SB Nation St. Louis - St. Louis Rams Lose Wild One Against Arizona Cardinals As Time Expires https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2010-09-12T19:17:56-05:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14450762010-09-12T19:17:56-05:002010-09-12T19:17:56-05:00Week One Recap: Arizona Cardinals At St. Louis Rams
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<p>St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) – Derek Anderson upstaged Sam Bradford’s <span class="caps">NFL</span> debut as he threw the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Arizona a 17-13 win over St. Louis at Edward Jones Dome.</p>
<p>Anderson, who was named the starter after the retirement of Kurt Warner and the release of former first-round pick Matt Leinart, went 22-for-41 with 297 yards and a touchdown to Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals (1-0), who have won consecutive <span class="caps">NFC</span> West titles.</p>
<p>Tim Hightower had 13 carries for 54 yards and a score and added four receptions for 40 yards while Steve Breaston had seven catches for 132 yards for Arizona, who beat Green Bay in the playoff opener last season but then fell to New Orleans in the next round.</p>
<p>Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft out of Oklahoma, went 32-for-55 with 253 yards and a score, but threw three interceptions, including one in the final two minutes with St. Louis deep in Arizona territory.</p>
<p>Steven Jackson had 22 carries for 81 yards while Mark Clayton had 10 catches for 119 yards for the Rams (0-1), who finished last season with a mark of 1-15 and were 6-42 over the past three season.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1684795/week-one-recap-arizona-cardinals-at-st-louis-ramsDan Moore2010-09-12T18:52:36-05:002010-09-12T18:52:36-05:00St. Louis Rams Lose Wild One Against Arizona Cardinals As Time Expires
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<p>One thing is for certain, after the St. Louis Rams’ week one loss to the Arizona Cardinals: This team isn’t about to hide Sam Bradford in his rookie season. For all the talk of shoulder problems their franchise quarterback took 55 passing attempts in Sunday’s 17-13 loss, including a last-second heave that ended in his third interception of the night.</p>
<p>Bradford finished 32-for-55 with 253 yards passing, one touchdown, and three interceptions. After a slow start he seemingly hit his stride in the second half, before throwing a crucial interception in the fourth quarter. Newcomer Mark Clayton was his favorite target, making a career-high 10 receptions for 119 yards. Steven Jackson, apparently fully recovered from offseason back surgery, took 22 carries for 81 yards.</p>
<p>The Rams tied the game at 10 as time expired but couldn’t quite recover from the Cardinals’ fourth quarter touchdown.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1684763/st-louis-rams-lose-wild-one-sam-bradfordDan Moore2010-09-12T17:01:55-05:002010-09-12T17:01:55-05:00St. Louis Rams Update: Sam Bradford Ties Game With First Touchdown Pass As Time Expires
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<p>No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford tossed his first career touchdown pass as time expired in the first half of the St. Louis Rams’ week one game with the Arizona Cardinals, tying things at 10-10.</p>
<p>Bradford made the one yard completion his first connection with Laurent Robinson. Earlier in the drive he completed a 39-yard pass to Mark Clayton, who’s seen most of the passing action today. Steven Jackson received eight carries for 47 yards in the first half.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1684564/st-louis-rams-update-sam-bradford-first-touchdownDan Moore2010-09-12T16:01:20-05:002010-09-12T16:01:20-05:00St. Louis Rams Week One: Arizona Cardinals On Board First, Lead 3-0
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<p>The Arizona Cardinals got on the board first in the second quarter of the St. Louis Rams’ home opener. Jay Feely kicked a 22 yard field goal to put the Cardinals up 3-0 with 14 minutes remaining in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The St. Louis Rams have had chances early—after Bradley Fletcher recovered a fumble in the first quarter they had a field goal blocked. Sam Bradford is 5-8 with 34 yards passing and one interception in his debut.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1684449/st-louis-rams-week-one-arizona-cardinalsDan Moore2010-09-12T14:59:17-05:002010-09-12T14:59:17-05:00St. Louis Rams' Brandon Gibson Inactive For Week One
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<p>ESPN’s Mike Sando <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/23231/only-four-wide-receivers-active-for-rams">reports</a> that Brandon Gibson, who had a chance to compete for a starting job in the wake of the Donnie Avery injury, has been named inactive for week one’s contest against the Arizona Cardinals.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1684284/st-louis-rams-brandon-gibson-inactiveDan Moore2010-09-12T01:53:32-05:002010-09-12T01:53:32-05:00Week One: St. Louis Rams Send Sam Bradford To Debut Against Arizona Cardinals
