JJG: What do you think of firing the head coach... let Haslett take over (if the team shows improvement Haslett should be in hired?

Jim Thomas: You probably sent this in before our story with John Shaw's comments. It looks as if Shaw is sticking with his previous statement to the Post-Dispatch that he will make no coaching changes in season.

Mo: Do you think Ron Rivera was a better choice than Linehan or that management failed to find a coach with fire and gusto and is NFL ready coach?

Jim Thomas: I believe I posted this last week. I was kind of hoping for Rivera at the time. I knew very little about Linehan at the time of the job search.

Mark: IF Linehan were to be fired after the Browns game (assuming a loss), and Haslett was promoted to interim HC, I would assume Olson would be shown the door with Linehan. Would Henry Ellard run the offense???

I think Ellard would be fantastic. he played in the 80's under Ernie Zampeze, who passed on his system to Norv Turner and subsequently to MIke Martz. Henry also coached WR's under Martz , and is very familar with his offensive theory and route design . . . but not necessarily Martz's over-the-top pass happy play calling. Like almost everyone else, I long for the days of the DIG routes, the skinny post, post-corner routes. While changing offensive systems mid-year is almost never done, Bulger, Holt and Bruce could run/pass these routes in their sleep.

Yes , injuries have destroyed a once promising O-line, but I have never cared for Linehens offense. HIs play design is 1-AA at best, no motion or shifts, vanilla routes and seemingly very easy to defend. His system was so-so in Miami. In MInnesota, all he really did was throw jump balls to Randy Moss

Would have never thought we would ask the defense to carry the team.

FREE THE RAMS!!!!

Jim Thomas: Again, you probably sent this in before our Monday Rams story. There will be no head-coaching change at the bye week.

Stef Samoy: If you look at what's going on, Bulger just doens't have a front line to protect him. Give Bulger time.... and he picks defenses apart. With a front line.... the running game is in effect. Giving him protection will help him get back into rhythm. It all starts with the front line.

Right now.... with that front line.... I see why Bulger is forcing his throws. Throwing untimely passes. He's just not comfortable and won't be until he KNOWS he's being protected. With Steven Jackson coming back.... maybe that'll open up more run plays that will lead to more play action passes.... and forcing defense to guess what's coming next. Hopefully - a timely throw to HOLT in the endzone.

But for now..... unless the front line can figure how to proctect the their quarterback (regardless on who it is)..... we won't see a win for a long time. As far as why our receivers are dropping balls.....no answer. Hey - when things are going bad..... IT'S BAD. But it still starts with the front line.

TIME FOR THE RAMS TO THROW ON THE OLD THROW BACK UNIFORMS. Yesterday.... they looked like they were wearing LONG JOHNS!!!

GO RAMS.... i STILL believe!

Jim Thomas: Even with all the pass protection problems, the Rams messed up two TD passes in Seattle: Bruce fell down on one; Holt dropped another that was right in his hands. Bulger is a pocket passer. And I agree. If you give him time he can be incredibly accurate. But Bulger has to clean up some things in his game as well. Regardless of his frustration with the offense, he can't force passes. And he needs to throw the ball away at times instead of taking sacks.

Kenny Hickerson: Jim,

While you (and others) have good points about the age of many Rams vets and the need to groom successors, I think it's hard to believe that there has been such a rapid decline, don't you? Holt's knee is a bit concerning, but so many others seem to be tied to circumstance. Bruce over the hill? The guy had 1,000 yards last year while being thrown to a third as many times as Holt. I think Ike has shown that he still has no problem getting separation - but the QB is constantly running for his life and Bruce was never meant for smoke routes. You've written often about the freak nature of Pace's two injuries, and it's not like he's especially old for an OT. Little will break through...I can see the DTs progressing, and the d-line is on the edge of becoming pretty good, IMO. Also, is Barron really playing that badly, or does he get more attention now as the best blocker still standing?

Secondly, I have a few stones to cast. Pisa the pixie LB, whose speed is so great, made Heller look like Kevin Curtis on that naked boot yesterday. For an LB that's supposed to be so fast, I thought he had ample time (after reading the pass) to close and break that pass up. I've always thought he was just fast enough to get run over by nearly every play he hasn't already overrun. Also, Incognito looked ridiculous yesterday! Either he is the latest to jump off Linehan's ship, or he isn't the player I thought he was. He looked every bit as helpless as Brown or Terrell.

Jim Thomas: I'm not saying Bruce is finished. But when is the last time you saw him outrun anyone after a catch. Little, as we reported today, has torn ligaments in the toe. He played very well against Baltimore and Arizona, but he will need surgery on that toe and may not be able to finish out the season.
In theory, LIttle and Pace should have at least a few years left. But players hit the wall at different times. Remember how several members of the '99 Rams defense all hit the wall in 2000. Lyght, Lyle, Farr (bad knee), Jones.
Overall, Barron has been a disappointment at left tackle so far. I'm not sure how badly he wants it. Incognito hasn't played well the past couple of weeks. Pisa and Witherspoon have playew well the past few weeks. But the Will Heller TDs were amazing to me. I mean, the guy's hardly Tony Gonzalez. Heller beat Chillar once as well.