It's hard to say the Rams are rebuilding - you have to have a little more youth scattered into the mix for that. However, the term is being tossed around to describe the team. While I would argue that the Rams are now doing something more akin to "finding themselves" as opposed to rebuilding, the "R" word has come up plenty through the winless season.

The NFL's 2008 trade deadline is next Tuesday. It's not usually an active time in the NFL like it is in Major League League baseball, but a couple teams usually pull the trigger on a trade or two each year at this time. Here and there, I've noticed with talk of rebuilding have come suggestions for the Rams to make a move at the deadline. It's unlikely. With Linehan gone, the Rams most disgruntled player, Bulger, is happy again, and the Rams have such a serious lack of depth, particularly in positions in demand, that they just don't have the players to trade, like Roy Williams in Detroit or Chad John, er, Ohco Cinco in Cincy. 

Pesky reality aside, let's put on the fantastical GM hat and turn this into a "what if" post to start your Wednesday a.m.

The Rams best trade options would be QB Marc Bulger or WR Torry Holt, in my opinion. Both would address key needs for teams on the bubble and would fetch the Rams premium draft picks. Dante Hall might have been an option too, but he's hurt and has done himself no favors proving his worth when healthy this year. WR Drew Bennett might have played himself out of a job period prior to getting hurt. On the other side of the ball, the ranks are thin too, and there's no player the Rams can realistically part with. Possibilities would include a solid role player like DE Adeyanju or, since reality is no obstacle in this post, Leonard Little.

Ok, so let's open it up. If you really wanted to work on rebuilding the Rams, what kind of moves, if any, would you be looking to make at the deadline? Remember, you and I just as qualified as current GM Jay Zygmunt, so have at it.

The wackiness continues at Rams Park. Buzz about Jackson's radio comments started to take off, and when Linehan was asked about SJ's remarks, he said that he had not spoken to SJ about them but he planned to. The conversation, according to the coach, will not be made available for public consumption.

But, the real interesting parlay of the presser was Linehan's volley over whether or not QB Marc Bulger had said anything to the head coach regarding his rumored unwillingness to play for Linehan anymore, from the PD: 

"He's never given me any (such) indication. I know he's disappointed with my decision. He's practiced very well this week, and worked hard, and all those things. If that's his feeling, he's never mentioned that to me. You have to ask him that particular question."

Maybe I've been too swept up in presidential politics and economic meltdowns lately, but I read this and get the sense that Linehan effectively knows Bulger's position. How can he not? There's a history of tension between the two. Linehan's in a tough spot here, he can't say anything to alienate his QB in case he needs to come back to Bulger to start. He can't say something along the lines of "we talked, we'll work it out" because if they haven't talked and Bulger says that whenever he does take questions Linehan will look like a fool. Dodging the question completely wasn't a good option either. 

Will Bulger talk to the press? Certainly he will at some point, after there's been some kind of detente between himself and the team, but expecting something salacious isn't reasonable. 

Interestingly enough, there seems to be some kind of gag order on disgruntled Rams players. The mysteriously disappeared Fakhir Brown has said nothing since his releases, but you can bet he and his agents phones were ringing off the hook, (Brown's in a tough spot because he needs to find work with another team, really, before he can do much to tint his reputation one way or another, and he'll need to convey what happened without media noise to his potential suitors). Other players are still talking, but in strange language, coded so as to gloss over the turmoil yet acknowledge frustrations, see Orlando Pace's "Hopefully I do my job so I don’t get replaced" remark. 

Then there was Torry Holt's line from yesterday, pointed out by our own Tackle Boxin the comments. The Rams WR admitted to shock at Bulger's benching, declined comment on whether it was the right decision, and then smartly went back to the "do my job" talk and pointed out the positives. (Here's a piece on Holt's remarks from Steve Korte at the Belleville News Democrat).

So what's going on at Rams Park? Who the hell knows. It's an evolving situation with many more shoes still to drop. 

No, the sack totals haven't finally added up. That headline is my paraphrasing of what's probably the most under-reported aspect of Steven Jackson (latest) buzz generating interview, the one where he hammered the Rams for their decision to bench QB Marc Bulger.

