Seahawks vs Rams: Full St. Louis Game Preview
It's finally here. The slow news days and mundane offseason discussions are finished, as the sport of all sports has made its triumphant return.
It's time for the NFL to kick off the regular season.
The St. Louis Rams will host the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome. It's a fierce NFC West matchup guaranteed to get the 2015 season off to a running start.
Not only is this a showdown between bitter rivals, but given the constant talks of relocation, this game also carries significant emotional relevance. If things don't favor St. Louis down the road, this could be the final home opener in the dome.
For that reason, and for the sake of the 2015 campaign, the Rams could use a resounding victory.
A Week 1 loss to a defending conference champion won't necessarily sabotage the season, but it's still an important game for St. Louis. A victory will not only help the Rams shed their reputation as a slow-starting team, but it will give this young roster an early boost of confidence, which could prove valuable in the long run.
And while the first game never makes or breaks a team, it's important to consider the consequences of losing this game.
The Rams have not won in Seattle since the 2004 season. If history is any indication, we can chalk up that Week 16 contest at CenturyLink Field as a loss. That means a defeat for St. Louis in the opener will basically put the Rams at a 0-2 division record right off the bat. At the very least, the Rams would then have to sweep another division rival and split with another to remain competitive in the NFC West.
The Rams can still recover if they get tripped up at the starting line, but the team is young and struggles with consistency, so a fast start would be an enormous benefit.
Win or lose, Rams fans are surely eager to see the stellar St. Louis defense in action, as well as Nick Foles and the new run-heavy offense.
This article will preview the upcoming game, including the latest headlines, injury news, matchup analysis and more.
Viewing Info
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: KTVI Fox (St. Louis Local)
News and Notes
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Kam Chancellor's Absence a Lucky Break
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll confirmed, per Marc Sessler of NFL.com, that three-time Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor will in fact miss Sunday's game against the Rams.
As the article mentions, Chancellor is holding out in an attempt to obtain a better contract. Neither side is bending, making this perhaps the ugliest holdout since Darrelle Revis' 35-day absence in 2010—but even Revis was back in pads before the New York Jets' season opener.
Prior to the Super Bowl in February, Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent pointed out, per Seahawks.com, that Chancellor is the leader of the Seahawks, particularly the Seattle defense. The "Legion of Boom" is simply not the same without Chancellor's smarts, leadership, viciousness and overall playmaking skills.
This is no small loss for Seattle. Without the intimidation Chancellor provides, the entire Seahawks defense will be less lethal, and that will undoubtedly create opportunities for the Rams' offense.
Tim Barnes Wins the Center Job
The battle for the starting center job was considered one of the most wide-open competitions throughout training camp. After a long preseason, the Rams finally named Tim Barnes as the starter, per Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Barnes, with four career starts, was the only member of the competition with any starting experience, so it was likely his job to lose in the first place. He beat out second-year pro Demetrius Rhaney, who made the roster after flashing potential at guard during the preseason, as well as Barrett Jones, who was cut by the team—a move that was somewhat unexpected.
Pass protection shouldn't be an issue for Barnes. He dropped back in pass protection nearly 1,500 times at the University of Missouri and was a reliable member of the pass-happy Mizzou offense. However, his strength is a bit underwhelming as a run-blocker, which might cause some issues down the road.
Rams Once Again Dealing with Youth
Now that the 53-man rosters are complete, Philly Voice was able to calculate the average age of each team and publish its annual results.
As you might have guessed, the Rams can once again boast (or mourn) over the fact that they once again have the youngest team in football, with an average roster age of 24.94. It's the fourth straight year St. Louis has achieved the honor (or curse), and the Rams were the only franchise to finish with an average age below 25.
Youth can have many different advantages and disadvantages, as we've seen the past three years.
For one, the Rams' overall health last season was solid thanks to the lack of aging veterans. The Rams placed just eight players on injured reserve by the end of 2014—the fifth-lowest total in the league at the time, per NJ.com.
And while the Rams have been hindered by certain veteran contracts—primarily Sam Bradford, Jared Cook and James Laurinaitis—the presence of young, emerging talents playing under rookie contracts has allowed the Rams to do more with less.
Unfortunately, there's a very clear downside. The Rams have finished in the top three in penalties every year under Jeff Fisher, and the shortage of discipline is beyond aggravating. It's hard to believe the flags are not a direct result of the team's youth.
Not to mention, the lack of inexperience has caused great inconsistency. The Rams can secure big wins, such as the quality victories over the Seahawks and Denver Broncos in 2014, and then choke against average teams such as the Minnesota Vikings or New York Giants.
Now that Fisher is dealing with this same issue for a fourth consecutive year, perhaps he has learned a few tricks to help overcome it. If not, Rams fans could be in for another year of stress-inducing errors.
Latest Injury News
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Here's the injury report for both the Rams and Seahawks, according to ESPN.com:
Rams
RB Todd Gurley (Knee): Out
RB Tre Mason (Hamstring): Questionable
Seahawks
RB Marshawn Lynch (Non-Injury): Probable
RB Robert Turbin (Ankle): Out
QB Tarvaris Jackson (Unspecified): Probable
Todd Gurley is still bouncing back from the knee injury that ended his 2014 season with the Georgia Bulldogs, but it won't be long before the Rams get a look at their first-round draft pick.
According to NFL.com, Gurley has been cleared for contact drills on the practice field and could play by Week 4. Gurley likely needs a few weeks worth of practice reps before he's truly comfortable stepping in on game day, but it won't be long.
As for Mason, the ESPN report mentioned that he missed practice on Wednesday. Nick Wagoner reported that he'll be a game-time decision for the Rams.
