The Rams hit the bye week at the exact midpoint of the NFL season at 1-7.  I think most people are disappointed that things have not gone better for the Rams under first year Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo but a win against the Lions on Sunday has at least erased the horrible thought of an 0-16 season.  With that in mind let's evaluate each position group and the coaching staff and how they have done in the first half of the season.  Today we will start with the offense......

Quarterbacks

Marc Bulger: D  This has been by far the worst season of Marc Bulger's career and the only thing that saves Bulger from an F in the first half is that he is surrounded by arguably the worst wide receiving corps in the entire NFL.  Bulger has his lowest completion percentage, his lowest quarterback rating and his lowest yards per attempt of his career.  He has only thrown 3 touchdowns and is not making plays.  It is clear the Rams are going to have to move on from Marc Bulger in 2010 and beyond.  Let's hope Bulger wakes up a little bit in the second half.

Kyle Boller: C  Kyle Boller has been Kyle Boller for the Rams. Boller got a lot of Rams fans excited with his two touchdown outburst against the Green Bay Packers, when he came in for relief of Marc Bulger, but then followed that up with two very poor performances against the 49ers and Vikings.  Boller is not bad to have as a backup but is not an answer for the Rams longterm future.

Keith Null: INC  Null has not had an opportunity in any game this season.  If the season continues into the abyss then I would be interested in seeing Null get a start in week 16 or 17 to see what he has.  We know what Bulger and Boller have at this point.  If the Rams think there is any future with Null they would be foolish not to at least take a look.


Running Backs

Steven Jackson: A+ To say that Steven Jackson has been the man this year would be an understatement.  Jackson is having a career year running for 784 yards, which is exactly as many as Adrian Peterson.  Jackson is running harder then he ever has and is doing everything he possibly can to win football games for the Rams.  He is exciting to watch and is doing everything you would want your feature back to do.  The only knock would be his one touchdown this season but with putrid as the Rams offense has been it is tough to hold it against Jackson.

Samkon Gado/Kenneth Darby: D When the Rams have needed someone to fill in for Steven Jackson they have not found anyone to pick up the slack.  Gado has 9 carries for 23 yards and Darby has 11 carries for 57 yards.  Both contribute on special teams but neither has done anything special to this point.

Mike Karney: C  I was actually expecting Karney to be more of an impact player then he has been.  His blocking has been decent but not overwhelming.  He is certainly an upgrade at the position but has not been terrific.  It looked like Karney was playing better against the Lions so maybe he is getting healthier and will have a better second half.


Wide Receivers

Donnie Avery: F  Avery is clearly the Rams best threat at receiver but he has not performed at all like a #1 receiver this season.  22 receptions for 286 yards and 2 touchdowns is horrible production for someone the Rams expected to be an impact player this season.  His fumble in Washington probably cost the Rams a second win.  In addition his penalties in the early part of the season and some drops have been costly for the Rams.  Not to mention the horrendous dancing after his touchdown in a blowout against the Vikings.  Avery has to produce better in the second half.

Laurent Robinson: B It is a shame that Robinson got injured because he had come from nowhere to be a real threat for the Rams offense.  GM Billy Devaney was right to get this guy.  Hopefully he will perform at the same level he did early in this season in 2010.

Keenan Burton: C I don't think that Burton will ever be much more then a possession receiver but he has produced a little in 2009.  He has 25 receptions for 253 yards and seems like someone Marc Bulger is looking for on 3rd downs more times then not.  Burton is the type of guy that needs to show more in the second half of the season or he could find himself out of a job, or little used in 2010.

Danny Amendola: C I will get into Amendola as a returner in a later article but as far as a receiver Amendola creates a little sizzle coming out of the slot position.  He is not supposed to be a featured receiver but has at least made some plays on offense.

Ruvell Martin/Tim Carter: F Martin can't get on the field and Carter looks like the game has passed him by.  So much so that Carter was actually released by the Rams on Tuesday.  Both have been none additions for the Rams.

Brandon Gibson: INC I want to see what Gibson has.  Clearly he has some potential because the Eagles tried everything they could to keep him on their roster despite their depth at the position.


TIGHT END

Randy McMichael: D- It was thought before the season that McMichael would be a very important part of this offense.  Thus far he hasn't been a productive member and has hurt the team at times with his inability to hold onto the football.  20 receptions and 201 yards is OK but not anywhere what was needed or expected from McMichael.

Daniel Fells: B It seems that every time Daniel Fells gets an opportunity he does something with it.  Fells is the Rams leading scorer with 3 touchdowns this season and he makes plays.  If it wasn't for Randy McMichael he would already be the starter at the position.  Fells needs to get more chances in the second half.

Billy Bajema: C He is a blocking tight end and that is what he has done for the team in 2009.  Bajema actually got into the offensive flow last week in Detroit registering his first catches of the season.


OFFENSIVE LINE

Alex Barron: D The left tackle has continued his up and down play that has marked his career.  He plays good against great competition and bad against mediocre competition.  It got so bad with Barron that at one point Steve Spagnuolo benched him. Barron will most likely not be a Rams tackle in 2010 but he will be on a roster somewhere because others will see potential that will never be fulfilled.

Jacob Bell: D Bell might go down in the class of Drew Bennett on bad signings.  Although Bell is much better in 2009 then he was in 2008 he still needs to play better.

Jason Brown: B The signing of Brown in the offseason settled things down on the interior of the offensive line at it seems like he is making everyone around him better.  A quality signing and a good first half for Brown

Richie Incognito: C I blasted Incognito after the Seahawks meltdown and thought that Spagnuolo should have benched him and/or released him.  Since then Incognito has been a good player for the Rams.  Maybe Spagnuolo has reached him but I still believe he is a ticking timebomb.

Jason Smith: D- This is a grade that I expect to be much different by January.  Smith has struggled to get it together, and when you are the number two pick overall you are expected to be ready.  The thing with Smith is that you clearly see that he is taking quantum leaps each week.  I expect this grade to be a B by the end of the season.

Adam Goldberg: B Goldberg is the consummate professional.  Anything he has been asked to do he has done and is the most versatile offensive lineman in the NFL.  He is the type of player you need on your roster.

Mark Setterstrom: C  When he gets opportunities he shows that he belongs in the league.  I don't know if he wouldn't be the starter if Jacob Bell wasn't being paid the high salary.

John Greco: C When Greco gets in there he shows that he can make some plays.  I would like to see Greco get some more playing time at tackle on the right side when Smith goes over to the left.

Roger Allen/Phil Trautwein: INC  Neither is getting any clock.

Tomorrow we will take a look at the defense.

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