Poor Al Saunders.

With the Rams once again in playing in oblivion, the new offensive coordinator is getting his fair share of blame. And with the Rams red zone percentage something akin to Marc Bulger's QB rating, it's not like he doesn't deserve a little heat, especially after befuddling fans with play calling that's included passes to guys like Anthony Becht, Joe Klopfenstein, and other confusing plays. 

How much leeway does the guy get given the talent he has to work with though? With Steven Jackson back in week 13 the Rams offense was better, but it hardly qualified as a resume builder. I feel like a lot of those stupefying play calls are the result of Marc Bulger's inability to do much with the football, especially with his favorite WR unable to escape tight coverage. It's clear that the Rams offense has really suffered without TE Randy McMichael, especially for an OC known for making his TE a key part of the equation.

Clearly, the idea of hiring Saunders made more sense than the reality. How did anyone really expect the Rams to run a complex offense with paper dolls on the offensive line, a QB in crisis, and Torry Holt missing a step? 

So what's next? Keep him and think things can turn around with returning players (McMichael) and a talent infusion in key areas? Or do the Rams need to turnover a new leaf, hire a new guy and start from stratch...depending on how the head coaching situation pans out. Saunders runs a complex offense, so the players, especially young guys like Avery and Burton, will have a year's experience with it to go with some talent on the line and other places (hopefully) brought in through the draft and free agency. How much blame does Saunders deserve for the Rams offensive failures?

First of all, some housekeeping. I apologize for being out of pocket since Sunday. My wife and I had our first child early (really, really early) on Monday morning, so we're at the hospital until tomorrow afternoon. I have a couple short posts set to go between now and then as we get ready for the Cardinals game this week. I would encourage everyone to take full advantage of the fanposts; there's still plenty to discuss about the Rams, two wins or not. 

Anyway, back to football, and with what else, a Marc Bulger post. (Sometimes I wonder if we shouldn't change the name of this site to the Marc Bulger Times...gives you an idea of how central a QB is to a team's personality. So let's just go ahead and make this the official Marc Bulger answers thread. 

Like it or not, the Rams are stuck with Bulger at least through the 2009 season. His contract is just too big to give them any kind of flexibility through a trade or even an out and out cut. The only possibility would be a renegotiation, and I just can't imagine that would be as easy as it sounds. Through 2006 Bulger was one of the best QBs in the league, earning his contract. The Rams neglect for the o-line made him into a shell-shocked punching bag, good for three INTs a game since then. 

His performance Sunday made it clear that he's part of the problem. The o-line has taken, deservedly, it's fair share of criticism, but they were solid last week, giving Bulger every chance to make things happen. Steven Jackson's return to significance in the offense also took away a canned excuse for Bulger's performance. Now what about the rest of the season? There are four games left and Rams fans, to say nothing of the ownership, would like to see the team at least make it interesting.

The solution I'm most fond of is benching Bulger, forcing some recovery time. Understanding of course that neither Trent Green or Brock Berlin offer the Rams much more in the way of a field general. What should the Rams do with Bulger for the rest of the season?

And what about 2009? it's clear they need to start grooming a QB for the near future, but they've got several options. The Rams can pursue a fill-in free agent to compete with Bulger and draft a first rounder in 2010. Or they can draft a QB in April, at the expense of other key needs like OT and MLB. What options make the most sense? What options give the Rams the best chance of turning things around in 2009?

So different, yet so similar. The Rams still lost, but I'm hard pressed to recall the last Rams game where it came down the final drive. 

Highlights

• I think we all have a much better idea about just how important Steven Jackson is to this offense. The line opened holes for him today and that was important. However, Jackson's ability stretches many of those runs, squeezing a few extra yards out that another RB is less likely to get. He even blocked well on passing plays.
• Gotta hand it to the offensive line. They grinded it out today, making the running game matter again and giving Bulger enough protection to shoot himself in the foot. No sacks allowed. Romberg gave the Rams much better play at center than Leckey, and substituting Greco for Jacob Bell some helped keep the underweight free agent from getting tired and easily shoved aside. 
• The Rams lost nothing with David Vobora playing in the middle. Now, let's not get irrationally exuberant, the Rams run defense was nothing special, but Vobora and the front seven played much better than in recent weeks. Still, we need more help at LB for next season. They made all that Wildcat talk look silly. When was the last time Tinoisamoa made a difference by being on the field?
• Chris Long played an outstanding game. The Rams have a real special player here, a guy that'll be the centerpiece of our defense in the years to come.

Uh oh.

Steven Jackson didn't have a carry in the fourth quarter. Not one. 

No word yet, but I'm wondering if he re-aggravated  his bruised thigh injury. 

Between Jackson and the improved o-line play, the Rams had a chance to win this game today. More time without Steven getting 20+ carries means more ugliness.

[Note by VanRam, 11/30/08 5:38 PM EST ] And we have our answer: 

"He was gassed. His leg was starting to bother him. We told him before the game to go as far as he could go."

Another week, another rant about the Rams lines. I'm starting to at least find comfort in the steadiness of the theme. 

