Article I just ran into.

The NFL Is Turning Into A Fisherball League. And Jeff Fisher Is Losing At It.
Fisherball is taking over the NFL. Coaches all over the league are fielding good teams with the Fisherball method of football...except Jeff Fisher.

• By QBKlass
• on October 14, 2016 1:30 pm

Less than a year ago, the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 in early 2000’s fashion. Their approach was based around the running game, a low-wave style of offense that protected the ball, and excellent defense.

Since then, Denver parted with both quarterbacks that helped them lift the Lombardi Trophy, yet they have had no issue recreating their success this season jumping out to a 4-0 start before dropping the last two games.

The Minnesota Vikings are the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL. No Adrian Peterson, no Teddy Bridgewater...no losses. There’s no telling for certain what the team would be if both of those players were healthy, but the team has established a true identity in their absence. They have become similar to what the Broncos were a year ago and still are this season: control the ball and don’t allow points.

Sam Bradford, ironic as it is, has spearheaded one of the more efficient passing attacks in the league this year. He has completed 70% of his passes and has not yet thrown an interception. Due in large part to Bradford’s efforts, the Vikings have a +11 turnover differential through their first five games. Minnesota’s defense, a turnover machine, trails only Seattle’s and Philadelphia’s defenses as the best in the league. Simply put, Minnesota is winning the turnover battle.

Look around the rest of the league.

The Dallas Cowboys are winning games by controlling the ball and winning the war of attrition. New head coach Doug Pederson has lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 3-1 by constructing an offense that protects the ball and relying on an elite defense to keep points off the board. Even the Buffalo Bills have subscribed to a subtle, ball control offense that allows their defense to not stress so much, just as Dallas has done. Minus the Pittsburgh Steelers, most of the teams near the top of the league have shifted to conservative offensive approaches that help their defenses stay off the field, so that those defenses can perform when they do take to the field.

All of this sounds like Fisherball. Ball control, focus on the running game and/or short passing, and top notch defense. That is Jeff Fisher’s philosophy, yet he has found himself a clear step behind the rest of the league, despite being on his fifth year as the Rams head coach. Mike Zimmer has only been in Minnesota for three years now, yet he has already built up a juggernaut that dwarfs any Rams team Fisher has ever created.

Somehow, Fisher is losing at his own game.

Much of Fisher’s downfall has been miserable drafting. Aside from the defensive line, Fisher has largely failed to hit on any major picks. Todd Gurley is far and away the best non-defensive linemen Fisher has ever drafted - a player whose style catered perfectly to Fisherball - yet the once-starlet running back is now one of the least efficient running backs in the league. In one short year, Gurley looks like damaged goods, at least to some extent.

The biggest draft blunders have been on the offensive line. The newly relocated franchise avoided drafting an offensive lineman in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the Rams selected three offensive linemen in the top 100 of the 2014 and 2015 drafts. Those three are Greg Robinson, Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown. Of that group, Havenstein is the best, but even he is league average, at best.

Four other offensive linemen were drafted in the later rounds during that span, but none of them proved to be more than journeyman level talents either. Fisher’s philosophy of ball control and extended possession time is often dependent on the big men up front. Over the course of his Rams tenure, Fisher has completely botched all of his opportunities to build a functional offensive line. He’s not just built an offensive line that is underwhelming relative to the investment — the offensive line is unquestionably bad.

Fisher is losing at his own game.

On the defensive side of the ball, the team has also done a miserable job of team building. The defensive line is clearly a strong point, but the starting level talent at the next two levels of the defense are subpar and the depth is equally as concerning. Five years after the hiring of Fisher, who worked a number of defensive staff jobs before becoming a head coach, the Rams still have a defense that is largely replaceable. That is unacceptable.

Jeff Fisher has had time to build the Fisherball team that he needs to succeed. During the earlier part of his tenure, the league felt like a more open, Wild West type of atmosphere. The league has turned on its head and become a more conservative league, a league that theoretically caters to Fisher.

As much as the league shifts toward a league for Fisher, he remains to be himself: underwhelming in performance, unwavering in his approach and impossible to trust when a coach’s instincts are needed most.

Jeff Fisher is losing in a Jeff Fisher league.

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/10/14/13279444/nfl-jeff-fisher-la-rams

We get the opportunity, thanks to @Prime Time, to see what the opposing fans are saying, but what are your thoughts on this game? Where are the matchups you like or dislike, and how do you see it going?

I'm keeping an eye on Boldin vs Joyner. Boldin is a pain in the Rams' ass. Gaines will probably take Jones with Hill taking Tate (if Tru can't go). That leaves Boldin in the slot on Joyner. We'll learn a lot about Joyner in this game, I think.

Need to see all of our DL healthy again. Donald wrecked Stafford last time, but he had guys on the line who took some of the pressure off. Will Hayes and Brockers be back? Certainly need those guys.

Stafford is also resurgent under Billy Bob Thornton. Er, I mean, Jim Bob Cooter. Even though they don't have Megatron, Marvin Jones is a good tall target for him, and Golden Taint has always been a thorn in the Rams' side. Don't know why. He just is. And they're getting the ball out to Riddick in the passing game too. Dude has 26 receptions this year, so they're trying to get him out in space if/when the run game stalls a little.

Their pass defense? Mehhh.
Their run defense? Stout. Haven't allowed a rushing TD yet. This is the game Gurley needs to get going so he can be the first.

They only have two ints on the year, so they've not been very opportunistic so far.
Keenum, despite his pick-six, isn't going to give them an opportunity to get back on track, IMO.

Anyone else?

This will be my 3'rd Rams collectors item purchased this year after the new helmet from our 'official' site & the used/in excellent condition 80's era ProLine Starters jacket thru eBay. I won't be using the calendar, my first Rams cheerleader calendar, ... it's to remain a 'signed collectors' item behind glass in the 'cave'. Other than a large Rams logo 'Fathead' and a Rams coffee cup, I've never collected anything Rams related in the past, but since their return to L.A., suspect i'll continue. I'm looking for a legitimate, signed, Rams game-day football, and a genuine 70's era blue & white helmet, signed or not, in excellent condition if anyone has one sitting around.

Anyone else collecting Rams gear since their return to L.A. ?

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http://www.dailynews.com/sports/201...uick-has-come-a-long-way-to-get-back-on-track




In a physical sport like football where injuries and pain are an everyday fact of life, there are locker room code phrases to contrast degrees of seriousness.

At the very top of that list sits the “car wreck” distinction. It requires no explanation or clarification, really. But for the particularly curious or naive, let’s just say gruesome pretty much sums it up.

It’s an aspect of football life as real and prevalent as the water coolers that line the back of a sideline. And it hovers as close as the very next play.

For obvious reasons it’s a subject players acknowledge only in hushed tones and knowing glances.

They know the deal. No sense dwelling on it.

For Brian Quick, the very next play occurred in 2014 during the brightest stretch of his young career. Its ramifications would be felt for almost two full years, rendering Quick almost an afterthought among Rams wide receivers and eventually left many to assume he was nothing more than a second-round bust.

All that talk has faded this year, what with Quick now settling in as a dependable receiver and viable long threat in the Rams’ pass game. He leads the team in touchdowns and yards per catch at 18. Not bad for a player many wrote off as he struggled with dropped passes during training camp, caught the wrath of head coach Jeff Fisher and seemed to be overtaken on the depth chart by promising rookies Pharoh Cooper and Nelson Spruce.

The mistake is assuming it came out of nowhere.

If anything it’s actually the continuation of a path Quick was clearing two years ago when he opened the season with 25 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns. In doing so, he was setting himself up for a career season.

“Yeah he really was,” Fisher said. “He was really productive for us.”

But then the next play reared its ugly head. And it changed everything.

“The injury that I had, people might think it was a little injury that was easy to come back from,” Quick said. “But there was so much more to it.”

Two years ago against the Kansas City Chiefs, Quick grabbed a pass from Austin Davis then was immediately hit from behind Chiefs cornerback Jamell Flemming. In the blink of an eye, Flemming and Quick were headed to the ground.

The combination of Quick and Flowers’ body weight and the angle and ferocity of the fall put the brunt of the pressure onto Quick’s left shoulder, causing a complete tear of the rotator cuff and a dislocated shoulder.

