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7 things to watch: Rams vs. Ravens
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_7e779dad-64df-52f6-8fb9-d607308e69dd.html
A CASE STUDY UNDER CENTER
In the 21 seasons of Rams football in St. Louis, Case Keenum becomes the 23rd QB to start a game. Will he be a one-and-done starter like Brock Berlin in 2007? Or the next Kurt Warner? OK, the Warner phenomenon was of the once-in-a-lifetime variety. But maybe Keenum can provide a spark with his accuracy, mobility, and energy. One of his two starts with Houston last season was against the Ravens, with Keenum completing 20 of 42 passes for 185 yards and an INT in a 25-13 Texans win.
WHAT’S MY LINE?
The Rams start their fourth different offensive line combination of the season Sunday, and their third different group in fourth weeks. They tried a couple of combos during the practice week, but with RG Jamon Brown out for the season with a lower-leg fracture and RT Rob Havenstein (calf) doubtful, it could be rookies Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal at RG and RT, respectively. Donnal started two weeks ago against Minnesota; Wichmann has played only nine snaps from scrimmage all season.
ELVIS IN THE BUILDING
The Rams, specifically LT Greg Robinson, made OLB Willie Young look like Lawrence Taylor last week. They step way up in class this week with Ravens OLB Elvis Dumervil. The four-time Pro Bowler is seventh among active NFL players with 94½ career sacks. “He’s great off the edge,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. ‘We’re gonna have to be aware of where he’s at, and at times we’re probably going to have to get our tackles some help or get rid of the football quick because he’s an outstanding rusher.”
NO AVERAGE JOE
Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco has few weapons around him this year due to injury and defection. The days of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are gone; Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta are injured. And he’s on his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, but through it all has remained calm and patient in the face of a 2-7 season. His interception total is up (10); he had three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble) in the second half last week against Jacksonville. But he still knows how to complete passes and throw deep.
ON THE RECEIVING END
Minus Smith, who was placed on IR Nov. 4 with an Achilles’ tendon injury, the Ravens are trying to cultivate Kamar Aiken as their No. 1 wideout. Undrafted out of Central Florida in 2011, he bounced around to the Bills, Bears, and Patriots before catching his first NFL passes last season as a Raven. With good size (6-2, 215) and sub-4.5 speed, Aiken was targeted 14 times last week by Flacco, catching a career-high seven passes for 73 yards. Former Ram Chris Givens has moved into the starting lineup as the No. 2 WR.
TIGHT END SHUFFLE
Minus Pitta, the Ravens are going with a trio of young, talented TEs. Second-year man Crockett Gillmore is a huge target at 6-6, 270, and moves well for his size. Rookie Maxx Williams, a second-rounder from Minnesota, is becoming more integrated into the offense and caught his first NFL TD pass against the Jaguars. Those two plus No. 3 TE Nick Boyle combined for 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 117 yards and 2 TDs vs. the Jags. Boyle (foot) is doubtful, but the Rams should still expect plenty of two-TE sets.
NO-NAME DEFENSE
Not unlike Chicago last week, many of the star defensive players of days gone by are no more for the Ravens. No more Ray Lewis, no more Ed Reed, no more Haloti Ngata, etc. And at least for this season, no more Terrell Suggs — the six-time Pro Bowler is out with an Achilles’ tendon injury. For years the gold standard for NFL defense, the Ravens rank 20th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense, yielding 26.2 points per game. Then again, Chicago’s group of no-names limited the Rams to 13 points.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_7e779dad-64df-52f6-8fb9-d607308e69dd.html
A CASE STUDY UNDER CENTER
In the 21 seasons of Rams football in St. Louis, Case Keenum becomes the 23rd QB to start a game. Will he be a one-and-done starter like Brock Berlin in 2007? Or the next Kurt Warner? OK, the Warner phenomenon was of the once-in-a-lifetime variety. But maybe Keenum can provide a spark with his accuracy, mobility, and energy. One of his two starts with Houston last season was against the Ravens, with Keenum completing 20 of 42 passes for 185 yards and an INT in a 25-13 Texans win.
WHAT’S MY LINE?
The Rams start their fourth different offensive line combination of the season Sunday, and their third different group in fourth weeks. They tried a couple of combos during the practice week, but with RG Jamon Brown out for the season with a lower-leg fracture and RT Rob Havenstein (calf) doubtful, it could be rookies Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal at RG and RT, respectively. Donnal started two weeks ago against Minnesota; Wichmann has played only nine snaps from scrimmage all season.
ELVIS IN THE BUILDING
The Rams, specifically LT Greg Robinson, made OLB Willie Young look like Lawrence Taylor last week. They step way up in class this week with Ravens OLB Elvis Dumervil. The four-time Pro Bowler is seventh among active NFL players with 94½ career sacks. “He’s great off the edge,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. ‘We’re gonna have to be aware of where he’s at, and at times we’re probably going to have to get our tackles some help or get rid of the football quick because he’s an outstanding rusher.”
NO AVERAGE JOE
Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco has few weapons around him this year due to injury and defection. The days of Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith are gone; Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta are injured. And he’s on his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, but through it all has remained calm and patient in the face of a 2-7 season. His interception total is up (10); he had three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble) in the second half last week against Jacksonville. But he still knows how to complete passes and throw deep.
ON THE RECEIVING END
Minus Smith, who was placed on IR Nov. 4 with an Achilles’ tendon injury, the Ravens are trying to cultivate Kamar Aiken as their No. 1 wideout. Undrafted out of Central Florida in 2011, he bounced around to the Bills, Bears, and Patriots before catching his first NFL passes last season as a Raven. With good size (6-2, 215) and sub-4.5 speed, Aiken was targeted 14 times last week by Flacco, catching a career-high seven passes for 73 yards. Former Ram Chris Givens has moved into the starting lineup as the No. 2 WR.
TIGHT END SHUFFLE
Minus Pitta, the Ravens are going with a trio of young, talented TEs. Second-year man Crockett Gillmore is a huge target at 6-6, 270, and moves well for his size. Rookie Maxx Williams, a second-rounder from Minnesota, is becoming more integrated into the offense and caught his first NFL TD pass against the Jaguars. Those two plus No. 3 TE Nick Boyle combined for 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 117 yards and 2 TDs vs. the Jags. Boyle (foot) is doubtful, but the Rams should still expect plenty of two-TE sets.
NO-NAME DEFENSE
Not unlike Chicago last week, many of the star defensive players of days gone by are no more for the Ravens. No more Ray Lewis, no more Ed Reed, no more Haloti Ngata, etc. And at least for this season, no more Terrell Suggs — the six-time Pro Bowler is out with an Achilles’ tendon injury. For years the gold standard for NFL defense, the Ravens rank 20th in total defense and 24th in scoring defense, yielding 26.2 points per game. Then again, Chicago’s group of no-names limited the Rams to 13 points.