The Los Angeles Rams welcome home former offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur when the Arizona Cardinals come to town to face off on Sunday. With the loser of this game sitting in last place in the division, here are three causes for concern that if the Rams don't take care of them, they will be the avenues Arizona needs to achieve victory.
Outmaneuvered in pursuit of the pass
The Rams love to pass the football, and the Cardinals know it. They will try to force the Rams into second- and third-and-long situations by baiting passes and loading the box, forcing the Rams to run. Whatever they do, they can not let their offense stagnate.
LaFleur wants to drag this game out and use his running game to supplement his passing attack. Expect him to use the quick pass to open up the Rams' defensive
underbelly to the inside run. Long story short, if the Rams don't play smart football and stay ahead of the chains, the Cardinals will look to grind out a win through time of possession and field position.
The Rams can not throw themselves out of the game before Arizona eventually does.
Knowledge, strategy, and air power
Stafford is first in the NFL in passing attempts, with Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett sitting in third. The Cardinals have every reason to throw the football. It's the strength of their team; they have Trey McBride and Michael Wilson as dual-pass catching threats; starting running back Jeremiyah Love is out injured, and LaFleur knows Chris Shula's scheme inside and out.
Plus, Kam Curl is going to be playing on an injured ankle, while Trent McDuffie's game status remains unclear. The Rams did call up defensive back Cam Lampkin from the practice squad, meaning there's a legit possibility McDuffie could miss the game.
The various issues unfolding for the Rams are playing into the Cardinals' strength. They have Tyler Allgeier as a running back, but their passing game is feared for a reason. Oh, and they have Rams killer Kendrick Bourne as a third option. At least no Marvin Harrison Jr. this time.
Doomed again by special teams
Not many outside the Rams' building understand how awful their special teams unit has been in recent years than Mike LaFleur. To be honest, special teams are the reason why LaFleur doesn't have a Super Bowl ring, and he knows the Rams are still being plagued in that area.
They're debuting new kicker Blake Grupe, while their return and punting games remain inconsistent. LaFleur will have a trick up his sleeve to induce an issue, but it's not the Rams' style to have the opposition induce failures, as they'll typically commit them on their own.
Regardless of what the Cardinals do, the special teams remain the biggest red flag for Los Angeles, even with another change.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 3 biggest causes for concern vs. Cardinals
