Rams Empty Cupboard Dynasty

[mordhiem]

Welcome to my first FOF dynasty! There will be no real house rules, I just won't deliberatly exploit the AI. If something becomes a problem then I'll add some. The next few paragraphs are skippable if you really cannont be bothered.

Background

I have simmed from 1970 through 2003 to create some proper history for the league, since I feel that always makes games much more atmospheric. The Hall of Fame is already bulging with past greats and some impressive records have been set, some have stood for decades. I anyone is interested, I can write up some magazine style articles documenting the history of a players career, a particular season, or even particular games (I have saved all of the box scores, but no game logs). I think that could be quite fun actually.

Anyway, I am the Rams, the same team I ghost GMed whilst simming. I say ghost GMed because I didn't want one to team to absolutley suck ass over 34 years (that would ruin the atmosphere), so I occasionally intervened to resign players, use the franchise designation, pick certain players in the draft etc. But I let the CPU set depth charts, game plans and then simmed the whole season in go. So, the Rams actually have been one of the midle tier teams (.490 win pct) and have actually won a Super Bowl. However, their financial situation is very bad as the fans stay away in their droves (Yoggi Berra :cool: ) and the stadium is falling apart. So, I will be trying to engineer a move to LA as quickly as possible. (No other franchises have moved yet)

So, it is spring 2004 and I clear out the squad. Let the story, well, despciptive narrative at least, begin...

[mordhiem]

2004 Staff

Before I hire any staff I apply for a new stadium, with the full expectation of being rejected. The St. Louis people have no real support for us (our season ticket sales are consitently below 20,000) and we are losing money each year. Los Angeles awaits...

Head Coach: Rondell Skerritt (56yo, 22-26-1)
3 Years @ $2,500,000 (League High = $7,320,000)

MOT - Average
DIS - Very Good
OFF - Average
DEF - Good
INJ - Excellent

The current HC when I arrived, gets renewed for 3 more years at a decent price. He is pretty good, and extremely cheap (27th highest paid in the league).

Offensive Coordinator: Russel Mohler (44yo, 41-87)
5 years @ $3,250,000 (League High = $5,980,000)

QB - Excellent
RB - Excellent
WR - Very Good
OL - Fair
K/P - Good
YT - Very Good

The incumbent OC was out of contract and not that good anyway, so I went fishing and got this guy. He was my first choice and am very pleased to have landed him at a reasonable price (13th highest paid in the league) for a good 5 years. He is also very young at only 44. He could stay here for many years.

Defensive Coordinator: Darryl Lusk (61yo, 6-10)
1 year @ $1,620,000 (League High = $4,820,000)

K/P - Excellent
DL - Very Good
LB - Fair
DB - Fair
YT - Average

Was the incumbent and under contract, so saw no point in replaceing him. It won't make much difference in our first season anyway. He will be gone next year.

Head Scout: Dave Nelson (59yo, 86-140-2)
2 years @ $250,000 (League High = $970,000)

QB - Good
RB - Average
WR - Good
OL - Average
K/P - Good
DL - Average
LB - Good
DB - Poor
YT - Very Good

Very good with young players which was my main attribute when I went looking. Didn't get my first (or second) choice but picked this guy up very cheaply. Will probably be replaced if anyone better comes up in 2 years time.

[mordhiem]

Roster Movement

Players Under Contract: 0
Room Under Cap (Cap): $79,290,000 ($86,400,000)
Max For New Player: $74,610,000

Free Agency Period 1
No moves obviously

The Draft

We have the #9 pick due to a 6-10 record last year. With a completley empty squad, I set out to go with a 'best player avaliable in every round' mindset. I am amazed that a franchise potential tackle drops to me and gobble him up quickly.

PICK NAME CUR FUT Vol Sol 40 Bench Agi College
1(9) T Birk, Tommy 18 81 1 35 5.07 41 7.46 Southern California
2(9) CB Ramsey, Duane 29 58 94 19 4.41 14 6.86 Arkansas State
3(9) WR Maslowski, Edwin 24 49 29 30 4.60 13 7.05 New Mexico
4(9) ILB Wooden, Hunter 20 49 24 38 4.81 26 7.11 Newberry
5(9) T Benton, Mike 21 43 83 21 5.58 32 7.57 Nebraska
6(9) QB Carmody, Vincent 11 51 69 20 4.86 12 8.03 Washington State
7(9) DT Kerr, Riddick 13 39 44 21 5.10 27 8.11 Baylor

Draft Review
Solecismic Draft Review Grade C-, My Grade B+

Birk was a complete steal at number 9, he might not be the finished product but he has undoubted start potential (volatility 1 is nice too!). Ramsey, Maslowki, Benton and Wooden are all pretty much guarenteed to start this year. Carmody is a real old fashioned gunsliger of a QB, I like his set of potentials, but may sit for a year depending on who comes in. Kerr is moved to DE with litle success (he is cut immediatley after camp).

