I got together with our Football Rivals Network affiliate site, StLouisRamsX.com and conducted a brief Q&A covering the upcoming game between the Cowboys and Rams.
CowboysBlog.Net: We know the Rams are pretty banged up on both sides of the ball, do you see the Rams having any chance at all in winning this game?
StLouisRamsX.Com: No way, the Cowboys are rolling right now. We have no answer for TO, have perennially had difficulties with good TEs, but we may be able to contain the running game. The Cowboys will get their points, but the old Rams used to be able to match teams point-for-point. No longer. Brian Leonard isn’t too much of a dropoff from Steven Jackson but when your OL is shot to pieces, you need the bull to drive the pile. Those extra 2-3 yards really make a difference and I don’t think Leonard has the same power. The Cowboys defense doesn’t really scare me but this watered-down offense won’t be able to do enough to keep up.
CB: On offense or defense, who could be your playermakers against the Cowboys?
SLRX:Â The playmakers on offense should be the usual suspects, but they’re being held back by coaching. Bulger probably can’t go deep without pain, but the OL can’t hold for a seven step drop and no deep plays are called anymore. We can’t even run a slant for double digit yards anymore. I’d watch out for McMichael, some day Linehan will wake up and use him but we’ve been saying that about that position for over a year now. On defense, we have some promise up front but so far no one’s been consistent. If they all pulled it together for one game, it would be something to watch, but various players are taking turns disappearing. Ryan and Carriker have shown promise, at times Hall is great but he has lost contain several times that I’ve noticed, Little can be great but he’s been neutralized a lot lately too. Backers are speedy and no one should outrun them but they will get caught in the wash, CBs are decimated, if you see Vinnett, throw at him, Atogwe is a hard hitter, and Chavous is – I don’t know – sometimes just lost.
CB: With Orlando Pace out for the season, do you think DeMarcus Ware will have an easy time at getting to Bulger, or do you have someone there that can hold their own?
SLRX: Ware can give someone the standing 7 count from flag football and still get to Bulger. Career day in store.
CB: If you were the Cowboys offense, what would you do to score points against the Rams defense, what if any are the weaknesses?
SLRX: Use the run to set up the pass, try to get some hard yards inside, probe to see if Carriker or Ryan are on or off today and let Romo fire at will. Haslett has a lot of blitz packages but rarely uses them. Even when he calls them, they rarely get to the QB. Run blitz seems to be working better, I think he’s calling them to the right holes now. Before, he’d call a run blitz and we’d tip it off or they ran to the other side for a big gain. Haslett has seemed to have fixed that now – finally.
CB: What do you think about Isaac Bruce’s “I will guarentee a win” headliner, do you think he really believes that or is it more of something to get the team pumped for the game or what?
SLRX: I didn’t hear that but it may be a veteran trying to pep up the team. We just don’t have the guns (or the general won’t use them), and the Cowboys offense is rolling. While the Rams D has been improved, we really haven’t faced anybody yet so this is a big test for them. Right now, just hanging with the Cowboys and coming away without anyone else injured would be a moral victory.
I really still despise the Cowboys and a lot of their fans. And in my experience, if you run into a blue star-wearing Cowboy lover anywhere outside of Texas, I’ll lay 10-1 that guy is a complete a*hole. No offense, just an observation. Kind of like all Eagles and Patriots fans.
But Romo is a great story. Undrafted kid from nowhere, living the dream, appreciates the situation he’s landed in, big smile on his mug, etc. And in my pools and fantasy teams you have to appreciate the talent. I’m playing Romo and TO for big points and picking:
Lastly, what is your final score prediction?
SLRX: Cowboys 47 Rams 13
Special thanks for StLouisRamsX.com, be sure to check them out!
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