Arizona Cardinals-Green Bay Packers: Why the Cardinals Won’t Win

That’s right, the youthful Green Bay Packers will march into University of Phoenix Stadium and beat the NFC Champions.  Is it that hard to believe?  I realize the 33-7 win for the Packers in Week 17 was meaningless.  But momentum is a big deal in the playoffs.  After all, it was Arizona a year ago that won three out four entering the playoffs last season.

However, when you take a look at the numbers, this bold prediction isn’t very bold at all. It’s no secret that both of these teams love to pass the ball.  Both teams have a pretty good pass rush.  But Aaron Rodgers is used to the pressure, probably more than any quarterback in the NFL.  Rodgers’ mobility will prove to be a huge advantage for the Pack. 

The Packers are going to want to come out and throw the ball to their playmaking receivers.  Well, it shouldn’t be much of a problem when you consider Arizona is No. 23 in the NFL against the pass.  The Packers are ranked No. 5 against the pass.  Since Week Eight, the only quarterback to have a good game against the Packers was Ben Roethlisberger.  I dare you to name another.  Let’s also not forget when Arizona is on the field, they’ll be facing a pass defense that’s picked off the opposition a league-best 30 times this season. 

On third down, the Packers have the best quarterback in the NFL.  Aaron Rodgers’ passer rating on third down is a ridiculous 135.4 with 14 touchdowns and zero interceptions.  The Cardinals rank No. 21 in third down percentage.

Let’s not forget that both of the quarterbacks in this game are two of the best play action quarterbacks the NFL can offer.  It is January after all, it’s that time of the season to run the ball.  Both of these quarterback play better when the ground attack is rolling.  

Neither of these teams are great at running the ball.  The Packers are ranked 14th, which obviously is in the top half of the league.  The Cardinals rank 28th…which is not!  Ryan Grant and Beanie Wells are effective at running the ball.  Ryan Grant quietly ran for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.  That’s good for third best in the NFC, only behind Steven Jackson and Adrian Peterson.  I’d say that’s pretty damn good company.

How effective can these two ground games be against each other?  Well the Packers are the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL and have allowed a league-low five touchdowns over the entire season.  The Cardinals are ranked No. 17 against the run and No. 17 in rushing touchdowns allowed.  The Packers allow an average of 3.6 yards per carry, good for second best in the NFL.  The Cardinals allow an average of 4.5 yards per carry—24th in the NFL. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers ranked second in the NFL in total defense. The Cardinals are 20th in total defense.

The Cardinals’ biggest advantage in this game is lining Anquan Boldin up in the slot against nickel back Jarrett Bush.  What if Boldin can’t play this weekend?  What if he can? Is that one advantage big enough to dictate the game?  I don’t think so.

Another advantage the Cardinals may have in this game are Pro Bowlers. The Cardinals have four pro bowlers to the Packers’ three.  We’ll just have to wait and see if that’s the deciding edge. But I don’t think so.

I realized that I’ve thrown a lot of statistics out here, and stats don’t mean anything when game time comes around.  But we can argue all day and it wouldn’t mean a thing.  Bottom line: Numbers don’t lie.

Anybody who thinks the Green Bay Packers gave away something by playing their starters deep into the third quarter are mistaken.  Realistically, if you as a team get halfway into the season and can’t watch film to figure out a team’s tendencies, you don’t deserve to be coaching in the NFL.  If you think the Packers don’t have enough Arizona film because they rested Kurt Warner for most of the game Week 17, you are once again mistaken. 

The outcome of this game will be decided by coaching, execution, and will.  It has nothing to do with how much time these guys played last week. One thing’s for sure, it’s gonna be one hell of a ride come Sunday afternoon!

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Mike Shanahan to Become Washington Redskins New Head Coach

The Washington Redskins have a new head coach with Mike Shanahan, who is taking over in the nation’s capital.

According to ESPN , the deal is a five-year contract for $7 million a year.

A day after firing Jim Zorn, who in two seasons went 12-20, the Redskins organization found their man. Shanahan was the team’s prime candidate for the head coaching position.

Zorn began his tenure with a 6-2 mark in 2008, but went 6-16 since.

Bruce Allen, team general manager, was hired less than a month ago on December 17th, following the resignation of Vinny Cerrato.

Allen, the son of Hall of Fame Redskins head coach George Allen, was reportedly in talks with Shanahan right after being hired.

