QUESTION: Despite another rough outing Sunday, obviously the coaches still believe QB Marc Bulger gives the team its best chance to win or he wouldn’t be playing. Do you agree with that assessment or do you think it’s time to give Kyle Boller - or even Keith Null - a chance to run the offense?

JIM THOMAS

Even with the patchwork receiver corps, the results against Detroit - one of the worst pass defenses in the league - were underwhelming. But the problem with Boller is that he seems to be more mistake prone than Bulger, which leads to more turnovers. Null simply isn’t ready to start in the NFL, although it wouldn’t hurt to see him in mop-up situations.

BERNIE MIKLASZ

It’s time to get ready to draft a quarterback.

Unless the people running the Rams have lost their minds, Bulger’s time here is winding down. Boller is Boller: a more mobile Bulger, but not an accurate passer and prone to silly mistakes. I don’t understand the people who want to throw Null to the wolf pack and see the kid fail. Null came to the NFL from a small-college program that ran a spread offense, and he has received virtually no reps in practice. At this stage of his career, starting Null in a regular-season NFL game is crazily irresponsible. I wouldn’t mind it if the Rams worked Null into a fourth-quarter series here in there to get him acclimated, but nothing more than that.

As I wrote in today’s column, unless the Rams want to get RB Steven Jackson killed, they’d better get serious about drafting and developing a quarterback.

JEFF GORDON

Since the Rams just won a game, there is no reason to change quarterbacks. Had Bulger’s targeted receivers caught more of those balls within reach - like the would-be TD pass to Randy McMichael - his numbers would have looked better. The Rams need to throw more of those passes down the field. This is a check-down scheme, as it stands today, and Bulger is OK doing that. But how many more games can this team win checking down? When Bulger gets hurt again, Boller will get another chance. His mobility is a huge plus, but inaccuracy is a huge problem. As for Null, I would use him at the end of blowout losses to give him a taste of it.

BILL COATS

Boller isn’t a good fit for the offense, and Null simply isn’t ready to start - although I’d like to see him get some action in mop-up time. It’s become obvious that Bulger isn’t capable of reprising the kind of play he showed during his Pro Bowl seasons. Still, he’s the best option the Rams have right now.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)

It really doesn’t matter who takes snaps from center right now. Bulger isn’t getting it done, nothing in Boller’s track record suggests he would get it done and Null is too big a project to throw into the fire at this point. Boller would simply be a slightly different version of Bulger, a veteran whose future lies as a backup in the NFL. Null can’t possibly be ready for the NFL considering how little work he gets. Let’s also remember it took a while for him to win the 3rd QB job from Brock Berlin. That’s not exactly the sign of a player ready to jump into the fray. The entire 2009 Rams season is about one word - patience. Some things just aren’t going to get fixed this season and the QB position is one of them.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Many feel this Sunday’s game vs. Detroit is the Rams best chance of a victory this season. That said, if the Rams are to win, what are the keys to victory Sunday?

JIM THOMAS
The Lions have one of the worst pass defenses known to man. Some way, some how, the Rams’ receiver corps — yes, the Rams’ receiver corps — must exploit this weakness. Mr. Avery, here’s your chance for a breakout Sunday.

BILL COATS
If Calvin Johnson is in the lineup, the Lions are dangerous in the passing game. So, it’s essential that the Rams find a way to get some pressure on the quarterback. Offensively, the Rams should be able to move the ball against a medicore defense. They need to finish drives in the end zone instead of settling for field goals or, even worse, committing critical turnovers.

JEFF GORDON
Even with the loss of cornerback Bradley Fletcher, the Rams have enough defense to win this game. But . . . the Rams absolutely, positively have to ATTACK THE LIONS DOWN THE FIELD. If they come out firing and keep firing, they can create room for Steven Jackson. And they will actually score touchdowns! Of course, Marc Bulger can’t throw pick sixes while attacking the Lions. That would not be good.

