First Win on the Line as Alpine Rams Travel to London
Two winless teams, one gets to leave with their first victory of the season
Someone Goes Home Happy
Week 3 brings one of the more intriguing matchups of the round. The Alpine Rams travel to London to face the Warriors, and with both teams still looking for their first win of the season, the stakes could not be clearer. One of these rosters will get off the mark. The other heads into Week 4 with questions to answer.
Can Lyles Protect the Ball?
For London, the key question surrounds quarterback Karé Lyles. The talent is there, and Lyles has shown he can move the offense. But four turnovers over the opening weeks have been a real problem, and against a physical Rams defense those mistakes will be punished. If Lyles can tighten things up and play a clean game, the Warriors have the offensive tools to win this. If the turnovers continue, London will find it very hard to get the result they need.
London’s Linebacker Corps Could Be the Difference
One area where the Warriors genuinely look strong is at linebacker. The trio of Kadel King, Emmanuele Falola and David Inzyon gives London a serious presence in the middle of the field. If those three can control the line of scrimmage and limit what the Rams do on the ground, London’s defense could set the tone for the whole game.
Rams Have Weapons, If They Stay Disciplined
The Alpine Rams are not short of offensive firepower. Wide receivers Devan Burrell and Kevin Kaya give quarterback Gabriel Cunningham genuine options on the outside, and homegrown receiver Benjamin Lolmede is a name to watch after flashing his big play ability in the Week 2 loss to Berlin. The problem for the Rams has not been talent. It has been discipline. Twenty penalties for 133 yards in their opening game effectively cancelled out their own big plays and handed Berlin a much easier afternoon than it should have been. Against the Warriors, that simply cannot happen again.
One to Watch
Two hungry teams, a home crowd behind the Warriors, and a first win up for grabs. The matchups are there on both sides, and if the Rams can stay clean and Lyles can protect the football, this has the makings of a proper contest. Something has to give.