“Pain, man,” he said.

The ensuing prognosis and the weeks and months that followed confirmed the worst.

“I literally tore everything in my shoulder.” Quick said.

Rams general manager Les Snead described it as a “car wreck” injury. Rams trainer Reggie Scott said he’d never seen anything like it. There was talk it might be career ending.

And when rehabilitation eventually began, there was less focus on football and more about getting Quick to a point where he could reach up to a kitchen cabinet and grab a plate.

Quick understood the worst-case scenario might include a life without football. But it wasn’t something he dwelled on.

It took some mind games, but he managed.

“I tried to treat it like a normal every day injury and kept grinding trying to get back,” he said.

The rest of the 2014 season was lost, obviously. And while Quick was cleared to play in 2015, the 10 catches and 102 yards he managed indicates his body wasn’t yet ready to deliver what the mind was demanding.

“Not being in the groove, it’s tough,” he said. “I wanted that to happen, but they knew it was going to take time.”

The short attention span of professional sports diverted attention away from what Quick had been through — and what he was coming back from — and onto his lack of production.

No matter the reasons, he wasn’t delivering like a high second-round pick should. The bust label soon followed.

“You have to fight. You have to be strong mentally,” Quick kept reminding himself.

The Rams signed Quick to a one-year, make-good contract during the offseason, but when he got off to a slow start in training camp and the preseason, his spot on the Rams roster seemed to be fading.

And as the dropped passes mounted, his chances of making the team dwindled.

The irony is his body felt terrific.

The dropped balls were all mental.

“Stuff happens in your life. You don’t understand why,” Quick said. “I’ve never been that guy to do stuff like that. That’s why it was surprising to coaches, even myself.

Injuries to Cooper and Spruce granted Quick a reprieve, and he’s made the most of it by emerging as the Rams most reliable receiver.

It’s not a surprise, though.

More of a continuation.

“Before he got injured, he was definitely one of our top receivers,” said Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree. “For him to bounce back, he comes to work every day and just gets better.”

It’s forced us to look at Quick differently. But maybe we just weren’t viewing him in the proper lens to begin with.

“I’m all the way back,” he said. “Nothing hurts. Nothing is bothering me. I have my confidence back. I’m doing all the things I used to do and feeling like I used to feel.

“And that’s important. It’s extremely important. Especially for my team. They need me.”

Well? Of course its a personal thing. Could be professional or amateur. Team or not. What say you?

After a tough loss at home, the Rams head on the road for a crucial two-game stretch, and SCNG writers Ryan Kartje and Jack Wang discuss whether those two games might be Case Keenum's last as a starter. They also wonder how the Rams secondary will hold up against a resurgent Matt Stafford, and Ryan bemoans growing up as a Lions fan.

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Another downtrodden fan base with a good sense of humor. Rams fans should be able to relate.
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http://www.detroitlionsforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7071

L.A. Lams @ Detroit Loins (-3) Game week thread
Can the Loins continue their winning streak? There's a lot at steak.

Can Caldwell coach back to back perfect games and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat once again?

Can the O-line finally make everyone quit pining for the good ole days when Raiola dominated?

Can the D-line get a pass rush that gives the QB less than 20 seconds in the pocket?

Can Roberts finally return a kickoff past the 15 yd. line?

Stay tuned.

The Loins are girded and a rack of Lams will be served for dinner this Sunday.

Lions win.
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Sidenote: Lamb not Lam but the intent is is noted for sure.
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Lions can't block Donald. Lions lose
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Detroit was a 3 point favorite against the Rams last year.
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The Lions will do what you don't want them to do. Think in opposites.
"Oh, Lions got a huge win over the 3-0 Eagles. They will have no problem at home vs Case Keemum and the overrated Rams."

Jeff Fisher will probably look like a genius against the Lions, randomly.
Rams 20
Lions 16
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I want Jim Caldwell gone. Sick of watching either "a tale of two halves" or a clownshow. ...and expecting one or the other...continually. Some day I would like to feel confidence in the Lions.

Case Keenum...have a career day, bro!
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Todd Gurley has probably been salivating for this game all season
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Guarantee Lions win. Caldwell needs to keep his job to ensure SOL. It's not rocket science.
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I'd estimate about 2/3 of my life has been spent debating whether I want the Lions to win games or if I'd rather have them lose so the coach will get fired. It's a never ending struggle.
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This season was in the shitter the moment they announced Caldwell was returning.
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Apparently, the Rams are hit hard with injuries just like the Lions. They're missing a few key players on Defense, especially on the line. One of their cornerbacks just got hurt and is questionable.

This bodes well for the Lions offense. They just might put up a 40 burger if everything starts working.

The O-line is the key. If they can win the battle against a patchwork D-line then Stafford could light it up.
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As long as Aaron Donald is playing, the Rams will have no problem getting pressure on Stafford.
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Defensive linemen Robert Quinn, William Hayes and Michael Brockers did not play against the Bills because of injuries, and Fisher said all would be evaluated “day to day” this week.

That doesn't mean they're out this week, yet.
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Donald is good but he's no Superman. He won't play every down and the Lions can double him when he's in. He can be contained.

Stafford should be able to exploit their D when Donald's not in.

I don't know the status Ebron but I like this O better without him. He's Eddie Mush.
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If Tomlinson is half of that double team, I give Donald the advantage.

We could have had Donald instead of Ebron, hence, fucking Ebron.
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Really hope Ebron is on mega bucks...... More a week than I'll earn in a years. To be the shittest player in historically the shittest team in the NFL; only lots of money could possibly make that pain go away.

LIONS 28 THE BAMS 17
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Lol, time to pull the head out....This team has never taken advantage of another teams weaknesses.

I laugh my ass off everytime I hear someone predict that the Lions will take advantage of a weakness or injury because I have never in my life seen it happen.
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I also like how we see mediocre/bad teams on the schedule and think it's a winnable game...when the other team's fans see the Lions on the schedule and think the same exact thing
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C'mon the brown fans would shiver in fear if they saw the Lions coming up on their schedule....

who am I kidding, they would all circle that sucker and guess they had a "chance" at least, 50/50 coin flip.
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The Lions will win the next 2 which will ensure Caldwell remains the rest of the season.

Then they will finish 2-7 ending 6-10. Then Caldwell is gone.
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L.A. will be on the "Lam" and will be served up like a rack of "Lamb".

As usual, both of our lines are a major concern.

The Rams will more than likely try to establish the run. If they're blowing through our D-line and eating up clock, the Lions will lose the TOP and probably the game.

They probably won't challenge Slay and the secondary too much. They've been playing well.

The O-line has to give Stafford the time to make plays. They can't be dominated by Donald and a weak supporting cast. A run game would help.

Ebron not playing is a blessing. The extra lineman taking his spot is opening up many new options. Boldin can now overpower the middle and catch the one's Ebron usually drops. Especially in key points in the game.

It's also better for the running game. No more Ebron whiffing his blocks while the RB gets killed.
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So if the Lions lose at home to a Rams team missing (potentially) Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, William Hayes and Trumaine Johnson, and Qb'd by Case Keenum, they should probably just cancel the rest of the season.
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Exactly correct!

In no case can Keenum have a career day. It's Gurley the D has to stop.
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The Lions already lost to the (1-4) Bears QB'd by Brian Hoyer. RB Jordan Howard and starting TE Logan Paulson (who?).

Yet we are here to witness the Lions go through a 6 to 8 win season and pick in the teens in the NFL draft.

Yea, yea some will say it doesn't matter where you draft. To some extent that is right. However that was the difference in the Lions being able to draft Patrick Peterson in 2011. Instead the Lions won 4 games in a row to end the 2010 season and drafted that fatass Nick Fairley.
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As a seasoned Lion fan, I can assure you it is too early to root for a loss. Half the fans were really pissed they won the game Sunday. There will be plenty of time for that option but not in week 5.

Main is dead on about the never ending struggle, the struggle is real but ultimately fools gold. The thought that they will fire a coach and hire somebody better is a dubious proposition. The best way to follow the Lions other than not following them is to expect a loss every game, celebrate when they win one because it only happens about 6 times a year. Never expect a week 18, if there is a week 18 expect them to get depantsed or get screwed by the refs. Most likely the former.

