Roman_Gabriel_Rocks: Hi Bill, Thanks for your time!

What happened to the WR out of Oklahoma the Rams signed as a free agent? His name was Chaney. Any chance he will end up on the training camp roster?

Jim Thomas: His name is Quentin Chaney, and he failed his physical prior to the May minicamp. Highly unlikely he'll be with the team in training camp.

Al: How are Adam Carriker and Chris Long progressing so far and are there any suprises among the current linebackers.

Jim Thomas: Carriker finally is fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered in the last game of his rookie season and looked stronger and quicker in the spring. Long also had a solid spring and should be able to build on what was a pretty decent rookie year.

aruss: Is the ownership "situation" why we haven't signed any of our draft picks? or why OJ is not signed? The Post Dispatch needs to let us know what's (not) happening.Any "momentum" we've gained can be rapidly lost by front office screw-ups again.

Jim Thomas: Few draft picks around the league have signed. Most teams don't get busy until early to mid-July, as they wait for the salaries to be "slotted." As for Atogwe, both parties want to get a long-term deal done before the season starts. We'll see if that happens.

Fred Wied: Hey Bill,
Thanks for taking the time. RAM fan from Jersey since 1970. I think it is great that the Rams are finally retiring #75 for the Deacon. But why does the NFL refuse to go back and recognize his season and career sack totals? Everyone knows he is the true leader in both. Have the Rams or anyone petitioned the NFL on his behalf?

Jim Thomas: Sacks weren't an official stat then, and it's probably impractical to go back and start counting them now.

Reading Ram: At the end of Camp were Jason Smith and James L. Still on the second and third teams? Is this a product of these guys not showing that they deserve to be higher? I have seen some mention of it but are they really going to start with Smith at RT and Barron at LT? Barron has been more then a small dissappointment. Would we not have been better served by picking up someone like Runyon at RT for a year and letting smith start to settle in where he belongs? Number 2 money is an awful lot to pay a RT and it seems that we could have addressed the RT position for alot less or with a later pick....It seems like we are setting ourselves up for a lose lose situation with Barron for next year. If they really think he has the stuff to play LT then they need to sign him now while it is cheap. If they do not think he has the right stuff then they need to move him to RT or get a new RT and move Smith to left. If Barron shows up and plays well at LT then what? We sign him and keep him and we have the most expensive OT situation in the league??

Jim Thomas: For now, the Rams would like to have Barron at LT and Smith at RT. Barring injury or training camp developments, that's likely how it'll be when the regular season opens. The Rams want to get a good, long look at Barron at LT, where he spent the bulk of his time at Florida State. He's in the final year of his contract, so if he doesn't come through, the Rams probably let him walk and then slide Smith over to LT.

RamDan1212: Jim,

What's your take on the Rams schedule? Is it really fair to play back to back road games to start the year? Rams will have to deal with two home openers for Seattle and Washington. That is tough for any team.

What the chances that the Rams can steal a couple of road wins to start the season? With expectations so low, I'm hoping that they can win a game or two on the road and build some confidence and have a turn around season. Green Bay and the Colts are beatable at home. Chicago and Tennessee in December are tough.

Any thoughts?

Jim Thomas: Fair or not, the schedule is what it is. No point in complaining about it.
Interestingly, the Rams' first five road games could be winnable--Seattle, Washington SF, Jacksonville and Detroit. If they could get 2-3 wins there, it could be a fun season.

usantoyo: What is the history with Claude Wrotten? Is he still a rams player?

Jim Thomas: At last check, Wroten had not petitioned the league for reinstatement. He was eligible to do so as of May 30.

superfan24: Wgat is your take on the recievers? Is Billy going to go after someone?

Jim Thomas: When teams begin paring their rosters during training camp, the Rams will be looking at the available WRs. But they won't just leap at someone. They feel pretty good about the personnel they have, however young they may be.

Christian: hey bill thanks for sub


i have 3 questions...
1) do you think that if the jets donot sign leon washington we maybe would go and atleast try to get him..in my mind he is perfect for our west coast style offense..and he would accomodate SJ39 very well with his pass catching ability and keneth darby would be our 3rd back. (kind of similar to the new york giants 3 headed monster.)

2)Do you think that if vince young where to be traded that the rams would want to make a move on him...he is young and has alot of potential

3) And i was watching NFL network 32 in 32 and they where talking about j.smith and a.barron being pass- blocking tackles and not really being run-blocking tackles...do you think this is true because we are gonna be running the ball often and if we dont have run-blocking tackles how is our offense going to be productive?

By the way im a 16 year old boy from South Florida and im a RAMS FAN 4 Life!!!!!!

Jim Thomas: 1. Washington would be a nice addition, but I don't think the Jets will let him get away. The CBA (uncapped year in 2010 at this juncture) complicates things in his negotiations.

2. I doubt whether the Rams would have much interest in Young. Not really a good fit for the offense that Shurmur is installing.

3. Barron has always been better at pass blocking than run blocking. Smith's rep is the same. But that doesn't mean they're inept at run blocking. They should be OK.

Kevin in NJ: Hi Jim,
What difference do see in overall intensity ect., this year compared to last year? and who do you think the middle linebacker will be at the start of the season?
Thanks,
Kevin in NJ

Jim Thomas: The spring practices (minicamps and OTAs) were decidedly more uptempo than what we'd seen in the recent past. Won't really be able to measure the intensity until they get the pads on.
I'll be shocked if Laurinaitis isn't the starting MLB when the regular season starts.

rob: Any interest at Rams park in Jarvis Moss. He's been a bust in Denver but their defensive coaches aren't as adept at gettingt he most out of their players maybe a change of scenery and Spags coould get some situational pass rush out of him.

