Hammock Parties
12-17-2010, 05:06 AM
Shows you what a badass Albert is, and Moeaki.
* Let's begin a breakdown of the KC-STL matchup by stating the obvious: the Rams had better be able to stop the run on Sunday at The Edward Jones Dome. And that's true whether Matt Cassel plays or doesn't play QB for the Chiefs. Kansas City leads the NFL in yards rushing per game, 165.4. The Chiefs lead the league in runs of 10+ yards, with 60. Their average per carry of 4.8 yards is 4th. They are second in thee NFL in rushing first downs. And according to STATS LLC, the Chiefs have the second-lowest "stuff" rate on their running plays.
* Two Chiefs rank among the top 20 rushing leaders: Jamaal Charles is No. 3 with 1,177 yards and a tremendous average of 6.1 yards per rush. The Chiefs were smart to bring in veteran Thomas Jones to complement Charles and the system has worked beautifully, with Jones rushing for 766 yards (20th in the NFL) and an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Charles and Jones have combined for 8 rushing touchdowns.
* To address a more specific concern: the Chiefs' best area of running the football happens to be the weakest area of the Rams' run defense. The Chiefs love to attack the defense with perimeter runs to the far left side; they've gone there 117 times for 677 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per attempt. They've gained 10+ yards on 26 runs to the left sideline. And when the Chiefs run off left tackle, they've gotten 208 yards on 37 carries (5.8-yd average).
* Charles averages 7.1 yards per carry on 60 runs to the left sideline. And off left tackle, he's carried 20 times for 154 yards for an average of 7.7 yards per carry.
* I don't want to give the impression that the Chiefs are a left-handed team. They're also very strong on perimeter runs to the far right, averaging 5.1 yards on 100 carries there.
* So how do the Rams match up against the Chiefs' primary running strength? On paper, not very well. The Rams, who have struggled at outside linebacker, have been vulnerable against perimeter runs -- especially to the left sideline. Opponents have rushed to the left outside 106 times for 537 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry. And on runs to the right sideline the Rams have given up 4.3 yards per carry. In all, the Rams have allowed 28 runs of 10+ yards on carries to the far left or far right.
* Let's begin a breakdown of the KC-STL matchup by stating the obvious: the Rams had better be able to stop the run on Sunday at The Edward Jones Dome. And that's true whether Matt Cassel plays or doesn't play QB for the Chiefs. Kansas City leads the NFL in yards rushing per game, 165.4. The Chiefs lead the league in runs of 10+ yards, with 60. Their average per carry of 4.8 yards is 4th. They are second in thee NFL in rushing first downs. And according to STATS LLC, the Chiefs have the second-lowest "stuff" rate on their running plays.
* Two Chiefs rank among the top 20 rushing leaders: Jamaal Charles is No. 3 with 1,177 yards and a tremendous average of 6.1 yards per rush. The Chiefs were smart to bring in veteran Thomas Jones to complement Charles and the system has worked beautifully, with Jones rushing for 766 yards (20th in the NFL) and an average of 4.0 yards per carry. Charles and Jones have combined for 8 rushing touchdowns.
* To address a more specific concern: the Chiefs' best area of running the football happens to be the weakest area of the Rams' run defense. The Chiefs love to attack the defense with perimeter runs to the far left side; they've gone there 117 times for 677 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per attempt. They've gained 10+ yards on 26 runs to the left sideline. And when the Chiefs run off left tackle, they've gotten 208 yards on 37 carries (5.8-yd average).
* Charles averages 7.1 yards per carry on 60 runs to the left sideline. And off left tackle, he's carried 20 times for 154 yards for an average of 7.7 yards per carry.
* I don't want to give the impression that the Chiefs are a left-handed team. They're also very strong on perimeter runs to the far right, averaging 5.1 yards on 100 carries there.
* So how do the Rams match up against the Chiefs' primary running strength? On paper, not very well. The Rams, who have struggled at outside linebacker, have been vulnerable against perimeter runs -- especially to the left sideline. Opponents have rushed to the left outside 106 times for 537 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry. And on runs to the right sideline the Rams have given up 4.3 yards per carry. In all, the Rams have allowed 28 runs of 10+ yards on carries to the far left or far right.