The stadium proposal fails 2:1. Off to LA in time for 2010 hopefully.

Late Free Agency

A crapload of rookies signed, all of the draft picks sign pre camp. Our roster going into training camp is an incredibly ridiculous 82. After many cuts I get it down to 60. Let's just say that our squad isn't all that impressive... I'll list the final 53 post training camp.

[mordhiem]

Preseason Games

@ Tennessee

A dissapointing loss, if only because we showed such promise, especially on offense. 6.6 YPC rushing and 8.1 YPA passing is superb. We just didn't get enough of the ball (23:42 TOP, 47 total plays) to do enough damage.

St. Louis 7 - 23 Tennessee
Game balls: FL Maslowski (8 catches for 129 yards) & MLB Whalen (7 tackles, 2 assists)

Cleveland

Took a 10-0 lead in the 2nd quarter but more interceptions from our two rotating QB's caused us lots of problems. Running game still very promising though.

Cleveland 20 - 10 St. Louis
Game balls: RB Stargell (17 carries, 116 yards) & SLB Rosser (3 tackes, 2 assists, 1 sack)


@ Jacksonville

A complete shootout. Our running game staled, but some good D play (2 ints, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) made it closer than might have been. The interecptions bug is an expected but worrying habit that is creeping into our QB's.

St. Louis 27 - 49 Jacksonville
Game Balls: FL Maslowski (6 catches of 90 yards, 1 TD) & RCB Mallard (2 tackles, 2 assists, 1 interecption)

Pittsburgh

Good rushing attack again, but a dire passing attack negated any real threat we could have had. At least our QBs only threw for 2 ints this time... Our run defense was shockingly non-existent giving up 275 yards on just 42 carries (that's at 6.5 YPC in case you are wondering), the Steelers had 3 players with 70+ yards! Obviously their running dominance meant we just couldn't get our O on the field (24:47 TOP). A dissapointing defeat.

Pittsburgh 14 - 0 St. Louis
Game Balls: FL Maslowski (7 catches for 86 yards) & RDE Bellamy (7 tackles, 1 assist)

Preaseason Notes

Positives

No injuries to major players
Maslowski looks to be a good outlet at wideout
Three headed running game showed good promise
Um.. our kicker didn't miss a kick

Negatives

Poor play from both our QB options
Teams have consistently pounded our defense with the run and kept our offense off the field
Our pass defense has been sieve-like at times
Difficulty getting the ball in the endzone
General ineptitude

[mordhiem]

2004 Roster

Quaterbacks

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
QB Brennan, Dan 13 57 1 1 yr
QB Carmody, Vincent 13 44 1 3 yrs
QB Setzer, Ethan 10 35 1 1 yr

Brennan and Carmody both failed to impress in the exhibition games. Both are quite different, Brennan a Roll-Out QB, Carmody a Long Passer, but I admit that I mnuch prefer Long Passers as QB's as I like the big play potential. All things considered though, Brennan has better attribute potentials, but currently I would place Carmody marginaly ahead, partly because Brennan knows only 6 formations. Carmody will be the starter for at least the first 4 weeks and we'll see from there. Setzer is mere roster fodder.

Running Backs

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
RB Stargell, Rex 28 34 1 1 yr
RB West, Jerome 26 30 1 1 yr
RB Kelley, John 28 33 1 1 yr
RB Maloney, Charlie 22 29 1 1 yr
FB Benton, Trent 20 29 1 1 yr
FB Benson, Rondell 19 26 1 1 yr

I quite like our top 3 RB's as they all have the one attribute in RBs whichI crave - Elusiveness. They performed pretty well as a three in preseason so I ahll continue with those tactics. Stargell is the official starter (he has pretty good breakaway speed that the other two don't have), West handles 3rd and short (he has slightly more inside power and is a good 3rd down runner) whilst Kelley is the passing option back (his pass cathcing skills are slightly above the others). Maloney is another elusive back who could do a job if required, but barring injury won't be. Benton is a barely adequate blocker, as is Benson. Benton will start purely based on potential.

