• Jim Thomas gives us an update on Leonard Little's situation. It seems to me that Little is thinking hard about walking away from the game. IMO, I think the Rams could really still use him next year as a pass-rusher.
• Rams GM Bill Devaney insists that releasing QB Marc Bulger is not an indication of what the team will do with the first overall pick. Really? So he's ready to have just A.J. Feeley and Keith Null on the roster going into the season? Give me a break; we're not that stupid. But I guess there is a certain amount of posturing that must go on to retain some leverage in contract negotiations with whomever they take with the first pick.
• Here is Todd McShay with how this move affects the top of the draft.
• In case you missed it, the Rams have agreed to terms with LB Na'il Diggs. Howard Balzer questions whether he will play the weak or strong side. I think he's a good addition regardless; if the Rams add a young LB in the draft (Sean Weatherspoon, please) he can be a good mentor.
• Jeff from Rams Gab explores a possible trade for DT Albert Haynesworth.
• Bernie offers his path of development for Sam Bradford, should he be chosen with the first pick.

That's it for today. GO RAMS.

• Billy Devaney meets with Sam Bradford's agent, Tom Condon. Overtures about the first pick? Maybe.
• In case you missed it, James Hall is back with the team.
• A very critical look at last year's draft class.
• Looks like Stan Kroenke is unlikely to be the next owner of the Rams.
• Spags hangs out with his former cronies from Philly on the golf course.

Not much going on this morning in Ramsdom. In any case, have a good Wednesday and GO RAMS.

I wanted to let everyone know that I'll be working on posting regularly again. I'm in my last semester of college on a runaway train towards real life (what's that?). Job searches and classes have kept me away, but hopefully as things settle down I'll be a regular voice here again. With that out of the way, on to some Rams news!

• The St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame revealed its first class of inductees. It's list is packed full of former redbirds, but football redbird great Dan Dierdorf does make an appearance. Check out the rest of the inductees.
• The Bleacher Report weighs in on who the Rams will take with their first overall pick. Hint: his name starts with "N" and ends with "damukong". Personally, I think despite what the experts say about Suh's potential, the Rams need a quarterback. If you read Van's bit about Dez Bryant, you know his stock is falling. Sam Bradford paired with Bryant could be a very dynamic duo that frees up defenders from Donnie Avery (fingers crossed Bryant falls). Anyway, point is, I'd rather see Bradford than Suh at number one.
• In case you were interested, here's a list of the how much Rams players were rewarded through the NFL's performance-pay system. At the top of the list is Danny Amendola, who received a nice $176,427 chunk of change for his surprising year.
• Jim Thomas says via Mike Sando that Adam Carriker may not be moving to the Skins per say, but could be moving on from Rams Park eventually.
• Great article from the New York Times about owners of professional sports teams trying to sell their teams in a recession (the Rams are mentioned towards the end).

Have a good Wednesday and GO RAMS.

Not that much out there today about the Rams; here's just a few tidbits to get you through the morning...

• Despite what optimism might be lurking out there in Ramsdom, the Vegas oddsmakers have none in regards to next season's championship hopes.
• In case you missed Van's update, Steven Jackson will not be charged with the beating of his ex.
• Bryan Burwell on where Jackson can go from here.
• Bleacher Report on the Rams 2010 draft needs. 

A good Wednesday to all and GO RAMS.

Here's the story from TMZ's website.

Look, being a journalism student, I always take anything that media outlets like TMZ report with a large grain of salt - I encourage you to do the same. However, these are very serious allegations and must be taken seriously. The site linked to has a scanned copy of the complaint that his girlfriend filed and upon first read, it appears to be legitimate. Obviously, Steven Jackson is a great player and has never been in serious trouble with the law. If proved to be true, these allegations have huge implications for Jackson's career and his future with the Rams (see: four pillars). However, I have to give Jackson the benefit of the doubt until more information comes out. Stay tuned.

[Update 1:28 p.m. by kevinramsfan]: Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com says that Jackson has not been arrested.

