Serious approach led to rout of Lions

ST. LOUIS -- One week made a huge difference for the St. Louis Rams, who are closing in on the season opener with confidence.

The Rams treated their third preseason game like a regular-season game after coach Mike Martz turned up the intensity in practice, pulling the plug on air conditioning in the indoor facility and throwing in live tackling and extra wind sprints. The result was an impressive all-around performance in a 37-13 victory at Detroit on Monday night.

Martz reminded the players again, just before game time, that it was time to show up. The Rams open Sept. 11 at San Francisco.

"He shook it up in the locker room," running back Steven Jackson said. "We had to come out and give an impressive performance on Monday night and let the league know that the Rams are planning to do something this year."

Martz said he treated the first two preseason games, including a victory over the Bears in the preseason opener, largely as scrimmages. Not this one. He noted that the Lions, wearing black jerseys for the first time, were serious too.

"We tried to get ready to play this one, and they did, too," Martz said. "Black uniforms, Monday night, all the hype. It was a very competitive game for a preseason game."

The Rams made the playoffs despite a .500 record last year after going 12-4 in 2003, and early games gave mixed signals about which direction the team was headed. After going 11-for-14 for 167 yards and a touchdown in the first half, Marc Bulger was excited about the possibilities with an offense so deep that Marshall Faulk is a backup.

"We're two weeks away right now and it's time," Bulger said. "That was pretty much our motto this week. It's not the preseason anymore, we need to hone our skills."

To Martz, attitude was at the core of the improvement.

"We didn't compete like we should have in San Diego, and that's what bothered all of us," Martz said. "We were able to rectify that."

The change on defense might have been the most startling.

After surrendering 215 yards rushing at San Diego the previous week, the Rams held the Lions to 66. Frequent blitzing harried Lions starter Joey Harrington and helped produce four sacks, two of them coming from Chris Claiborne and Tyoka Jackson on consecutive plays in the first quarter.

"The most impressive thing was the intensity from beginning to end regardless of who was in the game," Martz said. "When you see all these white jerseys swarming to the ball, that's the defense that I know and love."

Martz said there might have been too much in the game plan against the Chargers for the players to digest.

"We went into a little bit more of a basic mode on defense and turned the guys loose, so to speak," Martz said. "They did a nice job with that."

Everything the offense tried worked. Jackson had 108 yards on 14 carries although he played only one series in the second half, the quarterbacks were a combined 19-for-25 for 286 yards and Isaac Bruce had five catches for 85 yards and a score.

"Towards the end of last year we knew we would have something special this year," Bulger said. "It's starting to come out." Notes: Reserve RB-KR Arlen Harris sustained a concussion late in the third quarter when his head was slammed into the FieldTurf surface while being tackled and likely won't play Friday night at home against the Chiefs. "It looked like a bobblehead doll," Martz said. "We'll be very judicious. The doctors aren't really excited about him playing." .... Rookie S Jerome Carter injured his Achilles tendon in the second half, but Martz said it was "just a strain." ... Martz said he had no interest in signing Maurice Clarett, released by the Broncos. "I wish him the best and all those good things, but he probably just doesn't fit right here," Martz said. "I think he's a good player, I really do. But I think we have our team now."