Spagnuolo sticking with Bugler
by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 5, 2009 9:03 AM CST
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PrintSt. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo offered some pretty strong words of praise for starting QB Marc Bulger yesterday. The coaches comments should put to rest speculation that the Rams will remove Bulger as starter, at least in the near term, to the chagrin of plenty of Rams fans. Here's what Spags had to say about his QB:
I think Marc has done exactly what we've needed. He's been a leader, manages the game, gets the ball to 39 [Steven Jackson]. There's pieces that he's working through, too. There's been a lot of guys we've thrown in there as wideouts because of injury and what-not. I think he's been a pro about everything.
Bulger's getting some cushion thanks to the Rams atrocious situation at wide receiver, understandlably so. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is a young group of WRs, with the second year guys being among the most experienced. And in case you forgot, it's a new offensive system.
I'll bite. Sure, those are definitely factors in Marc Bulger's third disappointing season, but anyone who watched the Detroit game saw a QB who looks well past his prime. The slide's a distraction. The Jim Everett comparison that matters most isn't the slide to Everett's famous sack dodge in '89, it's the one pointed out by Football Outsiders this week, comparing numbers of two players at the end of their careers. The fact that Bulger failed to get much done against Detroit's inferior pass defense is a scathing indictment on his ability going forward.
So what's next for Bulger? Mike Sando sees Bulger reviving his career with a change of scenery next season, but that may be too generous. Yes, he doesn't have the receiving options he needs, but he does have solid pass protection and enough time in the pocket to find open receivers. On top of that, passes batted down at the line underscore Bulger's fading ability. I think a more realistic scenario is Bulger finding a backup role somewhere.
And what about the rest of the Rams 2009 season? I think it's a safe assumption that as of now, the Rams plan to stick with Bulger. I think a better way of making this decision would be to ask, as 3k suggested on TSR last night, which QB is the best option for developing the young guys on this team? I don't think that's Bulger, but to be honest, I'm not sure who else that would be.
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Bulger is too dostile of a qb!
This has always been his downfall. Put Null in since offense can’t get any worse!
i think
Bulger would be a decent back up for us next season. Because he’s already got a season under the new system so he’d under stand it pretty well. And with the free agency lacking with good quarterbacks i think Bulger should stay but be replaced in the draft. Just to hold us over and try null what do we have to lose?
I'd say he is the best option to develop the WRs
Like you said, “who else?”
He’s a better option than Kyle Boller (although not by much) and until there’s any kind of stability with the recievers and on the line (and that’s finally starting to come around hopefully), putting Null in there probably does more harm than good.
Sure, it would help Null develop, but I feel that would be at the cost of retarding the growth of the receivers. And, I ask you, which is a more important part of the team to develop…the young WRs or Keith Null?
Your answer should be the WRs.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
great point TB
im just ancy to see what null has but you’re right id rather have the receivers grow then Null. But i would like to see him during the last drive i don’t think that’s so much to ask. Bulger still has time on his contract if im not mistaken so wouldn’t cutting him hurt us anyways? I think he is defiantly not the answer but he’ll help us find it.
by keeperskillz24 on Nov 5, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
This year it would hurt to cut Bulger.
Next year it wouldn’t. Not only would the team save money, but if there really is no salary cap next season, then there’d be no problem in cutting him.
Although, if this all goes down, you know the players union is going to have to fight it. About the only thing that gives some of their players any job security is the salary cap hit teams would take for cutting players. I’d look to see them start to guarantee contracts like baseball does. If not, the situation would only get worse for the players.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
I'll say QB
For two reasons. One I think it’s easier for WR’s to develop with other QB’s throwing them the ball, I think the value of Bulger over Null isn’t so great as to seriously stunt their growth. Bulger would be better, yes, but not by that much for the Wides sake.
And two because I think it takes QB’s longer and should begin ASAP. That’s not to say they should start Null, but they do need to get him playing time in the waning minutes of lost games and this business about him not getting any snaps with the starting team needs to change in a bit.
