READY TO SLOW A ROLL

Rams acquired Ford, hoping he can keep Barkley from running roughshod against them

- BY GARY KLEIN

EAGLES key players are, from top left, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and Lane Johnson. Top Rams are, from bottom left: Nate Landman, Jared Verse and Poona Ford.

After Saquon Barkley ran past, through and over them twice last season, the Rams made a big move to stop the Philadelphia Eagles' star running back from doing it again.

Ostensibly, general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay signed lineman Poona Ford to improve the overall run defense. To give a young ascending front an experienced player.

But it really boiled down to one thing: Stop Barkley.

"I have heard that," Ford, chuckling, said this week. "But, you feel me, I don't look at it like that."

Maybe not. But Rams fans who cringed while watching Barkley amass more than 200 yards rushing and score on two long touchdown runs in each of the Rams' defeats by the Eagles last season hope that is the case.

The Rams gave Ford a three-year contract that includes $17 million in guarantees, according to Overthecap.com. They also signed linebacker Nate Landman to a oneyear, $1.1-million deal.

Through two games - victories over the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans - both moves paid off as the Rams gave up only one touchdown.

But Barkley, mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts and a line led by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata present an entirely different challenge for a Rams team regarded as a Super Bowl contender.

Ford played five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and one season each with the Buffalo Bills and the Chargers before joining the Rams. He has played against Barkley twice.