KATHLEEN NELSON
The passing game needs to get going. Donnie Avery needs to shake off his injury assortment and catch a couple passes. Marc Bulger needs to regain his accuracy. A better passing game should open up the running game for Steven Jackson. On defense, someone needs a game-changing takeaway. The defense needs to muster more effective pressure on the QB. Chris Long would quiet his critics by doing the big, visible, obvious things in a big, visible, obvious way. Maybe a sack or two.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Do you believe the Rams’ troubles are due simply to a talent deficiency, or would you have expected more progress from this group as they near the halfway point of coach Steve Spagnuolo’s first season?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Both. This is the worst roster in the NFL. But even where there is talent, the Rams don’t utilize it properly. One example: giving Steven Jackson only five touches in the second half of the Jacksonville game. (And ignoring Jackson at times in other games.) Another example: not playing No. 2 overall draft pick Jason Smith at left offensive tackle, where he belongs, from the time he checked into camp. And what’s up with this three-man rotation at OT? A third example: as a rookie DE, Chris Long was better in the pass rush than he’s been in this, his second season. Why has he regressed? Isn’t the pass rush supposed to be a Spagnuolo specialty?

JEFF GORDON
The Rams ARE horrible, make no mistake about it. But there are a lot of bad teams in the NFL this season and the others have found a way to win a game. If these coaches can’t find a way to win a game here or there while rebuilding, why would the next owner want any part of them? Everybody working at Rams Park today must realize that would-be owners are paying attention.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Few problems in life have simple solutions. The Rams’ talent at wide receiver has been depleted and not replenished over the last three years. Marc Bulger has yet to achieve the level of proficiency that led to two Pro Bowl appearances. Injuries also have set back the team’s progress. The players are learning a new system, and the coaching staff has endured growing pains. Five lopsided losses must be discouraging to fans, though.

BILL COATS
Obviously, the Rams’ talent pool is very shallow. Still, I did think that by this point, they’d have a couple of wins. I actually thought 7-9 was possible before the season began. That’s probably not going to happen.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Count me in the group that believes that it’s as simple as not having enough good players. The things Spags is trying to implement have worked extremely well in Philadelphia and New York so there’s no reason they wouldn’t work here if they can get the right players. 99 percent of the time it’s talent that wins in pro sports. Bill Belichick was known as “Beli-choke” when he was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and he got run out of town. Since he took over in New England and had a team with some talent he’s now an NFL “genius” with his own family of coaching assistants who are now running their own teams at the college and pro level. I don’t know if Steve Spagnuolo will be a difference maker as head coach or not, but that’s because there’s no way to determine that until the talent on the squad is upgraded significantly.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Given time in the pocket, do you think Marc Bulger is capable of rediscovering the accuracy that marked his play earlier in his career?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
When Bulger was at his best, 2006, he was throwing to Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Kevin Curtis. And Steven Jackson was having a career year in the backfield. The last time the Rams won a playoff game, 2004, Bulger not only had Holt, Bruce and Jackson, but Marshall Faulk also contributed 1,000+ yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving). If the quality around Bulger is above-average, he can be an efficient quarterback. And there’s no doubt his completion percentage would go up. But he’s not the type of QB who can elevate a team. He needs the cast around him.

JIM THOMAS
Sure. But it pays to have receivers that can consistently gain separation and get open. And that obviously hasn’t always been the case this season with a young, unproven receiving corps.

BILL COATS
He’s very accurate in practice, when pressure isn’t being applied. So, you’d have to assume that he could be accurate on Sundays if protected. It also would help him if the Rams had a more formidable stable of receivers.

JEFF GORDON
Accuracy from the pocket will not be a problem for Marc IF the Rams protect him. He will make some nice throws. But will the offensive game plan allow him to attack opponents with those mid-range passes he can hit all day? Also, will his lack of mobility prevent him from succeeding on the roll-out and bootleg passes that Kyle Boller throws so well? Those questions will remain even if the offensive line can build a sturdy pocket for him.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Time in the pocket isn’t enough to revive the passing game. The Rams need reliable receivers as well as improved pass protection.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I suppose it’s possible but a lot of that accuracy early in his career was the product of having top-shelf receivers. Those guys caught everything they were supposed to and then caught some more just for good measure. More time to see a play develop is always going to help but having proven, Pro Bowl caliber receivers like Holt and Bruce had as much to do with those high completion percentages as the amount of time Bulger had to throw the ball. More time to throw would benefit Bulger, no doubt, but more time and more talent at wide receiver would be the only way to do a true comparison between Bulger now and Bulger back then.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Assuming Marc Bulger’s injury keeps him out at least a game or two, how do you think Kyle Boller will impact how the Rams approach things on offense?

JIM THOMAS
Because of his arm strength, the Rams could take more deep shots and/or try more deep shots with Boller at quarterback. And because of his foot speed, you could see more rollouts or passes with him on the move. But where he goes with the ball may be influenced just as much by who’s out there at wide receiver, particularly if Laurent Robinson misses a couple of weeks with his ankle injury.

