Rams Review 2008

The 2008 St.Louis Rams season is complete. As my predictions showed in August the 2-14 record is not what I had in mind. Lets recap.

Week 1:Eagles 38 Rams 3-Before the game I said in order to get back in the groove of things. The Rams needed to make a statement and beat Philly. Clearly it did not happen as Jim Johnson's defense destroyed Bulger and the Eagles flew away with it.

Week 2:Giants 41 Rams 13-The Rams played the Giants tough for 3 Quarters until several key mistakes late created a blowout.

Week 3:Seahawks 37 Rams 13-Seattle's receiving core was depleted...yet the Rams secondary got destroyed...badly. After this game I thought 0-16 was a real possibility.

Week 4:Bills 31 Rams 14-Bulger was actually benched entering this game and replaced by Trent Green. Trent actually outplayed Trent Edwards until the 4th Quarter when he overthrew Holt for a pick 6. Lee Evans burned Jason Craft and next thing you knew the Bills escaped by the skin of their teeth. They were 4-0. But since they are 3-9. My two missions were complete...expose the Bills and get Linehan fired.

Week 6:Rams 19 Redskins 17-Everyone thought the Redskins would demolish the Rams. It was Jim Haslett's first game as Rams Interim Coach. It looked that way for a while as late in the 2nd Quarter it was 7-3 and the Redskins were driving. Pete Kendall's fumble and O.J. Atogwe's 75 yard fumble return made it 10-7. The Rams made it 16-7 and had a chance to put it away but collapsed late and the Redskins made it 17-16. Bulger hit Avery for the first down, Incognito got in a fight, and the Rams won 19-17.

Week 7:Rams 34 Cowboys 14-Another big mouth fanbase that shut up after the game. A Romo-less Dallas team got destroyed by a tough Rams defense. As a FOX Announcer said during the 3rd Quarter, "This game is no longer competitive now we take you to another game".

Week 8:Patriots 23 Rams 16-VERY VERY close game. I still say the Rams win if Steven Jackson had been healthy. Truth be told I hate bias but three blown calls really gave the Patriots the win.

Week 9:Cardinals 34 Rams 13-I felt good for the first quarter, but the next three felt like the Linehan era all over again.

Week 10:Jets 47 Rams 3-I really gave up after this game. Entering Arizona I felt we had a fighting chance of still making the playoffs. Arizona was the KO and the Jets game was the nail in the coffin.

Week 11:49ers 35 Rams 16-No comment...

Week 12:Bears 27 Rams 3-No excuses for this.

Week 13:Dolphins 16 Rams 12-Very close game that came down to the final seconds. Had the 5 Red Zone possesions for the Rams been TD's it would've been VERY different.

Week 14:Cardinals 34 Rams 10-What else is new?

Week 15:Seahawks 23 Rams 20-For the third straight year, the Rams held a big lead on Seattle only to collapse late...8 games and counting...

Week 16:49ers 17 Rams 16-It felt like 2005 all over again...

Week 17:Falcons 31 Rams 27-Strong finish(pending on how you look at it) for the Rams. They came really close here against Atlanta. The offense looked like it was really clicking here.

Thoughts:The defense was like Jekyll and Hyde one minute it would be decimating a team and the next it was being decimated. The offense futility continues hopefully its fixed by next season. Overall at worse we were a 1-15 team but at best we could've been 8-8. I'd take the latter but then we might not be able to get a good enough draft pick. But then again, at 8-8 we probably would've won the West and made the playoffs and we'd be playing Atlanta or Philly this week in the dome. With 2008 over, I hope 2009 is better, because it can't get no worse.

Who Needs to Go:
Travis Minor-I feel his team is up in St.Louis and that Kenneth Darby will take his place.

Jacob Bell-Worthless signing, really sucks.

Adam Carriker-Not good against the Run, I feel he might be better at Defensive End, however.

Leonard Little-There were times he'd looked OK, but others he didn't do spit.

Corey Chavous-Todd Johnson can actually stop the run unlike Chavous who misses it. He has good leadership, he just isn't good.

Drew Bennett-I admit he didn't have much a chance this year so maybe I'm being too hard on him.

Dante Hall-Anyone who dances in the end zone for 10 seconds while the Patriots Punt team is coming after you and theres only 15 seconds left...lets just say he's an idiot.

