Cards catching the Rams at the wrong time

[Merlin]

The Rams' defense is "arriving" before our eyes. It started with the run defense, which was shored up consistently for the first time in a long time. Before we knew it, the defense had strung together multiple games against strong running backs/offenses with excellent results. But then came that beautiful game against the 9ers... Well, it was just a whole new level of defensive football on display for this team.

Without a doubt that was a top 5 elite defense that went into SF and dominated the 9ers. Note the term dominated. They got into their heads, and just dictated the tone for the whole game instigating mistakes all over the joint on the 9ers offensive team. Extremely impressive stuff, and it brings me around to the post title...

I believe the Cards are catching the Rams at the wrong time. I think their offense is in for twelve rounds with a bloody pitbull starved for some fresh meat. This bunch has FINALLY lifted their defensive play to where many of us expected it to be at the beginning of the season.

The question of course is: can the Rams' offense play well in this game? If they do, I think an upset could well be in order. But either way... I want to see great defense again! I want to see Palmer blowing snot bubbles on the sideline after they knock his old @$$ from the game. I want to see picks, forced fumbles, and the Cards' OL false starting all over the joint as they struggle to handle the Rams physical and attacking front.

Let's go Rams! Get that W!!!

 

[Riverumbbq]

I like the optimism, ... it was only a week ago that fans were stating the opposite.

We can win this game, we do have the ability, just depends on a good game plan, no stupid mistakes/penalties, and a consistent desire from everyone to get it done.

I smell VICTORY.

 

[jrry32]

I believe the Cards are catching the Rams at the wrong time. I think their offense is in for twelve rounds with a bloody pitbull starved for some fresh meat. This bunch has FINALLY lifted their defensive play to where many of us expected it to be at the beginning of the season.

Good thing Michael Vick isn't their QB.

 

[-X-]

Ayup. They're about to run into a buzzsaw.

 

[den-the-coach]

Cardinals defense is special as well they held DeMarco Murray in check, granted no Romo, but still Todd Bowles is one if the elite defensive Coordinators in the game. My concern is I see many dump off passes to Andre Ellington so I hope Olgetree is ready because IMO, he (Olgetree) played his best game of the season last week.

 

[shaunpinney]

I'm hoping that Fisher has done his homework on the Cards as he's done with SF & Seahawks - its fingers crossed time we can pull off back to back wins....

 

[Athos]

Cardinals defense is special as well they held DeMarco Murray in check, granted no Romo, but still Todd Bowles is one if the elite defensive Coordinators in the game. My concern is I see many dump off passes to Andre Ellington so I hope Olgetree is ready because IMO, he (Olgetree) played his best game of the season last week.

Gotta hit Ellington early and hard, imo, to set the tone for the game.

 

[…..]

I've no doubt the defense can muster some elite play, they do every week....but the real question is, can they be elite enough to overcome the offenses inability to punch it in? The Rams defense is awesome, but we tend to put them in too many precarious situations and make it difficult for them to sustain thier awesomeness for 60 minutes. Moreover, offenses have negated our pass rush quite well with thier quick hit game plans, which is something San Fransisco inexplicity failed to do last week, instead choosing to send Krapperdick on 5-7 step drops repeatedly. Last week my first thought upon the final whistle was "well finally, our defense was able to hold on just long enough to overcome offensive ineffectiveness"

What I'd like to see is some of the scoring we saw from our offense prior to two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I think the more Davis knows, the less effective he is. In other words, we were doing just fine when he was running around without a clue. (not withstanding the one very effective game against the Seahawks where he seemed in control of a ball control type short passing game) We've only managed 20 points in the last two weeks and I think we are going to need more this time because the redbirds are playing with confidence and at home.

You have to ask yourself....which is the accident? The first 7 games when the rams mustered just six sacks? Or the ONE game we we had 8 ??? I'd love for us to be witnessing the defense "arriving" but I need to see another successful game before I jump that far. However if we do show out defensively and shut the Cards down, then it will be further proof of just how long it takes to get accustomed to a new coordinator and will cause all of us to ask "why didnt we play like this sooner?"

