| There’s no questioning how impressive the
Rams’ offense is. It’s run by a man (head coach Mike Martz) who just might have
the most complex offensive mind in the game today. It’s guided by a quarterback (Kurt
Warner) who led the NFL in passer rating (101.4) and threw for the second-most yards in
NFL history (4,830) this season. It’s multiple in its looks, it’s intimidating
in its nature. But … The common thread in opponents that have given the Rams’
offense troubles is a strong defensive line capable of rushing the passer and disrupting
Warner’s timing. The Eagles, Giants, Saints and Buccaneers all gave the Rams fits
this season with the help of their front four.
In their divisional playoff Sunday against the Packers, the Rams could have similar
problems. Green Bay ranked fourth in the league in sack percentage in the regular season
and boasts impressive depth along their defensive line.
Despite the loss of elephant end (right end) John Thierry to a season-ending knee
injury, the Packers still have the ability to rotate eight defensive linemen if necessary.
Power end (left end) Vonnie Holliday has moved to Thierry’s spot, with Cletidus Hunt
entering the starting lineup.
Though more of a force against the run, Holliday has performed well against the pass,
recording seven sacks during the regular season, second on the team. Nickel rusher Kabeer
Gbaja-Biamila led the team with 13 1/2 sacks, but nine came in the first four games.
But the Packers don’t come at quarterbacks with only their defensive ends.
Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell runs an aggressive, blitzing scheme that has the ends
moving upfield and a safety usually positioned near the line of scrimmage.
"This is a high-pressure defense, and as long as you keep pressure on the
quarterback, that’s what it takes to beat these guys," Packers S Billy Jenkins
said. "You want to try to get (Warner) to do what he’s not used to doing, which
is making bad decisions, and give us some turnovers.
"(Donatell is) not afraid to blitz. This is a game we have to go in and give them
everything we have. This is the playoffs. You don’t win, you go home. There’s
not going to be any tentativeness at all."
Donatell’s blitzing is evident in the Packers’ sack numbers, which were
spread over 13 players during the regular season, including WLB Nate Wayne (5 1/2). Green
Bay’s most productive linebacker, Wayne returned full-time from a back injury last
week vs. the 49ers and performed well.
But given all the weapons Warner has, Donatell will have to come up with something
special to defend the Rams’ high-powered attack. Donatell was part of the
Broncos’ defensive staff that helped upset QB Brett Favre and the Packers in Super
Bowl XXXII with an array of blitzes.
"You can ask any coach, and he’ll say scheme plays a part in every football
game," Packers head coach Mike Sherman said. "I’m a firm believer that
players have to go take that scheme to the field and be players. But certainly we have to
go up there with a quality scheme that can adjust to all the things they do, both
offensively and defensively."
The Packers’ offense has proved it can put points on the board. But it likely will
be the team’s aggressive defense that decides whether the Packers will advance to the
NFC championship game. |
