Rams At Cardinals (9/24/06)

[laram0]

My article last week was a preview and prediction of the Rams at Whiners game on Sunday 9/17/06. I went into an in-depth look at their last 2 games against each other plus how each team faired in their opening games of the 2006 season. After having put all the research on paper I was totally convinced the Rams would blow-out the Whiners. Boy was I way off. "That's why they play the games."

Today I'm writing about the upcoming game between our Rams playing the Cardinals at Arizona. Last season the 2 teams split their games with each team winning at the others home field. In the 1st game, played at Arizona, the Rams came away with a 17-12 victory. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was new to the team and was still learning the Cardinals offense. (Sound familiar?). The 2nd game in St. Louis on Nov. 20th 2005 some nine weeks later, Kurt Warner led the Cardinals to a 38-28 victory. Hmmmmmmm, so far from game 2 to game 10 on the Cardinals schedule there was a marked improvement in the way Kurt Warner ran the Cardinals offense. Hopefully it doesn't take the Rams offense that long to get the offense rolling again. Although we need to take into consideration that Kurt Warner was learning a new O last season. Compared to our "entire" offensive unit learning a new system, Yikes!!

Both teams are entering this game with records of (1-1) each winning at their respective home fields and losing on the road. The Cardinals beat the Whiners in their home opener and we lost at the Whiners home opener. Well then it's obvious that the Rams will lose this game at Arizona, right? Not so fast, please allow me the opportunity to throw my spin on the game Sunday at you.

The Cardinals have added the "Edge" to their starting offensive unit. Edge really hasn't done a whole lot to help improve the Cardinals ground game. Is it because he's learning a new offense after many seasons playing with Peyton Manning and the Colts? More likely it's the same old issue for the Cardinals, a weak offensive line. The Cardinals weak O line has not only affected Edge's performance, Kurt Warner has suffered also. Kurt has been sacked 8 times in 2 games resulting in 6 fumbles but fortunately only losing 1 to the opposition. Turnovers are always a key to wins and losses; The Cardinals have 3 turnovers with 4 takeaways so far this season. Our Rams on the other hand have only 1 turnover with 6 takeaways. We have allowed 9 sacks while our D has 4 of their own. The Cardinals average 11 penalties per game while we average 8. The Cardinals have scored 44 points and allowed 48 compared to the Rams 31 for and 30 against. Also the power rankings have the Cardinals at #17 and our Rams at #19.

The two teams actually match up pretty evenly, especially with the question marks concerning our O-line (Big O). The Cards have two distinct advantages. 1st they are playing at home. 2nd Kurt Warner seems to have adjusted to his new team. (This is game 3 for our O's learning session). In my opinion our loss last week was on Linehan and Haslett. I feel that they were out coached. I don't see that happening again. The way we win this game is exactly what Linehan has been preaching to our offense. Ball control and no turnovers. We need to win the time of possesion battle thus keeping the Cardinals offense off of the field as much as possible. Linehan has shown the patience of the field position game and waiting for a break or mistake by the opposition. We can and will win this game by keeping it a low scoring affair. That's what the doctor has ordered for this game. (I can't believe I just wrote that). After all this was the Greatest Show On Turf. The Cardinals with Kurt Warner's propensity to fumble combined with the numerous penalties they commit leave them ripe for the picking.

So come on Linehan and Haslett, regroup and coach this team the way you did against Denver and the 1st half of the Whiners game. Our coaching staff is going through a learning process as well as the players. I have the faith in our staff and team. This is game 3 in the learning process and we should see some improvement. After all we only lost by 1 score vs. the Whiners.

Rams 16 Cardinals 13.

Rams win their 2nd game of the season riding the coat tails of sound fundamental football.

[vb501]

But of course, the Rams will lose because we need a differenct QB.
We have a great team but Bulger is Martz's boy and bad decision at that.
We have great receivers but they're not as likely to stick their necks out for a guy that they feel cannot lead them to victory. As long as that's the case we'll lose many games.

[brawleyramfan]

Bulger almost lost it for us on that bad exchange. No it was not INCOGNITO he gave him the ball smack in his hands, Bulger fumbled it all on his lonesome. Granted Bulger did look better than the last two weeks. The Defense looked good. Hell its a W we'll take it.