St. Louis Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles GameThread, Sep 7, 2008 12:00 PM CDT

St. Louis Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles, week 1

by VanRam on Sep 7, 2008 8:14 AM CDT Comment 48 comments

St. Louis Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles

Well, this is it. Now it counts, and we get to see just how far the Rams have come since last year's disaster. A game in Philly can always be interesting.

Rams injuries

WR Donnie Avery (knee) is out. CB Fakhir Brown (shoulder) will only play in nickel packages, Bartell and Hill will start.

Eagles injuries

Kevin Curtis WR (hernia) is out. Reggie Brown WR (hamstring) did not participate in practice and is likely out. Victor Abiamiri DE (wrist) is out.

Three keys for the Rams

The defensive front. The young guys on the line will have to work hard to contain Westbrook and McNabb, making sure Leonard Little has all the support he needs to do his job. The linebackers, too, will need the guys in front of them to play hard so they don't get tied up with blockers and can contain Westbrook from breaking off big plays and catching passes in the middle.
Steven Jackson. How ready is he? We'll find out today. I think he'll be used in the full capacity for screens and such, but I'll still be surprised if Pittman doesn't take a few extra carries. Either way, the interior line has a lot to prove and they'll have to make sure holes are open enough for the runner to punch it up the gut.
Wide receivers. It would be nice to have Avery's speed to spread the field, and keep the Eagles from stacking the box. Torry Holt, as you may know, is no slouch, but he'll be in double coverage plenty. Dante Hall will spread the field from the slot a few times, and watch for Keenan Burton to get some work moving the chains. He'll get lots of work if Drew Bennett is still shaking off the rust...or suckiness.

The game's on FOX today...maybe.

The pundits have already picked a winner, but limbs were made for walking on, and I'll optimistically proclaim a Rams victory. For football betting odds, expert NFL predictions, even and free picks, check with an expert like Doc's Sports.

As always, be sure to check out Eagles coverage at Bleeding Green Nation.

Go RAMS!

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Comments

Rams Already Deemed 'Losers' by Media

Well I have been off sick for the last few days and watching way too much football news/analysis. Everyone is picking the Eagles behind a healthy McBabb and Westbrooke. Most also cite the rams lack of receiver depth (as has been covered on this site) and weak defense. While I understand being the underdog we deserve a chance at the very least. Hopefully Chris Long emerges as a dominant force and he and Little destroy the run game of the Eagles.

GO RAMS

by arctikphox on Sep 7, 2008 9:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

MADDEN NFL 09 Prediction

Rams 10 Eagles 7

Don’t even need to watch the game now – Madden is gospel.

by arctikphox on Sep 7, 2008 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

my poor hand eye coordination...

gives the Eagles a big Madden advantage.

by VanRam on Sep 7, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Super Tecmo Bowl reigns supreme

NES, circa 1991.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Something I found interesting.....and confusing

I was reading the NFL preview in ESPN The Magazine and they have the Rams picked to finish 3rd in the division behind Seattle and Arizona.

What struck a chord from me was this quote from Scouts, Inc. which grades the Rams run defense a 52 (out of 100). Scouts Inc says "The front seven lacks bulk at the point of attack, but a bigger problem is lack of talent at LB. This is the worst LB unit in the NFL. After MLB Will Witherspoon, no one scares opponents.

(emphasis added is mine)

In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.

by Tackle Box on Sep 7, 2008 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm really stoked about today

I don’t think the Eagles are as good as everyone thinks they are.

I don’t think the Rams are as bad as everyone thinks they are either.

I think this will be a hotly contested battle till the end.

With the Eagle being at home, that’s what scares me

by Option27 on Sep 7, 2008 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

FOOTBALL!!!

GO RAMS!

by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 7, 2008 11:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i hate tony siragusa.

by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 7, 2008 11:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

and it seems like no matter which game is televised in my area, he is there.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's hear it for a 3-and-out.

C’mon Rams. Down 14 nil in the first. Not looking good even for the perpetual optimists. At least we’ll have a fun party for Georgia this year at home games.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it too early to call for

Linehan’s head

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 12:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can't blame Linehan for weak personnel.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course I was joking

but they have looked pretty disorganized on several plays on both O and D. The Goose also keeps saying they really seem flat.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woo hoo!

