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St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted August 14, 1998
by tsn correspondent
JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The impasses with fullback Craig "Ironhead"
Heyward and cornerback Ryan McNeil have
reached the point that even if they reported to
training camp this week, it is doubtful they
could play meaningful roles in the team's
season opener September 6 against New
Orleans.
Heyward and McNeil may be in shape -- and
that could be debatable in Heyward's case --
but they're not in football shape. And it will take
at least a couple of weeks to get used to the
physical contact of football and refine
techniques.
McNeil has yet to come to contract turns,
declining two-year and four-year offers from
the team, as well as the franchise player
one-year tender offer of $3.2 million. In his
absence, second-year man player Dexter
McCleon has started at right cornerback and
has played well so far.
Heyward's agent met with Rams officials
recently to see if they could repair the damaged
relationship between Heyward and coach Dick
Vermeil.
Vermeil wants Heyward at 260 pounds before
he steps on the practice field. Heyward, who
failed to report for a training camp weigh-in,
wants Vermeil to stop making "fat" jokes.
Derrick Harris has done OK in place of
Heyward as the team's starting fullback, but the
Rams have no depth behind him. . . .
Although Green Bay voided their trade for tight
end Aaron Laing, the Rams are convinced he's
healthy, and will try to trade him to another
club.
The Packers cited concerns over a pinched
nerve in Laing's shoulder in nullifying the trade,
but the Rams' medical exams show he's OK.
Laing missed 1 1/2 days of practice early this
month with a "stinger" problem in the shoulder,
but has been practicing since then and caught a
pass in the Rams' preseason opener against
Denver.
Laing lacks speed, but has above-average
hands and blocking ability. The Packers needed
a blocking tight end, and Laing could have filled
that roll. But they are especially sensitive to
neck/shoulder problems given the career-ending
injuries in recent years to Sterling Sharpe and
Johnny Holland. . . .
Not unlike their recent performance on the
field, the effort was there but the execution
was lacking for the offensive line in its training
camp media boycott.
In an effort to build solidarity, the offensive line
stole a page from Denver's playbook and
planned not to talk to the media during training
camp. But team officials weren't thrilled with
the idea, and when offensive tackle Orlando
Pace broke ranks to do a national TV
interview, the boycott was lifted.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
Offensive line: At the moment, Mike
Gruttadauria is holding off John Flannery in the
battle for the starting center job. Gruttadauria
played particularly well in the preseason opener
against Denver.
But Flannery may be a threat at right guard as
well, where the Rams are looking for improved
play from Zach Wiegert. Backup Ethan Brooks
originally was playing right guard, but has been
shifted to tackle in the past week or so and has
shown some potential.
After moving Fred Miller from tackle to starting
left guard, the Rams have needed a third
tackle. Brooks could fill the bill.
Quarterback: The final two preseason games
will be critical in deciding the club's backup
quarterback position. Tony Banks and Steve
Bono appear to be very secure in the starting
and top backup roles, respectively, but it could
come down to the final preseason game --
August 28 in Kansas City -- to see if veteran
journeyman Will Furrer or former Arena
League star Kurt Warner wins the third job.
Furrer will start the team's third preseason
game is Saturday's preseason contest against
Dallas, in what could be a make-or-break
outing.
Running back: Greg Hill's instant emergence
as a backfield threat has turned up the
competition at this position. Even without the
AWOL Craig "Ironhead" Heyward in camp,
there are nine running backs/fullbacks in camp,
and they obviously can't all make the team.
Amp Lee is safe as a pass-catching specialist.
And as long as Heyward stays home, Derrick
Harris is the starting fullback.
But that leaves Hill, Jerald Moore,
second-round draft pick Robert Holcombe and
kickoff return specialist David Thompson
fighting for what could only be three jobs, along
with June Henley, rookie Raymond Priester,
and recent pickup James Stewart.
Receiver: The Rams have taken it easy on
Isaac Bruce's hamstrings so far this training
camp. As a result, it looks like Bruce will make
it to the regular-season opener injury-free, with
fresh legs.
