By Marty Schottenheimer
Special to ESPN.com
The key matchup in Super Bowl XXXIV rests squarely on the shoulders of the Rams offensive line. In the NFC title game, the Rams had some difficulty in their protection, which threw off the timing of their passing game. It was as much a function of Tampa Bay's pressure as it was the Bucs coverage.
The Titans have Jevon Kearse on the outside, but more importantly they have Josh Evans and Jason Fisk on the inside, complemented by the other defensive end, Kenny Holmes. If that Rams offensive line, led by left tackle Orlando Pace (pictured above), can control the Titans' physical pass rush, St. Louis will come out on top.
The Rams offensive line has the skill to handle the Titans defensive line. The key will be whether or not the Rams can anchor down inside to neutralize Evans and Fisk. The Rams will have three linemen -- guards Adam Timmerman and Tom Nutten and center Mike Gruttadauria -- working against the two Titans defensive tackles, as long as there is no pressure brought on a blitz. The Rams will hold up inside.
Right tackle Fred Miller should improve on his shaky effort the last time against Kearse. He will have the benefit of watching how tape of how the Jacksonville tackles handled Kearse, especially Leon Searcy. Miller will find the tight end on his side frequently if the Rams know Kearse will line up on that side. That will widen the edge that Kearse has to get around to sack Kurt Warner. On the other hand, I think Pace can match up with Kearse if he has him one-on-one.
The Rams will prevail in this matchup, but the focus should be on the inside more than the outside.
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By Sean Salisbury
Special to ESPN.com
Playing on the artificial surface is a plus for the Titans' speedy defensive line, and in particular Jevon Kearse (pictured above), who is already being treated like a Lawrence Taylor or a Reggie White. The Rams must know where Kearse is on every snap.
With Kearse on turf, Rams tackles Fred Miller and Orlando Pace will be so cognizant of his quickness and where he is lined up that they might tend to overstep and overcompensate. They will try to get wide so he can't get around them. Kearse is like an open-field runner; the tackles have to step up and punch him, creating contact so he is knocked off balance. If not, Kearse will get a full head of steam. When the tackle gets too wide, Kearse is able to stop on a dime and cut back underneath toward Kurt Warner, who is not a mobile quarterback.
The Rams will have to double-team Kearse with a tight end or a back. What does that do? It creates a lot of single blocking on the other three linemen. Kenny Holmes, Jason Fisk and Josh Evans don't have to worry about double teams because those have been saved for Kearse. Then the Titans have the option of blitzing a strong safety, leaving the Rams with not enough blockers to handle the pressure.
Miller had a huge problem with Kearse in their last meeting, as did the rest of the Rams linemen, who allowed six Titan sacks. He was called for six false starts and two holds. The Titans also forced Warner to fumble four times. Kearse has the definite psychological advantage over Miller, and the other players on the Titans defensive line should be feasting because the Rams will have two or three blockers trying to neutralize Kearse.
Kearse might get all the credit, but that gives Holmes, Evans and Fisk confidence going against one blocker. |
