It didn't take long for the Los Angeles Rams to be hard knocked around.They haven't played a home game yet in 2016,but the Ramslookedlost in California duringMonday night's embarra sing, 28-0 defeatin San Francisco against the 49ers.MORE: What Week 1 taught usAs far as big NFL moves go, theydon'tgetbigger than relocation.But for the Rams to make their new and old home fans happy again, owner Stan Kroenkeneeds to make another big change.Jeff Fisherfinally is running out of time, and general manager Les Snead isn't immune, either.When Sporting News talked
DaQuan Jones Jersey to Kroenkeat the NFLowners' meetings in May, he did makeone thing perfectly clear."It's all about playing well this fall that's really important," Kroenke said. "If the football team performs well on the field, everything else will work out fairly well."Well, for a guy spending billions to rebuilda brand in one of the world's most competitive entertainment markets, what Kroenke saw in Week 1 isn't acceptable.The initial wretched return squashes all the hope and hype. In a blink, the Rams havegone fromorchestrated optimism narrated by Liev Schreiber to a Hollywood me s that Ray Donovan can't fix. Neither can Fisher.The 49ers weresupposed to be NFC West cellar dwellers and contend to be the NFL's worst team overall. They were the ones in the midst of a tough overhaul, with only turmoil and turbulence to follow.Overreactions be damned.Congratulations, Rams, you're now that team.When an offense is that bad in relation to the rest of the league, and againsta defense thatisn't really asgood at it looked Monday night, you worry.When the team pumps up Case Keenum to be somuch better than Jared Goff, you laugh.When a team gets pickedapartby
Johnathan Cyprien Jersey Blaine Gabbert and outwittedby Chip Kelly, you wonder.When ateam loses its cool in an undisciplined, penalty-filled me s with Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald, its two best players, caught right in it, you shake your head.MARVEZ: Rams' poor judgment ruining young playersGue s who all this comes back to.Somehow, Fisher has been the most Teflon coach in the NFL over the past four-plus seasons. Sure, there's the respect and reputation that comesfrom whathe did to get his Titans teams to overachieve and reacha Super Bowl.But in St. Louis and now inLos Angeles, the Rams have been stodgy and stagnant. It's almost worse for an NFL organizationto be steadily subpar than totally terrible, because it gets stuck in the cycle of never improving.Fisher and Snead have compiled some good talent, have had some big upset wins and have done a good job convincing manythey were "only a quarterback away" from competing for the NFC West.MORE: Should rookie QBs start or sit?The harsh reality isthey remain lightyears away from what Pete Carroll and John Schneider are doing in Seattle, and what Bruce Arians and Steve Keim are doing in Arizona.There was some good evidence Monday to suggestthey're about to pa sed by Kelly and Trent Baalke, too.The Rams alreadyhave whiffedat quarterback twice by sticking too long with Sam Bradford and trading for Nick Foles.The fact that Goff is a developmental No. 3 as a No. 1 overall pick, and how they have been sokeen
Tennessee Titans Jersey on Keenum as a fill-in starter, isproofthey remain quarterback cluele s.That's not acceptable in a league where century mark pa ser ratings are the new normal. Neither is the fact the Ramsdon't get any real wide receivers to help those pa sers. They insteadpa s off re-signed and overpriced gadget player Tavon Austin as a go-to guy.They are trying to win with an old-school running approach withGurley that even ESPN's Herman Edwards, a conservative coach in his day,called out as ancient.You need to have competent quarterback play to compete for the playoffs in the NFL. Fisher's old team, the Titans, are trying to get away with playing "exotic smashmouth,"but at least they know they're playing off the skill set ofpromising QBMarcus Mariota.Look around the league, and asmore teamsbecomequarterback "haves,"the more"have nots"getdusted. And think about whothe Rams could have
Eddie George Jersey had at No. 1, Carson Wentz, whowasout thereplaying well and winningfor the Eagles on opening day.The Rams are in trouble for their homecoming game, with Seattle's shutdown D coming to Tinseltown. Then they are off ona long tripto Tampa Bay, and then a desert swarm in Arizona.By the time Week 5 comes around, it will be the appropriate matchup with Buffalo, whenFisher can go head-to-head withfellowoverrated, over-comfortablecoach Rex Ryan.WATCH: Why Rams were so much worse than 49ersFor Goff's sake, the Ramsneed to move forward with leaders and schemers who will give him a chance to succeed. At the moment, the Rams arebotching the situation.There might be a feeling that Fisherstill can get things turned around. But the Rams have had that feelingover the past four years.The best they can hope for is not good.Now that the shine is over, the Rams need substance to sustainL.A. love. It won't happen without Kroenke making another hard, fast move.