Gordo tells it like it is
Perry
It's time for Rams to shop for a new QB
BY JEFF GORDON
Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
01/11/2004
An ineffective Marc Bulger and an unwanted Kurt Warner leaves the Rams with few options at QB in 2004.
(Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
At every corner of Rams Nation on Saturday night, fans were talking about the need to draft a new quarterback capable of leading this franchise to greater glory.
It's too late for that. That plan would have worked back in '03, but it's no good for '04.
In hindsight, the Rams should have axed Kurt Warner after last season, before he collected his massive roster bonus, then picked one of the many fine quarterbacks available in the last NFL Draft. Instead, they got stuck with defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy -- who proved worthless as a rookie.
A young quarterback could have spent a year as Marc Bulger's understudy, preparing for a run at the job in '04.
But now Rams coach Mike Martz faces a major dilemma. This franchise's level of quarterback play has dropped precipitously from the earlier Warner/Trent Green era.
The intrepid Air Martz offense is becoming a distant memory. The Rams need veteran leadership to get this attack airborne again.
The Rams will still be young on the defensive side of the ball next season, especially after cashiering more of these worthless veterans. So the Rams will need explosive play by a veteran offense to get back to the big game.
This team needs a quarterback that can stretch a defense with the long ball and finish off scoring drives with six points instead of three.
Could Warner be that guy? Maybe, except that Martz doesn't want him. He buried Warner the first chance he got this season and he gave him but one cameo appearance all season, when Bulger was getting savaged in Motown.
Let's say the Rams kept Warner, given the salary cap implications, and reopened the quarterback competition. Warner would know that no matter what he did in the offseason, training camp or pre-season, Martz would bury him the first chance he got.
So why would Kurt want any part of that? He's done a lot for this franchise, so it's time to let him move along and see if he can revive his career elsewhere.
Warner maintained a brave face throughout this season and remained a good teammate for Bulger. But a year of this nonsense is about all any real competitor can take, so it's time to free the two-time MVP and let another team give him a look.
Could Bulger be the quarterback that leads the Rams back to glory? Perhaps, but, as colleague Bernie Miklasz noted in his Sunday column, Martz doesn't really trust him either.
Saturday was not the first time Martz pulled the chute on his Bulger-piloted offense. Time after time this season, Mild Mike has settled for three points instead of six. Time after time, he put the game in the hands of his young defense instead of his veteran offense.
The Rams had the Panthers reeling after recovering that onside kick Saturday. They were flying toward the end zone, with gale-force momentum on their side. The Panthers were playing in a daze. The Rams had time to take two or three good shots at the end zone from 15 yards.
The old Rams would have scored on the next play, guaranteed. But the thought of having Bulger throw the ball toward the end zone unnerved Martz. Mild Mike couldn't bring himself to do it.
So, once again, he played it safe. A team with Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk and some outstanding young receivers should NOT be reduced to this.
Mild Mike's play-calling stood as a clear vote of no-confidence toward his quarterback. And that lack of confidence, unfortunately, was justified.
When it really, really mattered, Bulger turned the ball over six times in losses to Detroit and Carolina. His playoff passer rating stands at 53.9. He threw 22 interceptions and fumbled eight times during the regular season. His play regressed as the games got bigger.
Bottom line: Bulger is just another quarterback at this point in his career. He doesn't have a great arm, he's not mobile and the more he got hit, the more he held the ball too long this season. He overcame his own lapses many times this season, leading the team to some harrowing victories.
But next season the Rams face a brutal schedule. That same up-and-down quarterbacking will result in harrowing losses instead.
Perhaps Martz can coach up Bulger and help him become a top quarterback. Or maybe the Rams ought to go get another veteran quarterback just in case.
Our advice? Start shopping. |
