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Practice Report 12/4: Defending an Explosive Offense
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-124-Defending-an-Explosive-Offense/71954400-99c8-4aec-9333-39e88c2907d3
Since head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer arrived, the Cardinals’ offense has been known for its ability to create explosive plays. This season, Arizona leads the league with 57 plays of at least 20 yards -- 49 via pass and eight via run. With those numbers, Palmer is No. 1 in both yards per attempt (8.8) and yards per completion (13.8).
Arizona’s penchant for explosive plays can be a challenge for any team to defend, and will be for the Rams on Sunday.
“We’ve had a couple of really big time offenses we’ve had to go against this year and I’m looking forward to our opportunity again this year,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said after Friday’s practice. “Our guys understand the personnel because it’s within our division. They understand that aspect of it. So now, it’s going out and understanding leverage, understanding space, what they’re trying to do, where they’re trying to create their opportunity to move the ball. Can our guys defend it? We’ll see.”
Palmer in particular is playing quite well leading the offense. He’s completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,337 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 7.1 percent touchdown rate also tops the NFL.
“I’ve been very impressed with how accurate of a thrower he is,” Williams said. “He’s done a very good job of moving around, buying extra time. If he has a concept in mind that he wants to do -- boom -- he goes ahead and does it. He’s done a very good job on being consistent.”
“Carson, to me, you look back at last year at what happened once he got hurt, where they went -- Drew Stanton tried to do a good job to carry the ship, but they're just not the same without Carson out there,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He's playing at a very high level. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Undoubtedly Arians is a significant factor in Palmer’s success. It’s the third season the two have worked together in the desert, and Arians said this week Palmer is playing as well as anyone he’s ever coached.
“The guy is a workaholic,” Arians said. “He knows how he learns. I think we’ve all learned how he learns, so we can teach him better. That’s why the growing pains when you get an older quarterback and you have to learn really how he learns. I think now we’ve got a system in place where he’s prepared every ball game, and it’s get the other 10 guys around him on the same page with him.”
But the key to getting to that point with a coach and quarterback, according to Arians, is having a great sense of trust.
“You have to have communication every day because you’re tied at the hip,” Arians said. “Your job is depending on him. You’ve got to have trust in a relationship, whether it’s honesty going back and forth and accountability back and forth.”
The kind of season Palmer is having does soften the blow of losing starting running back Chris Johnson to a fractured tibia. Johnson was placed on IR with a designation to return a few days ago after suffering the injury against San Francisco in Week 12. Fellow running back Andre Ellington has already been declared out for Sunday’s matchup with turf toe. And so rookie David Johnson is likely to be the first man up in the backfield this weekend.
“David is more than ready,” Arians said. “When Andre was hurt, he played a bunch in the previous game, although it wasn’t his best game. We feel very confident he’s more than ready.”
A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa, David Johnson leads the team with eight total touchdowns. The rookie caught four passes for 63 yards -- including a 23-yard touchdown -- and had 18 yards rushing on three carries when the Rams faced the Cardinals in October.
“He played well and got all of our attention the last time we played them,” Williams said. “Our guys have a lot of respect for him. He’s very powerful. He’s got some shiftiness to him when he needs to. But, he’s a very good receiver in the passing game too. Not only does he do everything they want in the running game, but when you put the ball in his hands, he’s made some big plays in the passing game. I don’t think they’re going to miss a beat.”
“Earlier in the year when we played them, they used him a lot -- kind of in their empty third down stuff,” Laurinaitis said. “He runs a lot of routes for them in their no-back stuff.”
No matter who is at running back, the Cardinals are likely to move the ball and score points. That’s why clamping down and playing strong red-zone defense -- like the Rams played the last time these two teams squared off -- will be of particular importance in Sunday’s contest.
“We spend an inordinate amount of time in the red zone also throughout the course of the week. Learned that a long time ago,” Williams said. “We’ve got to take the ball away. Got to play stout against the run, but you’ve got to do a great job in the red zone, got to do a great job on third down.”
“When you’re playing an offense like this, I mean, field goals are wins,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’ve said that before. Field goals are wins for your defense. We have to get off the field on occasion on third down. We keep Carson on their sideline, then we have a chance.”
