Ramalamadingdong: Heya JT - do you think the answer is to get the playcalling out of Olson's hands and back into Linehan's?

Because to me, the O looks just as uninspired and unimaginative as ever. No passes over the middle to ANYBODY, much less a TE or running back to slow the 9er blitz.

Martz would have been licking his chops against the 9ers and sliced and diced them mercilessly.

Thanks.

Jim Thomas: It could go that way, although I think Linehan would prefer to be CEO on game day rather than play calling. It was puzzling to me why the Rams didn't try more passes over the middle when the 'Niners were blitzing so many guys from the edge. It's simple math. You have an overload of guys on the edge, that has to leave less guys somewhere else (in the middle).

Dan: Were the Rams anywhere on the radar for Tank Johnson? It not, WHY NOT?
Thanks.

Jim Thomas: Well, I answered this earlier. But with two guys on drug suspension (Fakhir Brown, Claude Wroten), and another guy facing two alcohol-related trials in the next three months, why do the Rams need to add another off-the-field problem waiting to happen?

Chad: I put all of the rams problems on the heads of the coaches. Due to weak and passive play calling they have put the rams season directly into the toilet. There were mistakes that should have not happened but the other teams didnot make us pay because of those mistakes. The coaches should have prepared the team and themselves for the real thing a long time ago. Thanks coaches.

Jim Thomas: I wouldn't say the seasons' in the toilet, but it's certainly heading towards the bathroom. Even with all the offensive line injuries, I would say the biggest problem this season has been the lack of production on offense. The play-calling has been curious.

RamFanInPA: Jim,
What are the teams thoughts on Alex Barron? I keep hearing he has all the tools to be great, but I do not see it on the field. How do the coaches honestly feel? Obviously he was one of the players Bulger "called out" last season. The Rams must go OT early in the 2008 draft, must they go there twice? Pace cannot be counted on, who knows he may retire?

Thanks.

Jim Thomas: I think the coaches would like to see Barron get more serious about the game. I think he's starting to get there. This needs to be his breakthrough year, but in fairness, he's starting over in a sense at left tackle. Even if Pace returns, I think OT is a Day 1 draft priority.

Derrelle: Hello since the general public can't speek to coach Linehan could you please tell him that the answer to the rams problems is that the team is not having fun together. It seems that everyone on the team came to fight a individual war the object of football is team work. This team is seperated into too categories Defense and offense when their suppose to ride and die together. This team does not fight together the appropriate thing for Steven Jackson to do instead of him shouting at the coach was to get the offensive line together and look at the photos and see what they could do better on the next serious or what kind of holes that the line could open up or Marc Bulger should go join the the recievers to look over the pictures and view what went wrong with a certain play instead of putting on a ball cap and standing next to Gus Frerotte looking at the defense. The players need to be more involved with each other because they are loosing
together it seems that the rams or looking at it like its work as usual and not like they enjoy work, and let's be honest if you dont like your job your not going to perform up to standards. Linehan has to make these guys enjoy football everybody is in panic mode and we know when you panic misteaks happen this is only the second game relax and have fun. Tell Linehan to tell the offense it's ok to talk to the defense and vice versa we are all on the same team we are all fighting for the St.Louis Rams look at how the Patiots came together sunday night as a team after the game and rallied together behind their coach, the talent is in place we are just not enjoying football right now

Jim Thomas: It's hard for me to say how close _ or unclose _ this team is. Corey Chavous is a great mentor to the younger players. Has a lot of them to his house for dinner. Bulger frequently takes the o-line out for dinner. I think a little emotion on the sideline is a good thing. But I don't know if screaming at the coach on the sideline accomplishes much. You are dead right on this: It's no time to panic. Not two games into a season. This is the time when players' professionalism and focus are tested.