It didn’t matter what the Rams tried.
Almost every time Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray made a play in October, it turned into a productive and sometimes spectacular play by the professional in the Rams’ 37-20 loss.
What can the Rams do to prevent a repeat of Murray’s performance?
They spent this week formulating a strategy for their rematch this Monday night in Glendale, Arizona.
“We know we have to try to corner him, not let him out and spread the plays,” Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald said Friday. “So if we do that, we will be fine.”
Murray, the top pick in the 2019 NFL draft, completed 24 of 32 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams at SoFi Stadium. Murray also rushed for 39 yards in the Cardinals’ first win against Rams coach Sean McVay.
After sustaining an ankle injury during an Oct. 28 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Murray was left without playing three games. He returned last Sunday against the Chicago Bears, passing for two touchdowns and rushing for two in a 33-22 victory.
Murray has passed for 19 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He has run for five touchdowns.
“When you play guys like him, you have to run with great vision and violence,” said Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. “You have to keep him in place, and you have to make him become a short passer.
“And hopefully if he becomes a short passer, you can make some plays with the ball.”
The Rams defense has changed in various positions since the first game against the Cardinals.
Greg Gaines is playing tackle in place of Sebastian Joseph-Day, who suffered a chest injury Oct. 24 against the Detroit Lions.
Gaines, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, has 2 1/2 sacks.
Three weeks after the loss to the Cardinals, the Rams traded inside linebacker Kenny Young to the Denver Broncos and installed rookie Ernest Jones as the starter.
A week after trading Young to create cap space, the Rams went back to the Broncos and traded for eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller.
Miller has 110½ sacks in his career. Yet as he prepared for his fourth game with the Rams, he was still looking for his first with his new team.
Miller did not practice Friday for a personal matter, but said this week he was ready.
“They traded me for sacks and pressure and just to be a solid edge defender and make game-changing plays and help AD,” Miller said. “This is the game where I have to be able to do what they ask of me.”
“That is why they brought me here. That’s my job. That is my responsibility. I’m going to do that to make this team successful in the playoffs and hopefully go to the Super Bowl. “
The Cardinals (10-2) are currently the top-ranked team in the NFC. The Rams (8-4) are the fifth seed.
Miller said Murray, a fellow Texan, was “the GOAT already.”
“He can throw the ball down the field, see the options,” Miller said. “If you create a list of qualities, he has all those points going for him, for sure.”
Rams’ Aaron Donald prepares to tackle Cardinals running back James Conner in their last game. Connor could see more action this time against the Rams because Chase Edmunds is recovering from an ankle injury (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
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The Rams must also stop the Cardinals’ attack. In the first game between the teams, Chase Edmunds rushed for 120 yards. Edmunds is three games out with an ankle injury and has not been activated from injured reserve. Therefore, the Cardinals could rely on James Conner, who has run for 12 touchdowns.
The Cardinals have also added tight end Zach Ertz to an offense that includes star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Green, Rondale Moore and Christian Kirk. Ertz, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 15.
Ertz has 23 sacks, three for touchdowns.
“He does bring another aspect to his offense,” Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey said, “and to the game.”
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