I’ll say though that getting the team to buy in is any coach’s job #1, and to do that I completely understand that the coaches needed to make a demonstrable commitment towards winning. I do get why they’ve had Boller at QB2, and why I believe they have let Jackson keep his two best run blockers together on the right side of the line for now.
They needed to get the team leaders (leader?) on board and then they can experiment a little only when its clear thats the only thing left to accomplish. That’s how you get Jackson to burst out a performance like last Sunday’s, which in turn gets more men on board and playing hard.
At some point though, I am trusting that they didn’t use a 6th rounder on Null just to take a QB in the first or second round the very next year. I can wait until the time comes to see what’s in Null, let’s ride this out first and see what the system has with our best players before getting to that. But, do get to that….
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember Is thinking, I want to be like them
Agreed
Whoever this Bugler fellow is has to be much better than what we have now, and if he can truly play the Bugle, we could get a decent halftime show out of it as well.
Here’s an off the cuff suggestion. Has McNabb had a good enough year for Philadelphia to trade Kevin Kolb? He’s young but with experience, theoretically would know the offense, and would allow us to not use 1/2/3 on a QB and thus allow us to build the defense or draft a solid WR.
Kyle Boller was absolutely terrible, and he’s still the best backup we’ve had in ages.
by strugglemonkey on Nov 5, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
That's a hell of an idea.
How many years did Vick sign for? Was it just one? Because if it is, then they probably wouldn’t be interested in moving Kolb.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
agreed...
I think Kolb looked great in his relief duty. What would it take? 4th rounder this year, 5th in 2011?
Vince Young almost retired after his rookie season, has a sidearm delivery, suicidal tendencies (not the awesome band) and a mild form of retardation.
I like the Kolb idea, but I’m also stumping for Garcia as a 2010 babysitter.
by mooseknuckles41 on Nov 6, 2009 1:55 AM CST up reply actions
You want off the cuff?
Because if he doesn’t play horribly, I’m going to keep pumping it – Vince Young.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
by 3k on Nov 5, 2009 8:01 PM CST up reply actions
idk
Bulger first 8 games was nothing but bad news. I know all the arguments about the line and receivers but we do have 8 more games left. And thiers no quarterback worth signing right now so lets get through the rest of these 8 games with him and figure it out in the off season.
Bulger could turn us UPSIDE down!
Since 94.653% of Draft talk is for replacing Bulger, what if he has a brilliant 2nd half of the year? Will we be back to working out the color of Rams Uniforms?
Trade Bulger for JaMarcus Russell
Please? Take him off of our hands?
I'll give you a jelly doughnut
But don’t ask for the glazed cuz it aint happenin’.
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember Is thinking, I want to be like them
Been on the Kolb bandwagon for a few weeks now
I really think trading for him would be an answer to our prayers—not like he’s the next Johnny All-Star or anything, but he’s a young QB with talent, an arm, and knows our system. He’s a known quanity to a large extent, not some unproven guy we would get in the draft.
btw-Vick signed with Phi for two years. Surely Kolb would be available for a 3rd/4th rd pick.
Wouldn't change my mind in the least...
Even if Bulger played like the second coming of Johnny Unitas in the 2nd half I say trade him for picks and draft a QB (preferably Sam Bradford) with the 1st overall pick, which we should have if the first half of the season is any indication. I mentioned the word ‘trade’ assuming that someone else would want him if he did play that way. Right now I don’t think he’d be picked period… even to play for a local YMCA flag football team judging on his performance.
To get picks for him
he better play like the second coming of Johnny Unitas.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
If
he played half the skill of Johnny why would we trade him? We would keep him because he knows the system well and let who ever we pick up in the draft/ free agency to take over when he’s not capable or if we feel the back up is ready. But i agree he hasnt showed much reason to keep him around and im not supporting him im just thinking whats better for the team all around.
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