Jim Thomas: Have heard no mention of Moss at Rams Park.

Ruben: Thanks for taking my question. With a new front office and new negotiator, do you think it is wise that the Rams haven't gotten off to a quick start with signing draft choices? I understand that they will all get done in the week or so before camp, but I would just as soon resolve the ones that are already slotted by other teams signing. This would give them more time and opportunity to sign OJ and possibly review others, whose contract will be expiring at end of season.

Jim Thomas: Answered earlier.

Bmoreramfan: Hey Jim, I have a couple questions.
1. Why is M.Bulger in the situation of have a stellar season or your fired. I know his numbers have fallen and and the team has only a few wins in bunch of games. However we all know the various HC he's had, the sacks he's taken, the coaching and game planning carousel, injuries were extreme in key positions and the front office didn't help any. Why only give him one more season to prove himself in yet another season with a totally new system, HC, OC and another brand new OL?
2. Is Spags really making the 1st and 2nd draft pick earn their staring spot? Meaning, do you think he will really start someone else if they play better in practice or will he answer to the pressure to start them regardless?
3.In your opinion who will have a better year the offense or defense?

Thanks

Jim Thomas: 1. I don't think it's quite that cut and dried with Bulger. If he has a poor season, he's probably done here. Otherwise, unless the Rams find a better alternative, he could be back in 2010.

2. If Smith and Laurinaitis aren't starting on opening day, it'll be a shock.

3. I like the potential of the offense behind a rebuilt line.

grimmsta642@yahoo.com: It's too late now for this idea, but I'd like to know if you think this could've been feasible.
The Cards were building a new stadium... The Rams KNEW they needed/wanted a new one. Isnt there a way the two organizations couldve merged together a plan to make the new staduim a multi use stadium to accomodate both clubs' usage? The taxpayers or whomever paid the cost for the stadium wouldve only had to deal with this issue ONE time and killed two birds with one stone. The could've kept the dome up for conventions ow whatever else they use it for. in the event the Rams had a deep playoff run and there happen to be a scheduling conflict with the Cards, the dome could've easily been set up for the Rams to use as they had for years.

I know it's late to think about, and hindsight is always 20/20, but do you see ANY way this may have worked out in the TEAMS', the CITY, and the TAXPAYERS' favor to alleviate the possibility of the Rams having a higher chance of not having staduim issues?

Jim Thomas: Nobody does multipurpose stadiums anymore. All teams want a home of their own, it seems. And a very expensive one at that.

NY Ram Fan: The Rams made quite a few high-profile cuts in the offseason...Bennett, Holt, Pace, Pisa...how much has that saved them under the salary cap? How much room is left?

Jim Thomas: I don't know exactly where the Rams stand with the cap, but I think they're in decent shape.

Jake G.: Jim,
How's the development of our young receivers going? Do you think they will have much of an impact this year in boosting the offense and scoring?

Jake
Chino Hills, CA.

Jim Thomas: There's some pretty good talent among the young WRs, most notably Avery, Burton and Robinson. They'll have to make an impact if the offense is to prosper.

99Balloons: Jim,

To follow up with the Jeremy Jarmon posting earlier. Who would replace Leonard Little if he's injured and cut from the team? Are the Rams looking toward drafting an impact DE in 2010?

Jim Thomas: Right now, Adeyanju is Little's backup. I would expect DE to be a fairly high priority for the Rams in the 2010 draft and/or during free agency.

Big Dude: Hi Bill,


Here is my question. Besides WR, I think that the d-line is easily the most shallow position on the Rams roster. Little is old and injury prone, Hall is aging and while steady last year, isn't an ascending player, the jury is still out on Carriker, Long and Ryan, and Adeyanju is noting but a role player. Orien Harris, Gary Gibson and A. Burton have done noting to distinguish themselves in the NFL and I don't see that changing now. What are your impressions of this unit so far? Do you have any idea how the front office and Spagnuolo view this part of the roster?

Thanks for your time. I love you.

Jim Thomas: I'd say your assessment of the d-line is a bit harsh. It could emerge as a pretty decent unit, although the Rams need to identify their depth.

And I love you, too, Big Dude.

Fresno Ram Fan: Any updates on a new contract for Atogwe? How did you think Bulger looked during minicamp?

Jim Thomas: No update on Atogwe. Bulger looked OK during the minicamps, considering that he's learning yet another new offense.

Bob: Any reports on the young west texas A&M quarterback? Did he get much work during OTAs and has he turned any heads so far?
Thanks.

Jim Thomas: I wouldn't say Keith Null "turned any heads," but he did display a strong and reasonably accurate arm. His chances of nailing down the No. 3 job probably will rest on how well he picks up the offense in the preseason. He'll get plenty of opportunities.

99Balloons: Jim,

Any chance the Rams will go for Jeremy Jarmon, DE from Kentucky in the Supplemental Draft? At what round do you think the Rams may give in 2010 if they do take Jeremy Jarmon?

Jim Thomas: I doubt it. I think the Rams are pretty satisfied with what they have there now.

That's all for this week. Thanks to all for participating.