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Rams aren't flying high behind Bulger
By Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER
In recent years, the high-flying St. Louis Rams came to be known as the "Greatest Show on Turf," powered by a flashy offensive arsenal that included quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk and star receiver Isaac Bruce.
The Rams won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season, and have been an offensive force most of the time since then.
But Warner now is the New York Giants' backup quarterback, Faulk and Bruce are still productive but reaching the latter stages of their careers, and the Rams are a disappointing 5-6 entering Sunday's home game against the San Francisco ***** (1-10). In fact, Faulk may not play against the ***** because of a bruised left knee.
Still, despite the Rams' explosive past and the team's sub-.500 record this season, coach Mike Martz is bullish about his offense. In fact, this week, he had remarkably high praise for his starting quarterback, Marc Bulger.
"The quarterback," Martz said, "right now is playing as well as anybody we have ever had here."
The statistics do not quite bear out Martz's praise of Bulger.
In 1999, Warner had a 109.2 passer rating, among the highest in NFL history. He passed for
4,353 yards, threw 41 touchdown passes, and was intercepted only 13 times. Warner also had a passer rating of 101.4 in 2001, and 98.3 in 2000.
By contrast, this season Bulger has a passer rating of 90.5, with only 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Passing yardage is the only area in which Bulger's statistics compare to those of Warner in his best season. Bulger has thrown for 3,267 yards, including an eye-popping 448 in a 45-17 loss at Green Bay five nights ago.
At his current pace, Bulger will throw for 4,752 yards this season -- and there is no telling what sort of numbers he might put up Sunday against the *****' battered secondary.
Bulger, in his second full season as a starter, said his improved understanding of the Rams' offense has made him a better quarterback this year.
"It is just knowing the difference between being real aggressive and being stupid," said Bulger, who threw an equal number of touchdowns and interceptions last season and had an 81.4 rating.
"Last year, I would ... try to hit the home runs. This year, it's more of a game management style. If it is not going to be there, I'm willing to take a 3-yard check-down rather than going for the home run every time."
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bulger's performance this season is that it has come with little help from his offensive line. Bulger has been sacked 35 times; only four teams -- including the ***** -- have allowed more sacks. In 1999, Warner was sacked only 29 times the entire season.
Sunday, the Rams will face a ***** team that has not been very effective at getting to the opposing quarterback. But they will have to be wary because the ***** have been blitzing a lot, including roughly 50 percent of the time in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Bulger realizes he will have to be alert against the *****. He also knows that if the *****' blitzers are unable to get to him in time, it will present the Rams with opportunities.
"Sometimes teams figure if they blitz you they can get pressure on you and therefore their corners don't have to cover as long," Bulger said. "But if we do protect, then it leaves our guys one-on-one, which we like."
Bruce and Torry Holt remain the Rams' leading receivers, but they also have gotten significant contributions from second-year players Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis. Additionally, Faulk remains a formidable pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
On the other hand, when the Rams beat the ***** in San Francisco two months ago, they did so with a dominant running performance by Faulk. Bulger completed 17 of 25 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown.
That leaves the ***** -- who have lost five straight games in St. Louis -- having to guess exactly how Martz, Bulger and the Rams will come at them this time.
"(Martz) does such a great job of mixing things up and you have to mix things up with him and pick and choose," ***** defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. "When Mike came in here the first time, (Rams critics) were on his (back) about not running it. So what did he do? He came up here and ran it. Obviously, they are a great football team. They're still the 'Greatest Show on Turf.'"
EXTRA POINTS: During practice Friday, cornerback Jimmy Williams aggravated the broken toe that has sidelined him the last three games. As a result, coach Dennis Erickson said Joselio Hanson will be the nickel back Sunday, rather than Williams. Dwaine Carpenter again will take Williams' spot in the starting lineup. ... If Faulk does not play, rookie running back Steven Jackson will start for the Rams. Jackson, who played for Erickson at Oregon State, has gained 377 yards on 74 carries this season, and was the Rams' first-round draft choice, chosen 24th overall. The ***** passed on him, which was not easy for Erickson. They traded down to get more picks, and chose receiver Rashaun Woods with the 31st selection. "We decided to trade back and that worked out for us," Erickson said. Our situation, obviously, was that we had Kevan (Barlow). Our plan was to get more picks. We really felt that we needed to. And we ended up doing that. It worked out for both of us."
