Rams-Seahawks: 7 for Sunday --PD

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RamBill

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Rams-Seahawks: 7 for Sunday
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_fb2d2a02-3837-5390-8615-decd3a8418b1.html

The Seahawks are 2-9 in games in which RB Marshawn Lynch has 10 carries or fewer. After carrying only 10 times in last week’s 30-23 loss to Dallas, the talk all week in Seattle has been about getting the ball to Lynch early and often. “This is a great running back,” Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “Wherever he’s been — at the college level, at the pro level — he’s done a great job on extending runs, and he’s a powerful man. So we’re gonna have to make sure that we lock down the run game.”

The Rams are coming off easily their best performance of the season on run defense, limiting Frank Gore to 38 yards and 2.4 yards per carry. As a team, the 49ers had 89 yards and averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Lynch is shifty as well as physical. He can set up would-be tacklers and get them off-balance, leading to missed tackles.

NO HARVIN

Given their troubles with Minnesota’s Cordarrelle Patterson on jet sweeps and gadget plays in their season opener, the Rams certainly aren’t complaining about Seattle’s trade Friday sending WR/return man Percy Harvin to the Jets. With talented pass-catching TE Zach Miller out because of an ankle injury, Seattle’s receiving options are somewhat limited without Harvin. WRs Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse are underrated targets, but have been quiet so far. That could change Sunday.

RUSHING RUSSELL

For the second time in six days, the Rams face a running, scrambling QB. They did a pretty good job keeping San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick in the pocket, although he did have runs of 23 and 10 yards. Seattle’s Russell Wilson is a different kind of runner — not as fast, but more elusive. Again, the goal is to keep the quarterback in the pocket. Although he was held in check on the ground by Dallas, Wilson has rushed for 221 yards and 7.1 yards per carry this season.

ROBINSON’s Second START

In terms of pass protection and picking up stunts and blitzes, Rams LG Greg Robinson passed his first NFL test with flying colors against San Francisco. But the 49ers have a basic approach with their front seven; most of their stunting and looping actually came on the right side, where they had some success testing RG Rodger Saffold and RT Joe Barksdale. Seattle runs more “games” up front, and they’ll surely throw some stuff at Robinson trying to catch him off-guard.

LEGION OF BOOM

The Rams have a different look for Seattle’s heralded secondary in big WRs Brian Quick and Kenny Britt as the starters. Quick (6 feet 3, 218 pounds) has a much more significant role in the offense this season and has been productive. Britt (6-3, 223) is adept at posting up and grabbing the contested ball. Starting CB Byron Maxwell (calf) has been ruled out, but no one’s feeling sorry for the Seahawks because Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor still are around.

LATE & EARLY SCORES

During their three-game losing streak, the Rams can’t seem to get into the locker room without giving up a big play near the end of the half, or give up a score early in the second half. It’s something the team talked about this week, specifically the defense, and needs to clean up. The Cowboys, Eagles, and 49ers combined for three TDs and a field goal in the final 2:07 of first halves vs. the Rams. They each scored a TD vs. the Rams on their first possession of second half.

PUNT PROTECTION

The Rams had a punt blocked for a touchdown against Philadelphia, and nearly had one blocked Monday against San Francisco. Rookie S Jimmie Ward got close enough to Rams P Johnny Hekker that the result was a meager 13-yard punt in the second quarter. The 49ers took over on the Rams’ 43 and ended up with a field goal for their first points of the game. Seattle blocked a punt for a TD last week vs. Dallas and undoubtedly will test the Rams’ punt protection.