Rams News

Wistrom's Rams debut is solid, despite lack of sacks

08/08

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

Give Grant Wistrom and ``E'' for effort in his Rams debut. But as coach Dick Vermeil said, it would have been nice to get a sack.
``You always wanted to see your first-round pick play well,'' Vermeil said after the Rams' 20-13 loss to Denver Saturday at the Trans World Dome. ``I liked his relentless effort.''
Wistrom, the Rams' first-round draft pick from the University of Nebraska, finished with only one tackle, but forced a fumble. He had a couple of quarterback pressures, but couldn't drop Bubby Brister or Brian Griese.
Wistrom played with the Rams starters during passing situations in the first half, and lined up at right defensive end for most of the second half with the Rams' second-team defense.
``He did all right,'' Vermeil said. ``He had a great hit when he knocked himself out on kickoff coverage.''
The hit temporarily stunned Wistrom, who spent part of the opening half with ice on his neck after the play. But he returned to the lineup a few minutes later.
Lineup wrinkles: One of the Rams' pass-rushing formations in third-and-long featured Leonard Little at left end and Charlie Clemons at right end in a four-linebacker formation. . . . June Henley, Tony Horne, and Az-Zahir Hakim were used on kickoff returns, with Horne particularly impressive. . . . Muadianvita Kazadi was a last-minute starter in place of Roman Phifer (calf) at outside linebacker. . . . Lorenzo Styles started at middle linebacker, but Eric Hill took over midway through the second quarter.
Injury update: A plethora of players sat out the Saturday's game for both teams. Sitting for the Rams were running backs Robert Holcombe (hamstring), Jerald Moore, and David Thompson (thigh), safeties Toby Wright (knee) and Keith Lyle (hamstring), and Phifer. Lyle sat as a precaution -- he has been bothered by a sore hamstring in camp, but hasn't missed any practices in training camp. Gerald McBurrow, who didn't begin practicing until Monday because of a bout with the chicken pox, started in place of Lyle.
Among the idle for Denver were safeties Steve Atwater (shoulder, calf) and Tyrone Braxton, tight end Shannon Sharpe (hip), and defensive end Alfred Williams (arm). Quarterback John Elway did not make the trip to St. Louis because of surgery to his wife on Thursday.
The most serious injury of the night occurred on a Rams punt early in the third quarter, when Denver linebacker Steve Russ suffered a broken right leg.
Water world: A broken water main led to flooding on the 100 level of the Trans World Dome. Fans leaving the dome at the end of the game had to do so without the aid of elevators.
Ram-blings: Game captains for the Rams were tight ends Ernie Conwell and Mitch Jacoby, and linebacker Michael Jones. . . . Watching from the Rams sidelines were Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and third-base coach Rene Lachemann. . . . Saturday's contest marked the Rams eighth in the preseason against Denver, with the Broncos winning six of eight. . . . The team is off Sunday, and had the option of staying at their homes in St. Louis or the designated team hotel.

ARCHIVE

HOME