Parting thought... one thing that bothered me about the emotional high of the Seattle game is how poorly we followed that with an ugly showing against Kansas City. I taped that game and didnt even bother to watch the final three quarters, thats how bad it was. So, If you take that into account and assume beating the 49ers on a last drive, last second defensive stand is a highly emotional event, then the Cards are actually catching us at the right time. We shall see. I hope my guts worrisome intuition is wrong.

 

[LesBaker]

Cardinals defense is special as well they held DeMarco Murray in check, granted no Romo, but still Todd Bowles is one if the elite defensive Coordinators in the game. My concern is I see many dump off passes to Andre Ellington so I hope Olgetree is ready because IMO, he (Olgetree) played his best game of the season last week.

I agree AO didn't look as lost.

I also agree that the AZ defense is excellent. This is going to be a low scoring affair IMO, in fact I put my score prediction in for the 5 mil ROD$ at 14-10 because neither of these offenses are capable of putting up points against the others defense unless there is a total meltdown and I don't see that happening this Sunday.

This will be on of those games that gets won because of a play or two.

 

[RamsJunkie]

I've no doubt the defense can muster some elite play, they do every week....but the real question is, can they be elite enough to overcome the offenses inability to punch it in? The Rams defense is awesome, but we tend to put them in too many precarious situations and make it difficult for them to sustain thier awesomeness for 60 minutes. Moreover, offenses have negated our pass rush quite well with thier quick hit game plans, which is something San Fransisco inexplicity failed to do last week, instead choosing to send Krapperdick on 5-7 step drops repeatedly. Last week my first thought upon the final whistle was "well finally, our defense was able to hold on just long enough to overcome offensive ineffectiveness"

What I'd like to see is some of the scoring we saw from our offense prior to two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I think the more Davis knows, the less effective he is. In other words, we were doing just fine when he was running around without a clue. (not withstanding the one very effective game against the Seahawks where he seemed in control of a ball control type short passing game) We've only managed 20 points in the last two weeks and I think we are going to need more this time because the redbirds are playing with confidence and at home.

You have to ask yourself....which is the accident? The first 7 games when the rams mustered just six sacks? Or the ONE game we we had 8 ??? I'd love for us to be witnessing the defense "arriving" but I need to see another successful game before I jump that far. However if we do show out defensively and shut the Cards down, then it will be further proof of just how long it takes to get accustomed to a new coordinator and will cause all of us to ask "why didnt we play like this sooner?"

Parting thought... one thing that bothered me about the emotional high of the Seattle game is how poorly we followed that with an ugly showing against Kansas City. I taped that game and didnt even bother to watch the final three quarters, thats how bad it was. So, If you take that into account and assume beating the 49ers on a last drive, last second defensive stand is a highly emotional event, then the Cards are actually catching us at the right time. We shall see. I hope my guts worrisome intuition is wrong.

Holy shit people still own VCRs???:eek:

 

[…..]

Holy crap people still own VCRs???:eek:

Haha...gave away my age. I meant I DVR'd it? Helliduunno, I just pressed the button to tell DirectTV to record it for me.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Number 1 team in the NFL right now, if the Rams beat them it would be huge, if they can just hang with them that's still good.

 

[Rmfnlt]

I've no doubt the defense can muster some elite play, they do every week....but the real question is, can they be elite enough to overcome the offenses inability to punch it in? The Rams defense is awesome, but we tend to put them in too many precarious situations and make it difficult for them to sustain thier awesomeness for 60 minutes. Moreover, offenses have negated our pass rush quite well with thier quick hit game plans, which is something San Fransisco inexplicity failed to do last week, instead choosing to send Krapperdick on 5-7 step drops repeatedly. Last week my first thought upon the final whistle was "well finally, our defense was able to hold on just long enough to overcome offensive ineffectiveness"

What I'd like to see is some of the scoring we saw from our offense prior to two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I think the more Davis knows, the less effective he is. In other words, we were doing just fine when he was running around without a clue. (not withstanding the one very effective game against the Seahawks where he seemed in control of a ball control type short passing game) We've only managed 20 points in the last two weeks and I think we are going to need more this time because the redbirds are playing with confidence and at home.

