Upgraded 'D' improves its turnover production

ST. LOUIS -- Any turnover, let alone the game-altering 85-yard interception return by Adam Archuleta in Sunday's victory over the Titans, was a rare occurrence last season for the St. Louis Rams.

The takeaways are becoming more plentiful and have helped the Rams to a 2-1 start heading into this week's game at the New York Giants. The Rams have forced seven turnovers, including three against the Titans, after totaling a league-low 15 all last season.

To coach Mike Martz, the difference is a combination of player upgrades at linebacker, a much improved line and perhaps most important, a comfort zone with the defense. Last year the Rams tried to integrate defensive coordinator Larry Marmie's system piecemeal throughout the season and the team struggled on that side of the ball.

The Rams have been solid overall on defense this year, and the changeover starts there. None of the first three opponents has rushed for 100 yards.

"I think everybody is on the same page," Martz said Monday. "We went through that last year where we were kind of this and kind of that.

"Larry's had a chance now, this is his defense, so to speak."

Tackle Ryan Pickett, one of three first-rounders in the interior line, again led the push up front, and ends Leonard Little and Brandon Green each had a sack. The defense, led by the line and by linebacker additions Chris Claiborne and Dexter Coakley, kept the Cardinals out of the end zone last week and allowed two touchdowns Sunday.

"Our job is to defend and get the ball back any way, by turnover or forcing a punt," Marmie said. "Hopefully you can do that without them scoring a lot of points."

Safety Michael Hawthorne had a hand in the other two turnovers, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chris Johnson and getting his first interception of the season after Titans quarterback Steve McNair was hit while throwing. Both came in the second quarter.

"We're playing fast," Martz said. "If you play fast on defense and chase that ballcarrier and get more than one or two guys on the pile, something good is going to always happen."

The game was the third in a row to go down to the wire for the Rams, who lost on a last-minute interception at San Francisco and held on at the end to win at Arizona last week.

"I'm going to need some heart pills soon," said wide receiver Torry Holt, who caught nine passes for 163 yards and a 32-yard touchdown. "At some point in time we have to say enough is enough and let's finish a ballclub out early, and let's get out of here with a clean victory."

The game was tight because the Rams had four turnovers themselves. Martz still took exception to one of those giveaways, a controversial lateral call that ended up with a 41-yard return by Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon. It led to a field goal that cut the Rams' lead to four points with 6:08 to go.

On Monday, Martz re-enacted quarterback Marc Bulger's swing pass to Steven Jackson, which he maintained went just enough forward. The lateral call was upheld after Martz challenged.

"I was anxious to see it on tape when I came in this morning," Martz said. "You think about it all night long, especially if we'd have lost that [game]. It's not a lateral, there's no question about it."

Martz credited defensive line coach Bill Kollar for alerting Jackson, who had walked away from the ball, to chase down Sirmon.

"I think we had all turned around and started walking away from that one, and Kollar was going nuts," Martz said. "He was hollering, 'Get the ball, get the ball.' Thank goodness Steven was able to run him down."