The point he's making when he says the Rams have lost Bulger for the season is that head coach Scott Linehan can't effectively come back to Bulger and ask him to play again after what's happened, something that would seem to confirm the whispers that Bulger says he'll no longer play for Linehan.

In the video below, ESPN analyst Darren Woodson argues that benching Bulger and turning to Green, while not the best move, was the only way to shake up a locker room with low morale and the danger of that spreading even further. I honestly don't know how much further it could spread, or if it matters.

There's probably already too much friction between Linehan and some of his key players like Jackson, and obviously Bulger. We know Torry Holt's had his very public disagreements with Linehan in the past, and while he plays hard, I can't imagine he's a big Linehan guy. Nobody's saying this, but I suspect Fakhir Brown got cut because of a problem with the coach (or coaches); why else would a team struggling with pass defense and depth at CB release their top veteran player? Brown wasn't playing like their best CB, but there's plenty of reason to believe Brown's play wasn't just a rough start to the season. Check out what else Jackson had to say in his interview:

"We should be loose, we should be going out there playing football. But I think a lot of people right now are playing for their jobs. As far as fans listening, it's really hard to play for your jobs. We're not winning. Yes, it boils down to winning and losing in this business that we play in. But when you are playing not to lose your job, that is when you are not going to make plays."

The rift between Linehan and his players has passed the point where reconciliation is possible. You don't need to do much reading between the lines on this quote from LT Orlando Pace to get a sense of how players feel:

"Hopefully I do my job so I don’t get replaced."

That's just not the kind of thing Pace is know for saying. Nor is it what you want to hear from one of your core veterans. The players are near revolt and the team is in disarray. At this point, Sunday's outcome doesn't matter - just like the three wins last year - the Rams have to make changes. Firing Scott Linehan is the place to start. Just two weeks ago, I personally was willing to extend the grace period, but it's clear now the problem is irreconcilable.

Something may be afoot already, as the PD's Bill Coats reported this afternoon that Linehan jogged off the field without making himself available to the media in order to attend a meeting with GM Jay Zygmunt, a man synonymous with the franchise's overall decline. Burwell says can 'em both, and I have to say I agree 100%.

Hey, can the Rams suspend their season while they deal with the crisis surrounding the team?

No, they can't, but they did make plenty of adjustments yesterday to try and create some new looks and inject some new blood into the game plan. Lost in the much talked about release of Fakhir Brown and the burying Marc Bulger was a key change that we've been advocating for at TST for some time: making Donnie Avery a starter.

The Rams second round draft pick and the first WR taken in the draft, in case you forgot, will start opposite Torry Holt. Excellent. Dane Looker, who has played decent enough in all the turmoil, will get reps in the slot...along with, ugh, Dante Hall. There have also been whispers of Avery getting some work in the return game, but I can't find anything to confirm that.

It's almost an afterthought in wake of all this that the Rams lost backup RB Antonio Pittman for 4-6 weeks with a cracked fibula. I would have liked to see the Rams throw in a direct snap, Wild Hog trick play, a la Miami last weekend. Pittman, with his speed, would have been perfect. Snap the ball to Steven Jackson who can either toss it over the middle or, more preferably, give the ball to Pittman who breaks open with his speed for a good run with defenders confused and forced to account for Jackson. It's not the answer, but it would likely have given the Rams the chance to shake things up a bit and use the trick play to get the players psyched up.

Lord knows they could have used something to shake up the offense.

When Torry Holt made an offhand remark this summer about playing in Carolina when his contract with the Rams ended, a vocal contingent of Rams fans, er, spoke up, ready to cast off what they thought was an ungrateful Holt. It was nonsense. Regardless of what fans may have thought of Holt then, they can't be disappointed with his remarks yesterday, directly calling out the Rams offensive line, the thinly armored hull of the offense. To wit:

Those guys, the offensive line guys, have to continue to take more pride in what they’re doing to keep the quarterback clean. I can stand here and say what needs to be done and who needs to do what, but that’s not going to solve anything.

It’s going to come down to the guys up front that’s protecting Marc and giving Steven running lanes and giving us time to get open in the secondary to make things happen. They have to continue to take a stronger initiative, a more sense of urgency to keep No. 10 off his back. If he continues to get smacked around, we won’t be seeing No. 10 for long.

