Looking at Ahead: Cheeseheads

by Eric Nagel on Sep 22, 2009 8:50 PM CDT in 2009 St. Louis Rams regular season

The Rams, as you've seen these past two weeks seem to be coming together more and more. Steven Jackson ran well, the offense put up points and the defensive "bend but don't break" strategy worked. So when is the team going to win?

Well, that's tough to pinpoint. The team certainly had a chance to last week, but unfortunately Donnie Avery forgot how to hold on to the ball. Regardless, progress was made. The problem is that they are about to hit a rough patch. They play the Packers this week, who have a 1-1 record (a win against Chi-Town, and a loss to the Team of Hard Knocks). They have the 6th highest DVOA in the league, (11th on the offensive side, 5th on the defensive side- I might add they are 2nd in the league against the pass). Seems somewhat daunting, doesn't it? Greg Jennings and Donald Driver facing off against a secondary who doesn't get any (pressure) help doesn't exactly sound promising.

But for some reason, I feel as though we can win this game. Donnie Avery's case of BrandonMarshallitis is troubling, but luckily Keenan Burton appeared out of thin air last week to make some catches. Laurent Robinson has been everything we hoped he would and Steven Jackson, well, is Steven Jackson. Even the offensive linemen have been playing above their typical false-start level.

So you can call me crazy. You can call me a lot of things. You probably already do. But with our linebackers playing well (and only likely to get better with experience) I wouldn't be surprised if the Packers had to move the ball through the air. Ryan Grant has a 3.6 YPC and last week Aaron Rodgers was sacked SIX, yes SIX times (He was sacked four times against Chicago). If this was ever a game where the Rams could sneak up on a good team, this would be it.

Which is why, for some insane reason, I'm picking the Rams to win this one. Not a, "as a fan, I think we can, but as a realist, the Cubs will win the world series before we win this game," type prediction. So here it is:

20-17 Rams.

(Note to Spagnuolo: Go out their and don't make me look like a complete moron. Thanks).

Poll

Am I crazy for thinking this?

Yes. No explanation needed.

93 votes

Of course not! I feel the same things too!

142 votes

I'll wait until Sunday to make that call.

69 votes

304 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I don't think you have to wait until Spags does that for you,

You’ve already managed it with this post. Just joking, good post, I sure hope that you are right.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 22, 2009 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

I just figure the way Green Bay’s line is allowing sacks, we have a great shot to create pressure. If we can do that, we can disrupt the passing game (which how i said is probably going to be keeping them afloat, just look at Grant’s numbers), which will show us just what this defense is capable of.

After that, it’s all up to Steven Jackson pounding and pounding away.

But thanks- I’m glad this didn’t sound like a “if we trade for Favre and draft Crabtree next year…” type of idiotic post.

Spagamania is in full bloom

by Eric Nagel on Sep 22, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Except forcing them to pass is not necessarily a good thing

Even though he’s been sacked 10 times already that doesn’t mean we’ll get more than 1. Our D-line is definitely one of our weakest if not the weakest part of the team. Our CB’s are also inexperienced and they have pretty good receivers. But hopefully with their bad 0-line we can finally get pressure on someone. You’d think that we could add a free agent to improve our line. But if we can get some pressure, we have a chance. That is if our offense gets the job done, and I think they might get it together soon.

Incognito needs to go, Shurmur needs to go, Avery's fumble-itis needs to go.

by Carneros on Sep 22, 2009 10:06 PM CDT reply actions

I LOVE THE RAMS!!!!

by Ramfest on Sep 23, 2009 5:05 AM CDT reply actions

Favre and Crabtree? HMMMMMM. GO RAMS!!!!!

by johnniewarthawg on Sep 23, 2009 6:32 AM CDT reply actions

I,m In

I feel that we got a good chance of winning this game, only with a few turnovers, Steven Jackson runs like crazy, and the defense holds up in the final seconds of the game it,s asking alot. but if we are to start winning it will have to start here.

RAY

by ray c on Sep 23, 2009 11:57 AM CDT reply actions