Philly FINALLY has to punt.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It looked like the receiver had about 5 yards on the defender

on the third down play but I guess a stop is a stop.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 12:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hard to tell when I'm watching Yahoo box scores...

thanks for the tip, no TV out here in LA. Got the Bucs/Aints “who dat” game goin’ on. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can almost say that I wish it wasn't on in my area too

The last play The Eagle receiver had Hill beaten by a country mile. I am not sure how much more of this I can take.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hang in there...

all the Rams need here is a pick returned for a TD and all this Philly momentum goes down the toilet.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

52 yard pass play...

who keeps getting burned on D?

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 12:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hill on the 52 yarder then

on the very next play Brown could easily have been called for PI but was not. Very Very little pressure on McNab so far.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Positive Note: Punter Jones...

dude has 2 punts inside the 20. Get those reservations ready for Hawaii for late January/early February.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 1:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Going backwards...

Sack, penalty. 2nd-and-21 at the 2 minute warning.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 1:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tory Holt

Is he even playing? This is serious, he’s on my Fantasy Football team and nothing yet!!

y not if im wrong who will remember

by qbinfin on Apr 27, 2008 3:27 PM PDT

by DolfinPhan on Sep 7, 2008 1:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If he can still run...

let’s put him on defense. This is an embarrassment. 90 yd TD pass with under a minute left.

by Downing Rules on Sep 7, 2008 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's hurt??

DAMMIT!

y not if im wrong who will remember

by qbinfin on Apr 27, 2008 3:27 PM PDT

by DolfinPhan on Sep 7, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, he is playing but Bennet was

hurt on the first Ram drive so I think the Eagles are doubling Torry when they don’t blitz. I’d start looking for a replacement for your fantasy team if I were you. Bennet looked very upset about the injury; it could be serious.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no spark

on offense. in between those false start pens in the first Q, on SJ’s run, they looked fired up, but then the flame burnt out.

the secondary looks lost sometimes too

by VanRam on Sep 7, 2008 1:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by sometimes

i mean the times when the front 7 can’t get any pass rush going. i saw the 3-4 come out a couple time, or haslett’s version featuring Witherspoon.

this eagles team is pretty good. not much going in the way of rushing though, but why rush when you can pass for 300 yards in hte first half

by VanRam on Sep 7, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

andy ried is never a big run guy

sadly i guessed correctly and started mcnabb on my fantasy team. almost makes me glad this game isnt on tv here

by FunkeeC on Sep 7, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it is an understatement to say that the Rams secondary

looks lost at times. On the Eagles last TD they had two guys deep and no one back there except Chavous – no one else around at all. Can’t blame him for not being able to cover them both.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 1:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

they flat out suck today

by VanRam on Sep 7, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two bright spots

the punt coverage has been excellent. Not at all what we have come to expect for the last 5 years or so. And …

It absolutely has to get better from here.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 1:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

28-0.

Good start to the season.

The offensive machine flows in Texas.

by srdmad on Sep 7, 2008 2:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Brutal

This is worse the the year I jumped on the “bandwagon” because Jim Everett was going to lead us to the promised land. Seriously how can we be this bad – we are entering Detroit Lions territory. At least I didn’t spend the 12.95 to watch the game live.

by arctikphox on Sep 7, 2008 2:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why don't we just throw some hail marys.

The offensive machine flows in Texas.

by srdmad on Sep 7, 2008 2:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

you mean they havent been doing that all game already?

by FunkeeC on Sep 7, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And if anybody who isn't watching the game wants to kwow

it this is as bad as the score makes it look, the answer is no – it is worse. The Rams have actually been pretty lucky on several plays. Bulger threw at least 4 balls that easily could have been interercepted and one of them would have been returned for a TD. Samuels had the ball in his hands and just dropped it.

Bulger’s fumble bounced right back into his lap.

No pressure at all on McNab, while the Ram offensive line has no answer at all for the Eagles blitzes. I think we have a shot this year at the first overall pick in the draft instead of having to settle for #2.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 7, 2008 2:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs