The Los Angeles Rams’ schedule has not been easy thus far. They’ve faced three of the four conference championship representatives from last postseason, which are the only three teams they’ve lost to.
On Sunday, they’ll get a little bit of a break when they host the 1-4 Arizona Cardinals, a team that’s missing Kyler Murray, James Conner and Budda Baker. That doesn’t mean the Rams should overlook their next opponent, but it’s a game they should win.
Here are four causes for concern as they prepare for the Cardinals in Week 6.
Getting off the field on third down
The Rams could not stop the Eagles on third down last week, allowing them to go 13-for-18 on that crucial down. It’s why Philadelphia was able to shorten the game and limit the possessions for the Rams.
The Cardinals aren’t a great offense by any means, but they are 10th in third-down conversion rate (41.7%), so they know how to move the chains and keep drives alive. That’ll be tougher for them without James Conner healthy, but this is still an area of concern for the Rams.
Containing Josh Dobbs as a runner
Dobbs has had three really good games as a runner and two quiet games on the ground. In the Cardinals’ win over the Cowboys, he rushed for 55 yards on six carries, including a 44-yarder on the opening drive.
He’s an athletic quarterback who doesn’t get designed runs called for him like Lamar Jackson or Anthony Richardson, but he’s effective when scrambling. The Rams’ zone-heavy defense should help with containing him as a runner.
Tackling Cardinals’ ball carriers
The Rams have a tackling problem. They missed 11 tackles against the Eagles, many of which were on third down and allowed Philadelphia to convert and move the chains. The Cardinals have some elusive players on offense, including Rondale Moore, so the Rams have to be better about wrapping up and getting guys on the ground.
Missed tackles are an easy way to lose a game to an inferior opponent.
Limiting big plays
The Cardinals have 18 runs of at least 10 yards this season, which is the fifth-most in the NFL. Rondale Moore has a few of those, as does James Conner, but Dobbs has created some big plays on the ground, too.
Though Arizona doesn’t create many long gains through the air, the Rams can’t let players such as Moore or Brown get behind the defense and pick up big chunks of yardage. They have to make the Cardinals sustain drives and move the ball methodically down the field.