A effin men, Torry. Hearing this, I keep thinking back to the middle of the 2006 season, when an angry Bulger publicly called out the team's carbon blobs for barely even going through the motions, getting him sacked play after play and costing the team a shot at the title. It worked; remember how much better the team played down the stretch in 2006, finishing 8-8 within a toenail of the playoffs after looking like they'd be lucky to finish with four wins? 

Will Holt's speechifying work? Who knows. It can't hurt. If that doesn't maybe Gus Frerotte's piling on will. 

Brining in a healthy Fakhir Brown and Ron Bartell to start at corner is the best move the Rams can make right now; with Tye Hill struggling he'll be limited to playing at CB in nickel packages where Bartell will slide into the nickel spot. However, as 3k mentioned in the comments recently (can't find the link), benching him completely isn't the answer for a guy struggling with his confidence. Force him to watch game film a la Clockwork Orange, minimize his exposure, let him get his feel for the game back. As hard as it is to overlook his performance the last two weeks, the Rams need Hill to get it together. 

The Rams probably won't have Leonard Little back in uniform this week. LG Jacob Bell could suit up, but Adam Goldberg is still expected to get the start.

Hopefully even without Leonard Little the defense can make Matt Hasselbeck pay for his hubris, a la the Seahawks 0-2 record not leading them to "make ridiculous statements and say things that are panic things to say" in reference to Linehan's remarks this week. Hasselbeck's had to eat his words before, if you'll recall. 

I suspect a lot of people have given up on the Rams in their fantasy leagues. Two games and 19 points don't signal fruitful things for players wearing the golden horns. 

Will week three be any different? Using 3k's game preview and history as our guide, let's take a quick look at the fantasy implications for the Rams this week.

Steven Jackson, RB: Of course the big fantasy question most people are asking is when will they get a return for drafting Jackson early in the first round. Well, this could be another tough week. Seattle has a pretty good run defense led by Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu. They held Frank Gore to 61 yards rushing on 19 carries last week, but Gore did manage to score a rushing TD. The week before, Seattle allowed Buffalo's Marshwn Lynch to score, but kept him under 80 yards rushing. In fact, in a game the Bills won 34-10, the Seahawks held them to just 106 yards on the ground. Jackson, according to head coach Scott Linehan, will see more work, which means Dan Kreider will have to get plenty of work as well. The passing game might be tough for the Rams running back too with those linebackers.

Torry Holt, WR: Holt's actually a smart play against the Seahawks. In both their games this season, the Seahawks have allowed a team's top WR to post a 100+ yard game; the Bills' Lee Evans and our own former Mr Ram Isaace Bruce, who had a 153 yards on 4 catches last week.

Donnie Avery, WR: Putting Avery in your lineup is a hail mary play, for sure. While the Seahawks allowed top WRs to rack up 100+ yard games, they did not allow them to score. That was left to the second and third WRs and TE. The Rams are supposedly going to play Avery, the speedy second round pick, plenty this week, at both positions, and Linehan said they've added some plays for Avery to this week's game plan.

Randy McMichael, TE: With defenders having to account for Steven Jackson, McMichael should get more balls thrown his way, especially since Seattle has a good pass rush that's sure to put pressure on Bugler. Outside of K Josh Brown, McMichael might be the safest fantasy play on the Rams this week.

Marc Bulger, QB: As mentioned earlier, Seattle has a good pass rush, probably not quite at the same level as the Giants and Eagles, but they had 8 sacks last week. Still, SF QB J.T. O'Sullivan did a mighty good job jigging around with pressure on to make throws, the benefit to not having been sacked countless times in the last three years. If the o-line has another ugly game, all bets are off.

Josh Brown, K: Score if you drafted Brown. Three field goals, the shortest of which was 46 yards, and the other two more than 50. Start this guy. He'll be motivated to be a difference maker against his old team, just like he always was against the Rams.

St. Louis DST: If ever there was a game the Rams defense could shine... They have a lot of issues to overcome, but if they elevate their play to the level they're capable of, they can be the difference maker in this game. And Seattle's passing game has "intercept me" written all over it. Leonard Little might be back, which would be a boon to the Rams this week. The Rams top cornerback Ron Bartell (did I just write that?) has a bruised rib cage, but will play and will start this week. Breakthrough game for Bartell? only if he gets some help from the other DBs.

