Rams vs. Cardinals: What's the Game Plan for St. Louis?

The St. Louis Rams (1-2) will travel west to face the Arizona Cardinals (3-0). The Cardinals are possibly the hottest team in the NFC at the moment, so only a superb game plan will give St. Louis a chance. 

Not only have the Cardinals been winning, but the victories have been quite lopsided, including a 31-19 win over New Orleans, a 48-23 win over Chicago and a 47-7 thumping against the San Francisco 49ers. 

Meanwhile, the Rams have struggled to transform their potential into tangible results. Things looked promising following a Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but back-to-back losses against Washington and Pittsburgh have spoiled the fun. Now, the 2015 outlook is suddenly grim. 

That's not to say all is lost. With Arizona and Green Bay up next, the Rams have a shot at two major wins. A victory against either could drastically turn the tide. 

The first step is tackling Arizona. Here's what to look for.

Offensive Game Plan

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The outcome of this game rests on St. Louis' ability to produce points. Lackluster offensive play has crippled the Rams the past two games, so maintaining a healthy offense is a major concern this week. 

Since the St. Louis run game has been so overwhelmed, the first thought is to put the offense in the hands of Nick Foles and the passing game. Unfortunately, the Cardinals lead the NFL with seven picks and are notorious for creating turnovers and disrupting the passing rhythm of opponents. 

That's not to say St. Louis should cower in fear when it comes to throwing the ball. In fact, the Rams will need a healthy passing game to pull ahead. But if the Cardinals see it coming every time and field six defensive backs all game, they'll make the Rams pay for it. 

In other words, the Rams need a balance. For that to work, it's vital to jump-start the run game this week. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. 

Benny Cunningham is the team's leading rusher after three games, yet he has just 57 yards on the ground—good for an average of 19 rushing yards per game. Also, the Rams rank 29th in the NFL with only 71.3 rushing yards per game. 

Obviously, that needs to change before this offense can appear even remotely competent. 

The primary issue is not with the backs but with the blocking up front. Despite using premier draft picks the last two years on big, mauling linemen, the front five has been incapable of getting any push. 

The Rams can make several adjustments to help with that. Adding tight ends to secure the edges is something the team has been doing, but it has offered little help. Instead, St. Louis should utilize Lance Kendricks as a fullback and lead blocker. Providing the backs with a mobile blocker to hide behind could open things up. 

Additionally, it's time for the Rams to get creative. Since the extra tight ends are doing little to set the edge, why not bring in a sixth lineman instead? Lining up veteran backup Garrett Reynolds alongside rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein, at least in certain packages, could give the run game a boost. 

So long as the run game can get going—someway, somehow—it will force Arizona to play honest defense. If that happens, it'll force the Cardinals to stick with four defensive backs, which will ultimately open up the passing game. 

Defensive Game Plan

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On defense, it's all about rattling Carson Palmer and disrupting the potent Arizona passing game. 

Larry Fitzgerald has been on fire this season. With 333 yards and five touchdowns in three games, he has been virtually unstoppable. He resembles the 2008 Super Bowl Fitzgerald more than a 32-year-old pass-catcher on the decline. 

The Rams must disrupt the chemistry between Palmer and Fitzgerald. Fortunately, St. Louis has the ability to do that with its dangerous pass rush. 

The Cardinals will attempt to silence the pass rush with quick passes and a healthy run game, which is why the secondary must make plays. If the secondary is stingy, it'll give the playmakers up front a chance to break into the backfield and rattle Palmer. 

A multi-sack game will make Palmer antsy and nervous. If that happens, he'll be prone to mistakes. If the pass rush can force a few bad throws that turn into picks, the Rams will have a shot in this game. 

Additionally, the Rams must contain the deep ball to John Brown. Nothing kills momentum like giving up a long touchdown, so the safeties must ensure he's in front of them at all times. 

As usual, the Rams will give up yards between the 20-yard lines. As long as the red-zone defense is tough and nasty, as it was against Pittsburgh, St. Louis has nothing to fear. 

The Cardinals just hung 47 points on the 49ers, but that's not a concern. The Steelers had a 43-point performance against San Francisco in Week 2 but managed just 12 points against the Rams. St. Louis has the talent to limit Arizona offensively. 

Key Matchups

Calais Campbell vs. St. Louis Offensive Line

Calais Campbell is the most dangerous threat to the St. Louis offensive line. He's a playmaker for the Arizona front seven and causes a lot of mayhem. 

At 6'8" and 300 pounds, Campbell is an athletic beast. Containing him will be a nightmare for the young linemen such as Havenstein and Greg Robinson. 

The offense must be aware of Campbell at all times. The offensive needs to call plays that avoid Campbell and never run right at him. 

On passing plays, he will require double-teams. If he's in the backfield all day, the aerial game will never get going. 

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Fitzgerald vs. Janoris Jenkins

As mentioned, Fitzgerald has been lighting up the field. Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins will be responsible for taking him on and keeping him in line. 

Fitzgerald can pick up yards in the middle of the field, but Jenkins' job will get difficult in the red zone. Fitzgerald is a physical beast, so it'll take an unbelievable performance by Jenkins to shut him down in the end zone. 

If Jenkins can keep Fitzgerald from posting any points, the Rams will be in good shape. 

Aaron Donald vs. Jonathan Cooper

St. Louis' defensive production depends on the pass rush disrupting the backfield. The battle between Pro Bowler Aaron Donald and Jonathan Cooper will be worth watching. 

Cooper was a prized offensive line prospect in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately, he missed his rookie season with a broken leg, per the official Cardinals website. The Cardinals are surely expecting a big rebound for Cooper, so this will be an excellent opportunity for him to prove himself. 

Donald has been relentless in every game this season and already has 3.5 sacks on the year. If he gets the better of Cooper, the defense will thrive.