By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
08/22/2005
The Lambs D looked terrible last week. The Chargers layed the wood to them early like some of last seasons ass kickings at the Q. St Louis came back in the 2nd half and made the game look closer than it really was.In mid-February, the strong safety job belonged to Pisa Tinoisamoa. Not long after the draft, fourth-round draft pick Jerome Carter moved to the top of the depth chart. And now, less than three weeks removed from the regular-season opener, the Rams have gone full circle.
That's right, Adam Archuleta is back at strong safety.
"We're going to move Adam back to strong safety," coach Mike Martz said Monday. "When it's all said and done, Adam's probably better down inside than back - particularly in our nickel package. He's such an instinctive and quick read guy in the running game. We miss him being up there."
After finishing the 2004 season with what was diagnosed as a herniated disc in his back, Archuleta made his exhibition debut Sunday against San Diego playing free safety.
As the game went on, Archuleta seemed to get more comfortable. According to unofficial press-box stats, he led the Rams with six solo tackles. Late in the second quarter, he forced Chargers quarterback Drew Brees into a hurried incompletion on a blitz.
But the most noticeable play involving Archuleta in the 36-21 loss to San Diego didn't turn out well. He was the last line of defense on LaDainian Tomlinson's 55-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, a play in which Tomlinson juked Archuleta and then ran by him to the end zone.
"When it gets to the free safety, he has to make that play," Martz said after the game. "That's just the way it is."
Perhaps. But given Tomlinson's speed and skill, and the fact that he had plenty of daylight once he broke the line of scrimmage, it would have been a tough play to make for any safety in the league.
In any event, moving Archuleta back to strong safety may be more a case of wanting to shore up the run defense after the Rams were gouged for 215 rushing yards by the Chargers.
On the Tomlinson run, the Rams were in an eight-man front and overran the play. Middle linebacker Chris Claiborne stepped into the hole near the line of scrimmage but was unable to make the tackle.
Later in the first quarter, backup running back Michael Turner gashed the Rams for 55 yards on a nonscoring run. The Rams were in their nickel defense on the play. Turner made a cutback to elude Carter, and defensive back Michael Hawthorne missed a tackle on the play.
All told, Martz said there were "six real bad plays on defense."
But the problems with run defense Sunday may have had as much to do with how the unit was lining up as any shortcomings in personnel.
"What we do in the preseason, at least in the first two games, is we look at different packages on offense and defense," Martz said. "Particularly on defense. And we went into this game to try and look at a couple coverages, and some fronts."
And just kind of see what happens.
"Now, you can do that in the preseason and not have it cost you anything," Martz said. "So what it becomes is a catalog on both sides of the ball that you draw from for the rest of the season."
But after what happened on defense against the Chargers, the Rams plan to throw a couple of things out of the catalog.
"Some of the stuff that we're doing front-wise, we're going to get away from," Martz said. "We don't like it. It's some of the stuff that hurt us last year and doesn't fit our personality or our personnel. So we're going to change some of those things."
Martz wasn't specific, but the Rams were especially susceptible to cutback runs a year ago. And cutback runs are easier to make when a defensive front is shaded to the strong side (the tight end side), leaving less help weakside in the cutback lanes.
No matter how the Rams line up, Martz thinks putting Archuleta back at strong safety - and ahead of Carter on the depth chart - will help the run defense.
"The reason we put him at free safety is related to his back," Martz said. "But he got through this (game) fine. So as long as he's OK with it, I'd like to make that move. ... And I think he really kind of wants to be back down there in the action so to speak instead of in the back."
Players were off Monday, and Martz hadn't had a chance to meet with Archuleta. Archuleta couldn't be reached for comment Monday by the Post-Dispatch.
With Archuleta back at strong safety, who's the starting free safety?
"There's several guys back there that I think are going to be really good," Martz said. "So I'm not really concerned about it. We're trying to identify guys, give them opportunities to make plays on both sides of the ball and on special teams, and see what they do. Now we've got a pretty good book on everybody."
For now, Hawthorne appears to be the logical choice at free safety. But rookie Oshiomogho "O.J." Atogwe, who was held out of the Chargers game with what Martz termed a slight groin injury, also could challenge for the job. And converted wide receiver Mike Furrey also is in the mix.
I attribute the Rams downfall to bad draft picks on defense. Jimmy Kennedy, Robert Thomas, and Damione Lewis have been first round picks on defense 3 out of the last 4 years, and have underachived and disappointed. Their defensive front seven play like they're in the witness protection program.
I don't see the Titanic making it to port or the Rams making the playoffs this year........
