Early preview: Rams vs. Steelers/PD

[RamBill]

Early preview: Rams vs. Steelers
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_fd190cdc-299e-545b-82c2-88e3764b4998.html

COMING THIS WEEK

As the Rams try to shake off an ugly 24-10 road loss to Washington, they’ll host Pittsburgh at noon Sunday. The Steelers bounced back from a season-opening 28-21 Thursday loss at New England to dismantle visiting San Francisco 43-18 Sunday in a game that wasn’t nearly that close. The Steelers, who were up 29-3 at the half, received huge games from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (21 of 27 passing for 369 yards and three touchdowns with no sacks and no interceptions), receiver Antonio Brown (nine catches, 195 yards, TD) and fill-in running back DeAngelo Williams (20 carries, 77 yards, three TDs) and a similarly dominating effort on defense from second-year linebacker Ryan Shazier (15 tackles, 11 solo, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery).

“We were probably not as bad as we were a week ago, and we aren’t as good as we were today,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday.

PLAYER TO WATCH

DeAngelo Williams. After spending nine productive seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Williams has found new life with the Steelers as a replacement for All-Pro Le’Veon Bell, who is slated to return after serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Williams, 32, ran for a career-low 219 yards in an injury-plagued 2014 season limited to just six games. Healthy again, the 5-foot-9, 207 pounder ran for 127 yards against New England and tied a franchise record with three rushing TDs Sunday in the blowout win over San Francisco.

But how much will he play Sunday? Bell, 23, who was second in the league last year with 1,361 yards rushing, caught an amazing 83 passes and scored 11 times, is expected to return to the starting role. But Williams has shown he can be a valuable weapon as well.

HE SAID IT

“We want to possess the ball and we want to work the ball down the field, but what was working was the up-tempo, no-huddle,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after making the change on the second drive Sunday and proceeding to build a 29-3 halftime lead. “I was calling almost every single play. We didn’t possess the ball very much, but we put up points.”

INJURIES

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday his team came through its loss “somewhat healthy, which is good. I don’t think we’ll have anyone miss any practice time. (Quarterback Nick Foles) got kicked in the shin. ... He was a little sore, a little tender, in the locker room but appears to be OK today.’’

Shazier, an Ohio State product, left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, but played it down after the game. “That’s part of being a linebacker,’’ he said, “I’m definitely fine.’’

Tomlin reported the normal “bumps and bruises’’ but no major injury concerns following the 49ers game. However, Pittsburgh still is without wide receiver Martavis Bryant (suspension, out until Week 5) and All-Pro center Maurkice Pounce (leg/ankle) isn’t expected back soon.

SERIES HISTORY

The Rams lead the series 15-8-2 but have lost in the last two meetings, and three of the four games since the team moved to St. Louis from Los Angeles. The Steelers won 41-24 in the teams’ only game in St. Louis (2007) and beat the visiting Rams 27-0 the teams’ last meeting (2011).

The Steelers beat the Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV in Pasadena, Calif.A positive note for Rams fans: the Steelers are 1-11-1 in road games against the Rams. That includes contests played in New Orleans; Cleveland; Akron, Ohio; and Los Angeles.

 

[Ky Ram]

I got $100 on this game - Rams for the win straight up(against one of my best friends who's damn Steelers bandwagoner). If we want to be one of the best teams in the NFL we have to beat the best teams - this is another chance to do that.
When we're on, I think we can beat any damn team they put in our way. I just hope we're on more often than off for the remainder of the season.
Steelers like to drop Big Ben back a lot which should give us plenty of opportunities to beat him up. We have to shut the run down this week though.

On offense we have to do something... dare I say anything to score some damn points like we did week 1.

 

[Rainram]

After watching Kirk Cousins complete 85% of his passes for an easy 200 yards, with a mediocre WR corps...I am a bit nervous to see what the Steelers offense has in store.

Would love to see the defense that shut down Luck and Manning last year, show up for the next three weeks.

 

[RamBill]

Will Brinson joined Kevin Wheeler to talk about the Rams struggles, the NFL Week 2, storylines heading into Week 3, and the importance of the Steelers game for the Rams.

Listen to Brinson Talk Rams

 

[RamBill]

ESPN’s John Clayton talks Steelers, Eagles, and Rams.

Listen to Clayton Talks Rams

 

[Mackeyser]

“We were probably not as bad as we were a week ago, and we aren’t as good as we were today,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday.

Pretty sure the same could be said about the Rams at this point with both teams and fan bases HOPING that each team is closer to their better performances.