“It’s real clear that we’re going to be aggressive,” Allen said in a media release. “What we’re looking for in a head coach is somebody who can lead these men that we had in our locker room this year to levels they’ve haven’t played through before.” 

Shanahan was the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 1995-2008, where he won the club’s two Super Bowl Championships with John Elway. The team won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998. His record in Denver was 138-86, a 62 percent winning percentage.

In his final three years with the team, Shanahan missed the playoffs going 24-24. He first started his coaching career under Al Davis in Los Angeles in 1988.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder bought the team in 1999, and Shanahan is the seventh head coach to don a headset at FedEx Field. The Redskins record since 1999 is 82-99, making the playoffs in only three seasons.

“No one in the organization is satisfied with our record over the last two years,” Snyder said in a media release. “And I am sure that Jim would concur with that statement. It has been painful for him, too. I certainly accept responsibility for mistakes that I have made.”

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Packers-Cardinals: It’s the Schedule, Stupid

The most common argument I’ve heard to diminish the accomplishments of the Packers, and to back up the Cardinals, is the following: “Yeah, the Packers are 11-5, but they haven’t played anyone all year.”

This has been thrown around, both by fans and commentators, as fact. But, when compared to the Cardinals, the Packers’ schedule has been pretty rigorous.

I’d like to go through both teams’ schedules piece by piece. Both teams went 4-2 against their own divisions. The NFC West, apart from the Cardinals, was 14-34. The NFC North, apart from the Packers, was 21-27. Neither are great records, but Green Bay’s division is better, and both teams performed equally.

In addition, both teams played the the other’s entire division. The Packers went 4-0 against the NFC West, while the Cardinals went 3-1 against the NFC North. Even taking away the game the two played against each other, in which Arizona chose to rest starters, the records are equal.

In addition, both teams played an AFC division. The Packers went 2-2 against the AFC North, which had a combined 33-31 record. The Cardinals went 2-2 against the AFC South, which had a combined 38-26. Slight edge to Arizona.

Finally, both teams played two more teams, the teams in the NFC East and NFC South that finished in the same position as they did the previous year (for the Cards, first, for the Packers, third). Green Bay beat Dallas, and lost to creamsickle-clad Tampa Bay, while Arizona beat the Giants, and lost to Carolina. Once again, a tie in performance, and what would be a slight edge in combined record of opponents to Arizona (Dallas and Tampa were a combined 14-18, whereas Carolina and New York both finished 8-8).

Altogether, seems like Arizona and Green Bay have had comparable schedules, right? Well, let’s take a look at some other stats. How about games against playoff teams?

The Packers played twice as many as the Cardinals: six (Minnesota twice, Dallas, Arizona, Cincinnati, and Baltimore) to three (Green Bay, Minnesota, and Indianapolis).

The Packers have three wins in those games (Dallas, Arizona, and Baltimore) to Arizona’s one (Minnesota).

Now, how about record against teams with winning records for the year? Arizona is 2-2, having beaten Minnesota and Houston and having lost to Green Bay and Indianapolis. Green Bay is 3-4, having beaten Dallas, Arizona and Baltimore and having lost to Minnesota twice, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh.

Note that Green Bay has played twice as many playoff teams, and nearly twice as many winning teams as Arizona. And though Green Bay has a comparable record to Arizona in those types of games, Green Bay is the team with the supposedly suspect schedule.

Now, I can’t say with any amount of certainty what will happen this weekend. Green Bay has played at Arizona in preseason-style matchups twice this year, and was winning at halftime of both games by the respective scores 38-10 and 26-0, stats I would hope would bode well for Green Bay.

Whatever may happen, contrary to what you hear from the talking heads out there, the Packers’ season has brought them far more playoff-quality opponents than Arizona’s has, and they will be well prepared to start postseason football on Sunday.

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Breaking News: Mike Shanahan Agrees To Five-Year Deal With Washington Redskins

Two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan has agreed to a five-year contract to become the next head coach as well as the executive vice president of football operations of the Washington Redskins.

Shanahan will share front office duties with new executive vice president and general manager Bruce Allen, however Shanahan will have the final say on all football decisions and will be introduced at a 2 pm news conference Wednesday.

The Denver Post reported today that the deal is worth about $7 million per year.  Shanahan was aggressively pursued by team owner Daniel Snyder just hours after former coach Jim Zorn was released on Monday as the Redskins finished a 4-12 campaign in 2009, going 12-20 under Zorn.