Recievers

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
FL Maslowski, Edwin 25 42 1 3 yrs
FL Fine, Cole 17 27 1 1 yr
SE Gunn, Thurman 24 32 1 1 yr
SE Austin, Damon 19 34 1 1 yr
SE Nelson, Rich 16 34 1 1 yr
TE Fletcher, Mo 26 43 1 1 yr
TE Parker, Brady 24 33 1 1 yr
TE Monroe, Blaine 24 31 1 1 yr

Maslowski has very good potentials, but the minor downside of brick hands, rated 0 with no potential to improve. However, he overcame that and the crap QB problem to become easily our most impressive player in those 4 games (22 cathes for 316 yards, 2 TDs). Gunn is another brick handed reciever whose other attributes make up for this failing. The other three WRs are all competent catchers and decent route runners, the 2 things I look for in slot recievers. If called upon, they should be able to make a cacth. Fletcher is a pretty good blocking TE with the potential to become a good pass threat too. Brady and Monroe are both more than adequate back ups, decent in both areas.

Offensive Line

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
C Cressio, Jeremy 25 45 1 1 yr
C Hermsen, Richie 20 39 1 1 yr
LG McNally, B.J. 19 37 1 1 yr
RG Andrews, Irv 20 33 1 1 yr
RG Schneider, Reggie 15 34 1 1 yr
RG Hastings, Harvey 18 33 1 1 yr --- INJURED RESERVE
LT Birk, Tommy 25 90 1 5 yrs
LT Peterson, Trevor 17 36 1 1 yr
RT Benton, Mike 23 37 1 3 yrs
RT Spencer, Darryl 8 40 1 1 yr

Cressio and Hermsen are both solid all round centers, with Cressio's blocking strength advantage getting him the starters role. Our guards are really quite poor, I would not be suprised if all of them will are replaced next year, barring any breakouts of course. Birk is surely the future of the franchise, although his dissapointing showing in the preseason was mildly alarming. I am still very confident he will turn out to be a steal at #9. Benton and Peterson are decent and show good potential. Spencer is nowhere near playing yet, but has intruiging potential so avoided the cuts.

Kickers

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
K Martins, Jay 37 63 1 1 yr
P Wampus, Harry 28 35 1 1 yr


Martins is good so will stick around. Wampus isn't so won't.

Defensive Line

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
LDE Lauvray, Sammy 25 27 1 1 yr
LDE Morton, Donnell 13 40 1 1 yr
RDE Bellamy, Kendrick 26 34 1 1 yr
RDE Greer, Brent 23 38 1 1 yr
RDE Thompson, Justin 21 30 1 1 yr
LDT Ward, Jason 26 32 1 1 yr
LDT McCloskey, Jerald 21 37 1 1 yr
LDT Montanez, Everett 21 38 1 1 yr
RDT Sellers, Lamar 24 36 1 1 yr

Solid depth across the line and a mixture of pass rushers and (allegedly) run stoppers. Will rotate all the players around a lot to get them all playing time, especially Morton, who could turn out into quite a nice pass rusher.

Linebacker

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
MLB Wooden, Hunter 24 59 1 4 yrs
MLB Muller, Gino 20 32 1 1 yr
SLB Rosser, Craig 21 35 1 1 yr
SLB Sims, Cedric 21 26 1 1 yr
WLB Lumpkin, Dale 16 34 1 1 yr
WLB Lujan, Alan 18 24 1 1 yr
WLB Whalen, Dean 17 37 1 1 yr

Wooden is a feroious blitzer, with the potetntial to become an outstanding run stopper also, but his weakness in coverage may cause us concerns. Nevertheless, he is one of the players around whom he must build the defence. SLB is strong with two comparable players (Rosser will start), but WLB is weak (;)). Lumpkin and Lujan are good pass rushers, but WLB is not on the field for nickle packages and up, so that blitz ability is less attractive. Whalen will probably start there as he is more balanced.

