MartinKilcoyne's Blog

Can't wait for training camp to begin.   It's the only camping I really enjoy.   Never been a big fan of grabbing the cantene and sleeping under the stars.  

With Camp about to open, here are the Rams burning issues....and my take.

THE BULGER CONTRACT.   He wants a new one.  The Rams are working on it.  They've offered about 10 mil a year.  Bulger's agent wants some big bucks.  And it's hard to put a price on any player these days with the ridiculous money flying around.   But HE IS under contract for 2007, so everybody should calm down.  Plenty of time to work it out.  I'll be happy when he gets a new deal, but for fans of the team you have no worries.   He won't hit the open market.    The Rams can slap the franchise tag on him for the next 2 years, if need be.   The one wrinkle.   If the team gets frustrated with Bulger's agent and decides to lock up Steven Jackson first, then you could have some bad feelings.

DOES THE ROOKIE HAVE A NOSE FOR IT?   Adam Carriker will play nose tackle.  He has to.   The Rams are remarkably thin when it comes to true nose tackles.  It concerns me that the college defensive end is now being asked to be an NFL run-stuffer.   I think he can do it, but the scary thing is if he doesn't.  Then it's a mess.   I just don't see this defense being that much better against the run.   I really hope I'm wrong.

WHO'S YOUR CORNER?   Losing Fakhir Brown for 4 games doesn't sound tragic on the surface, but again depth is a major issue.   Who starts opposite Tye Hill?   Maybe Ron Bartell.   Maybe a rookie Jonathan Wade.   Maybe a journey-man like Lenny Walls.  Not great options.  To me this issue is made worse by the release of Jerametrius Butler.  The Ram feel things had become so sour with JB that he had to go.  But how did it get to that point?   Why was this former starter in the dog house almost all of last year? I'd take JB as a starter in the NFL over any of the above mentioned fill-ins.  

GIVE ME SOME GOOD NEWS.   Just realized those were all slightly negative takes.  So, here's some positive vibes for you.    James Hall at right defensive end should be a big upgrade.  I think he will suprise people.   Seeing as nobody's talking about him at all. Dante Hall should stabilize the return game.  Sure he's not at his peak anymore.  But raise your hand if you'd rather see Shawn McDonald doing his Fred Astaire routine again.    Shawn, you can put your hand down now.  The revolving door at returner has been almost comical.  Dante welcome aboard.

See you in Macomb, er, Earth City.