They definitely should celebrate the 1991 team. Every July 4th, Civil War enthusiasts gather at Gettysburg to reminisce and celebrate. The South lost but they have plaque signifying Pickett's Charge. Much like Pickett's Charge the 1991 NFC Championship game is the High Water mark of the franchise.


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The Lions will not lose this week. I might even throw down some cash online.

I could care less though. Win or lose, I am a Lions fan. It ends in futility no matter how the week to week wins and losses go. I came to a point years ago where I accept that. To my friends I get martyr points. In a sick way I almost like that at this point. Like someone else posted, until they win 2 playoff games in one season the part of me that "hopes" for the Lions will remain in hibernation.

It's too painful and frustrating to awaken it any time sooner than that. I expect it to hibernate until die. But I do enjoy posting here and talking about the Lions with others. Comedy relief. Martyr points.
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The Rams are wary of the Lions’ leading receiver, even though it’s not Calvin Johnson.
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I'll never understand some Lions fans. The Lions are 2-3 and could even up their record this Sunday. They're still in the hunt and some are worried about screwing next year's draft. Too weird.

The Stockholm Syndrome runs deep.
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I'm not excited about the Lions. It is obvious after seeing five games that they are not a very good team. I guess they are "still in the hunt" and they could get better and catch lightning in a bottle, but I don't think they have enough talent on defense to be very good.

I'll watch, though. I always do. **sigh**
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Stockholm Syndrome? Nothing like that at all.

More like Learned Helplessness (a very real phenomenon that's been studied).

Or finding ways to cope (by reframing reality) with a team that is the laughingstock of the pro sports world and is known as THE WORST FRANCHISE IN SPORTS. I reframe in my mind that "it's a hoot to root for Eric Hipple and Jeff Komlo." Gets me by.

So does rooting for higher draft picks. It's called coping.

Look at the schedule. They'll likely win the next 2. After that it gets much more difficult. They'll end up 6-10. Book it.
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The Lions are not a playoff team so why root for them to win? Does the win give you hope? Do you feel better about 7-9 than 6-10? Now that Quinn is in charge it should help having a higher pick. And losses will get Caldwell out.

Until the Lions clean house of all things WCF SOL will reign.

I can't believe I'm the only one who feels this way. I've been watching them since '72. Greg Landry is still my favorite Lions player. Had he not wrecked his knees he had potential to be something like Aaron Rodgers. He was accurate and mobile and tough. Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney, Mike Lucci, Steve Owens, Ron Jessie, Larry Hand - those guys meant everything to me. When they lost my week was affected. Then Billy Sims, Bubba Baker, David Hill, eventually Barry Sanders. When Sanders left I gave up. They became the SOL to me.

And until they win 2 playoff games that's how they'll remain for me. Fool me once shame on me. Fool me twice and I am dumb enough to keep hoping. Fool me 300 times and fuck you. Prove yourselves with 2 playoff wins and I'll open myself to be fooled again.

Jared Thomas Goff "Franchise Quarterback of the LA Rams"


Just a couple more games young Jared Goff and then it will be your turn to lead the Rams to victories.

Your favorite part of the week is back!!! And with a vengeance!!! Yes, I am Tron!! Master of Power Rankings!!!!!!!!



Click here:

http://www.ramsondemand.com/powerrankings/trons-power-rankings.9/

I was trying to figure out how to do print screen so I could share this play with you. But I cannot figure out how to do it on my computer (my niece put nail polish on my keyboard and my windows key no longer works so I can't figure out print screen).

The play I am referring to is 3rd and 13 in the first quarter at the end of our first drive. If someone can capture the screen shots and share that would be awesome.

We are lined up with Keenum in shot gun and Tavon in the backfield, Britt out left, with Higbee/Kendricks in the slot to the right, and Gurley split out wide right.

The defense focuses so much on Tavon coming out of the backfield that Britt is running to the corner of the endzone with good space on his guy in coverage.

That was a big miss.

So far San Diego is dominating. But I'm sure that will change with 2 minutes to go. Joe Barksdale making Von Miller look average.

Has anybody seen any kind of injury report this week? Curious about our Dline and Buh Buh Buh Benny and his jets

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-troy-hill-20161013-snap-story.html




He was exactly where he wanted to be, on the field at the Coliseum and working to help shut down Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Rams cornerback Troy Hill, however, could barely catch his breath. He was gasping for air.

It was not a case of nervousness. The second-year pro was simply running out of gas.

“I didn’t play that many snaps since college,” Hill said this week, chuckling.

Hill’s role has grown substantially since playing on special teams and relieving since-released Coty Sensabaugh during that Week 2 victory over the Seahawks.

He started two games opposite franchise cornerback Trumaine Johnson while the Rams waited for E.J. Gaines to work through a thigh injury.

With Johnson now sidelined indefinitely because of an ankle injury, Hill will start in his place Sunday against the Detroit Lions, who feature quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Marvin Jones.

“He’s getting better every week,” safety T.J. McDonald said. “It’s not easy for a young corner to come into the league. He competes.”

The Rams signed the 5-foot-11, 182-pound Hill near the end of last season, after he played a few games for the Cincinnati Bengals and completed an abbreviated stint with the New England Patriots.

It did not take Hill long to pick up concepts preached by Rams defensive coordinatorGregg Williams, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner said.

“He’s a guy that does everything right,” Joyner said. “I actually go to Troy and ask him what I’m doing wrong, that I should be doing right, because he does his job.”

Hill, 25, said he has “kind of come full circle” after playing at Ventura St. Bonaventure High on his way to playing for the Rams, who train at Cal Lutheran in Ventura County.

But Hill is a California transplant.

He grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he said he was often on the road to trouble before his mother decided to send him to California to live with an uncle. Hill was all for it until he realized it was not for a visit.

“I stayed out all night and missed the plane on purpose,” he said, shaking his head.

His uncle, Jim Gilmer, eventually traveled to Ohio to retrieve him. He took Hill into his family’s home in Oxnard and enrolled him at St. Bonaventure.

“On the plane ride here,” Gilmer said. “I told him about opportunity and hope.”

Hill, however, initially struggled with the new environment, school and expectations.

“I was calling my mom and saying, ‘Let me come home,’” Hill said. “She was like, ‘Well, you better start walking.’”

Hill settled in with help from Gilmer and other families in the St. Bonaventure community, and developed into a top cornerback prospect for the Seraphs.

He chose to attend Oregon over offers from Arizona and Washington, but his arrival in Eugene was delayed because the NCAA determined that his eligibility clock had started during his first year of high school in Ohio.

At Oregon, Hill played a few seasons on special teams and as a reserve cornerback in a secondary that included cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. He was suspended for about a month and half after the 2013 regular season before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of menacing for an incident that reportedly involved a girlfriend.

As he waited for the situation to be resolved, Hill said he contemplated his future.

“It made my vision a lot more clear,” he said, “to focus on school and graduate.”

Hill played well his senior season but went undrafted in 2015. He signed with the Bengals and made the practice squad. Every day in workouts, he went against receivers such as Jones and A.J. Green.

“It helped me out to see I can really play in this league,” he said.

The Bengals activated Hill in Week 13 and he played in three games. He was waived when veteran cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris returned, and he figured he would return to the practice squad. But the Patriots claimed him.

“I got the call on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day,” Hill said. “I’m like, ‘New England, yeah.’”

Hill never played with the Patriots. The incident at Oregon, Hill said he was told, led to the Patriots waiving him five days later. He returned to Cincinnati to retrieve his belongings and hoped to rejoin the Bengals’ practice squad.

But Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis texted congratulations.

“I’m like, ‘Huh? What happened?’” Hill said. “He texted back, ‘The Rams picked you up.’

“At first, I was like, ‘Can I just stay?’ Because I don’t want to go through that again — go out there and be cut again.”

Hill joined the St. Louis Rams for the final game of the season but was inactive at San Francisco. In January, the NFL approved the Rams’ move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, bringing Hill back to Southern California.

“I kind of felt, ‘Dang, this is a journey,’” Hill said.

It continues Sunday when Hill will try to utilize lessons learned through the first five weeks of the season.

He was in game shape by his first start — against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and has made 19 tackles.

Hill’s speed and “ball skills” make him a good complement to Gaines, Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said.

