By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

SEATTLE – Two trends that began forming in the preseason carried into the Rams’ season opener against the Seahawks.

While the Rams defense continued to force turnovers, it was their own unforced errors, particularly on offense, that ultimately were far too much for them to overcome in a 28-0 loss to Seattle at Qwest Field on Sunday.

“It’s definitely not acceptable,” quarterback Marc Bulger said. “The defense getting the ball like that we have got to get points when they do that for us and that’s on us.”

Indeed, for every time the defense made a big play, it seemed the offense stalled out a drive because of a penalty. All told, the Rams finished with 10 penalties for 85 yards.

Of those 10 flags, eight came out on the Rams offense and many of them were of the drive and momentum killing variety.

In the first half alone, the offense was flagged six times on its first four possessions, including three false starts, a holding, a delay of game and a personal foul.

Considering the three takeaways the defense came up with, those penalties were especially costly because the Rams had been put in solid field position on a number of occasions.

“Penalties, we just kept shooting ourselves in the foot,” running back Steven Jackson said, “The defense was getting us turnovers, the special teams was getting us good field position but when we were in the red zone, we had the ball we just couldn’t get in sync for some reason.”

The defense’s three takeaways came on the heels of a preseason in which that unit forced 12 turnovers, which the offense converted into 47 points on five touchdowns and four field goals.

But on Sunday, the Rams were unable to take advantage of the takeaways this time because another preseason inclination stepped in the way.

In the four preseason contests, the Rams drew 24 penalties for 222 yards.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo put the blame on himself for his team’s mental miscues on Sunday night.

“We can’t have the penalties,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s a discipline thing and it falls on the head coach. That’s the second time that’s happened; we had one in the preseason. That’s my fault and I will work with the players, the players will work with me and we’ll try to get that ironed out. It’s hard to win in this league without penalties. It’s doubly hard when you have them so it makes it tough.”

Although the offense was having its share of issues with the yellow flags, it was a special teams error that was perhaps the most costly penalty of the day.

 Trailing 7-0 with 59 seconds to go in the first half, Seattle kicker Olindo Mare lined up to attempt a 49-yard field goal. Rams defensive end C.J. Ah You burst through the line and blocked the kick behind Mare.

Cornerback Quincy Butler scooped the ball up and raced 51 yards for the tying touchdown. In an instant, the Rams had a 10-point swing and a possible 10-0 deficit became a tie ball game heading to the locker room for halftime.

Suddenly, the officials stopped play and announced there would be an official review of the play. With most of the crowd perplexed about what could be reviewed, the officials announced they were checking to see if there were 12 men on the field.

After a lengthy look at the play, it was overturned as the Rams did indeed have an extra man on the field. To make matters worse, the result of the penalty gave Seattle a first down at the Rams’ 26.

“It’s just one of those plays you wish you would have had but it’s not something you can dwell on because it’s over and done with,” safety Oshiomogho Atogwe said. “Just like if an offense scores on you, you can’t sit there and sulk about it, you have to go on to the next snap. We were in error, undisciplined and have to go on to the next play.”

Three plays later, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit receiver Nate Burleson for a 12-yard touchdown to give Seattle a 14-0 lead going into the locker room. It was a deficit from which the Rams would never recover.

The Rams were more disciplined in the second half and chopped down on the penalties but were still unable to get untracked offensively.

In the third quarter, the Rams gained just 41 yards and punted three times. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the Rams got to Seattle’s 7 but were unable to punch it in the end zone.

Bulger had a tough day as the Seahawks generated plenty of pressure and he finished 17-of-36 for 191 yards with no scores and no interceptions. Jackson had some bright moments but a holding penalty in the first half negated a 20-yard run and he finished with 67 yards on 16 carries.

“It’s the first game,” Jackson said. “We just weren’t in synch as an offense. Our defense did a good job, getting turnovers and our special teams gave us real good field position. We just didn’t capitalize on their mistakes. That’s what really separated the game.”

Seattle took advantage of its offensive opportunities, posting a couple of big plays to complete their scoring as running back Julius Jones raced 62 yards for a touchdown and tight end John Carlson scored his second touchdown of the day on a 33-yard strike to complete a 99-yard drive.

“We have just got to be more focused on the details of our assignments,” Atogwe said. “There’s a few times where we might have been out of place and it cost us.”

Despite the errors, the Rams maintained a positive outlook after the game. The defense did continue to come up with some takeaways and more often than not that is the number one statistic in relation to team success.

In addition, though the penalties are cause for concern that is an issue that is correctable and that’s something Spagnuolo stressed after the game.

“I’m obviously disappointed in the result,” Spagnuolo said. “I’m not disappointed in the effort. Sometimes it’s hard to see. But on the sideline, I could see it, the passion in those guys’ eyes. I told them in there, we have passionate football players on this team and that’s a good thing. We turn that passion into productive play and we’ll be OK.”