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Rams turn to Boller at QB with Bulger nursing shoulder injury

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  • #1

    Rams turn to Boller at QB with Bulger nursing shoulder injury

    NFL.com Wire Reports
    Quarterback Kyle Boller will make his first start for the St. Louis Rams on Sunday as Marc Bulger rests his injured shoulder.
    Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday that if Bulger dresses for the game against the San Francisco *****, it will be as the third quarterback. Technically, Bulger is listed as questionable.



    Bulger hurt his right shoulder during the first quarter of last week's 36-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Boller came in and threw two touchdown passes, but the comeback fizzled in the second half.
    Boller is in his first year with the Rams. He had 42 career starts for the Baltimore Ravens, but Sunday will mark his first start since Dec. 16, 2007.
    In other Rams injury news, safety James Butler (knee) is out and rookie OT Jason Smith (knee)is doubtful. Both players were unable to practice all week.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Rams turn to Boller at QB with Bulger nursing shoulder injury

    Sometimes change is good. Let's see what the man can do with a week of practice with the ones.

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    • #3
      Re: Rams turn to Boller at QB with Bulger nursing shoulder injury

      I agree. Lets see what a little more mobile Qb can do with the WCO

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      • #4
        Re: Rams turn to Boller at QB with Bulger nursing shoulder injury

        I am a Bulger fan, but I think this is the right decision for the team. Having guys play hurt does not make sense.

        I am curious as to how Bartell is doing also. He had a couple of big plays against him by the Packers. I read that he had a thigh injury. That must have slowed him down.

        I would think that you would want to play your best option for winning the game, and that may not be your starting players.
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        • r8rh8rmike
          QB Decision May Be Needed
          by r8rh8rmike
          QB decision may be needed

          BY BILL COATS
          ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
          10/12/2009

          Concerning the quarterbacks, it could be an interesting week at Rams Park.

          Between Marc Bulger and Kyle Boller, which — if either — will emerge as the healthiest? And which — if either — will be running the No. 1 unit when practice resumes Wednesday?

          The odds probably are with Bulger. Yet throughout the bulk of Sunday's 38-10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Boller appeared to be pushing hard to hold on to the starting job he's had the past two weeks while Bulger recovers from an injured shoulder.

          That changed on the second play of the fourth quarter. Boller was clobbered by defensive end Ray Edwards just as he released a pass into the end zone. The ball was intercepted and Boller was shaken up.

          "I took a pretty good shot and I was a little fuzzy, a little dizzy," Boller said. "I don't think I was out completely ... (or) a hundred percent concussed."

          Still, he was dazed enough that coach Steve Spagnuolo turned to Bulger, who served as Boller's backup after suiting up as the No. 3 quarterback last week.

          "I don't think (playing) was the plan," said Bulger, who suffered a bruised rotator cuff Sept. 27 vs. Green Bay. "But when it happened to Kyle, we had to do it."

          Although he was going against Minnesota's defensive reserves with the Vikings cruising 24-3, Bulger came back with a bang: He hit on all seven of his passes for 88 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Donnie Avery, and compiled a "perfect" passer rating of 158.3.

          "I'm just glad we could go in and get some points and escape without hurting the shoulder again," said Bulger, who added that he believes he'll be sound enough to return to the lineup Sunday at Jacksonville.

          "It's getting close," he said. "I still need a little more velocity throwing the ball. You never know till you get hit, so we'll see. But ... I think I'll be ready to play the game next week."

          If asked, that is. Should Boller bounce back quickly, Spagnuolo might have a decision to make.

          Boller was at the helm most of the way as the Rams cobbled together their most productive offensive showing of the year. They rolled up 400 yards, including a season-high 278 through the air, against the NFL's 11th-ranked defense. Four turnovers, three inside the Vikings' 10-yard line, snuffed scoring chances.

          "Both quarterbacks looked really sharp," running back Steven Jackson said. "We were able to move the ball. We actually were able to stretch the field, and our receivers made plays."

          Boller wound up completing 20 of 31 passes for 209 yards, with the interception; his passer rating was 70.5. He also lost...
          -10-12-2009, 04:20 PM
        • eldfan
          Bulger “progressing well,” but Boller remains No. 1 QB for now
          by eldfan
          By Bill Coats
          St. Louis Post-Dispatch

          St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger threw Wednesday for the fourth day in a row and reports that his sore right shoulder is “progressing well.” For now, however, Kyle Boller remains the first-team QB as the Rams prepare for Sunday’s home game against the unbeaten Vikings.

          “From last week to this week, I’ve gotten a lot of range of motion back,” Bulger said. “I’ve been in (the trainers’ room) twice a day pretty much, working on that and the strength, massaging it, getting the inflammation out.”

