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By Robert Mays
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... rom-week-5
Chris Long and Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams
There’s something of a defensive renaissance going on in St. Louis, and although the play of the Rams’ shiny new cornerbacks deserves its due, the resources devoted to the defensive line have played a large part. Chris was one of the two Longs taken before Darren McFadden in the 2008 draft, and as Jake has in Miami, he’s developed into one of the league’s best players at his position. He’s also seriously stepped up his tattoo game.
To go along with Long, St. Louis drafted sort–of–North Carolina–prospect Robert Quinn in the first round last year. The Rams thought enough of Quinn’s talent that they were willing to overlook his missing a year of football after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA for taking gifts that likely cost far less than the market value for his services.
Anyway, last Thursday those two got a crack at the turnstiles known as the Cardinals’ offensive tackles, and the results were predictably bad for anyone who loves Kevin Kolb. Anyone who watched the NFL Network broadcast likely needs no more explanation than the one given by the incomparable Mike Mayock, but here’s my best shot. Both of Arizona’s tackles have struggled with speed rushers, and both the Rams’ ends happen to be very, very fast. The photo above is of the snap on Chris Long’s second-quarter sack. Sorry about the blur, but then again, that's the point. As the ball hits Kolb’s hands, Long is already two yards into the backfield. For right tackle Bobby Massie, this is a problem. He’s barely into his pass set before Long is on him.
When Long gets to Massie’s edge, which happens quickly, he instantly drops his inside shoulder, and that does it. With a step and leverage, Long bends back toward the quarterback, and the play ends with Kolb on the ground.
Quinn’s first sack is more of the same. Along with beating D’Anthony Batiste to the edge, he gives the 6-foot-4 tackle very little of his body to latch on to. Quinn is about as low as he can go, to the point where he actually crawled the final yard before dragging Kolb to the turf. The ineptitude of Arizona’s offensive line certainly helps, but last Thursday night must have looked a lot like what St. Louis envisioned when they took Quinn last spring.