On to the Rams, your thoughts?

[Bodha]

This is going to be so friggin tough its unbelievable.



If we win this game, the respect factor are the Cards will go up 100fold.

I dont think I have the energy to watch that game after the Dolphins win, I dont know how the actual players are going to get up for it.


We SHOULD win (just like we shouldve won vs Miami easily, HA, yeah right) but I know its going to be a pain.

17-14 we win

 

[crisper57]

This is going to be so friggin tough its unbelievable.



If we win this game, the respect factor are the Cards will go up 100fold.

I dont think I have the energy to watch that game after the Dolphins win, I dont know how the actual players are going to get up for it.


We SHOULD win (just like we shouldve won vs Miami easily, HA, yeah right) but I know its going to be a pain.

17-14 we win

I am hoping Miami was a wake-up call and that this team focuses on the TNF game even more than if they had won in a laugher on Sunday.

 

[Bodha]

I am hoping Miami was a wake-up call and that this team focuses on the TNF game even more than if they had won in a laugher on Sunday.

Prefer our Wake up call game to be before a bye week, rather than 3 days rest.


That Miami game was so draining, I dont know how we're going to get up for it, regardless of renewed motivation. The body just burns out sometimes.

We have 3 practices this week, all walk throughs, and then have to travel.


Its not the game so much as its A game, on few days rest, following a barn burner.

remember the Cards v GB wildcard game and then the next week at New Orleans? I dont like to think about it, but its alot like that.

 

[kerouac9]

I'm watching the Rams-Seahawks game waiting for the coaches' film of the Miami game to post. Two things that I'm noticing:

1) St. Louis's defense is very quick laterally, both on the defensive line and in the linebacking corps. Ryan Williams can't be too quick to look to bounce plays outside, because their linebackers might beat him there. On the bright side, you might be able to catch 'em with an end around or some other trickeration.

2) St. Louis's offensive line is garbage. Like, really, really bad. Their running game is almost exclusively counters and draw plays because their OL personnel can't beat anyone. Sam Acho should eat Wayne Hunter's lunch, and their interior OL isn't much better.

 

[Vermont Maverick]

I think one of our advantages is that we have more experience playing national TV games. Not like we always play them, but we still have a good amount of players from our playoff years, and we seems to get more of these than the Rams. Carolina was in that situation at home again the Giants, and they were not ready for that situation.

On the flip side, we haven't played any national TV games being undefeated, so there is pressure than comes with trying to show the nation that we are legit.

 

[Bodha]

1) St. Louis's defense is very quick laterally, both on the defensive line and in the linebacking corps. Ryan Williams can't be too quick to look to bounce plays outside, because their linebackers might beat him there. On the bright side, you might be able to catch 'em with an end around or some other trickeration..

Dont you worry, we'll run him right up the middle every friggin time.



If we've run 50 run plays this season, 44 are up the gut for a gain/loss of 1 yard. Its driving me nuts.

 

[PJ1]

Lynch had some success running against the Rams but we don't have a back close to that caliber. I believe many are underestimating the Ram defense. They looked pretty good against Seattle. Robert Quinn is starting to play much better and although I believe Long is overrated he will give our tackles trouble.

I agree they have offensive line problems and if you hit Bradford he will rattle for sure. Amendola will kill us if Bradford is given time.

Bradford needs a visit from Adub early to get him loose.

 

[crisper57]

If I was the Rams, I would have looked at the Hawks/Cards stretch and said, "At the very least, we have to go 1-for-2, and we're good. If we sweep, that's a bonus."

Maybe they got theirs and are satisfied? Nah...

 

[kerouac9]

After watching the first half of the STLvSEA game, I came away with a lot of respect for Sam Bradford. He doesn't have any space to step up in the pocket, but his balls come out with good velocity and he's able to throw pretty well on the run.

St. Louis allows some pretty gaping holes in zone coverage if we can give Kolb the time for the over-the-top routes to develop.

 

[Mulli]

After watching the first half of the STLvSEA game, I came away with a lot of respect for Sam Bradford. He doesn't have any space to step up in the pocket, but his balls come out with good velocity and he's able to throw pretty well on the run.

