Live Chats

Rams chat with Jim Thomas

Submit your Rams and NFL questions and comments NOW; talk to Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas starting at 1 p.m..

by Mike Smithon Nov 1, 2012 at 6:44 PM

Your point is well taken, but on most of the plays when Jenkins was beaten, there wasn't a safety in the world _ past or present _ who could help him.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 7:58:25 PM
SB's numbers inside the 40, 20 and 10 are at the bottom of the QB rankings, but much better the rest of the field. So how important is a #1 WR on a short field? Is the problem playcalling or just that SB can't finish drives?

by Tony Albers 11/6/2012 7:58:44 PM
Probably a little bit of both when it comes to play-calling and Sam finishing drives. But whether it's a No. 1 wide receiver, or just someone who can get open in tight spaces and make the tough catches, the Rams do need more play-making ability in the red zone.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:02:30 PM
Keith Toston was waived by Jacksonville. Worthy of a spot on the practice squad?

by Ghosty 11/6/2012 8:02:34 PM
Probably not, since Rams have four RBs on active roster, and one (Chase Reynolds) on practice squad.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:03:02 PM
There's no doubt Bradford could use upgraded receivers, but Loyd and Avery don't seem to be all that bad now that they're gone, and Bradford still makes a lot of throws that are 10 yards over or 5 yards too short... and he scrambles like my grandmother... was he just a product of a good Oklahoma system and not a great NFL quarterback? Also, is it too much to ask for him to get fired up every once in a while?

by koufax80 11/6/2012 8:09:01 PM
Avery? Lloyd? What are you talking about? During the 40 regular-season games that Bradford has been with the Rams, Avery has been on a Rams game-day roster for exactly _ Zero _ of those games. During that same time, Lloyd and Bradford were on the field for all of five games. Five games in which Bradford had a high-ankle sprain.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:12:43 PM
Can Fisher and company coach J. Jenkins up so that he isn't as aggressive and bite on pump fakes and play actions resulting in big plays for the opposition?

by RamsFan 11/6/2012 8:16:18 PM
We can only hope.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:17:22 PM
I'd hate to see SJ39 go--he's been a Ram great for many years. But I think it's likely a team out there would be willing to over pay for him and bring him on board after the season ends. You've spoken to him..how do you think he would react; would he remain loyal to the Rams or go where the money is?

by I'd hate to see SJ39... 11/6/2012 8:17:31 PM
I could be wrong, but I don't necessarily think Jackson will simply go where the money is. I think he would be more tempted to go to a contender. Besides, I don't think he'll get anything near $7 million a year on the entire market.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:19:36 PM
My mistake on Avery, but nice job dodging the question on Bradford. Can we just be honest... he's not that good, and wasn't worth a #1 pick... wanna give it 5 years and put a steak dinner on it???

by koufax80 11/6/2012 8:20:02 PM
Bud, you lose all credibility when you base your entire argument on the fact that he had Avery and Lloyd to throw to in St. Louis, when he really didn't, Can we be honest? You just don't like Bradford, and that's your opinion, you're entitled to it. Why is it so difficult for you to accept the fact that I don't agree with you? I want to see more. I'd like to see him with the same offensive coordinator for more than year. I'd like to see him with a better supporting cast. That's all I'm saying.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:27:36 PM
Would the presence of Stanford Routt on this team allow Johnson or Fletcher to play safety? I agree with several previous questions/comments about the glaring need for some help there.

by East Side Steve 11/6/2012 8:28:04 PM
I don't sense any interest in the coaching staff in moving Fletcher or Johnson to safety.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:28:44 PM
Jim, is getting Amendola signed to a long term contract a top priority for the Rams?

by DB 21 11/6/2012 8:29:20 PM
Yes, and both sides have been talking about a new contract, although I don't think those discussions have gotten very far _ particularly with Amendola's latest injury.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:30:02 PM
Jim, what is the cause of the Rams ineptness in the red zone: Bad QB play by Bradford, receivers not getting open, or problems with the offensive line, or something else?