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<p>The St. Louis Rams will get their first regular season glimpse of No. 1 overall draft pick and franchise quarterback Sam Bradford Sunday afternoon as they take on the Arizona Cardinals in a sold-out Edward Jones Dome.</p>
<p>In addition to Bradford, the Rams have newly acquired wide receiver Mark Clayton and running back Steven Jackson, recovering from off-season back surgery, to wonder about. Jackson received limited playing time in the preseason but insists he’s 100%; meanwhile, Clayton looks to pick up the slack left by Donnie Avery, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason victory against the New England Patriots.</p>
<p>(Both are speed merchants, stretched as number ones, and have problems catching the ball, so the Rams certainly got as close to Avery as they could on short notice.)</p>
<p>The Arizona Cardinals will get a first taste of the result of their much-publicized quarterback duel, which led to the release of former golden boy Matt Leinart in favor of chronically inaccurate former Brown Derek Anderson.</p>
<p>The action begins at 3:15 <span class="caps">CDT</span>. After a brief flirtation with <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/9/1678764/st-louis-rams-week-one">a disastrous week one blackout</a>, the first game of the rest of the St. Louis Rams’ life will be televised locally.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/12/1683571/st-louis-rams-sam-bradford-debut-arizona-cardinals-week-oneDan Moore2010-09-10T13:02:40-05:002010-09-10T13:02:40-05:00NFL Week One: Arizona Cardinals At St. Louis Rams Preview
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: #333333;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">(Sports Network) - A pair of new quarterback eras will begin at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday afternoon, when <span>Sam Bradford</span> leads the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> into battle against <span>Derek Anderson</span> and the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">To be sure, while Bradford carries a disadvantage in terms of experience into his first NFL game, the common perception is that he'll be the better of these two quarterback combatants somewhere down the line.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The No. 1 overall pick in the April draft, Bradford enjoyed a star-studded career at the University of Oklahoma that included a Heisman Trophy in 2008. Bradford threw for 4,721 yards with 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions during that, his sophomore season, but was plagued by shoulder injuries in 2009 and saw the field in only two contests.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Still, the Rams made him the top overall choice when they were on the clock the night of April 22nd, and a fine performance in the 2010 preseason seemed to indicate that the long-suffering franchise made a rare correct move. Bradford completed 33-of-55 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns without an interception during the warm-up period, with his play and a sprained thumb suffered by would-be starter <span>A.J. Feeley</span> helping the rookie climb atop the depth chart.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Bradford is attempting to prop up the fortunes of a moribund franchise that has gone a shocking 6-42 over the past three seasons combined, including an all- time organizational nadir of 1-15 last season. The lone win to date in the tenure of second-year head man Steve Spagnuolo came last Nov. 1st, when the Rams were 17-10 winners at the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">St. Louis dropped its final eight games following that singular triumph, and has lost 13 consecutive contests at the Edward Jones Dome since defeating the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> on Oct. 19, 2008.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Against that backdrop, everything must look peachy in the world of the Arizona Cardinals.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">At the same time, Ken Whisenhunt's club enters 2010 needing to dispel the perception that the team is on the decline after winning the last two NFC West titles. Anderson's appearance behind center for the team's opener has been offered up as exhibit A in the case for the Cardinals falling back to the pack.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Following the winter retirement of <span>Kurt Warner</span>, who'd spent five years mainly as the starter in Arizona, the team handed the No. 1 job to former first-round pick <span>Matt Leinart</span>. The March 9th signing of Anderson, who washed out in Cleveland after a surprise Pro Bowl year (2007), followed by two dismal ones, was viewed primarily at the time as a low-risk, low-return insurance policy for Leinart.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Surprisingly, the Cardinals opted to cash in that policy late in the preseason, as Whisenhunt demoted and eventually cut the former No. 10 overall pick Leinart. With rookies <span>Max Hall</span>(BYU) and <span>John Skelton</span> (Fordham) the only other QBs on the roster, Anderson won the job by default, and will now have to win over the Cardinals fans and teammates that might have lingering skepticism about his abilities.