St. Louis Rams: Time to Bench Marc Bulger
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
Well I’ve never seen one athlete generate such undeserved loyalty. He had one good season when the Rams played weak opponents. I judge Bulger on his own merits and was willing to support him if he played like he did against Dallas and kept the attitude he had in that game. That being said, Kurt Warner had difficulties with turnovers, maybe a crisis of confidence but he never quit! I couldn’t believe some tv sports types gave him credit last year for calling out teammates in post-game interviews… a real man, a real QB calls out teammates in the huddle and sidelines, even if they’re not a so-called ra ra guy. I”ve never seen a guy’s personality rub off on a team like his did in the loss to New England. Oh, Trent Green had few reps in the preseason, he had a horrible supporting cast in Miami and is just a better qb than Bulger from a leadership perspective, knowing what his arm can do and not knowing the word quit.
I’m all about bringing in Cassell.. here’s a guy who got few snaps in college and few snaps in the pros until this year… and here he’s making big plays and getting in the face of veterans like Ben Watson after he coughed up the ball. Sign this guy!!!!! I wonder how many GM’s would have given Bulger that contract?
Hey Bernie, good article. Last week I wrote that the Rams decision on prioritizing their off-season agenda was extremely difficult. I now say that’s easy. They need to draft Matt Stafford with their first pick of the draft. They need to dump Bulger, who has officially entered the Linehan Zone, and is a salary dump waiting to happen anway. Why prolong it? Even if he’s a cap hit of 5 million, they out to just dump him and dump Green’s salary too to offset the cost of Bulger. No sense in paying for an expensive backup when this team is not a contender and needs a makeover badly. They need to move forward and the time is now, I say roll the dice on Stafford. So far it’s worked for Atlanta, I mean what do the Rams have to lose? They haven’t done too well drafting offensive lineman and defensive lineman in the 1rst round so what the heck. It’s time to move forward. I’ll be extremely disappointed if they don’t go after Stafford in the 1rst round, it’s time to move forward and at least give the fans a reason to watch next year. Right now, is this team worth watching? Thanks and have a great day!
may as well play berlin. a loss is a loss. if he steps up and plays well, that’s great. if not, well at least it avoids bulger’s destruction and green’s next concussion. berlin’s gotta be motivated to do well, he hasn’t made the really big bucks yet. haslett has inherited a massive mess and hasn’t improved it. too early to say whether he does or doesn’t deserve the job for 2009. 6 more games against ok-at-best opponents should paint the picture.
I love the folks who think that Bulger will bring a high draft pick in a trade. What are you smoking? Also, those who lobby for cutting him loose and taking the $5 Million cap hit…..easy to say when it’s not your money. Do you realize how significant that is to the Rams salary cap and their ability to acquire players? Like it or not, the Rams are probably stuck with Bulger and they need to surround him with better players. THAT will enhance his performance. Why would anyone think Green would do better with an offense that lacks a genuine #1 RB, a #1 TE and a #1 WR?
Why would Green do better? Well he’s tougher, if Bulger took the hits Green has taken I can’t even imagine how skittish he would be. Yep, Mark has taken some awful hits but Green’s had worse and he doesn’t go out there in fear… I believe they are better with Trent in there.. and if he was allowed to play 2 or 3 games in a row you’d found out what he’s capable of… he also bring out better things from the other players…
I have no words for the way this season is going. The entire organization has TANKED IT and right now Bulger couldnt throw a rock into the ocean. The whole team needs to be benched! They need some life, a spark of some sort. Zig Ziglar needs to come in and talk to these guys.
-Disappointed in St. Louis-
Pundits are banging on Donovan McNabb today…perhaps we should send Bulger back to pensylvannia in a trade for Mcnabb? they make about the same money. At least Mcnabb is mobile and can through a good deep ball. Who know, a change of scenery could be what they both need? maybe we could get curtis for bennett or holt while we are at it? Thoughts?
Dane Looker said it best. All 11 players on offense stink. And all 11 players on defense stink, too. Bulger is a member of the offensive 11. The Rams look great in practice playing each other, but stink playing real games against, real talented people. It’s pretty obvious that the Rams are not a high risk, high reward, style team anymore. Other than Pace, Barron & Rhomberg, the Rams offensive line is awful. Other than “Actionless” Jackson & Darby (best blitz guy), get rid of the rest. The Rams need to try Berlin next week, maybe he can hit Avery or Burton in stride.
The entire Rams team have taken off for Georgia’s death. I guess they figure they don’t have to play good, because “Chip” will give them a free pass anyway. The time is now for cleaning house. Get rid of all the free loaders and can’ts. They got rid of Warner because all the talking heads said so, and he bit them back, but Bulger isn’t Warner, and he keeps showing us why, every sunday. Since Bulger has become the starter, The Rams will not be on prime time any time soon. I really think Bulger should not have gotten a new contract extension. He was never worth the money he was paid before that. Since when is 8-8 worth $25,000,000. guaranteed.
Never was never will be a Bulger fan. His big numbers in his short time as a high efficiency QB never involved deep throws, much movement in the pocket, and, ultimately not enough wins to justify a 60 million dollar contract. This ownership deserves what they are getting at the moment. We, fans, don’t. Green’s not the future, but he at least brings something competitive to the table. With this ownership, there is no future for the Rams.
It looks like Bulger is the victim of terrible pass protection by the offensive line. He has been hit so many times he has lost his effectiveness as a QB. It may be years, if ever, before he regains confidence. The same thing happened to Kurt Warner. Only this year has he regained his confidence. The Rams offensive line has been ignored since 2002 and this is why Warner and now Bulger lost their effectiveness.