How Each Panther will be Key in this game.

If Martz puts Little against Gross, he's dumber than I thought. Gross will manhandle that little waif. He won't get a sniff.

I refuse to believe Lovie Smith is that stupid until I see it with my own eyes. Little could burn Steussie for 3 sacks before Henning kept Mangum in to help. Gross can handle him on his own.

 

He's played LDE all season. Why should he switch sides for one game?

 

I think the key player for us may be Ricky Manning. He needs to play well. He has the skill to stay with the Rams receivers but will he choke being a rookie and all? I think Minter has a big role too. A couple of big hits will slow them down. On offense Delhomme can not make the big mistakes.

 

The more I hear (read) and think about the match-ups the more phenomenal this game looks. Strengths vs. weaknesses would suggest that it should be high scoring IMO. It might be one of those “on the edge of your seat” games for the ages.
31-31 in regulation . . . Kasay wins another one for us in OT!

 

I am with ya Thelt...Secondary needs to hit some people. Grant and Minter need to lay some hammer down on Holt and Co so they start thinking too much about what happens after the catch...

 

From NFL.com -
>>>St. Louis is 25-0 when RB Faulk rushes for 100 yards. ... S Aeneas Willimas has six playoff INTs, tied for seventh-most all-time. With two more, he can tie Ronnie Lott, Bill Simpson and Charlie Waters for the most in NFL history. ... S Jason Sehorn has four INTs in five playoff games, and has recorded an INT in each of the three postseasons he has participated in.<<<

So, our D limits Faulk and their running game and forces them to pass where we get a timely pick or two. At the same time Delhomme will have to play smart and NOT LOCK ONTO RECEIVERS OR TRY TO FORCE PASSES INTO GOOD COVERAGE. Without question Jake is THE key to a W or an L in this one.
If the Panthers take what the cocky Rams give them we will be talking about what our guys have to do to win next weekend.


>>>The Rams are unbeaten in their past 14 games at the Edward Jones Dome and perfect at the venue in the playoffs. They have also won the last two meetings vs. the Panthers<<<

All I have to say about that stuff is the law of averages will be a byotch for the Crams when it catches up to them and their fans this Saturday.)

 

I think Shane Burton and Al Wallace will be extremely important. We need to keep our defensive line fresh. We are incredibly fortunate to have two such capable reserves.

 

Doesn't it make sense to you to put your Pro Bowl pass rusher on the weakest pass blocking tackle?

 

Agreed, but I have a hunch OLB play may be crucial in this game. The way to beat the Rams is to play them very physically, but that has to come from the entire back 7, not just the safeties.

 

not when he's played that spot all year... how oftern do you see us switching Peppers and Rucker around? Much less with that logic we could switch Gross and Steussie at random depending on who they are guarding