“They might be 5-10, 5-11,” Fisher said, “but they can play taller because they can elevate and get the ball.”

Hill still is looking for his first interception. But his goal Sunday is to simply play with confidence.

And stamina.

“I have to go out there,” he said, “like I’m meant for this.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesklein

Eric Dickerson could become the greatest runner in history—unless he quits the game in frustration first



By Rick Reilly

SEE DICK RUN

If there were such a thing as secondary alcohol inhalation, Eric Dickerson would be legally drunk by now. This is because a man with an orange hat, a Denver Bronco T-shirt and 3½ quarts of Coors on his breath is screaming love sonnets at him from a yard away late in a game at Denver's Mile High Stadium earlier this season. "Hey, Dickerson!" he barks over a chain link fence. "You didn't do squat today! Next time they ought to let your banker run with it!"

This is a critique Dickerson doesn't need. It's a freezing dusk, and Dickerson already knows the score: 13 carries, 35 yards and a 14-3 loss for his Indianapolis Colts. "Here's $20!" says the reviewer. "Maybe you'll play better next time!"

A month earlier, Los Angeles Ram fans at Anaheim Stadium, which Dickerson once called home, did an equally lousy imitation of the Welcome Wagon. They showered Monopoly money on him whenever he went into and out of the tunnel to the locker rooms. "They're cheap," says Dickerson, or Dick to his few friends. "If they had thrown real money, I'd have picked it up."

The disrespect is mutual. Often Dickerson has an itch to hop fences and do a Linda Blair to certain necks in the stands. "In San Francisco people spit on us going into the locker room," he says. "In Cleveland they throw batteries and bones. Why not just let them have loaded guns and shoot at us?"

Dick is not overly fond of the average NFL customer. "Most of the guys I see watching football are wanna-be athletes," he says. "It's always, 'Oh, I hurt my knee, or else I'd have been in there.' Right. I wonder what they'd feel like lying in a pile of guys, hearing a knee snap and the guy scream a scream like they'd never heard—and then have to line up for the next play with that scream on your mind."

More to the point, why should he love the fans when they've never loved him? For seven years Dickerson has been the best running back in the league, yet football fans have never cuddled up to him the way they did to O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton and Gale Sayers. Nor have they worshiped him the way they did Jim Brown and Earl Campbell. The criticism has never been harsher than this year, perhaps because the Colts are having a droopy season and because the hamstring he pulled on Sept. 24 shrink-wrapped his numbers for a while—he ranks only seventh in the rushing race—and sidelined him for a game. ESPN's Pete Axthelm recently called Dickerson "one of the most overrated players in the history of the sport." On NFL Live this year, Simpson said Bo Jackson was better. Dickerson has had few endorsement deals, to say nothing of hawking a Hertz with Arnie.

Here is a man who has 56 career 100-yard games, four rushing titles and the alltime record for yards in a season (2,105). Here is a blur who got to 10,000 yards in fewer games (91) than anybody else in history—seven fewer than Brown, 19 fewer than Simpson, 22 fewer than Payton. With 933 rushing yards this year after the Colts' 10-6 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, he's about to become the first player ever to run for 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons. At 29, with 10,848 career yards, he has a chance to surpass Payton's alltime rushing mark of 16,726 yards.

Yet many fans don't know who he is. Maybe they can't see who he is, what with the extra-large shoulder pads, flak jacket, hip pads, neck roll and goggles. Even his pinup poster shows him being assembled in a laboratory, piece by piece, and features the tagline ROBOBACK. Maybe we're reluctant to trust a running back who is so sane he is afraid of pain. Dickerson has been known to find happiness on the sideline. "What are the out-of-bounds lines there for?" he says. But can a man who never missed a pro game because of injury until this season really be trying?

Maybe that's it exactly. O.J. wriggled past would-be tacklers with moves that would make a chiropractor grimace. Brown looked as if he were ready to run through the side of a bus. But Dickerson makes running with the football seem so painless, so seamless.

In the off-season before he set the season-yardage record while playing with the Rams in 1984, Dickerson rarely worked out. When L.A. coach John Robinson first saw Dickerson practice as a rookie, in '83, he kept yelling, "You've got to run faster, Eric," and, "You've got to run faster." Finally, Dickerson said, "Coach, come out and run with me. I'm running as fast as I can."

The memory still tickles Robinson. "He runs without making noise," says Robinson. How can a back be so fluid his pads don't even rattle?


Or maybe its just that football fans have the feeling that Dickerson has never loved to run as much as they thought he should love it.

They're right.

SEE DICK WORRY

Ten hours after the Denver game, Dickerson endures another night course in American ceilings. Despite a two-hour flight to Los Angeles for an appearance the next night on The Arsenio Hall Show and a three-hour interview with a reporter, he cannot sleep. So he lies in his 10,000-square-foot Malibu mansion and frets. He paces around the house. His mind is a Betamax, replaying the game backward and forward. Visions of Broncos clomp through his head. Maybe I should've run outside there, should've cut it up inside there. It will be like this tomorrow night too. After some losses—like the one to the 49ers that opened the season—he barely sleeps for four nights. "I really want it [winning] bad, worse than a lot of people I play with," he says.

Dickerson is a black-belt worrier. One night he dreamed that he found an old friend, Harold Slaughter, sitting on the end of his bed. "Harold, what are you doing here?" says Dickerson. "You got killed."

"I got killed?"

"Yeah, you got killed in a car accident, and I couldn't make it to the funeral because we had to play. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, don't worry yourself, Dick. I know you would've come."

That dream ended, but death and Dickerson still do not get along. He worries about people trying to kill him. He keeps a gun by his bed and two slightly underfed rottweilers in his house. He worries about the day when the woman he calls his mom—she's actually his great-aunt Viola—will die, even though she's in the cream of health at 85. "I know I'll be depressed when it happens," says Dickerson. "I don't know what kind of person I'll be then."

He worries about getting hurt. He spends a couple of hours before every game steeling himself for the first hit. "For the first few plays, there's a lot of fear," he says. When he was with the Rams, he refused to run certain pass patterns because he thought they were splints waiting to happen. With the Colts, he won't run shovel-pass plays because it means he must have his head turned while running amid 280-pound linemen who are not hoping he has a nice day. "Nuh-uh," says Dickerson. "Not for me."

He worries so much that he gets headaches, which is one reason he's looking forward to turning in his washroom key. Viola is looking forward to it too. "Don't you think you've made enough money?" she asks him. "I don't want to see you a cripple."

Maybe it's the insomnia or the loss, but Dick is starting to see her point. "People think it should be an honor to run in the NFL," he says. "Hell, it's no honor. It's an honor to be alive. To have two legs that work, two eyes that work."

In fact, the only honor Dickerson wants from playing in the NFL is a paid-off home. He has $500,000 to go on the Malibu house. "If I get it paid off, oh, my days playing football will be over. I'm serious."

Excuse us, but what about Payton's record? What about the Super Bowl? What about your place in history? "I already have a place in history," he says. "The Payton record is no big deal to me. There's more to life than getting 16,000 yards. Viola doesn't care about the record. She'd love me if I mopped floors. I used to really worry that I might never make the Super Bowl. Now I don't. If I don't get to one, I don't get to one."

The weird thing is, he looks as if he means it.

SEE DICK KILL

Sixteen hours after the Denver game. Two days off in Los Angeles. Time to blow somebody away. Dickerson has got a Gary Cooper look on his face. There's a loaded six-gun in his holster and a quiver in his trigger finger. In a fly's sneeze, he whips out the pistol with his right hand, fans the hammer with his left and blows a hole the size of Hoss Cartwright's hat in his agent and housemate, Daryl Henry.

Henry is unfazed. He continues to talk on the phone, despite the ringing in his ears. The mock six-gun was a gift from a Hollywood stunt man. Dickerson has two, so he and whoever wants to play Liberty Valance can duel all they want. Dick doesn't like to lose at Gunsmoke or anything else. His nostrils flare anytime he loses at anything.

Whatever Dick has, it has to be the best. His Malibu "crib," as he calls it, has four fireplaces, a closet the size of most people's master bedrooms (he needs room for those 95 pairs of shoes), a Ferrari Testarossa (worth about $300,000), a Ford Bronco and a customized van he got for free. The van has a TV, VCR, CD player and two cassette decks. Dick's end of the deal is that he has to drive it.


