Martz spares team horror show of Giants game film

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams' 44-24 loss to the New York Giants was so ugly coach Mike Martz wants his players to avert their eyes.

Normally, Rams coaches go over game film with players. But after watching the carnage himself, Martz decided Monday it was best to focus on the future -- Sunday's NFC West showdown with Seattle at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Giants scored on their first five possessions -- three touchdowns and two field goals -- building a 27-7 lead the Rams could never overcome, in part because of four turnovers.

"We [surrendered] a couple big plays in that game that have no business ever happening," Martz said. "Anytime you score five straight possessions, whatever it was, there are a lot of things you've got to look at, and we did that today."

The "we" was the coaching staff.

"I did not look at this tape with these players," Martz said. "We're going to move on. We've got to get ready for Seattle."

Martz hinted some personnel changes may be in order, especially on defense.

"I do know some of the player issues we have, the guys that play well and did not play well. That will be confronted and corrected and if we have to make a change, we'll make a change.

"We just need to move on now and get back on track to where we were building, and get there quickly, and I think we can do that. And we're not going to do that by going back and rehashing what happened here last week.

"It was an old-fashioned whipping that we took."

The defensive letdown came after two solid showings in wins over Arizona and Tennessee. Martz questioned the effort of some players.

"I'm not very pleased with some of the guys and their effort, and we'll rectify that. That, I know we can fix.

"If it shows its ugly head again, then we will make a change."

Martz didn't name names, but singled out mistakes by the safeties.

"There's a couple big plays by safeties that hurt us bad in this game, early too, where the receiver gets behind everybody. We were in cover 2 and that can never happen. There's no excuse for it.

"That cannot happen or you cannot play."

One bright spot was the improved play of the offensive line. Though quarterback Marc Bulger threw a team record 62 passes -- completing 40 for 442 yards -- he was sacked just once.

Martz was particularly pleased with rookie right tackle Alex Barron, the team's first-round pick playing just his second game, who held his own against Michael Strahan.

"Under this kind of pressure, we haven't had a guy step up like that," Martz said.

Still, Martz had plenty to worry about in preparing for the matchup with Seattle. Though both teams are just 2-2, they are co-leaders of the NFC West.

"There is very significant concern about where this football team is on my part," Martz said. "I believe this is an anamoly."

NOTES: Wide receiver Isaac Bruce and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna are both questionable for the Seattle game. Bruce has a hyperextended toe; Manumaleuna has a strained knee. ... Martz second-guessed himself for calling a reverse in what proved to be the pivotal play against the Giants. Trailing by 10 and facing a third-and-3 at the New York 6 early in the third quarter, Steven Jackson botched a pitch to wide receiver Shaun McDonald that was recovered by defensive tackle Fred Robbins. "I kick myself in the butt for calling that play," Martz said.