  Well, it's go time.  The first divisional game of the year, and a statement game to be made if one exists in our first 4 games.  With Buffalo coming to St. Louis in week 4 and the bye week after, this game is of monumental importance to this season.  A loss drops the Rams to 0-3, and reminds us of the 0-8 run we had to open the 2007 season.  A win, and the Seahawks drop to 0-3, 0-2 in the division after last weekend's loss to the 49ers.

  Is it possible for a week 3 game to be a must win?  Is it possible that the fates of Coach Linehan (and President of Football Operations/GM Jay Zygmunt) rest on the outcome of this game?  Is it possible for Steven Jackson to get at least 15 carries in a single game?!  One can only hope.

  It's the battle to avoid the bottom of the NFC West.  Breakdown after the fold.

Continue reading this post »

  Over the next couple games, I'm going to start a college football player watch series (which you can get a jump on by checking out our SBNation partner Mocking the Draft) to look at the players who will come out in the first three rounds or so of the '09 NFL draft.  If (or what's looking more and more like when) Scott Linehan is let go, the Draft will coincide with a new head coach's tenure which should provide an early assessment of where the Rams are going.

  With that in mind, a series that gives out grades to the positional groups might kickstart some discussion on where and when we need to draft.

  Grades after the fold.

Continue reading this post »

  I left for Poland (don't ask) before the sun came up on Sunday.  I was stuck in a forest until Thursday, and had no chance to watch the game, check the score, or do any of the things I normally do as a Rams fan.  So on Thursday night when I returned, I immediately opened two tabs in my internet browser: one to ESPN's NFL scoreboard and one here to TST.   Thanks for the warm welcome, Rams.

  Given Sunday's performance, I think I should preface this week's entry with some perspective.  In my hometown of Dallas, Texas, there is an incredible radio show on ESPN called Galloway and Company (website here), hosted by Randy Galloway from the Fort Worth Star Telegram.  The Monday show following every Cowboys game is dubbed "Overreaction Monday".  I still remain in awe of the perfection of that title.  Is there anything more characteristic of a committed football fan than the immediate overreaction before the talking heads have arrived to play devil's advocate?

  In my week 1 breakdown, here, I wrote that week 1 "is a tone game."  After the Rams' performance on Sunday, I feel this is true more than ever.  One game in the NFL season makes up 6.25% of the season.  It takes 11 games in baseball to match that amount.  What I mean when I suggest that week 1 is a tone game is that the theme of the first third of the season is almost automatically set by the first game.  Given Sunday's result, the theme that our team has most blatantly created is "underperformance."  Whether it's the defense, the offensive line, or (most popularly) the coaching staff in developing both the tactical and emotional environment for the team, the only thing we could possibly take away from last weekend is that our team underperformed and for that, I'm ashamed as a Rams fan.

  So should I chalk up the vitriolic rhetoric TST readers unloaded here and my embarassment at my team's weekend misadventure to overreaction?  Possibly.  The calls for Linehan and Haslett to be fired are, IMO, premature.  Nevertheless, an underperformance like Sunday's should be absolutely unacceptable by any standard to any organization in the NFL that has a modicum of desire to compete.  If the Rams can make the most out of this weekend's home opener, it should hold off the displeasure which the Eagles game evoked from the Rams faithful.  If they don't, I will be eager to see everyone here unloading their frustrations again following the game.  Chances are, I'll be joining in.

Week 2 breakdown after the fold.

Continue reading this post »

This morning I want to wrap up a look at the Rams depth chart in a two more areas of concern, wide receiver, defensive back and linebacker. Later today, we'll do a preview rehash and a game thread for tomorrow. 

Wide Receiver
Starters: Holt, Bennett, Hall
Depth: Dane Looker, Keenan Burton, Donnie Avery

It's still Torry Holt's show. He and long time QB Marc Bulger have been doing this for awhile now. The way they run that crossing route almost looks mechanical. That play could be a little tougher though with the kind of corners Philly has, so the receivers other than Holt will be important. This is a big week for Drew Bennett. He has to prove that he's a capable #2 because in the preseason rookie Keenan Burton looked hungry and ready to step in. He has his doubters, even the most sycophantic Rams fans are taking a "show me" approach with Bennett. I still don't buy Hall as the #3 WR, but it's a role he has played before in Al Saunders' offensive system, back in the KC days. Hall working out of the slot with Avery out will be an important change of pace for the Rams passing game. 

