Scott Linehan is now officially in the NFL head coaching fraternity. He has been second-guessed — and rightfully so.
There has been much discussion about his decision to not attempt a field goal with the St. Louis Rams facing a fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to Seattle.
My, how quickly we have forgotten.
How many times have we seen coaches “go for it” in that situation in hope of putting the opponent away once and for all? You might remember that the Rams, in recent years, have done the same thing with great success. As a matter of fact, the Seahawks were the victims.
How can you blame Linehan for a player running the wrong pass route? The play could have worked. If it had, most fans and sports media members would have been calling the play call brilliant and that it was “what a new, young offensive mind is supposed to do.” Wrong.
That play was in the Rams playbook well before Linehan hit town. It might have a new name, but it’s something we have seen before. The Rams did not lose the game on a fourth and one play. There were several reasons why they lost.
Let’s start with the fact that the Rams now use Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as intermediate receivers. You know, the little out patterns of seven or eight yards where they have to stop and then get tackled.
At last check, these guys were deep threats. You know, going over the middle, down field, all the stuff that good pro receivers do.
That is not the case these days. I have not read the rules where you can no longer throw deep or in the middle of the field. On the other side of the coin, it’s nice to see that running back Steven Jackson can catch the ball out of the backfield. The Rams now have at least three players who can go out for a seven or eight yard pass.
The newly self-anointed tough guy, Richie Incognito, might be tough, but he apparently is not that smart. His two penalties after the Rams scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the game were costly. He is good for a bad penalty a week.
As a coach I would rather have smart guys who know when to be tough. Instead, we have a guy who only thinks he’s tough. He has yet to prove anything other than he is not as good as the Rams need him to be.
You did not think I would forget the special teams did you? Here we go again.
The Seahawks’ 90-yeard punt return was one thing, but the 33-yard kick off return was the killer here. The longest return of the year by Seahawk return man Josh Scobey and the kickoff came from the Rams’ 15-yard line thanks to Incognito’s ill-timed penalty.
This story is well documented no matter who the head coach and special team coaches are. In short, this Rams team has a long way to go. As I said last week this is a .500 team at best. Another Sunday mental meltdown by the Rams and .500 will be more than a challenge. Oh well, enjoy the NFL, Coach Linehan. This is your first year. The scrutiny only intensifies after this season.
