[Hacksaw]

Winning isn't Fisher's top job priority

• By Ben Frederickson

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... b073c.html

This isn’t a column calling for Jeff Fisher’s job.

That would be a waste of newspaper ink and Internet space.

It would be a Simpsons meme: “Old man yells at cloud.”

Rams owner Stan Kroenke, determined to move his franchise west, seems to care more about Fisher’s experience shepherding a franchise through a relocation than Fisher’s recent experience winning games.

League sources told the Post-Dispatch in January 2012 that Fisher’s interview with the Rams included multiple questions about the Houston Oilers’ transformation into the Tennessee Titans. His answers must have wowed the room.

Never mind the fact the Rams now seem bound for their fourth consecutive losing season under Fisher, that Fisher hasn’t coached a winning season since the 2008 Titans went 13-3, and that Fisher’s next finish above-.500 finish will be just the seventh in his 21-season career.

Whatever wisdom Fisher gathered from overseeing the Oilers’ transition apparently justifies his annual salary of $7 million. Get this: Fisher is within $500,000 of four-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick, according to Forbes. Fisher rakes in $2,148,437 more than the reported league average.

That’s good work — if you can get it. Especially for a coach who not only never has taken the Rams to the playoffs, but has not coached a playoff game since 2008 and has not won one since 2003.

We know enough about Kroenke by now to realize he doesn’t care about the quality of football St. Louis fans see on Sundays. His primary concern is moving the franchise to his dream stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

But you would think a successful businessman such as Kroenke, a billionaire who built an empire thanks to shrewd moves, would recognize a regrettable deal.

We’re 58 games into Fisher-coached football in St. Louis, and the return on investment is as bad as Rams quarterback play post Kurt Warner.

Fisher’s body of work is big enough to speak bluntly about the big picture. He’s had a longer leash than most losing coaches. Yes, Fisher has turned the Rams’ defense into one of the NFL’s most imposing ones. But his ignored offense remains a punch-less punchline in which quarterbacks fail and rare stars such as Todd Gurley are asked to do too much.

Forget the abstract arguments about Fisher helping his cause by being a players’ coach, or hurting his cause by coaching a dirty team. Look at the record. It’s the only thing that matters.

The Rams are 4-6 headed into Sunday’s game in Cincinnati. Two of their final six games are against teams with losing records. Tea leaves suggest Fisher’s .422 winning percentage with the Rams (24-33-1) will continue to drop. Yet no one really expects Fisher, who has one year left on his contract, to be canned.

The company line before the season was that it would take a disaster for Fisher or general manager Les Snead to lose their job. This season hasn’t been a disaster, unless you count Fisher letting concussed quarterback Case Keenum stay in the game last Sunday, an apparently accidental oversight made worse by the fact the backup-turned-starter fumbled to set up the Ravens’ game-winning field goal.

Disaster? For Fisher’s Rams, the snafu seemed more like business as usual.

In a win-now league prone to knee-jerk firings, Fisher’s job security would be impressive … if it wasn’t so maddening.

Of the 12 active NFL coaches who have been with their team for at least four seasons, Fisher is the only one who has not taken his to the playoffs.

He has the worst winning percentage of the bunch, and it’s not even close. Sixth-year Cowboys coach Jason Garrett (44-39) checks in above Fisher at .530. Seven of the coaches sit above .600.

Twenty-two coaches have been fired while Fisher’s Rams have failed to turn a corner. That’s counting Jim Harbaugh, who was pushed out of San Francisco, and not counting John Fox, who had some say in his departure from Denver.

Ten of the firees had a higher winning percentage with the team that fired them than Fisher has with the Rams. Eight coached at least one playoff game for the team that showed them the door.

Four teams — Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland and Tennessee — have dismissed two coaches during Fisher’s futile run here.

Poor Ken Whisenhunt got fired twice, first by the Cardinals then by the Titans.

Yet Fisher coaches on.

The hard truth is this will become a moot point for St. Louis fans if their team relocates.