[Update 1:36 p.m. by kevinramsfan]: Oh how fast news travels in convergent media. Now CBS sports now says it has obtained the same police report and is reporting the same news as TMZ. At least for me, this lends the story a little more weight.

[Note by VanRam, 01/28/10 4:55 PM EST ] I've been out of the loop this afternoon, but I'm chiming in with my two cents. These kind of accusations are always a nasty thing to hear, especially when they involve a popular player or personality, just ask Christian Bale. A "he said, she said" argument is usually a no-win situation. The one thing that seems a little fishy to me is that the report was filed this week, Wednesday to be exact. Jackson's son was born in March. Domestic violence is a serious enough charge that waiting 10 months to file a charge demands an explanation. 

Mike Sando has a post up wondering about the potential ramifications (no pun intended) of the situation. He says the accusation makes it harder for the Rams to pursue other players with character issues, something GM Billy Devaney said they'd have more flexibility with this year. I think it's still a little premature for a conclusion like that. (Though I think the Vick thing is the wrong move for other reasons). What if Jackson is exonerated of the charges? What if there's more to it than meets the eye? Of course, the court of public opinion is usually so quick to drag a name through the mud that exoneration is often little more than a personal victory for the accused. 

I hope at the very least you'll withhold your judgement on Jackson until we know more about what happened.

[Note by VanRam, 01/28/10 6:10 PM EST ] Jackson's statement: 

It's disheartening that I have to address any alleged allegations 10 months later, but I have read the accusations made by Supriya Harris, and they are untrue.

The accusations are especially hurtful because those who truly know me know that those actions would be out of character for me.

• There's some news about the Rams sale that you want to check out. Van has that covered below.
• Former Rams great Isaac Bruce has expressed interest in the vacant WR coaching position. I personally would love this move, and I can't think of anyone in Ramsdom who would dislike this move.
• Adam Carriker lobbies for the Rams to choose fellow 'Husker Ndamukong Suh with the number one pick. He should be lobbying for the Rams to bring him back.
• The Rams sign a new DT, Chris Bradwell.

As the decade winds down, I'm going to follow ram_rod's lead and share my top ten Rams draft picks of the 2000's. Unfortunately, many of the Rams greats, like Orlando Pace and Tory Holt, were drafted in the previous decade, and were not eligible for this list. As ram_rod showed with his list, the 2000's were a great period to find lousy draft picks rather than good ones made by the Rams. This list is hardly perfect. That being said, I considered a great deal of things when making this list, including pick value, performance with the Rams and overall career performance. In some of these instances, the players had better careers elsewhere. In that case, I blame management for not keeping these players and assume they would have produced at the same level in St. Louis. With all of that out of the way, on to the fun part.

10: James Laurinaitis, LB Ohio State
       2009, 35th Overall Selection

Picture via stlouisrams.com

Some of you might be surprised to see the rook on this list. However, I believe there's a strong case for the former Buckeye standout to be in the top 10. In his first NFL campaign, Laurinaitis is among the top 15 tacklers in the NFL, with 115 total. For perspective, that's just six less than Ray Lewis has this season.  He also has a sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble to his credit. Rey Maualuga, the vaunted MLB from Southern Cal whom the Rams passed on for Laurinaitis, has only 63 tackles this year (partly due to a move to OLB in Cincinnati). Even this early in his career, James Laurinaitis looks like one of the better picks from the past few drafts and should be the heart and soul of this defense for years to come.

9.  Madison Hedgecock, FB North Carolina
     2005, 251st Overall Selection

 
picture from stlouisrams.com

This is the first pick that I struggled putting on here because of his short time with the Rams. For whatever reason, (one that I can't and probably won't ever understand) the Rams unceremoniously parted ways with Hedgecock during the 2007 season. The power blocking fullback went on to contribute to the fourth ranked rushing attack in the NFL in 2007 with the Giants - who oh yeah, won the Superbowl. The absence of a power-blocker led to Steven Jackson's lowest rushing total of his career, aside from his rookie campaign. We've all seen and heard from SJ what a blocking back can do for him, evidenced by his performance this year with Karney. Hedgecock continues to start for the Giants, and I place the blame solely on Scott Linehan for him being there and not in St. Louis.

8. Chris Massey, OL Marshall
    2002, 243rd Overall Selection

picture from huntingtonquarterly.com

This is one that I'll probably get flak for, but here's what's up. Massey had been the long snapper for the team essentially since he was drafted seven years ago. There aren't any official stats kept for long-snappers, but unofficially I can't remember him ever causing a bad snap. He'd never missed a game in his career until he went down earlier this year. I don't care what position you play; to get drafted in the seventh round and stay injury free in the National Football League and consistently do your job well is pretty remarkable. Massey deserves to be on this list.

7. Clifton Ryan, DT Michigan State
    2007, 154th Overall Selection

picture from stlouisrams.com

Ok, so I don't really have the stats to back this one up, so feel free to disagree. Ryan has played in every game in his career. That, coupled with the fact that he's had an increasingly important role on the D-Line makes me think he's a good player. The Rams really got value with this pick, and he's performed admirably, especially against the run.

6. Ronald Bartell, CB Howard
    2005, 50th Overall Selection

picture from bleacherreport.com

Bartell has been a solid addition to the defensive backfield for the Rams. On his career, Bartell has eight interceptions and 230 tackles (with his highest total coming this year with 56 to date). Bartell earned one of the starting corner positions in part because of the Tye Hill flameout and has been a good cover corner during that time. The front office thought so as well, signing him to a big-time 4-year $25 million dollar deal. Bartell was one of the brighter spots in the 2005 draft.

See the top five picks of the decade after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

• Spags won't let on who will get the nod at quarterback for the final game of the year, and a laundry list of players who will play hurt against the 'Niners. Let Null play, we all know Boller's not the answer, and Null could develop nicely into a backup for next year.
• Steven Jackson is named to the pro bowl. It maybe just me, but I think it's a travesty that Adrian Peterson is starting over him.
• Speaking of SJ, he says he will play in the finale.
• A little background on our tiny school quarterbacks, Keith Null and Mike Reilly.
• The Rams are +8 against San Fran for the merciful season finale.

Happy New Year and GO RAMS!

• In case you missed it, the Rams have signed former Chargers S Clinton Hart, in anticipation of losing star S O.J. Atogwe for the remainder of the season.
• Jim Thomas on the Rams red zone struggles this season. To sum it up - historically bad. Gotta love the headline on that article though. Kinda stating the obvious don't you think?
• In a Superbowl XXXIV rematch, the Rams open today +11.5 on the road against the Titans.
• Will from Rams Herd with a good piece on Keith Null and the spread offense. 
• From the Tennessean, 5 things they know about the Titans (in slide show form).

Have a good Wednesday and GO RAMS

The news out of South Bend today is that Notre Dame's junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen is entering April's NFL draft. Clausen was the number one overall player out of high school a couple of years ago, but it seemed like his career for the Golden Domers was star-crossed. Never had a great offensive line, his defense stunk, and lacked playmakers on offense (until the emergence of Golden Tate this year). Will he be moving to a similar rebuilding situation in St. Louis? In an article on ESPN.com, Tom Friend speculates about his possible destination:

Rated as perhaps the top quarterback in this year's class, he is believed to be coveted by St. Louis, Cleveland and Washington -- three teams that will conceivably pick in the top 5.

Draft talk around here has started to heat up lately, and for good reason. The Rams simply need talent. Everywhere. Including quarterback. We all know that Marc Bulger is likely done as a Ram, and Kyle Boller has performed up to the standards he was hired to - backup. Jimmy Clausen won't solve the Rams problems on offense. Personally, I've lobbied for a playmaker at WR like Dez Bryant in the first round, mostly because I'm afraid of taking a quarterback as high as we're likely to be picking. There's certainly also an argument for guys like Ndamukong Suh on defense. That being said, I can't help but feel like Devaney and crew are looking hard at a QB, especially after I read this:

But six days later, he threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns at Stanford, and his ability to persevere is why several general managers, who have requested anonymity, believe he is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft. They say he's already mastered an NFL offense, has already been subjected to a leaky offensive line and has already been part of a rebuilding process. They like that he played his entire college career on national TV and that he thrived in one of the biggest fishbowls in sports: Notre Dame.

*Emphasis Added

We don't know what he have in Keith Null. But he's not ready to be a starter in the NFL. And yet there are serious holes all over this team, of which QB is not the most glaring. Is Jimmy Clausen going to be a good pro QB? Probably. Will he help the Rams next year? Probably not.

"I feel great," Smith said. "I feel like 310 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal."

Here's the link

One of the many quarterbacks to go down Sunday, Marc Bulger is now out at least three weeks with a fractured tibia according to Jay Glazer. I've also heard this reported on this evening's Sportscenter. Kyle Boller will get the start against the Seahawks on Sunday. This is just another in a long line of injuries that have decimated this team in 2009. The hits just keep on coming! Stay tuned for more fallout.

Some quick hits for the rest of the afternoon:

• Jim Thomas gives us a little background on Brandon Gibson.
• A little more on the newest Ram WR, Jordan Kent.
• Mike Sando counts Adam Goldberg and Brandon Gibson among his Super Subs for the NFC West.
• The Rams are +7 at home against the Cardinals this week. Even though the wins aren't there yet, it seems Vegas is respecting the Rams more and more each week. Earlier in the season this line would have been much higher.
• Jim Thomas on the tough schedule for the Rams in the past few weeks. And, of course, Kurt Warner is coming back to town.

GO RAMS

As Van said earlier, I'm sure I speak for all of us here at TST when I say good luck to 3K. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Time for some links...

• Help our military relax and catch a Rams game with your help. This weekend, the Rams are donating one ticket to the military for every one sold to the public. Love this.
• The Rams promote LB Dominic Douglas to the 53-man roster. CB Marcus Brown who visited earlier this week was signed to fill Douglas' spot on the practice squad.
• Jim Thomas on the improving special teams under coach Tom McMahon.
• Mike Sando with his Midseason Report on the Rams. Good stuff. Midseason reports for the 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals are also up on his blog.
  
• The Rams are +13.5 at home against the Saints this weekend. If you watched ESPN's 30 for 30 last night on Jimmy the Greek, you know that he loved the underdog. I'm just sayin'.
• Steve Korte offers a look at the beginning to the second half, starting with the high flying Saints.

Have a good rest of the day. GO RAMS!

This might be the best bye week ever. We get to enjoy the first of many Rams wins in the Spagnuolo era for two weeks. And last I checked, the Rams won't be losing this week, either. On a personal note, I'm glad they picked Sunday to win. The night before, my football spirits were in the dumps as I was on Rocky Top witnessing my school on the wrong end of a good ole' fashion beat down in the steady rain and cold. God those uniforms were hideous. On to the links...

• Broken by ram_rod yesterday, the Rams did some roster shuffling, cutting Tim Carter. Carter had to go and we're thin at corner. He's gotten some important targets in the red zone this year and did nothing with them.
• James Laurinaitis gets some love in the Jeremy Green's Rookie Watch.
• Steven Jackson will not tolerate your insolence! (Or in this case, the Lion's)
• An injury report from the AP regarding Danny Amendola and Jacob Bell. Let's hope these two get back soon. Amendola has been a find this year and I really admire the passion he plays with.
• Sean over at SBN's own Pride of Detroit has a drive-by-drive breakdown of the Rams' first win.
• Interesting, if not exhausting, debate about the QB situation at the PD. VanRam wrote about Bulger yesterday and I agree he's just not the solution anymore, although its hard to argue with the decision to bring him back.
• I'd much rather hear Steve Korte talk about Steven Jackson's will to win that overcomes everything. Including 17-game losing streaks. I've said it here before, we must build around him. His performance Sunday was borderline inspirational, and the Rams can be great (yes, I said great) if we make him the centerpiece of the team like we did against the Lions.
• The line is even for Rams against Bye this week. Should be a push, they're pretty evenly matched.

In all seriousness, enjoy your Wednesday. And as always, GO RAMS.

Tough sledding for Rams fans these days. I'll do my best to find some bright spots.

• With a pretty good individual season so far (minus the scores) Steven Jackson keeps his composure. I have to hand it to this guy, he's trying very hard to be a team player. He must realize how good he could be behind a good run-blocking line, but isn't complaining or blaming anyone else. Jackson is a player we must build around before his time runs out. He has the potential to be an elite running back in this league and I hope Devaney and company make a commitment to do so. If they don't, in my opinion it will be a long time before the Rams get a running back similar to his caliber again.
• The Rams have signed a new long snapper to replace Chris Massey, now on IR. Ryan Neill will take over the job that Massey has had since we drafted him out of Marshall in 2002. If there is such a thing as an underrated long snapper, I think Massey is it. It's hard to find stats to back up a claim on any long snapper, but to my knowledge he hasn't missed a game in eight years and as far back as I can remember, I can't remember him costing us points because of a bad snap. Point blank, if you don't do you job you cost your team points, possibly a win. Just ask Trey Junkin.
• Gordo on how, despite the results, the Rams have maintained a professional attitude. This is something that keeps me believing in what Spags has going on at Rams park. The talent might not be there, but I'd at least rather have players that don't give up. At least we no longer have to put up with the Claude Terrell's and Damione Lewis's of the world.
• Nick from the Bleacher Report has, shall we say, an interesting take on how he would remodel the Rams if he were to buy the team. I'll let the comments sort this one out.
• With your Wednesday line update, at least one casino as the Lions at -4 for Sunday's matchup. Might be the least amount of points we've been underdogs by, if you're looking hard for some bright spots.
  

Keep the faith! GO RAMS

• Mike Sando's take on the Witherspoon trade. I have to say when I first heard about the move I was a little upset. But after reading his rationalization, I feel better about it. Needless to say that the two positions involved in the trade (OLB and WR) are positions that need to be addressed this offseason.
• Familiar training camp face OT Phil Trautwein was signed to the 53-man roster after being cut by the Browns. To make room, the Rams cut WR Nate Jones.
• Bryan Burwell says despite the Witherspoon trade, the Rams haven't yet bailed on the season.
• Early Sports Illustrated 2010 Mock Draft  has the Rams taking Sam Bradford #1 overall. Yeah, I went there.
• The line opens up today at Indy -11.5 pts. Betting lines typically open high and go down throughout the week, but I would not be suprised if this one went up another .5 to 1 pt.

GO RAMS

Can you believe we're halfway through October already? It seems like the season just started. Here's a few links to get you through your hump day.

• The redemption of Alex Barron. Look, this guy needed to have a game like he did so let's not praise him too much for doing his job. However, towards the end of Sunday's game the one thing that hit me is that (if I'm not mistaken) there weren't any penalties attributed to the offensive line. That's something we need consistently from that group.
• Some more practice squad shuffling. Familiar training camp face K.C. Asiodu makes his return to the Rams.
  
• In case you missed it, Marc Bulger is the starting quarterback heading into Sunday.
• Tim Carter re-joins the team.
• Donnie Avery apologizes for that idiot dance performance he put on when his team was down big, late in the fourth quarter. Earth to Donnie: It's now week six. You're the number one wide out of an 0-5 team, and you have one touchdown catch in garbage time. Get ya mind right. That was almost as embarrassing as the offense's performance in the red zone.
• Mark from Rams Gab on the last 25 years of Rams football. 
• Will from Rams Herd laments (very entertainingly) the ways the Rams have shot themselves in the foot this season.
• The Rams open today at -13 underdogs at home to the Jaguars on Sunday. What does that say about us if the Jags just got beat by 40+ by the Seahawks?

A good Wednesday to you. GO RAMS.

It's no secret the Rams passing game has suffered so far this season. Averaging an anemic 140 yds/g (30th in the league), the road gets no easier against the Vikings (who are 12th in the league in yds/g pass D). The loss of Laurent Robinson was a big blow for this team, as he was looking like he was turning into a nice little off-season pickup for the team. Now, it's up to second-year WRs Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton to pick up the slack. Thing is, they're both a little hamstrung. Literally. Burton and Avery are both listed as questionable to play against the Vikings, with Burton the most likely of the two to see extensive playing time. Ruvell Martin is also a little nicked up, and no one knows exactly what Danny Amendola can bring in the passing game.

That leaves undrafted practice-squad call up Nate Jones as the only fully healthy wide receiver on the team.

Just for a little background, Jones went undrafted in 2008 and spent some time on the Vikings practice squad last year. After a quiet first three years at Texas playing behind talents like Limas Sweed, Jones blew up his senior year. In 2007, he caught 70 balls for almost 800 yards and 5 touchdowns. More importantly, he averaged 11.4 yds per reception. He's pretty quick, too. I found one 40-yard dash time at 4.41 seconds. Now obviously there's probably a good reason he did not get drafted and was on the practice squad behind some pedestrian wide receivers. But, I think this guy could bring a change of pace that could benefit the uninspired play calling and execution in the passing game. Let's hope we don't have to go five wide! In any case, look for an improving Daniel Fells and Steven Jackson to have some balls come their way so there isn't too much pressure put on this banged-up group.

Other Stuff:

• The full injury report for the game. Kind of resembles a MASH unit, but I guess we're used to that by now.
• Nate Jones bio from the official Rams website.
• The line has gone up to Rams -10 1/2. That's probably because...
• Adrian Peterson is good. Really good. One of my knocks on fantasy football is that it causes conflicts-of-interest. AP is on my 4-0 team, and I'm playing a really good team this week, so I need him to do well. I guess it's a win-win...AP goes off, well that's just one step closer to Sam Bradford. AP doesn't go off, Rams have a good shot of winning. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Enjoy the game. GO RAMS.

As Kanye would say, I apologize for my lateness. But it's hard to get excited about the Rams these days. On to the links.

• As I'm sure everyone has heard by now, there are several groups mobilizing to buy the St. Louis Rams. One of these groups is headed by radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh and St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts. Here's Jim Thomas with the skinny. And let's just say Brian Burwell is none too pleased, adding the fans should be weary too.
• The Rams did a little tinkering with the practice squad yesterday.
• A little breakdown of the Steven Jackson's performance versus the '49ers from his own website. Pretty impressive site by the way.
• Steve Korte reports on the throwing arm of one Marc Bulger. Still questionable at this point for Sunday. Does it really matter?
  
• This is what we have to deal with on Sunday. Enough said.
• Rams open up today at -10 against the Vikings.
• Check out the Daily Norseman for all things Vikings. Doesn't Brett Favre play for them?

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone and GO RAMS.

• The Rams have cut DT Hollis Thomas. He was a big body in the middle, but maybe too big and too old.
• Also, WR Nate Jones has been promoted from the practice squad to fill the void left by Laurent Robinson. He was a player at Texas, but there's probably a reason he has yet to crack the big leagues. Only time will tell.
• Bernie says that Bulger v. Boller is not the debate to be having. I wholeheartedly agree.
• The Rams are -9 1/2 dogs on the road against the 'Niners.
• Steve Korte on Bulger's status and what the depth chart will look like if he's out. Keith Null anyone?

I have to cut it short this morning because I have a meeting that I'm already late to. Have a great Wednesday and as always Go Rams!

Ever since I have been following the draft, the St. Louis Rams have had a lot of difficulty finding success in selecting defensive linemen. Defensive tackles in particular have been difficult, with names that make fans cringe like Claude Wroten, Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis and of course, Jimmy Kennedy . For whatever reason (attitude mostly) these guys have had all the talent in the world, but could not put it together consitstantly in a Rams uniform.

On the other hand, defensive ends have seen mixed results. Before Chris Long, the last true defensive end drafted was Victor Adeyanju in 2006 (Adam Carriker was a d-end in college, but was moved inside by the previous coaching regime).  Adeyanju has seen a little bit of the field, but his run-stopping prowess and lack of pass-rush ability has kept him in the specialty category. Tony Hargrove was drafted in the 3rd round of 2004's draft,  and well -- like everyone but a certain Steven Jackson from that class -- Hargrove no longer plays for the Rams.

