Ed Johnson: Dear Jim
What are the chances of the Rams securing Coach Bill Cowher for next year? Let's start a poll for a new head coach and see who gets top nominee!!!! The Rams have to make changes if these two games are any indications on how this season will spell out.

Jim Thomas: Slim to none. Barring a 1-15 season or something awfully close to that, Linehan will not be fired after two years.

Tommy: By the time Scott Linehan's press conference takes place this afternoon there is a good possibility that we will find out that Marc Bulger will be out for a length of time with cracked ribs.

Seeing that the Ram's were only carrying two quarterbacks and Ryan Fitzpatrick is no longer here, what would be the Ram's options at backup quarterback if Gus Ferotte steps into the starting role?

Jim Thomas: Bulger's ribs are "only" bruised. If something happened to Bulger, the team would simply elevate Brock Berlin from the practice squad. That would be the short-term solution anyway.

John: How much longer do we give the coach,I know the coach doesn't play but it looks to me like these guys are not ready and prepared to play and that is the responsibility of Linehan.

Jim Thomas: As I mentioned above, it would take a big-time debacle for the Rams to change coaches after only two seasons: Something along the lines of 1-15, 2-14, etc.

Murat: Hello;

Despite the terrible loss, I saw many positives in the team and I think next week will be a breakthrough. Two years in a row, the offense is off to a shaky start in the first 2 games. We were lucky to win the Denver game last year. I wonder whether this has anything to do with the way Linehan runs the training camp. It looks to me like the Rams would benefit from 6 preseason games (just joking). What do you think?

Jim Thomas: Linehan and the players can say what they want. I say a trend is a trend. For two years in a row the Rams have barely played their veterans in the preseason, did not have the first-team offense score a touchdown in the preseason, and struggled coming out of the gate in the regular season. I'm sorry. I don't think it's a coincidence. The offense looked very much out of sync against Carolina, but was much sharper _ at least between the 20s _ against San Francisco. But last year, the Rams didn't score more than 18 points in any of their first three regular-season games. This year, they've scored 13 and 16 in their first two regular-season games. Scott Linehan made a conscious decision to protect players from injury in the preseason. It worked out pretty well because the only injuries of any significance were Steussie's broken foot and Incognito's high ankle sprain. But the trade off is your team, particularly your offense, enters the regular season out of sync. Last year, the Rams were fortunate enough to win 2 of those first 3 games even with a struggling offense. Obviously, that won't happen next year. In my opinion, they need to re-think the preseason strategy next year.

Dave M.: Did you notice Holt disappeared in the 2d half - he has a habit of doing that when he gets hit in the mouth - and what a soft gutless fumble. Chavous has to be sat down - he cannot pass cover and cannot tackle! Don't we have any receivers that will go across the middle? I know Holt won't. Bulger seemed to be staring down his main receiver and if not open, he then panicked. He seems to have no pocket awareness when it comes to sensing & side stepping the rush. And Jackson was dancing again & running soft instead of squaring his shoulders and getting what he could. Dante Hall needs to sit and it is time to get Hagans in the kick return game as well as the passing offense. Embarrassing loss!

Jim Thomas: Way too early to give up on Dante Hall. Torry Holt was not hit "in the mouth" on the fumble. It was poked out from behind. Bulger did look like he was starting down the first receiver, but admitted he did so because of all those hits. He didn't want to take the extra time to look at secondary receivers. Jackson did seem to tiptoe a little. It's hard to go across the middle if there are no pass plays called to go over the middle. Holt and Bruce have made a career going over the middle, by the way. The deep-in pattern was one of the staples of the Martz offense, and is still part of the Linehan offense, although not called as often. No doubt, the offense is a mess. And the frustration is mounting.