by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith is making his presence known.

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Offensive line stats are a strange animal, but leave it to the guys at Football Outsiders to measure the grunts up front who make it happen. As anyone following the St. Louis Rams knows, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney have made the rebuilding the offensive line a top priority, investing lots of money to get younger and tougher up front. How's the investment paying off so far?

Well, early in the season there were times when the line looked like the same old unit that caused so much consternation in seasons prior. It was a little rough at first, as players learned the system and how to function as a unit. The pass protection has been mostly solid all year long, with a few exceptions here and there. But over the last few games, the offensive line has looked like a much better, more cohesive unit, getting the best of both the Lions and the Saints defensive fronts. Let's look at some numbers.

(a quick note, FO uses the Adjusted Line Yards (ALY) measurement, which account for the OL's role in terms of yards gained on rushing plays, i.e. they take the running back out of the equation. Here's the full definition for ALY.)

First of all the total ALY for the Rams this year, through nine games is 4.08 ALY, good enough for 17th best in the league. Last season, that number was 3.73 ALY, and in 2007 it was 3.72 ALY. Both numbers from the past two seasons ranked 28th in the league.

The directional numbers are the most interesting, showing big jumps over the last two games.

Check it out, through week 10:

Left End, 4.61 ALY, 11th
Left Tackle, 6.28 ALY, 1st
Mid/Guard, 3.91 ALY, 23rd
Right Tackle, 4.71 ALY, 5th
Right End, 2.05 ALY, 30th

In two games, their ALY at Right Tackle have gone from 3.97 ALY to 4.71 ALY. Wow. That's a huge jump, and Jason Smith gets lots of credit for that. They've improved at Mid/Guard too, up from 3.74 ALY. I don't worry about the middle as much, since that's where the Rams 51% of the rushes, and teams are cramming the box to hold back Steven Jackson.

Progress.

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Geez, what do you guys want from me!?!?

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Poor Marc Bulger. The embattled St. Louis Rams starting quarterback muscled through his best game of the year last week, nearly upsetting the undefeated New Orleans Saints. For some, that just wasn't enough.

Football Outsiders runs down the week's individual performances in their "Quick Reads" column, and for once Bulger's numbers stood out as above average. His total DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) was 124 yards, meaning he waas worth 124 more yards than a scrub off the bench. That was good enough for 7th best for week 10. His Pass DYAR was 120 yards, and his rush DYAR was 5 yards. That wasn't good enough for FO, who said:

If this was the best Marc Bulger had left, well, it's good, but not good enough. His conversion on fourth down to Brandon Gibson to extend the game with 1:21 left nearly ended it; he saw an open receiver and promptly hit him in the shoelaces. Converting four of the 12 third downs he faced wasn't particularly impressive, especially considering the good situations he was being placed in by the effective running of Steven Jackson -- on those third downs, he had an average of 7.2 yards to go. That leaves a fair amount of makable ones that weren't, especially considering that one of the plays he converted was his 29-yard touchdown pass to Donnie Avery on third-and-15.

Ouch. I can't pin the loss on Bulger, but I can't excuse him totall either. A game that close could have been decided by any one play, and ugly dropped balls from McMichael and Amendola get make great targets to point you inger at too. However, it is clear that Bulger's skill set is fading, reflected in diminished accuracy and some questionable decision making, i.e. the mid-field check downs on the two minute drill. Yes, I wonder what he might have been able to do with just another better-than-competent WR to throw to. More and more it looks like his best course for the future is a backup on a well-stocked team.

The St. Louis Rams made Jordan Kent the latest receiver to cycle through the roster yesterday. He's a big guy at 6'4" and hasn't played football since last season.

The Seahawks released him before the start of this season because of an ankle injury. Tampa Bay and Cleveland were also interested in Kent, but the Rams made the call yesterday. He'll join the team for practice today as part of the 53-man roster, nabbing that coveted 5th receiver spot...which should come with some sort of voodoo insurance policy since being a Rams receiver is now considered a high risk job. 

Interesting tidbit about Kent: he's a former high school classmate of Rams LB David Vobora. Kent didn't play football in HS though. 

Here's ESPN's Mike Sando:

The Seahawks spent two seasons working with Kent, a former record-setting track athlete at Oregon who needed considerable polish as a receiver.

Here's the scouting report from SBNation:

A supreme athlete with long frame. Former track star and basketball player who brings elite speed and leaping ability to the field.

A late bloomer. Still very raw in terms of technique. Doesn't have a lot of experience producing big numbers at any level.

That kind of makes him sounds like a real diamond in the rough. We'll see about that. The great thing about a team like the Rams this season is that it's a great place for guys to buff out the rough and let the diamond show through. And, yes, a 5th wide receiver merits more than one post for the Rams. Will he see any playing time? Eventually, but remember Spagnuolo seems strangely committed to keeping just 4 receivers active on Sundays.

Don't forget to tune into Turf Show Radio tonight at 7 p.m. Central, it'll be titillating.

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Will Atogwe go another 8 games without a turnover?

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It's been a long time coming, but two days ago this Rams teams finally started to play with a ferocity, finally started to lay it all on the line. The team that has all to often given up by the fourth quarter, by the half, finally found some swagger. Marc Bulger wasn't sliding a yard short for first downs, Donnie Avery had more touchdowns then fumbles, Alex Barron didn't almost cost us the game. All was good. But how long will this nothing-to-lose strategy apply for?

Sure, the team is 1-8. They really don't have that much too lose in the way of...well, anything this year. But mentally, having come so close to defeating the Saints, it must have been quite deflating to see the scoreboard after the game. To know it was in your grasp, yet have it slip through. It was definitely a tough loss for the team to go through.

