Rams' Cleeland relishes chance to line up against Saints

ST. LOUIS -- After 2001, the NFL broke up the Rams-Saints rivalry. Not that the time that has passed since the Saints moved from the NFC West to the South in realignment has diminished any of the heat surrounding the series.

Just ask Rams tight end Cam Cleeland, who played in New Orleans from 1998 to 2001 and has bitter memories of his days there.

"Now that I'm on the other side, it's kind of weird," Cleeland said. "I know what they're preaching down there, I know what they're telling them: 'They're soft, they're weak, they're going to turn it over.'

"I just want to kick the living tar out of these guys more than anything."

Not only that, but Cleeland would relish the opportunity to catch a ball near the Saints sideline and get a chance to pop former coach Jim Haslett.

"I don't know, let's just say he'll be looking for me probably," Cleeland said.

The feeling, no doubt, is mutual, although both coaches are saying all the right things.

Haslett said he doesn't miss playing the Rams twice a year.

"If you were watching them, they were fun to watch," Haslett said. "They were probably the most exciting games I've been in."

Rams coach Mike Martz compared the series to the best college football rivalries.

"When you have this kind of enthusiasm and excitement, it's like Michigan playing Michigan State, it's like USC and UCLA," Martz said. "That's been gone for some time, and it'll be interesting how the players respond, but there's enough players on both teams to be excited about it."

Both teams are 1-1, and the Rams are scrambling to recapture the offensive firepower they had when both teams were in the West.

When both teams were in the West, game week was a little less cordial. Reporters got the impression then that the coaches couldn't stand each other.

But Martz had a hearty laugh this week when he was asked whether he still hated Haslett, then noted that the two spent time hanging out at the owners' meetings.

"He's a good guy, and I enjoy his company, but he's competitive of course, just like all coaches," Martz said. "It's fun to play Jim and I'm sure he enjoys playing the Rams. I think it's good for the NFL."

The Saints (1-1) and Rams (1-1) split two regular-season meetings in 2000 and '01, although New Orleans beat St. Louis in a first-round playoff game in 2000 to derail the Rams' bid for consecutive Super Bowl championships.

"He had one of the best offenses in the history of football," Haslett said. "Back then, we were two different types of teams: We were just a pounding, grind 'em out offense.

"They've changed and we've changed; we've kind of migrated toward them."

The Rams' once high-flying offense has been grounded thus far, averaging only 17 points per game. Five turnovers combined with inopportune penalties and struggles inside the 20 have been to blame.

The rebuilt offensive line had a big debut in a 17-10 win over the Cardinals. Last week in a 34-17 loss at Atlanta, the Rams were held to 30 yards rushing. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace looked rusty coming off his training camp holdout, getting burned for the clinching touchdown when Brady Smith stripped Marc Bulger in the end zone.

"We're not panicking," Bulger said. "There were some bright spots in the game last week where we played like a championship team. If we can get off the roller coaster a little bit and steady in a little bit, we'll be OK."

The defense also has been off its game against the run, surrendering 242 yards to Michael Vick and the Falcons. Emmitt Smith had 87 yards in the opener. Plus, after leading the NFL with 46 takeaways last year, the defense thus far has none.

"It's early, and just like every other NFL team we're trying to work our way through the season and trying to establish our identity," strong safety Adam Archuleta said. "We didn't play well last week, and that's behind us."

The Saints were more effective on offense, at least last week. Aaron Brooks threw three touchdown passes and Donte' Stallworth caught a career-best nine passes for 113 yards in a 30-27 victory over the 49ers. In the opener, New Orleans lost 21-7 to the Seahawks.

This week, the Saints will be without running back Deuce McAllister, sidelined with a high right ankle sprain. The replacements are Aaron Stecker and Ki-Jana Carter, whom they released last week.

"We'll try to muster up as much as we can," Haslett said. "We've been through this before when we lost Ricky Williams a couple years ago. We'll just rely more heavily on the passing game and our offensive line will be called on to have a better game."