St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger adjusts to young receivers
No one needs to tell Marc Bulger that he’s having a bad season. He’s acutely aware of that and absorbs the criticism hurled his way without complaint and without making excuses. But here’s a fact:
After having ultra-reliable targets in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt for so long, Bulger now is adjusting to a stable of young wide receivers who, not surprisingly, can’t always be counted on to run the correct routes and make the right adjustments. Holt’s role has diminished, and Bulger still is getting used to throwing to Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Derek Stanley. It takes time.
“When you work with two wide receivers for years and years and years, you get into a rhythm with them,” Bulger explained. “Not to take it for granted, because it’s hard work to keep doing that. I’m starting to develop good chemistry with the other guys; we just have to get better on game days.
“It’ll come. The young guys are learning, and I’m learning what they do and when they get out of breaks. I think we’ll benefit from these struggles right now.”
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Notes & quotes:
*RB Steven Jackson (thigh) could be reinserted into the lineup as early as Thursday. He took about half the snaps in practice Wednesday, and the Rams are hoping he can push through a full workout Thursday.
*Although he got a good report from Dr. James Andrews on his knee — no structural problems and no further surgery needed — CB Tye Hill is probably a week away from returning to practice.
*RB Travis Minor (concussion) is back, which should provide a boost for the special teams.
*Here are Bruce’s stats with the 49ers: 24 catches, a team-high 411 yards, 17.1-yards-per-catch average, four TDs.
*Former Rams signal-caller Jamie Martin is SF’s third QB.
All for now . . .
I live in ga. and get hounded about the rams evey day. I really want to hear from the true fans ! No more negativity please. Just cheer and hope! Go RAMS!!!!!!
ok, so who’s bright idea was it to get rid of Issace Bruce? wonder how the young receivers would be doing if he were mentoring them.
and while Torry Holt isnt the big play receiver he once was, can they try to get him involved in the offense, just a little bit!
sigh.
GO RAMS
cj22brown: What you don’t realize is the fact that being in the Show-Me state makes us pretty cynical. But I agree, while the team isn’t performing well at all. I try to find positives every week. I am interested to see what happens this weekend if Jackson is in the line-up. If you think about it… That’s been the missing ingredient the last 2 weeks.
Copa I also agree with you that we should have cut Bennett instead of Bruce. Probably would have taken a bigger cap hit, but I think it would have been worth it for the leadership factor.
Maybe Bulger is not complaining but he has sad that he doesn’t give a **** what the fans think. Thats worse than complaining in my eyes. How much time does Bulger think he needs? Mini camps, training camp, daily practice, 4 preseason games, and half way through the season. It’s another cop out. These guys are not high school players. I say, Bulger is not a leader and he is extremely gun shy of being hit. Those does not add up to be a quality QB on any team.
The new recievers are great, Marci cant get the ball to them. continously under throwing and throwing into double coverage while others are wide open. He watches only one reciever the whole way, everyone in the stadium knows where he trying to go with it. Holt, you cant get it to him cause the d-backs are all over him obviously he has slown down a lot.
The Rams should cut their losses with Bulger. He’s gun shy and will never get his mojo back playing in St. Louis. A Fresh start somewhere else might help him, and would definitely help the Rams. As for Holt, I’m shocked at the difference between this season and last. Did he age 5 years during the off season? He isn’t getting separation at the line, and can’t get away from a defender in the field. I hope he doesn’t mind being the third receiver, because by next season Avery & Burton/Stanley should be ready to take the top spots.
“I live in ga. and get hounded about the rams evey day. I really want to hear from the true fans ! No more negativity please. Just cheer and hope! Go RAMS!!!!!!”
— cj22brown
6:46 pm November 12th, 2008
That’s the most ridiculous thing I have heard since I heard that Linehan was hired as the Rams HC 3 years ago