setting up the Dallas game – vids & articles with Wagoner, Prisco/Kirwan, etc.

ESPN’s NFL Live crew make their picks for Dallas at St. Louis. Brian Dawkins goes with the Rams, while Herm Edwards picks the Cowboys. (:59)

http://www.rams-news.com/espns-nfl-live-prediction-cowboys-rams-video/

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco and Pat Kirwan preview the NFL Week 2 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and St. Louis Rams. Prisco is looking forward to Quinn lining up against Tyron Smith, while Kirwan is concerned about the Rams ability to stop the run. Both end up picking the Cowboys.

http://www.rams-news.com/prisco-kirwans-cowboys-at-rams-preview-video/

Ugly loss to Cowboys lingers for Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11871/ugly-loss-to-cowboys-still-lingers-for-rams

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher has a 24-hour rule for his team, a rule in which his players are supposed to take one day to either stew over their latest loss or celebrate a victory.

Occasionally, something happens that can be hard to shake. Take last year’s 31-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys as a prime example. That was Week 3 of 2013. One year later, with the Cowboys coming to town for another Week 3 matchup, the memories of that game have been dredged up all over again.

Sam Bradford spent too much time gathering himself after a sack against the Cowboys last year, a loss that stung the Rams.
“You try to abide by the 24-hour or in this case, 365-day rule, but at the end of the day whether last year happened or not, it’s the next game on the schedule and we are going out there to win,” right tackle Joe Barksdale said.

For the Rams to get that victory, it’s going to take an effort dramatically better than what they offered in Dallas last year. For the most part, the Rams’ roster is largely the same. Most of the players in the locker room remember exactly what happened that day.

Beyond the 24-point margin, it was a dismal performance on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys outgained the Rams 396 to 232 with running back DeMarco Murray’s 175 rushing yards leading the way.

“That thing stung for a long time last year,” Fisher said. “We’ve got to play much better on defense.”

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys defense repeatedly got to quarterback Sam Bradford, tallying six sacks. DeMarcus Ware manhandled left tackle Jake Long and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher disrupted the interior of the line for most of the day.

The loss to Dallas was the first of consecutive defeats that would force the Rams to scrap their efforts to evolve into a more wide open passing attack. They carried just 12 times for 35 yards in that game, a common refrain that would repeat the following week against the San Francisco 49ers and ultimately led the Rams to getting back to basics in the run game.

The Rams return three starters from the offensive line who played in that game but they believe they have a group which is better equipped to stand up to the test this time. It doesn’t hurt that Hatcher and Ware have since moved on, either.

“We’re a better offensive line than last year, we had a better game last week than the first week and we are going to improve on last week’s game and continue to do that throughout the season,” Barksdale said.

Of course, using previous results to determine the future outcomes is a fool’s errand when it comes to the NFL. But it’s safe to assume the Rams will carry a little something extra into Sunday’s meeting with recollections of that debacle fresh in their minds.

Cowboys’ Murray is Rams’ big concern
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/cowboys-murray-is-rams-big-concern/article_df13427d-60f8-5c26-b1be-9812cac79e82.html

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray says that he has not watched the tape of his previous games against the Rams. At Rams Park, especially for the defensive unit, the opposite is true.

“You don’t want to look at it, but you need to watch in order to try and make adjustments,’’ Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “He’s had some big games (against us) and he’s leading the league in rushing.

“We’re definitely focused on No. 29 and trying to shut him down.’’

Murray, a fourth-year pro from the University of Oklahoma, was a rookie in 2011 when he came off the Dallas bench to rush for 253 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown, on 25 carries in a 34-7 Dallas rout of the visiting Rams. That set a single-game franchise record and remember, this is a franchise that boasts Hall of Fame backs Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, and Tony Dorsett, who’s No. 8 on the all-time list.

Last year, in a 31-7 Cowboys victory over the visiting Rams, Murray ran 26 times for 176 yards and a touchdown.

“Honestly, I don’t pay attention to those games too much because there are new guys (on the Rams),’’ Murray said during a conference call with St. Louis media earlier this week. “They have a very good defensive coordinator, they’re a physical team and they fly around pretty well. We’re excited about the challenge.’’

So, too, are the Rams.

“He’s a great runner, a physical guy who’s extremely versatile,’’ Rams safety T.J. McDonald said.

Brockers added: “He’s a skinny back, but he’s physical; he’s a slasher who seems to get a lot of yards after contact. We need to get to him and get him to the ground.’’