To Dickerson, these are the wages of greatness. He wants to dress like the best, own the best, be the best. So don't try to tell him he isn't. On Jackson: "He's not in my caliber. He's a great back, but I have better moves than Bo." On Charles White, who replaced him on the Rams in '87 after the big trade that sent Dickerson to Indianapolis for a herd of players and draft choices, and who then won the rushing crown in that strike-shortened season: "I like Charlie, but that was a fluke." On the 5'10" Greg Bell, who replaced White: "A dwarf." On Brown, who once rated Dickerson as a five on a scale of one to five for talent but gave him a one for heart: "That's a joke. I've played hurt my whole career. Jim Brown played when guys were 170 pounds. Now they're 280, running 4.5 40s. Jim Brown ran about a 4.8 40. Jim Brown was great in his day, but his day is gone."

When Dickerson was not among the 10 highest-paid running backs in the league in '86, he bitched and moaned and finally insulted his way out of L.A. He called Rams vice-president John Shaw "an eel." He pulled himself out of a Monday night game with the Cleveland Browns, saying his leg muscles were tight. When the money loosened up the next week with the trade to Indianapolis, so did the muscles. The Colts gave him the fattest paycheck—$1.45 million per year—of any running back in the league. That deal expires at the end of next season, and word is the Colts are ready to offer $2 million a year to extend the contract, though Dickerson has put the talks off for now.

Dickerson became known to Joe Barcalounger as a cash-sucking ingrate, the man who would leave a good team for money, pure and green. "These fans don't understand," says Dickerson. "They call pro football a game. It isn't a game. Playing Scrabble, playing dice, those are games. You don't break your neck playing Scrabble."

Uh-oh. The nostrils flare.

SEE DICK DATE

Twenty-four hours after the Denver game, Dickerson is sitting on the hottest couch in television—Arsenio Hall's. Outside the studio building waits a white limousine large enough for tonight's roster of lovely escorts: Tia, Maria, Michelle, Kimberly and Theresa. Dick dates only Theresa, but the others come along because women always come along with Dickerson.

So how come Dickerson is so alone? How come after a big game or a bad game "there's no one for me to come home to"? How come it's still just Dick and Reese's Pieces for breakfast? "I make too much money to marry some woman right now," says Dickerson. "I don't want to make all this money and then have some judge give it to some woman. Why should she get it? She's never been in a trainer's room."

Dickerson says Viola once told him, "Eric, I'm the only woman you can trust. You can't trust any other women. They'll turn on you. You can't even trust your own sisters, 'cause they could get married and turn against you."

So Dick doesn't trust women. He believes his former girlfriend, Rea Ann Silva, got pregnant by him nearly three years ago on purpose. "She was just somebody looking for a meal ticket," Dickerson says. She bore him a daughter, Erica, and filed a paternity suit against him, as a result of which he's paying child support. He has seen Erica, who lives in Los Angeles, three times.

It's not just women. Dickerson doesn't trust people. One time a friend forged his name on an application for a car loan. When Dickerson found out, he canceled the loan. The friend called him and said, "I can't believe you did that. You've changed."

Dick doesn't trust reporters. "First I'm great, then I fumble, then I don't like to run inside," he says. "Half these guys have never put on a uniform."

Dick doesn't trust whites. Occasionally he gets even with amateur racists. One day he went into a Mercedes dealership wearing sweats. "Hey, how much is this one?" he said to the white salesman, who'd been ignoring him.

"Sixty thousand," said the salesman.

"Whooo-eee! These things are kind of expensive," said Dick.

"Yes," said the salesman as Dickerson walked away, "they are." At which point Dickerson called over a second salesman and said in a loud voice, "Give me one of these."

Dick doesn't trust fans. "Fans think I'm egotistical," he says. "They don't know me. I don't let them know me. I don't care if they know me. I love my mother and I love my family and a few friends. Nobody else counts."

But didn't his family lie to him too? After all, he says he was 12 or 13 before he found out that Viola was his great-aunt, not his mom; that her husband, Kary, was his great-uncle, not his dad; and that Helen was his mother, not his sister. "Yeah, but it never bothered me," he says. "Not once."

Nor did he ever pay much attention to his biological father. In fact, he rarely gave his father a second thought until one day in 1984 when Emmitt Thomas, a St. Louis Cardinals assistant coach, came up to Dickerson after the Cards had played the Rams, and said, "Is Richard Seals your father?"

Dickerson froze: "Yes, he is."

"I thought so," said Thomas. "I played against him in college. You run just like him."

Seals was a standout slotback and defensive back at Prairie View (Tex.) A & M from 1962 to '65. He ran a 4.4 40, played on teams that went 19-1 over two seasons and sprinted on the track team.

He fathered Eric at age 16, when Seals was in the 10th grade, but he couldn't bring himself to marry Helen. "I wasn't ready for that," he says. Today Seals owns a car-care center in Houston. He is married, has another child and reluctantly stays out of Dickerson's life. "It's not really the way I want it," says Seals, "but I think it's how Eric wants it. I don't want to jump in on Eric's glory."

Seals has seen Dickerson play as a pro four or five times, but has never let him know when he was at a game. "I just like to see him do well," he says.

Dick's reaction? "My father is dead."

SEE DICK WALK

Fifty-three hours after the Denver game, Dickerson is about to board a red-eye to Indianapolis. He will land at 5:18 a.m., sleep for two hours (not bad!) and be at practice by 9:00. "I feel like going in tomorrow and saying, 'I quit. I'm tired of it. I'm turning my stuff in,' " Dickerson says. "Sometimes I feel like I've burned out. Most of the fun is gone from the game. You've got to love football, and right now I sure don't love it.

"When we lose, everyone looks at me. 'How come, Eric?' I hate it. I feel like I have to do everything myself. I can't block for myself. I can't run every time. Maybe it's not so much my teammates that think that, but the fans do. They expect you to do it all."

Long pause.

"Sometimes I wish I'd never started playing, you know? I get 80 yards, and it's a bad day for me. Do you know how hard it is to get over 100 yards in a game or over 1,000 in a year? Or 1,200 or 1,400 every year? There's only one guy in our backfield [despite his injury and sitting out a game, Dickerson has three times as many carries this year as any other Colt back]. It's fourth-and-one. Who do you think they're going to hand it to? The galloping ghost?"

All this unhappy talk is either 1) a pose designed to inflate his next contract even further, 2) a new way to cope with losing, 3) a reaction to his first real injury since his freshman year in college, or 4) the real thing. One of Dickerson's friends, Lewis Coleman, thinks it's No. 4. "The first time I heard him talk about retiring was a couple of weeks ago," he says. "He never used to talk about 'after football' before."

Then again, it could be 5) a way to rile his coworkers. The Colts are 6-6, and Dickerson still gets that Gary Cooper look on his face every time he talks about them. "If we want to be 7-9 or 8-8, that's fine," he says, "but I don't want to be a part of that kind of team.

"I think about how unhappy I am. I know I am a very unhappy person. Sometimes people say, 'How can a guy take a gun and blow his own brains out?' Now I can see how someone can do it. Maybe this life wasn't for me, football."

With that, Dickerson drags his Louis Vuitton carryon full of troubles down the jetway and back into a life he would just as soon forget. It's funny. A guy can run 10,000 yards and it's still not far enough.

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – Post Practice – October 12, 2016

(Opening remarks)
“Good day at practice, good day at work. The health status is improving. It doesn’t mean to say that we got people back on the field, but it’s looking better than it was. We’re hoping to get a couple of guys back Friday. A couple might be game-time decisions, but things are coming along. I thought they responded well. As we talked about, we had to address the London situation, circumstances, we did that. Now our focus is entirely on the Lions. We’re playing a good opponent. In some ways, they kind of resemble us. Although, I think that they’re a better team than their record reflects, particularly because of their losses, and their wins, for that matter, have come by a few points here and there. So, they’re in every game. I think (QB Matthew Stafford) Matt is playing as well as I’ve seen him play in the last couple of years. He’s in great shape. They’re running the football. They’ve overcome some injuries on defense, but they’re still playing fast and just up-tempo, and can put pressure on the passer, and they’re well coached on special teams.”

