As a Rams fan, I just got back from the playoff game. What a great game with my hats off to Fox and Carolina who deserve to move on. As for my Rams, it is time for change. This team has been one of the best teams in this league for the last 5 years. But since Martz took over, this team has been going down the crapper. Rams brass need to do what Nebraska did with Solich and FIRE MARTZ. This guy is supposed to be a offensive genius but his play calling is horrendous. This guy played not to lose today instead of playing to win. The Rams used to throw the ball deep and take calculated chances, now their big play is the flanker screen. When inside the red zone Martz on 4 or 5 occassions thinks his best option is to run Bulger. With a chance to win game in regulation, he let's 30 seconds run off the clock before calling timeout with 3 seconds to try a tying field goal when on Panthers 15 yard line. In overtime with 1st down on 35 yard line and a chance to move ball even 5 yards, Martz makes three horrible calls. Even when they get ball back in overtime, they have chance to move into fieldgoal range again and on first down doesn't even get the ball to Marshall Faulk. I know a lot about football though obviously I'm not qualified to be a coach in the NFL, but anybody who had a good head on their shoulders knows how ridiculous Martz was in his managing,motivating, and coaching of the St. Louis Rams team. This team win despite him and if they had any coach who could install confidence and discipline, this team would have won more than the one Super Bowl that it has in the last 5 years.
Kojak---I feel your pain. I, as well as the announcers on Fox, could not believe our eyes with them not going for the TD at the end of regulation. They had nothing to lose there. If you can't get 15 yards now, what makes him think he could get 50+ in OT.
If you had a decent play calling coach you would have won today.
If you had a decent play calling coach you would have won today.
chico and myfootballgame,
I wish I could have heard what the announcers said about Martz. It would have been priceless. I might also share that all the players backed up Martz and all of his crappy decisions. The players might like him but this teams needs an ass kicker like a Parcells or Coughlin. Too many fat cats not playing hard every week. This team is no longer hungry and they need someone to light some fire or bring in some players who are hungry as these guys are not.
I wish I could have heard what the announcers said about Martz. It would have been priceless. I might also share that all the players backed up Martz and all of his crappy decisions. The players might like him but this teams needs an ass kicker like a Parcells or Coughlin. Too many fat cats not playing hard every week. This team is no longer hungry and they need someone to light some fire or bring in some players who are hungry as these guys are not.
LOvie should be running that team! Mike SMARTZ punn intended needs his head examined! Call TO take two shots at endzone then kick it! Or Spike it and take atleast one shot at the endzone! Smartz played not to win but to not let Bulger lose it! He knows Warner fans are waiting for a big mistake and I think they just got one! Why do you think Warner has been so patient! He wants to be the "hero" again! Boys, he is washed up too! Best thing for the lambs to do would be to trade them both and move up and draft Eli, signa free agaent for a season and then hand it over to Eli! Oh well! Thank god I'm a GB fan but hear all the Lamb criers all week! I can just grin on Monday at the office!
Just incredulous! I was on the phone with my friend at the time. We both had Carolina, but I also had the ML +270. As the Rams effortlessly drove the field for the second straight time, we were saying how the Cats had put up a noble fight, but their D was tired and on its' heels. Basically that they were through. When Martz pulled his spineless 'play not to win' move, we laughed so hard I almost bust a gut. We were screaming almost in unison "Martz is an idiot!" As Giant fans, we thought only things like this happen to us...but even Fassel would have had the stones to go for the win. (Just would have screwed up the kickoff somehow). Herman Edwards would have too, but would have found some other way to mismanage the clock.
This was the most gutless call since Ara Parseghian had #1 Notre Dame (w/Terry Hanratty, Rocky Blier, Jim Seymour, Alan Page) run out the clock vs. #2 Michigan State (w/Bubba Smith) to settle for a 10-10 tie. At least HE had a method to his madness, as ND retained #1 by tying. I think it was 1966, but I could be wrong. I was very young at the time.
In the Ram post-game, Deion Sanders showed that he is just a big a moron as Martz by defending him. The rest of the panel was a bit calm for my taste (can't wait for Mike & the Mad Dog Monday), but they all made the right call. GO FOR THE WIN STUPID! You just marched down the field twice! With the 'greatest show on turf' yet. Take two shots, THEN kick the field goal. Doubt it would have come to that with the momentum they had. If you are so worried about an interception, call a fade to the corner, or just give it to Marshall. Anyway, thanks for the gift Mike!
Also how 'bout the miracle over 39 (teaser) 4th down pass interference? Almost makes up for all of those 1/2 point losses over the years.
[This message was edited by bearmelt on January 11, 2004 at 01:29 AM.]
[This message was edited by bearmelt on January 11, 2004 at 01:58 AM.]
This was the most gutless call since Ara Parseghian had #1 Notre Dame (w/Terry Hanratty, Rocky Blier, Jim Seymour, Alan Page) run out the clock vs. #2 Michigan State (w/Bubba Smith) to settle for a 10-10 tie. At least HE had a method to his madness, as ND retained #1 by tying. I think it was 1966, but I could be wrong. I was very young at the time.
In the Ram post-game, Deion Sanders showed that he is just a big a moron as Martz by defending him. The rest of the panel was a bit calm for my taste (can't wait for Mike & the Mad Dog Monday), but they all made the right call. GO FOR THE WIN STUPID! You just marched down the field twice! With the 'greatest show on turf' yet. Take two shots, THEN kick the field goal. Doubt it would have come to that with the momentum they had. If you are so worried about an interception, call a fade to the corner, or just give it to Marshall. Anyway, thanks for the gift Mike!
Also how 'bout the miracle over 39 (teaser) 4th down pass interference? Almost makes up for all of those 1/2 point losses over the years.
[This message was edited by bearmelt on January 11, 2004 at 01:29 AM.]
[This message was edited by bearmelt on January 11, 2004 at 01:58 AM.]
Not trying to go 16 yards with 42 seconds from the 20 and then the 16 to try to win the game is the most pathetic chickenshit coaching I have ever seen. Please don't compare Ara Parseghian not trying to win a game that was tied with time running out on his own 10 yard line. Martz' bonehead coaching should have gotten him fired a long time ago.
Mike Martz is on an ego trip. He's trying to reinvent the game to prove he knows more than everybody else. You can see it in his expressions when he pulls stunts like he did today. I honestly think he's more interested in the concept of going against the grain and doing things his way so that... if his idiocy works... he's made out to be some sort of guru. As an Eagles fan, I hate the Rams... and I do take delight in saying that the move he pulled today was satisying on some level. But on another level, I feel bad for the guys on the teamwho worked all season and had it taken away by someone more interested in himself than the outcome of the game. He's a dork. He needs to go broke and live under a freeway overpass or something so he can learn what it's like to have desire again. As it is, he's just a goofy little pompous jackass on a power trip.
