting him in places that he’s comfortable, and giving him plays that he knows that he’s comfortable with every read that are in his skill-set and in his realm. He’s just executing.”

(On when he’s on the sidelines watching Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and what sticks out in his mind about Donald…)
“He’s disruptive. He’s always either back there, or at the center of a lot of chaos. He plays with great hands, great pad-level, great technique, and just know he’s going to be something to deal with and someone that the offense has to face, and they have to figure out where he is at all times.”

(On if he likes playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum…)
“I do; it’s a great stadium to play in, it’s historic for a number of reasons, but I’ve always had a great time playing there. Growing up, seeing it, hearing it, it’s in the middle of South-Central L.A., so you have to go there from time to time. When we went, we didn’t have the greatest seats, but it’s a great venue, and my family gets to come.”

(On how Todd Gurley has 20 receptions already through four games and leads the team in receptions so far…)
“Yeah, the quarterback checks the ball down a substantial amount, and they get him out there on the edge, and they find creative ways to get him the ball. That’s not a big surprise. He had a lot of receptions last year on check-downs and things of that nature. It’s part of their quick-game package.”


Quarterback Russell Wilson

(On how different they look in a 3-4 front on defense as opposed to a 4-3 they have been in years past when they’ve played them…)
“Yeah, it’s definitely different. Being in the 3-4 front, they’re always rushing five pretty much. Before, they were rushing four, sometimes three, sometimes six, sometimes seven, so they mix it up a bunch. Now, they’re really just trying to rush five because they can because they have great rushers; they have guys that can really make a lot of plays. [Connor] Barwin’s another good player too as well, you think about him and all of the success that he’s had over his career, so it definitely is a little bit different in terms of what they’re doing. They still have a lot of great players and how they’re doing it, and they’ve been very, very successful doing it this year so far.”

(On whether you have developed an acquaintanceship with Aaron Donald or do you give him a wide berth when you see him…)
“Yeah I have been fortunate to be around Aaron Donald. I mean you are talking about a guy who is super focused. It seems like he enjoys himself but also has a determination that is relentless. You definitely recognize that. You recognize that on the field. He is always poised and calm on the field too. You really respect how he plays the game. He is a guy who plays the game the right way. He is going to be a Hall of Famer, I really believe that. You watch him play and the things that he can do. He is really special. You think back to the days where guys like Warren Sapp and certain defensive linemen really changed the game and interior linemen, he is one of those guys. He has a lot of ability, physical, strong, fast, quick, smart, really knows the game, knows what you are trying to do, so I have tons of respect for how he does it and how he plays.”

(On whether you have developed an acquaintanceship with Aaron Donald or do you give him a wide berth when you see him…)
“Yeah I have been fortunate to be around Aaron Donald. I mean you are talking about a guy who is super focused. It seems like he enjoys himself but also has a determination that is relentless. You definitely recognize that. You recognize that on the field. He is always poised and calm on the field too. You really respect how he plays the game. He is a guy who plays the game the right way. He is going to be a Hall of Famer, I really believe that. You watch him play and the things that he can do. He is really special. You think back to the days where guys like Warren Sapp and certain defensive linemen really changed the game and interior linemen, he is one of those guys. He has a lot of ability, physical, strong, fast, quick, smart, really knows the game, knows what you are trying to do, so I have tons of respect for how he does it and how he plays.”

(On when he went to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play the Rams and how limited was he was following the ankle injury he suffered…)
“I moved like a bag of bricks. I really couldn’t move last time when we played them at the Coliseum. I think I just had my ankle or my knee, I’m not sure which one it was, the ankle was pretty bad that day. I taped it up like crazy and I was just hobbling around. We still were able to find a way to get down the field and make some plays; we had a chance to win it, and they have a great football team. Whenever you’re playing guys like Aaron Donald and [Robert] Quinn and all of their linebackers and everybody that they have like [Alec] Ogletree and all of those guys, you have to be able to move every once in a while, because they’re going to get there and they’re going to make some plays, they have great players. We’re looking forward to the challenge and I’m glad I can be on my feet this time.”


Linebacker Bobby Wagner

(On how different does the Rams’ offense look under Sean McVay compared to years past…)
“I don’t think they look crazy different. I think it is still the same people. There are still doing motions with Tavon [Austin] trying to get him on screens. Obviously they are still trying to use Todd Gurley in every form and fashion whether it’s in the back field or pass game. From that standpoint, not much.”

