Rams try to get on track against Redskins

ST. LOUIS -- Don't tell Marc Bulger the NFL preseason is too long or doesn't matter.

Coming off what he calls an "embarrassing" 24-7 exhibition loss Monday night at Kansas City, the St. Louis Rams quarterback embraces having two more preseason games to get the reigning NFC West champions to some semblance of regular-season form.

"That's the only good thing that came out of the other night," Bulger said while the Rams (0-2) prepared for tonight's home preseason game against the Washington Redskins (2-1).

"I think this way we can learn from our mistakes. I know it doesn't look good right now, and we're not performing well. But we have faith in each other, and we're not panicking by any stretch of the imagination.

"We need to get better; we know that'll come. We're going to work to get it done, sooner rather than later."

In their two preseason losses, the Rams have mustered just 13 points with a patchwork offensive line offering little relief for Bulger. The Chiefs registered five sacks and relentless pressure on Rams quarterbacks.

In his first NFL season as the Rams' undisputed starting quarterback, Bulger perhaps knows better than to single out for criticism the beefy linemen between he and defenders. But he knows things have to improve -- quickly.

"I was embarrassed, personally" against the Chiefs, Bulger said. "We can make a million excuses, but the bottom line is if we had 10 plays we should be able to score, and we're not executing right now.

"It's not a lack of effort. We have to focus a little more. We have a lot of pride in there. Whether it's preseason or not, it'd be nice to perform well."

And it'd be nice to have a healthy offensive line. Five-time Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Pace continues his holdout. Right tackle Kyle Turley remains out with a back injury, and his return is unclear. Backup tackle Grant Williams played Monday despite an ankle injury. And St. Louis cut center Dave Wohlabaugh because of a hip injury.

Things appear so dire that two veteran offensive lineman -- Chris Dishman and Tom Nutten -- have been lured out of retirement, and Rams coach Mike Martz said both were rounding into shape.

Against the Chiefs, Dishman took part in 51 plays and called it "just one of those games where things didn't happen for us."

"I think we had some miscommunication a couple of plays," he said. "We only have like a week and a half left of training camp, then we're ready to roll. We have to iron it out quick, and I think we can get it done."

At 354 pounds, Dishman is 20 pounds lighter than when he first arrived in Rams camp a couple of weeks ago. Still, he admits, "I'm slow moving off the ball a little more than I'm used to, and I think that has to do with being overweight."

And along come the Redskins, fresh from their 17-0 feasting on the offensively challenged Miami Dolphins last weekend.

Washington held the Dolphins to just five first downs -- none in the second half -- and only 98 yards of offense. Washington controlled the ball for 41 minutes and rolled up 181 yards on the ground.

Mark Brunell, acquired in an offseason trade to challenge for the starting job with incumbent Patrick Ramsey, played four series and led touchdown drives of 63 and 43 yards. He finished 7-for-9 for 79 yards, with six of his completions going to running backs.

Ramsey, who was 3-for-8 for 41 yards, said he's taking the competition in stride.

"Mark and I are as close as I ever expected to be," Ramsey said. "The only time you really consider this being a controversy is when it's a situation where someone is upset over it."

Ramsey gets the start against the Rams, and Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said he won't decide until at least next week who will be under center when the regular season starts.

"At some point we'll make up our mind and then announce that," Gibbs said.