Setting up the vikes game…multimedia

Here comes AP: Vikings RB poses huge threat to Rams
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/here-comes-ap-vikings-rb-poses-huge-threat-to-rams/article_2e12a954-d2cb-5d0c-9a0b-26ce8a5733bb.html

The last time Adrian Peterson visited the Gateway to the West, he was totally shut down in the first quarter at the Edward Jones Dome.

Five of his first eight carries that day went for negative yardage. Entering the second quarter, he had eight yards to show for those eight carries. The Rams’ defense was all over him, physically and verbally.

“I think that’s the first time in eight years I’ve ever talked noise to players,” Peterson said on a conference call Wednesday with St. Louis reporters. “Those guys had me so hot — I haven’t ever been that mad playing football.

“They were yapping at the mouth. I’m talking about from the defensive front, to the second level, to the secondary. Those guys were just yapping and they were doing pretty good initially.

“And then when I gutted them that one time, it got real quiet. … I hope they come in talking a lot of noise this time, too.”

Peterson gutted them to the tune of an 82-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Not only did it break a 7-7 tie, it broke the Rams’ backs, starting a run of 26 unanswered points for the Vikings, who went on to win 36-22 in 2012.

By day’s end, Peterson had 212 yards rushing — his last carry of the day went for 52 — en route to a 2,097-yard season, the second-highest season total in NFL history.

The mid-December loss ended any hopes of a playoff berth in Jeff Fisher’s inaugural Rams season; the team had been flirting with wild-card status at the time.

Even though the Vikings were playing it ultra-conservative at the time with quarterback Christian Ponder, de facto Rams defensive coordinator Blake Williams called a blitz on the play — a strange call on a 1st-and-10 from the Vikings’ 18.

Williams, the son of current defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, was not retained at the end of the season. At the Senior Bowl five weeks later, Blake told the Post-Dispatch that he thought that call may have led to his dismissal.

“We were in the wrong defense, obviously, ” Fisher said after that game. “We were expecting pass … and so I think as coaches we have to take that.”

Exactly why the Rams were expecting pass remains a mystery because the Vikings were the league’s 32nd-ranked pass offense at the time.

In any event, the Rams sent safety Quintin Mikell and linebacker Rocky McIntosh in from their right on a blitz. Compounding matters was the fact that defensive tackle Kendall Langford dropped off the line into coverage. All of that left Peterson with a huge hole once he reached the line of scrimmage — and he knew what to do with it.

But back to the chirping. Did Peterson’s run quiet the Rams?

“I guess that’s his opinion,” linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar said. “That’s all right. Maybe we got quiet; maybe we didn’t.”

“Well, you know, when you take the ball 82 yards to the house, there’s not much to say after that,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said.

So Laurinaitis was impressed with the play?

“There’s a lot of plays that Adrian has that I’m impressed with,” Laurinaitis replied.

There’s no doubting that. In the Rams’ defensive team meeting Wednesday, Gregg Williams told the players they were facing the best back in football in Sunday’s season opener at the Edward Jones Dome.

Defensive end Chris Long explained why.

“He doesn’t avoid contact, and if you’re a DB, he’s gonna find out if you like to hit people or not,” Long said. “And he’s gonna figure out who wants to tackle.”

Coupled with that punishing style is excellent vision and tremendous open-field acceleration.

“There’s some great backs just as good as him in the tackle box,” Long said. “But when he gets in the second level and when you let him out into the back end of your defense, he’s the best. And that’s what separates him.”

So for all the hype about the Rams’ pass rush and the #SackCity nickname, Sunday’s game figures to be more a test of how well the Rams play run defense.

Can they neutralize Peterson?

“That’s the only way you can give yourself a chance to win the game,” Dunbar said. “Neutralize him, which is easier said than done. We know the type of challenge that he brings. We know his attitude, and the running style. He can change the game obviously.”

Peterson comes to the dome with fresh legs.

As has been the case in recent years, he didn’t play at all in the entire preseason. He hasn’t carried the football once in exhibition play since 2011.

In fact, his only exhibition action over the past three years was two snaps in Game 3 against San Francisco. (He was a decoy on a pair of play-action passes.)

Peterson spent his game nights this August chewing sunflower seeds — Ranch flavor — on the sideline.

“Two bags, man,” Peterson said. “I try to not have a dip in (of tobacco), so I constantly have to have the seeds in the mouth.”

Peterson, who turned 29 in March, is closing in on 30 — the age when many running backs fall off the cliff in terms of production. His yards per carry dropped from 6.0 during his superhuman 2012 season to a still very respectable 4.5 last season.

