Rams next up

[MTK]

WP EMAIL


The St. Louis Rams will be facing a quick turnaround when they host the Washington Redskins on Friday in the third preseason game for each team. The Rams play the Kansas City Chiefs tonight at Arrowhead Stadium in the Missouri Governor's Cup game.
Tailback Marshall Faulk is scheduled to get some limited playing time tonight and, if all goes well, could get some more extensive action against the Redskins as he prepares for his 11th NFL season. Faulk has acknowledged that he could face a decision about whether to retire after the season, and there have been rumblings throughout the league that the deteriorating condition of his knees could severely hinder him. But Rams Coach Mike Martz, the former quarterbacks coach for the Redskins under Norv Turner, has said that Faulk looks better now than he usually does at this point.

The Rams used the 24th overall pick in the draft in April to select Faulk's would-be eventual successor, Oregon State tailback Steven Jackson, and he looked good in the preseason opener, rushing for 73 yards on 15 carries in a sloppy 13-10 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears 11 days ago.

Martz comes from the same coaching tree as Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs. Both use a version of the old "Air Coryell" offensive system utilized by Don Coryell with the San Diego Chargers, and Martz is extremely close to Redskins coaching consultant Ernie Zampese. Martz's offense is a revved-up version of Gibbs's, relying less on the power running game and using more formations with three or four wide receivers, but the basic concepts are the same.

Martz has turned over his offense to young quarterback Marc Bulger, who threw for 3,845 yards and 22 touchdowns last season in helping the Rams to a 12-4 record. But Bulger threw 22 regular-season interceptions, and Martz demonstrated a lack of trust in the young quarterback when he played for a tying field goal at the end of regulation in the team's double-overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in an NFC semifinal. Still, the Rams signed Bulger to a four-year, $19-million contract extension in the offseason and released two-time league most valuable player Kurt Warner, leaving veteran Chris Chandler to back up Bulger. If Bulger and the Rams falter, Martz's job security could come into question by season's end.

The Rams' biggest concern for now is their patchwork offensive line. Left tackle Orlando Pace has not reported to the club because of contract dispute. Right tackle Kyle Turley has a career-threatening back injury, and center Dave Wohlabaugh was released after undergoing offseason hip surgery. The biggest question on defense is whether the team will be able to generate a consistent pass rush after losing end Grant Wistrom via free agency.

By Mark Maske