Scouting report

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 23, 2007

The basics

Are the Rams a sleeping giant or just a gigantic mess?

This game might finally provide the answer, with St. Louis (0-2) looking to cure its problems in today's visit to Tampa Bay.

The Rams lost a heartbreaker last week, falling to the 49ers when kicker Jeff Wilkins' 56-yard attempt fell inches short of the crossbar as time expired.

Still, they feel as though there are building blocks.

"It's still early in the year," coach Scott Linehan said. "You have to look at the positives. We did feel like we were in control and we were much improved defensively from Week 1. Offensively, we moved the ball much better, but there are some things that we have to fix, (or) we won't correct how we felt (last) Sunday. Protecting our quarterback and getting the running game going are a couple of them."

And that's where the problems start. The Rams allowed six sacks to San Francisco, reinforcing how much the team misses stalwart left tackle Orlando Pace, who will miss the season with an injury. They still have Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger, who is dangerous no matter the team's record. And, remember, he still throws to deep threats Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.

The struggles in the running game have been perplexing, though. Steven Jackson has rushed for a combined 118 yards in two games. Last week, he averaged 2.9 yards per carry, his longest run a 9-yarder.Still, tackling - which has been much improved - will be paramount for the Bucs defense today.

Jackson "is big, he's strong, he makes great cuts, and he's fighting for every yard," Bucs middle linebacker Barrett Ruudsaid.

The Rams are just as much of a headache on defense.

The Jim Haslett-led unit is creative with its blitzes and formations and takes advantage of its speed. The unit is flush with playmakers, including defensive end Leonard Little, safety Corey Chavous and linebacker Will Witherspoon.

"They are really good," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "They put a lot of money into that defense. And they have an unorthodox scheme."

The Rams have a little bit of an organized fire drill on defense, and that will complicate the Bucs' efforts to read and react.

"They're going to shift, they're going to move, they're going to do things we do as an offense - move around," Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "It's going to be two teams that are adjusting, and whoever gets the best read at the last moment may have the best chance to have success."

Keep in mind

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger got off to a slow start last season, too. Turns out, the early struggles only paved the way for a big rebound. After throwing for just one touchdown and absorbing nine combined sacks in his first two games of 2006, Bulger went on a tear, surpassing 300 yards passing in five of his next six games. This season, he struggled in Week 1 with 167 yards against Carolina. Last week, he threw for 368 yards but was sacked six times against the 49ers.

Injuries

Bucs: DE Patrick Chukwurah (knee), CB Brian Kelly (groin) and WR Ike Hilliard are questionable.

Rams: G Richie Incognito (ankle) is doubtful. LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (ankle) is questionable. QB Marc Bulger (ribs) and G Claude Terrell (thigh) are probable.

Key matchup

RT Jeremy Trueblood vs. DE Leonard Little

Little is a savvy veteran who, as a former linebacker, is going to be one of the more agile left ends Trueblood faces. Little is a classic pass rusher. His 13 sacks in 2006 were more than half the number the Bucs notched (25). He ranks 11th among active players with 74. And that's a Rams club record. Trueblood will have his hands full, but he is a capable lineman. The question is whether he can be consistent. He tends to have up-and-downperformances. Today, he must be up.

[Last modified September 22, 2007, 17:59:15]