Mike: Ryan looked good against the Niners. If he continues to play well does Wroten spend more time on the bench when he is reinstated? Will we see some situations with Wroten, Ryan, and Carriker all on the field at the same time?

Jim Thomas: One game does not a career make. But Ryan did all that in 18 snaps. I think the Rams should make more use of Ryan. If he continues to be productive, it will be hard to lower his workload. Personally, I have my doubts that Wroten will ever amount to anything. He has now had at least four instances of drug-related issues since his senior year of college. He's only in his second year in the NFL. His next suspension will cost him a year in a league. What gives the Rams any hope that Wroten will suddenly clean up his act?

Mike: Jackson needs to shut up and put out. He was averaging less then 3 yards per carry. How many times did he run on 1st down and lose 2 yards and we’d be faced with 2nd and 12. Then, they knew we were going to pass, so they blitzed and beat the crap outta Bulger and now we’re 3rd and long. So why did he want the ball in his hands in the critical moments when he proved all day long he couldn’t get it done??? I don’t blame Linehan for not giving him the ball. Do you think they should’ve used Leonard more? He had some nice catches.

Jim Thomas: I don't think Jackson's anger was necessarily about not getting the ball. I've yet to look at the tape, but it didn't look like Jackson had much running room. When DTs are quickly in the backfield on basic red zone running plays, that's not a good sign. And no one as confused SF's defensive front with the Steel Curtain when it comes to run defense. I do like the fact that Leonard is getting worked in. He's certainly not in Jackson's class as a runner, but he is a good pass catcher. He runs north-and-south but has a certain niftiness to him, at least from what we've seen so far. And I will say this: So far his pass protection and blitz pickup has been good, probably better than Jackson's.

Buzz: How long will it realistically take for Brandon Gorin to learn the offense well enough to play RT? Surely he would be a better choice than Milford Brown, who has never played Tackle before? Also, did not having a fullback hurt the running game against SF? Thanks. Buzz

Jim Thomas: A lead-blocking fullback has never been used much in Linehan's system. But on plays when the Rams tried to use someone else in that role (particularly TE Klopfenstein) things didn't work out well in the running game. I expect Richard Owens, who was signed last week and has more fullback experience to dress this week. That might help. I was very surprised to see Brown given the start at RT. I think he's a guard, a decent guard. He doesn't have the quickness or body type to play right tackle. I would have rather seen Golberg given a shot. As for Gorin, it may take a couple weeks to get him up to speed.

Del D: I will not dwell on past. The preseason is over. We did not get the boys enough hits. Result, poor timing by Bulger, fumbles, injuries. The human body has to be conditioned. The Rams were not so we go through it during the regular season.

I will not ask B.S. questions. Fire Linehan or Haslett? Ain't gonna happen. The Rams are notorious for keeping coaches until their contract expires then not resigning them. Remember ST coaches, 5 of them. Or DC Marmie.

Bench Bulger? Again please. Ain't gonna happen. You do not give him 60 mil then set him down. Besides his stats are not horrible. No int's & good % despite all those drops.

All those injuries and suspensions happen to every team simply not true. Lost or moved LT Pace, RG Incognito, RG Brown, RG Terrell, RT Barron, fill in LT, RG, RT Goldberg, WR Bennett, DE Little, LB Tinoisomoa, DE Moore, signed CB Vinett, CB Brown, CB Hill. Who is next?

My final topic before my question is regarding the PD writers. The public believes every word they read to be gospil. So now we have writers BM and JG telling all that Linehan is on the hot seat. Granted it could be better but not on the hot seat.

My solution - no looking back. It's over. Shut up those writers and all those negative posts. The season starts Sunday at TB Sunday in a must win game. No more complaining about lack of PS time, drops, fumbles or injuries.

Can it be done?

How do you address doing it?

Thank you.

Jim Thomas: I have yet to do a lot of study on Tampa. But the formula for victory is relatively simple:

1.) Defense must continue the intensity and focus it showed against San Francisco. Gore's run notwithstanding, that was a v-e-r-y good performance. You can win a lot of games with a defense playing like that.

2.) Get the running game going. The Rams have started well on the ground against Caro. and San Fran, but after 1 1/2 quarters, things have slowed to a crawl. Why? I'm not sure. Are the other teams making adjustments by then? Is conditioning a factor in the line, with the guys gradually tiring?

3.) Be more productive in the red zone. A 33% TD ratio in the red zone, the Rams' current figure, is a prescription for defeat. For starters, the Rams have to eliminate those red zone turnovers, and negative (penalties, sacks, negative running plays) in the red zone.

Sounds simple. But easier said than done.

Jack Dempsey: Hey JT,
After watching "Money" kick nearly, if not all, of his kick offs to only the 6 or 10 yard line, then seeing the missed field goal at the end, I wonder how this guy led the league in touchbacks in the past. What's with the inconsistency? Do we have yet another injury that has not been disclosed? From my seat at the Ed, I thought that last kick would be good. I now think that it was the poster child for this season: "Just a bit short". What do you think? Yeah, everything is topsy turvy after week 2, but the cream usually rises to the top in this league, and I suspect the Rams will have to look up to see these teams.

Jim Thomas: Wilkins has been kicking for a long time, and he just doesn't have the leg strength on kickoffs that he had, say, five years ago. He's 35 years old. But he remains one of the best long-distance field goal kickers in league history. But as Wilkins freely admits, 55, 56 yards is right on the edge of his range.