Rams should be concerned by lackluster preseason

By Steve Reynolds  |   Thursday, September 07, 2006  |  Comments( 3 )

St. Louis Rams
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Merriam-Webster defines the word "lackluster" as: n. 1. lacking in sheen, brilliance or vitality. 2. St. Louis Rams 2006 preseason football.

Those able to maintain consciousness through this year's round of Rams preseason games will notice the following disturbing trends: The Rams, as a team, have appeared inept on offense, evidenced by nary a single first-unit touchdown being scored. Not to be outdone, the Rams' starting defenders have been torched by the first-teamers of the Colts and Chiefs, respectively. To compound the issue, Rams coaches and players seem utterly unconcerned.

Following the Kansas City game, when asked about the first team's inability to score, quarterback Marc Bulger responded, "I'm not worried about it, and I don't think the rest of the guys are."

Head coach Scott Linehan seemed equally dismissive of the Rams' poor performances, evidenced by his decision to bench nearly the entirety of his starting offense and defense for the preseason finale at Miami.

Granted, preseason football in the NFL is, by definition, a toned-down, yawn-inducing affair and coaches do not want to have players on injured reserve to begin the season. Linehan has undoubtedly been playing it safe in this regard, but at what point does the ineptitude of the team's play cause you to rethink the safety angle and attempt to tune up the starters one last time against the Dolphins, even if for a single series?

Rams coaches have maintained that the players have appeared sharp throughout training camp and that they're ready for the season. However, are there any NFL coaches who would respond to such a line of questioning with, "We've appeared quite dull in training camp," or "I just don't think we're ready for opening day?"
"Appeared sharp in training camp," now deserves a place in the pantheon of football clichés, alongside, "we're going to give 110 percent," and "we've got to overcome adversity."

I'll add to the aforementioned clichés with yet another, as the Rams have displayed a complete "lack of urgency" this preseason. All teams practice well. The only way to truly gauge a team's performance is to square off against another team who's only concern is defeating you. Yes, you don't want to get your guys hurt, but if it's at the expense of having a bunch of ill-prepared players trotting on the field on opening day, it's not worth having no listings on Wednesday's injury report.

"The big picture is I think we're as healthy as we could possibly ask to be," Linehan said. "I think we're in as good a condition as I've been around a team at this point. I would be surprised if we don't come out and put on a good performance in the beginning of the year."

No one else would be.

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CommentsComments: 3  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
BigDaddyRams		10:44 AM
09/08/2006
Amen theyve got a totally new D who knows if they can even gel yet. Good point that everybody does good in practice but its got ...
No.2
Michael		05:06 PM
09/10/2006
Well, they sure didn't pimpslap us did they when they only converted 2 of their 3rd and shorts and couldn't score a single TD, ...
No.3
Rik		01:16 PM
09/13/2006
Dude talk about a homer, we hardly gave them all those turnovers they earned em with all that pressure and Witherspoon tipping ...
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