Category Archives: sports

LA Rams, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, sports, Uncategorized

The Rams Need to Pass Over These Box Defenses to Todd Gurley for Him to Be Effective

Since the Rams have such a problem getting the running game going, why  don’t they start targeting Todd Gurley as a receiver? This idea comes from Rams News’ Alden Gonzalez.   I like this idea, but I would add to it, also.  I would like to see Benny Cunningham and more play action plays involved as well.  This should put a burn to these box defenses so bent on stopping Gurley.

Let’s face the fact that the Rams will be facing many teams that will be playing some form of a box defense to prevent the Rams from running Todd Gurley and trying force them to pass.  Well, then we give them what they want until they choke on it.

Look I don’t like playing one-dimensional football by living by the pass, but the reality is the running game is off the table at least by using Todd Gurley. So, develop more passing plays that will get the ball in Gurley’s hands.  Then he can put his moves on opposing players.

These are just a couple of suggestions.  I sure that I will think of a few more.

Standard
LA Rams, NFL, sports, Uncategorized

Rumors Have That Rams Quarterback Could be Going to Either the Forty-Niners of the Cardinals

Last week I wrote about Nick Foles’ soon not to be future with the Rams. Well today, I came across an Inquisitr article that claims he could be traded.  According to the article the Forty-Niners or the Cardinals could be possible landing spots.  The article did also mention the Jets if there is no settlement in their stalemate with Ryan Fitzpatrick.

While I have no problem with the Rams and Foles parting ways, I do have some concerns with them just cutting him and not having control of his landing spot.  I don’t like seeing him picked up by one of their divisional opponents so that he comes back to hurt the Rams twice a season. This could be the replay of when Kurt Warner after he went to the Cardinals where for five years he went a total of 8-2 over the Rams.  No, I do not want to go down that road again.

Yet, if he did go to a division rival. let it be the Cardinals. There he would be playing behind starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton, and most likely never set foot on the field.  Where if he goes to the Niners, he could end up as a starting under his former coach Chip Kelly.

Yet, if the Rams are looking for a trade, they could look in the direction of the Jets.  It may not come to fruition, but if the Jets and Fitzpatrick do not break their stalemate, a trade could be possible.  I do not think that Jets are ready to through their season on the back of Geno Smith. Or, they can wait for the start of training camp because teams will be looking for a quarterback.

Whether it is by trade or cut, Nick Foles will not with the Rams at the start of the season.

Standard
LA Kings, NHL, sports, Uncategorized

The Kings Continue to Hurt Their Playoff Picture

Losing to the Dallas Stars 3-2 last night did not help the LA Kings playoff picture where they would have home-ice advantage through the conference playoffs. This loss dropped the Kings out of any serious chance of regaining the Western Conference lead while maintaining one point lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division. So while losing any hope of regaining back their conference lead they still have a slim chance of holding onto to their divisional lead.

The Kings had been six points behind the Stars going into their game last night.  A win would have cut that deficit to four instead of the eight points they are now.  With fours games left, only a total implosion of the Stars and the Kings winning every single remaining game just maybe they could win back the conference lead.  For now, the Kings have to concentrate on maintaining their hold on the Pacific Division.

Because the Kings not only have about holding back the Ducks from taking the division from them.  The San Jose Sharks are also in the position to challenge the Kings because they only need three points to catch the Kings

But the Kings have a chance to increase their lead to three points over the Ducks when they play each other Thursday night.  While unlike the Ducks, the Kings do not have same chance to increase their lead over the Sharks.  They do not play each other before the season ends.

Right now, losing to anyone will hurt their divisional hold.  Losing their hold on the division means losing their home- ice advantage in the first two rounds of the conference playoffs.

Fortunately blowing their conference lead to the Stars does not guarantee that they will lose their home-ice advantage in the finals should they make them as long as they have the better record their opponent.

So they needed to win not only last night’s game but the ones they lose after claiming the conference lead from Chicago Blackhawks a few games ago.  Those losses while not  knocking them out of the playoffs just make their journey towards the Stanley Cup uncertain and rough since they are out of control of their journey’s course.

 

,

Standard
NFL, sports, st louis rams

Rams’ News Today 12/01/15

Rams owner Stan Kroenke meets with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at Rams’ Park yesterday.  This will be the two have met face to face since Kroenke annouced plans to build a stadiun in Inglewood California this past January.

Besides Kroenke’s plans tom relocate the Rams back to LA, the league has decided that Rams will play a home game in London in 2016.  This has wrinkled the the Dome Authority’s  ruffles.  They sa such a move would violate the terms of the Rams’ lease.

Click here for the complete story  

There is good news for the Rams’ Stedman Bailey.  ESPN reports that he is doing well but he is intensive care.  Bailey is recovering after being shot shot last week in Florida.

Click here for the complete story

“Anyone that implies that it is an effort issue can kiss my a@#.  OK, there are no effort problems on this team.  That’s what happens when teams lose four or more.  People say that it is effort. In practice, watch this team play.  It is not an effort issue.” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher.”

These word of fustration came after the Rams were blown out on Sunday by the Bengals 31-7.  Fisher seems to be feeling the heat after dropping four games.

Click here for the complete story.

Standard
NFL, sports, st louis rams

Rams’ Wide Receiver Stedman Bailey In Critical Condition After Being Shot

AP is reporting that Stedman Bailey of the Rams is in critical condition after being shot.  The shooting took place in Miami Gardens, Florida.  Bailey was serving a four-game suspension at the time of the shooting.

Bailey had drafted by the Rams in 2013 along with  former West Virginia teammate Tavon Austin.

Bailey remains in critical condition but stable.  He has been in contact with the Rams.  No further details have been released.

Click here for the complete story.

Standard
La Dodgers, MLB, sports, Uncategorized

The LA Dodgers Have A New Skipper: Dave Roberts

ESPN is reporting that the LA Dodgers announced they hired Dave Roberts as Don Mattingly’s replacement on Monday.  He will become the teams’ first minority for their manager. Roberts’s father is African-American while his mother is Japanese.

Dave Robers had this to say about his hiring.

 “It’s hard for me to put into words what it means to be named manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Roberts said in a statement. “This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. The Dodgers are the ground-breaking franchise of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Maury Wills, Fernando Valenzuela and Hideo Nomo. When I put on this uniform as a player, I understood the special responsibility to honor those that played before me as well as the amazing bond between the Dodgers and their fans. I feel that I have now come full circle in my career and there is plenty of unfinished business left in L.A.”

The Dodgers will introduce Dave Roberts to the press on Dec 1st.

Click here for the whole story.

Standard
College Football, sports, USC Trojan Football

PAC 12 Playoff Possibilities For The Victor USC UCLA Matchup

The USC Trojans have a chance to return to Rose Ball after being denied for seven years.  To get there, they must go through their cross-town rivals the UCLA Bruins this Saturn at the Coliseum.

Even though both teams are tied at 5-3 in conference games, the Bruins(8-3) lead the Trojans(7-4) by a game in total play.  Hit this link for more of the story.  

Standard
NFL, sports, st louis rams

Tuesday 10/20/15 Quick Outs

Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians

My first quick out for today has to do with the Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians’ obsession with the Rams. I will post the link for the story at the end, but here is a quick overview of his remarks after the Cardinals’ loss to the Steelers on Sunday.  He compares the loss to their loss to the Rams two weeks ago.  What does the Rams have to do with Sunday’s game?  He just can’t get over how the Rams ruined the Cardinals’ chance for an undefeated season.

Here is the link to the story.

Now that the USC Football head coach position has became vacant with the firing of Steve Sarkisian, rumors ring out possible candidates to fill the position.  They are Rams’ coach Jeff Fisher, the Saints’ Sean Payton and Eagles Chip Kelly.

Remember these are just rumored to be replacements, so I do not want to see any article coming out of St Louis that Jeff Fisher would not leave the Rams like the last time.

Here  is the link to the Jeff Fisher story.

Here is the link to the story about Sean Payton and Chip Kelly story.

Finally, being burnt by Pete Carroll  once was not enough for USC.  They would take him back as their coach.  Are you really that hard up?

Here is the link for that story.

Standard
NFL, sports, st louis rams

Are The Rams More Focused On Divisional Games Over Non Divisional Games?

Jeff Fisher Head Coach of the Rams

Since arriving as Rams’ head coach Jeff Fisher has made one of his goals to dominate in the NFC west.  So how well has the team done in making that goal.  Well the answer will be a short one.  His first year it looked like the team would make that goal, but years afterwards, not so much.

In his first year as head coach in 2012, Fisher’s Rams finished 4-1-1 in the divisional games while going 3-7 in non divisional games. Their only loss was at the hands of the Seahawks in Seattle. not many teams had success there, and they tied the 49ers.  In 2013, they went 1-5 while going 6-4 in non divisional games, but we must remember that they loss Bradford for about half a season after being injured in Carolina .

