Sometimes, when the posts pop into your head faster than you can spit them out, ideas get lost in the shuffle. Following the St. Louis Rams' road win over the Arizona Cardinals last week I wanted to get something up pointing out the outstanding game from the Rams' starting safeties, Oshiomogho Atogwe and Craig Dahl.
I really love the way Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole use safeties. If you compared them to a chess piece, it's like having two queens, two pieces that can move freely across the board serving whatever role is asked of them. At the line, back deep, smothering an opposing receiver...Rams safeties can be found almost anywhere on the field at any given time.
Dahl's week 13 outing easily ranked as his best of the season. He had a defensive hat trick, with a crucial INT, a sack and a pass defended. Three of his seven tackles were for a loss of yards. Atogwe had a similar day, with a sack, six tackles with two for a loss and a PD.
Along with the cornerbacks, they held the Cardinals to an average gain of just 3.8 yards per pass play, with only 11 of 29 attempts completed.
For the season, Dahl and Atogwe have the second and third most tackles on the team.
Such a fine effort wasn't without cost. Both Dahl and Atogwe were limited in practice this week, with knee and shoulder injuries. Both should be ready to go against New Orleans tomorrow. Hats off to both these players, they've been an indispensable part of the Rams defensive resurgence this season.