Ed Curran: I have a different take on the Rams season so far than the P-D Rams beat writers and many fans. The sky is not falling, the Rams simply are in a terrible slump - add that to the injuries and it equals 0-4. The Rams are a few (5-10 plays) from being 2-2 or even 3-1, even with the all of the injuries. And the critical bad plays are being made by their supposed best players. I say if Steven Jackson (who is not fumble prone) doesn't fumble twice in game 1 we win. If Dante Hall (one of the best return men of all time) doesn't fumble the punt in game 2 we win again. In game 3 Wilkins (nicknamed Money) misses 2 relatively easy field goals, plus Bulger throws that horrible interception in the endzone, I say that we win that game too, if not for those 3 plays. That's 6 plays away from 3-1. Why do your best players make crucial mistakes at critical points in the game? Who knows but in baseball they call them slumps. The difference is the baseball season is much longer and they don't hurt as much. I just don't see how the coach is at fault though for those mistakes, responsible but not at fault. I'm not saying Linehan is without fault for poor play calling and game decisions (not playing Frerotte sooner) but the P-D and fans reaction is ridiculous. Didn't Belichek get run out of town in his first head coaching job? Geez give Linehan some time. Right now I say blame the Rams best players if you need to assess blame. I hope the P-D beat writers have to eat your words later in this season or next season.

Jim Thomas: The point is the Rams are 0-4. In almost every game throughout the league, you can point to two or three plays that define a game. Trouble is, the two or three plays always seem to be going against the Rams. Good teams find a way to win the close ones, regardless of the circumstances, the injuries, the calls. The Rams haven't. Not once. Instead they have crumbled in the second half of ballgames when they've been outscored 72-9. Seventy-two to nine. Aren't those alarming numbers to you?

J. Barcellos: Jim,

You missed my question last week and it only seems to be gaining steam after another rough outing. If Linehan doesn't make it back next year. Who would be the top three guys on your wish list for the head coaching job?

Lifelong Ram fan from California

Jim Thomas: Why don't we just let this thing play out a little more before we start looking for replacements.

Frank Mendenhall: Aside from Bulger's ineffectiveness (which i think is obviously caused by his injuries) and the offensive line problems, it seems as though our receivers rarely gain any separation in their patterns. What do you think the problem is?

Jim Thomas: Holt and Bruce aren't getting any younger. Bennett has made some obvious mistakes in terms of running the right pattern. Holt is not at full speed because of his knee surgery, although I think he's getting better. But overall, I'm not sure they're that they're not gaining separation. You look at the tape of the San Francisco game, and Rams receivers were running free all day. There have been many plays where Bulger just didn't have time to get the ball off.

keith moudy: Considering, the injuries, I thought the Rams
played, a great 1st 1/2 vs. the Cowboys.
I am bewildered as to why, with broken ribs
they started, and, stayed with Bulger.
considering the terrible luck the Rams have
faced so far, I would like to remind, everyone, they could also, later in the year,
win 4 in a row. All is not lost.
and yes, i'm a season tic holder section 105

Jim Thomas: There's no doubt life in the NFL can change in an instant. It's a week to week league, and what happened the previous Sunday often has no bearing on what happens the next Sunday. The challenge for the Rams is not getting down mentally, believing in themselves, and believing in their coaches. But as someone who's around the team a lot, it's obvious the frustration is mounting on the offensive side of the ball. Compounding matters are the injuries. Yes, all teams have them. But I've never seen anything quite like this in a relatively short period of time. At the moment, the Rams are losing more players to injury each week than they're getting back from injury.

Michael Camuso: Jim, does it make sense to you that the Rams should bench Bulger until he is healthy and play Ferrote? There is not much we can do as this is a lost season but at least we will have a chance to win a few games with a healthy quarterback.

Jim Thomas: Probably the time to do it would've been starting with the Tampa Bay game. When a coaching staff tells you they specifically went with a conservative game plan out of concerns for a banged-up quarterback, then he probably shouldn't have been playing.