Loren: This time last year I was so excited for the season. We had a great finish to 06 and really thought Linehan and the team has some serious momentum going into 07. Then the injury bug. Linehan was taken to the wood shed over his offensive game plan but I am not sure any system would have worked given the protection problems. My question is given are schedule do you think if we start out slow this team will have the leadership and experience to rebound and still make the playoffs if we have a bad start.

Jim Thomas: If that's the scenario, Linehan must show he is better able to deal with the early losses than he was last year. He must show leadership. Even at the NFL level, it all flows down from the head coach.

zn2003: Hello. Glad you do this. If you don't mind, I have three questions.

1. Could you take a shot at projecting the the back-up LB situation? We've all heard good reports about Chamberlain, Magro, and Vobora. They will keep Draft plus the 3 projected starters (including Culberson), but how many LBs will they keep, and what are the chances 2 or even all 3 of the rookies will stick? Which of them has stood out on special teams? How would you rate their chances, one at a time?

2. In 2006 Bulger had issues with Incognito at center. That doesn't appear to be the case now (regardless whether he ends up starting). What's the difference between now and then? Is it safe to assume R.I. became more reliable at the position this time around?

3. Back to the rookies. With good reports coming in on all the 2nd day picks, and with Long and Avery so loaded with promise, in the end this could be one of the best Rams drafts in years. There is even a possibility all 6 of the second day picks make the squad, and that's rare. What does Devaney do differently that made this such a deep draft?

Jim Thomas: 1.) If the Rams keep six, it's Chamberlain and Vobora, backing up Pisa, Witherspoon, Culberson, Draft. (I think at the end of the day, Culberson might beat out Draft.) Chamberlain looks good in coverage. Vobora has had a couple of moments, and looks like he moves pretty well.
Based on what the team does on the practice field, it's hard to get a read on special teams until the preseason games.
2.) Most of the problems _ if you want to call them that _ with Incognito and Bulger were on shotgun snaps. To be honest with you, 1.) There haven't been a ton of shotgun snaps so far in camp; and 2.) Incognito has done most of his snapping to Green at center.
3.) I'm not even going to go there until we see much more of this draft class. Let's see who makes the final 53, and watch them play in some regular season games.

Curtis T.: Let's hope S. Jackson and his agent DON'T sign today - he needs to be punished more than just monetarily for holding out (losing a year towards free agency). I mean have you ever in your many years of covering the NFL seen more of a hypocrital piece of garbage than Jackson? Sure we sell our home tickets for a financial gain because he and the Rams stink last year, but he can hold out for more money when it suits him. Can we trade this piece of trash?

Jim Thomas: Well, the problem is, the "piece of trash" just may be the best player on the team.
As I've pointed out in print, it's still unlikely that A.) The owners opt out of the final year of the current CBA and B.) That Jackson does not get a new contract some time in the near future.
But clearly, the stakes have risen a bit for Jackson with his continued absence today. (He has already missed Tuesday's only practice _ an hour session in Mequon. The team flies to Nashville later today.)

Brian: Jim,

Who is going to be the blitz linebacker this year.....i think they used to call it the RAM position? Chillar blitzed a lot last year, who is going to do the majority of it this year? One of the rookies possibly?

Jim Thomas: Actually, I think what you're referring to is the "BUCK" end. Quinton Culberson has been working there some in camp. As has youngster Marc Magro. And Witherspoon has been blitzed from all over (as was the case last year.)

John: Hi Jim:

Multiple sources confirm that there have been no negotiations between the Rams and Jackson's agent since July 25. Jackson will not attend camp without a contract extension. The Rams will hold no further contract negotiations until Jackson reported to camp. The stalemate continues with neither side flinching but I keep reading from sports writers and coaches, etc. that they expect this issue resolved and Jackson reporting to camp "soon".

How can this be? Why the optimism? What scenario do you see that would end the holdout? It seems to me that one side will have to flat out cave-in, which is unlikely.

Jim Thomas: I don't think there really has be any "caving" by anybody. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it's my sense that the two sides aren't that tremendously far apart. If they ever sat down, I think they could get something done with a little give and take on each side.