RamFanInPA: What can be done to breathe some life into the Rams organization for the 2008 season? I see 2008 as a "lame duck" season in many respects. There just doesn't seem like there is anything to feel positive about. Give me something! Thanks.

Jim Thomas: Well, hiring Al Saunders as offensive coordinator was a start. A strong offseason in terms of the draft and free agency is the next step.

pweb: Jim

With the Senior Bowl in the books, anny new thoughts on who you think the Rams should take w/ their #2 overall pick? How do you feel about them trading down?

Jim Thomas: Obviously, no juniors were at the Senior Bowl. And almost all of the projected top 10 picks who are seniors skipped the event. So nothing's really changed. As for a trade down, I think the offer would have to be very, very good.

pweb: Jim

Despite whatever tension that exists between Linehan and Haslett, it looks like Haslett will be the Rams' DC for '08. How do you feel about the Rams moving to a 3-4 defense? Obviously there would need to be additional personnel added through the draft or free agency to make it happen. But it almost seems that their current defensive personnel lend themselves better to the 3-4 than the 4-3. Plus I'd love to see Witherspoon get the chance to play outside again.

Jim Thomas: To this point, I think there has been very little discussion about schemes, offense or defense, 3-4 or otherwise. Linehan has been totally focused on his staff to this point, and still has a secondary coach to hire.

tonyde: Thanks for the chat Jim.

I'm wondering if the changes at O Coord. and O-line coach were driven by Linehan or the front office? I see the same thing happening here as 99'. Vermeil may have been considering making changes, but the perception always was he was "forced" to make them, which I doubt was true. Is Linehan being forced to make these changes, or is he the one driving this? If the Rams have any kind of success in 08 it will be because of hiring Sanders etc. Kind of unfair IMHO...

Jim Thomas: Regardless of what is said to the media for public consumption at Rams Park, I think we'd all be a little naive to think that Linehan wasn't getting "nudged" (to put it mildly) to make changes. Especially since Saunders' offensive approach to a large degree is a return to towards the Martz system in many respects.

Ed Johnson: Dear Jim
I have a two part question. With the possible hiring of Al Saunders who will really be the OC, Al or Scott? Question number two is simple, if Scott fired Willy Robinson (A movwe I still do not understand) and his relationship with Jim Haslett is not very good, then why would you not bring in Gregg Williams for DC? I believe the reeason Paul Boudreau was let go was Scott and Paul had numerous disagreements on the starting offensive line during 07, can you confirm this?

Jim Thomas: Let me put it this way: If you think there was some grumbling by offensive players about Linehan, there would be a near revolt by the defensive players if Haslett was dumped. The Haslett-Linehan relationship is not ideal, but this "rift" talk is w-a-y overblown.
As for the o-line, I'm not aware of any Boudreau-Linehan disagreements.