The gumbo the New Orleans
Saints are cooking up is flavored with lots of passes
from Drew Brees to Michael
Thomas, plenty of runs by Alvin Kamara and
Mark Ingram, and enough dashes of defense to negate the high-powered offense of
the Los Angeles
Rams.
Will that be the proper recipe?
HERE'S HOW THEY MATCH UP:
WHEN LOS ANGELES HAS THE BALL
Balance is the keyword to the Rams' offense, starting with
the NFL's most versatile running back, All-Pro Todd Gurley (30). Gurley not
only led the NFL with 21 TDs, he ranked fourth with 1,831 yards from scrimmage
despite being slowed in December. He can do the dirty work inside and also break
long gainers. And when he's struggled with knee issues recently, late-season
pickup C.J. Anderson (35)
has been masterful.
To combat the ground game, the Saints could be at a disadvantage
after losing DT Sheldon
Rankins to a torn Achilles tendon last week. They'll require
steady production from their best linebacker, Demario Davis (56)
who led the Saints with 110 tackles this season, and strong play from the
D-line. But the Rams bring a staunch blocking unit featuring LT Andrew
Whitworth (77), LG Rodger
Saffold (76) and RT Rob
Havenstein (79).
Should LA control the trenches, it will open up what already
is a highly creative passing repertoire for Jared Goff (16)
and wideouts Robert Woods (17), Brandin Cooks (12)
and rapidly developing Josh Reynolds (83).
All of them can find the end zone, with Cooks being the main deep threat. A
former Saint, he'll likely match up with CB Marshon
Lattimore (23), who had two interceptions against Philadelphia.
Teams can throw deep on New Orleans, and the Rams will try.
Goff, though, will need protection from pass rushers Cam Jordan (93), Marcus
Davenport (91) and the always-present Davis. And Goff must not
let the noise factor affect him.
WHEN NEW ORLEANS HAS THE BALL
Just like LA, New Orleans will try nearly anything on
offense. Fourth-down plays, a form of the wildcat with backup QB/special
teamer Taysom Hill,
and old-fashioned grinding will be in play.
Brees (9) has had one of the best seasons of his Hall of
Fame-caliber career, particularly with his efficiency. Last week, though, it
was his leadership that stood out as the Saints fell into a 14-0 hole and
looked amateurish before rallying.
Knowing New Orleans will need lots of points in this one,
Brees could target All-Pro WR Michael Thomas (13) as often as he did against
Philly, which was 16 times. Thomas caught 12 and had a TD. He will be the
problem of standout CBs Aqib Talib (21)
and Marcus Peters (22),
both of them willing to gamble in coverage.
The Saints don't have another outstanding wideout or tight
end, but RB Kamara (41) almost equals Gurley for all the things he can do --
and he's healthier. Kamara and Ingram (22) will be challenged by a defense that
shut down NFL rushing leader Ezekiel
Elliott and the Cowboys and features the only unanimous
All-Pro, DT Aaron Donald (99).
Dealing with Donald and the other solid defensive linemen -- Ndamukong Suh (93)
and Michael
Brockers (90) -- will be a Saints unit led by LT Terron
Armstead (71) and LG Andrus Peat (74),
who have been bothered by chest and hand injuries, respectively, and RT Ryan Ramczyk (71).
Giving Brees time and Kamara/Ingram holes could be decisive.
SPECIAL TEAMS
An indoor game makes for stronger kicking and, often, less
impact by placekickers and punters.
LA PK Greg Zuerlein (4)
and P Johnny Hekker (6)
might have the most powerful legs in the league, and Zuerlein is a field-goal
threat from 60 yards and in. Hekker probably could put a punt off the Superdome
roof.
Although Wil Lutz (3)
missed a 52-yard FG attempt that kept the Eagles close last week, he's reliable
and, for someone in his third season, has hit a bunch of pressure kicks. Thomas
Morstead (6) is in his 10th season with New Orleans, longer
than anyone except Brees.
The Rams aren't exceptional on returns, but they aren't
inept, either. JoJo Natson (19)
has handled most of the punt runbacks, while Blake
Countess (24) is the kick returner.
New Orleans, like the Rams, has not returned a kick for a
score. Tommylee
Lewis (11) has become the main guy.
COACHING
Sean vs. Sean. Two entirely different Sean in terms of
experience.
New Orleans' Payton is in his 12th season in charge; he
missed 2012 while suspended in the Saints' bounties scandal. His offensive
schemes fit perfectly with Brees' skillset, and he won't be overwhelmed by the
surroundings, having won the 2009 championship. Payton will gamble, including
fake punts with his version of a Swiss Army knife, third-string QB Taysom Hill
(7).
LA's McVay is the hot commodity on the pro football market.
Every team looking for a new head coach has at least investigated people who've
worked with McVay, who will be 33 next Thursday. He's innovative, aggressive
and, in some ways, one of the guys.
Because both Sean are willing to go for it, this should be a
fun battle of wits.
INTANGIBLES
The Rams have never won a Super Bowl while representing Los
Angeles; they got one in 2000 as St. Louis' team -- that Super Bowl also was in
Atlanta. Wade Phillips, while never one of the NFL's great coaches, is one of
the best defensive coordinators ever. He's eager to prove so again in facing
such a productive attack.
Brees is closer to the end of his career than perhaps anyone
in this game, though he's given no indication he is about to retire. Winning a
second Super Bowl would cement his place among the sport's top quarterbacks. MY PICK: SAINTS
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