And turning to the Vikes game

Vikes were 31st on defense last year and have a new DC – George Edwards, though Zimmer (first time head coach) is a defensive guy and has done well in the league.

This summer, they were 10th on defense (just in the preseason of course). (Rams were 13th).

No real point. Just adding info.

The Rams will turn on their pass rush in this game and help offset the speed of that WR corps. I am worried about Peterson, too, due to the injuries in the center of this defense. We will also miss Tru at CB. I do expect the Vikes to put up some numbers. On offense, the Rams will do well to try to control the clock. Yes, they’ll run some, but I think what makes me like Hill better than Clemens is that he’ll be able to burn defenses a little deeper. He looked efficient with the 1s when given the opportunity in preseason, and I expect some big plays out of the Rams’ receivers. Quick has to show up, for sure. I really feel like if Hill gets protection (I’m looking at you, Long), he’ll make some hay in the intermediate passing game.

I do expect a close game. Should be a nail biter.

Don’t sleep on the the Vike’s TE’s a bigger part of their game now with Norv Turner. As Snow has mentioned all indications are they are looking past us to the Pats. They think the only chance Rams had went down with Bradford. I see the Rams making Bridgewater the starter in the 1st quarter. Our DL is going to unleash on them

Wagoner: Kalil is in for one of the most difficult challenges he’ll face in this league. Quinn had 19 sacks and seven forced fumbles last year, but there are those at Rams Park who believe he’s only scratched the surface of his potential. Quinn has freakish athleticism, which allows him to bend and contort his body in ways most tackles never see while maintaining his speed. He is able to win around the edge more often than not, but he’s also developed better hand usage and counters over the past couple of years under the guidance of defensive line coach Mike Waufle.

Kalil v. Quinn.

That will be worth a glance or 2.

my only hope is that time has caught up to adrian peterson.

he’s sitting at 2000 carries right now. right about the time nfl running backs start breaking down.

he’s 29 years old which is old for a running back. if he’s lucky, he’s got one solid season left in him. but i’m not sure we gotta worry about a 200 yard game from him.

i hope.

Eternal Ramnation wrote:

One known factor is for all the talk of Hill’s arm strength which has been described as questionable, Matt Cassel has the weakest arm of any
starting QB in the NFL.

This is getting into the minutia, but I wouldn’t call Hill’s arm strength questionable. I suppose it depends on what you mean. Clearly Bradford has a great arm plus a pretty quick release and could accurately throw both 20 yard lasers and low trajectory long balls with accuracy. That’s not Hill. Hill relies more on quick decision making…which is probably his greatest strength.

Still Hill has more arm strength than others we’ve seen, like Clemens, Feeley, and Jamie Martin.

And as you say, more than Cassel.

Actually I wonder if Hill’s arm is about the same as Brady’s. One or 2 tiers down from the likes of Bradford.

Winnbrad wrote:

Fewer penalties, fewer turnovers.

Pick apart the vikes secondary. Britt and Quick should have good days.

Cassel is the weak link. Patterson and Jennings could hurt us, but they depend on Cassel, and he’s the weak link.

Stop Peterson. Their whole offense revolves around him.

Cassel is an interesting player. He had
one really good year and the rest have
been just ‘decent’.

I love it when the Rams play
a team with a non-mobile-QB.

Cassel is an ok QB, but if they cant beat the
Vikes at home…well…
————

TD–INT 93-66
Passing yards 15,302
Passer rating 80.5
—

Pro Bowl (2010)
AFC Champion (2007)
VIZIO Top Value Performer (2008)
2× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (2008)
Back to back 400-yard games (2008)
USA Today All-Joe team (2008)
AFC Offensive Player of the Month (November 2010)
FedEx Air Player of the Week (Week 15–2013)
————–
played college football for the University of Southern California (USC),
and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Cassel
===============

w
v

• This reply was modified 10 years, 3 months ago by wv.
• This reply was modified 10 years, 3 months ago by wv.

I want to win the line of scrimmage.

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:

1. a Win
2. Tavon Austin with some big plays
3. Shaun Hill with an efficient game and a good day passing the ball.
4. Productive running game.
5. Good run defense
6. Great Pass rush from Quinn and Company.
7. Defense get some turn overs.
8. Brian Quick have some big plays.
9. Kenny Britt have a productive day with some big plays.
10. etc., etc., etc.

Grits

Pretty good list.

I would take 5 out of 10 as long as #1 (a win) occurs.

One thing, I will be watching for how long it takes the OL to cohere. If Fisher has one big flaw, IMO, he overestimates some players. I think he thinks that with Boudreau, and with a line full of vets (Barksdale is the youngest), they can just manufacture it coming out the gate. I don’t know about that, but, they WILL cohere sooner or later. Boudreau has done okay with far worse than what he has now. So I will be keeping an eye out for that.

I wanna see ram defenders
launch themselves into Joe Kapp’s
groin,
when he tries to hurdle them
on third and long.

w
v

Winnbrad wrote:

zn wrote:
Hill relies more on quick decision making…which is probably his greatest strength.

Not to start a board war (ha!), but I think this is a strength Hill has over Bradford. I’m thrilled to think Hill will get rid of the ball faster. I always feel a sense of dread when Bradford hangs in the pocket and looks indecisive. He’s not an improviser.

Hill should be able to find open receivers. Seriously. The Vikes secondary is bad. It may be better than last year, but that is a very low bar.

Okay so you wanted a board war, and here it comes.

Remember, you wanted this.

I would say that if Bradford could learn anything from watching Hill, it’s precisely that–rapid decision making. You’re right, he’s no improviser. Though he can turn it up a notch in crunch-time circumstances, which is why he was so good inside the redzone. Doesn’t make him an improviser…I suspect they practiced redzone a lot.

In terms of seeing more and acting more quickly on it? I think he was learning that, actually. If the pre-season is any indication.

This game is a battle between 2 teams, each stuck for years in mediocrity, each looking to break out into competitiveness in tough divisions. Each team–or at least its fans–looks at this as a “winnable” game, a chance to start the season off well. Whichever team loses will feel it has taken a serious hit to its season’s aspirations.

I dunno.

We have a settled HC, but a new DC. Our best offensive player is hurt. We have a pretty good running game and potential quality in passing. We have a great DL, good LBs and a questionable secondary.

They have a new HC, a very limited QB, and a Hall-quality RB with a seasoned OL. They have a pretty good defense.

They can attack us in our weakness–run D. We can harass a limited QB, but they have some passing game studs. (Do we? Really?)

I just think it’s hard to pick because both teams are in flux and not clearly defined.

Given A Petersen, I feel it is pretty hard to be confident that we are really ready to start this season well. I figure we’ll probably lose this.

‘Course, I’m an eternal pessimist.