(On if the London trip feels like a two game road trip)
“There’s a lot of administrative, and just things that come up as far as packing, those kinds of thing. All of that is under control right now. One of the things in our business is uncertainty can become a distraction. You want to deal with things ahead of time. So, we’ve done that. It’s like, ‘Okay, have your bag here between this time and that time. It’ll be there in London when you get there,’ but now, but now let’s focus on Detroit. We have all the passports locked up in the safety deposit box right now (laughter).”

(On if the team’s success on the road makes the London trip a less stressful)
“It’s a challenge. It’s a two-step challenge. First step is Detroit, second step is at London against a good football team with the Giants. We haven’t scratched the surface with the Giants right now. It’s all about Detroit. This will be our first experience traveling three time zones, and kicking the ball off at 10:00 a.m. our time (PT). That in itself is a challenge. The statistics over the last five years, they don’t reflect a great deal of success when the West Coast teams are playing the 1:00 (ET) games on the East Coast. Those are things you talk to them about. So, we adjust our schedules a little bit. Not that that can be an excuse, but hey, you know, the approach needs to be, and it is with us, is whenever they tell us show up and play, we’re going to play.”

(On what specific things the team is doing to get adjusted to the rigorous traveling schedule ahead)
“We’re into that. When the schedule came out, we got into that. So, we’ve done all of our due diligence, and research, and all those things. The players are aware of it. Again, there’s a fine line between adjusting, and then allowing it to become an excuse. We’ll push things up a little bit on Friday, and then we’ll be fine. For example, we had a 9:15 a.m. team meeting today. Sunday, they’ll be starting pregame warm-ups at 9:15 a.m. So, it’s different. When the wakeup call comes in the morning at the hotel at 5:00 a.m. and the pregame meal is at 6:00 a.m., there’s a mindset, there’s a focus, there’s a concentration. But again, you don’t want to spring it on them. You want to let them be prepared for it.”

(On if he will keep the team awake after they land at 1:00 a.m. in the morning in London)
“Yeah, we have a plan in place. We’ll land, and we’ll move them around, and all those things. We got a couple days to get them back, but we’ll adjust. The players are one thing. The coaches are going to land in the morning and start game planning for the next opponent. Their probably game planning on the airplane on the way over there, as far as that’s concerned. It’s a huge challenge. We’ll be able to look back and say, ‘Hey, we did it right, because that’s our expectation.”

(On correcting the amount of penalties)
“Yeah, they came down last week, we got to six, so they came down. We just need to keep working on it. The offensive tackle is lined up clearly behind the center, and we get called for a neutral-zone infraction on defense; things like that. There’s a few that I had disagreed with, but the numbers are coming down. I think we’re becoming a little more disciplined. There’s going to be a hold here and there. You don’t like it, but I’d rather them grab the defensive end than get a free run on our quarterback. I expect our numbers to come down. We’ve been addressing it on a daily basis.”

(On the fact that the Lions are the only team in the NFL who have not given up a rushing touchdown this season)
“They’re defense is playing well down there; red zone defense. They’ve given up some passing touchdowns. As we talked about success in the plus territory in the red zone, if you will, it’s about carrying balance. Our emphasis this week is, like it is every week, on the run game, and stopping the run. I like our chances.”

(On what emphasis he puts on the team to perform well from the start of the game)
“I think everybody in the league has their first 12, or dirty dozen, or first 15, or first 16, or whatever it is, and that’s what you go to. So, you prepare the players to start the game. It’s about executing. It’s not about time changes, it’s just about executing.”

(On how QB Matthew Stafford has improved and what problems does he present for the team)
“When I say improved, there’s no way humanly possible to replace (WR) Calvin Johnson, but they’ve done a good job. They’ve got weapons all over the place now. They’re utilizing the run game, they’re utilizing him in the quick passing game. When we talk about Matt, Matt looks physically better than I’ve seen him in the last few years, athletically. I know he’s worked really hard this offseason. He makes all the throws. He scrambles. He’s running the ball. He’s tough. Y’all remember when he separated his shoulder, came back in, threw the touchdown pass. That’s the competitive edge that he has over a lot of quarterbacks. He’s a challenge to prepare for. He can see the field, he knows where to go with the football. You can’t trick him, you can’t surprise him. You just have to try to get pressure on him.”

(On if he has game planned around Lions newly signed RB Justin Forsett)
“Signing him is one thing; having him active and in the offense is another. If he’s active, he’d probably will have a limited role, and it would probably be involved in the run game. When we defend offenses from a run standpoint, there’s going to be a back there who’s going to get the ball. But, he’s a good player. No doubt, he’s a good player. I don’t know what happened there, but it was a good signing for them.”

Rams Offensive Coordinator Rob Boras – Post Practice – October 12, 2016

(On if he agrees with Coach Fisher that the offense is improving regardless of where they’re ranked)
“I think we’re getting better. Obviously we need consistency across the board, but I think we’re seeing glimpses of it. Again, the stat that’s critical is winning football games and we have to make sure we’re doing our part so we can win. I do think – I don’t think, I know – the offense is improving.”

(On what the indicators are that he’s seen that shows improvement)
“Last week we had our most explosive game, as far as having nine explosives. I felt that the run had glimpses – again, the word I’m going to use today, probably a bunch is consistency – we just have to be more consistent with our approach, the yardage, the time of possession. But again, our goal is to get in the end zone and we’re not doing that well enough right now, and we recognize that. Again, just the consistency of it and understanding we have explosive players with explosive ability. When that stuff starts coming all together, we’ll end up putting the ball in the end zone more consistently.”

(On if he’s seeing anything that they need to do better with the offensive line to create more holes for RB Todd Gurley)
“Across the board, it’s everything. As I’ve talked about with the run game, it’s just like anything, it takes 11 guys to protect the quarterback, the quarterback is responsible to protect himself as well, and it takes 11 guys to run the football – that’s the quarterback taking the right path with the running back and the o-line and the tight ends and the wide receivers. I’ve said it before, it’s one guy here, one guy there, the other guy. Again, it’s making sure we’re all getting on the same page and trying to take advantage of what the defense is giving us. We’re going to continue to run the football, that’s what we believe in and sometimes the number games aren’t in our favor, but we’re going to continue running because that’s what will help us with our run-action pass.”

(On if the run setting up the pass is more important than the pass setting up the run or vice versa and if the opponent dictates that)
“We like to say that we have to dictate. We’re on offense, we don’t want to play reactive, we want to be proactive. I’m not sure which one came first, the chicken or the egg, but we’re going to try to be balanced and take advantage of what the defense is giving us. We’re going to continue to run, as I said, and when we all of the sudden use a run-action pass, we’ve had the ability to get the ball down the field, whether that’s been to (WR) Kenny (Britt) or to (TE) Lance (Kendricks) against Seattle and so forth. We strive for balance and so far our defense has been playing lights out and it’s allowed us to stay balanced because it’s been a ballgame where we’ve been able to continue to run in the third and fourth quarter and not be down a couple scores. Again, we recognize, right now, our deficiency with getting the ball in the end zone and that’s what our focus is right now.”

(On if part of that deficiency is penalties and what causes that)
“It’s negative plays. You look at the game the other day for example, it was a sack on the 30-yard-line, it was a false start. Again, it starts with play calls. You’re always self-evaluating as a coach, seeing if you’re putting your players in the best position. And again, it’s the negative plays that are preventing us from having the continued success. We’ve started the drives well the last couple of games, we just haven’t finished with touchdowns, we’ve finished with field goals. It’s eliminating the negative plays when we get to the red zone.”

(On they will continue to line up Gurley out wide to get him out in space)
“It’s something we want to do with all of our running backs. Obviously, anytime you want to make the defense defend the whole field and that’s part of trying to attack a defense and it’s something we’re looking to do all the time.”

(On if struggling to get the ball in the end zone changes the way he calls plays)
“No, I’m trying to call it as if we’re ahead. We just have to trust the plan, we know what plays we want to get to in specific situations and we’re just trying to take advantage of those plays and those opportunities.”

(On what he remembers from the Detroit game last season)
“It was a big one for all of us. We had lost, I don’t know how many games in a row, and Coach (Fisher) had asked me to take over on that Monday. So it was a blur, but it was a great win for the organization, just anytime you’re on a losing streak. It was exciting, it was nerve-racking for all of us, but the players found a way and responded and played really well in that game.”

