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Aaron Donald, Alex Ogletree, Case Keenum, football, Jared Goff, L.A. Memorial Coliseum, L.A. Rams, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Rams, National Football League, NFC West, NFL, pro football, Rams, Todd Gurley II
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 20: Tavon Austin #11 (C) of the Los Angeles Rams runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) Photo courtesy of inquisitr.com
LOS ANGELES RAMS – 2016 BY THE NUMBERS (after eight games)
Record: 3-5, Third place in the NFC West
* Lost last four games, including a 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on November 6th.
Next Game: Sunday, November 13th at New York Jets
Next Home Game: Sunday, November 20th vs Miami Dolphins
Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) stiff arms Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (28) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports Photo courtesy of fantasycpr.com
Team Leaders:
Case Keenum, QB – 61.5% completions, 2004 yards, 9 TD, 11 INT
Todd Gurley II, RB – 451 yards, 3.1 yards per carry, 3 TD
Kenny Britt, WR – 37 receptions, 584 yards, 3 TD
Tavon Austin, WR – 37 receptions, 316 yards, 2 TD
Alex Ogletree, LB – 54 tackles, 4 TFL
Aaron Donald, DL – 5 sacks
Highlights from the Rams’ first official game in Los Angeles in 22 years, a 9-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Courtesy of YouTube.
A Few Thoughts:
No fan likes to see their team on a losing streak.
But I’m not sure why everyone seems to be hating on these Rams, as pundits and knowledgable fans didn’t expect them to set the world on fire in their first year back in L.A. due to the offensive issues that they had their last few years in St. Louis.
I, for one, knew that the Rams’ defense, led by Alex Ogletree and Aaron Donald, would be good and keep the team in games while the offense, particularly the passing game, would be anemic.
Which is why I stated that the prevailing word for this team needs to be PATIENCE, and that the season would be an encouraging success if they finished 8-8.
Aaron Donald, on of the Rams’ bright spots this season with his team-leading five sacks. Photo courtesy of rambinfan.com
One big concern for me regarding these Rams going forward is the rising conviction that Jeff Fisher is not the right coach for this team.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if his firing was announced right after the Rams’ season finale against the Arizona Cardinals on January 1st if this losing continues.
While I’m not calling for his dismissal at this time, Fisher seems to be quite stubborn in sticking with a quarterback that has clearly shown that he’s not the guy who will win games; Case Keenum’s four interceptions against the New York Giants in London, essentially costing the Rams the game, come to mind.
The fans certainly feel this way, as illustrated by the repeated calls for number one overall pick Jared Goff – who has yet to play a down – at the Coliseum during their most recent game against Carolina.
Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of a NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles won 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Photo courtesy of foxsports.com
Fisher has said that he’ll play Goff when the team is out of playoff contention, which the way things are going will come to pass by the end of this month unless things turn around fast.
As such, these Rams need to go 5-3 to fulfill my prediction and finish 8-8.
unfortunately, one game in the schedule is a sure loss as they have to travel to New England to face all-Universe QB Tom Brady and his Patriots on December 4th.
The other seven games remaining, against teams like the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, and repeat division matchups with the Cardinals, the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers?
Three words come to mind…
We will see.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: The Seattle Seahawks kick off to the Los Angeles Rams to start the home opening NFL game at the Los Angeles Coliseum on September 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Photo courtesy of totalprosports.com
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