| The game of the week is at the Vet, where the run-and-gun
Rams meet the upstart Philadelphia Eagles. You may be expecting a high-scoring affair,
but this one will be decided on defense.
The Rams made several changes on defense where as many as eight new faces may find
their way into the starting lineup under new coordinator Lovie Smith. The Eagles did
little tinkering, but tried to upgrade their speed on defense.
With Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jim Johnson concerned about stopping RB
Marshall Faulk (26 TDs, 2,189 yards from scrimmage), QB Kurt Warner (21 TDs in 11 games)
and WRs Isaac Bruce (87 rec., 1,471 yards, 9 TDs) and Torry Holt (82 rec., 1,635 yards, 6
TDs), a knee injury suffered to DB Troy Vincent in Thursday’s practice has
complicated matters further.
The Eagles’ secondary is in for a challenge, but the foursome of Vincent, Brian
Dawkins, Bobby Taylor and Damon Moore is a solid secondary, maybe one of the best in the
league — with Vincent.
If Vincent, who suffered the injury when he collided with LB Mike Caldwell in practice,
cannot play, fourth-year corner Al Harris would start opposite Taylor. Harris would have
help, but Warner, Bruce, Holt and explosive WR Az Zahir-Hakim are sure to give Harris a
workout.
Another injury, to left-side speed rusher N.D. Kalu, takes away another chard of speed
the Eagles were counting on to counter the abundance of rug runners boasted by the Rams.
Kalu is out with a high-ankle sprain, which leaves RDE Hugh Douglas (15 sacks in ’00)
and rookie Derrick Burgess to pressure Warner on "passing downs" …
that’s three out of four in St. Louis.
DE Brandon Whiting has limited ability in blitz packages and won’t help the
Eagles’ defense a great deal if the Rams stick to their air attack.
St. Louis enters the opener with concerns of its own. MLB London Fletcher, who Smith
called the single-most important presence on defense, has been bothered by a hamstring
injury. LB Don Davis, who came to St. Louis with Smith from Tampa, has a bad foot but is
listed as probable.
With beat up linebackers, rejuvenated RB Duce Staley can provide balance in the form of
a steady running game.
The biggest concern is DE Grant Wistrom, the team leader in sacks with 11 in ’00.
Wistrom strained his left knee in the club’s second preseason game against Buffalo
and missed the remaining three games on the exhibition schedule.
If Wistrom, listed as doubtful, doesn’t play, the Rams would start DEs Leonard
Little and Cedric Jones … prospects that have Eagles’ QB Donovan McNabb
drooling.
Without a pass rush, the improvisational McNabb is allotted more time to find an open
receiver — and given enough time, TE Chad Lewis (69 catches in ’00) and WRs Todd
Pinkston, James Thrash and Freddie Mitchell will find an opening — or make a play
with is feet.
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