Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Regression on defense/offense?

49er playoff hangover?

I mean, this was mostly the same team that had done well in 1988-1989 save for Greg Bell.

Was Bell’s departure THAT big a hole they couldn’t fill?

CSKreager wrote:Regression on defense/offense?

49er playoff hangover?

I mean, this was mostly the same team that had done well in 1988-1989 save for Greg Bell.

Was Bell’s departure THAT big a hole they couldn’t fill?

Rams were a team built on depth, sub packages, especially on defense, they didn't have stars on DL for example. In 1988 and 1989 they won by good offense and defense that bent but didn't break, but had good pressure. Played a 3-4 base, 40 nickel and dime, and the Eagle defense. They lots depth on special teams via Plan B and the role players they had to replace the role players lost just were not as good.

Also, I think the league caught up with Fritz Shurmur's coverages, not all the time, but enough to win games they may have won in the past. Also Cleveland Gary fumbled a lot. There are other issues, but that is kind of an overview.

Ironically, the Rams did manage to knock off the 10-0 49ers in SF. The Niners got caught looking ahead to what was supposed to be a MNF battle against the Giants between two 11-0 teams. Instead, the Giants also got upset that same week, losing 31-13 to the Eagles.

...and then the Giants/49ers "showdown" ended up being a 7-3 affair.

JohnTurney wrote:

CSKreager wrote:Regression on defense/offense?

49er playoff hangover?

I mean, this was mostly the same team that had done well in 1988-1989 save for Greg Bell.

Was Bell’s departure THAT big a hole they couldn’t fill?

Rams were a team built on depth, sub packages, especially on defense, they didn't have stars on DL for example. In 1988 and 1989 they won by good offense and defense that bent but didn't break, but had good pressure. Played a 3-4 base, 40 nickel and dime, and the Eagle defense. They lots depth on special teams via Plan B and the role players they had to replace the role players lost just were not as good.

Also, I think the league caught up with Fritz Shurmur's coverages, not all the time, but enough to win games they may have won in the past. Also Cleveland Gary fumbled a lot. There are other issues, but that is kind of an overview.

Maybe they already, suddenly became the 1990 Rams that very, infamous January 14th affair. Not counting the '88 finale (SF already locked into 2nd-seed), the Rams posted a regular-season record of 5-3 at the Stick from '82 thru '90. Rams losing that '89 NFCCG? Of course. Rams losing by maybe 10 or 14? Okay, after all, this was the '89 Forty Niners (a team that played even better once playoffs began) we're talking about. But for them to totally lay that egg?? Especially after those back-to-back road-wins at Philly & NYG.

JohnTurney wrote:Rams were a team built on depth, sub packages, especially on defense, they didn't have stars on DL for example. In 1988 and 1989 they won by good offense and defense that bent but didn't break, but had good pressure. Played a 3-4 base, 40 nickel and dime, and the Eagle defense. They lots depth on special teams via Plan B and the role players they had to replace the role players lost just were not as good.

Also, I think the league caught up with Fritz Shurmur's coverages, not all the time, but enough to win games they may have won in the past. Also Cleveland Gary fumbled a lot. There are other issues, but that is kind of an overview.

Yeah, the Rams actually did a good job at finding contributors through Plan B FA. The Rams secondary wasn't all that great in 1988, and they just continued to get older and worse. Kevin Greene was a revelation in 1988, and I think Shurmur's aggressiveness took the NFL by surprise, but by 1990 it seemed like Kevin Greene was 'last man standing' as the rest of the defense around him collapsed. The Rams had Carl Ekern in 1988, who was a guy who did everything but fill up the stat sheet, but he retired at the end of the year. Mike Wilcher was 30 in 1990 and had lost a step. I do remember the Rams using high draft picks on Bill Hawkins of Miami and Frank Stams of Notre Dame, thinking they would step in and provide pass rush on defense, but both guys were busts.

But, as you mentioned, my most vivid memory of the 1990 Rams is Cleveland Gary fumbling, seemingly always at the worst possible moment. The Rams spent a 1st round draft choice on Gary, which I always found odd since he was never really a ball carrier at Miami in college. 13 yards rushing as a soph, 157 as a junior, 480 as a senior with a career 3.9 YPC?