By Roger Phillips, STAFF WRITER
In recent years, the high-flying St. Louis Rams came to be known as the "Greatest Show on Turf," powered by a flashy offensive arsenal that included quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk and star receiver Isaac Bruce.
The Rams won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season, and have been an offensive force most of the time since then.
But Warner now is the New York Giants' backup quarterback, Faulk and Bruce are still productive but reaching the latter stages of their careers, and the Rams are a disappointing 5-6 entering Sunday's home game against the San Francisco ***** (1-10). In fact, Faulk may not play against the ***** because of a bruised left knee.
Still, despite the Rams' explosive past and the team's sub-.500 record this season, coach Mike Martz is bullish about his offense. In fact, this week, he had remarkably high praise for his starting quarterback, Marc Bulger.
"The quarterback," Martz said, "right now is playing as well as anybody we have ever had here."
The statistics do not quite bear out Martz's praise of Bulger.
In 1999, Warner had a 109.2 passer rating, among the highest in NFL history. He passed for
4,353 yards, threw 41 touchdown passes, and was intercepted only 13 times. Warner also had a passer rating of 101.4 in 2001, and 98.3 in 2000.
By contrast, this season Bulger has a passer rating of 90.5, with only 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Passing yardage is the only area in which Bulger's statistics compare to those of Warner in his best season. Bulger has thrown for 3,267 yards, including an eye-popping 448 in a 45-17 loss at Green Bay five nights ago.
At his current pace, Bulger will throw for 4,752 yards this season -- and there is no telling what sort of numbers he might put up Sunday against the *****' battered secondary.
Bulger, in his second full season as a starter, said his improved understanding of the Rams' offense has made him a better quarterback this year.
"It is just knowing the difference between being real aggressive and being stupid," said Bulger, who threw an equal number of touchdowns and interceptions last season and had an 81.4 rating.
"Last year, I would ... try to hit the home runs. This year, it's more of a game management style. If it is not going to be there, I'm willing to take a 3-yard check-down rather than going for the home run every time."
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Bulger's performance this season is that it has come with little help from his offensive line. Bulger has been sacked 35 times; only four teams -- including the ***** -- have allowed more sacks. In 1999, Warner was sacked only 29 times the entire season.
Sunday, the Rams will face a ***** team that has not been very effective at getting to the opposing quarterback. But they will have to be wary because the ***** have been blitzing a lot, including roughly 50 percent of the time in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Bulger realizes he will have to be alert against the *****. He also knows that if the *****' blitzers are unable to get to him in time, it will present the Rams with opportunities.
"Sometimes teams figure if they blitz you they can get pressure on you and therefore their corners don't have to cover as long," Bulger said. "But if we do protect, then it leaves our guys one-on-one, which we like."
Bruce and Torry Holt remain the Rams' leading receivers, but they also have gotten significant contributions from second-year players Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis. Additionally, Faulk remains a formidable pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
On the other hand, when the Rams beat the ***** in San Francisco two months ago, they did so with a dominant running performance by Faulk. Bulger completed 17 of 25 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown.
That leaves the ***** -- who have lost five straight games in St. Louis -- having to guess exactly how Martz, Bulger and the Rams will come at them this time.
"(Martz) does such a great job of mixing things up and you have to mix things up with him and pick and choose," ***** defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. "When Mike came in here the first time, (Rams critics) were on his (back) about not running it. So what did he do? He came up here and ran it. Obviously, they are a great football team. They're still the 'Greatest Show on Turf.'"
EXTRA POINTS: During practice Friday, cornerback Jimmy Williams aggravated the broken toe that has sidelined him the last three games. As a result, coach Dennis Erickson said Joselio Hanson will be the nickel back Sunday, rather than Williams. Dwaine Carpenter again will take Williams' spot in the starting lineup. ... If Faulk does not play, rookie running back Steven Jackson will start for the Rams. Jackson, who played for Erickson at Oregon State, has gained 377 yards on 74 carries this season, and was the Rams' first-round draft choice, chosen 24th overall. The ***** passed on him, which was not easy for Erickson. They traded down to get more picks, and chose receiver Rashaun Woods with the 31st selection. "We decided to trade back and that worked out for us," Erickson said. Our situation, obviously, was that we had Kevan (Barlow). Our plan was to get more picks. We really felt that we needed to. And we ended up doing that. It worked out for both of us."
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