 | | Jaworski on the Giants |  |
The catalyst for the New York Giants' success has been their defense, and they continue to play rock-solid. Their front seven is probably playing as well as any team in football, except maybe the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie cornerbacks Will Allen and Will Peterson are getting better each week, and Jason Sehorn had a terrific game last week against Washington. Shaun Williams is evolving into one of the game's better free safeties.
Defense has had to be the Giants' heartbeat because the offense is struggling to find its timing and rhythm. They have had some injuries: Ike Hilliard missed the first two games, Tiki Barber missed last week's game and is still questionable with a bad hamstring, Ron Dayne has a neck injury and left guard Glenn Parker sat out last week with a concussion. The absence of key players has contributed to their inconsistency. But the defense has held them together -- and it will need to be solid again against the explosive St. Louis Rams.
Five keys for the Giants:
1. Keep everything in front. The Giants' defense needs to keep plays in front of them. It's easier said than done against the Rams, who won Monday night 35-0 without playing very well. Kurt Warner has shown he will be patient and throw dump-off passes until opportunities become open downfield. To contain the Rams, the Giants will play their three-deep schemes and use their excess of secondary people. Former starter Dave Thomas, for instance, can come in as a dime back. They have enough people to take out a linebacker, although their linebackers are very fast.
2. Pressure Warner. Michael Strahan, Keith Hamilton, Cornelius Griffin and Kenny Holmes are playing well and will need to get a quick rush on Warner. If they can get in his face, they can break down his rhythm. Strahan has an advantage against Rams right tackle Ryan Tucker. The Rams' preference to spread the field gives quick defensive ends, like Strahan, a short corner. And Strahan is having a terrific season.
3. Control the ball. Outside of their game against Minnesota in the NFC title game, the Giants have had a very conservative offensive style. They like to play physical, ball-control football through their running game, which sets up their play-action passing. Their three receivers -- Amani Toomer, Hilliard, Joe Jurevicius -- are not speed burners; they are possession receivers. For them to find any voids in the secondary, the Giants must run the ball and control the clock.
4. Stick and stay on blocks. The Rams' defense is cloned after its offense -- it's very fast. Therefore, the Giants' offensive linemen have to stay on their blocks to give their running backs room to run. The Giants are banged up in the backfield and may have to go with their third back, Damon Washington, again Sunday. That puts an even greater emphasis on the line's ability to sustain blocks.
5. Slow Faulk -- somehow. Everything the Rams do is based around Marshall Faulk. Last week the game plan was to get the ball in Faulk's hands early in the passing game and make Detroit respect Faulk. The way the Giants approach him will be critical. They won't be able to commit two defenders to stop Faulk. They either have to bring in a nickel back in normal situations or use one of their linebackers. Fortunately, the Giants' linebackers are fast. They would like to get Jessie Armstead matched up with Faulk because he can run with him, but he may not have Faulk's shiftiness.
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 | | Salisbury on the Rams |  |
We can't say enough about the St. Louis Rams. After watching Monday night's game against the Lions, the Rams waltzed through a 35-0 victory. They played to the competition, and they know it. The Rams looked like they almost toyed with Detroit. Marshall Faulk only had two yards in the first half, yet they still dominated -- on the road. It just goes to show how outstanding the Rams are. They haven't played their best game yet. The Rams look to have a major swagger, which comes from coach Mike Martz. He fully expects the team to be in the Super Bowl and win it.
The Rams are riding high and understand what they need to do against the Giants, the defending NFC champions. They also know they are on their home turf, a fast surface that plays to their advantage. If the game were in New York, I'd give the Giants more of a chance, even though they too are a complete team.
Five keys for the Rams:
1. Physical defensive front. The Rams' defensive front is small but fast. The artificial surface plays to their advantage. They can chase plays down from behind. Their speedy line should be able to beat the Giants' aging offensive line. But they have to be physical in the interior on defense because the Giants will pound the ball. Their starting defensive tackles will be two young players, Brian Young and Damione Lewis, and the Giants will run right at them. The Rams' front seven must be quick off the ball and beat them to the punch.
2. Win on first down. If the Rams can stop the run and put the Giants in long-yardage situation, the Giants will be in a track meet, having to throw the ball to win. The onus will be on Kerry Collins to beat the Rams through the air. That plays into the Rams' hands because the Giants would have to play at their tempo.
3. Formation variation. The Rams will come out with a variety of offensive formations. They should expand on that. Defensive coordinator John Fox will counter with different defensive looks, using lots of audibles. But the Rams will play cat and mouse with the Giants, putting pressure on the defense and moving Marshall Faulk all over the place. Whatever the matchups are, the Rams will create huge problems because no team can match up with the Rams.
4. No complacency. The Rams realize they are very good, but they must be careful of the we're-great syndrome creeping in. They cannot become complacent. It's a short week. Psychologically, it's easy for them to become comfortable because they will be playing at home. They need to remain focused after a Monday night whipping of the Lions. Playing a quality opponent like the Giants will help the Rams have the right mental approach.
5. Lots of blitzes. The Rams' defense got tested against the 49ers, and they responded. The Giants are as balanced as any team around, with offense, defense and special teams. I think Lovie Smith, the defensive coordinator, should blitz a lot and pressure Collins. They did that against Ty Detmer on Monday night. With their quickness, the Rams can create problems for Collins, forcing him to beat them on the perimeter with their receivers. The Rams will vary their blitzes, so they are coming from different directions. |