BILL COATS
I don’t think the Rams’ offensive scheme will shift much, if any, with Boller at QB instead of Bulger. The coaches might design some ways to take advantage of Boller’s mobility, but there won’t be any wholesale changes in their offensive philosophy.

JEFF GORDON
Boller has so much more mobility than Bulger. If the Rams are smart, they will use lots of rollouts and bootlegs with him. He is not a terribly accurate pocket passer, so the game planning and play calling must reflect that. For examples of how to use quarterback mobility, the Rams staff can refer to Sunday’s game video and watch what Green Bay did with Aaron Rodgers.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Boller’s mobility would allow the team to move him around more than they do with Bulger but I don’t think it changes very much. Boller has a stronger arm and is a better athlete than Bulger but he’s also less accurate and, until yesterday, he hadn’t taken the field in an NFL regular season game since Baltimore’s 14th game of 2007. The primary problems remain the same, regardless of who is taking the snaps. The offensive line isn’t protecting well enough and there just isn’t enough consistency from the receiving corps. A change in QB, whether by choice or circumstance, isn’t going to make much difference.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: How would you assess the play of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger so far this season?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
With Bulger, I’ve learned that people see what they want to see in him so it’s virtually impossible to have a reasonable discussion about him. The Bulger apologists will blame any of his shortcomings on the coaches, receivers, offensive line, visitors from Mars, global warming, media, etc. Anything except actually hold Bulger accountable. And the haters won’t cut him any slack whatsoever; they want us to believe that Bulger should be playing like Kurt Warner no matter what he’s surrounded with.

Here are the stats: after two games, Bulger ranks 32nd among NFL quarterbacks in yards per passing attempt, 31st in completion percentage, and 27th in passer rating. Are all of those numbers on him? No, only a wingnut would conclude that. So far offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur hasn’t displayed much flair in his passing game, the offensive line is shaky in pass protection, and the Rams arguably have the worst set of receivers in the NFL. But Bulger shares a big piece of the responsibility. According to film review done by STATS LLC, eight of his incompletions in the Washington loss were the result of poor, inaccurate throws. He has to make more plays when the opportunities are available to be made. And he hasn’t done that. For example: only 4 of 9 completions in the red zone. On the plus side, Bulger has done pretty well on third down, completing 12 of 19. And I have no problem with how he is competing.

Again, I know that answer isn’t what the extremists on opposite sides want to hear. The Bulger lovers want him babied by the media, and the Bulger haters want him savaged at every turn.

JIM THOMAS
I’d give him about a C or a C-minus. Receivers have left a lot of yards on the field, either through outright drops or balls that they at least got their hands on. He has not thrown any interceptions, and it seems pretty clear that offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is stressing minimal mistakes and throwing the ball away when nothing’s there. But Bulger has missed on some throws, and a 50 percent completion rate isn’t going to take you very far in 2009.

BRYAN BURWELL
Bulger has once again proven how tough a competitor he is, even if his stats don’t reflect it. Both Sonny Jurgensen, a Hall of Fame QB, and Joe Theismann, a QB who won a Super Bowl, told me that Bulger’s performance through two weeks has been admirable. “I don’t know how Bulger will last through Week 8 with the sort of protection he’s gotten,” Theismann said.

But football is a bottom-line business , and 0-2 is 0-2 and Bulger will have to make some plays to win the game.

BILL COATS
Mediocre, at best. When an offense produces just seven points in two games, the quarterback takes the lion’s share of the heat, and deservedly so. Still, other factors have entered in, such as dropped passes, dubious play-calling, and sporadic breakdowns in blocking. Bulger hasn’t thrown with his usual accuracy, but he improved significantly overall from Week 1 to Week 2.