INJURY REPORT
As Fisher said on Thursday, the Rams will start Nick Foles at quarterback against Arizona. Case Keenum was limited once again in Friday’s practice, and is listed as questionable for the game.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow and make a decision on whether he’s [No.] two or [No.] three [at quarterback],” If he’s two, he’s been completely cleared and ready to play. If he’s two, he’s two because he’s been cleared, one, and two, he hasn’t had sufficient reps to practice during the week.”
If Keenum is inactive, then Sean Mannion would serve as the backup quarterback.
Elsewhere on the injury report, right tackle Rob Havenstein (calf) is probable. Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) is out. Greg Zuerlein (right hip), Trumaine Johnson (thigh), and Robert Quinn (back) are all listed as doubtful.
Quinn’s injury has had plenty of ripple effects along the D-line, as it would for any team missing a player who recorded a franchise season record for sacks. But Fisher gave plenty of credit to Eugene Sims, who has started in Quinn’s stead.
“We miss him, but Eugene’s playing well out there and the other guys are rushing hard,” Fisher said. “[Quinn’s] a difference maker. He’s one of those guys that can change the game at any point in the game. So, definitely, we miss him, but as most teams miss their Pro Bowl quality players.”
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald did say this week it seems like teams are paying him a little more attention on the inside in Quinn’s absence.
“A lot more double teams -- not much I can do about that but just keep playing,” Donald said. “Anytime you lose a playmaker it's going to be tough. He's a guy that's a leader and makes a lot of plays for us. Other guys just have to step up, continue to do what we've been doing.”
“It's impossible to replace Robert,” Laurinaitis said. “The duo of Aaron's quickness inside and Robert's speed rush -- if Robert gets around the corner the quarterback has to step up and Aaron is in his face. If Aaron gets pressure up the middle, the quarterback has to flush out and Robert is there to get him. It's such a deadly combo that when you miss one half of it, it affects the whole rotation, and snaps, and all that as well. Hopefully, we get Rob back soon.”
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-124-Defending-an-Explosive-Offense/71954400-99c8-4aec-9333-39e88c2907d3
Since head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer arrived, the Cardinals’ offense has been known for its ability to create explosive plays. This season, Arizona leads the league with 57 plays of at least 20 yards -- 49 via pass and eight via run. With those numbers, Palmer is No. 1 in both yards per attempt (8.8) and yards per completion (13.8).
Arizona’s penchant for explosive plays can be a challenge for any team to defend, and will be for the Rams on Sunday.
“We’ve had a couple of really big time offenses we’ve had to go against this year and I’m looking forward to our opportunity again this year,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said after Friday’s practice. “Our guys understand the personnel because it’s within our division. They understand that aspect of it. So now, it’s going out and understanding leverage, understanding space, what they’re trying to do, where they’re trying to create their opportunity to move the ball. Can our guys defend it? We’ll see.”
Palmer in particular is playing quite well leading the offense. He’s completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,337 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 7.1 percent touchdown rate also tops the NFL.
“I’ve been very impressed with how accurate of a thrower he is,” Williams said. “He’s done a very good job of moving around, buying extra time. If he has a concept in mind that he wants to do -- boom -- he goes ahead and does it. He’s done a very good job on being consistent.”
“Carson, to me, you look back at last year at what happened once he got hurt, where they went -- Drew Stanton tried to do a good job to carry the ship, but they're just not the same without Carson out there,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He's playing at a very high level. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Undoubtedly Arians is a significant factor in Palmer’s success. It’s the third season the two have worked together in the desert, and Arians said this week Palmer is playing as well as anyone he’s ever coached.
“The guy is a workaholic,” Arians said. “He knows how he learns. I think we’ve all learned how he learns, so we can teach him better. That’s why the growing pains when you get an older quarterback and you have to learn really how he learns. I think now we’ve got a system in place where he’s prepared every ball game, and it’s get the other 10 guys around him on the same page with him.”
But the key to getting to that point with a coach and quarterback, according to Arians, is having a great sense of trust.
