Turf Show Times QnA
Five wins. Must be nice, almost exotic compared to two.
I"m here to answer all your questions about the Rams ahead of this week's game.
This is a team moving in fits and starts, so I can't really tell you what to expect. We don't know ourselves. Will it be a blowout, over by the half? A heartbreaker decided in the last second? Who knows.
Interim head coach Jim Haslett is no lock for the job next season, and a lot of the player are no lock to return either. Plenty to talk about.
Alright, hit me.
FOOCH NOTE 8:57AM: I opened up a similar Q&A at Turf Show Times. Head on over and feel free to jump in to answer questions.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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how is Chris Long working out?
Being a UVA alum I was pulling for him to be the #1 pick and I was sad when he went to a division rival because it meant I couldn’t root for him. Has he been worthy of the #2 pick? I haven’t heard much about his performance this season.
Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis
He's put together a solid rookie campaign.
Hey, Nation, I’m the backup over at TST.
If you watch an entire Rams game, the one thing you come away impressed with is his work ethic. He plays every down at 100% and it really wears on some tackles. For a RDE who has to go up against opponents’ best tackles, he is often going against some of the best linemen in the game. His relentlessness often pays dividends at the ends of quarters or halves. Some tackles get a bit complacent throughout and he takes advantage.
His numbers haven’t been spectacular, but over at our site, I often use Mario Williams’ numbers as a comparison. Williams, the #1 overall pick in the ‘06 draft for those of you with short memories, logged 47 tackles, 35 of those solo, in his rookie season. From the first snap of the first game, people were calling him a bust and wondering why they didn’t trade the pick to someone to grab Reggie Bush. Of course, he has since turned into a top-tier DE with 14 sacks last year and 11 so far this year.
Long has amassed 38 tackles, 31 solo, and 4 sacks in his rookie season (Williams had 4.5 sacks in year 1). He’s definitely been a bright spot on an otherwise sub-par D-line, so we’re expecting a lot from him.
Keep an eye on him next year. If he takes over at LDE and Leonard Little moves to the right side, Long will see even more success. His progess could be even further accelerated if the Rams find a DT who is skilled enough to take away some of the O-line focus on the ends.
Jay Zygmunt, fire yourself.
by 3k on Dec 18, 2008 9:19 AM PST up reply actions
Long
he’s already had a better rookie season than Grant Wistrom. little bit of a rookie wall lately, but he’s a bona fide building block player. if the Rams can add a bulky DT in the middle, he’s a sure bet for 7+ sacks a year
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 18, 2008 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
You mention..
… that a lot of the players may be on their way out. Which, if any, veterans that may actually still contribute do you see a new coaching staff doing away with just to start “anew”?
oy
this is going to be a hotly debated issue. SS Corey Chavous is gone for sure. Torry Holt could well be gone too, but that could go either way. Bulger, who lots of fans would like to dump, is here to stay, at least thru 2009. His contract’s just too big to cut. He may have competition for the starting job though.
Right now, not even LT Orlando Pace is safe, though I’d be shocked if they dumped him.
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 18, 2008 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
Atogwe is a free agent...
… at the end of this year correct? Do you envision the Rams trying to retain him? Or would they simply let him walk?
I can't see them letting him walk.
Now, will he opt to turn down contract offers to go somewhere else? It’s entirely plausible for a FS with his kind of eye for the big play to head somewhere with a more credible shot at making noise in the playoffs for the foreseeable future. He’s young, healthy and talented; I don’t know why any team without a top-tier FS wouldn’t want him…including the Rams.
Jay Zygmunt, fire yourself.
by 3k on Dec 19, 2008 5:36 AM PST up reply actions
Anyone else think...
the Niners should go after this guy in the offseason if he hits the market? I mean I know the team has spent a buttload of money on the D already, but FS is one of the biggest weak links there (based on the slightly improved play of the D-line recently).
I mean offensively we really only need a solid RT, or LT and move Staley back to RT and maybe a rookie or two on the line and I would be quite happy with this O.
So do you guys think the Niners will make a push for Atogwe if he hits the market?
Sorry, this is more of a question to the Niner fans than Rams fans, but FS is such a sore spot for us this year, I figured it was worth asking. Well, actually to the Rams fans, just out of curiosity, what are Atogwe’s strengths and weaknesses?
transition tag
it’s clear that they’ll slap him with the transition tag if they don’t resign him to a long term deal
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 19, 2008 7:43 AM PST up reply actions
Adam Carriker
How has Carriker worked out for you guys? He was a guy people were talking about going to the 49ers (thankfully they took Patrick Willis instead). It seems like he has struggled in translating his college success at the pro level.
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Carriker's problem
is that he lacks a bulky DT on the line next to him. He’s a classic UT, but with no size on the Rams middle DL has limited what he can do.
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 18, 2008 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
How do you feel about Bruce?
Are you hoping he gets the 60 yards in St. Louis even though he will be wearing red and gold?
Simply by pulling on both ends, Patrick Willis can stretch diamonds back into coal
And then retires.
One of the greatest examples of how horrible the Rams’ front office is is the fact that Isaac Bruce didn’t finish his career in a Rams uniform. Despicable.
Jay Zygmunt, fire yourself.
by 3k on Dec 19, 2008 5:37 AM PST up reply actions
What's even worse...
… is that it sounds like (according to a post above) that Tory Holt could also follow suit.
Holt/Bruce
the Bruce thing looks short sighted in retrospect. And as much as I’d hate to see Holt go, I think it’s a little different situation in that the Rams have so many other needs to address, so many. This is the ugly side of this business too. How did 49ers feel when Jerry Rice left?
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 20, 2008 9:03 AM PST up reply actions
I think..
..the Rams fanbase losing Bruce, is practically a mirror image of when the 49ers let Rice go, and Bruce is setting a perfect reminder, of what a despicable move that was. Well put.
by Josh G and the Shaun Hill band wagon on Dec 20, 2008 2:04 PM PST up reply actions
How woud you characterize this matchup as being different from when these teams met earlier in the season? What are the Rams trying to accomplish or evaluate at this point, and how do you feel that the 49ers are a different opponent from the first matchup?
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
uhhh
i think the Rams have gotten worse since then, while the 49ers seem to have gotten better. what a difference winning games makes.
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 19, 2008 7:44 AM PST up reply actions
Also, slightly OT
But, the 49ers and the Rams have a pretty deep history as rivals and, particularly, division rivals. What were the years that you really enjoyed watching these two teams play, and what about those teams do you remember fondly?
My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.
don't know
both teams have been so bad the last few seasons it’s hard to remember anything else. the two games these teams played in 06 were pretty good, splitting the series 1-1
by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 19, 2008 7:48 AM PST up reply actions
I always felt Marc Bulger was a good QB, just behind a bad o-line. Why do you think Bulger has been struggling?
I have no new information on that at this time.
The conventional wisdom is that he’s just beat up. playing scared, throwing off his back foot, etc. The offensive line should be a mitigating factor, as should a receiving corps in transition, and playing under three different offensive play-callers (including Linehan) in three years.
The thing is, whatever the reason, he hasn’t legitimately been a “good quarterback” since 2006. From the day he signed his monster contract extension, his play has disappointed flat out sucked. And we’re stuck with him until at least 2010.
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz

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