Murray, who stands 6 feet and weighs 217 pounds, will enter Sunday’s noon game at the Edward Jones Dome as the NFL’s leading rusher with 285 yards on 51 carries, an average of 5.6 per attempt. In addition, he’s caught four passes for 31 yards.

He rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ season-opening 28-17 loss to San Francisco and followed up with 167 yards and a touchdown with a career-high 29 carries in a 26-10 win over the Titans in Tennessee last Sunday.

In the victory, the Cowboys turned to power football, running the ball 43 times for 220 yards and chewing up better than 41 minutes of the game clock.

“If you can run the ball, run the clock, you can control the football game,’’ Dallas head coach Jason Garrett said following the win in Nashville.

That type of ball-control, smash-mouth football in Dallas begins with Murray, who was named to the Pro Bowl a year ago after posting career bests in carries (217), rushing yards (1,121 yards), catches (53), receiving yards (350) and touchdowns (10).

Dallas is 12-1 when Murray gets 20 or more carries.

“He’s an excellent football player and really has been since he got here,’’ Garrett said. “He’s a complete back and a very productive back. You really never have to take him off the field. He’s someone you can hand the ball to, you can throw it to him (and) he can play on third down.’’

To this point, the only thing that has slowed Murray has been injuries. Over his first three pro seasons, he’s never played more than eight consecutive games and he sat out 11 of his first 40 NFL games with a variety of ankle, foot and knee issues.

“I’m not worried about all that because it’s out of my control,’’ the 26-year-old said. “All I can do is continue to work hard and do whatever they ask of me, whether it’s running, blocking or catching, and try to make a successful play.

“Whatever I can do to help this team, I’m all for it.’’

Helping Murray set the tone for the Cowboys is an offensive line that features former first-round draft picks in Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith (ninth overall in 2011), center Travis Frederick (31st overall in 2013) and right guard Zack Martin (16th overall last May).

The Rams, you may recall, had Martin, a Notre Dame product, rated extremely high and considered trading up into the middle of the first round before he was selected by the Cowboys.

“Zack has done a really nice job,’’ Garrett said. “You can tell he’s played a lot of snaps at a high level in college … the game doesn’t seem too big for him.’’

On the line play overall, Murray said: “They’re just a hard-working group. They definitely have pride in being physical.’’

The Cowboys scored the first 24 points and cruised to the 31-7 win at AT&T Stadium last year, thanks to Murray’s running and three touchdown passes from Tony Romo.

So how do the Rams turn things around on Sunday?

“I think it will be more of a challenge this year,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “I think their offensive line is experienced (and) they’re playing well together. We have some run-fit issues that we have to take care of. (Murray) is strong and he breaks tackles. One of the things that happens every game is he’ll bounce outside and people underestimate his speed and he’ll get the corner. That becomes the problem, so we have to edge-proficient, if you will.

“We’re going to have to be in the right place and guys are going to have to make plays.’’

This could be the Dallas Cowboys’ game to win against the Saint Louis Rams if the Cowboys can stick to the run, but Rams defensive lineman Robert Quinn may have other ideas. Sterling Sharpe, Shaun O’Hara, and Charley Casserly break down the game. The Cowboys have given up the 2nd most sacks so far this season.

http://www.rams-news.com/nfl-playbook-cowboys-vs-rams-video/

Tyron Smith vs. Robert Quinn a top matchup
By Todd Archer

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4733916/tyron-smith-vs-robert-quinn-a-top-matchup

IRVING, Texas — Tyron Smith was the ninth pick in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Robert Quinn was the 14th pick of the first round that year by the St. Louis Rams.

They played in their first Pro Bowl last season. In August Smith signed a 10-year deal worth $109 million with $40 million guaranteed. Last week, the Rams signed Quinn to a six-year, $66 million deal that included $41 million in guarantees.

For all of the matchups discussed this week across the NFL, for the football purists, Smith vs. Quinn might be the best of Week 3.

“[Quinn] is just a great player, for a lot of different reasons,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s quick. He’s fast. He’s explosive. He can bend, accelerate to the quarterback. He’s just a disruptive guy, disruptive every week and every game and certainly a guy that opposing offenses will give a lot of attention to. Tyron has played against him before. He understands what the challenge is over there. The other part about him is that he plays with a great motor. He’s not one of these guys who (says) ‘Hey, I have a lot of ability and can go get the quarterback when I want to.’ He comes every snap. He challenges you both as a pass-rush guy and a run defender. Tyron and everyone else is going to be responsible for blocking him — they understand how good a player he is and have a healthy respect for him.”

