The Rams' regular-season debut under new coach Steve Spagnuolo was a major disappointment. A bust. No, I didn't expect this team to be dramatically better. I wasn't demanding miracles.

As I've written several times, I realize that Spagnuolo and staff face a brutally difficult assignment in the mission to turn this franchise around. Years of ineptitude can't be erased in one season, let alone one Sunday. These people have to install a program and reinvent a sad-sack franchise.

That said, the NFL is a tough, unforgiving league. No one outside the family is going to feel sorry for you.

I agree that the effort Sunday in Seattle was fine. I agree that the players cared. But that only counts for so much.

The Rams played with spirit? Great. I thought this was pro football, not an audition for "High School Musical." Moreover, this was the first game of a new season, a new era. The record was 0-0. The players had every reason to want to make a positive impression. Many of the players are fighting to establish, or save, a career. Why wouldn't they be motivated?

Here's what disappointed me with the 28-0 drubbing in Seattle:

— The latest outbreak of Richie Incognito. I think I understand why Spagnuolo, at least initially, is trying to take a positive, Dick Vermeil approach with the resident bad boy. If Spagnuolo wants to disregard the past and evaluate Incognito based on how the right guard behaves under his watch, then it's the coach's prerogative. But here's my question: Now that this Incognito slate is no longer clean under this coach — and that didn't take long — then how much is the coach willing to tolerate?

How far is Spagnuolo willing to go with a player who has a long and troubling history of undisciplined conduct? Incognito is skilled at conning coaches into believing that he'll change his ways. Incognito played Scott Linehan and Jim Haslett; now he's trying to work it with Spagnuolo. And if Spagnuolo allows himself to be manipulated by Incognito, he'll lose credibility.

— The number of preventable mistakes. After so many meetings and practices, how can you have 12 men on the field? On offense, how can you be late in sending in plays, or getting the right personnel into the game? There was too much confusion on the Rams' sideline.

— The offensive line. Another mediocre performance, right out of the chute. And we can't blame this on Jay Zygmunt, Linehan, or other scapegoats. Rams general manager Billy Devaney recommended the $36 million signing of guard Jacob Bell in 2008. Devaney pursued free-agent center Jason Brown, who received a $37 million deal. This management team chose offensive tackle Jason Smith with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft.

This management hired Incognito for another season. And this staff installed Alex Barron at left tackle instead of parking the rookie Smith there. This front office (and Spagnuolo) decided to retain Steve Loney as the offensive line coach. If this bunch gets kicked around, the failure is on the new regime.

— Where was the pass rush? The Rams didn't sack Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback. They didn't get close enough to annoy him, either. Again: I know there's a talent deficiency. But we didn't see any innovation or creative scheming to concoct a pass rush.

— No identity on offense. I expected the Rams to come out and show us who they are. They've invested millions in the offensive line, and in running back Steven Jackson. The coaches have talked about building a physical, relentless team, with a 230-pound back as the centerpiece.

Jackson had only 16 touches in Seattle, including only nine runs in the first half. And up to the point where this was still a competitive contest — before Seattle scored to go ahead 21-0 — the Rams called 22 passes and 10 runs.

I don't get it. Quarterback Marc Bulger missed several weeks of preparation with a broken finger and wasn't primed to be sharp. And it's not as if the Rams are loaded with quality receivers. The passing game was bland. So how can you abandon the run? Coordinator Pat Shurmur didn't put a stamp on his offense.

The Rams took a hodgepodge approach in Seattle. They tried a little of this and some of that, but established nothing. If you want to hush the crowd, if you want to get the O-line cranked up, if you want to get Jackson rolling, then you had to make a concerted effort to be a physical, aggressive team. If the Rams don't think they can run the ball, then why did they give large sums of money to the offensive line and the RB?

And it was a low-scoring game for 2.5 quarters. You had to give No. 39 the ball and grind away on the ground. You had to let the Seahawks know they'd have to stand up to an exerted push all afternoon — and if they stopped you early, it didn't matter, because you weren't going to stop attacking. The Rams' average of 4.3 yards a carry invited more, not less, activity.

Long range, Rams coaches will need to have more talent on the roster before they can sculpt a winner. But I don't think it's unreasonable to ask that they make maximum use of what they have.

Next stop: Washington. Will the Rams be sharper — and smarter? No excuses.