Troy Aikman rips Rams and super teams
doubledragon
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Troy Aikman rips Rams, super teams: "I’ve never seen it work in the NFL"
The Rams were seen as legitimate Super Bowl contenders following a 7-1 start to the season. The acquisition of quarterback Matthew Stafford appeared to make a big difference for them, and in the second half of the NFL season, they were supposed to challenge the Cardinals for the No. 1 spot in the NFC West.
Expectations were only raised when the team dealt for Von Miller before the NFL trade deadline and signed Odell Beckham Jr. following his release from the Browns. However, the Rams have lost three consecutive games since trading for Miller and back-to-back games with Beckham in the lineup.
So, what gives? Don't the Rams have enough star power? Yes, but that actually might be the problem. At least it is according to former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.
Aikman spoke about the Rams' super team on 1310 The Ticket on Tuesday, and he explained that he doesn't think all-star teams work in the NFL.
“We’ve talked about it — the all-star team just — I’ve never seen it work in the NFL," Aikman said, as transcribed by Rams Wire's Skyler Carlin. "I know Washington tried it back in, I think, ‘99. I’ve just never seen a team that goes out and tries to put together this all-star team that can win a Super Bowl, much less success. It usually unravels, and right now, that’s kind of what’s happening to the Rams. They’ve just not been very consistent.”
Aikman mentioned Washington, but there is a more recent example of a super team failing. The 2011 Eagles were infamously dubbed the "Dream Team" by quarterback Vince Young after the team signed several high-profile free agents including Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Evan Mathis. While some of those players panned out, the team didn't live up to the lofty expectations. They went just 8-8 despite being seen as a potential Super Bowl contender.
The Rams aren't quite the same as the Dream Team Eagles. They are simply in a prolonged, three-game slump during which they have done little right. Stafford has dealt with a back injury and lost one of his top receivers, Robert Woods, for the season because of a torn ACL. That has slowed the offense significantly while the defense hasn't been able to pick up the slack.
But at the same time, Los Angeles hasn't jelled so far during the season. There seems to be some sort of disconnect between the players on both sides of the ball.
That's part of the reason that Aikman isn't high on the Rams. They seem to be crumbling at the wrong time and Aikman isn't sure whether the team will recover.
“It was not a good performance at all the other night when we had them, but I don’t know if they’re going to be able to pull it together or not,” Aikman said. “That was a huge game for both of those teams, not only for the Rams to keep pace with Arizona in the division, but also they were still in the hunt potentially for a first-round bye. But it just does not have a good feel. I feel it throughout the entire organization. I just don’t know that they’re going — I don’t think they’re done. I think they’re going to have some moments where they climb back into it, but I don’t know if they’re going to have enough to get over the hump.”
The Rams are 7-4 and would be the No. 5 seed in the NFC as the top wild card. The 49ers are gaining rapidly on them and the Rams are two games back of the first-place Cardinals with a critical Week 14 tilt between the two upcoming.
Perhaps the Rams can get back on track against the Jaguars. But if they struggle at all, that could be a red flag as the team looks to begin another postseason run.
Comments
The Ticket is one of the two sports stations here in DFW. Aikman traditionally appears by phone every Tuesday morning a few minutes before eight o'clock during the football season (central time). As much as I often don't enjoy his live game commentary, I frequently enjoy his live radio commentary.
I also enjoy Troy Aikman's commentary, he's very knowledgeable about the game. In an interesting sidenote, Aaron Rodgers appears on The Pat McAfee Show every week and he talks about everything, his toe, Green Bay coaches that betray him, his grooming habits, you name it.
During the Packers game last Sunday, Aikman said, "The Rams look desperate." He was reading my mind. Rumors are just that, but.....inside talk is that if things don't turn around....major coaching changes are coming.......and......doubts are starting to set in about letting Goff go.....hey,.....the Rams just do not look very good....period.
..........
The grass isn't always greener And that could be applied to the decision to swap Goff for Stafford or the looming shakeup which could see McVay leaving.
I thought it was a mistake to get rid of Goff. But, who knows, time will tell. The speculation is that other teams have caught on to McVays system and its compounded by the fact that some of the Rams ex-coaches under McKay have moved to different teams, they know the Ram game plan and McVay hasn't adjusted to counter it. It's especially a problem in the division where ex Ram coaches have moved on to Phoenix and San Francisco. The Fortyniners OWN the Rams....it's starting to look like the Cardinals do too. Not a good situation. Also the loss of Woods for the season is devastating. Kupp and Woods, are among the 3 best receivers in the league according to Aikman. I agree. Kupp is injury prone. If he goes down......stick a fork in it!
Aaron Rodgers is always on The Pat McAfee Show, he lives on that show.
Here he is again.
letting Goff go
that tends to be how management wants to fix things, fire the HC and "shock" the Team back to reality. the HC isn't usually the problem. let's face it, The Rams might have done better in the past three games if Stafford would quit spotting the opponent a TD.
There he is again, on The Pat McAfee Show, there goes that bearded phantom!
There he is again, he must be stopped!
Oh god how this man torments me!
You are on to something here keets.....except Stafford spotting the opponent 1 touchdown? Try 2! I don't know what to think about Stafford...... The Titan game was the beginning of the fall. Stafford played like a scared rookie. Two stupid pick 6's. It's been downhill since. Wild card?......maybe...... But that's as far as they will go.
let me preface this by saying that i didn't read anything Aikman said up above. i just had time to notice the topic and let my fingers fly, so here's my thoughts on the Rams: they're paper tigers. they were a trendy SB pick prior to the season, and all of their midseason acquisitions have done nothing to change the minds of many. call me crazy, but i personally like to examine the actual results on the football field. they have lost 4 times this season, and in all 4 losses they were not competitive. each L was at least by a touchdown, some with much larger deficits than that. then came an assortment of "earth-shattering" additions -- Miller, Beckham, etc. those moves reeked of desperation to me. the Rams knew they couldn't hang with the best teams in the NFL, so they resorted to piecing together an amalgamation of who's who players in an attempt to create a synergistic effect that will vault them past playoff teams that have already wiped the floor with them this season.
and speaking of Beckham, if he's not one of the most overrated players in the league then i'd love to know who is keeping him out of the conversation. seriously, what has this guy done in the past handful of years? there is an enormous disparity between the hype and the production with this guy. the dude has played in one playoff game his entire career, so obviously teams can't win with him on the roster. but all of a sudden the Rams think he's gonna be the savior? just stop it, please. 😆
wanna be taken seriously, LA? go into Arizona on Mon, Dec 13 and beat the Cardinals. if you can do that, i'll sit up a little straighter
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet