[AvengerRam]

As we approach the second week of the 2007, there are two prevailing thoughts in my mind.

The first thought is that there is an overwhelming feeling among the Rams Nation that this team is in disarray. The opening week performance was dismal. We’ve lost our starting left tackle. One of our starting guards is fighting an ankle injury. Our superstar running back fumbled twice in the first game. We’ve got a starter and a DL rotation player suspended. We’ve cut our starting FB. Things seem to be spinning out of control. Meanwhile, Coach Linehan continues to speak calmly as if nothing is wrong, which has the unintended effect of causing fans to wonder maybe he's just in deep denial.

The second thought is that this entire thing could turn around on Sunday. A win against San Francisco – particularly if accomplished in convincing fashion – would assuage the turmoil substantially. It would put the Rams right back in the thick of the race, with a key divisional victory under the team’s belt.

Of course, the opposite is true as well. A loss would put this team in a very bad position. Yes, there would still be 14 games to go, but 0-2 with both losses at home and in conference play (one in the division) is a pretty deep hole.

Perhaps my biggest concern is that the extent to which the mood of the fans could be echoed by that of the players. Right now, I think the team is still unified despite the events of the last week. I doubt that the players have lost faith in the coaching staff or vice versa. That said, how many times can the coaching staff be quoted as saying “players missed assignments” before the players start taking offense? Won't guys like Will Witherspoon, Chris Draft and L'Roi Glover start thinking "hey, I've been on a lot of good defenses before - so maybe its you, Haslett!" How many times can coaches say “we could have called a better game” before players start thinking “well, maybe we need someone else calling the plays.” After all, guys like Bulger, Bruce, Holt, Bennett, McMichael and Jackson all know that they are good enough to succeed.

Maybe its just me, but I really feel that this team is teetering on the edge right now.

Win this week, and the storm will subside.

Lose, and… well, I don’t even want to think about it.