SAN FRANCISCO — Quarterback Marc Bulger is not the Rams’ only problem.

They have too many flaws to mention, too many areas that require an overhaul.

The Rams’ awful 2-8 record isn’t all of Bulger’s fault; few Rams are making positive contributions on a consistent basis. And many players are doing poor jobs.  This team is 5-21 since the start of the 2007 season and that’s the result of a thorough breakdown.

That said, let me be blunt:

Bulger is a really, really, bad quarterback these days.

In his last three games, Bulger has thrown five interceptions and lost three fumbles for eight turnovers.

But these  turnovers have been absolutely toxic, leading directly to 45 points for opponents. Bulger is an ATM for the other team’s defense; they push his buttons and he spits out money in the form of those football giveaways.

* In the second quarter of the 34-13 loss to Arizona, Bulger had an INT returned for a touchdown, and lost a fumble that set up a field goal. The Rams’ 7-0 lead disappeared. The team was quickly overrun, never recovering from Bulger’s meltdown.

* In the 47-3 loss at the NY Jets, Bulger had a fumble returned for a TD, and his INT set up another TD for the home team. That was part of the humiliating 40-0 first-half onslaught that buried the Rams.

* In Sunday’s 35-16 loss to the 49ers, Bulger fumbled away a snap and threw two INTs … and the 49ers took the three turnovers and converted them into three touchdowns while rolling to a 35-3 lead at the half.

* And if you go back to the 23-16 setback at New England — the first in a sequence of a four consecutive defeats — Bulger was intercepted late in the fourth quarter to douse the comeback. He completed only eight of 20 passes in the second half of that one.

Bulger played fine in the second half at San Francisco, but that was garbage time.  The 49ers, exploiting Bulger’s three giveaways, already had the game in the bag.

I went back and took Bulger’s numbers beginning in the second half at New England and continuing through the first half at San Francisco.

And those stats are cry for intervention:

Bulger has completed 42 of 85 passes (49.4 percent) with two TDs, six INTs, and three lost fumbles. His QB rating in this stretch is 45.9.

That’s right … 45.9.

I mean, seriously .. what is the point of continuing down this dead-end street?

Bulger’s confidence is shot. He has little pocket awareness and rarely senses the rush. He frequently locks onto one receiver and forces passes. He routinely underthrows receivers. He doesn’t attack the middle of the field.  The pass-rush pressure freaks him out. His mechanics are a mess.

I do not understand why coach Jim Haslett is allowing this to continue.

Bulger’s turnover outbreak has completely demoralized a shorthanded team. As I’ve said many times before, backup Trent Green isn’t the long-term solution at quarterback. But right now Bulger is a mere whisper of what he used to be, and he’s destroying any chance this team has of competing (let alone winning).

The Rams gave Green a 3-year deal worth $8.9 million deal last spring. It included a $2.1 million signing bonus.

What was the point of shelling out that money for an expensive backup if the backup isn’t good enough to displace Bulger? If Green isn’t a better option than Bulger right now, then Green is burnt pie.  And his contract is yet another remarkable waste of owner Chip Rosenbloom’s money.

Haslett’s stubborness is especially baffling considering what happened in his previous head-coaching gig in New Orleans. Haslett has said that one of his biggest mistakes was standing by Aaron Brooks, his struggling and ineffective quarterback.  So why is coach Haslett repeating the same mistake?

With the Rams losing another ugly game, Haslett’s grip on the head-coaching job for 2009 is growing weaker.

If Haslett is going to go down, then why would he take the sack by staying with Bulger?

It’s simply incomprehensible.

-B