Rams News

Second-round pick impressive early in camp

By R.B. FALLSTROM

AP Sports Writer

MACOMB, Ill. (AP) The St. Louis Rams used a high draft pick on another running back this year, and so far he appears to be the polar opposite of Lawrence Phillips.

The coaching staff has nothing but raves for second-round pick Robert Holcombe, who persevered through a winless senior season at Illinois and a 14-30-1 four-year college career.

"He's a very committed young man," coach Dick Vermeil said. ``I don't think he's ever going to be the kind of guy that you question where his mind is on the practice field, and especially on game day.

"He plays every play like it's the most important play of the game."

Phillips, the Rams' first-round pick in 1996, was nothing but trouble before the team finally gave up on him last November. Phillips was released - again - on Saturday by the Dolphins.

Holcombe's background, on the other hand, is nothing but hard work. Landing with the Rams, the NFL's worst team of the 1990s and coming off a 5-11 season, doesn't seem to bother him a bit.

"I love playing football, and that's the bottom line," Holcombe said. ``It inspires me to go out and work hard every chance I get to put on the pads."

Holcombe is expected to challenge Jerald Moore, who replaced Phillips in the starting lineup last November, for the starting tailback spot and could be paired with Moore in a two-back set. He put together some impressive numbers at Illinois, setting the school career rushing record with 4,105 yards despite the weak supporting cast.

Last year he ran for 1,253 yards, led the team with 35 catches and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. As a junior, he broke the school record with 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a sophomore he had 1,051 yards.

The Rams envision Holcombe as something of a Terrell Davis clone. He has a so-so 40 time of 4.53 and isn't the flashy type, preferring to get the job done running between the tackles.

"He always acts like he's heading to the end zone," Vermeil said. ``If he makes a break to the outside, it's only about a foot and then he's back to straight up field."

Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery was impressed with Holcombe in minicamps, and he's even more impressed with Holcombe in full equipment.

"You see a different breed of guy than he was in his underdrawers at the complex," Montgomery said. "He has taken his game to another level, and he's a very intense guy."

Unlike Phillips, who usually was on the bench for passing downs, Montgomery said the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Holcombe can be an every-down player.

"He is closer to the more complete back that you look for in the NFL," Montgomery said. "He wants to have success and you can see it.

"He'll just do anything you ask him to do."

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