(On how dangerous is Todd Gurley as leading rusher and receiver…)
“You just got to know where he is at. They are handing him the ball off and now they are starting to get him out on, I think he [Jared Goff] checks down a lot to Gurley and then he [Gurley] runs seams out of the backfield. So you just have to know where he is at. Know that they try and get him the ball. He is a special player, so why wouldn’t you?”

(On how much pressure does that put on you and KJ Wright to locate Gurley all game….)
“I mean I feel like I always pay attention where the running back is at. But with him, you just have to know what they are trying to do, know how they are trying to attack, there are just some plays where he runs a seam out of the back field, it may not be you. It kind of depends on the defensive call and where you are at and things of that nature. But obviously I look forward to matchups like this and going against a good back like Gurley.”

(On how equipped is this defense to stop Gurley from being a double threat…)
“We are ready for him. I think in the years prior, to your point, what did they do differently. They didn’t really get him out of the backfield like that. Most of his catches, the few that he had were when the quarterback didn’t have nothing down the field, so he checked it down but now they are trying to get him out, they are trying to whether it’s on screens, whether it’s down the field. I think he had a touchdown off a seam against the Cowboys, so they are trying to get him out. They are trying to get him the ball anyway possible.”

(On are the Rams doing something different to protect Jared Goff from pass rushers…)
“I mean I don’t know if they are doing anything different. It looked like they may be playing a little bit better. I’ll be interested to see how our pass rush does against them. But it looks good. Goff looks confident and I think that is one thing I noticed from this year to last year, he seems more confident in the pocket, more confident in the offense and it’s kind of showing in his play.”

(On what is it like to go home and play in LA…)
“It’s fun. It’s fun to come back and play in LA. I get to see all my family and friends. When I was at Utah State, we didn’t really have too many California games that was that close that my family could make, so the fact that we get to kind of come back in LA and I get to play in front of them is fun.”

(On how much do you look forward to a game like this with the Rams having the top scoring offense in the NFL and for the division lead and do you allow yourself to think about statements that could be made in this game…)
“No, I think in our minds, we treat every game the same. Everything else will take care of itself. It’s a big opportunity because it is a divisional game. One of our main goals here is to win the division so obviously the first divisional game, we want to set the tone because we want to be at the top of the division. But as far as going into the game, we don’t ever necessarily treat the game bigger than what it is. We feel like if we prepare and do the things that we need to do, everything will take care of itself. It’s going to be fun, hopefully it’s hot. We will be good.”

Defensive Coordinator Kris Richard

(On what have you seen out of the Rams compared to the last couple times you have seen them…)
“Offense is very similar. The tempo is changed. Obviously, again, they are sticking with their young quarterback [Jared Goff] and do really well. I think the tempo has played to their advantage. At a faster pace, you can see some guys getting dropped in coverages and things of that nature. All in all, the offense is built around their running back [Todd Gurley]. He is a doggone good running back. We know what we are up against, so we know again we are going to have to put pads on him consistently, wrap him up and get him on the ground.”

(On are you seeing that Todd Gurley is going down the field more…)
“Well it’s here and there. Obviously again, he had an explosive seam route in the last game but not specifically. A lot of it is on check downs and things of that nature. They are going to try and find ways to find teams in man and just utilize him on pick plays and stuff like that.”

(On how have you seen Goff develop as a quarterback since last season…)
“Just the overall management of the offense. He is very comfortable. Obviously, again, he is utilizing his safety valves really well. And when he has had the ability to take his shots, he has completed the passes.”

(On what does Jared Goff do well…)
“Well, you can say quick game, boots, again, tempo, trying to work the perimeter and then hit the check down if nothing is open. It’s a good plan for them.”

Golden Arm The Rams' Kurt Warner is putting on the greatest air show in NFL history

October 9, 2000
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED


You sit in a dark meeting room at the practice facility of theSt. Louis Rams, watching videotape of the team's 235 plays from scrimmage in the first four games of this season. You see what makes Kurt Warner a great passer--accuracy, mostly, along with toughness, poise and the smarts to run the most prolific offense the NFL has ever seen. You chart the 135 passes that Warner threw in those four games and find that 113, or 84%, were catchable.