 

[LACHAMP46]

After watching Kirk Cousins complete 85% of his passes for an easy 200 yards, with a mediocre WR corps...I am a bit nervous to see what the Steelers offense has in store.

Second that emotion....

 

[RamzFanz]

I got $100 on this game - Rams for the win straight up(against one of my best friends who's damn Steelers bandwagoner).

I like the way you roll.

 

[GabesHorn]

I'm sure Big Ben will be going no huddle hurry up to keep us from doing our substituting. If we get caught with Fairley and Westbrooks in before Ben goes Hurry-Up we are screwed. No doubt Ben would wait for that to keep Aaron Donald and M. Brockers on the sideline. Williams got out coached as Coach Fisher said Himself and better be bringing very early adjustments to anything we can't stop. We went against the 3 TE line-up with big gouges and lots of cut blocking. We needed to shift our front alignment and stop having AD getting taken out of the play with his quickness off the line,AD was taking himself out of the play then was also getting cut blocked. I want Payback on these muthers the next game even if on the flippin Moon. We need to hit somebody in the mouth this week. Wish Sims was healthy for this one. Hayes needs to remember what he did against shegals and don't even try to explain how you go from that to last weeks no-show. You played your best and worst games in 2 weeks. Bring back the effort. Gang Tackle again and lets run the ball gang. Nick get that shin iced daily and taped and don't think about it again till 4:00 when the games over. Throw with touch like you know how. Make 1ST downs... We have yet to play our best "O". LEAD NICK!!! NO INJURIES!!!

 

[Robocop]

I work with basically all Skins and Steelers fans. so I'm not even gonna open my goddamn mouth. I've been harassed enough this week..

 

[RamBill]

Le'Veon Bell set to return against Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/21673/leveon-bell-set-to-return-against-rams

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams got some bad news before the season even started when Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell's three-game suspension for violating the league's policy on substance abuse was reduced to two games.

The Rams had the misfortune of being the third game on Pittsburgh's schedule and looked to to be lucky enough to miss out on playing against one of the best backs in the league before the reduction.

Now, one week after allowing Washington backs Alfred Morris and Matt Jones to combine for 182 rushing yards, the Rams get to deal with a fresh and motivated Bell. And Bell is complemented by a rejuvenated DeAngelo Williams.

ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler offered a quick glimpse Tuesday on what the Rams can expect from Bell and Williams on Sunday.

We'll have more on the Rams' issues against the run and how dangerous the Bell/Williams combo is this week but it's notable that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has already made it clear that Bell won't be eased back into action.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Tuesday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the Ram-blings, we opened the day with a look at the struggles teams around the league are having running the ball early in the season. ... This week's Turning Point Play examines Washington running back Matt Jones' first touchdown run. ... The Rams dropped to 19th in this week's ESPN NFL Power Rankings. ... The Rams offense is struggling to sustain drives and keep the defense rested in the first two weeks. ... Rams punter Johnny Hekker took home punter of the week honors.

Elsewhere:

Here's this week's ESPN NFL Power Rankings.

At 101sports.com, Bernie Miklasz writes that the Rams offensive line simply isn't getting the job done so far.

Miklasz and Randy Karraker discuss a variety of topics in their weekly podcast.

At stltoday.com, Jim Thomas participated in his weekly chat.

Jeff Gordon writes that the Rams missed a golden opportunity in Washington.

At insidesocal.com, Vincent Bonsignore writes that the six-member Los Angeles committee will have a lot of say in how the NFL's return the L.A. plays out.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Now, one week after allowing Washington backs Alfred Morris and Matt Jones to combine for 182 rushing yards, the Rams get to deal with a fresh and motivated Bell. And Bell is complemented by a rejuvenated DeAngelo Williams.

ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler offered a quick glimpse Tuesday on what the Rams can expect from Bell and Williams on Sunday.

We'll have more on the Rams' issues against the run and how dangerous the Bell/Williams combo is this week but it's notable that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has already made it clear that Bell won't be eased back into action.

One of my pet peeves is the ability to stop the run...You can tell when a team has it...Most teams that do, never allow the occasional LONG run and the constant positive yardage. To have a great defense, you have to consistently stuff the run for NO GAIN &/or TACKLE FOR LOSS. Consistently....
After 3 games, we are in position to be the worst run defense in the league...With that being said, or even thought about....I'd seriously consider firing Jeff Fisher & his friend Greg Williams...5 first round picks? Inexcusable.

 

[RamBill]

Carey Davis joined Kevin Wheeler to talk about the challenges the Steelers present for the Rams, where CD see the Rams right now, and expectations for Sunday. Davis talks about the tall task at hand for the Rams with this Steelers offense.

