Rod: I hear Tye Hill is on the IR. Do you know anything about the cornerback we picked up? Is it a veteran or someone that could have some potential next year?

Jim Thomas: I'll have something on Quincy Butler in tomorrow's P-D.

james arnold: Jim:

I have watched as much football as anyone my age and I cannot recollect ever seeing such an awful team at this level. In 40+ years, never. I am convinced that there cannot be such a drop off of talent between the rams and the rest of nfl, so i would like your theories as to the level of poor performance. If it is not talent, then it has to be coaching schemes and/or lack of heart. In addition, can you as a beat writer start asking tough questions to the players and organization with regards to this debacle?

Jim Thomas: I've been covering either NFL or college football since 1985. That's almost a quarter of a century. I really believe it's the worst team I've covered, and that's saying a lot considering I covered the Woody Widenhofer Missouri Tigers.
I would say there are a lot of factors involved in the current debacle, most of them have been written about in some detail. It begins with personnel decisions. Bad drafts, bad free-agent decisions.
As for "tough questions" I believe I've been asking them for 14 seasons on the beat. If your idea of asking a tough question is yelling at someone, or insulting them, well, that's not a tough question _ that's unprofessional.

Tony: What is your read, or at least your gut instinct, on how (and how quickly) Chip will deal with the front office and coaching situations once the season ends? I fear that the team being for sale greatly increases the possibility that he does little more than replace Haslett with another caretaker coach, leaving the big changes to new ownership. And the end result for the fans could, rather unbelievably, be another season that looks an awful lot like this one in terms of the team's decision-making structure.

Jim Thomas: He's already working on it. But as anxious as everyone is to see what he does, it's not all going to be in piece, say, three days after the season's over. If there's any kind of full-fledge job search for a new head coach, it will take several weeks.

joeswimmer: JT,

Darby has demonstrated a real good ability to block and catch passes out of the backfield. Given his ability to block could he be utilized, ala Robert Holcomb, as an undersized blocking back who also gives you the added dimension as a good receiver.

Jim Thomas: Darby lacks the size to be even an undersized blocking back. I think his best chance of making the team is as a third-down back (because of his quickness and pass-catching ability). And if you're on the field in passing situations, you better be able to pick up a blitz, which is where Darby's blocking skills come in handy.

rambart: Hi Jim, once again Thanks for your article.. We hear over & over again how light we are, DE, DT, and especially line backers. why not more talk about Maualuga. He sure seems big enough. Does he have some problem???
Thanks Jerry Bartels Elk Grove CA

Jim Thomas: I'm sure he's in the mix. It's still very early in the process for the Rams. The only question mark on him that I'm aware of is his running ability. Is he fast enough to be an every down linebacker? And if you're taking a middle linebacker that high in the draft, he's got to be an every down linebacker.