The St. Louis Rams have their work cut out for them come Sunday
By Zach White
The St. Louis Rams had an unexpected and disappointing loss last Sunday against the Washington Redskins. The Rams were gashed by the run, giving up 182 yards on the ground. Redskins rookie running back Matt Jones had his breakout game gaining 123 yards on just 19 carries. The Rams were unable to get off their blocks all game and just couldn’t find a way to bring down Jones or Alfred Morris.
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The Rams now rank 30th against the run, averaging 153 yards a game against. This is a recipe for disaster and it won’t be getting much easier from here on out.
The Rams have also struggled this year defending the pass. Opponents are completing 80.9% of their passes against the St. Louis secondary. Considering how elite this defense was expected to be, it can’t continue play like this and expect be considered one of the best.
The Steelers come into this week fresh off a big win against the San Francisco 49ers. There are a couple of things that come to mind when you think about the Steelers. Those couple of things are Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and LeVeon Bell.
So far this year it seems like Big Ben and Antonio Brown haven’t missed a beat. These two are always on the same page and they can combine to be the most dynamic duo in the entire NFL. Janoris Jenkins and the Rams secondary are going to have to be prepared for the challenge. Brown is one of those guys who is able to just turn a game on its head with one snap of the ball. The Rams and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be targeting Brown all game and attempt to make the Steelers look elsewhere for offensive production.
Sep 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) runs on to the field befell the game between the St. Louis Rams and the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The one thing everyone is watching for on Sunday though is the return of Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell.
Yes, the dynamic running back returns from his suspension this Sunday against the Rams. This is a scary thought to some, considering how Matt Jones, just came off a huge game against the Rams. The Rams must prevent Bell from finding his groove early. He is the key to their offense. If the Steelers can get him going early, that just opens up the field for big plays for Big Ben,Brown, and the rest of the side receivers. Expect Williams to hone in on Bell and making sure he earns every yard he gets.
The Rams definitely have a huge task at hand once again early this season. Many expect the Steelers to be a playoff contender and the Rams have a chance once again to show what they are made of.
Beating the Seahawks in Week 1 was a great win, but there has to be a bounce back after their showing against Washington. This is another team that will test St. Louis on both sides of the ball. Williams and the defense definitely have their hands full this week, but the Rams will be up to the task and you can expect another great game.