Say It With Me: “YES WE CAN!”
It's been a rough week for die-hard Rams fans. Longer, actually. It started with last week's game; the loss was bad enough coming just after the prolonged Fisher extension announcement but the media feeding frenzy that followed was enough to make you turn off your TV, shutdown the PC...or toss your phone.
Various reactions to the announcement and video loops of Jeff Fisher's bumbling challenge flag hunt still bombard the airwaves as I write this. Hey, Chicago had its Chicago Fire. A place like Los Angeles will never have such a thing (we hope and pray) but it's a great place for the occasional LA Grease Fire. Here, yesterday's news gets thrown out so fast that if the Rams win out no one will remember that they were once calling for Fisher's head on a platter, right? So I think, hmm...instead of complaining, let's see if we can help the coaching staff win more games, starting with this weekend's contest in this week's edition.
The HardKnockers vs. The Atlanta Falcons
Sitting all cool and calm this morning drinking coffee while doing some mild research, I came across a link to an article saying something like, "Vegas practically has the Rams favored."
What the fuck? (...yeah, like you didn't just think it, too!)
Obviously, deeper research is needed here, being one of the die-hards I mentioned. I click the link and the first thing I see is a big photo of what else? 'Straight cash, homie,' which widens my eyes and broadens my excitement. But (...and this is a big fat 'ghetto but') the article is a short'n sarcastically-written one with that pokes more fun at my team and their chances at beating the Falcons. So now a perfectly good morning is dimmed somewhat by the jerk that wrote this and I think of how many other fans might have seen it. It motivates me to further bypass the ongoing Fisher bashing and give my peeps more hope in the HardKnockers article I have to write after drinking my liquid therapy (the morning version, not the stronger in-game/post-game remix). Later at the computer nothing is coming to mind. Totally blank until across the news wire...
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports this:
"The Falcons are promoting WR Nick Williams from their practice squad today. An indication of how banged up their WRs are."
A glimmer of hope!
See, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn announced Friday that Mohamed Sanu will not be active for Sunday's game against us (groin). Julio has turf toe which makes it difficult to plant and cut, it's extremely painful, especially late in games...which can add a split-second to the precise timing Matty Ice is used to. I don't have to tell you fellow die-hard Rams fans that adding extra time to block Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn & the gang is dangerous to one's health. It can also promote turnovers. Great, because the Rams are short on that this year.
Anyway, here's where the help comes in, and feel free to chime in with your suggestions. Who knows, someone may share this or know someone that knows someone that knows a member of the Rams staff...It could happen! Fisher himself may even be scanning the net for coaching tips and Belichick tidbits that might've slipped from his tight thin lips.
Ready?
This week's Bottom Line:
The Rams win if....
1. Their tacking improves dramatically over that weak-ass effort against the Saints.
2. The coaching staff's game plan includes some form of knowing that because the Falcons are ailing at receiver and because the Rams defense has slipped recently, Falcons' coach Quinn will likely lean more towards their pretty good set off running backs, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
3. Tavon Austin (who practiced in FULL this week, THANK GOD!) and Jared Goff become kindred spirits, soulmates or lovers (I don't care which) before Sunday's game. That Goff-to-Austin bomb was a thing of beauty, but I wouldn't mind seeing more slants to Tavon as well. I really dislike watching other games and repeating the same question, "Why can't the Rams use Tavon like that?"
4. Jeff Fisher takes his Dementia meds and remembers where he put the red — Oops, I said I wouldn't!
Hope it helps.
That’s a wrap! Seeya next week.
Go to my NFL Pros@Prose Picks submission to see my prediction for this game and the rest of the league.
Later, Ramily. Horns up!