You have to ask yourself....which is the accident? The first 7 games when the rams mustered just six sacks? Or the ONE game we we had 8 ??? I'd love for us to be witnessing the defense "arriving" but I need to see another successful game before I jump that far. However if we do show out defensively and shut the Cards down, then it will be further proof of just how long it takes to get accustomed to a new coordinator and will cause all of us to ask "why didnt we play like this sooner?"

Parting thought... one thing that bothered me about the emotional high of the Seattle game is how poorly we followed that with an ugly showing against Kansas City. I taped that game and didnt even bother to watch the final three quarters, thats how bad it was. So, If you take that into account and assume beating the 49ers on a last drive, last second defensive stand is a highly emotional event, then the Cards are actually catching us at the right time. We shall see. I hope my guts worrisome intuition is wrong.

I think this is what most Rams fans are looking for.

At least two consecutive games where the defense plays lights out and the offense can score more than 21.

If that can happen against Arizona, the Rams can win.

Can they?

 

[Rams43]

The Rams' defense is "arriving" before our eyes. It started with the run defense, which was shored up consistently for the first time in a long time. Before we knew it, the defense had strung together multiple games against strong running backs/offenses with excellent results. But then came that beautiful game against the 9ers... Well, it was just a whole new level of defensive football on display for this team.

Without a doubt that was a top 5 elite defense that went into SF and dominated the 9ers. Note the term dominated. They got into their heads, and just dictated the tone for the whole game instigating mistakes all over the joint on the 9ers offensive team. Extremely impressive stuff, and it brings me around to the post title...

I believe the Cards are catching the Rams at the wrong time. I think their offense is in for twelve rounds with a bloody pitbull starved for some fresh meat. This bunch has FINALLY lifted their defensive play to where many of us expected it to be at the beginning of the season.

The question of course is: can the Rams' offense play well in this game? If they do, I think an upset could well be in order. But either way... I want to see great defense again! I want to see Palmer blowing snot bubbles on the sideline after they knock his old @$$ from the game. I want to see picks, forced fumbles, and the Cards' OL false starting all over the joint as they struggle to handle the Rams physical and attacking front.

Let's go Rams! Get that W!!!

I'm all fired up now, Merlin! Nice post, man.

This game looks like our toughest matchup all year long.

But I'll say this...

If our D has, in fact, finally "gotten it" then Katie bar the door! With such a dominant D as we saw against the Niners, ANY team we play anywhere is vulnerable.

 

[Fatbot]

ESPN stat this morning: every season over the last 20 years at least 1 team .500 or worse at the midway point has ended up still making the playoffs...

 

[DaveFan'51]

Ayup. They're about to run into a buzzsaw.

Always Love your pictorial essays!!

 

[DaveFan'51]

I'm hoping that Fisher has done his homework on the Cards as he's done with SF & Seahawks - its fingers crossed time we can pull off back to back wins....

And being 3-1 in the Div. doesn't hurt either!

 

[RamWoodie]

Yep! The Cards are getting the Rams at the wrong time...mainly because the defense is ramping it up and the young secondary is playing well. The Rams can make another statement this game and move to 4-5, which is still very much in the mix.

We need Austin Davis to play well,,,and the Cards defense is very vulnerable to the TE. I expect Ram TEs to have a big game Sunday!

 

[Penguin.]

This game will be our biggest test of the year. Away, playing Arizona....man. If we beat them we can beat anybody.

 

[RamzFanz]

Number 1 team in the NFL right now, if the Rams beat them it would be huge, if they can just hang with them that's still good.

I don't think hanging with them will mean anything more than hanging with Dallas, Philly, or San Fran the first game. They have to win. No one outside of ROD thinks hanging with top teams means anything. We hung with all of those and every analyst had the Rams losing to the Hawks and Niners.

Rams must win. They must win to be enter the world of could possibly win again.