Is Jeff Fisher’s First Year Coaching The Rams In Los Angeles His Last?

No Comments November 2, 2016 Rams By John Stellman

It was winter break for the Rams this week and you know what that means.

Report Card time!

Unfortunately, the grades weren’t very good.

And that starts at the top where coach Jeff Fisher tries to justify yet another abysmal Ram season.

Not exactly the passing mark that Owner/Chairman Stan Kroenke, Executive Vice President of Football Operations/COO Kevin Demoff or General Manager Les Snead were anticipating.

Mired In Mediocrity

Now into his fifth and perhaps final season at the helm of the Rams, Fisher has never won more than seven games.

2012 (7-8-1).

2013 (7-9).

2014 (6-10).

2015 (7-9).

Out The Door

And his inauspicious 3-4 start this season probably won’t earn him a contract extension.

Yet if anyone does believe in Jeff Fisher, it’s Jeff Fisher.

“I’m not (expletive) going 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7,” the coach told The Southern California News Group. “Or 10-6 for that matter. This team is too talented.”

Persuasive Chatter?

Maybe Fisher is trying to convince himself.

Offensively, here’s where the Rams rank among the National Football League’s 32 teams.

Points per game (17.1) – 29th.

Yards per game (307.6) – 30th.

Passing yards per game (227.7) 25th.

Rushing yards per game (79.9) – 30th.

MIA!

Todd Gurley was the Offensive Rookie Of The Year in 2015.

Despite missing three games, he accumulated 1,106 yards, third best in the league.

Disappearing Act

He is yet to show up in Los Angeles.

That can be attributed to an offensive line that has been over matched most of the season.

Coupled with the ineffectiveness of quarterback Case Keenum, (77.5 QB rating), defenses can stack the line of scrimmage giving Gurley nowhere to roam.

Keenum has completed just 62 percent of his throws.

Best Offensive Threat

His favorite target has been Kenny Britt.

The 28-year old Rutgers graduate has already hauled in 33 tosses for 535 yards.

Britt has caught two of Keenum’s 10 touchdown passes.

Eight other throws have been picked off by the enemy.

Where’s Goff

Yet Fisher refuses to give to ball to Jared Goff.

“I’m staying with Case,” the coach insists.

Why?

The price for Goff was steep. It cost the Rams six draft picks to make the University of California quarterback the NFL’s first overall selection.

0 – For – 0

Goff has yet to throw his first professional pass.

“Jared is going play when we feel Jared is ready,”Fisher.

In view of the direction the Rams are heading, there is no time like the present.

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up!

Despite Fisher’s insistence, the Rams have two chances of making the playoffs this season: slim and none and slim just left town.

To sneak into the post season, the Rams would need to finish at least 9-7.

6-3

That would require six wins in their final nine games.

Their next four opponents – Carolina, the Jets, Miami and New Orleans – are a combined 8-18.

The Rams would need a sweep plus two wins in their final five games (New England, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona) to have a chance to qualify.

Don’t hold your breath.

Move On

The organizations needs to turn the page.

Forget about 2016.

The vision has to be on 2017 and beyond.

Defensively. the Rams are headed in the right direction.

“C” Grade

Their Report Card is OK.

Points allowed per game (22) – T – 14th.

Yards allowed per game (343.3) – 11th.

Passing yards allowed per game (239) – 14th.

Rushing yards allowed per game (104.3) – 15th.

Those numbers might have even been better had it not been for untimely injuries.

Quartet Goes Down

The ‘D’ line was devastated by the losses of Michael Brockers, William Hayes and Robert Quinn. Top corner back Trumaine Johnson was also sidelined.

But that hasn’t discouraged tackle Aaron Donald.

Donald’s reputation as one the league’s best defensive lineman has attracted double teams galore this season.

Huge Nusiance

The 6’0, 284-pounder has disrupted opponents plans and caused many to alter their game day strategy.

It was the defense that sparkled during the Rams early three game winning streak with a forced fumble (Seattle), final play tackle (Tampa Bay) and an interception (Arizona) securing victories.

But Donald’s play isn’t the only bright spot in Los Angeles.

Special Teams Something Special

The Rams special teams have also shined.

The kicking game has been brilliant.

Punter Johnny Hekker has been a marksman on the gridiron.

None of his 38 kicks has resulted in a touchback.

He has regularly backed teams up deep in their own territory forcing them to assume possession with unfavorable field position.

On 20 occasions, the opponent has started a drive inside their own 20-yard line.

Perfection

Kicker Greg Zuerlein has been just as lethal.

The Lincoln, Nebraska native is in the midst of a perfect season.

Zuerlein has converted every field goal (10) and extra point (12) this season.

He has accounted for just over one-third (42) of the Rams 120 points.

Won’t Help The Coach

Not good enough however, to save Fisher’s job.

The coach might have sealed his own fate with that “10-6” remark.

If his team truly is that talented, then Fisher deserves an “F”.

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...