8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008
NFL
Rams looking to recover from loss
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Philadelphia Eagles defensive player tackles St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger during Sunday's game. The Eagles won 38-3, handing the Rams their worst first-game loss in the history of the franchise.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — Surrounded by reporters seeking his take on the St. Louis Rams' horrid opener after all those months of preparation, quarterback Marc Bulger found a comfort zone that was absent in the 38-3 drubbing at Philadelphia.
"I love being back here because I want to prove we're not that bad." Bulger said Wednesday. "We can be talking this time next week, hopefully about a win."
Moving on and remaining hopeful is a good way to cope in the NFL. The Rams don't need any flashbacks to last year's 0-8 start and the 3-13 finish that landed them with the second pick of the draft yet.
Bulger invoked coach Scott Linehan's "24-hour rule," desiring that players quickly flush the previous game out of their system, win or lose.
"We came in Monday, beat ourselves up and we tried to make as many corrections as we could." Bulger said. "Today, we're playing the world champs."
That type of talk prevailed in the locker room before the Rams returned to the practice field for the first time since getting whipped at all phases of the game. It was the worst opening-day loss in the 71-year franchise history. Tight end Randy McMichael, one of the few bright spots with five catches for 77 yards, said this is a more mature team than last year when an epidemic of offensive line injuries led to a wave of second-half fades.
"I think after a loss like that last year we probably would have gone in the tank," McMichael said. "This year, everybody's still positive, everybody knows it's just one game.
"Luckily, we're given 15 more games to get it right."
Cornerback Tye Hill, burned for a 47-yard gain on the second play of the game and a 51-yard in the second quarter, ended the opener in the nickel package.
"It was kind of odd to see the things happen the way they did."
said Hill, a first-round pick in 2006. "I know how hard we worked, and just for it to fall like that is disappointing. You take what you can from it, learn from it and get ready for next week because that's all you've got."
Linehan said he'll be back in the lineup on Sunday. He also thought players did a good job
"The only thing you can really do to flush that out of your system is to go play good and win on Sunday
"It was kind of odd to see the things happen the way they did."
TYE HILL St. Louis Rams cornerback
did a good job of moving on in Wednesday's practice.
"They did today," the coach said.
It was a very good practice and were going to have to carry it over"
The biggest problem was a mistake-prone offense that mustered only 166 yards and committed six false starts
spread among several players. Two of the false starts came in a span of three plays in the second half. The
mistakes Linehan referred to as "self-inflicted wounds" were a focal point of Monday's team meeting. Bulger didn't think noise was the culprit and said they didn't use too many different snap counts, speculating that players were worrying too much about the blitz or other assignments.
"It was just a timing thing," he said. "We were all out of whack."
Operating in reverse so often, the Rams were 0-for-11 in third-down conversions while facing an average of 3rd-and-10. That destroyed any shot at establishing what new offensive coordinator Al Saunders said is an offense based on rhythm and tempo.
NFL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard is tackled by a Patriots defensive player on Sunday. Huard will be backed up by Tyler Thipper this Sunday, against the Raiders.
Young quarterbacks set to back up Huard
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If anything happens to Damon Huard the next couple of weeks, Kansas City will be about as green as green can be at the most vital position in football.
Tyler Thigpen goes into Sunday's game against Oakland as No. 2 quarterback, and has thrown exactly six passes in the NFL. He completed two to his own team and one to the opposition.
Ingle Martin, signed on Wednesday off the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans, has never thrown a pass in the NFL.
"He's young," Edwards said Wednesday after putting Martin through his first practice. "We're trying to develop quarterbacks, so here's another guy."
But Martin also possesses the one quality which the Chiefs, next to natural talent, seem to prize most in coach Herm Edwards' third season.
Martin, drafted in the fifth round by Green Bay in 2006, will be the third quarterback while Brodie Croyle is sidelined for possibly four weeks or more with a separated shoulder.
Adding to the mystery surrounding his quarterback situation, Edwards reiterated on Wednesday that Thigpen will see playing time in the next couple of weeks along with Huard.
And Edwards again refused to be specific. Will Thipgen rotate in and out behind Huard, a 12-year veteran who is not as mobile or quick as his younger understudy? Or will he actually get a start?
"When we decide in the game. That's a decision we've got to make," Edwards said. "Right now, Damon's the starter and Tyler's No. 2."
Martin, who was passed up by the Titans when Vince Young was hurt on Sunday, admitted he'll have some catching-up to do before he's comfortable with the Chiefs' system.
"Put it this way, it's like I've been speaking Portuguese and now I'm going to be speaking Japanese," he said.
But he may be stepping into an ideal situation for a young player looking for an opportunity to catch on.
The Chiefs took 12 rookies to their season opener at New England and started six.
School of Business
2008
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