The Saints will reach the midway point of the 2011 season in St. Louis on Sunday as they face a shell shocked Rams team that is still winless despite a near playoff run in 2010. Despite the clear mismatch on paper, though, a game like this has the smell of a trap game for a Saints team that is coming off of its largest win in franchise history.
PASS DEFENSE
The Rams appeared on the rise because of 2010 number one overall draft pick QB Sam Bradford, but he will miss his second straight start on Sunday due to a high ankle sprain. The Saints should have an easier time with backup A.J. Feeley, though Feeley had a decent game against Dallas, going 20 of 33 for 196 yards.
Expect the passing offense of the Rams to be fairly conservative with Feeley. He will surely look to his targets out of the backfield throughout the game, but the most interesting piece of this unit will be to see how the Rams utilize newly acquired Pro Bowl WR Brandon Lloyd. If he plays to his 2010 level, Lloyd adds a new dimension to an offense that has been stagnant in 2011.
RUN DEFENSE
Whenever you’re playing against St. Louis, one thing is consistent, and that thing is Steven Jackson. Jackson isn’t having his best year–he’s still looking to pass the 300-yard mark on the season–but he is always a risk to break out any week. Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin are going to have to show up this week to stop a runner who isn’t just fast, but also has the ability to run over big defenders.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Steven Jackson vs. Saints Defensive Tackles. There isn’t any secret about what the Rams need to do on Sunday to be successful, and there is even less mystery about how Steven Jackson is going to try to do it. Jackson is a big, powerful back who is going to try to get his yards by running over the Saints interior O-line. If Rogers, Franklin, and Sedrick Ellis can hang tough in the middle, the Saints defense can take away the Rams biggest threat.
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