Bulger ready for first start on opening day

ST. LOUIS -- Marc Bulger is 18-4 as the St. Louis Rams' quarterback, he has a new four-year contract and he was the Pro Bowl MVP.

Still, a new experience lies ahead. Today's game against the Arizona Cardinals will be his first opening-day start.

Bulger stepped in for Kurt Warner in both 2002 and 2003, and last year he seized the job for good after only one week. And there's been no hint of controversy in the preseason, not with 38-year-old Chris Chandler a safe choice as the backup.

So, he doesn't think it's that big of a deal. This has been his team for a while.

"I play the way I do regardless of whether I played the series before or the season before, and I'm not going to change that," Bulger said. "I never change the way I play."

Bulger wasn't overworked in the preseason, throwing only 36 passes in four games -- fewer than both Chandler (44) and third-string Jeff Smoker (42). Now, the wraps come off for Bulger and for tailback Marshall Faulk, who totaled 14 carries.

"Our game plans are pretty minimal in the preseason," Bulger said. "Now, coach Martz can get real creative, and that's what's really fun about this offense.

"It's always a lot more exciting once it counts, especially when you know you have a good team."

The Rams won the NFC West with a 12-4 record and are expected to contend again despite questions on both lines. They're a double-digit favorite to get off to a good start against the Cardinals, 4-12 last year.

"I'm looking forward to setting the tone for the season," wide receiver Isaac Bruce said. "We want to make sure nobody surprises us."

The biggest areas of concern for the Rams heading into the opener are integrating tackle Orlando Pace into an offensive line that's been a trouble area all summer and finding a replacement for departed defensive end Grant Wistrom.

Pace had only four practices to prepare for the opener after waiting until last Sunday to agree to a one-year, $7.02 million contract as the team's franchise player. He's a five-time Pro Bowl player, and reported 18 pounds below last year's playing weight, although in the early going he might have some conditioning issues.

"You never worry about Orlando; he's going to do his job," Bulger said. "He obviously came back in good shape and that's why all throughout camp it wasn't really an issue, for the players at least."

Bryce Fisher, a seventh-round draft pick in 1999 by the Bills, is a low-profile replacement for Wistrom.

"I've got a lot of work to do but I really feel like the coaches at least know what they have in me," Fisher said. "They know I'm going to play hard and know my assignments."

The emergence of first-round pick Steven Jackson, who led the NFL in rushing in the preseason, eases worries about the durability of Faulk. Faulk missed 11 games due to injuries the last two years and is entering his 11th season.