Super Bowl Breakdown

Sporting News, The, Jan 31, 2000

Super bowl 34 pits the high-powered St. Louis Rams, who excel on artificial turf and indoors, against the red-hot Tennessee Titans, who beat the Rams, 24-21, on Halloween and are riding a seven-game win streak. Here's how the team match up for the rematch in Atlanta.

When the RAMS have the ball

RAMS Running Offense VS. TITANS Run Defense

Although the Rams don't have a power running offense, they run the ball well for two primary reasons: the threat of their devastating passing offense and, of course, Marshall Faulk. Opposing defenses are forced to play a lot of nickel and dime schemes to match up against the Rams' explosive receivers, and when that happens, huge running lanes are opened up for Faulk.

The Rams finished the season fifth in the NFL in rushing, but they face a very active Tennessee defense that finished 10th against the run and had allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season until Jacksonville's Fred Taylor gained 110 yards Sunday. The Titans will blitz from anywhere on the field, and SS Blaine Bishop is very physical against the run in their blitz package. So is FS Marcus Robertson, but he suffered a broken leg against Jacksonville and will be replaced by Anthony Dorsett, who represents a significant drop-off in talent. The Titans gamble at times on defense, and though they sometimes give up big plays, they create more of their own, such as the huge safety they recorded in the third quarter against the Jaguars. That play turned the game around and gave Tennessee an incredible five safeties for the year.

Faulk is a great runner in the open field, and so the Titans must find and tackle him before he gets that far. Don't be shocked if the Rams run right at DE Jevon Kearse. The best way to neutralize an outstanding pass rusher is to attack him, which prevents him from chasing from the backside. Kearse was almost a non-factor against Jacksonville, and the Rams likely will test him. Look for St. Louis to attack the Titans early in the vertical passing game to set up opportunities in the running game. If Tennessee is forced to sit back and play cover schemes, Faulk could have some big plays in the inside running game and on draw plays.

RAMS Passing Offense VS. TITANS Pass Defense

Yes, QB Kurt Warner and the Rams' offense had an off-day in the NFC championship game, but they were facing a monster Tampa Bay defense. The Rams match up better against the Titans, who ranked 25th in the league in pass defense this season. The Rams, who had the league's No. 1 passing offense, have astonishing speed and athleticism at the skill positions.

Tennessee has built a reputation with its 46 defensive package, which leaves its corners on an island with as many as eight or rune defenders blitzing. However, in recent weeks, the Titans have been playing more double coverages. Against the Rams' multi-receiver sets, Tennessee likely will try to double Isaac Bruce and possibly Tom/Holt, who got banged up against the Bucs. The Titans' challenge will be to mix up their coverages and to put pressure on Warner without leaving their corners vulnerable all of the time. If the Rams' line can pick up the Tennessee blitz, Warner will have ample opportunities to make big plays against this secondary. Warner is good at using all his receivers, including Ricky Proehl, Az-Zahir Hakim and TE Roland Williams.

It will be interesting to see how the Titans cover Faulk out of the backfield. If they try to get by with a linebacker, Faulk will eat them alive. They would be wise to cover him with Bishop, who is better as a run defender than in coverage.

The Rams will try to spread the field early in an effort to stretch the depth of the Titans' secondary. When Warner gets a single-coverage matchup he likes, he will attack it, whether it is his first, second, third or fourth option. That's what makes the Rams' offense so explosive.

RAMS Special Teams

The big concern for the Rams is K Jeff Wilkins. He has been bothered by tendinitis in his non-kicking knee, and he has missed a field goal in each St. Louis playoff game. If the Super Bowl comes down to a long field-goal try, the Rams could be in trouble. P Mike Horan is not known for his long punts.

The Rams are outstanding in the return game. Tony Horne led the NFL with a 29.7-yard kickoff-return average and has three returns for scores this season, including one in the playoffs against Minnesota. PR Az-Zahir Hakim had a respectable 10.5-yard average and one TD return. The Rams are athletic and aggressive on their cover teams.

When the TITANS have the ball

TITANS Running Offense VS. RAMS Run Defense

Although the Titans were only 13th in the NFL in rushing offense, they were third in the league in rushing touchdowns with 19. RB Eddie George is a workhorse, power-type back who will run primarily between the tackles against a St. Louis defense that led the league in overall run defense.

The Rams combine a physical style of defensive play along with good athleticism and pursuit. The key to their success against George may be keeping undersized but very effective MLB London Fletcher free to pursue to the ball. Tennessee has an excellent blocking fullback in Lorenzo Neal, and if he can get to Fletcher without being held up by Rams DTs D'Marco Fart and Ray Agnew, George could have some room to maneuver. George is not a big-play threat and his per-carry average (4.1) does not jump out at you, but he moves the chains and allows the Titans to control the dock. That's critical for the Titans, who must keep the St. Louis offense on the sideline as much as possible.