These next few weeks are going to be crucial for the development of this team, for them to trust in Coach Spagnuolo. It's one thing to point at glaring deficiencies and huge mistakes that cost the team a chance at competing. It's one thing to see all the problems that went on during a game and see the score be a blowout. "Same old Rams," you could say. But this team gave it their all against the Saints and narrowly came up short. The Rams next few opponents aren't nearly as complete of a team as the Saints, which means that the Rams easily have a chance to win (if they can almost beat the Saints, they can almost beat anybody, in my opinion). Granted, there were areas to improve upon, but that game has to have been the high point so far in the season.

Spagnuolo has this team competing, their is no doubt about that. But after the win against the Lions, everyone said the team needed the win. Going 0-8 into the bye, people thought the team would've crumbled. That same chance of crumbling away has reared it's ugly head again. Can the team pick itself back up after the disheartening loss? Can they keep up the swagger? Or will they crumble apart? Was this merely a flash in the pan or will Bulger return to 2006 form? (Do you even want him to, or are you done with him at this point?)

Everyone is about to see what this coaching staff and team is made of. The team believes in Spagnuolo, sure, but their morale at 1-8 surely isn't, "sitting on the top of the world." If Spagnuolo can guide this team out of the darkness right now, then the future looks extremely bright.

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St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson could use an intern.

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A deep thought...

Taking nothing away from the otherwordly Steven Jackson, but how much would a solid #2 RB have helped the Rams yesterday...and beyond?

Besides the obvious concern of not wanting to completly exhuast Jackson, it seems to me, that another competent runner would have opened up the playbook a little more, allowing the Rams to do some different things when Jackson was not on the field. Typically, in those situations team can be assured that the Rams will be passing, since Samkon Gado doesn't present much of a threat.

Darren Sproles is scheduled to be a free agent after this season; he's currently playing on a franchise tender. That might be a little pie-in-the-sky, but that's the kind of player I'm thinking of to complement Jackson. Leon Washtington would be another fit of that type. Of course, there's always a bruiser, short-yardage option type of guy, like LenDale White.

And, here's another question, what happened to Kenneth Darby?

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6 days ago: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston (12) fumbles the ball as he is hit at the goal line by St. Louis Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) as Rams defenders Paris Lenon (53) and Ron Bartell look on during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in St. Louis. The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback, but the Saints went on to win 28-23. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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The St. Louis Rams held the New Orleans Saints' feet to the fire right up until the last play of the game, almost coming up with the upset of the year. It was a moral victory for a team that had been struggling all season, a milestone in the franchise rebuilding project. And what does a moral victory look like?

Click on the pictures above to see more shots from the game.

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The St. Louis Rams will put WR Keenan Burton on the injured reserve list with a patella injury, ending his sophomore season.

This deals the Rams' receiving corps a pretty serious blow. Prior to this game they had just five receivers on the active roster; now, it's just four. They have Sean Walker on the practice squad, and he'll likely be promoted. It's a tough blow for Burton's career, which has been marked more by the injuries than stats. Now, the question is whether or not they'll sign, or find, anyone on the wire.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

6 days ago: St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger throws during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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What a close game that was. It came right down to the wire, and win or lose, you have to be excited for this team. Granted, they still made mistakes (dropped balls hurt quite a bit) but this team came in and was ready to play. Looking at the schedule after this game, there doesn't appear to be a game that is out of reach. They played their hearts out against the Saints and they should be proud of the performance they put up against such a dominant team.

Some notes:

• I'd have to disagree with VanRam, I think Marc Bulger deserved the game ball. We clearly expect more from the coaches then we do of him, and he clearly went above his expectations. He had nearly 300 yards, completed 65% of his passes and threw two touchdowns to Donnie Avery. He came out sluggish, but after that, began to throw like we expect a 9 million dollar quarterback to throw. If it wasn't for drops by Danny Amendola and Randy McMichael (Daniel Fells could have had that 2 point conversion too) the game would probably have a much different outcome. He wasn't perfect, but he's always been the quarterback that no matter how good he is playing, you always have that "don't throw an INT," in the back of your head. This is definitely one of his better games and it will be interesting to see if this was a blip on the radar or a turning point for him.Tip of the hat for you, Marc.
• Where the hell did Brandon Gibson come from? He put on such a great performance today that makes you wonder why he wasn't involved earlier. It was clear he didn't have everything play-wise down, but it didn't seem to matter. He has a bright future ahead of him. Overall, the WR's probably had their best game (I expect drops by this point in the season). It is a shame Laurent Robinson was lost for the season, because they are starting to show some real promise.
  
• McMichael and Barron have to go. Anything less then a swift kick out the door is unacceptable at this point. McMichael's glory days are long past him, and Fells has made his point to at least be given the opportunity to start. Barron's case is a little more interesting, but enough is enough. He had another false start penalty to add to his resume and as Bill Coats points out, even if Bulger would have completed that 4th down, last play pass, it wouldn't have mattered, because our favorite whipping boy was flagged for holding anyway. Let's face it, Jammal Brown is clearly the better tackle of that draft class and it's unfortunate that the Rams had two opportunities to get him and failed to do so. 
• The Saints made excellent adjustments against the Rams after the half and the Rams did not. The questionable play calling continues. By this point, it's clear Samkon Gado (or any other RB not named Steven Jackson) just isn't able to carry the load. 
• Chris Long now has two sacks. Two games in a row...I'm just saying. Just like the Laurent Robinson injury, it's a shame Bradley Fletcher got hurt as bad as he did. It's too bad that rising players like those two are out, it would be nice to see what they could do when the team finally starts to mesh (which seems to be right about now). Gary Gibson's injury hurts not only because it was because of a dirty play, but because we have glaring holes on the defensive line. The case for Suh grows stronger, but at this point, I'm not sure if we will be high enough in the draft to snag him without trading up.