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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_7c9e2fbc-00c3-5786-a34e-337df8777e23.html
By Jim Thomas
ZAC ATTACK
Since Zac Stacy stepped into the starting lineup for Game 5, against Jacksonville, only Eddie Lacy has rushed for more yards in the NFL. Stacy has 471 yards over that span; Lacy, also a rookie, has 545 yards. It has reached the point that the Rams now can expect opponents to game-plan specifically for Stacy. “He reminds me of Stump Mitchell,” Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. “Remember Stump Mitchell back in the day? Big legs. Arizona (and St. Louis). He reminds me of that type of back.”
IT CAME TO PASS
If you put the truth serum into the Indianapolis defensive coaches, they’d tell you the game plan is to stuff Zac Stacy and the Rams’ running game. In short, make QB Kellen Clemens beat them. That’s especially true because the secondary has been one of Indy’s strengths all season. But Texans QB Case Keenum torched them for 350 yards passing last week. Starting left corner Greg Toler (groin) is out, so look for the Rams to target his replacement, Cassius Vaughn, who has been known to give up big plays.
RICHARDSON ...
Colts RB Trent Richardson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but the former first-round pick by Cleveland undoubtedly will do everything possible to get on the field against the Rams’ run defense, which has been a get-well card for many a runner this season. Richardson is averaging only 3.0 yards per carry in his six games since being traded from the Browns to Indy, and hasn’t gained more than 60 yards in any game as a Colt. Will he have his Colts breakout game Sunday against the Rams?
... AND BROWN
While Richardson is a tough, between-the-tackles type, Donald Brown is more of the long-ball threat. Or as LB James Laurinaitis puts it: “They’re so different in their style. One will try to pound it inside; the other one will try to get your feet stopped and bounce it outside.” Brown gets only about six carries a game, but he’s averaging 6.3 yards per tote with runs of 50, 24, and 16 (twice). The Colts have done an excellent job of adjusting to the loss of Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard to season-ending injuries.
SACK MASTERS
The AFC’s leader in sacks, Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis (11½), and NFC leader Robert Quinn of the Rams (10) will be on the same field Sunday. Mathis’ sack total matches his career high just eight games into the season. Rams TE Mike McNeill, who went against Mathis every day in practice as a Colt in 2011, says: “Just when you think he’s gonna try to run by you, he’ll bull-rush you. He’s got a little bit of everything.” The same’s true for Quinn, who needs just one sack to establish a career high.
AT THE HILTON
With one of the game’s elite receivers, Reggie Wayne, out for the year because of a knee injury, QB Andrew Luck’s new best friend is T.Y. Hilton. To wit, Hilton caught seven passes for 121 yards and three TDs last week against Houston — the Colts’ first game without Wayne. Hilton is a mere 5-9, 178 pounds, but has eight 100-yard games in his 23-game NFL career. He’s a deep threat that the Rams must keep in front of them. The best move would be shadowing Hilton with Janoris Jenkins, with safety help over the top.
THE SERIES
In the 2012 preseason opener, rookie Andrew Luck’s first pass went for 63 yards and a TD against the Rams on a screen to Donald Brown. “That was my man,” James Laurinaitis said, sarcastically thanking a reporter for bringing up the topic. In regular-season play, this is only the fifth time the Rams have met the Colts since the move to St. Louis, with Indy winning three of the prior four. On the Rams’ last regular-season trip to Indianapolis, in 2005, the Colts still called the RCA Dome home.
By Jim Thomas
ZAC ATTACK
Since Zac Stacy stepped into the starting lineup for Game 5, against Jacksonville, only Eddie Lacy has rushed for more yards in the NFL. Stacy has 471 yards over that span; Lacy, also a rookie, has 545 yards. It has reached the point that the Rams now can expect opponents to game-plan specifically for Stacy. “He reminds me of Stump Mitchell,” Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. “Remember Stump Mitchell back in the day? Big legs. Arizona (and St. Louis). He reminds me of that type of back.”
IT CAME TO PASS
If you put the truth serum into the Indianapolis defensive coaches, they’d tell you the game plan is to stuff Zac Stacy and the Rams’ running game. In short, make QB Kellen Clemens beat them. That’s especially true because the secondary has been one of Indy’s strengths all season. But Texans QB Case Keenum torched them for 350 yards passing last week. Starting left corner Greg Toler (groin) is out, so look for the Rams to target his replacement, Cassius Vaughn, who has been known to give up big plays.
RICHARDSON ...
Colts RB Trent Richardson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but the former first-round pick by Cleveland undoubtedly will do everything possible to get on the field against the Rams’ run defense, which has been a get-well card for many a runner this season. Richardson is averaging only 3.0 yards per carry in his six games since being traded from the Browns to Indy, and hasn’t gained more than 60 yards in any game as a Colt. Will he have his Colts breakout game Sunday against the Rams?
... AND BROWN
While Richardson is a tough, between-the-tackles type, Donald Brown is more of the long-ball threat. Or as LB James Laurinaitis puts it: “They’re so different in their style. One will try to pound it inside; the other one will try to get your feet stopped and bounce it outside.” Brown gets only about six carries a game, but he’s averaging 6.3 yards per tote with runs of 50, 24, and 16 (twice). The Colts have done an excellent job of adjusting to the loss of Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard to season-ending injuries.
SACK MASTERS
The AFC’s leader in sacks, Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis (11½), and NFC leader Robert Quinn of the Rams (10) will be on the same field Sunday. Mathis’ sack total matches his career high just eight games into the season. Rams TE Mike McNeill, who went against Mathis every day in practice as a Colt in 2011, says: “Just when you think he’s gonna try to run by you, he’ll bull-rush you. He’s got a little bit of everything.” The same’s true for Quinn, who needs just one sack to establish a career high.
AT THE HILTON
With one of the game’s elite receivers, Reggie Wayne, out for the year because of a knee injury, QB Andrew Luck’s new best friend is T.Y. Hilton. To wit, Hilton caught seven passes for 121 yards and three TDs last week against Houston — the Colts’ first game without Wayne. Hilton is a mere 5-9, 178 pounds, but has eight 100-yard games in his 23-game NFL career. He’s a deep threat that the Rams must keep in front of them. The best move would be shadowing Hilton with Janoris Jenkins, with safety help over the top.
THE SERIES
In the 2012 preseason opener, rookie Andrew Luck’s first pass went for 63 yards and a TD against the Rams on a screen to Donald Brown. “That was my man,” James Laurinaitis said, sarcastically thanking a reporter for bringing up the topic. In regular-season play, this is only the fifth time the Rams have met the Colts since the move to St. Louis, with Indy winning three of the prior four. On the Rams’ last regular-season trip to Indianapolis, in 2005, the Colts still called the RCA Dome home.