It's also worth noting that Rodger Saffold, who missed nearly the entire preseason, is no longer on the injury report. He's the team's best offensive lineman, so his return will provide a nice boost for the offense.
Top Matchups
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Seattle Linemen Will Face Ultimate Challenge Against St. Louis Pass Rush
The Seattle Seahawks have managed to consistently win despite their offensive line, not because of it. It remains a troubling unit on a team with few weaknesses.
Despite Russell Wilson's elusive mobility, the Seahawks still surrendered 42 sacks in 2014—the 12th-highest total in the NFL. This year, Wilson will be without two-time Pro-Bowl center Max Unger, since traded to the New Orleans Saints, who was arguably the top offensive lineman on the team. Unger will be replaced by Drew Nowak, who entered the league as a defensive lineman and spent last season on the practice squad.
For a team such as St. Louis—a team that boasts one of the most lethal pass rushes in the game—this is an ideal Week 1 matchup. If Aaron Donald finds himself in one-on-one situations against Nowak, or any of the Seattle interior linemen, Wilson will have a hard time fleeing. Not to mention, Russell Okung will be dealing with Robert Quinn's stellar athleticism off the edge, which is always a handful for opposing left tackles.
If St. Louis is going to dominate one aspect of this game, it's undoubtedly the pass rush.
Nick Foles and St. Louis Receivers Must Beat Seahawks' Secondary
As I mentioned during the offseason, the run game will not thrive out of the gate. The Rams will have to depend on the veterans in the passing game—Nick Foles, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks—to carry the offense in the early weeks of the season.
The Rams drafted Gurley and multiple linemen in an effort to establish a run-first mentality, but it will take time for everything to fully develop. With three first-year starters on the offensive line, along with youth in the backfield, it's unlikely that the ground game will produce satisfying results right away.
If the Rams hope to score points against the Seattle defense, Nick Foles will have to find a rhythm with his receivers and get it done through the air. That's not easy to do against Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, but it's certainly less problematic than trying to run against Seattle's front seven.
Further, the absence of Chancellor should help St. Louis' cause in the aerial game.
St. Louis Defense Must Contain Marshawn Lynch
It's not enough to just hunt the quarterback. As we witnessed last year, consistent pressure does not necessarily equate to great play by the front seven. The Rams must also contain the run.
Despite Seattle's questionable offensive line play last season, Marshawn Lynch still accumulated 1,306 rushing yards—the second-highest rushing total of his career.
With Lynch at age 29, it will be interesting to see if he can continue his onfield dominance. He started off somewhat slow in 2014 with just one 100-yard game in the first half of the season, but he finished the year with four 100-yard games in the final eight contests.
If Lynch has lost a step, the Seattle offense will feel the blow. Even if he hasn't, the St. Louis defense has to be up to the task.
The Rams finished 14th in run defense last season after allowing 110.3 yards per game. That's not a terrible finish, but not good enough considering the front seven featured five first-round draft picks and one second-round pick.
With linebacker Akeem Ayers in the mix and Aaron Donald entering his second year, the run defense should be improved this season. The group has the potential to be a top-five unit, so this game will be an early opportunity to prove that.
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Matchup X-Factors
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Big Plays by Tavon Austin Could Spark St. Louis Offense
Tavon Austin managed to stand out in the preseason. Not only did he make plays, but he did so on offense. For a guy who has stood out primarily on special teams early in his career, that's exactly what the Rams needed to see.
Austin had pickups of 35 and 43 yards in the preseason. He lost some of his speed in 2014 after playing much of the season with a banged-up knee, which hurt his campaign, but he has apparently regained that explosiveness. With proper game-planning, the Rams will be able to put that to use.
The Rams shouldn't expect much on the offensive side of the ball, especially against the Seahawks. If Austin can create one or two back-breaking plays to set up scoring drives, that might be all the offense needs in this defensive battle.
Special Teams Will Once Again Prove Vital
St. Louis' special teams trickery against Seattle last season, including an 86-yard punt-return touchdown by Stedman Bailey, was absolutely the difference in that game.
It's unlikely that Seattle will be caught completely off-guard again, so the exciting trickery will have to wait for another opponent. Still, in a game that could transform into a defensive slugfest, special teams will be of vital importance.
Points will be hard to come by, so Greg Zuerlein will have to be sure-footed. His accuracy can be wild at times, but the Rams can't afford any inconsistency from him in this game.
Additionally, Johnny Hekker will have to win the field-position battle with his punts. If he can repeatedly pin Seattle inside its own 20, the St. Louis defense will take care of the rest.
A big play on a return would certainly be welcomed, but good tackling and excellent kicking will also help St. Louis achieve the win.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Rams 17
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Few fans are pessimistic on opening day, and we can understand why. Hopes have not yet been dashed and every goal of the new season is still achievable. For that reason, this prediction will not sit well with the majority of St. Louis fans—all of whom are envisioning a drastic shift from the usual mediocrity.
One only has to look at recent history to understand why the odds go against St. Louis in this game.
Every year under Fisher, the Rams have started the season with a 1-2 record. Only once in three seasons has the team won on opening day. What's worse is that the two opening-day losses were against weak opponents, such as a 2012 Detroit Lions team that ultimately finished 4-12, or a beatable 2014 Vikings team that finished just 7-9.
The Rams are slow starters. It's one of the weaknesses that has kept the team out of the postseason every year under Fisher. If St. Louis can somehow break the cycle, it'll help the team's cause in Week 1 and also provide a positive outlook for the entire 2015 season.
If the Rams win this game, it will be the result of defensive dominance, lucky breaks on special teams and several big plays on offense. For a young team that mostly struggled this preseason, that might be a lot to ask against the defending NFC champions.
A victory will be a welcomed surprise, but a hard-fought loss should not be viewed as a total disappointment, either.
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