Secondary

POS NAME CUR FUT EXP CON
LCB Ramsey, Duane 32 56 1 3 yrs
LCB Sohl, Jared 13 34 1 1 yr
RCB Schroeder, Grant 19 31 1 1 yr
RCB Matthews, Ty 16 30 1 1 yr
RCB Mallard, Brady 18 39 1 1 yr
SS Craig, Victor 20 32 1 1 yr
SS Dotson, Rusty 13 34 1 1 yr
FS Cross, Chad 18 34 1 1 yr
FS Garner, Ryan 19 38 1 1 yr

Ramsey will play a key part in the defense,but teams may well just avoid him and pcik on the other mediocre at best CB's or the poor safties. At least all of the secondary have potential. We'll see whose performances are worthy of a job next year.

Stats Roundup

Power Rating: 1 (16th in NFC, 32nd in NFL)
Roster Value: 1 (32nd, 31st's value is 44)
Stadium Value: 2 (31st)
Fan Support: 34 (21st)
Economy: 21 (29th)
Franchise Value: $267,840,000 (32nd)

[mordhiem]

Division Opponents

Arizona Cardinals - PR: 66, RV: 70

In Henry Craig they have a top 10 QB's who will propell thier otherwise lackluster set of ofensive skill players. Willie Mason, a WR picked up in the 3rd round this year looks to have broken out bigtime and will provide Craig's only real target in the pass game. Former OROY Ernest Perez is still suffering from an ACL injury he picked up last season and will miss the whole year, leaving their rush attack very much less than impressive with 5th round rookie Arnold Harris set to start. Their O-Line is decent but not remakable, but 14th overall rookie and Green Page prospect Lewis Boselli has a big future ahead of him at right tackle.

The defense revolves around the incredible OLB Lamar Ernst, who has 5 consecutive all-league selections (4 of them 1st team) and 4 consecutive seasons with at least 119 tackles, including 2001 when he racked up 134 tackles, 34 assists, 8 sacks and 2 interceptions on the way to defensive player of the year. The other linebackers are very solid too, including 3rd year MLB Lamar Bean who broke out in his sophmore season with 101 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions. The secondary is also solid with two former all-pro corners (Rex Vasilatos is coming off two consecutive 7 interceptions sesasons, with 21.7 PD last year) and big hitting, 2nd year safety Ernie Hodge playing behind them. The D-Line is the only real obvious weakpoint, mainly due to a big lack of depth (Only 3 players 40+ current rating). 7th round pick Russell Peters will start at DT when he is clearly not NFL ready.

Their very solid defense complimented with a playmaker at QB will pose several teams challenges. Realistically though, Craig has too few weapons and is not enough of a maverick to carry the offense on his own. Their lack of activity last year in FA, leaving them with a lack of depth, could be a problem for them also. Prediction: 9-7

Seattle Seahawks - PR: 72, RV: 80

Last years Super Bowl runners up will be a force again this year. QB Victor Bauer is the epitome of efficient yet effective passing. He has only thrown for 5857 yards over the last 2 seasons, last year threw for an impressive TD:INT ration of 25:6 with 64% completion. Last years RB A.J. Robbins (FA to Tennessee) will not be missed as he has been replaced by one of the top RBs in the league, Burt Bullock who rushed for 6069 yards and caught 1065 more in his first 5 years in Green Bay. The addition of wideout Travis DiFazio from the Browns was important to revive a reciever corps that was lethargic last year. DiFazio achieved 1,000+ yards 6 times in 9 seasons in Cleveland, in 2003 grabbing 82-1324-10. The O-Line is anchored by a good set of guards and a fine right tackle in Perry Clay.

The secondary is the strength of this defensiove unit, with a supreme set of safeties in Shanabbrough and Barrett, both of whom in their second year. CB Ernest Barrett was 1st Team All-League last year when he hauled in 8 interceptions and had a PD of 21.0. The defensive front is good but not spectacular, with DT Bubba Stephenson the main player, capable of eating up blockers or getting to the QB. DE Roosevelt Littlejohn has a bright future ahead of him, starting this year after getting 1.5 sacks in limited action as a rookie last season.

