Bulger is out, Chandler in

Don't sound good--Martain signed

by RamWraith

I am hearing that we have brought back Martin for the rest of the year, who will be backing up Chandler. Still no word on Bulger's arm, but this sounds like they are preparing for the worst.
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-06-2004, 02:38 PM
Chandler will start, but Jackson may not

by RamWraith

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
12/06/2004

No one had more fun Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome than quarterback Chris Chandler, who guided the Rams to a 16-6 victory over San Francisco in relief of the injured Marc Bulger.

"To a certain degree, I think it's more fun as the time runs out in someone's career," Chandler said. "As the sand runs through the hourglass, and you know that (retirement) is not 10 years away anymore."

At age 39, Chandler realizes his days in the NFL are numbered. But he'll get at least one more start - Sunday in Carolina. With Bulger still a week or two away from being ready to play, coach Mike Martz named Chandler the starter against the Panthers.

Bulger has a bone bruise on his throwing shoulder at the top of his collarbone. The good news is, it's not a shoulder separation.

"The AC (joint) separations that are so typical for quarterbacks was not there," Martz said. "There is a little bit of swelling in the joint, but there's no damage evidently to the ligaments that hold the joint together."

The bad news is, Bulger's in a lot of pain.

"He's awfully sore today," Martz said at his Monday news conference. "It's very tender. When you have a bone bruise like that, it can be very painful. So we'll just have to see how he deals with it."

Meanwhile, the outlook on rookie running back Steven Jackson's bruised right knee was more clouded Monday.

"I don't know if he'll be available this week or not," Martz said. "I suppose he will be, but who knows?"

Jackson apparently suffered the injury on the last of his 26 carries against the *****. He was replaced for the final two Rams offensive plays by Arlen Harris. If neither Jackson nor Marshall Faulk is able to play against the Panthers, Harris would get the start.

The Rams plan to hold Faulk out of practice most, if not all, of this week. As to Faulk's availability against Carolina, Martz said, "It's all based on Marshall, on his health and how he feels and how he's going. When he's healthy, he's feeling good, there's no reason to diminish what he does."

According to team officials, Jackson complained of soreness in the knee when he reported for treatment Monday - more soreness than expected. But Jackson has another day to rest the knee before the team's first practice of the work week on Wednesday.

The team will have a new backup quarterback on the field Wednesday in Jamie Martin.

That's right, Jamie Martin. The Rams are bringing in Martin, who has been out of football since October 2003, as quarterback insurance while Bulger is sidelined. Tight end and fullback Nick Burley, promoted to the active roster from the practice squad last week, will be released to free up a roster...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-07-2004, 05:39 AM
Shaky Chandler to get another start ahead of injured Bulger

by Nick

Shaky Chandler to get another start ahead of injured Bulger
R.B. FALLSTROM
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Marc Bulger can't get healthy fast enough for the St. Louis Rams.

Bulger, who missed Sunday's 20-7 loss to the Panthers with a sprained shoulder, resumed light throwing on Monday, but the team is aiming for him to return to the lineup next week against the Eagles.

"He's a little sore, but who knows?" Martz said Monday. "We may have him, but I'm not going to count on it."

That means another week with 39-year-old backup Chris Chandler, whose first start of the season was forgettable: a career-worst six interceptions. Chandler has played for seven teams, and Martz said at times it appeared his quarterback was running another offense.

At one point in the second half, the frustrated coach showed his lack of trust in Chandler by calling nine straight runs for third-string running back Arlen Harris.

"He got a little rattled," Martz said. "He's a guy that's been in a lot of systems and had a lot of different coaching, and when you get under pressure like that sometimes you revert back to another system or how you were doing things in the past.

"He's just devastated."

The alternatives are not very enticing for the Rams (6-7). The backups are rookie Jeff Smoker, who's still learning the offense, and Jamie Martin, who's not physically ready after being out of the NFL since October 2003 before signing last week.

So Martz knows better than to beat down Chandler. He blamed himself for not preparing Chandler better, and he blamed poor pass protection for getting Chandler off to a shaky start that became the shakiest of games - he was only one off the franchise record for interceptions.

"Chris is our starter," Martz said. "I can help him a lot more and we need to help him up front."

Martz said fill-in right tackle Blaine Saipaia, who made his second career start, was the best of the bunch on an offensive line that features five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace and guard Adam Timmerman (two Pro Bowls).

"I think he played better than the rest of them and you can draw your own conclusions about the rest of it," Martz said. "I'm embarrassed about it, to be honest with you.

"We're going to look very hard at this."

Saipaia did a good job against Julius Peppers. He had the best game of the three reserves playing in high-profile spots against the Panthers. The tailback was third-stringer Harris, who had 19 carries for 62 yards in his first real action of the season because both Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk were sidelined with bruised knees.

