Rams: Preseason pick to cellar dweller

SANTA CLARA -- The St. Louis Rams were the only team in the NFC West that entered this season with a returning starting quarterback whose long-term spot in the organization was unquestioned.Coming off a 7-9 season with rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, many expected big things from the Rams this season."It's been a rough year for us, obviously," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Wednesday on a conference call with Bay Area reporters.The Rams were a consensus pick to win the NFC West. But the Rams have fallen on their faces. They're in last place with a 2-9 record, and Spagnuolo is on the hot seat. Were the expectations too much to handle?RELATED: NFL standings
"We embraced that. I know the team did, the staff did, and I did," Spagnuolo said. "You'd much rather be in that role. Certainly, you want to live up to it and exceed it and we haven't done that for a lot of different reasons -- some out of our control and enough of it in our control. It didn't happen, and we're trying to find a way to correct that."The Rams had a change in offensive systems. Coordinator Pat Shurmur was hired as Cleveland Browns head coach. Gone was the short-passing game in favor or a more vertical attack favored by new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.But the 49ers (9-2) had many of the same issues with the lockout. So why have the Rams failed where the 49ers succeeded?"The one challenge that we had -- and we're never going to use this as an excuse but you're asking the question -- the one thing that's important on offense, especially when you're putting a new one in, is continuity, especially on the offensive line," Spagnuolo said. "We haven't had that."Both offensive tackles, Rodger Saffold and Jason Brown, are on injured reserve. And former 49ers lineman Tony Wragge replaced Jason Brown at center last month. Also, Bradford missed two starts with a high ankle sprain. Also, the Rams have had problems keeping receivers healthy.
"You really need it in the landscape of this year and with teams like ourselves and San Francisco, where you're putting in a new offense, especially," Spagnuolo said. "You really had to bank on having the same 11, 12, 13 guys through training camp. In the beginning of the year, we knew there would be some rough edges. But you'd hope you'd get to this certain point in the season and those reps under your belt would surface and you'd have some success."That's happened to San Francisco this year. I know Jim (Harbaugh) has spoken of it quite often. The goal is to just get better and better."