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Hello y'all! Hope everyone here on TST had a great Thanksgiving with their friends and family.
This week, The St. Louis Rams travel down to face off against the Ryan Lindley-led Arizona Cardinals.
Last time these two teams met, the Rams' defensive tenderized the Cardinals' quarterback – do y'all remember who it was? Was it Kevin Kolb or was it John Skelton? – while tallying up nine sacks. The Rams won 17 to 3. We can only hope to recreate that last meeting and pull away with the W.
Onto the players:
QB Sam Bradford
Sam's play two weeks ago against San Francisco was pretty good; it had to be one of his best games of the season. His play against the Jets? Garbage. To stop the team's losing streak – I know there is a tied game in there somewhere, but those suck anyways – we have to see better play from Bradford.
CB Janoris Jenkins
Coincidentally, the Rams' slide down the standings correlates with the defense's inability to come up with turnovers. Not since the Thursday Night game has the D created a turnover.
Enter the Rams' secondary. At the beginning of the season, this was one of the defense's stronger units. Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins were becoming one of the best corner tandems. Throw in Bradley Fletcher and you had three solid CB's.
Since then, Fletcher has been replaced by rookie Trumaine Johnson and Jenkins has been getting picked on by opposing quarterbacks and receivers. They also haven't had an interception since Week 4. Finnegan is a pro and he will be fine, but the other two rookies will need to adjust so the defensive backfield can become a strength again.
RB Steven Jackson
Action Jackson has been running the ball like a mad man as of late. In the past two games, he's rushed for 101 and 81 yards, respectively. When seeing that SJ put up 101 yards against the 49ers, it was a no-brainer as to how the Rams stayed in the game. Then last week, it was mind-boggling how the offense did not keep on running the ball (Steven had 13 carries, Daryl Richardson had 6 carries).
Steven is the best offensive weapon the Rams have. It is borderline stupid not to use him.
C Scott Wells
For the first time since Week 1, Wells figures to be in the starting lineup, and it couldn't be at a better time. Arizona is first in league in sacks, and the line can use all the help it can get.
Scott's return also implies Rob Turner, who filled in at center, will slide over to the left guard spot. If Turner plays as well at left guard as he has been playing at center, this line will be exponentially better.
TE Lance Kendricks
Even though Kendricks has not produced much in terms of receptions (25 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown), I've come to the realization that his blocking ability is undeniably vital to this offense. His blocking role now seems to have increased by the recent release of fullback Brit Miller – yet again. How good of a lead blocker was Brit anyways?