Is there anything interesting going on with the Rams this week?  With all of the talk about Rush Limbaugh, Dave Checketts, Roger Goodell, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson it was kind of lost that the Rams are 0-5 and they face the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday.  Forgetting about the 0-5 thing was a pleasant distraction but Sunday is coming around and it is time to see if the Rams can put one in the win column against a team that lost 41-0 last week.  Here is a preview of the Rams vs. Jaguars.


When the Rams have the ball

Marc Bulger will be back as the starting quarterback for the first time since his injury in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers.  Bulger looked good in mop-up duty last week going 7-7 for 88 yards and a touchdown.  Also likely to be back this week is rookie tackle Jason Smith.  Bulger will still have the same problems he had before he left....where will he throw the ball?  Donnie Avery is starting to show signs of life but there has not been any other receiver to pick up the slack after the injury to Laurent Robinson.  Defensively the Jaguars have had a rough season.  They are 30th in the league in yards against.  30th in passing yards surrendered and 18th against the rush.  If the Rams can't get something done in the passing game this week then they will never do it.  The Rams simply have to take chances down the field this week.  When you have only scored 34 points all year there is no reason not to.  Also for you Missouri football fans out there, Atiyyah Ellison, who is also a St. Louisian will most likely get the start this week for the Jaguars at defensive end.


When the Jaguars have the ball

The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to do something as bad as the St. Louis Rams this season offensively.  They both were shutout and embarrassed at Seattle.  The Jaguars are an offense much like the Rams in that they have a great running back, Maurice Jones-Drew, and not much else.  David Garrard continues to be an enigma at quarterback.  He doesn't make mistakes, only throwing one interception this season, but he doesn't make big plays either.  Former Greatest Show on Turf wide receiver Torry Holt has been quiet most of the season but had his biggest game of the year last week with 6 catches for 95 yards.  The Jaguars offensive line is very young with two rookies starting at the tackle positions.  Eugene Monroe, who was on the Rams radar with the number two pick, starts at left tackle and Eben Britton starts at right tackle.  Both are tackles that can be exploited by the Rams pass rush if Spagnuolo wants to blitz often.


Special Teams

The Jaguars don't have anything special on their special teams.  Brian Witherspoon returns kicks and punts for the Jags.  He appears to be better at the kickoff returns then the punts.  Josh Scobee is a very average kicker and punter Adam Podlesh is below average.  The Rams should be able to exploit a weak Jaguars special teams.


Prediction

My gut keeps telling me that the Rams are going to win this one.  The Jaguars were embarrassed worse than the Rams were in Seattle last week but one would think that they would not have another clunker this Sunday.  The numbers tell me that the Rams should have hope this Sunday but I have been fooled by this team before.  I won't believe the Rams are making a move forward until I see it with my own two eyes.  I hope they will pull the upset but I am not going to buy into them this week.  Jaguars 24 Rams 10.


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