The benching of Alex Barron apparently will be a one-shot deal.

When asked Monday if Barron would be back with the starting offensive unit when the Rams return to practice Wednesday, coach Steve Spagnuolo said, "I would anticipate that. What happened on Sunday is not where we're going with this team. By that I mean somebody makes a mistake, you're pulled out of the game."

That's what happened to Barron in Sunday's 35-0 loss to San Francisco. After a second-quarter penalty for illegal formation — called because Barron was not lined up on the line of scrimmage — he was pulled for the rest of the game. John Greco, who had never played tackle in an NFL game, replaced Barron at left tackle.

"It was just something that I felt like we needed to do," Spagnuolo said. "My reasons will remain with me. But we're going to move forward. I still believe in Alex Barron. We're going to need Alex Barron to win games."

In the Candlestick Park locker room after Sunday's contest, Spagnuolo addressed the entire team about Barron's benching. Several minutes later, when Spagnuolo spoke to reporters, he sounded almost apologetic about the decision. Spagnuolo had a similar tone in his remarks Monday.

Spagnuolo said he met with Barron on Monday to discuss the issue further.

"Alex and I spoke this morning; it'll remain between Alex and I," Spagnuolo said. "It's like I told Alex. It's over, it's done, we move on. We start Wednesday, it's a clean slate and away we go to worry about Minnesota."

The Rams host Minnesota on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

Barron has been one of the NFL's most penalized players since entering the league in 2005. His penalty Sunday wiped out what would've been the Rams' second-longest pass play of the day — a 19-yard completion to Danny Amendola that carried to the San Francisco 17 with 1 minute, 21 seconds to play in the first half.

The Rams trailed only 7-0 at the time, so a touchdown or even a field goal could have been a momentum changer. Instead, they were backed up to the 41 after the penalty and subsequently punted. St. Louis crossed the 50-yard line only once the rest of the game, and by that time they trailed 35-0 midway through the fourth quarter.

When it was suggested that benching players for subpar performance is a way to hold them accountable, Spagnuolo replied, "Yeah, but you don't want to hurt your football team, either. There's all different ways to do it. In that particular instance, I thought that was the way to do it."

With Jason Smith sidelined by a knee injury, the Rams' options at tackle are limited.

Barron isn't the only Rams offensive lineman to be benched during a game this season. Right guard Richie Incognito was pulled from the season opener in Seattle following a second personal foul penalty early in the third quarter. But Incognito sat out only the final two plays of that series, and then a three-and-out on the Rams' next possession, before returning.

On a larger scale, Spagnuolo said he still believes in his team, even after an 0-4 start in which the Rams have been outscored 108-24 and been on the short end of two shutouts.

"I believe we can get out of this, and work our way out of it," Spagnuolo said. "It's going to take a lot of work. ... Those (lost) games are done. We move on to Minnesota. We try to learn from it and try to get better as a football team."

But the final outcomes won't improve unless the Rams cut down on mistakes, such as penalties and turnovers. After going plus-2 in takeway-giveaway differential in their first two games, the Rams are minus-6 in losses to Green Bay and San Francisco.

All three turnovers against the 49ers led to touchdowns, representing 21 of San Francisco's 35 points.

The Rams also committed 10 penalties for 73 yards. At the quarter pole of the 2009 season, the Rams lead the league in penalties (32) and are third in penalty yards (243).

"In my opinion, it was more of the turnovers than the penalties (against San Francisco)," Spagnuolo said. "Do we want to get rid of the penalties? Yeah. But it was more of the turnovers that hurt us and the lack of getting takeaways."