St. Louis allows some pretty gaping holes in zone coverage if we can give Kolb the time for the over-the-top routes to develop.

Rams and Bradford haven't scored an offensive touchdown in two weeks. Oy vey.

 

[Catfish]

Good news-----Ryan Williams and William Powell have a break-out game running against the Rams.

Better news-----Andre Roberts finally commands enough respect that the Rams can no longer simply double Fitz all game. Look for Batiste and Massie to have better games this week, after the futility of the Miami game. They are learning on the fly, and both have done far better than we should have imagined at this stage. The season is 1/4 over now, and they are beginning to settle in. I believe that they each have a decent game and that we run the ball, and manage to keep Kolb upright.

Best news-----the defense will not be unprepared to play in the first half. In fact the defense will be playing with a vengance after giving up 21 points to Miami.

 

[artp]

For the Cardinals, a Playoff team has to win games on the road. More than one. The Rams are a winnable game on the road. For the Rams, to make the Playoffs, you have to win at home. I would think the Rams are viewing this as an early season "must" win.
The Cardinals are the better team and should win this game. We are all excited and rightfully so; but if the Cardinals are going to make the Playoffs, we need to win this game. 4 - 0 gets you nowhere.

 

[nooch]

Can't say I've seen a lot of them this year. But the game plan should be run the ball even if its not there. We need to establish some form of a running game. If RW or Powell break out great! We need to show ourselves and others on tape we are committed to running the ball.

We need to control the clock and try to keep the Defense off the field. If Kolb does get in a rhythm let it ride. Hopefully throw some play action in there if the line is giving him enough time.

Hopefully the Defense is able to get to Bradford and continue to create pressure and cause turnovers.

Finally I do think Peterson is pressing a little. Hopefully he gets a big return, even if he don't take it to the house it could allow him to not over think and cause him problems.

 

[Shane]

but if the Cardinals are going to make the Playoffs, we need to win this game. 4 - 0 gets you nowhere.

100% completely false. The Cardinals do not NEED this game to make the playoffs.

 

[Cheesebeef]

100% completely false. The Cardinals do not NEED this game to make the playoffs.

True, but with that brutal second half schedule they need to stock pile winnable games against inferior teams when they run into them on the schedule and this rams squad is one of those teams.

 

[52brandon]

Rams are a legit team. Who would have thought only a few years after the team clinching the NFCW did so with a bad record, our worst team would be .500 starting this season. The Cards should be going in with a big chip on their shoulder and I expect Bradford to end up as their punching bag

 

[52brandon]

True, but with that brutal second half schedule they need to stock pile winnable games against inferior teams when they run into them on the schedule and this rams squad is one of those teams.

what makes the 2nd hald so brutal? STL almost beat DET. Jets have completely fallen apart, GB is iffy themselves after getting handled by SF. @SF is our hardest game 2nd half IMO

 

[Jttsaz]

Take the ball out of the hands of Kevin Kolb. Their defensive ends are good; their defensive tackles are (below) average. Run it up the middle and demonstrate that you made a good decision in giving Daryn Colledge and Adam Snyder gobs of money. James Laurinitis can be pushed around.

The Rams offense isn't very good. Their offensive line is a mess. If we have a healthy DL, we should be able to rush only four, drop seven, and let Sam Bradford throw the ball to our guys.

This!

 

[nooch]

For the Cardinals, a Playoff team has to win games on the road. More than one. The Rams are a winnable game on the road. For the Rams, to make the Playoffs, you have to win at home. I would think the Rams are viewing this as an early season "must" win.
The Cardinals are the better team and should win this game. We are all excited and rightfully so; but if the Cardinals are going to make the Playoffs, we need to win this game. 4 - 0 gets you nowhere.

4-0 gets you a lot closer to playoffs than 2-2. Which I think vast majority of us would have like to seen us with that record at the beginning of the year.

Second half is tough. But as of right now Jets game looks better than it did early on and so do the Lions. Flip Side is Miami is a lot better than there record. They are a rising team. As is Minnesota. 2 easy wins we thought we had are far from it.

