Thread: St. Louis Rams Vs. Chicago Bears Position Breakdown: Cortland Finnegan,

click on the links to get the rest of them.

From reading this is sounds like we need to max protect and try and get our slot/te behind the LB's and into the safety area. Marshal is probably going to have another quite game. Jeffery is hardly a small/quick rec like the other teams they had to deal w/their #2. So maybe we can take advantage of their #2 CB also.

We'll need int's/fumbles from our DB's and pressure from our DL' to give our O as much time to score as possible though; and Tice needs to run up the gut on them...luckily that is what Bush does best.

from the qb/ol link:

Football is not a game that is won or lost on a single play. The outcome of a game is a culmination of individual battles, which play out for 60 minutes, and ultimately decide a winner. Theoretically, the winning team will be the one that is able to win the most individual bouts on the field, offensively, defensively, and in the special teams game. Unlike basketball, no individual can carry the team on their shoulder to get a win. Eli Manning can’t throw for 501 yards and lead the Giants to a 4th quarter comeback without the linemen setting the pocket and the receivers making plays against the opposing secondary. The Cardinals cannot beat the Patriots without the defensive linemen beating their man and getting to the quarterback, and those linemen don’t have the time to make it to Brady without the defensive backfield covering the receivers. This week, the Rams play the Chicago Bear in, what should be, their toughest game so far in the young season. The Bears can be explosive offensively, but will be most impactful on the defensive side of the ball. If St. Louis wants to bring the streak to 2 wins, they will need to win the individual battles, on both side of the ball. So, how to the Rams stack up against the Bears? We are going to start by comparing the quarterbacks and offensive linemen…
Quarterback
Yesterday, Ramblin’ Fan broke down the some of the St. Louis Rams statistical leaders in the NFL, one of which is Sam Bradford. He is in the Top 5 quarterbacks in completion percentage, touchdowns, and quarterback rating, all while leading the Rams to a win over the high-flying Washington Redskins. On the other side of the coin, Jay Cutler is at the bottom of the league with a 51.6 completion percentage through 2 game, while already throwing 5 interceptions.
To be fair, Bradford and Cutler are two completely different styles of quarterback. Bradford is a pocket passer, specializing in accurate throws that control the tempo of the game and keep the chains moving. Cutler, on the other hand, is a gun-slinger, a quarterback that is not afraid to toss the deep ball, take the top off of a defense, and trusts his arm to streamline passes through tight windows. So, far the latter has not been effective.
Cutler was completely taken out of the game by, historically, one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL last season. The gun-slinger mentality forced 4 interceptions, which makes it difficult for even the most organized of offenses to stay in the game (ask Peyton Manning after his Monday Night appearance). He has been unimpressive in both contests against mediocre pass defenses, which is surprising given the Bears talent at the skill position. Worse, Cutler’s attitude and antics have become a distraction for the team and has likely lost the respect of some of the players in the locker room (although I wouldn’t ask Brian Urlacher about it). Bradford has not “wowed” anyone with his performances, but he has controlled the game and put points on the board without turning the ball over. More importantly, he has been the calm leader in the game, demanding the huddle and earning the respect of the players around him through his toughness and play on the field.
Advantage: St. Louis Rams, 1-0

Offensive Line
This has been a problem for both teams in the opening 2 games of the season. With Rokevious Watkins ankle injury, St. Louis has now sent two starting interior line to the IR, while LT Rodger Saffold will likely not see the field again for another 4 weeks. However, the “replacements” have fared pretty well so far against the dominating front four of Detroit and against the injury stricken Washington Redskins. The line was able to open holes all day for Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson, both running for 55+ against the Redskins. Bradford has taken 6 sacks, which puts him in the upper tier of that category, but has not let the pressure effect him. Against the Redskins, Bradford was 9 for 9 on 3rd down passing attempts, and has only given the ball away on a turnover once in two games.
The Bears’ offensive line is going through some similar struggles, especially at the outside tackle spot. J’Marcus Webb took some well-deserved heat from Cutler against the Packers, resulting in the infamous “bump” on the sidelines. However, Webb isn’t their only problem, as Clay Matthews tore up the interior of the offensive line, which may have led to the benching of left guard Chris Spencer in favor of the recently signed Chilo Rachal. Cutler has already taken 9 sacks this season, which has single-handedly given Clay Matthews the lead in the sacks title race. The pressure has caused Cutler to make some poor decisions, leading to 30 incompletions and 5 interceptions. The offensive line has done relatively well in the run game, but with Matt Forte hurt, the Bears will need Cutler and Marshall to get back into their Week 1 grove.
Advantage: St. Louis Rams (surprisingly), 2-0

