Special teams still Rams' sore spot

ST. LOUIS -- Shaky special teams play, a problem area for the Rams all year, almost cost them dearly.

The Rams gave up a 60-yard punt return for touchdown to R.W. McQuarters in Sunday's cliffhanger 23-21 victory over the Chicago Bears. That's the fifth return touchdown allowed by the team this year -- two on kickoffs, two on punts and one on a fumbled kickoff.

St. Louis is 31st in the league in punt return coverage, a 14.1-yard average, and 30th in kickoff coverage, giving up 24.8 yards per return.

"Those are touchdowns you have to overcome every week," coach Mike Martz said. "You've just got to find out what the problem is, address it and fix it."

Jerry Azumah averaged 29.3 yards on three kickoff returns and nearly broke one in the final minute. It took a game-saving tackle by kicker Jeff Wilkins at the Chicago 45 to save the day.

St. Louis (7-3) also lost a fumble on a kickoff return, although it didn't end up hurting the team when Paul Edinger missed a 34-yard field goal.

The coverage teams, largely populated by defensive players, are struggling in part because Martz prefers to exclude regulars. The defense has had health problems with the secondary beat up the first half of the season, and end Leonard Little (chest muscle) and tackle Damione Lewis (high ankle sprain) are both likely to miss their fourth straight game this week at Arizona, and trickle-down has left inexperienced players on the field.

"I'm to blame for all of that, trying to save guys on defense," Martz said. "We'll have to use more of our starters, like everybody else."

Martz absolved the punt coverage on McQuarters' touchdown return in the second quarter, however. He said Mike Furrey was set to make the tackle early in the return when he was blatantly blocked in the back, but no call was made.

"I'm glad you asked about that," Martz told a reporter. "Everything about coverage teams is about lanes, and when you lose a guy in a lane then that's where the ball is going to go.

"You either get the call or you don't."

On the kickoff return at the end of the game, Martz said two rookies got out of their lanes. That left Wilkins, who hit the game-winning 31-yard field goal eight seconds earlier, to make the tackle that preserved the victory.

Martz blamed himself for kicking the ball away after special teams coach Bobby April recommended a squib kick.

"They've got the best return team in the league," Martz said. "In all my good judgment I said 'Let's kick it away and we'll cover them,' and we didn't do it."

The miscues were more glaring because quarterback Marc Bulger struggled for the second straight game. He recovered in the second half, going 18-for-25 for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Martz had considered yanking Bulger in favor of two-time MVP Kurt Warner in the second half but came out solidly behind him on Monday.

"I'm very pleased where he was in the second half," Martz said. "He came out of it, and he brought himself out of it."

Warner made the decision easier for Martz by suggesting the coach stick with Bulger.

"He said, 'coach, I'm ready to play, I'm excited about playing, but I've been in this situation before and you stayed with me. I think Marc deserves it."'

Instead of yanking Bulger, Martz took matters into his own hands. The Rams successfully converted twice on fourth down, once on Marshall Faulk's critical 52-yard run to the Chicago 8, and also recovered an onside kick.

"Whether it's changing a quarterback, or an onside kick, or you go for it on fourth down, whatever it is, you've got to do something to jump-start things and get it going," Martz said. "We just needed a shot in the arm."

DE Little likely to miss fourth straight game

Rams defensive end Leonard Little thought Sunday's game at Chicago was his last one on the sideline.

Instead, Little likely will miss his fourth straight game this week at Arizona with a torn chest muscle. The Rams (7-3) are being very careful with their best pass rusher, who has seven sacks, because coach Mike Martz said if he reinjures the chest he'll miss the rest of the season.

"It's healing well and they're pleased with it," Martz said. "Could he play? Yeah, he could play. Would he injure it? In all probability, there's a good chance he probably would reinjure it."

Tyoka Jackson has started at defensive end in place of Little.

Defensive tackle Damione Lewis also is likely to miss his fourth straight game with a high ankle sprain.

"He's a lot better," Martz said. "But to say he's going to be ready is pretty hard."