          Still, Bulger hasn’t advanced much beyond light tossing. “We’re trying to take it easy and not make certain throws,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “I thought he looked OK.”

          Notes & quotes:

          *LT Alex Barron, yanked from Sunday’s 35-0 loss after drawing an illegal-formation penalty late in the first half, took most of the reps with the first team.

          *RT Jason Smith, out with a knee injury since the Washington game Sept. 20, got his first work in team drills Wednesday. Smith, Barron and Adam Goldberg rotated between the two tackle spots.

          *This week’s captains are G Richie Incognito (offense), T Clifton Ryan (defense) and RB Kenneth Darby (special teams).

          *Rookie LB James Laurinaitis is the Rams’ top tackler, with 38. That’s 11 more than the No. 2 tackler, S Oshiomogho Atogwe.

          *Although he’s yet to record a sack, Chris Long is leading the defensive linemen in tackles, with 18.

          All for now…
          -10-07-2009, 02:11 PM
        • Guam rammer
          Bulger or Boller?
          by Guam rammer
          Who's starting today. I sure as heck hope Bulger is ready cause we saw the best out of Boller we can possibly see, with the Ravens and with us. If it hasnt gotten better yet then it wont get any better at all. We've seen the best out of Bulger and i'm counting on it happening again but we'll never know until he's in there learning how to play with this line. Last thing we need is to send Bulger packing for another team and he does a Kurt Warner.
          -10-11-2009, 03:15 AM
        • MauiRam
          The Bleacher Report: Robinson Out for Season, Possible QB Controversy in St. Louis
          by MauiRam
          By Matt Snyder (RSS feed)
          After three Rams losses, it's pretty evident 2009 is going to be a long season in St. Louis (the third straight of the variety). Monday, they received some more bad news -- that Laurent Robinson, a member of the already paper-thin receiving corps, will likely miss the remainder of the season after injuring his lower leg (both a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain) during Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

          Quarterback Marc Bulger also left the game injured, but his injury isn't deemed as serious, now that he's been diagnosed with a bruised rotator cuff. Earlier Monday, some feared Bulger had a torn rotator cuff and would also miss the remainder of the season. Of course, clouding matters is that Kyle Boller came in relief of Bulger and looked far superior.

          Now, realizing they still have 13 games left this year, in addition to the fact that the Rams are trying to make progress for the future, there is already talk in St. Louis that Boller could be the better option as the Rams' signal-caller for the rest of 2009.

          It makes a lot of sense, actually.

          Bulger is 32 years old. He doesn't have an especially strong arm and he's not mobile. Boller is only 28, and he has enough physical tools to have gotten him drafted in the first round back in 2003.

          Obviously, pro pedigree will factor in a bit, as Bulger has the much better professional resume. He's been to the Pro Bowl twice and taken his team to the playoffs twice. Boller was a colossal bust for the Baltimore Ravens after Brian Billick committed to him following the 2003 draft.

          Here's the thing, though: Boller wasn't throwing to The Greatest Show on Turf in Baltimore. If you check out the current version of Marc Bulger (he's won just four of his past 30 starts and has a rating hovering just above 70 during that same time frame), he's just not that impressive at all. It's also entirely possible Boller just needed a change of scenery and/or is a late bloomer.

          After Boller's play Sunday, it's worth it for rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo to at least consider going with Boller. Marc Bulger had led the Rams to just one touchdown in nine quarters before leaving with an injury. Boller threw two in three quarters. Boller has far superior arm strength and pretty good agility in the pocket. And, again, he's four years younger and playing for a team who is looking toward the future.

          Of course, whoever the quarterback is now has to deal with an even worse receiving corps than the sub-par-at-best group he already had. Robinson led the team with 11 catches, 141 yards and one touchdown through the first two weeks. With him out of the picture, the Rams will look to sign a free agent. The other receivers on the roster are Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Derek Stanley and Ruvell Martin.

          I think they need to see what Boller to Avery and Burton can provide...
          -09-30-2009, 10:56 AM
        • invisiblehorns314
          treat Boller like you treat Bulger
          by invisiblehorns314
          Earlier this year, the rams were on a drive to tie the game, Bulger scambled for 6 yards on 3rd down. They needed 7. The fans on here, the media, everyone threw Bulger under the bus, said he was slow, and he shoulda took the hit for the drive. Kyle boller, who's a better athlete, scrambled for 13 yards, we need 15. I want to hear fans rag on him like they did Bulger. But because savard, and farr, haven't said anything about it, I'm guessing all is forgiven.
          This brings me my point, it isn't Bulgers performance that gets ppl, its him. Fans just don't like him.
          -01-03-2010, 12:48 PM
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