Faulk, who has missed two games, told Martz he'd like to be available on a limited basis this Sunday...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-13-2004, 10:09 PM
Chandler Takes Responsibility & Martz Crticizes Pace

by RamWraith

Fom SI/CNN

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Marc Bulger tested his shoulder for the second time this week on Wednesday, giving the St. Louis Rams some hope he might be able to return to the lineup.

Bulger missed Sunday's loss to the Panthers and his backup, Chris Chandler, had a nightmare game with a career-worst six interceptions. There's urgency for his return with the Rams (6-7) one game back in the NFC West entering this week's game at Arizona.

On Wednesday Bulger threw about a dozen passes in an individual drill after also throwing several warmups. He threw at about three-quarter speed and a bit sidearm, but it was enough for Martz to exclaim, citing Bulger's jersey number, "10's back!" after the first pass.

Bulger didn't participate in any team drills but the plan is to gradually increase the work load and then make a decision on his availability perhaps on Friday.

"I don't know what to tell you because he actually threw the ball much better today than I would have predicted," Martz said after practice. "He feels like he can zip it, but we just asked him to refrain from that."

Martz said Bulger, who wasn't made available for comment, had a little trouble on the follow through.

"I'd like to have him throw a little bit more each day just to see if he can," Martz said.

Martz wasn't as optimistic on Monday, when he said Chandler, 39, would get another start. The Rams had been aiming at Bulger returning next week from an injury he's sustained twice this season.

Bulger missed no games the first time around after being hurt in Miami Oct. 24, returning after a bye the following weekend. Martz said Bulger's arm didn't return to normal until a week before he was injured.

If Bulger can't go, Chandler will try to shake off his nightmarish day. In 17 seasons, Chandler had never thrown more than four interceptions in a game.

Martz attempted to divert some criticism, saying he could have done a better job of preparing Chandler and saying perhaps Chandler -- making his first start of the season -- might have reverted to running an offense from one of his previous six NFL teams. Chandler would have none of that.

"It has nothing to do with Mike; it was just my bad day," Chandler said. "He was just trying to be a nice guy. It was just a bad thing on my part."

Chandler said it was tough moving on from the game, which wasted a good effort from the Rams' improving defense. St. Louis shut out Carolina in the second half.

"I've never had one like that," Chandler said. "So, I'm still trying to sort it out. I'm just going to try as usual from my end to be ready, and get back to good things."

A much-improved backfield situation should help whoever's at quarterback. Martz said Marshall...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-16-2004, 06:52 AM
Bulger has a shot at returning for Rams

by RamWraith

R.B. FALLSTROM

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Marc Bulger tested his shoulder for the second time this week on Wednesday, giving the St. Louis Rams some hope he might be able to return to the lineup.

Bulger missed Sunday's loss to the Panthers and his backup, Chris Chandler, had a nightmare game with a career-worst six interceptions. There's urgency for his return with the Rams (6-7) one game back in the NFC West entering this week's game at Arizona.

On Wednesday Bulger threw about a dozen passes in an individual drill after also throwing several warmups. He threw at about three-quarter speed and a bit sidearm, but it was enough for Martz to exclaim, citing Bulger's jersey number, "10's back!" after the first pass.

Bulger didn't participate in any team drills but the plan is to gradually increase the work load and then make a decision on his availability perhaps on Friday.

"I don't know what to tell you because he actually threw the ball much better today than I would have predicted," Martz said after practice. "He feels like he can zip it, but we just asked him to refrain from that."

Martz said Bulger, who wasn't made available for comment, had a little trouble on the follow through.

"I'd like to have him throw a little bit more each day just to see if he can," Martz said.

Martz wasn't as optimistic on Monday, when he said Chandler, 39, would get another start. The Rams had been aiming at Bulger returning next week from an injury he's sustained twice this season.

Bulger missed no games the first time around after being hurt in Miami Oct. 24, returning after a bye the following weekend. Martz said Bulger's arm didn't return to normal until a week before he was injured.

If Bulger can't go, Chandler will try to shake off his nightmarish day. In 17 seasons, Chandler had never thrown more than four interceptions in a game.

Martz attempted to divert some criticism, saying he could have done a better job of preparing Chandler and saying perhaps Chandler - making his first start of the season - might have reverted to running an offense from one of his previous six NFL teams. Chandler would have none of that.

"It has nothing to do with Mike; it was just my bad day," Chandler said. "He was just trying to be a nice guy. It was just a bad thing on my part."

Chandler said it was tough moving on from the game, which wasted a good effort from the Rams' improving defense. St. Louis shut out Carolina in the second half.

"I've never had one like that," Chandler said. "So, I'm still trying to sort it out. I'm just going to try as usual from my end to be ready, and get back to good things."

A much-improved backfield situation should help whoever's...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-16-2004, 06:19 AM

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Bulger is out, Chandler in

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