You call Fox analyst John Madden, who has seen two of Warner's games this year, and he tells you, "Warner's accuracy reminds me of Joe Montana. His toughness reminds me of Bobby Layne."

You sit with St. Louis coach Mike Martz, architect of this high-tech offense, and talk about the success this team has had since Warner became the quarterback before the start of the 1999 season. This was the losingest NFC team of the '90s, yet Warnerhas taken the Rams on a 20-3 ride, including playoffs. "With any luck, we'd be 23-0 with Kurt," Martz says. "We could have easily won the three we lost."

You go to Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers at the Trans World Dome. You see that Warner is throwing even better than he did in his first four games. You see the trust Martz has in him: The coach calls for passes on the first 18 plays, and you can't recall a team going that deep into a game without calling a running play. Warner completes 13 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and scrambles for a first down on another of those plays. He's in for eight series--the Rams score four touchdown sand four field goals--before leaving midway through the thirdquarter with a 40-17 lead. Only two throws aren't within the intended receiver's grasp: On one the man fell and on the other he was detoured in traffic.

Final stat line: 24 completions in 30 attempts, 390 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions. It's a performance that can be likened to Pedro Martinez's pitching against the Toledo Mud Hens.The numbers are so good that when you punch them into the computer to figure out Warner's passer rating for the day, you get the max, 158.3, a perfect game by football standards.

You walk off the field with Warner. You say, "Just another day at the office, huh?" He replies, "Not really. Finally I played a game where I felt good. I haven't felt like I was in a zone this year until today. I felt comfortable from the start."

You tell him that of the 165 passes he has thrown this year 85%have been catchable. "What happened on the other 15 percent?" he says with sincerity. "I want to put those where my guys can catch'em."

You go into the San Diego locker room and you see a proud defense, which ranked first in the NFL in 1998 and 12th las tyear. That unit is not ashamed of its performance against St.Louis, despite having been shredded for 614 yards. You search for the right word to describe the Chargers' attitude, and it comes to you after chatting up strong safety Rodney Harrison--awestruck.

"Can you imagine a team with the best back in the game, Marshall Faulk, throwing on every play of the first quarter?" Harrison says. "Unbelievable. But with that quarterback and those weapons,who needs to run? This league has never seen anything like this offense. And Warner, no one's better than him. We watched him on film all week, and we saw his amazing accuracy, his poise, his timing with the receivers. He was even better in person.Tremendous presence in the pocket. The heart to stand in there and take our best shot. The accuracy to hit his guys in stride so they can run after the catch. I don't see any defense stopping him--or them."

Maybe we don't appreciate the greatness before our eyes because Warner's story was told so many times last year. Or because he makes playing quarterback in the NFL look so easy. Coming to a stadium near you! Kurt Warner throws for 375 yards! The Rams score 40 points! Or because Warner and his teammates are so unassuming. He doesn't spike the ball at midfield to show up foes, or give a cameraman the finger. His first 13 months on the job have been the stuff of myth. Warner, the 1999 league and Super Bowl MVP, has passed for 6,300 yards and 55 touchdowns,completed 66.9% of his attempts and put up a 112.4 passer rating,all NFL bests for a quarterback over his first 21 regular-season starts.

Is he great because of a remarkable supporting cast, which includes speedy wideouts Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az Hakim in addition to the gifted Faulk? Is he great because he operates ina system that confuses defenses with an array of motion and often gives him five players to throw to? Is he great because of the support from a coach who, when Warner throws an interception and comes to the sideline shaking his head, says, "Hey, no problem.You were just playing football. It happens." Or is he that talented?

Yes, yes, yes and yes. Everyone affiliated with this offense has a hand in its success. "I think it's the best offense in thehistory of football," Madden says. The offense would be sorely diminished without receivers who consistently get open and without the multidimensional Faulk, who last season set a league record for yards from scrimmage, with 2,429. Quarterback Trent Green, whose knee injury in the third preseason game of 1999 opened the door for Warner, had also looked superb running the offense. That Green and Warner, both journeymen, have excelled istestament to Martz, the team's offensive coordinator before succeeding Dick Vermeil this season.

But don't think for a second the Rams' success isn't due mostlyt o Warner. An illustration: Video clicker in hand as he sits in his office, Martz keeps replaying an 80-yard touchdown pass that Warner threw to Holt against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 24.Martz shows it nine times on the big screen, the last insuper-slow motion. "This play," Martz says, "is what makes Kurt different from anyone else in football."

