St. Louis Sports Online

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Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 (8:00-9:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) E-mail Mike at: hussonwgnu@aol.com

Welcome to Year #5 of the Rams' tenure in St. Louis. I do not know if the team developed a five-year plan in 1994 during their relocation from the West Coast to the Gateway City. If so, they can not be very happy with the results. The Rams' victory total dropped by one game each season during their four years in St. Louis.

Since calling Missouri home, our Male Sheep have compiled a record of 22-42 (or a .344 winning percentage) for their PSL buying faithful. If you do not include the first four games of the 1995, the ST. LOUIS Rams have put together a .315 winning percentage.

But thanks in large part to the poor play of the Baseball Cardinals, and off-season maneuvers; there is renewed enthusiasm and hope for the 1999 Rams. Local football fans are hoping and praying for an improved product. Television and radio talking heads are boldly predicting a double-digit victory total and a possible playoff run for the Rams.

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There appears to be tangible reasons for this year's optimism. The Rams appear willing to make changes to improve the product. (Although it took the exodus of many season ticket holders and thousands of no shows on game day to force the issue.) This team has: a new Quarterback, a new Offensive Coordinator, completely signed draft choices, impressive free agent signings, and the acquisition of an All Pro running back.

Hence our blue and gold heroes are grueling at Dick Vermeil's summer sweatshop in Macomb. Just like baseball in the spring, hope springs eternal for the Home Team to perform in that rich and arrogant cartel, better known as the National Football League.

Before improving your PSL, remember that we heard this same optimism last season. We heard all the predictions of glory on squawk radio and by talking head last July.

In this space I labeled the 1998 Rams season as the Show Me Season. After posting a 4-12 record, all they showed me were the Same Old Rams.

This year, I still am not ready to join the parade. I am using the title of a song from The Who as a slogan for this upcoming Rams' season: I won't get fooled again.

Evidently, I am not alone in being skeptical. At this writing, there are tickets available for all Rams home games. (This could result in the Rams first non-sellout in their St. Louis history, and forcing football fans to listen to Mike Bush describe the action during blacked out home games. Talk about a double dose of bad news)

In the off season, the Rams signed Trent Green as their newest and best quarterback replacing Tony Banks. The front office knew that Banks was lightning rod with the fans and had to be replaced. However is Green the answer? He better be; as there are no substantial back-up quarterbacks on this roster. (I still don't understand why Kurt Warner didn't start the final games of 1998?)

In mid February, Green's agent won a game of chicken with the Rams Management, as he secured a long term, multi-million contract for the former Vianney graduate. Time will tell if #10 will become an effective starting NFL Quarterback.

The acquisition of Marshall Faulk was a bold move for the Rams. Not only does Faulk provide a presence to the team's woeful running game, but also the Rams may finally have a person who can put a face to their franchise. When you think of the Cardinals, you think of Mark Mc Gwire. When you think of the Rams, you think of, ah?, well?

Perhaps Faulk's face will become synonymous with the Rams when he finally signs and reports to camp in mid-August or when the heat index goes down in Macomb.

Isaac Bruce claims he is getting back in shape and ready for the season. It's about time. The former Pro Bowl Wide Receiver has been a frequent member of the injured reserve list. Perhaps it is more than a coincidence that his visits to IR have been more frequent under the Vermeil regime.

Yet, 1999 is the season the Reverend Ike must either put up or shut up. If Bruce is effective and healthy, Green is a better Quarterback, Faulk is a better running back, and Tory Holt and Az Hakim are deadlier weapons. Again, we will see.

For once and for all, the Rams need to know whether Isaac Bruce is a NFL All Pro Receiver or the Donovan Osborne of this franchise.

That brings us to the Head Coach. This marks Year #3 in the Dick Vermeil Reunion Tour. Years 1 and 2 have not been very good. Vermeil is searching for his tenth regular season victory in 1999. So far his return to coaching has to be considered a failure.

Coach V needs to delegate responsibility to his coaches. He has to. Vermeil's system did not work in 1997 and 1998. Mike Martz was not hired to be Isaac Bruce and Trent Green's golf buddy. Last season, the Head Coach lost the respect of many players with his long practices, play calling, and personnel moves.

At this Macomb training camp, many of the distractions and divisive forces are gone. The Rams' brass shuffled cards in the off season. If 1999 is another losing campaign for the team, it then becomes time to change at the dealer.

Many people point to the Rams soft schedule as an area for encouragement. Perhaps. When you finish in last place in the previous season, you earn that last place schedule.

Let's not forget, though, the Rams were awarded a last place schedule in 1998, and still finished with a worse record than 1997.

Twice in 1999 the Rams will play San Francisco (a team which they have not beaten since the Bush administration), Atlanta (the defending NFC champs and a team which the Rams have not beaten since 1996), New Orleans (a team which the Rams have only beaten once in the past two seasons and a team which now has Ricky Williams in their back field) and Carolina (a team who defeated the Rams twice in 1998 and now is coached by George Seifert).

So much for the last place schedule. At least Rams fans will have their late Sunday afternoons and Monday nights free. Yet, although the non-conference schedule appears soft, the most important game of the season is week one at the Dome against Baltimore.

The Rams absolutely, positively, must beat the Ravens. Thanks to Paul Tagilabue's scheduling software, St. Louis will enjoy(?) an open date during week 2. A loss to the Ravens will give our Male Sheep thirteen days to sulk and prepare for the annual visit of the defending NFC Champion Falcons. (Double that depression should new Raven, old Ram, Tony Banks be involved with a Week 1 victory for Baltimore). An opening day loss to the Ravens could result to winless in September for the Rams.

With that said boys and girls, mark this on the wall. I again predict a 6-10 season in 1999 for the Rams (2-6 within the division and 4-4 versus non-Conference opponents). For what it's worth, I also agree with the Sporting News, Street & Smith's and Sport Magazine that the Rams will finish either fourth or fifth in the conference But remember, this means that the glass is half full: an improvement of 50% more wins than 1998.

Optimism is running high with Gateway City football fans. I hope for they are correct. Yet I remain skeptical.

We will never know if the Rams compiled a Five-Year Plan in 1994. We can conclude that the goals were not met. Yet, it's time to look to the future.

It will be only a matter of time to see who will be fooled (again).