After the 2,000-yard campaign, he rushed for “only” 1,266 yards last season, missing 2 ½ games late in the year with groin and foot injuries. Peterson underwent offseason groin surgery, but says he’s fully healthy.

Healthy and ready to quiet the dome Sunday afternoon. Not that the Rams’ defense is going to change its tune.

“No,” Langford said. “We’re going to be us. We will keep talking. We’re gonna hit, we’re gonna stick, we’re gonna talk (stuff).”
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Rams opener • Noon Sunday vs. Minnesota

TV • KTVI (Ch. 2)

Rams have hands full with Adrian Peterson
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11309/rams-have-hands-full-with-peterson

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis winces at its mention. The it in this case being the 82-yard lightning bolt of a touchdown run Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson delivered in his team’s win against the Rams in a 2012 meeting.

That was the last time the Rams and Vikings met, a 36-22 Minnesota win in which Peterson was held to 8 yards on his first eight carries before ripping off the long touchdown run that essentially buried the Rams.

“I remember that 82-yard run that Adrian had,” Laurinaitis said. “I thought we came out, played solid the first quarter and then bam, he hits that. You can shut him down, shut him down, shut him down but really any play he can take it to the house.”

The play was one of the most memorable of that season for all the wrong reasons. While nobody will really say it now, it was also the play that shined a negative light on then linebackers coach/de facto defensive coordinator Blake Williams.

On first-and-10 from Minnesota’s 18, Williams called for an odd zone blitz in which defensive tackle Kendall Langford faked toward the line of scrimmage then dropped back into coverage. Peterson burst through the spot Langford vacated, juked right, jumped back left, turned the speed to a higher gear, made safety Craig Dahl miss and raced the rest of the way for the touchdown.

Peterson’s big play not only gave Minnesota a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish but quieted a Rams defense that had spent most of the first quarter barking at him. He finished with 212 yards on 24 carries, including a 52-yard run later in the game.

“What I do remember about that game is that it’s first time in eight years, I’ve ever talked off to players,” Peterson said. “Those guys had me so hot; like, I haven’t ever been that mad playing football. Those guys were just running to the ball — I love it, too — but (they) were just yapping at the mouth. I’m talking about from the defensive front to the second level to the secondary. Those guys were just yapping and they were doing pretty good initially, kind of getting a couple tackles for loss, a couple of three-and-outs.

“Then when I gummed at them one time, it got real quiet.”

It’s become pretty common to see plenty of chirping from the Rams under coach Jeff Fisher. That part of it probably won’t change Sunday when the teams renew acquaintances. But there are plenty of things that have since that meeting.

While much of the personnel on the Rams defense is similar, most of it is far more experienced than it was at the time. Minnesota has a similar look on its offensive line but much more in the way of weapons to complement Peterson.

Most important, the Rams have a different, more experienced Williams guiding the defense. Gregg Williams, Blake’s father and the man who was supposed to be the defensive coordinator for that 2012 game is finally settled in that role.

“We’ve got a lot of the same guys here, but we’ve got a different approach and a different game plan to this,” Fisher said. “Realistically speaking you can’t shut him down. It’s hard to find a game where he’s (struggled) unless the team got real behind fast where you’ve taken him out and neutralized him. He’s a very talented player.”

Peterson will provide the toughest of tests for a defense which finished ninth in the league against the run 2013 but had games where it was nothing but a speed bump for the likes of Dallas’ DeMarco Murray and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson.

While the Rams should be better equipped to slow Peterson this time around, they also should be prepared for some new wrinkles. Minnesota offensive coordinator Norv Turner has brought his own ideas to the offense and has Peterson prepared to be more involved than ever after sitting out the preseason.

A short survey of Rams defenders on the best way to slow Peterson reveals that the first piece of the puzzle is understanding that he can’t be completely stopped. Second, each defender talks about swarming to the ball to prevent him from getting to the second level so that his long runs are limited to 12 to 15 yards rather than 70 to 80.

“He’s going to figure out who wants to tackle,” end Chris Long said. “I think when he gets in the second level and you let him out in the back end of your defense he’s the best. That’s what separates him is his ability to break a run. He’s not just going to chip away at you. He’s going to chip away at you and then you could have them pinned down on the 7-yard line and he’s going to go for 93 yards and a score so that’s what I think makes him one of the best.”