Nick Leckey-Bulger can't even get a good snap under center.

Brian Leonard-I don't think he would do well as a blocking fullback let alone halfback.

Al Saunders-Who the hell calls a screen on 3rd and 11 to Steven Jackson with Dane Looker as the lead blocker?

Who Needs to Stay:
Marc Bulger-Give the man a better line, and some GOOD playcalling and he should be ok.

Steven Jackson-In recent games he looked like the back we all thought we would see.

Kenneth Darby-He looked really good late in the season and could be used to throw off defenses.

Torry Holt-He looked to have woken up late in the season.

Dane Looker-He still has something in him.

Richie Incognito-He's a good blocker with a bad attitude.

Will Witherspoon-Move him to outside.

Ron Bartell-He's got the passion I'm looking for on defense.

O.J. Atogwe-He makes plays.

Ricky Manning Jr.-He was damn good before he got hurt. His corner blitzes really worked.

Derek Stanley-He's a really good kick returner.

Coaching:
I felt that under the circumstances Jim Haslett did an ok job. However, the defense looked terrible most of the time and collapsed late. The players like him so maybe theres something to him. He seems like the anti-Linehan. Al Saunders either needs a brain or better offensive lineman. Maybe its the scheme but maybe its the players. Either way something needs to happen.

Front Office:
John Shaw and Jay Zygmunt are gone. Thank god. With Billy Devaney as GM, we finally have a REAL GM and not a committee like previously. The Jay Zygmunt error will be remembered for a good few years(2000, 2001, and 2003.) But terrible draft picks. Devaney seems to know what he's doing. With him at the helm I am confident with this team.

What Could Happen:
To add to a big mess, there is a possibility that the Rams could move back to L.A. This due to the fact that a good majority of the Rams front office(except for Billy Devaney) is ran out of Los Angeles still and has been since 1946. The Rams even have their preseason games broadcasted in L.A. still. However, it is speculated that the team could be sold to anyone including Eddie DeBarlow who owned the 49ers from 1979-1998, winning 5 Super Bowls.

It seemed to me recently, however, that Chip Rosenbloom is content on keeping the team. So it's hard to tell whats going to happen.

Overall:2008 blew and the Rams have lost 27 out of 32 games dating back to the 2006 Season. What 2009 will bring is a mystery but it sure as hell be better than 2008. Enjoy the New Year.

NFL Playoff Predictions

The 2008 NFL Regular Season is over and we look towards the playoffs. 32 teams entered the season with a chance to get here now only 12 remain. Here is the seedings.

AFC:
1.Tennessee Titans(AFC South Champs)
2.Pittsburgh Steelers(AFC North Champs)
3.Miami Dolphins(AFC East Champs)
4.San Diego Chargers(AFC West Champs)
5.Indianapolis Colts(Wild Card)
6.Baltimore Ravens(Wild Card)

NFC:
1.New York Giants(NFC East Champs)
2.Carolina Panthers(NFC South Champs)
3.Minnesota Vikings(NFC North Champs)
4.Arizona Cardinals(NFC West Champs)
5.Atlanta Falcons(Wild Card)
6.Philadelphia Eagles(Wild Card)

Here are my predictions:

Wild Card:
Cardinals over Falcons-I feel that Atlanta's defense looked sub-par against a bad Rams offense and that Kurt Warner will have a good day. That takes nothing away from Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, however. I feel they will play well too. Give it like a 27-24 score or something like that.

Colts over Chargers-L.T. is hurt and I feel that Indy is on fire.

Dolphins over Ravens-Since losing to Baltimore in October, Miami has been on fire winning 8 of 9. I feel it continues though look for a good game from Flacco, McGahee, McClain and Co.

Eagles over Vikings-Donovan McNabb has been hot late in the season when he needs to be. I feel that Tavares Jackson cannot carry Minnesota to a victory and A.P. will not be enough.

Divisionals:
Colts over Titans-I am not going by the 23-0 game yesterday. I'm going by the fact that I feel that Kerry Collins cannot carry the Titans at QB especially if Indy's "good" defense shows up. It will be close and low scoring.

Steelers over Dolphins-This could be different if and only if Big Ben is too banged up to play and the real Byron Leftwich shows up. Truth be told, Miami can win this game. Look for it to be close twas if it happens.

