Rams-Buccaneers: Seven for Sunday/PD

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RamBill

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Rams-Buccaneers: Seven for Sunday
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_97e35345-2d04-5bfa-973a-c4d4335e4485.html

The last time the Rams faced Josh McCown, he was with Chicago. They sacked him only once but swarmed around him all day like killer bees. By the end of the Rams’ 42-21 victory last Nov. 24, they had 17 QB pressures, 10 QB hits and McCown was one giant bruise. McCown frequently holds onto the ball too long, but can scramble when needed. “He’s tough,” Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He proved that last year playing us because we got some real shots on him. ... But he just kept getting up and kept getting up, and was really trying to lead them back in that game. I thought it was a really gutsy performance.” McCown threw only one interception in 224 passes last year for the Bears; he had two interceptions in his first 16 throws for the Bucs last week against Carolina. Even with the bad start, he nearly rallied Tampa from a 17-0 deficit in what became a 20-14 loss.

BIG TARGETS

The Bucs may have the tallest WR tandem in the NFL in veteran Vincent Jackson and rookie Mike Evans — both are 6-5 and in the 230-pound range. Jackson’s a three-time Pro Bowler, has posted five 1,000-yard receiving seasons and is a downfield threat with a career average of 17.4 yards per catch. Evans, who paid a pre-draft visit to the Rams, was chosen seventh overall in May. Rams starting CBs Janoris Jenkins and E.J. Gaines both stand 5-10.

ON THE RUN

The Bucs got a surprising 54-yard run by 258-pound fullback Jorvorskie Lane against Carolina. Otherwise their run game was non-existent with Doug Martin and Bobby Rainey combining for 21 yards on 13 carries against the formidable Panthers front seven. Martin didn’t finish the game because of a knee injury; Rainey had a costly fumble. Undoubtedly, the Bucs will try to get their ground game going against the Rams, who yielded 185 yards rushing in Week 1.

WEAK SPOT?

The interior of the Tampa Bay offensive line struggled in the preseason, to the point that the Bucs kicked the tires on bad-boy guard Richie Incognito and then traded with New England for six-time Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins in late August. Mankins suffered a knee injury against Carolina. Even with Mankins in the lineup, the Rams could do some damage with their DT rotation, or by stunting and looping their DEs inside.

LOVIE’S DEFENSE

The Cover 2 scheme, with both safeties playing in a deep shell and the secondary in zone coverage, remains the staple of coach Lovie Smith’s philosophy. As Smith showed during his tenure as Rams defensive coordinator (2001-2003), it puts a premium on keeping the ball in front of you to prevent the big play, swarming to the football and creating turnovers. It can force QBs, especially inexperienced ones, to be patient making their reads.

WHERE’S THE RUSH?

In order for the Cover 2 to dominate, it relies on a four-man pass rush and not much blitzing, which allows seven men to drop in coverage. But the Buccaneers have had trouble generating a pass rush, and had only one sack vs. Carolina — by arguably their best overall player, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. McCoy was taken No. 3 in a 2010 draft, in which QB Sam Bradford went first and DT Ndamukong Suh second. He can be a game-changing player.

CALLING ALL TEs

Carolina tight end Greg Olsen was all over the place against Tampa Bay, with eight catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He almost had another TD running deep down the middle, but the pass was overthrown by QB Derek Anderson. Tampa Bay safeties had trouble staying with Olsen, and the Buccaneers’ linebackers, although fast, left some holes in coverage. This could be a chance for Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks to rack up some yards.