The game is tied at 10 just before halftime, and St. Louis faces second-and-10 from its 20. The night before, Martz says, Warner had told Holt, "If they blitz on this play, and the corner issitting there waiting for me to throw quickly so he can pick itoff, you take off." Atlanta does blitz, with 245-pound middle linebacker Keith Brooking shooting up the middle unblocked.Warner looks left for Holt. "Now," Martz says, as Brooking is two slo-mo steps on tape from blowing up Warner, "most guys will take the sack right here. They'll tuck it in and go down. There's nowhere to turn. But look at Kurt's head--staring right at Holt,not flinching. Kurt is waiting for Torry to separate from the corner. Now he does, and here comes the ball. Perfect throw."

The ball is released a millisecond before Brooking pancakes Warner. Cornerback Ashley Ambrose, assuming he'll see a short throw, can only flail as the ball flies past. "Kurt gets killed by the linebacker," Martz says. "He knew it was coming, but his courage is unmatched. He knew he had to wait for Holt to make his adjustment. He knew he had to be accurate enough to put the ballin there under extreme pressure."

Holt gathers in the knee-high throw and out sprints four Falcons to the end zone. That's something else that separates this offense from others: the elusiveness of the St. Louis receivers.Of the Rams' six touchdown pass plays that have covered more than 60 yards this season, three have come on throws that traveled fewer than 15 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Warner'sability to place the ball where his receivers can catch it on therun is a big reason that the wideouts break off big gainers."Nine out of 10 passes," Bruce says, patting his gut, "are righthere. Right on the numbers."

Warner worked on his accuracy after being cut by the Green Bay Packers during training camp in 1994. He stocked shelves by night in a Cedar Falls, Iowa, grocery store and threw passes by day to anyone he could talk into catching them. The 1,646 passes he tossed in the Arena League and NFL Europe, from 1995 through '98,didn't hurt either. "It's meaningful that I got cut by Green Bay," he says. "It's meaningful that I stocked shelves. The work I had to do, the road I took, is all part of it."

He likes to spread the ball among all his receivers, which forces the defense to stick to any potential receiver on every play.Trailing the San Francisco 49ers 10-3 on Sept. 17, the Rams flooded the secondary with five receivers. Warner's fifth option was end-of-the-bench wideout Tony Horne, a speedy return specialist who was on the field to draw a safety from the primary receivers. "I could run 100 scenarios of how that play would go and never think I'd throw to Tony," says Warner. But he didn' tlike what he saw after scanning the field, and then watched asthe safety came off Horne. Warner threw a strike to Horne for an18-yard touchdown. All told this year, Warner has completed passes to as many as nine players in a game, and to no fewer than six.

Warner is no Steve Young when he scrambles, but like the precocious Peyton Manning, he's superb at making plays if his protection breaks down. Flushed left by Atlanta's pass rush, hes printed to get out of harm's way, then spied Hakim 27 yards downfield, between a cornerback and a safety. Warner slowed and slung the ball across his body on a line, right into Hakim's numbers. It's the type of play you have to watch six times to confirm what you thought you saw.

Two days before the San Diego game, you are sitting with Warner,who's eating soup and a sandwich. You mention that he has put up better stats through 20 games than any other quarterback in history (chart, below). You ask, "Can you keep it up?"

You see the wry smile framed by the three-day, salt-and-pepper beard of a 29-year-old man who has been through a lot to get to this point. You see a man who is not about to let it get away."When I'm out there," he says, "I don't think. I don't fathom. I play. I never think, Wow. How did I make that throw? Nothing I have done has surprised me, because it's all within the realm ofmy ability. To think that a year from now, two years from now, Iwon't be able to do it? That's crazy. I will be the same player.I think I can play this way for 10 years."

Before the season, I predicted:
Jared Goff:
4500 yards passing
35 TD's
12 INTS

Yeah, yeah...I was called a homer dream by many....D@mn Jared, why you letting me down? So far this season Goff as done this in the first quarter..."78 of 117 passes for 1,072 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception.
Projected Total for 16 games:

4288 yards passing
28 TD's
4 INTS

C'mon Jared, don't leave me hanging...