by Joel A Carroll 11/6/2012 8:31:34 PM
I think it's all of the above, plus penalties, lack of productive running inside the 10, and play-calling.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:33:19 PM
In the first round next year, would you go with O line or WR? To me, these are the prime reasons Sam and the offense can't take it to the next level. My choice, as much as I love going for the flashy pick, is O-line...

by Big Lou881 11/6/2012 8:33:26 PM
Well, you have two first-round picks, so you could go with both. I see a great need in both areas.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:34:21 PM
While most the free agent WR's are not getting any attention, why haven't the Rams kicked the tires on Plaxico? The only reasonable conclusion I could come to is the Rams want to build mostly through Drafts for the long term & are not interested in band-aid signings that have would have no extended time past 1 or 2 seasons. What say you on guys like Plax that are still out there?

by B 11/6/2012 8:34:35 PM
I think you've hit on the exact reasons why it hasn't happened. One of the front office mantra this season has been: "We're not one player away."

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:35:32 PM
Jim, what do you see in Bradford that gives you hope? I get consistency in the coaching staff would help, but as a #1 draft pick, shouldn't you be able to consistently hit recievers, even if they drop the ball, extend a play once in a while, or make a pre-snap adjustment for a mismatch. I'm not seeing him do those things... are you?

by koufax80 11/6/2012 8:35:57 PM
I think Bradford is very accurate. I have seen him extend plays this year with his legs _ much more often than in his previous two seasons. As for pre-snap adjustments _ how do you know that's not happening or hasn't happened? What I'd like to see, is more check-downs to underneath routes. Getting the ball out quickly with greater consistency, and more improvement on looking off receivers.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:38:25 PM
Has any body been added to the roster yet to take the place of the rookie saftey put on IR

by Jim 11/6/2012 8:38:37 PM
Expect to have something on that soon.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:38:59 PM
With the lease situation hanging over this team, it would be nice to actually get a sense that Stan actually cared about the fans in St. Louis. I know this strange guy has problems communicating and appears like a weirdo on camera, but Stan doesn't even attempt. It will never happen, but I wish fans could boycott one of the remaining games and have the stands empty for Stanley. I know it wouldn't help the rams staying, but at this point I'm beginning to not care if they stay in St. Louis. It's getting old paying a billionaire money with no assurances the team will be in town.

by keith 11/6/2012 8:45:14 PM
I understand your concern and I do believe the Rams fans deserve to hear something. About the only things I can say here are 1.) It's just the way he does business. 2.) As part of that business style, he's not going to make blanket promises that he can't necessarily keep.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:48:08 PM
Hey Jim - lots of discussion on the forum about OL and Fisher/Snead's approach to developing them. Have you heard anything directly from either of them about a strategy or philosophy? Are they opposed to taking an OT high or are they more fans of the coach them up strategy. Thx.

by ABRam 11/6/2012 8:48:20 PM
To a large degree, Fisher's track record in Tennessee is that he doesn't take offensive linemen high in the draft. There have been exceptions, however.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:49:20 PM
Hey Jim Ram fan here in Oxnard California . I'm considering driving north for the game this week. Not too confident we can keep the score within 17. Your thoughts? By the way, I'm hoping the Rams will commit to the run a little more the rest of the way this year. Plenty of ability there and we're averaging good numbers. That should help Bradford out.

by Cutman 11/6/2012 8:49:34 PM
I think it will be closer than a 17-point spread. And yes, I would like to see more of a commitment to the running game, although I understand why the Rams had to get away from the run when they were trailing 28-7 at the half against New England.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:51:45 PM
1 offensive and 1 defensive player the Rams missed the boat on in the last few drafts...

by Jeff 11/6/2012 8:51:47 PM
I'll give you two on offense: Torrey Smith and Randall Cobb. On defense, maybe Daryl Washington in 2010. Got to go. Time for a brief practice. Talk to you all next week.

by jthomas 11/6/2012 8:57:52 PM