Rams News

Billy Jenkins Jr. hopes to make first impact on Broncos

08/06

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- Billy Jenkins Jr. was a wide-eyed special teams player last Sept. 14 when the Rams played John Elway and the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium.
But with Toby Wright continuing his rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery, he will start Saturday's preseason opener at strong safety against the Broncos. But he won't be staring down any John Elway passes at the Trans World Dome.
Elway is skipping the trip to St. Louis because his wife underwent surgery on Thursday.
``He's not playing? That's disappointing,'' said Jenkins, a second-year player. ``Even though it's preseason, that would have been a great way to have your first interception -- against John Elway.''
Now, Jenkins will have to get his first NFL interception -- preseason or regular season -- against Bubby Brister. ``Whoever,'' Jenkins said with a laugh. ``It doesn't matter.''
Brister will start Saturday for the Broncos and play the first half. Rookie Brian Griese will start the second half and is scheduled to play about 1 quarters, with former New Orleans Saint Doug Nussmeier mopping up.
``I think the fans would like to see (Elway) play,'' Rams coach Dick Vermeil said. ``And I think our players would like to play against him again. You know, he's a Hall of Famer, and these young kids, they'd be excited about being on the field with him.''

On guard: John Flannery has been moved to right guard this week in practice, but his training-camp battle with Mike Gruttadauria for the starting center spot continues.
``We were very pleased at how he was playing center,'' Vermeil said. ``We wanted to see if he could play guard equally as well. We've got to get our best offensive linemen on the (field). That was why we moved Fred Miller to left guard.''
Flannery, who signed a free-agent contract with the Rams on April 7, started several games at guard last season for Dallas. Vermeil said Flannery probably will see action at center and guard against Denver.

Early farewell: Defensive end Glenn Young Jr., a rookie free agent from Vanderbilt, was seen thanking Vermeil for the opportunity to play in the NFL after Thursday afternoon's practice. Young has yet to be released and may not be for a couple of weeks.
But after suffering a hamstring injury earlier this week that will sideline him until the end of this month, Young knows he's not going to make the team.
``He's a pretty good athlete,'' Vermeil said. ``But you get down to 260 pounds playing defensive end, you better have something going for you. But I'd like to see him develop a little bit. Mature. Maybe go to the World League, and maybe bring him back next year.''

Horan works out: Mike Horan, who handled the Rams' punting duties in the final 10 games of 1997, worked out for Rams officials Thursday in Macomb. Horan is affiliated Knowledge Inc., of Denver, which is talking to the Rams about a computerized playbook concept.
Since Horan made the trip with the Denver firm, the Rams figured they'd take another look at him -- just in case something might happen to Rick Tuten down the line.
Horan, 39, punted well for the Rams, but the team decided to go with a younger punter in Tuten. ``Age becomes a factor. You'd like to roll the clock back, but the ability is still there,'' Horan said.

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