JEFF GORDON
Marc has been OK. He hasn’t been great, obviously, but he showed signs of improving over last year’s fiasco. He stood in, took big hits and delivered some nice throws in Washington. This offense is limited schematically and the WR corps is not great. But he will need to find ways to lead the Rams to victories or he, too, will move on. His contract gave him one more shot here. He has to do more with it. Just OK, at the dollars he is earning, is not good enough.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Bulger’s performance at the same level for 16 games won’t lead the Rams to postseason glory, but I can’t separate it from the play of the offensive line and the receivers. The line hasn’t given him as much protection as he needs, and the young receivers have made few (if any) game-changing plays in the Rams’ favor.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
In a word, meh. Let’s just call it the “south side of average” and say he hasn’t exactly been the kind of player that lifts people up around him. It’s not Bulger’s fault the high-priced offensive line doesn’t keep the heat off of him with any consistency. He had no say in putting together this no-name receiving corps either. At the same time, Bulger is missing throws he should be completing and, at least from where I’m sitting on Sundays (my couch), he doesn’t appear to be playing with any confidence. I’m not saying it’s easy to be a cocky gunslinger out there when you’re not getting much help, I’m just saying Bulger’s performance brings out the “meh” in me.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Rams are 0-2 and the schedule offers no relief in the near future. The Packers (1-1) come to town this weekend, then the Rams have to travel to San Francisco to take on the division-leading Niners (2-0) before coming home again to face the 2-0 Vikings. Do you see any chance that this team doesn’t begin the season at 0-5? If so, what has to happen?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
It’s up to the lines. The Rams offensive line has too many breakdowns that kill drives and scoring chances. The defensive line has one sack in two games and is doing nothing to disrupt the QB. As long as the Rams continue to get slapped around up front, the losing will continue. They need better game management from the coaches. And someone — anyone — has to step up and make some plays. There is a critical shortage of playmakers on this team.

JIM THOMAS
I’m not saying that it will happen, but anything can happen in this league. Ask Pittsburgh. Ask Green Bay. Ask New England. Ask Tennessee. But for the Rams to spring an upset in the next few weeks, they need more productiion from their offense, and fewer mistakes overall.

BILL COATS
The Packers just lost at home to the Bengals, so they certainly don’t look unbeatable. And I’m not sold on the 49ers just yet. So, I think those two games are winnable. Of course, that’s predicated on the the Rams being better — maybe a lot better — than they’ve shown so far.

JEFF GORDON
To win a game, the Rams must muscle up on both lines. The franchise has invested plenty in its linemen and we saw some progress on that front during Sunday’s physical game. The defensive front must establish a pass rush without blitz help. If it can do that, it will allow the Rams to be more effective when they do blitz. The front seven must also toughen up against the run. On the offensive side, the Rams must continue improving its run blocking and pass protection. Pound Steven Jackson on the ground and through the air, eat up some clock, force some more turnovers on the defensive side — the Rams CAN win a game by making some basic improvements.

KATHLEEN NELSON
A victory will be tough, but I suspect the coaching staff knew that coming into the season. It all starts up front. Marc Bulger needs better protection, and the run defense, particularly in the front, needs to step it up. If the Rams improve in those two areas, they level the playing field a bit and give themselves a chance Any Given Sunday.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Well, there’s always a chance they could win one of the next three games but I don’t think it’s likely. The Packers and Vikings are clearly better teams than the Rams and it’s hard for me to see them dropping a game to the offensively challenged Rams. The home team’s best shot to win one of the next three will be in San Francisco, even though the Niners are off to a solid start. Mike Singletary is doing good things in the Bay Area but I still don’t trust Shaun Hill at QB and a weakness like that to exploit (QB) is what the Rams would need to pull off the upset. This may not please a certain segment of the fans, or the Rams’ coaching staff for that matter, but this is a building year and whether these guys win from week to week isn’t what matters. What’s important is that the franchise gets progressively better as the season goes on regardless of what their record is.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With Sunday’s opener now just days away, who is one player who you feel could really surprise Rams fans this year?

JIM THOMAS
There will be rough moments along the way, but CB Jonathan Wade has an agressive attitude, top-end speed, and decent size. Most of all, it looks like he has matured. Some take longer than others, but it looks like Wade now gets it — what it takes to be an NFL player. Coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of experience on his resume working with cornerbacks.

BRYAN BURWELL
Laurent Robinson could be the big surprise at wide receiver. He showed in the preseason that he can make plays and he will get plenty of opportunities on a team looking for WR’s to establish themselves.

BILL COATS
Because he seems to have so many detractors around town, I’ll go with Marc Bulger. The new Rams offense demands precision and accuracy from the QB, arguably Bulger’s greatest assets. If the line can protect him and he can adjust to the quick drops and throws — and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to — he has a chance to have a big year.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Randy McMichael is a guy who could surprise some people. With the team lacking name players at wide receiver, McMichael could be a big part of the passing attack if he can stay healthy. I’m not sure he’s as athletic as he used to be in his best days with the Dolphins, but he’s a big target who would be an asset especially in red zone situations. Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery are speedy receivers who will make their share of plays but they’re not very big and McMichael has both the size and the hands to be Marc Bulger’s safety blanket. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Daniel Fells, one of the backups to McMichael. Fells’ teammates rave about his athletic abilities so we’ll see if that translates into game action.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With just two weeks remaining until the season opener, what are the tangible differences you see in the Rams under coach Steve Spagnuolo compared to the team during the Linehan era?