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">In addition to Warner, Arizona will be minus former mainstays such as wideout <span>Anquan Boldin</span> (now with the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a>), linebacker <span>Karlos Dansby</span> (<a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a>) and safety <span>Antrel Rolle</span> (<a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a>) as they begin the 2010 campaign.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">SERIES HISTORY</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The all-time regular season series between the Cardinals and Rams is knotted, 30-30-2, with Arizona evening the series by virtue of seven consecutive wins. The Cardinals completed their third consecutive home-and-home sweep of the Rams last year, taking a 21-13 decision in their former home of St. Louis in Week 11, and completing the sweep with a 31-10 win at University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 16. The Rams' most recent victory in the series was a 16-14 win at Arizona during the 2006 season, and they are 0-5 against the Cardinals at home since last beating them within friendly confines in 2004.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">With a win on Sunday, the Cardinals will lead the series with the Rams, which dates back to 1937, for the first time since 1965.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Rams won the only postseason meeting between the two, with the then-Los Angeles-based franchise pulling out a 35-23 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Whisenhunt is 6-0 against the Rams as a head coach, while St. Louis' Spagnuolo is 0-2 versus both Whisenhunt and Arizona as a head man.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">WHEN THE CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">As he starts his first meaningful game as a Cardinal, Anderson (888 yards, 3 TD, 10 INT with Cleveland) will be attempting to re-ignite the flame that saw him post a 10-5 record with 3,787 yards, 29 TDs and 19 touchdowns back in 2007. Since that Pro Bowl year with the<a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Browns</a>, Anderson is 6-10 as a starter with 12 touchdowns, 18 picks, and a laughable 48.0 completion percentage. To his advantage, the Oregon State product will be throwing to a much finer fleet of receivers than he had at his disposal in Cleveland. <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> (97 receptions, 13 TD) is expected to start despite a preseason knee sprain, and <span>Steve Breaston</span> (55 receptions, 3 TD) and <span>Early Doucet</span> (17 receptions, 1 TD) will be among those attempting to step into the void left by Boldin's absence on the other side of the field. Arizona was just 28th in NFL rushing offense a year ago, but will attempt to achieve more balance and find more touches for running backs <span>Tim Hightower</span> (598 rushing yards, 8 TD, 63 receptions) and <span>Beanie Wells</span> (793 rushing yards, 7 TD). Hightower is expected to get the start on Sunday, with Wells trying to fight through knee problems. The evolution of the run game should be aided by the presence of new left guard and nine-time Pro Bowler <span>Alan Faneca</span>. Right tackle <span>Brandon Keith</span> is another fresh starting face up front.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Though most of the Week 1 media focus will be on Bradford's performance, the Rams' development in 2010 will hinge greatly on the progress of a defense that was 27th against the run and 25th versus the pass last season. With former top pass rusher <span>Leonard Little</span>now in apparent retirement, the effort to get to Anderson will rest primarily with former first-round pick <span>Chris Long</span> (43 tackles, 5 sacks) and holdover <span>James Hall</span> (42 tackles, 4.5 sacks). Long, the second pick in the 2008 Draft, has just nine sacks in two NFL seasons. The play of that crew will have implications for a secondary led by safety <span>Oshiomogho Atogwe</span> (73 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack). Atogwe will likely be asked to help out with Fitzgerald, as neither <span>Ron Bartell</span> (66 tackles) nor fellow starting corner <span>Bradley Fletcher</span> (23 tackles) looks like a candidate to hold the Pro Bowler down on a solo basis. The run-stopping group will be looking for a couple of newcomers - tackle <span>Fred Robbins</span> (25 tackles, 2 sacks with the Giants) and outside linebacker Na'il Diggs (35 tackles with the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Panthers</a>), to mesh with a couple of ex-backups - tackle <span>Gary Gibson</span> (11 tackles) and linebacker <span>Larry Grant</span> (15 tackles, 1 sack). The mainstay in that corps is middle linebacker <span>James Laurinaitis</span> (120 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT), who led the team in stops as a rookie a year ago.