Shanahan will become the seventh head coach since 1999 when Snyder bought the team and are 82-99 during his tenure, missing the playoffs in eight of the last 11 seasons.

Shanahan served as the Denver Broncos head coach for 14 seasons from 1995 to 2008, winning back-to-back Super Bowls and reaching the postseason seven times with an overall 138-86 record. 

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What I Want (as a Redskins Fan)

When asked about the intangibles that Mike Shanahan can bring to Washington that Jim Zorn did not possess, cornerback DeAngelo Hall offered his thoughts.

“It’s kind of hard to envision yourself trying to get somewhere when the person who’s talking to you has never been there personally,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “That’s probably the only thing that I want. I want to go to the Super Bowl.”

What I want is a player who wants to WIN a Super Bowl, not just play in it.

I also want Hall to learn how to tackle.

I want Carlos Rogers to learn how to catch (you too, Smoot).

I want LaRon Landry to actually look around him before launching himself at an opponent. He might actually have a chance to make an interception.

I want a free safety, so Landry can play the position that he is actually good at.

I want Albert Haynesworth to go two games in a row without being carted off the field.

I want Brian Orakpo playing DE, and H.B. Blades starting in his place in the linebacking corps.

I want all defenders to stop celebrating after making a tackle on first or second down.

I want all offensive players to stop celebrating after making their first good play midway through the third quarter while they are losing 17-4.

I want London Fletcher to live forever.

I want offensive linemen who are more qualified to play in the NFL than they are to be a cast member on Biggest Loser.

I want a draft that addresses the worst O-line in the league.

I want reserve linemen to have more NFL experience than just living with another NFL lineman.

I want Stephon Heyer cut.

I want Antwaan Randle-El cut, or at least stripped of all return duties.

I want the staff to seek legitimate competition for Jason Campbell during the offseason.

I want Campbell to not get scared when a defense shows blitz on third down and check down to a draw or screen pass.

I want more routes that go six yards when we need five, instead of three when we need four.

I want at least one game-winning drive next year.

I want a field goal kicker who can make 95 percent of his kicks from inside of 40 yards.

I want to win at least one division game next year.

I want a team that can compete in the NFL. I want a team that I can at least brag about once or twice during the course of a season. I want to be three years old in 1982 and watch a dynasty being born.

The Redskins have been horrible (or at best mediocre) for long enough to atone for whatever bad karma they have accrued. 

The fans just want a team that they can be proud of (or at least beats Dallas and Philly once a year)!

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With Julian Edelman, The Patriots Will Be Fine Without Wes Welker

The revived Houston Texans defeated the New England Patriots, 34-27 this past Sunday in Reliant Stadium.

 

The Patriots (10-6) loss to the Texans (9-7) in the regular season finale will ultimately prove to be meaningless.

 

However, the severe injury that Pro Bowl wide receiver Wes Welker suffered this weekend will be a substantial obstacle for the Patriots to overcome.

 

Welker, 28, a two-time second-team All-Pro selection who is the only player in NFL history to record at least 110 receptions in three consecutive seasons, tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee after he caught a pass from quarterback Tom Brady in the first quarter.

 

Welker is out indefinitely and his status for the 2010 season is currently in jeopardy as well.

 

Despite his diminutive frame and unassuming appearance, Welker is absolutely one of the grittiest, toughest and most accomplished players in recent times.

 

Welker, a star at Texas Tech University who was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2004, was a vital piece to the Patriots still explosive offense unit.

 

There is zero question that Welker’s absence will hinder the Patriots offensive production in some capacity.

 

“We’ve been going through that all year – people up, people down,” said Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas of New England’s injury-plagued campaign.

 

“Will we miss Welker? Yes we will. But the guys behind him have to step-up and make plays.”

 

The individual who can “step-up” and “make plays” and compensate for Welker’s detraction is promising rookie receiver Julian Edelman.

 

Edelman, 23, who played quarterback at Kent State University and was selected by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, has demonstrated in his limited playing time on the gridiron that he can thrive as a slot receiver.

 

Edelman was impressive when he replaced a wounded Welker in the Patriots week two starting lineup last September.

 

Although the New York Jets outmuscled New England and emerged with a 16-9 victory, Edelman led all receivers with eight catches for 98 yards in the first start of his professional career.

 

Before he broke his arm in the Patriots unsportsmanlike 59-0 blowout of the Tennessee Titans, Edelman was leading all rookies with 21 receptions.

