Rams News

First quarters remain pointless
for slow-starting Rams offense
08/14 11:30 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

SAN DIEGO -- Dick Vermeil isn't asking much from his first-string offense tonight against San Diego.
``It would be nice to score seven points in the first quarter,'' Vermeil said. ``That's almost a unique experience.''
Touchdown? Even a measly field goal would be an unparalleled accomplishment for Vermeil's Rams. In five preseason games under Vermeil -- four last season, plus last week's 1998 opener against Denver -- the Rams have yet to score a point in the opening quarter.
Vermeil is hoping tonight's the night. Kickoff is 10 p.m. (St. Louis time) against the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in the Rams' second preseason game.
``We have to be a lot better in that first quarter,'' Vermeil said. ``We can't turn the ball over in the first quarter, and we can't have penalties when we do something really well. We've got to make some first downs. . . . I want something to get excited about early.''
So does Tony Banks, who will be playing in his hometown for the first time as an NFL quarterback. Banks wasn't sharp in the Denver game last weekend, or even in the Indianapolis scrimmage Aug. 1.
But Vermeil doesn't think Banks is pressing.
``I don't feel that he is,'' Vermeil said. ``He's got to start playing well and making some plays. He's excited about going home. And sometimes that excitement can hurt your performance.''
The team has stressed the short passing game in the preseason, which doesn't exactly play to Banks' strength. He's at his best throwing the long ball, and he still needs to improve his touch on the short stuff.
``I'd like to see Tony be able to get the ball downfield successfully,'' Vermeil said. ``Hopefully, we can.''
During the preseason, the first quarter is the only time teams are assured of seeing the opponent's starting units, which makes the Rams' scoring drought particularly disconcerting. So Vermeil's wish-list on offense is broad-based.
``I'd like to see us run the ball a little better and do a better job on third down,'' Vermeil said. ``I'd like to see us sort of control the ball a little bit in that first half. Not be 1-2-3 and out.''
In three first-quarter possessions last week against Denver, the Rams managed only 18 yards, no first downs, lost a fumble and were penalized once.
The Rams did no more game-planning for San Diego than they did for Denver. Like most teams, they save the strategy stuff for the regular season. But unlike the Broncos, the Chargers defensive scheme is a lot more like what the Rams offense faces every day in practice at Western Illinois University.
So that should help. In addition, the Rams should be less vanilla on offense tonight, having added more than two dozen pass plays this week in practice.
``That's what camp's for,'' Banks said. ``Rather than having packages (for a game), you put in the whole playbook and see what guys can handle. We're able to handle a lot more this year because it's our second year in the offense.''
Some of the plays introduced this week were in the playbook last year but weren't used much during the regular season. ``Plus, Coach Vermeil's got a couple new wrinkles -- some new crossing routes and things like that,'' Banks said.
Whatever Banks uses from that bag of tricks, he'll have to use quickly. Because he's scheduled to play only one quarter tonight.

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