Bryan: I know the Rams have not scheduled ticket promotions this season because they did not think they needed them. Why have they not changed their mind and offered some sort of discount to have the Seattle and Atlanta games sold out and on TV? Is it an NFL league decision because of revenue sharing of gate sales? If the Blues can offer discounts mid season, why can't the Rams?

Jim Thomas: Very good questions, Bryan. The Rams don't seem to be very creative in terms of advertising or tickets sales.

BigDude: Jim,
You continue to build up Atogwe like he is a quality player. You use stats that paint him in a favorable light without actually looking deeper into his play. Last week, the only example you cited of him being a thumper is a hit on a defenseless receiver in the Saints game. A true hard hitting safety takes on a runner head on a crushes him. Atogwe OFTEN gets run over by both running backs and receivers. The constant references by you, and other reporters, to his abilty to force fumbles is aggravating because it is usually done in the context of OJ being a hard hitter. The truth is that all of his forced fumbles have come after he has let a runner get by him because of misreads or bad angles. The forced fumbles come when he gets behind the runner and punches the ball out. He has done that a handful of times in three seasons, not that impressive really. Yet noone ever mentions the numerous times where he gets beaten and then dragged for 5 to 10 yards because he is too busy trying to strip the runner instead of trying to tackle him. He just isn't a good safety. He is better than Rich Coady and I think the Rams need to address the pass rush and cut Chavous before dealing with Atogwe, but to suggest that Atogwe is a strong contributor to the Rams defense just isn't seeing things for as they are.

Jim Thomas: Big Dude--I've never said, written or intimated that he is a superstar. But he's not the problem, either. I guess we just agree to disagree on this one. Again, I'm basing my conclusions on watching the game in the press box, watching game tape, talking with coaches. What are your conclusions based on?

JerseyRamFan: Hey Jim,

Woo Hoo! Two in a row! A lot of people and media alike, are calling Sunday's game against the 49ers "Ugly". But I beg to differ. It seems to any spectator that a defensive game is ugly, just as any defensive baseball game is boring.

I mean the 49ers held Steven Jackson to under 100 yds rushing and Bulger had only 155 yds passing. The Rams held the 49ers to only 32 combined rushing yds and 231 yds passing. By the way, wasn't this the team that anyone could run on? Now two weeks in a row their opponent has been held to under 50 yds total rushing.

Now that being said, there seems to be many fans out there in "Blogville" that are disappointed in the Rams little win streak. They feel that A.) This only hurts their draft selection. And B.) This could mean that Linehan might return next year.

As for A.) Even though it may hurt their draft position, I still think ending your season on a high note is far more important that your draft position. Even if it meant going 8-8 and not make the playoffs. Players should play to win period!

And as for B.) Even though I am still not 100% sold on Linehan yet, I do believe getting a new Head Coach, which means new coordinators, staff, a filtering of personnel etc. That it could easily set the Rams back another two to three years before you see any progress.

I really would like to see one more year, and see what Linehan can do with a healthy team and more importantly a healthy offensive line. If anything, this year has given Linehan a boatload of experience in a very short time. What he does with this experience is yet to be seen. What's your take?

Jim Thomas: The idea is to try to win games. Draft position is immaterial. What is there to suggest that the Rams would know what to do with a high pick anyway?
As for Sunday's game, I fall into the category that believes it was ugly. It was more a case of inept offense than superior defense. But as my game story pointed out, the Rams have lost plenty of these ugly games in recent years, including one earlier in the season to the 49ers.

Todd: Hi Jim,
I would like the Rams to get an OLine like the Patriots or Cowboys, so Marc could eat a sandwich, take a nap, and wait for someone to get open. Oh well would be nice.

Anywho, what will the Offensive line look like come Sunday? Steussie in? Sorry Leckey's gotta go.

Jim Thomas: As I mentioned in an earlier post, a lot depends on the health of the centers. If McCollum and Romberg are both ready to go, maybe McCollum switches to guard, which allows the Rams to put Steussie at right tackle. We'll see how they line up when the practice week starts Wednesday.
By the way, Steussie officially signed on Tuesday, with WR Travis Taylor cut to make room for Steussie on the 53-man roster.

Brian: Jim,
I don't see Adam Carriker making many tackles, but the Rams have been tough to run on, does he get "credit" for tieing up blockers and allowing others to make tackles? Is the future bright on the defensive line with Carriker and Ryan?

Jim Thomas: For the last half-dozen games, Carriker's play has improved and he's just getting better and better. He was dominant in the early going in San Francisco at DT, getting penetration and eating up space inside. He holds the point of attack, tying up blockers, which is one reason why LBs Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa are playing so well. I think the future is bright with Carriker and Ryan. Although Ryan's overall tackling stats are still better than Carriker's, I think Carriker is playing better than Ryan at the moment.