Next we will break down some of the skill position, specifically the running backs and wide receivers. Stay tuned to Ramblin’ Fan for all the latest news on the St. Louis Rams throughout the week, including more previews for the Rams versus the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
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Tags: Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams

sounds like we will have to do what we should have done in the GB game and that is use the run to set up the pass. They will want to rattle Cutler early on so just use the RBs to loosen up coverage.

Finnegan is a hard nosed dirty ass player that will get into players minds. Marshal has to keep his head on his shoulders and not fall for Finnegans antics

In the last breakdown, we compared the offensive linemen and quarterbacks, with the St. Louis Rams getting the edge in both categories. We will stay on the offensive side of the ball and breakdown the skill positions; the wide receivers and running backs.
Running Back
Both the St. Louis Rams and the Chicago Bears have superstars manning their backfields, with Matt Forte and Steven Jackson each handling the workload for their respective team. Against Detroit, the St. Louis backs had a tough time getting anything going on the ground, mainly because they weren’t really getting anything going with the offense as a whole. However, against the Redskins, both Jackson and Daryl Richardson had phenomenal performances. Before being sidelined, Jackson racked up 58 yards on the ground (plus, what should have been, a touchdown), and his replacement, Daryl Richardson, continued on the ground for another 83 yards on 15 carries. The newest one-two punch at running back could prove deadly as the season progresses. Both backs can hit the whole, and while Jackson will wear the defenders out his hard-nose running, Richardson is the change-of-pace back that can break one open for the big gain on any given play.
Chicago has a similar combination, between Matt Forte and Michael Bush. Matt Forte is the swifty, dynamic running back that will beat the defenders to the edge and has great backside vision to make the jump cuts back through the hole. Bush is the power back, the goal line running that can punch it through on 3rd and short or into the endzone. The two were a great combination against the Colts, but after an apparent ankle injury to Forte against the Packers, Bush was left in as the full time back. He did not play poorly, rushing for 54 yards on 15 carries, which is good for 3.9 a touch. However, Bush does not have the quickness or the speed of Forte, which will be sorely missed if he cannot return to the field by Sunday. Head Coach Lovie Smith made a comment yesterday that the injury was not a high ankle sprain. Forte hasn’t been ruled out of the game yet, but is listed as questionable by the team.
Jackson is comingoff of a “groin injury,” which he sustained in the first quarter of the Redskins game. Jackson is already back at practice and claims that he is back to full strength. With questions about Forte and Richardson’s showing on Sunday when given the full load, St. Louis’ backfield appears to be in much better shape. We will have to see how the injuries play out the rest of the week, but until then…
Advantage: St. Louis Rams, 3-0

Wide Receivers
St. Louis has quietly amassed a solid group of receivers, regardless of whether of not any of them would be considered a “true number one” or not. The cream of the Rams crop is obviously Danny Amendola, who leads the league in receptions and is ranked third in receiving yards after a record-breaking game against Washington. Brandon Gibson has also put together a nice little run, catching a touchdown in both contests so far this season, although only recording 6 receptions. The rest of Bradford’s receptions have come from a variety of sources, primarily the tight ends and running backs. Steve Smith is the only other wide out with a reception so far in the regular season, although the return of Austin Pettis from his suspension should bring an added spark to the receiving core.
The Chicago Bears made a huge wake in the off season with the signing of Brandon Marshall, who played for a good number of years with Cutler in Denver. Marshall is easily the best receiver on the Bears roster, which is exemplified by some telling statistics: he has 34% of the Bears receptions, 32% of the targets, and 31% of the yards. However, most of those numbers came in a single game against the leagues worst team in 2011, the Indianapolis Colts, who are picking up players from the streets of Indy to start in their secondary. Against the most prominent Green Bay Packers, Marshall recorded only 2 receptions for 24 yards, and dropped a huge touchdown pass in the end zone that might have kept the Bears in the game.
After Marshall, the talent drastic falls off, with rookie Alshon Jeffery as the next best receiver on the team. After Jeffery, names like Devin Hester and Earl Bennett finish the list, and there are no notable tight ends to be found on the roster. Still, the inclusion of Brandon Marshall alone should vault the Bears receiving core above the Rams, at least for the time being.
Advantage: Chicago Bears, 3-1