 

A team can not improve when they subtract a prolific threat like Welker from their roster.

 

Nevertheless, with Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick still present, the Patriots remain a very formidable opponent for any team they may encounter in the playoffs.

 

No matter how New England’s postseason eventually unfolds, they will not win or lose because of the loss of Welker.

 

Conversely, the Patriots will not succeed or fail because of the advanced role of Edelman.

 

Football is the personification of a team game and Welker was only one man out of 53.

 

The Patriots season will simply be decided by the collective performances of those 53 players.

 

 

 

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Wild Card Weekend: Predictions

This Wildcard Weekend is one of the most difficult to predict in recent memory. This would seem strange considering the fact that 3 of these matchups were also featured last week, but the losers of two of them seemed to almost not care, and in the other rematch, the theory on defeating a team three times in one season rears its ugly head. I’ll try not to waste your time to much with this intro, and get right on to the predictions.

Begin Slideshow

Are The 2009 San Diego Chargers Better Than the 2006 Chargers?

Riding an 11-game winning streak as the 2010 playoffs approach, the San Diego Chargers have steadily risen up the NFL team rankings and, in some quarters, are considered the top-ranked team in the league. Both NFL.com and Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, for instance, have ranked the Chargers No. 1 in the league, and many other sports commentators feel the Chargers might be the team to beat in this year’s playoff.

What is in the cards for the Chargers remains to be seen, but the last time they enjoyed this kind of cachet among commentators and fans alike was following their 14-2 performance during the 2006 season. 

That optimism in 2006 proved to be fatal; the team quickly exited the playoffs in a divisional loss to New England, which set in motion a tumultuous series of events, culminating in a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and the firing of head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

But as the Chargers enter the playoffs with the same kind of momentum and apparent clout as in 2006 (in 2006 the Chargers entered the postseason on a 10-game winning streak), one does wonder whether the current version of the team is in fact as good as the highly-touted version in 2006.

In some ways, the similarities go beyond the powerful winning streaks that both teams have produced. Many of the key players in the 2009 season were also wreaking havoc in 2006—notably, quarterback Philip Rivers, tight end Antonio Gates, and wide receivers Vincent Jackson and even Malcolm Floyd.

In the case of Rivers, Jackson, and Floyd, the 2006 season was mostly a matter of getting their feet wet. Jackson had 457 receiving yards and six touchdowns, Floyd had three receiving TDs, and Rivers 3,383 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The receiving corps at the time was headed by Gates, who had 924 receiving yards and nine TDs, and Eric Parker, who had 48 receptions and 650-plus yards.

For Rivers, Jackson, and Floyd, each of them cranked the volume on their personal stats this season. Jackson in particular, has blossomed into a receiver of devastating ability, Malcolm Floyd had over 750 receiving yards in 2009, and Rivers the kind of year where he is a top candidate for the league MVP.

Back in 2006, the Chargers were mostly about LaDainian Tomlinson, and, in spite of the early signs of promise their current receivers displayed, the 2006 team was essentially the LT show. Tomlinson ran for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns, adding another three TDs and 500-plus yards as a receiver. It was the zenith of his career in the NFL.

At the same time, backup running back Michael Turner added another 502 rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry, the kind of stats that were to fill his pockets with cash a year or so later.Even blocking fullback Lorenzo Neal ran for 148 yards on 29 carries, as the run-dominant Chargers of 2006 bowled over every nearly every defense in their way.

By any objective standard, the 2009 Chargers’ running attack cannot touch this. Tomlinson managed just 730 yards and a 3.3 yards per carry average. Darren Sproles chipped in another 343 yards, but the team’s running game was truthfully a shadow of its earlier self.

Some Charger supporters are quick to point out that as the Chargers have transitioned themselves to a passing team and that the decline in the running numbers is largely offset by an increase in aerial yardage.There is some truth to this, and, in the end, the 2006 Chargers accumulated 79 more yards than the 2009 team on offense. They did so, however, with a more balanced attack.

On defense, one key difference between the two squads is clearly seen in the performance of Shawne Merriman.In 2006, Merriman was ubiquitous—everywhere on the field—recording 17 sacks, and menacing quarterbacks and offensive tackles relentlessly. Merriman also forced four fumbles, as did bookend Shaun Phillips.