So one loss is not gonna be the end all, because this team believes it can win every week. And right now. Stats back that up.

 

[FArting]

Rams are not that good.

We will beat them easily.

 

[A fan who cares]

With a quarter of the season over, we can now look over our future opponents in a better and more recent light. I'm going to show you what we thought at the beginning of the season with that team and what we think now.

@Rams
Start: easy game
Now: Tougher but winnable game

Bills
Start: kinda easy game
Now: Looks like its going to be tougher than we thought

@Vikings
Start: @vikes looked tough
Now: Looks even harder to win now

49ers
Start: hard game
Now: Nothing has changed, just has tough as we thought

@Packers
Start: Very very hard game
Now: Looks pretty winnable but won't be easy

@Falcons
Start: Looked tough
Now: Looks like a very, very HARD game!

Rams
Start: Easy game at home
Now: Looks harder, just like @Rams week 5

@Jets
Start: Super tough game
Now: Very winnable game with Revis and Holmes out for season

@Seattle
Start: It's always hard to win at their place, but it looked reasonably winnable
Now: Very, very tough game, especially if they are in the playoff hunt

Lions
Start: Looked very very hard especially with the Stafford/Megatron combo
Now: Winnable game, Lions look pedestrian

Bears
Start: Winnable game because its at home, but it wouldn't be easy
Now: The bears are up and down every week, but it still looks pretty winnable

@49ers
Start: Depending on clinching and seeding if they rest or not, but if they go all out they will be very hard to beat at their place
Now: Not much has changed

Of course, the further the game is the more things can change until then. But looking at it now, the second half of our season doesn't look that bad compared to what it looked like in the beginning of the season.

 

[Cardiac]

The D nees to work on defending the slant pass. Dropping LB's into coverage more and quicker? CB's taking away the inside move?

O is a work in progress (huge understatement) but yes running the ball more effectively is an ongoing must do.

I doubt the D comes out over confident or lethargic.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

With a quarter of the season over, we can now look over our future opponents in a better and more recent light. I'm going to show you what we thought at the beginning of the season with that team and what we think now.

@Rams
Start: easy game
Now: Tougher but winnable game

Bills
Start: kinda easy game
Now: Looks like its going to be tougher than we thought

@Vikings
Start: @vikes looked tough
Now: Looks even harder to win now

49ers
Start: hard game
Now: Nothing has changed, just has tough as we thought

@Packers
Start: Very very hard game
Now: Looks pretty winnable but won't be easy

@Falcons
Start: Looked tough
Now: Looks like a very, very HARD game!

Rams
Start: Easy game at home
Now: Looks harder, just like @Rams week 5

@Jets
Start: Super tough game
Now: Very winnable game with Revis and Holmes out for season

@Seattle
Start: It's always hard to win at their place, but it looked reasonably winnable
Now: Very, very tough game, especially if they are in the playoff hunt

Lions
Start: Looked very very hard especially with the Stafford/Megatron combo
Now: Winnable game, Lions look pedestrian

Bears
Start: Winnable game because its at home, but it wouldn't be easy
Now: The bears are up and down every week, but it still looks pretty winnable

@49ers
Start: Depending on clinching and seeding if they rest or not, but if they go all out they will be very hard to beat at their place
Now: Not much has changed

Of course, the further the game is the more things can change until then. But looking at it now, the second half of our season doesn't look that bad compared to what it looked like in the beginning of the season.

So, all games a hard to win... Got it...

 

[JeffGollin]

I'd like to see how ticket sales are for this game.

Post Dispatch is reporting that the Rams have filed for a blackout extension because they hadn't sold out.

One blurry factor - the baseball Cardinals (They clinched a wildcard spot early this morning & could be siphoning off spectator dollars from the Rams).

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

The plus side is that the Rams along with Buffalo next week have poor run defenses. The Cards first 4 opponents are all currently top 11 in rushing yards per attempt allowed. Philly is the worst of the 4 and we had the most success against them.