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Rams use blitz to get after Colin Kaepernick

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With only three weeks between meetings with the San Francisco 49ers, the St. Louis Rams didn't have the time nor the inclination to change much of what they do.

Instead of creative X's and O's, the Rams' 13-10 win against the Niners came more on the back of execution than anything else. Late last week, Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams made it clear that the biggest takeaway from the first meeting, a 31-17 Rams loss, was more about figuring out better ways to deploy his defenders.

So it was that Williams took an unusual tact to get his defense ready to play the Niners a second time.

“Scheme is one thing but how does scheme change within the opponent?" Williams said. "The same technique doesn’t work against a certain cat that you’re getting ready to play against. So, that familiarity helps a little bit. In fact, we had our own players this week a part of our meeting. It started the first week, we’ll have a scout or we’ll have coaches give a scouting report on the opponent. Had the players do that this week because they’re familiar. Especially when it’s that close. There’s a good remembering part of it.

"Now, you also have to stay ahead of the curve on what are they doing. What do they do the second time you see people? Does their game-ready sheet change a little bit? Will they show us some different packages? So, all that thought comes in to play. But the familiarity part of it I think helps the players a little bit understand the battle they’re getting ready to go against on their individual battles.”

Nowhere was that understanding more easily observed than the constant and relentless pressure Williams dialed up with blitz after blitz. By the time the day was done, Williams had called for 22 blitzes against San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Co.

Or, as San Francisco tackle Joe Staley so eloquently put it, "they were blitzing, like, a s--- ton."

That the Rams were blitz happy should be no surprise. Williams has made a career of forging exotic blitz looks and generating pressure on the quarterback. The Rams rank first in the NFL in blitzes per drop back at 45.3 percent.

It was the Rams' success that was more shocking for the 49ers. In the first meeting on Oct. 13, the Rams blitzed 11 times and registered no sacks as Kaepernick went 5-of-10 for 97 yards and two touchdowns with a rush for 23 yards.

Clearly, Williams and Co. identified some opportunities to get after Kaepernick on a more consistent basis by bringing more than the Niners could handle. On the team's 22 blitzes, the Rams got home for three sacks and dropped Kaepernick after just a 2-yard gain. Kaepernick did complete 12-of-18 passes with a touchdown, but he came under fire more often than not.

Even the threat of the blitz appeared to make Kaepernick a little weary as the Rams finished with eight sacks. Kaepernick also mishandled a pair of snaps, including one on a third down when it appeared he was looking for the pass rush when the shotgun snap came.

“We were just getting after it," defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. "We were rushing the passer like we know how. We were a little bit more comfortable out there today and things started opening up for us.”

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