But now the depth part of it, the future. Unlike some key positions, the Rams have two receivers in Avery and Burton to move forward with. They've obviously got a lot to prove and nobody expects record-setting seasons from either this year, and they will at times play like rookies this season. By next season, their place on the depth chart shouldn't be a question at all. (We've talked alot about both Avery and Burton, lately). Dane Looker can be a contributor on the offense, but how much that will look like what he did in preseason remains to be seen. I don't think the Rams will lean on him, just use him for the occasional change-of-pace mismatch play.

Linebackers
Starters: SLB Quinton Culberson, MLB Will Witherspoon, WLB Pisa Tinoisamoa
Depth:Chris Draft, Chris Chamberlain, Gary Stills, David Vobora

Witherspoon might be the most underrated, unheralded LB in the NFC, but put himself on the radar last season with 7 sacks working in Haslett's 3-4-like package that appeared some and recording more than 100 tackles to lead the team. He's speedy and if the guys in front of him do their jobs, he can control the middle of the field. Speedy Tinoisamoa needs to stay healthy for the Rams to compete, as he and 'Spoon combine to make the middle of the field a tough place for offenses to work. Culberson's the new guy, replacing Brandon Chillar. He's tough and reads plays well. This season, these guys MUST stay healthy. Chris Draft is an excellent 4th LB who can play all three spots, but behind him the Rams lack completeness, for now. 

Seventh rounder Chamberlain had a great summer, flashing a real skill and instinct for coverage. How much he develops into a complete player remains to be seen. Vobora, the last player taken in the draft, looks solid, but would probably be on the practice squad in most places. Linebacker will again be a need in the upcoming draft to get this position set for the future. Stills is a special teams expert. 

Defensive backs
Starters: CB Tye Hill, CB Fakhir Brown, SS Corey Chavous, FS OJ Atogwe, Nickel Ron Bartell
Depth: CB Jonathan Wade, CB Ricky Manning, JR., S Todd Johnson, S Brannon Condren

Another much-maligned Rams unit, and for good reason. Inconsistency has been the bane of this unit in the past, but things started to change down the stretch last year. Hill played in just 8 games last season, missing time early on coinciding with Brown's suspension and lost for the season after week 13. This season, his third, needs to be his breakthrough year, the one where he can establish himself as a solid corner that makes the pass defense better. Hill has ball skills and coverage skills, but making sure he has both night in, night out remains his biggest hurdle. Brown's solid and just needs to play. He's a good cover corner and a capable of making the INT; he had 4 in just 12 games last season. If Hill emerges, the 30-year-old Brown will make a good tandem for a few more seasons for the Rams. Ron Bartell improved dramatically down the stretch last year with regular playing time filling in for Brown and Hill. There's reason to think he too could have something of a surprise/breakthrough year, the last year of his contract, after seeing him build on that consistency in camp. Wade is looking like a decent depth guy. One of the Rams' fourth round picks this year, Justin King, is out with injury after a brief appearance at camp in which he looked ready to leap up the depth chart. If his talent pans out, cornerback could become a real strength for this team in the coming years.

The Rams will need to add a safety in the draft this season. Corey Chavous should rebound this season, but the locker room leader is not what he used to be on the field. Atogwe, playing with the franchise tag this season, will be a contract priority for the Rams in the offseason. He blossomed into a star last year, leading the NFC with 8 INTs, something the Rams will be looking for this year, eventhough he missed almost all of camp and the preseason.  Johnson's a good third safety and a special teams contributor. Condren is a special teams guy and something of an unknown on defense. 

A few more notes about depth. In the near future, the Rams are going to have to start thinking about replacements for Orlando Pace and Marc Bulger, two key positions where both players have age and health questions, Pace more so than Bulger. I think, depending on the talent available, OT looks like the Rams round one priority for April 2009.