Listen to Davis Talk Rams-Steelers

 

[RamBill]

Fisher expects old friend Mike Munchak to try to slow Rams pass rush
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-munchak-to-try-to-slow-rams-top-pass-rushers

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- When he arrived as the new head coach of the St. Louis Rams in 2012, Jeff Fisher was able to get most of his original band back together.

Fisher brought many of his longtime assistants and friends such as assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, senior defensive assistant Chuck Cecil, assistant linebackers coach Joe Bowden and, eventually, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and linebackers coach Frank Bush, along with him. Noticeable in his absence was offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who had worked with Fisher in Houston/Tennessee from 1994 to 2010, mostly as his offensive line coach.

Of course, Munchak had good reason for not ending up in St. Louis: He was the Titans' choice to replace Fisher as head coach in 2011. Munchak led the Titans from 2011 to 2013, posting a 22-26 record before he lost the job after a 7-9 performance in 2013. During that 2013 season, Munchak and Fisher coached against each other for the first time, with Munchak's Titans coming away with a 28-21 win at the Edward Jones Dome.

Both coaches downplayed the matchup after it was over.

"That's something we can talk more about in the offseason and having bragging rights about who beat who," Munchak said then. "But this is all about us vs. them.

"Players are the ones who win the games."

This week, Munchak's group of players will have the chance to take on Fisher's players again, though the circumstances have changed. After Tennessee fired him in 2013, Munchak latched on with the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning to his roots as the offensive line coach. Fisher said Tuesday he didn't consider finding a role for Munchak with the Rams after he came available.

Munchak's impact in Pittsburgh was immediate. The Steelers allowed 33 sacks last season, down from 42 the previous season. They boasted the league's second-ranked offense and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger finished tied for the most passing yards in the NFL.

Fisher wasn't surprised.

“He’s very, very thorough up front," Fisher said. "You can just watch three or four plays of their offensive line and say to yourself, ‘That’s a Mike Munchak coached offensive line.’ They’re very sound. They’re very aggressive. They’re very patient. They finish. They rarely make mistakes."

With skill position stars like Roethlisberger, running back Le'Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown in place, the only missing piece was the offensive line to make it all go. But under Munchak, the Steelers have taken off and young players like guard David DeCastro have grown into some of the best at their positions.

As the Rams prepare for the Steelers this week, Fisher said Munchak has a knack for deciphering ways to slow down opposing star defensive linemen. Which means that he and his staff will have to be on top of things when putting together this week's game plan.

"Mike’s really good -- and what we have to adjust to is -- Mike’s really good at taking special defensive players away, especially if you have rushers," Fisher said. "I would expect they would pay a lot of attention to where (DT) Aaron (Donald) is and to where (DE) Rob (Quinn) lines up. They just don’t get their quarterback hit. Their game is about Ben buying time, buying time and moving around and making the off-schedule play down the field.”

 

[RamBill]

ESPN.com Rams reporter Nick Wagoner discusses how the Rams are preparing for the Steelers with Bernie.

Listen to Wagoner Talk Rams

 

[RamBill]

Donald to his Pittsburgh family: 'Better root for the Rams' on Sunday
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...am-will-be-a-cool-experience-for-aaron-donald

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- As the ticket requests for this week rolled in, St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald had just one stipulation for his many family members flying in from Pittsburgh.

"They better root for the Rams. They better not be cheering for the Steelers," Donald said. "That's the rule. They have to root for us."

The Steelers and their potent offense come calling to the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. It will be Donald's first chance to play against the team he passionately rooted for as a kid.

"It will be pretty cool playing against them, but I'm just going to take it like another game and just try to do my job and come up with a win," Donald said. "That was the team I grew up watching all my life. It's going to be a pretty cool experience."

Donald was born and raised in Pittsburgh and members of his family were unabashed Steelers fans. In that town, you're swaddled in a Terrible Towel out of the womb. Donald was no different. Ask him to name a favorite player and he can't choose just one, noting a handful of names while subtly reminding you he's only 24, born long after the first four of the Steelers' six Super Bowl victories.

"I was a big Steelers fan. If you're born and raised there, you’ve got to be a Steelers fan," Donald said. "All of them. Jerome Bettis, Big Ben (Roethlisberger) was there, Casey Hampton, all of those guys."

Pittsburgh boasts one of the league's most dynamic offenses with Roethlisberger at the controls and running back Le'Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown among the elite players in the NFL at their respective positions.

