St. Louis Rams vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy (30) celebrates his two yard rushing touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the St. Louis Rams at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 in Tampa, Fla. (Dirk Shadd/Tampta Bay Times/MCT)

(Dirk Shadd)

PHILADELPHIA -- After allowing 218 rushing yards to Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, the Eagles expect to see much of the same against the St. Louis Rams' run oriented attack.

Rams second-year running back Zac Stacy has drawn plenty of comparisons to Gore, who rushed for 119 yards and added a 55-yard touchdown reception in Week 4, which could prove to be the biggest challenge St. Louis presents the Eagles defense Sunday afternoon.

"We liked Zac [Stacy] coming out of Vanderbilt," Eagles head coach Chip Kelly admitted prior to Thursday's practice. "I think he's a very productive, tough, hard-nosed, physical runner. [It’s] kind of a different scheme that they are running him in, than [the one] in San Francisco. That's how they used him.

"But I think he's a tough, physical back and they are going to run the football. That's something that [offensive coordinator Brian] Schottenheimer does and really truly believes in. You're going to get some tight ends, fullbacks, a lot of motions out of shifts and things like that. So he's certainly going to have the focus of our attention in the run game."

After a strong rookie season that saw Stacy finish with 973 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 3.9 yards per carry, Stacy's numbers are down slightly to start the season but already has 181 yards and one touchdown through the Rams' first three games.

Playing against Gore last week could prove to be an advantage according to some defensive players.

"They're both strong and powerful runners and you have to bring everything you have against them," inside linebacker Emmanuel Acho said. "But after playing Frank Gore, you have to do the same thing with him because I brought everything I had against Gore and he still tried to keep it moving.

"I think to play a team like San Francisco, now you have it all behind you. San Francisco being one of the top teams last year, they're one of the top opponents in the league so after you play a team like that, a runner like Gore who has eclipsed the 10,000 yard mark you've gotten rid of any anxiety you may have had prior to a matchup like that."

Stopping the run has proven a difficult task for the Eagles defense that ranks 26th in the league allowing 133 yards per game.

Utilizing Stacy's downhill running style could be a key in Rams head coach Jeff Fisher's gameplan and if that's the case, slowing him could prove to be critical for the defense.

"He's a guy that's gonna get what we give him," Cedric Thornton said. "If we give him two or three yards, he's going to take it and try to get more. He's not an outside runner, but someone who's going to run between the gaps."

Perhaps the biggest key for the Eagles defense is the ability to contain Stacy from having an afternoon like Gore did against them last week. If he does, it could prove to be a long day for a defense that's still trying to find its footing.

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