Behind Enemy Lines - St Louis Rams

[Zod]

The Panthers host the St Louis Rams on Sunday in what could be a turning point in the season. Getting the team to 500 with the prospect of playing a struggling Tampa Bay team next week should have the players and coaches excited.

 

We could be one week away from the first winning record in over 3 seasons.

 

But before we get ahead of ourselves, there are the Rams. Here are the story lines from St Louis...

 

Quintin Mikell had a conference call with St Louis reporters....From St Louis Today

 

 

As for facing his former coaches and teammates in the Rams, Mikell concedes: “Obviously, whenever you get to go against your former team, it’s always so good. And you get excited to show ’em what you still have. So I definitely am motivated. Not more than any other week, but it’s just a different type of motivation this week.

 

Mikell spent the last two seasons with the Rams and was let go solely for salary cap reasons. The team and coaches concede he is still a good player.

 

 

"He’s helping their defense,” Fisher said Wednesday.

"He’s still playing at a pretty high level,” quarterback Sam Bradford added.

 

Mikell has familiarity with Sam Bradford and the Rams offense and should be a big asset to the Panthers this week. Panthers Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott and Mikell have a longer history, dating back to Philadelphia. I think it is a safe bet that Mikell had been in Sean's ear all week long.

 

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The Rams are excited about rookie linebacker Alec Ogletree

 

 

“He’s running sideline to sideline, and he’s making a lot of plays for us,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “I think his interception on Sunday was evidence he’s preparing, studying.”

Ogletree, 22, leads the team in tackles (46) and forced fumbles (three).

 

Ogletree was the 30th pick in the 2013 draft. While the former Bulldog has shown some promise, his PFF scores are up and down. Playing against TJ Yates has given him some confidence, but facing Cam Newton is a different matter.

 

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With the St Louis Cardinals leading the NLCS against the Dodgers 3-2, I am really not all too sure that the Rams are on the radar under the great arch. Decent local stories are few and far between featuring the Rams.

 

Can't say that I blame them, I can remember how exciting it is to have a professional sports playoff team. Would be nice, wouldn't it?

[thunderraiden]

No Zod. You cannot acknowledge the talent on our team and the prospect of us winning because Ron. Regardless if you acknowledge it all hinges on Rivera.

At least according to the huddle.

[SpeedOFLight]

This will be an interesting game. We have the change to get to .500 with Tampa coming up on thursday. I want to see this team come out motiviated and execute the plays that we need. If our Offense shows up, I believe that we will win by two scores. No more Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde anymore. It is time to make that run.

[Gucci Mane]

Shula needs to get the ground game going early.. No more opening drives with 3 passes out of shotgun.

[CRA]

Shula needs to get the ground game going early.. No more opening drives with 3 passes out of shotgun.

Why? 

 

Those are the only drives we have opened games up with points.

[TheRumGone]

This is going to be a tough game and it scares me. The rams have a legit D regardless of their stats. And the dink and dunk O is our weakness. I think it's gonna be close. And that scares me even more. If we can squeek out a win. The rest of the season looks bright.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Gotta be a sense of urgency .500, one third (officially 3/8 for the nitpickers) of the way through the season is far better than being 2 games under .500.  

 

I think our guys will be focused.  The ones that need to be focused are the coaches.   Our players are ready to explode.  Rivera,Shula and McDermott need to be ready to make adjustments and stay in the game if things aren't going as originally planned.

 

If you noticed our two wins have come when the game plan we started with was the one we finished with.  

 

This season will be won or lost by our coaches.  Not so much the players.

[CRA]

This is going to be a tough game and it scares me. The rams have a legit D regardless of their stats. And the dink and dunk O is our weakness. I think it's gonna be close. And that scares me even more. If we can squeek out a win. The rest of the season looks bright.

yep, Buffalo, St. Louis and NE are the toughest matchups for our D IMO.  

 

Rams D stinks.  If we can run and stay out of 3rd and long....I don't think they can stop our O.  Our offense gets in trouble when we get behind in the chains.  Consistent 3rd and longs vs a team that can bring pressure has been a problem every year

[CRA]

Gotta be a sense of urgency .500, one third (officially 3/8 for the nitpickers) of the way through the season is far better than being 2 games under .500.  

 

I think our guys will be focused.  The ones that need to be focused are the coaches.   Our players are ready to explode.  Rivera,Shula and McDermott need to be ready to make adjustments and stay in the game if things aren't going as originally planned.

 

If you noticed our two wins have come when the game plan we started with was the one we finished with.  

 

This season will be won or lost by our coaches.  Not so much the players.

 I think our losses to date have been more on players than coaches.

 

AZ for example, great gameplan early players didn't execute....so let's say the coaches change late and come up with something else that works. Wildcard is still players there.

 

Gameplan was also strong against Seattle.  Good defensively and offensively.  Players needed to step up....coaches had them in good position.

[Zod]

Why? 

 

Those are the only drives we have opened games up with points.

 

Good point.

[DaveThePanther2008]

 I think our losses to date have been more on players than coaches.

 

AZ for example, great gameplan early players didn't execute....so let's say the coaches change late and come up with something else that works. Wildcard is still players there.

 

Gameplan was also strong against Seattle.  Good defensively and offensively.  Players needed to step up....coaches had them in good position.

 

Seattle game was player error for the most part. I would agree to that. 

 

Buffalo was a mess.  And after Arizona made half time adjustments we lost the game.  We had no answer and no reply to Arizona.  That is on the coaches.

[CRA]

Seattle game was player error for the most part. I would agree to that. 

 

Buffalo was a mess.  And after Arizona made half time adjustments we lost the game.  We had no answer and no reply to Arizona.  That is on the coaches.

 

But again with AZ...coaches had a great gameplan to open offensively and defensively....players didn't execute.  We should of been up.  Coaches could of adjusted in the 2nd half more, but the players had already been proven to be a wildcard that couldn't even do gimmie stuff when put in easy scenarios.  It should of been one of those games we rolled and played from a huge lead.

 

Buffalo is the only game I put on coaches.   1 loss coaches, 2 losses players IMO.  Coaching hasn't been as bad as some have advertised IMO.  There has been a lot of slop our players have done when put in good position this year to win games

[rayzor]

But again with AZ...coaches had a great gameplan to open offensively and defensively....players didn't execute.  We should of been up.  Coaches could of adjusted in the 2nd half more, but the players had already been proven to be a wildcard that couldn't even do gimmie stuff when put in easy scenarios.  It should of been one of those games we rolled and played from a huge lead.

 

Buffalo is the only game I put on coaches.   1 loss coaches, 2 losses players IMO.  Coaching hasn't been as bad as some have advertised IMO.  There has been a lot of slop our players have done when put in good position this year to win games

i think the cards was on the players and coaches equally. nobody gets off the hook that game. the cards adjusted, but we failed to adjust to their adjustments and the players just started playing like poo.

[TheRed]

Why? 

 

Those are the only drives we have opened games up with points.

 

I'm fine with the shotgun as long as we don't run out of it every damn time. That is infuriating.