Roethlisberger, in particular, represents a major challenge for Donald and the defense. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Roethlisberger is taller than Donald by at least 4 inches and Donald doesn't outweigh him by much. Part of Roethlisberger's greatness is in his ability to escape would-be tacklers and make plays down the field.

"He definitely doesn't go down easy," Donald said. "It's a fight trying to get him down. He's a little bigger than me, so it's going to be a challenge for us. We'll be ready for it."

Of course, after Donald wrecked college offenses in their backyard for four years at the University of Pittsburgh and before that at Penn Hills High, the Steelers are well aware of what Donald can do. He has 2.5 sacks in the first two weeks of this season and his 11.5 sacks in his first 18 games is the most among 4-3 defensive tackles in that span.

Donald is Pro Football Focus' highest-rated player at any position in the first two weeks with a grade of 18.0. Coincidentally, Roethlisberger follows at 13.0.

"I know quite a bit about Aaron Donald, probably too much," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. "The things that I know about him don't help me sleep easy. This guy is extremely talented, but he's also a very hard worker.

"I spent a couple [of] months here this year, February and March of 2015, getting out of my car every morning and running into Aaron Donald in that parking lot outside as he came in to work at Pitt. I think that guy left the Pro Bowl and came straight back to work. But that doesn't surprise me. I've seen him do it over the course of his college career, and the way his professional career is unfolding is not a surprise to those that know him."

The Steelers got to know Donald quite well in the run-up to the 2014 draft. Donald took a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh's headquarters. Though some wondered how Donald would fit into the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, there is little doubt now that he would have found a way to make it work.

But it never got that far. The Steelers had the 15th pick and the Rams plucked him at No. 13. Donald says he put away any dreams of playing for the Steelers long before the draft.

Though Donald still has plenty of love for his hometown -- he trains there in the offseason and opened a restaurant "AD's Pittsburgh Cafe" earlier in the year -- he's doing just fine in his new home.

"You never know what's going to happen in the draft," Donald said. "You just wait until your name gets called and then things happen. Everything happens for a reason. I'm happy I’m here."

 

[RamBill]

Big Ben: Steelers will keep going for 2

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan breaks down why the Steelers have been so successful with two-point conversions this season.

Watch Caplan Talk Steelers 2 Pt. Conversions

 

[Rmfnlt]

“He’s very, very thorough up front," Fisher said. "You can just watch three or four plays of their offensive line and say to yourself, ‘That’s a Mike Munchak coached offensive line.’ They’re very sound. They’re very aggressive. They’re very patient. They finish. They rarely make mistakes."

Fisher said Munchak has a knack for deciphering ways to slow down opposing star defensive linemen. Which means that he and his staff will have to be on top of things when putting together this week's game plan.

"Mike’s really good -- and what we have to adjust to is -- Mike’s really good at taking special defensive players away, especially if you have rushers," Fisher said.

So, considering how Fisher is lathering Munchak with praise, why do I see this?

After Tennessee fired him in 2013, Munchak latched on with the Pittsburgh Steelers, returning to his roots as the offensive line coach. Fisher said Tuesday he didn't consider finding a role for Munchak with the Rams after he came available.

 

[BriansRams]

When we're on, I think we can beat any damn team they put in our way. I just hope we're on more often than off for the remainder of the season.

I really hope you earn yourself a $100 this Sunday!!! Over the years, I've heard people say something similar to what you said. But then when I think of a pro football team who does nothing day and night but practice, workout and prepare mentally and physically, I often wonder why they can't be "on" every week.

So can I ask you something about what you sai?
Can you describe or explain your definition of us being "on?"
And also just as important, what do you feel causes the Rams to ever be "off?"

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Ky Ram]

I really hope you earn yourself a $100 this Sunday!!! Over the years, I've heard people say something similar to what you said. But then when I think of a pro football team who does nothing day and night but practice, workout and prepare mentally and physically, I often wonder why they can't be "on" every week.

So can I ask you something about what you sai?
Can you describe or explain your definition of us being "on?"
And also just as important, what do you feel causes the Rams to ever be "off?"

Thanks,
Brian

For me on is all about preparation and execution. Making the throws, catches, tackles, stops from the very beginning. For the Seahawks game it took the offense a few series to get there, but the D was on from the beginning. Once we were "on" then it didn't matter what the other team did, we did what we wanted to regardless.
When we're off I honestly think organizationally we tend to think we're good enough to win on talent alone. Williams doesn't change his scheme because he thinks we have the talent to overcome the other teams gameplan. I think we could see that pretty clearly in Washington. Even though Cignetti attempted to make some adjustments, he abandoned the run so early on we never could get into it to a degree it had to be respected. That's just off from my perspective.
Hope that helps