(On if Detroit being towards the bottom of the league in run defense is a big part of getting Todd Gurley going)
“No, like every week, you know your opponent, but we focus on the Rams. We’re going to know what Detroit does, they’re very talented on defense, but again, it’s about us and us taking care of our business. If we do that, we think we’re going to be very consistent and very efficient and be able to produce. Again, it’s respecting them, but focusing on us and our technique, our assignments and our details to get our job done.”

(On what he’s seen from QB Jared Goff over the last four weeks that he has improved in)
“I know I always go back to the classroom every time and it’s hard to put a grade on that because you guys don’t see that, but that’s where it starts for every position. A lot of the times, you understand how a person is learning by the questions that he’s asking and he’s not asking rookie questions anymore. He’s starting to ask those more advanced, if you will, say the 301 or 401-type question. For me, it starts there. Then, obviously, just watching him going against our defense and his footwork in the pocket and eliminating the turnovers. With the reps that he does get with the first unit, those same sorts of things. Again, it starts in the classroom, the easiest way to understand if somebody knows it is when they can regurgitate it back to you. And he’s able to do that right now and, again, ask some of those questions where you have to, yourself, look up at the sky and try to think ‘Okay, that’s a good one,” and try to give him the right answer. He’s putting a lot of work in as if he is the starter, which I know is not an easy thing to do, especially for a young player. But to watch him go ahead and study Detroit and get ready for this week as if he’s playing, I think that says a lot about his maturity as a 21-year-old.”

(On if there is ever a thought of giving him a series or two in a game to see how he reacts)
“I think that would all be based with Coach Fisher and kind of how the flow of the game would be going.”

(On if he’s seen that Kenny Britt is more comfortable with Case Keenum now that they have had 10 games together)
“Yeah, every receiver is kind of taking their turn over these last couple of weeks. I’ve talked about Kenny quite a bit. To me, against it starts in the classroom and his approach out here with walk-thrus and practice. But I think the comfort that Case and Kenny have right now is real. You can start to see that come to fruition, especially on the third-downs when we need a big play.”

(On if they work on last-minute, long touchdown drives)
“Yeah, Friday when we get into the two-minute situation or four-minute is when we focus coming back Friday. As a staff, that’s the things we get to study tonight and tomorrow and put in with the team on Friday and obviously try to execute it on Sunday afternoons.”


Rams Quarterback Case Keenum – Post-Practice – October 12, 2016

(On how he feels he’s played the first five weeks)
“It’s not really a time right now to look back overall. I haven’t self-scouted over all our games. I take each week and try to build on it. Obviously, last week we didn’t do enough to win the ballgame. There’s key situations that I’d like back. I think we’re doing good things on offense, but we obviously didn’t take care of the football and I think that’s a really big deal in this league. You have to take care of the football, you can’t give other offenses extra possessions – obviously possessions that lead directly to points there with the pick-six. Those are big plays in the game and you want some of those back, but that’s why we push out here in practice, for perfection every day because you never know what rep, what play is going to be the deciding factor in a game.”

(On how the team is able to compartmentalize everything coming up over the next two weeks)
“Trying not to look at the big picture. Coach Fisher does a good job of letting us know what’s going on, when we’re going, where, what we have to do. So, really, I take it a day at a time, I open my phone, look at the schedule for that day – what do I have today, what do I need to do today. This afternoon, we have meetings, we have to review the gameplan, watch a little film, come in tomorrow, we have to bring a bag for London, check that off the list and then we’ll be ready for Detroit when we fly out of here Friday.”

(On how to adjust with Sunday being the first trip to the eastern time zone with a 10 AM PT kickoff)
“I think for me and I think for our guys, we’re of the mindset that no matter where we’re at, we’re going to show up and play – it doesn’t matter what time, what place, if there’s an hour rain delay, if it’s an early game, if it’s a late game, if it’s a night game, if it’s on grass, turf, if it’s indoors, outdoors, we’re going to show up and play. No matter what defense is out there, we’re going to move the football and that’s our mindset. As far as the early game, I get up early every day, I’m up here early and we’ll be ready to go. When the whistle blows, I don’t think anybody will be thinking about how early it is, it’ll be football. It’ll be 100 yards and green grass – or I guess turf, up there.”

(On if, as a quarterback, the run setting up the pass is more important than the pass setting up the run or vice versa)
“Whichever play is called at the time. Whatever play is called, we have to execute it. If it’s not the right look, check to the other. It’s whatever wins games. Different games are different. One week can lead to the next week, it just depends on the week, too.”

(On the key to doing things better in the red zone)
“Negative plays. Whether it’s penalties, negative runs, sacks, yards are precious down there. Whether it’s just taking completions, check downs, touchdown, check down, touchdown, check downs – I think we just have to keep moving forward. We’re doing a good job moving the football, just keep moving forward when we get down there.”

(On how RB Todd Gurley is handling not having a breakout game yet and if he feels the need to pick him up)
“I don’t want to speak for Todd. It’s a tough game and it’s a tough league, everybody is really good. With that being said, I think we’re all out here trying to do our best and that’s what we do every day. I don’t want to speak for Todd as far as his mindset or anything, but I can guarantee you he’s working his tail off. You guys see him out here early, in late no matter what it is, protection, pass game, run game. It’ll come for him, he’s a heck of a player, he’s really, really, really talented. One of the top players in this league of really, really good players. I’m not worried about him, his mindset, he’s ready to go every Sunday and he’s giving it his all.”

(On what stands out to him with the Lions defense)
“They have a good defense. Obviously they’ve had a few injuries up front with some guys – just across the league, everybody’s got injuries. But the guys who have played for them have filled in well. They have a good back end, (CB Darius) Slay obviously had a good game last week. I think they feel like they’ve got a good secondary, I’ve known (S) Glover Quin for a long time, solid players back there. And up front, (DT) Haloti Ngata, guys that have played a long time in this league have had really good success. We have our work cut out for us, a good defense, on the road, good test. I think we’re going to have to play really well to win this game.”

(On if the game against Detroit in Week 14 last season brings back good memories)
“Any time you watch film like that, it’s hard not to remember some of those good feelings. So I think it’s a good thing to watch some of those good plays and see what we did well, learn from the things we didn’t do well. There’s two sides to that coin – there’s good plays and bad plays – but we had a lot of good plays in that game, so we’re going to look at that, learn from that. Two different teams, though – it’s another tough thing. We’re growing and we’re learning and I like our chances this week.”

maybe start tagging NSFW on a thread title when you're gonna show titties on your OP. Don't get me wrong, I love titties but I'm sure my PA doesn't like seeing them when she's using my PC. K thanks.

Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning. I thought we could use something to help us greet the day with an enthusiastic smile! Have a cup of coffee on me!

Practice Report 10/12: Improving Execution in the Red Zone

By Myles Simmons

In terms of yards and first downs, Los Angeles had its highest offensive output of the season so far last Sunday against the Bills. Racking up 345 yards and 23 first downs is a decent indication of how well the Rams were able to move the ball.

That mark, however, means a bit less than it could because the Rams were only able to score a touchdown once in their four red-zone opportunities. That’s what Los Angeles has to correct this week with facing a tough Lions defense on the road.

“We recognize, right now, our deficiency with getting the ball in the end zone and that’s what our focus is right now,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said on Wednesday.

Boras said L.A. must improve in many aspects when it comes to how the offense plays when there’s a chance for the unit to put up points. That goes from the coordinator on down.

“It starts with play calls,” Boras said. “You’re always self-evaluating as a coach, seeing if you’re putting your players in the best position.”

But it’s also negative plays down in the scoring areas. Both Boras and starting quarterback Case Keenumcited those as being one of the biggest obstacles to cashing in when the offense is inside the 20-yard line.

“It’s the negative plays that are preventing us from having the continued success,” Boras said. “We’ve started the drives well the last couple of games, we just haven’t finished with touchdowns, we’ve finished with field goals. It’s eliminating the negative plays when we get to the red zone.”

“Whether it’s penalties, negative runs, sacks — yards are precious down there,” Keenum said. “I think we just have to keep moving forward. We’re doing a good job moving the football, just keep moving forward when we get down there.”

