GimmedaBall
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Why JG and DP were fired---speculation as to why it happened.
(1) MO/MB wanted to maintain KM’s potential trade value. When JG came out and said that JB would start even if KM were healthy, that sleight-of-hand to have KM presented with value went in the trash can. Teams took note of what the HC thought of his QB and that a backup QB was starting over him. DP may well have had a role in that decision to sit KM—which put his head on the block as well. Had the Cards gone on to any kind of respectable record with that decision, perhaps JG/DP would still be here. Add a 1-11 record with JB and flushing any trade value for KM—too much for MO/MB to forgive. KM walked away with a good chunk of the salary cap and the Cards did not recover a pair of sweatsocks in return.
(2) MO/MB were looking into a QB in this draft. We had that #3 and were in prime position to get a QB. Early on, Simpson was rated at QB1 with others falling somehwere behind. When Simpson faltered (injuries) and Mendoza rose in ranking, Cards now had two QB at the top of the wish-list. When it became clear that the Raiders were taking Mendoza, that left the Cards to consider Simpson.
My guess is that MO ordered JG to fire DP. That would still leave open the hiring of MLF as our OC (still a promotion over his role with the Rams). The goal would be to pair Simpson with a ‘West Coast’ OC in MLF.
JG refused to fire his OC DP, and the result was that he and DP were fired and MLF was brought in not as the OC but the HC. That would give some rationale as to why the DC Rallis was retained and only the O side of the ball was let go. It looked to me that the DP was able to cobble together a reasonable O with JB—even with all the injuries to the OL and RB—and outcoached DC Rallis. DP put together one offensive playbook for KM and then---on the fly---put in an entire new playbook for JB. That was some adjustments to make mid-season. His firing had more to do with the KM benching and the desire to have a ‘West Coast’ OC (now a HC) for a QB like Simpson. (Even Beck looks to have the skill set to run a West Coast O.)
Of course, that plan went for naught because the Rams also had their eye on Simpson as a future QB when age/retirement caught up with Stafford. Did the Rams outflank the Cards by keeping their interest in Simpson secret? Or did the Cards outflank the Rams in having to use that #13 pick when the Cards allowed rumors to flow that they were going to move back into the low first round to take Simpson?
Rams are in a ‘win-now’ window with their aging QB. Still, they did not trade down for more picks or take a player at #13 who would step in and provide immediate help this season. Another top CB would have been nice. Rams might have been able to trade off #13, get more picks and get both Simpson + other assets. That is, if they were not concerned that another team would then jump them for Simpson if they vacated #13. MO may have played the Rams to take that QB instead of a top WR or D player. Now, that is a debate for another thread. LOL.
(1) MO/MB wanted to maintain KM’s potential trade value. When JG came out and said that JB would start even if KM were healthy, that sleight-of-hand to have KM presented with value went in the trash can. Teams took note of what the HC thought of his QB and that a backup QB was starting over him. DP may well have had a role in that decision to sit KM—which put his head on the block as well. Had the Cards gone on to any kind of respectable record with that decision, perhaps JG/DP would still be here. Add a 1-11 record with JB and flushing any trade value for KM—too much for MO/MB to forgive. KM walked away with a good chunk of the salary cap and the Cards did not recover a pair of sweatsocks in return.
(2) MO/MB were looking into a QB in this draft. We had that #3 and were in prime position to get a QB. Early on, Simpson was rated at QB1 with others falling somehwere behind. When Simpson faltered (injuries) and Mendoza rose in ranking, Cards now had two QB at the top of the wish-list. When it became clear that the Raiders were taking Mendoza, that left the Cards to consider Simpson.
My guess is that MO ordered JG to fire DP. That would still leave open the hiring of MLF as our OC (still a promotion over his role with the Rams). The goal would be to pair Simpson with a ‘West Coast’ OC in MLF.
JG refused to fire his OC DP, and the result was that he and DP were fired and MLF was brought in not as the OC but the HC. That would give some rationale as to why the DC Rallis was retained and only the O side of the ball was let go. It looked to me that the DP was able to cobble together a reasonable O with JB—even with all the injuries to the OL and RB—and outcoached DC Rallis. DP put together one offensive playbook for KM and then---on the fly---put in an entire new playbook for JB. That was some adjustments to make mid-season. His firing had more to do with the KM benching and the desire to have a ‘West Coast’ OC (now a HC) for a QB like Simpson. (Even Beck looks to have the skill set to run a West Coast O.)
Of course, that plan went for naught because the Rams also had their eye on Simpson as a future QB when age/retirement caught up with Stafford. Did the Rams outflank the Cards by keeping their interest in Simpson secret? Or did the Cards outflank the Rams in having to use that #13 pick when the Cards allowed rumors to flow that they were going to move back into the low first round to take Simpson?
Rams are in a ‘win-now’ window with their aging QB. Still, they did not trade down for more picks or take a player at #13 who would step in and provide immediate help this season. Another top CB would have been nice. Rams might have been able to trade off #13, get more picks and get both Simpson + other assets. That is, if they were not concerned that another team would then jump them for Simpson if they vacated #13. MO may have played the Rams to take that QB instead of a top WR or D player. Now, that is a debate for another thread. LOL.
