Rams defense worst in NFL vs. the run

ST. LOUIS -- Steve Spagnuolo's reputation was built on defense, which keeps letting him down.

The St. Louis Rams are the NFL's worst against the run by far with five games to go in a lost season. At times they've been spectacularly bad, surrendering two franchise-record rushing days.

They can't lean on injuries as an excuse, either. Unlike the secondary, which has lost its top three cornerbacks, the front seven has been pretty much intact.

Arguably, it's the most disappointing facet of the franchise's nosedive. The Rams (2-9) have a rough finishing stretch against opponents that are a combined 37-18 -- tied with the cross-state Chiefs for the toughest in the NFL -- and could end up with a top two pick in the draft for the fourth time in five years.

DeMarco Murray had a career day for Dallas with 253 yards rushing in Week 6. Then Arizona's Beanie Wells put up 228 yards on only 27 carries Sunday. They're not the only ones. The Rams have allowed 159 yards per game.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is tackled by Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis during their game last month in St. Louis. (TOM GANNAM ~ Associated Press)

Murray had a 91-yard touchdown run. Wells broke loose for gains of 71 and 53 yards, the latter setting up the game-winning field goal.

"It's embarrassing to give up that many rushing yards," Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said.

The Rams forced three turnovers and held the Cardinals to 114 yards passing last week. They lost 23-20 mostly because they couldn't contain Wells, who has only three career 100-yard games.

"He's a good back, but we just weren't very consistent," Rams nose tackle Fred Robbins said. "You've got to stop the run in the NFL."

The Cardinals totaled 268 yards rushing with a 7.1-yard average against a unit that's been good in spurts but awful on the whole. Opponents are averaging 5.1 yards per carry, worst in the NFL.

Tackle Justin Bannan has missed two of the last three games with a shoulder injury, including the Arizona game, with C.J. Ah You starting in his place. The other three linemen, Robbins and ends Chris Long and James Hall, have started every game.

There hasn't been much turnover at linebacker, either, with Laurinaitis making every start and weakside linebacker Chris Chamberlain getting the nod the last seven games. Brady Poppinga has made seven starts at strongside linebacker.

If it was a single issue, Spagnuolo said he would have corrected it a long time ago. Instead, it's been sporadic, aggravating breakdowns.

"We just have to be more consistent," Robbins said. "We've got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot. We'll play good here and there in spurts, but we give up too many big plays."

The Rams did pretty well against the run in the month since Murray's big day. The Saints got only 56 yards on 20 carries in St. Louis' 31-21 Week 7 upset, Wells had 20 yards on 10 carries in Arizona's overtime victory in Week 8 and the Seahawks got 126 yards with just a 3.2-yard average in Week 10.

The 13-12 victory over the Browns in Week 9 was the exception, with Chris Ogbonnaya gaining 90 yards with a 4.7-yard average. The problem still appeared to be solved.

Then Wells got loose. Larry Fitzgerald didn't make his first catch until the third quarter, but Wells stepped up and also had a 7-yard scoring run.

Wells was a major factor in a bitterly disappointing loss as the Cardinals ran out the clock.

"So you grind through practice, you take the runs you're going to see this week and make sure they're not issues, and hopefully you get a better result," Spagnuolo said. "We tighten up in the red zone, but field position is lost.

"So we've got to get it corrected."

This week's challenge will be holding down Frank Gore, who needs 22 yards to pass hall of famer Joe Perry for the 49ers' franchise record. Gore is sixth in the NFL with 909 yards, averaging 4.5 yards with five touchdowns.

They're trying to forget about Wells.

"Whether we had stuffed it, you've got to put it behind you," Laurinaitis said. "Having said that, I'm sure San Francisco saw the tape and is probably thinking they can do a lot."