ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The facts: The Rams fell to 0-7 with a 42-6 loss to the Colts in Week 7.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Steven Jackson topped 100 yards rushing for the third time this season. He's on pace for 1,451 yards rushing. Jackson had 95 yards rushing in the third quarter, his largest single-quarter total.
• Donnie Avery caught a 50-yard pass on a fleaflicker. Avery caught only two passes, but his per-catch average rose. Avery has averaged 19.0 yards per reception over his last four games after averaging 6.2 yards per catch in the first three.
• The Rams downed four punts inside the Colts' 20. Donnie Jones had a 41-yard net average.
• The Colts are not on the schedule again this season.
• Kicker Josh Brown made two more field-goal tries, extending his streak to five in a row over three games.
• The Rams held Colts running back Joseph Addai to 3.2 yards per carry.

Looking ahead: The Rams visit the Lions in Week 8, another silver lining, come to think of it.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The latest in our periodic spin around the NFC West radio dials:

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: Steven Jackson via sportsradiointerviews.com

101ESPN St. Louis: La'Roi Glover

101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Jim Thomas

101ESPN St. Louis: Deacon Jones, part one

101ESPN St. Louis: Jones, part two

49ers

KNBR680: Mike Singletary

KNBR680: Steve Young

Cardinals

KTAR620: safety Antrel Rolle via sportsradiointerviews.com

XTRA910: safety Adrian Wilson

azcardinals.com: Ken Whisenhunt

Seahawks

710ESPN Seattle: John Clayton

710ESPN Seattle: Seneca Wallace, Jim Mora

As always, please leave links to additional audio in the comments section. I'll add items as needed.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Thoughts and observations from the Rams' exhibition game Thursday night against the Chiefs:

• Two tight. The Rams used two tight ends on eight of their first 10 offensive plays, pairing Randy McMichael and Daniel Fells. The personnel packages should even out if fullback Mike Karney and No. 1 receiver Donnie Avery return to full health. But without a deep stable of receivers, the Rams could use two tight ends quite a bit. McMichael, Fells and Billy Bajema played extensively.
• Protection issues. The Rams had problems protecting Kyle Boller early in the game. Left guard Jacob Bell, returning from a concussion, blocked no one when the Chiefs blitzed successfully early in the game. Tamba Hali beat right tackle Jason Smith around the corner on the next play. Protection issues will be critical when the Rams open the season with three of their first four games on the road and Marc Bulger returning from a broken finger.
• Carter fades. Veteran receiver Tim Carter didn't affirm the Rams' earlier optimism over his prospects. Carter failed to secure two passes when the Chiefs hit him hard. The Rams took a long look at him in the first half, when my unofficial count had Carter playing 24 snaps, tied with Bajema for most among the Rams' non-quarterbacks (Brock Berlin played 26).
• Avery should be ready. The Rams' No. 1 receiver played nine of the first 11 snaps, his first game action since suffering a broken bone in his left foot. That seems like a strong indication Avery will be ready to contribute in Week 1.
• Secondary pretty good. With Leonard Little sitting out, the Rams generated little pass rush early in the game. Their cornerbacks seemed to hold up well anyway. The Chiefs have significant problems on offense, so it might have been telling if the Rams' corners struggled.
• Jackson needed badly. Steven Jackson watched from the sideline as the Rams smartly protected him from suffering an injury in a game with little meaning for a Pro Bowl player. The Rams without Jackson aren't a pretty sight offensively, particularly with Bulger out and Avery limited. Backup running back Samkon Gado appears adequate in short relief. He's willing in pass protection, but potentially unreliable as a receiver. He also suffered injured ribs and did not return.
• One in the box. Defensive coordinator Ken Flajole moved from the sideline to the coaches' booth midway through the exhibition season. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur remains on the sideline. Coaches change vantage points for a variety of reasons. The chaotic sideline atmosphere isn't for everyone. Having Flajole upstairs and defensive-minded head coach Steve Spagnuolo on the sideline could create a balance.

We're down to one remaining NFC West exhibition game, with the 49ers closing out their preseason schedule against San Diego.

Posted by Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson

	Jeff Curry/US Presswire
	Outside of Steve Jackson, the Rams are short on weapons.

The Rams have several areas of great concern. But outside of Steve Jackson, there is a real shortage at wide receiver, tight end and complementary running backs in St. Louis. Actually, it might be prudent to add Marc Bulger to this equation as well, as he has thrown 22 touchdowns and 28 interceptions over the past two seasons. But let's just focus on the pass catchers and backup runners for the moment.

Jackson isn't the most durable player around, so having a quality back behind him is of paramount importance. There might not be a team in the league that has worse running back depth than the Rams. Jackson has missed four games in each of the past two seasons and the best options behind him are Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby, Samkon Gado and this year's seventh-round pick, Chris Ogbonnaya. Also, this is supposed to be a power, run-first offense with Steve Spagnuolo as the head coach. The backs are going to take a pounding.

The Rams used an early second-round pick last year to make Donnie Avery the first wideout selected in 2008. He is incredibly fast and had a more than respectable season in his rookie year. There is a lot to like about Avery, but is he ever going to be a true No. 1 guy who can dominate in tight quarters, the red zone and when coverages are rolled his way? Like most of St. Louis' wide receiver corps, he is best suited to the dome environment, which is fine -- when the Rams are playing in a dome.

While it is extremely early in his career and he has yet to be productive, Keenan Burton may end up being a solid No. 2 wideout in time. He has decent size, knows how to use it well and is a secure hand-catcher. Still, there is a learning curve here.

Scouts Inc.: Weaknesses • AFC: N | S | E | W • NFC: N | S | W

St. Louis also wisely traded for Laurent Robinson, who could be another very good dome player. He has a vertical aspect to his game and should develop further. Either Robinson or Burton will start opposite Avery.

While these three young wideouts have upside and very well could develop into solid pros, they are not there yet and there certainly is no guarantee that they will excel. Avery and Robinson aren't particularly physical. And learning the wide receiver position at this level tends to take a fair amount of time.

Also, these are really the only three wideouts of consequence presently on the roster. Brooks Foster might be OK as a fourth wideout and he does have ability, but forgive me if I don't get overly excited about Derek Stanley or Tim Carter. The lack of star power at wideout is the most troubling.

Randy McMichael would be a suitable starting tight end -- if the Rams were better stocked at wide receiver. Or, if St. Louis had a superstar tight end to go with their present group of wideouts, that would be fine. But neither is the case. Expect somewhat of a resurgence from McMichael this season after missing the final 12 games last year with a leg injury. He will be needed, and there is little behind him right now on the tight end depth chart, so throwing out of double tight end sets could be compromised. Keep an eye on Daniel Fells, a relative unknown. He has a chance to make an impact to some degree.

Finding questionable areas on the Rams is not a difficult chore. Both lines still have a chance to be weaknesses and the cornerback position is rather unstable as well, but the lack of offensive playmakers outside of Jackson is most troubling.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.