This team could well go to the Super Bowl again this year, a tough ask though it may be. Their offensive could very well open up with the injection of a credible running threat and a big reciever after being quite tentative last season. The defensive will depend on if the secondary can smother the pass as well as it did last year. Prediction: 11-5

San Francisco 49ers - PR: 69, RV: 76

The San Fran offense is all about up front power. Their Offensive line as a whole is one of the best units in the league (lowest rated starter - 55) and has very good depth too. The #8 overall pick and Green Pager, right tackle Dale Sanford, may not get much playing time, depsite looking to have very good potential. Behind this line is Bert Garner, a QB who has the tools, but has never really delivered to the extent expected of him when SF took him #3 overall in 2000. He has never thrown for 3300 yards in a season, and ineed last year seemed to regress throwing 16 TDs to 18 Ints for a 73.1 rating. Howver, as already mentioned, he has the skills to post be a big player, maybe this year? Trying to help him will be former Miami Dolphin WR Joseph Sharpio who caught 97 balls for 1396 yards and 8 TDs for the Niners last season, getting 1st team All-Leauge recognition. However, Sharpio's previous highs were 76 catches and 983 yards, so as it a fluke year?

The Niner defense is not very strong or deep, but has a potentially explosive pair of ends in Green Pager Aaron Belcher (53/73) and 2001 #4 overall pick Dustin McNeil (54/67). However, the rest of the denfense is barely average with only MLB Harris Cromwell providing any steel against rush attacks. I expect that this team will be easy to run on and thus be kept out of the game for long periods. SS Curtis Coder is a tremendous pass defender, both man-to-man and zone, (one year he racked up 257 return yards from 7 ints, including 3 TDs) and an excellent reader of the game, but his comparitive fragility against the run hampers him. The sooner experienced veteran DT Moe Freeman comes back from a broken fibula the better for this unit.

Garner has yet to answer any of the critics regarding his untapped potential but this offense looks to be set up nicely for him. If Sharpio can continue from last year the O-Line will give Garner time to find him. The worry is the defense, which is raw and lacks depth. I think that the 49ers will have difficulty this year, but still score some good wins. Prediction: 8-8

We will finish a very poor last in this division. I will be greateful for anything better than 0-16.

[mordhiem]

Opening Day Special Report

And so we start off the season. Carmody will be our QB for the first 4 weeks regardless of perfomance and then I'll see what to do after that. A light injury list is good, not that I feel it would make any difference.

Arizona -13 @ St. Louis

Injury Report: Monroe, TE, Probable (1 week); Spencer, RT, Out (3 weeks); Hastings, RG, Out (IR)

We opt to recieve and before we make a first down, Carmody throws an inteception straight to Arizona CB Sammie Thomer. Zona make good use of the excellent field position, culminanting in their QB Craig scrambling in from 5 yards out. 7 - 0 We put the ball immediatley back in Carmody's hands and he hits Maslowski for 16 yards, then Fine for just enough on 3rd and 8. Next a bullet to Maslowski for another 8 yards and Stargell sneaks out of the backfield to catch the next, evading a few tackles to pick up some valuable YAC for a 19 yard gain. The pregame doubts around him are starting to dissapear maybe?

Carmody now proves, however, is still only learning and throws two incompletes, one woefully underthrown, but an enchrochment penalty on Arizona leaves 3rd and 5. Kelley comes in at RB for the passing down and comes up big, slinking unnoticed past the Defensive line to grab a 6 yarder. We go to run but make only 1 yard progress on two carries. Carmody fires one into Austin, who dives for the marker but comes up just short. Martins makes the 21 yard fieldgoal FG from Arizona's 4 yard line. 7 - 3 After the kickoff, Arizona give it to Harris, who goes up the gut for 4 yards before our backup SS Dotson hammers into him like a freight train and pops the ball loose. Lauvray collects and it's definatley game on.

After another smothered run from Stargell Carmody gets it to Nelson for 6 then Gunn for 5 and a first. On second, Austin is wide open and Carmody is more than happy to oblige, arcing one towards him for another 16 yards. Stargell gets the ball on 1st and goal from the 5, but cannot turn the corner, going out of bounds for no gain. We are not phased however and move into a 5 WR spread set. Gunn is lost in the crowd and comfortably takes screen in all the way for the first TD of the season. 7 - 10 1 minute to go in the 1st Quarter and we lead. I certainly didn't expect this.

However from then on it is only one side troubling the scorers. They score a FG off a good 47 yard drive to tie it up 10 - 10. Two sacks in succession, leaving us with 3rd and 15, quickly kill our responding drive, to which Wampus can only add a 24 yard punt. Then they come at us with a pneumatic running game coming down to our 10 yard line and a defensive holding penalty when they are in troublr doesn't help at all. Two more solid rushes set up a jump ball for Willie Mason from 3 yards out. 17 - 10

From then on it's all over. Carmody throws interceptions on consecutive drives, both of which Arizona turn into touchdowns, including an impressive 30 yard sprint from Harris who may has been more dangerous than first predicted. There is no scoring in a 4th quater that sees Arizona eat clock whilst we cannot get anything going at all on offense. Final score...

