All-Pro tackle vs. 'fine' lineman

ST. LOUIS -- Orlando Pace vs. Hugh Douglas already was perhaps the most intriguing matchup of Sunday's NFC championship game, without throwing Kurt Warner's sore ribs into the mix.

Now, the Philadelphia Eagles' twice-fined pass rush specialist against the St. Louis Rams' All-Pro tackle takes on added importance. That's because the Rams realize they can't allow Warner, who missed practice Thursday, to get hit.

"Hopefully, he doesn't get close to the quarterback at all," Pace said. "Hopefully, he doesn't get another fine for slamming another quarterback. If I do my job correctly, he won't."

Douglas was fined $35,000 by the NFL earlier this week for the hit that knocked Bears quarterback Jim Miller out of last week's playoff game. Miller separated his shoulder in the second quarter of the Eagles' 33-19 victory when Douglas blocked him to the ground after he threw an interception.

Douglas also was fined $5,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson in a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 12. He plans to appeal the latest fine, and he doesn't plan to change his style on Sunday.

"I'm not going out there to try and hurt Kurt Warner," Douglas said. "But this is football."

The Rams' offensive line already was under alert because of the Eagles' heavy reliance on the blitz. Philadelphia had 45 sacks in the regular season, 13 1-2 by linebackers and the secondary, and forced 33 turnovers.

"Think they're going to blitz this week?" guard Adam Timmerman said. "I think people know they've got to get after Kurt. They're not going to let him sit back there and pick people apart."

Douglas is going to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season. He got one of his 9.5 sacks against Pace in the season opener, a 20-17 Rams overtime victory.

Pace, the first overall pick of the 1997 draft, gave up only two sacks all year. Andre Carter of the 49ers got the other.

"I think it's the perfect match," Rams coach Mike Martz said. "Obviously, you know what we think of Orlando. The thing he does so well is he can get caught off-balance on a pass rush and recover and finish the block."

It's safe to say Pace remembers Douglas. At 325 pounds, he outweighs him by 45 pounds, although Douglas has quickness and unpredictability on his side. Pace said Douglas is probably the toughest defensive lineman he's faced because he's good against the run and the pass.

"One thing Hugh is going to do, he's going to come out every snap and play hard," Pace said. "He's a smaller guy but he plays with a lot of power. If you let a guy like that get under you, he'll have a good day."

Offensive line coach Jim Hanifan said Douglas' sack was the only blemish on Pace's day in the opener.

"He shut him down the entire time, except for that one," Hanifan said. "I think he got a little relaxed for a moment. I remind him about it, too, and it always kind of gets him."

The Rams will again go with Rod Jones at right tackle in place of Ryan Tucker, who also missed last week's victory over the Packers with a sprained ankle. Hanifan said Tucker looked much better Friday and could play as a reserve if needed.

"That's what I'm here for, to step up when needed," Jones said. "I don't think Kurt has it in him to take too many big hits this weekend.

"It's definitely up to us to give him time and keep those guys off him at all costs."