“You have to have communication every day because you’re tied at the hip,” Arians said. “Your job is depending on him. You’ve got to have trust in a relationship, whether it’s honesty going back and forth and accountability back and forth.”
The kind of season Palmer is having does soften the blow of losing starting running back Chris Johnson to a fractured tibia. Johnson was placed on IR with a designation to return a few days ago after suffering the injury against San Francisco in Week 12. Fellow running back Andre Ellington has already been declared out for Sunday’s matchup with turf toe. And so rookie David Johnson is likely to be the first man up in the backfield this weekend.
“David is more than ready,” Arians said. “When Andre was hurt, he played a bunch in the previous game, although it wasn’t his best game. We feel very confident he’s more than ready.”
A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa, David Johnson leads the team with eight total touchdowns. The rookie caught four passes for 63 yards -- including a 23-yard touchdown -- and had 18 yards rushing on three carries when the Rams faced the Cardinals in October.
“He played well and got all of our attention the last time we played them,” Williams said. “Our guys have a lot of respect for him. He’s very powerful. He’s got some shiftiness to him when he needs to. But, he’s a very good receiver in the passing game too. Not only does he do everything they want in the running game, but when you put the ball in his hands, he’s made some big plays in the passing game. I don’t think they’re going to miss a beat.”
“Earlier in the year when we played them, they used him a lot -- kind of in their empty third down stuff,” Laurinaitis said. “He runs a lot of routes for them in their no-back stuff.”
No matter who is at running back, the Cardinals are likely to move the ball and score points. That’s why clamping down and playing strong red-zone defense -- like the Rams played the last time these two teams squared off -- will be of particular importance in Sunday’s contest.
“We spend an inordinate amount of time in the red zone also throughout the course of the week. Learned that a long time ago,” Williams said. “We’ve got to take the ball away. Got to play stout against the run, but you’ve got to do a great job in the red zone, got to do a great job on third down.”
“When you’re playing an offense like this, I mean, field goals are wins,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’ve said that before. Field goals are wins for your defense. We have to get off the field on occasion on third down. We keep Carson on their sideline, then we have a chance.”
INJURY REPORT
As Fisher said on Thursday, the Rams will start Nick Foles at quarterback against Arizona. Case Keenum was limited once again in Friday’s practice, and is listed as questionable for the game.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow and make a decision on whether he’s [No.] two or [No.] three [at quarterback],” If he’s two, he’s been completely cleared and ready to play. If he’s two, he’s two because he’s been cleared, one, and two, he hasn’t had sufficient reps to practice during the week.”
If Keenum is inactive, then Sean Mannion would serve as the backup quarterback.
Elsewhere on the injury report, right tackle Rob Havenstein (calf) is probable. Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) is out. Greg Zuerlein (right hip), Trumaine Johnson (thigh), and Robert Quinn (back) are all listed as doubtful.
Quinn’s injury has had plenty of ripple effects along the D-line, as it would for any team missing a player who recorded a franchise season record for sacks. But Fisher gave plenty of credit to Eugene Sims, who has started in Quinn’s stead.
“We miss him, but Eugene’s playing well out there and the other guys are rushing hard,” Fisher said. “[Quinn’s] a difference maker. He’s one of those guys that can change the game at any point in the game. So, definitely, we miss him, but as most teams miss their Pro Bowl quality players.”
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald did say this week it seems like teams are paying him a little more attention on the inside in Quinn’s absence.
“A lot more double teams -- not much I can do about that but just keep playing,” Donald said. “Anytime you lose a playmaker it's going to be tough. He's a guy that's a leader and makes a lot of plays for us. Other guys just have to step up, continue to do what we've been doing.”
“It's impossible to replace Robert,” Laurinaitis said. “The duo of Aaron's quickness inside and Robert's speed rush -- if Robert gets around the corner the quarterback has to step up and Aaron is in his face. If Aaron gets pressure up the middle, the quarterback has to flush out and Robert is there to get him. It's such a deadly combo that when you miss one half of it, it affects the whole rotation, and snaps, and all that as well. Hopefully, we get Rob back soon.”