Detroit’s defense has done well to contain both the run and pass despite injuries to key contributors like defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and linebacker DeAndre Levy. So well, in fact, that the club still has not let up a rushing touchdown.

“They’re defense is playing well down there — red-zone defense,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “They’ve given up some passing touchdowns. As we talked about success in the plus territory in the red zone, if you will, it’s about carrying balance.”

“We have our work cut out for us,” Keenum said. “I think we’re going to have to play really well to win this game.”

CATCHING UP WITH GOFF

As we all know, quarterback Jared Goff has been serving as the Rams’ backup since Week 2. Nothing yet has changed when it comes to Goff’s status on the depth chart, as Fisher has maintained the No. 1 overall pick will play when he’s ready. And the head coach told Detroit media on Wednesday that there is no timetable for when the QB will see the field.

But according to the coaches, Goff has made steady progress. Boras said that’s been most apparent in the classroom.

“A lot of the times, you understand how a person is learning by the questions that he’s asking and he’s not asking rookie questions anymore,” Boras said. “He’s starting to ask those more advanced, if you will, say, the 301- or 401-type question. For me, it starts there.”

“The easiest way to understand if somebody knows it is when they can regurgitate it back to you,” Boras added. “And he’s able to do that right now and, again, ask some of those questions where you have to, yourself, look up at the sky and try to think, ‘OK, that’s a good one.” And try to give him the right answer.”

“I think I’ve progressed ever since I got here, and I don’t think I’ve ever really plateaued or gone backwards,” Goff said. “I think I’ve gotten better every time, every week, every day, so I feel good.”

Boras was particularly complimentary of Goff’s work ethic, nothing how the quarterback appears to be preparing as if he will play.

“He’s putting a lot of work in as if he is the starter, which I know is not an easy thing to do, especially for a young player,” Boras said. “But to watch him go ahead and study Detroit and get ready for this week as if he’s playing, I think that says a lot about his maturity as a 21-year-old.”

But once gameday comes, Goff is on the sidelines, aiding Keenum in any way he can.

“Mainly looking at the defense, looking at what they’re doing defensively, trying to help Case, trying to see if we can see anything that can help him when he gets to the sidelines,” Goff said. “Looking for different coverages, blitzes, stuff that they’ve done more than once, any tendencies.”

There have been many young quarterbacks and first-year quarterbacks starting around the league this season — many of whom have gotten playing time due to injuries. While as a competitor Goff would certainly like to be on the field, he recognizes every situation is different.

“All these guys that are doing well right now I’m very happy for. Most of them I’m good friends with, and they’ve done a really good job,” Goff said. “I’m very happy for them.”

Goff, of course, is focused on himself and become the best quarterback he can be for this team. And that process appears to be going well behind the scenes.

“I’m just trying to improve,” Goff said, “make everything become second-nature and continue to get better, and continue to feel more natural in the offense.”

WELCOME GRATZ

Cornerback Dwayne Gratz attended his first practice as a Ram on Wednesday afternoon after what’s surely been a whirlwind few days. A third-round pick out of Connecticut in 2013, Gratz played the first three-plus years of his career in Jacksonville. Gratz said Wednesday getting cut from the team that drafted him was tough, as one would expect.

“But now I’m here. It’s a better opportunity for me, and I’m looking forward to playing with these guys,” Gratz said. “I’d rather be here than to be on the couch. The team seems to like me, so I’m just going to go out here and do me.”

Gratz, who has amassed three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, and 119 tackles in his career, said he’s learning essentially a whole new scheme. So that means there’s a lot of studying for him to do to catch up.

“It’s always hard when you’re learning a new defense,” Gratz said. “But coming here, be studious, listen to what the coaches are teaching me, and just go out there and do what they tell me.”

Fisher said Gratz has a better chance to contribute on special teams than on defense for now. But the cornerback is working hard to ensure he’s ready if and when he’s called upon.

“I don’t know yet,” Gratz said of how much he’ll play on Sunday. “I’m going to learn a little bit more today. I just went out there and practiced today. It was a good day, and we’ll just see what happens tomorrow.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams have five players listed on their first injury report of the week, all of whom did not participate in the afternoon session.

Defensive tackle Michael Brockers (hip), defensive end William Hayes (ankle), cornerbackTrumaine Johnson (ankle), defensive end Robert Quinn (shoulder), and offensive linemanCody Wichmann (ankle) were all listed as DNPs.

However, Fisher said some of those guys were able to participate in the walk thru still have a chance to play on Sunday.

“The health status is improving,” Fisher said. “It doesn’t mean to say that we got people back on the field, but it’s looking better than it was. We’re hoping to get a couple of guys back Friday. A couple might be game-time decisions, but things are coming along.”

[www.therams.com]

Let's talk about what is going right so far

Brian Quick looks good - in your face, many of you.

Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald. The best defensive player in the world plays for our team.

Our pass blocking has been good. The pocket hasn't been the problem.

We have wins against Sea and Az already under our belt!!

Bennie Cunningham is quietly crushing the opportunities he gets.

When he had been in there, Quinn has looked like his old dominant self.

Goff is on the roster and gives us all hope that there is something much better for us on the other side of this tunnel.

We need to get healthier, but comparatively speaking - it's not so bad on that front. I don't want anybody to miss any games, but missing games beats the hell out of missing the season.

The NFC is wide open - the team that looks the best so far continues to lose player after player.

Jared Goff remaining patient, as are team's coaches

By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER

THOUSAND OAKS – Jared Goff stands – apparently with patience – and waits to enter a regular-season game, even as his quarterback contemporaries have formed a conga line into their respective huddles.

Goff, the Rams’ No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, has yet to take a snap. Goff was inactive for the season opener and has been the backup for the past four games. Rams coaches have taken a tortoise-slow attitude with Goff’s development but have expressed nothing but satisfaction with the rookie.

Meanwhile, around the league, rookie quarterbacks are playing. Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz, taken second overall, has started four games. Denver’s Paxton Lynch, taken at No. 26, made his first start last week. Third-round picks Jacoby Brissett (New England) and Cody Kessler (Cleveland) have started.

Among the first six quarterbacks selected last April, only Goff and second-round pick Christian Hackenberg (New York Jets) have yet to take a regular-season snap. Is Goff feeling any frustration?

“Every situation is different,” Goff said after Wednesday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “All of these guys who are doing well right now, I’m happy for them. Most of them I’m good friends with, and they’ve done a good job and I’m very happy for them.”

The Rams’ comfort level with Goff seems to be rising. After the preseason, Coach Jeff Fisher indicated Goff wasn’t ready for an NFL game, thus the inactive status for the opener. This week, Fisher said it was possible Goff would get into a game if the Rams were leading or trailing by a large margin.

Goff, who turns 22 on Friday, is younger than all five of the rookie quarterbacks who have played this season – Dallas’ Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick, has started all five games – and Rams coaches said they’re pleased with Goff’s development, and not only as their scout-team quarterback in practices.

“A lot of time, you understand how a person is learning by the questions he’s asking,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “He’s not asking rookie questions anymore. He’s starting to ask more advanced, the (college-level) 301- or 401-type questions. So for me, it starts there.”

Goff was asked if he thought his understanding of the game has progressed beyond rookie status.

“I hope so,” Goff said. “I think I’ve progressed ever since I got here, and I don’t think I’ve ever plateaued or gone backward. I think I’ve gotten better every time, every week, every day. I feel good. I just feel like every day and every week has gotten more and more natural and more like second nature.”

INJURY REPORT

Coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams are getting healthier, even if the on-field activity didn’t reflect it.

Starting defensive linemen Michael Brockers (hip), William Hayes (ankle) and Robert Quinn (shoulder) all missed practice, as did cornerback Trumaine Johnson (ankle) and guard Cody Wichmann (ankle).

The defensive linemen all missed Sunday’s game against Buffalo, but Fisher said Brockers had been close to playing. Johnson is not likely to play against Detroit, while the status of the other injured players probably won’t be determined until Friday.

Cornerback Dwayne Gratz, signed by the Rams on Tuesday, participated in his first practice. Defensive lineman Morgan Fox, waived to make room for Gratz, will be added to the Rams’ practice squad.

[www.ocregister.com]