Next, we will switch over to the defensive side of the ball, breaking down the defensive linemen and the linebacking core of the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears
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Tags: Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams

If both starters are likely to miss(as it sounds the might) I don't know how you give the adv to StL. Bush is a better backup/potential starter.

If they think jax is starting then I agree.


Our WR's are deeper and better, but that doesn't mean you sleep on theirs.

Yesterday, we look a close look at the offensive side of the ball, comparing the quarterbacks and offensive linemen, as well as the running backs and wide receivers. However, in the NFL, games are not merely won by having a dynamic offense, unless you are the 2011 Patriots or Green Bay Packers. For the rest of the league, a potent defense is key to staying in the game, keeping points off the board, and maintaining the lead at the end of the game. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens continually win games year in and year out because they always put out a Top 5 defense onto the field to keep them in games. St. Louis has demonstrated this concept twice already in the young season. Against the Lions, the offense converted on less than 30% of third downs, stalling on a number of drives and failing to get anything other than field goals until the fourth quarter. However, the defense, with its three interceptions in the first half, kept the Rams in the game until the final seconds. Against the Redskins, St. Louis quickly fell into a 21-6 hole after a series of unfortunate events involving fumbles, poor officiating, and the reluctancy of Jeff Fisher to throw the challenge flag. Again, the defense stalled the Washington offense, allowing Washington to convert on only 4 of 13 third down tries, and picking off Robert Griffin III at midfield. The point is, the defense cannot necessary put the points on the board to win the game, but they do play a pivotal role, especially on a teams without a dynamic offense that cannot win the game in a shoot out. Chicago has always been known for their defense, with players like Lance Briggs and future Hall-of-Famers Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers manning the field. St. Louis, on the other hand, has recently made waves in the NFL with their impressive secondary and high-motor defensive ends, not to mention defensive minded head coach Jeff Fisher. So, how do the two compare when you break down each position…

Defensive Line
The St. Louis Rams defensive line is definitely strongest on the outside, with Chris Long and Robert Quinn manning the two defensive end slots. Chris Long is an all-pro talent that demands a double team on every snap, leads the league in quarterback pressures on a yearly basis, and can beat opposing tackles with speed around the edge or through his signature bull rush. Robert Quinn is purely a speed rusher, who can easily beat his man around the edge with deceptive quickness and quality footwork. Both play with an unrelenting motor that wears out an offensive line, which often leads to more hits, pressures, and sacks in the second halves of games. However, Quinn is sometimes a liability in the run game, getting baited up the field and creating a massive hole off on the left side of the field. Both Washington and Detroit exploited that weakness, forcing Jeff Fisher to thrown in Eugene Sims on the end, who is more of a run stuffer than a pass rusher. In the middle, Kendall Langford has been carrying the bulk of the weight on his shoulder, especially wtih first-rounder Michael Brockers being sidelines for at least a couple more weeks. In Brockers place, the Rams have employed a defensive-tackle-by-committee mentality, although a majority of the reps have been handled by Jermelle Cudjo and Kellen Heard. Heard has struggled, but Cudjo has held his own for the most part, recording half a sack and 13 solo tackles on the year. St. Louis’ line has gotten good pressure on both Stafford and Griffin in the first two games, although the stats sheet might say otherwise. They are getting pressure that is forcing quick throws , which, in turn, is leading to a ton of interceptions. Griffin, in particular, was forced to scramble out of the pocket for a majority of the game, which results in Washington’s pathetic 3rd down efficiency and Redskin’s lack of offense outside of RGIII running the ball.
The Chicago Bears have a solid pair of bookend defensive ends on the roster as well, between Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers. Peppers is a pass rushing monster that will likely demand a double team on every play just to “hold” him to one sack per game. Idonije is a run stuffer that understands the position, sets the edge for the defense on his side of the field, and can occasionally get to the quarterback. Peppers has already recorded two sacks so far this season, the same as the Rams’ Robert Quinn. Chicago’s interior line is comprised of a couple of relatively young tackles, highlights by sophomore Stephen Paea. Paea got the nod as the full-time starter this year, after playing in only 11 games last season for the Bears. They defensive line terrorized Andrew Luck in Week 1, and was able to get some good hits on Aaron Rodgers in last weeks loss to the Green Bay Packers. The unit as a whole has been able to get some good pressure on the opposing quarterback, although having Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher behind you to clean up messes is a nice safety blanket. Both squads have quality defensive ends and moderate talent at defensive tackle. Neither have generated a ton of sacks, although the Bears have the slight end in total sacks along defensive linemen, with Henry Melton recording 2 sacks in the opening bout against the lowly Indianapolis Colts. The St. Louis Rams have a slight edge at defensive end, taking Quinn over Idonije and calling Peppers and Long a draw, but give the Bears the nod at defensive tackle.
Advantage: Tie, 3-1-1