The Rams have had 10 receivers in camp, so
they haven't run Bruce -- or Eddie Kennison
and Ricky Proehl for that matter -- into the
ground. Bruce made only a cameo appearance
in the team's August 1 scrimmage against
Indianapolis, and wasn't overworked in the
preseason opener against Denver.
A torn hamstring last preseason, cost Bruce
four games entirely and all but a few plays in a
fifth game.
Defensive line: The Rams were light at
defensive end last week, due to injuries to
Bryan Robinson (knee) and Grant Wistrom
(pinched nerve/shoulder).
Robinson was an early camp surprise with his
aggressive play, but hasn't practiced much in
the past two weeks due to a bruised knee.
Wistrom's injury came on a hard hit on special
teams in the preseason opener against Denver.
He later returned to the game, but then sat out
the week in practice.
Street free agent Chris Maumalanga is trying to
barge into the picture at defensive tackle along
with Jeff Zgonina, Joe Phillips, Ray Agnew and
D'Marco Farr.
Linebacker: After missing much of the first
week of veteran two-a-days with a strained
back, middle linebacker Eric Hill is rounding
into form. In his place, Lorenzo Styles has
performed well. But Hill appears ready to take
over the starting role.
The Rams are now looking at Styles at outside
linebacker as well, just to try to get him on the
field more. Rookie free agent London Fletcher
of John Carroll, a 5-10, 245-pound mighty mite,
appears to have a good chance to make the
squad as a special teamer.
Defensive back: Even without John Elway,
the Broncos threw for 304 yards against the
Rams, but very little of it came at Dexter
McCleon's expense. McCleon has looked
comfortable and confident as the starting right
cornerback in place of holdout Ryan McNeil.
Privately, some officials think McCleon may be
hard to beat out once McNeil returns. But a
couple of more solid preseason games would
help McCleon make his case for the starting
job.
Neither Willie Clark nor Taje Allen has jumped
in the competition for nickel and dime back
duties, but keep an eye on veteran Tony
Stargell, who was signed a few days into camp
as a street free agent.
Special teams: The return of running back
David Thompson after a thigh injury should help
the Rams' kickoff return unit. Thompson set a
Rams rookie record for kickoff return yards
last season, and barely missed setting an overall
team record. Wide receivers Tony Horne and
Az-Zahir Hakim remain viable candidates as
well.
The Rams didn't really get a look at their punt
return unit last week against Denver, because
the Broncos punted only once in the game, and
that one landed in the end zone.
INJURY ANALYSIS
Strong safety Toby Wright is expected to
start Saturday's preseason game in San Diego.
But Wright, who underwent reconstructive
knee surgery in January, isn't sure he's ready to
see game action just yet. The original plan
called for him to start playing in the third
preseason game, August 22 against Dallas.
Starting free safety Keith Lyle sat out the
Denver game because of a tight hamstring, and
saw limited duty in practice this past week.
Given all the problems with hamstring injuries
the club experienced last year, the club is taking
a conservative approach with Lyle.
The Rams also are taking it easy with outside
linebacker Roman Phifer, who went from a
sore knee to a calf injury on the same leg.
After missing the Denver game, he is unlikely
to play against San Diego.
Wide receiver Johnny "J.T." Thomas, a
candidate for the team's fifth or sixth wide
receiver job, has been sidelined with an elbow
injury and probably won't play against San
Diego.
Offensive guard Zach Wiegert missed a
couple of days late in the week with a staph
infection in his hand.
Running back Greg Hill missed an afternoon
practice with a puffy knee on Thursday --
saying it was the first practice he has missed in
his pro career. He was back on the field
Friday.
FEARLESS FORECAST
Due to the strong preseason play by Tyji
Armstrong, the Rams will keep four tight ends
on their 53-man roster, using Mitch Jacoby in
the backfield occasionally as an H-back.
Starter Ernie Conwell and fourth-round draft
pick Roland Williams round out the foursome.
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