Quarterbacks

Marc Bulger: D- Everyone talked during the offseason about how this was a make or break season for Marc Bulger. Clearly 2009 was break and not make. Bulger was only able to play in 9 games and had only 5 touchdowns in those 9 games. Some of it was not his fault but he certainly did not elevate the team nor could he stay on the field. It will be interesting to see how the Rams handle Bulger in the offseason. Clearly he can't come back as the starter but I wouldn't necessarily rule out him still being on the roster in 2010.

Kyle Boller: F In the offseason I think most people thought this was a good pickup. A guy who could step in if needed and maybe have a shot at resurrecting his career. With the exception of his play against the Packers, Boller was awful. 7 games, 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions doesn't sound like a guy who will be in the league too much longer.

Keith Null: C Credit to Steve Spagnuolo for giving Null an opportunity to see what the young quarterback has. Granted Spagnuolo was forced into it for some of the time but Null did show that he belonged in the NFL. There is no Kurt Warner miracle in there, not that any Division II Quarterback should have that to live up to, but Null does have some talent and should be considered as a possible number two quarterback in 2010.

Running Backs

Steven Jackson: A+ The easiest grade on the entire team. Leading rusher in the entire NFC on the worst team in the NFL. He did everything you could ask for a running back and never complained publicly about what was surrounding him. A true warrior and leader.

Kenneth Darby: D Darby didn't do much with the opportunities that he had and the Rams did not have confidence in him to get him the ball more when Jackson needed a breather. It would be a surprise if he was back next year.

Samkon Gado: F After winning a job in training camp Gado was a complete non-factor the rest of the season.

Mike Karney: C He had a much better second half then he did first. He was brought in for his blocking skills and did his job.

Chris Ogbonnaya: C After starting the season on the practice squad the 7th round draft pick earned his way onto the active roster and started seeing action at the end of the season. I think he is better then Darby and Gado right now and certainly has more upside then either of those guys heading into 2010.

Wide Receivers

Donnie Avery: D Someone who wants to be considered a number one wide receiver in the NFL cannot have 47 receptions for 589 yards in 16 games. That is averaging only 3 catches per game. Avery did not get open enough and made costly mistakes during the early part of the season. When you throw into the equation that he was selected before Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson it becomes all the more frustrating.

Laurent Robinson: B It is a shame that Robinson got injured because he had come from nowhere to be a real threat for the Rams offense. Hopefully he will perform at the same level he did early in this season in 2010.

Keenan Burton: D Another disappointing season for a wide receiver that was supposed to make his mark in 2009. Burton was injured after 9 games and did not play the rest of the season. His production before he was injured was not much to talk about either.

Danny Amendola: B For a player that was supposed to be just a return man Amendola made some plays at wide receiver. He is NOT a guy the Rams should be building their WR corps around but he is another weapon that can be used in the right situations.

Brandon Gibson: B The Rams may have gotten a steal with Gibson. After acquiring him in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, Gibson showed some promise in the second half of the season. 34 catches for 348 yards does not mean the Pro Bowl is in his future but it looks like Gibson could be a very effective two or three heading forward.

Ruvell Martin/Tim Carter: F These two were wastes of spots on a roster. No reason to have either one of them on the roster at any point.

Jordan Kent: D Acquired late in the season Kent did not get much opportunity to show much. I don't know if he has a real chance of making this squad in 2010.

TIGHT END

Randy McMichael: D The game is probably passing Randy McMichael by. This was the worst full season of McMichael's career and he appears to have lost confidence in his game. A great guy but a position that if the Rams can upgrade in the offseason they should consider it.

Daniel Fells: C Fells had opportunities this season to take over the tight end role and he never could grasp it. He has some ability and made some plays but is probably not ever going to be a #1 tight end.

Billy Bajema: C A decent job this season as a blocking tight end.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Alex Barron: D Another frustrating season for the Rams with Alex Barron. There were times this year that he neutralized top pass rushers. Other times he would be a turnstile for average pass rushers. He even had to be benched at one point by Steve Spagnuolo. This HAS to be the last year of Barron. You will not build a winner with him on your roster.

Jacob Bell: D Another disappointing season for the guard who was signed in 2008 and was supposed to settle down the offensive line. Bell was much better this season but not good enough and was not able to play the full 16 games.

Jason Brown: B+ Brown was a borderline Pro Bowl player this year and had the Rams had more success then he probably would have been. The best signing of the offseason by Billy Devaney.

Richie Incognito: F The only good part about the Incognito season is that he finally was exposed as the classless guy that he really is. Steve Spagnuolo finally showed some muscle when he released him.

Jason Smith: D The grade that Smith receives is very troubling. When you are selected as high as Smith you are expected to be an impact player immediately. Smith wasn't and when he started to become an impact player midway through the season he suffered a concussion and was done for the year. Hopefully that will not haunt the rest of his career. Kind of a lost season for Smith. Let's hope that 2010 is much better for Smith and the Rams.

Adam Goldberg: B Once again the Rams asked Goldberg to move from position to position to keep the offensive line together. He may not be the best lineman on the field but he is a terrific team player.