But let's throw that aside; make it a standing assumption - sort of like accounting for the throngs of opposing fans at the Dome. 

The Dolphins are a fine team, already with six more wins than they totaled last season, and one that we hopefully see as a future vision of our own hapless Rams. A cleaned out and ideologically committed front office, sensible and impactful personnel moves, fans again enjoying the distraction of weekly ritual...it happened to them and with the right course, it'll happen to us.

That said, wouldn't there be something entirely appropriate in beating the Dolphins today? A statement of impending change. Not an easy task, but here are a couple of personal, uniformed observations linked to the possibility.

1. Run the ball, no matter how futile it seems - and each Rams offensive possession carries a high amount of futility nowadays anyway - commit to the run with a healthy Steven Jackson. Jackson has the ability to break off a good run, where other backs wouldn't get more than a yard or two. That forces the Dolphins to respect the run, thus opening the opportunity for the Rams to inflict damage through the air, a Miami weakspot.
2. Slow the game, feel the ball, be the ball. The defense can't get beat with reverses and the Wildcat formation. If the Rams defenders can flow to the ball, they can at least stem some of the bleeding. Being in the right position obviously helps.
3. I said it last week and I'll say it again this week, respond well to adversity. The Dolphins are going to score and will probably get a lead over the Rams at some point in the first half. Whether that leads stays within a 7-10 point margin (no small gap for the Rams I realize) or another 30 point laugher is up to the players. Prevent more of the same, and it's already something of a victory. 

Scores and updates at the SBN Scoreboard. 

GO RAMS!!!

Game thread coming...some items worth mentioning to start the day.

• Rams RB Steven Jackson is set to play today. That's good news. Eventhough the Dolphins have a thick run defense, I'd like to see the Rams come out and try to run the football, establish something on the ground early. Make 'em honest about Jackson's presence and then open the field up for play actions and the passing game.
• Brett Romberg will get the start at center. Haslett has said rookie OL John Greco will play today, but no word on whether or not the interim head coach is shifting his o-line. Doubtful to start the game.

The Dolphins are a 9 point favorite against the Rams this week. The spreads keep spreading. Though daunting, that spread is fairly generous for the Rams, who've failed to cover the spread since their loss to New England. 

Naturally, that makes predictions tough. I'm giving up on making them. Let's try a poll instead...the wisdom of crowds and all that.

You want rookies, you got 'em. Blow out after blow out, the Rams have finally decided to start deriving some purpose out their remaining games by using the few rookies and less-experienced young guys not already playing...and most are already playing.

The news surfaced today that Rams LB David Vobora - who I'm mandated by higher authorities to remind you, yet again is Mr Irrelevant - will get the start in the middle with the Rams outside-linebacker-curiously-starting-in-the-middle Will Witherspoon nursing two beat up shoulders. Witherspoon will play still in two-minute and third down situations. Vobora even gets to wear the radio. Fellow seventh-round pick LB Chris Chamberlain will play too. 

Also getting some time this week, rookie OL John Greco. The configuration of the interior line is still up in the air. At issue is how to replace C Nick Leckey, a player far from being irreplaceable himself. Haslett left open the possibility of sliding Incognito over to C and putting Greco at RG. It's obvious Haslett and Co don't think Brett Romberg automatically gives the Rams their best chance at winning after a mediocre outing in Leckey's stead last week. I'm surprised  there's not more of a question around whether or not LG Jacob Bell will play after getting pulled for his less-than-stellar performance during the Bears game, but apparently he's in reading between the lines from Haslett's Monday presser (subscription required):

He [Incognito playing center] has done it before but we haven’t discussed it yet. He has played it and that would give us a pretty good interior with (G) Jacob (Bell) and John (T) John (Greco).

You may recognize similar comments having emerged at TST sometime ago. The last word: if it would be so damn good why is there a question?

TE Daniel Fells, who spent the last three seasons on various practice squads, has been practicing as a fullback, in place of the recently released Dan Kreider. Fells already seems to have surpassed TE Joe Klopfenstein on the depth chart. 

The Rams have committed to their youth; one way or another, the youngest players on the team are playing. The one exception seems to be 5th round draft choice OG Roy Schuening. He won't dress again this week. 

With the rookies at LB, you'll hear about "watching out for the Wildcat" ad naseum, already are. On a more simple level than the Wildcat, watch the overpursuit. That was the operative word for the Lions defense yesterday, as they found themselves fooled by even the most routine pump fake. The Rams have already made a mess out of gap assignments, but I haven't noticed the overpursuit to that extent. However, I could have easily missed it watching the Rams defensive line get gashed and plowed over.  

An ugly Thanksgiving for the NFC West...but maybe there's something to be thankful for at Rams Park.

Steven Jackson is practicing and that's a step in the right direction. However, head coach Jim Haslett has yet to make anything official and Jackson has to make it through practice today. Haslett is concerned about Jackson ability to run on his leg, using his quads to generate his power. 

I'm not venturing out into the madness today, save for a dog walkin' break or two and whatever clean up duty I'm assigned, so stick around, more to come...