Linehan faces fourth and long

Linehan faces fourth and long
Marc Bulger looks for a signal
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/28/2008

After a disastrous 0-8 start littered with injuries, the 2007 Rams gathered themselves during the bye week and managed to win three of their next four. Perhaps with that mini-surge in mind, team President John Shaw all but guaranteed that coach Scott Linehan would return in 2008 during an interview with the Post-Dispatch in early December.

Here's how one Rams player, speaking on condition of anonymity responded at the time to that news: "If you hear about me jumping off the (Gateway) Arch, you'll know why."

That may have been an extreme reaction, but the response of the entire team has been telling.

The Rams have not won since.

Following Shaw's comments, the Rams concluded a 3-13 campaign in '07 with losses to Cincinnati, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Arizona. Despite an offseason, training camp and preseason full of change, the tailspin has continued this season with lopsided losses to Philadelphia, the New York Giants and Seattle.

That's seven consecutive defeats, during which the Rams have been outscored 257 to 96. In a league where between 40 percent and 50 percent of the games every season are decided by seven points or less, the Rams aren't even close. The average score of those seven straight defeats: Opponents 37, Rams 14.

Following a 41-13 loss to the Giants two weeks ago, new owner Chip Rosenbloom told the Post-Dispatch that it was Linehan's job to motivate and prepare the team. Rosenbloom called the team's level of play unacceptable. While expressing confidence in Linehan, Rosenbloom said if things didn't improve, changes would be made.

In the locker room, the response to this news was muted. There really weren't any impassioned pleas by players on Linehan's behalf. Nor was there any impassioned play the following Sunday in Seattle. In fact, it was more of the same — a dispirited 37-13 loss to a Seattle team so low on wide receivers that Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren practically took out a help wanted ad.

So it has come down to this: A lopsided loss Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills and Linehan could be fired. Some players have a sense of this. Linehan certainly knows he's hanging on by the finest of threads.

The annual team photo — normally an early season tradition — was scheduled for this Tuesday at Rams Park. It has been canceled. Coincidence? Or a signal that some things are on hold pending Sunday's outcome against the Bills?

Another lopsided loss would drop the Rams to 0-4 and could force Rosenbloom's hand. If a change is made, it makes sense to do it this coming week while the Rams are on their bye, giving the interim head coach a chance to settle in.

The trouble is, who would be the interim? The logical choices are offensive coordinator Al Saunders or defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. But Saunders' offense has scored a meager 29 points, and Haslett's defense ranks last in the NFL — in either case, hardly the credentials that merit a promotion.

On Wednesday, Linehan gave the predictable answer when asked if the Buffalo game is a must-win situation in terms of his job security.

"I look at every week as a 'must-win,' to be honest with you," Linehan said.

But judging by his personnel moves this past week, Linehan is coaching like someone who knows he's on a tight leash. There will be six new starters — two on offense and four on defense — in the lineup against unbeaten Buffalo. The benching of quarterback Marc Bulger was a surprise to many in the locker room, and then running back Steven Jackson stirred controversy by sharply criticizing the decision on his weekly radio show.

Although it may have created less of a stir among fans and media members, the release of starting cornerback Fakhir Brown was even more of a shock to some players.

Perhaps the insertion of hometown hero Trent Green into the starting lineup at quarterback will provide a spark. Maybe the other lineup changes will create a greater sense of urgency among the players and lead to improved performance.

But nothing has worked. The team looks listless at times. The offense lacks confidence. The defense, particularly the secondary, looks lost on some plays.

The Rams do not look like a motivated team in any way, shape or form. Despite speculation to the contrary, it doesn't seem like the majority of players have a strong dislike for Linehan. Some seem to like him. Others just seem neutral.

But whatever Linehan is selling, the Rams don't seem to be buying. Linehan never seemed to embrace veterans such as Bulger, Torry Holt and the now departed Isaac Bruce once he took over as coach — and the players sensed this.

On the other hand, there's a sense among some at Rams Park that's he's trying too hard to please everyone and isn't hard-nosed enough. His predecessor, Mike Martz, could be brutally tough on players but somehow found a way to motivate most of the team most of the time.

Regardless of the front office problems and leadership void at Rams Park, Linehan has had three years to pick his roster. Draft picks such as Dominique Byrd, Claude Wroten, Tye Hill and Joe Klopfenstein all came under his watch. Bruce was released during his tenure. So was Madison Hedgecock, and now Brown.

Last year, injuries were a big factor in the team's early season swoon. But this year, the team has suffered only a moderate amount of injuries. In short, there don't seem to be many excuses. After an 8-8 mark in 2006, the team has lost 16 of its past 19 games. Linehan has yet to display an ability to pull the team out of season-wrecking losing streaks.

So, on Sunday, in the Edward Jones Dome, it could be now or never for Linehan's Rams.



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