Merriman’s barrage of sacks counted heavily toward the team’s impressive total of 61. Yes, 61 sacks for the 2006 Chargers, as Phillips recorded 11.5 and Luis Castillo managed seven.

Jacques Cesaire and Randall Godfrey had four each as well, as the Chargers consistently exerted maximum pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

By comparison, in 2009 the Chargers’ sack machine recorded 35 sacks, 26 fewer than three years ago. Shaun Phillips led the team with seven, and also added seven forced fumbles. Merriman had four, and the rest of them were scattered about the team’s defensive unit.

Overall, the 2006 Chargers ranked 10th in the league in team defense, giving up an average of 18.9 points per game. Their defense was 12th in the league getting off the field on third down. 

The 2009 Chargers’ defense ranked 16th in the league, giving up an average of 20 points a game. They were 21st in the league getting off the field on third down, significantly worse than the 2006 team.

On the other side of the ball, the 2009 Chargers’ offense ranked 10th in the league, and averaged 28.4 points a game.

The 2006 team did better, ranking fourth in offense and averaging 30.8 points a game, the highest points-per-game average of any team in the league.

What does all of this suggest?

The pattern I see from the numbers is that the 2006 team was better. Their defense got far more pressure on the quarterback, and they got off the field more effectively on third down. They gave up fewer points and had more interceptions.

The Chargers offense was far more balanced than it is now in 2009, as they had a poignant passing attack and a devastating rushing attack.

But in the end, of course, it might not matter.

If the 2009 Chargers win the Super Bowl—or perhaps even get to the Super Bowl, they will likely be remembered as the better team by many of their dedicated fans. It would, in fact, be a tough argument to counter.

As it stands for now, though, that goal is one with several hurdles awaiting.

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Mike Leach Raiders Next Head Coach? C’mon, Al, Can You Do Better Than That

Ever since the bye week, rumors of Tom Cable’s demise as head coach and who would replace him have been flying. Now, at season’s end, these rumors have picked up speed.

We’ve heard names like Jim Fassell, Charlie Weis, Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Marc Trestman, and now, Mike Leach.

In the last few days, Leach’s name has been mentioned regarding the Raiders far too many times just to be a simple rumor.

But is Leach really what we want as a head coach?

In no way am I a Tom Cable supporter. My biggest complaint against Cable is his decision making.

His pass happy play-calling fails to utilize our strong running game and talents of Michael Bush, Justin Fargas, and Darren McFadden.

Then there’s the media circus and criminal accusations against Cable.

Mike Leach already has his own media circus for “locking” a player in an equipment shed. Unfortunately, that player happened to be the son of an ESPN analyst who was unhappy about his son’s lack of playing time.

Then there is the incredibly pass-happy offense that Leach ran at Texas Tech.

If you watched any of their games, you saw a lot of shotgun and three-plus wide receiver sets.

Sure, running backs caught the ball out of the backfield, but the running game was nearly non-existent, as the team averaged over 400 yards per game through the air, yet only 84 yards per game on the ground.

I can’t recall a single instance where I’ve seen Texas Tech involve a fullback or a two tight-end set in the offense.

Being a Raider fan since the ’90s, that is not what I know as Raider football.

Raider football is a strong-armed QB and fast receivers. Raider football is a ruthless fullback paving the way for a smashmouth running game. Raider football is 4th-and-short and the whole stadium knows the ball is going to Zack Crockett, yet the defense can’t do a thing about it.

The Raiders’ offense has always revolved around the running back position. Even while Gannon was here earning the league MVP, the offense revolved around Charlie Garner.

Then there’s the question of whether or not Leach’s offense can succeed at the next level.

Some Leach supporters have suggested that any QB can succeed under Leach’s system.

Yes, even JaMarcus Russell.

But throwing the ball 55 times a game can be very dangerous and detrimental to a QB’s health. As made apparent by how quickly Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye went down throwing 35-45 times a game.

Then there’s the fact that defensive play is much faster in the NFL: The pass rush is faster, coverage is tighter, windows in zone coverage are smaller, and defenders are smarter.

Sure, no doubt a QB like Russell can succeed in Leach’s system in the Big 12, but success in the NFL may be a completely different story.

Look at Graham Harrell.

Texas Tech’s former record-breaking, Heisman-hopeful star QB. He broke numerous NCAA QB records including single season pass completions, single season pass TDs, and was second in career completions.

Yet, he was labeled a system QB and went undrafted. He was then picked up by the Cleveland Browns to practice under a try-out basis and failed.