Rams report: Team, coaches are ready for Minnesota on Sunday
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/rams-report-team-coaches-are-ready-for-minnesota-on-sunday/article_20514e66-09be-5400-a2f7-badff72690aa.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The Rams wrapped up practice Friday afternoon so now all that stands between them and the start of the NFL season is the Saturday’s walk-through.

The Rams host the Minnesota Vikings Sunday in a noon game at the Edward Jones Dome.

“We’ve got to fine-tune some things tomorrow,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “As a staff, we go through our thoughts regarding openers and things like that.

“We’ve had some really good practices in the heat and they’ve pushed right through it and they’ve pushed each other right through it. Their attention level is very high in the meetings, and they’re doing all the right things. They respect the opponent, they understand the challenges and they know it’s going to be a hard-fought game, that’s how openers are.

“The challenge to them is to get to know an uncommon opponent and that’s what we’ve challenged them to do this week.”

INJURY REPORT

Defensive end Eugene Sims (knee) was limited in practice Friday and listed as questionable (50-50) for Sunday’s game. The others listed by the Rams _ tackle Jake Long (knee), linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder) and defensive end William Hayes (chest) were full participants for the second straight day and are probable for the season opener.

Also listed as probable is safety Maurice Alexander (Eureka High), who missed Friday’s workout with an excused absence.

As expected, cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) and C Barrett Jones (back) have been ruled out. They’re both weeks away from rejoining the team on the practice field.

Minnesota has ruled out linebackers Brandon Watts (knee) and Michael Mauti (foot) as well as fullback Zach Line (ankle).

Listed on the unofficial depth chart as a starter at right defensive end, Everson Griffen has been ill and did not practice Thursday or Friday. He is listed as questionable along with tackle Mike Harris (shoulder), who has been limited at practice.

Cornerback Jabari Price (shoulder) and wide receiver Rodney Smith (neck) have practiced all week and are probable.

RAM-BLINGS

Voted on by the players, the Rams have named their captains for the upcoming season _ Linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Chris Long, quarterback Shaun Hill and punter Johnny Hekker.

• The Rams made another practice squad move, adding Mike Remmers, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman, and waiving tackle Sean Hooey.

Remmers, a 25-year-old from Portland, walked on at Oregon State and ended up starting 44 games for the Beavers. He signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2012 but spent the majority of that season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad.

He was claimed off the Buccaneers’ practice squad by San Diego in Oct. 2013 and made his NFL debut with the Chargers on Oct. 20, 2013. He was cut by San Diego in November and claimed on waivers by the Minnesota Vikings.

He was in camp, cut and placed on the practice squad by the Vikings before being released and claimed off waivers by the Rams.

The same Vikings the Rams play on Sunday.

“We didn’t bring him in for that reason. We brought him because we feel like he has some ability,” Fisher said. “He’s bounced around, played with some teams, but we watched him play in some preseason games and he looks like he has something to work with.”

Hooey, a 6-9, 304-pounder from the University of Cincinnati, signed as an undrafted free agent in May of 2013 and spent last year on the Rams’ practice squad.

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher joined Zig Fracassi & Pat Kirwan & talked about his QB situation, the impact of rookie Aaron Donald and preparing to face Adrian Peterson.

http://www.rams-news.com/jeff-fisher-has-confidence-in-shaun-hill-and-concerns-about-adrian-peterson/

W2W4: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11355/w2w4-st-louis-rams-5

EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings kick off the regular season Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on regional Fox coverage.

Here are three things to watch for from the Rams’ end:

1. How’s Hill?: Rams quarterback Shaun Hill started the preseason opener against New Orleans but hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2010, or a season-opener since he was with the San Francisco 49ers in 2009. Despite whatever rustiness he’ll have to deal with, Hill will not be set up for failure in this offense. The Rams were always going to be a run-first offense and that won’t change with Hill in charge. What Hill will be asked to do is take advantage of the opportunities that the run game might open for the pass, pushing the ball down the field on play-action. While he’s not known for his arm strength, Hill does have the ability to get the ball down the field. More importantly, the Rams need Hill to manage the game and take care of the ball. If he can do those two things, the Rams should have enough success running and on defense to be in position to open the season with a victory.

2. On the corner: The Rams have one of the youngest secondaries in the league and it’s actually possible the starting group will be even younger than originally projected when kickoff arrives Sunday. That’s especially true at cornerback, where third-year player Janoris Jenkins is penciled in at one spot. But the Rams could turn to rookies at the spot opposite Jenkins and in the nickel as Trumaine Johnson sits with a knee injury. Lamarcus Joyner is set as the team’s primary nickel corner, the role the team drafted him to play back in May. Sixth-round rookie E.J. Gaines and second-year corner Brandon McGee are the top options for the job, with McGee listed as Johnson’s backup on the unofficial depth chart. Gaines showed well in the preseason and McGee battled an ankle injury, which could make Gaines the better and more logical fit. But it’s asking a lot of any rookie, especially a sixth-rounder, to deal with the likes of Vikings receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson in his first NFL game.

