Rams Fans United Q&A With Jim Thomas
PostPosted:9 years 5 months ago
Jim (@jthom1) was kind enough to answer a few of our questions:
1.) The JT Meter
Actually the meter has been at 43-57 for a while, and after attending the NFL owners meetings in San Francisco that's where it stays. I would say it's somewhere between fun and scientific analysis. It's more gut feeling and instincts than anything else.
2.) If the Rams move, professionally
I've been at this for a while, much closer to the end of my sportswriting career than the beginning. If this took place earlier in my career, it would have much more of an impact. Some have asked if I would cover the team in LA, if that opportunity arose. Not sure on that. I've frequently joked that if the Rams left, I could go back to covering high school football. That's where it all started for me, after all.
3.) Bradford "misinformation"
It will have no impact on how I cover the team. Believe me, I've had worse things happen while covering a beat over the years. By the way, you're being very diplomatic in calling it "misinformation."
4.) Mike Martz
It's fairly obvious that Mike can be hard to work for and work with. But he is so good at what he does. He was 56-36 as Rams head coach, and the Greatest Show teams will go down in history among the most explosive offenses of all time. The franchise is 47-107-1 since he left. I kind of figured that once things didn't work out with Lovie Smith in Chicago that Mike might have a hard time getting back in the league.
5.) Exclusives
Not really. Good luck with your forum and thanks for your interest.
****
1.) Fisher/championship
Well, he came within a whisker of doing so with the Titans in 1999. I believe he's a smart football mind and a good motivator. But the current team appears stuck in the 7-9, 6-10 mode. And unless the team truly becomes dominant on defense, it's hard to see this squad making a run at a championship.
2.) Fisher mulligan
It sure looks that way. When I even bring up the fact that he could be on the hot seat at Rams Park after three consecutive losing seasons, team employees look at me like I've got 3 heads. Makes you wonder if Kroenke hasn't planned all along to have Fisher steer the team through a relocation because of past experience doing so with the Oilers/Titans.
3.) Kroenke's mind set
Interesting question, and the best I can say is I'm not sure. When he first became controlling owner it didn't seem that way _ you may recall his statements then about being a Missouri man, and being proud to help bring football back to St. Louis, etc. But by the time he was interviewing Fisher for the Rams coaching job in 2012, he was asking Fisher questions about what it was like with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans relocation. I don't think Kroenke has displayed much patience in the entire stadium situation in St. Louis. Getting new stadiums built isn't easy; look around the league _ it can take years and years. If he was really committed to St. Louis he would realize this.
4.) Patriots cheating
If in fact the Patriots taped the Rams' Saturday walk-through before Super Bowl XXVI, I think it could have been a significant advantage. By that time in the practice week, you are definitely working on things you plan on using in the game. It's always been interesting to me how that incident was in many ways swept under the rug by the league, coming as it did after the Spygate incident involving the taping of the New York Jets signals by the Patriots. I regard it as worse than anything that happened in Deflategate. It all tarnishes the image off the Patriots and their accomplishments, but I think Belichick still gets in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done.
* * * *
1.) It's Barrett Jones' job to lose at center. He needs to stay healthy, obviously. Otherwise, he should be fine. Failing that, I think former Mizzou player Tim Barnes could do a solid job there as well if given the chance. I'm curious also to see more of Demetrius Rhaney, the seventh-round pick from a year ago. The coaches seem to be high on him.
1.) The JT Meter
Actually the meter has been at 43-57 for a while, and after attending the NFL owners meetings in San Francisco that's where it stays. I would say it's somewhere between fun and scientific analysis. It's more gut feeling and instincts than anything else.
2.) If the Rams move, professionally
I've been at this for a while, much closer to the end of my sportswriting career than the beginning. If this took place earlier in my career, it would have much more of an impact. Some have asked if I would cover the team in LA, if that opportunity arose. Not sure on that. I've frequently joked that if the Rams left, I could go back to covering high school football. That's where it all started for me, after all.
3.) Bradford "misinformation"
It will have no impact on how I cover the team. Believe me, I've had worse things happen while covering a beat over the years. By the way, you're being very diplomatic in calling it "misinformation."
4.) Mike Martz
It's fairly obvious that Mike can be hard to work for and work with. But he is so good at what he does. He was 56-36 as Rams head coach, and the Greatest Show teams will go down in history among the most explosive offenses of all time. The franchise is 47-107-1 since he left. I kind of figured that once things didn't work out with Lovie Smith in Chicago that Mike might have a hard time getting back in the league.
5.) Exclusives
Not really. Good luck with your forum and thanks for your interest.
****
1.) Fisher/championship
Well, he came within a whisker of doing so with the Titans in 1999. I believe he's a smart football mind and a good motivator. But the current team appears stuck in the 7-9, 6-10 mode. And unless the team truly becomes dominant on defense, it's hard to see this squad making a run at a championship.
2.) Fisher mulligan
It sure looks that way. When I even bring up the fact that he could be on the hot seat at Rams Park after three consecutive losing seasons, team employees look at me like I've got 3 heads. Makes you wonder if Kroenke hasn't planned all along to have Fisher steer the team through a relocation because of past experience doing so with the Oilers/Titans.
3.) Kroenke's mind set
Interesting question, and the best I can say is I'm not sure. When he first became controlling owner it didn't seem that way _ you may recall his statements then about being a Missouri man, and being proud to help bring football back to St. Louis, etc. But by the time he was interviewing Fisher for the Rams coaching job in 2012, he was asking Fisher questions about what it was like with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans relocation. I don't think Kroenke has displayed much patience in the entire stadium situation in St. Louis. Getting new stadiums built isn't easy; look around the league _ it can take years and years. If he was really committed to St. Louis he would realize this.
4.) Patriots cheating
If in fact the Patriots taped the Rams' Saturday walk-through before Super Bowl XXVI, I think it could have been a significant advantage. By that time in the practice week, you are definitely working on things you plan on using in the game. It's always been interesting to me how that incident was in many ways swept under the rug by the league, coming as it did after the Spygate incident involving the taping of the New York Jets signals by the Patriots. I regard it as worse than anything that happened in Deflategate. It all tarnishes the image off the Patriots and their accomplishments, but I think Belichick still gets in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done.
* * * *
1.) It's Barrett Jones' job to lose at center. He needs to stay healthy, obviously. Otherwise, he should be fine. Failing that, I think former Mizzou player Tim Barnes could do a solid job there as well if given the chance. I'm curious also to see more of Demetrius Rhaney, the seventh-round pick from a year ago. The coaches seem to be high on him.