rams26: Hey Jim -

Tough loss yesterday. After week #1, I decided I don't want to focus so much on wins and losses. I want to focus on improvement. If we improve as a team, the wins will fall into place. As long as the losing continues, I will ask you week to week how was the mood of the team after the game? Do they look like they are close to giving up? Are they remaining hungry? Do they believe in Spags? I do. I think he is a good coach that will constantly look to improve this team. Improvement is the key. I look forward to the "improvements" for this week the home opener. I still believe this division is up in the air. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Let's just improve one week at a time.

Thank you Jim!

As always......................GO RAMS!!!!

Jim Thomas: Well, just two weeks into the season, the team is still very much buying into Spagnuolo. This was a tough loss, and you could see it on the faces of the players in the locker room. Sometimes I think it's easier for a team to get blownout than lose by a couple of points. The Rams all knew they had a chance to pull one out at FedEx Field and couldn't get it down. And in close losses, the mistakes are magnified. Donnie Avery, for example, looked like he wanted to slash his wrists afterwards becuase of his fumble. But I give him credit for being a standup guy in the locker room afterwards. Same with Kenneth Darby and his fake punt timeout. It's easy to face the media after you've scored a TD, or grabbed the victory-clinching INT, etc. It takes a character person to face the music when things don't go right.

stacy3424: Hey Jim, I want to know what you think about the Rams offensive Line. I haven't notice them opening any holes for the running back and I don't see them dominating any defence. Also it's obvious that the Rams are going to have to start thinking about drafting a quarter back next year, I know you & the Rams players think he's a good player and a leader on the team, but I judge him based on what he shows and I just don't think he really come out and lead his team. He has a very passive disposition which might translate well on a golf course, but it's horrible on the football field, ask the fans who pay to see this team what they think about Bulger. I think he has so many problems that it's time for a new direction. At the rate that the team is going, we are going to have the top pick in the draft. Ummmm what do you think about Chris Long? Everytime I try to focus on him in the game, I see him looking like he doesn't belong in this league. He's another bust and terrible 1st round pick by the Rams.

Jim Thomas: The run blocking was much-improved against Washington. Work remains to be done on pass blocking. Washington finished 4th in the lague in total defense last season. They are ranked 10th two games into 2009. The Rams won't face many better units, so you have to factor that in.
As for Bulger, he knows, we all know, that if he doesn't have a better season this year he may not be around next year. I don't know how many times I, or anybody else has to say that. As for his passive disposition, I'm not sure what you're talking about. It amazes me that fans can make blanket statements based on what they see in their living rooms on TV.
Did you see Bulger angrily slam his helmet to the ground in Dallas in 2007 after throwing a red zone interception?
Did you see him bounce up out of the pile after getting a facial from a Seattle player (I think it was Aaron Curry) last week?
Did you see him jawing with the referee after there should have been a late hit call on Andre Carter and Albert Haynesworth in Washington?
Did you see the welt the size of a couple grapefruits on his back after taking a pounding at FedEx Field?
Listen, you can say he's not good enough. You can say the team needs to make a change. Fine.
But don't tell me he doesn't care. Because that's just FLAT OUT WRONG.
As for Chris Long, sure we're all expecting more from him this year. And so far we haven't seen it. But you don't declare someone a bust after 18 games.

Mark S: Jim, I do not understand the fans who get so worked up over the fact that we lost the first two games. While I am watching the games, I admit that it is frustrating at times with the mistakes, but I never lose sight of the big picture. The fact is that the Rams are off-the-charts bad in terms of their personnel compared to most other teams, and we all get on these chats and admit that on a week-to-week basis, and yet, when the Rams go out and lose games, fans rant and rave as if we should have expected a different outcome. Another fact is that the Rams are not good enough to compete this year and my guess is that it may be a few years before they are. The important thing is to see progress on the part of the young players who (hopefully) are going to be a part of the nucleus of the team in a few years, after they have had a chance to add more talent. Two games in, and despite some mistakes, it is impossible to tell whether that is happending or not. OK, so maybe Avery blew the game on the fumble and is having ball security issues - isn't the real concern, from a logical perspective, how he is going to bounce back from the last two games and respond? Also, what do people want Spagnuolo to do - you want a strong coach who will stick to a plan, don't you? This guy is no Linehan - he is not in over his head, and you can tell that just by watching his demeanor. He is the kind of strong-minded person that you need to turn something like this around - someone who will ignore all of the chaos going on around him and stick to the plan. Rome wasn't built in a day. What is your take on this?

Jim Thomas: I think Spagnuolo has the makings of a good head coach, I really do. But there certainly have been some early hiccups. You have a first-year head coach, a first-year defensive coordinator, a first-year offensive coordinator, and a first-year special teams coordinator. I think I said on this chant on more than one occasion, that if this team wins six games they should hold a parade. The losses have been frustrating, no doubt, but I did see progress from Week 1 to Week 2. Not enough progress to win, but progress nonetheless. Let's see what Week 3 brings.

West Coast Ram: Jim,
I have two questions, one with a short view and one with a long view.
1) With a team that is so limited offensively why is SJ not touching the ball 30 times a game?????
2) I don't think anyone will argue that this is Bulger's last year with the Rams, so at what point should Boller start so they can fairly evaluate what they have with him? Please don't blow this off as Bulger bashing, but I don't see the TEAM winning many games so I would think that the organization would want to cut the cost of the QB position until the team is in a better position to win.

Jim Thomas: 1.) Agreed. I don't know why you wouldn't make your best football player the centerpiece of the offense. But keep in mind, the Rams have had the ball for only 107 plays in two games; the opposing team has run 140 plays. St. Louis hasn't had the ball all that much.

2.) Spagnuolo is trying to win games. The only thing he's looking ahead to is Green Bay. As long as he thinks Bulger gives him the best chance to win, then Bulger will be the starter.

h2o_jd55: I am surprised Larry Grant has not seen more action on the field. Is he still dinged up or does the staff like Vobora that much better?

Jim Thomas: I think Grant is still getting up to speed after a preseason knee injury. I'd like to see him get a chance, though.