3. Containing Peterson: This almost goes without saying anytime the Vikings are the opponent, but as running back Adrian Peterson goes, so goes Minnesota. Peterson apparently still harbors some ill feelings toward the Rams from a 2012 meeting between the teams when Peterson didn’t like the amount of trash talk the Rams offered early in that game. Peterson went on to rush for 212 yards and a touchdown and went so far as to predict a touchdown run on his first carry in Sunday’s game. Whether or not Peterson is able to call his shot remains to be seen, but the Rams have no pretension of believing they can shut down Peterson. Instead, they’ll look to slow him down enough to make him earn every yard. If he gets to 100 yards or so, the Rams will be fine with it as long as it comes on 23-plus carries.

Rams-Vikings: Seven for Sunday
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-vikings-seven-for-sunday/article_c4f193b3-baba-5e5e-883f-896d7411f5ae.html

Over the years QB Shaun Hill has gone 4-0 against the Rams, posting passer ratings of 100-plus in three of those contests. So after watching him win games against them, the Rams now want him to win games for them. But there is lots of uncertainty. After throwing only 16 passes the past three seasons for Detroit, can Hill adjust quickly to regular-season game speed? And it’s not like we saw a lot of him in the preseason — he had his moments but threw only 17 times, the fewest of any of the four QBs in camp.

DEFENDING AP

Although the running styles are different, Adrian Peterson has similarities to a pair of the all-time greats. As was the case with Barry Sanders, you can absolutely stop Peterson for a quarter, a half, five carries, 10 carries — but then he’ll rip off a long game-changing run. It takes an all-day commitment of swarming to the football against him. And like the late, great Walter Payton, Peterson initiates contact — he doesn’t run away from it. If your heart isn’t into tackling, Peterson will tear the heart out of your defense.

MORE THAN AP

Don’t expect the same ultra-conservative Minnesota offensive approach that played out at the Dome two years ago. Not with Norv Turner calling plays. Not with Cordarelle Patterson and Greg Jennings at wide receiver. Not with Kyle Rudolph at tight end. The Vikings will test the Rams defense on every level. And Turner remains one of the league’s better play-callers. Patterson has deep speed and also is used on gadget plays carrying the football. Beware of Rudolph; Turner always likes to get his tight ends involved.

STORMING THE CASSELL

If Peterson’s running puts the Vikings in a lot of second-and-short, third-and-short situations, the Rams won’t have much of a chance to unleash #SackCity, their heralded pass rush. And if the Vikings can keep the Rams and Gregg Williams guessing, Matt Cassell has enough skill to do some damage. “Matt’s a smart, veteran quarterback,” Rams LB James Laurinaitis said. “And he’s been throwing the ball really well in preseason.” Cassell is more than a pocket passer, he can scramble effectively.

KICKOFF ALERT

What Patterson does best is return kickoffs. As a rookie, Patterson set franchise records for kickoff return yards (1,393) and kickoff return average (32.4 yards). He took two of those returns to the house, including an NFL record 109-yard return for a TD last October against Green Bay. Couple that with the fact that the Rams’ kickoff return unit sprung some leaks in the preseason — opponents averaged 27.3 yards per return — and there is cause for concern for special teams coordinator John Fassel’s crew.

MINNY UP FRONT

For years when facing the Vikings defense, you were used to seeing Jared Allen wreaking havoc on the edge and the Williams Wall — the unrelated Pat and Kevin Williams — in the middle at tackle. Well, they’re all gone now. Three of Minnesota’s four starters up front are new, as are all four backups. It’s a young group with good potential, but it’s an inexperienced unit. The Vikings will move rookie LB Anthony Barr up front in passing situations and pair him with Allen’s successor, Everson Griffin, at DE.

SECONDARY CONCERNS?

The Vikings finished 31st in pass defense a year ago and still have what a couple weak spots on the back end. No. 3 corner Josh Robinson struggled with penalties and injury a year ago as a starter but now comes off the bench in the nickel. He plays outside, with starter Captain Munnerlyn — the former Carolina Panther — sliding inside to cover the slot. And at strong safety, Robert Blanton has claimed the job almost by default and missed time in camp with a hamstring injury. He has only three career starts.