But one can’t help but wonder what evidence Kroenke possesses that suggests anything, even in Inglewood, will change as long as Fisher is on the sideline.

[Ramfan46]

Apparently it's Shit On Jeff Fisher Week. He didn't neglect the offense, his moves just didn't pan out. Everyone else is conveniently forgetting he might have gotten us two All Pro players on both sides of the ball to build around. The D is a faster MLB away from being top 5 IMO. The O will look much better next year with experience on the line and we haven't even seen Mannion to know if he's a bum. The needs are clear to me, QB, C, WR, TE, MLB and more depth at DT. Get this offense to 13-18 and this is a playoff team that could do damage in January IMO. I'm still ready to let him ride out his 5th year, especially if it's in LA. It's just incredibly hard to win with a franchise in a state of transition.

[max]

Name another HC coaching right now who has not made the playoffs who is in his 4 year or longer?

Don't think too hard, the answer is none. Every other HC has been fired by now, some have been fired twice.

[Ramfan46]

I don't care about that. The roster is headed in the right direction and gets stronger each year. The biggest quest now is to find a decent starting QB. I just don't think firing Jeff Fisher now is going to help get this team over the hump. You automatically assume who's hired will turn out better. How's that working out for Tennessee?

[Hacksaw]

There is a lot to argue for consistency. Fisher has brought a swagger to the rams. He and Williams are a scary team to face. Expect the un expected.

I have to say that as much as I am disappointed in the seasonal results,, and after looking at Fishers career stats, our records may not get better much than this if you use the past as an indicator. Still if Fisher can/would/will hand over the O to a real OC, get a QB and a real #1 WR, I think we would be closer to the playoffs than canning Snisher, possibly losing GW in the process and basically starting over with a new staff who might not align with Snishers/ current Rams personnel.

I'd like to see if that can happen before jettisoning Fish just yet.
No doubt though, Fish is in the frying pan..

[SoCalRam78]

Again, I'll ask, how the HECK does Fisher affect a relocation? Does he gather the team around and sing Kumbaya? Does he find the better LA strip clubs for Janoris Jenkins? Is he giving realtor advice to relocating players? He doesn't care about winning because the Rams aren't very good?

Or is this just some bs narrative because 20 years ago Fisher happened to be the coach for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers?

[TomSlick]

I think the article is spot on. Keeping Fisher for relocation purposes is nonsensical to me. New city, new coach, fresh start. We all know Georgia was a dud for an owner. I'm uncertain what Stan will mean to us fans who are desperate to see this team become a regular playoff contender. Keeping Fisher for year 5 is a done deal. No way Stan pulls the trigger after this season.

The real gonad grabber is going to be what happens after year 5 if Fisher delivers another sub .500 year.

[max]

Stan is keeping Fisher because he wants to totally focus on winning the relocation game. He doesn't want to think about hiring a new coaching staff, GM, and personnel departments.

[Stranger]

I don't care about that. The roster is headed in the right direction and gets stronger each year. The biggest quest now is to find a decent starting QB. I just don't think firing Jeff Fisher now is going to help get this team over the hump. You automatically assume who's hired will turn out better. How's that working out for Tennessee?

Do u really think fisher know what is needed in a qb and can spot it when he sees it? If so, why did we pass on Henley this offseason and opt for Foles?

[Ramfan46]

Anyone who can make Kerry Collins a playoff QB has my attention. I do think he knows what he needs. He took a shot on Foles, but also nabbed a 2nd round pick and got rid of Bradford's contract. Kelly was supposed to be some offensive guru and Bradford looks the same as in STL. Fisher has his horse at RB and has found a solid RT and has 3 pieces of a solid line. Robinson can be moved to Guard if he doesn't pan out at LT. Find a decent QB, C and WR and I think the Offense can jump up to 15-20 range immediately with potential to be 6-10 with Gurley leading the way. Fish was signed for 5 years, I think he's earned 5 considering the trash he inherited. If he bombs next year, let's move on.