signed s. j.: Jim, The question is about two weeks late,but I'm curious.Did the Rams
take Desean Jackson off there draft board?He called himself a ganster.
Thomas(agent Drew),Hardy(past).

Jim Thomas: Tp my knowledge, the Rams did not take Jackson off their board. He took a pre-draft visit to Rams Park. I was told by someone who worked for Jackson's agents that the Rams had told them that they really liked Jackson. I think the Rams had some questions about Jackson's character. I think they were also worried about his size _ seeing him as too small to be more than a slot receiver and return specialist. I was told that had the Rams pulled off a trade (presumably dropping down from No. 2 ovearll in the first round) and picked up an extra second round pick that they would have taken Jackson. But with just one pick, they went for more of what they felt was an everydown player in Avery. Two games into his NFL career, Jackson doesn't look to small, now. Although his bonehead play against Dallas last night _ dropping the football before he crossed the goal line _ was an indication of the kind of attitude the Rams were concerned about.

mr. optomist: hi jim..you rock!!!..i thought the play calling on both sides of the ball was better sunday...bulger seemed to gain a little confidence..the defense covered better,but was outsized...my question is...why does a defense depend so much on players filling gaps,when it seems they never fill them?do all pro teams runs this type defense?if not,after 3 years of telling the fans the reason there were so many big plays was because we didn't fill the gaps,why not go to a different defense that fits the type player u keep picking to be your guys?

Jim Thomas: I don't think you're making too much of this whole "gaps" issue. Yeah, the Rams have brought it up a few times over the past three years. But I don't think it's been a constant thing of gaps, gaps, gaps. But as an undersized front seven, it's more important for them to be in position than a bigger, more physical unit. Saying all that, it's amazing to me that three years into this system, players are still having problems getting lined up right, or knowing their assignments.

The Bandit: The Rams are like a person standing on the ledge of a building threatening to jump.....scary, potentially gorry but hard to take your eyes off them. They are so bad I just have to watch the weekly train wreck! Is there something wrong with me for feeling this way?

Jim Thomas: Everyone likes a good disaster movie.

L King: Why is it all of a sudden good for a coach to quit when less than a year ago every reporter called Petrino a quitter and a snake for leaving his team for another job but now we want Linehan to quit to suit your own home team desires. We all knew this was a possibility when the schedule came out so don't be surprised now or hurt at the reality that we are sorry team we were a 3 win team last year, with a coach who is under lame duck status. I think all of you colunmist try to play both sides against the middle let him finish out and start over next year if he quits its not like all of a sudden we jump to respectability status. No we are the same old sorry RAMS we were at the start of the season.

Jim Thomas: One, I think there's a big difference in what Petrino did. He quit to get another job.
In Linehan's case, keep this in mind. If you're fired as an NFL coach, the team has to honor whatever's left on your contract. If you quit, they don't. Also, these jobs are so hard to get. They're only 32 of them in the world. I think you would have to be pushed out the door.
As far as what's happened on the field, no one is shocked that the Rams have lost their first two games. It's the WAY they've lost them, by 35 and 28 points. In this league, 14 points is a blowout. The team can't be as bad as it has played these first two games _ and that's the problem.

Paul Kaplan: Mr Thomas,
It would be nice to focus on solutions instead of focusing on problems. This team has the talent, they just lack confidence and trust in one another. When will someone take the role of leader. My suggestion is Mr. Witherspoon. He is the man. Ask Mr. Drew Brees. He can set the tone, and has the most athletic ability on this team. Maybe it is time to run some Nitsky drills with him. This team will feed of his intensity and confidence. I would also like to see Mr. Haslett let loose with some intensity. You win with defense.

Jim Thomas: To me, the most disappointing part of the season to date has been the defense. There are a lot of veterans over there, with several first-round draft picks mixed in as well. It's their third year in the system. Usually leadership comes with production on the field in the NFL. In the NFL, the guys that make the plays are the leaders. No one's making plays these days for the Rams.