By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Sunday, Dec. 03 2006
There's a large sledgehammer in the front of the team auditorium at Rams Park.
It's hard to miss.
"It's kind of a commitment that we're going to keep hammering away," coach
Scott Linehan said. "It's something that coach (Bob) Ligashesky used with the
special teams. We said we've got to work hard if we're going to get out of this
hole."
The players signed on, literally. All over the sledgehammer's wooden handle are
signatures of Rams players. Well, it worked last week against San Francisco.
The Rams busted out of their five-game losing streak, getting:
— A key takeaway by special teams on punt coverage.
— Two interceptions, plus a critical third-and-1 stop by the defense.
— Impressive run blocking, and a game-winning touchdown drive by the offense.
The weight of that losing streak was removed from the team's shoulders with the
20-17 triumph over San Francisco.
"We were in dire need of a win," wide receiver
Torry Holt said. "For us to go
out there and play the way we played ... that was absolutely fantastic. So
hopefully, we can build on that."
So the sledgehammer is back for a return engagement this week, with Bill
Bidwill and the Arizona Cardinals (2-9) in town. Kickoff is at noon Edward
Jones Dome.
At the moment, only six teams in the NFC have winning records. Only four are
more than one game above .500: Division leaders Chicago (9-2), Dallas (7-4),
New Orleans (7-4), and Seattle (7-4). Until further notice, that puts St. Louis
in the wild-card race as one of five NFC teams with a 5-6 record entering
Sunday's games.
"Now we're right back in the thick of things," center
Richie Incognito said.
"That's just how it goes in this business. One week you're out of it, and the
next week your right in the middle of it. If we keep playing well, we'll take
care of it."
Of the 11 so-called playoff contenders in the NFC, only Chicago has an easier
remaining schedule than the Rams. The Bears' remaining opponents have a
combined winning percentage of just .345. The Rams have the next-easiest
schedule at .400. Of course, absolutely nothing has come easy for the Rams this
season.
"Fortunately, it's a bad year for the NFC right now," quarterback
Marc Bulger
said. "Somehow, we're still in it. I think the margin for error has gone down a
lot. I think one more loss will pretty much end it."
Maybe, maybe not. It's possible that 9-7 gets the Rams a wild-card berth. In
2004, the Rams and Minnesota both got in at 8-8, and both won first-round
playoff games on the road.
"The reality is we're right in the hunt," Linehan said. "It's why we're
playing. We've got to focus on this game. Without this game, it becomes a lot
less possible. Yeah, it's the carrot that's dangling out there in front of us."
Arizona is only 3-18 on the road under beleaguered coach Dennis Green and is
winless in five road games this season. But the Big Red nearly rallied from a
31-13 deficit last week at Minnesota. Rookie quarterback Matt Leinart was
throwing into the end zone for the win from the Vikings 36 when the game ended,
a 31-26 Arizona loss.
Leinart launched 51 passes against Minnesota. The Rams aren't expecting a
repeat performance Sunday.
"They won't throw the ball 50 times on us," defensive end
Leonard Little said.
"You know they're going to try to establish the running game against us. ..."
And why wouldn't they? Despite defensive coordinator
Jim Haslett's tantrum last
week, the numbers don't lie. The Rams rank dead last (32nd) in the NFL in run
defense. Despite the offseason acquisition of Edgerrin James via free agency
from Indianapolis, the Big Red rank last in the NFL in rushing offense. When it
comes to the running game, call this a matchup of the resistible force vs. the
moveable object. But there was some truth to part of Haslett's rant.
For one, the takeaways are back. After a three-game stretch in which the Rams
had only one takeaway, the team has had eight in the past three games.
Over those past three games, the defense has yielded only five touchdowns and
has been responsible for no more than 17 points allowed in any one game.
And despite the continuing woes on run defense, the comeback victory against
the ***** probably doesn't happen without that third-and-1 stop in the fourth
quarter.
On the play,
Pisa Tinoisamoa helped clog the hole by taking on a pulling guard.
Brandon Chillar, desperately trying to shed a blocker, made first contact with
running back Michael Robinson, hitting him almost back first. As Robinson tried
to spin away, Raonall Smith came in from the left to pop Robinson, and then
Will Witherspoon helped clean up.
"It's something you can build on," defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said. "Huge
moment in the game. Something like that just gives you the confidence that
says, 'Hey, if you do the things right, this is what can happen. You can win a
ballgame.' "
GO RAMS 
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