| St. Louis Rams tickets have been selling like hotcakes | | | | lot of points, regardless of whether the talent he had |
| during the first part of the 2006 season as the Rams | | | | at his disposal was run or pass-oriented. Linehan could |
| got off to a fast start. It looked like they were a team | | | | put together a system that fit his players. |
| that was instantly going to get better under a bright | | | | However, the difference between serving as a |
| new coach, and most thought it would be the Rams | | | | coordinator and a head coach couldn't be more stark, |
| who posed the biggest challenge to Seattle's division | | | | and Linehan is finding that out. After the Carolina game, |
| supremacy. | | | | most thought that the Rams simply looked flat and |
| However, as we move into the second half of the | | | | uninspired. When asked about it after the game, |
| season, the Rams have fallen off a bit. They're | | | | several players all-but called out their coach after he |
| currently in third place in their division behind the | | | | admitted that the team was flat. |
| improving San Francisco 49ers, and they're running out | | | | St. Louis Rams tickets have provided an all-but |
| of time if they want to make a run at the playoffs. | | | | guaranteed fireworks show in recent years, but |
| They still have a bright new coach, so what's | | | | Linehan's team isn't putting the same attitude into |
| happening with the Rams? We'll explore a few | | | | offense, and his defense is getting trampled. Linehan |
| possible reasons for their struggles below. | | | | will figure things out and continue to grow into a |
| Run Defense | | | | top-flight coach, but like any other "rookie," he's still |
| The Rams have been known to have an | | | | learning the nuances of leading a team. If he doesn't |
| average-at-best defense in recent years, as their | | | | figure that out, he'll risk losing his veterans, but it's not |
| offense has for a long time been the core of the | | | | too late to rectify the situation. |
| team's identity. That was supposed to change under | | | | Offensive Line |
| new defensive coordinator Jim Fassell, late of the New | | | | The Rams have a good offensive line when it's at |
| Orleans Saints, who has long been known for his stout, | | | | full-strength, but it won't be firing on all cylinders for the |
| physical defensive teams and schemes. | | | | rest of the season, as star LT Orlando Pace is out for |
| The Rams' defense was strong for the first | | | | the year. No unit can simply move on at the same |
| month-or-so of the season, but since their free-fall | | | | level when it loses its best player, and yesterday was |
| began, they've been getting gashed, particularly on the | | | | the first tangible evidence that the Rams will miss |
| ground. In yesterday's 15-0 loss to the Carolina | | | | Pace in a big way. QB Marc Bulger was sacked |
| Panthers, the Rams surrendered 242 rushing yards, | | | | seven times and RB Steven Jackson carried the ball |
| and that will get you beat almost every time. You can't | | | | only seven times. The Rams mustered all of 111 yards |
| win in the NFL if you can't stop the run, and Fassell and | | | | of offense, which is never good enough to win. |
| the Rams need to get that fixed right away. | | | | Overall, the Rams still have time to right the ship. They |
| Coaching Learning Curve | | | | need to find their spark, and perhaps a string of home |
| Scott Linehan came to the Rams known as an | | | | games coming up on their schedule will help them get |
| up-and-coming coaching star who had built successful | | | | back on track. One thing is sure - St. Louis Rams |
| offenses in both Minnesota and Miami. His knowledge | | | | tickets will provide fans with a highly-entertaining show |
| and teaching ability made players such as Daunte | | | | for the rest of the season as the Rams attempt to |
| Culpepper better, and his offenses always scored a | | | | keep up with the rest of the division. |