Mark Setterstrom: D I am starting to wonder if Setterstrom will ever make an impact with the Rams. When he gets opportunities he is OK but then he can't stay healthy. The old saying of you can't make the club if you're in the tub. Setterstrom may find that out soon.

John Greco: F Greco got some starts this season and was not effective in them. The Rams used a decent draft pick on him and he is not starting to produce. 2010 is going to be a BIG season for Greco.

Roger Allen: F Allen had one of the worst starts to an NFL career in the history of the game. He gets the start, the offensive line gives up 8 sacks and you blow out your knee. An awful start to a career.

Phil Trautwein: F Trautwein falls under the same rating as Allen. He received an opportunity in the final game and helped contribute to surrendering 8 sacks. Not a great way to break into the NFL.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Chris Long: B- We have finally started to see what Chris Long can do and the future is looking much brighter for Long and the Rams. Long finished with 5 sacks on the season and was becoming the playmaker the Rams were looking for when they selected him. I thought Long would make the big jump this season. It came a little late but it looks like Long will be a player the Rams can build around.

Leonard Little: B- If this was the final season for Leonard Little he did not embarrass himself. Little had 6.5 sacks this season before injuries cut short the season. Clearly the motor doesn't work like it used to on Little, but he had a productive season.

James Hall: B Hall was the Rams most consistent defensive end on this team against both the pass and the run and did everything the coaching staff asked of him. Hall is someone who continues to do some nice things out on the field.

C.J. Ah You: D Between the 12th man incident to start the season, in Seattle, to the shortened season due to injury Ah You had a rough season. It will be interesting to see if he will be back next season.

Victor Adeyanju: F Adeyanju had a rough season. He spent most of the first half of the season on the inactive list and then spent most of the second half of the season not making plays. A surprising turn in a career that was showing so much promise two years ago.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Clifton Ryan: C Consistently the most reliable defensive tackle for the Rams. Ryan has been a good player and should be in the Rams rotation in 2010.

Darrell Scott: C After James Laurinaitis, the defensive tackle from Clemson made the biggest onfield contributions from any draft pick in 2009. Scott was in the doghouse for the first half of the season but had a terrific second half and is a keeper.

LaJuan Ramsey: D Didn't make a lot happen even though he played in almost every game this season.

Gary Gibson: F After making so many plays in the preseason, Gibson disappeared and then had his season ended by injury.

Leger Douzable: D Douzable got some time in there but didn't do much with it.

LINEBACKERS

James Laurinaitis: A- The pick of Laurinaitis was questioned in many circles, including here, but the pick turned out to be a great selection by Billy Devaney. Laurinaitis started every game at middle linebacker and was the teams leading tackler. Laurinaitis hit the rookie wall a little bit at the end and his pass coverage is suspect at this point but he is going to be the anchor of this defense for a number of years to come.

David Vobora: D After missing four games due to violating the league's drug policy David Vobora was a spotty player at linebacker. There were times he was good, but more times then not he was overmatched on the run and missing on pass coverage. The Rams need to find at least one outside linebacker here in the offseason.

Paris Lenon: C- Lenon played better then Vobora but he is clearly not the answer to helping out the Rams at linebacker. It may be a battle to make the roster next season.

Larry Grant: F Grant was given opportunities to win over a linebacker job and didn't do it. In 16 games he managed only 19 tackles and never developed into a regular at linebacker.

Chris Chamberlain: D- Chamberlain appears not to have any future at linebacker for the Rams but is a contributor on special teams which saves his grade from being an F.

K.C. Asiodu: D No factor on defense, contributor on special teams.

CORNERBACKS

Ron Bartell: D After signing the big contract it was expected that Bartell would be a shutdown type of corner. He was far from that. Although he is clearly the best the Rams have, when you have a number one corner with zero interceptions that is not acceptable.

Jonathan Wade: F What started as a season of so much promise ended in disaster for Wade. He worked his way from the starting cornerback position to being on the bench. His time in St. Louis is over.

Bradley Fletcher: B He was showing great promise before an injury ended his season. There is concern in Rams Park about whether or not he will be able to play in 2010.

Justin King: D King made some strides in 2009 after missing his entire rookie season. Needs to get a lot better in the offseason or he may not make the roster in 2010.

Quincy Butler: D It sure seemed like there were a lot of big plays that were given up this year that had Quincy Butler involved.

Danny Gorrer: F I am not sure there was as bad of a game by a cornerback in Rams history as there was by Gorrer against the Arizona Cardinals in December.

SAFETY

O.J. Atogwe: C- This was not the season Atogwe and the Rams were looking for. He only had 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles. That is not what the "ballhawk" was supposed to do. In addition he missed the final 4 games with a shoulder injury.

James Butler: D Injuries and poor play really hampered Butler and made this free agent signing a bust. It was believed that with him and Atogwe in the secondary the Rams were going to be solid in that position. That did not happen and Butler was one of the culprits for the Rams poor defensive play.

Craig Dahl: D Dahl was exposed as not being much of a safety in the NFL. He is a good special teams player and but is not an every down player.

David Roach: D Didn't get much done on the defensive side of the ball. On special teams he was a decent player.

January 3rd ~ Rams vs 49ers