After trying to figure out why the Rams have refused to try to win, it has finally occurred to me that what we are seeing are 2010 Preseason games, played under the appearance of 2009 regular season games.  How else can you explain running the ball when 8 or 9 men are defending the box and not even trying to pass (OK, OK, they passed occasionally).  I think Spags and company are trying to get the offensive line toughened up a bit and the weak areas of defense exposed.  Wining is secondary and maybe undesirable so that we have high draft picks in every round. 

This is my explanation for losing my hair on Sundays. What do you guys think?

I realized today how much I miss Mike Martz and his approach to offense. What he did with Rams was remarkable. You can argue that the Rams team was loaded with talent but he got quite good production when he served as the OC in Detroit and San Francisco with much more limited talent.  I have had enough with the low-risk, short yardage type of offense which to me is too timid and gutless.  Unless Shurmur asks Bulger for Martz's playbook and incorporates several gutsy plays, I cannot think of a single game this season after which I will not feel humuliated. Coach Martz, where are you?

we cannot score any points.  I got the feeling during the Niners game that we would not score even if we played 16 quarters of football.  The strategy for all teams playing the Rams is "give them enough rope to hang themselves". They can just hang in there until we make a mistake here and there until we make a really biog mistake that we cannot recover from. We made plenty of them today, didn't we?

I don't know about you but I saw a huge progress this week. Yes, dropped passes by McMichael and Avery and the fumble by Avery (again) were painful but overall we are going in the right direction.  Marc Bulger left all he had on the field and did everything for his team.  He is the kind of leader that Spags needs to push this team to get better and better.  Mark my words, we will start winning soon.

I will probably sound naive but Seattle game was much better than the meltdown in Philly to start the last season.  I saw some toughness in defense and the o-line held up well in passing situations.  We did not present much of a threat in offense but keep in mind that

- Bulger was injured so I wasn't expecting him to create miracles

- We have a new offensive system in place and an OC who is serving at this level for the first time, so some learning curve is expected

- Seattle defense has known for 9 months that SJ would be the primary weapon so they made sure that he could not do much and forced us to beat them in the air (expect more next week in Washington)

- The team will get progressively better in the next few weeks.  I agree with Devaney that it is better to have hungry, young (and inexpensive) players than content, ready-to-retire, expensive veterans.

Nobody was expecting us to win. I prefer to have these flaws exposed in a game that we would lose anyway than in a game that we should be able to win.

hat do you guys think?

I remember reading the ESPN magazine at a Barnes & Noble store in the summer of 99.  The issue featured a preseason evaluation of all NFL teams.  For Rams, I remember reading that Tory Holt should make a great impact but there was no one else in the offense and the Rams were doomed for a losing season again. I also remember hearing analysts on TV saying that Marshall Faulk was a "me-first" type of player and all he wanted was a big contract.  Boy, did they get everything wrong.  Football is a team sport which is built on much more than individual talent.  The attitude of the coach is reflected onto the team.  That is why Coach Lombardi made miracles with a group of overachieving, otherwise mediocre players.  Mad Mike, Vermiel had strong characters which we saw on the field. 

I may be wrong but I am seeing a strong character as the head coach of Rams again backed by a competent management.  We may have a lot of holes on paper and a bunch of unknowns as WR's.  But it is the coach's character that is giving me hope.  Both lines are better, and yes we have a ProBowl QB who is capable of being very accurate. 

What I am trying to say is:

1. I am very optimistic about this season and future

2. I am not listening to any "experts" who got it so wrong many times before

3. The foundations are in place for sustained success.

How do you feel, what do you think?