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Bradford is a bright young prospect, but you could argue that he was working with better receivers during his sophomore year at Oklahoma than he will be as a member of the Rams. The projected wideout starters on Sunday are <span>Laurent Robinson</span> (13 receptions, 1 TD), who has 55 catches and two touchdowns in 24 career NFL games, and <span>Danny Amendola</span> (43 receptions, 1 TD), an overachieving former undrafted free agent who averaged just 7.6 yards per catch a year ago. The most esteemed member of the WR group is probably recently-acquired ex-Raven Mark Clayton (34 receptions, 2 TD with the Ravens), who has caught more than 50 balls in a season just once in his five-year NFL career. Tight end <span>Billy Bajema</span> (8 receptions) doesn't scare anyone as a pass-catcher either. In light of that situation, the Rams figure to feature a heavy dose of running back Steven Jackson (1416 rushing yards, 4 TD, 51 receptions). Jackson, quickly becoming the Floyd Little of his generation when comparing his individual exploits to team success, has posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The Rams are in better shape along the offensive line than they've been in some time, though the club will need second-round rookie left tackle<span>Rodger Saffold</span> (Indiana) to grow up in a hurry.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Like the Rams, the Cardinals are a team undergoing a notable transition on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football. Gone are high-profile playmakers like Dansby and Rolle, and in to take their place are big names like pass rusher <span>Joey Porter</span> and safety<span>Kerry Rhodes</span>. The 33-year-old Porter (41 tackles, 9 sacks with the Dolphins) was judged as being surplus to needs in Miami despite racking up 32 sacks in his three seasons there. He'll team again with veteran holdover <span>Clark Haggans</span>, formerly Porter's teammate for seven years with the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #a82a00; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> (2000-06). On the back end, the ex-Jet Rhodes (62 tackles, 3 INT with New York) is viewed as only a minor downgrade from Rolle, and should be able to make plays while working alongside decorated safety <span>Adrian Wilson</span> (76 tackles, 5 INT, 2 sacks) and No. 1 cornerback <span>Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie</span> (51 tackles, 6 INT). The other newcomer in the starting secondary is cornerback <span>Greg Toler</span> (8 tackles, 1 INT), who replaces the departed <span>Bryant McFadden</span> after appearing in 13 games as a reserve last year. Among those looking to hone in on Jackson are a pair of incoming inside linebackers, ex-Ram Paris Lenon (42 tackles with St. Louis) and second-round rookie <span>Daryl Washington</span> (TCU). The three-man line of <span>Bryan Robinson</span> (28 tackles, 1 sack) in the middle and <span>Darnell Dockett</span> (51 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 INT) and <span>Calais Campbell</span> (46 tackles, 7 sacks) on the ends returns intact.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">FANTASY FOCUS</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Cardinals have gone from a popular team among fantasy enthusiasts to a shaky one, with Anderson's presence behind center having everything to do with that fact. Fitzgerald will be a Week 1 starter in most leagues, even coming off the knee problem, but there isn't anyone else here that's a lead-pipe cinch. Kicker Jay Feely is a decent option, Hightower might be worth considering as a flex play, and if you're feeling adventurous, you might start the Cardinals defense against a rookie QB.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">On the St. Louis side, Jackson always seems to contribute something, even if he didn't score a touchdown until his eighth game of 2009. Other than that, if you're counting on any Rams to get you through Week 1, you could be in some trouble.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">OVERALL ANALYSIS</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Cardinals and Rams have occupied opposite ends of the NFC West standings in each of the past two years, but the events of the offseason would seem to have the organizations creeping closer toward one another. By their Dec. 5th meeting in Glendale, if Bradford has begun his maturation as an NFL quarterback and Anderson has done the face-plant many are expecting of him, the two clubs might indeed be equals. But for now, you have to give the visiting Cardinals the edge. Even if Anderson fails to recapture his magic of 2007, he should still be better in start number 35 of his career than Bradford will be in start number one. There is enough residue of the Cardinals' back-to-back division titles present for Arizona to work toward a win, while there is still too much uncertainty present within a Rams team that has racked up as many starting quarterbacks (6) as wins since 2007.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Cardinals 25, Rams 19</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2010/9/10/2320766/nfl-week-one-arizona-cardinals-at-st-louis-rams-previewDan Moore