Fisher, Demoff, The Fans, The Rams, The Replacement & The Reset Button
In the spirit of the New Year’s holiday season, out with the old, in with the new. Hopefully, “the new” doesn’t stop at Fisher’s exit alone.
JEFF FISHER’S FIRED AS HEAD COACH OF THE LA RAMS
Judging by the responses spiraling out of control in Cyberland, USA, the majority of Rams fans are quite happy with the ousting of one Jeff Fisher as head coach of the Rams. Even some well-knowns, from Eric Dickerson to Snoop Dogg to ex-Ram DE/SuperBowl Champ Grant Wistrom, think it was time for a change, and rightfully so. You cannot be content with mediocre in any success-driven profession and hope to maintain support. In the end, Fisher failed to adjust with the NFL after reaching the SuperBowl some sixteen years ago. Both he and GM Les Snead, who have both said on camera, “You can never have too many defensive lineman,” have failed in the sense that building through the draft is fine as long as you have veteran leadership to teach them how to be professionals. Training kids to fit in your system is not quite the same and is much simpler than helping them to grow up. For this Rams team to be successful next season and beyond they will need a guiding staff that knows this — that knows, there is a reason that practically-unknown players land in New England and become crucial pieces to Bill Belichick’s puzzle time and time again.
COO KEVIN DEMOFF’S PRESS CONFERENCE
In NFL Executive/Analyst Michael Lombardi’s words, “You want to win the press conference or you want to win games?”
Props to Kevin Demoff for saying all the right things in Monday’s press conference, the Rams’ next full-time head coach should definitely have a plan and be “the best coach for the team,” beit a hot assistant, a college coach, a good qualified coach currently not coaching an NFL team or whatever. We also like that he owned up to his part in it all. But although I won’t go as far as certain St. Louis TV station personnel and label Demoff a ’professional liar,” I will say there is more to this than fans were told. Of course, there always is.
Just two editions ago I stated that the Fisher/Dickerson incident was the opening curtain on the final Fisher act and that there is only one way this could end. I said that not because I’m smart but because Fisher and whoever else played a role in the handling of it thereafter were not. See, at that moment the fans became involved and when fans unite and decide to use their power ‘business men’ get involved in something they pay others to do, which is to keep positive cash flow positive. Fan attendance was sinking by both support of Dickerson and product play. After this past Rams loss the media was posting photos of empty seats and talking about how the fans left early while fans of opposing teams are filling more seats. Not good for business, especially a month before the San Diego Chargers apply to move in on your territory (not that Kroenke cares about that part as much).
Ultimately, the fans have spoken. The truest of them speak loud because they care and want their team to become winners. The bandwagon-jumpers simply go to places like Disneyland or nail salons instead. Missing both shows up the same in total attendance and other related non-purchases so whether you believe Demoff's change-of-heart statements, the ludicrous belief by a few that Eric Dickerson got Fisher fired, or the timing factor that the Rams organization didn't want their name associated with Fisher's in the record books as the employer on record of the most losing-est head coach in NFL history, the reasons why don't matter to the counters (bank account holders) of the bottom line.
SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
HBO’s HardKnocks series intentionally helped us know a few players and members of the staff better but unintentionally exposed a thing or two about how Fisher captains his ship. One example: Kenny Britt, the veteran receiver on the team, is possibly the most immature player on the team (zooming and zig-zagging his buggy all over a college campus even after being told not to AND after crashing) though he’s raised his game this season.
Michael Lombardi called the LA Rams ‘undisciplined’ Tuesday on Colin Coherd’s The Herd and he’s absolutely right. It shows up in their in-game play and includes the number of penalties per game. He also doubts very seriously that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh would take the job here without full control because to succeed you need people that know football in the front office as well, the same reason Dick Vermeil first turned down offers to coach the Rams. They ended up giving him full control and we know how that turned out. People that know numbers and business don’t necessarily know how to run a winning football organization, people that have known football long enough know what it takes to win at football and it starts with a transformation to a winning culture or mindset.
The HardKnockers vs The Seattle Seahawks
(Game is in Seattle, THURSDAY eve at 5:25PM PT, NFL Network)
John Fassel, another SuperBowl runner-up with the New York Giants, thinks the Rams appointed the right man for the job of interim head coach with the selection of his son, Jim Fassel:
“He’s been very successful with his guys and they have a lot of fun with him. I’ve been around the players and seen the way they relate with each other.”
Members of the team also think so and we can expect a livelier effort this week against the Seahawks despite whatever the hell Vegas set the odds at. Alec Ogletree tweeted this on Monday:
"Coach Fisher will be missed incredibly. That being said, THE BEST COACH I’VE EVER BEEN AROUND JUST GOT THE KEYS TODAY.”
Personally, I think Rams fans can expect something they haven’t witnessed much this season. FUN. John Fassel is a big fan of trickery and he will take risks. I mean let’s face it, he has less to lose than to gain. Demoff’s socks have to be blown off for him to sign on with Fassel because although he’s been a head coach, he lacks NFL head coaching experience. But nobody’s socks get blown off by maintaining what Jeff Fisher had going on, right?
We’ve won more games against Seattle than we’ve lost lately so there’s no reason to believe it can’t happen under the storm clouds that currently cover our team.
That being said, this week’s The Rams Win If:
1. If the Seahawks repeats last week’s performance.
2. If Pete Carroll suddenly realizes his USC-success town has a job opening and he decides to throw the game doing a Jeff Fisher coaching imitation.
3. If a Rams victory becomes more important than the maturation of Goff and play-calling reflects it.
4. If the O-line is inspired enough to open holes for Todd Gurley instead of imploding backwards behind the line of scrimmage.
5. [This one actually worked before so I’m repeating it!] If Austin and Goff become bosom buddies, besties, kindred spirits, soulmates, lovers (I don’t care which) and get/stay on the same page.
All-in-all, the next 3 weeks will be more exciting to watch and we as fans should press the “RESET” button, delete the Fisher era and support our team!
That’s a wrap!
Go to my NFL Pros@Prose Picks submission Thursday afternoon to see my prediction for this game and the rest of the league.
Later, Ramily. Horns up!