Honeymoon for Haslett is over in St. Louis

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Tuesday, November 11, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

St. Louis Rams
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The honeymoon is over for head coach Jim Haslett and the St. Louis Rams. Haslett was the NFL's feel-good story earlier this season after he took over for the fired Scott Linehan, who amassed an 0-4 record, and quickly defeated the Redskins and Cowboys.

More importantly, the team that had looked so listless under Linehan seemed to be playing with pride and more effort under Haslett’s intense personality.

All of that disappeared in the Rams’ 47-3 debacle against the New York Jets on Sunday. St. Louis was embarrassed, disgraced, outclassed and every other adjective you can think of in a game in which it trailed 40-0 at halftime.

Commentary: Haslett couldn't motivate the down-and-out Rams at halftime.

St. Louis played as poorly in the second half against the Jets as it did in the first. Things got so bad for the Rams that starting quarterback Marc Bulger -- who completed 6 of 13 passes and tossed an interception -- was benched and replaced by Trent Green. He didn’t fare much better, completing five of his 10 throws with a pick.

Playing without star running back Steven Jackson, the Rams couldn’t mount any ground attack. Kenneth Darby was the team’s leading rusher with 32 yards on four carries. Meanwhile, Thomas Jones was slicing and dicing through the nonexistent St. Louis defense for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

Fan Pulse: Fans who were already growing impatient with Bulger seem ready to send him to the bench for the rest of the season.

Fantasy Football Impact: If you haven’t already abandoned every Ram in your fantasy league except Jackson and Donnie Avery, then do so now. Bulger is finished as a fantasy option in St. Louis this season and Torry Holt continues to be MIA.

Injury Report: Until Jackson returns, the Rams have little hope of winning a game. Jackson is still nursing his sore quadriceps and it still isn’t known whether he will return this week against San Francisco. Antonio Pittman, who was second in line behind Jackson in the backfield, wasn’t fully healed from his hamstring injury. Pittman played against the Jets, but he was at less than full strength.
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every ...
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