More salt in the wounds of Rams fans
St. Louis Rams head coach Joe Vitt has ladled out more slop this week than water gushing from an Ameren reservoir. Most of it concerns future Hall of Famer Marshal Faulk.
Vitt decided that it was time for Arlen Harris to get his first chance at action in 2005 during the Rams’ most critical drive of last Sunday’s 17-16 loss to Philadelphia. According to Vitt, Faulk, who was having his best game of the year, was “dinged” or “winded” during the drive.
Never mind that he had motored for almost 90 yards in the game and, minutes earlier, the Rams had just been driving to what would have been a go-ahead score.
But that drive ended in disaster and with Faulk visibly upset.
With Stephen Jackson suffering from a hip injury, Faulk was thrown for a two-yard loss on fourth and 1 at the Eagles 36 with 3:14 remaining in the game.
Mysteriously, that would be Faulk’s last carry of the game.
Upon reaching the sideline, Faulk yelled at coaches and fellow players. Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery tried to console Faulk, but Faulk turned and walked away. He was not injured, yet did not return for the Rams’ last drive of the game. Seldom-used Harris was in for the last drive, which failed, giving the Eagles a 17-16 victory.
Vitt said Harris was in the game because of his blocking ability in passing situations.
What a crock. Earlier this year, Jackson was benched in favor of Faulk for the same reason.
“Our linebackers hate going against Arlen in training camp. He’s the best blocking back we have, as far as picking up blitzes and protections,” Vitt said.
The SportsEye wonders if Harris just obtained these feared blocking skills because he apparently did not possess them when quarterbacks Marc Bulger and Jamie Martin were hammered into submission earlier this season.
The end of the season cannot come quick enough for Rams fans who will see a total housecleaning within days of the final second of the Dallas Cowboys game on Jan. 1.
By the way, the over/under for no-shows for the Christmas Eve game with the San Francisco 49ers is 20,000. The SportsEye is taking the “over.”