JIM THOMAS
The first thing you notice is the presence each coach brings to the job every day. Spagnuolo can play what the players call “the big room” — the team meeting room. Linehan couldn’t. Spagnuolo’s speeches are direct and to the point. Linehan’s weren’t. Even in the NFL, players need to be motivated, inspired, and given guidance. They didn’t always get that with Linehan.

BILL COATS
They appear to be more aggressive and tougher on the field. And this might not be a tangible difference, but it’s obvious that they’ve bought into what Spagnuolo has brought and have full trust in him.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I’ll keep this one simple: the players respect this coach and want to play for him.

JEFF GORDON
At the end of the Linehan/Haslett era, there wasn’t much life left. Guys were NOT flying around. This team clearly has more enthusiasm — but we haven’t seen a mind-blowing improvement to this point. The defense still gives up some big plays and the offense is still hit-or-miss. Since Bulger has been hurt, that huge question mark still hangs over the team. Can he regain his Pro Bowl form? To this point, we have no idea.

KATHLEEN NELSON
If you’re looking for tangibles, as in stats, the team’s takeaway total is encouraging. But yards per carry, yards after the catch, red zone efficiency, and all that stuff that counts in fantasy leagues prove meaningless because the first string isn’t always playing the first string, and a lot of the focus right now is on simply making the team, fighting for the final few spots at the bottom of the depth chart. The quality that’s most noticeable to me is intensity. Players seem to play with more emotion and focus more consistently than in the past. When the regular season begins, those intangibles could translate into measurable stats that could be better than last year. Not now, though.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
The team has more of an edge to it. They’re more aggressive, attack the opponent more and seem to enjoy the physical aspect to the game as opposed to getting pushed around like they did in the past. Some of that is the attitude of the Spagnuolo staff rubbing off on the players and some of it is simply feeling like there is hope. Players know when the end is near for a coaching staff and when that spiral of negativity begins to swirl it’s almost impossible to go against the stream and maintain intensity. Spags and Co. have given the team a shot of energy with their enthusiastic approach and because the players were just begging for some kind of change after the last couple of years.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With the Rams expected to play their starters the entire first half tonight against Atlanta, what areas of play or specific players will you be watching most closely for signs of improvement for this team?

JIM THOMAS
The Rams were respectable — no, make that more than respectable — on run defense last week against the New York Jets. Can they do it again tonight versus an Atlanta team that has one of the league’s best running games? Better third-down play on both sides of the ball is a must. And the defense must avoid giving up the big play. Individually, No. 2 overall draft pick Jason Smith probably will make his first Rams start at right tackle. How will Kyle Boller do at QB in place of the injured Marc Bulger? What will we see from the wide receiver corps and the backup running backs?

BILL COATS
I plan to watch most closely rookie tackle Jason Smith, who figures to get his first real action against a first-team NFL defense. I also want to see how the competition for the backup spot at running back goes, after Samkon Gado’s big game last week vs. the Jets, and curious to see if any of the healthy wideouts begin to separate from the pack.

JEFF GORDON
There is plenty to watch. Is Kyle Boller a viable alternative to Marc Bulger? We’ll know a lot more about him later tonight. Also, we’re know more about the WR corps. This is a primary concern to fans for obvious reasons. Is Laurent Robinson legit? Can Keenan Burton become a playmaker? Does Ronald Curry have anything left? The return teams will be interesting too. Once the starters leave, I want to see what this team has for depth at safety, offensive tackle and linebacker.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
The play of Jason Smith and the play of the defensive line. Because of Alex Barron’s injury we’re going to see what Smith looks like “running with the 1’s” and I’m very curious to see how that goes. After all, he was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft and, as such, is a player who should be expected to start. If he plays well tonight perhaps he can elevate his status on the team. If not, well, that would be disappointing.

Atlanta was an outstanding rushing team last year and I’ll be interested in seeing how this Rams team does in that regard after struggling to stop the run the last two seasons. It’ll also be important to see some kind of pressure on passing downs. This team has some players taken very high in the draft who need to start turning into impact players here shortly and tonight would be a good time for those guys to start showing a little something.