FrantikRam wrote:Hello all.
I've been browsing your forum for some time now (can't wait for this season to start), and I decided to chime in.
Welcome!
Think about it: we've had the same coach for 3 years now
Irrelevant. Many teams have the same coach but still finish with losing records and miss the playoffs.
and along the way we have amassed some serious talent via the RG3 trade.
True. But it's not like the rest of the league hasn't done the same, including the Vikings (who also, through trades, have had multiple first-round picks in recent drafts). Something to note, though, it has to be a bit of a disappointment that Robinson isn't starting yet. Don't get me wrong, he has all the tools and I probably would've drafted him over Barr, but that can't feel great. He'll crack the starting lineup sooner than later, though.
We've been impatiently waiting for that talent to develop, and have seen flashes of brilliance. We destroyed the Colts and Bears last year, and also thoroughly defeated the Saints. Two of those teams made the playoffs and won a playoff game. Those are the flashes we saw. We won those three games without Bradford, and with a QB worse than Shaun Hill.
You also got obliterated by the Cowboys (who had a defense as bad or worse than the Vikings last year, which is saying something) and managed to put up only 7 points and lost by 10+ points in six games. In offensive yards/game, you finished 30th, while the Vikings finished 13th. We were less than a point from being in the top-10 in points/game compared to your 21st ranking. This offense can score points and should do so at a pace greater than yours. Of course, your defense is equally imposing, though. Though for as good as your reputation is on defense, you were middle-of-the-pack in yards allowed/game and allowed teams to score more than 23 points 11 times. Granted, the Vikings were among the worst (if not the worst) in both categories last season.
The Rams went 7-9 while playing in the best division in football.
That's debatable. The AFC West and NFC South would be in that conversation as well. Even the NFC North is one of the tougher divisions.
The Vikings went 5-10-1 while playing in what was probably the worst division in the NFC (8 win division champ).
An 8-win division champ doesn't mean it's a bad division In fact, it could mean the opposite. It could mean there's a lot of parity.
3rd year with same coach, 3 years of drafting players and several first round picks - talented team that has had time to develop.
While stability is usually a good thing, 3 years with the same coach is largely irrelevant. And wasn't Fisher hired in January of 2012? So he's completed two years of coaching with the Rams. This is his third year. And in that time he's amassed a 14-17-1 record, which is not necessarily a bad thing and it
can take a few years to turn a squad around, but he's not Jim Harbaugh here. 2013 was Fisher's fourth straight season without a winning record.
And just "drafting players and several first-round picks" doesn't always translate into net success, especially if those draft picks are lousy. How's Tavon Austin doing these days?
I'm sure his production and role thus far isn't exactly going as planned. Same for Robinson thus far. Again, it's early. They could be studs in a few years. But so could each of our high-round picks too. I know I'm glad that we have Patterson at this point instead of Austin.
Flashes of brilliance last year without Sam Bradford.
We also saw "flashes" with Cassel, and he's looking better under Turner so far.
The Rams are at home, where only 1 non division rival beat us last year (the Titans, with us coming off a short week), whereas the Vikings didn't win a single road game last year.
That's true. The Vikings have historically played poorly on the road. But this is a different regime.
The Viking defense was atrocious last year. While bringing in a new coach and a few new players is nice, you also lost quite a few. I realize Jared Allen's best football was behind him, but the fact remains that the Vikes lost their best pass rusher. Along with a few other players on D. I don't want to discount what a new coach/scheme can do for current players, and Linval was a good pick up, but first game in a new system? Odds stacked against you.
Look at it this way: it couldn't possibly be any worse. Even if they're marginally better, that should still be enough to put up a good fight. Just remember that the Vikings lost a lot of close games last year against opponents on par or tougher than this year's Rams. Increased weaponry on both sides of the ball and allegedly better coaching/playcalling could make them more of a challenge than many realize. I fully expect the Vikings to improve on defense. With an offense that could push for top-10 and a defense that could and should rank in the top-20...they won't be pushovers to marginal teams like the Bradford-less Rams. I don't mean that as a slight, but the Rams minus Bradford (and the Vikings) aren't on par with the Pats, Broncos, Seahawks of the league.
The Rams just have more talent.
Disagree. It's pretty even.
OL: Push/Advantage Vikings
QB: Push/Advantage Vikings
WR: Advantage Vikings
TEs: Advantage Vikings
RB: Advantage Vikings (by a lot)
K: Push/Advantage Vikings
Special Teams: Advantage Vikings
DL: Push/Advantage Rams
LBs: Advantage Rams (by a lot)
CBs: Push/Advantage Vikings with Trumaine Johnson on the shelf
S: Push/Advantage Vikings (Harrison Smith + Blanton > Rodney McLeod & T.J. McDonald
P: Who cares/Advantage Rams?
Vikings Oline is solid (although I was surprised to read some of your comments about how it's a question mark), Peterson is Peterson, Jennings is solid and all I've heard this offseason is how Patterson will break out this year. But top to bottom, we are just a better team right now. Even starting Shaun Hill....there are several people out there that, when polled, would say Hill and Cassel are on the same level.
I just don't think there's as big of a talent gap as you think there might be. I'd still Take Cassel. Hill is 34 and hasn't made a regular season start since 2010. Chances are you try to ride your running game, much like us.
Edit: heck, here's a quote just now from your coach:
@MasterStrib -- #Rams HC Jeff Fisher: Norv's probably walking around w/ a smile on his face right now because of the players he's working with #Vikings
Anyway - that is why the Rams should win this game handily. We might not. But should. This team is ready to explode.
So is our offense. And I haven't even mentioned Adrian Peterson. If our defense can shut down Stacy and force Hill to beat us...I think that bodes well for our chances. It won't be a blowout. No way.
, best guess would say he gets shutdown early till the Rams realized Cassel and other parts of the offence deserve respect, excepting a big second half for AD when the rams adjust.
