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7 things to watch: Rams at Cardinals
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_5e735ac0-123c-5f76-9760-dcbcc2019d8d.html
CAN RAMS' QUINN BEAT CARDINALS' VELDHEER?
Just like that, the light switch is on for Rams DE Robert Quinn. He has six sacks over the team’s past three games, and after early-season struggles has recaptured the form that made him the 2013 NFL defensive player of the year as selected by the Pro Football Writers. Quinn had seven sacks against the Big Red during his first three seasons in the league, but only one has come at University of Phoenix Stadium. Quinn beat Levi Brown for three sacks in the ’13 season opener; Brown was traded a month later. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said his team is “10 times” better equipped to handle Quinn this time around, with 6-foot-8, 321-pound Jared Veldheer at left tackle. “He’s athletic, good in space, great anchor,” Quinn said. “So bull-rushing him is gonna be tough.” Arians normally doesn’t give his tackles much help, so it could be an interesting afternoon.
CHASING CARSON
At 6 feet 5, 235 pounds, Carson Palmer doesn’t have the speed or mobility to be much of a scrambling threat. But he gets the ball out quickly, and with 12 years experience in the NFL has the savvy to avoid the rush with a step here, a couple steps there. He has been sacked only six times in the five games he’s played, missing three early season games because of a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder. All told, the Cardinals have allowed only 13 sacks this season.
GOING DEEP
Palmer still throws one of the best deep balls around, and has thrown TD passes of 81, 80, and 75 yards this season. Rookie small-school find John Brown is a burner who leads the team with four TD catches. Michael Floyd (6 feet 2, 220 pounds) combines size with deep speed, but hasn’t really been in sync with Palmer this season. Eight-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald has come on lately as a short and intermediate threat. Drops have been an issue across the board.
THIRD-DOWN SUCCESS
One of the keys to the Cardinals’ success offensively is their success on third down. Palmer leads the league in third-down passer rating (129.5). He has completed 65.6 percent of his passes on third down, on which he has thrown eight of his 11 TD passes. The Rams’ defense has struggled getting opponents off the field on third down most of the season, but held the 49ers to just a 25 percent conversion rate (three of 12) on third down last Sunday — their best effort of the season.
THE ELLINGTON FACTOR
Some in Arizona would argue that the offense runs through running back Andre Ellington, the diminutive (5 feet 9, 199 pounds) second-year pro out of Clemson. He’s averaging 20 touches a game with 149 carries for 559 yards, plus 32 catches for 313 yards. That’s 3.8 yards per carry and 9.8 yards per catch — both modest averages. But Ellington is scary fast and especially dangerous in space. He can bounce running plays outside, such as Jamaal Charles of Kansas City does.
BOWLES’ SCHEME
Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is a rising star who could be a head-coaching candidate this offseason. The Cardinals don’t have a top-tier pass rusher, but Bowles make things interesting for opposing quarterbacks with lots of blitzing. Bowles also is at the extreme edge of the spectrum in terms of making his game plans opponent specific. The Rams expect to see things they haven’t seen previously on film from Arizona. In-game adjustments will be key.
ARIZONA SECONDARY
Arizona’s among the NFL leaders in takeaways, but has given up its share of big plays. Three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson played better last week, but is the most penalized player in the NFL (10 called, nine accepted) and has given up four touchdown passes. Following a late-season knee injury in 2013, Tyrann Mathieu has played more at safety than nickel back in ’14, and has been a part-time player much of the year. Antonio Cromartie has been the Cardinals’ most consistent corner.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_5e735ac0-123c-5f76-9760-dcbcc2019d8d.html
CAN RAMS' QUINN BEAT CARDINALS' VELDHEER?
Just like that, the light switch is on for Rams DE Robert Quinn. He has six sacks over the team’s past three games, and after early-season struggles has recaptured the form that made him the 2013 NFL defensive player of the year as selected by the Pro Football Writers. Quinn had seven sacks against the Big Red during his first three seasons in the league, but only one has come at University of Phoenix Stadium. Quinn beat Levi Brown for three sacks in the ’13 season opener; Brown was traded a month later. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said his team is “10 times” better equipped to handle Quinn this time around, with 6-foot-8, 321-pound Jared Veldheer at left tackle. “He’s athletic, good in space, great anchor,” Quinn said. “So bull-rushing him is gonna be tough.” Arians normally doesn’t give his tackles much help, so it could be an interesting afternoon.
CHASING CARSON
At 6 feet 5, 235 pounds, Carson Palmer doesn’t have the speed or mobility to be much of a scrambling threat. But he gets the ball out quickly, and with 12 years experience in the NFL has the savvy to avoid the rush with a step here, a couple steps there. He has been sacked only six times in the five games he’s played, missing three early season games because of a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder. All told, the Cardinals have allowed only 13 sacks this season.
GOING DEEP
Palmer still throws one of the best deep balls around, and has thrown TD passes of 81, 80, and 75 yards this season. Rookie small-school find John Brown is a burner who leads the team with four TD catches. Michael Floyd (6 feet 2, 220 pounds) combines size with deep speed, but hasn’t really been in sync with Palmer this season. Eight-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald has come on lately as a short and intermediate threat. Drops have been an issue across the board.
THIRD-DOWN SUCCESS
One of the keys to the Cardinals’ success offensively is their success on third down. Palmer leads the league in third-down passer rating (129.5). He has completed 65.6 percent of his passes on third down, on which he has thrown eight of his 11 TD passes. The Rams’ defense has struggled getting opponents off the field on third down most of the season, but held the 49ers to just a 25 percent conversion rate (three of 12) on third down last Sunday — their best effort of the season.
THE ELLINGTON FACTOR
Some in Arizona would argue that the offense runs through running back Andre Ellington, the diminutive (5 feet 9, 199 pounds) second-year pro out of Clemson. He’s averaging 20 touches a game with 149 carries for 559 yards, plus 32 catches for 313 yards. That’s 3.8 yards per carry and 9.8 yards per catch — both modest averages. But Ellington is scary fast and especially dangerous in space. He can bounce running plays outside, such as Jamaal Charles of Kansas City does.
BOWLES’ SCHEME
Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is a rising star who could be a head-coaching candidate this offseason. The Cardinals don’t have a top-tier pass rusher, but Bowles make things interesting for opposing quarterbacks with lots of blitzing. Bowles also is at the extreme edge of the spectrum in terms of making his game plans opponent specific. The Rams expect to see things they haven’t seen previously on film from Arizona. In-game adjustments will be key.
ARIZONA SECONDARY
Arizona’s among the NFL leaders in takeaways, but has given up its share of big plays. Three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson played better last week, but is the most penalized player in the NFL (10 called, nine accepted) and has given up four touchdown passes. Following a late-season knee injury in 2013, Tyrann Mathieu has played more at safety than nickel back in ’14, and has been a part-time player much of the year. Antonio Cromartie has been the Cardinals’ most consistent corner.
