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BY RANDY GARDNER

I have been writing this column for well over 10 years now and I have made some predictions that were right on the money, others that fell short but none more than the prediction I made at the beginning of this Rams football season and then after the preseason.

I predicted that the Rams would do very well throughout the year with a 9-7 record or better. If I can recant that statement I would like to do so now.  I stood so tall with my prediction as others laughed at me telling me not to get so wrapped up in the preseason record, well I didn’t listen to them at all and went my own way.

I felt that the 4-0 pre-season record would get the fans hyped up and  back on board and they were for the first game and now the general aura around this team and its backers are will they even get a win in the first half of the season.

We all know that this team drew probably the hardest schedule in the NFL for the first half but I don’t think that anyone knew that we would lose Steven Jackson in the first game and the offensive line would be as bad as it is. The receiving core is okay but cannot hold onto a ball to save their lives.

I am pretty supportive of head coaches and what they go through in terms of the fact that they are not the ones out there executing the plays, they can only do so much but when a coach, like Spags  has done over the past few weeks keeps saying that he can hang his hat on the effort, I have a problem.

When do you say, look  I am the leader and I am letting this team down, you have to lead in a way that coaches, including offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators utilize players to their strengths and call plays that fit the game and the situation.

I continually will go back to last year against the Seahawks when Steven Jackson did not get the ball in his hands at all in the run game, when Seattle was horrible against the run. These are the constant mistakes that continue to happen.

It’s not just me either, listen to talk sports radio, the fans see it, everyone does but the staff. The Rams need a big win or two to get the fans back on their side, maybe the week off this week will help them out.

Cards Success Takes Attention from Rams

Luckily the Cards are doing well, it takes some of the attention away from the fact that the Rams look so bad. Unfortunately, the Cards season may only last so long. I write my columns on Tuesday with a print date of Thursday so it is sometimes difficult  to write about situations like the Cardinals in a timely fashion.

As I sit now, the Cards are gearing up to play game number 3 at home against the Phillies. The team did what it needed to do and that was split at Philly. I really like their chances in this series now. The weather is great for Fall ball and I think they momentum of the home field advantage is really going to help this team out. Do we put all of our stake in starting pitching right now or is it time for Albert  Pujols to make a mark on this series and season by getting hot.

Prediction here, Pujols will get blistering hot and we will see the Cards in the World Series. Hey, look at it at face value, if I am wrong, it can’t be any worse than my Rams predictions at the beginning of the season. Remember when you go out on a limb, you just might look like a genius. We will  just have to wait and see. Go Redbirds!!

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