Linebackers
The St. Louis Rams biggest pickups of the off season have clearly been Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Cortland Finnegan. Dunbar has been all over the field on defense, playing every snap for the Rams in both games so far this year. The former New Orleans Saint has amassed a quality 13 tackles and an interception, while bringing a new swagger and chippiness to the Rams defense. He is a big body outside linebacker, and loves to talk and get into the heads of opposing quarterbacks and rusher, although he is fairly limited in the pass rush. In the middle of the defense, James Laurinaitis calls all the shots for the St. Louis defense. Laurinaitis is one of the more underrated middle linebackers in the NFL, but has been relatively quite so far this season. Laurinaitis has 19 tackles so far, but his real contributions have come in reading the opposing offense and managing the defense accordingly. He is the quarterback of the defense, and on nearly every play you can see him making calls to the secondary and shifting the defensive linemen into new gaps. Although the Rams run out of the traditional 4-3 base defense, Coach Fisher has relied heavily on the nickel package to slow the passing game of the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins. This has been a combination of the coaches confidence in Bradley Fletcher as the nickelback, and the lack of confidence in Mario Haggan and Rocky McIntosh as cover linebackers. Against Washington, Fletcher was in the game on 39 snaps, or about 62% of the time on defense. To compare, McIntosh and Haggan combined for only 29 snaps, while Dunbar and Laurinaitis were in for all 63 defensive plays.
Chicago also plays out of the 4-3 base defense, although they heavily employ the three linebacker sets. Head Coach Love Smith and the defensive coordinator trust Briggs and Urlacher to anchor the middle of the field, while played a majority of snaps in a Cover 2 zone, at least thus far in the season. Briggs in the only genuine threat as a pass rusher, but all three are solid in run support and excellent in coverage. This combination has helped the Bears to the 9th best rushing defense, allowing only 84.5 yards to opposing rushing attacks. However, they have yet to face a Top 20 running back in the NFL, unless you count the hot-or-cold Cedric Benson as an elite back. This week, they will likely face a running back tandum where both backs can put up single game numbers of 75+ yards, and will be playing against the first team that relies more heavily on the run game than the passing game. However, to this point, the Bears have dominated as a front seven, and considering they maintain the “3″ in the 4-3 defense, they have to get the nod over the Laurinaitis-Dunbar duo.
Advantage: Chicago Bears, 3-2-1

Next we will breakdown the safety and cornerback position for the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams. Stay tuned for more previews and updates leading up this weekends matchup.
If you like what you just read, please follow us on Twitter at @RamblinFan and like us on Facebook Ramblin' Fan to join in on the conversation we are having daily about the St. Louis Rams and the NFC West division.
Tags: Chicago Bears, St. Louis Rams