Expectations are high for the Rams pass rush in week three

I'm sure that late into the night last night (meaning he missed another great edition of Turf Show Radio) St. Louis Rams second year defensive end Chris Long was studying tape of Daryn Colledge, the Green Bay Packers fill-in at left tackle.

Colledge took over on the blind side in the third quarter last week, in the Packers loss to the Bengals. Regular starter Chad Clifton is out with an ankle injury. The results were ugly for the Packers. QB Aaron Rogers was sacked a positively Bulger-esque six times. DE Antwan Odom collected five sacks. And where did three of those sacks come from? Why, right through Daryn Colledge, of course. Check out this analysis on Colledge's play at LT from the National Football Post:

There was nothing fancy about it, Colledge’s mechanics were terrible. Odom ran upfield, and cut inside each time for his sacks.

The heat is on the Rams defensive line to add to the one sack they've picked up in two games this season. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot of pressure to make some noise with the Rams defense, since he earned his reputation that way. Long's under a bit of pressure this season himself, and questions about his production lining up his with status as the second overall pick in the 2008 draft have been mounting since the preseason.

Things on the other side of the Packers offensive line should offer some opportunity for the Rams to spark some life into their pass rush this week as well. In week one, the Bears picked up two sacks against starting RT Allen Barbre.

Week three presents the Rams defensive line a good matchup, one they'll need to exploit in order to start playing up to expectations.