Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted July 17, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Don't look for cornerback Ryan McNeil when the veterans report to training camp July 23.

Still chafing over the team's "franchise player" designation, which prevented him from shopping the free-agent market, McNeil has set a September 1 deadline for deciding whether to accept the team's $3.2 million tender offer for 1998, or sit out the season like Sean Gilbert did in '97 in Washington.

Besides the tender offer, the Rams still have a four-year, $13 million offer on the table. But McNeil's agent says his client wants $30 million over six years.

For now, the Rams seem perfectly willing to let McNeil sit. He has, after all, no leverage. But that could change if there are injuries in camp, or if current backups Dexter McCleon or Taje Allen get scorched in exhibition play. . . .

More than a dozen Rams have offseason workout clauses in their contracts. Among that group, only fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward and running back Amp Lee failed to earn their bonuses by participating in the required number of workouts at Rams Park.

Lee's absence was somewhat surprising given his leadership qualities and the fact he was voted team MVP last season. Nonetheless, overall team participation was markedly improved over last year. Entering training camp, this easily is the fittest Rams team since the franchise moved to St. Louis in 1995. . . .

The team rescinded its June 1 tender offer to unrestricted free agent Ernest Dye, meaning the Rams no longer are interested in his services. Dye, once a first-round pick by Arizona, was a reserve offensive lineman for the Rams last season. He has received very little play in free agency. . . .

The Rams could use depth at linebacker, but after some evaluation and discussion, have decided not to pursue recently released Greg Lloyd of Pittsburgh because of injury concerns.

They remain interested in Chicago veteran Ron Cox, who paid a free-agent visit to Rams Park during the offseason, but not at his current asking price.

Cox would give the team a linebacker who could play over the tight end, something the Rams don't really have in their current outside 'backers -- Roman Phifer and Michael Jones. . . .

Vermeil has switched gears and decided not to have safety Toby Wright begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Wright is about 85 percent recovered from offseason reconstructive knee surgery.

POSITION ANALYSIS

OFFENSIVE LINE: This unit is on the spot like no other in Rams land. Coach Dick Vermeil has stated repeatedly in the offseason that the team will go only as far as the offensive line takes it -- that improved line play is the team's No. 1 priority.

That task begins in earnest this week with the start of training camp. For left tackle Orlando Pace, it's his first camp. He missed all of training camp in 1997 before signing a contract.

QUARTERBACK: Although the Rams are placing greater emphasis on the short-passing game and timing patterns, this is the first time in a decade Steve Bono will play in a non-West Coast offense; that makes this a most important training camp if the former 49er, Chief, and Packer wants to extend his NFL career.

How quickly Bono adjusts to the new system could determine whether he wins the backup job over Will Furrer and Kurt Warner.

RUNNING BACK: July 23 could be D-Day for Vermeil and Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. That's the day veterans report and get weighed in. Vermeil has adamantly said Heyward will not practice -- will not even be part of the team -- if he doesn't meet the team's target weight of 260.

Some team insiders think Heyward might be cut on the spot if he doesn't come close to 260, making third-year man Derrick Harris -- who didn't play a down in 1997 -- the starter.

RECEIVER: If Eddie Kennison picks up where he left off in 1997, newcomer Ricky Proehl could be starting opposite Isaac Bruce at wide receiver. Kennison struggled through an injury-plagued year, in which his production -- and his confidence -- bottomed out.

But he was an regular during the offseason conditioning program, something that wasn't the case a year ago, and he seems more dedicated to the game; that's good news for the Rams, who ideally would like to use Proehl as their third receiver, in the slot.

DEFENSIVE LINE: One of the most interesting battles of camp will be sorting out tackles Ray Agnew, Joe Phillips and Jeff Zgonina. It may be that they simply will be part of a four-man rotation that also includes D'Marco Farr.

Starters may change from game to game, depending on what the opponent does and who's playing well. Entering camp, Agnew is listed behind Zgonina at left tackle, with Phillips behind Farr.

LINEBACKER: Every minute of training camp is important to rookies Leonard Little (University of Tennessee) and Jason Chorak (University of Washington). After spending much of their college careers as defensive ends, the Rams are trying to shape them into speed-rushing outside linebackers.

The pass-rushing part of their jobs should be no problem. But how well will Little and Chorak play in space? How quickly can they develop acceptable pass-coverage skills? The answers will determine the amount of playing time Little might see this season, and Chorak's ability to simply make the team.

DEFENSIVE BACK

With Toby Wright's activity limited at the start of training camp as he continues his comeback from reconstructive knee surgery, Billy Jenkins Jr. has a chance to make inroads on the strong safety job.

Jenkins was impressive in two late-season starts in place of the injured Wright, including a 17-tackle game against Chicago.

Gerald McBurrows, with 13 career starts in three NFL seasons, could also fit in the picture here. But he may see more practice time at free safety, where the Rams don't have a bonafide backup for Keith Lyle.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Unless they totally blow up in preseason play, there will be no competition at punter and kicker. Jeff Wilkins is the only kicker in training camp; Rick Tuten is the only punter.

INJURY ANALYSIS

Vermeil may alter his practice approach slightly in response to all the hamstring injuries the receiver corps suffered in training camp a year ago, most notably wide receiver Isaac Bruce.

Vermeil plans to occasionally have the receivers perform a drill at a walk-through pace, just to save their legs.

FEARLESS FORECAST

After much huffing and puffing, cornerback Ryan McNeil will accept the team's one-year tender offer as a franchise player, and report to camp a week or two late.

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