12/6/09
Greetings Rams Fans. Well the Rams would be on the road today traveling to the windy city, off the shores of Lake Michigan in Chi Town. Chicago, home of da Bears. So we would find Bloomer Bret once again at Bruno’s American Grill and Pub.
Before we get into today’s game, let us comment on last week’s home game against Seattle which was blacked out and why we didn’t post a review. The game only sold 48,000 tickets so the NFL in their prehistoric wisdom, blacked out the game. This of course is to make fans buy tickets so they won’t miss another home game. What a bunch of antiquated poppycock!
Folks in comparison, teams generate very little revenue off of ticket sales. In the NFL, money is made in TV revenue sharing. But the “good ol’ boys” of the NFL still believe in the blackout rule. Yet just a few weeks before, the Rams/Lions game was the most watched game of the entire weekend. Of all the games played that weekend and there were some good ones, the Rams/Lions game, two of the worst teams in the NFL, was the number one watched show of them all based on Nielson ratings. Amazingly enough the Rams draw a large tv audience due to Steven Jackson apparently or at least it’s all we can figure out.
Nonetheless, the NFL sticks with their ignorant and outdated blackout rule and both teams lost way more money in tv revenue sharing than they did by lost ticket sales. And another thing, what do the Rams do to promote ticket sales? This is an absolute horrible year economically speaking and the Rams are fielding quite an abominable product. How about offering two tickets for the price of one? Or maybe every ticket buyer can access the Rams Club? Or perhaps with every ticket sold you get a free hot dog or beverage? Anything? Nope. We are the Rams and we’re not cutting any deals. Then again their marketing department has always been made up of buffoons. The Blues and even the Cardinals offer discount promotions, why can’t the Rams? The game stunk anyway. They digressed back to 1996. Also Bret had rotator cuff surgery and didn’t feel like putting the effort out one handed. That would be too much like the Rams.
Bret pulls double duty working for the Bloomers and NBC Sports for this game. Nonetheless he still managed to have a good time with the Keithster and Lisa.
Ok, back to the present. Bret wouldn’t be the first one in, although he was close. He had to finish preparing a two-gallon crock pot full of chili at home first for later in the day. It’s a slow process when you’re limited to one arm. It would be a sparse crowd as only the Keithster and later Bob Kapper would show up as far as regulars go. Mike and his wife Eileen would show up and he and Bret would trade good cigar for good cigar. Folks Sundays are the day of worship and it doesn’t get any better. Worshipping good friends, football, a fine tobacco leaf and the guy who invented the recipe for a cold frosty Budweiser. That’s what worship is all about. The food, drink and company were good and a good time was had by all, small crowd or not.
RAMS VS. BEARS
Bret would be working today as a substitute for the Wide World of NBC Sports. They were short handed and ask Bret to do some commentary so he obliged. Hell he’s doing these dumb reviews anyway, why not?
Rams Fans this would be another game typical of the Rams we’ve been watching all year. The defense is respectable. It has kept the offense in almost every game this year, (note we said “almost”). To the very end the Rams were just one TD and a two point conversion from tying the game. Steven Jackson continued to try and carry the offense on his back but he can’t do it all folks. Once again he broke 100 yards rushing for the game and again it was with no less than 8 men up in the box to prevent him from running. But the only offense the Rams would muster would be three measly field goals, even though they started almost all of their drives at their own 40 or better.
While we maintain here that Bulger is not the guy, neither is Boller. He’s bailing out when he still has protection and plenty of time to look down field. Not once yesterday did he step up in the pocket and throw a pass off his front foot. He continued to shy away and back out throwing from his back foot or while running into trouble. Apparently he’s seen what happened to Bulger and he doesn’t want to be casualty #2. Or perhaps it’s the coaching staff telling him to keep moving because they’ve said all too many times, “Null is not ready to play in the NFL”. Well how’s he going to get ready? For crying out loud, the team sucks, they’re going absolutely no where, give the kid a chance.
Penalties would once again be an issue. Did we mention turn overs? No not your apple pop-up breakfast variety. Fumbles and interceptions folks but none by Jackson. Which is amazing when you think about the fact that he was pounding out yards while carrying 8 guys, 6 trying to tackle him and 2 trying to strip the ball out. We’ve given Steven a lot of criticism on this website but we’ve also given him credit when it’s due. It appears he may finally have matured into the games best running back. No stupid face shots for the cameras, no stupid he-man poses after a long gain, no pounding the chest saying look at me. He simply gets up and heads back to the huddle. He is finally leading by actions rather than words and gestures. Good for him. It’s a shame his career will end playing for such a do nothing team offensively around him.
Sure there are some young kids with talent, especially in the receiving core. But they have to learn to catch the ball and hold onto it after they do. The line has to be accountable if to no one else, at least their team mates. The pounding that Jackson and the QB takes game in and game out due to the line’s lack of effort is totally unacceptable. And speaking of unacceptable the coaching is another thing. The lack of offense and the play calling is atrocious. Folks we could find little league football players that could call a better game with more imagination.
The bright spots were James Laurenitis, Steven Jackson, Donnie Jones and Josh Brown. Well we’ll give Leonard Little, Dave Vabora and Oshio Atogwe honorable mentions. Otherwise it’s the same thing. Same old crap different Sunday. Once again a game the Rams could easily have won, with just a little bit of effort by someone other than those named above. Or with better play calling, or better coaching or, oh never mind. We’ve beaten this to death.
The Rams are on the road again next week heading for Tennessee. Look for another “L” to show up in the Rams column. What? No folks that’s not us being negative, that’s us being real. The only way the Rams will win another game is if the Defense does the scoring. Jackson cannot be a one man offensive scoring machine and the rest of the offense doesn’t care. Here we go again, we digress. Folks have a great week, watch out for the other guy and as always, “watch your top knot”.
