Rams News

Rams camp comes into focus
07/18 07:27 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff
Dick Vermeil knows that for the Rams to compete this season, Isaac Bruce (right) must stay healthy and Tony Banks must continue his development from late '97. Your star wide receiver -- and the team's best player -- tears his hamstring and misses almost all of training camp.
Your No. 1 draft pick misses all of training camp before signing.
Your backup quarterback misses two weeks of camp because his son has brain cancer.
Your third defensive end -- who you hope will challenge for the starting job -- turns himself in to authorities on federal drug charges.
Your starting left guard is a no-show amid reports of a failed steroids test. He finally shows up, only to walk out of a team meeting a couple of weeks later -- and is released.
Welcome to Dick Vermeil's world, in July and August 1997.
``Like George Allen used to say -- the only guy that doesn't have problems in the NFL is dead,'' Vermeil said. ``They buried the guy.''
Vermeil nearly got buried by those problems one year ago. As with anything else in life, there are always unexpected setbacks on a football team. But to have so many, before even the first regular-season game, had to be overwhelming. Especially for a coach who had been out of the game for 14 years.
``I wasn't overwhelmed, but I was distracted,'' Vermeil said. ``I expected to have problems. I think everybody that takes over a program, and takes a different approach, is confronted with problems.
``But some of the things were prolonged. Rather than you have a problem, and it's over in a day or two. Some of those things just went on and on.''
Which made it impossible for Vermeil to give his undivided attention to what was happening on the practice field every day.
``Concentration is one of the most critical things you have to control,'' Vermeil said. ``Not only from a coaching staff standpoint, but from a player's standpoint.''
As he enters his second training camp as Rams coach, Vermeil is looking for a smoother ride. By the way:
> The star wide receiver, Isaac Bruce, is healthy and ready to ramble.
> Last year's No. 1 draft pick, Orlando Pace, is in the best shape of his life.
> The backup quarterback entering camp is Steve Bono. Sadly, last year's backup -- Mark Rypien -- is sitting out the year (after signing with Atlanta) because of serious illnesses to his wife and son.
> The third defensive end battling for a starting job is Jay Williams, replacing James Harris. Harris was found not guilty of the drug charges and is now with the Oakland Raiders.
> The starting left guard entering camp is Ed Simmons. The man who held that distinction last year, Gerald Perry, is long gone.
There are a couple of storm clouds on the horizon. For one, cornerback Ryan McNeil may sit out part or all of training camp -- or more -- in a contract dispute. For another, Craig ``Ironhead'' Heyward may not have a job if he shows up overweight.
Nonetheless, Vermeil says this training camp -- which begins Sunday at Western Illinois University in Macomb -- ``will be a more stable environment for everybody. Not just because of (fewer) problems. Just because of organization. Just because we have been there and done it together.''
Vermeil believes the entire football program has matured in a year's time.
``I feel comfortable in saying that the squad is more in tune with a philosophy, with an approach, than they were a year ago at this same time,'' Vermeil said. ``We're not going to work any harder, we're just going to work a lot smarter.''
Similarly, his coaches are more aware of what Vermeil wants and how to get it done. It's a revised staff with Peter Giunta and John Bunting serving as co-defensive coordinators -- replacing the retired Bud Carson; Mike White coaching quarterbacks instead of tight ends; Lynn Stiles handling tight ends; and newcomer Ed White working with Jim Hanifan on the offensive line.
Speaking of which. . . . ``The offensive line is our No. 1 objective to improve in training camp,'' Vermeil said.
But there are plenty of other ``objectives'' in Macomb:
> Quarterback Tony Banks needs to continue the growth he displayed during the offseason, and in much of the second half of the '97 season.
> The wide receiver corps needs to become more efficient, drop fewer passes, and stay healthy.
> Simmons needs to show he can play left guard, basically a new position for him, or else second-year man Ryan Tucker needs to take over.
> Jerald Moore and draft pick Robert Holcombe must upgrade the running back position.
> The defensive coaches must decide how to use Ray Agnew, D'Marco Farr, Joe Phillips and Jeff Zgonina as they vie for time at defensive tackle.
> Strong safety Toby Wright will attempt to return to form after reconstructive knee surgery.
> No. 1 draft pick Grant Wistrom must settle in at defensive end.
And on and on. If enough of those things don't happen, Vermeil will have a whole new set of problems.

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