Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted July 24, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Rams just can't seem to find a left guard.

During the 1996 and '97 training camps, veteran Gerald Perry either retired, un-retired or left camp at various times. He was released for good by the team last August.

On Wednesday, one day before veterans reporting day, Ed Simmons called the Rams to say he was retiring because of chronic knee problems.

Simmons, 34, had signed a one-year, $550,000 deal in June. He had been released by the Washington Redskins, for whom he had played since 1987, earlier in the offseason.

"I'm disappointed because we were looking for a guard with experience that could make a contribution, not only as a player, but as a leader," coach Dick Vermeil said. "Ed had been there and done it."

Simmons' surprise announcement elevates Ryan Tucker, a second-year player from TCU, to the starting position. Tucker played in less than 10 percent of the team's offensive snaps last season. He missed the first nine games after reconstructive knee surgery.

Tucker is big and tough, and figures to be a punishing run blocker. His pass-blocking skills need lots of work. . . .

With Simmons' retirement, the team may live to regret its inability to land a first-rate guard during free agency.

Joe Patton, the only player the team pursued heavily, decided to re-sign with the Redskins.

It was a great class of free-agent guards. Three of the four Super Bowl starters were unrestricted. The Green Bay Packers lost Aaron Taylor to the San Diego Chargers. The Denver Broncos lost Brian Habib to the Seattle Seahawks but retained Mark Schlereth.

Other top guards included: Kevin Donnalley, who left the Tennessee Oilers to sign with the Miami Dolphins; Jim Pyne, who left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign with the Detroit Lions; and Joe Panos, who left the Philadelphia Eagles to sign with the Buffalo Bills. . . .

For now, the Rams plan to stand pat at guard. Vermeil said the team isn't interested in re-signing John Gerak, who started all 16 games at left guard a year ago with a bad elbow. He was released in June.

Ernest Dye, a Rams backup last year, is a possibility. Dye drew little interest as an unrestricted free agent. . . .

Rookie free agent Billy Austin, a safety from New Mexico, fills a roster spot created by the departure of cornerback Omarr Morgan, a rookie free agent from BYU. Morgan left camp after one day over concerns about his mother, who is ill. . . .

Plans to sign Roger Jones fell through when Jones failed his physical because of a back problem. Jones is a seven-year NFL veteran who played most recently with the Oilers.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

OFFENSIVE LINE: Now that Ed Simmons has retired, the team may change its plans on John Flannery, the free-agent pickup from the Dallas Cowboys. The plan was to have Flannery push Mike Gruttaduaria at center. Now the team will work Flannery at left guard as well, behind Ryan Tucker. Look for Ethan Brooks and Tom Nutten, who had been working at right guard, to see time at left guard in training camp.

QUARTERBACKS: Steve Bono is new to the Rams, and the offense of coordinator Jerry Rhome. And as was his custom as a Kansas City Chief, he spent most of the offseason at his home in the San Francisco Bay area, rather than the Midwest. But Bono is mastering the offense, and Vermeil says he's not concerned about Bono getting up to speed. Or getting in shape. Following an afternoon practice in 104-degree heat on Tuesday, Bono was seen running wind sprints after practice.

RUNNING BACKS: OK, so it's less than a week into training camp. But the early returns on second-round pick Robert Holcombe are encouraging. Vermeil is impressed by Holcombe's up-the-field running style -- he doesn't do much dancing to the outside. Still, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery would like to see Holcombe try a little less wiggling as he approaches a defender, and try to take on occasionally take on the tackler head on -- as was Walter Payton's running style. Holcombe also performed better in blocking drills than expected.

RECEIVERS: If the team keeps only five receivers, fourth-year man Johnny "J.T." Thomas could be in trouble. Why? Because rookie free agent Tony Horne of Clemson is impressing coaches in the early going. Horne showed good hands, good change of direction and good acceleration during the rookies/selected veterans portion of training camp. In a college career marked by some off-the-field problems, Horne caught 68 passes for 897 yards and nine touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Vermeil wasn't kidding when he said new defensive tackle Joe Phillips was a weight room warrior. Phillips showed up for his 13th NFL training camp Thursday looking strong enough to lift the pickup truck he arrived in. Phillips, who was released by Kansas City during the offseason, said he wanted to be extra fit this camp to stay healthy and beat the heat. Although he's listed behind D'Marco Farr on the depth chart, Phillips could end up battling Ray Agnew for the other starting tackle job in a run-stopping role.

LINEBACKERS: The team saw enough from rookie Leonard Little in the opening days of camp to think he could be a factor by midseason. That is not just a factor as a pass rusher and special teams player, as originally projected. Little, a third-round pick from Tennessee, flashed his pass rush skills. But he didn't embarrass himself on pass coverage, either, an area thought to be his weakness. It still will take some polishing, but the team is more encouraged about Little's ability to become a true outside linebacker rather than a pass-rushing specialist.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Without Ryan McNeil in camp, the team is getting a look at three possible right cornerback candidates: Second-year men Dexter McCleon and Taje Allen, and Willie Clark, a free agent pickup from Philadelphia. With McNeil holding out in protest of his franchise player designation, McCleon is the starter. He had some rough moments last season, relinquishing nickel back duties to Allen late in the season. Allen also had some rough spots, but displayed better coverage skills. Clark is fast and has credible coverage skills, but isn't much of a tackler. If McNeil shows up, the three candidates will battle instead for a nickel back spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS: There will be no suspense when it comes to the team's kickers -- not even the so-called "camp legs." The Rams have only one punter (Rick Tuten) and one placekicker (Jeff Wilkins) in training camp. The team did have rookie free agent Mark Schultis from Texas on the roster, but he was waived earlier this month to create space for signed draft picks.

INJURY ANALYSIS

After missing the last two days of the rookie/selected veterans portion of training camp, linebacker Charlie Clemons (strained groin) was back on the field Friday for the team's first full-squad practice.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Ryan McNeil will wait two preseason games to see if what transpires can increase his leverage in a contract stalemate, then return to camp on August 10.

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