Rams & Cowboys Struggles: Coaching Issues & Team Chemistry

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Outspoken With Dan Sileo

Locker Room Leadership and Defensive Struggles Raise Concerns

Despite having a terrific coach and a great quarterback, something appears to be wrong with the Rams. They are not playing up to expectations, scoring enough points, or creating explosive plays down the field in the passing game. At times, the team seems to be in a daze.

The locker room could be at the heart of the problem. A strong locker room can solve many issues without the coaching staff even knowing about them. When leadership and camaraderie are missing, however, it becomes difficult for a team to compete at the highest level.

One possible concern is the number of stars brought in from elsewhere. Rather than functioning as a unified team, the players can begin to resemble independent contractors operating on their own islands. The New England Patriots under Belichick were offered as a contrast, with players personally selected and developed to fit the roster instead of a collection built around superstars.

The Cowboys were also cited as an example of talented teams that struggled to win because of an independent-contractor mentality and a lack of locker room leadership. Great teams in any sport are built around unselfishness. Players compete for one another, celebrate each other’s success, and avoid promoting themselves at the expense of the group.

Without that camaraderie, different parts of the team can begin firing at different times. The Rams appear to lack the leadership, fire, and energy commonly associated with strong football teams.

The discussion then turned to Brian Schottenheimer and whether his reputation as a play designer and play caller matches what appears on the field. The assessment was that the offense does good things and is capable of being good enough, even if it may not be great.

Toughness and discipline remain concerns. Receivers have sometimes appeared to stop running at full speed or ease up when they did not expect to get the ball. Still, the biggest issue is on the other side of the ball. The offense is good enough for the team to be competitive, but defensively, the team is a disaster.