Finally during last season, 2014, they went 2-4 in their division versus 4-6 against  non divisional opponents.  Again they lost Bradford and the defense showed no life until later in the season.  Their two divisional wins came against Seattle and San Francisco both games at home.

So far this year in their first five games, they have two divisional wins with three non divisional losses.

Why am I so concerned about the Rams’ divisional performance? Well, I have many reasons.  The most important being its importance in tie breaking for playoff consideration.  The more wins you have then tie breaking becomes a mute point.

But, I also have this concern that there might be too much emphasis being place on divisional games over non divisional games. I could be wrong, and I hope that I am wrong.

The only time time where I could be wrong would be the 2013 and 14 seasons when they posted better non divisional records then divisional records.

Standard
La Dodgers, MLB, NFL, sports, st louis rams

Monday’s Morning Call For 10/05/15

NFC’s Western Division Scores

St Louis: 24                                  San Francisco: 3                                        Seattle:

Arizona:  22                                  Green Bay:    17                                        Detroit:

NFC’s Western Standings        W    L   T     Prec.     Streak

Arizona Cardinals                        3      1    0      .750      1L

_______________________________________________

St Louis Rams                             2      2    0      .500      1W

_______________________________________________

Seattle Seahawks                         1       2    0      .333      1W

________________________________________________

San Francisco 49ers                     1       3    0      .250      3L

The Rams’ Defence Stimies The Cardinals 

Rams Corner E.J. Gaines
breaks up pass intended
for Cardinals John Brown.

The Rams ended the Cardinals’ undefeated streak in Arizona, yesterday with 24-22 victory.  While the the Rams offense showed flashes of brilliance behind rookie running back Todd Gurley and receiver Tevon Austin, it was the defense that commanded the day by shutting down the Cardinals red zone offense.

The Rams defense forced the Cardinals to settle for five field goals while in the red zone.  The Cardinals only touchdown came late in the fourth quarter. It was 23 yard pass from Palmer to Johnson.  This pass would be the one and only the ball would cross the goal line for the Cardinals other than by way kicking.

The Rams’s defense held the Cardinals to 113 yards rushing, but allowed 334 yards passing. They sacked Palmer 4 times for a loss of  18 yards.  The defense also forced 2 fumbles and recovered one.

Jenkins also intercepted one of Palmer’s’ passes.

On the other side of the ball, Foles completed 16 of his 24 passes for 171 yards and threw 3 touchdown passes.  He had no interceptions, but was sacked once for a seven yard loss.

Gurley rushed for 146 yards the longest run was 52 yards, and Austin rushed for 20 yards and his longest was 12.

Austin had 6 receptions for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.  His longest was 47 yards.

While the Rams showed some life yesterday, the big question, will they show that same life or more life next Sunday against the Packers?  We must keep in mind that the Rams’ two wins have been against division opponents while their two losses have been to teams outside their division.  So next week’s game against the Packers will be very important one in order to see if they have really turned the corner because this one will be against a team outside of the division.

NL Western Division Scores 

LA Dodgers: 6                          Arizona Diamondbacks: 5                  Colorado Rockies: 7

SD Padres:    3                          Houston Astros;              3                  SF Giants:              3

NL Western Division Standings     W     L     PCT    GB

Los Angeles Dodgers                         92    70   .568       0

______________________________________________

San Francisco Giants                          84    78    .519       8

_______________________________________________

Arizona Diamondbacks                      79    83    .488      13

_______________________________________________

San Diego Padres                                68    48    .420      24

_______________________________________________

The Dodgers Finished Their Season With A 6-3 Win Over The Padres 

Attribute To Dodgers’ pitcher Clayton Kershaw. He threw 300
strikeouts this season.

The Dodgers ended their season on high note with a victory over the Padres. So they go into the postseason, feeling good about themselves.   They swept their final series from the Padres with three wins. They open up their post season with home field advantage in their series against the Mets. Yes life looks good for the Dodgers.

You know a couple of weeks ago it looked like they would have a melt down, and I was really worried going into their series with the Giants.  But you know now that is all in past. We must now look to the playoffs and hopefully a deep run in the playoffs.

I know that this postseason could bring a lot painful changes, but for now lets not be concerned about those changes and enjoy the Dodgers’ run in the playoffs.

Standard