But Long was supposed to break that streak of bad d-linemen. Coming out of college, he looked like a can't miss. He had talent. He had pedigree. He went up against fellow future first round pick OT Eugene Monroe in practice. More importantly, he had the right attitude. What wasn't to like?

Well, here's Long's career stat line to date (according to NFL.com):

Total Tackles: 54
Solo: 36
Assists: 15
Sacks: 4.0

So the inevitable question arises: What to make of Chris Long's struggles? One blogger's take after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

We'll jump right into the links this morning...

• Ugh. The Packers are in town. Remember in 2007 when the Pack was in town, and then cheesehead Brett Favre set the all time passing yards mark? Well that game was essentially a road game for the Rams as so many Green Bay fans made the trip, and I believe some of the players (most notably Steven Jackson) expressed some frustration towards the fans. Hopefully that doesn't happen this year, but as the Post-Dispatch surmizes, there's a good possibility it does.
• Mike Sando has some really fantastic Rams stuff up on his NFC West Blog. First, the some local chatter on the airwaves about the team, including an appearance by former Ram La'Roi Glover. Next, a fascinating breakdown of SJ39's 58-yard run against the Redskins. Knock on wood, the Rams haven't given the ball away through the air. Lastly, we have former Rams quarterback Trent Green calling the game against the Packers.
• As the New Richmond News reported, the Packers might be without two of their starting safeties come Sunday. You never wish for any player to get hurt, (okay, maybe a Matt Hasselbeck just a little bit) but this could be a blessing in disguise for the offense. Anything to get the passing game going especially is going to help this whole team put together a better effort.
• The Leader-Telegram has a piece up about Green Bay's shuffling offensive line needing a tune-up. With what the Rams have shown in pass rush so far, they might be in for a good game.
• The line for Sunday's home opener has opened up today at Green Bay -6 1/2.
• Don't forget to check out Acme Packing Company, the SB Nation site covering all things Packers, for more coverage leading up to the game.

Have a good Wednesday everyone. Go Rams!

Jeff Gordon from the PD on the same old, same old.

The Rams have added two new players, former NFC North residents Ruvell Martin and Paris Lenon. Yawn.

Interesting round table discussion about James Laurinaitis's week one performance and his potential value to the franchise. I must say I was very excited to see the former Buckeye drop all the way into our lap in the second round this year, and remain optimistic. What he lacked in coverage skills and reaction time he made up for in toughness and intelligence, not to mention production - he is the team's leading tackler. He'll improve his quickness and coverage as the year goes on and gets up to NFL speed. It's only week one, but I think Laurinaitis has the ablity to grab the defense by the horns (no pun intended) and be the leader it's lacked for some time.

A nice piece from The Oregonian on the NFL's 2008 Mr. Irrelevant and new starting linebacker for the St. Louis Rams, David Vobora. He too showed potential, at least for someone who was picked last in the draft. If he continues to play hard and limit mistakes I think he'll remain in the starting lineup.

Mike Sando says Spags has control of the sideline. Steve Korte says Spags is pushing forward. That's great. But I'd settle for a win. Just one. Please?

The Redskins are 0-1, after losing to a hated division rival, just like us. Thing is, they play in the best division in the NFC. The Washington Post on why the 'Skins will be ready to get back on track against the Lambs.

The Rams open up today at -10 against Washington.

A happy Wednesday to all. Go Rams!

Good morning to all. We're a little over 24 hours away from NFL football. Can you feel it yet?

Here's ESPN's official preview page for the 2009 St. Louis Rams. Call me a homer, but I think we'll be better than most of the talking heads think. But I guess that's why they work for ESPN and me not so much.

NFC West Blogger Mike Sando let's us know where and when we can catch the Seahawks game and who will be calling it. John Lynch? Really?

Great article by Jeff Gordon of the PD soothing some fears about the purging of some vets from the roster.

SJ39 ready to roll.

Another good one from the PD about making the Rams as a long shot.

A good look at the 2009 St. Louis Rams from Fanhouse.

Vegas.com has the Rams at -8 1/2 against the 'Hawks this weekend. Let's hope we beat the spread and then some.

Go Rams!