Rams coach Jeff Fisher was as effusive in his praise of Smith.

“Tyron’s playing really well,” Fisher said. “He has two solid games against good rushers. He’s very, very strong. He’s got good feet. He’s got hands. He does a nice job with his hands. So I think it’ll be a great matchup. As we’ve played many games with Rob, you get the sense that people are not going to hold the football, the seven-step drops don’t take place. It’s a quick game. It’s play-action protection, those kind of thinks, chip with a back. You know we’ll just wait and see. I think it’ll be a great matchup. They’re two outstanding players.”

When these teams met last year, Smith matched up against Quinn on 20 pass plays. He received help on one, a chip from DeMarco Murray. Quinn did not have a sack or a pressure. He did have a tackle for loss and a forced fumble in the run game.

“Just knowing that what type of player he is, it’s not going to be easy,” Smith said.

Quinn, who was second in the NFL last season with 19 sacks, is looking for his first sack this season.

“He’s a young, athletic tackle,” Quinn said. “I happen to be the same draft class. It’s definitely going to be a nice little athleticism matchup.”

Rams-Cowboys: Matchup breakdown
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11822/rams-cowboys-matchup-breakdown-2

EARTH CITY, Mo. — A look at three matchups to keep an eye on when the St. Louis Rams and Dallas Cowboys meet Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald vs. Cowboys right guard Zack Martin

Although his snaps have been limited as part of a rotation, Donald quietly has been the disruptive force the Rams hoped they were getting when they drafted him No. 13 overall in May’s draft. According to the coaches’ review of the film, Donald has 12 tackles, including four for loss, in the first two games.

While Donald has the ability to move around the line and might not see a lot of Martin, it’s likely their paths will cross at some point in Sunday’s game. For those that don’t remember, if Donald had been off the board when the Rams picked at No. 13, Martin likely would have been the choice. In fact, Rams coach Jeff Fisher openly acknowledged the team’s efforts to trade back into the first round to land Martin.

In his first two weeks, Martin has had some ups and downs. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus’ evaluations show Martin has done well in pass protection but struggled as a run blocker.

At the Senior Bowl in January, Martin was the only lineman in Mobile who was able to stand up to Donald in pass-rush drills. If they get a chance to do it again, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in a battle of two of the most technically polished players in this year’s draft.

Rams wide receiver Brian Quick vs. Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne

It’s only been two games, but it’s hard to deny that Quick has looked like the player the Rams hoped he’d be entering his third season in the league. He leads the team with 14 catches for 173 yards and, aside from a drop on a deep ball against Tampa Bay last Sunday, has been the picture of consistency in the first two games. Quick has a chance to surpass his numbers from 2013 in just three games with just a decent day against the Cowboys.

On the other side, Quick figures to get his fill of both Claiborne and fellow starter Brandon Carr, neither of whom has impressed much in the first two weeks. Interestingly enough, Dallas made a draft-day deal with the Rams for in 2012 to secure Claiborne. The Rams ended up with defensive tackle Michael Brockers in that trade.

Neither Claiborne nor Quick has lived up to their draft position to this point, but the arrow is certainly pointing up on Quick right now while Claiborne has struggled. Another big day for Quick would be a welcomed development for a Rams offense that got nothing going against Dallas last year.

Rams offensive line vs. Cowboys defensive line

So we’re going to cheat a little bit here and not just focus on one matchup on the line. Hey, at least we’re not going with Robert Quinn vs. Tyron Smith, though that will be a fun matchup to watch. The reason for going line vs. line here is because it’s hard to erase from memory the thrashing the Cowboys gave the Rams up front in last year’s meeting.

But things should be different this time. DeMarcus Ware has moved on to Denver and Jason Hatcher is now creating havoc for the Washington Redskins. Those two were primarily responsible for the wreckage done to the Rams last year, especially Ware against left tackle Jake Long.

Although Dallas doesn’t have the same big names, it has gotten pretty solid production from a group led by defensive tackle Henry Melton. Left guard Rodger Saffold will have his hands full with Melton and ends Tyrone Crawford and Jeremy Mincey have consistently created pressure in the first two games.

Join Steve Savard, D’Marco Farr, and Will Witherspoon as they break down the match up between the Rams and Cowboys and give their keys to victory. Some of them include: stop Murray, control the clock, create turnovers, don’t turn it over, take advantage of a line that has given up 7 sacks in two games. (2:51)

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-keys-to-victory-vs-cowboys-video/