Eagles over Giants-The Giants seem like a different team passing the ball without Plaxico. I noticed this in the Eagles and Cowboy games. Now they can still run the ball with Ward, Jacobs, and Bradshaw. However, the last time they met, Philly shut down the Gleesome Threesome. If the real Philly shows up(the one from September and the one from December). They will win this game.

Panthers over Cardinals-The last time they met, it was REALLY close. Arizona probably should've won, truth be told. I think it'll be close again but Carolina pulls it out late.

AFC Championship:Steelers over Colts-The last time they met, Pittsburgh didn't have Willie Parker. I think adding him creates a new dimension in this Steeler offense. I also feel that Peyton will struggle in the cold Pittsburgh winter and Big Ben will play better.

NFC Championship:Eagles over Panthers-I'm getting skeptical on this Panther defense. They got mauled by Derrick Ward and they got demolished late by the Saints. I don't think Carolina wins. I think, however, it will be close and it will be high scoring. I think whoevers defense makes a stop wins late.

Super Bowl XLIII:Eagles over Steelers-Philadelphia has been determined to get there and I feel that this year IS the year for Philly. Remember the heartbreaks in the 2001, 2002, and 2003 NFC Title games and the even bigger heartbreak of Super Bowl XXXIX? Not going to happen again. Philly wins and I believe that McNabb either retires or gets a new contract. They remind me of last year's Giants.

Playoff Facts:

• For the 2nd year in a row and 4th time in 2 years, San Diego will be facing Indianapolis. As the rivalry between class(Indy) and ass(Phillip Rivers) continues.
• The last time Miami was in the playoffs was against Baltimore in the 2001 NFL Playoffs. Miami lost 20-3. This is also the third meeting in a year and a few day span between the two. Miami ended their losing streak last year beating the Ravens 22-16 in OT while this year the Ravens won 27-13.
• Kerry Collins will be making his first playoff start since the 2002 Playoffs where he started for the Giants agains the 49ers.
• Kurt Warner will be making his first playoff appearence since Super Bowl XXXVI.
• This is only the 2nd time in 25 years that Arizona has made the playoffs.
• Donovan McNabb will be making his first playoff start since Super Bowl XXXIX.
• The Minnesota Vikings have not hosted a playoff game since the 2001 Divisional Playoff game against New Orleans.
• The last time the Vikings were in the playoffs, they lost 27-14 to Philly.
• The last two times Carolina has made it to the playoffs, they reached the NFC Title Game.
• The New York Giants will be hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 2000 NFC Title Game.

Enjoy the 2008 NFL Playoffs. It all kicks off Saturday at 4:30pm as the Cardinals take on the Falcons on NBC.

College Football Update(Bowl Edition)

The 2008 College Football Regular Season came to a finish on December 6th. Here is the final y25 of the regular season.

1.Florida 12-1(SEC)
2.Texas 11-1(Big XII)
3.Oklahoma 12-1(Big XII)
4.USC 11-1(Pac 10)
5.Penn State 11-1(Big Ten)
6.Alabama 12-1(SEC)
7.Utah 12-0(Mountain West)
8.Boise State 12-0(WAC)
9.Texas Tech 11-1(Big XII)
10.Ohio State 10-2(Big Ten)
11.Cincinnati 11-2(Big East)
12.TCU 10-2(Mountain West)
13.Oregon 9-3(Pac 10)
14.Oklahoma State 9-3(Big XII)
15.Georgia Tech 9-3(ACC)
16.Michigan State 9-3(Big Ten)
17.Georgia 9-3(SEC)
18.Ball State 12-1(MAC)
19.Rice 9-3(C-USA)
20.Northwestern 9-3(Big Ten)
21.Pittsburgh 9-3(Big East)
22.Virginia Tech 9-4(ACC)
23.Boston College 9-4(ACC)
24.Ole Miss 8-4(SEC)
25.Nebraska 8-4(Big XII)

Here are the Conference Standings:
1.Big XII-5
2.SEC-4
Big Ten-4
4.ACC-3
5.Pac 10-2
Mountain West-2
Big East-2
8.WAC-1
MAC-1
C-USA-1