Arizona 31 - 10 St. Louis

Game Balls: FL Maslowski (6 recs for 68 yds) & SLB Rosser (10 tckl, 1 asst)

Thoughts

Carmody threw for a solid 248 yards and one touchdown, but his interceptions whilst we were chasing the game proved extremely costly.
Our reciever corps acquitted itself well with no drops and Maslowski, Gunn and Fine all getting more than 50 yards.
Our rushing attack however was very poor with only 68 yards from 20 carries (21 yards came from only a single carry also).
That may well have been down to our poor run blocking (only 4 key blocks)
Defensively, we were anonymus. Only 1 sack and 3 hurries is no pass rush and that only 1 pass defended was very dissapointing.

[mordhiem]

Weeks 2-4

New York Jets (-15) @ St. Louis

Well, the performance was promising, but ultimatley, we sucked. The chances for an improvement against a very mean Jets team are slim to say the least.

Injury Report: Spencer, RT, Questinoable (2 weeks); Bellamy, RDE, Probable (2 weeks); Hastings, RG, Out (IR)

A terrible start means that we are never in this game at all. Our first possesions are both punts after making little progress, whilst theirs go Field Goal, Touchdown, Touchdown, one of the TD coming at the climax of a huge 16 play, 99 yard dive that truly exposed our defense.

We get sporadic drives going on the back of some good play between Carmdoy and Maslowski but can only ever get FG's of which Martins goes 3-3 on the day. NY really controlled TOP (a familliar pattern against us it seems) and we were forced to pass all day due to being so far behind. Final score:

New York Jets 31 - 9 St. Louis
Game Balls: FL Maslowski (4 recs for 96 yds) & CB Ramsey (8 tckl, 3 asst)

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Detoit (-6) @ St. Louis

Our third home game in a row sees the Lions come for a visit. Their starting QB, Jack Schau, has strained an elbow tendon so is out for the game, but they have a solid back up in Trent Erickson. The lions are a mediocre unit, but superstar DE Russel Lee could rip our O-line to shreds.

Injury Report: Spencer, RT, Probable (1 week); Bellamy, RDE, Probable (1 week); Peterson, LT, Doubtful (2 weeks); Hastings, RG, Out (IR)

Abysmal. Simply abysmal.

We only got in Lions territory twice in the whole game, everything about our offense was disaterous. Our recievers dropping 6 passes between them certainly didn't help. On defense we did as well as could be expected when being on the field for 40 minutes of the game. Our run defense was competent and we managed to get an interception also. But really, our offense just couldn't produce against a no more than above average defense.

Detroit 31 - 0 St. Louis
Game Balls: SE Austin (4 recs for 45 yds) & SLB Rosser (7 tckl, 5 asst, 0.5 sck, 1 int)

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St. Louis @ New Orleans (-13)

The fact that we are +13 against New Orleans, a fellow 0-3 team, says it all really. Carmody has compiled a 48.4 passer rating in his three starts and we are ranked near last in almost every category.

Injury Report: Peterson, LT, probable (1 week); Mallard, RCB, probable (2 weeks); Hastings, RG, Out (IR)

Well we actually put up a fight in this one and were actually ahead midway through the 3rd quarter. We made some decent progress through the air (239 yards) but an YPA of 5.8 is nothing to shout about. Carmody also managed to throw 3 ints, two of which in crucial moments when we were chasing the game late. Also, our rushing was very poor again (54 yards @ 2.4 ypc), I think it may have something to do with ou rpoor O-line than the RB's, but there is little we can do to remedy it midseason.

On defense we were reasonably good, with two interceptions (one returned for a TD), but we were toasted on the ground for 149 yards @ 5.1 YPC. Also, our pass rush was non-existant, but overall I though we played alright on defense. It was an improvement, but we will still not win a game this year methinks.

St. Louis 28 - 38 New Orleans
Game Balls: FL Maslowski (8 recs for 83 yds, 1 td) & LCB Ramsey (2 tckl, 3 asst, 1 int for td)