Rams Preview - Week 2- vs Giants

The Rams open up their season at home against the Super Bowl champion, NY Giants on Sunday, at the Edward Jones Dome. Needless to say this is an important game for the Rams. They don’t want to start out 0-2. They don’t want to lose their home opener. They don’t want the fans questioning the team after another loss.

The Giants are 1-0, coming off a solid home game against division rival Washington. They are road warriors, holding the NFL record of consecutive road wins by winning 11 straight road games coming into this game.

So what is the game plan to beat them? Well lets break it down for what the Rams need to do on offense and defense to get in the win column.

OFFENSE

This game will have to be a grind it out, clock consuming, type of game from start to finish for the Rams to win. They cannot get into a shootout or they will be left behind. Losing Bennett and Avery takes away two play makers to a team that didn’t have many to begin with. So the game must centre around, not surprisingly, Steven Jackson.

He must have a big game for the Rams to win. Start with the run with Jackson then let Bulger settle in with the passing game.

Speaking of the passing game, offensive coordinator Al Saunders must be calling a lot of plays in that 700 page playbook on Sunday for, TE Randy McMichael and WR Torry Holt, for the Rams to be successful.

McMichael is one of the best pass catching TE’s in the NFC. He had an solid game in week one against the Eagles, being one of the few players who showed up.

Torry Holt must be Torry Holt. Last week he had one reception for 9 yards. That isn’t getting it done for a receiver of his stature. He must be more explosive and dangerous and take advantage of some of the Giants relatively young players in the secondary like Aaron Ross and Kenny Phillips.

Lastly, Bulger must have a solid game. Mistake free football, no turnovers, and control the tempo of the game. I don’t believe he has to throw for 300+ yards/game, he just has to manage the football and use his weapons such as Jackson, McMichael, and Holt efficiently.

DEFENSE

Burress is a nightmare of a matchup. He is big, fluid, and has hands like glue. What the Rams secondary has to do is jam him at the line, attack him and force him to play through tough coverage. Easier said then done, but if you let him get free releases of the line, Manning will find him too easily and it will be tough to stop since they have good chemistry together.

The other main part of the Giants offense is big 6′4″ RB Brandon Jacobs. He is a mauler, through and through. If the Rams can learn anything from the Giants first game against Washington and something their safety LaRon Landry found out firsthand, tackle this guy low! That is the only way to stop him or he will run over you.

Overall though, I expect the Rams to blitz Eli a lot. A good pass rush is the only way to shake a good QB up. This is something the Rams did not have going for them against Philly last week. The front four,  led by Leonard Little and Chris Long, have to be more consistent in applying pressure to force turnovers. Hopefully playing in the dome and on the turf will aid this gameplan.

The Rams need a win. I am not going to say it is a must win already, but starting the season 0-2 is not a good thing if you have playoff aspirations. Should be a better game then people think. Remember all streaks must come to an end. Maybe it is the Giants turn…we will see. See you after the game.

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Last post (s) by Femi Fasoyinu

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