Here are my bowl predictions:
BCS National Title:Florida over Oklahoma
Fiesta:Texas over Ohio State
Sugar:Alabama over Utah
Orange:Cincinnati over Virginia Tech
Rose:USC over Penn State
GMAC:Tulsa over Ball State
International:UCONN over Buffalo
Liberty:Kentucky over East Carolina
Cotton:Texas Tech over Ole Miss
Gator:Nebraska over Clemson
Capital One:Georgia over Michigan State
Outback:Iowa over South Carolina
Chick-Fil-A:Georgia Tech over LSU
Insight:Kansas over Minnesota
Music City:Boston College over Vanderbilt
Sun:Pittsburgh over Oregon State
Armed Forces:Air Force over Houston
Holiday:Oklahoma State over Oregon
Texas:Rice over Western Michigan
Humanitarian:Maryland over Nevada
Alamo:Missouri over Northwestern
Papajohns.com:Rutgers over N.C. State
Independence:Louisiana Tech over Northern Illinois
Emerald:California over Miami
Champ Sports:Florida State over Wisconsin
Meineke Car Care:North Carolina over West Virginia
Motor City:Central Michigan over Florida Atlantic
Hawaii:Notre Dame over Hawaii
Poinsettia:TCU over Boise State
New Orleans:Troy over Southern Miss
EagleBank:Wake Forest over Navy
Las Vegas:BYU over Arizona
St.Petersburg:USF over Memphis
New Mexico:Fresno State over Colorado State

Now this is something you may not know. You know that the BCS National Title Game gives the winner the championship. However, the AP Poll can award someone else with the National Title(they did it in 2003 by giving it to USC over LSU). With the y25 I do the same exact thing. I pick my own National Champion. I did it in 2004(Utah over USC) and 2006(Boise State over Florida).

Usually I have my own criteria which states you must be a conference champion and you must not have a better or just as good record as the team who won the BCS Title(the only time I didn't award it to the team with the best record was Kansas in 2007 who had the best record at 12-1 but didn't win the Big XII). However, this year I am making an exception for Texas and Texas Tech(who under unfair circumstances were both shafted from the Big XII title game). Here are the teams eligible for this and how they can obtain it. At the moment, Boise State and Utah are the two teams that are eligible the most for the title. Therefore, all 1-loss teams need them to lose.

• Oklahoma-They need to beat Florida and have Texas lose.
• Florida-Beat Oklahoma convincingly.
• Texas-Beat Ohio State convincingly and have OU beat Florida in a "lesser" amount.
• Texas Tech-OU loses to Florida by a close amount. They must also beat Ole Miss convincingly.
• USC-Beat Penn State convincingly
• Penn State-Beat USC convincingly
• Utah-Beat Alabama, needs Boise to lose
  
• Boise State-Beat TCU convincingly, and have Utah lose.

Utah and Boise State are also the final two teams in contention for the Mid-Major National Championship. Here are the Mid-10 Standings.

1.Utah 12-0(Mountain West)
2.Boise State 12-0(WAC)
3.TCU 10-2(Mountain West)
4.Ball State 12-1(MAC)
5.Rice 9-3(C-USA)
6.Western Michigan 9-3(MAC)
7.BYU 10-2(Mountain West)
8.East Carolina 9-4(C-USA)
9.Tulsa 10-3(C-USA)
10.Central Michigan 8-4(MAC

Here is an update on the lower division playoffs:
FCS:
Round 1:
App State 37 South Carolina State 21
Villanova 55 Colgate 28
Richmond 38 Eastern Kentucky 10
New Hampshire 29 Southern Illinois 20

Montana 31 Texas State 13
James Madison 38 Wofford 35
Northern Iowa 40 Maine 15
Weber State 49 Cal Poly 35

Quarterfinals:
Richmond 33 App State 13
Montana 24 Weber State 13
James Madison 31 Villanova 27
Northern Iowa 36 New Hampshire 34

Semifinals:
Montana 35 James Madison 27
Richmond 21 Northern Iowa 20

This sets up Montana vs Richmond to be played Friday at 8pm on ESPN2.

The Division II National Title was played last week as Minnesota-Duluth completed their "worst-to-first" turnaround beating Northwest Missouri State 21-14.

That same day, Mount Union defeated Wheaton College and Wisconsin-Whitewater beat Mary Hardin-Baylor setting up their matchup 11am on ESPN2 for the Division III National Championship.

Its going to be a great holiday of College Football and it all starts with Montana and Richmond on Friday night. Happy Holidays