He went to the UFL, where no team showed any interest. Then he finally landed a spot buried in the depth chart of the Canadian Football league’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

That fact either speaks volumes that any QB can be great under his system or that his system just won’t work in the NFL.

With the Raiders running an offense designed by Mike Leach, the Raiders would resemble some of the leagues pass-happy offenses like the Colts, Eagles, or Patriots. And no one wants that.

However, if Leach were to hire an offensive coordinator to put his pass-happy ways in check and help the Raiders bring a balanced attack, I would take him over Cable any day.

 

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St. Louis Rams Now Look Toward Future Following 1-15 Season

ST. LOUIS — There won’t be any knee-jerk reactions at Rams Park.

Following a 1-15 season that ended with Sunday’s 28-6 loss to San Francisco, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said he won’t make any changes to his coaching staff as he heads into his first full offseason.

“You don’t just jump ship on the process, schemes or people,” Spagnuolo said. “You stick with what you believe in. If you didn’t believe in it, you shouldn’t have put it in in the first place. I have to sit down and evaluate everything, but we’ve got to give it time.”

Spagnuolo admitted that the team will need to upgrade its talent to avoid a fourth straight losing season.

“That is part of it. Every team has to do that,” Spagnuolo said. “There will be some other things. I’ve got to do a lot of evaluating this week. We’ve got to look at all three phases scheme-wise. You’ve go to look at them. We would do that if we were 15-1.”

The Rams won just six games over the last three seasons, and own the worst winning percentage and most losses of any three-year stretch in franchise history.

“I fully expected us to win more football games,” Spagnuolo said. “That part was disappointing. It was a hard season, and I think it was more difficult on (the players).”

It didn’t help that the team placed 13 players on injured reserve. That number that could have been 16 had tackle Jason Smith, cornerback Quincy Butler and defensive end Leonard Little—all of whom missed the team’s final three games—been put on the list.

“Through everything we went through, and all the adversity, there wasn’t anybody on the team jumping ship or pointing fingers,” said Spagnuolo, adding that the team will research how to avoid future injuries.

“We have to look at them all to see how they happen,” Spagnuolo said. “Some of them are freak, we all know that. Each case you have to take on an individual basis because it is a physical game, it is a contact game. I don’t know how you prevent one big guy from falling on another guy’s leg. I don’t know how you prevent that, but we will look at it.”

The Rams were competitive in about half their games before fading late. Spagnuolo said learning how to win games like the 28-23 home loss to New Orleans and and Sunday’s loss, when the Rams led 3-0 at halftime and trailed 7-6 after three quarters, will come as the team matures.

“We were a young football team,” Spagnuolo said. “In the course of those games where we were right there, typically it was a play or two here or there. We can’t do that. Somewhere in there, those one or two plays have to go the other way. We have to make them go the other way.

“Whether it’s a play change, and player change, I fully believe we’ll get there.”

Spagnuolo continued by “half-kidding” that those plays “even out in the end.”

“If we had a bad break this year, I’m banking on a good one next year,” Spagnuolo said, drawing laughter from the media gathered at Rams Park. “But I fully believe that the pains we through this year, we’ll be stronger for it, and those pains will affect us in a positive way.”

Over the last week, Spagnuolo said he tried to speak with each player individually about the offseason, and their future with the team, but said that neither he nor general manager Billy Devaney have made personnel decisions.

“We’ll get into that soon, but we’ve got time for that,” Spagnuolo said.

Spagnuolo would not address a question about a “wish list” for positional needs. He deflected the question by saying he needed to “get over the San Francisco game first.”

Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is regarded as college football’s best player and is the favorite to be the top pick in April’s draft. It’s a pick owned by the Rams, but Spagnuolo would not offer an opinion on the 6-foot-4, 305-pound interior lineman who recorded 12 sacks and 22 1/2 tackles for a loss as a senior.

“Billy and I have to sit down. I haven’t had a chance to look at any college players,” Spagnuolo said.

As the Rams begin that process, Spagnuolo is already looking forward to a positive 2010 season.

“There’s nothing like being in a locker room of an NFL team after winning just because of everything that goes into it during the week and what the guys do together, just the craving for that feeling,” Spagnuolo said. “Unfortunately, we will have to wait however many months that is to get that feeling again.”

This article can also be found at The Alton Telegraph (Published Jan. 4)

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